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Anderson G, Cosway EJ, James KD, Ohigashi I, Takahama Y. Generation and repair of thymic epithelial cells. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230894. [PMID: 38980292 PMCID: PMC11232892 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate immune system, thymus stromal microenvironments support the generation of αβT cells from immature thymocytes. Thymic epithelial cells are of particular importance, and the generation of cortical and medullary epithelial lineages from progenitor stages controls the initiation and maintenance of thymus function. Here, we discuss the developmental pathways that regulate thymic epithelial cell diversity during both the embryonic and postnatal periods. We also examine how thymus microenvironments respond to injury, with particular focus on mechanisms that ensure regeneration of thymic epithelial cells for the restoration of thymus function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Emilie J Cosway
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Kieran D James
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Thymus Biology Section, Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
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Zhu S, Liu B, Fu G, Yang L, Wei D, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Gao Y, Sun D, Wei W. PKC-θ is an important driver of fluoride-induced immune imbalance of regulatory T cells/effector T cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173081. [PMID: 38754514 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Fluoride is unnecessary in the human body. Long-term fluoride exposure may lead to immune system abnormalities. However, the mechanism remains unclear. This study aim to explore the mechanism of fluoride interference in the immune system and also identify the key indicators of fluoride-induced immune damage. Questionnaires were used to collect basic information. Multiple linear analyses and other statistical methods were used in order to process the data. Flow cytometry was used to detect relevant immunomarkers and analyze immune damage. Simultaneously, Wistar rats and cell models exposed to fluoride were established to detect the effects of fluoride on immune homeostasis. The results showed that sex, residence time, smoking, and Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection may indirectly influence fluoride-induced immune damage. In residents of fluoride-exposed areas, there was a significant decrease in CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD4+ and CD8+ cells and a downward trend in the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio. CD4+CD8+/CD4+, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and Tregs/effector T cells (Teffs) ratios showed opposite changes. Fluoride inhibits T cell activation by inhibiting the expression and phosphorylation of Protein Kinase C-θ (PKC-θ), hinders the internalization of T cell receptors, and affects NF-kB and c-Jun protein expression, leading to homeostatic Treg/Teff imbalance in vivo and in vitro experiments. This study represents the first evidence suggesting that PKC-θ may be the key to immune imbalance in the body under fluoride exposure. It is possible that Tregs/Teffs cell ratio provide a reference point for the diagnosis and treatment of fluoride-induced immune damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Zhu
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Bingshu Liu
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Guiyu Fu
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Dan Wei
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Liwei Zhang
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health (23618504), Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Lab of Trace Elements and Human Health Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Yanhui Gao
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health (23618504), Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Lab of Trace Elements and Human Health Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Dianjun Sun
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health (23618504), Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Lab of Trace Elements and Human Health Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Wei Wei
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health (23618504), Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Lab of Trace Elements and Human Health Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
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Kopp W. Aging and "Age-Related" Diseases - What Is the Relation? Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0570. [PMID: 39012663 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The study explores the intricate relationship between aging and the development of noncommunicable diseases [NCDs], focusing on whether these diseases are inevitable consequences of aging or primarily driven by lifestyle factors. By examining epidemiological data, particularly from hunter-gatherer societies, the study highlights that many NCDs prevalent in modern populations are rare in these societies, suggesting a significant influence of lifestyle choices. It delves into the mechanisms through which poor diet, smoking, and other lifestyle factors contribute to systemic physiological imbalances, characterized by oxidative stress, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, and dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the immune system. The interplay between this pattern and individual factors such as genetic susceptibility, biological variability, epigenetic changes and the microbiome is proposed to play a crucial role in the development of a range of age-related NCDs. Modified biomolecules such as oxysterols and advanced glycation end products also contribute to their development. Specific diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma and osteoarthritis are analyzed to illustrate these mechanisms. The study concludes that while aging contributes to the risk of NCDs, lifestyle factors play a crucial role, offering potential avenues for prevention and intervention through healthier living practices. One possible approach could be to try to restore the physiological balance, e.g. through dietary measures [e.g. Mediterranean diet, Okinawan diet or Paleolithic diet] in conjunction with [a combination of] pharmacological interventions and other lifestyle changes.
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Fan L, Hu Y, Li R, Ding J, Liu Y, Yu S, Hu M, Su R, Li Y, Yu A, Xie D, Zhao Q, Ma P. Enhanced immune reconstitution with albuvirtide in HIV-infected immunological non-responders. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1397743. [PMID: 38975330 PMCID: PMC11227255 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1397743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Incomplete immune recovery in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) remains an important clinical challenge with the lack of an effective strategy currently available to restore their T-cell immune response. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Albuvirtide (ABT) on immune recovery in immunological non-responders (INRs) and attempted to explore potential mechanisms of ABT on the functionality of immune cells. Methods In this prospective, open-label, controlled clinical study, participants with incomplete immune reconstitution (continuous ART over 5 years and CD4+T lymphocyte absolute count of <500 cells/µl or ART for 2-5 years and CD4+T cell count of <200 cells/µl with undetectable viral load) were received intensive treatment with ABT or maintained on the original ART regimen at a ratio of 1:1. Immune response and safety were examined within 24 weeks. In the cytological study, T subsets, cell apoptosis and cell autophagy were analyzed using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry from 25 blood specimens. Results Both groups (n=25 each) were comparable in age, gender, and ART duration. At week 12, CD4+T cell count increased significantly in the intensive ABT group compared with control group (the change from baseline in CD4+T cell count: 45 vs. -5 cells/µL, p<0.001). After ABT discontinuation, CD4+T cell counts remained significantly higher in the intensive ABT group at week 24 (55 vs. -5 cells/µL, p=0.012). In laboratory analysis, naïve CD4+ T cell amounts were lowest among participants with unsatisfactory immune response (uIR) to ABT (p=0.001). The proportion of caspase 3+CD45RA+CD31+CD4+ T cells was significantly lower in participants with satisfactory immune response (sIR) to ABT (p<0.05). Conclusion Significant CD4+T cell count increase suggests ABT enhances immune function in INRs which may be attributed to its antiviral properties as well as its ability to increase thymic cell output and decrease cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, Tianjin Second People’s Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiaqi Ding
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuantao Liu
- Medical Affairs Department, Frontier Biotechnologies Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuchang Yu
- Medical Affairs Department, Frontier Biotechnologies Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Hu
- Medical Affairs Department, Frontier Biotechnologies Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Su
- Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, Tianjin Second People’s Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - AiPing Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Xie
- Medical Affairs Department, Frontier Biotechnologies Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingxia Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Henan Infectious Diseases Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Association of STD/AIDS Prevention and Control, Tianjin, China
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Feng Y, He C, Liu C, Shao B, Wang D, Wu P. Exploring the Complexity and Promise of Tumor Immunotherapy in Drug Development. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6444. [PMID: 38928150 PMCID: PMC11204037 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer represents a significant threat to human health, and traditional chemotherapy or cytotoxic therapy is no longer the sole or preferred approach for managing malignant tumors. With advanced research into the immunogenicity of tumor cells and the growing elderly population, tumor immunotherapy has emerged as a prominent therapeutic option. Its significance in treating elderly cancer patients is increasingly recognized. In this study, we review the conceptual classifications and benefits of immunotherapy, and discuss recent developments in new drugs and clinical progress in cancer treatment through various immunotherapeutic modalities with different mechanisms. Additionally, we explore the impact of immunosenescence on the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy and propose innovative and effective strategies to rejuvenate senescent T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dong Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China; (Y.F.); (C.H.); (C.L.); (B.S.)
| | - Peijie Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China; (Y.F.); (C.H.); (C.L.); (B.S.)
