Induction of tolerance using Fas ligand: a double-edged immunomodulator

Apoptosis mediated by Fas ligand (FasL) interaction with Fas receptor plays a pivotal regulatory role in immune homeostasis, immune privilege, and self-tolerance. FasL, therefore, has been extensively exploited as an immunomodulatory agent to induce tolerance to both autoimmune and foreign antigens with conflicting results. Difficulties associated with the use of FasL as a tolerogenic factor may arise from (1) its complex posttranslational regulation, (2) the opposing functions of different forms of FasL, (3) different modes of expression, systemic versus localized and transient versus continuous, (4) the level and duration of expression, (5) the sensitivity of target tissues to Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis and the efficiency of antigen presentation in these tissues, and (6) the types and levels of cytokines, chemokines, and metalloproteinases in the extracellular milieu of the target tissues. Thus, the effective use of FasL as an immunomodulator to achieve durable antigen-specific immune tolerance requires careful consideration of all of these parameters and the design of treatment regimens that maximize tolerogenic efficacy, while minimizing the non-tolerogenic and toxic functions of this molecule. This review summarizes the current status of FasL as a tolerogenic agent, problems associated with its use as an immunomodulator, and new strategies to improve its therapeutic potential.      

Comparison of biomarkers of oxidative stress, 8-isoprostane,advanced oxidation protein products,and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and pro-apoptosis,cytokeratin 18 M30, in women with normal glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - We aimed to compare the values of selected biomarkers of oxidative stress, 8-isoprostane (8IsoP), advanced oxidation protein products...     

Pancreatic islets under attack: cellular and molecular effectors

Abundant information is available on the involvement of various cellular and molecular mechanisms in beta cell apoptosis. The experimental evidence is controversial and difficult to reconcile, and the mechanisms of evasion of the autoreactive clones from immune surveillance are poorly understood. Multiple apoptotic pathways play a role in destructive insulitis, including perforin/granzyme, Fas/Fas-ligand (FasL), and other members of the necrosis factor superfamily. These pathways present redundant behaviors in both the initial and late stages of beta cell injury, and at the same time, each molecular mechanism is dispensable in the evolution of autoimmune diabetes. There may be a preferential use of perforin/granzyme in CD8(+) T cell-mediated lysis, which participates in onset of autoimmunity, and a predominance of FasL in CD4(+) T cell-mediated insulitis. Several cytokines released in the inflammatory infiltrate induce Fas expression in beta cells, priming them to FasL-mediated apoptosis. In this review, we focus on the possible participation of multiple cell subsets and molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of diabetes to the point where inflammation incites an irreversible vicious cycle that perpetuates beta cell death.     

Targeting CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T-cells for the augmentation of cancer immunotherapy

CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T-regulatory (Treg) cells are vital to the maintenance of peripheral self tolerance and are implicated in tolerance to foreign antigens. Increasing evidence shows that Treg cells may also play an important role in immune evasion mechanisms employed by cancer. Treg cells are actively recruited and induced by tumors to block innate and adaptive immune priming, effector function and memory response, which can inhibit the efficacy of therapeutic cancer vaccines. As such, modulation of Treg cell function in cancer has been studied using various approaches, with encouraging preclinical and clinical findings. However, controlled and effective modulation of Treg cell function for cancer therapeutics will be contingent on a better understanding of the molecular basis of Treg cell interaction with tumor cells and ensuing immunosuppressive mechanisms.     

Primary tumor cells resected from cancer patients and decorated with a novel form of CD80 protein serve as effective antigen-presenting cells for the induction of autologous T cell immune responses ex vivo

Vaccination with autologous tumor cells genetically modified to express costimulatory molecules has shown utility for cancer immunotherapy in preclinical and limited clinical settings. Given the complicated nature of gene therapy, a practical alternative approach has been designed that relies on modification of the cell membrane with biotin and its "decoration" with a chimeric protein composed of the functional portion of human CD80 and core streptavidin (CD80-SA). We tested whether primary tumor cells resected from cancer patients can be decorated with CD80-SA and whether such cells serve as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to generate autologous T cell responses ex vivo. Tumors and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were collected from 14 lung, 9 colon, and 2 breast "treatment-naive" cancer patients presenting various clinical stages of the disease. Tumors were mechanically processed, irradiated, decorated with CD80-SA or control streptavidin (SA) protein, and used as APCs in ex vivo autologous T cell-proliferative and cytotoxicity assays. All tumor samples were modified with CD80-SA, albeit with various degrees of decoration ranging from 21.8 to 100%. CD80- SA-decorated cells generated significant proliferative responses in autologous T cells from 9 of 16 evaluable patients (p < 0.05). Proliferative responses were CD80-SA specific and heterogeneous, with stimulation indices ranging from 0.25 to 45. In 15 of 15 evaluable patients, CD80-SA-specific cytotoxic T cell responses against autologous tumors were generated, 11 of which were significant, with specific killing ranging from 5 to 70%. Taken together, these data demonstrate that primary tumor cells can be effectively decorated with CD80-SA and that such cells serve as APCs to induce autologous antitumor T cell responses.     

Investigation of the effects of the toll-like receptor 4 pathway on immune checkpoint vista in pancreatic cancer

Investigational New Drugs - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the pancreas. Preclinical studies show that it evades the immune system with immune...