GM-CSF: A Promising Target in Inflammation and Autoimmunity

Long noncoding RNA PARAL1 regulates myeloid dendritic cell differentiation and TLR signaling

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presentation cells (APCs) that bridge innate and adaptive immune functions to contain pathogenic threats. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in regulating biological processes, including inflammation and immunity. However, the knowledge of myeloid DC-expressed lncRNA repertoire and their regulatory functions is limited. Here we profiled lncRNA expression kinetics during monocyte-to-DC (moDC) differentiation and characterized their functional roles. Our RNA-seq data identified a repertoire of differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with moDC differentiation and a large subset of these lncRNAs are distinct from M1 or M2 macrophages. We selected two DC-enriched lncRNAs and observed that PARAL1 silencing, or overexpression modulates DC surface markers expression. Importantly, PARAL1 RNAi significantly reduced, while its overexpression upregulated the levels of multiple TLRs. Upon treatment with TLR agonists PARAL1 knockdown cells exhibit reduced NF-κB, IRF3 and IRF7 phosphorylation substantiating its role in potentiating TLR signaling. Mechanistically, PARAL1 silencing showed significant downregulation of multiple NF-κB-induced genes and time-dependent inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine secretion upon challenge with TLR agonists. Finally, PARAL1 RNAi in DCs significantly impaired antigen processing and presentation to T cells. Overall, this study characterized novel functions of PARAL1 in regulating DC differentiation, TLR-dependent innate immunity and activation of adaptive immune response.

Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome After CAR T-Cell Therapy and Other Psychiatric Manifestations: A Review and Case Series

Background/Objectives: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment of hematologic malignancies, achieving durable remissions in cases refractory to standard therapies. A potentially life-threatening complication is immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), which poses significant challenges to clinical management. ICANS encompasses a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including delirium, mood disorders, psychosis, seizures, and cerebral edema. The psychiatric dimensions of ICANS remain underreported, and their interplay with neurologic manifestations is poorly understood. This study reviews the psychiatric manifestations of ICANS and presents a case series illustrating its clinical complexity. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between 2020 and 2024. Search terms included "ICANS", "delirium", "CAR T-cell", "neurotoxicity", and "psychiatric". The inclusion criteria included studies published in English that focused on adult patients experiencing neuropsychiatric symptoms of ICANS. Two clinical cases of ICANS with prominent psychiatric features are presented. Results: The literature review found three relevant studies, which emphasized agitation, hypoactivity, and mood disturbances as often-overlooked psychiatric symptoms linked to ICANS. The case series highlights psychiatric manifestations, including delirium, irritability, and cognitive impairment. Recovery was supported through interventions such as corticosteroid tapering, antipsychotic treatment, and multidisciplinary care. Conclusions: ICANS is a multifaceted syndrome with significant neuropsychiatric sequelae that complicate its diagnosis and management. An enhanced recognition of its psychiatric dimensions and interdisciplinary approaches are critical to improving outcomes.

Genomic and phenotypic correlates of mosaic loss of chromosome Y in blood

Mosaic loss of Y (mLOY) is the most common somatic chromosomal alteration detected in human blood. The presence of mLOY is associated with altered blood cell counts and increased risk of Alzheimer disease, solid tumors, and other age-related diseases. We sought to gain a better understanding of genetic drivers and associated phenotypes of mLOY through analyses of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a large set of genetically diverse males from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. We show that haplotype-based calling methods can be used with WGS data to successfully identify mLOY events. This approach enabled us to identify differences in mLOY frequencies across populations defined by genetic similarity, revealing a higher frequency of mLOY in the European (EUR) ancestry group compared to other ancestries. We identify multiple loci associated with mLOY susceptibility and show that subsets of human hematopoietic stem cells are enriched for the activity of mLOY susceptibility variants. Finally, we found that certain alleles on chromosome Y are more likely to be lost than others in detectable mLOY clones.

Buserelin Promotes the Differentiation and Function of Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating Factor-Producing T Helper Cells

BACKGROUND

Buserelin has been used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). However, it could potentially result in immune dysregulation to undermine patients' health. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the effects of buserelin on immune cells. Here we explored buserelin-induced impacts on the differentiation and function of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor-producing T helper (ThGM) cells to uncover the immunoregulatory role of buserelin.

METHODS

Rat CPP was induced by danazol injection followed by buserelin treatment. The frequencies of ThGM cells in the spleen and lymph nodes were evaluated by flow cytometry. ThGM cell generation and function were analyzed in cell culture assays. Cell signaling was measured by Immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Buserelin increased the frequencies of splenic and lymph node ThGM cells. Buserelin promoted the in vitro differentiation and proliferation of ThGM cells. Buserelin-treated ThGM cells showed stronger supportive effects on other effector T helper cells. Buserelin induced the activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in ThGM cells.

CONCLUSION

Buserelin enhances the differentiation and function of pro-inflammatory ThGM cells, thus increasing the risk of autoimmune or inflammatory disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor ThGM cells in buserelin-treated children to prevent latent immune dysregulation.

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in virus-host interactions and its implication for immunotherapy

Viruses have evolved to strategically exploit cellular signaling pathways to evade host immune defenses. GM-CSF signaling plays a pivotal role in regulating inflammation, activating myeloid cells, and enhancing the immune response to infections. Due to its central role in the immune system, viruses may target this pathway to further establish infection. This review focuses on key studies elucidating virus interactions with GM-CSF signaling proteins and summarizes findings on the impact of viral infections on GM-CSF production. Additionally, therapeutic strategies centered around GM-CSF are investigated, such as the potential benefits of administering GM-CSF versus inhibiting GM-CSF signaling to mitigate viral-induced aberrant inflammation. Understanding these virus-host interactions provides valuable insights that help further our understanding to develop future therapeutic approaches in modulating the immune response during viral infections.

Asthma Biologics Across the T2 Spectrum of Inflammation in Severe Asthma: Biomarkers and Mechanism of Action

Airway inflammation, a hallmark feature of asthma, drives many canonical features of the disease, including airflow limitation, mucus plugging, airway remodeling, and hyperresponsiveness. The T2 inflammatory paradigm is firmly established as the dominant mechanism of asthma pathogenesis, largely due to the success of inhaled corticosteroids and biologic therapies targeting components of the T2 pathway, including IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). However, up to 30% of patients may lack signatures of meaningful T2 inflammation (ie, T2 low). In T2-low asthma patients, T2 inflammation may be masked due to anti-inflammatory treatments or may be highly variable depending on exposure to common asthma triggers such as allergens, respiratory infections, and smoke or pollution. The epithelium and epithelial cytokines (TSLP, IL-33) are increasingly recognized as upstream drivers of canonical T2 pathways and as modulators of various effector cells, including mast cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils, which impact the pathological manifestations of airway smooth muscle hypertrophy, hypercontractility, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Approved biologics for severe asthma target several distinct mechanisms of action, leading to differential effects on the spectrum of T2 inflammation, inflammatory biomarkers, and treatment efficacy (reducing asthma exacerbations, improving lung function, and diminishing symptoms). The approved anti-asthma biologics primarily target T2 immune pathways, with little evidence suggesting a benefit of targeting non-T2 asthma-associated mediators. Indeed, many negative results challenge current assumptions about the etiology of non-T2 asthma and raise doubts about the viability of targeting popular alternative inflammatory pathways, such as T17. Novel data have emerged from the use of biologics to treat various inflammatory mediators and have furthered our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms that drive asthma. This review discusses inflammatory pathways that contribute to asthma, quantitatively outlines effects of available biologics on biomarkers, and summarizes data and challenges from clinical trials that address non-T2 mechanisms of asthma.

Cytokine-overexpressing dendritic cells for cancer immunotherapy

Dendritic cells (DCs), the main type of antigen-presenting cells in the body, act as key mediators of adaptive immunity by sampling antigens from diseased cells for the subsequent priming of antigen-specific T and B cells. While DCs can secrete a diverse array of cytokines that profoundly shape the immune milieu, exogenous cytokines are often needed to maintain the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of DCs, T cells, and B cells. However, conventional cytokine therapies for cancer treatment are limited by their low therapeutic benefit and severe side effects. The overexpression of cytokines in DCs, followed by paracrine release or membrane display, has emerged as a viable approach for controlling the exposure of cytokines to interacting DCs and T/B cells. This approach can potentially reduce the necessary dose of cytokines and associated side effects to achieve comparable or enhanced antitumor efficacy. Various strategies have been developed to enable the overexpression or chemical conjugation of cytokines on DCs for the subsequent modulation of DC-T/B-cell interactions. This review provides a brief overview of strategies that enable the overexpression of cytokines in or on DCs via genetic engineering or chemical modification methods and discusses the promise of cytokine-overexpressing DCs for the development of new-generation cancer immunotherapy.