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6
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Nabel CS, Ackman JB, Hung YP, Louissaint A, Riely GJ. Single-Cell Sequencing Illuminates Thymic Development: An Updated Framework for Understanding Thymic Epithelial Tumors. Oncologist 2024; 29:473-483. [PMID: 38520743 PMCID: PMC11145005 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare tumors for which treatment options are limited. The ongoing need for improved systemic therapies reflects a limited understanding of tumor biology as well as the normal thymus. The essential role of the thymus in adaptive immunity is largely effected by its epithelial compartment, which directs thymocyte (T-cell) differentiation and immunologic self-tolerance. With aging, the thymus undergoes involution whereby epithelial tissue is replaced by adipose and other connective tissue, decreasing immature T-cell production. Against this natural drive toward involution, a fraction of thymuses will instead undergo oncologic transformation, leading to the formation of TETs, including thymoma and thymic carcinoma. The rarity of these tumors restricts investigation of the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and development of rational treatment options. To this end, the development of technologies which allow deep molecular profiling of individual tumor cells permits a new window through which to view normal thymic development and contrast the malignant changes that result in oncogenic transformation. In this review, we describe the findings of recent illuminating studies on the diversity of cell types within the epithelial compartment through thymic differentiation and aging. We contextualize these findings around important unanswered questions regarding the spectrum of known somatic tumor alterations, cell of origin, and tumor heterogeneity. The perspectives informed by single-cell molecular profiling offer new approaches to clinical and basic investigation of thymic epithelial tumors, with the potential to accelerate development of improved therapeutic strategies to address ongoing unmet needs in these rare tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Nabel
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jeanne B Ackman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yin P Hung
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abner Louissaint
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gregory J Riely
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Konturek-Ciesla A, Bryder D. Revitalizing the Aging Immune System Through Selective Stem Cell Targeting. Cell Reprogram 2024; 26:93-95. [PMID: 38917436 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2024.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The interplay between aging and immune system deterioration presents a formidable challenge to human health, especially in the context of a globally aging population. Aging is associated with a decline in the body's ability to combat infections and an increased risk of various diseases, underlining the importance of rejuvenating the immune system as a strategy for promoting healthier aging. In issue 628 of Nature (2024), Ross et al. present a compelling study that introduces a novel strategy for rejuvenating the aged immune system (Ross et al., 2024). By using antibodies to selectively eliminate "aberrant" hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), this research opens new avenues for addressing age-related immune deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Konturek-Ciesla
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Faculty, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - David Bryder
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Faculty, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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8
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Waheed W, Bacopulos A, Seyam M, Kooperkamp H, Moin M, Malik T, Tandan R. Physiological and pathological roles of the thymus and value of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: a narrative review. MEDIASTINUM (HONG KONG, CHINA) 2024; 8:31. [PMID: 38881805 PMCID: PMC11177005 DOI: 10.21037/med-23-43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objective Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a well-elucidated autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction. Given the relationship between MG and thymic pathologies, with T cell and antibody-mediated pathogenesis, surgical (i.e., thymectomy) and non-surgical approaches remain a mainstay of management of the disease. This review seeks to outline the involvement of the thymus in the development of lymphocytes leading to MG. Methods Different databases were searched exploring the role of thymectomy in treatment and outcomes in various MG patient subpopulations, including in ocular versus generalized disease, different age groups, and antibody status. Key Content and Findings Overall, the findings of multiple studies and reviews provide evidence to support the efficacy and long-term success of thymectomy in the management of MG; outcomes have included remission status, symptom severity, and need for adjunctive therapy. However, the heterogeneity in the MG population suggests that there are multiple factors that may confound the results of thymectomy and still need further examination. Separately, other autoimmune diseases develop following thymectomy, and further research is required to elucidate this susceptibility. Finally, our review will discuss the different surgical approaches for thymectomy, including their advantages, limitations, and perioperative complications. Conclusions Overall, in light of the known pathogenesis and association of the thymus with MG, thymectomy remains an extremely effective approach for long-term management and improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqar Waheed
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont Robert D. Larner, MD College of Medicine and University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Agnes Bacopulos
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont Robert D. Larner, MD College of Medicine and University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Muhannad Seyam
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont Robert D. Larner, MD College of Medicine and University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Hannah Kooperkamp
- Division of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, University of Vermont Robert D. Larner, MD College of Medicine and University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Maryam Moin
- Department of Neurology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - Tariq Malik
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rup Tandan
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont Robert D. Larner, MD College of Medicine and University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
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Zhu S, Wei W. Progress in research on the role of fluoride in immune damage. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1394161. [PMID: 38807586 PMCID: PMC11130356 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1394161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive fluoride intake from residential environments may affect multiple tissues and organs; however, the specific pathogenic mechanisms are unclear. Researchers have recently focused on the damaging effects of fluoride on the immune system. Damage to immune function seriously affects the quality of life of fluoride-exposed populations and increases the incidence of infections and malignant tumors. Probing the mechanism of damage to immune function caused by fluoride helps identify effective drugs and methods to prevent and treat fluorosis and improve people's living standards in fluorosis-affected areas. Here, the recent literature on the effects of fluoride on the immune system is reviewed, and research on fluoride damage to the immune system is summarized in terms of three perspectives: immune organs, immune cells, and immune-active substances. We reviewed that excessive fluoride can damage immune organs, lead to immune cells dysfunction and interfere with the expression of immune-active substances. This review aimed to provide a potential direction for future fluorosis research from the perspective of fluoride-induced immune function impairment. In order to seek the key regulatory indicators of fluoride on immune homeostasis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Zhu
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Lab of Trace Elements and Human Health Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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10
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Hou J, Xie S, Gao J, Jiang T, Zhu E, Yang X, Jin Z, Long H, Zhang A, Yang F, Wang L, Zha H, Jia Q, Zhu B, Wang X. NK cell transfer overcomes resistance to PD-(L)1 therapy in aged mice. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:48. [PMID: 38725070 PMCID: PMC11080179 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is the leading cause of death among older adults. Although the integration of immunotherapy has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of cancer, the complex interactions between age and immunotherapy efficacy remain incompletely defined. Here, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between aging and immunotherapy resistance. METHODS Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In vivo T cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and migration assays were performed to evaluate the antitumor capacity of tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in mice. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to investigate the expression of IFN-γ-associated gene and natural killer (NK)-associated chemokine. Adoptive NK cell transfer was adopted to evaluate the effects of NK cells from young mice in overcoming the immunotherapy resistance of aged mice. RESULTS We found that elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) aged ≥ 75 years exhibited poorer progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and a lower clinical response rate after immunotherapy. Mechanistically, we showed that the infiltration of NK cells was significantly reduced in aged mice compared to younger mice. Furthermore, the aged NK cells could also suppress the activation of tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells by inhibiting the recruitment and activation of CD103+ dendritic cells (DCs). Adoptive transfer of NK cells from young mice to aged mice promoted TME remodeling, and reversed immunotherapy resistance. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed the decreased sensitivity of elderly patients to immunotherapy, as well as in aged mice. This may be attributed to the reduction of NK cells in aged mice, which inhibits CD103+ DCs recruitment and its CD86 expression and ultimately leads to immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlei Hou
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Shuanglong Xie
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Jianbao Gao
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, 200082, China
| | - Enjian Zhu
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xuezhi Yang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Zheng Jin
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Haixia Long
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Anmei Zhang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Lujing Wang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Haoran Zha
- Department of Oncology, PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Qingzhu Jia
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
| | - Bo Zhu
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
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11
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Stankiewicz LN, Rossi FMV, Zandstra PW. Rebuilding and rebooting immunity with stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:597-616. [PMID: 38593798 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Advances in modern medicine have enabled a rapid increase in lifespan and, consequently, have highlighted the immune system as a key driver of age-related disease. Immune regeneration therapies present exciting strategies to address age-related diseases by rebooting the host's primary lymphoid tissues or rebuilding the immune system directly via biomaterials or artificial tissue. Here, we identify important, unanswered questions regarding the safety and feasibility of these therapies. Further, we identify key design parameters that should be primary considerations guiding technology design, including timing of application, interaction with the host immune system, and functional characterization of the target patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Stankiewicz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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12
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Oladejo M, Tijani AO, Puri A, Chablani L. Adjuvants in cutaneous vaccination: A comprehensive analysis. J Control Release 2024; 369:475-492. [PMID: 38569943 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Skin is the body's largest organ and serves as a protective barrier from physical, thermal, and mechanical environmental challenges. Alongside, the skin hosts key immune system players, such as the professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) like the Langerhans cells in the epidermis and circulating macrophages in the blood. Further, the literature supports that the APCs can be activated by antigen or vaccine delivery via multiple routes of administration through the skin. Once activated, the stimulated APCs drain to the associated lymph nodes and gain access to the lymphatic system. This further allows the APCs to engage with the adaptive immune system and activate cellular and humoral immune responses. Thus, vaccine delivery via skin offers advantages such as reliable antigen delivery, superior immunogenicity, and convenient delivery. Several preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the significance of vaccine delivery using various routes of administration via skin. However, such vaccines often employ adjuvant/(s), along with the antigen of interest. Adjuvants augment the immune response to a vaccine antigen and improve the therapeutic efficacy. Due to these reasons, adjuvants have been successfully used with infectious disease vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, and immune-mediated diseases. To capture these developments, this review will summarize preclinical and clinical study results of vaccine delivery via skin in the presence of adjuvants. A focused discussion regarding the FDA-approved adjuvants will address the experiences of using such adjuvant-containing vaccines. In addition, the challenges and regulatory concerns with these adjuvants will be discussed. Finally, the review will share the prospects of adjuvant-containing vaccines delivered via skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Oladejo
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Akeemat O Tijani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
| | - Ashana Puri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
| | - Lipika Chablani
- Wegmans School of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher University, 3690 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14618, USA.
