Unmasking the NLRP3 inflammasome in dendritic cells as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmunity, cancer, and infectious conditions

Proper and functional immune response requires a complex interaction between innate and adaptive immune cells, which dendritic cells (DCs) are the primary actors in this coordination as professional antigen-presenting cells. DCs are armed with numerous pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs) like NLRP3, which influence the development of their activation state upon sensation of ligands. NLRP3 is a crucial component of the immune system for protection against tumors and infectious agents, because its activation leads to the assembly of inflammasomes that cause the formation of active caspase-1 and stimulate the maturation and release of proinflammatory cytokines. But, when NLRP3 becomes overactivated, it plays a pathogenic role in the progression of several autoimmune disorders. So, NLRP3 activation is strictly regulated by diverse signaling pathways that are mentioned in detail in this review. Furthermore, the role of NLRP3 in all of the diverse immune cells' subsets is briefly mentioned in this study because NLRP3 plays a pivotal role in modulating other immune cells which are accompanied by DCs' responses and subsequently influence differentiation of T cells to diverse T helper subsets and even impact on cytotoxic CD8+ T cells' responses. This review sheds light on the functional and therapeutic role of NLRP3 in DCs and its contribution to the occurrence and progression of autoimmune disorders, prevention of diverse tumors' development, and recognition and annihilation of various infectious agents. Furthermore, we highlight NLRP3 targeting potential for improving DC-based immunotherapeutic approaches, to be used for the benefit of patients suffering from these disorders.

Nanocurcumin modulates Th17 cell responses in moderate and severe COPD patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory process in the airways that results in airflow obstruction. It is mainly linked to cigarette smoke exposure. Th17 cells have a role in the pathogenesis of COPD by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines, which cause hyperinflammation and progression of the disease. This study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effects of nanocurcumin on the Th17 cell frequency and its responses in moderate and severe COPD patients. This study included 20 patients with severe COPD hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) and 20 patients with moderate COPD. Th17 cell frequency, Th17-related factors gene expression (RAR-related orphan receptor t (RORγt), IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), and serum levels of Th17-related cytokines were assessed before and after treatment in both placebo and nanocurcumin-treated groups using flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and ELISA, respectively. According to our findings, in moderate and severe nanocurcumin-treated COPD patients, there was a substantial reduction in the frequency of Th17 cells, mRNA expression, and cytokines secretion level of Th17-related factors compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, after treatment, the metrics mentioned above were considerably lower in the nanocurcumin-treated group compared to before treatment. Nanocurcumin has been shown to decrease the number of Th17 cells and their related inflammatory cytokines in moderate and severe COPD patients. As a result, it might be used as an immune-modulatory agent to alleviate the patient's inflammatory state.

Everolimus treatment enhances inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules' expression in monocyte-derived dendritic cells

BACKGROUND

Antigen-specific T-cell immunity is provided by dendritic cells (DCs), which are specialized antigen-presenting cells. Furthermore, they establish a link between innate and adaptive immune responses. Currently, DC modification is a new approach for the therapy of several disorders. During solid organ transplantation, Everolimus, which is a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, was initially utilized to suppress the immune system's functionality. Due to the intervention of Everolimus in various signaling pathways in cells and its modulatory properties on the immune system, this study aims to investigate the effect of treatment with Everolimus on the maturation and expression of immune checkpoint genes in monocyte-derived DCs.

METHODS

To isolate monocytes from PBMCs, the CD14 marker was used via the MACS method. Monocytes were cultured and induced to differentiate into monocyte-derived DCs by utilizing GM-CSF and IL-4 cytokines. On the fifth day, immature DCs were treated with Everolimus and incubated for 24 h. On the sixth day, the flow cytometry technique was used to investigate the effect of Everolimus on the phenotypic characteristics of DCs. In the end, the expression of immune checkpoint genes in both the Everolimus-treated and untreated DCs groups was assessed using the real-time PCR method.

RESULTS

The findings of this research demonstrated that the administration of Everolimus to DCs led to a notable rise in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression and a decrease in CD11c expression. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of immune checkpoint molecules, namely CTLA-4, VISTA, PD-L1, and BTLA, in DCs treated with Everolimus.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study show that Everolimus can target DCs and affect their phenotype and function in order to shift them toward a partially tolerogenic state. However, additional research is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of the precise impact of Everolimus on the activation status of DCs.

