scholarly journals Measuring host immune response status by simultaneous quantitative measurement of activity of signal transduction pathways that coordinate functional activity of immune cells from innate and adaptive immune system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilbert Bouwman ◽  
Wim Verhaegh ◽  
Arie van Doorn ◽  
Anja van de Stolpe

Abstract For many diseases, including cancer, viral infections such as COVID-19, bacterial infections, and auto-immune diseases, the immune response is a major determinant of progression, response to therapy, and clinical outcome. Innate and adaptive immune response are controlled by coordinated activity of multiple immune cell types. The functional activity state of immune cells is determined by cellular signal transduction pathways (STPs). A novel mRNA-based signaling pathway assay platform has been developed to quantitatively measure relevant STP activities in all types of immune cells and mixed immune cell samples for experimental and diagnostic purposes. We generated a STP activity profile, termed Immune-Pathway Activity Profile (I-PAP), for a variety of immune cell types in resting and activated state, and provide a first example for use in patient samples. Methods. The technology to measure STP activity has been described for androgen and estrogen receptor, PI3K, MAPK, TGFB;, Notch, NFkB, JAK-STAT1/2, and JAK-STAT3 pathways. STP activity was measured on Affymetrix expression microarray data from preclinical studies containing public data from different types of immune cells, resting/naive or immune-activated in vitro, to establish I-PAPs. Subsequently data from a clinical study on rheumatoid arthritis were analyzed. Results. I-PAPs of naive/resting and immune-activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, T helper cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells were established and in agreement with known experimental immunobiology. In whole blood samples of rheumatoid arthritis patients TGFβ pathway activity was increased; JAK-STAT3 pathway activity was selectively increased in female patients. In naive CD4+ Tregs TGFB; pathway activity was increased, while in memory T effector cells JAK-STAT3 pathway activity tended to increase, suggesting that these immune cell types contributed to whole blood analysis results. Conclusion. STP assay technology (currently being converted to qPCR-based assays) makes it possible to directly measure functional activity of cells of the innate and adaptive immune response enabling quantitative assessment of the immune response of an individual patient. Envisioned utility lies in (1) prediction and monitoring of response to immunomodulatory treatments for a variety of immune-mediated diseases, including RA; (2) uncovering novel treatment targets; (3) improvement and standardization of in vitro immunology research and drug development.

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
Yuling Chen ◽  
Timo Gaber

Oxygen availability varies throughout the human body in health and disease. Under physiological conditions, oxygen availability drops from the lungs over the blood stream towards the different tissues into the cells and the mitochondrial cavities leading to physiological low oxygen conditions or physiological hypoxia in all organs including primary lymphoid organs. Moreover, immune cells travel throughout the body searching for damaged cells and foreign antigens facing a variety of oxygen levels. Consequently, physiological hypoxia impacts immune cell function finally controlling innate and adaptive immune response mainly by transcriptional regulation via hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Under pathophysiological conditions such as found in inflammation, injury, infection, ischemia and cancer, severe hypoxia can alter immune cells leading to dysfunctional immune response finally leading to tissue damage, cancer progression and autoimmunity. Here we summarize the effects of physiological and pathophysiological hypoxia on innate and adaptive immune activity, we provide an overview on the control of immune response by cellular hypoxia-induced pathways with focus on the role of HIFs and discuss the opportunity to target hypoxia-sensitive pathways for the treatment of cancer and autoimmunity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Xu ◽  
Jianping Jia

The peripheral immune system is thought to affect the pathology of the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, current knowledge is inadequate for understanding the characteristics of peripheral immune cells in AD. This study aimed to explore the molecular basis of peripheral immune cells and the features of adaptive immune repertoire at a single cell level. We profiled 36,849 peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AD patients with amyloid-positive status and normal controls with amyloid-negative status by 5’ single-cell transcriptome and immune repertoire sequencing using the cell ranger standard analysis procedure. We revealed five immune cell subsets: CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and monocytes–macrophages cells, and disentangled the characteristic alterations of cell subset proportion and gene expression patterns in AD. Thirty-one cell type-specific key genes, comprising abundant human leukocyte antigen genes, and multiple immune-related pathways were identified by protein–protein interaction network and pathway enrichment analysis. We also found high-frequency amplification clonotypes in T and B cells and decreased diversity in T cells in AD. As clone amplification suggested the activation of an adaptive immune response against specific antigens, we speculated that the peripheral adaptive immune response, especially mediated by T cells, may have a role in the pathogenesis of AD. This finding may also contribute to further research regarding disease mechanism and the development of immune-related biomarkers or therapy.


