The role of sphingolipids (SLs) in the immune system has come under increasing scrutiny recently due to the emerging contributions that these important membrane components play in regulating a variety of immunological processes. The acyl chain length of SLs appears particularly critical in determining SL function. Here, we show a role for very-long acyl chain SLs (VLC-SLs) in invariant natural killer T (NKT) cell maturation in the thymus and homeostasis in the liver. Ceramide synthase 2-null mice, which lack VLC-SLs, were susceptible to a hepatotropic strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which is due to a reduction in the number of NKT cells. Bone marrow chimera experiments indicated that hematopoietic-derived VLC-SLs are essential for maturation of NKT cells in the thymus, whereas parenchymal-derived VLC-SLs are crucial for NKT cell survival and maintenance in the liver. Our findings suggest a critical role for VLC-SL in NKT cell physiology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01386 | DOI Listing |
Anim Cells Syst (Seoul)
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is well-known for its ability to stimulate immune cells in response to pathogen infections and cancer. To develop an effective cancer therapeutic vaccine, CT26 colon carcinoma cells were genetically modified to express IFNγ either as a secreted form (sIFNγ) or as a membrane-bound form. For the membrane-bound expression, IFNγ was fused with Fas (mbIFNγ/Fas), incorporating the extracellular cysteine-rich domains, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains of Fas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnticancer Drugs
January 2025
Galactophore Department, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Recent studies have shown that Janus Kinase inhibitors can enhance the tumor therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, it remains to be studied whether TYK2 selective inhibitors can enhance the therapeutic effect of small molecule PD-L1 inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We verified the efficacy of the combination of the selective TYK2 inhibitor Deucravacitinib and the small molecule inhibitor of PD-L1, INCB086550, in two TNBC animal models: a syngeneic mouse model (4T1 with humanized PD-L1) and a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-humanized model (MDA-MB-231).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin HIV AIDS
December 2024
Division of Innate and Comparative Immunology, Center for Human Systems Immunology, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Purpose Of Review: Like elephants (and T cells), accumulating evidence suggest natural killer (NK) cells never forget. The description of adaptive or memory NK cells, which can be induced by HIV/SIV infections and vaccines and associated with protective effects in persons with HIV (PWH), has dramatically increased the interest in leveraging NK cells to prevent HIV infection or suppress HIV reservoirs. However, harnessing their full antiviral potential has been hindered by an incomplete understanding of mechanisms underlying adaptive NK cell development and infected cell recognition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccines (Basel)
November 2024
Department of Biological Sciences, Kean University, Union, NJ 07083, USA.
Immunosenescence, a systematic reduction in the immune system connected with age, profoundly affects the health and well-being of elderly individuals. This review outlines the hallmark features of immunosenescence, including thymic involution, inflammaging, cellular metabolic adaptations, and hematopoietic changes, and their impact on immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, dendritic cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Thymic involution impairs the immune system's capacity to react to novel antigens by reducing thymopoiesis and shifting toward memory T cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
December 2024
Immunology and Infectious Diseases Program, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3V6, Canada.
Natural killer (NK) and CD8 T cell function is compromised in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection by increased expression of inhibitory receptors such as TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains). Blocking inhibitory receptors or their ligands with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) has potential to improve antiviral immunity in general and facilitate HIV eradication strategies. We assessed the impact of TIGIT engagement and blockade on cytotoxicity, degranulation, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production by CD8 T cells from persons living with HIV (PLWH).
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