A novel inhibitor of class IIa histone deacetylases attenuates collagen-induced arthritis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Most inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) are not selective and are cytotoxic. Some have anti-inflammatory activity in disease models, but cytotoxicity prevents long-term uses in non-fatal diseases. Inhibitors selective for class IIa HDACs are much less cytotoxic and may have applications in management of chronic inflammatory diseases.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

LL87 is a novel HDAC inhibitor examined here for HDAC enzyme selectivity. It was also investigated in macrophages for cytotoxicity and for inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine secretion. In a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis, LL87 was investigated for effects on joint inflammation in Dark Agouti rats. Histological, immunohistochemical, micro-computed tomography and molecular analyses characterise developing arthritis and anti-inflammatory efficacy.

KEY RESULTS

LL87 was significantly more inhibitory against class IIa than class I or IIb HDAC enzymes. In macrophages, LL87 was not cytotoxic and reduced both LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and IL6-induced class IIa HDAC activity. In rats, LL87 attenuated paw swelling and clinical signs of arthritis, reducing collagen loss and histological damage in ankle joints. LL87 decreased immune cell infiltration, especially pro-inflammatory macrophages and osteoclasts, into synovial joints and significantly reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and tissue-degrading proteases.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

A novel inhibitor of class IIa HDACs has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic profile distinct from current therapies. It is efficacious in reducing macrophage infiltration and joint inflammation in a chronic model of rat arthritis.

NKp46+ ILC3s promote early neutrophil defense against Clostridioides difficile infection through GM-CSF secretion

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common cause of antibiotic-associated colitis. C. difficile proliferates and produces toxins that damage the colonic epithelium, leading to symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to severe pseudomembranous colitis. The host's innate response to CDI occurs in two phases: an early phase in which neutrophils reduce the bacterial load and a late phase involving repair mechanisms to restore epithelial integrity. Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are crucial in protecting the gut from CDI. Previous studies have shown that ILC3-derived IL-22 is essential in the late phase of CDI for epithelial repair and maintaining an intestinal microbiota that competes with C. difficile, preventing its expansion. Our study finds that ILC3s also protect during the early stages of CDI by sustaining neutrophils through GM-CSF. Less neutrophil production, accumulation, and activation was evident in ILC3-deficient mice than in wild-type (WT) mice, which led to exacerbated symptoms, impaired pathogen clearance, a compromised epithelial barrier, and increased mortality. The adoptive transfer of ILC3s into ILC3-deficient mice restored neutrophil responses and improved disease outcomes. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that GM-CSF production by ILC3s is crucial for neutrophil production and effective resistance during CDI. Using mice lacking NKp46+ ILC3s, we found that this subset significantly contributes to GM-CSF production in CDI. These findings highlight the critical role of the ILC3-neutrophil connection in early innate responses to CDI. Enhancing ILC3 production of GM-CSF could be a promising strategy for improving host defense against CDI and other enteric infections.

House dust mite allergen Der f 2 drives IL-6 and GM-CSF expression in airway epithelial cells via p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling

OBJECTIVE

Der f 2, a major allergen derived from Dermatophagoides farinae, is a leading cause of allergic asthma. IL-6 and GM-CSF play essential roles in the exacerbation of asthma. However, the mechanical act by which Der f 2 mediates the expression of IL-6, IL-8, and GM-CSF in airway epithelial cells remains incompletely elucidated. Herein, we aimed to explore the effect of Der f 2 on IL-6 and GM-CSF expression in the human airway epithelial cell BEAS-2B and A549.

METHODS

Recombinant Der f 2 (rDf2) was acquired using Pichia pastoris. BEAS-2B and A549 cells were used as cell model. The expression of genes and proteins and the involvement of the signaling cascade were assessed using RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), Western blotting, and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that rDf2 significantly induced mRNA expression and protein production of IL-6 and GM-CSF in BEAS-2B and A549 cells. In contrast, rDf2 did not influence IL-8 expression or production in both cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that rDf2 triggered activation of the p38 MAPK and JNK. Inhibition of p38, but not JNK, significantly attenuated rDf2-induced IL-6 and GM-CSF expression and production.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that Der f 2 promotes the expression and production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and GM-CSF in airway epithelial cells via activation of the p38 signaling pathway. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that Der f 2 may exacerbate airway inflammation.

Deciphering the role of endothelial granulocyte macrophage-CSF in chronic inflammation associated with HIV

People with HIV (PWH) experience endothelial dysfunction (ED) that is aggravated by chronic inflammation and microbial translocation across a damaged gut barrier. Although this paradigm is well-described, downstream pathways that terminate in endothelial dysfunction are only partially understood. This study found increased expression of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), and myeloperoxidase in the aortic endothelium of PWH compared to those without HIV. Bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) heightened glucose uptake and induced GM-CSF expression in primary human endothelial cells. Exposure to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduced glucose uptake, GM-CSF release, and ED in LPS-activated endothelial cells ex vivo, and PWH treated with SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes had significantly lower plasma GM-CSF levels than non-diabetic PWH not on this medication. The findings suggest that microbial products trigger glucose uptake and GM-CSF expression in the endothelium, contributing to localized inflammation in PWH. Modifying this altered state could offer therapeutic benefits.

Methotrexate promotes the release of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor from rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes via autocrine interleukin-1 signaling

BACKGROUND

Activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are drivers of synovitis and structural joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite the use of disease-modifying drugs, only about 50% of RA patients reach remission in real-world settings. We used an unbiased approach to investigate the effects of standard-of-care methotrexate (MTX) and a Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib (TOFA), on gene expression in RA-FLS, in order to identify untargeted disease mediators.

METHODS

Primary RA-FLS were activated by stimulation with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or platelet-derived growth factor + IL-1β in the presence or absence of MTX or TOFA, with or without additional inhibitors. Co-cultures of synovial cells were performed in direct and indirect systems. Cells were collected for RNA sequencing or qPCR, and supernatants were analyzed for protein concentrations.

RESULTS

Six thousand three hundred fifty genes were differentially expressed, the majority being upregulated, in MTX-treated activated RA-FLS and 970 genes, the majority being downregulated, in TOFA-treated samples. Pathway analysis showed that MTX had largest effects on 'Molecular mechanisms of cancer' and TOFA on 'Interferon signaling'. Targeted analysis of disease-associated genes revealed that MTX increased the expression of cell cycle-regulating genes but also of pro-inflammatory mediators like IL-1α (IL1A) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, GM-CSF (CSF2). The MTX-promoted expression of CSF2 in activated RA-FLS peaked at 48 h, could be mediated via either NF-κB or AP-1 transcription factors, and was abrogated by IL-1 inhibitors (IRAK4 inhibitor and anakinra). In a co-culture setting, MTX-treatment of activated RA-FLS induced IL1B expression in macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

MTX treatment induces secretion of IL-1 from activated RA-FLS which by autocrine signaling augments their release of GM-CSF. This unexpected effect of MTX might contribute to the persistence of synovitis.

Garlic Bioconverted by Bacillus subtilis Stimulates the Intestinal Immune System and Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition

SCOPE

This study evaluates the potential of bioconverted garlic ferments (BGFs) to stimulate the intestinal immune system and modulate cecal microbiota composition.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In vitro, BGF significantly enhances Peyer's patch (PP)-mediated bone marrow cell proliferation and increases the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-6, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) but not IL-4, IL-5, and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Oral administration of BGF to C3H/HeN mice for 4 weeks significantly increases the GM-CSF (42.1-45.8 pg mL-1) and IFN-γ (6.5-12.1 pg mL-1) levels in PP cells. BGF also significantly elevates the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α, 165.0-236.3 pg mg-1), GM-CSF (2.4-3.0 ng mg-1), and IFN-γ (1.5-3.2 ng mg-1) in the small intestinal fluid, and TNF-α (2.2-3.1 pg mL-1) and IFN-γ (10.3-0.21.5 pg mL-1) in the mouse serum. Cecal microbial analysis reveals that BGF increases Bacteroidota and Verrucomicrobiota and decreases Actinobacteria and Bacillota at the phylum level in mice. At the genus level, BGF significantly increases the abundance of Fusimonas (250 mg kg-1 BW-1 day-1), Bacteroides (125 and 250 mg kg-1 BW-1 day-1), and Akkermansia (125 mg kg-1 BW-1 day-1) and decreases that of Bifidobacterium (62.5 and 250 mg kg-1 BW-1 day-1) and Limosilactobacillus (125 and 250 mg kg-1 BW-1 day-1).

