A spike-targeting bispecific T cell engager strategy provides dual layer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo.

Neutralizing antibodies exert a potent inhibitory effect on viral entry; however, they are less effective in therapeutic models than in prophylactic models, presumably because of their limited efficacy in eliminating virus-producing cells via Fc-mediated cytotoxicity. Herein, we present a SARS-CoV-2 spike-targeting bispecific T-cell engager (S-BiTE) strategy for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. This approach blocks the entry of free virus into permissive cells by competing with membrane receptors and eliminates virus-infected cells via powerful T cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Type I Interferon Promotes Antitumor T Cell Response in CRPC by Regulating MDSC.

Background: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the leading cause of death among prostate cancer patients. Here, our aim was to ascertain the immune regulatory mechanisms involved in CRPC development and identify potential immunotherapies against CRPC.

Methods: A CRPC model was established using Myc-CaP cells in immune-competent FVB mice following castration.

A CLDN18.2-Targeting Bispecific T Cell Co-Stimulatory Activator for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Background: Co-stimulatory receptor agonist antibodies have shown promising antitumor efficacy in preclinical models. However, their clinical development lags due to systemic or local adverse effects of non-specific T cell activation. Utilization of a bispecific antibody format to reduce off-tumor immune activation is a focus of co-stimulatory receptor agonist antibody design.

Engineering mesenchymal stromal cells with neutralizing and anti-inflammatory capability against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The emergence of the novel human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has markedly affected global health and the economy. Both uncontrolled viral replication and a proinflammatory cytokine storm can cause severe tissue damage in patients with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its entry receptor.

Bcl-2 Enhances Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Persistence by Reducing Activation-Induced Apoptosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential added value of integrating anti-apoptotic molecules for improving the anti-tumor activity of CAR-T cells.

Methods: Four small molecules inhibiting apoptosis were tested for their ability to prevent activated induced CAR-T cell death. Five CD20-targeting, CD137 (4-1BB) and CD3ζ integrated CAR-T cells (20BBZ) with constitutively expressed anti-apoptotic genes were established, and we screened out the strongest proliferation enhancer: Bcl-2.

4-1BB Signaling Boosts the Anti-Tumor Activity of CD28-Incorporated 2 Generation Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T Cells.

While chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells have shown great success for the treatment of B cell leukemia, their efficacy appears to be compromised in B cell derived lymphoma and solid tumors. Optimization of the CAR design to improve persistence and cytotoxicity is a focus of the current CAR-T study. Herein, we established a novel CAR structure by adding a full length 4-1BB co-stimulatory receptor to a 28Z-based second generation CAR that targets CD20.

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screening Identifies JAK1 Deficiency as a Mechanism of T-Cell Resistance.

Somatic gene mutations play a critical role in immune evasion by tumors. However, there is limited information on genes that confer immunotherapy resistance in melanoma. To answer this question, we established a whole-genome knockout B16/ovalbumin cell line by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease technology, and determined by adoptive OT-I T-cell transfer and an OT-I T-cell-killing assay that Janus kinase (JAK)1 deficiency mediates T-cell resistance via a two-step mechanism.

Epilation induces hair and skin pigmentation through an EDN3/EDNRB-dependent regenerative response of melanocyte stem cells.

In response to various types of injury, melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) located in the bulge of hair follicles can regenerate mature melanocytes for hair and skin pigmentation. How McSCs respond to injury, however, remains largely unknown. Here we show that after epilation of mice, McSCs regenerate follicular and epidermal melanocytes, resulting in skin and hair hyperpigmentation.

Regulation of pigmentation by microRNAs: MITF-dependent microRNA-211 targets TGF-β receptor 2.

There is growing evidence that microRNAs are important regulators of gene expression in a variety of cell types. Using immortalized cell lines and primary neural crest cell explants, we show that microRNA-211, previously implicated in the regulation of melanoma proliferation and invasiveness, promotes pigmentation in melanoblasts and melanocytes. Expression of this microRNA is regulated by the key melanocyte transcription factor MITF and regulates pigmentation by targeting the TGF-β receptor 2.