Antibody therapeutics and immunoregulation in cancer and autoimmune disease

Inflammation-oriented montmorillonite adjuvant enhanced oral delivery of anti-TNF-α nanobody against inflammatory bowel disease

Oral delivery of proteins faces challenges due to the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including gastric acid and intestinal enzyme degradation. Permeation enhancers are limited in their ability to deliver proteins with high molecular weight and can potentially cause toxicity by opening tight junctions. To overcome these challenges, we propose the use of montmorillonite (MMT) as an adjuvant that possesses both inflammation-oriented abilities and the ability to regulate gut microbiota. This adjuvant can be used as a universal protein oral delivery technology by fusing with advantageous binding amino acid sequences. We demonstrated that anti-TNF-α nanobody (VII) can be intercalated into the MMT interlayer space. The carboxylate groups (-COOH) of aspartic acid (D) and glutamic acid (E) interact with the MMT surface through electrostatic interactions with sodium ions (Na+). The amino groups (NH2) of asparagine (N) and glutamine (Q) are primarily attracted to the MMT layers through hydrogen bonding with oxygen atoms on the surface. This binding mechanism protects VII from degradation and ensures its release in the intestinal tract, as well as retaining biological activity, leading to significantly enhanced therapeutic effects on colitis. Furthermore, VII@MMT increases the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing strains, including Clostridia, Prevotellaceae, Alloprevotella, Oscillospiraceae, Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, and Ruminococcaceae, therefore enhance the production of SCFAs and butyrate, inducing regulatory T cells (Tregs) production to modulate local and systemic immune homeostasis. Overall, the MMT adjuvant provides a promising universal strategy for protein oral delivery by rational designed protein.

Mesenchymal stromal cells restrain the Th17 cell response via L-amino-acid oxidase within lymph nodes

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) have emerged as a promising therapeutic avenue for treating autoimmune diseases, eliciting considerable interest and discussion regarding their underlying mechanisms. This study revealed the distinctive ability of human umbilical cord MSC to aggregate within the lymph nodes of mice afflicted with autoimmune diseases, but this phenomenon was not observed in healthy mice. The specific distribution is driven by the heightened expression of the CCL21-CCR7 axis in mice with autoimmune diseases, facilitating the targeted homing of MSC to the lymph nodes. Within the lymph nodes, MSC exhibit a remarkable capacity to modulate Th17 cell function, exerting a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Transplanted MSC stimulates the secretion of L-amino-acid oxidase (LAAO), a response triggered by elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in mice with autoimmune diseases through the NF-κB pathway. The presence of LAAO is indispensable for the efficacy of MSC, as it significantly contributes to the inhibition of Th17 cells. Furthermore, LAAO-derived indole-3-pyruvic acid (I3P) serves as a potent suppressor of Th17 cells by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway. These findings advance our understanding of the global immunomodulatory effects exerted by MSC, providing valuable information for optimizing therapeutic outcomes.

The clinical applications of immunosequencing

Technological advances in high-throughput sequencing have opened the door for the interrogation of adaptive immune responses at unprecedented scale. It is now possible to determine the sequences of antibodies or T-cell receptors produced by individual B and T cells in a sample. This capability, termed immunosequencing, has transformed the study of both infectious and non-infectious diseases by allowing the tracking of dynamic changes in B and T cell clonal populations over time. This has improved our understanding of the pathology of cancers, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. However, to date there has been only limited clinical adoption of the technology. Advances over the last decade and on the horizon that reduce costs and improve interpretability could enable widespread clinical use. Many clinical applications have been proposed and, while most are still undergoing research and development, some methods relying on immunosequencing data have been implemented, the most widespread of which is the detection of measurable residual disease. Here, we review the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications of immunosequencing for both infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Identification of inflammatory response-related molecular mechanisms based on the ATM/ATR/p53 pathway in tumor cells

Inflammatory response is a crucial factor that affects prognosis and therapeutic effect in tumor cells. Although some studies have shown that inflammation could make DNA more vulnerable to external attacks, resulting in serious DNA damage, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Then, using tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), this research elevated the level of inflammation in cancer cells, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ultraviolet (UV) were utilized as common reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced DNA damage agents. We show that either H2O2 or UV achieved a more substantial antiproliferative effect in the inflammation environment compared with H2O2 or UV treatment alone. The inflammation environment enhanced H2O2- or UV-induced cell apoptosis and ROS production. Although the phenomenon that inflammation itself could trigger ROS-dependent DNA damage was well known, the underlying mechanism for the sensitization of inflammation to trigger intense DNA damage via ROS in cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, the inflammation-related genes and the corresponding expression information were obtained from the TCGA and fetched genes associated with inflammatory factors. Screening of thirteen inflammatory-related, including ATM, and prognostic genes. In addition, KEGG analysis of prognostic genes shows that biological processes such as DNA replication. ATM and ATR, which belong to the PI3/PI4-kinase family, can activate p53. Inflammation promotes the vulnerability of DNA by activating the ATM/ATR/p53 pathway, while not affecting the DNA damage repair pathway. In brief, this research suggested that inflammation made DNA vulnerable due to the amplifying H2O2- or UV-induced ROS production and the motoring ATM/ATR/p53 pathway. In addition, our findings revealed that inflammation's motoring of the ATM/ATR/p53 pathway plays a crucial role in DNA damage. Therefore, exploring the mechanism between inflammation and ROS-dependent DNA damage would be extremely valuable and innovative. This study would somewhat establish a better understanding of inflammation, DNA damage, and cancer.

Cathepsin B Nuclear Flux in a DNA-Guided "Antinuclear Missile" Cancer Therapy

Some antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) bind extracellular nucleic acids released into tumor environments and are pulled into the nuclei of live cancer cells through nucleoside salvage pathways, independent of tumor-specific surface antigens. Here we show that ANA nuclear penetration induces nuclear flux by the lysosomal protease cathepsin B and leverage this mechanism to design an antinuclear antibody-drug conjugate (ANADC) with cathepsin B-labile drug linker. The ANADC targets nucleic acid exhaust from necrotic tumors and crosses membrane barriers through nucleoside salvage as a DNA-seeking and tumor agnostic "antinuclear missile" cancer therapy.

