黄芪多糖对胃癌细胞上清液中培养的树突状细胞分化成熟及功能的影响

目的探讨黄芪多糖对胃癌细胞SCG-7901上清液中培养的树突状细胞(Dendritic cells,DC)分化成熟及功能的影响,分析黄芪多糖抗癌的作用机制。方法将人外周血分离的单核细胞加入含重组人粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(rhGMCSF)和重组人白细胞介素的培养液中,随机分为空白组(以RPMI1640培养液培养)、干预组(以黄芪多糖干预后的胃癌细胞上清液培养)、对照组(以胃癌细胞上清液培养)。混合培养48h后,显微镜下观察DC成熟过程中的形态学变化,流式细胞术检测DC的表型(CD40、CD80),混合同种淋巴细胞增殖反应(Mixed lymphocyte reaction,MLR)检测DC的增殖效应。结果与对照组比较,空白组和干预组DC的CD40和CD80的表达均明显增加(P<0.05),刺激同种淋巴细胞增殖效应明显增强(P<0.05);干预组DC CD40和CD80的表达阳性率及刺激同种淋巴细胞增殖效应均明显低于空白组(P<0.05)。结论在体外,黄芪多糖可有效对抗胃癌细胞上清液引起的对DC分化成熟和功能的抑制。     

6Ckine修饰的树突状细胞促进T淋巴细胞增殖和分化的作用

目的研究次级淋巴组织趋化因子(6Ckine)修饰的树突状细胞(DC)对T淋巴细胞增殖和分化的影响。方法用携带人6Ckine基因的重组复制缺陷型腺病毒(Ad-6Ckine)感染人外周血单个核细胞来源的DC,检测Ad-6Ckine-DC对6Ckine的表达及细胞因子分泌的影响,并观察其吞噬功能和表型的变化及对自身T淋巴细胞的趋化作用。用结肠癌LoVo细胞抗原致敏Ad-6Ckine-DC,将该DC与自身T淋巴细胞共同培养,分别用3H掺入法、RT-PCR和ELISA检测Ad-6Ckine-DC对T淋巴细胞增殖和分化的影响。结果在Ad-6Ckine转染后24h内,DC的吞噬功能几乎不受影响。转染的6Ckine基因能在DC中表达,表达的6Ckine能促进其表达CD83和CCR7,上调RANTES的表达。Ad-6Ckine-DC对自身T淋巴细胞有明显的趋化作用,抗原致敏的Ad-6Ckine-DC能显著促进T淋巴细胞的增殖,并增强其表达T-bet和IL-2的能力。结论6Ckine基因的修饰能在一定程度上促进DC的成熟,并募集T淋巴细胞于DC周围,有利于DC向T淋巴细胞传递抗原和第二信息,增强DC促进T淋巴细胞增殖的作用并使其向Th1分化,诱导细胞免疫,将成为制备肿瘤疫苗的一种良好选择。     

Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Potential Clinical Applications

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells with the capacity of self-renewal, homing, and low immunogenicity. These distinct biological characteristics have already shown immense potential in regenerative medicine. MSCs also possess immunomodulatory properties that can maintain immune homeostasis when the immune response is over-activated or under-activated. The secretome of MSCs consists of cytokines, chemokines, signaling molecules, and growth factors, which effectively contribute to the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs can also be achieved through direct cell contact with microenvironmental factors and immune cells. Furthermore, preconditioned and engineered MSCs can specifically improve the immunomodulation effects in diverse clinical applications. These multifunctional properties of MSCs enable them to be used as a prospective therapeutic strategy to treat immune disorders, including autoimmune diseases and incurable inflammatory diseases. Here we review the recent exploration of immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSCs and briefly discuss the promotion of the genetically engineered MSCs. Additionally, we review the potential clinical applications of MSC-mediated immunomodulation in four types of immune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, graft-versus-host disease, and COVID-19.     

