Transcription factors STAT-4, STAT-6 and CREB regulate Th1/Th2 response in leprosy patients: effect of M. leprae antigens

Functional CRISPR screens in T cells reveal new opportunities for cancer immunotherapies

T cells are fundamental components in tumour immunity and cancer immunotherapies, which have made immense strides and revolutionized cancer treatment paradigm. However, recent studies delineate the predicament of T cell dysregulation in tumour microenvironment and the compromised efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. CRISPR screens enable unbiased interrogation of gene function in T cells and have revealed functional determinators, genetic regulatory networks, and intercellular interactions in T cell life cycle, thereby providing opportunities to revamp cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we briefly described the central roles of T cells in successful cancer immunotherapies, comprehensively summarised the studies of CRISPR screens in T cells, elaborated resultant master genes that control T cell activation, proliferation, fate determination, effector function, and exhaustion, and highlighted genes (BATF, PRDM1, and TOX) and signalling cascades (JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways) that extensively engage in multiple branches of T cell responses. In conclusion, this review bridged the gap between discovering element genes to a specific process of T cell activities and apprehending these genes in the global T cell life cycle, deepened the understanding of T cell biology in tumour immunity, and outlined CRISPR screens resources that might facilitate the development and implementation of cancer immunotherapies in the clinic.

Virological Suppression and its Predictors Among HIV/AIDS Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Achieving viral load suppression is crucial for the prevention of complications and deaths related to HIV infection. Ethiopia has embraced the worldwide 95-95-95 target, but there is no national representative information regarding virological suppression. Therefore, this review aims to determine the pooled virological suppression rate and identify the pooled effect of contributing factors of viral suppression for HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia.

Methods

We systematically searched websites and databases, including online repositories, to obtain primary studies. Two reviewers assessed the quality of the included articles using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale appraisal checklist. Publication bias was checked using Egger's regression test, the heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using I2 statistics and Q statistics, and a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify any outlier results in the included studies. The Der Simonian Laird random-effects model was used to estimate the overall proportion of viral suppression, and STATA 17 statistical software was used for all types of analysis.

Results

A total of 21 eligible articles primarily conducted in Ethiopia using HIV program data were used for this quantitative synthesis. The overall pooled virological suppression rate was 71% (95% CI, 64%-77%). The pooled effects of poor adherence to ART (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.33; 95% CI, 0.28-0.40), body mass index (18.5-24.9 kg/m2; AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.37-2.36), disclosure (AOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.05-1.89), absence of opportunistic infection (AOR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.43-1.97), and high baseline viral load count (AOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.81) were identified as significant predictors of viral suppression.

Conclusions

The overall pooled percentage of virological suppression was low compared with the global target of viral suppression and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute report. Poor adherence, normal body mass index, disclosure, absence of opportunistic infection, and high baseline viral load count were factors contributing to viral suppression in Ethiopia. Responsible stakeholders should maximize their efforts to achieve the global target of virological suppression by addressing significant predictors.

Immunomodulatory nanotherapeutic approaches for periodontal tissue regeneration

Periodontitis is an infection-induced inflammatory disease characterized by progressive destruction of tooth supporting tissues, which, if left untreated, can result in tooth loss. The destruction of periodontal tissues is primarily caused by an imbalance between the host immune protection and immune destruction mechanisms. The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is to eliminate inflammation and promote the repair and regeneration of both hard and soft tissues, so as to restore the physiological structure and function of periodontium. Advancement in nanotechnologies has enabled the development of nanomaterials with immunomodulatory properties for regenerative dentistry. This review discusses the immune mechanisms of the major effector cells in the innate and adaptive immune systems, the physicochemical and biological properties of nanomaterials, and the research advancements in immunomodulatory nanotherapeutic approaches for the management of periodontitis and the regeneration of periodontal tissues. The current challenges, and prospects for future applications of nanomaterials are then discussed so that researchers at the intersections of osteoimmunology, regenerative dentistry and materiobiology will continue to advance the development of nanomaterials for improved periodontal tissue regeneration.

