Inhibition of α4ß1 Integrin Activity by Small Tellurium Compounds Regulates PD-L1 Expression and Enhances Antitumor Effects.

Various cancer treatment approaches that inhibit the activity of the programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis, a key player in tumor immune evasion, have been developed. We show that the immunomodulatory small tellurium complexes AS101 (ammonium trichloro(dioxoethylene-o,o')tellurate) and SAS (octa-O-bis(R,R)-tartarate ditellurane) suppress PD-L1 expression in a variety of human and mouse malignant cells via the modulation of α4ß1 very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) integrin activity. Consequently, the expression of pAkt and its downstream effector pNFκB are inhibited. Additionally, SAS promotes the death of mouse malignant cells by activated syngeneic splenocytes or CD8+ T cells, preventing the development of chemoresistance in malignant cells. Moreover, AS101 and SAS may increase, at least in part, chemosensitivity through inhibition of the VLA-4/IL-10/PD-L1 pathway. Additionally, AS101 or SAS treatment of B16/F10 melanoma-bearing mice decreased tumor cell PD-L1 expression, leading to increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumors and tumor shrinkage. Combination treatment with an αPD-1 antibody and either tellurium compound significantly increased the antitumor efficacy of immunotherapy. Overall, VLA-4 integrin signaling is critical for tumor immune evasion and is a potential target for cancer treatment. Finally, AS101 or SAS, biologically active tellurium compounds, can effectively enhance the therapeutic efficacy of αPD-1-based cancer immunotherapy.

Development of VLA4 and CXCR4 Antagonists for the Mobilization of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells.

The treatment of patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies typically includes hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as part of a therapeutic standard of care. The primary graft source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) for HSCT is mobilized from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood of allogeneic donors or patients. More recently, these mobilized HSPCs have also been the source for gene editing strategies to treat diseases such as sickle-cell anemia. For a HSCT to be successful, it requires the infusion of a sufficient number of HSPCs that are capable of adequate homing to the bone marrow niche and the subsequent regeneration of stable trilineage hematopoiesis in a timely manner. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is currently the most frequently used agent for HSPC mobilization. However, it requires five or more daily infusions to produce an adequate number of HSPCs and the use of G-CSF alone often results in suboptimal stem cell yields in a significant number of patients. Furthermore, there are several undesirable side effects associated with G-CSF, and it is contraindicated for use in sickle-cell anemia patients, where it has been linked to serious vaso-occlusive and thrombotic events. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the cell surface integrin α4ß1 (very late antigen 4 (VLA4)) are both involved in the homing and retention of HSPCs within the bone marrow microenvironment. Preclinical and/or clinical studies have shown that targeted disruption of the interaction of the CXCR4 or VLA4 receptors with their endogenous ligands within the bone marrow niche results in the rapid and reversible mobilization of HSPCs into the peripheral circulation and is synergistic when combined with G-CSF. In this review, we discuss the roles CXCR4 and VLA4 play in bone marrow homing and retention and will summarize more recent development of small-molecule CXCR4 and VLA4 inhibitors that, when combined, can synergistically improve the magnitude, quality and convenience of HSPC mobilization for stem cell transplantation and ex vivo gene therapy after the administration of just a single dose. This optimized regimen has the potential to afford a superior alternative to G-CSF for HSPC mobilization.