Evaluation of human antibodies from vaccinated volunteers for protection against Yersinia pestis infection

Yersinia pestis has a broad host range and has caused lethal bubonic and pneumonic plague in humans. With the emergence of multiple resistant strains and the potential for biothreat use, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies that can protect populations from natural or deliberate infection. Targeting F1 has been proven to be the main strategy for developing vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, but data on anti-F1 antibodies, especially in humans, are scarce. To date, three human anti-F1 monoclonal antibodies (m252, αF1Ig2, and αF1Ig8) from naive populations have been reported. Here, we constructed an antibody library from vaccinees immunized with the plague subunit vaccine IIa by phage display. The genetic basis, epitopes, and biological functions of the obtained mAbs were assessed and evaluated in plague-challenged mice. Three human mAbs, namely, F3, F19, and F23, were identified. Their biolayer responses were 0.4, 0.6, and 0.6 nm, respectively. The dissociation constants (KD) of the F1 antigen were 1 pM, 0.165 nM, and 1 pM, respectively. Although derived from distinct Ab lineages, that is, VH3-30-D3-10-JH4 (F3&F23) and VH3-43-D6-19-JH4 (F19), these mAbs share similar binding sites in F1 with some overlap with αF1Ig8 but are distinct from αF1Ig2. Each of them provided a significant protective effect for Balb/c mice against a 100 median lethal dose (MLD) challenge of a virulent Y. pestis strain when administered at a dose of 100 µg. No synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed among them. These mAbs are novel and excellent candidates for further drug development and use in clinical practice.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we identified three human monoclonal antibodies with a high affinity to F1 protein of Yersinia pestis. We discovered that they have relatively lower somatic hypermutations compared with antibodies, m252, αF1Ig2, and αF1Ig8, derived from the naive library reported previously. We also observed that these mAbs share similar binding sites in F1 with some overlapping with αF1Ig8 but distinct from that of αF1Ig2. Furthermore, each of them could provide complete protection for mice against a lethal dose of Yersinia pestis challenge. Our data provided new insights into the anti-F1 Ab repertories and their associated epitopes during vaccination in humans. The findings support the additional novel protective human anti-F1Abs for potential therapeutics against plaque.

Exploring Unique Extracellular Vesicles Associated Signatures: Prognostic Insights, Immune Microenvironment Dynamics, and Therapeutic Responses in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Extracellular vesicles play an important role in the progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) through the transfer of proteins, mRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the intricate interplay between extracellular vesicles-related lncRNAs and the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains poorly elucidated. Consequently, our investigation aimed to delineate the association between extracellular vesicles-related lncRNAs and the PAAD microenvironment. Initially, we identified differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project datasets. Subsequently, we validated the expression of these DELs within extracellular vesicles and assessed their prognostic implications in PAAD using the GSE133684 and TCGA datasets. Multiomics data were analyzed comprehensively, including genomic landscape, functional annotation, immune profiles, and therapeutic responses. Differential expression of selected lncRNAs in both cellular and exosomal fractions of PAAD was further confirmed through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Eight DELs were identified from TCGA and GTEx datasets, and two exosomal lncRNAs exhibited a significant correlation with overall survival, warranting further investigation. Specifically, elevated expression of LINC00996 correlated positively with immune infiltration and enhanced response to immunotherapy. Conversely, heightened expression of TRHED-AS1 was associated with compromised immune cell infiltration and diminished responsiveness to immunotherapy. Our study establishes a compelling link between two extracellular vesicles-related gene signatures, prognosis, and immune infiltration in PAAD. Notably, these signatures serve as robust prognostic indicators for PAAD patients, offering valuable insights for the strategic selection of immunotherapeutic interventions.

Causal effects of autoimmune diseases on thyroid cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Background

Although numerous studies had revealed associations between autoimmune diseases (AIDs) and thyroid cancer (TC), the potential causal associations between the two remain poorly defined.

Methods

Using five approaches, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were carried out to determine the causal effects of 12 major AIDs on risk of TC. The sensitivity analyses were conducted to verify the reliability of the analysis. The reverse MR analysis was performed to evaluate the possibility of reverse causation.

Results

The results showed a significant causal association of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) on the risk of TC. Genetically predicted PBC elevated the risk of TC (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.06-2.02, p = 0.021). The risk of TC was also increased by genetically predicted SLE (OR = 6.52, 95% CI = 1.38-30.84, p = 0.018) with heterogeneity. After outlier-corrected analyses, the results still suggested that genetically predicted SLE increased the risk of TC (p = 0.019). No evidence of a causal relationship between the remaining 10 AIDs and TC was observed. No reverse causal effects of TC on AIDs were found in reverse MR analysis.

Conclusion

These findings support a significant causal association of SLE/PBC on the increased risk of TC, indicating that patients with SLE/PBC should be under a close monitoring of TC.

Fc engineering by monoclonal mammalian cell display for improved affinity and selectivity towards FcγRs

Fc optimization can significantly enhance therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal antibodies. However, existing Fc engineering approaches are sub-optimal with noted limitations, such as inappropriate glycosylation, polyclonal libraries, and utilizing fragment but not full-length IgG display. Applying cell cycle arrested recombinase-mediated cassette exchange, this study constructed high-quality monoclonal Fc libraries in CHO cells, displayed full-length IgG on cell surface, and preformed ratiometric fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) with the antigen and individual FcγRs. Identified Fc variants were quantitatively evaluated by flow cytometry, ELISA, kinetic and steady-state binding affinity measurements, and cytotoxicity assays. An error-prone Fc library focusing on the hinge-CH2 region was constructed in CHO cells with a functional diversity of 7.5 × 106. Panels of novel Fc variants with enhanced affinity and selectivity for FcγRs were isolated. Particularly, clone 2a-10 (G236E/K288R/K290W/K320M) showed increased binding strength towards FcγRIIa-131R and 131H allotypes with kinetic dissociation constants (KD-K) of 140 nM and 220 nM, respectively, while reduced binding strength towards FcγRIIb compared to WT Fc; clone 2b-1 (K222I/V302E/L328F/K334E) had KD-K of 180 nM towards FcγRIIb; clone 3a-2 (P247L/K248E/K334I) exhibited KD-K of 190 nM and 100 nM towards FcγRIIIa-176F and 176 V allotypes, respectively, and improved potency of 2.0 ng/ml in ADCC assays. Key mutation hotspots were identified, including P247 for FcγRIIIa, K290 for FcγRIIa, and K334 for FcγRIIb bindings. Discovery of Fc variants with enhanced affinity and selectivity towards individual FcγR and the identification of novel mutation hotspots provide valuable insights for further Fc optimization and serve as a foundation for advancing antibody therapeutics development.

Causal link between hypothyroidism and gastric cancer risk: insights gained through multivariable Mendelian randomization and mediation analysis

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and hypothyroidism has been identified as a potential influencing factor. Despite known associations between hypothyroidism and various cancers, the causal link between hypothyroidism and GC and potential mediators of this relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

Utilizing genetic variant information from the FinnGen and MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit open genome-wide association studies (GWAS) databases, we conducted univariable and multivariable MR analyses to explore the causal relationship between hypothyroidism and GC risk. The analysis was adjusted for confounders such as BMI, smoking status, and alcohol intake, and included mediator MR analysis to examine the role of high cholesterol.

Results

We identified a significant inverse association between hypothyroidism and GC risk (OR = 0.93, 95% CI= 0.89-0.98, P = 0.003), with no evidence of reverse causation or pleiotropy. Adjustments for Helicobacter pylori infection weakened this association. Mediator analysis highlighted high cholesterol levels, chronic hepatitis B infection, and diabetes/endocrine disease status as significant mediators of the protective effect of hypothyroidism on GC risk.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that hypothyroidism may confer a protective effect against GC, mediated in part by high cholesterol and other factors. These results underscore the importance of thyroid function and metabolic health in GC risk, offering new insights for preventive strategies and highlighting the need for further research into these complex associations.

