1
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Muhammad S, Fan T, Hai Y, Gao Y, He J. Reigniting hope in cancer treatment: the promise and pitfalls of IL-2 and IL-2R targeting strategies. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:121. [PMID: 37516849 PMCID: PMC10385932 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01826-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptor (IL-2R) are essential in orchestrating immune responses. Their function and expression in the tumor microenvironment make them attractive targets for immunotherapy, leading to the development of IL-2/IL-2R-targeted therapeutic strategies. However, the dynamic interplay between IL-2/IL-2R and various immune cells and their dual roles in promoting immune activation and tolerance presents a complex landscape for clinical exploitation. This review discusses the pivotal roles of IL-2 and IL-2R in tumorigenesis, shedding light on their potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers and their therapeutic manipulation in cancer. It underlines the necessity to balance the anti-tumor activity with regulatory T-cell expansion and evaluates strategies such as dose optimization and selective targeting for enhanced therapeutic effectiveness. The article explores recent advancements in the field, including developing genetically engineered IL-2 variants, combining IL-2/IL-2R-targeted therapies with other cancer treatments, and the potential benefits of a multidimensional approach integrating molecular profiling, immunological analyses, and clinical data. The review concludes that a deeper understanding of IL-2/IL-2R interactions within the tumor microenvironment is crucial for realizing the full potential of IL-2-based therapies, heralding the promise of improved outcomes for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Muhammad
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Tao Fan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yang Hai
- Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yibo Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Central Laboratory & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Precision Medicine for Cancers, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, China.
| | - Jie He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Central Laboratory & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Precision Medicine for Cancers, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, China.
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2
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Inhibition of NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin/GSK3β Signaling Pathways Ameliorates Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy and Fibrosis in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Type 1 Diabetic Rats. Curr Med Sci 2020; 40:35-47. [DOI: 10.1007/s11596-020-2144-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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3
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Natural and modified IL-2 for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Clin Immunol 2019; 206:63-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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4
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Kroger CJ, Clark M, Ke Q, Tisch RM. Therapies to Suppress β Cell Autoimmunity in Type 1 Diabetes. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1891. [PMID: 30166987 PMCID: PMC6105696 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that is generally considered to be T cell-driven. Accordingly, most strategies of immunotherapy for T1D prevention and treatment in the clinic have targeted the T cell compartment. To date, however, immunotherapy has had only limited clinical success. Although certain immunotherapies have promoted a protective effect, efficacy is often short-term and acquired immunity may be impacted. This has led to the consideration of combining different approaches with the goal of achieving a synergistic therapeutic response. In this review, we will discuss the status of various T1D therapeutic strategies tested in the clinic, as well as possible combinatorial approaches to restore β cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Kroger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Matthew Clark
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Qi Ke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Roland M Tisch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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5
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Durost PA, Aryee KE, Manzoor F, Tisch RM, Mueller C, Jurczyk A, Shultz LD, Brehm MA. Gene Therapy with an Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Expressing Human Interleukin-2 Alters Immune System Homeostasis in Humanized Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 29:352-365. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Philip A. Durost
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Ken-Edwin Aryee
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Fatima Manzoor
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Roland M. Tisch
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Christian Mueller
- Department of Pediatrics and Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Agata Jurczyk
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | | | - Michael A. Brehm
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
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6