2005 ◽  
Vol 201 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge E. Galán

Microorganisms that cause persistent infection often exhibit specific adaptations that allow them to avoid the adaptive immune response. Recently, several bacterial toxins have been shown in vitro to disrupt immune cell functions. However, it remains to be established whether these activities are relevant during infection and whether these toxins have specifically evolved to disrupt the adaptive immune system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bohmwald ◽  
Nicolás M. S. Gálvez ◽  
Catalina A. Andrade ◽  
Valentina P. Mora ◽  
José T. Muñoz ◽  
...  

Most cellular functions require of ion homeostasis and ion movement. Among others, ion channels play a crucial role in controlling the homeostasis of anions and cations concentration between the extracellular and intracellular compartments. Calcium (Ca2+) is one of the most relevant ions involved in regulating critical functions of immune cells, allowing the appropriate development of immune cell responses against pathogens and tumor cells. Due to the importance of Ca2+ in inducing the immune response, some viruses have evolved mechanisms to modulate intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and the mobilization of this cation through Ca2+ channels to increase their infectivity and to evade the immune system using different mechanisms. For instance, some viral infections require the influx of Ca2+ through ionic channels as a first step to enter the cell, as well as their replication and budding. Moreover, through the expression of viral proteins on the surface of infected cells, Ca2+ channels function can be altered, enhancing the pathogen evasion of the adaptive immune response. In this article, we review those ion channels and ion transporters that are essential for the function of immune cells. Specifically, cation channels and Ca2+ channels in the context of viral infections and their contribution to the modulation of adaptive immune responses.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jukun Song ◽  
Song He ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Jiaming Su ◽  
Dongbo Yuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Immune infiltration of Prostate cancer (PCa) was highly related to clinical outcomes. However, previous works failed to elucidate the diversity of different immune cell types that make up the function of the immune response system. The aim of the study was to uncover the composition of TIICs in PCa utilizing the CIBERSORT algorithm and further reveal the molecular characteristics of PCa subtypes. Method In the present work, we employed the CIBERSORT method to evaluate the relative proportions of immune cell profiling in PCa and adjacent samples, normal samples. We analyzed the correlation between immune cell infiltration and clinical information. The tumor-infiltrating immune cells of the TCGA PCa cohort were analyzed for the first time. The fractions of 22 immune cell types were imputed to determine the correlation between each immune cell subpopulation and clinical feature. Three types of molecular classification were identified via R-package of “CancerSubtypes”. The functional enrichment was analyzed in each subtype. The submap and TIDE algorithm were used to predict the clinical response to immune checkpoint blockade, and GDSC was employed to screen chemotherapeutic targets for the potential treatment of PCa. Results In current work, we utilized the CIBERSORT algorithm to assess the relative proportions of immune cell profiling in PCa and adjacent samples, normal samples. We investigated the correlation between immune cell infiltration and clinical data. The tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the TCGA PCa cohort were analyzed. The 22 immune cells were also calculated to determine the correlation between each immune cell subpopulation and survival and response to chemotherapy. Three types of molecular classification were identified. Each subtype has specific molecular and clinical characteristics. Meanwhile, Cluster I is defined as advanced PCa, and is more likely to respond to immunotherapy. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that differences in immune response may be important drivers of PCa progression and response to treatment. The deconvolution algorithm of gene expression microarray data by CIBERSOFT provides useful information about the immune cell composition of PCa patients. In addition, we have found a subtype of immunopositive PCa subtype and will help to explore the reasons for the poor effect of PCa on immunotherapy, and it is expected that immunotherapy will be used to guide the individualized management and treatment of PCa patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e000337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Galluzzi ◽  
Ilio Vitale ◽  
Sarah Warren ◽  
Sandy Adjemian ◽  
Patrizia Agostinis ◽  
...  

