Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology最新文献

{"title":"Forkhead box A1 induces angiogenesis through activation of the S100A8/p38 MAPK axis in cutaneous wound healing.","authors":"Zhongzhi Zhou, Meilin Zou, Hongping Chen, Furong Zhu, Tingting Wang, Xinling Huang","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2233693","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2233693","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The association between S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) and angiogenesis has been reported in previous reports. This study focuses on the roles of S100A8 in the angiogenesis of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) and in cutaneous wound healing in mice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Candidate genes related to angiogenesis activity were screened using a GSE83582 dataset. The overexpression DNA plasmid of S100A8 was transfected into HDMECs to analyze its effect on cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Full-thickness skin wounds were induced on mice, followed by adenovirus treatments to analyze the function of gene alteration in wound healing and pathological changes. The upstream regulator of S100A8 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by luciferase and immunoprecipitation assays. The role of the forkhead box A1 (FOXA1)-S100A8 interaction in p38 MAPK activation and angiogenesis were validated by rescue experiments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>S100A8 was identified as a gene significantly correlated with angiogenesis. The S100A8 upregulation promoted the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of HDMECs, and it promoted p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Treatment of SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, blocked the promoting effect of S100A8. FOXA1 was identified as an upstream factor of S100A8 promoting its transcription. FOXA1 overexpression in HDMECs increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation and enhanced the activity of cells, which were blocked by the S100A8 inhibition. Similar results were reproduced <i>in vivo</i> where FOXA1 overexpression accelerated whereas the S100A8 knockdown retarded the cutaneous wound healing in mice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FOXA1 mediates the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK through transcription activation of S100A8, thereby inducing angiogenesis and promoting cutaneous wound healing.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9830043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cancer-associated immune cells and their modulation by melatonin.","authors":"Shirin Hekmatirad, Milad Moloudizargari, Marjan Fallah, Atena Rahimi, Vahdat Poortahmasebi, Mohammad Hossein Asghari","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2239489","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2239489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Rapidly growing evidence suggests that immune cells play a key role in determining tumor progression. Tumor cells are surrounded by a microenvironment composed of different cell populations including immune cells. The cross talk between tumor cells and the neighboring microenvironment is an important factor to take into account while designing tumor therapies. Despite significant advances in immunotherapy strategies, a relatively small proportion of patients have successfully responded to them. Therefore, the search for safe and efficient drugs, which could be used alongside conventional therapies to boost the immune system against tumors, is an ongoing need. In the present work, the modulatory effects of melatonin on different components of tumor immune microenvironment are reviewed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A thorough literature review was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. All published papers in English on tumor immune microenvironment and the relevant modulatory effects of melatonin were scrutinized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Melatonin modulates macrophage polarization and prevents M2 induction. Moreover, it prevents the conversion of fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and prevents cancer cell stemness. In addition, it can affect the payload composition of tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) and their secretion levels to favor a more effective anti-tumor immune response. Melatonin is a safe molecule that affects almost all components of the tumor immune microenvironment and prevents them from being negatively affected by the tumor.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on the effects of melatonin on normal cells, tumor cells and microenvironment components, it could be an efficient compound to be used in combination with conventional immune-targeted therapies to increase their efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9915534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ciclopirox mitigates inflammatory response in LPS-induced septic shock via inactivation of SORT1-mediated wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.","authors":"Liangliang Zhou, Yingfeng He, Yijun Deng, Xinxin Li, Wei Wang, Jianjun Chen","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2231628","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2231628","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Septic shock, the most severe stage of sepsis, is a deadly inflammatory disorder with high mortality. Ciclopirox (CPX) is a broad-spectrum antimycotic agent which also exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human diseases. However, whether CPX can relieve inflammatory response in LPS-induced septic shock remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Male C57BL/6 mice LPS were injected intraperitoneally with LPS to simulate septic shock in vivo. RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were