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Sun Y, Peng S, Yang A, Farmer E, Wu TC, Hung CF. Coinjection of IL2 DNA enhances E7-specific antitumor immunity elicited by intravaginal therapeutic HPV DNA vaccination with electroporation. Gene Ther 2017; 24:408-415. [PMID: 28492521 PMCID: PMC5510480 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The generation and use of therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA vaccines represent an appealing treatment method against HPV-associated cervical cancer owing to their safety and durability. Previously, we created a therapeutic HPV DNA vaccine candidate by linking the HPV16-E7 DNA sequence to calreticulin (CRT/E7), which we showed could generate significant E7-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated antitumor immune responses against HPV16 oncogenes expressing murine tumor model TC-1. Here we assess the therapeutic efficacy of intravaginal immunization with pcDNA3-CRT/E7 followed by electroporation. In addition, we examined whether coadministration of DNA-encoding interleukin 2 (IL2) with the pcDNA3-CRT/E7 could improve the T-cell responses elicited by pcDNA3-CRT/E7. TC-1 tumor-bearing mice vaccinated intravaginally with both pcDNA3-CRT/E7 and IL2 DNA followed by electroporation induced stronger local antitumor CTL response in comparison to mice that received other treatment regimens. Additionally, we found that coadministration of IL2 DNA with pcDNA3-CRT/E7 modified the tumor microenvironment by decreasing the population of regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells relative to that of CTLs. Our data demonstrate the translational potential of local administration of IL2 and pcDNA3-CRT/E7 followed by electroporation in treating cervicovaginal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyan Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shiwen Peng
- Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andrew Yang
- Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Emily Farmer
- Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - T.-C. Wu
- Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Departments of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Chien-Fu Hung
- Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Departments of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States
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7
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Chira S, Jackson CS, Oprea I, Ozturk F, Pepper MS, Diaconu I, Braicu C, Raduly LZ, Calin GA, Berindan-Neagoe I. Progresses towards safe and efficient gene therapy vectors. Oncotarget 2016; 6:30675-703. [PMID: 26362400 PMCID: PMC4741561 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of genetic engineering at the beginning of the 1970′s opened the era of biomedical technologies, which aims to improve human health using genetic manipulation techniques in a clinical context. Gene therapy represents an innovating and appealing strategy for treatment of human diseases, which utilizes vehicles or vectors for delivering therapeutic genes into the patients' body. However, a few past unsuccessful events that negatively marked the beginning of gene therapy resulted in the need for further studies regarding the design and biology of gene therapy vectors, so that this innovating treatment approach can successfully move from bench to bedside. In this paper, we review the major gene delivery vectors and recent improvements made in their design meant to overcome the issues that commonly arise with the use of gene therapy vectors. At the end of the manuscript, we summarized the main advantages and disadvantages of common gene therapy vectors and we discuss possible future directions for potential therapeutic vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu Chira
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Carlo S Jackson
- Department of Immunology and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Iulian Oprea
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ferhat Ozturk
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Canik Başari University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Michael S Pepper
- Department of Immunology and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Cornelia Braicu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Lajos-Zsolt Raduly
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania.,Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania.,Department of Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania.,Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, Oncological Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă", Cluj Napoca, Romania.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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8
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Abstract
Dysregulation of the immune system contributes to the breakdown of immune regulation, leading to autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). Current therapies for T1D include daily insulin, due to pancreatic β-cell destruction to maintain blood glucose levels, suppressive immunotherapy to decrease the symptoms associated with autoimmunity, and islet transplantation. Genetic risks for T1D have been linked to IL-2 and IL-2R signaling pathways that lead to the breakdown of self-tolerance mechanisms, primarily through altered regulatory T cell (Treg) function and homeostasis. In attempt to correct such deficits, therapeutic administration of IL-2 at low doses has gained attention due to the capacity to boost Tregs without the unwanted stimulation of effector T cells. Preclinical and clinical studies utilizing low-dose IL-2 have shown promising results to expand Tregs due to their high selective sensitivity to respond to IL-2. These results suggest that low-dose IL-2 therapy represents a new class of immunotherapy for T1D by promoting immune regulation rather than broadly suppressing unwanted and beneficial immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor J Dwyer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA
| | - Natasha C Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA
| | - Alberto Pugliese
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA
- Diabetes Research Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA
| | - Thomas R Malek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA.
- Diabetes Research Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA.