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first evidence of BGF's ability to modulate the intestinal immune system and gut microbiota, supporting its potential as a novel functional material to enhance gut immunity.

Extracellular vesicles of Bacteroides uniformis induce M1 macrophage polarization and aggravate gut inflammation during weaning

Weaning process is commonly associated with gastrointestinal inflammation and dysbiosis of the intestinal microbes. In particular, the impact of gut bacteria and extracellular vesicles on the etiology of intestinal inflammation during weaning is not well understood. We have uncovered a potential link between gut inflammation and the corresponding variation of macrophage bacterial sensing and pro-inflammatory polarization during the weaning process of piglets through single-cell transcriptomic analyses. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of bacterial distribution across the gastrointestinal tract and pinpointed Bacteroides uniformis enriching in piglets undergoing weaning. Next, we found out that exposure to B. uniformis-derived extracellular vesicles (BEVs) exacerbated gut inflammation in a murine colitis model while recruiting and polarizing intestinal macrophages toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype. BEVs modulated the function of macrophages cultured in vitro by suppressing the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5/arginase 1 pathway, thereby affecting polarization toward an M1-like state. The effects of BEVs were verified both in the macrophage clearance murine model and by using an adoptive transfer assay. Our findings highlight the involvement of BEVs in facilitating the polarization of pro-inflammatory macrophages and promoting gut inflammation during weaning.

Evidence for a Pro-Inflammatory State of Macrophages from Non-Obese Type-2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Obesity causes insulin resistance (IR) through systemic low-grade inflammation and can lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the mechanisms that cause IR and T2DM in non-obese individuals are unclear. The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat develops IR spontaneously and is a model of non-obese T2DM. These rats exhibit hyperglycemia beginning at weaning and exhibit lower body mass than control Wistar rats. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that macrophages of GK rats are permanently in a pro-inflammatory state, which may be associated with a systemic inflammation condition that mimics the pathogenesis of obesity-induced T2DM. Using eighteen-week-old GK and control Wistar rats, we investigated the proportions of M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) macrophages isolated from the peritoneal cavity. Additionally, the production of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultured macrophages under basal and stimulated conditions was assessed. It was found that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation increased GK rat macrophage ROS production 90-fold compared to basal levels. This response was also three times more pronounced than in control cells (36-fold). The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), tended to be upregulated in cultured macrophages from GK rats under basal conditions. Macrophages from GK rats produced 1.6 times more granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), 1.5 times more monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and 3.3 times more TNF-α than control cells when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (p = 0.0033; p = 0.049; p = 0.002, respectively). Moreover, compared to control cells, GK rats had 60% more M1 (p = 0.0008) and 23% less M2 (p = 0.038) macrophages. This study is the first to report macrophage inflammatory reprogramming towards a pro-inflammatory state in GK rats.

Profiling migration of human monocytes in response to chemotactic and barotactic guidance cues

Monocytes are critical to innate immunity, participating in chemotaxis during tissue injury, infection, and inflammatory conditions. However, the migration dynamics of human monocytes under different guidance cues are not well characterized. Here, we developed a microfluidic device to profile the migration characteristics of human monocytes under chemotactic and barotactic guidance cues while also assessing the effects of age and cytokine stimulation. Human monocytes preferentially migrated toward the CCL2 gradient through confined microchannels, regardless of donor age and migration pathway. Stimulation with interferon (IFN)-γ, but not granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), disrupted monocyte navigation through complex paths and decreased monocyte CCL2 chemotaxis, velocity, and CCR2 expression. Additionally, monocytes exhibited a bias toward low-hydraulic-resistance pathways in asymmetric environments, which remained consistent across donor ages, cytokine stimulation, and chemoattractants. This microfluidic system provides insights into the unique migratory behaviors of human monocytes and is a valuable tool for studying peripheral immune cell migration in health and disease.

Comparative Effects of Efavirenz and Dolutegravir on Metabolomic and Inflammatory Profiles, and Platelet Activation of People Living with HIV: A Pilot Study

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the mortality and morbidity associated with HIV. However, irrespective of treatment, people living with HIV remain at a higher risk of developing non-AIDS-associated diseases. In 2019, the World Health Organization recommended the transition from efavirenz (EFV)- to dolutegravir (DTG)-based ART. Data on the impact of this transition are still limited. The current study therefore investigated the metabolic profiles, cytokine inflammatory responses, and platelet activation before and after the treatment transition. Plasma samples from nine virally suppressed adults living with HIV and sixteen healthy, HIV-uninfected individuals residing in Gauteng, South Africa were compared. Metabolite and cytokine profiles, and markers associated with platelet activation, were investigated with untargeted proton magnetic resonance metabolomics, multiplex suspension bead array immunoassays, and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. In those individuals with normal C-reactive protein levels, the transition to a DTG-based ART regimen resulted in decreased concentrations of acetoacetic acid, creatinine, adenosine monophosphate, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, glycolic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, urea, and lysine. Moreover, increased levels of formic acid, glucose, lactic acid, myo-inositol, valine, glycolic acid, and 3-hydroxybutyric acid were observed. Notably, levels of interleukin-6, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand, as well as regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) reached levels close to those observed in the healthy control participants. The elevated concentration of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha was the only marker indicative of elevated levels of inflammation associated with DTG-based treatment. The transition from EFV- to DTG-based regimens therefore appears to be of potential benefit with metabolic and inflammatory markers, as well as those associated with cardiovascular disease and other chronic non-AIDS-related diseases, reaching levels similar to those observed in individuals not living with HIV.

Prognostic impact of cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on acute exacerbation of fibrosing interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Acute exacerbation of fibrosing interstitial lung disease (AE-FILD) is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. We aimed to comprehensively analyze cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and their association with the clinical course of AE-FILD.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 60 patients with AE-FILD who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. We comprehensively measured 44 cytokines and chemokines in the obtained bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using a Luminex analyzer. Patients were grouped into those who died within 90 days (non-survival group) and survived beyond 90 days (survival group) to investigate the association of the levels of cytokines and chemokines with mortality.

RESULTS

The levels of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (p = 0.003), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (p = 0.040), interleukin 6 (p = 0.047), interleukin 8 (p = 0.050), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (p = 0.043), and eotaxin (p = 0.044) were significantly higher in the non-survival group than in the survival group. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, their areas under the curve were 0.80, 0.68, 0.71, 0.70, 0.70, and 0.72, respectively. Using machine learning with these six cytokines and chemokines, the predictive accuracy for the survival group was 0.94.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that several cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid could be prognostic predictors in patients with AE-FILD.

Elevated Salt or Angiotensin II Levels Induce CD38+ Innate Immune Cells in the Presence of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor

Hypertension (HTN) impacts almost half of adults, predisposing them to cardiovascular disease and renal damage. Salt-sensitive HTN (SSHTN) and angiotensin II (A2)-induced HTN (A2HTN) both involve immune system activation and renal innate immune cell infiltration. Subpopulations of activated [Cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38)] innate immune cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), play distinct roles in modulating renal function and blood pressure. It is unknown how these cells become CD38+ or which subtypes are pro-hypertensive. When bone marrow-derived monocytes (BMDMs) were grown in granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and treated with salt or A2, CD38+ macrophages and CD38+ DCs increased. The adoptive transfer of GM-CSF-primed BMDMs into mice with either SSHTN or A2HTN increased renal CD38+ macrophages and CD38+ DCs. Flow cytometry revealed increased renal M1 macrophages and type-2 conventional DCs (cDC2s), along with their CD38+ counterparts, in mice with either SSHTN or A2HTN. These results were replicable in vitro. Either salt or A2 treatment of GM-CSF-primed BMDMs significantly increased bone marrow-derived (BMD)-M1 macrophages, CD38+ BMD-M1 macrophages, BMD-cDC2s, and CD38+ BMD-cDC2s. Overall, these data suggest that GM-CSF is necessary for the salt or A2 induction of CD38+ innate immune cells, and that CD38 distinguishes pro-hypertensive immune cells. Further investigation of CD38+ M1 macrophages and CD38+ cDC2s could provide new therapeutic targets for both SSHTN and A2HTN.

