Characterizing the Cell-Free Transcriptome in a Humanized Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for RNA-Based Liquid Biopsy in a Preclinical Setting.

The potential of RNA-based liquid biopsy is increasingly being recognized in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study explores the cell-free transcriptome in a humanized DLBCL patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) model. Blood plasma samples (n = 171) derived from a DLBCL PDTX model, including 27 humanized (HIS) PDTX, 8 HIS non-PDTX, and 21 non-HIS PDTX non-obese diabetic (NOD)-scid IL2Rgnull (NSG) mice were collected during humanization, xenografting, treatment, and sacrifice. The mice were treated with either rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), CD20-targeted human IFNα2-based AcTaferon combined with CHOP (huCD20-Fc-AFN-CHOP), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). RNA was extracted using the miRNeasy serum/plasma kit and sequenced on the NovaSeq 6000 platform. RNA sequencing data of the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and blood plasma samples of the original patient were included. Flow cytometry was performed on immune cells isolated from whole blood, spleen, and bone marrow. Bulk deconvolution was performed using the Tabula Sapiens v1 basis matrix. Both R-CHOP and huCD20-Fc-AFN-CHOP were able to control tumor growth in most mice. Xenograft tumor volume was strongly associated with circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) concentration (p < 0.001, R = 0.89), as well as with the number of detected human genes (p < 0.001, R = 0.79). Abundance analysis identified tumor-specific biomarkers that were dynamically tracked during tumor growth or treatment. An 8-gene signature demonstrated high accuracy for assessing therapy response (AUC 0.92). The tumoral gene detectability in the ctRNA of the PDTX-derived plasma was associated with RNA abundance levels in the patient's tumor tissue and blood plasma (p < 0.001), confirming that tumoral gene abundance contributes to the cell-free RNA (cfRNA) profile. Decomposing the transcriptome, however, revealed high inter- and intra-mouse variability, which was lower in the HIS PDTX mice, indicating an impact of human engraftment on the stability and profile of cfRNA. Immunochemotherapy resulted in B cell depletion, and tumor clearance was reflected by a decrease in the fraction of human CD45+ cells. Lastly, bulk deconvolution provided complementary biological insights into the composition of the tumor and circulating immune system. In conclusion, the blood plasma-derived transcriptome serves as a biomarker source in a preclinical PDTX model, enables the assessment of biological pathways, and enhances the understanding of cfRNA dynamics.

Knocking Out CD70 Rescues CD70-Specific NanoCAR T Cells from Antigen-Induced Exhaustion.

CD70 is an attractive target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for the treatment of both solid and liquid malignancies. However, the functionality of CD70-specific CAR T cells is modest. We optimized a CD70-specific VHH-based CAR (nanoCAR). We evaluated the nanoCARs in clinically relevant models in vitro, using co-cultures of CD70-specific nanoCAR T cells with malignant rhabdoid tumor organoids, and in vivo, using a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Although the nanoCAR T cells were highly efficient in organoid co-cultures, they showed only modest efficacy in the PDX model. We determined that fratricide was not causing this loss in efficacy but rather CD70 interaction in cis with the nanoCAR-induced exhaustion. Knocking out CD70 in nanoCAR T cells using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in dramatically enhanced functionality in the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma PDX model. Through single-cell transcriptomics, we obtained evidence that CD70 knockout CD70-specific nanoCAR T cells were protected from antigen-induced exhaustion. In addition, we demonstrated that wild-type CD70-specific nanoCAR T cells already exhibited signs of exhaustion shortly after production. Their gene signature strongly overlapped with gene signatures of exhausted CAR T cells. Conversely, the gene signature of knockout CD70-specific nanoCAR T cells overlapped with the gene signature of CAR T-cell infusion products leading to complete responses in chronic lymphatic leukemia patients. Our data show that CARs targeting endogenous T-cell antigens negatively affect CAR T-cell functionality by inducing an exhausted state, which can be overcome by knocking out the specific target.

High efficacy of huCD20-targeted AcTaferon in humanized patient derived xenograft models of aggressive B cell lymphoma.