Potential Involvement of M1 Macrophage and VLA4/VCAM-1 Pathway in the Valvular Damage Due to Rheumatic Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is caused by inflammatory cells mistakenly attacking the heart valve due to Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection, but it is still unclear which cells or genes are involved in the process of inflammatory cells infiltrating the valve. Inflammatory infiltration into the target tissue requires an increase in the expression of phosphorylated vascular endothelial-cadherin (p-VE-cad), p-VE-cad can increase the endothelial permeability and promote the migration of inflammatory cells across the endothelium. P-VE-cad is potentially regulated by RAS-related C3 botulinum substrate 1 (RAC1), together with phosphorylated proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (p-PYK2). While RAC1/p-PYK2/p-VE-cad is triggered by the activation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). VCAM-1 is related to M1 macrophages adhering to the endothelium via very late antigen 4 (VLA4). Inflammatory infiltration into the valve is extremely important in the early pathogenesis of RHD. However, there is no relevant research on whether M1/VLA4/VCAM-1/RAC1/p-PYK2/p-VE-cad is involved in RHD; therefore, what we explored in this study was whether M1/VLA4/VCAM-1/RAC1/p-PYK2/p-VE-cad is involved. METHODS: We established a rat model of RHD and a cell model of M1 macrophage and endothelial cell cocultivation. Subsequently, we measured the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, the levels of IL-6/IL-17, the degree of fibrosis (COL3/1), and the expression levels of fibrosis markers (FSP1, COL1A1 and COL3A1) in the heart valves of RHD rats. Additionally, we detected the expression of M1/M2 macrophage biomarkers in rat model and cell model, as well as the expression of M1/VLA4/VCAM-1/RAC1/p-PYK2/p-VE-cad. We also tested the changes in endothelial permeability after coculturing M1 macrophages and endothelial cells. RESULTS: Compared to those in the control group, the levels of inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrotic factors in the heart valves of RHD rats were significantly higher; the expression of M1 macrophage biomarkers (iNOS, CD86 and TNF-α) in RHD rats was significantly higher; and significantly higher than the expression of M2 macrophage biomarkers (Arg1 and TGF-ß). And the expression levels of VLA4/VCAM-1 and RAC1/p-PYK2/p-VE-cad in the hearts of RHD rats were significantly higher. At the cellular level, after coculturing M1 macrophages with endothelial cells, the expression levels of VLA4/VCAM-1 and RAC1/p-PYK2/p-VE-cad were significantly higher, and the permeability of the endothelium was significantly greater due to cocultivation with M1 macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: All the results suggested that M1 macrophages and the VLA4/VCAM-1 pathway are potentially involved in the process of inflammatory infiltration in RHD.

Deletion of Talin1 in Myeloid Cells Facilitates Atherosclerosis in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Integrin-regulated monocyte recruitment and cellular responses of monocyte-derived macrophages are critical for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In the canonical model, talin1 controls ligand binding to integrins, a prerequisite for integrins to mediate leukocyte recruitment and induce immune responses. However, the role of talin1 in the development of atherosclerosis has not been studied. Our study investigated how talin1 in myeloid cells regulates the progression of atherosclerosis. METHODS: On an Apoe-/- background, myeloid talin1-deficient mice and the control mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 8 or 12 weeks to induce atherosclerosis. The atherosclerosis development in the aorta and monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: Myeloid talin1 deletion facilitated the formation of atherosclerotic lesions and macrophage deposition in lesions. Talin1 deletion abolished integrin ß2-mediated adhesion of monocytes but did not impair integrin α4ß1-dependent cell adhesion in a flow adhesion assay. Strikingly, talin1 deletion did not prevent Mn2+- or chemokine-induced activation of integrin α4ß1 to the high-affinity state for ligands. In an in vivo competitive homing assay, monocyte infiltration into inflamed tissues was prohibited by antibodies to integrin α4ß1 but was not affected by talin1 deletion or antibodies to integrin ß2. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) analysis showed that macrophages produced cytokines to promote inflammation and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Ligand binding to integrin ß3 inhibited cytokine generation in macrophages, although talin1 deletion abolished the negative effects of integrin ß3. CONCLUSIONS: Integrin α4ß1 controls monocyte recruitment during atherosclerosis. Talin1 is dispensable for integrin α4ß1 activation to the high-affinity state and integrin α4ß1-mediated monocyte recruitment. Yet, talin1 is required for integrin ß3 to inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Thus, intact monocyte recruitment and elevated inflammatory responses cause enhanced atherosclerosis in talin1-deficient mice. Our study provides novel insights into the roles of myeloid talin1 and integrins in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Albumin-Binding Lutetium-177-Labeled LLP2A Derivatives as Theranostics for Melanoma.

