InVivoPlus rat IgG2b isotype control, anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin

Catalog #BP0090
Product Citations:
65
Clone:
LTF-2

$781.00 - $5,568.00

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Product Details

The LTF-2 monoclonal antibody reacts with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Because KLH is not expressed by mammals this antibody is ideal for use as an isotype-matched control for rat IgG2b antibodies in most in vivo and in vitro applications.

Specifications

Isotype Rat IgG2b, Īŗ
Recommended Dilution Buffer InVivoPure pH 7.0 Dilution Buffer
Conjugation This product is unconjugated. Conjugation is available via our Antibody Conjugation Services.
Formulation PBS, pH 7.0
Contains no stabilizers or preservatives
Endotoxin* <1EU/mg (<0.001EU/Ī¼g)
Determined by LAL gel clotting assay
Aggregation* <5%
Determined by SEC
Purity >95%
Determined by SDS-PAGE
Sterility 0.2 Ī¼M filtered
Production Purified from cell culture supernatant in an animal-free facility
Purification Protein G
RRID AB_1107780
Molecular Weight 150 kDa
Murine Pathogen Tests* Ectromelia/Mousepox Virus: Negative
Hantavirus: Negative
K Virus: Negative
Lactate Dehydrogenase-Elevating Virus: Negative
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis virus: Negative
Mouse Adenovirus: Negative
Mouse Cytomegalovirus: Negative
Mouse Hepatitis Virus: Negative
Mouse Minute Virus: Negative
Mouse Norovirus: Negative
Mouse Parvovirus: Negative
Mouse Rotavirus: Negative
Mycoplasma Pulmonis: Negative
Pneumonia Virus of Mice: Negative
Polyoma Virus: Negative
Reovirus Screen: Negative
Sendai Virus: Negative
Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis: Negative
Storage The antibody solution should be stored at the stock concentration at 4Ā°C. Do not freeze.
* Additional quality control measures for our InVivoPlusā„¢ products include advanced binding validation, murine pathogen screening, protein aggregation screening, and ultra-low endotoxin levels. The superior quality of our InVivoPlusā„¢ products will meet and exceed the strict demands and rigorous standards required for in vivo research. Learn more about the InVivoPlusā„¢ difference here.

Additional Formats

Bauche, D., et al. (2018). "LAG3(+) Regulatory T Cells Restrain Interleukin-23-Producing CX3CR1(+) Gut-Resident Macrophages during Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cell-Driven Colitis" Immunity 49(2): 342-352 e345. PubMed

Interleukin-22 (IL-22)-producing group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) maintains gut homeostasis but can also promote inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The regulation of ILC3-dependent colitis remains to be elucidated. Here we show that Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg cells) prevented ILC3-mediated colitis in an IL-10-independent manner. Treg cells inhibited IL-23 and IL-1beta production from intestinal-resident CX3CR1(+) macrophages but not CD103(+) dendritic cells. Moreover, Treg cells restrained ILC3 production of IL-22 through suppression of CX3CR1(+) macrophage production of IL-23 and IL-1beta. This suppression was contact dependent and was mediated by latent activation gene-3 (LAG-3)-an immune checkpoint receptor-expressed on Treg cells. Engagement of LAG-3 on MHC class II drove profound immunosuppression of CX3CR1(+) tissue-resident macrophages. Our study reveals that the health of the intestinal mucosa is maintained by an axis driven by Treg cells communication with resident macrophages that withhold inflammatory stimuli required for ILC3 function.

Triplett, T. A., et al. (2018). "Reversal of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated cancer immune suppression by systemic kynurenine depletion with a therapeutic enzyme" Nat Biotechnol 36(8): 758-764. PubMed

Increased tryptophan (Trp) catabolism in the tumor microenvironment (TME) can mediate immune suppression by upregulation of interferon (IFN)-gamma-inducible indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and/or ectopic expression of the predominantly liver-restricted enzyme tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO). Whether these effects are due to Trp depletion in the TME or mediated by the accumulation of the IDO1 and/or TDO (hereafter referred to as IDO1/TDO) product kynurenine (Kyn) remains controversial. Here we show that administration of a pharmacologically optimized enzyme (PEGylated kynureninase; hereafter referred to as PEG-KYNase) that degrades Kyn into immunologically inert, nontoxic and readily cleared metabolites inhibits tumor growth. Enzyme treatment was associated with a marked increase in the tumor infiltration and proliferation of polyfunctional CD8(+) lymphocytes. We show that PEG-KYNase administration had substantial therapeutic effects when combined with approved checkpoint inhibitors or with a cancer vaccine for the treatment of large B16-F10 melanoma, 4T1 breast carcinoma or CT26 colon carcinoma tumors. PEG-KYNase mediated prolonged depletion of Kyn in the TME and reversed the modulatory effects of IDO1/TDO upregulation in the TME.

Aloulou, M., et al. (2016). "Follicular regulatory T cells can be specific for the immunizing antigen and derive from naive T cells" Nat Commun 7: 10579. PubMed

T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells are a subset of Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells that form in response to immunization or infection, which localize to the germinal centre where they control the magnitude of the response. Despite an increased interest in the role of Tfr cells in humoral immunity, many fundamental aspects of their biology remain unknown, including whether they recognize self- or foreign antigen. Here we show that Tfr cells can be specific for the immunizing antigen, irrespective of whether it is a self- or foreign antigen. We show that, in addition to developing from thymic derived Treg cells, Tfr cells can also arise from Foxp3(-) precursors in a PD-L1-dependent manner, if the adjuvant used is one that supports T-cell plasticity. These findings have important implications for Tfr cell biology and for improving vaccine efficacy by formulating vaccines that modify the Tfr:Tfh cell ratio.

Finkin, S., et al. (2015). "Ectopic lymphoid structures function as microniches for tumor progenitor cells in hepatocellular carcinoma" Nat Immunol. doi : 10.1038/ni.3290. PubMed

Ectopic lymphoid-like structures (ELSs) are often observed in cancer, yet their function is obscure. Although ELSs signify good prognosis in certain malignancies, we found that hepatic ELSs indicated poor prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We studied an HCC mouse model that displayed abundant ELSs and found that they constituted immunopathological microniches wherein malignant hepatocyte progenitor cells appeared and thrived in a complex cellular and cytokine milieu until gaining self-sufficiency. The egress of progenitor cells and tumor formation were associated with the autocrine production of cytokines previously provided by the niche. ELSs developed via cooperation between the innate immune system and adaptive immune system, an event facilitated by activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and abolished by depletion of T cells. Such aberrant immunological foci might represent new targets for cancer therapy.