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9
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Akbarpour M, Goudy KS, Cantore A, Russo F, Sanvito F, Naldini L, Annoni A, Roncarolo MG. Insulin B chain 9-23 gene transfer to hepatocytes protects from type 1 diabetes by inducing Ag-specific FoxP3+ Tregs. Sci Transl Med 2016; 7:289ra81. [PMID: 26019217 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa3032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Antigen (Ag)-specific tolerance in type 1 diabetes (T1D) in human has not been achieved yet. Targeting lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated gene expression to hepatocytes induces active tolerance toward the encoded Ag. The insulin B chain 9-23 (InsB9-23) is an immunodominant T cell epitope in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. To determine whether auto-Ag gene transfer to hepatocytes induces tolerance and control of T1D, NOD mice were treated with integrase-competent LVs (ICLVs) that selectively target the expression of InsB9-23 to hepatocytes. ICLV treatment induced InsB9-23-specific effector T cells but also FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs), which halted islet immune cell infiltration, and protected from T1D. Moreover, ICLV treatment combined with a single suboptimal dose of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) is effective in T1D reversal. Splenocytes from LV.InsB9-23-treated mice, but not from LV.OVA (ovalbumin)-treated control mice, stopped diabetes development, demonstrating that protection is Ag-specific. Depletion of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cells led to diabetes progression, indicating that Ag-specific FoxP3(+) Tregs mediate protection. Integrase-defective LVs (IDLVs).InsB9-23, which alleviate the concerns for insertional mutagenesis and support transient transgene expression in hepatocytes, were also efficient in protecting from T1D. These data demonstrate that hepatocyte-targeted auto-Ag gene expression prevents and resolves T1D and that stable integration of the transgene is not required for this protection. Gene transfer to hepatocytes can be used to induce Ag-specific tolerance in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahzad Akbarpour
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Kevin S Goudy
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Alessio Cantore
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Fabio Russo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Pathology Unit, Department of Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Roncarolo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy. Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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10
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Pérol L, Piaggio E. New Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Tolerance: Tolerogenic Actions of IL-2. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1371:11-28. [PMID: 26530792 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3139-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an old molecule with brand new functions. Indeed, IL-2 has been first described as a T-cell growth factor but recent data pointed out that its main function in vivo is the maintenance of immune tolerance. Mechanistically, IL-2 is essential for the development and function of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg cells) that are essential players in the control of immune responded to self, tumors, microbes and grafts. Treg cells are exquisitely sensitive to IL-2 due to their constitutive expression of the high affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) and the new paradigm suggests that low-doses of IL-2 could selectively boost Treg cells in vivo. Consequently, a growing body of clinical research is aiming at using IL-2 at low doses as a tolerogenic drug to boost endogenous Treg cells in patients suffering from autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. In this manuscript, we briefly review IL-2/IL-2R biology and the role of IL-2 in the development, maintenance, and function of Treg cells; and also its effects on other immune cell populations such as CD4(+) T helper cells and CD8(+) memory T cells. Then, focusing on type 1 diabetes, we review the preclinical studies and clinical trials supporting the use of low-doses IL-2 as a tolerogenic immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the limitations and future directions for IL-2 based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Pérol
- INSERM U932, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France.
- Institut Curie, Section Recherche, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Eliane Piaggio
- INSERM U932, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Institut Curie, Section Recherche, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
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11
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Dumont CM, Park J, Shea LD. Controlled release strategies for modulating immune responses to promote tissue regeneration. J Control Release 2015; 219:155-166. [PMID: 26264833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the field of tissue engineering have enhanced the potential of regenerative medicine, yet the efficacy of these strategies remains incomplete, and is limited by the innate and adaptive immune responses. The immune response associated with injury or disease combined with that mounted to biomaterials, transplanted cells, proteins, and gene therapies vectors can contribute to the inability to fully restore tissue function. Blocking immune responses such as with anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents are either ineffective, as the immune response contributes significantly to regeneration, or have significant side effects. This review describes targeted strategies to modulate the immune response in order to limit tissue damage following injury, promote an anti-inflammatory environment that leads to regeneration, and induce antigen (Ag)-specific tolerance that can target degenerative diseases that destroy tissues and promote engraftment of transplanted cells. Focusing on targeted immuno-modulation, we describe local delivery techniques to sites of inflammation as well as systemic approaches that preferentially target subsets of immune populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M Dumont
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Jonghyuck Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Lonnie D Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
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12