Current approaches in glioblastoma multiforme immunotherapy

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most prevalent CNS (central nervous system) tumor in adults, with an average survival length shorter than 2 years and rare metastasis to organs other than CNS. Despite extensive attempts at surgical resecting, the inherently permeable nature of this disease has rendered relapse nearly unavoidable. Thus, immunotherapy is a feasible alternative, as stimulated immune cells can enter into the remote and inaccessible tumor cells. Immunotherapy has revolutionized patient upshots in various malignancies and might introduce different effective ways for GBM patients. Currently, researchers are exploring various immunotherapeutic strategies in patients with GBM to target both the innate and acquired immune responses. These approaches include reprogrammed tumor-associated macrophages, the use of specific antibodies to inhibit tumor progression and metastasis, modifying tumor-associated macrophages with antibodies, vaccines that utilize tumor-specific dendritic cells to activate anti-tumor T cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and enhanced T cells that function against tumor cells. Despite these findings, there is still room for improving the response faults of the many currently tested immunotherapies. This study aims to review the currently used immunotherapy approaches with their molecular mechanisms and clinical application in GBM.

Decoding contextual crosstalk: revealing distinct interactions between non-coding RNAs and unfolded protein response in breast cancer

Breast cancer is significantly influenced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, impacting both its initiation and progression. When cells experience an accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins, they activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore cellular balance. In breast cancer, the UPR is frequently triggered due to challenging conditions within tumors. The UPR has a dual impact on breast cancer. On one hand, it can contribute to tumor growth by enhancing cell survival and resistance to programmed cell death in unfavorable environments. On the other hand, prolonged and severe ER stress can trigger cell death mechanisms, limiting tumor progression. Furthermore, ER stress has been linked to the regulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in breast cancer cells. These ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), play essential roles in cancer development by influencing gene expression and cellular processes. An improved understanding of how ER stress and ncRNAs interact in breast cancer can potentially lead to new treatment approaches. Modifying specific ncRNAs involved in the ER stress response might interfere with cancer cell survival and induce cell death. Additionally, focusing on UPR-associated proteins that interact with ncRNAs could offer novel therapeutic possibilities. Therefore, this review provides a concise overview of the interconnection between ER stress and ncRNAs in breast cancer, elucidating the nuanced effects of the UPR on cell fate and emphasizing the regulatory roles of ncRNAs in breast cancer progression.

Casting Light on the Janus-Faced HMG-CoA Reductase Degradation Protein 1: A Comprehensive Review of Its Dualistic Impact on Apoptosis in Various Diseases

Nowadays, it is well recognized that apoptosis, as a highly regulated cellular process, plays a crucial role in various biological processes, such as cell differentiation. Dysregulation of apoptosis is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous disorders, making it essential to comprehend its underlying mechanisms. One key factor that has garnered significant attention in the regulation of apoptotic pathways is HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1, also known as HRD1. HRD1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Its primary role involves maintaining the quality control of ER proteins by facilitating the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway. During ER stress, HRD1 aids in the elimination of misfolded proteins that accumulate within the ER. Therefore, HRD1 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptotic pathways and maintenance of ER protein quality control. By targeting specific protein substrates and affecting apoptosis-related pathways, HRD1 could be an exclusive therapeutic target in different disorders. Dysregulation of HRD1-mediated processes contributes significantly to the pathophysiology of various diseases. The purpose of this review is to assess the effect of HRD1 on the pathways related to apoptosis in various diseases from a therapeutic perspective.

Molecular mechanism of lncRNAs in pathogenesis and diagnosis of auto-immune diseases, with a special focus on lncRNA-based therapeutic approaches

Autoimmune diseases are a diverse set of conditions defined by organ damage due to abnormal innate and acquired immune system responses. The pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders is exceedingly intricate and has yet to be fully understood. The study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), non-protein-coding RNAs with at least 200 nucleotides in length, has gained significant attention due to the completion of the human genome project and the advancement of high-throughput genomic approaches. Recent research has demonstrated how lncRNA alters disease development to different degrees. Although lncRNA research has made significant progress in cancer and generative disorders, autoimmune illnesses are a relatively new research area. Moreover, lncRNAs play crucial functions in differentiating various immune cells, and their potential relationships with autoimmune diseases have received growing attention. Because of the importance of Th17/Treg axis in auto-immune disease development, in this review, we discuss various molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate the differentiation of Th17/Treg cells. Also, we reviewed recent findings regarding the several approaches in the application of lncRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of human autoimmune diseases, as well as current challenges in lncRNA-based therapeutic approaches to auto-immune diseases.

