Vitamin-D pathway genes and HIV-1 disease progression in injection drug users

Vitamin-D has pleiotropic effects on calcium and bone metabolism, cellular growth control, cell differentiation and modulation of both innate and acquired immune response. Previous studies revealed the association of vitamin-D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphism with infection diseases including HIV-1 infection. To assess for association between polymorphisms of vitamin-D pathway genes CYP27B1, vitamin-D binding protein (VDBP) and VDR with HIV-1 infection, disease progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was analysed according to CDC93 criteria in a cohort of 185 HIV-1 seroprevalent patients belonging to the injection drug users. Genotype data was obtained from rs10877012, rs3782130 and rs4646536 markers at CYP27B1 locus; rs7041 and rs4588 at VDBP locus; and rs11568820, rs4516035, rs2228570, rs1544410 and rs17878969 at VDR locus. Distribution of genotypes between patients grouped by outcome was compared by contingency table analysis. Marker–marker interaction was assessed by a MDR analysis. Assuming an additive model for VDR markers, a Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was employed to evaluate association with disease progression. Among vitamin-D pathway genes, VDR locus reveals specific 5′UTR and 3′UTR diplotype combinations associated with both, slower and faster progression to AIDS. Marker–marker interaction analysis indicates a strong interaction between VDR markers and a redundant effect for CYP27B1 markers. According to our results, VDR locus association follows an additive model in which increased genetic risk score for the VDR is directly correlated with AIDS progression rates. Our data supports a role of vitamin-D pathway gene variability on HIV-1 disease progression.     

DCs sensitized with mPD-L1-Ig fusion protein improve the effect of heart transplantation in mice by promoting the generation of T-reg cells

Purpose

To detect the effects of DCs sensitized by mPD-L1-Ig fusion protein in heart transplantation in mice as well as its mechanisms.

Method

The mPD-L1-IgG1 construct was used to build a yeast expression system, and the fusion protein was expressed by secretion after the transfection of the GS115 yeast strain, purified by affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography, and assayed by SDS–PAGE and Western blot. The ability of the fusion protein to bind to the acceptor PD-1 was tested by ELISA, and the ability of the fusion protein to inhibit the function of T cells was tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR).

Results

We used the new PD-L1-IgG1 fusion protein to sensitize imDCs and maintained the immature state of DCs, so as to induce stable and effective immune tolerance to heart transplantation. After the treatment of DCs by mPD-L1-Ig in vitro, the levels of CD80, CD40 and I-Ab expression on DCs are relatively weaker, the ability of DCs to stimulates the proliferation of allogeneic spleen T cells was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the levels of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) secreted by induced allogeneic T cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). An in vivo experiment also revealed that DCs sensitized by mPD-L1-IgG1 could prolong the survival time of a transplanted heart to 17.8 ± 1.12 days, and alleviate the pathological change of the cardiac allografts compared with other three groups.

Conclusion

DCs sensitized by the yeast-expressed mPD-L1-Ig fusion protein are shown to alleviate the cardiac allograft rejection in mice.     

The role of tumor necrosis factor-α for interleukin-10 production by murine dendritic cells

In the present study, we examined the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in interleukin (IL)-10 production by dendritic cells (DCs) using bone-marrow derived DCs from wild type (WT) and TNF-α knockout (TNF-α^−/−) mice. Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation induced substantial level of IL-10 production by WT DCs, but significantly low level of IL-10 production by TNF-α^−/− DCs. In contrast, no significant difference was detected in IL-12 p40 production between WT and TNF-α^−/− DCs. Addition of TNF-α during TLR stimulation recovered the impaired ability of TNF-α^−/− DCs for IL-10 production. This recovery appeared to be associated with an activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt following the TNF-α addition. Blocking these kinases significantly inhibited IL-10 production by TNF-α^−/− DCs stimulated with TLR ligands plus TNF-α. Thus, TNF-α may be a key molecule to regulate the balance between anti-inflammatory versus inflammatory cytokine production in DCs.     

骨髓间充质干细胞通过JAK／STAT3信号通路抑制树突状细胞成熟

骨髓间充质干细胞（bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,bMSCs）具有自我更新、支持造血、多向分化和低免疫原性等特点,在调控树突状细胞（dendritic cells,DCs）成熟的过程中发挥重要作用。为了探讨bMSCs调控DCs成熟的机制,本研究通过分离培养正常捐献者bMSCs,并分离获取外周静脉血单个核细胞,诱导未成熟的树突状细胞（immature dendritic cells,imDCs）和成熟的树突状细胞（mature dendritic cells,mDCs）生成。根据Genebank中人STAT3全长基因序列,设计针对STAT3的siRNA。根据培养条件不同设计实验分组：正常bMSCs与imDCs共培养（阴性对照组）,转染siRNA的bMSCs与imDCs共培养（siRNA组）、加入JAK/STAT通路抑制剂AG490的bMSCs与imDCs共培养（AG490组）、加入TNF-α诱导的mDCs（阳性对照组）共4组,共培养72 h,流式细胞术分析DCs表型变化,ELISA检测培养液上清中IL-12水平变化。结果显示,阴性对照组不表达CD40、CD80、CD83、CD86和HLA DR标志树突细胞成熟的分子,而表达CD11b,其表型与imDCs一致;而siRNA组和AG490组的DCs表达CD40、CD80、CD83、CD86和HLA-DR等标志分子,而不表达CD11b,其表型与TNF-α诱导成熟的mDCs表型一致;siRNA组、AG490组和阳性对照组的IL-12水平较阴性对照组的IL-12水平显著升高（P＜0.05）,但siRNA组、AG490组和阳性对照组之间无明显差异（P＞0.05）。以上结果表明,通过siRNA和抑制剂AG490阻断bMSCs中JAK/STAT3通路促进了imDCs的成熟,提示bMSCs通过JAK/STAT3通路参与调控imDCs成熟。     

Gene microarray analysis of expression profiles in Suberoyllanilide hyroxamic acid-treated Dendritic cells

Objective

The purpose of this study is to provide a further theoretical basis for the role of Suberoyllanilide hyroxamic acid (SAHA) affect on Dendritic cells (DCs).