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Klatzmann D, Abbas AK. The promise of low-dose interleukin-2 therapy for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Nat Rev Immunol 2015; 15:283-94. [PMID: 25882245 DOI: 10.1038/nri3823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 421] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Depletion of regulatory T (TReg) cells in otherwise healthy individuals leads to multi-organ autoimmune disease and inflammation. This indicates that in a normal immune system, there are self-specific effector T cells that are ready to attack normal tissue if they are not restrained by TReg cells. The data imply that there is a balance between effector T cells and TReg cells in health and suggest a therapeutic potential of TReg cells in diseases in which this balance is altered. Proof-of-concept clinical trials, now supported by robust mechanistic studies, have shown that low-dose interleukin-2 specifically expands and activates TReg cell populations and thus can control autoimmune diseases and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Klatzmann
- 1] Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMRS 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), F-75651 Paris, France. [2] INSERM, UMRS 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), F-75005 Paris, France. [3] Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Biotherapy and Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), F-75651 Paris, France
| | - Abul K Abbas
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, California 94143-0511, USA
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13
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Rosenzwajg M, Churlaud G, Hartemann A, Klatzmann D. Interleukin 2 in the pathogenesis and therapy of type 1 diabetes. Curr Diab Rep 2014; 14:553. [PMID: 25344788 DOI: 10.1007/s11892-014-0553-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a major role in controlling effector T cells (Teffs) responding to self-antigens, which cause autoimmune diseases. An improper Treg/Teff balance contributes to most autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). To restore a proper balance, blocking Teffs with immunosuppressants has been the only option, which was partly effective and too toxic. It now appears that expanding/activating Tregs with low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) could provide immunoregulation without immunosuppression. This is particularly interesting in T1D as Tregs from T1D patients are reported as dysfunctional and a relative deficiency in IL-2 production and/or IL-2-mediated signaling could contribute to this phenotype. A clinical study of low-dose IL-2 showed a very good safety profile and good Treg expansion/activation in T1D patients. This opens the way for efficacy trials to test low-dose IL-2 in prevention and treatment of T1D and to establish in which condition restoration of a proper Treg/Teff balance would be beneficial in the field of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Rosenzwajg
- Biotherapy (CIC-BTi) and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (i2B), AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651, Paris, France,
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14
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Low-dose interleukin-2 therapy: a driver of an imbalance between immune tolerance and autoimmunity. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:18574-92. [PMID: 25322151 PMCID: PMC4227233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms151018574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
For many years, the role of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in autoimmune responses was established as a cytokine possessing strong pro-inflammatory activity. Studies of the past few years have changed our knowledge on IL-2 in autoimmune chronic inflammation, suggesting its protective role, when administered at low-doses. The disrupted balance between regulatory and effector T cells (Tregs and Teffs, respectively) is a characteristic of autoimmune diseases, and is dependent on homeostatic cytokines, including IL-2. Actually, inherent defects in the IL-2 signaling pathway and/or levels leading to Treg compromised function and numbers as well as Th17 expansion have been attributed to autoimmune disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of IL-2 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In particular, we highlight the impact of the dysregulated IL-2 pathway on disruption of the Treg/Th17 balance, reversal of which appears to be a possible mechanism of the low-dose IL-2 treatment. The negative effects of IL-2 on the differentiation of follicular helper T cells (Tfh) and pathogenic Th17 cells, both of which contribute to autoimmunity, is emphasized in the paper as well. We also compare the current IL-2-based therapies of animal and human subjects with immune-mediated diseases aimed at boosting the Treg population, which is the most IL-2-dependent cell subset desirable for sufficient control of autoimmunity. New perspectives of therapeutic approaches focused on selective delivery of IL-2 to inflamed tissues, thus allowing local activity of IL-2 to be combined with its reduced systemic and pleiotropic toxicity, are also proposed in this paper.
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Piri H, Kazemi B, Khodadadi I, Javadi M, Bandehpour M, Karimi J, Ziaee A, Koochaki A, Torabi A, Goodarzi MT. Preparation of Preproinsulin Gene Construct Containing the Metallothionein2A (pBINDMTChIns) and Its Expression in NIH3T3 Cell Line and Muscle Tissue of Alloxan Diabetic Rabbits. AVICENNA JOURNAL OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY 2014. [DOI: 10.17795/ajmb-21646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Mizui M, Koga T, Lieberman LA, Beltran J, Yoshida N, Johnson MC, Tisch R, Tsokos GC. IL-2 protects lupus-prone mice from multiple end-organ damage by limiting CD4-CD8- IL-17-producing T cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:2168-77. [PMID: 25063876 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
IL-2, a cytokine with pleiotropic effects, is critical for immune cell activation and peripheral tolerance. Although the therapeutic potential of IL-2 has been previously suggested in autoimmune diseases, the mechanisms whereby IL-2 mitigates autoimmunity and prevents organ damage remain unclear. Using an inducible recombinant adeno-associated virus vector, we investigated the effect of low systemic levels of IL-2 in lupus-prone MRL/Fas(lpr/lpr) (MRL/lpr) mice. Treatment of mice after the onset of disease with IL-2-recombinant adeno-associated virus resulted in reduced mononuclear cell infiltration and pathology of various tissues, including skin, lungs, and kidneys. In parallel, we noted a significant decrease of IL-17-producing CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative T cells and an increase in CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) immunoregulatory T cells (Treg) in the periphery. We also show that IL-2 can drive double-negative (DN) T cell death through an indirect mechanism. Notably, targeted delivery of IL-2 to CD122(+) cytotoxic lymphocytes effectively reduced the number of DN T cells and lymphadenopathy, whereas selective expansion of Treg by IL-2 had no effect on DN T cells. Collectively, our data suggest that administration of IL-2 to lupus-prone mice protects against end-organ damage and suppresses inflammation by dually limiting IL-17-producing DN T cells and expanding Treg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Mizui