Regulatory Macrophages and Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells in Myeloid Regulatory Cell-Based Therapies

Myeloid regulatory cell-based therapy has been shown to be a promising cell-based medicinal approach in organ transplantation and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most efficient antigen-presenting cells and can naturally acquire tolerogenic properties through a variety of differentiation signals and stimuli. Several subtypes of DCs have been generated using additional agents, including vitamin D3, rapamycin and dexamethasone, or immunosuppressive cytokines, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). These cells have been extensively studied in animals and humans to develop clinical-grade tolerogenic (tol)DCs. Regulatory macrophages (Mregs) are another type of protective myeloid cell that provide a tolerogenic environment, and have mainly been studied within the context of research on organ transplantation. This review aims to thoroughly describe the ex vivo generation of tolDCs and Mregs, their mechanism of action, as well as their therapeutic application and assessment in human clinical trials.     

Increased Autotaxin Levels in Severe COVID-19, Correlating with IL-6 Levels,Endothelial Dysfunction Biomarkers,and Impaired Functions of Dendritic Cells

Autotaxin (ATX; ENPP2) is a secreted lysophospholipase D catalyzing the extracellular production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a pleiotropic signaling phospholipid. Genetic and pharmacologic studies have previously established a pathologic role for ATX and LPA signaling in pulmonary injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Here, increased ENPP2 mRNA levels were detected in immune cells from nasopharyngeal swab samples of COVID-19 patients, and increased ATX serum levels were found in severe COVID-19 patients. ATX serum levels correlated with the corresponding increased serum levels of IL-6 and endothelial damage biomarkers, suggesting an interplay of the ATX/LPA axis with hyperinflammation and the associated vascular dysfunction in COVID-19. Accordingly, dexamethasone (Dex) treatment of mechanically ventilated patients reduced ATX levels, as shown in two independent cohorts, indicating that the therapeutic benefits of Dex include the suppression of ATX. Moreover, large scale analysis of multiple single cell RNA sequencing datasets revealed the expression landscape of ENPP2 in COVID-19 and further suggested a role for ATX in the homeostasis of dendritic cells, which exhibit both numerical and functional deficits in COVID-19. Therefore, ATX has likely a multifunctional role in COVID-19 pathogenesis, suggesting that its pharmacological targeting might represent an additional therapeutic option, both during and after hospitalization.     

人乳头状瘤病毒16亚型E6E7基因重组腺病毒的构建及其在小鼠骨髓源树突状细胞中的表达

目的 构建人乳头状瘤病毒16亚型(Human papillomavirus 16,HPV16)E6E7基因重组腺病毒,并在小鼠骨髓源树突状细胞(Dendritic cell,DC)中表达。方法双酶切质粒pET-32a(+)-E6E7获得E6E7,基因片段,插入腺病毒穿梭质粒pAd-Track-CMV中,转染HEK293细胞,扩增病毒,经同源重组、包装后获得重组腺病毒pAd-E6E7,转染体外培养的小鼠骨髓源DC,激光共聚焦显微镜观察转染的小鼠DC的形态,流式细胞术检测转染前后小鼠DC表面标志物(CD40、CD86、MHCⅡ和CD11C),Western blot检测E6蛋白的表达。结果双酶切及测序证实,重组腺病毒质粒pAd-E6E7构建正确,插入的E6E7基因片段序列正确;转染HEK293细胞48 h,倒置荧光显微镜下可见绿色荧光蛋白的表达,重组腺病毒的滴度为3×107 CCID50/ml;重组腺病毒pAd-E6E7感染后DC的状态与成熟DC表面标志物(CD40、CD86、MHCⅡ和CD11C)相符合,感染后的DC表面有许多树枝状、刺状突起,符合成熟DC的表面形态;感染后的DC中存在E6蛋白的表达。结论已成功构建了HPV16 E6E7基因重组腺病毒表达质粒,其能在小鼠骨髓源DC中表达。     

Central Role of Dendritic Cells in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Human and Mice

The pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is not fully understood, but evidence is accumulating that immune dysfunction plays a significant role. We previously reported that 31-week-old Tnfaip3^DNGR1-KO mice develop pulmonary hypertension (PH) symptoms. These mice harbor a targeted deletion of the TNFα-induced protein-3 (Tnfaip3) gene, encoding the NF-κB regulatory protein A20, specifically in type I conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s). Here, we studied the involvement of dendritic cells (DCs) in PH in more detail. We found various immune cells, including DCs, in the hearts of Tnfaip3^DNGR1-KO mice, particularly in the right ventricle (RV). Secondly, in young Tnfaip3^DNGR1-KO mice, innate immune activation through airway exposure to toll-like receptor ligands essentially did not result in elevated RV pressures, although we did observe significant RV hypertrophy. Thirdly, PH symptoms in Tnfaip3^DNGR1-KO mice were not enhanced by concomitant mutation of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (Bmpr2), which is the most affected gene in PAH patients. Finally, in human IPAH lung tissue we found co-localization of DCs and CD8+ T cells, representing the main cell type activated by cDC1s. Taken together, these findings support a unique role of cDC1s in PAH pathogenesis, independent of general immune activation or a mutation in the Bmpr2 gene.     