Ezetimibe inhibits the migration and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer cells by targeting TGFβ2 and EMT

The important role of cholesterol in tumor metastasis has been widely studied in recent years. Ezetimibe is currently the only selective cholesterol uptake inhibitor on the market. Here, we explored the effect of ezetimibe on breast cancer metastasis by studying its impact on breast cancer cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Differential gene expression analysis and validation were also carried out to compare ezetimibe-treated and untreated breast cancer cells. Finally, breast cancer cells overexpressing TGFβ2 were constructed, and the effect of TGFβ2 on the migration and invasion of ezetimibe-treated breast cancer cells was examined. Our results show that ezetimibe treatment of breast cancer cells inhibited cell migration, invasion, and EMT, and it significantly suppressed the expression of TGFβ2. Overexpression of TGFβ2 reversed the inhibitory effect of ezetimibe on the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Taken together, our results suggest that ezetimibe might be a potential candidate for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis.

Cholesterol-Modified Anti-Il6 siRNA Reduces the Severity of Acute Lung Injury in Mice

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds significant therapeutic potential by silencing target genes through RNA interference. Current clinical applications of siRNA have been primarily limited to liver diseases, while achievements in delivery methods are expanding their applications to various organs, including the lungs. Cholesterol-conjugated siRNA emerges as a promising delivery approach due to its low toxicity and high efficiency. This study focuses on developing a cholesterol-conjugated anti-Il6 siRNA and the evaluation of its potency for the potential treatment of inflammatory diseases using the example of acute lung injury (ALI). The biological activities of different Il6-targeted siRNAs containing chemical modifications were evaluated in J774 cells in vitro. The lead cholesterol-conjugated anti-Il6 siRNA after intranasal instillation demonstrated dose-dependent therapeutic effects in a mouse model of ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The treatment significantly reduced Il6 mRNA levels, inflammatory cell infiltration, and the severity of lung inflammation. IL6 silencing by cholesterol-conjugated siRNA proves to be a promising strategy for treating inflammatory diseases, with potential applications beyond the lungs.

Prevalence of Selected Polymorphisms of Il7R, CD226, CAPSL, and CLEC16A Genes in Children and Adolescents with Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) are common autoimmune endocrine disorders in children. Studies indicate that apart from environmental factors, genetic background significantly contributes to the development of these diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Il7R, CD226, CAPSL, and CLEC16A genes in children with autoimmune thyroid diseases. We analyzed SNPs at the locus rs3194051, rs6897932 of IL7R, rs763361 of CD226, rs1010601 of CAPSL, and rs725613 of CLEC16A gene in 56 HT patients, 124 GD patients, and 156 healthy children. We observed significant differences in alleles IL7R (rs6897932) between HT males and the control group (C > T, p = 0.028) and between all GD patients and healthy children (C > T, p = 0.035) as well as GD females and controls (C > T, p = 0.018). Moreover, the C/T genotype was less frequent in GD patients at rs6897932 locus and in HT males at rs1010601 locus. The presence of the T allele in the IL7R (rs6897932) locus appears to have a protective effect against HT in males and GD in all children. Similarly, the presence of the T allele in the CAPSL locus (rs1010601) seems to reduce the risk of HT development in all patients.

UV-stimulated riboflavin exerts immunosuppressive effects in BALB/c mice and human PBMCs

Riboflavin (RF) as a photosensitizer has been used in corneal surgery and the inactivation of blood products. However, the effect of RF on immune cells after ultraviolet (UV) light stimulation has not been investigated. This study pioneered a novel application method of RF. Firstly, UV-stimulated RF was co-cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, and the apoptosis rate of lymphocyte subsets, cell proliferation inhibition rate and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α were assessed. UV-stimulated RF was then administered intravenously to mice via the tail vein for a consecutive period of 5 days. The levels of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA), complement (C3, C4) and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL17, TGF-β) were detected by ELISA. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the populations of CD3+T, CD4+T, CD8+T and CD4+T/CD8+T cells in spleen lymphocytes of mice. The data showed that UV-stimulated RF can effectively induce apoptosis in lymphocytes, and different lymphocyte subtypes exhibited varying degrees of treatment tolerance. Additionally, the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes was suppressed, while their cytokine secretion capability was augmented. The animal experiments demonstrated that UV-stimulated RF led to a significant reduction observed in serum immunoglobulin and complement levels, accompanied by an elevation in IFN-γ, IL-17 and TGF-β levels, as well as a decline in IL-4 level. In summary, the results of both in vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that UV-stimulated RF, exhibits the ability to partially inhibit immune function. This novel approach utilizing RF may offer innovative perspectives for diseases requiring immunosuppressive treatment.

Influences Shaping Clinicians' Monoclonal Antibody and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Preparation and Administration Management Practices: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

In 30 years, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) have enhanced cancer survival and quality of life. Limited knowledge exists regarding the long-term risks of repeated exposure, especially for cancer nurses, who prepare and administer them. This systematic review aimed to identify influences shaping clinicians' awareness and practices in the safe preparation and administration of mAbs and ICPIs.

DATA SOURCES

This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The databases CINAHL, EMBASE, Joanna Briggs Institute, OVID, MEDLINE, and Cochrane were searched. Eligibility and risk of bias were assessed by four reviewers.

RESULTS

Of 7301 identified studies, 481 duplicates were removed, and 6673 were excluded after title and abstract review. A full-text review was conducted on 147 studies; six studies were included. A narrative synthesis generated two themes: (1) ambiguity contributes to variation in handling practices and (2) continuing professional development (CPD) is vital but hard to implement without evidence.

CONCLUSION

Lack of evidence regarding long-term risks and consensus creates uncertainty about the hazardous nature of unconjugated mAbs and ICPIs. Resulting in varied risk reduction strategies during preparation and administration, and inconsistent CPD. Protecting the long-term health of clinicians necessitates consensus on risk reduction strategies. This will be challenging without compelling evidence or international agreement on their hazardous classification.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

In nursing, policy gaps and inconsistent CPD related to unconjugated mAbs and ICPIs may expose nurses to risks. Understanding the educational needs of nurses and global standardized guidelines are urgently needed.

Exploring potential causal associations between autoimmune diseases and colorectal cancer using bidirectional Mendelian randomization

Several observational studies have revealed an association between autoimmune diseases (AIDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC), although their causal association remained controversial. Therefore, our study used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to verify the causal association between AIDs and CRC. We employed three common MR approaches, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger methods, to assess the causal association between type 1 diabetes (T1D), systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, celiac disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and CRC. The reverse MR analysis was performed to assess the possibility of reverse causation. To evaluate the validity of the analysis, we also performed sensitivity analysis, such as the heterogeneity test, the horizontal pleiotropy test, and the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, and validated the results in the validation cohort. Our results showed that genetically predicted T1D was nominally associated with a lower risk of CRC (IVW OR = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.939-0.992, P = 0.012). However, genetic susceptibility to psoriasis nominally increased the risk of CRC (IVW OR = 1.026, 95% CI = 1.002-1.050, P = 0.037). Genetically predicted PSC had a significant causal effect on the increasing risk of CRC (IVW OR = 1.038, 95% CI = 1.016-1.060, P = 5.85 × 10-4). Furthermore, the MR analysis between PSC and the CRC validation cohort indicated consistent results. We found no causal association between genetically predicted other five AIDs and CRC (P > 0.05). The results of reverse MR analysis showed that genetically predicted CRC had no causal effect on T1D, psoriasis, and PSC (P > 0.05). The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the results of the MR analysis were reliable. Our findings help to understand the causal association between AIDs and CRC, which deserves further investigation.

