Elevated Expression of miR-19b Enhances CD8+ T Cell Function by Targeting PTEN in HIV Infected Long Term Non-progressors With Sustained Viral Suppression

Potential diagnostic value of miRNAs in sexually transmitted infections

MiRNAs are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that have been demonstrated to be involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing, regulating a number of metabolic functions in the human body, including immune response, cellular physiology, organ development, angiogenesis, signaling, and other aspects. As popular molecules that have been studied in previous years, given their extensive regulatory functions, miRNAs hold considerable promise as non-invasive biomarkers. Sexually transmitted infections(STIs) are still widespread and have an adverse effect on individuals, communities, and society worldwide. miRNAs in the regulatory networks are generally involved in their molecular processes of formation and development. In this review, we discuss the value of miRNAs for the diagnosis of STIs.

Posttranscriptional Events Orchestrate Immune Homeostasis of CD8+ T Cells

Maintaining immune homeostasis is instrumental for host health. Immune cells, such as T cells, are instrumental for the eradication of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses. Furthermore, T cells also play a major role in the fight against cancer. Through the formation of immunological memory, a pool of antigen-experienced T cells remains in the body to rapidly protect the host upon reinfection or retransformation. In order to perform their protective function, T cells produce cytolytic molecules, such as granzymes and perforin, and cytokines such as interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α. Recently, it has become evident that posttranscriptional regulatory events dictate the kinetics and magnitude of cytokine production by murine and human CD8+ T cells. Here, the recent literature regarding the role posttranscriptional regulation plays in maintaining immune homeostasis of antigen-experienced CD8+ T cells is reviewed.

Endometrial stromal cell miR-19b-3p release is reduced during decidualization implying a role in decidual-trophoblast cross-talk

INTRODUCTION

A healthy pregnancy requires successful blastocyst implantation into an adequately prepared or 'receptive' endometrium. Decidualization of uterine endometrial stromal fibroblast cells (hESF) is critical for the establishment of a healthy pregnancy. microRNAs (miRs) are critical regulators of cellular function that can be released by a donor cell to influence the physiological state of recipient cells. We aimed to determine how decidualization affects hESF miR release and investigated the function of one decidualization regulated miR, miR-19b-3p, previously shown to be associated with recurrent pregnancy loss.

METHOD

miR release by hESF was determined by miR microarray on culture media from hESF decidualized in vitro for 3 and 14 days by treatment with oestradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate. Cellular and whole endometrial/decidual tissue miR expression was quantified by qPCR and localized by in situ hybridization. The function of miR-19b-3p in HTR8/Svneo trophoblast cells was investigated using real time cell analysis (xCELLigence) and gene expression qPCR.

RESULTS

From our miR screen we found that essentially all hESF miR release was reduced following in vitro decidualization, significantly so for miR-17-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-34c-3p, miR-106b-5p, miR-138-5p, miR-296-5p, miR-323a-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-491-5p, miR-503-5p and miR-542-5p. qPCR demonstrated that miR-19b-3p, 181a-2-3p and miR-409-5p likewise showed a significant reduction in culture media following decidualization but no change was found in cellular miR expression following decidualization. In situ hybridization localized miR-19b-3p to epithelial and stromal cells in the endometrium and qPCR identified that miR-19b-3p was significantly elevated in the cycling endometrium of patients with a history of early pregnancy loss compared to normally fertile controls. Functionally, overexpression of miR-19b-3p significantly reduced HTR8/Svneo trophoblast proliferation and increased HOXA9 expression.

DISCUSSION

Our data demonstrates that decidualization represses miR release by hESFs and overexpression of miR-19b-3p was found in endometrial tissue from patients with a history of early pregnancy loss. miR-19b-3p impaired HTR8/Svneo proliferation implying a role in trophoblast function. Overall we speculate that miR release by hESF may regulate other cell types within the decidua and that appropriate release of miRs by decidualized hESF is essential for healthy implantation and placentation.

