Th2 cell-specific cytokine expression and allergen-induced airway inflammation depend on JunB

Single-cell and chromatin accessibility profiling reveals regulatory programs of pathogenic Th2 cells in allergic asthma

Lung pathogenic T helper type 2 (pTh2) cells are important in mediating allergic asthma, but fundamental questions remain regarding their heterogeneity and epigenetic regulation. Here we investigate immune regulation in allergic asthma by single-cell RNA sequencing in mice challenged with house dust mite, in the presence and absence of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) function. Our analyses indicate two distinct highly proinflammatory subsets of lung pTh2 cells and pinpoint thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily (TNFRSF) members as important drivers to generate pTh2 cells in vitro. Using our in vitro model, we uncover how signalling via TSLP and a TNFRSF member shapes chromatin accessibility at the type 2 cytokine gene loci by modulating HDAC1 repressive function. In summary, we have generated insights into pTh2 cell biology and establish an in vitro model for investigating pTh2 cells that proves useful for discovering molecular mechanisms involved in pTh2-mediated allergic asthma.

Progressively differentiated TFH13 cells are stabilized by JunB to mediate allergen germinal center responses

Allergic diseases are common and affect a large proportion of the population. Interleukin-13 (IL-13)-expressing follicular helper T (TFH13) cells are a newly identified population of TFH cells that have been associated with high-affinity IgE responses. However, the origins, developmental signals, transcriptional programming and precise functions of TFH13 cells are unknown. Here, we examined the developmental signals for TFH13 cells and found a direct and progressive differentiation pathway marked by the production of IL-21. These two pathways differed in kinetics and extrinsic requirements. However, both pathways converged, forming transcriptionally similar TFH13 cells that express the transcription factor JunB as a critical stabilizing factor. Using an intersectional genetics-based TFH13-diphtheria toxin receptor model to perturb these cells, we found that TFH13 cells were essential to drive broad germinal center responses and allergen-specific IgG and IgE. Moreover, we found that IL-21 is a broad positive regulator of allergen germinal center B cells and synergizes with IL-13 produced by TFH13 cells to amplify allergic responses. Thus, TFH13 cells orchestrate multiple features of allergic inflammation.

IKZF1 and UBR4 gene variants drive autoimmunity and Th2 polarization in IgG4-related disease

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic immune-mediated fibroinflammatory disease whose pathomechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identified gene variants in familial IgG4-RD and determined their functional consequences. All 3 affected members of the family shared variants of the transcription factor IKAROS, encoded by IKZF1, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR4. The IKAROS variant increased binding to the FYN promoter, resulting in higher transcription of FYN in T cells. The UBR4 variant prevented the lysosomal degradation of the phosphatase CD45. In the presence of elevated FYN, CD45 functioned as a positive regulatory loop, lowering the threshold for T cell activation. Consequently, T cells from the affected family members were hyperresponsive to stimulation. When transduced with a low-avidity, autoreactive T cell receptor, their T cells responded to the autoantigenic peptide. In parallel, high expression of FYN in T cells biased their differentiation toward Th2 polarization by stabilizing the transcription factor JunB. This bias was consistent with the frequent atopic manifestations in patients with IgG4-RD, including the affected family members in the present study. Building on the functional consequences of these 2 variants, we propose a disease model that is not only instructive for IgG4-RD but also for atopic diseases and autoimmune diseases associated with an IKZF1 risk haplotype.

Differentiation and Regulation of Bovine Th2 Cells In Vitro

Bovine Th2 cells have usually been characterized by IL4 mRNA expression, but it is unclear whether their IL4 protein expression corresponds to transcription. We found that grass-fed healthy beef cattle, which had been regularly exposed to parasites on the grass, had a low frequency of IL4+ Th2 cells during flow cytometry, similar to animals grown in feedlots. To assess the distribution of IL4+ CD4+ T cells across tissues, samples from the blood, spleen, abomasal (draining), and inguinal lymph nodes were examined, which revealed limited IL4 protein detection in the CD4+ T cells across the examined tissues. To determine if bovine CD4+ T cells may develop into Th2 cells, naïve cells were stimulated with anti-bovine CD3 under a Th2 differentiation kit in vitro. The cells produced primarily IFNγ proteins, with only a small fraction (<10%) co-expressing IL4 proteins. Quantitative PCR confirmed elevated IFNγ transcription but no significant change in IL4 transcription. Surprisingly, GATA3, the master regulator of IL4, was highest in naïve CD4+ T cells but was considerably reduced following differentiation. To determine if the differentiated cells were true Th2 cells, an unbiased proteomic assay was carried out. The assay identified 4212 proteins, 422 of which were differently expressed compared to those in naïve cells. Based on these differential proteins, Th2-related upstream components were predicted, including CD3, CD28, IL4, and IL33, demonstrating typical Th2 differentiation. To boost IL4 expression, T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation strength was reduced by lowering anti-CD3 concentrations. Consequently, weak TCR stimulation essentially abolished Th2 expansion and survival. In addition, extra recombinant bovine IL4 (rbIL4) was added during Th2 differentiation, but, despite enhanced expansion, the IL4 level remained unaltered. These findings suggest that, while bovine CD4+ T cells can respond to Th2 differentiation stimuli, the bovine IL4 pathway is not regulated in the same way as in mice and humans. Furthermore, Ostertagia ostertagi (OO) extract, a gastrointestinal nematode in cattle, inhibited signaling via CD3, CD28, IL4, and TLRs/MYD88, indicating that external pathogens can influence bovine Th2 differentiation. In conclusion, though bovine CD4+ T cells can respond to IL4-driven differentiation, IL4 expression is not a defining feature of differentiated bovine Th2 cells.

JunB: a paradigm for Jun family in immune response and cancer

Jun B proto-oncogene (JunB) is a crucial member of dimeric activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex, which plays a significant role in various physiological processes, such as placental formation, cardiovascular development, myelopoiesis, angiogenesis, endochondral ossification and epidermis tissue homeostasis. Additionally, it has been reported that JunB has great regulatory functions in innate and adaptive immune responses by regulating the differentiation and cytokine secretion of immune cells including T cells, dendritic cells and macrophages, while also facilitating the effector of neutrophils and natural killer cells. Furthermore, a growing body of studies have shown that JunB is involved in tumorigenesis through regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, senescence and metastasis, particularly affecting the tumor microenvironment through transcriptional promotion or suppression of oncogenes in tumor cells or immune cells. This review summarizes the physiological function of JunB, its immune regulatory function, and its contribution to tumorigenesis, especially focusing on its regulatory mechanisms within tumor-associated immune processes.

