Amplification of the CXCR3/CXCL9 axis via intratumoral electroporation of plasmid CXCL9 synergizes with plasmid IL-12 therapy to elicit robust anti-tumor immunity.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that local expression of the cytokine IL-12 drives interferon-gamma expression and recruits T cells to the tumor microenvironment, ultimately yielding durable systemic T cell responses. Interrogation of longitudinal biomarker data from our late-stage melanoma trials identified a significant on-treatment increase of intratumoral transcripts that was restricted to responding patients, underscoring the clinical relevance of tumor-infiltrating CXCR3 immune cells. In this study, we sought to understand if the addition of DNA-encodable CXCL9 could augment the anti-tumor immune responses driven by intratumoral IL-12.

Intratumoral Electroporation of Plasmid Encoded IL12 and Membrane-Anchored Anti-CD3 Increases Systemic Tumor Immunity.

Unlabelled: Intratumoral delivery of plasmid IL12 via electroporation (IT-tavo-EP) induces localized expression of IL12 leading to regression of treated and distant tumors with durable responses and minimal toxicity. A key driver in amplifying this local therapy into a systemic response is the magnitude and composition of immune infiltrate in the treated tumor. While intratumoral IL12 typically increases the density of CD3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), this infiltrate is composed of a broad range of T-cell subsets, including activated tumor-specific T cells, less functional bystander T cells, as well as suppressive T regulatory cells.

Runx proteins mediate protective immunity against Leishmania donovani infection by promoting CD40 expression on dendritic cells.

The level of CD40 expression on dendritic cells (DCs) plays a decisive role in disease protection during Leishmania donovani (LD) infection. However, current understanding of the molecular regulation of CD40 expression remains elusive. Using molecular, cellular and functional approaches, we identified a role for Runx1 and Runx3 transcription factors in the regulation of CD40 expression in DCs.

Bioinformatics drives discovery in Biomedicine.

Bioinformatics has evolved from providing basic solutions, such as sequence alignment, structure predictions, and phylogenetic analysis to an independent data-driven field. The unprecedented growth of genomic technologies and the enormous data have opened an avenue for bioinformaticians (Bioinformatics professionals) never been seen before in the history of mankind. The novel opportunity also requires creative solutions that need skills to deal with noisy, unstructured information to offer valuable biological insights.

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of tissue-resident memory T cells in human lung cancer.

High numbers of tissue-resident memory T (T) cells are associated with better clinical outcomes in cancer patients. However, the molecular characteristics that drive their efficient immune response to tumors are poorly understood. Here, single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analysis of T and non-T cells present in tumor and normal lung tissue from patients with lung cancer revealed that PD-1-expressing T cells in tumors were clonally expanded and enriched for transcripts linked to cell proliferation and cytotoxicity when compared with PD-1-expressing non-T cells.

Reduced expression of phosphatase PTPN2 promotes pathogenic conversion of Tregs in autoimmunity.

Genetic variants at the PTPN2 locus, which encodes the tyrosine phosphatase PTPN2, cause reduced gene expression and are linked to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases. PTPN2 inhibits signaling through the T cell and cytokine receptors, and loss of PTPN2 promotes T cell expansion and CD4- and CD8-driven autoimmunity. However, it remains unknown whether loss of PTPN2 in FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) plays a role in autoimmunity.

Transforming growth factor-β1 impairs lymph node homing of dendritic cells by downregulating C-type lectin receptor-2 expression.

Trafficking of dendritic cells (DCs) from peripheral tissues to draining lymph nodes is a prerequisite for induction of adaptive immunity. An immunosuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, however, inhibits migration of DCs by downregulating the expression of chemokine receptor CCR-7. Whether TGF-β1 engages any other receptor to mediate this inhibitory effect is currently unknown.

S-allyl cysteine inhibits TNFα-induced skeletal muscle wasting through suppressing proteolysis and expression of inflammatory molecules.

Background: Elevated levels of inflammatory molecules are key players in muscle wasting/atrophy leading to human morbidity. TNFα is a well-known pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of muscle wasting under diverse clinical settings. S-allyl cysteine (SAC), an active component of garlic (Allium sativum), has established anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in various cell types.

c-Src Suppresses Dendritic Cell Antitumor Activity via T Cell Ig and Mucin Protein-3 Receptor.

The enhanced expression of T cell Ig and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) on tumor-associated dendritic cells (DCs) attenuates antitumor effects of DNA vaccines. To identify a potential target (or targets) for reducing TIM-3 expression on tumor-associated DCs, we explored the molecular mechanisms regulating TIM-3 expression. In this study, we have identified a novel signaling pathway (c-Src→Bruton's tyrosine kinase→transcription factors Ets1, Ets2, USF1, and USF2) necessary for TIM-3 upregulation on DCs.

Immunoregulation of dendritic cells by the receptor T cell Ig and mucin protein-3 via Bruton's tyrosine kinase and c-Src.

The receptor T cell Ig and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) has emerged as an important regulator of innate immune responses. However, whether TIM-3-induced signaling promotes or inhibits the activation and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) still remains uncertain. In addition, the TIM-3 signaling events involved in this immunoregulatory function are yet to be established.

Expression and immunological characterization of cardamom mosaic virus coat protein displaying HIV gp41 epitopes.

The coat protein of cardamom mosaic virus (CdMV), a member of the genus Macluravirus, assembles into virus-like particles when expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system. The N and C-termini of the coat protein were engineered with the Kennedy peptide and the 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes of gp41 of HIV. The chimeric proteins reacted with sera from HIV positive persons and also stimulated secretion of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these persons.