Zhang, J., et al. (2015). "Micro-RNA-155-mediated control of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is required for restoring adaptively tolerant CD4+ T-cell function in rodents" Eur J Immunol 45(3): 829-842. PubMed

T cells chronically stimulated by a persistent antigen often become dysfunctional and lose effector functions and proliferative capacity. To identify the importance of micro-RNA-155 (miR-155) in this phenomenon, we analyzed mouse miR-155-deficient CD4(+) T cells in a model where the chronic exposure to a systemic antigen led to T-cell functional unresponsiveness. We found that miR-155 was required for restoring function of T cells after programmed death receptor 1 blockade. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) was identified as a specific target of miR-155 and inhibition of HO-1 activity restored the expansion and tissue migration capacity of miR-155(-/-) CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, miR-155-mediated control of HO-1 expression in CD4(+) T cells was shown to sustain in vivo antigen-specific expansion and IL-2 production. Thus, our data identify HO-1 regulation as a mechanism by which miR-155 promotes T-cell-driven inflammation.

Park, H. J., et al. (2015). "PD-1 upregulated on regulatory T cells during chronic virus infection enhances the suppression of CD8+ T cell immune response via the interaction with PD-L1 expressed on CD8+ T cells" J Immunol 194(12): 5801-5811. PubMed

Regulatory T (Treg) cells act as terminators of T cell immuniy during acute phase of viral infection; however, their role and suppressive mechanism in chronic viral infection are not completely understood. In this study, we compared the phenotype and function of Treg cells during acute or chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Chronic infection, unlike acute infection, led to a large expansion of Treg cells and their upregulation of programmed death-1 (PD-1). Treg cells from chronically infected mice (chronic Treg cells) displayed greater suppressive capacity for inhibiting both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell proliferation and subsequent cytokine production than those from naive or acutely infected mice. A contact between Treg and CD8(+) T cells was necessary for the potent suppression of CD8(+) T cell immune response. More importantly, the suppression required cell-specific expression and interaction of PD-1 on chronic Treg cells and PD-1 ligand on CD8(+) T cells. Our study defines PD-1 upregulated on Treg cells and its interaction with PD-1 ligand on effector T cells as one cause for the potent T cell suppression and proposes the role of PD-1 on Treg cells, in addition to that on exhausted T cells, during chronic viral infection.

Twyman-Saint Victor, C., et al. (2015). "Radiation and dual checkpoint blockade activate non-redundant immune mechanisms in cancer" Nature 520(7547): 373-377. PubMed

Immune checkpoint inhibitors result in impressive clinical responses, but optimal results will require combination with each other and other therapies. This raises fundamental questions about mechanisms of non-redundancy and resistance. Here we report major tumour regressions in a subset of patients with metastatic melanoma treated with an anti-CTLA4 antibody (anti-CTLA4) and radiation, and reproduced this effect in mouse models. Although combined treatment improved responses in irradiated and unirradiated tumours, resistance was common. Unbiased analyses of mice revealed that resistance was due to upregulation of PD-L1 on melanoma cells and associated with T-cell exhaustion. Accordingly, optimal response in melanoma and other cancer types requires radiation, anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD-L1/PD-1. Anti-CTLA4 predominantly inhibits T-regulatory cells (Treg cells), thereby increasing the CD8 T-cell to Treg (CD8/Treg) ratio. Radiation enhances the diversity of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of intratumoral T cells. Together, anti-CTLA4 promotes expansion of T cells, while radiation shapes the TCR repertoire of the expanded peripheral clones. Addition of PD-L1 blockade reverses T-cell exhaustion to mitigate depression in the CD8/Treg ratio and further encourages oligoclonal T-cell expansion. Similarly to results from mice, patients on our clinical trial with melanoma showing high PD-L1 did not respond to radiation plus anti-CTLA4, demonstrated persistent T-cell exhaustion, and rapidly progressed. Thus, PD-L1 on melanoma cells allows tumours to escape anti-CTLA4-based therapy, and the combination of radiation, anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD-L1 promotes response and immunity through distinct mechanisms.

Rutigliano, J. A., et al. (2014). "Highly pathological influenza A virus infection is associated with augmented expression of PD-1 by functionally compromised virus-specific CD8+ T cells" J Virol 88(3): 1636-1651. PubMed

One question that continues to challenge influenza A research is why some strains of virus are so devastating compared to their more mild counterparts. We approached this question from an immunological perspective, investigating the CD8(+) T cell response in a mouse model system comparing high- and low-pathological influenza virus infections. Our findings reveal that the early (day 0 to 5) viral titer was not the determining factor in the outcome of disease. Instead, increased numbers of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells and elevated effector function on a per-cell basis were found in the low-pathological infection and correlated with reduced illness and later-time-point (day 6 to 10) viral titer. High-pathological infection was associated with increased PD-1 expression on influenza virus-specific CD8(+) T cells, and blockade of PD-L1 in vivo led to reduced virus titers and increased CD8(+) T cell numbers in high- but not low-pathological infection, though T cell functionality was not restored. These data show that high-pathological acute influenza virus infection is associated with a dysregulated CD8(+) T cell response, which is likely caused by the more highly inflamed airway microenvironment during the early days of infection. Therapeutic approaches specifically aimed at modulating innate airway inflammation may therefore promote efficient CD8(+) T cell activity. We show that during a severe influenza virus infection, one type of immune cell, the CD8 T cell, is less abundant and less functional than in a more mild infection. This dysregulated T cell phenotype correlates with a lower rate of virus clearance in the severe infection and is partially regulated by the expression of a suppressive coreceptor called PD-1. Treatment with an antibody that blocks PD-1 improves T cell functionality and increases virus clearance.

Erickson, J. J., et al. (2014). "Programmed death-1 impairs secondary effector lung CD8(+) T cells during respiratory virus reinfection" J Immunol 193(10): 5108-5117. PubMed

Reinfections with respiratory viruses are common and cause significant clinical illness, yet precise mechanisms governing this susceptibility are ill defined. Lung Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells (T(CD8)) are impaired during acute viral lower respiratory infection by the inhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1). To determine whether PD-1 contributes to recurrent infection, we first established a model of reinfection by challenging B cell-deficient mice with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) several weeks after primary infection, and found that HMPV replicated to high titers in the lungs. A robust secondary effector lung TCD8 response was generated during reinfection, but these cells were more impaired and more highly expressed the inhibitory receptors PD-1, LAG-3, and 2B4 than primary T(CD8). In vitro blockade demonstrated that PD-1 was the dominant inhibitory receptor early after reinfection. In vivo therapeutic PD-1 blockade during HMPV reinfection restored lung T(CD8) effector functions (i.e., degranulation and cytokine production) and enhanced viral clearance. PD-1 also limited the protective efficacy of HMPV epitope-specific peptide vaccination and impaired lung T(CD8) during heterotypic influenza virus challenge infection. Our results indicate that PD-1 signaling may contribute to respiratory virus reinfection and evasion of vaccine-elicited immune responses. These results have important implications for the design of effective vaccines against respiratory viruses.