Exploring treatment options in cancer: Tumor treatment strategies

Traditional therapeutic approaches such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have burdened cancer patients with onerous physical and psychological challenges. Encouragingly, the landscape of tumor treatment has undergone a comprehensive and remarkable transformation. Emerging as fervently pursued modalities are small molecule targeted agents, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), cell-based therapies, and gene therapy. These cutting-edge treatment modalities not only afford personalized and precise tumor targeting, but also provide patients with enhanced therapeutic comfort and the potential to impede disease progression. Nonetheless, it is acknowledged that these therapeutic strategies still harbour untapped potential for further advancement. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the merits and limitations of these treatment modalities holds the promise of offering novel perspectives for clinical practice and foundational research endeavours. In this review, we discussed the different treatment modalities, including small molecule targeted drugs, peptide drugs, antibody drugs, cell therapy, and gene therapy. It will provide a detailed explanation of each method, addressing their status of development, clinical challenges, and potential solutions. The aim is to assist clinicians and researchers in gaining a deeper understanding of these diverse treatment options, enabling them to carry out effective treatment and advance their research more efficiently.

IL-13 decreases susceptibility to airway epithelial SARS-CoV-2 infection but increases disease severity in vivo

Treatments available to prevent progression of virus-induced lung diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are of limited benefit once respiratory failure occurs. The efficacy of approved and emerging cytokine signaling-modulating antibodies is variable and is affected by disease course and patient-specific inflammation patterns. Therefore, understanding the role of inflammation on the viral infectious cycle is critical for effective use of cytokine-modulating agents. We investigated the role of the type 2 cytokine IL-13 on SARS-CoV-2 binding/entry, replication, and host response in primary HAE cells in vitro and in a model of mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. IL-13 protected airway epithelial cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro by decreasing the abundance of ACE2-expressing ciliated cells rather than by neutralization in the airway surface liquid or by interferon-mediated antiviral effects. In contrast, IL-13 worsened disease severity in mice; the effects were mediated by eicosanoid signaling and were abolished in mice deficient in the phospholipase A2 enzyme PLA2G2D. We conclude that IL-13-induced inflammation differentially affects multiple steps of COVID-19 pathogenesis. IL-13-induced inflammation may be protective against initial SARS-CoV-2 airway epithelial infection; however, it enhances disease progression in vivo. Blockade of IL-13 and/or eicosanoid signaling may be protective against progression to severe respiratory virus-induced lung disease.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes, Tc17 Cells, Th1 Cells, and ThGM Cells are Increased in the Blood and Ectopic Endometrium of Patients With Adenomyosis

PROBLEM

Adenomyosis (AM) is associated with immune response and inflammation. However, the role of T cell subsets in AM development has not been thoroughly understood.

METHOD OF STUDY

Patients with focal or diffuse AM were recruited. Serum cytokines were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Different T cell subsets in the blood and ectopic endometrium were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were increased in patients with focal or diffuse AM before focused ultrasound ablation surgery (FUAS), but not after FUAS. Compared with the healthy control, the frequencies of CD8+ interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-expressing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), interleukin-17A (IL-17A)-expressing Tc17 cells, CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1) cells, and GM-CSF-expressing T helper (ThGM) cells were up-regulated in the blood of patients with AM, especially those with diffuse AM. However, these changes were eradicated after FUAS. Meanwhile, the frequencies of these T cell subsets were positively correlated with the CA-125 level. Furthermore, these T cell subsets were also increased in ectopic endometrium.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study delineates for the first time the presence of CTLs, Tc17 cells, Th1, and ThGM cells in the blood and ectopic endometrium in AM. The results imply that T cell response might impact AM development.

The Dynamic Relationship between Dengue Virus and the Human Cutaneous Innate Immune Response

Dengue virus (DENV) is a continuing global threat that puts half of the world's population at risk for infection. This mosquito-transmitted virus is endemic in over 100 countries. When a mosquito takes a bloodmeal, virus is deposited into the epidermal and dermal layers of human skin, infecting a variety of permissive cells, including keratinocytes, Langerhans cells, macrophages, dermal dendritic cells, fibroblasts, and mast cells. In response to infection, the skin deploys an array of defense mechanisms to inhibit viral replication and prevent dissemination. Antimicrobial peptides, pattern recognition receptors, and cytokines induce a signaling cascade to increase transcription and translation of pro-inflammatory and antiviral genes. Paradoxically, this inflammatory environment recruits skin-resident mononuclear cells that become infected and migrate out of the skin, spreading virus throughout the host. The details of the viral-host interactions in the cutaneous microenvironment remain unclear, partly due to the limited body of research focusing on DENV in human skin. This review will summarize the functional role of human skin, the cutaneous innate immune response to DENV, the contribution of the arthropod vector, and the models used to study DENV interactions in the cutaneous environment.

Recognition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by specific S100 proteins

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pleiotropic myelopoietic growth factor and proinflammatory cytokine, clinically used for multiple indications and serving as a promising target for treatment of many disorders, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, COVID-19. We have previously shown that dimeric Ca2+-bound forms of S100A6 and S100P proteins, members of the multifunctional S100 protein family, are specific to GM-CSF. To probe selectivity of these interactions, the affinity of recombinant human GM-CSF to dimeric Ca2+-loaded forms of 18 recombinant human S100 proteins was studied by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Of them, only S100A4 protein specifically binds to GM-CSF with equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, values of 0.3-2 μM, as confirmed by intrinsic fluorescence and chemical crosslinking data. Calcium removal prevents S100A4 binding to GM-CSF, whereas monomerization of S100A4/A6/P proteins disrupts S100A4/A6 interaction with GM-CSF and induces a slight decrease in S100P affinity for GM-CSF. Structural modelling indicates the presence in the GM-CSF molecule of a conserved S100A4/A6/P-binding site, consisting of the residues from its termini, helices I and III, some of which are involved in the interaction with GM-CSF receptors. The predicted involvement of the 'hinge' region and F89 residue of S100P in GM-CSF recognition was confirmed by mutagenesis. Examination of S100A4/A6/P ability to affect GM-CSF signaling showed that S100A4/A6 inhibit GM-CSF-induced suppression of viability of monocytic THP-1 cells. The ability of the S100 proteins to modulate GM-CSF activity is relevant to progression of various neoplasms and other diseases, according to bioinformatics analysis. The direct regulation of GM-CSF signaling by extracellular forms of the S100 proteins should be taken into account in the clinical use of GM-CSF and development of the therapeutic interventions targeting GM-CSF or its receptors.

Genomic and phenotypic correlates of mosaic loss of chromosome Y in blood

Mosaic loss of Y (mLOY) is the most common somatic chromosomal alteration detected in human blood. The presence of mLOY is associated with altered blood cell counts and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, solid tumors, and other age-related diseases. We sought to gain a better understanding of genetic drivers and associated phenotypes of mLOY through analyses of whole genome sequencing of a large set of genetically diverse males from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. This approach enabled us to identify differences in mLOY frequencies across populations defined by genetic similarity, revealing a higher frequency of mLOY in the European American (EA) ancestry group compared to those of Hispanic American (HA), African American (AA), and East Asian (EAS) ancestry. Further, we identified two genes ( CFHR1 and LRP6 ) that harbor multiple rare, putatively deleterious variants associated with mLOY susceptibility, show that subsets of human hematopoietic stem cells are enriched for activity of mLOY susceptibility variants, and that certain alleles on chromosome Y are more likely to be lost than others.

Preeclampsia at term: evidence of disease heterogeneity based on the profile of circulating cytokines and angiogenic factors

BACKGROUND

Intravascular inflammation and an antiangiogenic state have been implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. On the basis of the profiles of their angiogenic/antiangiogenic factors, women with preeclampsia at term may be classified into 2 subgroups with different characteristics and prevalence of adverse outcomes. This study was undertaken to examine whether these 2 subgroups of preeclampsia at term also show differences in their profiles of intravascular inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the plasma profiles of cytokines and chemokines in women with preeclampsia at term who had a normal or an abnormal angiogenic profile.

