Smart Lipid-Based Nanosystems for Therapeutic Immune Induction against Cancers: Perspectives and Outlooks

Cancer immunotherapy, a promising and widely applied mode of oncotherapy, makes use of immune stimulants and modulators to overcome the immune dysregulation present in cancer, and leverage the host’s immune capacity to eliminate tumors. Although some success has been seen in this field, toxicity and weak immune induction remain challenges. Liposomal nanosystems, previously used as targeting agents, are increasingly functioning as immunotherapeutic vehicles, with potential for delivery of contents, immune induction, and synergistic drug packaging. These systems are tailorable, multifunctional, and smart. Liposomes may deliver various immune reagents including cytokines, specific T-cell receptors, antibody fragments, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and also present a promising platform upon which personalized medicine approaches can be built, especially with preclinical and clinical potentials of liposomes often being frustrated by inter- and intrapatient variation. In this review, we show the potential of liposomes in cancer immunotherapy, as well as the methods for synthesis and in vivo progression thereof. Both preclinical and clinical studies are included to comprehensively illuminate prospects and challenges for future research and application.

Exploring Coping Strategies of Different Generations of Students Starting University

Introduction: Coping strategies and adaptation skills are key features in successfully adjusting to university challenges. Coping skills are an essential part of the Psychological immune system, which leads to successful adaptation. Due to COVID-19 most universities have changed their face-to-face teaching for online education. Nevertheless, there is little concrete empirical evidence on how this generation of students with the ongoing impacts of disruptive changes can cope with it. Colleges and universities need to make changes in order to retain this new generation of students. Our aim was to explore the characteristics and changes in coping skills of university students from three different age groups.Method: Psychological coping skills were measured by the Psychological Immune Competence Inventory (PICI). Differences were detected between generations. Group comparisons (pre-2004, pre-Covid, and post-Covid) groups were compared) using PICI subscales using independent sample analysis of variance. The sample consisted of 4,731 university students, 2,768 (58.5%) were men and 1,730 (36.56%) were women.Results: Students from 2004 showed significantly higher scores in the Self-regulation subsystem scale compared to students in the pre-Covid and post-Covid groups. Self-regulation subsystem: F(2, 2,569.607) = 444.375, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.27: small effect, ω2 = 0.27; Resilience: F(2, 2,372.117) = 1171.855, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.14: small effect, ω2 = 0.14. Based on the results, the explained variance ratio was at least 10% based on self-regulation and resilience.Conclusions: Psychological immune capacity of students seems to decrease through the years. Nonetheless, interventions may have a further facilitating role in the maintenance and development of psychological immunity during college years.

Polysaccharides Extracted From Panax Ginseng C.A. Mey Enhance Complement Component 4 Biosynthesis in Human Hepatocytes

Panax ginseng C.A. Mey (ginseng) is a classic medicinal plant which is well known for enhancing immune capacity. Polysaccharides are one of the main active components of ginseng. We isolated water-soluble ginseng polysaccharides (WGP) and analyzed the physicochemical properties of WGP including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and structural characteristics. WGP had minimal effect on the growth of hepatocytes. Interestingly, WGP significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of complement component 4 (C4), one of the core components of the complement system. Promoter reporter gene assays revealed that WGP significantly enhanced activity of the C4 gene promoter. Deletion analyses determined that the E-box1 and Sp1 regions play key roles in WGP-induced C4 transcription. Taken together, our results suggest that WGP promotes C4 biosynthesis through upregulation of transcription. These results provide new explanation for the intrinsic mechanism by which ginseng boosts human immune capacity.

Dietary black soldier fly pulp affects growth, antioxidant and immune capacity of Micropterus salmoides

Dried or defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal has been shown an important ingredient in aquafeed, but little information is available about the effects of black soldier fly pulp (BSFP) on growth and health of fish. A 62-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary BSFP on growth performance, whole body composition, serum metabolites, antioxidant and immune response of Micropterus salmoides. Four isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated by adding BSFP (original substance) to the basal diet at the rate of 0% (BSFP0), 1% (BSFP1), 2% (BSFP2) and 4% (BSFP4), corresponding to inclusion of 0, 4.5, 9.0 and 18.0 g/kg DM in diets. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 35 fish per tank. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation. Blood samples were collected at the terminal trial to analyse serum metabolites, antioxidant and immune enzyme activities. Results indicated that fish fed BSFP2 had higher (P<0.05) weight gain rate, specific growth rate and intraperitoneal fat ratio than those of fish fed other diets. Crude lipid, ash and calcium contents were higher (P<0.05) in BSFP2 than those in BSFP0. Fish fed BSFP2 and BSFP4 had lower (P<0.05) serum malonaldehyde but higher (P<0.05) acid phosphatase than other diets. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of BSFP improved growth performance of M. salmoides might be attributed to increased lipid and ash deposition. BSFP improved antioxidant and immune capacity but also increased intraperitoneal fat deposition of fish, suggesting BSFP should be careful to be used in M. salmoides diets.