Steel, C. D., et al. (2014). "Role of peripheral immune response in microglia activation and regulation of brain chemokine and proinflammatory cytokine responses induced during VSV encephalitis" J Neuroimmunol 267(1-2): 50-60. PubMed

We report herein that neuroinvasion by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) activates microglia and induces a peripheral dendritic cell (DC)-dependent inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS). VSV neuroinvasion rapidly induces multiple brain chemokine and proinflammatory cytokine mRNAs that display bimodal kinetics. Peripheral DC ablation or T cell depletion suppresses the second wave of this response demonstrating that infiltrating T cells are primarily responsible for the bimodal characteristics of this response. The robust infiltrate associated with VSV encephalitis likely depends on sustained production of brain CCL19 and CCR7 expression on infiltrating inflammatory cells.

Kearl, T. J., et al. (2013). "Programmed death receptor-1/programmed death receptor ligand-1 blockade after transient lymphodepletion to treat myeloma" J Immunol 190(11): 5620-5628. PubMed

Early phase clinical trials targeting the programmed death receptor-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway to overcome tumor-mediated immunosuppression have reported promising results for a variety of cancers. This pathway appears to play an important role in the failure of immune reactivity to malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma patients, as the tumor cells express relatively high levels of PD-L1, and T cells show increased PD-1 expression. In the current study, we demonstrate that PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with a PD-L1-specific Ab elicits rejection of a murine myeloma when combined with lymphodepleting irradiation. This particular combined approach by itself has not previously been shown to be efficacious in other tumor models. The antitumor effect of lymphodepletion/anti-PD-L1 therapy was most robust when tumor Ag-experienced T cells were present either through cell transfer or survival after nonmyeloablative irradiation. In vivo depletion of CD4 or CD8 T cells completely eliminated antitumor efficacy of the lymphodepletion/anti-PD-L1 therapy, indicating that both T cell subsets are necessary for tumor rejection. Elimination of myeloma by T cells occurs relatively quickly as tumor cells in the bone marrow were nearly nondetectable by 5 d after the first anti-PD-L1 treatment, suggesting that antimyeloma reactivity is primarily mediated by preactivated T cells, rather than newly generated myeloma-reactive T cells. Anti-PD-L1 plus lymphodepletion failed to improve survival in two solid tumor models, but demonstrated significant efficacy in two hematologic malignancy models. In summary, our results support the clinical testing of lymphodepletion and PD-1/PD-L1 blockade as a novel approach for improving the survival of patients with multiple myeloma.

van der Merwe, M., et al. (2013). "Recipient myeloid-derived immunomodulatory cells induce PD-1 ligand-dependent donor CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cell proliferation and donor-recipient immune tolerance after murine nonmyeloablative bone marrow transplantation" J Immunol 191(11): 5764-5776. PubMed

We showed previously that nonmyeloablative total lymphoid irradiation/rabbit anti-thymocyte serum (TLI/ATS) conditioning facilitates potent donor-recipient immune tolerance following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) across MHC barriers via recipient invariant NKT (iNKT) cell-derived IL-4-dependent expansion of donor Foxp3(+) naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTregs). In this study, we report a more specific mechanism. Wild-type (WT) BALB/c (H-2(d)) hosts were administered TLI/ATS and BMT from WT or STAT6(-/-) C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) donors. Following STAT6(-/-) BMT, donor nTregs demonstrated no loss of proliferation in vivo, indicating that an IL-4-responsive population in the recipient, rather than the donor, drives donor nTreg proliferation. In graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) target organs, three recipient CD11b(+) cell subsets (Gr-1(high)CD11c(-), Gr-1(int)CD11c(-), and Gr-1(low)CD11c(+)) were enriched early after TLI/ATS + BMT versus total body irradiation/ATS + BMT. Gr-1(low)CD11c(+) cells induced potent H-2K(b+)CD4(+)Foxp3(+) nTreg proliferation in vitro in 72-h MLRs. Gr-1(low)CD11c(+) cells were reduced significantly in STAT6(-/-) and iNKT cell-deficient Jalpha18(-/-) BALB/c recipients after TLI/ATS + BMT. Depletion of CD11b(+) cells resulted in severe acute GVHD, and adoptive transfer of WT Gr-1(low)CD11c(+) cells to Jalpha18(-/-) BALB/c recipients of TLI/ATS + BMT restored day-6 donor Foxp3(+) nTreg proliferation and protection from CD8 effector T cell-mediated GVHD. Blockade of programmed death ligand 1 and 2, but not CD40, TGF-beta signaling, arginase 1, or iNOS, inhibited nTreg proliferation in cocultures of recipient-derived Gr-1(low)CD11c(+) cells with donor nTregs. Through iNKT-dependent Th2 polarization, myeloid-derived immunomodulatory dendritic cells are expanded after nonmyeloablative TLI/ATS conditioning and allogeneic BMT, induce PD-1 ligand-dependent donor nTreg proliferation, and maintain potent graft-versus-host immune tolerance.

Sledzinska, A., et al. (2013). "TGF-beta signalling is required for CD4(+) T cell homeostasis but dispensable for regulatory T cell function" PLoS Biol 11(10): e1001674. PubMed

TGF-beta is widely held to be critical for the maintenance and function of regulatory T (T(reg)) cells and thus peripheral tolerance. This is highlighted by constitutive ablation of TGF-beta receptor (TR) during thymic development in mice, which leads to a lethal autoimmune syndrome. Here we describe that TGF-beta-driven peripheral tolerance is not regulated by TGF-beta signalling on mature CD4(+) T cells. Inducible TR2 ablation specifically on CD4(+) T cells did not result in a lethal autoinflammation. Transfer of these TR2-deficient CD4(+) T cells to lymphopenic recipients resulted in colitis, but not overt autoimmunity. In contrast, thymic ablation of TR2 in combination with lymphopenia led to lethal multi-organ inflammation. Interestingly, deletion of TR2 on mature CD4(+) T cells does not result in the collapse of the T(reg) cell population as observed in constitutive models. Instead, a pronounced enlargement of both regulatory and effector memory T cell pools was observed. This expansion is cell-intrinsic and seems to be caused by increased T cell receptor sensitivity independently of common gamma chain-dependent cytokine signals. The expression of Foxp3 and other regulatory T cells markers was not dependent on TGF-beta signalling and the TR2-deficient T(reg) cells retained their suppressive function both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, absence of TGF-beta signalling on mature CD4(+) T cells is not responsible for breakdown of peripheral tolerance, but rather controls homeostasis of mature T cells in adult mice.