Functional Ambivalence of Dendritic Cells: Tolerogenicity and Immunogenicity

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and inducers of T cell-mediated immunity. Although DCs play a central role in promoting adaptive immune responses against growing tumors, they also establish and maintain peripheral tolerance. DC activity depends on the method of induction and/or the presence of immunosuppressive agents. Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) induce immune tolerance by activating CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells and/or by producing cytokines that inhibit T cell activation. These findings suggest that tDCs may be an effective treatment for autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and infertility.     

Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Induces Immunogenic Cell Death Resulting in Maturation of BDCA-1+ Myeloid Dendritic Cells

Recently, a paradigm shift has been established for oncolytic viruses (OVs) as it was shown that the immune system plays an important role in the specific killing of tumor cells by OVs. OVs have the intrinsic capacity to provide the right signals to trigger anti-tumor immune responses, on the one hand by delivering virus-derived innate signals and on the other hand by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), which is accompanied by the release of various damage-associated molecules from infected tumor cells. Here, we determined the ICD-inducing capacity of Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), a herpes simplex virus type 1 based OV, and benchmarked this to other previously described ICD (e.g., doxorubicin) and non-ICD inducing agents (cisplatin). Furthermore, we studied the capability of T-VEC to induce the maturation of human BDCA-1⁺ myeloid dendritic cells (myDCs). We found that T-VEC treatment exerts direct and indirect anti-tumor effects as it induces tumor cell death that coincides with the release of hallmark mediators of ICD, while simultaneously contributing to the maturation of BDCA-1⁺ myDCs. These results unequivocally cement OVs in the category of cancer immunotherapy.     

循环应用低剂量环磷酰胺对黑色素瘤荷瘤小鼠调节性T细胞的影响及抗瘤作用

目的观察循环应用低剂量环磷酰胺(CTX)对黑色素瘤荷瘤小鼠调节性T细胞(Treg)的影响及抗瘤作用。方法通过皮下接种黑色素瘤细胞B16制备黑色素瘤荷瘤小鼠模型;对荷瘤小鼠分别经腹腔单次或循环注射CTX,每隔7d给药1次,共3次,应用流式细胞术检测小鼠脾脏中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg的含量;培养小鼠骨髓来源的树突状细胞(DC),将DC与脾T淋巴细胞混合培养,应用ELISA法检测脾T淋巴细胞干扰素γ(IFNγ)的分泌量;同时测量肿瘤的大小,绘制肿瘤生长曲线,并观察各组荷瘤小鼠自身免疫病的发生情况。结果CTX的最佳应用剂量为100mg/kg。随着荷瘤时间的延长,荷瘤小鼠脾脏CD4+CD25+Foxp3+/CD4+的比值呈逐渐升高趋势。单次应用CTX抑制Treg的时间较短,而循环应用CTX能够延长对Treg的抑制,使其维持在相对较低的水平;循环应用CTX显著提高了荷瘤小鼠脾T淋巴细胞IFNγ的分泌水平。单次和循环应用CTX均未能延缓肿瘤的生长,两组小鼠均未见免疫性白斑及明显的化疗毒副反应。结论循环应用CTX能更加有效地调控Treg,从而促进DC对T淋巴细胞的抗原特异性激活,这将会提高DC疫苗的抗瘤效果。     

Quercetin Administration Suppresses the Cytokine Storm in Myeloid and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) can be divided by lineage into myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). They both are present in mucosal tissues and regulate the immune response by secreting chemokines and cytokines. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are characterized by a leaky intestinal barrier and the consequent translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the basolateral side. This results in DCs activation, but the response of pDCs is still poorly characterized. In the present study, we compared mDCs and pDCs responses to LPS administration. We present a broad panel of DCs secreted factors, including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Our recent studies demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin administration, but to date, there is no evidence about quercetin’s effects on pDCs. The results of the present study demonstrate that pDCs can respond to LPS and that quercetin exposure modulates soluble factors release through the same molecular pathway used by mDCs (Slpi, Hmox1, and AP-1).     

