Objective: Cancer immunotherapy has made remarkable advances in recent years, but its effectiveness in treating gastric cancer is often limited by the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the lack of effective...Objective: Cancer immunotherapy has made remarkable advances in recent years, but its effectiveness in treating gastric cancer is often limited by the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the lack of effective biomarkers. This study aimed to identify effective biomarkers for immunotherapy treatment by characterizing the tumor microenvironment.Methods: We retrieved the RNA-seq data from gastric cancer patients treated with the programmed death 1(PD-1) blockade pembrolizumab. Differentially expressed genes associated with clinical outcomes were identified and further analyzed using gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis. Gene signature scores were calculated by single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(ssGSEA). The infiltration levels of immune cells were quantified using the xCell website. Cell type enrichment analysis was performed to compare treatment response and non-response groups, and regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between interferon gamma(IFNγ) immune response and immune cell infiltration. Biomarkers were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) analysis.Results: Compared to normal tissues, cytokine activity and interleukin-6 production were highly activated in gastric tumors. Responders to pembrolizumab showed significantly up-regulated expression of IFNγ responserelated genes. Cell type enrichment analysis revealed that Th1 cells were significantly enriched in the tumor microenvironment of responders. Regression analysis indicated that Th1 cells induced IFNγ response more efficiently than other cell types. Using signatures of Th1 cells, stromal cells and IFNγ response, a set of eight genes were identified that effectively predicted the efficacy of immunotherapy treatment and patient prognosis.Conclusions: Th1 cells promote therapeutic efficacy of PD-1 blockade by promoting IFNγ immune response in gastric cancer. The identified biomarkers have the potential to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatment for gastric cancer patients.展开更多
目的探讨果蝇双翅边缘缺刻同源基因(Notch)信号通路在慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)辅助性T细胞1(Helper T cells 1,Th1)和辅助性T细胞2(Helper T cells 2,Th2)失衡中的作用及芪蛭皱肺颗粒的干预机制。方法70只Wistar大鼠随机挑选10只作为空...目的探讨果蝇双翅边缘缺刻同源基因(Notch)信号通路在慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)辅助性T细胞1(Helper T cells 1,Th1)和辅助性T细胞2(Helper T cells 2,Th2)失衡中的作用及芪蛭皱肺颗粒的干预机制。方法70只Wistar大鼠随机挑选10只作为空白对照组,其余大鼠均采用香烟烟雾(CS)联合气管滴注脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide,LPS)法建立COPD模型,空白对照组及造模组各随机挑选3只大鼠验证造模是否成功。造模结束进行灌胃给药干预,造模组大鼠随机分为模型对照组、阳性对照组(67.5μg·kg^(-1))及芪蛭皱肺颗粒高中低剂量组(3.24、1.62、0.81 g·kg^(-1)),分别给予生理盐水、醋酸地塞米松混悬液、芪蛭皱肺高、中、低剂量混悬液进行灌胃干预,空白对照组同模型对照组,灌胃等体积生理盐水。经28天造模及28天治疗后,采用动物肺功能测试系统检测吸气峰流速(Peak Inspiratory Flow,PIF)和呼气峰流速(Peak Expiratory Flow,PEF),处死大鼠提取肺脏、脾脏、血清及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF),苏木素-伊红(HE)染色评价肺组织病理变化,酶联免疫吸附实验法(ELISA)测定血清及BALF中肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量,流式细胞仪检测脾脏Th1/Th2细胞水平,免疫组织化学法(Immunohistochemistry,IHC)及蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测肺组织Notch1、Hes家族发状分裂相关增强子1(Hes1)、Hey家族发状分裂相关增强子1(Hey1)蛋白水平,实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR,RT-PCR)检测肺组织Notch1、Hes1、Hey1基因表达水平。结果与空白对照组比较,模型对照组大鼠肺功能显著降低(P<0.05),肺组织出现炎性细胞浸润、支气管结构破坏等病变,血清及BALF中TNF-α含量显著升高(P<0.05),脾Th1细胞百分比显著降低(P<0.05),Th2细胞百分比显著升高(P<0.05),肺组织Notch1、Hes1、Hey1蛋白及mRNA表达显著升高(P<0.05),差异均具有统计学意义;与模型对照组比较,各给药组大鼠肺功能显著升高(P<0.05),肺组织病理损伤均有所减轻,血清及BALF中TNF-α含量显著降低(P<0.05),脾Th1细胞百分比显著升高(P<0.05),Th2细胞百分比显著降低(P<0.05),肺组织Notch1、Hes1、Hey1蛋白及mRNA表达显著降低(P<0.05),差异均具有统计学意义。结论芪蛭皱肺颗粒通过抑制Notch信号通路调节Th1/Th2平衡,从而改善COPD大鼠肺功能及病理损伤,影响其免疫功能。展开更多
· AIM: To determine the effects of rapamycin on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU) and investigate of role of rapamycin on T cell subsets in the disease.·METHODS: EAU was induced in rats using peptid...· AIM: To determine the effects of rapamycin on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU) and investigate of role of rapamycin on T cell subsets in the disease.·METHODS: EAU was induced in rats using peptides1169 to 1191 of the interphotoreceptor binding protein(IRBP). Rapamycin(0.2 mg/kg/d) was administrated by intraperitoneal injection for a consecutive 7d after immunization. Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, TGF-β1, and IL-6produced by lymphocyteswere measured by ELISA, while Th17 cells and CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells(Tregs)from rat spleen were detected by flow cytometry.·RESULTS: Intraperitoneal treatment immediately after immunization dramatically ameliorated the clinical course of EAU. Clinical responses were associated with reduced retinal inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue destruction. Rapamycin induced suppression of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17, IL-4, and IL-10 release from T lymphocytes of EAU rats, in vitro.Rapamycin also significantly increased TGF-β1production but had no effect on IL-6 productionof T lymphocytes from EAU rats in vitro. Furthermore,rapamycin decreased the ratio of Th17 cells/CD4 +T cells and upregulated Tregs in EAU, as detected by flow cytometry.·CONCLUSION: Rapamycin effectively interferes with T cell mediated autoimmune uveitis by inhibiting antigen-specific T cell functions and enhancing Tregs in EAU.Rapamycin is a promising new alternative as an adjunct corticosteroid-sparing agent for treating uveitis.展开更多
