Th17 and effector CD8 T cells relate to disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case control study.

The immune system has garnered attention due to its association with disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the role of peripheral immune cells in this context remains controversial. Here, we conducted single-cell RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to comprehensively profile immune cells concerning the rate of disease progression in patients with ALS.

B-cell immune dysregulation with low soluble CD22 levels in refractory seronegative myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG), primarily caused by acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibodies, is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing severe muscle weakness and fatigability. In particular, seronegative MG constitutes 10%-15% of MG cases and presents diagnostic challenges especially in early-onset female patients who often show severe disease and resistance to immunosuppressive therapy. Furthermore, the immunopathology of seronegative MG remains unclear.

Reduced TREM2 activation in microglia of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Loss-of-function variants of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanism through which TREM2 contributes to the disease (TREM2 activation vs inactivation) is largely unknown. Here, we analyzed changes in a gene set downstream of TREM2 to determine whether TREM2 signaling is modified by AD progression.

The evaluation of lymph node cell proliferation response by liposomes loaded with major histocompatibility complex class II binding aquaporin 4 antigen peptide.

Autoimmune responses to aquaporin 4 (AQP4) cause neuromyelitis optica (NMO); thus, specific immunotolerance to this self-antigen could represent a new NMO treatment. We generated the liposome-encapsulated AQP4 peptide 201-220 (p201-220) to induce immunotolerance. Liposomes were generated using phosphatidylserine and the polyglycidol species PG8MG.

Anti-sortilin1 Antibody Up-Regulates Progranulin Sortilin1 Down-Regulation.

Progranulin (PGRN) haploinsufficiency associated with loss-of-function mutations in the granulin gene causes frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This suggests that increasing PGRN levels could have promising therapeutic implications for patients carrying mutations. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of sortilin1 (SORT1), a clearance receptor of PGRN, by generating and characterizing monoclonal antibodies against SORT1.

Development of novel highly sensitive methods to detect endogenous cGAMP in cells and tissue.

Intracellular DNA triggers interferon release during the innate immune response. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) senses intracellular double-stranded DNA not only in response to viral infection but also under autoimmune conditions. Measuring the levels of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) as a second messenger of cGAS activation is important to elucidate the physiological and pathological roles of cGAS.