Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in rheumatoid arthritis identifies disease-associated methylation changes that are distinct to individual T- and B-lymphocyte populations

Changes to the DNA methylome have been described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In previous work, we reported genome-wide methylation differences in T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte populations from healthy individuals. Now, using HumanMethylation450 BeadChips to interrogate genome-wide DNA methylation, we have determined disease-associated methylation changes in blood-derived T- and B-lymphocyte populations from 12 female patients with seropositive established RA, relative to 12 matched healthy individuals. Array data were analyzed using NIMBL software and bisulfite pyrosequencing was used to validate array candidates. Genome-wide DNA methylation, determined by analysis of LINE-1 sequences, revealed higher methylation in B-lymphocytes compared with T-lymphocytes (P ≤ 0.01), which is consistent with our findings in healthy individuals. Moreover, loci-specific methylation differences that distinguished T-lymphocytes from B-lymphocytes in healthy individuals were also apparent in RA patients. However, disease-associated methylation differences were also identified in RA. In these cases, we identified 509 and 252 CpGs in RA-derived T- and B-lymphocytes, respectively, that showed significant changes in methylation compared with their cognate healthy counterparts. Moreover, this included a restricted set of 32 CpGs in T-lymphocytes and 20 CpGs in B-lymphocytes (representing 15 and 10 genes, respectively, and including two, MGMT and CCS, that were common to both cell types) that displayed more substantial changes in methylation. These changes, apparent as hyper- or hypo-methylation, were independently confirmed by pyrosequencing analysis. Validation by pyrosequencing also revealed additional sites in some candidate genes that also displayed altered methylation in RA. In this first study of genome-wide DNA methylation in individual T- and B-lymphocyte populations in RA patients, we report disease-associated methylation changes that are distinct to each cell type and which support a role for discrete epigenetic regulation in this disease.     

Activators of protein kinase C and 5-azacytidine induce IL-2 receptor expression on human T lymphocytes

Resting human T lymphocytes do not express receptors for interleukin-2, but expression is rapidly induced by exposure to PHA. After maximal expression 2-3 days after stimulation, a progressive decline in receptor number is observed. Receptor expression can be augmented by reexposure to PHA. In this study we show that activators of protein kinase C including phorbol diester, phospholipase C, and the diacylglycerol congener diC8 also increase IL-2 receptor expression. Moreover, 5-azacytidine, which inhibits cytosine methyltransferase, and hydroxyurea, which inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, also increased receptor number. These studies demonstrate that IL-2 receptor expression can be altered in vitro, and that IL-2 receptor number, in combination with IL-2 secretion, may contribute to the regulation of IL-2-dependent immune responses.     

T-cell receptor Vβ repertoire of CD8+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the immune response is mainly mediated byT-cells. The role of CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes, which are related to healing ordeleterious functions, in affecting clinical outcome is controversial. The aim ofthis study was to evaluate T-cell receptor diversity in late-differentiated effector(LDE) and memory CD8⁺ T-cell subsets in order to create a profile ofspecific clones engaged in deleterious or protective CL immune responses. Healthysubjects, patients with active disease (PAD) and clinically cured patients wereenrolled in the study. Total CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes showed a disturbance inthe expression of the Vβ2, Vβ9, Vβ13.2, Vβ18 and Vβ23 families. The analyses ofCD8⁺T-lymphocyte subsets showed high frequencies of LDECD8⁺T-lymphocytes expressing Vβ12 and Vβ22 in PAD, as well aseffector-memory CD8⁺ T-cells expressing Vβ22. We also observed lowfrequencies of effector and central-memory CD8⁺ T-cells expressing Vβ2 inPAD, which correlated with a greater lesion size. Particular Vβ expansions point toCD8⁺ T-cell clones that are selected during CL immune responses,suggesting that CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes expressing Vβ12 or Vβ22 are involved ina LDE response and that Vβ2 contractions in memory CD8⁺T-cells areassociated with larger lesions.     