Willimsky, G., et al. (2013). "Virus-induced hepatocellular carcinomas cause antigen-specific local tolerance" J Clin Invest 123(3): 1032-1043. PubMed

T cell surveillance is often effective against virus-associated tumors because of their high immunogenicity. It is not clear why surveillance occasionally fails, particularly against hepatitis B virus- or hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We established a transgenic murine model of virus-induced HCC by hepatocyte-specific adenovirus-induced activation of the oncogenic SV40 large T antigen (TAg). Adenovirus infection induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) targeted against the virus and TAg, leading to clearance of the infected cells. Despite the presence of functional, antigen-specific T cells, a few virus-infected cells escaped immune clearance and progressed to HCC. These cells expressed TAg at levels similar to HCC isolated from neonatal TAg-tolerant mice, suggesting that CTL clearance does not select for cells with low immunogenicity. Virus-infected mice revealed significantly greater T cell infiltration in early-stage HCC compared with that in late-stage HCC, demonstrating progressive local immune suppression through inefficient T cell infiltration. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 were expressed in all TAg-specific CD8+ T cells and HCC, respectively, which contributed to local tumor-antigen-specific tolerance. Thus, we have developed a model of virus-induced HCC that may allow for a better understanding of human HCC.

Coers, J., et al. (2011). "Compensatory T cell responses in IRG-deficient mice prevent sustained Chlamydia trachomatis infections" PLoS Pathog 7(6): e1001346. PubMed

The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. In women C. trachomatis can establish persistent genital infections that lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility. In contrast to natural infections in humans, experimentally induced infections with C. trachomatis in mice are rapidly cleared. The cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) plays a critical role in the clearance of C. trachomatis infections in mice. Because IFNgamma induces an antimicrobial defense system in mice but not in humans that is composed of a large family of Immunity Related GTPases (IRGs), we questioned whether mice deficient in IRG immunity would develop persistent infections with C. trachomatis as observed in human patients. We found that IRG-deficient Irgm1/m3((-/-)) mice transiently develop high bacterial burden post intrauterine infection, but subsequently clear the infection more efficiently than wildtype mice. We show that the delayed but highly effective clearance of intrauterine C. trachomatis infections in Irgm1/m3((-/-)) mice is dependent on an exacerbated CD4(+) T cell response. These findings indicate that the absence of the predominant murine innate effector mechanism restricting C. trachomatis growth inside epithelial cells results in a compensatory adaptive immune response, which is at least in part driven by CD4(+) T cells and prevents the establishment of a persistent infection in mice.

    • Immunology and Microbiology
    • ,
    • COVID-19
    A T cell-based SARS-CoV-2 spike protein vaccine provides protection without antibodies.

    In JCI Insight on 8 March 2024 by Shi, J., Zheng, J., et al.

    PubMed

    SARS-CoV-2 spike-based vaccines are used to control the COVID-19 pandemic. However, emerging variants have become resistant to antibody neutralization and further mutations may lead to full resistance. We tested whether T cells alone could provide protection without antibodies. We designed a T cell-based vaccine in which SARS-CoV-2 spike sequences were rearranged and attached to ubiquitin. Immunization of mice with the vaccine induced no specific antibodies, but strong specific T cell responses. We challenged mice with SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strain or an Omicron variant after the immunization and monitored survival or viral titers in the lungs. The mice were significantly protected against death and weight loss caused by the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strain, and the viral titers in the lungs of mice challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strain or the Omicron variant were significantly reduced. Importantly, depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells led to significant loss of the protection. Our analyses of spike protein sequences of the variants indicated that fewer than one-third presented by dominant HLA alleles were mutated and that most of the mutated epitopes were in the subunit 1 region. As the subunit 2 region is conservative, the vaccines targeting spike protein are expected to protect against future variants due to the T cell responses.

    • Immunology and Microbiology
    LRP11 promotes stem-like T cells via MAPK13-mediated TCF1 phosphorylation, enhancing anti-PD1 immunotherapy.

    In Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer on 25 January 2024 by Sun, L., Ma, Z., et al.

    PubMed

    Tumor-infiltrating T cells enter an exhausted or dysfunctional state, which limits antitumor immunity. Among exhausted T cells, a subset of cells with features of progenitor or stem-like cells has been identified as TCF1+ CD8+ T cells that respond to immunotherapy. In contrast to the finding that TCF1 controls epigenetic and transcriptional reprogramming in tumor-infiltrating stem-like T cells, little is known about the regulation of TCF1. Emerging data show that elevated body mass index is associated with outcomes of immunotherapy. However, the mechanism has not been clarified. We investigated the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes or CD8+ T cells induced by CD3/CD28 stimulation in vitro. We evaluated the effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and LRP11 inhibitors, as well as MAPK13 inhibitors. Additionally, we used shRNA technology to validate the roles of LRP11 and MAPK13. In an in vivo setting, we employed male C57BL/6J injected with B16 cells or MC38 cells to build a tumor model to assess the effects of LDL and LRP11 inhibitors, LRP11 activators, MAPK13 inhibitors on tumor growth. Flow cytometry was used to measure cell proportions and activation status. Molecular interactions and TCF1 status were examined using Western blotting. Moreover, we employed RNA sequencing to investigate the effects of LDL stimulation and MAPK13 inhibition in CD8+ T cells. By using a tumor-bearing mouse model, we found that LDL-induced tumor-infiltrating TCF1+PD1+CD8+ T cells. Using a cell-based chimeric receptor screening system, we showed that LRP11 interacted with LDL and activated TCF1. LRP11 activation enhanced TCF1+PD1+CD8+ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity, consistent with LRP11 blocking impaired T-cell function. Mechanistically, LRP11 activation induces MAPK13 activation. Then, MAPK13 phosphorylates TCF1, leading to increase of stem-like T cells. LRP11-MAPK13-TCF1 enhanced antitumor immunity and induced tumor-infiltrating stem-like T cells. Ā© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Anti-PD-L1 therapy altered inflammation but not survival in a lethal murine hepatitis virus-1 pneumonia model.

    In Frontiers in Immunology on 23 January 2024 by Curran, C. S., Cui, X., et al.