subject to LPS treatment to simulate septic shock in vitro. ELISA was applied to detect the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Protein levels was detected by western blotting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CPX enhanced the survival rate and attenuated inflammation in mice with LPS-induced septic shock. Similarly, CPX dose-dependently mitigated LPS-induced inflammation in BMDMs. It was also found that Sortilin 1 (SORT1) was upregulated in both <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> models of LPS-induced septic shock. In addition, SORT1 overexpression counteracted the alleviative effects of CPX on the inflammation response of LPS-challenged BMDMs by activating the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling. Furthermore, BML-284 (a Wnt/β-Catenin agonist) treatment also abrogated CPX-mediated moderation of LPS-triggered inflammatory reaction in BMDMs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In sum, we found that CPX protected against LPS-induced septic shock by mitigating inflammation <i>via</i> SORT1-mediated Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10037747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Astragaloside IV restores Th17/Treg balance via inhibiting CXCR4 to improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.","authors":"Xiulian Zhang, Xueliang Li, Wei Ma, Fangying Liu, Pinxian Huang, Lei Wei, Li Li, Yechang Qian","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2228479","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2228479","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a high fatality rate and poses a great threat to human health. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is proven to attenuate cigarette smoke (CS)-induced pulmonary inflammation, based on which this research focuses on the mechanism of AS-IV in COPD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To evaluate the effects of AS-IV, CD4⁺ T cells received different concentrations of AS-IV. CD4⁺ T cell viability, T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) markers and CXCR4 expressions in CD4⁺ T cells or spleen/lung tissues were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The proportions of Treg and Th17 cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay was employed to determine cytokine contents in serum and lung tissues.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AS-IV with concentration exceeding 40 µM inhibited CD4⁺ T cell viability. <i>In vitro</i>, AS-IV suppressed the expressions of CXCR4, retinoid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), and interleukin (IL)-17A as well as Th17 cells but promoted the expressions of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) and IL-10 as well as Treg cells, while CXCR4 overexpression reversed the effects of AS-IV. <i>In vivo</i>, AS-IV alleviated COPD, and CS-induced Th17/Treg imbalance in mice and reduced CS-induced down-regulation of IL-10 in serum and lung tissues and Foxp3 and up-regulation of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-17A in serum and lung tissues and RORγt. AS-IV mitigated CS-induced CXCR4 up-regulation. Above effects of AS-IV on mice were offset by CXCR4 overexpression.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AS-IV restores Th17/Treg balance via impeding CXCR4 to ameliorate COPD.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9758738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case report and literature review on respiratory failure with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a life-threatening adverse event.","authors":"Xinqing Lin, Wenhui Guan, Bingliang Li, Haiyi Deng, Yan Chen, Yiling Yang, Guihuan Qiu, Xiaohong Xie, Chengzhi Zhou","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2228480","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2228480","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuromuscular associated respiratory failure is a rare toxicity of immunotherapy for malignant tumors. In most cases, it may overlap with the symptoms of the primary disease or myocarditis, myositis and myasthenia gravis, resulting in difficult etiological diagnosis. Early detection and optimal treatment are still topics that need attention. Here, a case of 51-year-old male lung cancer patient with sintilimab-associated myasthenia gravis, myositis, and myocarditis overlap syndrome involving the diaphragm who developed severe type II respiratory failure was reported. After high-dose methylprednisolone, immunoglobulin and pyridostigmine intravenous injection with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, the patient's symptoms improved significantly and was discharged. One year later, the patient received immunotherapy again due to tumor progression. After 53 days, he developed dyspnea again. Chest X-ray demonstrated marked elevation of the diaphragm, and the electromyogram demonstrated dysfunction of diaphragm. With rapid diagnosis and timely treatment, the patient was finally discharged safely. A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE was performed to identify all previously reported cases of immune checkpoint inhibitors-associated respiratory failure. The potential mechanisms of respiratory failure caused by ICI-associated diaphragmatic dysfunction may be related to T cell-mediated immune disturbances and we proposed possible diagnostic processes. For patients with unexplained respiratory failure who are receiving immunotherapy, standardized diagnostic strategies should be implemented immediately on admission before deciding whether to conduct a more invasive diagnostic procedure or empirical treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9734795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"TNF-α promotes CXCL-1/8 production in keratinocytes by downregulating galectin-3 through NF-κB and hsa-miR-27a-3p pathway to contribute psoriasis development.","authors":"Xiao-Nan Qiu, Dan Hong, Zhen-Rui