Proteogenomics meets cancer immunology: mass spectrometric discovery and analysis of neoantigens

Cancer proteogenomics is an emerging field that aims to identify and quantify protein sequence changes associated with the cancer genome. Besides being involved in cancer development and progression, such protein variants may serve as neoantigens, which provide the T-cell response against tumors. Mass spectrometry-based proteogenomics may be a promising tool for finding neoantigens in individual specimens. It is partly based on a technical background accumulated from mass spectrometric studies of peptide ligands of major histocompatibility complex proteins. Examples of the use of mass spectrometry in neoantigen identification are reviewed in this article. Some experimental workflows are discussed, which may use shotgun and targeted proteomics for translational human studies of neoepitopes, such as cancer vaccine development and checkpoint therapy response prediction.     

Enhancement of immunotherapeutic effects of HPV16E7 on cervical cancer by fusion with CTLA4 extracellular region

Cervical cancer is caused by infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV16. Limitations in current treatments of cervical cancers call for the development of new and improved immunotherapies. This study aims at investigating the efficacy of a novel vaccine consisting of modified HPV 16E7 fused with human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4). The regions in HPV16 E7 gene associated with its transformation and CTL-enhanced response were modified; the resultant HPV16mE7 was fused with extracellular region of CTLA4 to generate HPVml6E7-eCTLA4 fusion protein. Binding of this fusion protein to B7 molecules expressed on antigen presenting-cells (APCs) was demonstrated. C57BL/6 (H-2^b) mice immunized with low dose of the fusion protein (10 μg) produced higher titer antibody and stronger specific CTL response, and expressed higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-12, compared with those immunized with HPVml6E7 only or admixture of HPVml6E7 and CTLA4, or PBS; and were protected from lethal dose tumor challenge. Tumor growth was retarded and survival prolonged in mouse models with the fusion protein treatment. Our results demonstrate that fusion of HPV16 E7 with eCTLA4 targeting APCs resulted in enhanced immunity, and that this fusion protein may be useful for improving the efficacy of immunotherapeutic treatments of cervical cancer and other HPV16 infection-associated tumors.     

未经治疗梅毒患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群检测

目的 :检测未经治疗梅毒患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群 ,并探讨其临床意义。方法 :应用流式细胞仪检测 36例 HIV阴性未经治疗的二期及隐性梅毒患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群及 NK淋巴细胞 ,并与 30例健康人群的检测结果相对照。结果 :患者 CD3、CD4 及 NK淋巴细胞与健康人群的检测结果相比差异均无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 ) ,而患者 CD8淋巴细胞明显高于对照组 ,差异有非常显著性 (P<0 .0 0 1) ,CD4 / CD8的比率明显低于对照组 ,差异有非常显著性 (P<0 .0 0 1) ;RPR滴度为 1∶ 2～ 1∶ 8的梅毒患者 CD3淋巴细胞的比例高于对照组 ,差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;二期与隐性梅毒患者之间以及不同 RPR滴度梅毒患者之间 T淋巴细胞亚群及 NK淋巴细胞差异均无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论 :未经治疗的梅毒患者外周血存在细胞免疫不平衡 ,CD8明显升高可能降低机体抵抗和清除梅毒螺旋体感染的能力。     

The immune enhancement of propolis adjuvant on inactivated porcine parvovirus vaccine in guinea pig

Two experiments were carried out. In immune response test, the immune enhancement of propolis, oilemulsion and aluminium salt were compared in guinea pig vaccinated with inactivated porcine parvovirus (PPV) vaccine. The result showed that three adjuvants could enhance antibody titer, T lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 and IL-4 secretion of splenic lymphocyte. The action of propolis was similar to that of oilemulsion and superior to that of aluminium salt, especially in early period of vaccination propolis could accelerate antibody production. In immune protection test, the effects of three adjuvants on PPV infection were compared in guinea pig vaccinated with PPV vaccine then challenged with PPV. The result showed that propolis and oilemulsion could enhance the antibody titer, IL-2 and IL-4 content in serum and decrease the PPV content in blood and viscera. In the effect of improving cellular immune response, the propolis was the best. These results indicated that propolis possessed better immune enhancement and would be exploited into a effective adjuvant of inactivated vaccine.     

吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶基因转染对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响及相关机制研究

目的:通过细胞培养和在体实验探讨吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶(indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase,IDO)基因转染后对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响及相关细胞免疫机制的研究.方法:提取健康人外周血中的T细胞利用细胞培养和基因转染技术将T细胞和肝癌细胞混合培养.实验分为6组:根据是否加入D-1-MT分为未干预组和干预组...