SCF and IL-33 regulate mouse mast cell phenotypic and functional plasticity supporting a pro-inflammatory microenvironment

Halofuginone-guided nano-local therapy: Nano-thermosensitive hydrogels for postoperative metastatic canine mammary carcinoma with scar removal

In female dogs, the highest morbidity and mortality rates cancer are the result of mammary adenocarcinoma, which presents with metastases in the lung. Other than early surgical removal, however, no special methods are available to treat mammary adenocarcinoma. Because human breast cancer and canine mammary carcinoma share clinical characteristics and heterogeneity, the canine model is a suitable spontaneous tumor model for breast cancer in humans. In this study, the physical swelling method was used to prepare halofuginone-loaded D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) polymer micelles nano-thermosensitive hydrogels (HTPM-gel). Furthermore, HTPM-gel was investigated via characterization, morphology, properties such as swelling experiment and in vitro release with reflecting its splendid nature. Moreover, HTPM-gel was further examined its capability to anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and anti-invasion. Ultimately, HTPM-gel was investigated for its in vivo anticancer activity in the post-operative metastatic and angiogenic canine mammary carcinoma. HTPM-gel presented spherical under transmission electron microscope (TEM) and represented grid structure under scanning electron microscope (SEM), with hydrodynamic diameter (HD) of 20.25 ± 2.5 nm and zeta potential (ZP) of 15.10 ± 1.82 mV. Additionally, HTPM-gel own excellent properties comprised of pH-dependent swelling behavior, sustained release behavior. To impede the migration, invasion, and proliferation of CMT-U27 cells, we tested the efficacy of HTPM-gel. Evaluation of in vivo anti-tumor efficacy demonstrates HTPM-gel exhibit a splendid anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenic ability, with exhibiting ideal biocompatibility. Notably, HTPM-gel also inhibited the scar formation in the healing process after surgery. In summary, HTPM-gel exhibited anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenic and scar repair features. According to the results of this study, HTPM-gel has encouraging clinical potential to treat tumors with multifunctional hydrogel.

Unraveling the genetic basis of the causal association between inflammatory cytokines and osteonecrosis

Background

Previous studies have reported that the occurrence and development of osteonecrosis is closely associated with immune-inflammatory responses. Mendelian randomization was performed to further assess the causal correlation between 41 inflammatory cytokines and osteonecrosis.

Methods

Two-sample Mendelian randomization utilized genetic variants for osteonecrosis from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 606 cases and 209,575 controls of European ancestry. Another analysis included drug-induced osteonecrosis with 101 cases and 218,691 controls of European ancestry. Inflammatory cytokines were sourced from a GWAS abstract involving 8,293 healthy participants. The causal relationship between exposure and outcome was primarily explored using an inverse variance weighting approach. Multiple sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger, weighted median, simple model, weighted model, and MR-PRESSO, were concurrently applied to bolster the final results.

Results

The results showed that bFGF, IL-2 and IL2-RA were clinically causally associated with the risk of osteonecrosis (OR=1.942, 95% CI=1.13-3.35, p=0.017; OR=0.688, 95% CI=0.50-0.94, p=0.021; OR=1.386, 95% CI=1.04-1.85, p = 0.026). there was a causal relationship between SCF and drug-related osteonecrosis (OR=3.356, 95% CI=1.09-10.30, p=0.034).

Conclusion

This pioneering Mendelian randomization study is the first to explore the causal link between osteonecrosis and 41 inflammatory cytokines. It conclusively establishes a causal association between osteonecrosis and bFGF, IL-2, and IL-2RA. These findings offer valuable insights into osteonecrosis pathogenesis, paving the way for effective clinical management. The study suggests bFGF, IL-2, and IL-2RA as potential therapeutic targets for osteonecrosis treatment.

Natural Killer T Cell Diversity and Immunotherapy

Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKTs), a type of unconventional T cells, share features with NK cells and have an invariant T cell receptor (TCR), which recognizes lipid antigens loaded on CD1d molecules, a major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-like protein. This interaction produces the secretion of a wide array of cytokines by these cells, including interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4), allowing iNKTs to link innate with adaptive responses. Interestingly, molecules that bind CD1d have been identified that enable the modulation of these cells, highlighting their potential pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive capacities, as required in different clinical settings. In this review, we summarize key features of iNKTs and current understandings of modulatory α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) variants, a model iNKT cell activator that can shift the outcome of adaptive immune responses. Furthermore, we discuss advances in the development of strategies that modulate these cells to target pathologies that are considerable healthcare burdens. Finally, we recapitulate findings supporting a role for iNKTs in infectious diseases and tumor immunotherapy.

ATP/IL-33-Co-Sensing by Mast Cells (MCs) Requires Activated c-Kit to Ensure Effective Cytokine Responses

Mast cells (MCs) are sentinel cells which represent an important part of the first line of defense of the immune system. MCs highly express receptors for danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as the IL-33R and P2X7, making MCs to potentially effective sensors for IL-33 and adenosine-triphosphate (ATP), two alarmins which are released upon necrosis-induced cell damage in peripheral tissues. Besides receptors for alarmins, MCs also express the stem cell factor (SCF) receptor c-Kit, which typically mediates MC differentiation, proliferation and survival. By using bone marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs), ELISA and flow cytometry experiments, as well as p65/RelA and NFAT reporter MCs, we aimed to investigate the influence of SCF on alarmin-induced signaling pathways and the resulting cytokine production and degranulation. We found that the presence of SCF boosted the cytokine production but not degranulation in MCs which simultaneously sense ATP and IL-33 (ATP/IL-33 co-sensing). Therefore, we conclude that SCF maintains the functionality of MCs in peripheral tissues to ensure appropriate MC reactions upon cell damage, induced by pathogens or allergens.