Therapeutic strategies for the costimulatory molecule OX40 in T-cell-mediated immunity

The T cell co-stimulatory molecule OX40 and its cognate ligand OX40L have attracted broad research interest as a therapeutic target in T cell-mediated diseases. Accumulating preclinical evidence highlights the therapeutic efficacy of both agonist and blockade of the OX40–OX40L interaction. Despite this progress, many questions about the immuno-modulator roles of OX40 on T cell function remain unanswered. In this review we summarize the impact of the OX40–OX40L interaction on T cell subsets, including Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, Treg, Tfh, and CD8⁺ T cells, to gain a comprehensive understanding of anti-OX40 mAb-based therapies. The potential therapeutic application of the OX40–OX40L interaction in autoimmunity diseases and cancer immunotherapy are further discussed; OX40–OX40L blockade may ameliorate autoantigen-specific T cell responses and reduce immune activity in autoimmunity diseases. We also explore the rationale of targeting OX40–OX40L interactions in cancer immunotherapy. Ligation of OX40 with targeted agonist anti-OX40 mAbs conveys activating signals to T cells. When combined with other therapeutic treatments, such as anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 blockade, cytokines, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, the anti-tumor activity of agonist anti-OX40 treatment will be further enhanced. These data collectively suggest great potential for OX40-mediated therapies.     

Dysregulation of sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) signaling and regulatory lymphocyte-dependent immunosuppression in a model of post-fingolimod MS rebound

Fingolimod affords protection from MS by sequestering lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs via down regulation of their sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor (S1P1). Unexpectedly, accumulating evidence indicates that patients who discontinue fingolimod treatment may be at risk of rehearsal of magnetic resonance (MR) and clinical disease activity, sometimes featuring dramatic rebound.We therefore developed in vivo and in vitro models of post-fingolimod MS rebound to unravel its cellular and molecular mechanisms. The impact of fingolimod withdrawal on T regulatory lymphocytes was also investigated by means of cytofluorimetric analysis and antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation assays. We show that mice with relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) undergo extremely severe, chronic disease rebound upon discontinuation of fingolimod. Remarkably, rebound is preceded by a burst of S1P1 overexpression in lymph node-entrapped lymphocytes that correlates with subsequent massive lymphocyte egress and widespread CNS immune infiltration. Also, consistent with the ability of S1P1 to counteract polarization and function of T regulatory lymphocytes their number and suppression of effector T cells is reduced by fingolimod suspension. Data disclose the first pathogenic mechanisms of post-fingolimod rebound that may be targeted for therapeutic intervention.     

Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cell on Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in a rat model by modulating Th17/Treg cell balance

Abstract

The autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a disease wherein lymphocytes mediate the autoimmune damage and destruction of the thyroid gland. There are currently no effective means of treating HT, with the primary strategies of thyroid hormone therapy, surgery, or immunomodulatory therapy being associated with serious risks and side effects. There is thus a clear and urgent need to identify novel treatments for HT. In this study, we utilize female SD rats induced HT to evaluated the ability of transplanted MSCs to regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) model system. The results showed that Rats in the HT model group exhibited increased thyroid autoantibody levels consistent with successful model development, whereas these levels were lower in rats treated with MSCs. There were also fewer thyroid lesions and less lymphoid infiltration of the thyroid in MSC-treated rats relative to HT model rats, as well as fewer Th17 cells and more Treg cells – an observation consistent with the cytokine analyses. All of these showed that MSCs can regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) model system. It suggested that transplanted MSCs could be a potential immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.     