The Epigenetic Reader Protein SP140 Regulates Dendritic Cell Activation, Maturation and Tolerogenic Potential

SP140 is an epigenetic reader protein expressed predominantly in immune cells. GWAS studies have shown an association between SP140 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and diverse autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, suggesting a possible pathogenic role for SP140 in immune-mediated diseases. We previously demonstrated that treatment of human macrophages with the novel selective inhibitor of the SP140 protein (GSK761) reduced the expression of endotoxin-induced cytokines, implicating a role of SP140 in the function of inflammatory macrophages. In this study, we investigated the effects of GSK761 on in vitro human dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and maturation, assessing the expression of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules and their capacity to stimulate T-cell activation and induce phenotypic changes. In DCs, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation induced an increase in SP140 expression and its recruitment to transcription start sites (TSS) of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Moreover, LPS-induced cytokines such as TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β were reduced in GSK761- or SP140 siRNA- treated DCs. Although GSK761 did not significantly affect the expression of surface markers that define the differentiation of CD14⁺ monocytes into immature DCs (iDCs), subsequent maturation of iDCs to mature DCs was significantly inhibited. GSK761 strongly reduced expression of the maturation marker CD83, the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86, and the lipid-antigen presentation molecule CD1b. Finally, when the ability of DCs to stimulate recall T-cell responses by vaccine-specific T cells was assessed, T cells stimulated by GSK761-treated DCs showed reduced TBX21 and RORA expression and increased FOXP3 expression, indicating a preferential generation of regulatory T cells. Overall, this study suggests that SP140 inhibition enhances the tolerogenic properties of DCs, supporting the rationale of targeting SP140 in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where DC-mediated inflammatory responses contribute to disease pathogenesis.

New immune horizons in therapeutics and diagnostic approaches to Preeclampsia

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the commonest maladies, affecting 5%-10% of pregnancies worldwide. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) identifies four categories of HDP, namely gestational hypertension (GH), Preeclampsia (PE), chronic hypertension (CH), and CH with superimposed PE. PE is a multisystem, heterogeneous disorder that encompasses 2%-8% of all pregnancy-related complications, contributing to about 9% to 26% of maternal deaths in low-income countries and 16% in high-income countries. These translate to 50 000 maternal deaths and over 500 000 fetal deaths worldwide, therefore demanding high priority in understanding clinical presentation, screening, diagnostic criteria, and effective management. PE is accompanied by uteroplacental insufficiency leading to vascular and metabolic changes, vasoconstriction, and end-organ ischemia. PE is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women who were previously normotensive or hypertensive. Besides shallow trophoblast invasion and inadequate remodeling of uterine arteries, dysregulation of the nonimmune system has been the focal point in PE. This results from aberrant immune system activation and imbalanced differentiation of T cells. Further, a failure of tolerance toward the semi-allogenic fetus results due to altered distribution of Tregs such as CD4+FoxP3+ or CD4+CD25+CD127(low) FoxP3+ cells, thereby creating a cytotoxic environment by suboptimal production of immunosuppressive cytokines like IL-10, IL-4, and IL-13. Also, intracellular production of complement protein C5a may result in decreased FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. With immune system dysfunction as a major driver in PE pathogenesis, it is logical that therapeutic targeting of components of the immune system with pharmacologic agents like anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating molecules are either being used or under clinical trial. Cholesterol synthesis inhibitors like Pravastatin may improve placental perfusion in PE, while Eculizumab (monoclonal antibody inhibiting C5) and small molecular inhibitor of C5a, Zilucoplan are under investigation. Monoclonal antibody against IL-17(Secukinumab) has been proposed to alter the Th imbalance in PE. Autologous Treg therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors like anti-CTLA-4 are emerging as new candidates in immune horizons for PE management in the future.

Research progress on the role of Ndfip1 (Nedd4 family interacting protein 1) in immune cells

Nedd4 family interacting protein 1 (Ndfip1) was first mentioned in an article in 2000. Since its discovery, related studies have shown that this protein is associated with apoptosis, neuroprotection, substance transport, ubiquitination, and immune regulation. It is noteworthy that the lack of Ndfip1 can lead to death in fetal mice. Researchers generally believe that the function of Ndfip1 is closely related to individual immune capacity and have published a large number of articles. However, a comprehensive classification of the immune regulatory function of Ndfip1 is still lacking. In this review, we will overview and discuss this new perspective, focusing on the role of Ndfip1 in the proliferation, differentiation, and cell activity of CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, mast cells, and eosinophils. This review provides an updated summary of Ndfip1, which will unveil novel therapeutic targets. Finally, the conclusion is that Ndfip1 mainly plays a negative regulatory role in immune cells by maintaining the stability of the immune response and limiting its overexpression.

Oral Immunization with Attenuated Salmonella Choleraesuis Expressing the P42 and P97 Antigens Protects Mice against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Challenge

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae, Mhp) is the etiological agent of swine enzootic pneumonia (EP), which has been associated with considerable economic losses due to reduced daily weight gain and feed efficiency. Adhesion to the cilia is important for Mhp to colonize the respiratory epithelium. Therefore, a successful vaccine must induce broad Mhp-specific immune responses at the mucosal surface. Recombinant attenuated Salmonella strains are believed to act as powerful live vaccine vectors that are able to elicit mucosal immune responses against various pathogens. To develop efficacious and inexpensive vaccines against Mhp, the immune responses and protection induced by recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines based on the P42 and P97 antigens of Mhp were evaluated. In general, the oral inoculation of recombinant rSC0016(pS-P42) or rSC0016(pS-P97) resulted in strong mucosal immunity, cell-mediated immunity, and humoral immunity, which was a mixed Th1/Th2-type response. In addition, the levels of specific IL-4 and IFN-γ in the immunized mice were increased, and the proliferation of lymphocytes was also enhanced, confirming the production of a good cellular immune response. Finally, both vaccine candidate strains were able to improve the weight loss of mice after a challenge and reduce clinical symptoms, lung pathological damage, and the inflammatory cell infiltration. These results suggest that the delivery of protective antigens with recombinant attenuated Salmonella vectors may be an effective means by which to combat Mhp infection. IMPORTANCE Mhp is the main pathogen of porcine enzootic pneumonia, a highly infectious and economically significant respiratory disease that affects pigs of all ages. As the target tissue of Mhp infections are the mucosal sites of the respiratory tract, the induction of protective immunity at the mucosal tissues is the most efficient strategy by which to block disease transmission. Because the stimulation of mucosal immune responses is efficient, Salmonella-vector oral vaccines are expected to be especially useful against mucosal-invading pathogens. In this study, we expressed the immunogenic proteins of P42 and P97 with the attenuated Salmonella Choleraesuis vector rSC0016, thereby generating a low-cost and more effective vaccine candidate against Mhp by inducing significant mucosal, humoral and cellular immunity. Furthermore, rSC0016(pS-P42) effectively prevents Mhp-induced weight loss and the pulmonary inflammation of mice. Because of the effectiveness of rSC0016(pS-P42) against Mhp infection in mice, this novel vaccine candidate strain shows great potential for its use in the pig breeding industry.

Recent Advances Regarding the Molecular Mechanisms of Triterpenic Acids: A Review (Part I)

Triterpenic acids are phytocompounds with a widespread range of biological activities that have been the subject of numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. However, their underlying mechanisms of action in various pathologies are not completely elucidated. The current review aims to summarize the most recent literature, published in the last five years, regarding the mechanism of action of three triterpenic acids (asiatic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid), corelated with different biological activities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial. All three discussed compounds share several mechanisms of action, such as the targeted modulation of the PI3K/AKT, Nrf2, NF-kB, EMT, and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways, while other mechanisms that proved to only be specific for a part of the triterpenic acids discussed, such as the modulation of Notch, Hippo, and MALAT1/miR-206/PTGS1 signaling pathway, were highlighted as well. This paper stands as the first part in our literature study on the topic, which will be followed by a second part focusing on other triterpenic acids of therapeutic value.