Type I interferon (IFN) is a potent antitumoral drug, with an important history in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, its pleiotropic nature leads to severe dose-limiting toxicities that blunt its therapeutic potential. To achieve selective targeting of specific immune or tumor cells, AcTakines (Activity-on-Target Cytokines), i.e., immunocytokines utilizing attenuated cytokines, and clinically optimized A-Kines™ were developed. In syngeneic murine models, the CD20-targeted murine IFNα2-based AcTaferons (AFNs) have demonstrated clear antitumoral effects, with excellent tolerability. The current study explores the antitumoral potential of the humanized huCD20-Fc-AFN in 5 different humanized patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of huCD20+ aggressive B non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs). The huCD20-Fc-AFN consists of a huCD20-specific single-domain antibody (VHH) linked through a heterodimeric 'knob-in-hole' human IgG1 Fc molecule to an attenuated huIFNα2 sequence. An in vitro targeting efficacy of up to 1.000-fold could be obtained, without detectable in vivo toxicities, except for selective (on-target) and reversible B cell depletion. Treatment with huCD20-Fc-AFN significantly increased the median overall survival (mOS) in both non-humanized (mOS 31 to 45 days; HR = 0.26; p = 0.001), and humanized NSG/NOG mice (mOS 34 to 80 days; HR = 0.37; p < 0.0001). In humanized mice, there was a trend for increased survival when compared to equimolar rituximab (mOS 49 to 80 days; HR = 0.73; p = 0.09). The antitumoral effects of huCD20-Fc-AFN were partly due to direct effects of type I IFN on the tumor cells, but additional effects via the human immune system are essential to obtain long-term remissions. To conclude, huCD20-Fc-AFN could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for huCD20-expressing aggressive B-NHLs.

Pharmacological modulation of septins restores calcium homeostasis and is neuroprotective in models of Alzheimer's disease.

Abnormal calcium signaling is a central pathological component of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we describe the identification of a class of compounds called ReS19-T, which are able to restore calcium homeostasis in cell-based models of tau pathology. Aberrant tau accumulation leads to uncontrolled activation of store-operated calcium channels (SOCCs) by remodeling septin filaments at the cell cortex. Binding of ReS19-T to septins restores filament assembly in the disease state and restrains calcium entry through SOCCs. In amyloid-ß and tau-driven mouse models of disease, ReS19-T agents restored synaptic plasticity, normalized brain network activity, and attenuated the development of both amyloid-ß and tau pathology. Our findings identify the septin cytoskeleton as a potential therapeutic target for the development of disease-modifying AD treatments.

Crosstalk interactions between transcription factors ERRα and PPARα assist PPARα-mediated gene expression.

OBJECTIVE: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a transcription factor driving target genes involved in fatty acid ß-oxidation. To what extent various PPARα interacting proteins may assist its function as a transcription factor is incompletely understood. An ORFeome-wide unbiased mammalian protein-protein interaction trap (MAPPIT) using PPARα as bait revealed a PPARα-ligand-dependent interaction with the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα). The goal of this study was to characterize the nature of the interaction in depth and to explore whether it was of physiological relevance. METHODS: We used orthogonal protein-protein interaction assays and pharmacological inhibitors of ERRα in various systems to confirm a functional interaction and study the impact of crosstalk mechanisms. To characterize the interaction surfaces and contact points we applied a random mutagenesis screen and structural overlays. We pinpointed the extent of reciprocal ligand effects of both nuclear receptors via coregulator peptide recruitment assays. On PPARα targets revealed from a genome-wide transcriptome analysis, we performed an ERRα chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis on both fast and fed mouse livers. RESULTS: Random mutagenesis scanning of PPARα's ligand-binding domain and coregulator profiling experiments supported the involvement of (a) bridging coregulator(s), while recapitulation of the interaction in vitro indicated the possibility of a trimeric interaction with RXRα. The PPARα·ERRα interaction depends on 3 C-terminal residues within helix 12 of ERRα and is strengthened by both PGC1α and serum deprivation. Pharmacological inhibition of ERRα decreased the interaction of ERRα to ligand-activated PPARα and revealed a transcriptome in line with enhanced mRNA expression of prototypical PPARα target genes, suggesting a role for ERRα as a transcriptional repressor. Strikingly, on other PPARα targets, including the isolated PDK4 enhancer, ERRα behaved oppositely. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrate a PPARα ligand-dependent ERRα recruitment onto chromatin at PPARα-binding regions, which is lost following ERRα inhibition in fed mouse livers. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the coexistence of multiple layers of transcriptional crosstalk mechanisms between PPARα and ERRα, which may serve to finetune the activity of PPARα as a nutrient-sensing transcription factor.