    PubMed

    Because prior immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in cancer patients presenting with COVID-19 may affect outcomes, we investigated the beta-coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus (MHV)-1, in a lethal pneumonia model in the absence (Study 1) or presence of prior programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody (PD-L1mAb) treatment (Study 2). In Study 1, animals were inoculated intratracheally with MHV-1 or vehicle and evaluated at day 2, 5, and 10 after infection. In Study 2, uninfected or MHV-1-infected animals were pretreated intraperitoneally with control or PD-L1-blocking antibodies (PD-L1mAb) and evaluated at day 2 and 5 after infection. Each study examined survival, physiologic and histologic parameters, viral titers, lung immunophenotypes, and mediator production. Study 1 results recapitulated the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and revealed increased cell surface expression of checkpoint molecules (PD-L1, PD-1), higher expression of the immune activation marker angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), but reduced detection of the MHV-1 receptor CD66a on immune cells in the lung, liver, and spleen. In addition to reduced detection of PD-L1 on all immune cells assayed, PD-L1 blockade was associated with increased cell surface expression of PD-1 and ACE, decreased cell surface detection of CD66a, and improved oxygen saturation despite reduced blood glucose levels and increased signs of tissue hypoxia. In the lung, PD-L1mAb promoted S100A9 but inhibited ACE2 production concomitantly with pAKT activation and reduced FOXO1 levels. PD-L1mAb promoted interferon-Ī³ but inhibited IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophageĀ colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production, contributing to reduced bronchoalveolar lavage levels of eosinophils and neutrophils. In the liver, PD-L1mAb increased viral clearance in association with increased macrophage and lymphocyte recruitment and liver injury. PD-L1mAb increased the production of virally induced mediators of injury, angiogenesis, and neuronal activity that may play role in COVID-19 and ICI-related neurotoxicity. PD-L1mAb did not affect survival in this murine model. In Study 1 and Study 2, ACE was upregulated and CD66a and ACE2 were downregulated by either MHV-1 or PD-L1mAb. CD66a is not only the MHV-1 receptor but also an identified immune checkpoint and a negative regulator of ACE. Crosstalk between CD66a and PD-L1 or ACE/ACE2 may provide insight into ICI therapies. These networks may also play role in the increased production of S100A9 and neurological mediators in response to MHV-1 and/or PD-L1mAb, which warrant further study. Overall, these findings support observational data suggesting that prior ICI treatment does not alter survival in patients presenting with COVID-19. Copyright Ā© 2024 Curran, Cui, Li, Jeakle, Sun, Demirkale, Minkove, Hoffmann, Dhamapurkar, Chumbris, Bolyard, Iheanacho, Eichacker and Torabi-Parizi.

    • Mus musculus (House mouse)
    Antitumor Effect of Platinum-Modified STING Agonist MSA-2.

    In ACS Omega on 16 January 2024 by Wang, M., Cai, Y., et al.

    PubMed

    The stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-activated innate immune pathway is strong and durable for tumor immunotherapy. MSA-2 is an available non-nucleotide human STING agonist that promotes the tumor immunotherapy of STING activation. However, strategies for remolding and improving the immunotherapy effects of MSA-2 are of value for clinical applications. Here, we synthesized the platinum salt-modified MSA-2 (MSA-2-Pt) due to platinum salt being a classic chemotherapeutic drug. We found that MSA-2-Pt could achieve double-effect antitumor immunotherapy, including inducing cell death by platinum and activating the STING pathway by MSA-2. In the colon carcinoma MC38 model (sensitive to immune checkpoint immunotherapy tumor) and melanoma B16F10 model (poorly immunogenic and highly aggressive tumor), the MSA-2-Pt had a good antitumor effect, which was a little better than MSA-2 with intratumor injections. The results present a promising strategy for STING activation in tumor immunotherapy and broadening platinum-based drugs. Ā© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Cell Biology
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Fasting-Mimicking Diet Inhibits Autophagy and Synergizes with Chemotherapy to Promote T-Cell-Dependent Leukemia-Free Survival.

    In Cancers on 16 December 2023 by Buono, R., Tucci, J., et al.

    PubMed

    Fasting mimicking diets (FMDs) are effective in the treatment of many solid tumors in mouse models, but their effect on hematologic malignancies is poorly understood, particularly in combination with standard therapies. Here we show that cycles of a 3-day FMD given to high-fat-diet-fed mice once a week increased the efficacy of vincristine to improve survival from BCR-ABL B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In mice fed a standard diet, FMD cycles in combination with vincristine promoted cancer-free survival. RNA seq and protein assays revealed a vincristine-dependent decrease in the expression of multiple autophagy markers, which was exacerbated by the fasting/FMD conditions. The autophagy inhibitor chloroquine could substitute for fasting/FMD to promote cancer-free survival in combination with vincristine. In vitro, targeted inhibition of autophagy genes ULK1 and ATG9a strongly potentiated vincristine's toxicity. Moreover, anti-CD8 antibodies reversed the effects of vincristine plus fasting/FMD in promoting leukemia-free survival in mice, indicating a central role of the immune system in this response. Thus, the inhibition of autophagy and enhancement of immune responses appear to be mediators of the fasting/FMD-dependent cancer-free survival in ALL mice.

    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Interventional hydrogel microsphere vaccine as an immune amplifier for activated antitumour immunity after ablation therapy.

    In Nature Communications on 11 July 2023 by Liu, X., Zhuang, Y., et al.

    PubMed

    The response rate of pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy or immunotherapy pancreatic cancer is low. Although minimally invasive irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation is a promising option for irresectable pancreatic cancers, the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment that characterizes this tumour type enables tumour recurrence. Thus, strengthening endogenous adaptive antitumour immunity is critical for improving the outcome of ablation therapy and post-ablation immune therapy. Here we present a hydrogel microsphere vaccine that amplifies post-ablation anti-cancer immune response via releasing its cargo of FLT3L and CD40L at the relatively lower pH of the tumour bed. The vaccine facilitates migration of the tumour-resident type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) to the tumour-draining lymph nodes (TdLN), thus initiating the cDC1-mediated antigen cross-presentation cascade, resulting in enhanced endogenous CD8+ T cell response. We show in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model in male mice that the hydrogel microsphere vaccine transforms the immunologically cold tumour microenvironment into hot in a safe and efficient manner, thus significantly increasing survival and inhibiting the growth of distant metastases. Ā© 2023. The Author(s).

    • Cancer Research
    Decreased melanoma CSF-1 secretion by Cannabigerol treatment reprograms regulatory myeloid cells and reduces tumor progression.

    In Oncoimmunology on 16 June 2023 by Wyrobnik, I., Steinberg, M., et al.

    PubMed

    During solid tumor progression, the tumor microenvironment (TME) evolves into a highly immunosuppressive milieu. Key players in the immunosuppressive environment are regulatory myeloid cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which are recruited and activated via tumor-secreted cytokines such as colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). Therefore, the depletion of tumor-secreted cytokines is a leading anticancer strategy. Here, we found that CSF-1 secretion by melanoma cells is decreased following treatment with Cannabis extracts. Cannabigerol (CBG) was identified as the bioactive cannabinoid responsible for the effects. Conditioned media from cells treated with pure CBG or the high-CBG extract reduced the expansion and macrophage transition of the monocytic-MDSC subpopulation. Treated MO-MDSCs also expressed lower levels of iNOS, leading to restored CD8+ T-cell activation. Tumor-bearing mice treated with CBG presented reduced tumor progression, lower TAM frequencies and reduced TAM/M1 ratio. A combination of CBG and Ī±PD-L1 was more effective in reducing tumor progression, enhancing survival and increasing the infiltration of activated cytotoxic T-cells than each treatment separately. We show a novel mechanism for CBG in modulating the TME and enhancing immune checkpoint blockade therapy, underlining its promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of a variety of tumors with elevated CSF-1 expression. Ā© 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

    • Cancer Research
    LCN2 secreted by tissue-infiltrating neutrophils induces the ferroptosis and wasting of adipose and muscle tissues in lung cancer cachexia.