Associations Between the Purinergic Receptor P2X7 and Leprosy Disease

Leprosy is an infectious disease still highly prevalent in Brazil, having been detected around 27,863 new cases in 2019. Exposure to Mycobacterium leprae may not be sufficient to trigger the disease, which seems to be influenced by host immunogenetics to determine resistance or susceptibility. The purinergic receptor P2X7 plays a crucial role in immunity, inflammation, neurological function, bone homeostasis, and neoplasia and is associated with several infectious and non-infectious diseases. Here, we first compare the P2RX7 expression in RNA-seq experiments from 16 leprosy cases and 16 healthy controls to establish the magnitude of allele-specific expression for single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene P2RX7 and to determine the level of gene expression in healthy and diseased skin. In addition, we also evaluated the association of two P2RX7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (c.1513A>C/rs3751143 and c.1068A>G/rs1718119) with leprosy risk. The expression of P2RX7 was found significantly upregulated at macrophage cells from leprosy patients compared with healthy controls, mainly in macrophages from lepromatous patients. Significant risk for leprosy disease was associated with loss function of rs3751143 homozygous mutant CC [CC vs. AA: p = 0.001; odds ratio (OR) = 1.676, 95% CI = 1.251–2.247] but not with heterozygous AC (AC vs. AA: p = 0.001; OR = 1.429, 95% CI = 1.260–1.621). Contrary, the polymorphic A allele from the gain function of rs1718119 was associated with protection for the development of leprosy, as observed in the dominant model (AA + AG × GG p = 0.0028; OR = 0.03516; CI = 0.1801–0.6864). So, our results suggest that the functional P2X7 purinergic receptor may exert a key role in the Mycobacterium death inside macrophages and inflammatory response, which is necessary to control the disease.

Licochalcone A improves the cognitive ability of mice by regulating T- and B-cell proliferation

Licochalcone A (LA), a flavonoid found in licorice, has anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Here, we explored the effect of injecting LA into the tail vein of middle-aged C57BL/6 mice on their cognitive ability as measured by the Morris water maze (MWM) test and cerebral blood flow (CBF). The related mechanisms were assessed via RNA-seq, and T (CD3e⁺) and B (CD45R/B220⁺) cells in the spleen and whole blood were quantified via flow cytometry. LA improved the cognitive ability, according to the MWM test results, and upregulated the CBF level of treated mice. The RNA-seq results indicate that LA affected the interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, which is related to T- and B-cell proliferation, and the flow cytometry data suggest that LA promoted T- and B-cell proliferation in the spleen and whole blood. We also performed immune reconstruction via a tail vein injection of lymphocytes into B-NDG (NOD-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1/Bcge) mice before treating them with LA. We tested cognitive ability by subjecting these animals to new object recognition tests and quantified the splenic and whole blood T and B cells. Cognitive ability improved after immune reconstruction and LA treatment, and LA promoted T- and B-cell proliferation in the spleen and whole blood. This study demonstrates that LA, by activating the IL-17 signaling pathway, promotes T- and B-cell proliferation in the spleen and whole blood of mice and improves cognitive ability. Thus, LA may have immune-modulating therapeutic potential for improving cognition.

Correlation between serum 25-(OH)D3 level and immune imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its effect on autophagy of human Hashimoto thyroid cells