Virus-Host Protein Interaction Network of the Hepatitis E Virus ORF2-4 by Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assays.

Throughout their life cycle, viruses interact with cellular host factors, thereby influencing propagation, host range, cell tropism and pathogenesis. The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an underestimated RNA virus in which knowledge of the virus-host interaction network to date is limited. Here, two related high-throughput mammalian two-hybrid approaches (MAPPIT and KISS) were used to screen for HEV-interacting host proteins. Promising hits were examined on protein function, involved pathway(s), and their relation to other viruses. We identified 37 ORF2 hits, 187 for ORF3 and 91 for ORF4. Several hits had functions in the life cycle of distinct viruses. We focused on SHARPIN and RNF5 as candidate hits for ORF3, as they are involved in the RLR-MAVS pathway and interferon (IFN) induction during viral infections. Knocking out (KO) SHARPIN and RNF5 resulted in a different IFN response upon ORF3 transfection, compared to wild-type cells. Moreover, infection was increased in SHARPIN KO cells and decreased in RNF5 KO cells. In conclusion, MAPPIT and KISS are valuable tools to study virus-host interactions, providing insights into the poorly understood HEV life cycle. We further provide evidence for two identified hits as new host factors in the HEV life cycle.

A bispecific Clec9A-PD-L1 targeted type I interferon profoundly reshapes the tumor microenvironment towards an antitumor state.

Despite major improvements in immunotherapeutic strategies, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment remains a major obstacle for the induction of efficient antitumor responses. In this study, we show that local delivery of a bispecific Clec9A-PD-L1 targeted type I interferon (AcTaferon, AFN) overcomes this hurdle by reshaping the tumor immune landscape.Treatment with the bispecific AFN resulted in the presence of pro-immunogenic tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils, increased motility and maturation profile of cDC1 and presence of inflammatory cDC2. Moreover, we report empowered diversity in the CD8+ T cell repertoire and induction of a shift from naive, dysfunctional CD8+ T cells towards effector, plastic cytotoxic T lymphocytes together with increased presence of NK and NKT cells as well as decreased regulatory T cell levels. These dynamic changes were associated with potent antitumor activity. Tumor clearance and immunological memory, therapeutic immunity on large established tumors and blunted tumor growth at distant sites were obtained upon co-administration of a non-curative dose of chemotherapy.Overall, this study illuminates further application of type I interferon as a safe and efficient way to reshape the suppressive tumor microenvironment and induce potent antitumor immunity; features which are of major importance in overcoming the development of metastases and tumor cell resistance to immune attack. The strategy described here has potential for application across to a broad range of cancer types.

The phosphatidylserine receptor TIM1 promotes infection of enveloped hepatitis E virus.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an underestimated RNA virus of which the viral life cycle and pathogenicity remain partially understood and for which specific antivirals are lacking. The virus exists in two forms: nonenveloped HEV that is shed in feces and transmits between hosts; and membrane-associated, quasi-enveloped HEV that circulates in the blood. It is suggested that both forms employ different mechanisms for cellular entry and internalization but little is known about the exact mechanisms. Interestingly, the membrane of enveloped HEV is enriched with phosphatidylserine, a natural ligand for the T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 1 (TIM1) during apoptosis and involved in 'apoptotic mimicry', a process by which viruses hijack the apoptosis pathway to promote infection. We here investigated the role of TIM1 in the entry process of HEV. We determined that HEV infection with particles derived from culture supernatant, which are cloaked by host-derived membranes (eHEV), was significantly impaired after knockout of TIM1, whereas infection with intracellular HEV particles (iHEV) was unaffected. eHEV infection was restored upon TIM1 expression; and enhanced after ectopic TIM1 expression. The significance of TIM1 during entry was further confirmed by viral binding assay, and point mutations of the PS-binding pocket diminished eHEV infection. In addition, Annexin V, a PS-binding molecule also significantly reduced infection. Taken together, our findings support a role for TIM1 in eHEV-mediated cell entry, facilitated by the PS present on the viral membrane, a strategy HEV may use to promote viral spread throughout the infected body.

Correction: ß-Agonists Selectively Modulate Proinflammatory Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle Cells via Non-Canonical Nuclear Crosstalk Mechanisms.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090649.].