STUDY DESIGN

A nested case-control study was conducted to include women classified into 3 groups: women with an uncomplicated pregnancy (n=213) and women with preeclampsia at term with a normal (n=55) or an abnormal (n=41) angiogenic profile. An abnormal angiogenic profile was defined as a plasma ratio of placental growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 multiple of the median <10th percentile for gestational age. Concentrations of cytokines were measured by multiplex immunoassays.

RESULTS

Women with preeclampsia at term and an abnormal angiogenic profile showed evidence of the greatest intravascular inflammation among the study groups. These women had higher plasma concentrations of 5 cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-12/interleukin-23p40, interleukin-15, and interleukin-16) and 7 chemokines (eotaxin, eotaxin-3, interferon-γ inducible protein-10, monocyte chemotactic protein-4, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, macrophage-derived chemokine, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine compared to women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. By contrast, women with preeclampsia at term and a normal angiogenic profile, compared to women with an uncomplicated pregnancy, had only a higher plasma concentration of monocyte chemotactic protein-4. A correlation between severity of the antiangiogenic state, blood pressure, and plasma concentrations of a subset of cytokines was observed.

CONCLUSION

Term preeclampsia can be classified into 2 clusters. One is characterized by an antiangiogenic state coupled with an excessive inflammatory process, whereas the other has neither of these features. These findings further support the heterogeneity of preeclampsia at term and may explain the distinct clinical outcomes.

High-throughput prediction of protein conformational distributions with subsampled AlphaFold2

This paper presents an innovative approach for predicting the relative populations of protein conformations using AlphaFold 2, an AI-powered method that has revolutionized biology by enabling the accurate prediction of protein structures. While AlphaFold 2 has shown exceptional accuracy and speed, it is designed to predict proteins' ground state conformations and is limited in its ability to predict conformational landscapes. Here, we demonstrate how AlphaFold 2 can directly predict the relative populations of different protein conformations by subsampling multiple sequence alignments. We tested our method against nuclear magnetic resonance experiments on two proteins with drastically different amounts of available sequence data, Abl1 kinase and the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and predicted changes in their relative state populations with more than 80% accuracy. Our subsampling approach worked best when used to qualitatively predict the effects of mutations or evolution on the conformational landscape and well-populated states of proteins. It thus offers a fast and cost-effective way to predict the relative populations of protein conformations at even single-point mutation resolution, making it a useful tool for pharmacology, analysis of experimental results, and predicting evolution.

Macrophage re-programming by JAK inhibitors relies on MAFB

Monocyte-derived macrophages play a key pathogenic role in inflammatory diseases. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the presence of specific synovial tissue-infiltrating macrophage subsets is associated with either active disease or inflammation resolution. JAK inhibitors (JAKi) are the first targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARD) approved for treatment of RA with comparable efficacy to biologics. However, the effects of JAKi on macrophage specification and differentiation are currently unknown. We have analyzed the transcriptional and functional effects of JAKi on human peripheral blood monocyte subsets from RA patients and on the differentiation of monocyte-derived macrophages promoted by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a factor that drives the development and pathogenesis of RA. We now report that JAKi Upadacitinib restores the balance of peripheral blood monocyte subsets in RA patients and skewed macrophages towards the acquisition of an anti-inflammatory transcriptional and functional profile in a dose-dependent manner. Upadacitinib-treated macrophages showed a strong positive enrichment of the genes that define synovial macrophages associated to homeostasis/inflammation resolution. Specifically, Upadacitinib-treated macrophages exhibited significantly elevated expression of MAFB and MAFB-regulated genes, elevated inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, and higher phagocytic activity and showed an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile upon activation by pathogenic stimuli. These outcomes were also shared by macrophages exposed to other JAKi (baricitinib, tofacitinib), but not in the presence of the TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib. As a whole, our results indicate that JAKi promote macrophage re-programming towards the acquisition of a more anti-inflammatory/pro-resolution profile, an effect that correlates with the ability of JAKi to enhance MAFB expression.

Macrophages coordinate immune response to laser-induced injury via extracellular traps

BACKGROUND

Retinal degeneration results from disruptions in retinal homeostasis due to injury, disease, or aging and triggers peripheral leukocyte infiltration. Effective immune responses rely on coordinated actions of resident microglia and recruited macrophages, critical for tissue remodeling and repair. However, these phagocytes also contribute to chronic inflammation in degenerated retinas, yet the precise coordination of immune response to retinal damage remains elusive. Recent investigations have demonstrated that phagocytic cells can produce extracellular traps (ETs), which are a source of self-antigens that alter the immune response, which can potentially lead to tissue injury.

METHODS

Innovations in experimental systems facilitate real-time exploration of immune cell interactions and dynamic responses. We integrated in vivo imaging with ultrastructural analysis, transcriptomics, pharmacological treatments, and knockout mice to elucidate the role of phagocytes and their modulation of the local inflammatory response through extracellular traps (ETs). Deciphering these mechanisms is essential for developing novel and enhanced immunotherapeutic approaches that can redirect a specific maladaptive immune response towards favorable wound healing in the retina.

RESULTS

Our findings underscore the pivotal role of innate immune cells, especially macrophages/monocytes, in regulating retinal repair and inflammation. The absence of neutrophil and macrophage infiltration aids parenchymal integrity restoration, while their depletion, particularly macrophages/monocytes, impedes vascular recovery. We demonstrate that macrophages/monocytes, when recruited in the retina, release chromatin and granular proteins, forming ETs. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of ETosis support retinal and vascular repair, surpassing the effects of blocking innate immune cell recruitment. Simultaneously, the absence of ETosis reshapes the inflammatory response, causing neutrophils, helper, and cytotoxic T-cells to be restricted primarily in the superficial capillary plexus instead of reaching the damaged photoreceptor layer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data offer novel insights into innate immunity's role in responding to retinal damage and potentially help developing innovative immunotherapeutic approaches that can shift the immune response from maladaptive to beneficial for retinal regeneration.

Colchicine ameliorates short-term abdominal aortic aneurysms by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components in mice

BACKGROUND

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are often associated with chronic inflammation and pose a significant risk to affected individuals. Colchicine, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, has shown promise in managing cardiovascular diseases. However, its specific role in the development of AAA remains poorly understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we employed a short-term AAA model induced by angiotensin II (Ang II, 1000 ng/kg/min) and calcium chloride (CaCl2, 0.5 mol/l) in male ApoE-/- and C57BL/6 mice (8-12 weeks old) to investigate the effects of colchicine on AAA progression. Colchicine (0.4 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily, starting on the same day as AAA induction. After a 4-week duration, we observed a significant reduction in AAA diameter, degradation of elastic fibers, and expression of components related to the Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the vessel wall of colchicine-treated mice compared to the saline group. Mechanistically, colchicine (5 μm/l, for 24h) inhibited the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components through the P38-ERK/MicroRNA145-toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway in RAW264.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of colchicine in suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome components, thereby delaying AAA progression in the Ang II and CaCl2-induced short-term model. These findings suggest the potential of colchicine as a pharmacological treatment option for AAA.

Current state of knowledge and challenges for harnessing the power of dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy

DCs have great promise for cancer immunotherapy and are essential for coordinating immune responses. In the battle against cancer, using DCs' ability to stimulate the immune system and focus it on tumor cells has shown to be a viable tactic. This study offers a thorough summary of recent developments as well as potential future paths for DC-based immunotherapy against cancer. This study reviews the many methods used in DC therapy, such as vaccination and active cellular immunotherapy. The effectiveness and safety of DC-based treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer are highlighted in these investigations. The findings indicate longer survival times and superior results for particular patient groups. We are aware of the difficulties and restrictions of DC-based immunotherapy, though. These include the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the intricacy of DC production, and the heterogeneity within DC populations. More study and development are needed to overcome these challenges to enhance immunological responses, optimize treatment regimens, and increase scalability.