Plasma MicroRNA Signature Panel Predicts the Immune Response After Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients

Background

Approximately 10–40% of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are unable to obtain successful improvements in immune function after antiretroviral therapy (ART). These patients are at greater risk of developing non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related conditions, with the accompanying increased morbidity and mortality. Discovering predictive biomarkers can help to identify patients with a poor immune response earlier and provide new insights into the mechanisms of this condition.

Methods

A total of 307 people with HIV were enrolled, including 110 immune non-responders (INRs) and 197 immune responders (IRs). Plasma samples were taken before ART, and quantities of plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) were determined using reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Candidate biomarkers were established through four phases: discovery, training, validation, and blinded test. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the combined predictive capacity of the identified miRNAs. The effect of one miRNA, miR-16-5p, on T cell function was assessed in vitro.

Results

Expression of five miRNAs (miR-580, miR-627, miR-138-5p, miR-16-5p, and miR-323-3p) was upregulated in the plasma of INRs compared with that in IRs. Expression of these miRNAs was negatively correlated with both CD4⁺ T cell counts and the increase in the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells after one year of ART. These five miRNAs were combined in a predictive model, which could effectively identify INRs or IRs. Furthermore, we found that miR-16-5p inhibits CD4⁺ T cell proliferation by regulating calcium flux.

Conclusion

We established a five-miRNA panel in plasma that accurately predicts poor immune response after ART, which could inform strategies to reduce the incidence of this phenomenon and improve the clinical management of these patients.

The correlation of immunoscore and frailty in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The Immunoscore is a useful prognostic and predictive factor for colorectal cancer. Frailty predicts overall and recurrence-free survival following resection of colorectal cancer, and the immunosuppressive state of frailty might affect tumor progression. This study investigated the relationship between the Immunoscore and frailty in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent radical surgery for stage II and III colorectal cancer (n = 108). Patients were divided into frail (n = 11) and non-frail (n = 97) groups, and low (IS0-2) (n = 70) and high (IS3-4) Immunoscore groups (n = 38), for comparison.

RESULTS

American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status was higher, tumor diameter was larger, number of well-differentiated tumors was higher, albumin was lower, 5-year overall survival (OS) was lower (frail group: 50.0%, non-frail group: 90.5%, p < 0.001) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was lower (frail group: 36.4%, non-frail group: 75.2%, p = 0.024) in the frail than in the non-frail group. Left colon cancer was more, 5-year OS was lower (IS0-2 group: 82.0%, IS3-4 group: 96.7%, p = 0.040) and 5-year DFS was lower (IS0-2 group: 66.3%, IS3-4 group: 83.3%, p = 0.043) in the IS0-2 than in the IS3-4 group. The Immunoscore was lower in the frail than in the non-frail group.

CONCLUSION

Immunoscore and frailty are prognostic and predictive factors in colorectal cancer, and they are correlated with each other. The immunosuppressive state from frailty might affect this correlation.

MiRNA expression profiling in HIV pathogenesis, disease progression and response to treatment: a systematic review

Aim: A systematic review was conducted to identify the association of miRNA expression with HIV pathogenesis, progression and treatment. Methods: A search of articles was conducted in MEDLINE^®, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Global Health. Results: 35 articles were included. Due to the heterogeneity of HIV phenotypes, a harmonization based on key progression parameters was proposed. The hsa-miR-29 family, hsa-miR-146b-5p and hsa-miR-150-5p, are the most frequently differentially expressed in HIV. Direct comparison of studies was not possible due to heterogeneity in biological samples and miRNA analysis techniques. Conclusion: This is the first attempt to systematically identify miRNA's different expression in well-defined patient phenotypes and could represent a helpful way to increase general knowledge in this field.

Are chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) the future in immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases?

OBJECTIVE

CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of oncological diseases, and potential uses in autoimmune diseases have recently been described. The review aims to integrate the available data on treatment with CAR-T cells, emphasizing autoimmune diseases, to determine therapeutic advances and their possible future clinical applicability in autoimmunity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search was performed in PubMed with the keywords "Chimeric Antigen Receptor" and "CART cell". The documents of interest were selected, and a critical review of the information was carried out.