    In Journal of Hematology & Oncology on 27 March 2023 by Wang, D., Li, X., et al.

    PubMed

    Cancer cachexia is a deadly wasting syndrome that accompanies various diseases (includingā€‰~ā€‰50% of cancers). Clinical studies have established that cachexia is not a nutritional deficiency and is linked to expression of certain proteins (e.g., interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein), but much remains unknown about this often fatal syndrome. First, cachexia was created in experimental mouse models of lung cancer. Samples of human lung cancer were used to identify the association between the serum lipocalin 2 (LCN2) level and cachexia progression. Then, mouse models with LCN2 blockade or LCN2 overexpression were used to ascertain the role of LCN2 upon ferroptosis and cachexia. Furthermore, antibody depletion of tissue-infiltrating neutrophils (TI-Neu), as well as myeloid-specific-knockout of Lcn2, were undertaken to reveal if LCN2 secreted by TI-Neu caused cachexia. Finally, chemical inhibition of ferroptosis was conducted to illustrate the effect of ferroptosis upon tissue wasting. Protein expression of LCN2 was higher in the wasting adipose tissue and muscle tissues of experimental mouse models of lung cancer cachexia. Moreover, evaluation of lung cancer patients revealed an association between the serum LCN2 level and cachexia progression. Inhibition of LCN2 expression reduced cachexia symptoms significantly and inhibited tissue wasting in vivo. Strikingly, we discovered a significant increase in the number of TI-Neu in wasting tissues, and that these innate immune cells secreted high levels of LCN2. Antibody depletion of TI-Neu, as well as myeloid-specific-knockout of Lcn2, prevented ferroptosis and tissue wasting in experimental models of lung cancer cachexia. Chemical inhibition of ferroptosis alleviated tissue wasting significantly and also prolonged the survival of cachectic mice. Our study provides new insights into how LCN2-induced ferroptosis functionally impacts tissue wasting. We identified LCN2 as a potential target in the treatment of cancer cachexia. Ā© 2023. The Author(s).

    • Cell Biology
    • ,
    • Genetics
    Executioner caspases restrict mitochondrial RNA-driven Type I IFN induction during chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.

    In Nature Communications on 14 March 2023 by Killarney, S. T., Washart, R., et al.

    PubMed

    During apoptosis, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) enables certain mitochondrial matrix macromolecules to escape into the cytosol. However, the fate of mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) during apoptosis is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that MOMP results in the cytoplasmic release of mtRNA and that executioner caspases-3 and -7 (casp3/7) prevent cytoplasmic mtRNA from triggering inflammatory signaling. In the setting of genetic or pharmacological casp3/7 inhibition, apoptotic insults result in mtRNA activation of the MDA5/MAVS/IRF3 pathway to drive Type I interferon (IFN) signaling. This pathway is sufficient to activate tumor-intrinsic Type I IFN signaling in immunologically cold cancer models that lack an intact cGAS/STING signaling pathway, promote CD8+ T-cell-dependent anti-tumor immunity, and overcome anti-PD1 refractoriness in vivo. Thus, a key function of casp3/7 is to inhibit inflammation caused by the cytoplasmic release of mtRNA, and pharmacological modulation of this pathway increases the immunogenicity of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Ā© 2023. The Author(s).

    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    BCAT2 Shapes a Noninflamed Tumor Microenvironment and Induces Resistance to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy by Negatively Regulating Proinflammatory Chemokines and Anticancer Immunity.

    In Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) on 1 March 2023 by Cai, Z., Chen, J., et al.

    PubMed

    To improve response rate of monotherapy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), it is necessary to find an emerging target in combination therapy. Through analyzing tumor microenvironment (TME)-related indicators, it is validated that BCAT2 shapes a noninflamed TME in bladder cancer. The outcomes of multiomics indicate that BCAT2 has an inhibitory effect on cytotoxic lymphocyte recruitment by restraining activities of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine-related pathways and T-cell-chemotaxis pathway. Immunoassays reveal that secretion of CD8+ T-cell-related chemokines keeps a robust negative correlation with BCAT2, generating a decreasing tendency of CD8+ T cells around BCAT2+ tumor cells from far to near. Cotreatment of BCAT2 deficiency and anti-PD-1 antibody has a synergistic effect in vivo, implying the potential of BCAT2 in combination therapy. Moreover, the value of BCAT2 in predicting efficacy of immunotherapy is validated in multiple immunotherapy cohorts. Together, as a key molecule in TME, BCAT2 is an emerging target in combination with ICB and a biomarker of guiding precision therapy. Ā© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

    • Neuroscience
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Microglia-mediated T cell infiltration drives neurodegeneration in tauopathy.

    In Nature on 1 March 2023 by Chen, X., Firulyova, M., et al.

    PubMed

    Extracellular deposition of amyloid-Ī² as neuritic plaques and intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated, aggregated tau as neurofibrillary tangles are two of the characteristic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease1,2. The regional progression of brain atrophy in Alzheimer's disease highly correlates with tau accumulation but not amyloid deposition3-5, and the mechanisms of tau-mediated neurodegeneration remain elusive. Innate immune responses represent a common pathway for the initiation and progression of some neurodegenerative diseases. So far, little is known about the extent or role of the adaptive immune response and its interaction with the innate immune response in the presence of amyloid-Ī² or tau pathology6. Here we systematically compared the immunological milieux in the brain of mice with amyloid deposition or tau aggregation and neurodegeneration. We found that mice with tauopathy but not those with amyloid deposition developed a unique innate and adaptive immune response and that depletion of microglia or T cells blocked tau-mediated neurodegeneration. Numbers of T cells, especially those of cytotoxic T cells, were markedly increased in areas with tau pathology in mice with tauopathy and in the Alzheimer's disease brain. T cell numbers correlated with the extent of neuronal loss, and the cells dynamically transformed their cellular characteristics from activated to exhausted states along with unique TCR clonal expansion. Inhibition of interferon-Ī³ and PDCD1 signalling both significantly ameliorated brain atrophy. Our results thus reveal a tauopathy- and neurodegeneration-related immune hub involving activated microglia and T cell responses, which could serve as therapeutic targets for preventing neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and primary tauopathies. Ā© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    IL-33/ST2 signaling promotes constitutive and inductive PD-L1 expression and immune escape in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    In British Journal of Cancer on 1 March 2023 by Zhao, M., He, Y., et al.