Potential applications of JAK inhibitors, clinically approved drugs against autoimmune diseases, in cancer therapy

Disturbances in immunoregulation may lead to both cancer and autoimmune diseases. Many therapeutic drugs for autoimmune diseases also display anti-tumor efficacy. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathways are involved in the secretion of more than 50 distinct cytokines, which have critical roles in inducing autoimmune diseases and tumorigenesis. Thus, Janus kinases have become classical immunotherapeutic targets for immune disease. More than 70 Janus kinase inhibitors have been approved as immunomodulatory drugs for clinical use, of which 12 are used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. This systematic review aims to elucidate the anti-tumor role of clinically approved Janus kinase inhibitors that were primarily designed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and their potential for clinical translation as cancer treatments.

Discovery of ICOS-Targeted Small Molecules Using Pharmacophore-Based Screening

There are currently no small molecules clinically approved as immune checkpoint modulators. Besides possessing oral bioavailability, cell-penetrating capabilities and enhanced tumor penetration compared to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), small molecules are amenable to pharmacokinetic optimization, which allows adopting flexible dosage regimens that may avoid immune-related adverse events associated with mAbs. The interaction of inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) with its ligand (ICOS-L) plays key roles in T-cell differentiation and activation of T-cell to B-cell functions. This study represents the development and validation of a virtual screening strategy to identify small molecules that bind a novel druggable binding pocket in human ICOS. We used a lipophilic canyon in the apo-structure of ICOS and the ICOS/ICOS-L interface individually as templates for molecular dynamics simulation to generate 3D pharmacophores subsequently used for virtual screening campaigns. Our strategy was successful finding a first-in-class small molecule ICOS binder (5P, KD value=108.08±26.76 μM) and validating biophysical screening platforms for ICOS-targeted small molecules. We anticipate that future structural optimization of 5P will result in the discovery of high affinity chemical ligands for ICOS.

A software package for efficient patient trajectory analysis applied to analyzing bladder cancer development

We present the Patient Trajectory Analysis Library (PTRA), a software package for explorative analysis of patient development. PTRA provides the tools for extracting statistically relevant trajectories from the medical event histories of a patient population. These trajectories can additionally be clustered for visual inspection and identifying key events in patient progression. The algorithms of PTRA are based on a statistical method developed previously by Jensen et al, but we contribute several modifications and extensions to enable the implementation of a practical tool. This includes a new clustering strategy, filter mechanisms for controlling analysis to specific cohorts and for controlling trajectory output, a parallel implementation that executes on a single server rather than a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster, etc. PTRA is furthermore open source and the code is organized as a framework so researchers can reuse it to analyze new data sets. We illustrate our tool by discussing trajectories extracted from the TriNetX Dataworks database for analyzing bladder cancer development. We show this experiment uncovers medically sound trajectories for bladder cancer.

Multi-Attribute Method (MAM) Analytical Workflow for Biotherapeutic Protein Characterization from Process Development to QC

The multi-attribute method (MAM) has emerged significantly in recent years to support biotherapeutic protein characterization from process development to the QC environment. MAM is a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based peptide mapping approach, which combines the benefits from liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution accurate mass mass spectrometry (LC-HRAM MS), enabling direct assessment of protein sequence and product quality attributes with site specificity. These product quality attributes may impact efficacy, safety, stability, and process robustness. MAM is intended to replace conventional analytical approaches as it offers a more streamlined strategy for parallel monitoring of multiple attributes in a single analysis with high sensitivity and confidence, and ultimately supports more robust Quality by Design (QbD) approaches and faster decision cycles for biotherapeutic development. MAM consists of three main stages. The first stage is sample digestion, which typically entails proteolytic digestion of the protein. The second stage is reversed-phase chromatographic separation of the generated peptides and detection by HRAM MS in two phases. During MAM Phase I (discovery phase), data-dependent acquisition (DDA) MS/MS is performed to enable confident identification of peaks and development of a peptide workbook. During MAM Phase II (monitoring phase), full MS acquisition is only carried out for the monitoring of predefined product quality attributes (PQAs). The third stage is data processing, which entails analysis and reporting for each of the two phases including evaluation of sequence coverage, assessment of PQAs and peptide workbook creation during phase I, and targeted monitoring of predefined product attributes and new peak detection (NPD) during phase II. The latter is a comparative analysis that uses a base peak alignment algorithm to determine any non-monitored differences between the LC-MS chromatograms of a test sample and a reference standard. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: In-solution sample digestion Alternate Protocol: Automated sample digestion Basic Protocol 2: Reversed-phase chromatographic separation and detection by HRAM-MS (RPLC-HRAM MS) Basic Protocol 3: Data processing and reporting.

Site-oriented conjugation of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) for enhanced brain delivery of antibody

Antibody therapeutics are limited in treating brain diseases due to poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. We have discovered that poly 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (PMPC), a biocompatible polymer, effectively facilitates BBB penetration via receptor-mediated transcytosis and have developed a PMPC-shell-based platform for brain delivery of therapeutic antibodies, termed nanocapsule. Yet, the platform results in functional loss of antibodies due to epitope masking by the PMPC polymer network, which necessitates the incorporation of a targeting moiety and degradable crosslinker to enable on-site antibody release. In this study, we developed a novel platform based on site-oriented conjugation of PMPC to the antibody, allowing it to maintain key functionalities of the original antibody. With an optimized PMPC chain length, the PMPC-antibody conjugate exhibited enhanced brain delivery while retaining epitope recognition, cellular internalization, and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytic activity. This simple formula incorporates only the antibody and PMPC without requiring additional components, thereby addressing the issues of the nanocapsule platform and paving the way for PMPC-based brain delivery strategies for antibodies.

BATF relieves hepatic steatosis by inhibiting PD1 and promoting energy metabolism

The rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global health threat that needs to be addressed urgently. Basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor (BATF) is commonly thought to be involved in immunity, but its effect on lipid metabolism is not clear. Here, we investigated the function of BATF in hepatic lipid metabolism. BATF alleviated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and inhibited elevated programmed cell death protein (PD)1 expression induced by HFD. A mechanistic study confirmed that BATF regulated fat accumulation by inhibiting PD1 expression and promoting energy metabolism. PD1 antibodies alleviated hepatic lipid deposition. In conclusion, we identified the regulatory role of BATF in hepatic lipid metabolism and that PD1 is a target for alleviation of NAFLD. This study provides new insights into the relationship between BATF, PD1, and NAFLD.

Morphea, Eosinophilic Fasciitis and Cancer: A Scoping Review

Morphea is an autoimmune fibrotic skin disease. Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is considered to belong to the severe spectrum of morphea. We conducted a scoping review assessing the risk of secondary cancer among morphea/EF patients, paraneoplastic morphea/EF and morphea/EF developing secondary to cancer therapy. The search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane databases for articles published from inception to September 2022 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines with no language or date restrictions. Two hundred and one studies were included. Of these, 32 studies reported on secondary cancer in morphea/EF patients, 45 on paraneoplastic morphea/EF and 125 on cancer-treatment-induced morphea/EF. While the current evidence remains limited, data suggest an increased risk of secondary cutaneous and possibly pancreatic malignancy in morphea patients, particularly the generalized subtype. There were insufficient data for EF. On the other hand, paraneoplastic morphea was anecdotal, whereas several observational studies suggested that ~10% of EF cases may be paraneoplastic, primarily in the context of hematologic malignancies. Radiotherapy-induced morphea is rare, seen in ~0.2% of treated patients and is usually localized to the treatment site, except in patients with pre-existing autoimmunity. While chemotherapy-induced cases are reported, immunotherapy morphea/EF cases are emerging and are preferentially seen with PD-1 and not CTLA-4 inhibitors. This study is limited by the type of articles included (case reports, case series and observational studies), and hence, additional research on this important topic is needed.