Predicting Relative Populations of Protein Conformations without a Physics Engine Using AlphaFold 2

This paper presents a novel approach for predicting the relative populations of protein conformations using AlphaFold 2, an AI-powered method that has revolutionized biology by enabling the accurate prediction of protein structures. While AlphaFold 2 has shown exceptional accuracy and speed, it is designed to predict proteins' ground state conformations and is limited in its ability to predict conformational landscapes. Here, we demonstrate how AlphaFold 2 can directly predict the relative populations of different protein conformations by subsampling multiple sequence alignments. We tested our method against NMR experiments on two proteins with drastically different amounts of available sequence data, Abl1 kinase and the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and predicted changes in their relative state populations with more than 80% accuracy. Our subsampling approach worked best when used to qualitatively predict the effects of mutations or evolution on the conformational landscape and well-populated states of proteins. It thus offers a fast and cost-effective way to predict the relative populations of protein conformations at even single-point mutation resolution, making it a useful tool for pharmacology, NMR analysis, and evolution.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Unique Molecular Signature with Broad Immune Activation

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with limited treatment options. The poorly understood pathogenesis hinders the development of effective treatments; therefore, a pressing need exists to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms in hidradenitis suppurativa. This study investigated the underlying inflammatory pathways and cell types in hidradenitis suppurativa using transcriptomic approaches with RNA sequencing of lesional and non-lesional skin biopsies from hidradenitis suppurativa, which was jointly analyzed with previously published transcriptomic data from atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients. The differential expression and pathway enrichment analyses demonstrated the activation of multiple inflammatory processes, including the innate and adaptive immune systems, implicated in the hidradenitis suppurativa pathogenesis. In agreement, hidradenitis suppurativa exhibited a unique and heterogeneous cell type signature involving lymphoid and myeloid cells such as B cells and macrophages. Furthermore, hidradenitis suppurativa displayed increased expression of TH1/2/17 signatures with no predominant TH signatures unlike psoriasis (TH1/17) and atopic dermatitis (TH2). In summary, our study provides molecular insights into the pathomechanisms in hidradenitis suppurativa, revealing a strong and widespread immune activation, which may benefit from treatment strategies offering a broad immunomodulation of various key inflammatory pathways. Our data not only corroborate previously reported findings but also enhance our understanding of the immune dysregulation in hidradenitis suppurativa, uncovering novel and potential therapeutic targets.

Neutrophils in Inflammatory Diseases: Unraveling the Impact of Their Derived Molecules and Heterogeneity

Inflammatory diseases involve numerous disorders and medical conditions defined by an insufficient level of self-tolerance. These diseases evolve over the course of a multi-step process through which environmental variables play a crucial role in the emergence of aberrant innate and adaptive immunological responses. According to experimental data accumulated over the past decade, neutrophils play a significant role as effector cells in innate immunity. However, neutrophils are also involved in the progression of numerous diseases through participation in the onset and maintenance of immune-mediated dysregulation by releasing neutrophil-derived molecules and forming neutrophil extracellular traps, ultimately causing destruction of tissues. Additionally, neutrophils have a wide variety of functional heterogeneity with adverse effects on inflammatory diseases. However, the complicated role of neutrophil biology and its heterogeneity in inflammatory diseases remains unclear. Moreover, neutrophils are considered an intriguing target of interventional therapies due to their multifaceted role in a number of diseases. Several approaches have been developed to therapeutically target neutrophils, involving strategies to improve neutrophil function, with various compounds and inhibitors currently undergoing clinical trials, although challenges and contradictions in the field persist. This review outlines the current literature on roles of neutrophils, neutrophil-derived molecules, and neutrophil heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with potential future therapeutic strategies.

Proinflammatory Cytokine Profiles in Both Mild Symptomatic and Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-Infected Egyptian Individuals and a Proposed Relationship to Post-COVID-19 Sequela

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with proinflammatory cytokine release as mediators of host antiviral response to the infection. Cytokine persistent elevation leads to post-Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) post-COVID-19 sequela (PCS) reported in about 60% of patients affecting individual's normal life after recovery. This study evaluates relationship of cytokines and chemokines pattern during and postinfection to PCS events. Serum samples collected from 82 individuals with symptomatic, asymptomatic, or no SARS-CoV-2 infection were classified as recently or formerly infected groups according to levels of anti-2019nCoV Immunoglobulin G/Immunoglobulin M. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, interferon alpha (IFN-α), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were assessed via ELISA for each individual. All asymptomatic groups showed nonsignificant differences in cytokines' levels than control group. Significant elevation of IFN-α, TNF-α, and GM-CSF levels were observed in recent symptomatic, while IFN-α and TNF-α levels were significant in former symptomatic groups. We observed an association between fever with IL-1α and IFN-α levels, fatigue with TNF-α and GM-CSF, dyspnea with IFN-α, TNF-α, and GM-CSF, and chest-wheezing with GM-CSF. Individuals were surveyed 12 months postsampling for PCS events. Among 35 responders to survey, 8 (22.8%) reported PCS events, 6 of which were females. Upon studying PCS events, IL-8, IFN-α, TNF-α, and GM-CSF levels showed significant elevation in active infection, that was not seen in a resolved state of infection. Cytokines patterns suggest that either a persistent elevation in levels or damage caused during infection contributes to PCS. Although with the limited sample size, our study emphasizes the importance to conduct medical approaches targeting the associated cytokines to improve the PCS symptoms.

The role of miRNAs in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic resistance

In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained increased attention from researchers around the globe. Although it is twenty nucleotides long, it can modulate several gene targets simultaneously. Their mal expression is a signature of various pathologies, and they provide the foundation to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of each pathology. Among the debilitating central nervous system (CNS) disorders with a growing prevalence globally is the multiple sclerosis (MS). Moreover, the diagnosis of MS is challenging due to the lack of disease-specific biomarkers, and the diagnosis mainly depends on ruling out other disabilities. MS could adversely affect patients' lives through its progression, and only symptomatic treatments are available as therapeutic options, but an exact cure is yet unavailable. Consequently, this review hopes to further the study of the biological features of miRNAs in MS and explore their potential as a therapeutic target.

Epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of CCL17 production by glucocorticoids in arthritis

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent anti-inflammatory agents and are broadly used in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, albeit with adverse side effects associated with long-term usage. The negative consequences of GC therapy provide an impetus for research into gaining insights into the molecular mechanisms of GC action. We have previously reported that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-induced CCL17 has a non-redundant role in inflammatory arthritis. Here, we provide molecular evidence that GCs can suppress GM-CSF-mediated upregulation of IRF4 and CCL17 expression via downregulating JMJD3 expression and activity. In mouse models of inflammatory arthritis, GC treatment inhibited CCL17 expression and ameliorated arthritic pain-like behavior and disease. Significantly, GC treatment of RA patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells ex vivo resulted in decreased CCL17 production. This delineated pathway potentially provides new therapeutic options for the treatment of many inflammatory conditions, where GCs are used as an anti-inflammatory drug but without the associated adverse side effects.

Clinical treatment for persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (Review)

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a severe disease with a high prevalence and a 3-15% mortality worldwide, and premature activation of zymogen for any reason is the initial factor for the onset of SAP. Gallstone disease and heavy alcohol consumption are the two most common etiologies of SAP. Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) is a life-threatening illness, and there are no effective treatments. The relapse state of PICS mainly leads to high mortality due to septic shock or severe trauma, both of which are dangerous and challenging conditions for clinicians. Thus, it is important for medical staff to identify patients at high risk of PICS and to master the prevention and treatment of PICS in patients with SAP. The present review aims to increase the understanding of the pathogenesis of PICS, produce evidence for PICS diagnosis and highlight clinical treatment for PICS in patients with SAP. With this information, clinical workers could implement standardized and integrated measures at an early stage of SAP to stop its progression to PICS.

Pathogenic Th17 cells in autoimmunity with regard to rheumatoid arthritis

Th17 cells contribute the pathobiology of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it was shown that differentiated Th17 cells display a high degree of plasticity under the influence of inflammatory conditions. In some autoimmune diseases, the majority of Th17 cells, especially at sites of inflammation, have a phenotype that is intermediate between Th17 and Th1. These cells, which are described as Th17.1 or exTh17 cells, are hypothesized to be more pathogenic than classical Th17 cells. In this review, the involvement of Th17.1 lymphocytes in RA, and potential features that might render these cells to be more pathogenic are discussed.