Very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) is a transmembrane integrin protein that is highly expressed in aggressive forms of metastatic melanoma. A small-molecule peptidomimetic, LLP2A, was found to have a low pM affinity binding to VLA-4. Because LLP2A itself does not inhibit cancer cell proliferation and survival, it is an ideal candidate for the imaging and delivery of therapeutic payloads. An analog of [177Lu]Lu-labeled-LLP2A was previously investigated as a therapeutic agent in melanoma tumor-bearing mice, resulting in only a modest improvement in tumor growth inhibition, likely due to rapid clearance of the agent from the tumor. To improve the pharmacokinetic profile, DOTAGA-PEG4-LLP2A with a 4-(p-iodophenyl)butyric acid (pIBA) albumin binding moiety was synthesized. We demonstrate the feasibility of this albumin binding strategy by comparing in vitro cell binding assays and in vivo biodistribution performance of [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA-PEG4-LLP2A ([177Lu]Lu-1) to the albumin binding [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA-pIBA-PEG4-LLP2A ([177Lu]Lu-2). In vitro cell binding assay results for [177Lu]Lu-1 and [177Lu]Lu-2 showed Kd values of 0.40 ± 0.07 and 1.75 ± 0.40 nM, with similar Bmax values of 200 ± 6 and 315 ± 15 fmol/mg, respectively. In vivo biodistribution data for both tracers exhibited specific uptake in the tumor, spleen, thymus, and bone due to endogenous expression of VLA-4. Compound [177Lu]Lu-2 exhibited a much longer blood circulation time compared to [177Lu]Lu-1. The tumor uptake for [177Lu]Lu-1 was highest at 1 h (∼15%ID/g) and that for [177Lu]Lu-2 was highest at 4 h (∼23%ID/g). Significant clearance of [177Lu]Lu-1 from the tumor occurs at 24 h (<5%ID/g) while[177Lu]Lu-2 is retained for greater than 96 h (∼10%ID/g). An efficacy study showed that melanoma tumor-bearing mice receiving compound [177Lu]Lu-2 given in two fractions (2 × 14.8 MBq, 14 days apart) had a greater median survival time than mice administered a single 29.6 MBq dose of compound [177Lu]Lu-1, while a single 29.6 MBq dose of [177Lu]Lu-2 imparted hematopoietic toxicity. The in vitro and in vivo data show addition of pIBA to [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA-PEG4-LLP2A slows blood clearance for a higher tumor uptake, and there is potential of [177Lu]Lu-2 as a theranostic in fractionated administered doses.

Blocking GPR15 Counteracts Integrin-dependent T Cell Gut Homing in Vivo.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The G protein coupled receptor GPR15 is expressed on and functionally important for T cells homing to the large intestine. However, the precise mechanisms by which GPR15 controls gut homing have been unclear. Thus, we aimed to elucidate these mechanisms as well as to explore the potential of targeting GPR15 for interfering with T cell recruitment to the colon in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. METHODS: We used dynamic adhesion and transmigration assays, as well as a humanised in vivo model of intestinal cell trafficking, to study GPR15-dependent effects on gut homing. Moreover, we analysed GPR15 and integrin expression in patients with and without IBD, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. RESULTS: GPR15 controlled T cell adhesion to MAdCAM-1 and VCAM-1 upstream of α4ß7 and α4ß1 integrin, respectively. Consistently, high co-expression of these integrins with GPR15 was found on T cells from patients with IBD, and GPR15 also promoted T cell recruitment to the colon in humanised mice. Anti-GPR15 antibodies effectively blocked T cell gut homing in vitro and in vivo. In vitro data, as well as observations in a cohort of patients treated with vedolizumab, suggest that this might be more effective than inhibiting α4ß7. CONCLUSIONS: GPR15 seems to have a broad, but organ-selective, impact on T cell trafficking and is therefore a promising target for future therapy of IBD. Further studies are needed.

Imaging Very Late Antigen-4 on MOLT4 Leukemia Tumors with Cysteine Site-Specific 89Zr-Labeled Natalizumab Immuno-Positron Emission Tomography.

