Breast implant surface topography triggers a chronic-like inflammatory response

: Breast implants are extensively employed for both reconstructive and esthetic purposes. However, the safety of breast implants with textured surfaces has been questioned, owing to a potential correlation with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and the recurrence of breast cancer. This study investigates the immune response elicited by different prosthetic surfaces, focusing on the comparison between macrotextured and microtextured breast implants. Through the analysis of intraoperatively harvested periprosthetic fluids and cell culture experiments on surface replicas, we demonstrate that macrotextured surfaces elicit a more pronounced chronic-like activation of leucocytes and an increased release of inflammatory cytokines, in contrast to microtextured surfaces. In addition, in vitro fluorescent imaging of leucocytes revealed an accumulation of lymphocytes within the cavities of the macrotextured surfaces, indicating that the physical entrapment of these cells may contribute to their activation. These findings suggest that the topography of implant surfaces plays a significant role in promoting a chronic-like inflammatory environment, which could be a contributing factor in the development of lymphomas associated with a wide range of implantable devices

IL-1R8 Acts As An Immune Checkpoint In CD8⁺ T Cells

IL-1R8 is a member of the Interleukin-1 receptor (ILR) family, acting as a negative regulatory receptor that inhibits inflammation by dampening ILR and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. IL-1R8 deficiency was shown to enhance IL-18-promoted NK cell effector functions restraining tumor metastasis and viral dissemination. IL-1R8 is thus considered a new immunocheckpoint of innate lymphoid cells. CD8+ T cells represent a potent and target-specific component of anti-tumor immunity, which can be targeted to overcome tumor-associated immune dysfunction in the context of cancer immunotherapy. The aim of this project was to dissect the role played by IL-1R8 in Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Expression profile analysis indicated that IL-1R8 was transcriptionally and epigenetically controlled along immune cell differentiation. In particular, IL-1R8 was upregulated as a consequence of T cell maturation in physiologic and pathologic contexts and its expression was associated with the acquisition of early-effector markers in healthy donors and tumor patients. We demonstrated that IL-1R8 genetic deficiency promoted CD8+ T cell-mediated protection in immunogenic tumor models and enhanced effector functions in IL-1R8-silenced human CD8+ T cells. Surprisingly, we found that IL-1R8 regulated T cells through the integration of two independent cell-autonomous mechanisms. IL-1R8 deficiency promoted Type-1 responses and enhanced IL-18-mediated pathway by inducing TBET. In addition, IL-1R8 regulated the IL-2/EOMES/CD25 signaling axis consequently affecting T cell maturation, proliferation and cytokines production in TBET+ EOMES+ CD8+ T cells. The analysis of IL-1R8 transcription showed a complex mechanism of regulation, including epigenetic modifications, two transcription-starting sites and transcription of truncated isoforms. Collectively, our data showed that IL-1R8 acts as a checkpoint for mouse and human CD8+ T cells and its expression is upregulated during the transition from naïve to mature CD8+ T cells, hence suggesting that IL-1R8 genetic targeting represents a tool to enhance the activity of CD8+ T cells, including CAR-T cells, in cancer immunotherapy

Not only cancer: the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 affects the repertoire of alternatively spliced transcripts and circular RNAs in multiple sclerosis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are post-transcriptional and epigenetic regulators, whose implication in neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases remains poorly understood. We analyzed publicly available microarray data sets to identify dysregulated lncRNAs in multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease. We found a consistent upregulation in MS of the lncRNA MALAT1 (2.7-fold increase; meta-analysis, P = 1.3 × 10-8; 190 cases, 182 controls), known to regulate alternative splicing (AS). We confirmed MALAT1 upregulation in two independent MS cohorts (1.5-fold increase; P \u3c 0.01; 59 cases, 50 controls). We hence performed MALAT1 overexpression/knockdown in cell lines, demonstrating that its modulation impacts on endogenous expression of splicing factors (HNRNPF and HNRNPH1) and on AS of MS-associated genes (IL7R and SP140). Minigene-based splicing assays upon MALAT1 modulation recapitulated IL7R and SP140 isoform unbalances observed in patients. RNA-sequencing of MALAT1-knockdown Jurkat cells further highlighted MALAT1 role in splicing (approximately 1100 significantly-modulated AS events) and revealed its contribution to backsplicing (approximately 50 differentially expressed circular RNAs). Our study proposes a possible novel role for MALAT1 dysregulation and the consequent AS alteration in MS pathogenesis, based on anomalous splicing/backsplicing profiles of MS-relevant genes