Molecular landscape of LncRNAs in bladder cancer: From drug resistance to novel LncRNA-based therapeutic strategies

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common and serious type of cancer that ranks among the top ten most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Due to the high occurrence rate of BC, the aggressive nature of cancer cells, and their resistance to medication, managing this disease has become a growing challenge in clinical care. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of RNA transcripts that do not code for proteins and are more than 200 nucleotides in length. They play a significant role in controlling cellular pathways and molecular interactions during the onset, development and progression of different types of cancers. Recent advancements in high-throughput gene sequencing technology have led to the identification of various differentially expressed lncRNAs in BC, which indicate abnormal expression. In this review, we summarize that these lncRNAs have been found to impact several functions related to the development of BC, including proliferation, cell growth, migration, metastasis, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and chemo- and radio-resistance. Additionally, lncRNAs may improve prognosis prediction for BC patients, indicating a future use for them as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for BC patients. This review highlights that genetic tools and anti-tumor agents, such as CRISPR/Cas systems, siRNA, shRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, and vectors, have been created for use in preclinical cancer models. This has led to a growing interest in using lncRNAs based on positive research findings.

The evaluation of CD39, CD73, and HIF-1 α expression besides their related miRNAs in PBMCs of women with recurrent pregnancy loss

The molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are not completely recognized. The present study aimed to assess the molecules associated with ATP catabolism and hypoxia besides their related miRNAs in patients with RPL. The frequency of Th17 and Treg cells in PBMCs of RPL women and healthy pregnant women were evaluated with Flow cytometry. The expression levels of CD39, CD73, and Hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha (HIF-1α), miR-18a, miR-30a, and miR-206 in PBMCs of two groups were measured with real-time PCR and western blotting. Then, serum levels of IGF-1, TGF-β, and HIF-1α were measured by ELISA. Our results indicated a higher (p = 0.0002) and lower (p < 0.0001) frequency of Th17 and Treg lymphocytes in RPL women, respectively. The expression level of CD39 decreased in PBMCs of RPL women whereas the level of CD73 and HIF-α increased (p = 0.0010, 0.0023, 0.0006 respectively). The results of CD39 and CD37 were also confirmed by protein analysis (p = 0.0047, 0.0364 respectively). Almost, the same results for CD39 and CD73 expression at mRNA and protein levels were observed in isolated Treg cells. Moreover, we found the higher expression of miR-206 and miRNA-30a (p = 0.0038, 0.0123), but the lower expression of miRNA-18a (p = 0.0101) in RPL. The concentration level of IGF-1, and TGF-β reduced (p = 0.0017, 0.0065 respectively) while the level of HIF-α elevated (p = 0.0235) in serum samples of RPL. In conclusion, we observed the dysregulation of molecules that are involved in ATP catabolism and hypoxia, including CD39, CD73, and HIF-1a which is related to miR-18a, miR-30a, and miR-206 change in RPL women. It may be potentially used for RPL prognosis by more comprehensive future studies.

Dysregulation of miR-193a serves as a potential contributor to MS pathogenesis via affecting RhoA and Rock1

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases that cause chronic inflammation of the central nervous system and demyelination of the myelin sheath. At present, microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered not only a diagnostic and prognostic indicator of diseases but also a new goal in gene therapy. This study aims to find a simple, non-invasive, valuable biomarker for early detection and potential treatment of MS.

METHODS

In the present study, 30 patients with MS were included. The qRT-PCR method was performed to evaluate the expression level of miR-193a, RhoA, and ROCK1. Besides, western blotting was performed to determine the expression level of RhoA and ROCK1 at protein levels. Moreover, we aimed to clarify the possible correlation between miR-193a-5p and its-regulated target genes so that miR-193a-5p mimic was transfected into MS-derived cultured PBMSs, and the expression level of RhoA and ROCK1 were then evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In the final step, the correlation between miR-193a-5p and clinicopathological features of patients was investigated.

RESULTS

Results showed that miR-193a was decreased while RhoA and ROCK1 were up-regulated in PBMCs obtained from patients with MS compared to the control group. It was also revealed that miR-193a transfection reduced RhoA and ROCK1 expression at mRNA and protein levels. The results from the Chi-square analysis showed that down-regulation of miR-193a was associated with increased CRP level, CSF IgG positivity, and MSSS (Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score), suggesting miR-193a is a potential diagnostic and prognostic indicator.