A study on specific factors related to inflammation and autophagy in BEAS-2B cells induced by urban particulate matter (PM, 1648a) and histological evaluation of PM-induced bronchial asthma model in mice

As particulate matter (PM) poses an increasing risk, research on its correlation with diseases is active. However, researchers often use their own PM, making it difficult to determine its components. To address this, we investigated the effects of PM with known constituents on BEAS-2B cells, examining cytokine levels, reactive oxygen species ROS production, DNA damage, and MAPK phosphorylation. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of PM on normal and OVA-induced asthmatic mice by measuring organ weight, cytokine levels, and inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and examining histological changes. PM markedly increased levels of IL-6, GM-CSF, TNF-α, ROS, nitric oxide, and DNA damage, while surprisingly reducing IL-8 and MCP-1. Moreover, PM increased MAPK phosphorylation and inhibited mTOR and AKT phosphorylation. In vivo, lung and spleen weights, IgE, OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, IL-13, total cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, mucus generation, and LC3II were higher in the asthma group. PM treatment in asthmatic mice increased lung weight and macrophage infiltration, but decreased IL-4 and IL-13 in BALF. Meanwhile, PM treatment in the Nor group increased total cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and mucus generation. Our study suggests that PM may induce and exacerbate lung disease by causing immune imbalance via the MAPK and autophagy pathways, resulting in decreased lung function due to increased smooth muscle thickness and mucus generation.

The GM-CSF/CCL17 pathway in obesity-associated osteoarthritic pain and disease in mice

OBJECTIVES

We have previously identified a granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)/C-C motif ligand 17 (CCL17) pathway in monocytes/macrophages, in which GM-CSF regulates the formation of CCL17, and it is important for an experimental osteoarthritis (OA) model. We explore here additional OA models, including in the presence of obesity, such as a requirement for this pathway.

DESIGN

The roles of GM-CSF, CCL17, CCR4, and CCL22 in various experimental OA models, including those incorporating obesity (eight-week high-fat diet), were investigated using gene-deficient male mice. Pain-like behavior and arthritis were assessed by relative static weight distribution and histology, respectively. Cell populations (flow cytometry) and cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression (qPCR) in knee infrapatellar fat pad were analyzed. Human OA sera were collected for circulating CCL17 levels (ELISA) and OA knee synovial tissue for gene expression (qPCR).

RESULTS

We present evidence that: i) GM-CSF, CCL17, and CCR4, but not CCL22, are required for the development of pain-like behavior and optimal disease in three experimental OA models, as well as for exacerbated OA development due to obesity, ii) obesity alone leads to spontaneous knee joint damage in a GM-CSF- and CCL17-dependent manner, and iii) in knee OA patients, early indications are that BMI correlates with a lower Oxford Knee Score (r = -0.458 and p = 0.0096), with elevated circulating CCL17 levels (r = 0.2108 and p = 0.0153) and with elevated GM-CSF and CCL17 gene expression in OA synovial tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

The above findings indicate that GM-CSF, CCL17, and CCR4 are involved in obesity-associated OA development, broadening their potential as targets for possible treatments for OA.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: potential of therapeutic interventions effective in treating progression from COVID-19 to treat progression from other illnesses-a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of lung injury, rendering gaseous exchange insufficient, leading to respiratory failure. Despite over 50 years of research on the treatment of ARDS when developed from illnesses such as sepsis and pneumonia, mortality remains high, and no robust pharmacological treatments exist. The progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections to ARDS during the recent global pandemic led to a surge in the number of clinical trials on the condition. Understandably, this explosion in new research focused on COVID-19 ARDS (CARDS) rather than ARDS when developed from other illnesses, yet differences in pathology between the two conditions mean that optimal treatment for them may be distinct.

AIM

The aim of the present work is to assess whether new therapeutic interventions that have been developed for the treatment of CARDS may also hold strong potential in the treatment of ARDS when developed from other illnesses. The study objectives are achieved through a systematic review of clinical trials.

RESULTS

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the identification of various therapeutic interventions for CARDS, some but not all of which are optimal for the management of ARDS. Interventions more suited to CARDS pathology include antithrombotics and biologic agents, such as cytokine inhibitors. Cell-based therapies, on the other hand, show promise in the treatment of both conditions, attributed to their broad mechanisms of action and the overlap in the clinical manifestations of the conditions. A shift towards personalised treatments for both CARDS and ARDS, as reflected through the increasing use of biologics, is also evident.

CONCLUSIONS

As ongoing CARDS clinical trials progress, their findings are likely to have important implications that alter the management of ARDS in patients that develop the condition from illnesses other than COVID-19 in the future.

Dynamic lipidome alterations associated with human health, disease and ageing

Lipids can be of endogenous or exogenous origin and affect diverse biological functions, including cell membrane maintenance, energy management and cellular signalling. Here, we report >800 lipid species, many of which are associated with health-to-disease transitions in diabetes, ageing and inflammation, as well as cytokine-lipidome networks. We performed comprehensive longitudinal lipidomic profiling and analysed >1,500 plasma samples from 112 participants followed for up to 9 years (average 3.2 years) to define the distinct physiological roles of complex lipid subclasses, including large and small triacylglycerols, ester- and ether-linked phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, cholesterol esters and ceramides. Our findings reveal dynamic changes in the plasma lipidome during respiratory viral infection, insulin resistance and ageing, suggesting that lipids may have roles in immune homoeostasis and inflammation regulation. Individuals with insulin resistance exhibit disturbed immune homoeostasis, altered associations between lipids and clinical markers, and accelerated changes in specific lipid subclasses during ageing. Our dataset based on longitudinal deep lipidome profiling offers insights into personalized ageing, metabolic health and inflammation, potentially guiding future monitoring and intervention strategies.

Are comorbidities associated with the cytokine/chemokine profile of persistent apical periodontitis?

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify disease-related markers in persistent apical periodontitis (PAP) biopsies and examine whether these were associated with comorbidities like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The levels of the cytokines/chemokines GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17E/IL-25, IL-21, IL-23, IL-27, IL-28A/IFN -λ2, IL-33, MIP-3α/CCL20, and TNF-α were determined in lesions from patients with PAP (n = 20) and compared to healthy bone samples (n = 20).

RESULTS

We identified eleven cytokines to be differently expressed, and among them, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17E, IL-21, and IL-27 appeared to drive the discrepancy between the disease and healthy groups. The levels of T follicular helper (Tfh) cell promoting cytokines (IL-21, IL-6, IL-27) were enhanced while T helper (Th) 1 cell promoting cytokine (IL-2), Th2 cell promoting cytokine (IL-13), and Th17 cell promoting cytokine (IL-17E) were reduced in the PAP group. The data also indicate that Tfh cell differentiation (IL-21), along with Th1 (GM-CSF, IFNγ), Th2 (IL-13), and Th17 (GM-CSF) cell differentiation, might be increased in the subpopulation of patients suffering from RA, whereas no differences were found in patients with CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of cytokines/chemokines in PAP were identified, and cluster analyzes indicated that these markers may be associated with the differentiation of different T cell populations. Patients with PAP and RA comorbidities showed elevated levels of markers reinforcing this association.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Molecular analyses of PAP may result in identification of prognostic markers.

Fully functional monocytic MDSC generation from the murine HoxB8 cell line

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play a crucial role in controlling T-cell responses, but their development and suppressor mechanisms are not fully understood. To study the molecular functions of MDSC, a large number of standardized cells are required. Traditionally, bone marrow (BM) has been used to generate myeloid cell types, including MDSC. In this study, we demonstrate that a previously described protocol for generating monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) from murine BM with GM-CSF can be fully transferred to BM cells that are conditionally transformed with HoxB8 gene (HoxB8 cells). HoxB8 cells have an extended lifespan and efficiently differentiate into MDSC that are quantitatively and qualitatively comparable to M-MDSC from BM cells. Flow cytometric analyses of LPS/IFN-γ activated cultures revealed the same iNOS+ and/or Arg1+ PD-L1high M-MDSC subsets in similar frequencies from BM or HoxB8 cells. In vitro suppression of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell proliferations was also largely comparable in their efficacy and its iNOS- or Arg1-dependent suppressor mechanisms, which was confirmed by the similar amounts of nitric oxide (NO) secretion measured from the suppressor assay. Therefore, our data suggest that murine M-MDSC generation from HoxB8 cells with GM-CSF can be used to substitute BM cultures.