Very late antigen-4 (VLA4; CD49d) is a promising immune therapy target in treatment-resistant leukemia and multiple myeloma, and there is growing interest in repurposing the humanized monoclonal antibody (Ab), natalizumab, for this purpose. Positron emission tomography with radiolabeled Abs (immuno-PET) could facilitate this effort by providing information on natalizumab's in vivo pharmacokinetic and target delivery properties. In this study, we labeled natalizumab with 89Zr specifically on sulfhydryl moieties via maleimide-deferoxamine conjugation. High VLA4-expressing MOLT4 human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells showed specific 89Zr-natalizumab binding that was markedly blocked by excess Ab. In nude mice bearing MOLT4 tumors, 89Zr-natalizumab PET showed high-contrast tumor uptake at 7 days postinjection. Biodistribution studies confirmed that uptake was the highest in MOLT4 tumors (2.22 ± 0.41%ID/g) and the liver (2.33 ± 0.76%ID/g), followed by the spleen (1.51 ± 0.42%ID/g), while blood activity was lower at 1.12 ± 0.21%ID/g. VLA4-specific targeting in vivo was confirmed by a 58.1% suppression of tumor uptake (0.93 ± 0.15%ID/g) when excess Ab was injected 1 h earlier. In cultured MOLT4 cells, short-term 3 day exposure to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ) did not affect the α4 integrin level, but BTZ-resistant cells that survived the treatment showed increased α4 integrin expression. When the effects of BTZ treatment were tested in mice, there was no change of the α4 integrin level or 89Zr-natalizumab uptake in MOLT4 leukemia tumors, which underscores the complexity of tumor VLA4 regulation in vivo. In conclusion, 89Zr-natalizumab PET may be useful for noninvasive monitoring of tumor VLA4 and may assist in a more rational application of Ab-based therapies for hematologic malignancies.

ATG8 inhibited endometriosis formation by regulating Treg cells differentiation via integrin α4ß1 and Talin-1 interaction.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the relationship between ATG8 and integrin α4ß1, Talin-1, and Treg cell differentiation, and the effects on endometriosis (EMS)? DESIGN: First, the correlation between the ATG8, Talin-1, integrin α4ß1, and differentiation of Treg cells and EMS was examined in clinical samples. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and endometrial stromal cells were extracted and identified, oe-ATG8 and oe-integrin α4ß1 were transfected to overexpress ATG8 and integrin α4ß1, and Tregs cell differentiation and endometrial stromal cells (ESC) function were detected. In addition, the molecular mechanism by which ATG8 inhibited EMS disease progression at the molecular and animal levels was investigated. RESULTS: ATG8 expression was negatively correlated with positive proportion of Tregs cells (P = 0.0463). The expression of Talin-1 and integrin-α4ß1 (both P < 0.0001) in PBMC decreased significantly after oe-ATG8 transfection, whereas the Treg cells' positive rate significantly increased (P = 0.0003). The ESC proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion (all P < 0.0001) declined after co-culture with Treg cells that underwent oe-ATG8 transfection. The expression of Talin-1 (P = 0.0025) and integrin-α4ß1 (P = 0.0002) in PBMC increased significantly after oe-integrin α4ß1 and oe-ATG8 transfection. In addition, this transfection reversed the corresponding regulation of oe-ATG8 transfection. Finally, animal experiments in vivo confirmed that ATG8 inhibited EMS disease progression. CONCLUSION: The ATG8 regulated Treg cell differentiation and inhibited EMS formation by influencing the interaction between integrin α4ß1 and Talin-1.

Human Intestinal Dendritic Cells Can Overcome Retinoic Acid Signaling to Generate Proinflammatory CD4 T Cells with Both Gut and Skin Homing Properties.

Retinoic acid, produced by intestinal dendritic cells (DCs), promotes T cell trafficking to the intestinal mucosa by upregulating α4ß7 integrin and inhibiting the generation of cutaneous leukocyte Ag (CLA) required for skin entry. In the present study, we report that activation of human naive CD4 T cells in an APC-free system generates cells expressing α4ß7 alone; in contrast, activation by intestinal DCs that produce retinoic acid and induce high levels of α4ß7 also results in CLA expression, generating CLA+α4ß7+ "dual tropic" cells, with both gut and skin trafficking potential, that also express high levels of α4ß1 integrin. DC generation of CLA+α4ß7+ T cells is associated with upregulation of FUT7, a fucosyltransferase involved in CLA generation; requires cell contact; and is enhanced by IL-12/IL-23. The blood CD4+ T cell population contains CLA+α4ß7+ cells, which are significantly enriched for cells capable of IFN-γ, IL-17, and TNF-α production compared with conventional CLA-α4ß7+ cells. Dual tropic lymphocytes are increased in intestinal tissue from patients with Crohn's disease, and single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis identifies a transcriptionally distinct cluster of FUT7-expressing cells present only in inflamed tissue; expression of genes associated with cell proliferation suggests that these cells are undergoing local activation. The expression of multiple trafficking molecules by CLA+α4ß7+ T cells can enable their recruitment by alternative pathways to both skin and gut; they may contribute to both intestinal and cutaneous manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Leishmania amazonensis infection impairs VLA-4 clustering and adhesion complex assembly at the adhesion site of J774 cells.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that may lead to a single or multiple disseminated cutaneous lesions. The mechanisms involved in Leishmania dissemination to different areas of the skin and the internal organs remain poorly understood. Evidence shows that Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4)-dependent phagocyte adhesion is impaired by Leishmania infection, which may be related to the mechanisms of parasite dissemination. We investigated factors potentially associated with decreased VLA-4-mediated adhesion in Leishmania-infected macrophages, including lipid raft-mediated VLA-4 mobilization along the cellular membrane, integrin cluster formation at the cell base (adhesion site), and focal adhesion complex assembly. Phagocytes treated with Methyl-ß-Cyclodextrin (MßCD) demonstrated reduced adhesion, similarly to Leishmania amazonensis-infected J774 cells. Infected and MßCD-treated macrophages presented decreased VLA-4 mobilization to the adhesion plane, as well as reduced integrin clustering. Leishmania amazonensis-infected cells exhibited talin depletion, as well as a decreased mobilization of adhesion complex proteins, such as talin and viculin, which were associated with lower VLA-4 concentrations at the adhesion site and limited cell-spreading. Our results suggest that Leishmania infection may modulate the firm adhesion phase of the cell-spreading process, which could contribute to the bloodstream dissemination of infected cells.