RacGAP1 promotes the malignant progression of cervical cancer by regulating AP-1 via miR-192 and p-JNK

Cervical cancer (CC) is the most frequently diagnosed genital tract cancer in females worldwide. Rac GTPase-activating protein 1 (RacGAP1) is one of the specific GTPase-activating proteins. As a novel tumor protooncogene, overexpression of RacGAP1 was related to the occurrence of various tumors, but its function in CC is still unclear. In this study, bioinformatics analyses showed that RacGAP1 might be a key candidate gene in the progression of CC. RacGAP1 was significantly overexpressed in CC tissues. High RacGAP1 expression was positively associated with poor prognosis. Downregulating RacGAP1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells, while overexpressing RacGAP1 had the opposite effects. Further research showed that miR-192, which plays as a tumor suppressor in CC, was identified as a downstream target of RacGAP1 in CC cells. miR-192 inhibition could partially rescue the decrease in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion caused by RacGAP1 downregulation. In opposite, miR-192 overexpression could decrease the promotion of malignant progression caused by RacGAP1 upregulation. Mechanism studies revealed that RacGAP1 could regulate the expression and phosphorylation of c-Jun, which was the component of AP-1, via miR-192 and p-JNK separately. These findings suggested that RacGAP1 promoted tumorigenicity, migration, and invasion of CC. Therefore, it represented a potential novel prognostic marker in CC and may probably be a therapeutic target.

JunB Is Critical for Survival of T Helper Cells

Clonal expansion and differentiation of various T helper subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, depend on a complex of transcription factors, IRF4 and a BATF-containing AP-1 heterodimer. A major BATF heterodimeric partner, JunB, regulates Th17 differentiation, but the role of JunB in other T helper subsets is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that JunB is required for clonal expansion of Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells. In mice immunized with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), papain, or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), which induce predominantly Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells, respectively, accumulation of antigen-primed, Junb-deficient CD4+ T cells is significantly impaired. TCR-stimulated Junb-deficient CD4+ T cells are more sensitive to apoptosis, although they showed largely normal proliferation and cellular metabolism. JunB directly inhibits expression of genes involved in apoptosis, including Bcl2l11 (encoding Bim), by promoting IRF4 DNA binding at the gene locus. Taken together, JunB serves a critical function in clonal expansion of diverse T helper cells by inhibiting their apoptosis.

The Roles of IRF-8 in Regulating IL-9-Mediated Immunologic Mechanisms in the Development of DLBCL: A State-of-the-Art Literature Review

Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF-8) is a transcription suppressor that functions through associations with other transcription factors, contributing to the growth and differentiation of bone marrow cells and the activation of macrophages. IRF-8 expression profoundly affects pathogenic processes ranging from infections to blood diseases. Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is a multipotent cytokine that acts on a variety of immune cells by binding to the IL-9 receptor (IL-9R) and is involved in a variety of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other pathogen-mediated immune regulatory diseases. Studies have shown that IL-9 levels are significantly increased in the serum of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and IL-9 levels are correlated with the DLBCL prognostic index. The activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex is a dimeric transcription factor that plays a critical role in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, oncogene-induced transformation, and invasion by controlling basic and induced transcription of several genes containing the AP-1 locus. The AP-1 complex is involved in many cancers, including hematological tumors. In this report, we systematically review the precise roles of IL-9, IRF-8, and AP-1 in tumor development, particularly with regard to DLBCL. Finally, the recent progress in IRF-8 and IL-9 research is presented; the possible relationship among IRF-8, IL-9, and AP-1 family members is analyzed; and future research prospects are discussed.

JUNB suppresses distant metastasis by influencing the initial metastatic stage

The complex interactions between cells of the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells are considered a major determinant of cancer progression and metastasis. Yet, our understanding of the mechanisms of metastatic disease is not sufficient to successfully treat patients with advanced-stage cancer. JUNB is a member of the AP-1 transcription factor family shown to be frequently deregulated in human cancer and associated with invasion and metastasis. A strikingly high stromal JUNB expression in human breast cancer samples prompted us to functionally investigate the consequences of JUNB loss in cells of the tumor microenvironment on cancer progression and metastasis in mice. To adequately mimic the clinical situation, we applied a syngeneic spontaneous breast cancer metastasis model followed by primary tumor resection and identified stromal JUNB as a potent suppressor of distant metastasis. Comprehensive characterization of the JUNB-deficient tumor microenvironment revealed a strong influx of myeloid cells into primary breast tumors and lungs at early metastatic stage. In these infiltrating neutrophils, BV8 and MMP9, proteins promoting angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, were specifically upregulated in a JUNB-dependent manner. Taken together, we established stromal JUNB as a strong suppressor of distant metastasis. Consequently, therapeutic strategies targeting AP-1 should be carefully designed not to interfere with stromal JUNB expression as this may be detrimental for cancer patients.

Podoplanin is required for tumor cell invasion in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The invasiveness of late-stage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is associated with poor patients' prognosis and linked to strong upregulation of the glycoprotein Podoplanin (PDPN) in cancer cells. However, the function of PDPN in these processes in cSCC carcinogenesis has not been characterized in detail yet. Employing a CRISPR/Cas9-based loss-of-function approach on murine cSCC cells, we show that the loss of Pdpn results in decreased migration and invasion in vitro. Complementing these in vitro studies, labelled murine control and Pdpn knockout cells were injected orthotopically into the dermis of nude mice to recapitulate the formation of human cSCC displaying a well-differentiated morphology with a PDPN-positive reaction in fibroblasts in the tumor stroma. Smaller tumors were observed upon Pdpn loss, which is associated with reduced tumor cell infiltration into the stroma. Utilizing Pdpn mutants in functional experiments in vitro, we provide evidence that both the intra- and extracellular domains are essential for cancer cell invasion. These findings underline the critical role of PDPN in cSCC progression and highlight potential therapeutic strategies targeting PDPN-dependent cancer cell invasion, especially in late-stage cSCC patients.

miRNA-Dependent CD4+ T Cell Differentiation in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by multifocal lesions, chronic inflammatory condition, and degenerative processes within the central nervous system (CNS) leading to demyelination. The most important cells involved in its pathogenesis are those which are CD4⁺, particularly proinflammatory Th1/Th17 and regulatory Treg. Signal cascades associated with CD4⁺ differentiation are regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs): short, single-stranded RNAs, responsible for negative regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Several miRNAs have been consistently reported as showing dysregulated expression in MS, and their expression patterns may be elevated or decreased, depending on the function of specific miRNA in the immune system. Studies in MS patients indicate that, among others, miR-141, miR-200a, miR-155, miR-223, and miR-326 are upregulated, while miR-15b, miR-20b, miR-26a, and miR-30a are downregulated. Dysregulation of these miRNAs may contribute to the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory processes, since their targets are associated with the regulation of Th1/Th17 and Treg cell differentiation. Highly expressed miRNAs can in turn suppress translation of key Th1/Th17 differentiation inhibitors. miRNA dysregulation may result from the impact of various factors at each stage of their biogenesis. Immature miRNA undergoes multistage transcriptional and posttranscriptional modifications; therefore, any protein involved in the processing of miRNAs can potentially lead to disturbances in their expression. Epigenetic modifications that have a direct impact on miRNA gene transcription may also play an important role.

lncRNA:mRNA expression profile in CD4+ T cells from patients with Graves' disease