    PubMed

    Loss-of-function of PD-L1 induces therapy resistance of anti-PD-1/L1 therapy, and the complex regulatory mechanisms are not completely understood. We previously reported that stroma-derived interleukin-33 (IL-33) promoted the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We here focused on the immune-regulation role of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 signaling in PD-L1-positive OSCC patients. Activated T cells in in situ and peripheral blood were analyzed by IL-33/ST3 expression. Knockdown or overexpression of ST2 combined with IL-33/IFN-Ī³ stimulation were performed to determine PD-L1 expression and PD-L1-dependent immune escape in OSCC/human T cells co-culture system, and OSCC orthotopic model based on humanized mouse with immune reconstitution and C57BL/6 mice models. High IL-33/ST2 correlated with less activated T cells infiltration in situ and peripheral blood. Knockdown of ST2 down-regulated constitutive PD-L1 expression, whereas ST2 also promoted IL-33-induced PD-L1 Mechanistically, IL-33/ST2 activated JAK2/STAT3 pathway to directly promoted PD-L1 expression, and also activated MyD88/NF-ĪŗB signaling to up-regulate IFN-Ī³ receptor (IFN-Ī³R), which indirectly strengthen IFN-Ī³-induced PD-L1. Furthermore, ST2 is required for PD-L1-mediated immune tolerance in vitro and in vivo. ST2high OSCC patients have more PD-L1 and IFN-Ī³R level in situ. IL-33/ST2 signaling enhanced PD-L1-mediated immune escape, ST2high OSCC patients might benefit from anti-PD-1/L1 therapy. Ā© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

    • COVID-19
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Differential requirement of neutralizing antibodies and T cells on protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

    In NPJ Vaccines on 13 February 2023 by Azevedo, P. O., Hojo-Souza, N. S., et al.

    PubMed

    The current COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe disease, but are not effective in controlling replication of the Variants of Concern (VOCs). Here, we used the existing pre-clinical models of severe and moderate COVID-19 to evaluate the efficacy of a Spike-based DNA vaccine (pCTV-WS) for protection against different VOCs. Immunization of transgenic (K18-hACE2) mice and hamsters induced significant levels of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) to Wuhan and Delta isolates, but not to the Gamma and Omicron variants. Nevertheless, the pCTV-WS vaccine offered significant protection to all VOCs. Consistently, protection against lung pathology and viral load to Wuhan or Delta was mediated by nAbs, whereas in the absence of nAbs, T cells controlled viral replication, disease and lethality in mice infected with either the Gamma or Omicron variants. Hence, considering the conserved nature of CD4 and CD8 T cell epitopes, we corroborate the hypothesis that induction of effector T-cells should be a main goal for new vaccines against the emergent SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Ā© 2023. The Author(s).

    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Cellular Senescence Is Immunogenic and Promotes Antitumor Immunity.

    In Cancer Discovery on 6 February 2023 by Marin, I., Boix, O., et al.

    PubMed

    Cellular senescence is a stress response that activates innate immune cells, but little is known about its interplay with the adaptive immune system. Here, we show that senescent cells combine several features that render them highly efficient in activating dendritic cells (DC) and antigen-specific CD8 T cells. This includes the release of alarmins, activation of IFN signaling, enhanced MHC class I machinery, and presentation of senescence-associated self-peptides that can activate CD8 T cells. In the context of cancer, immunization with senescent cancer cells elicits strong antitumor protection mediated by DCs and CD8 T cells. Interestingly, this protection is superior to immunization with cancer cells undergoing immunogenic cell death. Finally, the induction of senescence in human primary cancer cells also augments their ability to activate autologous antigen-specific tumor-infiltrating CD8 lymphocytes. Our study indicates that senescent cancer cells can be exploited to develop efficient and protective CD8-dependent antitumor immune responses. Our study shows that senescent cells are endowed with a high immunogenic potential-superior to the gold standard of immunogenic cell death. We harness these properties of senescent cells to trigger efficient and protective CD8-dependent antitumor immune responses. See related article by Chen et al., p. 432. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247. Ā©2022 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.

    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Tumor necroptosis-mediated shedding of cell surface proteins promotes metastasis of breast cancer by suppressing anti-tumor immunity.

    In Breast Cancer Research : BCR on 26 January 2023 by Liu, Z., Choksi, S., et al.

    PubMed

    Necroptosis is a form of regulated necrosis and is executed by MLKL when MLKL is engaged in triggering the rupture of cell plasma membrane. MLKL activation also leads to the protease, ADAMs-mediated ectodomain shedding of cell surface proteins of necroptotic cells. Tumor necroptosis often happens in advanced solid tumors, and blocking necroptosis by MLKL deletion in breast cancer dramatically reduces tumor metastasis. It has been suggested that tumor necroptosis affects tumor progression through modulating the tumor microenvironment. However, the exact mechanism by which tumor necroptosis promotes tumor metastasis remains elusive. Here, we report that the ectodomain shedding of cell surface proteins of necroptotic cells is critical for the promoting effect of tumor necroptosis in tumor metastasis through inhibiting the anti-tumor activity of T cells. We found that blocking tumor necroptosis by MLKL deletion led to the dramatic reduction of tumor metastasis and significantly elevated anti-tumor activity of tumor-infiltrating and peripheral blood T cells. Importantly, the increased anti-tumor activity of T cells is a key cause for the reduced metastasis as the depletion of CD8+ T cells completely restored the level of metastasis in the Mlkl KO mice. Interestingly, the levels of some soluble cell surface proteins including sE-cadherin that are known to promote metastasis are also dramatically reduced in MLKL null tumors/mice. Administration of ADAMs pan inhibitor reduces the levels of soluble cell surface proteins in WT tumors/mice and leads to the dramatic decrease in metastasis. Finally, we showed the sE-cadherin/KLRG1 inhibitory receptor is the major pathway for necroptosis-mediated suppression of the anti-tumor activity of T cells and the promotion of metastasis. Hence, our study reveals a novel mechanism of tumor necroptosis-mediated promotion of metastasis and suggests that tumor necroptosis and necroptosis-activated ADAMs are potential targets for controlling metastasis. Ā© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.

    • Cancer Research
    Radiofrequency Ablation Remodels the Tumor Microenvironment and Promotes Neutrophil-Mediated Abscopal Immunomodulation in Pancreatic Cancer.

    In Cancer Immunology Research on 3 January 2023 by Faraoni, E. Y., O'Brien, B. J., et al.