BCR/Integrin Interaction in CLL: A Physiologic Remnant with Clinical Relevance.

CD49d, the alpha chain of the very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) integrin, has a negative prognostic impact in chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, ibrutinib and acalabrutinib. Despite BTK inhibition, VLA-4 remains inside-out activated via B-cell receptor, an activation dampened by phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors. Evaluation of CD49d expression in patients starting BTK inhibitor therapy may improve their prognostic stratification. See related article by Alsadhan et al., p. 3612.

Design, Pharmacological Characterization, and Molecular Docking of Minimalist Peptidomimetic Antagonists of α4ß1 Integrin.

Integrin receptors mediate cell-cell interactions via the recognition of cell-adhesion glycoproteins, as well as via the interactions of cells with proteins of the extracellular matrix, and upon activation they transduce signals bi-directionally across the cell membrane. In the case of injury, infection, or inflammation, integrins of ß2 and α4 families participate in the recruitment of leukocytes, a multi-step process initiated by the capturing of rolling leukocytes and terminated by their extravasation. In particular, α4ß1 integrin is deeply involved in leukocyte firm adhesion preceding extravasation. Besides its well-known role in inflammatory diseases, α4ß1 integrin is also involved in cancer, being expressed in various tumors and showing an important role in cancer formation and spreading. Hence, targeting this integrin represents an opportunity for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, some autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In this context, taking inspiration from the recognition motives of α4ß1 integrin with its natural ligands FN and VCAM-1, we designed minimalist α/ß hybrid peptide ligands, with our approach being associated with a retro strategy. These modifications are expected to improve the compounds' stability and bioavailability. As it turned out, some of the ligands were found to be antagonists, being able to inhibit the adhesion of integrin-expressing cells to plates coated with the natural ligands without inducing any conformational switch and any activation of intracellular signaling pathways. An original model structure of the receptor was generated using protein-protein docking to evaluate the bioactive conformations of the antagonists via molecular docking. Since the experimental structure of α4ß1 integrin is still unknown, the simulations might also shed light on the interactions between the receptor and its native protein ligands.

CD49d Expression Identifies a Biologically Distinct Subtype of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Inferior Progression-Free Survival on BTK Inhibitor Therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the role of CD49d for response to Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In patients treated with acalabrutinib (n = 48), CD49d expression, VLA-4 integrin activation, and tumor transcriptomes of CLL cells were assessed. Clinical responses to BTKis were investigated in acalabrutinib- (n = 48; NCT02337829) and ibrutinib-treated (n = 73; NCT01500733) patients. RESULTS: In patients treated with acalabrutinib, treatment-induced lymphocytosis was comparable for both subgroups but resolved more rapidly for CD49d+ cases. Acalabrutinib inhibited constitutive VLA-4 activation but was insufficient to block BCR and CXCR4-mediated inside-out activation. Transcriptomes of CD49d+ and CD49d- cases were compared using RNA sequencing at baseline and at 1 and 6 months on treatment. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed increased constitutive NF-κB and JAK-STAT signaling, enhanced survival, adhesion, and migratory capacity in CD49d+ over CD49d- CLL that was maintained during therapy. In the combined cohorts of 121 BTKi-treated patients, 48 (39.7%) progressed on treatment with BTK and/or PLCG2 mutations detected in 87% of CLL progressions. Consistent with a recent report, homogeneous and bimodal CD49d-positive cases (the latter having concurrent CD49d+ and CD49d- CLL subpopulations, irrespective of the traditional 30% cutoff value) had a shorter time to progression of 6.6 years, whereas 90% of cases homogenously CD49d- were estimated progression-free at 8 years (P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: CD49d/VLA-4 emerges as a microenvironmental factor that contributes to BTKi resistance in CLL. The prognostic value of CD49d is improved by considering bimodal CD49d expression. See related commentary by Tissino et al., p. 3560.