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13
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Sugio T, Uchida N, Miyawaki K, Ohno Y, Eto T, Mori Y, Yoshimoto G, Kikushige Y, Kunisaki Y, Mizuno S, Nagafuji K, Iwasaki H, Kamimura T, Ogawa R, Miyamoto T, Taniguchi S, Akashi K, Kato K. Prognostic impact of HLA supertype mismatch in single-unit cord blood transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2024; 59:466-472. [PMID: 38238452 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-023-02183-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The "human leukocyte antigen (HLA) supertype" is a functional classification of HLA alleles, which was defined by structural features and peptide specificities, and has been reportedly associated with the clinical outcomes of viral infections and autoimmune diseases. Although the disparity in each HLA locus was reported to have no clinical significance in single-unit cord blood transplantation (sCBT), the clinical significance of the HLA supertype in sCBT remains unknown. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 1603 patients who received sCBT in eight institutes in Japan between 2000 and 2017. Each HLA allele was categorized into 19 supertypes, and the prognostic effect of disparities was then assessed. An HLA-B supertype mismatch was identified as a poor prognostic factor (PFS: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.23, p = 0.00044) and was associated with a higher cumulative incidence (CI) of relapse (HR = 1.24, p = 0.013). However, an HLA-B supertype mismatch was not associated with the CI of acute and chronic graft-versus-host-disease. The multivariate analysis for relapse and PFS showed the significance of an HLA-B supertype mismatch independent of allelic mismatches, and other previously reported prognostic factors. HLA-B supertype-matched grafts should be selected in sCBT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Sugio
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
- Divisions of Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Naoyuki Uchida
- Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohta Miyawaki
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuju Ohno
- Department of Hematology, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Eto
- Department of Hematology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasuo Mori
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Goichi Yoshimoto
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshikane Kikushige
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuya Kunisaki
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shinichi Mizuno
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koji Nagafuji
- Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiromi Iwasaki
- Department of Hematology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Ryosuke Ogawa
- Department of Hematology, JCHO Kyushu Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Miyamoto
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shuichi Taniguchi
- Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koichi Akashi
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koji Kato
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
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14
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Zhou AL, Karius AK, Ruck JM, Shou BL, Larson EL, Casillan AJ, Ha JS, Shah PD, Merlo CA, Bush EL. Outcomes of Lung Transplant Candidates Aged ≥70 Years During the Lung Allocation Score Era. Ann Thorac Surg 2024; 117:725-732. [PMID: 37271446 PMCID: PMC10693648 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.04.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the increasing age of lung transplant candidates, we studied waitlist and posttransplantation outcomes of candidates ≥70 years during the Lung Allocation Score era. METHODS Adult lung transplant candidates from 2005 to 2020 in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were included and stratified on the basis of age at listing into 18 to 59 years old, 60 to 69 years old, and ≥70 years old. Baseline characteristics, waitlist outcomes, and posttransplantation outcomes were assessed. RESULTS A total of 37,623 candidates were included (52.3% aged 18-59 years, 40.6% aged 60-69 years, 7.1% aged ≥70 years). Candidates ≥70 years were more likely than younger candidates to receive a transplant (81.9% vs 72.7% [aged 60-69 years] vs 61.6% [aged 18-59 years]) and less likely to die or to deteriorate on the waitlist within 1 year (9.1% vs 10.1% [aged 60-69 years] vs 12.2% [aged 18-59 years]; P < .001). Donors for older recipients were more likely to be extended criteria (75.7% vs 70.1% [aged 60-69 years] vs 65.7% [aged 18-59 years]; P < .001). Recipients ≥70 years were found to have lower rates of acute rejection (6.7% vs 7.4% [aged 60-69 years] vs 9.2% [aged 18-59 years]; P < .001) and prolonged intubation (21.7% vs 27.4% [aged 60-69 years] vs 34.5% [aged 18-59 years]; P < .001). Recipients aged ≥70 years had increased 1-year (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.19 [95% CI, 1.06-1.33]; P < .001), 3-year (aHR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.18-1.39]; P < .001), and 5-year mortality (aHR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.21-1.38]; P < .001) compared with recipients aged 60 to 69 years. CONCLUSIONS Candidates ≥70 years had favorable waitlist and perioperative outcomes despite increased use of extended criteria donors. Careful selection of candidates and postoperative surveillance may improve posttransplantation survival in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice L Zhou
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alexander K Karius
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jessica M Ruck
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Benjamin L Shou
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emily L Larson
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alfred J Casillan
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jinny S Ha
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pali D Shah
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Christian A Merlo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Errol L Bush
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
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15
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Lagou MK, Argyris DG, Vodopyanov S, Gunther-Cummins L, Hardas A, Poutahidis T, Panorias C, DesMarais S, Entenberg C, Carpenter RS, Guzik H, Nishku X, Churaman J, Maryanovich M, DesMarais V, Macaluso FP, Karagiannis GS. Morphometric Analysis of the Thymic Epithelial Cell (TEC) Network Using Integrated and Orthogonal Digital Pathology Approaches. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.11.584509. [PMID: 38559037 PMCID: PMC10979902 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.11.584509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The thymus, a central primary lymphoid organ of the immune system, plays a key role in T cell development. Surprisingly, the thymus is quite neglected with regards to standardized pathology approaches and practices for assessing structure and function. Most studies use multispectral flow cytometry to define the dynamic composition of the thymus at the cell population level, but they are limited by lack of contextual insight. This knowledge gap hinders our understanding of various thymic conditions and pathologies, particularly how they affect thymic architecture, and subsequently, immune competence. Here, we introduce a digital pathology pipeline to address these challenges. Our approach can be coupled to analytical algorithms and utilizes rationalized morphometric assessments of thymic tissue, ranging from tissue-wide down to microanatomical and ultrastructural levels. This pipeline enables the quantitative assessment of putative changes and adaptations of thymic structure to stimuli, offering valuable insights into the pathophysiology of thymic disorders. This versatile pipeline can be applied to a wide range of conditions that may directly or indirectly affect thymic structure, ranging from various cytotoxic stimuli inducing acute thymic involution to autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis. Here, we demonstrate applicability of the method in a mouse model of age-dependent thymic involution, both by confirming established knowledge, and by providing novel insights on intrathymic remodeling in the aged thymus. Our orthogonal pipeline, with its high versatility and depth of analysis, promises to be a valuable and practical toolset for both basic and translational immunology laboratories investigating thymic function and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Lagou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Dimitrios G Argyris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stepan Vodopyanov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Leslie Gunther-Cummins
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Alexandros Hardas
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Theofilos Poutahidis
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos Panorias
- Division of Statistics and Operational Research, Department of Mathematics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sophia DesMarais
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Conner Entenberg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Randall S Carpenter
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Hillary Guzik
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xheni Nishku
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Churaman
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Maria Maryanovich
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Vera DesMarais
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Frank P Macaluso
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George S Karagiannis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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16
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Eraghi AT, Garweg JG, Pleyer U. The role of age in ocular toxoplasmosis: clinical signs of immunosenescence and inflammaging. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1311145. [PMID: 38504919 PMCID: PMC10950095 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1311145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the association between age, immune response, and clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT). Design This was a monocentric, retrospective, observational cohort study. Methods A review of the medical records of patients with active OT at the Uveitis Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin, was conducted. Baseline parameters included age at presentation, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), size and location of active lesions, inflammatory activity, antibody index (AI), and complications of intraocular inflammation. The data were presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). The level of significance was set at a p-value of <0.05. Results Between 1998 and 2019, 290 patients with active OT were diagnosed at our tertiary reference center. The mean age of the participants was 37.7 ± 17.1 years, 53.8% of them were female individuals, and 195 patients (70.9%) showed recurrent disease. Older age was associated with lower baseline visual acuity (p = 0.043), poor visual outcome (p = 0.019), increased inflammatory activity (p < 0.005), and larger retinal lesions (p < 0.005). Older patients presented a lower AI (<35 years: 45.1 ± 82.7, median: 12.1; ≥35 years: 18.6 ± 50.5, median: 5.8; p = 0.046), confirmed by a decrease in AI with increasing age (R2 = 0.045; p = 0.024). Finally, AI was correlated with lesion size (multiple linear regression analysis: p = 0.043). Macular involvement (24.3% of patients) was positively correlated with complications (macular/peripapillary edema and retinal detachment, p < 0.005) and poor visual outcome (p < 0.005) and was negatively correlated with inflammatory activity (p < 0.005). Conclusion We found a strong and clinically relevant impact of age on the clinical presentation and course of OT. While an unspecific inflammatory response increased with age, the specific, local humoral immune response declined. These findings are well in line with the concept of immunosenescence and inflammaging in uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Taghavi Eraghi
- Augenklinik, Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Justus G. Garweg
- Swiss Eye Institute, Rotkreuz, Zug, Switzerland
- Berner Augenklinik, Bern, Switzerland
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Inselspital, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Pleyer
- Augenklinik, Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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17
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Dinges SS, Amini K, Notarangelo LD, Delmonte OM. Primary and secondary defects of the thymus. Immunol Rev 2024; 322:178-211. [PMID: 38228406 PMCID: PMC10950553 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary site of T-cell development, enabling generation, and selection of a diverse repertoire of T cells that recognize non-self, whilst remaining tolerant to self- antigens. Severe congenital disorders of thymic development (athymia) can be fatal if left untreated due to infections, and thymic tissue implantation is the only cure. While newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency has allowed improved detection at birth of congenital athymia, thymic disorders acquired later in life are still underrecognized and assessing the quality of thymic function in such conditions remains a challenge. The thymus is sensitive to injury elicited from a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors, and its self-renewal capacity decreases with age. Secondary and age-related forms of thymic dysfunction may lead to an increased risk of infections, malignancy, and autoimmunity. Promising results have been obtained in preclinical models and clinical trials upon administration of soluble factors promoting thymic regeneration, but to date no therapy is approved for clinical use. In this review we provide a background on thymus development, function, and age-related involution. We discuss disease mechanisms, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for primary and secondary thymic defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S. Dinges
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kayla Amini
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luigi D. Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ottavia M. Delmonte
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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18
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Kulesh V, Peskov K, Helmlinger G, Bocharov G. An integrative mechanistic model of thymocyte dynamics. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1321309. [PMID: 38469297 PMCID: PMC10925769 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1321309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The thymus plays a central role in shaping human immune function. A mechanistic, quantitative description of immune cell dynamics and thymic output under homeostatic conditions and various patho-physiological scenarios are of particular interest in drug development applications, e.g., in the identification of potential therapeutic targets and selection of lead drug candidates against infectious diseases. Methods We here developed an integrative mathematical model of thymocyte dynamics in human. It incorporates mechanistic features of thymocyte homeostasis as well as spatial constraints of the thymus and considerations of age-dependent involution. All model parameter estimates were obtained based on published physiological data of thymocyte dynamics and thymus properties in mouse and human. We performed model sensitivity analyses to reveal potential therapeutic targets through an identification of processes critically affecting thymic function; we further explored differences in thymic function across healthy subjects, multiple sclerosis patients, and patients on fingolimod treatment. Results We found thymic function to be most impacted by the egress, proliferation, differentiation and death rates of those thymocytes which are most differentiated. Model predictions also showed that the clinically observed decrease in relapse risk with age, in multiple sclerosis patients who would have discontinued fingolimod therapy, can be explained mechanistically by decreased thymic output with age. Moreover, we quantified the effects of fingolimod treatment duration on thymic output. Conclusions In summary, the proposed model accurately describes, in mechanistic terms, thymic output as a function of age. It may be further used to perform predictive simulations of clinically relevant scenarios which combine specific patho-physiological conditions and pharmacological interventions of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Kulesh