免疫荧光磁粒分离诱导CD34＋细胞转化为DC的实验研究

目的：建立一种磁荧光分离细胞的方法将CD34＋细胞转化为DC。方法：人脐带血单个核细胞,经免疫免疫荧光标记、外磁场分离CD34＋细胞,分别加入GM—CSF、IL-4和不同浓度黄芪多糖,诱导12—14天检测DC细胞数量和功能。结果：随黄芪多糖浓度的升高,DC细胞的百分率越大。结论：黄芪多糖可作为一种优良的诱导促进剂,联合使用GM-CSF和IL-4可将CD34＋细胞转化成为DC。     

Dendritic cells generated from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts maintain the expression of immunogenic leukemia associated antigens

Recently, the focus is on new specific immunotherapies for AML such as cellular therapies employing dendritic cells (DCs) generated from AML blasts. AML-DCs express constitutionally leukemia-associated antigens (LAAs) present in AML blasts they are generated from. Here we investigated whether the generation of AML-DCs would alter the expression level of LAAs. Moreover, we evaluated the presence of HLA and costimulatory molecules on AML blasts versus AML-DCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the following LAAs: preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME), the receptor for hyaluronic acid mediated motility (RHAMM/CD168), Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT-1) and proteinase 3. The expression of HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, CD40, CD80, CD83 and CD86 was evaluated by flow cytometry. RHAMM protein expression was evaluated by immunocytochemistry, recognition of AML-DCs by PRAME epitope-specific T cells was evaluated in a chromium-release assay. Quantitative real-time PCR for AML-DCs versus AML blasts showed an alteration in mRNA expression of LAAs. An elevated PCR signal for PRAME was detected in 7/12 AML-DC preparations. 6/12 AML-DC preparations showed a significant upregulation of the PCR signal for RHAMM. A stronger WT-1 and proteinase-3 signal was observed in PCR for only 2/12 and 1/12 AML-DCs , respectively. All preparations showed a strong expression of at least one of the LAAs examined. As demonstrated by flow cytometry, AML-DCs strongly upregulated costimulatory molecules like CD40 and CD80 in comparison with AML blasts. AML-DCs tested positive for RHAMM protein. PRAME positive AML-DCs were recognized by specific T cells. AML-DCs might constitute a powerful tool in immunotherapy for AML. Real-time PCR allows a quick and quantitative assessment of immunologically relevant LAA expression with only 10⁵ DCs and might be helpful for the decision whether the AML-DC vaccination strategy is favourable or not.     

Cross-presentation of a CMV pp65 epitope by human dendritic cells using bee venom PLA2 as a membrane-binding vector

We have used bee venom phospholipase A2 as a vector to load human dendritic cells ex vivo with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted epitope fused to its C-terminus. The fusion protein bound to human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and was internalized into early endosomes. In vitro immunization experiments showed that these dendritic cells were able to generate specific CD8 T cell lines against the epitope carried by the fusion protein. Cross-presentation did not require proteasome, transporter associated with antigen processing, or endosome proteases, but required newly synthesized MHC molecules. Comparison of the antigen presentation pathway observed in this study to that followed by other toxins used as vectors is discussed.     

Differential response of BDCA-1+ and BDCA-3+ myeloid dendritic cells to respiratory syncytial virus infection

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of respiratory infections in children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Severe infection is associated with short- and long-term morbidity including pneumonia, recurrent wheezing, and abnormal pulmonary function, and several lines of evidence indicate that impaired adaptive immune responses during infection are critical in the pathophysiology of RSV-mediated disease. Myeloid Dendritic cells (mDCs) play a pivotal role in shaping antiviral immune responses in the respiratory tract; however, few studies have examined the interactions between RSV and individual mDC subsets. In this study, we examined the effect of RSV on the functional response of primary mDC subsets (BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺) isolated from peripheral blood.

Methods

BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy adults using FACS sorting. Donor-matched BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs were infected with RSV at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5 for 40 hours. After infection, cells were analyzed for the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD86, CD80, and PD-L1), cytokine production, and the ability to stimulate allogenic CD4⁺ T cell proliferation.

Results

Both BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs were susceptible to infection with RSV and demonstrated enhanced expression of CD86, and the inhibitory costimulatory molecules CD80 and PD-L1. Compared to BDCA-3⁺ mDCs, RSV-infected BDCA-1⁺ mDC produced a profile of cytokines and chemokines predominantly associated with pro-inflammatory responses (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, MIP-1α, and TNF-α), and both BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs were found to produce IL-10. Compared to uninfected mDCs, RSV-infected BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs demonstrated a reduced capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation.

Conclusions

RSV infection induces a distinct pattern of costimulatory molecule expression and cytokine production by BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs, and impairs their ability to stimulate T cell proliferation.The differential expression of CD86 and pro-inflammatory cytokines by highly purified mDC subsets in response to RSV provides further evidence that BDCA-1⁺ and BDCA-3⁺ mDCs have distinct roles in coordinating the host immune response during RSV infection. Findings of differential expression of PD-L1 and IL-10 by infected mDCs, suggests possible mechanisms by which RSV is able to impair adaptive immune responses.