Graves' disease (GD) is a common autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. As a new class of modulators of gene expression, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play a vital role in immune functions and in the development of autoimmunity and autoimmune disease. The aim of this study is to identify lncRNAs in CD4+ T cells as potential biomarkers of GD. lncRNA and mRNA microarrays were performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in GD CD4+ T cells compared with healthy control CD4+ T cells. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to validate the results, and correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between these aberrantly expressed lncRNAs and clinical parameters. The microarray identified 164 lncRNAs and 93 mRNAs in GD CD4+ T cells differentially expressed compared to healthy control CD4+ T cells (fold change >2.0 and a P < 0.05). Further analysis consistently showed that the expression of HMlincRNA1474 (P < 0.01) and TCONS_00012608 (P < 0.01) was suppressed, while the expression of AK021954 (P < 0.01) and AB075506 (P < 0.01) was upregulated from initial GD patients. In addition, their expression levels were recovered in euthyroid GD patients and GD patients in remission. Moreover, these four aberrantly expressed lncRNAs were correlated with GD clinical parameters. Moreover, the areas under the ROC curve were 0.8046, 0.7579, 0.8115 for AK021954, AB075506, HMlincRNA1474, respectively. The present work revealed that differentially expressed lncRNAs were associated with GD, which might serve as novel biomarkers of GD and potential targets for GD treatment.

Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. In a Parkinson's mouse model through the regulation of p38/JNK-Fosl2 gene expression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., a Chinese medicinal herb called "Duzhong" from the bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., has been shown to possess significant protective effects in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we explored the anti-neuroinflammatory mechanisms of Duzhong on the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model to elucidate the traditional medical theories with modern pharmacological methods and to provide a reference for further clarifying its mechanisms of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The representative components in Duzhong extract were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Male C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with MPTP to establish an in vivo PD model. The pole, rotarod, and grip strength tests were performed to evaluate the motor coordination ability of the PD mice. HPLC-ECD was used to detect the striatal levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4- dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA). The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot assays. ELISA and Q-PCR were used examined the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the serum and midbrain, respectively. Whole-transcriptome analysis of the midbrain was performed to explore the therapeutic effect of Duzhong on PD mice, and Q-PCR was then used to validate the differential gene expression changes in the PD mice treated with Duzhong.

RESULTS

Ten compounds were identified from Duzhong extract. Duzhong significantly alleviated the behavioral impairments and dopaminergic neuron degeneration of PD mice, and inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Whole-transcriptome analysis revealed nine oppositely regulated genes, and the Fosl2 gene was consistent with the trend of observed by RNA-seq. Furthermore, Duzhong downregulated mRNA expression of p38 and JNK, which are key upstream genes of Fosl2.

CONCLUSIONS

Duzhong has promising therapeutic potential in PD mice, and its molecular mechanism is mediated by downregulating p38/JNK-Fosl2 gene expression to alleviate neuroinflammation.

Contributions of Major Cell Populations to Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a female dominated autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration into salivary and lacrimal glands and subsequent exocrine glandular dysfunction. SS also may exhibit a broad array of extraglandular manifestations including an elevated incidence of non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma. The etiology of SS remains poorly understood, yet progress has been made in identifying progressive stages of disease using preclinical mouse models. The roles played by immune cell subtypes within these stages of disease are becoming increasingly well understood, though significant gaps in knowledge still remain. There is evidence for distinct involvement from both innate and adaptive immune cells, where cells of the innate immune system establish a proinflammatory environment characterized by a type I interferon (IFN) signature that facilitates propagation of the disease by further activating T and B cell subsets to generate autoantibodies and participate in glandular destruction. This review will discuss the evidence for participation in disease pathogenesis by various classes of immune cells and glandular epithelial cells based upon data from both preclinical mouse models and human patients. Further examination of the contributions of glandular and immune cell subtypes to SS will be necessary to identify additional therapeutic targets that may lead to better management of the disease.

IL-2/IL-7-inducible factors pioneer the path to T cell differentiation in advance of lineage-defining factors

When dormant naïve T cells first become activated by antigen-presenting cells, they express the autocrine growth factor IL-2 which transforms them into rapidly dividing effector T cells. During this process, hundreds of genes undergo epigenetic reprogramming for efficient activation, and also for potential reactivation after they return to quiescence as memory T cells. However, the relative contributions of IL-2 and T cell receptor signaling to this process are unknown. Here, we show that IL-2 signaling is required to maintain open chromatin at hundreds of gene regulatory elements, many of which control subsequent stimulus-dependent alternative pathways of T cell differentiation. We demonstrate that IL-2 activates binding of AP-1 and STAT5 at sites that can subsequently bind lineage-determining transcription factors, depending upon what other external factors exist in the local T cell environment. Once established, priming can also be maintained by the stroma-derived homeostatic cytokine IL-7, and priming diminishes if Il7r is subsequently deleted in vivo. Hence, IL-2 is not just a growth factor; it lays the foundation for T cell differentiation and immunological memory.

E3 Ubiquitin Ligases as Immunotherapeutic Target in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Chronic low-grade inflammation drives atherosclerosis and despite optimal pharmacological treatment of classical cardiovascular risk factors, one third of the patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has elevated inflammatory biomarkers. Additional anti-inflammatory strategies to target this residual inflammatory cardiovascular risk are therefore required. T-cells are a dominant cell type in human atherosclerotic lesions. Modulation of T-cell activation is therefore a potential strategy to target inflammation in atherosclerosis. Ubiquitination is an important regulatory mechanism of T-cell activation and several E3 ubiquitin ligases, including casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene B (Cbl-B), itchy homolog (Itch), and gene related to anergy in lymphocytes (GRAIL), function as a natural brake on T-cell activation. In this review we discuss recent insights on the role of Cbl-B, Itch, and GRAIL in atherosclerosis and explore the therapeutic potential of these E3 ubiquitin ligases in cardiovascular medicine.

BATF-Interacting Proteins Dictate Specificity in Th Subset Activity

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor BATF is expressed in multiple Th subsets and cooperates with other factors to regulate gene transcription. BATF activates lineage-specific cytokines in Th subsets, activating IL-9 in Th9 cells and IL-17 in Th17 cells, but not IL-9 or IL-17 in the reciprocal subset. The mechanism for this restricted activity is unclear. In this report, we define BATF binding partners that contribute to Th subset-specific functions. Although BATF and IRF4 are expressed in greater amounts in Th9 than Th17, increased expression of both factors is not sufficient to induce IL-9 in Th17 cells. BATF also requires heterodimer formation with Jun family members to bind DNA and induce gene expression. Using primary mouse T cell culture, we observed that JunB and c-Jun, but not JunD, promote IL-9 production in Th9 cells. Ectopic expression of BATF with either JunB or c-Jun generates modest, but significant, increases in IL-9 production in Th17 cells, suggesting that the low expression of Jun family members is one factor limiting the ability of BATF to induce IL-9 in Th17 cells. We further identified that Bach2 positively regulates IL-9 production by directly binding to the Il9 gene and by increasing transcription factor expression in Th9 cells. Strikingly, cotransduction of Bach2 and BATF significantly induces IL-9 production in both Th9 and Th17 cells. Taken together, our results reveal that JunB, c-Jun, and Bach2 cooperate with BATF to contribute to the specificity of BATF-dependent cytokine induction in Th subsets.