- Research Center of Model-Informed Drug Development, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Kirill Peskov
- Research Center of Model-Informed Drug Development, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
- Modeling & Simulation Decisions FZ - LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius, Russia
| | | | - Gennady Bocharov
- Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
- Institute for Computer Science and Mathematical Modelling, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Center of Fundamental and Applied Mathematics at INM Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
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19
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Chung HY, Shin HY, Choi Y, Park HJ, Lee JG, Lee CY, Park BJ, Kim GJ, Kim SW. Germinal centers are associated with postthymectomy myasthenia gravis in patients with thymoma. Eur J Neurol 2024; 31:e16119. [PMID: 37909803 PMCID: PMC11235914 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Germinal centers (GCs) can be observed in the thymic tissues of patients with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (MG). Although an association between thymic GCs and MG has been suggested, it is unknown whether the presence of GCs could predict the development of MG after the resection of thymoma, known as postthymectomy MG. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of previously nonmyasthenic patients who underwent surgical removal of the thymoma. All available thymic tissue slides were rereviewed by a pathologist to assess for GCs. Patients were classified into GC-positive and GC-negative groups based on the presence of GCs. The incidence of postthymectomy MG was compared between the two groups, and the risk factors for postthymectomy MG were assessed. RESULTS Of the 196 previously nonmyasthenic patients who underwent thymoma resection, 21 were GC-positive, whereas 175 were GC-negative. Postthymectomy MG developed in 11 (5.6%) patients and showed a higher incidence in the GC-positive group than in the GC-negative group (33.3% vs. 2.3%, p < 0.001). No postoperative radiotherapy and the presence of GCs were risk factors for postthymectomy MG in the univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, invasive thymoma (hazard ratio [HR] = 9.835, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.358-105.372), postoperative radiotherapy (HR = 0.160, 95% CI = 0.029-0.893), and presence of GCs (HR = 15.834, 95% CI = 3.742-67.000) were significantly associated with postthymectomy MG. CONCLUSIONS Thymic GCs may be a significant risk factor for postthymectomy MG. Even in patients with thymoma who do not show clinical symptoms of MG, postthymectomy MG should be considered, especially if thymic GCs are observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Yoon Chung
- Department of NeurologyYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
- Department of NeurologyYongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health SystemYonginKorea
| | - Ha Young Shin
- Department of NeurologyYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Young‐Chul Choi
- Department of NeurologyYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Hyung Jun Park
- Department of NeurologyYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Jin Gu Lee
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Chang Young Lee
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Byung Jo Park
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Gi Jeong Kim
- Department of PathologyYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
| | - Seung Woo Kim
- Department of NeurologyYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulKorea
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20
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Yonemoto Y, Nemoto Y, Morikawa R, Shibayama N, Oshima S, Nagaishi T, Mizutani T, Ito G, Fujii S, Okamoto R. Single cell analysis revealed that two distinct, unique CD4 + T cell subsets were increased in the small intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes of aged mice. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340048. [PMID: 38327516 PMCID: PMC10848332 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in research suggest that aging has a controllable chronic inflammatory disease aspect. Aging systemic T cells, which secrete pro-inflammatory factors, affect surrounding somatic cells, and accelerate the aging process through chronic inflammation, have attracted attention as potential therapeutic targets in aging. On the other hand, there are few reports on the aging of the intestinal immune system, which differs from the systemic immune system in many ways. In the current study, we investigated the age-related changes in the intestinal immune system, particularly in T cells. The most significant changes were observed in the CD4+ T cells in the small intestinal IEL, with a marked increase in this fraction in old mice and reduced expression of CD27 and CD28, which are characteristic of aging systemic T cells. The proliferative capacity of aging IEL CD4+ T cells was significantly more reduced than that of aging systemic T cells. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of inflammatory cytokines was not upregulated, whereas Cd8α, NK receptors, and Granzymes were upregulated in aging IEL CD4+ T cells. Functional analysis showed that aging IEL T cells had a higher cytotoxic function against intestinal tumor organoids in vitro than young IEL T cells. scRNAseq revealed that splenic T cells show a transition from naïve to memory T cells, whereas intestinal T cells show the emergence of a CD8αα+CD4+ T cell fraction in aged mice, which is rarely seen in young cells. Further analysis of the aging IEL CD4+ T cells showed that two unique subsets are increased that are distinct from the systemic CD4+ T cells. Subset 1 has a pro-inflammatory component, with expression of IFNγ and upregulation of NFkB signaling pathways. Subset 2 does not express IFNγ, but upregulates inhibitory molecules and nIEL markers. Expression of granzymes and Cd8a was common to both. These fractions were in opposite positions in the clustering by UMAP and had different TCR repertoires. They may be involved in the suppression of intestinal aging and longevity through anti-tumor immunity, elimination of senescent cells and stressed cells in the aging environment. This finding could be a breakthrough in aging research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Yonemoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Nemoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Morikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nana Shibayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Oshima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
- Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Nagaishi
- Department of Advanced Therapeutics for Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Mizutani
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Go Ito
- Advanced Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Fujii
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Okamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Kumar SJ, Shukla S, Kumar S, Mishra P. Immunosenescence and Inflamm-Aging: Clinical Interventions and the Potential for Reversal of Aging. Cureus 2024; 16:e53297. [PMID: 38435871 PMCID: PMC10906346 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is often associated with the impairment of the ability to sustain the consequences of the physical, chemical, nutritional, and antigenic triggers of inflammation. The process of immunosenescence may only partially be explained by the senescence of cells, tissues, or the organism, and, hence, the hallmarks of immunosenescence may be markedly and differentially affected by the history of an individual's pathogenic encounter. Inflammation is a key component of immunosenescence, which itself is a direct consequence of aging. This review article highlights the therapeutic interventions for slowing the processes of inflamm-aging and immunosenescence and the possible reversal of aging and includes domains of immunomodulatory interventions, vaccination strategies, nutritional interventions, stem cell therapies, personalized medicine, microbiome interventions, and the positive effects of physical activity and exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samayak J Kumar
- Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Samarth Shukla
- Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Preeti Mishra
- Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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22
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Cinicola BL, Ottaviano G, Hashim IF, Zainudeen ZT, Hamid IJA, Elfeky R. Prevalence and Characteristics of Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Infection in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Clin Immunol 2023; 44:23. [PMID: 38129624 PMCID: PMC10739425 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-023-01615-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Here, we aimed to review and analyze current literature on incidence, clinical presentation, and outcome of NTM infection after allogeneic HSCT. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of available literature regarding NTM infection in children and adults receiving allogeneic HSCT. RESULTS We identified 56 articles eligible for the analysis. Among 15 studies, describing 15,798 allogeneic HSCT, we estimated a prevalence of 1.26% (95% CI 0.72, 1.93) of NTM after transplant. Analysis of 175 patients with NTM infection showed a median time of diagnosis of 318 days after HSCT, an increased prevalence in adults (82.9%), and a most frequent pulmonary involvement (44%). Comparison between children and adults revealed an earlier post-transplant disease onset (median 130 days vs 287 days) and most frequent non-pulmonary presentation in children. A vast heterogeneity of therapeutic approach reflected the lack of universal recommendations regarding drug combination and duration of therapy. Overall, NTM-related mortality accounted for 33% in this systematic review. CONCLUSION Although rare, NTM infections can complicate post-transplant course with a high mortality rate in children and adults. The lack of prospective studies and guidelines prevents identification of risk factors and therapeutic recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Laura Cinicola
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ottaviano
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Ilie Fadzilah Hashim
- Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Zarina Thasneem Zainudeen
- Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Intan Juliana Abd Hamid
- Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
| | - Reem Elfeky
- Department of Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, London, UK.
- GOS Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, University College London GOS Institute of Child Health, and NIHR GOSH BRC, London, UK.
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23
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Unuma K, Wen S, Aki T, Uemura K. Ectopic myogenesis and fibrosis accompany adipogenesis during thymic involution induced by repeated cocaine administration. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 686:149201. [PMID: 37926043 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
We have shown previously that daily cocaine administration for 7-14 days in rats resulted in the acceleration of thymic involution, which is, alike to age-related thymic involution, accompanied by ectopic adipogenesis. Here we show that the thymic involution caused by repeated cocaine administration is accompanied by not only adipogenesis but also ectopic myogenesis and fibrosis. In accordance with fibrosis, we observed an increase of N-cadherin, a marker of mesenchymal cells, as well as a decrease of E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker, in the thymus in response to cocaine administration, suggesting the occurrence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Levels of fibronectin was also increased in the thymus of cocaine group compared to control group. In addition, increases in the levels of the transcription factors for myogenic differentiation, myogenin, MYF5, and MYF6, were observed in the thymus administered cocaine for 14 days. These results indicate that the thymic involution induced by cocaine administration involves not only adipogenesis and fibrosis but also ectopic myogenesis, which is scarcely observed and rather pathological process during thymic involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kana Unuma
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuheng Wen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Aki
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Koichi Uemura
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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24
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Li C, Stebbins RC, Noppert GA, Carney CX, Liu C, Sapp ARM, Watson EJ, Aiello AE. Peripheral immune function and Alzheimer's disease: a living systematic review and critical appraisal. Mol Psychiatry 2023:10.1038/s41380-023-02355-x. [PMID: 38102484 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02355-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of literature examines the relationship between peripheral immune function and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in human populations. Our living systematic review summarizes the characteristics and findings of these studies, appraises their quality, and formulates recommendations for future research. METHODS We searched the electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, and reviewed references of previous reviews and meta-analyses to identify human studies examining the relationship between any peripheral immune biomarkers and AD up to September 7th, 2023. We examined patterns of reported statistical associations (positive, negative, and null) between each biomarker and AD across studies. Evidence for each biomarker was categorized into four groups based on the proportion of studies reporting different associations: corroborating a positive association with AD, a negative association, a null association, and presenting contradictory findings. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was employed to assess the quality of the included studies. FINDINGS In total, 286 studies were included in this review. The majority were cross-sectional (n = 245, 85.7%) and hospital-based (n = 248, 86.7%), examining relationships between 187 different peripheral immune biomarkers and AD. Cytokines were the most frequently studied group of peripheral immune biomarkers. Evidence supported a positive association with AD for six biomarkers, including IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, ACT, IL-18, and IL-12, and a negative association for two biomarkers, including lymphocytes and IL-6R. Only a small proportion of included studies (n = 22, 7.7%) were deemed to be of high quality based on quality assessment. INTERPRETATION Existing research on peripheral immune function and AD exhibits substantial methodological variations and limitations, with a notable lack of longitudinal, population-based studies investigating a broad range of biomarkers with prospective AD outcomes. The extent and manner in which peripheral immune function can contribute to AD pathophysiology remain open questions. Given the biomarkers that we identified to be associated with AD, we posit that targeting peripheral immune dysregulation may present a promising intervention point to reduce the burden of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihua Li