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Tomohiro Koga
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Linda A Lieberman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Jessica Beltran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Nobuya Yoshida
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Mark C Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; and
| | - Roland Tisch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - George C Tsokos
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215;
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Expression of IL-2 in β cells by AAV8 gene transfer in pre-diabetic NOD mice prevents diabetes through activation of FoxP3-positive regulatory T cells. Gene Ther 2014; 21:715-22. [PMID: 24849041 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2014.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that intraperitoneal delivery of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) stably transduces the pancreas, including the β cells in the pancreatic islets. We further demonstrated the ability to deliver and express target genes specifically in β cells for at least 6 months using a murine insulin promoter in a double-stranded, self-complementary AAV vector. Recombinant interleukin (IL)-2 has been shown to induce CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in several mouse models of autoimmune disease. Here we evaluated the effects of double-stranded adeno-associated virus serotype 8-mouse insulin promoter (dsAAV8-mIP)-mediated delivery of 2 to pancreatic β cells in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. AAV8-mIP-mediated gene expression of IL-2 to pancreatic β cells of 10-week-old NOD mice prevented the onset of hyperglycemia in NOD mice more in a dose-dependent manner with the lower dose of virus being more effective than a higher dose of AAV-mIP-IL-2 and IL-4. Moreover, the local β-cell expression of IL-2 increased the number of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells in the pancreatic lymph node (PLN) and SPL in both NOD and C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that local, low expression of mIL-2 in islets prevents progress of diabetes through the regulation of Tregs.
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Phillips N, Kay MA. Characterization of vector-based delivery of neurogenin-3 in murine diabetes. Hum Gene Ther 2014; 25:651-61. [PMID: 24635696 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2013.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of type 1 diabetes with gene transfer-induced cellular reprogramming requires a pancreatic transcription factor such as Neurogenin-3 (Ngn3) and as of yet unknown component of the adenoviral particle. Despite intensive study, there are many unsolved processes related to the mechanisms and physiological parameters related to diabetes correction using this approach. While we confirm that systemic delivery of adenovirus (Ad)-Ngn3 provides long-lasting correction of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia and restoration of growth curves, we found that insulin levels and glucose tolerance tests are not fully restored. By altering the innate and antigen-specific immune responses, we establish that the former likely plays some role in the reprogramming process. Interestingly, Ad-hNgn3 therapy in diabetic animals appeared to protect them from secondary STZ challenge. The resistance to secondary STZ response was more pronounced at later time points, indicating that a period of cell maturation and/or expansion may be required in order to promote lasting correction. More importantly, these results suggest that the long-term reprogrammed cells are not fully reprogrammed into β-cells, which in the case of autoimmune diabetes may be advantageous in a long-term treatment strategy. Finally, we show that the prophylactic administration of Ad-hNgn3 before diabetic induction protected mice from developing hyperglycemia, demonstrating the potential for reducing or eliminating disease progression should treatment be initiated early or before onset of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Phillips
- 1 Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Stanford University , Stanford, CA 94305
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Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is the result of autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells in genetically predisposed individuals with impaired immune regulation. The insufficiency in the modulation of immune attacks on the β cells might be partly due to genetic causes; indeed, several of the genetic variants that predispose individuals to T1DM have functional features of impaired immune regulation. Whilst defects in immune regulation in patients with T1DM have been identified, many patients seem to have immune regulatory capacities that are indistinguishable from those of healthy individuals. Insight into the regulation of islet autoimmunity might enable us to restore immune imbalances with therapeutic interventions. In this Review, we discuss the current knowledge on immune regulation and dysfunction in humans that is the basis of tissue-specific immune regulation as an alternative to generalized immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart O Roep
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Immunohaematology & Blood Transfusion, P. O. Box 9600, NL-2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Timothy I M Tree
- Department of Immunobiology, King's College London, School of Medicine, London SE1 9RT, UK
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Sustained stimulation and expansion of Tregs by IL2 control autoimmunity without impairing immune responses to infection, vaccination and cancer. Clin Immunol 2014; 151:114-26. [PMID: 24576619 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin 2 (IL2) is the key cytokine supporting survival and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). We recently reported that low-dose IL2 safely expands/stimulates Tregs and improves autoimmune conditions in humans. Further development of IL2 in autoimmune diseases will require chronic IL2 administration, which could affect beneficial effector immune responses regulated by Tregs. We used recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV)-mediated gene transfer to continuously release IL2 in mice and assessed its long-term effects on immune responses. A single rAAV-IL2 injection enabled sustained stimulation and expansion of Tregs without inducing Teff activation and prevented diabetes in NOD mice. After several weeks of IL2 production, mice responded normally to a viral challenge and to vaccination, and had pregnancies with offspring that developed normally. They showed no change in the occurrence and growth of chemically-induced tumors. Altogether, chronic low-dose IL2 treatment does not affect beneficial effector immune responses at doses that prevent autoimmune diabetes.
