Induction of PIR-A/B+ DCs in the in vitro inflammatory condition and their immunoregulatory function

Research Progress of Interleukin-27 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be identified as an inflammatory disorder in the intestine, being characterized by maladjusted immune responses and chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. However, as the etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear, more effective therapeutic approaches are needed. Recent studies have discovered a new cytokine, interleukin-27 (IL-27), which belongs to the superfamily of IL-6 and IL-12, demonstrating multiple functions in many infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Interleukin-27 is mainly produced by antigen presentation cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells and mononuclear macrophages, playing a dual regulatory role in immunological response. Therefore, this updated review aims to summarize the new progress of the regulatory role of IL-27 in IBD and focus more on the interaction between IL-27 and immune cells, hoping to provide more evidence for the potential IBD treatment mediated by IL-27.

Oral Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Spore Powder Ameliorates Murine Colitis by Inhibiting Key Kinases Phosphorylation in MAPK Pathway

The compound ganoderma lucidum spore powder (GLSP) has emerged as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative regulator. In this study, we explored the roles of GLSP against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis that can mimic human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). GLSP was administered by oral gavage at a dosage of 150 mg/kg/day to the acute colitis mice induced by DSS. The DSS-induced mouse weight loss, colonic shortening, diarrhea and bloody stool were observably alleviated after GLSP treatment. The lesion of macroscopic and microscopic signs of the disease was reduced significantly and DSS-induced gut barrier dysfunction was restored via increasing the level of claudin-1, ZO1, Occu, and ZO2 with GLSP. Meanwhile, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the colon were reduced in the GLSP-treated groups. In addition, phosphorylation of the MAPKs ERK1/2, p38, and AKT was suppressed after GLSP treatment. All these results demonstrated that GLSP owned a protective effect on DSS-induced colitis by inhibition of MAPK pathway, which provides a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of colitis.

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B: therapeutic targets in cancer

Inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs 1–5) transduce signals via intracellular immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs that recruit phosphatases to negatively regulate immune activation. The activation of LILRB signaling in immune cells may contribute to immune evasion. In addition, the expression and signaling of LILRBs in cancer cells especially in certain hematologic malignant cells directly support cancer development. Certain LILRBs thus have dual roles in cancer biology—as immune checkpoint molecules and tumor-supporting factors. Here, we review the expression, ligands, signaling, and functions of LILRBs, as well as therapeutic development targeting them. LILRBs may represent attractive targets for cancer treatment, and antagonizing LILRB signaling may prove to be effective anti-cancer strategies.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery Systems For The Treatment Of IBD: Current Perspectives

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which mainly consists of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. The traditional treatment strategies relied on frequent administration of high dosages of medications, including antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, biologics, and immunomodulators, with the goal of reducing inflammation. Some of these medications were effective in alleviating the early-stage inflammatory symptoms, but their long-term efficacies were compromised by the accumulation of toxicities. Recently, nanoparticle (NP)-based drugs have been widely studied for their potential to solve such problems. Various mechanisms/strategies, including size-, charge-, pH-, pressure-, degradation-, ligand-receptor-, and microbiome- dependent drug delivery systems, have been exploited in preclinical studies. A certain number of NP delivery systems have sought to target drugs to the inflamed intestine. Although several NP-based drugs have entered clinical trials for the treatment of IBD, most have failed due to premature drug release, weak targeting ability, and the high immune toxicity of some of the synthetic nanomaterials that have been used to fabricate the NPs. Therefore, there is still a need for rationally designed and stable NP drug delivery system that can specifically target drugs to the disease site, prolong the drug’s residence time, and minimize systemic side effects. This review will analyze the current state of the art in NP-mediated drug delivery for IBD treatment. We will focus on topics such as deliverable targets (at the tissue or cellular level) for treating inflammation; the target-homing NP materials that can interact with such targets; and the major administration routes for treating IBD. These discussions will integrate notable trends in the research and development of IBD medications, including multi-responsive NP-mediated delivery and naturally-derived targeting NPs. Finally, current challenges and future directions will be presented in the hopes of advancing the study of NP-mediated strategies for treating IBD.