Liver injury in cynomolgus monkeys following intravenous and intrathecal scAAV9 gene therapy delivery.

Hepatotoxicity associated with intravenous/intrathecal adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy has been observed in preclinical species and patients. In nonhuman primates, hepatotoxicity following self-complementary AAV9 administration varies from asymptomatic transaminase elevation with minimal to mild microscopic changes to symptomatic elevations of liver function and thromboinflammatory markers with microscopic changes consistent with marked hepatocellular necrosis and deteriorating clinical condition. These transient acute liver injury marker elevations occur from 3-4 days post intravenous administration to ∼2 weeks post intrathecal administration.

Diversity of B Cell Populations and Ig Repertoire in Human Lungs.

The human lung carries a unique microbiome adapted to the air-filled, mucous-lined environment, the presence of which requires an immune system capable of recognizing harmful populations while preventing reactions toward commensals. B cells in the lung play a key role in pulmonary immunity, generating Ag-specific Abs, as well as cytokine secretion for immune activation and regulation. In this study, we compared B cell subsets in human lungs versus circulating cells by analyzing patient-paired lung and blood samples.

Common pathway signature in lung and liver fibrosis.

Fibrosis, a progressive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, encompasses a wide spectrum of distinct organs, and accounts for an increasing burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the tremendous clinical impact, the mechanisms governing the fibrotic process are not yet understood, and to date, no clinically reliable therapies for fibrosis have been discovered. Here we applied Regeneration Intelligence, a new bioinformatics software suite for qualitative analysis of intracellular signaling pathway activation using transcriptomic data, to assess a network of molecular signaling in lung and liver fibrosis.

Intestinal CD169(+) macrophages initiate mucosal inflammation by secreting CCL8 that recruits inflammatory monocytes.

Lamina propria (LP) macrophages are constantly exposed to commensal bacteria, and are refractory to those antigens in an interleukin (IL)-10-dependent fashion. However, the mechanisms that discriminate hazardous invasion by bacteria from peaceful co-existence with them remain elusive. Here we show that CD169(+) macrophages reside not at the villus tip, but at the bottom-end of the LP microenvironment.