- Social Environment and Health Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Rebecca C Stebbins
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Grace A Noppert
- Social Environment and Health Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Constanza X Carney
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ashley R M Sapp
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elijah J Watson
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
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25
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Yang J, Liu J, Liang J, Li F, Wang W, Chen H, Xie X. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in age-associated thymic involution: Mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102115. [PMID: 37922996 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a critical immune organ with endocrine and immune functions that plays important roles in the physiological and pathological processes of the body. However, with aging, the thymus undergoes degenerative changes leading to decreased production and output of naive T cells and the secretion of thymic hormones and related cytokines, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of various age-associated diseases. Therefore, identifying essential processes that regulate age-associated thymic involution is crucial for long-term control of thymic involution and age-associated disease progression. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a well-established process involved in organ aging and functional impairment through tissue fibrosis in several organs, such as the heart and kidney. In the thymus, EMT promotes fibrosis and potentially adipogenesis, leading to thymic involution. This review focuses on the factors involved in thymic involution, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormones, from the perspective of EMT. Furthermore, current interventions for reversing age-associated thymic involution by targeting EMT-associated processes are summarized. Understanding the key mechanisms of thymic involution through EMT as an entry point may promote the development of new therapies and clinical agents to reverse thymic involution and age-associated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Yang
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Juan Liu
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Liang
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Fan Li
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Huan Chen
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Nucleic Acid Medicine of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
| | - Xiang Xie
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
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26
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Tyrrell DJ, Wragg KM, Chen J, Wang H, Song J, Blin MG, Bolding C, Vardaman D, Giles K, Tidwell H, Ali MA, Janappareddi A, Wood SC, Goldstein DR. Clonally expanded memory CD8 + T cells accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and are pro-atherogenic in aged mice. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:1576-1590. [PMID: 37996758 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00515-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis and induces accumulation of memory CD8+ T cells in mice and humans. Biological changes that occur with aging lead to enhanced atherosclerosis, yet the role of aging on CD8+ T cells during atherogenesis is unclear. In this study, using femle mice, we found that depletion of CD8+ T cells attenuated atherogenesis in aged, but not young, animals. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of splenic CD8+ T cells from aged wild-type, but not young wild-type, donor mice significantly enhanced atherosclerosis in recipient mice lacking CD8+ T cells. We also characterized T cells in healthy and atherosclerotic young and aged mice by single-cell RNA sequencing. We found specific subsets of age-associated CD8+ T cells, including a Granzyme K+ effector memory subset, that accumulated and was clonally expanded within atherosclerotic plaques. These had transcriptomic signatures of T cell activation, migration, cytotoxicity and exhaustion. Overall, our study identified memory CD8+ T cells as therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Tyrrell
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Wragg
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Judy Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jianrui Song
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Muriel G Blin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chase Bolding
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Donald Vardaman
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kara Giles
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Harrison Tidwell
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Md Akkas Ali
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Sherri C Wood
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel R Goldstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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27
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Fu Z, Xu H, Yue L, Zheng W, Pan L, Gao F, Liu X. Immunosenescence and cancer: Opportunities and challenges. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36045. [PMID: 38013358 PMCID: PMC10681516 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As individuals age, cancer becomes increasingly common. This continually rising risk can be attributed to various interconnected factors that influence the body's susceptibility to cancer. Among these factors, the accumulation of senescent cells in tissues and the subsequent decline in immune cell function and proliferative potential are collectively referred to as immunosenescence. Reduced T-cell production, changes in secretory phenotypes, increased glycolysis, and the generation of reactive oxygen species are characteristics of immunosenescence that contribute to cancer susceptibility. In the tumor microenvironment, senescent immune cells may promote the growth and spread of tumors through multiple pathways, thereby affecting the effectiveness of immunotherapy. In recent years, immunosenescence has gained increasing attention due to its critical role in tumor development. However, our understanding of how immunosenescence specifically impacts cancer immunotherapy remains limited, primarily due to the underrepresentation of elderly patients in clinical trials. Furthermore, there are several age-related intervention methods, including metformin and rapamycin, which involve genetic and pharmaceutical approaches. This article aims to elucidate the defining characteristics of immunosenescence and its impact on malignant tumors and immunotherapy. We particularly focus on the future directions of cancer treatment, exploring the complex interplay between immunosenescence, cancer, and potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Fu
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Hailong Xu
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Lanping Yue
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Linkang Pan
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Fangyi Gao
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Xingshan Liu
- Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, Shandong, China
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28
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Redruello-Romero A, Benitez-Cantos MS, Lopez-Perez D, García-Rubio J, Tamayo F, Pérez-Bartivas D, Moreno-SanJuan S, Ruiz-Palmero I, Puentes-Pardo JD, Vilchez JR, López-Nevot MÁ, García F, Cano C, León J, Carazo Á. Human adipose tissue as a major reservoir of cytomegalovirus-reactive T cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1303724. [PMID: 38053998 PMCID: PMC10694288 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1303724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpesvirus with a high prevalence worldwide. After the acute infection phase, CMV can remain latent in several tissues. CD8 T cells in the lungs and salivary glands mainly control its reactivation control. White adipose tissue (WAT) contains a significant population of memory T cells reactive to viral antigens, but CMV specificity has mainly been studied in mouse WAT. Therefore, we obtained blood, omental WAT (oWAT), subcutaneous WAT (sWAT), and liver samples from 11 obese donors to characterize the human WAT adaptive immune landscape from a phenotypic and immune receptor specificity perspective. Methods We performed high-throughput sequencing of the T cell receptor (TCR) locus to analyze tissue and blood TCR repertoires of the 11 donors. The presence of TCRs specific to CMV epitopes was tested through ELISpot assays. Moreover, phenotypic characterization of T cells was carried out through flow cytometry. Results High-throughput sequencing analyses revealed that tissue TCR repertoires in oWAT, sWAT, and liver samples were less diverse and dominated by hyperexpanded clones when compared to blood samples. Additionally, we predicted the presence of TCRs specific to viral epitopes, particularly from CMV, which was confirmed by ELISpot assays. Remarkably, we found that oWAT has a higher proportion of CMV-reactive T cells than blood or sWAT. Finally, flow cytometry analyses indicated that most WAT-infiltrated lymphocytes were tissue-resident effector memory CD8 T cells. Discussion Overall, these findings postulate human oWAT as a major reservoir of CMV-specific T cells, presumably for latent viral reactivation control. This study enhances our understanding of the adaptive immune response in human WAT and highlights its potential role in antiviral defense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria S. Benitez-Cantos
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology III and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain
| | - David Lopez-Perez
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - Daniel Pérez-Bartivas
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
| | - Sara Moreno-SanJuan
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Cytometry and Microscopy Research Service, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
| | - Isabel Ruiz-Palmero
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
| | - Jose D. Puentes-Pardo
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jose R. Vilchez
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Clinical Analyses and Immunology Unit, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Á. López-Nevot
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology III and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Clinical Analyses and Immunology Unit, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain
| | - Federico García
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) of Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Cano
- Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Josefa León
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Digestive Unit, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain
| | - Ángel Carazo
- Research Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain
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29
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Conover CA, Oxvig C. The Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A) Story. Endocr Rev 2023; 44:1012-1028. [PMID: 37267421 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) was first identified in the early 1970s as a placental protein of unknown function, present at high concentrations in the circulation of pregnant women. In the mid-to-late 1990s, PAPP-A was discovered to be a metzincin metalloproteinase, expressed by many nonplacental cells, that regulates local insulin-like growth factor (IGF) activity through cleavage of high-affinity IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), in particular IGFBP-4. With PAPP-A as a cell surface-associated enzyme, the reduced affinity of the cleavage fragments results in increased IGF available to bind and activate IGF receptors in the pericellular environment. This proteolytic regulation of IGF activity is important, since the IGFs promote proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival in various normal and cancer cells. Thus, there has been a steady growth in investigation of PAPP-A structure and function outside of pregnancy. This review provides historical perspective on the discovery of PAPP-A and its structure and cellular function, highlights key studies of the first 50 years in PAPP-A research, and introduces new findings from recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl A Conover
- Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Claus Oxvig
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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Shapiro MR, Peters LD, Brown ME, Cabello-Kindelan C, Posgai AL, Bayer AL, Brusko TM. Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Synergizes with IL-2 to Induce Homeostatic Proliferation of Regulatory T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1108-1122. [PMID: 37594278 PMCID: PMC10511790 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
IL-2 has been proposed to restore tolerance via regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion in autoimmunity, yet off-target effects necessitate identification of a combinatorial approach allowing for lower IL-2 dosing. We recently reported reduced levels of immunoregulatory insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) during type 1 diabetes progression. Thus, we hypothesized that IGF1 would synergize with IL-2 to expand Tregs. We observed IGF1 receptor was elevated on murine memory and human naive Treg subsets. IL-2 and IGF1 promoted PI3K/Akt signaling in Tregs, inducing thymically-derived Treg expansion beyond either agent alone in NOD mice. Increased populations of murine Tregs of naive or memory, as well as CD5lo polyclonal or CD5hi likely self-reactive, status were also observed. Expansion was attributed to increased IL-2Rγ subunit expression on murine Tregs exposed to IL-2 and IGF1 as compared with IL-2 or IGF1 alone. Assessing translational capacity, incubation of naive human CD4+ T cells with IL-2 and IGF1 enhanced thymically-derived Treg proliferation in vitro, without the need for TCR ligation. We then demonstrated that IGF1 and IL-2 or IL-7, which is also IL-2Rγ-chain dependent, can be used to induce proliferation of genetically engineered naive human Tregs or T conventional cells, respectively. These data support the potential use of IGF1 in combination with common γ-chain cytokines to drive homeostatic T cell expansion, both in vitro and in vivo, for cellular therapeutics and ex vivo gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R. Shapiro
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Leeana D. Peters
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Matthew E. Brown
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | | | - Amanda L. Posgai
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Allison L. Bayer
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Todd M. Brusko