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Johnson MC, Garland AL, Nicolson SC, Li C, Samulski RJ, Wang B, Tisch R. β-cell-specific IL-2 therapy increases islet Foxp3+Treg and suppresses type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. Diabetes 2013; 62:3775-84. [PMID: 23884888 PMCID: PMC3806588 DOI: 10.2337/db13-0669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a critical cytokine for the homeostasis and function of forkhead box p3-expressing regulatory T cells (Foxp3(+)Tregs). Dysregulation of the IL-2-IL-2 receptor axis is associated with aberrant Foxp3(+)Tregs and T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Treatment with recombinant IL-2 has been reported to enhance Foxp3(+)Tregs and suppress different models of autoimmunity. However, efficacy of IL-2 therapy is dependent on achieving sufficient levels of IL-2 to boost tissue-resident Foxp3(+)Tregs while avoiding the potential toxic effects of systemic IL-2. With this in mind, adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector gene delivery was used to localize IL-2 expression to the islets of NOD mice. Injection of a double-stranded AAV vector encoding IL-2 driven by a mouse insulin promoter (dsAAVmIP-IL2) increased Foxp3(+)Tregs in the islets but not the draining pancreatic lymph nodes. Islet Foxp3(+)Tregs in dsAAVmIP-IL2-treated NOD mice exhibited enhanced fitness marked by increased expression of Bcl-2, proliferation, and suppressor function. In contrast, ectopic IL-2 had no significant effect on conventional islet-infiltrating effector T cells. Notably, β-cell-specific IL-2 expression suppressed late preclinical type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that β-cell-specific IL-2 expands an islet-resident Foxp3(+)Tregs pool that effectively suppresses ongoing type 1 diabetes long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alaina L. Garland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Sarah C. Nicolson
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Chengwen Li
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - R. Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Roland Tisch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Corresponding author: Roland Tisch,
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Wang XJ, Leveson-Gower D, Golab K, Wang LJ, Marek-Trzonkowska N, Krzystyniak A, Wardowska A, Millis JM, Trzonkowski P, Witkowski P. Influence of pharmacological immunomodulatory agents on CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+) T regulatory cells in humans. Int Immunopharmacol 2013; 16:364-70. [PMID: 23499512 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2013.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
T regulatory cells (Tregs) play a critical role in the immunologic tolerance to the graft in transplantation. Thus, due to their immunosuppressive capability, ex vivo expanded Tregs may be used as a cellular therapy and an attractive novel strategy to control chronic rejection and eliminate need for lifelong pharmacological immunosuppression. Since Treg therapy is still in its infancy, initially Tregs still need to be applied in combination with pharmacological agents to prevent rejection. Fortunately, some of the medications have been shown to enhance the function and number of Tregs. In the clinic, different immunosuppressive regimens are used for individual patients for different types of organ transplantation. In this review, we present the most commonly used pharmacological agents for immunosuppression and discuss how they affect the Treg population. It is extremely difficult to dissect the effect of single agent on Tregs population in clinical settings since usually the combination of several medications is applied at the same time for graft protection. Nevertheless, experimental and clinical data indicate that thymoglobulin as immunosuppressive induction and mTOR inhibitors as immunosuppressive maintenance agents have the most beneficial effect on Treg population in the blood. Among supplemental agents promoting Tregs, anti-TNFα preparations have been in clinical use (in autoimmune diseases) for many years, so they are optimal candidates for testing in transplant settings in combination with Treg based cellular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jun Wang
- Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Abstract
The mechanisms leading to the onset and perpetuation of systemic and tissue-specific autoimmune diseases are complex, and numerous hypotheses have been proposed or confirmed over the past 12 months. It is particularly of note that the number of articles published during 2011 in the major immunology and autoimmunity journals increased by 3 % compared to the previous year. The present article is dedicated to a brief review of the reported data and, albeit not comprehensive of all articles, is aimed at identifying common and future themes. First, clinical researchers were particularly dedicated to defining refractory forms of diseases and to discuss the use and switch of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in everyday practice. Second, following the plethora of genome-wide association studies reported in most multifactorial diseases, it became clear that genomics cannot fully explain the individual susceptibility and additional environmental or epigenetic factors are necessary. Both these components were widely investigated, both in organ-specific (i.e., type 1 diabetes) and systemic (i.e., systemic lupus erythematosus) diseases. Third, a large number of 2011 works published in the autoimmunity area are dedicated to dissect pathogenetic mechanisms of tolerance breakdown in general or in specific conditions. While our understanding of T regulatory and Th17 cells has significantly increased in 2011, it is of note that most of the proposed lines of evidence identify potential targets for future treatments and should not be overlooked.