An Experimental Model of Neuro–Immune Interactions in the Eye: Corneal Sensory Nerves and Resident Dendritic Cells

The cornea is an avascular connective tissue that is crucial, not only as the primary barrier of the eye but also as a proper transparent refractive structure. Corneal transparency is necessary for vision and is the result of several factors, including its highly organized structure, the physiology of its few cellular components, the lack of myelinated nerves (although it is extremely innervated), the tightly controlled hydration state, and the absence of blood and lymphatic vessels in healthy conditions, among others. The avascular, immune-privileged tissue of the cornea is an ideal model to study the interactions between its well-characterized and dense sensory nerves (easily accessible for both focal electrophysiological recording and morphological studies) and the low number of resident immune cell types, distinguished from those cells migrating from blood vessels. This paper presents an overview of the corneal structure and innervation, the resident dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations present in the cornea, their distribution in relation to corneal nerves, and their role in ocular inflammatory diseases. A mouse model in which sensory axons are constitutively labeled with tdTomato and DCs with green fluorescent protein (GFP) allows further analysis of the neuro-immune crosstalk under inflammatory and steady-state conditions of the eye.     

T Lymphocyte Antigen 4-Modified Dendritic Cell Therapy for Asthmatic Mice Guided by the CCR7 Chemokine Receptor

The CD80/CD86-CD28 axis is a critical pathway for immuno-corrective therapy, and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) is a promising immunosuppressor targeting the CD80/CD86-CD28 axis; however, its use for asthma therapy needs further optimization. A human CTLA4 fused with the IgCγ Fc (CTLA4Ig) and mouse CC chemokine receptor type7 (CCR7) coding sequences were inserted into a recombinant adenovirus (rAdV) vector to generate rAdV-CTLA4Ig and rAdV-CCR7. The naive dendritic cells (DCs) were infected with these rAdVs to ensure CCR7 and CTLA4Ig expression. The therapeutic effects of modified DCs were evaluated. rAdV-CTLA4Ig and rAdV-CCR7 infected DCs improved all asthma symptoms. Inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine analysis showed that rAdV-CTLA4Ig and rAdV-CCR7-modified DC therapy reduced the number of eosinophils and lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration in the lung. Interestingly, assessment of the humoral immunity showed that the IL-4 and IFNγ levels of the rAdV-CTLA4Ig and rAdV-CCR7-modified DC-treated mice decreased significantly and did not reverse the Th1/Th2 balance. DCs expressing CCR7 displayed guidance ability for DC migration, primarily for DCs in the inflammatory lung. Additionally, the rAdVs caused an inflammatory response by inducing DC differentiation, inflammatory cell infiltration and changes in cytokines; however, mice transplanted with rAdV-green fluorescent protein (GFP)-infected DCs displayed no asthma manifestations. In conclusion, CTLA4Ig-modified DCs exhibited a therapeutic effect on asthma, and CCR7 may guide DC homing. The combination of these two molecules may be a model for precision-guided immunotherapy.     

Ficus carica Polysaccharides Promote the Maturation and Function of Dendritic Cells

Various polysaccharides purified from plants are considered to be biological response modifiers and have been shown to enhance immune responses. Ficus carica L. is a Chinese traditional plant and has been widely used in Asian countries for its anti-tumor properties. Ficus carica polysaccharides (FCPS), one of the most essential and effective components in Ficus carica L., have been considered to be a beneficial immunomodulator and may be used in immunotherapy. However, the immunologic mechanism of FCPS is still unclear. Dectin-1 is a non-toll-like pattern recognition receptor, predominately expressed on dendritic cells (DCs). Activation of DCs through dectin-1 signaling can lead to the maturation of DC, thus inducing both innate and adaptive immune responses against tumor development and microbial infection. In our study, we found that FCPS could effectively stimulate DCs, partially through the dectin-1/Syk pathway, and promote their maturation, as shown by the up-regulation of CD40, CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII). FCPS also enhanced the production of cytokines by DCs, including IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-23. Moreover, FCPS-treated DCs showed an enhanced capability to stimulate T cells and promote T cell proliferation. Altogether, these results demonstrate that FCPS are able to activate and maturate DCs, thereby up-regulating the immunostimulatory capacity of DCs, which leads to enhanced T cell responses.     