NKG2A expression identifies a subset of human V\u3b42 T\ua0cells exerting the highest antitumor effector functions

Human V delta 2 cells are innate-like gamma delta T effectors performing potent immune surveillance against tumors. The constitutive expression of NKG2A identifies a subset of V delta 2 T cells licensed with an intrinsic hyper-responsiveness against cancer. Indeed, the transcriptomic profiles of NKG2A(+) and NKG2A(-) cells characterize two distinct "intralineages'' of V delta 2 T lymphocytes that appear early during development, keep their phenotypes, and show self-renewal capabilities in adult life. The hyper-responsiveness of NKG2A(+) V delta 2 T cells is counterbalanced by the inhibitory signaling delivered by human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E) expressed on malignant cells as a tumor-escape mechanism. However, either masking or knocking out NKG2A restores the capacity of V delta 2 T cells to exert the highest effector functions even against HLA-E+ tumors. This is highly relevant in the clinic, as the different degrees of engagement of the NKG2A-HLA-E checkpoint in hepatocellular carcinoma, glioblastoma, and non-small cell lung cancer directly impact patients' overall survival. These findings open avenues for developing combined cellular and immunologic anticancer therapies

Differential expression and regulation of MS4A family members in myeloid cells in physiological and pathological conditions

International audienceThe MS4A gene family encodes 18 tetraspanin-like proteins, most of which with unknown function. MS4A1 (CD20), MS4A2 (FcεRIβ), MS4A3 (HTm4), and MS4A4A play important roles in immunity, whereas expression and function of other members of the family are unknown. The present investigation was designed to obtain an expression fingerprint of MS4A family members, using bioinformatics analysis of public databases, RT-PCR, and protein analysis when possible. MS4A3, MS4A4A, MS4A4E, MS4A6A, MS4A7, and MS4A14 were expressed by myeloid cells. MS4A6A and MS4A14 were expressed in circulating monocytes and decreased during monocyte-to-Mϕ differentiation in parallel with an increase in MS4A4A expression. Analysis of gene expression regulation revealed a strong induction of MS4A4A, MS4A6A, MS4A7, and MS4A4E by glucocorticoid hormones. Consistently with in vitro findings, MS4A4A and MS4A7 were expressed in tissue Mϕs from COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis patients. Interestingly, MS4A3, selectively expressed in myeloid precursors, was found to be a marker of immature circulating neutrophils, a cellular population associated to COVID-19 severe disease. The results reported here show that members of the MS4A family are differentially expressed and regulated during myelomonocytic differentiation, and call for assessment of their functional role and value as therapeutic targets

Golgi maturation-dependent glycoenzyme recycling controls glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and cell growth via GOLPH3

Glycosphingolipids are important components of the plasma membrane where they modulate the activities of membrane proteins including signalling receptors. Glycosphingolipid synthesis relies on competing reactions catalysed by Golgi-resident enzymes during the passage of substrates through the Golgi cisternae. The glycosphingolipid metabolic output is determined by the position and levels of the enzymes within the Golgi stack, but the mechanisms that coordinate the intra-Golgi localisation of the enzymes are poorly understood. Here, we show that a group of sequentially-acting enzymes operating at the branchpoint among glycosphingolipid synthetic pathways binds the Golgi-localised oncoprotein GOLPH3. GOLPH3 sorts these enzymes into vesicles for intra-Golgi retro-transport, acting as a component of the cisternal maturation mechanism. Through these effects, GOLPH3 controls the sub-Golgi localisation and the lysosomal degradation rate of specific enzymes. Increased GOLPH3 levels, as those observed in tumours, alter glycosphingolipid synthesis and plasma membrane composition thereby promoting mitogenic signalling and cell proliferation. These data have medical implications as they outline a novel oncogenic mechanism of action for GOLPH3 based on glycosphingolipid metabolism

Neutrophils mediate protection against colitis and carcinogenesis by controlling bacterial invasion and IL-22 production by γδ T cells

: Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human blood and play a primary role in resistance against invading microorganisms and in the acute inflammatory response. However, their role in colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer is still under debate. This study aims to dissect the role of neutrophils in these pathological contexts by using a rigorous genetic approach. Neutrophil-deficient mice (Csf3r-/- mice) were used in classic models of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer and the role of neutrophils was assessed by histological, cellular and molecular analyses coupled with adoptive cell transfer. We also performed correlative analyses using human datasets. Csf3r-/- mice showed increased susceptibility to colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer compared to control Csf3r+/+ mice and adoptive transfer of neutrophils in Csf3r-/- mice reverted the phenotype. In colitis, Csf3r-/- mice showed increased bacterial invasion and a reduced number of healing ulcers in the colon, indicating a compromised regenerative capacity of epithelial cells. Neutrophils were essential for γδ T-cell polarization and IL-22 production. In patients with ulcerative colitis, expression of CSF3R was positively correlated with IL22 and IL23 expression. Moreover, gene signatures associated with epithelial-cell development, proliferation, and antimicrobial response were enriched in CSF3Rhigh patients. Our data support a model where neutrophils mediate protection against intestinal inflammation and colitis-associated colorectal cancer by controlling the intestinal microbiota and driving the activation of an IL-22-dependent tissue repair pathway

Dataset related to article "Neutrophils mediate protection in colitis and carcinogenesis by controlling bacterial invasion and IL-22 production by gdT cells"

<p>This record contains raw data related to article "<strong>Neutrophils mediate protection in colitis and carcinogenesis by controlling bacterial invasion and IL-22 production by gd T cells"</strong></p><p>Abstract</p><p>Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human blood and play a primary role in resistance against invading microorganisms and in the acute inflammatory response. However, their role in colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer is still under debate. Therefore, this study aims to dissect the role of neutrophils in these pathological contexts by using a rigorous genetic approach. Neutrophil-deficient mice (Csf3r-/- mice) were challenged with classic models of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer and the role of neutrophils was assessed by histological, cellular and molecular analyses coupled with adoptive cell transfer and correlative analyses using human datasets. Csf3r-/- mice showed increased susceptibility to colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer compared to control Csf3r+/+ mice and adoptive transfer of neutrophils in Csf3r-/- mice reverted the phenotype. In colitis, Csf3r-/- mice showed increased bacterial invasion and reduced number of healing ulcers in the colon, indicating compromised regenerative capacity of epithelial cells. Neutrophils were essential for T cell polarization and IL-22 production. In patients with ulcerative colitis, the expression of CSF3R was positively correlated with IL-22 and IL-23 expression. Moreover, gene signatures associated with epithelial cell development, proliferation and antimicrobial response were enriched in CSF3Rhigh patients. Our data support a model where neutrophils mediate protection against intestinal inflammation and colitis-associated colorectal cancer by controlling the intestinal microbiota and driving the activation of an IL-22-dependent tissue repair pathway.</p><p> </p&gt

The long Pentraxin PTX3 serves as an early predictive biomarker of co-infections in COVID-19Research in context

Summary: Background: COVID-19 clinical course is highly variable and secondary infections contribute to COVID-19 complexity. Early detection of secondary infections is clinically relevant for patient outcome. Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are the most used biomarkers of infections. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute phase protein with promising performance as early biomarker in infections. In patients with COVID-19, PTX3 plasma concentrations at hospital admission are independent predictor of poor outcome. In this study, we assessed whether PTX3 contributes to early identification of co-infections during the course of COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed PTX3 levels in patients affected by COVID-19 with (n = 101) or without (n = 179) community or hospital-acquired fungal or bacterial secondary infections (CAIs or HAIs). Findings: PTX3 plasma concentrations at diagnosis of CAI or HAI were significantly higher than those in patients without secondary infections. Compared to PCT and CRP, the increase of PTX3 plasma levels was associated with the highest hazard ratio for CAIs and HAIs (aHR 11.68 and 24.90). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, PTX3 was also the most significant predictor of 28-days mortality or intensive care unit admission of patients with potential co-infections, faring more pronounced than CRP and PCT. Interpretation: PTX3 is a promising predictive biomarker for early identification and risk stratification of patients with COVID-19 and co-infections. Funding: Dolce & Gabbana fashion house donation; Ministero della Salute for COVID-19; EU funding within the MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases (Project no. PE00000007, INF-ACT) and MUR PNRR Italian network of excellence for advanced diagnosis (Project no. PNC-E3-2022-23683266 PNC-HLS-DA); EU MSCA (project CORVOS 860044)