Synergic Effects of CD40 and CD86 Silencing in Dendritic Cells on the Control of Allergic Diseases

Immune‑related gene expression in skin, inflamed and keloid tissue from patients with keloids

Keloids are a tumor-like fibroproliferative skin disease that could cause disfigurement and disability. The pathological mechanisms underlying this condition remain unclear, particularly the progression from normal healthy skin to inflammatory skin tissue, then keloid. In the present study, three immune-related gene expression profiling datasets, were obtained from normal skin tissue (N group), inflamed tissue (I group) and keloid tissue samples from patients with keloids (K group). This sample grouping represents the primary steps of keloid formation, from normal to inflammatory, and finally to keloid tissue. The expression levels of immune-related genes were analyzed, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the three groups were compared. Protein-protein interaction networks were established using Cytoscape. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were carried out to determine the main functions associated with the DEGs and keloid-associated pathways. The results identified hub genes in the N and I groups, including C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR) 1, CCR7, CD40 ligand, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9, IL-6 and IL-10. The hub genes in the I and the K groups included IL-10, IL-6, IL-13 and CD86. The expression levels of these genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The results demonstrated that IL-6 expression levels were significantly increased in the I group compared with the N group (P=0.0111). CCR7 levels significantly differed between all three groups (P<0.017). The results of GO analysis suggested that the hub genes in the I and N groups may be associated with ‘regulation of lymphocyte activation’ and ‘T-cell activation’. Similar results were also observed between the I and K groups, which may play an important role in keloid initiation and formation. In conclusion, CCR7, IL-10 and IL-6 may be important in keloid initiation and formation. These findings provided insight into the pathogenesis of keloids and may help identify novel immune-related therapeutic targets for this condition.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment on keloid tumor immune gene expression

Background:

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) has been demonstrated to influence the keloid recurrence rate after surgery and to relieve keloid symptoms and other pathological processes in keloids. To explore the mechanism of the effect of HBOT on keloids, tumor immune gene expression and immune cell infiltration were studied in this work.

Methods:

From February 2021 to April 2021, HBOT was carried out on keloid patients four times before surgery. Keloid tissue samples were collected and divided into an HBOT group (keloid with HBOT before surgery [HK] group, n = 6) and a non-HBOT group (K group, n = 6). Tumor gene expression was analyzed with an Oncomine Immune Response Research Assay kit. Data were mined with R package. The differentially expressed genes between the groups were compared. Hub genes between the groups were determined and verified with Quantitative Real-time PCR. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed based on CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm analysis of gene expression and verified with immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results:

Inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced in the HK group. There were 178 upregulated genes and 217 downregulated genes. Ten hub genes were identified, including Integrin Subunit Alpha M (ITGAM), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-2, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type C (PTPRC), CD86, transforming growth factor (TGF), CD80, CTLA4, and IL-10. CD80, ITGAM, IL-4, and PTPRC with significantly downregulated expression were identified. IL-10 and IL-2 were upregulated in the HK group but without a significant difference. Infiltration differences of CD8 lymphocyte T cells, CD4 lymphocyte T-activated memory cells, and dendritic resting cells were identified with gene CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm analysis. Infiltration levels of CD4 lymphocyte T cell in the HK group were significantly higher than those of the K group in IHC verification.

Conclusion:

HBOT affected tumor gene expression and immune cell infiltration in keloids. CD4 lymphocyte T cell, especially activated memory CD4⁺T, might be the key regulatory immune cell, and its related gene expression needs further study.

Could the Epigenetics of Eosinophils in Asthma and Allergy Solve Parts of the Puzzle?

Epigenetics is a field of study investigating changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence. These changes are often influenced by environmental or social factors and are reversible. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA. Understanding the role of these epigenetic mechanisms in human diseases provides useful information with regard to disease severity and development. Several studies have searched for the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate allergies and asthma; however, only few studies have used samples of eosinophil, a proinflammatory cell type known to be largely recruited during allergic or asthmatic inflammation. Such studies would enable us to better understand the factors that influence the massive recruitment of eosinophils during allergic and asthmatic symptoms. In this review, we sought to summarize different studies that aimed to discover differential patterns of histone modifications, DNA methylation, and noncoding RNAs in eosinophil samples of individuals with certain diseases, with a particular focus on those with asthma or allergic diseases.