Recent advances in strategies to target the behavior of macrophages in wound healing

Chronic wounds and scar formation are widespread due to limited suitable remedies. The macrophage is a crucial regulator in wound healing, controlling the onset and termination of inflammation and regulating other processes related to wound healing. The current breakthroughs in developing new medications and drug delivery methods have enabled the accurate targeting of macrophages in oncology and rheumatic disease therapies through clinical trials. These successes have cleared the way to utilize drugs targeting macrophages in various disorders. This review thus summarizes macrophage involvement in normal and pathologic wound healing. It further details the targets available for macrophage intervention and therapeutic strategies for targeting the behavior of macrophages in tissue repair and regeneration.

Sequence enrichment profiles enable target-agnostic antibody generation for a broad range of antigens

Phenotypic drug discovery (PDD) enables the target-agnostic generation of therapeutic drugs with novel mechanisms of action. However, realizing its full potential for biologics discovery requires new technologies to produce antibodies to all, a priori unknown, disease-associated biomolecules. We present a methodology that helps achieve this by integrating computational modeling, differential antibody display selection, and massive parallel sequencing. The method uses the law of mass action-based computational modeling to optimize antibody display selection and, by matching computationally modeled and experimentally selected sequence enrichment profiles, predict which antibody sequences encode specificity for disease-associated biomolecules. Applied to a phage display antibody library and cell-based antibody selection, ∼105 antibody sequences encoding specificity for tumor cell surface receptors expressed at 103-106 receptors/cell were discovered. We anticipate that this approach will be broadly applicable to molecular libraries coupling genotype to phenotype and to the screening of complex antigen populations for identification of antibodies to unknown disease-associated targets.

The Dawn of a New Era: Targeting the "Undruggables" with Antibody-Based Therapeutics

The high selectivity and affinity of antibodies toward their antigens have made them a highly valuable tool in disease therapy, diagnosis, and basic research. A plethora of chemical and genetic approaches have been devised to make antibodies accessible to more "undruggable" targets and equipped with new functions of illustrating or regulating biological processes more precisely. In this Review, in addition to introducing how naked antibodies and various antibody conjugates (such as antibody-drug conjugates, antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates, antibody-enzyme conjugates, etc.) work in therapeutic applications, special attention has been paid to how chemistry tools have helped to optimize the therapeutic outcome (i.e., with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects) or facilitate the multifunctionalization of antibodies, with a focus on emerging fields such as targeted protein degradation, real-time live-cell imaging, catalytic labeling or decaging with spatiotemporal control as well as the engagement of antibodies inside cells. With advances in modern chemistry and biotechnology, well-designed antibodies and their derivatives via size miniaturization or multifunctionalization together with efficient delivery systems have emerged, which have gradually improved our understanding of important biological processes and paved the way to pursue novel targets for potential treatments of various diseases.

Expansion of mixed immune cells using CD3/CD161 co-stimulation for the treatment of cancer

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) is a type of personalized immunotherapy in which expanded immune cells are administered to patients with cancer. However, single-cell populations, such as killer T cells, dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and NKT (NKT) cells, have been generally used, and their effectiveness remains limited. Here, we established a novel culture method via CD3/CD161 co-stimulation and successfully expanded CD3⁺/CD4⁺ helper T cells, CD3⁺/CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), CD3^-/CD56⁺ NK cells, CD3⁺/CD1d⁺ NKT cells, CD3⁺/CD56⁺ NKT cells, CD3⁺/TCRγδ⁺ T cells, and CD3^-/CD11c⁺/HLA-DR⁺ dendritic cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors; their respective numbers were 155.5, 1132.5, 5.7, 117.0, 659.2, 325.6, and 6.8 times higher than those before expansion. These mixed immune cells showed strong cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines Capan-1 and SW480. Moreover, both CD3⁺/CD8⁺ CTLs and CD3⁺/CD56⁺ NKT cells killed tumor cells in cell contact-dependent and -independent manners via granzyme B and interferon-γ/TNF-α, respectively. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the mixed cells was significantly superior to that of CTLs or NKTs alone. A bet-hedging CTL-NKT circuitry is one potential mechanism underlying this cooperative cytotoxicity. Collectively, CD3/CD161 co-stimulation may be a promising culture method to expand multiple, distinct immune cell populations for the treatment of cancer.

Comprehensive multi-attribute method workflow for biotherapeutic characterization and current good manufacturing practices testing

The multi-attribute method (MAM) is a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based method that is used to directly characterize and monitor numerous product quality attributes (PQAs) at the amino acid level of a biopharmaceutical product. MAM enables identity testing based on primary sequence verification, detection and quantitation of post-translational modifications and impurities. This ability to simultaneously and directly determine PQAs of therapeutic proteins makes MAM a more informative, streamlined and productive workflow than conventional chromatographic and electrophoretic assays. MAM relies on proteolytic digestion of the sample followed by reversed-phase chromatographic separation and high-resolution LC-MS analysis in two phases. First, a discovery study to determine quality attributes for monitoring is followed by the creation of a targeted library based on high-resolution retention time plus accurate mass analysis. The second aspect of MAM is the monitoring phase based on the target peptide library and new peak detection using differential analysis of the data to determine the presence, absence or change of any species that might affect the activity or stability of the biotherapeutic. The sample preparation process takes between 90 and 120 min, whereas the time spent on instrumental and data analyses might vary from one to several days for different sample sizes, depending on the complexity of the molecule, the number of attributes to be monitored and the information to be detailed in the final report. MAM is developed to be used throughout the product life cycle, from process development through upstream and downstream processes to quality control release or under current good manufacturing practices regulations enforced by regulatory agencies.

Advances in the potential roles of Cullin-RING ligases in regulating autoimmune diseases

Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) are the largest class of E3 ubiquitin ligases regulating the stability and subsequent activity of a large number of important proteins responsible for the development and progression of various diseases, including autoimmune diseases (AIDs). However, the detailed mechanisms of the pathogenesis of AIDs are complicated and involve multiple signaling pathways. An in-depth understanding of the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the initiation and progression of AIDs will aid in the development of effective therapeutic strategies. CRLs play critical roles in regulating AIDs, partially by affecting the key inflammation-associated pathways such as NF-κB, JAK/STAT, and TGF-β. In this review, we summarize and discuss the potential roles of CRLs in the inflammatory signaling pathways and pathogenesis of AIDs. Furthermore, advances in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for AIDs through targeting CRLs are also highlighted.