The interplay between keratinocytes and immune cells,especially T cells,plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases.During psoriasis,keratinocytes attract T cells by releasing che...The interplay between keratinocytes and immune cells,especially T cells,plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases.During psoriasis,keratinocytes attract T cells by releasing chemokines,while skin-infiltrating selfreactive T cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines,e.g.,IFN γand IL-17A,that cause epidermal hyperplasia.Similarly,in chronic graftversus-host disease,allogenic IFN γ-producing Th1/Tc1 and IL-17-producing Th17/Tc17 cells are recruited by keratinocyte-derived chemokines and accumulate in the skin.However,whether keratinocytes act as nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells to directly activate naive human T cells in the epidermis remains unknown.Here,we demonstrate that under proinflammatory conditions,primary human keratinocytes indeed activate naive human T cells.This activation required cell contact and costimulatory signaling via CD58/CD2 and CD54/LFA-1.Naive T cells costimulated by keratinocytes selectively differentiated into Th1 and Th17 cells.In particular,keratinocyte-initiated Th1 differentiation was dependent on costimulation through CD58/CD2.The latter molecule initiated STAT1 signaling and IFN γproduction in T cells.Costimulation of T cells by keratinocytes resulting in Th1 and Th17 differentiation represents a new explanation for the local enrichment of Th1 and Th17 cells in the skin of patients with a chronic inflammatory skin disease.Consequently,local interference with T cell–keratinocyte interactions may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of Th1 and Th17 cell-driven skin diseases.展开更多
Background: Insulitis is defined by the presence of immune cells infiltrating in the pancreatic islets that might progress into the complete β-cell loss. The immunomodulatory properties of bone marrow-derived mesench...Background: Insulitis is defined by the presence of immune cells infiltrating in the pancreatic islets that might progress into the complete β-cell loss. The immunomodulatory properties of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs) have attracted much attention. This study aimed to evaluate the possible immunomodulatory effects of rat BM-MSCs and MSCs-derived insulin-producing cells(IPCs) in a mouse model of pancreatic insulitis. Methods: Insulitis was induced in BALB/c mice using five consecuti ve doses of streptozotocin. MSCs or IPCs were directly injected into the pancreas of mice and their effects on the expression of Th subsetsrelated genes were evaluated. Results: Both BM-MSCs and IPCs significantly reduced the expression of pancreatic Th1-related IFN-γ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and T-bet genes(both P < 0.001). Moreover, the expression of IL-10 gene was significantly increased in IPC-treated compared to BM-MSC-or PBS-treated mice( P < 0.001 both comparisons). Conclusions: BM-MSCs and IPCs could successfully suppress pathologic Th1 immune responses in the mouse model of insulitis. However, the marked increase in IL-10 gene expression by IPCs compared to BM-MSCs suggests that their simultaneous use at the initial phase of autoimmune diabetes might be a better option to reduce inflammation but these results need to be verified by further experiments.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82030079, 82341005, 81972656 and 82173035)the National Science and Technology Major Project of China (No. 2022YFC3400 901)Sino-Russian Math Center in PKU。
文摘Objective: Cancer immunotherapy has made remarkable advances in recent years, but its effectiveness in treating gastric cancer is often limited by the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the lack of effective biomarkers. This study aimed to identify effective biomarkers for immunotherapy treatment by characterizing the tumor microenvironment.Methods: We retrieved the RNA-seq data from gastric cancer patients treated with the programmed death 1(PD-1) blockade pembrolizumab. Differentially expressed genes associated with clinical outcomes were identified and further analyzed using gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis. Gene signature scores were calculated by single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(ssGSEA). The infiltration levels of immune cells were quantified using the xCell website. Cell type enrichment analysis was performed to compare treatment response and non-response groups, and regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between interferon gamma(IFNγ) immune response and immune cell infiltration. Biomarkers were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) analysis.Results: Compared to normal tissues, cytokine activity and interleukin-6 production were highly activated in gastric tumors. Responders to pembrolizumab showed significantly up-regulated expression of IFNγ responserelated genes. Cell type enrichment analysis revealed that Th1 cells were significantly enriched in the tumor microenvironment of responders. Regression analysis indicated that Th1 cells induced IFNγ response more efficiently than other cell types. Using signatures of Th1 cells, stromal cells and IFNγ response, a set of eight genes were identified that effectively predicted the efficacy of immunotherapy treatment and patient prognosis.Conclusions: Th1 cells promote therapeutic efficacy of PD-1 blockade by promoting IFNγ immune response in gastric cancer. The identified biomarkers have the potential to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatment for gastric cancer patients.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81371005)