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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Lee S, Song SG, Chung DH. Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis for Thymic Epithelial Cells of Aged Mice and Humans. Immune Netw 2023; 23:e36. [PMID: 37970235 PMCID: PMC10643332 DOI: 10.4110/in.2023.23.e36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in thymic development and thymopoiesis. As individuals age, TECs undergo various changes that impact their functions, leading to a reduction in cell numbers and impaired thymic selection. These age-related alterations have been observed in both mice and humans. However, the precise mechanisms underlying age-related TEC dysfunction remain unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that connects mouse and human biological processes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive transcriptome analysis of young and old TECs in mice, complemented by further analysis of publicly available human TEC single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis revealed alterations in both known and unknown pathways that potentially contribute to age-related TEC dysfunction. Specifically, we observed downregulation of pathways related to cell proliferation, T cell development, metabolism, and cytokine signaling in old age TECs. Conversely, TGF-β, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated, which have been known to be associated with age-related TEC dysfunctions or newly discovered in this study. Importantly, we found that these age-related changes in mouse TECs were consistently present in human TECs as well. This cross-species validation further strengthens the significance of our findings. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides valuable insight into the biological and immunological characteristics of aged TECs in both mice and humans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of thymic involution and age-induced immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangsin Lee
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Seung Geun Song
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Doo Hyun Chung
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
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Hopkin SJ, Pezhman L, Begum J, Kavanagh D, McGettrick HM, Iqbal AJ, Chimen M. Aging modulates homeostatic leukocyte trafficking to the peritoneal cavity in a sex-specific manner. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 114:301-314. [PMID: 37309034 PMCID: PMC10533226 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with exacerbated systemic inflammation (inflammaging) and the progressive loss of immune system function (immunosenescence). Leukocyte migration is necessary for effective immunity; however, dysregulated trafficking of leukocytes into tissue contributes to inflammaging and the development of age-related inflammatory diseases. Aging modulates leukocyte trafficking under inflammatory conditions; however, whether aging modulates leukocyte trafficking under homeostatic conditions remains to be elucidated. Although immune responses are evidently sexually dimorphic, limited studies have investigated the effect of sex on age-related changes to leukocyte trafficking processes. Here, we investigated age-related and sex-specific changes to the leukocyte populations within the peritoneal cavity of young (3-mo), middle-aged (18-mo) and old (21-mo) male and female wild-type mice in the steady state. We found an age-related increase in the number of leukocytes within the peritoneal cavity of female mice, predominantly B cells, which may reflect increased trafficking through this tissue with age. This was accompanied by an increased inflammatory environment within the aged cavity, including increased levels of chemoattractants, including B cell chemoattractants CXCL13 and CCL21, soluble adhesion molecules, and proinflammatory cytokines, which was more pronounced in aged female mice. Intravital microscopy techniques revealed altered vascular structure and increased vascular permeability within the peritoneal membrane of aged female mice, which may support increased leukocyte trafficking to the cavity with age. Together, these data indicate that aging affects homeostatic leukocyte trafficking processes in a sex-specific fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie J Hopkin
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Laleh Pezhman
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Jenefa Begum
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Dean Kavanagh
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Helen M McGettrick
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Asif J Iqbal
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Myriam Chimen
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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Weng NP. Numbers and odds: TCR repertoire size and its age changes impacting on T cell functions. Semin Immunol 2023; 69:101810. [PMID: 37515916 PMCID: PMC10530048 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101810] [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] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
A vast array of αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) is generated during T cell development in the thymus through V(D)J recombination, which involves the rearrangement of multiple V, D, and J genes and the pairing of α and β chains. These diverse TCRs provide protection to the human body against a multitude of foreign pathogens and internal cancer cells. The entirety of TCRs present in an individual's T cells is referred to as the TCR repertoire. Despite an estimated 4 × 1011 T cells in the adult human body, the lower bound estimate for the TCR repertoire is 3.8 × 108. While the number of circulating T cells may slightly decrease with age, the changes in the diversity of the TCR repertoire is more apparent. Here, I review recent advancements in TCR repertoire studies, the methods used to measure it, how richness and diversity change as humans age, and some of the known consequences associated with these changes.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Humans
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan-Ping Weng
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Sandstedt M, Chung RWS, Skoglund C, Lundberg AK, Östgren CJ, Ernerudh J, Jonasson L. Complete fatty degeneration of thymus associates with male sex, obesity and loss of circulating naïve CD8 + T cells in a Swedish middle-aged population. Immun Ageing 2023; 20:45. [PMID: 37653480 PMCID: PMC10470174 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-023-00371-7] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatty degeneration of thymus (or thymus involution) has long been considered a normal ageing process. However, there is emerging evidence that thymic involution is linked to T cell aging, chronic inflammation and increased morbidity. Other factors, aside from chronological age, have been proposed to affect the involution rate. In the present study, we investigated the imaging characteristics of thymus on computed tomography (CT) in a Swedish middle-aged population. The major aims were to establish the prevalence of fatty degeneration of thymus and to determine its associations with demographic, lifestyle and clinical factors, as well as inflammation, T cell differentiation and thymic output. RESULTS In total, 1 048 randomly invited individuals (aged 50-64 years, 49% females) were included and thoroughly characterized. CT evaluation of thymus included measurements of attenuation, size and a 4-point scoring system, with scale 0-3 based on the ratio of fat and soft tissue. A majority, 615 (59%) showed complete fatty degeneration, 259 (25%) predominantly fatty attenuation, 105 (10%) half fatty and half soft-tissue attenuation, while 69 (6.6%) presented with a solid thymic gland with predominantly soft-tissue attenuation. Age, male sex, high BMI, abdominal obesity and low dietary intake of fiber were independently associated with complete fatty degeneration of thymus. Also, fatty degeneration of thymus as well as low CT attenuation values were independently related to lower proportion of naïve CD8+ T cells, which in turn was related to lower thymic output, assessed by T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) levels. CONCLUSION Among Swedish middle-aged subjects, nearly two-thirds showed complete fatty degeneration of thymus on CT. This was linked to depletion of naïve CD8+ T cells indicating that CT scans of thymus might be used to estimate immunological aging. Furthermore, our findings support the intriguing concept that obesity as well as low fiber intake contribute to immunological aging, thereby raising the possibility of preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mårten Sandstedt
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Radiology and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rosanna W S Chung
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Camilla Skoglund
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna K Lundberg
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carl Johan Östgren
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lena Jonasson
- Department of Cardiology and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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Finnegan D, Tocmo R, Loscher C. Targeted Application of Functional Foods as Immune Fitness Boosters in the Defense against Viral Infection. Nutrients 2023; 15:3371. [PMID: 37571308 PMCID: PMC10421353 DOI: 10.3390/nu15153371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent times, the emergence of viral infections, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the monkeypox virus, and, most recently, the Langya virus, has highlighted the devastating effects of viral infection on human life. There has been significant progress in the development of efficacious vaccines for the prevention and control of viruses; however, the high rates of viral mutation and transmission necessitate the need for novel methods of control, management, and prevention. In recent years, there has been a shift in public awareness on health and wellbeing, with consumers making significant dietary changes to improve their immunity and overall health. This rising health awareness is driving a global increase in the consumption of functional foods. This review delves into the benefits of functional foods as potential natural means to modulate the host immune system to enhance defense against viral infections. We provide an overview of the functional food market in Europe and discuss the benefits of enhancing immune fitness in high-risk groups, including the elderly, those with obesity, and people with underlying chronic conditions. We also discuss the immunomodulatory mechanisms of key functional foods, including dairy proteins and hydrolysates, plant-based functional foods, fermentates, and foods enriched with vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. Our findings reveal four key immunity boosting mechanisms by functional foods, including inhibition of viral proliferation and binding to host cells, modulation of the innate immune response in macrophages and dendritic cells, enhancement of specific immune responses in T cells and B cells, and promotion of the intestinal barrier function. Overall, this review demonstrates that diet-derived nutrients and functional foods show immense potential to boost viral immunity in high-risk individuals and can be an important approach to improving overall immune health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christine Loscher
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, D09 DX63 Dublin, Ireland; (D.F.); (R.T.)
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Terrabuio E, Zenaro E, Constantin G. The role of the CD8+ T cell compartment in ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1233870. [PMID: 37575227 PMCID: PMC10416633 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ lymphocytes are adaptive immunity cells with the particular function to directly kill the target cell following antigen recognition in the context of MHC class I. In addition, CD8+ T cells may release pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and a plethora of other cytokines and chemoattractants modulating immune and inflammatory responses. A role for CD8+ T cells has been suggested in aging and several diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, limbic encephalitis-induced temporal lobe epilepsy and Susac syndrome. Here we discuss the phenotypic and functional alterations of CD8+ T cell compartment during these conditions, highlighting similarities and differences between CNS disorders. Particularly, we describe the pathological changes in CD8+ T cell memory phenotypes emphasizing the role of senescence and exhaustion in promoting neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We also discuss the relevance of trafficking molecules such as selectins, mucins and integrins controlling the extravasation of CD8+ T cells into the CNS and promoting disease development. Finally, we discuss how CD8+ T cells may induce CNS tissue damage leading to neurodegeneration and suggest that targeting detrimental CD8+ T cells functions may have therapeutic effect in CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Terrabuio
- Department of Medicine, Section of General Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Paschold L, Gottschick C, Langer S, Klee B, Diexer S, Aksentijevich I, Schultheiß C, Purschke O, Riese P, Trittel S, Haase R, Dressler F, Eberl W, Hübner J, Strowig T, Guzman CA, Mikolajczyk R, Binder M. T cell repertoire breadth is associated with the number of acute respiratory infections in the LoewenKIDS birth cohort. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9516. [PMID: 37308563 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36144-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We set out to gain insight into peripheral blood B and T cell repertoires from 120 infants of the LoewenKIDS birth cohort to investigate potential determinants of early life respiratory infections. Low antigen-dependent somatic hypermutation of B cell repertoires, as well as low T and B cell repertoire clonality, high diversity, and high richness especially in public T cell clonotypes reflected the immunological naivety at 12 months of age when high thymic and bone marrow output are associated with relatively few prior antigen encounters. Infants with inadequately low T cell repertoire diversity or high clonality showed higher numbers of acute respiratory infections over the first 4 years of life. No correlation of T or B cell repertoire metrics with other parameters such as sex, birth mode, older siblings, pets, the onset of daycare, or duration of breast feeding was noted. Together, this study supports that-regardless of T cell functionality-the breadth of the T cell repertoire is associated with the number of acute respiratory infections in the first 4 years of life. Moreover, this study provides a valuable resource of millions of T and B cell receptor sequences from infants with available metadata for researchers in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Paschold
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Oncology/Hematology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Cornelia Gottschick
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Susan Langer
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Bianca Klee
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Sophie Diexer
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ivona Aksentijevich
- Inflammatory Disease Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christoph Schultheiß
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Oncology/Hematology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Oliver Purschke
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Peggy Riese
- Department Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephanie Trittel
- Department Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Roland Haase
- Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Hospital St. Elisabeth und St. Barbara, 06110, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Frank Dressler
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Eberl
- Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Braunschweig, 38118, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Johannes Hübner
- Department of Paediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig- Maximilians-University Munich, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Till Strowig
- Department Microbial Immune Regulation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Carlos A Guzman
- Department Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rafael Mikolajczyk
- Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mascha Binder
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Oncology/Hematology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 40314031, Basel, Switzerland.