Inhalable neutralizing antibodies - promising approach to combating respiratory viral infections

Monoclonal antibodies represent an exciting class of therapeutics against respiratory viral infections. Notwithstanding their specificity and affinity, the conventional parenteral administration is suboptimal in delivering antibodies for neutralizing activity in the airways due to the poor distribution of macromolecules to the respiratory tract. Inhaled therapy is a promising approach to overcome this hurdle in a noninvasive manner, while advances in antibody engineering have led to the development of unique antibody formats which exhibit properties desirable for inhalation. In this Opinion, we examine the major challenges surrounding the development of inhaled antibodies, identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed and provide strategies from a drug delivery perspective to enhance the efficacy and safety of neutralizing antibodies against respiratory viral infections.

Association between multiple sclerosis and prostate cancer risk: A systematic review and meta‑analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) risk in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) remains to be elucidated. The present study conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between MS and PCa. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify studies on the PCa risk in patients with MS up to September 2022. A random effects meta-analyses model was performed to estimate the relative risk (RR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI). All eight studies involving 210,943 patients with MS were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The present study revealed that there was no significant association between MS and the risk of PCa (RR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.56-1.08, P<0.0001). Subgroup analyses verified this conclusion when stratified by regions. However, after adjusting for potential confounders, the findings suggested conflicting results. The current evidence shows that compared with the population control, patients with MS have no relationship with PCa risk and further large samples and long-term trials are needed to verify these results.

Homology Modeling of Antibody Variable Regions: Methods and Applications

Adaptive immunity specifically protects us from antigenic challenges. Antibodies are key effector proteins of adaptive immunity, and they are remarkable in their ability to recognize a virtually limitless number of antigens. Fragment variable (F_V), the antigen-binding region of antibodies, can be split into two main components, namely, framework and complementarity determining regions. The framework (FR) consists of light-chain framework (FR_L) and heavy-chain framework (FR_H). Similarly, the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) comprises of light-chain CDRs 1-3 (CDRs L1-3) and heavy-chain CDRs 1-3 (CDRs H1-3). While FRs are relatively constant in sequence and structure across diverse antibodies, sequence variation in CDRs leading to differential conformations of CDR loops accounts for the distinct antigenic specificities of diverse antibodies. The conserved structural features in FRs and conformity of CDRs to a limited set of standard conformations allow for the accurate prediction of F_V models using homology modeling techniques. Antibody structure prediction from its amino acid sequence has numerous important applications including prediction of antibody-antigen interaction interfaces and redesign of therapeutically and biotechnologically useful antibodies with improved affinity. This chapter summarizes the current practices employed in the successful homology modeling of antibody variable regions and the potential applications of the generated homology models.

IL-7 and IL-7R in health and disease: An update through COVID times

The role of IL-7 and IL-7R for normal lymphoid development and an adequately functioning immune system has been recognized for long, with severe immune deficiency and lymphoid leukemia as extreme examples of the consequences of deregulation of the IL-7-IL-7R axis. In this review, we provide an update (focusing on the past couple of years) on IL-7 and IL-7R in health and disease. We highlight the findings on IL-7/IL-7R signaling mechanisms and the, sometimes controversial, impact of IL-7 and its receptor on leukocyte biology, COVID-19, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and different solid tumors, as well as their relevance as therapeutic tools or targets.

Engineering magnetic nano-manipulators for boosting cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has shown promising therapeutic results in the clinic, albeit only in a limited number of cancer types, and its efficacy remains less than satisfactory. Nanoparticle-based approaches have been shown to increase the response to immunotherapies to address this limitation. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a powerful manipulator are an appealing option for comprehensively regulating the immune system in vivo due to their unique magnetically responsive properties and high biocompatibility. This review focuses on assessing the potential applications of MNPs in enhancing tumor accumulation of immunotherapeutic agents and immunogenicity, improving immune cell infiltration, and creating an immunotherapy-sensitive environment. We summarize recent progress in the application of MNP-based manipulators to augment the efficacy of immunotherapy, by MNPs and their multiple magnetically responsive effects under different types of external magnetic field. Furthermore, we highlight the mechanisms underlying the promotion of antitumor immunity, including magnetically actuated delivery and controlled release of immunotherapeutic agents, tracking and visualization of immune response in real time, and magnetic regulation of innate/adaptive immune cells. Finally, we consider perspectives and challenges in MNP-based immunotherapy.

The Function and Therapeutic Implications of TNF Signaling in MDSCs

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a group of immature and heterogeneous myeloid cells with immunosuppressive functions. MDSCs play important roles in the pathogenesis of cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and many autoimmune disorders. The accumulation and activation of MDSCs can be regulated by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). In this review, we summarize the roles played by TNF-α in the recruitment, immunosuppressive functions, and chemotaxis of MDSCs, and discuss the potential therapeutic effects of TNF-α upon these cells in tumor growth and some inflammatory disorders.

ZNF521 Is Correlated with Tumor Immune Cell Infiltration and Act as a Valuable Prognostic Biomarker in Gastric Cancer

Aim

To explore the correlations between the expression of zinc finger protein 521 (ZNF521) with immune invasion and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Methods

Expression of ZNF521 was examined by immunohistochemistry in gastric cancer cases. Kaplan–Meier plotter was used to determine the relationships between ZNF521 and prognosis. TIMER and GEPIA were used to analyze the correlation between ZNF521 expression and gene markers of immune cell infiltration.

Results

The expression of ZNF521 was up-regulated in gastric cancer samples. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that higher expression of ZNF521 was associated with poor prognosis. The expression of ZNF521 was correlated with infiltrating levels of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in gastric cancer, which also correlated with diverse immune marker sets.

Conclusions

ZNF521 is correlated significantly with immune cell infiltration and is a valuable biomarker for prognosis in gastric cancer.

Safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation for autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation for autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory diseases.

Methods

Relevant literature was retrieved from the PubMed database, Embase database, Cochrane Library database, etc. The search period is from the establishment of the database to January 2022. The outcomes include clinical symptoms, improvement in biochemistry, improvement in intestinal microbiota, improvement in the immune system, and adverse events. Literature screening and data extraction were independently carried out by two researchers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and RevMan 5.3 software was used for statistics and analysis.

Results

Overall, a total of 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving six types of autoimmune diseases were included. The results showed the following. 1) Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM): compared with the autologous fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) group (control group), the fasting plasma C peptide in the allogenic FMT group at 12 months was lower. 2) Systemic sclerosis: at week 4, compared with one of two placebo controls, three patients in the experimental group reported a major improvement in fecal incontinence. 3) Ulcerative colitis, pediatric ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease: FMT may increase clinical remission, clinical response, and endoscopic remission for patients with ulcerative colitis and increase clinical remission for patients with Crohn's disease. 4) Psoriatic arthritis: there was no difference in the ratio of ACR20 between the two groups.

Conclusion

Based on current evidence, the application of FMT in the treatment of autoimmune diseases is effective and relatively safe, and it is expected to be used as a method to induce remission of active autoimmune diseases.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021235055, identifier CRD42021235055.

Mechanism underlying circRNA dysregulation in the TME of digestive system cancer

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new series of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that have been reported to be expressed in eukaryotic cells and have a variety of biological functions in the regulation of cancer pathogenesis and progression. The TME, as a microscopic ecological environment, consists of a variety of cells, including tumor cells, immune cells and other normal cells, ECM and a large number of signaling molecules. The crosstalk between circRNAs and the TME plays a complicated role in affecting the malignant behaviors of digestive system cancers. Herein, we summarize the mechanisms underlying aberrant circRNA expression in the TME of the digestive system cancers, including immune surveillance, angiogenesis, EMT, and ECM remodelling. The regulation of the TME by circRNA is expected to be a new therapeutic method.