RESULTS

In the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in preclinical models, three different cellular strategies have been used, which include Chimeric antigen receptor T cells, Chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells, and Chimeric antigen receptor in regulatory T lymphocytes. All three types of therapy have been effective. The potential adverse effects within them, cytokine release syndrome, cellular toxicity and neurotoxicity must always be kept in mind.

CONCLUSIONS

Although information in humans is not yet available, preclinical models of CAR-T cells in the treatment of autoimmune diseases show promising results, so that in the future, they may become a useful and effective therapy in the treatment of these pathologies.

Genetic and epigenetic regulation of natural resistance to HIV-1 infection: new approaches to unveil the HESN secret

Introduction: Since the identification of HIV, several studies reported the unusual case of small groups of subjects showing natural resistance to HIV infection. These subjects are referred to as HIV-1-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals and include people located in different areas, with diverse ethnic backgrounds and routes of exposure. The mechanism/s responsible for protection from infection in HESN individuals are basically indefinite and most likely are multifactorial.Areas covered: Host factors, including genetic background as well as natural and acquired immunity, have all been associated with this phenomenon. Recently, epigenetic factors have been investigated as possible determinants of reduced susceptibility to HIV infection. With the advent of the OMICS era, the availability of techniques such as GWAS, RNAseq, and exome-sequencing in both bulk cell populations and single cells will likely lead to great strides in the understanding of the HESN mystery.Expert opinion: The employment of increasingly sophisticated techniques is allowing the gathering of enormous amounts of data. The integration of such information will provide important hints that could lead to the identification of viral and host correlates of protection against HIV infection, allowing the development of more effective preventative and therapeutic regimens.

The Role of PTEN in Innate and Adaptive Immunity

The lipid and protein phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) controls the differentiation and activation of multiple immune cells. PTEN acts downstream from T- and B-cell receptors, costimulatory molecules, cytokine receptors, integrins, and also growth factor receptors. Loss of PTEN activity in human and mice is associated with cellular and humoral immune dysfunction, lymphoid hyperplasia, and autoimmunity. Although most patients with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) have no immunological symptoms, a subclinical immune dysfunction is present in many, and clinical immunodeficiency in few. Comparison of the immune phenotype caused by PTEN haploinsufficiency in PHTS, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) gain-of-function in activated PI3K syndrome, and mice with conditional biallelic Pten deletion suggests a threshold model in which coordinated activity of several phosphatases control the PI3K signaling in a cell-type-specific manner. Emerging evidence highlights the role of PTEN in polygenic autoimmune disorders, infection, and the immunological response to cancer. Targeting the PI3K axis is an emerging therapeutic avenue.

Gga-miR-19b-3p Inhibits Newcastle Disease Virus Replication by Suppressing Inflammatory Response via Targeting RNF11 and ZMYND11

Newcastle disease (ND), an acute and highly contagious avian disease caused by virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV), often results in severe economic losses worldwide every year. Although it is clear that microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in modulating innate immune response to invading microbial pathogens, their role in host defense against NDV infection remains largely unknown. Our prior study indicates that gga-miR-19b-3p is up-regulated in NDV-infected DF-1 cells (a chicken embryo fibroblast cell line) and functions to suppress NDV replication. Here we report that overexpression of gga-miR-19b-3p promoted the production of NDV-induced inflammatory cytokines and suppressed NDV replication, whereas inhibition of endogenous gga-miR-19b-3p expression had an opposite effect. Dual-luciferase and gene expression array analyses revealed that gga-miR-19b-3p directly targets the mRNAs of ring finger protein 11 (RNF11) and zinc-finger protein, MYND-type containing 11 (ZMYND11), two negative regulators of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling, in DF-1 cells. RNF11 and ZMYND11 silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) induced NF-κB activity and inflammatory cytokine production, and suppressed NDV replication; whereas ectopic expression of these two proteins exhibited an opposite effect. Our study provides evidence that gga-miR-19b-3p activates NF-κB signaling by targeting RNF11 and ZMYND11, and that enhanced inflammatory cytokine production is likely responsible for the suppression of NDV replication.