Human leukocyte antigen and donor-specific antibodies in liver transplantation

In this article,we comment on an article published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.We specifically focus on the roles of human leukocyte antigen(HLA)and donor-specific antibodies(DSAs)in pediatric liver transpl-antation(LT),as well as the relationship between immune rejection after LT and DSA.Currently,LT remains the standard of care for pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease or severe acute liver failure.However,acute and chronic re-jection continues to be a significant cause of graft dysfunction and loss.HLA mismatch significantly reduces graft survival and increases the risk of acute rejection.Among them,D→R one-way mismatch at three loci was significantly related to graft-versus-host disease incidence after LT.The adverse impact of HLA-DSAs on LT recipients is already established.Therefore,the evaluation of HLA and DSA is crucial in pediatric LT.

Immunological Evaluation of a Novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigen Rv0674

Objective This study aimed to characterize the diagnostic and vaccine potential of a novel Mycobacterium tuberculosisantigen Rv0674. Methods To evaluate thediagnostic potential and antigenicity of Rv0674, IgG was evaluated using ELISA and interferon (IFN)-γ was done by using ELISpot assay among TB patients and healthy donors. For immunogenicity evaluation, BALB/c mice were immunized with Rv0674. Cytokine production was determined by cytokine release assay using an ELISA kit, and the antibodies were tested using ELISA. Results The results of serum Elisa tests showed that Rv0674 specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) response was higher in TB patients than negative controls. And Rv0674 had good performance in serological test with sensitivity and specificity of 77.1% and 81.1%, respectively. While it shows poor sensitivity and specificity of 26.23% and 79.69% for IFN-γ tests. In BALB/c mice, Rv0674 adjuvant by DDA/PolyI:C could also induce a high level of IFN-γ, interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 as well as a high IgG titer in both high-and low-dose groups indicating that Rv0674 is essential in humoral and cellular immunity. Moreover, the cytokine profile and IgG isotypecharacterized Rv0674 as a Th1/Th2-mixed-type protective immunity with the predominance of Th1 cytokines. Conclusion Rv0674 may be a good potential candidate for the development of TB serological diagnosis and a new TB vaccine.

A Multi-Agent Immunology Model for Security Computer

This paper presents a computer immunology model for computer security, whose main components are defined as idea of Multi Agent. It introduces the natural immune system on the principle, discusses the idea and characteristics of Multi Agent. It gives a system model, and describes the structure and function of each agent. Also, the communication method between agents is described.

Exercise immunology:Future directions

Several decades of research in the area of exercise immunology have shown that the immune system is highly responsive to acute and chronic exercise training.Moderate exercise bouts enhance immunosurveillance and when repeated over time mediate multiple health benefits.Most of the studies prior to 2010 relied on a few targeted outcomes related to immune function.During the past decade,technologic advances have created opportunities for a multi-omics and systems biology approach to exercise immunology.This article provides an overview of metabolomics,lipidomics,and proteomics as they pertain to exercise immunology,with a focus on immunometabolism.This review also summarizes how the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota can be influenced by exercise,with applications to human health and immunity.Exercise-induced improvements in immune function may play a critical role in countering immunosenescence and the development of chronic diseases,and emerging omics technologies will more clearly define the underlying mechanisms.This review summarizes what is currently known regarding a multi-omics approach to exercise immunology and provides future directions for investigators.

Immunology of tuberculosis

Various T cells and macrophages as well as cytokines are involved in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis(TB). A better understanding of immunology of TB can not only lead to the discovery of new immunodiagnostic tools, accelerate and facilitate the assessment of new therapeutic methods, but also find new treatment regimens. In this highlight topic we cover the latest developments in the role of T cells, macrophages, Natural killer(NK) cells, invariant NK T(iN KT) cells and γδ T cells with TB infection. Histologically, TB displays exudative inflammation, proliferative inflammation and productive inflammation depending on the time course. T cells first recognize antigen within the mycobacterially-infected lung, and then activate, differentiate, but the first T cell activation occurs in the draining lymph nodes of the lung. When protective T cells reach sufficient numbers, they can stop bacterial growth. Except for T cells, neutrophils also participate actively in defense against early-phase TB. NK cells are innate lymphocytes which are a first line of defense against mycobacterial infection. Human NK cells use the NKp46, NCRs and NKG2 D receptors to lyse Mycobacterium TB-infected monocytes and alveolar macrophages. NK cells produce not only interferon-γ, but also interleukin(IL)-22, which is induced by IL-15 and DAP-10. iN KT cells show different phenotypes and functions. Many iN KT cells are CD4+,few iN KT cells are CD8+, while an additional fraction of iN KT cells are negative for both CD4 and CD8. γδ T cells represent an early innate defense in antimycobacterial immunity. Studies done in humans and animal models have demonstrated complex patterns of γδ T cell immune responses during chronic TB. Human alveolar macrophages and monocytes can serve as antigen presentation cells for γδ T cells. Furthermore, the predominance of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in TB has been confirmed.