Next-generation large-scale binary protein interaction network for Drosophila melanogaster.

Generating reference maps of interactome networks illuminates genetic studies by providing a protein-centric approach to finding new components of existing pathways, complexes, and processes. We apply state-of-the-art methods to identify binary protein-protein interactions (PPIs) for Drosophila melanogaster. Four all-by-all yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screens of > 10,000 Drosophila proteins result in the 'FlyBi' dataset of 8723 PPIs among 2939 proteins. Testing subsets of data from FlyBi and previous PPI studies using an orthogonal assay allows for normalization of data quality; subsequent integration of FlyBi and previous data results in an expanded binary Drosophila reference interaction network, DroRI, comprising 17,232 interactions among 6511 proteins. We use FlyBi data to generate an autophagy network, then validate in vivo using autophagy-related assays. The deformed wings (dwg) gene encodes a protein that is both a regulator and a target of autophagy. Altogether, these resources provide a foundation for building new hypotheses regarding protein networks and function.

Mechanism of receptor assembly via the pleiotropic adipokine Leptin.

The adipokine Leptin activates its receptor LEP-R in the hypothalamus to regulate body weight and exerts additional pleiotropic functions in immunity, fertility and cancer. However, the structure and mechanism of Leptin-mediated LEP-R assemblies has remained unclear. Intriguingly, the signaling-competent isoform of LEP-R is only lowly abundant amid several inactive short LEP-R isoforms contributing to a mechanistic conundrum. Here we show by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM that, in contrast to long-standing paradigms, Leptin induces type I cytokine receptor assemblies featuring 3:3 stoichiometry and demonstrate such Leptin-induced trimerization of LEP-R on living cells via single-molecule microscopy. In mediating these assemblies, Leptin undergoes drastic restructuring that activates its site III for binding to the Ig domain of an adjacent LEP-R. These interactions are abolished by mutations linked to obesity. Collectively, our study provides the structural and mechanistic framework for how evolutionarily conserved Leptin:LEP-R assemblies with 3:3 stoichiometry can engage distinct LEP-R isoforms to achieve signaling.

An Unexpected Encounter: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 Interacts with Mediator Subunit MED25.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants worldwide. Nonstructural protein NS1 of RSV modulates the host innate immune response by acting as an antagonist of type I and type III interferon (IFN) production and signaling in multiple ways. Likely, NS1 performs this function by interacting with different host proteins. In order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the NS1 interaction partners, we performed three complementary protein-protein interaction screens, i.e., BioID, MAPPIT, and KISS. To closely mimic a natural infection, the BioID proximity screen was performed using a recombinant RSV in which the NS1 protein is fused to a biotin ligase. Remarkably, MED25, a subunit of the Mediator complex, was identified in all three performed screening methods as a potential NS1-interacting protein. We confirmed the interaction between MED25 and RSV NS1 by coimmunoprecipitation, not only upon overexpression of NS1 but also with endogenous NS1 during RSV infection. We also demonstrate that the replication of RSV can be enhanced in MED25 knockout A549 cells, suggesting a potential antiviral role of MED25 during RSV infection. Mediator subunits function as transcriptional coactivators and are involved in transcriptional regulation of their target genes. Therefore, the interaction between RSV NS1 and cellular MED25 might be beneficial for RSV during infection by affecting host transcription and the host immune response to infection. IMPORTANCE Innate immune responses, including the production of type I and III interferons, play a crucial role in the first line of defense against RSV infection. However, only a poor induction of type I IFNs is observed during RSV infection, suggesting that RSV has evolved mechanisms to prevent type I IFN expression by the infected host cell. A unique RSV protein, NS1, is largely responsible for this effect, probably through interaction with multiple host proteins. A better understanding of the interactions that occur between RSV NS1 and host proteins may help to identify targets for an effective antiviral therapy. We addressed this question by performing three complementary protein-protein interaction screens and identified MED25 as an RSV NS1-interacting protein. We propose a role in innate anti-RSV defense for this Mediator complex subunit.

The ß2-adrenergic receptor in the apical membrane of intestinal enterocytes senses sugars to stimulate glucose uptake from the gut.