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Abstract
Current therapies for the treatment of type 1 diabetes include daily administration of exogenous insulin and, less frequently, whole-pancreas or islet transplantation. Insulin injections often result in inaccurate insulin doses, exposing the patient to hypo- and/or hyperglycemic episodes that lead to long-term complications. Islet transplantation is also limited by lack of high-quality islet donors, early graft failure, and chronic post-transplant immunosuppressive treatment. These barriers could be circumvented by designing a safe and efficient strategy to restore insulin production within the patient's body. Porcine islets have been considered as a possible alternative source of transplantable insulin-producing cells to replace human cadaveric islets. More recently, embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells have also been examined for their ability to differentiate in vitro into pancreatic endocrine cells. Alternatively, it may be feasible to generate new β-cells by ectopic expression of key transcription factors in endogenous non-β-cells. Finally, engineering surrogate β-cells by in vivo delivery of the insulin gene to specific tissues is also being studied as a possible therapy for type 1 diabetes. In the present review, we discuss these different approaches to restore insulin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Tudurí
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Almeida ARM, Amado IF, Reynolds J, Berges J, Lythe G, Molina-París C, Freitas AA. Quorum-Sensing in CD4(+) T Cell Homeostasis: A Hypothesis and a Model. Front Immunol 2012; 3:125. [PMID: 22654881 PMCID: PMC3360200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeostasis of lymphocyte numbers is believed to be due to competition between cellular populations for a common niche of restricted size, defined by the combination of interactions and trophic factors required for cell survival. Here we propose a new mechanism: homeostasis of lymphocyte numbers could also be achieved by the ability of lymphocytes to perceive the density of their own populations. Such a mechanism would be reminiscent of the primordial quorum-sensing systems used by bacteria, in which some bacteria sense the accumulation of bacterial metabolites secreted by other elements of the population, allowing them to “count” the number of cells present and adapt their growth accordingly. We propose that homeostasis of CD4+ T cell numbers may occur via a quorum-sensing-like mechanism, where IL-2 is produced by activated CD4+ T cells and sensed by a population of CD4+ Treg cells that expresses the high-affinity IL-2Rα-chain and can regulate the number of activated IL-2-producing CD4+ T cells and the total CD4+ T cell population. In other words, CD4+ T cell populations can restrain their growth by monitoring the number of activated cells, thus preventing uncontrolled lymphocyte proliferation during immune responses. We hypothesize that malfunction of this quorum-sensing mechanism may lead to uncontrolled T cell activation and autoimmunity. Finally, we present a mathematical model that describes the key role of IL-2 and quorum-sensing mechanisms in CD4+ T cell homeostasis during an immune response.