Shi, Si-Yao Lu, Yu-Xian Lai, Yan-Ling Ren, Xiu-Ting Liu, Chi-Peng Guo, Guo-Zhen Tan, Liang-Chun Wang","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2229510","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2229510","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Treatment with TNF-α inhibitors improve psoriasis with minimize/minor neutrophils infiltration and CXCL-1/8 expression in psoriatic lesions. However, the fine mechanism of TNF-α initiating psoriatic inflammation by tuning keratinocytes is unclear. Our previous research identified the deficiency of intracellular galectin-3 was sufficient to promote psoriasis inflammation characterized by neutrophil accumulation. This study aims to investigate whether TNF-α participated in psoriasis development through dysregulating galectin-3 expression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>mRNA levels were assessed through quantitative real-time PCR. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle/apoptosis. Western blot was used to evaluate the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. HE staining and immunochemistry were used to detect epidermal thickness and MPO expression, respectively. Specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down hsa-miR-27a-3p while plasmids transfection was used to overexpress galectin-3. Further, the multiMiR R package was utilized to predict microRNA-target interaction.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>We found that TNF-α stimulation altered cell proliferation and differentiation and promoted the production of psoriasis-related inflammatory mediators along with the inhibition of galectin-3 expression in keratinocytes. Supplement of galectin-3 could counteract the rise of CXCL-1/8 but not the other phenotypes of keratinocytes induced by TNF-α. Mechanistically, inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway could counteract the decrease of galectin-3 and the increase of hsa-miR-27a-3p expression whereas silence of hsa-miR-27a-3p could counteract the decrease of galectin-3 expression induced by TNF-α treatment in keratinocytes. Intradermal injection of murine anti-CXCL-2 antibody greatly alleviated imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TNF-α initiates psoriatic inflammation by increasing CXCL-1/8 in keratinocytes mediated by the axis of NF-κB-hsa-miR-27a-3p-galectin-3 pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9736195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CD26 CAR-T cells have attenuated mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolic profiling.","authors":"Xiaoying Zhu, Zhaodong Zhong, Fankai Meng, Ping Zou, Yong You, Qing Li, Xiaojian Zhu","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2231632","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2231632","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multiple targets of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are shared expressed by tumor cells and T cells, these self-antigens may stimulate CAR-T cells continuously during the expansion. Persistent exposure to antigens is considered to cause metabolic reprogramming of T cells and the metabolic profiling is critical in determining the cell fate and effector function of CAR-T cells. However, whether the stimulation of self-antigens during CAR-T cell generation could remodel the metabolic profiling is unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the metabolic characteristics of CD26 CAR-T cells, which expressed CD26 antigens themselves.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The mitochondrial biogenesis of CD26 and CD19 CAR-T cells during expansion was evaluated by the mitochondrial content, mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and genes involved in mitochondrial regulation. The metabolic profiling was investigated by the ATP production, mitochondrial quality and the expression of metabolism-related genes. Furthermore, we assessed the phenotypes of CAR-T cells through memory-related markers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We reported that CD26 CAR-T cells had elevated mitochondrial biogenesis, ATP production and oxidative phosphorylation at early expansion stage. However, the mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial quality, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic activity were all weakened at later expansion stage. On the contrary, CD19 CAR-T cells did not exhibit such characteristics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CD26 CAR-T cells showed distinctive metabolic profiling during expansion that was extremely unfavorable to cell persistence and function. These findings may provide new insights for the optimization of CD26 CAR-T cells in terms of metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9745359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with anti-VEGF therapy in the treatment of unresectable or advanced liver cancer: a systematic review.","authors":"Wenchao Yang, Xiaofang Li, Jiana He, Qingqing Xuan, Haiyan Si, Weifen Yao","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2215404","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2215404","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with anti-VEGF therapy for the treatment of unresectable or advanced liver cancer.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Related databases were searched from inception to December 2022 to identify randomized controlled studies and clinical trials that evaluated the combination of ICIs and anti-VEGF therapy for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer. The outcome index was extracted and analyzed by RevMan5.4.