The presence of sugar in the gut causes induction of SGLT1, the sodium/glucose cotransporter in intestinal epithelial cells (enterocytes), and this is accompanied by stimulation of sugar absorption. Sugar sensing was suggested to involve a G-protein coupled receptor and cAMP - protein kinase A signalling, but the sugar receptor has remained unknown. We show strong expression and co-localization with SGLT1 of the ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß 2-AR) at the enterocyte apical membrane and reveal its role in stimulating glucose uptake from the gut by the sodium/glucose-linked transporter, SGLT1. Upon heterologous expression in different reporter systems, the ß 2-AR responds to multiple sugars in the mM range, consistent with estimated gut sugar levels after a meal. Most adrenergic receptor antagonists inhibit sugar signaling, while some differentially inhibit epinephrine and sugar responses. However, sugars did not inhibit binding of I125-cyanopindolol, a ß 2-AR antagonist, to the ligand-binding site in cell-free membrane preparations. This suggests different but interdependent binding sites. Glucose uptake into everted sacs from rat intestine was stimulated by epinephrine and sugars in a ß 2-AR-dependent manner. STD-NMR confirmed direct physical binding of glucose to the ß 2-AR. Oral administration of glucose with a non-bioavailable ß 2-AR antagonist lowered the subsequent increase in blood glucose levels, confirming a role for enterocyte apical ß 2-ARs in stimulating gut glucose uptake, and suggesting enterocyte ß 2-AR as novel drug target in diabetic and obese patients. Future work will have to reveal how glucose sensing by enterocytes and neuroendocrine cells is connected, and whether ß 2-ARs mediate glucose sensing also in other tissues.

Bcl-xL acts as an inhibitor of IP3R channels, thereby antagonizing Ca2+-driven apoptosis.

Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family members not only act at mitochondria but also at the endoplasmic reticulum, where they impact Ca2+ dynamics by controlling IP3 receptor (IP3R) function. Current models propose distinct roles for Bcl-2 vs. Bcl-xL, with Bcl-2 inhibiting IP3Rs and preventing pro-apoptotic Ca2+ release and Bcl-xL sensitizing IP3Rs to low [IP3] and promoting pro-survival Ca2+ oscillations. We here demonstrate that Bcl-xL too inhibits IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release by interacting with the same IP3R regions as Bcl-2. Via in silico superposition, we previously found that the residue K87 of Bcl-xL spatially resembled K17 of Bcl-2, a residue critical for Bcl-2's IP3R-inhibitory properties. Mutagenesis of K87 in Bcl-xL impaired its binding to IP3R and abrogated Bcl-xL's inhibitory effect on IP3Rs. Single-channel recordings demonstrate that purified Bcl-xL, but not Bcl-xLK87D, suppressed IP3R single-channel openings stimulated by sub-maximal and threshold [IP3]. Moreover, we demonstrate that Bcl-xL-mediated inhibition of IP3Rs contributes to its anti-apoptotic properties against Ca2+-driven apoptosis. Staurosporine (STS) elicits long-lasting Ca2+ elevations in wild-type but not in IP3R-knockout HeLa cells, sensitizing the former to STS treatment. Overexpression of Bcl-xL in wild-type HeLa cells suppressed STS-induced Ca2+ signals and cell death, while Bcl-xLK87D was much less effective in doing so. In the absence of IP3Rs, Bcl-xL and Bcl-xLK87D were equally effective in suppressing STS-induced cell death. Finally, we demonstrate that endogenous Bcl-xL also suppress IP3R activity in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, whereby Bcl-xL knockdown augmented IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release and increased the sensitivity towards STS, without altering the ER Ca2+ content. Hence, this study challenges the current paradigm of divergent functions for Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in Ca2+-signaling modulation and reveals that, similarly to Bcl-2, Bcl-xL inhibits IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release and IP3R-driven cell death. Our work further underpins that IP3R inhibition is an integral part of Bcl-xL's anti-apoptotic function.

Prolyl endopeptidase-like is a (thio)esterase involved in mitochondrial respiratory chain function.