SVEP1 influences monocyte to macrophage differentiation via integrin α4ß1/α9ß1 and Rho/Rac signalling.

BACKGROUND: The large extracellular matrix protein SVEP1 mediates cell adhesion via integrin α9ß1. Recent studies have identified an association between a missense variant in SVEP1 and increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in humans and in mice Svep1 deficiency alters the development of atherosclerotic plaques. However how SVEP1 functionally contributes to CAD pathogenesis is not fully understood. Monocyte recruitment and differentiation to macrophages is a key step in the development of atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the requirement for SVEP1 in this process. METHODS: SVEP1 expression was measured during monocyte-macrophage differentiation in primary monocytes and THP-1 human monocytic cells. SVEP1 knockout THP-1 cell lines and the dual integrin α4ß1/α9ß1 inhibitor, BOP, were utilised to investigate the effect of these proteins in THP-1 cell adhesion, migration and cell spreading assays. Subsequent activation of downstream integrin signalling intermediaries was quantified by western blotting. RESULTS: SVEP1 gene expression increases in monocyte to macrophage differentiation in human primary monocytes and THP-1 cells. Using two SVEP1 knockout THP-1 cells we observed reduction in monocyte adhesion, migration, and cell spreading compared to control cells. Similar results were found with integrin α4ß1/α9ß1 inhibition. We demonstrate reduced activity of Rho and Rac1 in SVEP1 knockout THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: SVEP1 regulates monocyte recruitment and differentiation phenotypes through an integrin α4ß1/α9ß1 dependent mechanism. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results describe a novel role for SVEP1 in monocyte behaviour relevant to CAD pathophysiology.

Natalizumab Promotes Activation of Peripheral Monocytes in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Natalizumab (NTZ), a monoclonal antibody against very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), is one of the most efficient therapies to prevent acute relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS). VLA-4 is the key adhesion molecule for peripheral immune cells, especially lymphocytes to enter the CNS. While its blockade thus virtually abrogates CNS infiltration of these cells, long-term exposure to natalizumab may also affect immune cell function. METHODS: In this study, we report that in patients with MS, NTZ treatment is associated with an enhanced activation status of peripheral monocytes. RESULTS: Expression of 2 independent activation markers, CD69 and CD150, was significantly higher on blood monocytes from NTZ-treated patients when compared with those from matched untreated patients with MS, while other properties such as cytokine production remained unchanged. DISCUSSION: These findings consolidate the concept that peripheral immune cells remain fully competent on NTZ treatment, an excellent asset rare among MS treatments. However, they also suggest that NTZ may exert nondesirable effects on the progressive aspect of MS, where myeloid cells and their chronic activation are attributed a prominent pathophysiologic role.

Design and Pharmacological Characterization of α4ß1 Integrin Cyclopeptide Agonists: Computational Investigation of Ligand Determinants for Agonism versus Antagonism.

α4ß1 integrin is a cell adhesion receptor deeply involved in the migration and accumulation of leukocytes. Therefore, integrin antagonists that inhibit leukocytes recruitment are currently regarded as a therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of inflammatory disorder, including leukocyte-related autoimmune diseases. Recently, it has been suggested that integrin agonists capable to prevent the release of adherent leukocytes might serve as therapeutic agents as well. However, very few α4ß1 integrin agonists have been discovered so far, thus precluding the investigation of their potential therapeutic efficacy. In this perspective, we synthesized cyclopeptides containing the LDV recognition motif found in the native ligand fibronectin. This approach led to the discovery of potent agonists capable to increase the adhesion of α4 integrin-expressing cells. Conformational and quantum mechanics computations predicted distinct ligand-receptor interactions for antagonists or agonists, plausibly referable to receptor inhibition or activation.