The study aimed to determine the relationship between serum 25-(OH)D₃ and Th1/Th2 cytokine immune imbalance, and the effect of 25-(OH)D₃ on the autophagy of human Hashimoto thyroid cells. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and autophagy-associated protein mammalian target protein of rapamycin (mTOR) in thyroid tissues of 20 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients and normal tissues of 20 benign thyroid adenomas. Nthy-ori3-1 cells (normal cells of human thyroid follicular epithelium) were treated with different concentrations of 25-(OH)D₃ for 24 h. The expression of LC3, mTOR and caspase-3 protein in the cells was detected by western blot analysis. The apoptosis and proliferation levels were detected by flow cytometry and MTT assay, respectively. The levels of FT3, FT4 and IL-10 in the HT group were lower than those in the healthy control group. The serum levels of 25-(OH)D₃, TPOAb and TGAb in the HT group were lower than those in the healthy control group. Serum 25-(OH)D₃ level in the HT group was negatively correlated with IL-2 and IFN-γ, and positively correlated with IL-4. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis tissues, the expression of mTOR was higher while the expression of LC3B-II was lower than that of normal thyroid tissue. With the increase in 25-(OH)D₃ concentration, the expression level of mTOR increased, the expression level of LC3B-II decreased and the apoptosis rate was significantly increased. The cell proliferation rate decreased with the increase in 25-(OH)D₃ concentration. The serum 25-(OH)D₃ level in HT hypothyroidism patients was significantly lower than that of the control group. Thus, 25-(OH)D₃ may be involved in the disease progression by upregulating the levels of Th1 cytokines and downregulating the levels of Th2 cytokines. 25-(OH)D₃ can inhibit autophagy of thyroid cells, induce apoptosis and participate in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 promotes activation of T helper 2 cells via inhibiting STAT6 ubiquitination

T helper (Th) 2 cell-medicated immune response participates in various immune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been reported to be associated with T helper 2 (Th2) cell activation. Here, we demonstrated the molecular mechanism of NEAT1 in regulating Th2 cell activation. We found that NEAT1 was located in nucleus. NEAT1 overexpression promoted the levels of Th2-related cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in CD4⁺ T cells. Moreover, NEAT1 up-regulation reduced Th1-related cytokine INF-γ production and enhanced the levels of Th17-related cytokines IL-17 in CD4⁺ T cells. STAT6 deficiency reduced the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 enhanced the levels of INF-γ in CD4⁺ T cells, which was rescued by NEAT1 overexpression. Moreover, NEAT1 promoted STAT6 protein expression, whereas NEAT1 had no effect on the expression of STAT6 mRNA. Furthermore, NEAT1 interacted with STAT6, inhibited the ubiquitination of STAT6 in CD4⁺ T cells. In conclusion, our work has confirmed that NEAT1 promotes STAT6 expression by inhibiting STAT6 ubiquitination, thereby promoting Th2 cell activation. Thus, our work may highlight novel insights into the molecular mechanism of NEAT1 in regulating Th2 cell activation.

STAT6 rs324015 Gene Polymorphism Increases Ulcerative Colitis Risk: A Case-Control Study

Introduction

Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) in the colonic epithelium is elevated in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and its inhibition prevents IL-13-associated apoptosis and barrier disruption. Recently, the STAT6 rs324015 polymorphism was reported to be related to genetic susceptibility to UC.

Methods

We examined STAT6 rs324015 using the PCR–RFLP method in 268 UC cases and 357 controls. STAT6 expression was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. The gene–environment interactions were addressed by cross-over analysis.

Results

We found that the STAT6 rs324015 polymorphism enhanced the risk of UC under the homozygous, dominant, and allelic models. Further subgroup analyses indicated that this relationship was more evident in alcohol users, smokers, and those younger than 40 years. Cross-over analysis showed strong interactions of STAT6 rs324015 with smoking/alcohol use. In addition, this polymorphism was associated with the severity, and location of UC. The GG genotype was significantly associated with increased STAT6 gene levels.

Conclusion

In summary, the STAT6 rs324015 polymorphism is related with predisposition to UC in a Chinese Han population.

