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The exchange of ribosomal subunits during the release of growing polypeptide chains by puromycin has been investigated in a bacterial cell-free system engaged in protein synthesis. The addition of spermidine,used as a stabilizing agent of 70S monomers,caused a strong inhibition of the subunit exchange. This result led us to conclude that upon premature release of unfinished protein chains by the antibiotic,the ribosomes fall off mRNA as 70S particles. This behavior is different from that occurring during physiological termination of translation,where the ribosomes detach in a dissociated form. Some implications of the postulated mechanism are also discussed. View Publication

Squalene-based emulsion (SE) adjuvants like MF59 and AS03 are used in protein subunit vaccines against influenza virus (e.g.,Fluad,Pandemrix,Arepanrix) and SARS-CoV-2 (e.g.,Covifenz,SKYCovione). We demonstrate the critical role of uric acid (UA),a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP),in triggering immunogenicity by SE adjuvants. In mice,SE adjuvants elevated DAMP levels in draining lymph nodes. Strikingly,inhibition of UA synthesis reduced vaccine-induced innate immunity,subsequently impairing optimal antibody and T cell responses. In vivo treatment with UA crystals elicited partial adjuvant effects. In vitro stimulation with UA crystals augmented the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells and altered multiple pathways in these cells,including inflammation and antigen presentation in DCs and cell proliferation in B cells. In an influenza vaccine model,UA contributed to protection against influenza viral infection. These results demonstrate the importance of DAMPs,specifically the versatile role of UA in the immunogenicity of SE adjuvants,by regulating DCs and B cells. View Publication

HIV-1 infection leads to numerous B cell abnormalities,including hypergammaglobulinemia,nonspecific B cell activation,nonspecific class switching,increased cell turnover,breakage of tolerance,increased immature/transitional B cells,B cell malignancies,as well as a loss of capacity to generate and maintain memory,all of which contribute to a global impairment of the immune humoral compartment. Several cytokines and soluble factors,which are increased in sera of HIV-1-infected individuals,have been suggested to directly or indirectly contribute to these B cell dysfunctions,and one of these is the B cell-activating factor (BAFF). We report in this study that HIV-1 (X4- and R5-tropic) upregulates BAFF expression and secretion by human monocytes. Moreover,we show that the virus-mediated production of BAFF by monocytes relies on a type I IFN response by a small percentage of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) present in the monocyte cultures. HIV-1-induced type I IFN by pDCs triggers BAFF production in both classical and intermediate monocytes,but not in nonclassical monocytes,which nonetheless display a very strong basal BAFF production. We report also that basal BAFF secretion was higher in monocytes obtained from females compared with those from male donors. This study provides a novel mechanistic explanation for the increased BAFF levels observed during HIV-1 infection and highlights the importance of pDC/monocyte crosstalk to drive BAFF secretion. View Publication

T cell engagers represent a novel promising class of cancer-immunotherapies redirecting T cells to tumor cells and have some promising outcomes in the clinic. These molecules can be associated with a mode-of-action related risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in patients. CRS is characterized by the rapid release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$,IFN-$\gamma$,IL-6 and IL-1$\beta$ and immune cell activation eliciting clinical symptoms of fever,hypoxia and hypotension. In this work,we investigated the biological mechanisms triggering and amplifying cytokine release after treatment with T cell bispecific antibodies (TCBs) employing an in vitro co-culture assay of human PBMCs or total leukocytes (PBMCs + neutrophils) and corresponding target antigen-expressing cells with four different TCBs. We identified T cells as the triggers of the TCB-mediated cytokine cascade and monocytes and neutrophils as downstream amplifier cells. Furthermore,we assessed the chronology of events by neutralization of T-cell derived cytokines. For the first time,we demonstrate the contribution of neutrophils to TCB-mediated cytokine release and confirm these findings by single-cell RNA sequencing of human whole blood incubated with a B-cell depleting TCB. This work could contribute to the construction of mechanistic models of cytokine release and definition of more specific molecular and cellular biomarkers of CRS in the context of treatment with T-cell engagers. In addition,it provides insight for the elaboration of prophylactic mitigation strategies that can reduce the occurrence of CRS and increase the therapeutic index of TCBs. View Publication

BackgroundActivated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are drivers of synovitis and structural joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite the use of disease-modifying drugs,only about 50% of RA patients reach remission in real-world settings. We used an unbiased approach to investigate the effects of standard-of-care methotrexate (MTX) and a Janus kinase inhibitor,tofacitinib (TOFA),on gene expression in RA-FLS,in order to identify untargeted disease mediators.MethodsPrimary RA-FLS were activated by stimulation with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or platelet-derived growth factor + IL-1β in the presence or absence of MTX or TOFA,with or without additional inhibitors. Co-cultures of synovial cells were performed in direct and indirect systems. Cells were collected for RNA sequencing or qPCR,and supernatants were analyzed for protein concentrations.ResultsSix thousand three hundred fifty genes were differentially expressed,the majority being upregulated,in MTX-treated activated RA-FLS and 970 genes,the majority being downregulated,in TOFA-treated samples. Pathway analysis showed that MTX had largest effects on ‘Molecular mechanisms of cancer’ and TOFA on ‘Interferon signaling’. Targeted analysis of disease-associated genes revealed that MTX increased the expression of cell cycle-regulating genes but also of pro-inflammatory mediators like IL-1α (IL1A) and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor,GM-CSF (CSF2). The MTX-promoted expression of CSF2 in activated RA-FLS peaked at 48 h,could be mediated via either NF-κB or AP-1 transcription factors,and was abrogated by IL-1 inhibitors (IRAK4 inhibitor and anakinra). In a co-culture setting,MTX-treatment of activated RA-FLS induced IL1B expression in macrophages.ConclusionsMTX treatment induces secretion of IL-1 from activated RA-FLS which by autocrine signaling augments their release of GM-CSF. This unexpected effect of MTX might contribute to the persistence of synovitis. View Publication