CONCLUSION

We implied that miR-193a could modulate RhoA and ROCK 1 expression in MS patients, in which its down-regulation leads to increased expression of RhoA and ROCK1 and poor prognosis of patients with MS. Therefore, miR-193a and its associated targets could serve potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic efficacy in MS patients.

The current landscape of CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors: Mechanisms, research progress, challenges, and counterstrategies

The successful outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in treating hematologic cancers have increased the previously unprecedented excitement to use this innovative approach in treating various forms of human cancers. Although researchers have put a lot of work into maximizing the effectiveness of these cells in the context of solid tumors, few studies have discussed challenges and potential strategies to overcome them. Restricted trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site, hypoxic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), antigen escape and heterogeneity, CAR T-cell exhaustion, and severe life-threatening toxicities are a few of the major obstacles facing CAR T-cells. CAR designs will need to go beyond the traditional architectures in order to get over these limitations and broaden their applicability to a larger range of malignancies. To enhance the safety, effectiveness, and applicability of this treatment modality, researchers are addressing the present challenges with a wide variety of engineering strategies as well as integrating several therapeutic tactics. In this study, we reviewed the antigens that CAR T-cells have been clinically trained to recognize, as well as counterstrategies to overcome the limitations of CAR T-cell therapy, such as recent advances in CAR T-cell engineering and the use of several therapies in combination to optimize their clinical efficacy in solid tumors.

Recent findings on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered immune cell therapy in solid tumors and hematological malignancies

Advancements in adoptive cell therapy over the last four decades have revealed various new therapeutic strategies, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are dedicated immune cells that are engineered and administered to eliminate cancer cells. In this context, CAR T-cells have shown significant promise in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, many obstacles limit the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Consequently, CAR-NK and CAR-M cell therapies have recently emerged as novel therapeutic options for addressing the challenges associated with CAR T-cell therapies. Currently, many CAR immune cell trials are underway in various human malignancies around the world to improve antitumor activity and reduce the toxicity of CAR immune cell therapy. This review will describe the comprehensive literature of recent findings on CAR immune cell therapy in a wide range of human malignancies, as well as the challenges that have emerged in recent years.

Restoration of miR-648 overcomes 5-FU-resistance through targeting ET-1 in gastric cancer cells in-vitro

BACKGROUND

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a peptide overexpressed in gastric cancer (GC) and linked to carcinogenesis and resistance to chemotherapy. Applying microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) to downregulate ET-1 and reverse resistance to commonly used chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is practical.

METHODS

The current study sought to evaluate the miR-648 expression in GC and any plausibility of its replacement, either with or without the combination of chemo agents to downregulate ET-1 expression through interaction with its target gene. To this end, miR-648 and ET-1 expression levels were assessed in GC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues driven from 65 patients who had already undergone surgery, fifteen of which had received 5-FU before surgery. The impact of miR-648 and chemo agents on ET-1 expression was measured using qPCR and Western blotting. Further, an MTT assay was conducted to assess its association with cell viability. Ultimately, the association of miR-648 and ET-1 with clinicopathological characteristics was evaluated.

RESULTS

The current study revealed that miR-648 was considerably down-regulated, while ET-1 was substantially up-regulated in patients with GC. The 5-FU caused a significant increase in miR-648 and reduced ET-1 expression. It was also determined that overexpression of miR-648 suppressed ET-1 production, notably when combined with 5-FU, leading to survival reduction. These results further showed that miR-648 replacement could sensitize chemoresistant GC cells. Besides, a significant association between ET-1 and miR-648 with clinicopathological features was discovered CONCLUSIONS: miR-648 replacement may serve as a potential oncosuppressive therapeutic approach that warrants further investigation to translate into an effective GC treatment.