Regulation of autoimmune disease by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch

Itch is a HECT type E3 ubiquitin ligase that is required to prevent the development of autoimmune disease in both mice and humans. Itch is expressed in most mammalian cell types, and, based on published data, it regulates many cellular pathways ranging from T cell differentiation to liver tumorigenesis. Since 1998, when Itch was first discovered, hundreds of publications have described mechanisms through which Itch controls various biologic activities in both immune and non-immune cells. Other studies have provided insight into how Itch catalytic activity is regulated. However, while autoimmunity is the primary clinical feature that occurs in both mice and humans lacking Itch, and Itch control of immune cell function has been well-studied, it remains unclear how Itch prevents the emergence of autoimmune disease. In this review, we explore recent discoveries that advance our understanding of how Itch regulates immune cell biology, and the extent to which these clarify how Itch prevents autoimmune disease. Additionally, we discuss how molecular regulators of Itch impact its ability to control these processes, as this may provide clues on how to therapeutically target Itch to treat patients with autoimmune disease.

USP38 critically promotes asthmatic pathogenesis by stabilizing JunB protein

Although usp38 has recently been reported to be in a chromosome locus associated with human asthma in a GWAS study, its potential pathological role remains unknown. Chen et al. now demonstrate that usp38 is essential for asthmatic pathogenesis. USP38 is induced by TCR signaling and in turn promotes JunB stabilization to specifically regulate Th2 cell differentiation.

Th2 immune response is critical for allergic asthma pathogenesis. Molecular mechanisms for regulating Th2 immunity are still not well understood. Here we report that the ubiquitin-specific protease USP38 is crucial for Th2-mediated allergic asthma. TCR stimulation up-regulated the USP38 level, and USP38 in turn mediated the protein stabilization of JunB, a transcription factor specific for Th2 development. Consequently, USP38 was specifically required for TCR-induced production of Th2 cytokines and Th2 development both in vitro and in vivo, and USP38-deficient mice were resistant to asthma pathogenesis induced by OVA or HDM. Mechanistically, USP38 directly associated with JunB, deubiquitinated Lys-48–linked poly-ubiquitination of JunB, and consequently blocked TCR-induced JunB turnover. USP38 represents the first identified deubiquitinase specifically for Th2 immunity and the associated asthma.

Fra2 Overexpression in Mice Leads to Non-allergic Asthma Development in an IL-13 Dependent Manner

Background: Asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease characterised by airway inflammation, remodelling and hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Members of the AP-1 transcription factor family play important roles in the activation of the immune system and the control of cellular responses; however, their role in the development of asthma has not been well studied. We aimed to investigate the role of the lesser known AP-1 family member, Fra2 in experimental asthma.

Methods: Phenotypic characterisation and gene expression profiling was performed on Fra2 (TG) overexpressing and wild-type mice. The efficacy of therapeutic interventions in regulating the Fra2 phenotype was determined.

Results: Transcriptional profiling of TG mice revealed a high abundance of regulated genes associated with airway remodelling, inflammation and mucus production. A concomitant increase in peribronchial collagen deposition, smooth muscle thickening and mucus production was observed. TG mice possessed increased inflammatory infiltration in the lung, predominantly consisting of eosinophils and T-cells and elevated expression of Th2 cytokines and eotaxin. Furthermore, TG mice possessed severe AHR in response to increasing doses of methacholine. Glucocorticoid treatment led to a partial improvement of the asthma phenotype, whereas blockade of IL-13 via neutralising antibodies ameliorated AHR and mucus production, but had no effect on collagen deposition.

Conclusion: We here describe a novel model for non-allergic asthma that does not require the application of exogenous allergens, which mimics several key features of the disease, such as airway inflammation, remodelling and hyperresponsiveness. Fra2 may represent a key molecule coordinating multiple aspects of asthma pathogenesis.

Transcriptional regulation of CD4+ TH cells that mediate tissue inflammation

Acquired and genetic immunodeficiencies have revealed an indispensable role for CD4⁺ T cells in the induction of protective host immune responses against a myriad of microbial pathogens. Influenced by the cytokines present in the microenvironment, activated CD4⁺ T cells may differentiate into several highly-specialized helper subsets defined by the production of distinct signature cytokines tailored to combat diverse classes of pathogens. The process of specification and differentiation is controlled by networks of core, master, and accessory transcription factors, which ensure that CD4⁺ T helper (T_H ) cell responses mounted against an invading microbe are of the correct specificity and type. However, aberrant activation or inactivation of transcription factors can result in sustained and elevated expression of immune-related genes, leading to chronic activation of CD4⁺ T_H  cells and organ-specific autoimmunity. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular basis of CD4⁺ T_H  cell differentiation and examine how combinatorial expression of transcription factors, which promotes genetic plasticity of CD4⁺ T_H  cells, can contribute to immunological dysfunction of CD4⁺ T_H responses. We also discuss recent studies which highlight the potential of exploiting the genetic plasticity of CD4⁺ T_H  cells in the treatment of autoimmune and other immune-mediated disorders.

Stage-specific roles for Zmiz1 in Notch-dependent steps of early T-cell development

Notch1 signaling must elevate to high levels in order to drive the proliferation of CD4^-CD8^- double-negative (DN) thymocytes and progression to the CD4⁺CD8⁺ double-positive (DP) stage through β-selection. During this critical phase of pre-T-cell development, which is also known as the DN-DP transition, it is unclear whether the Notch1 transcriptional complex strengthens its signal output as a discrete unit or through cofactors. We previously showed that the protein inhibitor of activated STAT-like coactivator Zmiz1 is a context-dependent cofactor of Notch1 in T-cell leukemia. We also showed that withdrawal of Zmiz1 generated an early T-lineage progenitor (ETP) defect. Here, we show that this early defect seems inconsistent with loss-of-Notch1 function. In contrast, at the later pre-T-cell stage, withdrawal of Zmiz1 impaired the DN-DP transition by inhibiting proliferation, like withdrawal of Notch. In pre-T cells, but not ETPs, Zmiz1 cooperatively regulated Notch1 target genes Hes1, Lef1, and Myc. Enforced expression of either activated Notch1 or Myc partially rescued the Zmiz1-deficient DN-DP defect. We identified residues in the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain of Zmiz1 that bind Notch1. Mutating only a single residue impaired the Zmiz1-Notch1 interaction, Myc induction, the DN-DP transition, and leukemic proliferation. Similar effects were seen using a dominant-negative TPR protein. Our studies identify stage-specific roles of Zmiz1. Zmiz1 is a context-specific cofactor for Notch1 during Notch/Myc-dependent thymocyte proliferation, whether normal or malignant. Finally, we highlight a vulnerability in leukemic cells that originated from a developmentally important Zmiz1-Notch1 interaction that is hijacked during transformation from normal pre-T cells.