Thapsigargin-Stimulated LAD2 Human Mast Cell Line Is a Potent Cellular Adjuvant for the Maturation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells for Adoptive Cellular Immunotherapy

The preparation of dendritic cells (DCs) for adoptive cellular immunotherapy (ACI) requires the maturation of ex vivo-produced immature(i) DCs. This maturation ensures that the antigen presentation triggers an immune response towards the antigen-expressing cells. Although there is a large number of maturation agents capable of inducing strong DC maturation, there is still only a very limited number of these agents approved for use in the production of DCs for ACI. In seeking novel DC maturation agents, we used differentially activated human mast cell (MC) line LAD2 as a cellular adjuvant to elicit or modulate the maturation of ex vivo-produced monocyte-derived iDCs. We found that co-culture of iDCs with differentially activated LAD2 MCs in serum-containing media significantly modulated polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C)-elicited DC maturation as determined through the surface expression of the maturation markers CD80, CD83, CD86, and human leukocyte antigen(HLA)-DR. Once iDCs were generated in serum-free conditions, they became refractory to the maturation with poly I:C, and the LAD2 MC modulatory potential was minimized. However, the maturation-refractory phenotype of the serum-free generated iDCs was largely overcome by co-culture with thapsigargin-stimulated LAD2 MCs. Our data suggest that differentially stimulated mast cells could be novel and highly potent cellular adjuvants for the maturation of DCs for ACI.     

Defective Generation and Maturation of Dendritic Cells from Monocytes in Colorectal Cancer Patients during the Course of Disease

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Today, the role of the host’s immune system in controlling the progression and spread of solid tumors is broadly established. Tumor immunosurveillance escape mechanisms, such as those involving dendritic cells (DCs), the most important antigen-presenting cells, are likewise recognized processes involved in cancer. The present study evaluates the ability of CRC patients to generate DCs in vitro from circulating monocytes at both pre- and post-operative timepoints; the results are correlated with the stage of disease to shed light on the systemic immune statuses of CRC patients. Our data showed that patients’ DCs had lower co-stimulatory molecule expression and were less able to present antigens to allogeneic T cells compared to healthy controls’ (HC) DCs. Furthermore altered cytokine secretion, such as increased IL-10 and reduced IL-12 and TNF-α, was observed. At the post-operative timepoints we observed a recovery of the patients’ ability to generate immature DCs, compared to HCs, but the maturational capacity remained affected. Our study conclusively highlights the persistently impaired in vitro generation of fully mature and functional DCs, which appears to be more altered during advanced stages. This work sheds light on a dendritic cell-based tumor immune escape mechanism that could be useful for the development of more effective immunotherapeutic strategies.     

Genetic Background and Kinetics Define Wound Bed Extracellular Vesicles in a Mouse Model of Cutaneous Injury

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have an important role in mediating intercellular signaling in inflammation and affect the kinetics of wound healing, however, an understanding of the mechanisms regulating these responses remains limited. Therefore, we have focused on the use of cutaneous injury models in which to study the biology of EVs on the inflammatory phase of wound healing. For this, the foreign body response using sterile subcutaneous polyvinylalcohol (PVA) sponges is ideally suited for the parallel analysis of immune cells and EVs without the need for tissue dissociation, which would introduce additional variables. We have previously used this model to identify mediators of EV biogenesis, establishing that control of how EVs are made affects their payload and biological activity. These studies in normal mice led us to consider how conditions such as immunodeficiency and obsesity affect the profile of immune cells and EVs in this model using genetically defined mutant mice. Since EVs are intrinsically heterogenous in biological fluids, we have focused our studies on a novel technology, vesicle flow cytometry (vFC) to quantify changes in EVs in mouse models. Here, we show that myeloid-derived immune cells and EVs express proteins relevant in antigen presentation in PVA sponge implants that have distinct profiles in wildtype, immune-deficient (NOD scid) vs. diabetic (Lepr^db) mice. Together, these results establish a foundation for the parallel analysis of both immune cells and EVs with technologies that begin to address the heterogeneity of intercellular communication in the wound bed.