Enterochromaffin (EC) cells constitute the largest population of intestinal epithelial enteroendocrine (EE) cells. EC cells are proposed to be specialized mechanosensory cells that release serotonin in response to epithelial forces,and thereby regulate intestinal fluid secretion. However,it is unknown whether EE and EC cells are directly mechanosensitive,and if so,what the molecular mechanism of their mechanosensitivity is. Consequently,the role of EE and EC cells in gastrointestinal mechanobiology is unclear. Piezo2 mechanosensitive ion channels are important for some specialized epithelial mechanosensors,and they are expressed in mouse and human EC cells. Here,we use EC and EE cell lineage tracing in multiple mouse models to show that Piezo2 is expressed in a subset of murine EE and EC cells,and it is distributed near serotonin vesicles by superresolution microscopy. Mechanical stimulation of a subset of isolated EE cells leads to a rapid inward ionic current,which is diminished by Piezo2 knockdown and channel inhibitors. In these mechanosensitive EE cells force leads to Piezo2-dependent intracellular Ca2+ increase in isolated cells as well as in EE cells within intestinal organoids,and Piezo2-dependent mechanosensitive serotonin release in EC cells. Conditional knockout of intestinal epithelial Piezo2 results in a significant decrease in mechanically stimulated epithelial secretion. This study shows that a subset of primary EE and EC cells is mechanosensitive,uncovers Piezo2 as their primary mechanotransducer,defines the molecular mechanism of their mechanotransduction and mechanosensitive serotonin release,and establishes the role of epithelial Piezo2 mechanosensitive ion channels in regulation of intestinal physiology. View Publication

We examined the potential role of myosin and actin in the release of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from infected cells. Wortmannin (100 nM to 5 microM),an effective inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase,blocked the release of HIV-1 from infected T-lymphoblastoid and monocytoid cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Cytochalasin D,a reagent that disrupts the equilibrium between monomeric and polymeric actin,also partially inhibited the release of HIV-1 from the infected cells. At the budding stage,myosin and HIV-1 protein were detected in the same areas on the plasma membrane by using dual-label immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. In the presence of 5 microM wortmannin,viral components were observed on the plasma membrane by using immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy,implying that wortmannin did not disturb the transport of viral proteins to the plasma membrane but rather inhibited budding. View Publication

Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) play important roles in constituting the immune suppressive environment promoting cancer development and progression. They are consisted of a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells including polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSC) and monocytes MDSC (M-MDSC) that are found in both the systemic circulation and in the tumor microenvironment (TME). While previous studies had shown that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) could induce MDSC differentiation and maturation,the very poor solubility and fast metabolism of the drug limited its applications as an immune-modulator for cancer immunotherapy. We aimed in this study to develop a drug encapsulated liposome formulation L-ATRA with sustained release properties and examined the immuno-modulation effects. We showed that the actively loaded L-ATRA achieved stable encapsulation and enabled controlled drug release and accumulation in the tumor tissues. In vivo administration of L-ATRA promoted the remodeling of the systemic immune homeostasis as well as the tumor microenvironment. They were found to promote MDSCs maturation into DCs and facilitate immune responses against cancer cells. When used as a single agent treatment,L-ATRA deterred tumor growth,but only in immune-competent mice. In mice with impaired immune functions,L-ATRA at the same dose was not effective. When combined with checkpoint inhibitory agents,L-ATRA resulted in greater anti-cancer activities. Thus,L-ATRA may present a new IO strategy targeting the MDSCs that needs be further explored for improving the immunotherapy efficacy in cancer. View Publication

IntroductionCytokine release syndrome (CRS) is one of the leading causes of mortality in patients with COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. However,the mechanism of CRS induced by SARS-CoV-2 is vague.MethodsUsing spike protein combined with IL-2,IFN-γ,and TNF-α to stimulate human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to secrete CRS-related cytokines,the content of cytokines in the supernatant was detected,and the effects of NK,T,and monocytes were analyzed.ResultsThis study shows that dendritic cells loaded with spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 stimulate T cells to release much more interleukin-2 (IL-2,) which subsequently cooperates with spike protein to facilitate PBMCs to release IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-8. These effects are achieved via IL-2 stimulation of NK cells to release tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ),as well as T cells to release IFN-γ Mechanistically,IFN-γ and TNF-α enhance the transcription of CD40,and the interaction of CD40 and its ligand stabilizes the membrane expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) that serves as a receptor of spike protein on the surface of monocytes. As a result,there is a constant interaction between spike protein and TLR4,leading to continuous activation of nuclear factor-κ-gene binding (NF-κB). Furthermore,TNF-α also activates NF-κB signaling in monocytes,which further cooperates with IFN-γ and spike protein to modulate NF-κB–dependent transcription of CRS-related inflammatory cytokines.DiscussionTargeting TNF-α/IFN-γ in combination with TLR4 may represent a promising therapeutic approach for alleviating CRS in individuals with COVID-19. View Publication