The MAPK-activator protein-1 signaling regulates changes in lung tissue of rat exposed to hypobaric hypoxia

This study reports the role of MAPKs (JNK, ERK, and p38), and activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor in the hypobaric hypoxia induced change in lung tissue. Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 hr. Hypoxia resulted in significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and decreased nitric oxide (NO), these act as signaling molecules for activation of MAPK and also contribute in development of vascular leakage (an indicator of pulmonary edema) as confirmed by histological studies. Our results confirmed JNK activation as an immediate early response (peaked at 6-48 hr), activation of ERKs (peaked at 24-72 hr) and p38 (peaked at 72-120 hr) as a secondary response to hypoxia. The MAPK pathway up regulated its downstream targets phospho c-Jun (peaked at 6-120 hr), JunB (peaked at 24-120 hr) however, decreased c-Fos, and JunD levels. DNA binding activity also confirmed activation of AP-1 transcription factor in lung tissue under hypobaric hypoxia. Further, we analyzed the proliferative and inflammatory genes regulated by different subunits of AP-1 to explore its role in vascular leakage. Increased expression of cyclin D1 (peaked at 12-72 hr) and p16 level (peaked at 48-120 hr) were correlated to the activation of c-jun, c-Fos and JunB. Administration of NFκB inhibitor caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) had no effect on increased levels of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), Interleukin-1 (IL-1), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) thereby confirming the involvement of AP-1 as well as NFκB in inflammation. Expression of c-jun, c-Fos were correlated with activation of proliferative genes and JunB, Fra-1 with pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion immediate response to hypobaric hypoxia induced c-Jun:c-Fos subunits of AP-1; responsible for proliferation that might cause inhomogeneous vasoconstriction leading to vascular leakage and inflammation at increased duration of hypobaric hypoxia exposure.

The AP-1 transcription factor JunB is required for Th17 cell differentiation

Interleukin (IL)-17-producing T helper (Th17) cells are crucial for host defense against extracellular microbes and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Here we show that the AP-1 transcription factor JunB is required for Th17 cell development. Junb-deficient CD4⁺ T cells are able to develop in vitro into various helper T subsets except Th17. The RNA-seq transcriptome analysis reveals that JunB is crucial for the Th17-specific gene expression program. Junb-deficient mice are completely resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a Th17-mediated inflammatory disease, and naive T helper cells from such mice fail to differentiate into Th17 cells. JunB appears to activate Th17 signature genes by forming a heterodimer with BATF, another AP-1 factor essential for Th17 differentiation. The mechanism whereby JunB controls Th17 cell development likely involves activation of the genes for the Th17 lineage-specifying orphan receptors RORγt and RORα and reduced expression of Foxp3, a transcription factor known to antagonize RORγt function.

JunB is essential for IL-23-dependent pathogenicity of Th17 cells

CD4⁺ T-helper cells producing interleukin-17 (IL-17), known as T-helper 17 (T_H17) cells, comprise heterogeneous subsets that exhibit distinct pathogenicity. Although pathogenic and non-pathogenic T_H17 subsets share a common RORγt-dependent T_H17 transcriptional programme, transcriptional regulatory mechanisms specific to each of these subsets are mostly unknown. Here we show that the AP-1 transcription factor JunB is critical for T_H17 pathogenicity. JunB, which is induced by IL-6, is essential for expression of RORγt and IL-23 receptor by facilitating DNA binding of BATF at the Rorc locus in IL-23-dependent pathogenic T_H17 cells, but not in TGF-β1-dependent non-pathogenic T_H17 cells. Junb-deficient T cells fail to induce T_H17-mediated autoimmune encephalomyelitis and colitis. However, JunB deficiency does not affect the abundance of gut-resident non-pathogenic T_H17 cells. The selective requirement of JunB for IL-23-dependent T_H17 pathogenicity suggests that the JunB-dependent pathway may be a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases.

AP-1 Expression and its Clinical Relevance in Immune Disorders and Cancer

The inflammatory response is known to have a significant role in certain autoimmune diseases and malignancies. We review current knowledge regarding the functions of activator protein 1 (AP-1) as an important modulator in several immune disorders and carcinomas. AP-1 is overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis and in long-term allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors; however, decreased expression of AP-1 has been observed in psoriasis, systematic lupus erythematosus and in patients who do not survive after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. AP-1 also is implicated in the control of various cancer cells. Higher levels of AP-1 components are present in breast and endometrial carcinomas, colorectal cancer and in acute myeloid leukemia, Hodgkin׳s lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, with downregulation in ovarian and gastric carcinomas and in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. AP-1 may enable the development of helpful markers to identify early-stage disease or to predict severity.

Allergen-Induced IL-6 Regulates IL-9/IL-17A Balance in CD4+ T Cells in Allergic Airway Inflammation

IL-9-secreting Th9 cells have been considered to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. To what extent IL-9-producing cells are induced or regulated by sensitization with naturally occurring allergens is not yet clear. Naturally occurring allergens are capable of inducing IL-6 production in dendritic cells (DCs). Whether allergen-induced IL-6 supports a Th9 subtype by increasing IL-9 production, as observed in in vitro studies, or rather favors Th17 differentiation is not finally resolved. Therefore, in the present study we have investigated the impact of IL-6 on the Th9/Th17 balance depending on the predominant cytokine milieu and, additionally, in vivo using a DC-driven murine asthma model. In vitro, IL-6 increases Th9 cells under strong IL-4 and TGF-β activation, whereas under moderate IL-4 and TGF-β activation the presence of IL-6 shifts naive CD4(+) cells to Th17 cells. To induce allergic airway inflammation, OVA-pulsed DCs from IL-6-deficient or wild-type donors were adoptively transferred into BALB/c mice. Recipients receiving IL-6-producing wild-type DCs showed a significant decrease of Th9- and IL-4-producing Th2 cells but an increase of Th17 cells in lung tissue in comparison with recipients sensitized with IL-6-deficient DCs. Our data suggest that the IL-6-mediated reduction of Th2-related IL-4 leads to a decline of the Th9 immune response and allows Th17 differentiation.

The E3 ligase Itch in immune regulation and beyond

Itch or itchy E3 ubiquitin ligase was initially discovered by genetic studies on the mouse coat color changes, and its deletion results in an itchy phenotype with constant skin scratching and multi-organ inflammation. It is a member of the homologous to E6-associated protein C-terminus (HECT)-type family of E3 ligases, with the protein-interacting WW-domains for the recruitment of substrate and the HECT domain for the transfer of ubiquitin to the substrate. Since its discovery, numerous studies have demonstrated that Itch is involved in the control of many aspects of immune responses including T-cell activation and tolerance and T-helper cell differentiation. Itch is also implicated in other biological contexts such as tumorigenesis, development, and stress responses. Many signaling pathways are regulated by Itch-promoted ubiquitylation of diverse target proteins. Itch is also involved in human diseases. Here, we discuss the major progress in understanding the biological significance of Itch-promoted protein ubiquitylation in the immune and other systems and in Itch-mediated regulation of signal transduction.

E3 ubiquitin ligases as novel targets for inflammatory diseases

Ubiquitination is one of the post translational modifications which decide the fate of various proteins in the cells, by either directing them towards proteasomal degradation or participation in several cell signalling pathways. Recently, the role of ubiquitination has been unravelled in pathogenesis and progression of various diseases, where inflammation is critical, like obesity, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, angiotensin-II induced cardiac inflammation and asthma. E3 ligases are known to be instrumental in regulation of the inflammatory cascade. This review focuses on the role of different E3 ligases in the development of inflammatory diseases and thus may help us to target these E3 ligases in future drug discovery to prevent inflammation.