Essential concept of transplant immunology for clinical practice

Our understanding of transplant immunology has advanced from gross allograft rejection to cellular response and to current molecular level. More sensitive assays have been developed to characterize patient sensitization and to detect pre-existing donor-specific antibodies(DSA) in pre-transplant crossmatch. After a transplant, pre-existing or de novo DSA are increasingly monitored to guide clinical management. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to understand the basic concepts and key components of transplant immunology as well as be familiarized with the modern immunological techniques used in kidney transplantation.

Liver immunology and herbal treatment

Beyond the metabolic functions, the liver recently has been defined as an organ of immune system(IS), which have central regulatory role for innate and adaptive immunity. The liver keeps a delicate balance between hepatic screening of pathogenic antigens and immune tolerance to self-antigens. Herbal treatments with immunological effects have potential to alter this hepatic immune balance towards either therapeutic side or diseases side by inducing liver injury via hepatotoxicity or initiation of autoimmune diseases. Most commonly known herbal treatments, which have therapeutic effect on liver and IS, have proven via in vitro, in vivo, and/or clinical studies were summarized in this review.

Progresses in Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medical Research on Reproductive Immunology

Reproductive immunology is a crossed subject of reproductive biology and immunobiology. Great progresses have been achieved in the subject along with the deep development in life science. Modern reproductive immunology includes immunological regulation of fertility, materno-fetal immuno-regu-lation, and neuro-reproductive endocrino-immune network. With the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) applied to reproductive immunology it has been greatly enriched in research contents and depth. The present review is to introduce the recent progresses in research of integrated medicine on reproductive immunology.

Expression of Major Antigen Domains of E2 Gene of CSFV and Analysis of its Immunological Activity

E2 is an envelope glycoprotein of Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and contains sequential neutralizing epitopes to induce virus-neutralizing antibodies and mount protective immunity in the natural host. In this study, four antigen domains (ABCD) of the E2 gene was cloned from CSFV Shimen strain into the retroviral vector pBABE puro and expressed in eukaryotic cell (PK15) by an retroviral gene expression system, and the activity of recombinant E2 protein to induce immune responses was evaluated in rabbits. The results indicated that recombinant E2 protein can be recognized by fluorescence antibodies of CSFV and CSFV positive serum (Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China) using Western blot, indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and ELISA, Furthermore, anti-CSFV specific antibodies and lymphocyte proliferation were elicited and increased by recombinant protein after vaccination. In the challenge test, all of rabbits vaccinated with recombinant protein and Chinese vaccine strain (C-strain) were fully protected from a rabbit spleen virus challenge. These results indicated that a retroviral-based epitope-vaccine carrying the major antigen domains of E2 is able to induce high level of epitope-specific antibodies and exhibits similar protective capability with that induced by the C-strain, and encourages further work towards the development of a vaccine against CSFV infection.

Old game, new players: Linking classical theories to new trends in transplant immunology

The evolutionary emergence of an efficient immune system has a fundamental role in our survival against pathogenic attacks. Nevertheless, this same protective mechanism may also establish a negative consequence in the setting of disorders such as autoimmunity and transplant rejection. In light of the latter, although research has long uncovered main concepts of allogeneic recognition, immune rejection is still the main obstacle to long-term graft survival. Therefore, in order to define effective therapies that prolong graft viability, it is essential that we understand the underlying mediators and mechanisms that participate in transplant rejection. This multifaceted process is characterized by diverse cellular and humoral participants with innate and adaptive functions that can determine the type of rejection or promote graft acceptance. Although a number of mediators of graft recognition have been described in traditional immunology, recent studies indicate that defining rigid roles for certain immune cells and factors may be more complicated than originally conceived. Current research has also targeted specific cells and drugs that regulate immune activation and induce tolerance. This review will give a broad view of the most recent understanding of the allogeneic inflammatory/tolerogenic response and current insights into cellular and drug therapies that modulate immune activation that may prove to be useful in the induction of tolerance in the clinical setting.