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Malek TR, Pugliese A. Low-dose IL-2 as a therapeutic agent for tolerance induction. Immunotherapy 2012; 3:1281-4. [PMID: 22053878 DOI: 10.2217/imt.11.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Piri H, Kazemi B, Rezaei M, Bandehpour M, Khodadadi I, Hassanzadeh T, Karimi J, Yarian F, Peirovi H, Tavakoli AH, Goodarzi MT. Construction of Plasmid Insulin Gene Vector Containing Metallothionein IIA (pcDNAMTChIns) and Carbohydrate Response Element (ChoRE), and Its Expression in NIH3T3 Cell Line. Int J Endocrinol Metab 2012; 10:543-7. [PMID: 23843817 PMCID: PMC3693627 DOI: 10.5812/ijem.4540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2012] [Revised: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes mellitus is one of the metabolic diseases that cause insulin-producing pancreatic ß cells be destroyed by immune system self-reactive T cells. Recent-ly, new treatment methods have been developed including use of the stem cells, ß islet cells transplantation and gene therapy by viral and non-viral gene constructs. OBJECTIVES The aim of this project was preparing the non-viral vector containing the glucose inducible insulin gene and using it in the NIH3T3 cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cloning was carried out by standard methods. Total RNA was extracted from pancreatic tissue, RNA was converted to cDNA using RT-PCR reaction and preproinsulin gene was amplified using specific primers. PNMTCH plasmid was extract-ed and digested by NotI, HindIII, and MTIIA and ChoRE genes were purified and cloned into pcDNA3.1 (-) plasmid and named pcDNAMTCh. Finally, the preproinsulin genes were cloned into pcDNA3.1 (-) plasmid and pcDNAMTChIns was built. RESULTS The cloned gene constructs were evaluated by restriction enzyme digestion and RT-PCR. The NIH3T3 cells were transfected by plasmid naked DNA containing preproinsu-lin gene and expression was confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase PCR and Western Blot-ting Techniques. CONCLUSIONS Gel electrophoresis of PCR products confirmed that cloning was per-formed correctly. The expression of preproinsulin gene in recombinant plasmid in NI-H3T3 cell line was observed for the first time. The findings in this study can be the basis of further research on diabetes mellitus type 1 gene therapy on animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Piri
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Mohsen Rezaei
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran
| | - Mojgan Bandehpour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Iraj Khodadadi
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran
| | - Taghi Hassanzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran
| | - Jamshid Karimi
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yarian
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Habibollah Peirovi
- Nano Medicine and Tissue Engineering Research Center- Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Tavakoli
- Iranian Tissue Bank Research and Preparation Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Goodarzi
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran
- Corresponding author: Mohammad Taghi Goodarzi, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, IR Iran. Tel/fax: +98-8118380208, E-mail:
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Abstract
Type 1 diabetes presents clinically with overt hyperglycemia resulting from progressive immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells and associated metabolic dysfunction. Combined genetic and immunological studies now highlight deficiencies in both the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor and its downstream signaling pathway as a central defect in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Prior intervention studies in animal models indicate that augmenting IL-2 signaling can prevent and reverse disease, with protection conferred primarily by restoration of regulatory T-cell (Treg) function. In this article, we will focus on studies of type 1 diabetes noting deficient IL-2 signaling and build what we believe forms the molecular framework for their contribution to the disease. This activity results in the identification of a series of potentially novel therapeutic targets that could restore proper immune regulation in type 1 diabetes by augmenting the IL-2 pathway.
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Abstract
Multiple approaches have been investigated with the ultimate goal of providing insulin independence to patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Approaches to produce insulin-secreting cells in culture, convert non-β-cells into functional β-cells or engineer autologous cells to express and secrete insulin in a meal-responsive manner have all been described. This research has been facilitated by significant improvements in both viral and non-viral gene delivery approaches that have enabled new experimental strategies. Many studies have examined possible avenues to confer islet cytoprotection against immune rejection, inflammation and apoptosis by genetic manipulation of islet cells prior to islet transplantation. Here we review several reports based on the reprogramming of pancreas and gut endocrine cells to treat diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Tudurí
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Singh B, Nikoopour E, Huszarik K, Elliott JF, Jevnikar AM. Immunomodulation and regeneration of islet Beta cells by cytokines in autoimmune type 1 diabetes. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2011; 31:711-9. [PMID: 21851268 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2011.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile or type 1 diabetes (T1D) involves autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing β cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Lack of insulin prevents the absorption and metabolism of glucose throughout the body by interfering with cell signaling. Cytokines have been shown to play a key role in β cell destruction and regulation of autoimmunity in T1D. The multiple roles of cytokines in T1D pathogenesis, regulation, and regeneration of β cells presents both promise and challenge for their use in immunotherapy. We found that mycobacterial adjuvants induce various regulatory T cells in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of T1D. Cytokines produced by these cells not only regulate innate and adaptive immunity but also prevent the development of diabetes and partially restored normoglycemia in diabetic NOD mice. We discovered that adjuvant immunotherapy upregulated Regenerating (Reg) genes in the islets and induced interleukin 22 (IL-22)-producing Th17 cells. IL-22 is known to upregulate Reg gene expression in islets and could potentially induce regeneration of β cells and prevent their apoptosis. Therefore, cytokines both induce and regulate T1D and have the potential to regenerate and preserve insulin-producing β cells in the islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhagirath Singh
- Centre for Human Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
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