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Jani S, Church CD, Nghiem P. Insights into anti-tumor immunity via the polyomavirus shared across human Merkel cell carcinomas. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1172913. [PMID: 37287968 PMCID: PMC10242112 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1172913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding and augmenting cancer-specific immunity is impeded by the fact that most tumors are driven by patient-specific mutations that encode unique antigenic epitopes. The shared antigens in virus-driven tumors can help overcome this limitation. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a particularly interesting tumor immunity model because (1) 80% of cases are driven by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) oncoproteins that must be continually expressed for tumor survival; (2) MCPyV oncoproteins are only ~400 amino acids in length and are essentially invariant between tumors; (3) MCPyV-specific T cell responses are robust and strongly linked to patient outcomes; (4) anti-MCPyV antibodies reliably increase with MCC recurrence, forming the basis of a standard clinical surveillance test; and (5) MCC has one of the highest response rates to PD-1 pathway blockade among all solid cancers. Leveraging these well-defined viral oncoproteins, a set of tools that includes over 20 peptide-MHC class I tetramers has been developed to facilitate the study of anti-tumor immunity across MCC patients. Additionally, the highly immunogenic nature of MCPyV oncoproteins forces MCC tumors to develop robust immune evasion mechanisms to survive. Indeed, several immune evasion mechanisms are active in MCC, including transcriptional downregulation of MHC expression by tumor cells and upregulation of inhibitory molecules including PD-L1 and immunosuppressive cytokines. About half of patients with advanced MCC do not persistently benefit from PD-1 pathway blockade. Herein, we (1) summarize the lessons learned from studying the anti-tumor T cell response to virus-positive MCC; (2) review immune evasion mechanisms in MCC; (3) review mechanisms of resistance to immune-based therapies in MCC and other cancers; and (4) discuss how recently developed tools can be used to address open questions in cancer immunotherapy. We believe detailed investigation of this model cancer will provide insight into tumor immunity that will likely also be applicable to more common cancers without shared tumor antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Jani
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Candice D. Church
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Paul Nghiem
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
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Jain T, Olson TS, Locke FL. How I treat cytopenias after CAR T-cell therapy. Blood 2023; 141:2460-2469. [PMID: 36800563 PMCID: PMC10646792 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing use of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) has unveiled diverse toxicities warranting specific recognition and management. Cytopenias occurring after CAR-T infusion invariably manifest early (<30 days), commonly are prolonged (30-90 days), and sometimes persist or occur late (>90 days). Variable etiologies of these cytopenias, some of which remain incompletely understood, create clinical conundrums and uncertainties about optimal management strategies. These cytopenias may cause additional sequelae, decreased quality of life, and increased resource use. Early cytopenias are typically attributed to lymphodepletion chemotherapy, however, infections and hyperinflammatory response such as immune effector cell-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-like syndrome may occur. Early and prolonged cytopenias often correlate with severity of cytokine release syndrome or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Bone marrow biopsy in patients with prolonged or late cytopenias is important to evaluate for primary disease and secondary marrow neoplasm in both pediatric and adult patients. Commonly, cytopenias resolve over time and evidence for effective interventions is often anecdotal. Treatment strategies, which are limited and require tailoring based upon likely underlying etiology, include growth factors, thrombopoietin-receptor agonist, stem cell boost, transfusion support, and abrogation of infection risk. Here we provide our approach, including workup and management strategies, for cytopenias after CAR-T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Jain
- Division of Hematological Malignancies and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Timothy S. Olson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Frederick L. Locke
- Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
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Liu Z, Liang Q, Ren Y, Guo C, Ge X, Wang L, Cheng Q, Luo P, Zhang Y, Han X. Immunosenescence: molecular mechanisms and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:200. [PMID: 37179335 PMCID: PMC10182360 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01451-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection susceptibility, poor vaccination efficacy, age-related disease onset, and neoplasms are linked to innate and adaptive immune dysfunction that accompanies aging (known as immunosenescence). During aging, organisms tend to develop a characteristic inflammatory state that expresses high levels of pro-inflammatory markers, termed inflammaging. This chronic inflammation is a typical phenomenon linked to immunosenescence and it is considered the major risk factor for age-related diseases. Thymic involution, naïve/memory cell ratio imbalance, dysregulated metabolism, and epigenetic alterations are striking features of immunosenescence. Disturbed T-cell pools and chronic antigen stimulation mediate premature senescence of immune cells, and senescent immune cells develop a proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype that exacerbates inflammaging. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be addressed, it is well documented that senescent T cells and inflammaging might be major driving forces in immunosenescence. Potential counteractive measures will be discussed, including intervention of cellular senescence and metabolic-epigenetic axes to mitigate immunosenescence. In recent years, immunosenescence has attracted increasing attention for its role in tumor development. As a result of the limited participation of elderly patients, the impact of immunosenescence on cancer immunotherapy is unclear. Despite some surprising results from clinical trials and drugs, it is necessary to investigate the role of immunosenescence in cancer and other age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qimeng Liang
- Nephrology Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, 4500052, Henan, China
| | - Yuqing Ren
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chunguang Guo
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoyong Ge
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Libo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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Fox JJ, Hashimoto T, Navarro HI, Garcia AJ, Shou BL, Goldstein AS. Highly multiplexed immune profiling throughout adulthood reveals kinetics of lymphocyte infiltration in the aging mouse prostate. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:3356-3380. [PMID: 37179121 PMCID: PMC10449296 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a significant risk factor for disease in several tissues, including the prostate. Defining the kinetics of age-related changes in these tissues is critical for identifying regulators of aging and evaluating interventions to slow the aging process and reduce disease risk. An altered immune microenvironment is characteristic of prostatic aging in mice, but whether features of aging in the prostate emerge predominantly in old age or earlier in adulthood has not previously been established. Using highly multiplexed immune profiling and time-course analysis, we tracked the abundance of 29 immune cell clusters in the aging mouse prostate. Early in adulthood, myeloid cells comprise the vast majority of immune cells in the 3-month-old mouse prostate. Between 6 and 12 months of age, there is a profound shift towards a T and B lymphocyte-dominant mouse prostate immune microenvironment. Comparing the prostate to other urogenital tissues, we found similar features of age-related inflammation in the mouse bladder but not the kidney. In summary, our study offers new insight into the kinetics of prostatic inflammaging and the window when interventions to slow down age-related changes may be most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J. Fox
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Current Address: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Current Address: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Takao Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Héctor I. Navarro
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alejandro J. Garcia
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Shou
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Current Address: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew S. Goldstein
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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42
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Homan EJ, Bremel RD. Determinants of tumor immune evasion: the role of T cell exposed motif frequency and mutant amino acid exposure. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1155679. [PMID: 37215122 PMCID: PMC10196236 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1155679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Few neoepitopes detected in tumor biopsies are immunogenic. Tumor-specific T cell responses require both the presentation of an epitope that differs from wildtype and the presence of T cells with neoepitope-cognate receptors. We show that mutations detected in tumor biopsies result in an increased frequency of rare amino acid combinations compared to the human proteome and gastrointestinal microorganisms. Mutations in a large data set of oncogene and tumor suppressor gene products were compared to wildtype, and to the count of corresponding amino acid motifs in the human proteome and gastrointestinal microbiome. Mutant amino acids in T cell exposed positions of potential neoepitopes consistently generated amino acid motifs that are less common in both proteome reference datasets. Approximately 10% of the mutant amino acid motifs are absent from the human proteome. Motif frequency does not change when mutants were positioned in the MHC anchor positions hidden from T cell receptors. Analysis of neoepitopes in GBM and LUSC cases showed less common T cell exposed motifs, and HLA binding preferentially placing mutant amino acids in an anchor position for both MHC I and MHC II. Cross-presentation of mutant exposed neoepitopes by MHC I and MHC II was particularly uncommon. Review of a tumor mutation dataset known to generate T cell responses showed immunogenic epitopes were those with mutant amino acids exposed to the T cell receptor and with exposed pentamer motifs present in the human and microbiome reference databases. The study illustrates a previously unrecognized mechanism of tumor immune evasion, as rare T cell exposed motifs produced by mutation are less likely to have cognate T cells in the T cell repertoire. The complex interactions of HLA genotype, binding positions, and mutation specific changes in T cell exposed motif underscore the necessity of evaluating potential neoepitopes in each individual patient.
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43
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Liu Q, Zheng Y, Goronzy JJ, Weyand CM. T cell aging as a risk factor for autoimmunity. J Autoimmun 2023; 137:102947. [PMID: 36357240 PMCID: PMC10164202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Immune aging is a complex process rendering the host susceptible to cancer, infection, and insufficient tissue repair. Many autoimmune diseases preferentially occur during the second half of life, counterintuitive to the concept of excess adaptive immunity driving immune-mediated tissue damage. T cells are particularly susceptible to aging-imposed changes, as they are under extreme proliferative pressure to fulfill the demands of clonal expansion and of homeostatic T cell repopulation. T cells in older adults have a footprint of genetic and epigenetic changes, lack mitochondrial fitness, and fail to maintain proteostasis, diverging them from host protection to host injury. Here, we review recent progress in understanding how the human T-cell system ages and the evidence detailing how T cell aging contributes to autoimmune conditions. T cell aging is now recognized as a risk determinant in two prototypic autoimmune syndromes; rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis. The emerging concept adds susceptibility to autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease to the spectrum of aging-imposed adaptations and opens new opportunities for immunomodulatory therapy by restoring the functional intactness of aging T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiang Liu
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yanyan Zheng
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jorg J Goronzy
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94306, USA
| | - Cornelia M Weyand
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94306, USA.