The natural compound nujiangexanthone A suppresses mast cell activation and allergic asthma

Mast cells play an important role in allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. The genus Garcinia of the family Guttiferae is well known as a prolific source of polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols and bioactive prenylated xanthones, which exhibit various biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects. Nujiangexanthone A (N7) is a novel compound isolated from the leaves of Garcinia nujiangensis. In this paper, we sought to determine the anti-allergic and anti-inflammation activity of N7 in vivo and its mechanism in vitro. We found N7 suppressed IgE/Ag induced mast cell activiation, including degranulation and production of cytokines and eicosanoids, through inhibiting Src kinase activity and Syk dependent pathways. N7 inhibited histamine release, prostaglandin D2 and leukotriene C4 generation in mast cell dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis animal model. We also found N7 inhibited the IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IgE levels in ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Histological studies demonstrated that N7 substantially inhibited OVA-induced cellular infiltration and increased mucus production in the lung tissue. Our study reveals the anti-allergic function of N7, thereby suggesting the utility of this compound as a possible novel agent for preventing mast cell-related immediate and delayed allergic diseases.

Regulation of IL-4 Expression in Immunity and Diseases

IL-4 was first identified as a T cell-derived growth factor for B cells. Studies over the past several decades have markedly expanded our understanding of its cellular sources and function. In addition to T cells, IL-4 is produced by innate lymphocytes, such as NTK cells, and myeloid cells, such as basophils and mast cells. It is a signature cytokine of type 2 immune response but also has a nonimmune function. Its expression is tightly regulated at several levels, including signaling pathways, transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, microRNA, and long noncoding RNA. This chapter will review in detail the molecular mechanism regulating the cell type-specific expression of IL-4 in physiological and pathological type 2 immune responses.

Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau Ethanol Extract Inhibits Hepatoma in Mice through Upregulation of the Immune Response

Clinacanthans nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau is a popular medicinal vegetable in Southern Asia, and its extracts have displayed significant anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells in vitro. However, the underlying mechanism for this effect has yet to be established. This study investigated the antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of C. nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau 30% ethanol extract (CN30) in vivo. CN30 was prepared and its main components were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). CN30 had a significant inhibitory effect on tumor volume and weight. Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining and TUNEL assay revealed that hepatoma cells underwent significant apoptosis with CN30 treatment, while expression levels of proliferation markers PCNA and p-AKT were significantly decreased when treated with low or high doses of CN30 treatment. Western blot analysis of PAPR, caspase-3, BAX, and Bcl2 also showed that CN30 induced apoptosis in hepatoma cells. Furthermore, intracellular staining analysis showed that CN30 treatment increased the number of IFN-γ⁺ T cells and decreased the number of IL-4⁺ T cells. Serum IFN-γ and interleukin-2 levels also significantly improved. Our findings indicated that CN30 demonstrated antitumor properties by up-regulating the immune response, and warrants further evaluation as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of cancers.

Batf is important for IL-4 expression in T follicular helper cells

Apart from T helper (Th)-2 cells, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a major class of IL-4-producing T cells, required for regulation of type 2 humoral immunity; however, transcriptional control of IL-4 production in Tfh cells remains mainly unknown. Here, we show that the basic leucine zipper transcription factor ATF-like, Batf is important for IL-4 expression in Tfh cells rather than in canonical Th2 cells. Functionally, Batf in cooperation with interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 4 along with Stat3 and Stat6 trigger IL-4 production in Tfh cells by directly binding to and activation of the CNS2 region in the IL-4 locus. In addition, Batf-to-c-Maf signalling is an important determinant of IL-4 expression in Tfh cells. Batf deficiency impairs the generation of IL-4-producing Tfh cells that results in protection against allergic asthma. Our results thus indicate a positive role of Batf in promoting the generation of pro-allergic IL-4-producing Tfh cells.

Increased frequency of dual-positive TH2/TH17 cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid characterizes a population of patients with severe asthma

BACKGROUND

TH2 cells can further differentiate into dual-positive TH2/TH17 cells. The presence of dual-positive TH2/TH17 cells in the airways and their effect on asthma severity are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to study dual-positive TH2/TH17 cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from asthmatic patients, examine their response to glucocorticoids, and define their relevance for disease severity.

METHODS

Bronchoscopy and lavage were performed in 52 asthmatic patients and 25 disease control subjects. TH2 and TH2/TH17 cells were analyzed by using multicolor flow cytometry and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. Cytokines were assayed by means of ELISA.

RESULTS

Dual-positive TH2/TH17 cells were present at a higher frequency in BAL fluid from asthmatic patients compared with numbers seen in disease control subjects. High-level IL-4 production was typically accompanied by high-level IL-17 production and coexpression of GATA3 and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt. Increased presence of TH2/TH17 cells was associated with increased IL-17 production in lavage fluid. TH2/TH17 cell counts and IL-17 production correlated with PC20 for methacholine, eosinophil counts, and FEV1. TH2/TH17 cells, unlike TH2 cells, were resistant to dexamethasone-induced cell death. They expressed higher levels of mitogen-activated protein-extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1, a molecule that induces glucocorticoid resistance. On the basis of the dominance of BAL fluid TH2 or TH2/TH17 cells, we identified 3 subgroups of asthma: TH2(predominant), TH2/TH17(predominant), and TH2/TH17(low). The TH2/TH17(predominant) subgroup manifested the most severe form of asthma, whereas the TH2/TH17(low) subgroup had the mildest asthma.

CONCLUSION

Asthma is associated with a higher frequency of dual-positive TH2/TH17 cells in BAL fluid. The TH2/TH17(predominant) subgroup of asthmatic patients manifested glucocorticoid resistance in vitro. They also had the greatest airway obstruction and hyperreactivity compared with the TH2(predominant) and TH2/TH17(low) subgroups.

Lessons learned from gene expression profiling of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Gene expression studies of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) span a decade, yet the pathogenesis is poorly understood and diagnosis remains a challenge. This review examines the varied approaches to gene expression analysis of CTCL, with emphasis on cell populations, control selection and expression data collection. Despite discordant results, several dysregulated genes have been identified across multiple studies, including PLS3, KIR3DL2, TWIST1 and STAT4. Here, we provide an overview of the most consistently expressed genes across different studies and bring them together through common pathways biologically relevant to CTCL. Four pathways - evasion of activation-induced cell death, T helper 2 lymphocyte differentiation, transforming growth factor-β receptor expression, and tumour necrosis factor receptor ligands - appear to encompass the most frequently affected genes, hypothetically providing insight into the disease pathogenesis.

Grail controls Th2 cell development by targeting STAT6 for degradation

T helper (Th)-2 cells are the major players in allergic asthma; however, the mechanisms that control Th2-mediated inflammation are poorly understood. Here we find that enhanced expression of Grail, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in Th2 cells depends on IL-4-signaling components, Stat6 and Gata3 that bind to and transactivate the Grail promoter. Grail-deficiency in T cells leads to increased expression of Th2 effector cytokines in vitro and in vivo and Grail deficient mice are more susceptible to allergic asthma. Mechanistically, the enhanced effector function of Grail-deficient Th2 cells is mediated by increased expression of Stat6 and IL-4 receptor α-chain. Grail interacts with Stat6 and targets it for ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, our results indicate that Grail plays a critical role in controlling Th2 development through a negative feedback loop.