Immunological Intolerance and Tolerance by Antigenic Co-Stimulation

The plasticity and dynamism in the immune responses to both self and environmental stimulation promote the maintenance and adaptation of a system that tends to harmoniously survive and evolve. Fluctuating antigenic forces coexist within the immune system and oscillate between order and chaos to the equilibrium. Thus, when mounting a response to internal or environmental antigens, the main host responses can be divided into two immunological categories. The first, a well-adapted mechanism of complex multi-cellular organisms classically known as tolerance, promotes persistent immunological responses. In the second, opposite way, the modulation of inflammatory immune responses occurs, which we call “intolerance”. Tolerance and intolerance can be mediated by humoral molecules, such as inflammatory compounds, complement, and antibodies, and by different cell types, such as sentinel cells, antigen-presenting cells, and cells that orchestrate the immune response. Tolerogenesis is important in vertebrates because it predisposes species to adapt to self and environmental negative-selective forces. This process depends, in large part, on antigenic co-stimulation (AgCS), which operates as a multi-integrated network formed by all immune and non-immune cells of the body that establishes tolerant immunoregulatory interactions from cells to cells and from cells to the environment. Antigenic distribution, quantity, nature, route of administration, and antigenic convergence on co-stimulatory pathways, and concurrent infections, and the presence of microorganisms (commensals and pathogens) in more than one site are important factors for activating AgCS. To conclude, the AgCS route is a natural immune response generated by heterogeneous APC profile with centralized regulation that promote the counterbalance between intolerant e tolerant status, which can have several applications in the medical and biological fields.

Anti-IgLON5 disease: a novel topic beyond neuroimmunology

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a recently defined autoimmune disorder of the nervous system associated with autoantibodies against IgLON5. Given its broad clinical spectrum and extremely complex pathogenesis, as well as difficulties in its early diagnosis and treatment, anti-IgLON5 disease has become the subject of considerable research attention in the field of neuroimmunology. Anti-IgLON5 disease has characteristics of both autoimmunity and neurodegeneration due to the unique activity of the antiIgLON5 antibody. Neuropathologic examination revealed the presence of a tauopathy preferentially affecting the hypothalamus and brainstem tegmentum, potentially broadening our understanding of tauopathies. In contrast to that seen with other autoimmune encephalitis-related antibodies, basic studies have demonstrated that IgLON5 antibody-induced neuronal damage and degeneration are irreversible, indicative of a potential link between autoimmunity and neurodegeneration in antiIgLON5 disease. Herein, we comprehensively review and discuss basic and clinical studies relating to anti-IgLON5 disease to better understand this complicated disorder.

Systems Immunology Enabled Immune Engineering

The immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer treatment.However,not all cancer types are susceptible to this therapy.Even in melanoma,one of the best scenario,about half of the patients do not respond to immune checkpoint blockade.Since CD8+T cell is the main driving force behind cancer elimination,then having a complete and competent T cell repertoire to cover all possible cancer antigens expressed by cancer cells should be a determining factor to the success of this therapy.Conversely,if there are'holes'in patients’T cell repertoire and/or'weak spots'manifested as functional dysregulation or exhaustion on T cells specific to a set of cancer antigens that dominantly expressed by cancer cells,cancer immune escape is inevitable.However,these two types of cancer immune escape might need different treatment strategies:the first group with'holes'in the T cell repertoire,whether the'holes'are taking on a form of missing T cells to cover these cancer antigens or missing high-affinity TCRs that are known to be more sensitive to antigen stimulation,would be benefited from TCR re-directed adoptive cell transfer(ACT)therapy;the other group with T cell repertoire'weak spots'would be benefited from immune checkpoint blockade alone or in combination with additional stimulatory factors such as cytokines and peptide vaccine.In the past decade,we have developed several tools to profile the T cell repertoire from T cell receptor diversity to T cell receptor affinity to high-throughput linking antigen specificity to single T cell receptor sequences in large scale.In this talk,I will first introduce these tools and then give examples on how we use them to answer some of the fundamental questions in systems immunology with a focus on cancer immunology,which in turn help us design new therapeutics immune engineering.

Immunological Responses against Different Lineages of Influenza B Antigen in School Children during Two Consecutive Seasons

While Influenza B viruses currently circulating worldwide are of two distinct evolutionary hemagglutinin lineages, current trivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccines (TIV) contain only a single component. Single doses of TIV containing B antigen of B/Florida/4/2006 (Yamagata-like) or B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Victoria-like) were administered during 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 influenza seasons, respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunological response against different lineages of B antigens in school-aged children. A non-randomized sero-epidemiological study was conducted and the immunogenicity responses based on sero-protection rate and geometric mean titre ratio (GMTR) of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies were measured before and after immunization as well as post-influenza season. Our results suggested that school-aged children under the age of 9 years receiving TIV vaccination induced and retained higher level of sero-protection rate (66.7% and 69% for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season, respectively) to the homologous lineage than the heterologous lineage post-vaccination (19.4% and 27.6% for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season, respectively). The need for the quadrivalent TIV by including both lineages of influenza B viruses is recommended in this study, particularly for children under the age of 9 years.