Intranasal administration of regulatory dendritic cells is useful for the induction of nasal mucosal tolerance in a mice model of allergic rhinitis

Background

Intranasally administered dendritic cells (DCs) migrate into blood and thymus to induce immune responses. Regulatory dendritic cells (DCs) are also useful agents for allergy control. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of intranasal administration of regulatory DCs on allergy have not been reported until now. Therefore, we examined the effects of intranasal route of administration of CD40-silenced DCs on allergic responses and compared these with the effects of other administration routes, based on our previous findings on the inhibitory effects of CD40-silenced DCs on allergic responses.

Methods

Mice with allergic rhinitis were treated intranasally, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, or intravenously with CD40-silenced ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsed DCs that were transfected with CD40 siRNAs and pulsed with OVA antigen. The effects of these DCs on allergic reactions and symptoms were estimated.

Results

Intranasal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intravenous administration of OVA-pulsed CD40-silenced DCs inhibited allergic responses and symptoms in mice. Furthermore, intranasal administration of OVA-pulsed CD40-silenced DCs significantly reduced allergic symptoms and the number of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa compared with subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intravenous administration of these DCs. Intranasal administration of OVA-pulsed CD40-silenced DCs resulted in significantly up-regulated IL-10, IL-35, and Foxp3 expression, and enhanced the percentage of CD11c⁺CD40⁻ and CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells within the cervical lymph nodes compared to subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intravenous routes of administration.

Conclusions

We believe that this is the first report to demonstrate that regulatory DCs infiltrate into the cervical lymph nodes after intranasal administration of these cells and that intranasal administration of regulatory DCs is more effective for the induction of tolerance in the nasal mucosa than subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intravenous administration.

Allergy and Atopic Diseases: An Update on Experimental Evidence

Over the last decades, an increasing appearance of allergies and atopic disorders, such as asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis, has been observed. The mechanisms of these disorders remain unclear, and therefore the development of novel therapies is limited. Current treatments are often symptomatic, nonspecific, or may have severe side effects. Further insights into the mechanisms of the underlying disease pathogenesis could reveal novel targets for treatment. In this review, we provide an update on recent basic and translational studies that offer novel insights and opportunities for the treatment of patients with atopic disorders.

Impacts of CD40- and CD86-Silenced Antigen-Specific B Cells on the Control of Allergies

Background

We previously reported that CD40-silenced B cells inhibited allergic responses and symptoms. However, more potent therapies are needed. To our knowledge, the effects of CD86-silenced B cells and synergic effects of gene silencing in B cells by 2 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on allergic disease control have not been reported.

Objective

To investigate the effects of CD86-silenced B cells and synergic effects of gene silencing in B cells on allergic responses and symptoms.

Methods

Mice were treated with CD40- and/or CD86-silenced B cells transfected with siRNAs and pulsed with ovalbumin (OVA). And the effects of these B cells were estimated.

Results

CD86-silenced OVA-pulsed B cells significantly inhibited OVA-induced allergies. Treatment with CD40-/CD86-silenced OVA-pulsed B cells led to a significantly fewer sneezes and nasal rubbing movements, as well as lower OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, than that with CD40-silenced or CD86-silenced OVA-pulsed B cells alone. These inhibitory effects were observed prior to sensitization as well as after the establishment of allergic rhinitis. CD40-/CD86-silenced OVA-pulsed B cells did not inhibit keyhole limpet hemocyanin-induced allergies. CD40-/CD86-silenced OVA-pulsed B cells also significantly inhibited allergic symptoms and OVA-specific IgE level in sera compared with CD40-/CD86-silenced OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). In addition, CD19+CD40− B cells significantly increased in the nasal tissue after intravenous administration of these cells. Furthermore, CD40-/CD86-silenced B cells inhibited allergic symptoms caused by Cry j 1, a major aeroallergen of Japanese cedar pollen, and Cry j 1-specific IgE in sera.

Conclusion

This study showed, for the first time, that siRNA-induced CD86-silenced B cells significantly inhibited allergic responses and symptoms antigen-specifically, and that siRNA-induced CD40-/CD86-silenced antigen-specific B cells are a more useful antigen-specific therapy than CD40- or CD86-silenced B cells alone for the control of allergies. Furthermore, it was shown that CD40-/CD86-silenced B cells have stronger inhibition of IgE production and allergic symptoms than CD40-/CD86-silenced DCs.