    PubMed

    Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a 5-year overall survival rate of 11%, despite efforts to improve clinical outcomes in the past two decades. Therapeutic resistance is a hallmark of this disease, due to its dense and suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) is a promising local ablative and potential immunomodulatory therapy for PDAC. In this study, we performed RFA in a preclinical tumor-bearing KrasG12D; Trp53R172H/+; Pdx1:Cre (KPC) syngeneic model, analyzed local and abscopal affects after RFA and compared our findings with resected PDAC specimens. We found that RFA reduced PDAC tumor progression in vivo and promoted strong TME remodeling. In addition, we discovered tumor-infiltrating neutrophils determined abscopal effects. Using imaging mass cytometry, we showed that RFA elevated dendritic cell numbers in RFA-treated tumors and promoted a significant CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell abscopal response. In addition, RFA elevated levels of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and checkpoint blockade inhibition targeting PD-L1 sustained tumor growth reduction in the context of RFA. This study indicates RFA treatment, which has been shown to increase tumor antigen shedding, promotes antitumor immunity. This is critical in PDAC where recent clinical immunotherapy trials have not resulted in substantial changes in overall survival. Ā©2022 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.

    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Induction of T-helper-17-cell-mediated anti-tumour immunity by pathogen-mimicking polymer nanoparticles.

    In Nature Biomedical Engineering on 1 January 2023 by Son, S., Nam, J., et al.

    PubMed

    The effectivity of cancer immunotherapies is hindered by immunosuppressive tumour microenvironments that are poorly infiltrated by effector T cells and natural killer cells. In infection and autoimmune disease, the recruitment and activation of effector immune cells is coordinated by pro-inflammatory T helper 17 (TH17) cells. Here we show that pathogen-mimicking hollow nanoparticles displaying mannan (a polysaccharide that activates TH17 cells in microbial cell walls) limit the fraction of regulatory T cells and induce TH17-cell-mediated anti-tumour responses. The nanoparticles activate the pattern-recognition receptor Dectin-2 and Toll-like receptor 4 in dendritic cells, and promote the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into the TH17 phenotype. In mice, intra-tumoural administration of the nanoparticles decreased the fraction of regulatory T cells in the tumour while markedly increasing the fractions of TH17 cells (and the levels of TH17-cell-associated cytokines), CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells and M1-like macrophages. The anti-tumoural activity of the effector cells was amplified by an agonistic antibody against the co-stimulatory receptor OX40 in multiple mouse models. Nanomaterials that induce TH17-cell-mediated immune responses may have therapeutic potential. Ā© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Multivalent viral particles elicit safe and efficient immunoprotection against Nipah Hendra and Ebola viruses.

    In NPJ Vaccines on 17 December 2022 by Ithinji, D. G., Buchholz, D. W., et al.

    PubMed

    Experimental vaccines for the deadly zoonotic Nipah (NiV), Hendra (HeV), and Ebola (EBOV) viruses have focused on targeting individual viruses, although their geographical and bat reservoir host overlaps warrant creation of multivalent vaccines. Here we explored whether replication-incompetent pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) virions or NiV-based virus-like particles (VLPs) were suitable multivalent vaccine platforms by co-incorporating multiple surface glycoproteins from NiV, HeV, and EBOV onto these virions. We then enhanced the vaccines' thermotolerance using carbohydrates to enhance applicability in global regions that lack cold-chain infrastructure. Excitingly, in a Syrian hamster model of disease, the VSV multivalent vaccine elicited safe, strong, and protective neutralizing antibody responses against challenge with NiV, HeV, or EBOV. Our study provides proof-of-principle evidence that replication-incompetent multivalent viral particle vaccines are sufficient to provide protection against multiple zoonotic deadly viruses with high pandemic potential. Ā© 2022. The Author(s).

    The efficacy of chemotherapy is limited by intratumoural senescent cells that persist through the upregulation of PD-L2

    Preprint on BioRxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology on 4 November 2022 by Chaib, S., LĆ³pez-DomĆ­nguez, J. A., et al.

    PubMed

    Anti-cancer therapies often result in a subset of surviving cancer cells that undergo therapy-induced senescence (TIS). Senescent cancer cells strongly modify the intratumoural microenvironment favoring immunosuppression and, thereby, tumour growth. An emerging strategy to optimise current therapies is to combine them with treatments that eliminate senescent cells. To this end, we undertook an unbiased proteomics approach to identify surface markers contributing to senescent cells immune evasion. Through this approach, we discovered that the immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-L2, but not PD-L1, is upregulated across multiple senescent human and murine cells. Importantly, blockade of PD-L2 strongly synergises with genotoxic chemotherapy, causing remission of solid tumours in mice. We show that PD-L2 inhibition prevents the persistence of chemotherapy-induced senescent cells, which exert cell-extrinsic immunomodulatory actions. In particular, upon chemotherapy, tumours deficient in PD-L2 fail to produce cytokines of the CXCL family, do not recruit myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and are eliminated in a CD8 T cell-dependent manner. We conclude that blockade of PD-L2 improves chemotherapy efficacy by reducing the intratumoural burden of senescent cells and their associated recruitment of immunosuppressive cells. These findings provide a novel strategy to exploit vulnerabilities arising in tumour cells as a result of therapy-induced damage and cellular senescence.

    • FC/FACS
    • ,
    • Mus musculus (House mouse)
    • ,
    • Cancer Research
    • ,
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    Breast cancer cell-derived microRNA-155 suppresses tumor progression via enhancing immune cell recruitment and antitumor function.

    In The Journal of Clinical Investigation on 3 October 2022 by Wang, J., Wang, Q., et al.

    PubMed

    Evidence suggests that increased microRNA-155 (miR-155) expression in immune cells enhances antitumor immune responses. However, given the reported association of miR-155 with tumorigenesis in various cancers, a debate is provoked on whether miR-155 is oncogenic or tumor suppressive. We aimed to interrogate the impact of tumor miR-155 expression, particularly that of cancer cell-derived miR-155, on antitumor immunity in breast cancer. We performed bioinformatic analysis of human breast cancer databases, murine experiments, and human specimen examination. We revealed that higher tumor miR-155 levels correlate with a favorable antitumor immune profile and better patient outcomes. Murine experiments demonstrated that miR-155 overexpression in breast cancer cells enhanced T cell influx, delayed tumor growth, and sensitized the tumors to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Mechanistically, miR-155 overexpression in breast cancer cells upregulated their CXCL9/10/11 production, which was mediated by SOCS1 inhibition and increased phosphorylated STAT1 (p-STAT1)/p-STAT3 ratios. We further found that serum miR-155 levels in breast cancer patients correlated with tumor miR-155 levels and tumor immune status. Our findings suggest that high serum and tumor miR-155 levels may be a favorable prognostic marker for breast cancer patients and that therapeutic elevation of miR-155 in breast tumors may improve the efficacy of ICB therapy via remodeling the antitumor immune landscape.

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