A NF-κB-Based High-Throughput Screening for Immune Adjuvants and Inhibitors

Recent progress in cancer vaccines and nanovaccines

Vaccine science, nanotechnology, and immunotherapy are at the forefront of cancer treatment strategies, each offering significant potential for enhancing tumor-specific immunity and establishing long-lasting immune memory to prevent tumor recurrence. Despite the promise of these personalized and precision-based anti-cancer approaches, challenges such as immunosuppression, suboptimal immune activation, and T-cell exhaustion continue to hinder their effectiveness. The limited clinical success of cancer vaccines often stems from difficulties in identifying effective antigens, efficiently targeting immune cells, lymphoid organs, and the tumor microenvironment, overcoming immune evasion, enhancing immunogenicity, and avoiding lysosomal degradation. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that integrating nanotechnology with immunotherapeutic strategies in vaccine development can overcome these challenges, leading to potent antitumor immune responses and significant progress in the field. This review highlights the critical components of cancer vaccine and nanovaccine strategies for immunomodulatory antitumor therapy. It covers general vaccine strategies, types of vaccines, antigen forms, nanovaccine platforms, challenges faced, potential solutions, and key findings from preclinical and clinical studies, along with future perspectives. To fully unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and nanovaccines, precise immunological monitoring during early-phase trials is essential. This approach will help identify and address obstacles, ultimately expanding the available options for patients who are resistant to conventional cancer immunotherapies.

Gallic acid mitigates lipopolysaccharide-induced testicular inflammation via regulation of the NF-κB and PK2/PKR1 pathway

Genital tract infections are common causes of male infertility, and most of diagnosed men are asymptomatic. This study examined the effect of gallic acid (GA) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced testicular inflammation. Thirty-two Spraque Dawley, 2.5-3 month-old male rats were separated into four groups (n = 8). Control group; saline at 3 ml/kg, and in the GA group; GA was dissolved in saline, by gavage at 100 mg/kg for 14 days. LPS group; LPS 5 mg/kg as a single dose was given intraperitoneal on the 11th day. LPS + GA group; GA was given for 14 days and LPS 5 mg/kg on the 11th day. After 72 h of LPS injection, all samples were collected. Semen analysis, biochemical assays, histological evaluations, and immunohistochemical or Western blot analyses for nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Prokineticin 2/prokineticin receptor 1(PK2/PKR1) pathways were performed. There was a significant decrease in body and testicular weight, sperm parameters, serum testosterone level, mean seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelial thickness, and Johnsen score in the LPS group compared to control and GA groups. However, a significant increase was found in interstitial space width, percentage of abnormal sperm, NF-κB and PK2 immunoreactivities, and expression of PK2 and PKR1 proteins. In the LPS + GA group, GA administration was observed to significantly prevent these adverse effects. In conclusion, the inhibitory effects of GA on the NF-κB and PK2/PKR1 pathways not only suppressed the inflammatory response but also restored impaired sperm parameters and testicular structure. These findings indicate GA's potential for treating testicular inflammation and protecting male reproductive health.

Nanovaccines: An effective therapeutic approach for cancer therapy

Cancer vaccines hold considerable promise for the immunotherapy of solid tumors. Nanomedicine offers several strategies for enhancing vaccine effectiveness. In particular, molecular or (sub) cellular vaccines can be delivered to the target lymphoid tissues and cells by nanocarriers and nanoplatforms to increase the potency and durability of antitumor immunity and minimize negative side effects. Nanovaccines use nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers and/or adjuvants, offering the advantages of optimal nanoscale size, high stability, ample antigen loading, high immunogenicity, tunable antigen presentation, increased retention in lymph nodes, and immunity promotion. To induce antitumor immunity, cancer vaccines rely on tumor antigens, which are administered in the form of entire cells, peptides, nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles (EVs), or cell membrane-encapsulated NPs. Ideal cancer vaccines stimulate both humoral and cellular immunity while overcoming tumor-induced immune suppression. Herein, we review the key properties of nanovaccines for cancer immunotherapy and highlight the recent advances in their development based on the structure and composition of various (including synthetic and semi (biogenic) nanocarriers. Moreover, we discuss tumor cell-derived vaccines (including those based on whole-tumor-cell components, EVs, cell membrane-encapsulated NPs, and hybrid membrane-coated NPs), nanovaccine action mechanisms, and the challenges of immunocancer therapy and their translation to clinical applications.

Next-Generation Adjuvants: Applying Engineering Methods to Create and Evaluate Novel Immunological Responses

Adjuvants are a critical component of vaccines. Adjuvants typically target receptors that activate innate immune signaling pathways. Historically, adjuvant development has been laborious and slow, but has begun to accelerate over the past decade. Current adjuvant development consists of screening for an activating molecule, formulating lead molecules with an antigen, and testing this combination in an animal model. There are very few adjuvants approved for use in vaccines, however, as new candidates often fail due to poor clinical efficacy, intolerable side effects, or formulation limitations. Here, we consider new approaches using tools from engineering to improve next-generation adjuvant discovery and development. These approaches will create new immunological outcomes that will be evaluated with novel diagnostic tools. Potential improved immunological outcomes include reduced vaccine reactogenicity, tunable adaptive responses, and enhanced adjuvant delivery. Evaluations of these outcomes can leverage computational approaches to interpret "big data" obtained from experimentation. Applying engineering concepts and solutions will provide alternative perspectives, further accelerating the field of adjuvant discovery.