RANBP1, a member of the nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking-regulator complex, is the terminal-striking point of the SGK1-dependent Th17+ pathological differentiation.

The Th17+ arrangement is critical for orchestrating both innate and acquired immune responses. In this context, the serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) exerts a key role in the governance of IL-23R-dependent Th17+ maturation, through the phosphorylation-dependent control of FOXO1 localization. Our previous work has shown that some of the SGK1-key functions are dependent on RAN-binding protein 1 (RANBP1), a terminal gene in the nuclear transport regulation. Here, we show that RANBP1, similarly to SGK1, is modulated during Th17+ differentiation and that RANBP1 fluctuations mediate the SGK1-dependent effects on Th17+ maturation. RANBP1, as the final effector of the SGK1 pathway, affects FOXO1 transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, thus enabling RORγt activation. In this light, RANBP1 represents the missing piece, in an essential and rate-limiting manner, underlying the Th17+ immune asset.

The First Identification in Italy of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 Harboring KSF141_del: A Genomic Comparison with Omicron Sub-Variants.

The rapid emergence and worldwide detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant underscore the importance of robust genomic surveillance systems and prompt information sharing among global public health partners. The Omicron variant has rapidly replaced the Delta variant as a dominating SARS-CoV-2 variant because of natural selection, favoring the variant with higher infectivity and stronger vaccine breakthrough capability. The Omicron variant is also known as B.1.1.529. It has four sub-variants, indicated as BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4. Among them, BA.1 is the currently prevailing sub-variant, and BA.2 has been found to be able to alarmingly re-infect patients initially infected by Omicron BA.1. The BA.3 sub-variant is a combination of mutations of BA.1 and BA.2, especially in the spike protein. Today, the BA.4 variant is emerging, which is herein described, and it was the first detected in Italy. Via bioinformatic analysis, we are reporting that the BA.4 that was identified harbors a new mutation, specifically a deletion in the ORF1ab gene, corresponding to KSF141_del in non-structural protein 1 (nsp1), a critical virulence factor able to suppress host translation. The bioinformatics comparison analysis with the other three sub-variants reveals that the deletion was not present before and was never reported until now. Therefore, we can speculate that Omicron BA.4 will become a new dominating "variant of concern" and may also break vaccine protection. Moreover, we show that other proteins are mutated in the BA.4. In particular, seven mutations are recognized in the nucleocapsid (N) protein, and the capability of five different types of rapid antigenic tests are used to identify it.

Validation of GeneFinder COVID-19 Ag Plus Rapid Test and Its Potential Utility to Slowing Infection Waves: A Single-Center Laboratory Evaluation Study.

Diagnostic laboratory tools are essential to keep everyone safe and track newly emerging variants; on the other hand, "filter" screening tests recognizing positivity are valuable tools to avoid hectic laboratory work that, besides COVID-19, are also part of the routine. Therefore, complementary assays, such as rapid antigen tests (RATs), are essential in controlling and monitoring virus spread within the community, especially in the asymptomatic population. A subset of nasopharyngeal swab specimens resulted in SARS-CoV-2 positive and investigated for genomic characterization were used for RAT validation. RATs were performed immediately after sampling, following the manufacturer's instructions (reading at 15 min). RT-PCRs were carried out within 24 h of specimens' collection. Out of 603 patients, 145 (24.05%) tested positive by RT-PCR and RAT and 451 (74.79%) tested negative by both methods; discordant results (RT-PCR+/RAT- or RT-PCR-/RAT+) were obtained in 7 patients (1.16%). RATs' overall specificity and sensitivity were 96.03% (95%CI: 91.55-98.53%) and 99.78% (95%CI: 98.77-99.99%), respectively, taking RT-PCR as the reference. Overall, RAT negative predictive value was 98.69% (95%CI 97.17-99.40%). The GeneFinder COVID-19 Ag Plus Rapid Test performed well as a screening test for early diagnosis of COVID-19, especially in asymptomatic subjects. The data suggested that patients with RT-PCR-proven COVID-19 testing negative by RAT are unlikely to be infectious. GeneFinder COVID-19 Ag Plus Rapid Test also works on variants of concern (VOC) delta and omicron BA.1 and BA.2.