Survivin; a novel therapeutic target that correlates with survival of autoreactive T lymphocytes obtained from patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is progressive immune-mediated arthritis. Persistent autoreactivity of T cells with an up-regulated Survivin expression is strongly implicated in AS immunopathogenesis. Besides, Survivin can inhibit proapoptotic caspase 9 activations. Moreover, microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are dysregulated in various diseases, in which their altered expression could modulate Survivin expression. The primary goal of this study was to assess the role of Survivin and its-targeting microRNAs in the immunopathogenesis of AS disease. For this aim, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 15 patients with AS and healthy matched controls using Ficoll-Hypaque. T cells were obtained using the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) method. After that, the expression levels of Survivin, Caspase 9, and specific miRNAs were determined using qT-qPCR. Also, the expression of Survivin and Caspase 9 at protein levels was determined by western blotting. Then, the isolated T cells were co-cultured with interleukin (IL)-2 and muromonab-CD3 (OKT-3) for active-induced cell death (AICD) induction, Survivin siRNA for inhibition of Survivin expression, and their combination to assess the implication of Survivin expression in autoreactive T lymphocytes' resistance to apoptosis by determining the rate of apoptosis by Flowcytometry assay. The results showed that Survivin was up-regulated while Caspase 9 was downregulated in patients with AS. It was also revealed that microRNAs that directly or indirectly target the Survivin mRNA were dysregulated in patients with AS. It was also revealed that T cells obtained from AS patients were more resistant to apoptosis induction than those obtained from healthy people. In summary, the results obtained from this study showed that dysregulation of Survivin and Survivin-targeting miRNAs in T lymphocytes obtained from AS patients contribute to their resistance to apoptosis, suggesting the future development of targeted therapies for AS.

Biological causes of immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD) and anti-tumor therapy; Combination of Oncolytic virus-based immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy for ICD induction

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a promising and rapidly expanding therapeutic option for a wide range of human malignancies. Despite the ongoing progress of CAR T-cell therapy in hematologic malignancies, the application of this therapeutic strategy in solid tumors has encountered several challenges due to antigen heterogeneity, suboptimal CAR T-cell trafficking, and the immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Oncolytic virotherapy is a novel cancer therapy that employs competent or genetically modified oncolytic viruses (OVs) to preferentially proliferate in tumor cells. OVs in combination with CAR T-cells are promising candidates for overcoming the current drawbacks of CAR T-cell application in tumors through triggering immunogenic cell death (ICD) in cancer cells. ICD is a type of cellular death in which danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and tumor-specific antigens are released, leading to the stimulation of potent anti-cancer immunity. In the present review, we discuss the biological causes of ICD, different types of ICD, and the synergistic combination of OVs and CAR T-cells to reach potent tumor-specific immunity.

Interleukin-1 in COVID-19 Infection: Immunopathogenesis and Possible Therapeutic Perspective

The newfound coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), initiated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an international public health concern, threatening the lives of millions of people worldwide. The virus seems to have a propensity to infect older males, especially those with underlying diseases. The cytokine storm following hyperactivated immune responses due to SARS-CoV-2 infection is probably the crucial source of severe pneumonia that leads to acute lung injury, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, or acute respiratory distress syndrome, and finally multiple organ dysfunction syndromes, as well as death in many cases. Several studies revealed that interleukin (IL)-1β levels were elevated during COVID-19 infection. In addition, the IL-1 cytokine family has a pivotal role in the induction of cytokine storm due to uncontrolled immune responses in COVID-19 infection. This article reviews the role of IL-1 in inflammation and utilization of IL-1 inhibitor agents in controlling the inflammatory outcomes initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax in transmigration settlements of West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Malariometric surveys were conducted during July 1996 in native Dayak villages and predominantly Javanese transmigration settlements in Ketapang district of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Malaria prevalence ranged from 0.9% to 2.7% in Dayak villages and from 1% to 20% in the transmigration settlements. Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 67% of the cases among Dayaks but P. vivax was dominant among transmigrants, accounting for more than 72% of the infections. Chloroquine sensitivity/resistance was assessed by 28-day in vivo testing of uncomplicated malaria infections and measurement of chloroquine blood levels in cases where parasitemias reappeared within the 28-day test period. Resistance was based on the appearance of asexual parasites against chloroquine plus desethylchloroquine levels exceeding the minimally effective whole blood concentrations proposed for sensitive parasite strains (P. vivax, 100 ng/ml; P. falciparum, 200 ng/ml). All parasitemias cleared initially within four days of beginning supervised chloroquine therapy (25 mg base/kg over a 48-hr period), but asexual parasites reappeared within 28 days in 27 of 52 P. vivax and three of 12 P. falciparum cases. Chloroquine blood levels at the time of recurrent parasitemias revealed resistance in 12 of the 27 P. vivax cases and in one of the three P. falciparum cases. Genotypes of nine of the 12 recurrent P. vivax isolates matched with their primary isolates and ruled out reinfection. These findings establish the presence of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax on the island of Borneo. The pattern of malaria and the high frequency of chloroquine resistance by P. vivax at the West Kalimantan location may relate to demographic, ecologic, agricultural, and socioeconomic changes associated with transmigration.