Phenotypic characterization of single CD4+ T cells harboring genetically intact and inducible HIV genomes.

The phenotype of the rare HIV-infected cells persisting during antiretroviral therapies (ART) remains elusive. We developed a single-cell approach that combines the phenotypic analysis of HIV-infected cells with near full-length sequencing of their associated proviruses to characterize the viral reservoir in 6 male individuals on suppressive ART. We show that individual cells carrying clonally expanded identical proviruses display very diverse phenotypes, indicating that cellular proliferation contributes to the phenotypic diversification of the HIV reservoir. Unlike most viral genomes persisting on ART, inducible and translation-competent proviruses rarely present large deletions but are enriched in defects in the Ψ locus. Interestingly, the few cells harboring genetically intact and inducible viral genomes express higher levels of the integrin VLA-4 compared to uninfected cells or cells with defective proviruses. Viral outgrowth assay confirmed that memory CD4+ T cells expressing high levels of VLA-4 are highly enriched in replication-competent HIV (27-fold enrichment). We conclude that although clonal expansions diversify the phenotype of HIV reservoir cells, CD4+ T cells harboring replication-competent HIV retain VLA-4 expression.

The main e-cigarette component vegetable glycerin enhances neutrophil migration and fibrosis in endotoxin-induced lung injury via p38 MAPK activation.

We investigated the effects of vegetable glycerin (VG), a main e-cigarette constituent, on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Mice received intratracheal administration of 30% VG in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) vehicle or only PBS (control) for 4 days. On Day 5, mice received an intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (LPS group and VG + LPS group) or PBS (VG group and control group). Lung histopathology, expression of chemokine receptors, and regulatory signaling were analyzed 24 h after the Day 5 treatment. VG significantly increased ALI-associated histopathological and fibrotic changes in both the VG group and LPS-induced ALI mice (VG + LPS group). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot analyses revealed that VG administration resulted in upregulation of neutrophil markers [lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)] as well as upregulation of the expression of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), a central mediator of fibrogenesis, in the lungs of both VG and VG + LPS groups. VG enhanced the expression of adhesion molecules [very late antigen 4 (VLA-4) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1)] and increased activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) to prompt neutrophil recruitment in the lungs of mice with ALI. Intraperitoneal administration of a p38 inhibitor attenuated these histopathological changes significantly as well as VG-induced upregulation in expression of Ly6G, MPO, VLA-4, VCAM-1, TGF-ß, and collagen-1 in mice with ALI. In conclusion, VG enhances neutrophil chemotaxis and fibrosis and it amplifies the inflammatory response associated with LPS-induced ALI in the lungs via enhancement of p38 MAPK activity.

VCAM1 Drives Vascular Inflammation Leading to Continuous Cortical Neuronal Loss Following Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is associated with neuronal loss and blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment in vascular dementia (VaD). However, the relationship and the molecular mechanisms between BBB dysfunction and neuronal loss remain elusive. OBJECTIVE: We explored the reasons for neuron loss following CCH. METHODS: Using permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) rat model, we observed the pathological changes of cortical neurons and BBB in the sham group as well as rats 3d, 7d, 14d and 28d post 2VO. In order to further explore the factors influencing neuron loss following CCH with regard to cortical blood vessels, we extracted cortical brain microvessels at five time points for transcriptome sequencing. Finally, integrin receptor a4ß1 (VLA-4) inhibitor was injected into the tail vein, and cortical neuron loss was detected again. RESULTS: We found that cortical neuron loss following CCH is a continuous process, but damage to the BBB is acute and transient. Results of cortical microvessel transcriptome analysis showed that biological processes related to vascular inflammation mainly occurred in the chronic phase. Meanwhile, cell adhesion molecules, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction were significantly changed at this phase. Among them, the adhesion molecule VCAM1 plays an important role. Using VLA-4 inhibitor to block VCAM1-VLA-4 interaction, cortical neuron damage was ameliorated at 14d post 2VO. CONCLUSION: Injury of the BBB may not be the main reason for persistent loss of cortical neurons following CCH. The continuous inflammatory response within blood vessels maybe an important factor in the continuous loss of cortical neurons following CCH.