Multimodal imaging of Hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: To report the first Italian case of hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy complicated by macular neovascularization diagnosed through multimodal imaging. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old boy was referred to our Institution for bilateral maculopathy of unknown origin. Multimodal imaging helps the diagnosis of Juvenile Macular Dystrophy with Hypotrichosis (HJMD). Fundus examination showed several alterations of the retinal pigment epithelium and circular pigmented area of chorioretinal atrophy. Structural spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed some backscattering phenomenon with several alterations of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor layer in both eyes. Moreover, OCT showed hyperreflective lesion beneath the neuroepithelium in left eye. OCT angiography (OCT-A) revealed a pathologic neovascular network in choriocapillaris plexus, probably the result of a fibrovascular membrane. Multifocal electroretinograms (MfERGs) showed functional alterations in 12.22° of the central retina. In order to confirm the suspicion of HJMD, the child and both parents underwent genetic testing. Both parents resulted to be heterozygous healthy carriers of a single variation. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging, in particular OCT-A, is a useful aid, along to clinical findings and genetics, for the diagnosis of inherited retinal dystrophies.

A novel ABCC6 variant causative of pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is an autosomal recessive heritable disorder caused by mutations in ABCC6. We describe two siblings showing typical skin lesions and a clinical diagnosis of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Genetic analysis of ABCC6 revealed a novel homozygous c.4041G > A variant located in the last position of exon 28 that compromises the splicing donor site, resulting in a shorter messenger RNA. The deletion impairs the nucleotide-binding fold region, which is crucial for ABCC6 function.

In Preclinical Model of Ovarian Cancer, the SGK1 Inhibitor SI113 Counteracts the Development of Paclitaxel Resistance and Restores Drug Sensitivity.

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy worldwide. Paclitaxel is particularly important in the therapy of ovarian carcinomas, but the treatment efficacy is counteracted by the development of resistance to chemotherapy. The identification of target molecules that can prevent or control the development of chemoresistance might provide important tools for the management of patients affected by ovarian cancer. Serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) appears to be a key determinant of resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Specifically, SGK1 affects paclitaxel sensitivity in RKO colon carcinoma cells by modulating the specificity protein 1 (SP1)-dependent expression of Ran-specific GTPase-activating protein (RANBP1), a member of the GTP-binding nuclear protein Ran (RAN) network that is required for the organization and function of the mitotic spindle. SGK1 inhibition might thus be useful for counteracting the development of paclitaxel resistance. Here, we present in vitro data obtained using ovarian carcinoma cell lines that indicate that the SGK1 inhibitor SI113 inhibits cancer cell proliferation, potentiates the effects of paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, counteracts the development of paclitaxel resistance, and restores paclitaxel sensitivity in paclitaxel-resistant A2780 ovarian cancer cells. The results were corroborated by preclinical studies of xenografts generated in nude mice through the implantation of paclitaxel-resistant human ovarian cancer cells. The SGK1 inhibitor SI113 synergizes with paclitaxel in the treatment of xenografted ovarian cancer cells. Taken together, these data suggest that SGK1 inhibition should be investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer.

Accumulation of Circulating CCR7+ Natural Killer Cells Marks Melanoma Evolution and Reveals a CCL19-Dependent Metastatic Pathway.

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has changed prognoses for many melanoma patients. However, immune responses that correlate with clinical progression of the disease are still poorly understood. To identify immune responses correlating with melanoma clinical evolution, we analyzed serum cytokines as well as circulating NK and T-cell subpopulations from melanoma patients. The patients' immune profiles suggested that melanoma progression leads to changes in peripheral blood NK and T-cell subsets. Stage IV melanoma was characterized by an increased frequency of CCR7+CD56bright NK cells as well as high serum concentrations of the CCR7 ligand CCL19. CCR7 expression and CCL19 secretion were also observed in melanoma cell lines. The CCR7+ melanoma cell subpopulation coexpressed PD-L1 and Galectin-9 and had stemness properties. Analysis of melanoma-derived cancer stem cells (CSC) showed high CCR7 expression; these CSCs were efficiently recognized and killed by NK cells. An accumulation of CCR7+, PD-L1+, and Galectin-9+ melanoma cells in melanoma metastases was demonstrated ex vivo Altogether, our data identify biomarkers that may mark a CCR7-driven metastatic melanoma pathway.