Development of an exosome-related and immune microenvironment prognostic signature in colon adenocarcinoma

Background: The correlation between exosomes and the tumor immune microenvironment has been proved to affect tumorigenesis and progression of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). However, it remained unclear whether exosomes had an impact on the prognostic indications of COAD patients.

Methods: Expression of exosome-related genes (ERGs) and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The ERGs associated with prognosis were identified and exosome-related prognostic signature was constructed. Patients in two risk groups were classified according to the risk score calculation formula: Risk score = 1.0132 * CCKBR + 0.2416 * HOXC6 + 0.7618 * POU4F1. The expression of three ERGs was investigated by qRT-PCR. After that, we developed a nomogram predicting the likelihood of survival and verified its predictive efficiency. The differences of tumor immune microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint and sensitivity to drugs in two risk groups were analyzed.

Results: A prognostic signature was established based on the three ERGs (CCKBR, HOXC6, and POU4F1) and patients with different risk group were distinguished. Survival analysis revealed the negative associated of risk score and prognosis, ROC curve analyses showed the accuracy of this signature. Three ERGs expression was investigated by qRT-PCR in three colorectal cancer cell lines. Moreover, risk score was positively correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB), immune activities, microsatellite instability level, the expression of immune checkpoint genes. Meanwhile, the expression level of three ERGs and the risk score were markedly related with the sensitive response to chemotherapy.

Conclusion: The novel signature composed of three ERGs with precise predictive capabilities can be used to predict prognosis and provide a promising therapeutic target for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Ligand-based CAR-T cell: Different strategies to drive T cells in future new treatments

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based therapies are presented as innovative treatments for multiple malignancies. Despite their clinical success, there is scientific evidence of the limitations of these therapies mainly due to immunogenicity issues, toxicities associated with the infusion of the product, and relapses of the tumor. As a result, novel approaches are appearing aiming to solve and/or mitigate the harmful effects of CAR-T therapies. These include strategies based on the use of ligands as binding moieties or ligand-based CAR-T cells. Several proposals are currently under development, with some undergoing clinical trials to assess their potential benefits. In addition to these, therapies such as chimeric autoantibody receptor (CAAR), B-cell receptor antigen for reverse targeting (BAR), and even chimeric human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody receptor (CHAR) have emerged, benefiting from the advantages of antigenic ligands as antibody-binding motifs. This review focuses on the potential role that ligands can play in current and future antitumor treatments and in other types of diseases, such as autoimmune diseases or problems associated with transplantation.

The Role of IL-7 and IL-7R in Cancer Pathophysiology and Immunotherapy

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a multipotent cytokine that maintains the homeostasis of the immune system. IL-7 plays a vital role in T-cell development, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as in B cell maturation through the activation of the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R). IL-7 is closely associated with tumor development and has been used in cancer clinical research and therapy. In this review, we first summarize the roles of IL-7 and IL-7Rα and their downstream signaling pathways in immunity and cancer. Furthermore, we summarize and discuss the recent advances in the use of IL-7 and IL-7Rα as cancer immunotherapy tools and highlight their potential for therapeutic applications. This review will help in the development of cancer immunotherapy regimens based on IL-7 and IL-7Rα, and will also advance their exploitation as more effective and safe immunotherapy tools.

Recombinant Spider Silk Bioinks for Continuous Protein Release by Encapsulated Producer Cells

Targeted therapies using biopharmaceuticals are of growing clinical importance in disease treatment. Currently, there are several limitations of protein-based therapeutics (biologicals), including suboptimal biodistribution, lack of stability, and systemic side effects. A promising approach to overcoming these limitations could be a therapeutic cell-loaded 3D construct consisting of a suitable matrix component that harbors producer cells continuously secreting the biological of interest. Here, the recombinant spider silk proteins eADF4(C16), eADF4(C16)-RGD, and eADF4(C16)-RGE have been processed together with HEK293 producer cells stably secreting the highly traceable reporter biological TNFR2-Fc-GpL, a fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of TNFR2, the Fc domain of human IgG1, and the luciferase of Gaussia princeps as a reporter domain. eADF4(C16) and eADF4(C16)-RGD hydrogels provide structural and mechanical support, promote HEK293 cell growth, and allow fusion protein production by the latter. Bioink-captured HEK293 producer cells continuously release functional TNFR2-Fc-GpL over 14 days. Thus, the combination of biocompatible, printable spider silk bioinks with drug-producing cells is promising for generating implantable 3D constructs for continuous targeted therapy.

Significance of lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 in Interventional Therapy of Liver Cancer and the Mechanism under Its Participation in Tumour Cell Growth via miR-199a-5p

Methods

Totally 34 LC patients admitted to our hospital between January 2020 and March 2021 (Obs group) and 32 healthy individuals over the same time span (Con group) were enrolled. CDKN2B-AS1 and miR-199a-5p in the two groups were PCR quantified, and their association and value for the diagnosis and therapy of LC were analyzed. In addition, purchased LC cells were adopted for in vitro assays, and the influences of CDKN2B-AS1 and miR-199a-5p on biological behaviours of LC cells were assessed through CCK-8, Transwell, and flow cytometry experiment, and their regulatory association was verified by the dual luciferase reporter (DLR) assay and rescue assay. And the autophagic protein expression was tested by the western blot to confirm the effect of both on the autophagic capacity of LC cells.

Results

CDKN2B-AS1 in LC cases presented high expression and dropped after therapy (P < 0.05), and the opposite situation of miR-199a-5p was found in the LC cases (P < 0.05). In vitro assays, after silencing of CDKN2B-AS1 and upregulation of miR-199a-5p, LC cells presented weaker viability, invasion and migration activities, and stronger apoptotic activity (all P < 0.05). The DLR assay revealed suppressed fluorescence activity of CDKN2B-AS1-WT by miR-199a-5p (P < 0.05). Moreover, according to the rescue assay, the impacts of silencing CDKN2B-AS1 on LC cells could be completely offset by silencing miR-199a-5p (P < 0.05). According to the clone formation and WB assay, the growth and autophagy of LC cells were under the regulation of CDKN2B-AS1 targeting miR-199a-5p (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

With high expression in LC cases, CDKN2B-AS1 is implicated in the development and progression of LC by suppressing cell autophagy through targeting miR-199a-5p.