Angiotensin II modulates THP-1-like macrophage phenotype and inflammatory signatures via angiotensin II type 1 receptor

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a major component of the renin-angiotensin or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which is the main element found to be involved in cardiopathology. Recently, long-term metabolomics studies have linked high levels of angiotensin plasma to inflammatory conditions such as coronary heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Monocyte/macrophage cellular function and phenotype orchestrate the inflammatory response in various pathological conditions, most notably cardiometabolic disease. An activation of the Ang II system is usually associated with inflammation and cardiovascular disease; however, the direct effect on monocyte/macrophages has still not been well elucidated. Herein, we have evaluated the cellular effects of Ang II on THP-1-derived macrophages. Ang II stimulated the expression of markers involved in monocyte/macrophage cell differentiation (e.g., CD116), as well as adhesion, cell-cell interaction, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis (CD15, CD44, CD33, and CD49F). Yet, Ang II increased the expression of proinflammatory markers (HLA-DR, TNF-α, CD64, CD11c, and CD38) and decreased CD206 (mannose receptor), an M2 marker. Moreover, Ang II induced cytosolic calcium overload, increased reactive oxygen species, and arrested cells in the G1 phase. Most of these effects were induced via the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Collectively, our results provide new evidence in support of the effect of Ang II in inflammation associated with cardiometabolic diseases.

Histamine H4 Receptor Agonist, 4-Methylhistamine, Aggravates Disease Progression and Promotes Pro-Inflammatory Signaling in B Cells in an Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mouse Model

We sought to assess the impact of 4-Methylhistamine (4-MeH), a specific agonist targeting the Histamine H4 Receptor (H4R), on the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and gain insight into the underlying mechanism. EAE is a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by demyelination, axonal damage, and neurodegeneration. Over the past decade, pharmacological research into the H4R has gained significance in immune and inflammatory disorders. For this study, Swiss Jim Lambert EAE mice were treated with 4-MeH (30 mg/kg/day) via intraperitoneal administration from days 14 to 42, and the control group was treated with a vehicle. Subsequently, we evaluated the clinical scores. In addition, flow cytometry was employed to estimate the impact of 4-Methylhistamine (4-MeH) on NF-κB p65, GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α within CD19+ and CXCR5+ spleen B cells. Additionally, we investigated the effect of 4-MeH on the mRNA expression levels of Nf-κB p65, Gmcsf, Mcp1, Il6, and Tnfα in the brain of mice using RT-PCR. Notably, the clinical scores of EAE mice treated with 4-MeH showed a significant increase compared with those treated with the vehicle. The percentage of cells expressing CD19+NF-κB p65+, CXCR5+NF-κB p65+, CD19+GM-CSF+, CXCR5+GM-CSF+, CD19+MCP-1+, CXCR5+MCP-1+, CD19+IL-6+, CXCR5+IL-6+, CD19+TNF-α+, and CXCR5+TNF-α+ exhibited was more pronounced in 4-MeH-treated EAE mice when compared to vehicle-treated EAE mice. Moreover, the administration of 4-MeH led to increased expression of NfκB p65, Gmcsf, Mcp1, Il6, and Tnfα mRNA in the brains of EAE mice. This means that the H4R agonist promotes pro-inflammatory mediators aggravating EAE symptoms. Our results indicate the harmful role of H4R agonists in the pathogenesis of MS in an EAE mouse model.

Decidual lymphatic endothelial cell-derived granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces M1 macrophage polarization via the NF-κB pathway in severe pre-eclampsia

PROBLEM

Direct interactions between macrophages and lymphatic vessels have been shown previously. In pre-eclampsia (PE), macrophages are dominantly polarized into a proinflammatory M1 phenotype and lymphangiogenesis is defective in the decidua. Here, we investigated whether decidual lymphatic endothelial cells (dLECs) affect macrophage polarization in PE.

METHOD OF STUDY

THP-1 macrophages were cocultured with dLECs or cultured in the conditioned medium (CM) of dLECs. Macrophage polarization was measured using flow cytometry. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) expression in dLECs was measured using qRT-PCR and ELISA. The activation of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κ (NF-κB), an upstream signaling molecule of GM-CSF, was assessed by immunocytochemical localization of p65. Through GM-CSF knockdown and NF-κB inhibition in dLEC, we evaluated whether the GM-CSF/NF-κB pathway of PE dLEC affects decidual macrophage polarization.

RESULTS

The ratio of inflammatory M1 macrophages with HLA-DR⁺ /CD80⁺ markers significantly increased following coculturing with PE dLECs or culturing in PE dLEC CM, indicating that the PE dLEC-derived soluble factor acts in a paracrine manner. GM-CSF expression was significantly upregulated in PE dLECs. Recombinant human GM-CSF induced macrophage polarization toward an M1-like phenotype, whereas its knockdown in PE dLECs suppressed it, suggesting PE dLECs induce M1 macrophage polarization by secreting GM-CSF. The NF-κB p65 significantly increased in PE dLECs compared to the control, and pretreatment with an NF-κB inhibitor significantly suppressed GM-CSF production from PE dLECs.

CONCLUSIONS

In PE, dLECs expressing high levels of GM-CSF via the NF-κB-dependent pathway play a role in inducing decidual M1 macrophage polarization.

Interplay of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Autophagy in RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophage Cell Line Challenged with Si/SiO2 Quantum Dots

Quantum dots (QDs) with photostable fluorescence are recommended for imaging applications; however, their effect on living cells is incompletely understood. We aimed to elucidate the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line's response to the Si/SiO₂ QDs challenge. Cells were exposed to 5 and 15 μg/mL Si/SiO₂ QDs for 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. Cell metabolic activity and viability were assessed by MTT, live/dead, and dye-exclusion assays. Oxidative stress and membrane integrity were assessed by anion superoxide, malondialdehyde, and lactate dehydrogenase activity evaluations. Antioxidative enzyme activities were analyzed by kinetic spectrophotometric methods. Cytokines were analyzed with an antibody-based magnetic bead assay, PGE2 was assessed by ELISA, and Nrf-2, Bcl-2, Beclin 1, and the HSPs were analyzed by western blot. Autophagy levels were highlighted by fluorescence microscopy. The average IC50 dose for 6, 12, and 24 h was 16.1 ± 0.7 μg/mL. Although glutathione S-transferase and catalase were still upregulated after 24 h, superoxide dismutase was inhibited, which together allowed the gradual increase of malondialdehyde, anion superoxide, nitric oxide, and the loss of membrane integrity. G-CSF, IL-6, TNF-α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, Nrf-2, PGE2, and RANTES levels, as well as autophagy processes, were increased at all time intervals, as opposed to caspase 1 activity, COX-2, HSP60, and HSP70, which were only upregulated at the 6-h exposure interval. These results underscore that Si/SiO₂ QDs possess significant immunotoxic effects on the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and stress the importance of developing effective strategies to mitigate their adverse impact.

A vascularized crypt-patterned colon model for high-throughput drug screening and disease modelling

The colon serves as a primary target for pharmaceutical compound screening and disease modelling. To better study colon diseases and develop treatments, engineered in vitro models with colon-specific physiological features are required. Existing colon models lack integration of colonic crypt structures with underlying perfusable vasculature, where vascular-epithelial crosstalk is affected by disease progression. We present a colon epithelium barrier model with vascularized crypts that recapitulates relevant cytokine gradients in both healthy and inflammatory conditions. Using our previously published IFlowPlate384 platform, we initially imprinted crypt topography and populated the patterned scaffold with colon cells. Proliferative colon cells spontaneously localized to the crypt niche and differentiated into epithelial barriers with a tight brush border. Toxicity of the colon cancer drug, capecitabine, was tested and showed a dose-dependent response and recovery from crypt-patterned colon epithelium exclusively. Perfusable microvasculature was then incorporated around the colon crypts followed by treatment with pro-inflammatory TNFα and IFNγ cytokines to simulate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like conditions. We observed in vivo-like stromal basal-to-apical cytokine gradients in tissues with vascularized crypts and gradient reversals upon inflammation. Taken together, we demonstrated crypt topography integrated with underlying perfusable microvasculature has significant value for emulating colon physiology and in advanced disease modelling.