NK- and T-cell subsets in malignant mesothelioma patients: Baseline pattern and changes in the context of anti-CTLA-4 therapy.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive form of cancer with limited treatment options. Although the role of NK cells has been studied in many solid tumors, the pattern of NK-cell subsets and their recognition of mesothelioma cells remain to be explored. We used RNA expression data of MM biopsies derived from the cancer genome atlas to evaluate the immune cell infiltrates. We characterized the phenotype of circulating NK and T cells of 27 MM patients before and after treatment with an anti-CTLA-4 antibody (tremelimumab). These immune cell profiles were compared to healthy controls. The RNA expression data of the MM biopsies indicated the presence of NK cells in a subgroup of patients. We demonstrated that NK cells recognize MM cell lines and that IL-15 stimulation improved NK cell-mediated lysis in vitro. Using multivariate projection models, we found that MM patients had a perturbed ratio of CD56bright and CD56dim NK subsets and increased serum concentrations of the cytokines IL-10, IL-8 and TNF-α. After tremelimumab treatment, the ratio between the CD56bright and CD56dim subsets shifted back towards physiological levels. Furthermore, the improved overall survival was correlated with low TIM-3+ CD8+ T-cell frequency, high DNAM-1+ CD56dim NK-cell frequency and high expression levels of NKp46 on the CD56dim NK cells before and after immune checkpoint blockade. Together, our observations suggest that NK cells infiltrate MM and that they can recognize and kill mesothelioma cells. The disease is associated with distinct lymphocytes patterns, some of which correlate with prognosis or are affected by treatment with tremelimumab.

Iron and Ferritin Modulate MHC Class I Expression and NK Cell Recognition.

The ability of pathogens to sequester iron from their host cells and proteins affects their virulence. Moreover, iron is required for various innate host defense mechanisms as well as for acquired immune responses. Therefore, intracellular iron concentration may influence the interplay between pathogens and immune system. Here, we investigated whether changes in iron concentrations and intracellular ferritin heavy chain (FTH) abundance may modulate the expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex molecules (MHC), and susceptibility to Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. FTH downregulation, either by shRNA transfection or iron chelation, led to MHC surface reduction in primary cancer cells and macrophages. On the contrary, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from NCOA4 null mice accumulated FTH for ferritinophagy impairment and displayed MHC class I cell surface overexpression. Low iron concentration, but not FTH, interfered with IFN-γ receptor signaling, preventing the increase of MHC-class I molecules on the membrane by obstructing STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Finally, iron depletion and FTH downregulation increased the target susceptibility of both primary cancer cells and macrophages to NK cell recognition. In conclusion, the reduction of iron and FTH may influence the expression of MHC class I molecules leading to NK cells activation.

Deregulation of SGK1 in Ulcerative Colitis: A Paradoxical Relationship Between Immune Cells and Colonic Epithelial Cells.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is due to the interaction of genetic and environmental factors that trigger an unbalanced immune response ultimately resulting in the peculiar inflammatory reaction. Experimental models of IBD point to a role of T-cell-derived cytokines (Th17) and to SGK1 as mediator of the Th17 switch. We hypothesize that SGK1, a salt inducible kinase, directs lymphocytic behavior and tissue damage. METHODS: Eleven controls and 32 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were randomized according to endoscopic Mayo score. Mucosal biopsies from different intestinal tracts were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to check the expression of disease markers including SGK1. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients and controls were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Finally, an in vitro cell model was developed to test the hypothesis. RESULTS: SGK1 mRNA and protein expression in lesional areas of UC patients were lower than in normal peri-lesional areas of the same patients and in normal tissues of healthy controls. SGK1 expression was increased in PBMCs from UC patients, particularly in the CD4+ cell population, enriched in Th17 cells. IL17/IL13 was increased in patients and correlated with SGK1 expression. Genetically engineered Jurkat cells confirmed the effect of SGK1 overexpression on viability of RKO cells. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest a pathogenic mechanism whereby SGK1 overexpression in CD4+ T cells induces the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL17 and IL13, which downregulate the expression of SGK1 in target tissues. Our data suggest a novel hypothesis in the pathogenesis of UC, integrating colonic epithelial cells and lymphocytes.

NK cells control breast cancer and related cancer stem cell hematological spread.