文摘· AIM: To determine the effects of rapamycin on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU) and investigate of role of rapamycin on T cell subsets in the disease.·METHODS: EAU was induced in rats using peptides1169 to 1191 of the interphotoreceptor binding protein(IRBP). Rapamycin(0.2 mg/kg/d) was administrated by intraperitoneal injection for a consecutive 7d after immunization. Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, TGF-β1, and IL-6produced by lymphocyteswere measured by ELISA, while Th17 cells and CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells(Tregs)from rat spleen were detected by flow cytometry.·RESULTS: Intraperitoneal treatment immediately after immunization dramatically ameliorated the clinical course of EAU. Clinical responses were associated with reduced retinal inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue destruction. Rapamycin induced suppression of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17, IL-4, and IL-10 release from T lymphocytes of EAU rats, in vitro.Rapamycin also significantly increased TGF-β1production but had no effect on IL-6 productionof T lymphocytes from EAU rats in vitro. Furthermore,rapamycin decreased the ratio of Th17 cells/CD4 +T cells and upregulated Tregs in EAU, as detected by flow cytometry.·CONCLUSION: Rapamycin effectively interferes with T cell mediated autoimmune uveitis by inhibiting antigen-specific T cell functions and enhancing Tregs in EAU.Rapamycin is a promising new alternative as an adjunct corticosteroid-sparing agent for treating uveitis.
基金supported by a grant from the German Research Foundation(SFB CRC156,project B04 and INST 114089/31-1 FUGG to Y.S.).
文摘The interplay between keratinocytes and immune cells,especially T cells,plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases.During psoriasis,keratinocytes attract T cells by releasing chemokines,while skin-infiltrating selfreactive T cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines,e.g.,IFN γand IL-17A,that cause epidermal hyperplasia.Similarly,in chronic graftversus-host disease,allogenic IFN γ-producing Th1/Tc1 and IL-17-producing Th17/Tc17 cells are recruited by keratinocyte-derived chemokines and accumulate in the skin.However,whether keratinocytes act as nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells to directly activate naive human T cells in the epidermis remains unknown.Here,we demonstrate that under proinflammatory conditions,primary human keratinocytes indeed activate naive human T cells.This activation required cell contact and costimulatory signaling via CD58/CD2 and CD54/LFA-1.Naive T cells costimulated by keratinocytes selectively differentiated into Th1 and Th17 cells.In particular,keratinocyte-initiated Th1 differentiation was dependent on costimulation through CD58/CD2.The latter molecule initiated STAT1 signaling and IFN γproduction in T cells.Costimulation of T cells by keratinocytes resulting in Th1 and Th17 differentiation represents a new explanation for the local enrichment of Th1 and Th17 cells in the skin of patients with a chronic inflammatory skin disease.Consequently,local interference with T cell–keratinocyte interactions may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of Th1 and Th17 cell-driven skin diseases.
基金This study was supported by a grant from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences(No.94-7616).
文摘Background: Insulitis is defined by the presence of immune cells infiltrating in the pancreatic islets that might progress into the complete β-cell loss. The immunomodulatory properties of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs) have attracted much attention. This study aimed to evaluate the possible immunomodulatory effects of rat BM-MSCs and MSCs-derived insulin-producing cells(IPCs) in a mouse model of pancreatic insulitis. Methods: Insulitis was induced in BALB/c mice using five consecuti ve doses of streptozotocin. MSCs or IPCs were directly injected into the pancreas of mice and their effects on the expression of Th subsetsrelated genes were evaluated. Results: Both BM-MSCs and IPCs significantly reduced the expression of pancreatic Th1-related IFN-γ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and T-bet genes(both P < 0.001). Moreover, the expression of IL-10 gene was significantly increased in IPC-treated compared to BM-MSC-or PBS-treated mice( P < 0.001 both comparisons). Conclusions: BM-MSCs and IPCs could successfully suppress pathologic Th1 immune responses in the mouse model of insulitis. However, the marked increase in IL-10 gene expression by IPCs compared to BM-MSCs suggests that their simultaneous use at the initial phase of autoimmune diabetes might be a better option to reduce inflammation but these results need to be verified by further experiments.