胃肠道癌肿患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋FOXP3^＋调节性T细胞的表达及临床意义

目的：研究胃肠道癌肿患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋FOXP3^＋调节性T（Treg）细胞的表达，并探讨其临床意义。方法：通过免疫荧光术及流式细胞仪检测20例胃癌患者及20例结肠癌患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋FOXP3^＋Treg细胞、CD4^＋CD25^＋high Treg细胞、CD4^＋T细胞及CD4^＋ CTLA-4^＋T细胞。结果：胃癌组、结肠癌组与健康献血者比较外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋FOXP3^＋ Treg细胞、CD4^＋CD25^＋high Treg细胞及CD4^＋CTLA-4^＋T细胞显著增多，CD4^＋T细胞显著减少；胃癌、结肠癌患者之间其外周血中CD4^＋CD25^＋FOXP3^＋Treg细胞、CD4^＋CD25^＋high Treg细胞、CD4^＋T细胞及CD4^＋CTLA-4^＋T细胞无显著差异。结论：胃肠道癌肿患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋FOXP3^＋Treg细胞显著高于健康献血者，这可能与胃肠道癌肿患者的免疫抑制和肿瘤的进展相关。     

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells: I. Phenotype and physiology

The immune system protects us against foreign pathogens. However, if fine discrimination between self and non-self is not carried out properly, immunological attacks against self may be launched leading to autoimmune diseases, estimated to afflict up to 5% of the population. During the last decade it has become increasingly clear that regulatory CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (T_reg cells) play an important role in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance, and that this cell subset exerts its function by suppressing the proliferation or function of autoreactive T cells. Based on human and murine observations, this review presents a characterization of the phenotype and functions of the Treg cells in vitro and in vivo . An overview of the surface molecules associated with and the cytokines produced by the Treg cells is given and the origin, activation requirements and mode of action of the Treg cells are discussed. Finally, we address the possibility that Treg cells may play a central role in immune homeostasis, regulating not only autoimmune responses, but also immune responses toward foreign antigens.     

Role of Der p 1–specific B cells in immune tolerance during 2 years of house dust mite–specific immunotherapy

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GITR及其在免疫调节中的作用

糖皮质激素诱导的TNFR家族相关受体（GITR），也被称为TNFRSF18、AITR（人类）。静止T细胞低水平表达GITR，而CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞则呈高水平表达。GITR与其配体（GITRL）结合后会增强T细胞激活、增殖、分泌细胞因子、MAPKs和NF-κB激活效应、抑制CD4^＋CD25^＋Treg细胞的功能，从而加强效应性T细胞的活性，有利于增强抗肿瘤免疫和抗病毒免疫。随着生物学环境的变化，GITR激活Siva或者TRAF，起着促进或诱导凋亡的作用。     

Treg-Cell Control of a CXCL5-IL-17 Inflammatory Axis Promotes Hair-Follicle-Stem-Cell Differentiation During Skin-Barrier Repair

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CD25+ T cells induce Helicobacter pylori‐specific CD25− T‐cell anergy but are not required to maintain persistent hyporesponsiveness

The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori infects over half the world's population. The lifelong infection induces gastric inflammation but the host fails to generate protective immunity. To study the lack of protective H. pylori immunity, CD4⁺CD25⁺ T_reg cells were investigated for their ability to down‐regulate H. pylori‐specific CD4⁺CD25⁻ cells in a murine model. CD25⁻ lymphocytes from infected mice were hyporesponsive to antigenic stimulation in vitro even in the absence of CD25⁺ T_reg cells unless treated with high‐dose IL‐2. Transfer of CD45RB^hi naïve CD25⁻ cells from infected mice into rag1^−/− mice challenged with H. pylori resulted in severe gastritis and reduced bacterial loads, whereas transfer of CD45RB^lo memory CD25⁻ cells from H. pylori‐infected mice resulted in only mild gastritis and persistent infection. CD25⁻ cells stimulated in the absence of CD25⁺ cells in rag1^−/− mice promoted bacterial clearance, but lost this ability when subsequently transferred to WT mice harboring CD25⁺ cells. These results demonstrate that CD25⁺ cells induce anergy in CD25⁻ cells in response to H. pylori infection but are not required to maintain hyporesponsiveness. In addition, CD25⁺ cells are able to suppress previously activated CD25⁻ cells when responding to H. pylori challenge in vivo.