Overview of the immunological mechanisms in hepatitis B virus reactivation:Implications for disease progression and management strategies

Hepatitis B virus(HBV)reactivation is a clinically significant challenge in disease management.This review explores the immunological mechanisms underlying HBV reactivation,emphasizing disease progression and management.It delves into host immune responses and reactivation’s delicate balance,spanning innate and adaptive immunity.Viral factors’disruption of this balance,as are interac-tions between viral antigens,immune cells,cytokine networks,and immune checkpoint pathways,are examined.Notably,the roles of T cells,natural killer cells,and antigen-presenting cells are discussed,highlighting their influence on disease progression.HBV reactivation’s impact on disease severity,hepatic flares,liver fibrosis progression,and hepatocellular carcinoma is detailed.Management strategies,including anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches,are critically analyzed.The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy during immunosuppressive treatments is explored alongside novel immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and prevent reactivation.In conclusion,this compre-hensive review furnishes a holistic view of the immunological mechanisms that propel HBV reactivation.With a dedicated focus on understanding its implic-ations for disease progression and the prospects of efficient management stra-tegies,this article contributes significantly to the knowledge base.The more profound insights into the intricate interactions between viral elements and the immune system will inform evidence-based approaches,ultimately enhancing disease management and elevating patient outcomes.The dynamic landscape of management strategies is critically scrutinized,spanning anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches.The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy in preventing reactivation during immunosuppressive treatments and the potential of innovative immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and proactively deter reactivation.

Synthetic and immunological studies on the OCT4 immunodominant motif antigen-based anti-cancer vaccine

Objective:Cancer stem cell is one of the important causes of tumorigenesis as well as a drug target in the treatment of malignant tumor.However,at present,there is no immune vaccine targeting these cells.Octamer-binding transcription factor 4(OCT4),a marker of embryonic stem cells and germ cells,often highly expresses in the early stages of tumorigenesis and is therefore a good candidate for cancer vaccine development.Methods:To identify the optimal carrier and adjuvant combination,we chemically synthesized and linked three different OCT4 epitope antigens to a carrier protein,keyhole limpet hemocyanin(KLH),combined with Toll-like receptor 9 agonist(TLR9).Results:Immunization with OCT4-3+TLR9 produced the strongest immune response in mice.In prevention assays,significant tumor growth inhibition was achieved in BABL/c mice treated with OCT4-3+TLR9(P<0.01).Importantly,the results showed that cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and the inhibition of tumor growth were enhanced in mice immunized with OCT4-3 combined with TLR9.Meanwhile,multiple cytokines[such as interferon(IFN)-γ(P<0.05),interleukin(IL)-12(P<0.05),IL-2(P<0.01),and IL-6(P<0.05)]promoting cellular immune responses were shown to be greatly enhanced in mice immunized with OCT4-3+TLR9.Moreover,we considered safety considerations in terms of the composition of the vaccines to help facilitate the development of effective next-generation vaccines.Conclusions:Collectively,these experiments demonstrated that combination therapy with TLR9 agonist induced a tumor-specific adaptive immune response,leading to the suppression of primary tumor growth in testis embryonic carcinoma.

A Novel Evolutionary Feedforward Neural Network with Artificial Immunology

A hybrid algorithm to design the multi layer feedforward neural network was proposed. Evolutionary programming is used to design the network that makes the training process tending to global optima. Artificial immunology combined with simulated annealing algorithm is used to specify the initial weight vectors, therefore improves the probabiligy of training algorithm to converge to global optima. The applications of the neural network in the modulation style recognition of analog modulated rader signals demonstrate the good performance of the network.

Welcome to the World Journal of Immunology

We are pleased to announce the launch of the World Journal of Immunology （WJI） as a new member of the family of the World series of journals. The pace of discovery in the field of immunology has accelerated signifcantly in recent years due to important discover-ies and the implementation of new technologies and methodologies that have become readily accessible to many investigators. WJI is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal, whose preparatory work was initiated on November 30, 2010 and will be offcially published on December 27, 2011. The WJI Editorial Board con-sists of 99 experts in experimental medicine from 23 countries. By taking into account the widespread use of the internet and the necessity that scientifc journals should reach out to wider audiences through the provi-sion of barrier-free information, WJI aims to provide rapid publication through an established system that is targeted at dissemination to the scientific community via online open-access.

Acknowledgments to reviewers of World Journal of Immunology

Many reviewers have contributed their expertise and time to the peer review, a critical process to ensure the quality of World Journal of Immunology. The editors and authors of the articles submitted to the journal are grateful to the following reviewers for evaluating the articles （including those published in this issue and those rejected for this issue） during the last editing time period.