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44
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Kakuda T, Suzuki J, Matsuoka Y, Kikugawa T, Saika T, Yamashita M. Senescent CD8 + T cells acquire NK cell-like innate functions to promote antitumor immunity. Cancer Sci 2023. [PMID: 37186472 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15824] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that aging of the immune system (immunosenescence) results in a decline in the acquired immune response, which is associated with an increase in age-related tumorigenesis. T-cell senescence plays a critical role in immunosenescence and is involved in the age-related decline of the immune function, which increases susceptibility to certain cancers. However, it has been shown that CD8+ T cells with the senescent T-cell phenotype acquire an natural killer (NK) cell-like function and are involved in tumor elimination. Therefore, the role of senescent CD8+ T cells in tumor immunity remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of senescent CD8+ T cells in tumor immunity. In a murine model of transferred with B16 melanoma, lung metastasis was significantly suppressed in aged mice (age ≥30 weeks) in comparison to young mice (age 6-10 weeks). We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells in vitro and found that CD8+ T cells from aged mice activated in vitro exhibited increased cytotoxic activity in comparison to those from young mice. We used Menin-deficient effector T cells as a model for senescent CD8+ T cells and found that cytotoxic activity and the expression of NK receptors were upregulated in Menin-deficient senescent CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, Menin-deficient CD8+ T cells can eliminate tumor cells in an antigen-independent manner. These results suggest that senescent effector CD8+ T cells may contribute to tumor immunity in the elderly by acquiring NK-like innate immune functions, such as antigen-independent cytotoxic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Kakuda
- Department of Urologye, Graduate School of Medicin, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Junpei Suzuki
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Yuko Matsuoka
- Translational Research Center, Ehime University Hospital, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Tadahiko Kikugawa
- Department of Urologye, Graduate School of Medicin, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Takashi Saika
- Department of Urologye, Graduate School of Medicin, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
| | - Masakatsu Yamashita
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Japan
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Ramos SA, Armitage LH, Morton JJ, Alzofon N, Handler D, Kelly G, Homann D, Jimeno A, Russ HA. Generation of functional thymic organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:829-840. [PMID: 36963390 PMCID: PMC10147832 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is critical for the establishment of a functional and self-tolerant adaptive immune system but involutes with age, resulting in reduced naive T cell output. Generation of a functional human thymus from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is an attractive regenerative strategy. Direct differentiation of thymic epithelial progenitors (TEPs) from hPSCs has been demonstrated in vitro, but functional thymic epithelial cells (TECs) only form months after transplantation of TEPs in vivo. We show the generation of TECs in vitro in isogenic stem cell-derived thymic organoids (sTOs) consisting of TEPs, hematopoietic progenitor cells, and mesenchymal cells, differentiated from the same hPSC line. sTOs support T cell development, express key markers of negative selection, including the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein, and facilitate regulatory T cell development. sTOs provide the basis for functional patient-specific thymic organoid models, allowing for the study of human thymus function, T cell development, and transplant immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan A Ramos
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Lucas H Armitage
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - John J Morton
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Nathaniel Alzofon
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Diana Handler
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Geoffrey Kelly
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dirk Homann
- Diabetes, Metabolism and Obesity Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Antonio Jimeno
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Holger A Russ
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Department of Pathology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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46
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Chiu H, Linsley PS, Ziegler SF. Investigating Thymic Epithelial Cell Diversity Using Systems Biology. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:888-894. [PMID: 36947816 PMCID: PMC10037528 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is an intricate organ consisting of a diverse population of thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Cortical and medullary TECs and their subpopulations have distinct roles in coordinating the development and selection of functionally competent and self-tolerant T cells. Recent advances made in technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing have made it possible to investigate and resolve the heterogeneity in TECs. These findings have provided further understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating TEC function and expression of tissue-restricted Ags. In this brief review, we focus on the newly characterized subsets of TECs and their diversity in relation to their functions in supporting T cell development. We also discuss recent discoveries in expression of self-antigens in the context of TEC development as well as the cellular and molecular changes occurring during embryonic development to thymic involution.
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47
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Zhao B, Wu B, Feng N, Zhang X, Zhang X, Wei Y, Zhang W. Aging microenvironment and antitumor immunity for geriatric oncology: the landscape and future implications. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:28. [PMID: 36945046 PMCID: PMC10032017 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01426-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been extensively investigated; however, it is complex and remains unclear, especially in elderly patients. Senescence is a cellular response to a variety of stress signals, which is characterized by stable arrest of the cell cycle and major changes in cell morphology and physiology. To the best of our knowledge, senescence leads to consistent arrest of tumor cells and remodeling of the tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) by activating a set of pleiotropic cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteinases, which constitute the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). On the one hand, the SASP promotes antitumor immunity, which enhances treatment efficacy; on the other hand, the SASP increases immunosuppressive cell infiltration, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), M2 macrophages, and N2 neutrophils, contributing to TIME suppression. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the regulation of the SASP and components contributing to robust antitumor immunity in elderly individuals with different cancer types and the available therapies is necessary to control tumor cell senescence and provide greater clinical benefits to patients. In this review, we summarize the key biological functions mediated by cytokines and intercellular interactions and significant components of the TME landscape, which influence the immunotherapy response in geriatric oncology. Furthermore, we summarize recent advances in clinical practices targeting TME components and discuss potential senescent TME targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghao Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100032, China
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Nan Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Yiping Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Wenxiong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, China.
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Nakayama K, Kondo M, Okuno T, Razali N, Hasegawa H. Different Properties of Involuted Thymus upon Nutritional Deficiency in Young and Aged Mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2023; 46:464-472. [PMID: 36575010 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b22-00842] [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: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Immune suppression in elderly individuals is one of the most important hygienic problems in aged societies. The primary immune organ thymus is histologically and functionally reduced by aging, which is known as thymic involution. The thymus is also involuted by nutritional deficiency, which frequently occurs in elderly individuals. However, there is no information on the thymic changes caused by nutritional deficiency with aging. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the histological and molecular responses of the thymus to nutritional deficiency in young and aged mice. The thymic size was significantly smaller in 16- or 18-week-old aged mice than in 7-week-old young mice. Dietary restriction for 48 h reduced the thymic size in young mice, but not in aged mice. Immunostaining with anti-keratin 5 antibody revealed that the integrity of the corticomedullary boundary was maintained in the aged thymus, whereas dietary restriction induced its disorganization in both young and aged thymus. The numbers of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-positive cells were increased upon dietary restriction in aged, but not in young, thymus. Dietary restriction, but not aging, upregulated the mRNA levels of T-helper 2 (Th2)-related Il5, Il6, and Il10, whereas aging increased that of Th1-related interferon-γ (Ifng). The dietary restriction-induced upregulation of prostanoid-synthesizing enzymes was clearly observed in the young thymus but attenuated in the aged thymus. Thus, nutritional deficiency and aging cause an involuted thymus with different properties. Moreover, the thymus in aged mice does not show further reduction in size by nutritional deficiency but still responds differently compared with that in young mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Nakayama
- Laboratory of Hygienic Sciences, Kobe Pharmaceutical University
| | - Mari Kondo
- Laboratory of Hygienic Sciences, Kobe Pharmaceutical University
| | - Tomoko Okuno
- Laboratory of Hygienic Sciences, Kobe Pharmaceutical University
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Polesso F, Caruso B, Hammond SA, Moran AE. Restored Thymic Output after Androgen Blockade Participates in Antitumor Immunity. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:496-503. [PMID: 36548468 PMCID: PMC9898132 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is a hormone-sensitive organ, which involutes with age in response to production of sex steroids. Thymic involution leads to a decrease in the generation of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs), resulting in a reduced response to immune challenges such as cancer. Interestingly, the standard of care for prostate cancer patients is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which leads to thymic regeneration and an increase in thymic output. It remains unknown whether these newly produced T cells can contribute to the antitumor immune response. This study defines the kinetics of thymic regeneration in response to ADT in mice, determining that thymic epithelial cell proliferation is critical for the increase in RTE output. Using a mouse model to track RTE in vivo, we demonstrate that these newly generated RTEs can traffic to tumors, where they become activated and produce effector cytokines at levels similar to more mature T cells. Collectively, these data suggest that RTEs produced from ADT-induced thymic regeneration could be harnessed for the antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Polesso
- Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Breanna Caruso
- Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Scott A Hammond
- Discovery Biosciences, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD; and
| | - Amy E Moran
- Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
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50
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Ruiz Ortega M, Spisak N, Mora T, Walczak AM. Modeling and predicting the overlap of B- and T-cell receptor repertoires in healthy and SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010652. [PMID: 36827454 PMCID: PMC10075420 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immunity's success relies on the extraordinary diversity of protein receptors on B and T cell membranes. Despite this diversity, the existence of public receptors shared by many individuals gives hope for developing population-wide vaccines and therapeutics. Using probabilistic modeling, we show many of these public receptors are shared by chance in healthy individuals. This predictable overlap is driven not only by biases in the random generation process of receptors, as previously reported, but also by their common functional selection. However, the model underestimates sharing between repertoires of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, suggesting strong specific antigen-driven convergent selection. We exploit this discrepancy to identify COVID-associated receptors, which we validate against datasets of receptors with known viral specificity. We study their properties in terms of sequence features and network organization, and use them to design an accurate diagnostic tool for predicting SARS-CoV-2 status from repertoire data.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Ruiz Ortega
- Laboratoire de physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, and Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Natanael Spisak
- Laboratoire de physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, and Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Mora
- Laboratoire de physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, and Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Aleksandra M. Walczak
- Laboratoire de physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, and Université de Paris, Paris, France
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