Cells succumbing to stress via regulated cell death (RCD) can initiate an adaptive immune response associated with immunological memory, provided they display sufficient antigenicity and adjuvanticity. Moreover, multiple intracellular and microenvironmental features determine the propensity of RCD to drive adaptive immunity. Here, we provide an updated operational definition of immunogenic cell death (ICD), discuss the key factors that dictate the ability of dying cells to drive an adaptive immune response, summarize experimental assays that are currently available for the assessment of ICD in vitro and in vivo, and formulate guidelines for their interpretation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 3940-3946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cuixia Shi ◽  
Bikash Sahay ◽  
Jennifer Q. Russell ◽  
Karen A. Fortner ◽  
Nicholas Hardin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTLittle is known regarding the function of γδ T cells, although they accumulate at sites of inflammation in infections and autoimmune disorders. We previously observed that γδ T cellsin vitroare activated byBorrelia burgdorferiin a TLR2-dependent manner. We now observe that the activated γδ T cells can in turn stimulate dendritic cellsin vitroto produce cytokines and chemokines that are important for the adaptive immune response. This suggested thatin vivoγδ T cells may assist in activating the adaptive immune response. We examined this possibilityin vivoand observed that γδ T cells are activated and expand in number duringBorreliainfection, and this was reduced in the absence of TLR2. Furthermore, in the absence of γδ T cells, there was a significantly blunted response of adaptive immunity, as reflected in reduced expansion of T and B cells and reduced serum levels of anti-Borreliaantibodies, cytokines, and chemokines. This paralleled a greaterBorreliaburden in γδ-deficient mice as well as more cardiac inflammation. These findings are consistent with a model of γδ T cells functioning to promote the adaptive immune response during infection.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 3037-3037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Krejcik ◽  
Tineke Casneuf ◽  
Inger Nijhof ◽  
Bie Verbist ◽  
Jaime Bald ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Daratumumab (DARA) is a novel human monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a protein that is highly expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. DARA acts through multiple immune effector-mediated mechanisms, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. In two clinical studies (NCT00574288 [GEN501] and NCT01985126 [Sirius]) of DARA monotherapy in patients with relapsed and refractory MM, overall response rates were 36% and 29%, respectively. CD38 is highly expressed in myeloma cells but also expressed in lymphocytes and other immune cell populations. Therefore, the effects of DARA on immune cell populations and adaptive immune response pathways were investigated. Methods: The patient population investigated included treated subjects with MM that were relapsed after or were refractory to ≥2 prior therapies (GEN501) or had received ≥3 prior therapies, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), or were refractory to both a PI and an IMiD (Sirius). Patients assessed in this analysis were treated with 16 mg/kg DARA. When both studies were combined, median age (range) was 64 (31-84) years and median time from diagnosis was 5.12 (0.77-23.77) years. Seventy-six percent of patients had received >3 prior therapies and 91% were refractory to their last treatment. Clinical response was evaluated using IMWG consensus recommendations. Peripheral blood (PB) samples and bone marrow (BM) biopsies/aspirates were taken at prespecified time points and immunophenotyped by flow cytometry to enumerate various T-cell sub-types. T-cell clonality was measured by TCR sequencing. Antiviral T-cell response and regulatory T-cell (Treg) activity were analysed by functional in vitro assays. T-cell subpopulation counts were modelled over time with linear mixed modelling. Two group comparisons were performed using non-parametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: Data from 148 patients receiving 16 mg/kg DARA in GEN501 (n = 42) and Sirius (n = 106) were analyzed for changes in immune response. In PB, robust mean increases in CD3+ (44%), CD4+ (32%) and CD8+ (62%) T-cell counts per 100 days were seen with DARA treatment. However, responding evaluable patients (n = 45) showed significantly greater increases from baseline than nonresponders (n = 93) in CD3+ (P = 0.00012), CD4+ (P = 0.00031), and CD8+ (P = 0.00018) T cells. In BM aspirates the number of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cells increased during treatment compared to baseline (the median percent increases were 19.95%, 5.66%, and 26.99% [n = 58]). Additionally, CD8+: CD4+ T-cell ratios significantly increased compared to baseline in both PB (P = 0.00017), and BM (P = 0.00016). T cell clonality, assessed by TCR sequencing, increased after DARA treatment compared with pretreatment (P = 0.049), with greater sums of absolute expansion in the repertoire (P = 0.037), as well as greater maximum expansion of a single clone (P = 0.048) in responders compared to nonresponders. Increased antiviral T-cell responses were observed post-DARA treatment, particularly in responders. Interestingly, a novel subpopulation of regulatory T cells was identified that expressed high levels of CD38. These cells comprised ~10% of all Tregs and were depleted by one DARA infusion. In ex vivo analyses, CD38+ Tregs appeared to be highly immune suppressive compared to CD38-Tregs. Conclusions: Robust T cell increases, increased CD8+: CD4+ ratios, increased antiviral responses, and increased T cell clonality were all observed after DARA treatment in a heavily pretreated, relapsed, and refractory patient population not expected to have strong immune responses. Improved clinical responses were associated with changes in these parameters. In addition, a sub-population of regulatory T cells expressing high CD38 levels was determined to be extremely immune suppressive and sensitive to DARA treatment. These data suggest a previously unknown immune modulatory role of DARA that may contribute to its efficacy, and a potential role for CD38 immune targeted therapies. We postulate that there are several distinct and complementary mechanisms that contribute to DARA's efficacy including increased antigen presentation through phagocytosis, targeting of immune suppressive Tregs, and increased adaptive immune responses. JK and TC contributed equally to this work. Disclosures Casneuf: Janssen: Employment. Verbist:Janssen: Employment. Bald:Janssen: Employment. Plesner:Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche and Novartis: Research Funding; Janssen and Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Liu:Janssen: Employment. van de Donk:Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Weiss:Janssen and Onclave: Research Funding; Janssen and Millennium: Consultancy. Ahmadi:Janssen: Employment. Lokhorst:Genmab: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria. Mutis:Janssen: Research Funding; Genmab: Research Funding.