Relative quantitation of glycans in cetuximab using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry by Pronase E digestion

Glycans play important roles in the activity and function of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study, an isotope labeling method for the relative quantitative analysis of glycans in cetuximab, a chimeric human/mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibody that specifically targets epidermal growth factor receptor, via hydrophilic interaction LC-ultra-high-performance LC-HRMS was established based on Pronase E digestion. To this aim, novel isotope MS probes, i.e., 3-benzoyl-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (d0-BOTC) and 3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentadeuterio-benzoyl)-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate acid (d5-BOTC), which include a carboxyl group to target the amino functional group in glycosylamine, were developed. The nonspecific Pronase E enzyme could simultaneously digest the peptide bound to the N- and O-glycans into glycosylamine having only one amino acid. Since the mass difference between the light- and heavy-labeled glycans was 5.0 Da, the relative abundance of their MS peaks was used to achieve the qualitative and relative quantitative analysis of glycans. Sialylglycopeptide was used as a complex glycan model to validate the accuracy of the method. The results demonstrated the good linearity (R² ≥ 0.9994) between the experimentally detected MS intensity ratios and the theoretical molar ratios of the d0-BOTC to the corresponding d5-BOTC derivatives in the dynamic range of 0.03-10 and 0.03-20 of three orders magnitude for the d5-BOTC/d0-BOTC ratios. The reproducibility was between 0.16% and 10.70%, and the limit of detection was 13 fmol. The feasibility of the relative quantification method was investigated by analyzing the glycan content in cetuximab, finding good consistency between experimental and theoretical molar ratios (5:1, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:5) of d0/d5-BOTC-labeled glycans. Finally, 13 glycans were successfully identified in cetuximab by applying this method using an in-house Tracefinder database. This study provides a novel strategy for the high throughput analysis, identification, and functional study of glycans in mAbs.

Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract in the Treatment of 10 Types of Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 31 Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective

To evaluate the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Methods

Databases such as Embase, Web of Science, PubMed and The Cochrane Library were searched from the database establishment to February 2022 to collect RCTs of Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Then the literature was screened and the data were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.

Results

A total of 34 records were included, involving 31 RCTs and 10 types of autoimmune disease. Among them, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) involves one RCT, Behcet ‘s disease (BD) involves one RCT, Crohn ‘s disease involves two RCTs, multiple sclerosis (MS) involves two RCTs, oral lichen planus involves six RCTs, psoriasis involves two RCTs, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves five RCTs, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involves two RCTs, arteritis involves one RCT, ulcerative colitis (UC) involves nine RCTs. Among them, most of the RCTs of ulcerative colitis (UC), oral lichen planus, RA showed that curcumin and curcumin extracts improved clinical or laboratory results. Crohn ‘ s disease, MS, SLE, psoriasis included two RCTs; they all showed improvements (at least one RCT reported improvements in clinical outcomes). AS, BD and arteritis included only one RCT, and the clinical results showed improvement. However, due to the small number of RCTs and the small number of patients involved in each disease, there is still a need for more high-quality RCTs.

Conclusion

Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of Psoriasis, UC and RA, so Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract could be used in the treatment of the above diseases in the future. The results of Meta-analysis showed that Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract did not show efficacy in the treatment of oral lichen planus, while Takayasu arteritis, SLE, MS, AS, BD and CD did not report sufficient clinical data for meta-analysis. Therefore, large-sample, multi-center clinical trials are still needed for revision or validation.

TCR-like antibodies targeting autoantigen-mhc complexes: a mini-review

T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize peptide antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules (p/MHC) that are expressed on cell surfaces; while B cell-derived antibodies (Abs) recognize soluble or cell surface native antigens of various types (proteins, carbohydrates, etc.). Immune surveillance by T and B cells thus inspects almost all formats of antigens to mount adaptive immune responses against cancer cells, infectious organisms and other foreign insults, while maintaining tolerance to self-tissues. With contributions from environmental triggers, the development of autoimmune disease is thought to be due to the expression of MHC risk alleles by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) presenting self-antigen (autoantigen), breaking through self-tolerance and activating autoreactive T cells, which orchestrate downstream pathologic events. Investigating and treating autoimmune diseases have been challenging, both because of the intrinsic complexity of these diseases and the need for tools targeting T cell epitopes (autoantigen-MHC). Naturally occurring TCRs with relatively low (micromolar) affinities to p/MHC are suboptimal for autoantigen-MHC targeting, whereas the use of engineered TCRs and their derivatives (e.g., TCR multimers and TCR-engineered T cells) are limited by unpredictable cross-reactivity. As Abs generally have nanomolar affinity, recent advances in engineering TCR-like (TCRL) Abs promise advantages over their TCR counterparts for autoantigen-MHC targeting. Here, we compare the p/MHC binding by TCRs and TCRL Abs, review the strategies for generation of TCRL Abs, highlight their application for identification of autoantigen-presenting APCs, and discuss future directions and limitations of TCRL Abs as immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases.

Biologics and cardiac disease: challenges and opportunities

Biologics are revolutionizing the treatment of chronic diseases, such as cancer and monogenic disorders, by overcoming the limits of classic therapeutic approaches using small molecules. However, the clinical use of biologics is limited for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) , which are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Here, we review the state-of-the-art use of biologics for cardiac disorders and provide a framework for understanding why they still struggle to enter the field. Some limitations are common and intrinsic to all biological drugs, whereas others depend on the complexity of cardiac disease. In our opinion, delineating these struggles will be valuable in developing and accelerating the approval of a new generation of biologics for CVDs.

Comparison of CD3e Antibody and CD3e-sZAP Immunotoxin Treatment in Mice Identifies sZAP as the Main Driver of Vascular Leakage

Anti-CD3-epsilon (CD3e) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and CD3e immunotoxins (ITs) are promising targeted therapy options for various T-cell disorders. Despite significant advances in mAb and IT engineering, vascular leakage syndrome (VLS) remains a major dose-limiting toxicity for ITs and has been poorly characterized for recent "engineered" mAbs. This study undertakes a direct comparison of non-mitogenic CD3e-mAb (145-2C11 with Fc-silentTM murine IgG1: S-CD3e-mAb) and a new murine-version CD3e-IT (saporin-streptavidin (sZAP) conjugated with S-CD3e-mAb: S-CD3e-IT) and identifies their distinct toxicity profiles in mice. As expected, the two agents showed different modes of action on T cells, with S-CD3e-mAb inducing nearly complete modulation of CD3e on the cell surface, while S-CD3e-IT depleted the cells. S-CD3e-IT significantly increased the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the tissue parenchyma of the spleen and lungs, a sign of increased vascular permeability. By contrast, S-CD3e-mAbs-treated mice showed no notable signs of vascular leakage. Treatment with control ITs (sZAP conjugated with Fc-silent isotype antibodies) induced significant vascular leakage without causing T-cell deaths. These results demonstrate that the toxin portion of S-CD3e-IT, not the CD3e-binding portion (S-CD3e-mAb), is the main driver of vascular leakage, thus clarifying the molecular target for improving safety profiles in CD3e-IT therapy.

High-Throughput B Cell Epitope Determination by Next-Generation Sequencing

Development of novel technologies for the discovery of human monoclonal antibodies has proven invaluable in the fight against infectious diseases. Among the diverse antibody repertoires elicited by infection or vaccination, often only rare antibodies targeting specific epitopes of interest are of potential therapeutic value. Current antibody discovery efforts are capable of identifying B cells specific for a given antigen; however, epitope specificity information is usually only obtained after subsequent monoclonal antibody production and characterization. Here we describe LIBRA-seq with epitope mapping, a next-generation sequencing technology that enables residue-level epitope determination for thousands of single B cells simultaneously. By utilizing an antigen panel of point mutants within the HIV-1 Env glycoprotein, we identified and confirmed antibodies targeting multiple sites of vulnerability on Env, including the CD4-binding site and the V3-glycan site. LIBRA-seq with epitope mapping is an efficient tool for high-throughput identification of antibodies against epitopes of interest on a given antigen target.