Interactive Analysis Between Gastrointestinal Bacteria and Immune Capacities of Yellow-Feathered Chickens to Flavonoids Supplement

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing antibiotics with Kudzu-leaf flavonoids (KLF) on the growth performances, immune capacity, and gastrointestinal health of Yellow-feathered broilers. For this purpose, total of 216 one-day-old male Yellow-feathered chickens with the similar birth weight (31.0±1.0g) were randomly divided into 3 treatments: the control treatment (CON), the kudzu-leaf flavonoids supplement treatment (KLF), and the antibiotics supplementation treatment (AGP). All birds were provided with a 56d-feeding procedure, followed by the measurement of production performances, immune organs, blood anti-oxidant parameters and cecal microbiota. Results showed the feed conversion ratio significantly decreased after KLF supplement compared with CON (P< 0.05), while no significant differences for immune organ indexes among the three treatments (P > 0.05). Further, anti-oxidant activities were partly promoted after KLF supplement on account of the increased activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the decrease content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Cecal microbiota results showed a significant promition of bacterial diversity and partial representative probiotic bacteria (P<0.05) after KLF supplementation. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that probitics including Bifidobacterium, Butyricimonas, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus positively correlated with production performances while negatively correlated with immune organs. In conclusion, KLF supplement may promote feed efficiency and benefit the gastrointestinal health through improving gut bacterial diversity and probiotic bacteria. The KLF might be applied as a proper antibiotic alternative.

Application of Selenium Conjugated to Animal Protein in Laying Hens’ Diet for the Production of Selenium-Enriched Eggs

The current experiment was conducted to investigate the application effects of selenium conjugated to insect protein (SCIP) in the production of selenium-enriched eggs. A total of 450 laying hens were randomly assigned to five dietary groups, each group consisting of six replicates. Hens in the control group received a diet without selenium supplementation, whereas hens in the other four groups received diets supplemented with either 1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg of selenium from SCIP. The productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant and immune capacity, biochemical indices, intestinal morphology, and oviduct health of laying hens were evaluated. The results showed that the supplementation of organic selenium provided by SCIP in the diets of laying hens enhanced performance and egg quality without any toxicity effect, even at the 10 mg/kg inclusion level. A level of 2 mg/kg of selenium provided by SCIP in diets tentatively improved the serum antioxidant and immune capacity, intestinal development, and oviduct health of laying hens in a conspicuous manner. Hence, the biosafety and positive effects of SCIP as a feed additive supplement in laying hens’ diet have been demonstrated with the enhanced production of safe and selenium-enriched eggs.

COVID-19 Infection: Viral Clearance and Antibody Response in Dialysis Patients and Renal Transplant Recipients

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The coronavirus disease 2019 (CO­VID-19) pandemic is the major current health emergency worldwide, adding a significant burden also to the community of nephrologists for the management of their patients. Here, we analyzed the impact of COVID-19 infection in renal patients to assess the time to viral clearance, together with the production and persistence of IgG and IgM antibody response, in consideration of the altered immune capacity of this fragile population. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Viral clearance and antibody kinetics were investigated in 49 renal patients recovered from COVID-19 infection: 7 of them with chronic decompensated renal failure, 31 under dialysis treatment, and 11 kidney transplant recipients. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The time span between the diagnosis of infection and recovery based on laboratory testing (2 negative nasopharyngeal swabs in consecutive days) was 31.7 ± 13.3 days. Three new positive cases were detected from 8 to 13 days following recovery. At the first serological determination after swab negativization, all the patients developed IgG and IgM antibodies. The semiquantitative analysis showed a progressive increase in IgG and a slow reduction in IgM. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> In subjects with decompensated chronic kidney disease, under dialysis and in transplant recipients, viral clearance is lengthened compared to the general population. However, in spite of their common status of immunodepression, all of them were able to produce specific antibodies. These data might provide useful insights for monitoring and planning health-care activities in the weak category of patients with compromised renal function recovered from COVID-19.

Lack of elevated pre-ART elastase-ANCA levels in patients developing TB-IRIS

Background Tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) in HIV-TB co-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been linked to neutrophil activation. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) are also associated with neutrophil activation. Since ANCAs are reportedly skewed in TB and HIV infections, we investigated plasma levels of 7 ANCAs in TB-IRIS patients. Methods We retrospectively compared 17 HIV-TB patients who developed TB-IRIS with controls of similar CD4 count, age and gender who did not (HIV+TB+ n = 17), HIV-infected patients without TB (HIV+TB-, n = 17) and 10 HIV-negative (HIV-TB-) controls. Frozen plasma was collected before ART, at 3 and 9 months of ART, and examined by ELISA for levels of 7 ANCAs directed against; Proteinase 3 (PR3), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Permeability-increasing protein (BPI), Elastase, Cathepsin, Lysozyme, and Lactoferrin. Results Compared to HIV+TB+ controls, pre-ART anti-elastase levels were lower in TB-IRIS patients (p = 0.026) and HIV-TB- controls (p = 0.044), whereas other ANCAs did not show significant differences between groups at any time point. A significant decrease over time could be observed in TB-IRIS patients during ART for anti -PR3 (p = 0.027), -lysozyme (p = 0.011), and -lactoferrin (p = 0.019). Conversely, HIV+TB+ controls showed a significant decrease over time for anti -MPO (p = 0.002), -lyzosyme (p = 0.002) and -elastase (p < 0.001). Conclusion The lack of elevated anti-elastase levels in TB-IRIS patients as opposed to HIV+TB+ controls correspond to previous findings of lowered immune capacity in patients that will develop TB-IRIS. This may suggest a specific role for anti-elastase, elastase or even matrix-metalloproteinases in TB-IRIS. The precise dynamics of neutrophil activation in HIV-TB merits further investigation and could provide more insight in the early mechanisms leading up to TB-IRIS.