CD28 between tolerance and autoimmunity: The side effects of animal models [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Regulation of immune responses is critical for ensuring pathogen clearance and for preventing reaction against self-antigens. Failure or breakdown of immunological tolerance results in autoimmunity. CD28 is an important co-stimulatory receptor expressed on T cells that, upon specific ligand binding, delivers signals essential for full T-cell activation and for the development and homeostasis of suppressive regulatory T cells. Many in vivo mouse models have been used for understanding the role of CD28 in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, thus leading to the development of CD28 signaling modulators that have been approved for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases. Despite all of this progress, a deeper understanding of the differences between the mouse and human receptor is required to allow a safe translation of pre-clinical studies in efficient therapies. In this review, we discuss the role of CD28 in tolerance and autoimmunity and the clinical efficacy of drugs that block or enhance CD28 signaling, by highlighting the success and failure of pre-clinical studies, when translated to humans

The cellular composition of the human immune system is shaped by age and cohabitation.

Detailed population-level description of the human immune system has recently become achievable. We used a 'systems-level' approach to establish a resource of cellular immune profiles of 670 healthy individuals. We report a high level of interindividual variation, with low longitudinal variation, at the level of cellular subset composition of the immune system. Despite the profound effects of antigen exposure on individual antigen-specific clones, the cellular subset structure proved highly elastic, with transient vaccination-induced changes followed by a return to the individual's unique baseline. Notably, the largest influence on immunological variation identified was cohabitation, with 50% less immunological variation between individuals who share an environment (as parents) than between people in the wider population. These results identify local environmental conditions as a key factor in shaping the human immune system

No evidence for a role of rare CYP27B1 functional variations in multiple sclerosis.

Association studies have implicated common variants in the 12q14.1 region containing CYP27B1 in multiple sclerosis (MS). Rare CYP27B1 mutations cause autosomal recessive vitamin D\u2013dependent rickets type 1, and it has recently been reported that heterozygous CYP27B1 mutations are associated with increased MS susceptibility and lower active vitamin D levels. By sequencing CYP27B1 in 134 multiplex families and genotyping the most common variant R389H in 2,608 MS patients and 1,987 controls from Italy and Belgium (a total of 4,729 individuals), we were unable to replicate these observations. These results provide evidence against a major role for CYP27B1 mutations in MS

Genetic predisposition for beta cell fragility underlies type 1 and type 2 diabetes

none29noneDooley, James; Tian, Lei; Schonefeldt, Susann; Delghingaro-Augusto, Viviane; Garcia-Perez, Josselyn E.; Pasciuto, Emanuela; Di Marino, Daniele; Carr, Edward J.; Oskolkov, Nikolay; Lyssenko, Valeriya; Franckaert, Dean; Lagou, Vasiliki; Overbergh, Lut; Vandenbussche, Jonathan; Allemeersch, Joke; Chabot-Roy, Genevieve; Dahlstrom, Jane E.; Laybutt, D. Ross; Petrovsky, Nikolai; Socha, Luis; Gevaert, Kris; Jetten, Anton M.; Lambrechts, Diether; Linterman, Michelle A.; Goodnow, Chris C.; Nolan, Christopher J.; Lesage, Sylvie; Schlenner, Susan M.; Liston, AdrianDooley, James; Tian, Lei; Schonefeldt, Susann; Delghingaro-Augusto, Viviane; Garcia-Perez, Josselyn E.; Pasciuto, Emanuela; Di Marino, Daniele; Carr, Edward J.; Oskolkov, Nikolay; Lyssenko, Valeriya; Franckaert, Dean; Lagou, Vasiliki; Overbergh, Lut; Vandenbussche, Jonathan; Allemeersch, Joke; Chabot-Roy, Genevieve; Dahlstrom, Jane E.; Laybutt, D. Ross; Petrovsky, Nikolai; Socha, Luis; Gevaert, Kris; Jetten, Anton M.; Lambrechts, Diether; Linterman, Michelle A.; Goodnow, Chris C.; Nolan, Christopher J.; Lesage, Sylvie; Schlenner, Susan M.; Liston, Adria

Genetic predisposition for beta cell fragility underlies type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes share pathophysiological characteristics, yet mechanistic links have remained elusive. T1D results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, whereas beta cell failure in T2D is delayed and progressive. Here we find a new genetic component of diabetes susceptibility in T1D non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, identifying immune-independent beta cell fragility. Genetic variation in Xrcc4 and Glis3 alters the response of NOD beta cells to unfolded protein stress, enhancing the apoptotic and senescent fates. The same transcriptional relationships were observed in human islets, demonstrating the role of beta cell fragility in genetic predisposition to diabetes.status: publishe

Cell death in cancer in the era of precision medicine

Tumors constitute a large class of diseases that affect different organs and cell lineages. The molecular characterization of cancers of a given type has revealed an extraordinary heterogeneity in terms of genetic alterations and DNA mutations; heterogeneity that is further highlighted by single-cell DNA sequencing of individual patients. To address these issues, drugs that specifically target genes or altered pathways in cancer cells are continuously developed. Indeed, the genetic fingerprint of individual tumors can direct the modern therapeutic approaches to selectively hit the tumor cells while sparing the healthy ones. In this context, the concept of precision medicine finds a vast field of application. In this review, we will briefly list some classes of target drugs (Bcl-2 family modulators, Tyrosine Kinase modulators, PARP inhibitors, and growth factors inhibitors) and discuss the application of immunotherapy in tumors (T cell-mediated immunotherapy and CAR-T cells) that in recent years has drastically changed the prognostic outlook of aggressive cancers. We will also consider how apoptosis could represent a primary end point in modern cancer therapy and how “classic” chemotherapeutic drugs that induce apoptosis are still utilized in therapeutic schedules that involve the use of target drugs or immunotherapy to optimize the antitumor response