Oral exposure of titanium oxide nanoparticles induce ileum physical barrier dysfunction via Th1/Th2 imbalance

In this work, we aimed to evaluate the adverse effects and the mechanism of intestinal barrier caused by titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs). Here, the effects of two different dosages (300 and 1200 mg/kg) of TiO₂ NPs on female mice (n = 5) were investigated. After 28-day oral exposure, the results of Ti content were significantly increased in the ileum in comparison with the control. The histopathological structure index of the ileum was significantly changed after TiO₂ NPs exposure; villi height and crypt depth were decreased and increased, respectively. Meanwhile, TiO₂ NPs treatment also significantly altered the transcription levels of genes. First, the GATA-3 and STAT-4 were upregulation and downregulation, respectively. Second, gene expressions of the Zonula Occludens-1, claudin (CLDN)-12, occludin, and myosin light chain kinase were significantly upregulated, while the CLDN-3 was decreased. Finally, the caspase-3, caspase-9, and caspase-12 were upregulated. The results of TUNEL staining indicated apoptosis in the ileum. In general, TiO₂ NPs treatment significantly changed the intestine physical barrier in a dose-dependent manner. The toxicity of TiO₂ NPs could be through the imbalance in the Th1/Th2.

The diagnosis values of serum STAT4 and sEng in preeclampsia

Objective

To detect the levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) and soluble endoglin (sEng) in preeclampsia patients and analyze the diagnostic values of STAT4 and sEng in preeclampsia.

Methods

Fifty‐four pregnant women with preeclampsia from October 2017 to June 2018 were included in this study. Twenty‐eight matched healthy pregnant women were set as the control group. The general clinical characteristics were measured. Serum STAT4 and sEng were detected by ELISA. Correlation between STAT4 and sEng, and their diagnostic value in preeclampsia were analyzed.

Results

Compared with control, the prothrombin time in preeclampsia was significantly lower, while the mean arterial pressure, 24‐hour urine protein, serum creatinine, fibrinogen, and ALT were significantly higher. The circulating levels of STAT4 and sEng were significantly increased in the preeclampsia. The serum levels of STAT4 and sEng in preeclampsia were positively correlated. For the diagnosis of preeclampsia by the serum STAT4, AUC is 0.902, and the sensitivity and specificity are 0.893 and 0.929. By the serum sEng, AUC is 0.873, and the sensitivity and specificity are 0.816 and 0.905.

Conclusion

The serum levels of STAT4 and sEng were significantly increased in preeclampsia with disease severity status, which have promise as diagnostic markers in preeclampsia.

Profiling of how nociceptor neurons detect danger - new and old foes

The host evolves redundant mechanisms to preserve physiological processing and homeostasis. These functions range from sensing internal and external threats, creating a memory of the insult and generating reflexes, which aim to resolve inflammation. Impairment in such functioning leads to chronic inflammatory diseases. By interacting through a common language of ligands and receptors, the immune and sensory nervous systems work in concert to accomplish such protective functions. Whilst this bidirectional communication helps to protect from danger, it can contribute to disease pathophysiology. Thus, the somatosensory nervous system is anatomically positioned within primary and secondary lymphoid tissues and mucosa to modulate immunity directly. Upstream of this interplay, neurons detect danger, which prompts the release of neuropeptides initiating (i) defensive reflexes (ranging from withdrawal response to coughing) and (ii) chemotaxis, adhesion and local infiltration of immune cells. The resulting outcome of such neuro-immune interplay is still ill-defined, but consensual findings start to emerge and support neuropeptides not only as blockers of T_H 1-mediated immunity but also as drivers of T_H 2 immune responses. However, the modalities detected by nociceptors revealed broader than mechanical pressure and temperature sensing and include signals as various as cytokines and pathogens to immunoglobulins and even microRNAs. Along these lines, we aggregated various dorsal root ganglion sensory neuron expression profiling datasets supporting such wide-ranging sensing capabilities to help identifying new danger detection modalities of these cells. Thus, revealing unexpected aspects of nociceptor neuron biology might prompt the identification of novel drivers of immunity, means to resolve inflammation and strategies to safeguard homeostasis.