<b>Results</b>A total of 8 clinical trials were included. In terms of efficacy, the intervention group had longer OS and PFS for unresectable or advanced liver cancer than the control group. In terms of safety, (1) Adverse events of all grades showed that the combination treatment led to significantly higher risks of urinary system disorders, cardiovascular system disorder, blood system disorders and liver dysfunction than the control treatment. Compared with monotherapy, the combination treatment led to lower risks of gastrointestinal disorders. (2) Adverse events above grade 3 showed that, compared with the control treatment, the combination treatment led to significantly higher risks of urinary system disorders, blood systeam disorders, cardiovascular system disorders and liver dysfunction. Additionally, compared with monotherapy, the combination treatment led to significantly lower risks of gastrointestinal disorders.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ICIs combined with anti-VEGF therapy exerts significant clinical effects in patients with unresectable or advanced liver cancer, can prolong the survival of these patients and can improve their quality of life. However, clinical attention should be given to the occurrence of adverse reactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9876155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of the combined use of ipilimumab and nivolumab for melanoma patients with brain metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Mengmeng Su, Yuyan Yang, Peng Wang","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2215403","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2215403","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Immune checkpoint inhibitors have advanced immunotherapy for melanoma patients.<b>Objective:</b> This study evaluates efficacy and safety of ipilimumab and nivolumab combination (IN) for melanoma brain metastases (MBM) patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Literature search was conducted in electronic databases and studies were included if they reported efficacy and safety of IN in MBM patients or prognostic information related to brain metastases. Outcomes evaluated were objective response rate (ORR), complete remission/stable disease/progressive disease rates, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), incidence rates of adverse events, and hazard ratios of disease progression or mortality between IN-treated patients with and without brain metastasis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Intracranial ORR was higher in IN-treated MBM patients than with control therapies (nivolumab or ipilimumab plus fotemustine). IN treatment led to longer PFS and OS in than control treatments. Five-year OS of IN-treated MBM patients was up to 51% compared to 34% for nivolumab. Outcomes were better for treatment naïve and asymptomatic patients. Whereas many studies reported significantly higher mortality or progression risk with IN treatment in MBM patients compared to non-MBM melanoma patients, many others did not find this risk significant. Incidence of grade 3/4 adverse events in IN-treated MBM patients was: diarrhea or colitis (16%), hepatitis (15%), rash (8%), increased alanine transaminase (8%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (7%), increased lipase (6%), increased amylase (4%), fatigue (3%), hypophysitis (2%), pneumonitis (2%), headache (2%), nausea or vomiting (1%), and neutropenia (1%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IN is an efficacious and safer treatment option for MBM patients, especially for asymptomatic and treatment naïve patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9876156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir inhibits toll-like receptor 4 activation by targeting receptor dimerization.","authors":"Kai Yao, Zheng Wang, Cheng Peng, Yong Wang, Bichen Xue, Yulin Tang, Zhichao Wang, Hongbo Xu","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2239488","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08923973.2023.2239488","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is crucial in induction of innate immune response through recognition of invading pathogens or endogenous alarming molecules. Ligand-triggered dimerization of TLR4 is essential for the activation of NF-κB and IRF3 through MyD88- or TRIF-dependent pathways. Saquinavir (SQV), an FDA-approved HIV protease inhibitor, has been shown to attenuate the activation of NF-κB induced by HMGB1 by blocking TLR4-MyD88 association in proteasome independent pathway. This study aims to define whether SQV is an HMGB1-specific and MyD88-dependent TLR4 signaling inhibitor and which precise signaling element of TLR4 is targeted by SQV.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>PMA differentiated human THP-1 macrophages or reconstituted HEK293 cells were pretreated with SQV before stimulated by different TLR agonists. TNF-α level was evaluated through ELISA assay. NF-κB activation was analyzed using NF-κB SEAP reporting system. The levels of MyD88/TRIF pathways-related factors were examined by immunoblot. TLR4 endocytosis was assessed by immunocytochemistry. TLR4 dimerization was determined using immunoprecipitation between different tagged TLR4 and an in silico molecular docking experiment was performed to explore the possible binding site of SQV on its target.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our data showed that SQV suppresses both MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a critical sepsis inducer and TLR4 agonist, leading to downregulation of NF-κB and IRF3. SQV did not suppress MyD88-dependent pathway triggered by TLR1/2 agonist Pam3csk4. In the only TRIF-dependent pathway, SQV did not alleviate IRF3 phosphorylation induced by TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C). Furthermore, dimerization of TLR4 following LPS or HMGB1 stimulation was decreased by SQV.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We concluded that TLR4 receptor complex is one of the mammalian targets of SQV, and TLR4-mediated immune responses and consequent risk for uncontrolled inflammation could be modulated by FDA-approved drug SQV.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9945033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}