Sarcoma ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. Tseng ◽  
Shruti Malu ◽  
Minying Zhang ◽  
Jieqing Chen ◽  
Geok Choo Sim ◽  
...  

Treatment options are limited in well differentiated (WD) and dedifferentiated (DD) retroperitoneal liposarcoma. We sought to study the intratumoral adaptive immune response and explore the potential feasibility of immunotherapy in this disease. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were isolated from fresh surgical specimens and analyzed by flow cytometry for surface marker expression. Previously reported immune cell aggregates known as tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) were further characterized by immunohistochemistry. In all fresh tumors, TILs were found. The majority of TILs were CD4 T cells; however cytotoxic CD8 T cells were also seen (average: 20% of CD3 T cells). Among CD8 T cells, 65% expressed the immune checkpoint molecule PD-1. Intratumoral TLS may be sites of antigen presentation as DC-LAMP positive, mature dendritic cells were found juxtaposed next to CD4 T cells. Clinicopathologic correlation, however, demonstrated that presence of TLS was associated with worse recurrence-free survival in WD disease and worse overall survival in DD disease. Our data suggest that an adaptive immune response is present in WD/DD retroperitoneal liposarcoma but may be hindered by TLS, among other possible microenvironmental factors; further investigation is needed. Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade, should be evaluated as a treatment option in this disease.


Bioanalysis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivan Cohen ◽  
Shan Chung

Development of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) is an undesirable potential outcome of administration of biotherapeutics and involves the innate and adaptive immune systems. ADAs can have detrimental clinical consequences: they can reduce biotherapeutic efficacy or produce adverse events. Because animal models are considered poor predictors of immunogenicity in humans, in vitro assays with human innate and adaptive immune cells are commonly used alternatives that can reveal cell-mediated unwanted immune responses. Multiple methods have been developed to assess the immune cell response following exposure to biotherapeutics and estimate the potential immunogenicity of biotherapeutics. This review highlights the role of innate and adaptive immune cells as the drivers of immunogenicity and summarizes the use of these cells in assays to predict clinical ADA.


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