Deficiency of the serine hydrolase prolyl endopeptidase-like (PREPL) causes a recessive metabolic disorder characterized by neonatal hypotonia, feeding difficulties, and growth hormone deficiency. The pathophysiology of PREPL deficiency and the physiological substrates of PREPL remain largely unknown. In this study, we connect PREPL with mitochondrial gene expression and oxidative phosphorylation by analyzing its protein interactors. We demonstrate that the long PREPLL isoform localizes to mitochondria, whereas PREPLS remains cytosolic. Prepl KO mice showed reduced mitochondrial complex activities and disrupted mitochondrial gene expression. Furthermore, mitochondrial ultrastructure was abnormal in a PREPL-deficient patient and Prepl KO mice. In addition, we reveal that PREPL has (thio)esterase activity and inhibition of PREPL by Palmostatin M suggests a depalmitoylating function. We subsequently determined the crystal structure of PREPL, thereby providing insight into the mechanism of action. Taken together, PREPL is a (thio)esterase rather than a peptidase and PREPLL is involved in mitochondrial homeostasis.

Selective IL-1 activity on CD8+ T cells empowers antitumor immunity and synergizes with neovasculature-targeted TNF for full tumor eradication.

BACKGROUND: Clinical success of therapeutic cancer vaccines depends on the ability to mount strong and durable antitumor T cell responses. To achieve this, potent cellular adjuvants are highly needed. Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) acts on CD8+ T cells and promotes their expansion and effector differentiation, but toxicity and undesired tumor-promoting side effects hamper efficient clinical application of this cytokine. METHODS: This 'cytokine problem' can be solved by use of AcTakines (Activity-on-Target cytokines), which represent fusions between low-activity cytokine mutants and cell type-specific single-domain antibodies. AcTakines deliver cytokine activity to a priori selected cell types and as such evade toxicity and unwanted off-target side effects. Here, we employ subcutaneous melanoma and lung carcinoma models to evaluate the antitumor effects of AcTakines. RESULTS: In this work, we use an IL-1ß-based AcTakine to drive proliferation and effector functionality of antitumor CD8+ T cells without inducing measurable toxicity. AcTakine treatment enhances diversity of the T cell receptor repertoire and empowers adoptive T cell transfer. Combination treatment with a neovasculature-targeted tumor necrosis factor (TNF) AcTakine mediates full tumor eradication and establishes immunological memory that protects against secondary tumor challenge. Interferon-γ was found to empower this AcTakine synergy by sensitizing the tumor microenvironment to TNF. CONCLUSIONS: Our data illustrate that anticancer cellular immunity can be safely promoted with an IL-1ß-based AcTakine, which synergizes with other immunotherapies for efficient tumor destruction.

Targeting IFN activity to both B cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells induces a robust tolerogenic response and protection against EAE.

Type I Interferon (IFN) was the very first drug approved for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and is still frequently used as a first line therapy. However, systemic IFN also causes considerable side effects, affecting therapy adherence and dose escalation. In addition, the mechanism of action of IFN in MS is multifactorial and still not completely understood. Using AcTaferons (Activity-on-Target IFNs, AFNs), optimized IFN-based immunocytokines that allow cell-specific targeting, we have previously demonstrated that specific targeting of IFN activity to dendritic cells (DCs) can protect against experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), inducing in vivo tolerogenic protective effects, evidenced by increased indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) release by plasmacytoid (p) DCs and improved immunosuppressive capacity of regulatory T and B cells. We here report that targeting type I IFN activity specifically towards B cells also provides strong protection against EAE, and that targeting pDCs using SiglecH-AFN can significantly add to this protective effect. The superior protection achieved by simultaneous targeting of both B lymphocytes and pDCs correlated with improved IL-10 responses in B cells and conventional cDCs, and with a previously unseen very robust IDO response in several cells, including all B and T lymphocytes, cDC1 and cDC2.

ZBTB32 performs crosstalk with the glucocorticoid receptor and is crucial in glucocorticoid responses to starvation.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis forms a complex neuroendocrine system that regulates the body's response to stress such as starvation. In contrast with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), Zinc finger and BTB domain containing 32 (ZBTB32) is a transcription factor with poorly described functional relevance in physiology. This study shows that ZBTB32 is essential for the production of glucocorticoids (GCs) in response to starvation, since ZBTB32-/- mice fail to increase their GC production in the absence of nutrients. In terms of mechanism, GR-mediated upregulation of adrenal Scarb1 gene expression was absent in ZBTB32-/- mice, implicating defective cholesterol import as the cause of the poor GC synthesis. These lower GC levels are further associated with aberrations in the metabolic adaptation to starvation, which could explain the progressive weight gain of ZBTB32-/- mice. In conclusion, ZBTB32 performs a crosstalk with the GR in the metabolic adaptation to starvation via regulation of adrenal GC production.