Does antigen masking by ubiquitin chains protect from the development of autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the production of antibodies against self-antigens and generally arise from a failure of central or peripheral tolerance. However, these diseases may develop when newly appearing antigens are not recognized as self by the immune system. The mechanism by which some antigens are “invisible” to the immune system is not completely understood. Apoptotic and complement system defects or autophagy imbalance can generate this antigenic autoreactivity. Under particular circumstances, cellular debris containing autoreactive antigens can be recognized by innate immune receptors or other sensors and can eventually lead to autoimmunity. Ubiquitination may be one of the mechanisms protecting autoreactive antigens from the immune system that, if disrupted, can lead to autoimmunity. Ubiquitination is an essential post-translational modification used by cells to target proteins for degradation or to regulate other intracellular processes. The level of ubiquitination is regulated during T cell tolerance and apoptosis and E3 ligases have emerged as a crucial signaling pathway for the regulation of T cell tolerance toward self-antigens. I propose here that an unrecognized role of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins could be to render intracellular or foreign antigens (present in cellular debris resulting from apoptosis, complement system, or autophagy defects) invisible to the immune system in order to prevent the development of autoimmunity.

The ubiquitin system in immune regulation

The ubiquitin system plays a pivotal role in the regulation of immune responses. This system includes a large family of E3 ubiquitin ligases of over 700 proteins and about 100 deubiquitinating enzymes, with the majority of their biological functions remaining unknown. Over the last decade, through a combination of genetic, biochemical, and molecular approaches, tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of how the process of protein ubiquitination and its reversal deubiquitination controls the basic aspect of the immune system including lymphocyte development, differentiation, activation, and tolerance induction and regulates the pathophysiological abnormalities such as autoimmunity, allergy, and malignant formation. In this review, we selected some of the published literature to discuss the roles of protein-ubiquitin conjugation and deubiquitination in T-cell activation and anergy, regulatory T-cell and T-helper cell differentiation, regulation of NF-κB signaling, and hematopoiesis in both normal and dysregulated conditions. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the ubiquitin system and immunity will provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of immune regulation and at the same time will advance new therapeutic intervention for human immunological diseases.

Inhibitory effects of human lactoferrin on U14 cervical carcinoma through upregulation of the immune response

Human lactoferrin (hLF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein that inhibits cancer growth. However, the inhibitory effect of this glycoprotein in cervical cancer remains inconclusive. This study investigated the efficacy of hLF on the inhibition of U14 cervical cancer in vivo. Recombinant adenovirus carrying hLF (Ad-hLF) were constructed. Mice inoculated with U14 cells were randomly allocated to four treatments: i) Phosphate-buffered saline (negative control), ii) Ad-green fluorescent protein (negative control), iii) Ad-hLF (studied) or iv) cyclophosphamide (CTX; positive control). Tumor growth, as well as levels of natural killer (NK) cells, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations, serum cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor tissues were detected. Compared with the negative controls, tumor growth was inhibited by hLF and mice lifespans in the Ad-hLF-treated group were prolonged to reach the levels of the CTX-treated group. The activity of tumor-killing NK cells was upregulated by hLF. Moreover, the number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations increased following treatment with Ad-hLF. Treatment with Ad-hLF increased the levels of serum interferon-γ, serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α, and decreased the levels of serum IL-4 in tumor-bearing mice. The expression of VEGF in tumor tissues was downregulated by hLF. In conclusion, hLF inhibits the growth of U14 solid tumors by modulating the immune response of tumor-bearing mice.

T-cell tolerance in cancer

T cells are the master regulators of adaptive immune responses and maintenance of their tolerance is critical to prevent autoimmunity. However, in the case of carcinogenesis, the tumor microenvironment aids T-cell tolerance, which contributes to uncontrolled tumor growth. Recently, there has been significant progress in understanding the intrinsic extracellular (positive and negative costimulatory molecules on APCs) and intracellular mechanisms (E3 ubiquitin ligases, transcriptional and epigenetic repressors), as well as extrinsic mechanisms (Tregs and tolerogenic dendritic cells) that are required for the implementation and maintenance of T-cell tolerance. Ultimately, understanding and manipulating T-cell tolerance will help to break the tolerance state in cancer.

Direct, interferon-independent activation of the CXCL10 promoter by NF-κB and interferon regulatory factor 3 during hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of hepatocytes leads to transcriptional induction of the chemokine CXCL10, which is considered an interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene. However, we have recently shown that IFNs are not required for CXCL10 induction in hepatocytes during acute HCV infection. Since the CXCL10 promoter contains binding sites for several proinflammatory transcription factors, we investigated the contribution of these factors to CXCL10 transcriptional induction during HCV infection in vitro. Wild-type and mutant CXCL10 promoter-luciferase reporter constructs were used to identify critical sites of transcriptional regulation. The proximal IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) and NF-κB binding sites positively regulated CXCL10 transcription during HCV infection as well as following exposure to poly(I·C) (a Toll-like receptor 3 [TLR3] stimulus) and 5' poly(U) HCV RNA (a retinoic acid-inducible gene I [RIG-I] stimulus) from two viral genotypes. Conversely, binding sites for AP-1 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBP-β) negatively regulated CXCL10 induction in response to TLR3 and RIG-I stimuli, while only C/EBP-β negatively regulated CXCL10 during HCV infection. We also demonstrated that interferon-regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is transiently recruited to the proximal ISRE during HCV infection and localizes to the nucleus in HCV-infected primary human hepatocytes. Furthermore, IRF3 activated the CXCL10 promoter independently of type I or type III IFN signaling. The data indicate that sensing of HCV infection by RIG-I and TLR3 leads to direct recruitment of NF-κB and IRF3 to the CXCL10 promoter. Our study expands upon current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of CXCL10 induction in hepatocytes and lays the foundation for additional mechanistic studies that further elucidate the combinatorial and synergistic aspects of immune signaling pathways.

Requirement of apoptosis-inducing kinase 1 for the induction of bronchial asthma following stimulation with ovalbumin

BACKGROUND

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase family, is activated by environmental stress and plays a crucial role in the induction of apoptosis and inflammation. To examine whether ASK1 is involved in the induction of bronchial asthma, we investigated the role of ASK1 using a genetic approach in the production of cytokines, as well as the development of airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and antibody responses using a murine airway inflammation model.

METHODS

ASK1-deficient (ASK1(-/-)) and control wild-type (WT) mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) without alum intraperitoneally, followed by intranasal administration of OVA. Airway infiltration of inflammatory cells, cytokine production, AHR and antibody production were assayed. The asthmatic phenotype was assessed following intranasal administration of IL-13 or TNF-α.

RESULTS

ASK1(-/-) mice sensitized with OVA displayed an impaired inflammatory cell infiltration into airways and a decreased AHR relative to WT mice. Moreover, the production of OVA-specific IgE antibodies and proasthmatic cytokines (IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-α) was substantially reduced in OVA-stimulated ASK1(-/-) mice. Intranasal administration of IL-13 and OVA enhanced the accumulation of inflammatory cells in OVA-primed ASK1(-/-) mice. The OVA-induced AHR in response to methacholine was enhanced by IL-13 in WT mice but not ASK1(-/-) mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The ASK1 signaling pathway regulates the OVA-induced asthmatic phenotype, specifically AHR sensitivity and cytokine production. Therefore, the ASK1 signaling pathway is a promising target for therapeutic intervention in some asthmatic patients.