The growth and recurrence of a number of cancers is driven by a scarce population of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are resistant to most current therapies. It has been shown previously that natural killer (NK) cells recognize human glioma, melanoma, colon and prostate CSCs in vitro. We herein show that human and mouse breast CSCs are also susceptible to NK cytotoxic activity in vitro. Moreover, CSC induced autologous NK cell activation and expansion in vivo, which correlate with the inhibition of CSC metastatic spread. These data suggest that NK cells control CSC metastatic spread in vivo and that their use in breast cancer therapy may well be fruitful.

IL-15, TIM-3 and NK cells subsets predict responsiveness to anti-CTLA-4 treatment in melanoma patients.

Despite the success of immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma, the majority of patients do not respond. We hypothesized that the T and NK cell subset frequencies and expression levels of their receptors may predict responses and clinical outcome of anti-CTLA-4 treatment. We thus characterized the NK and T cell phenotype, as well as serum levels of several cytokines in 67 melanoma patients recruited in Italy and Sweden, using samples drawn prior to and during treatment. Survival correlated with low expression of the inhibitory receptor TIM-3 on circulating T and NK cells prior to and during treatment and with the increased frequency of mature circulating NK cells (defined as CD3-CD56dim CD16+) during treatment. Survival also correlated with low levels of IL-15 in the serum. Functional experiments in vitro demonstrated that sustained exposure to IL-15 enhanced the expression of PD-1 and TIM-3 on both T and NK cells, indicating a causative link between high IL-15 levels and enhanced expression of TIM-3 on these cells. Receptor blockade of TIM-3 improved NK cell-mediated elimination of melanoma metastasis cell lines in vitro. These observations may lead to the development of novel biomarkers to predict patient response to checkpoint blockade treatment. They also suggest that induction of additional checkpoints is a possibility that needs to be considered when treating melanoma patients with IL-15.

A New Biological Feature of Natural Killer Cells: The Recognition of Solid Tumor-Derived Cancer Stem Cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are classified as a member of the innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) group 1. ILCs have been recently identified and grouped on the basis of their phenotypical and functional characteristics. They are effectors of innate immunity and are involved in secondary lymphoid organ generation and tissue remodeling. NK cells are powerful cytotoxic lymphocytes able to recognize and eliminate tumor- and virus-infected cells by limiting their spread and tissue damage. The recognition of tumor cells is mediated by both activating and inhibitory receptors. While in hematological malignancies the role played by NK cells is widely known, their role in recognizing solid tumors remains unclear. Recently, tumor cell populations have been divided into two compartments: cancer-initiating cells (CICs) or cancer stem cells (CSCs) and senescent tumor cells. Here, CSC will be used. CSCs are a small subset of malignant cells with stem-like properties that are involved in tumor maintenance and recurrence due to their ability to survive to traditional therapies; they are, moreover, poorly recognized by T lymphocytes. Recent data showed that NK cells recognize in vitro cancer-initiating cells derived from colon cancer, glioblastoma, and melanoma. However, more in vivo studies are urgently required to fully understand whether these new antitumor NK cells with cytotoxic capability may be considered in the design of new immunotherapeutic interventions.

Microfluidic device for continuous single cells analysis via Raman spectroscopy enhanced by integrated plasmonic nanodimers.

In this work a Raman flow cytometer is presented. It consists of a microfluidic device that takes advantages of the basic principles of Raman spectroscopy and flow cytometry. The microfluidic device integrates calibrated microfluidic channels- where the cells can flow one-by-one -, allowing single cell Raman analysis. The microfluidic channel integrates plasmonic nanodimers in a fluidic trapping region. In this way it is possible to perform Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy on single cell. These allow a label-free analysis, providing information about the biochemical content of membrane and cytoplasm of the each cell. Experiments are performed on red blood cells (RBCs), peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and myelogenous leukemia tumor cells (K562).

Human NK Cell Subsets in Pregnancy and Disease: Toward a New Biological Complexity.

In humans, NK cells are mainly identified by the surface expression levels of CD56 and CD16, which differentiate between five functionally different NK cell subsets. However, nowadays NK cells are considered as a more heterogeneous population formed by various subsets differing in function, surface phenotype, and anatomic localization. In human CMV- and hantaviruses-infected subjects, an increased frequency of a NKG2A-CD57+NKG2C+ NK cell subset has been observed, while the phenotype of the NK cell subpopulation associated with cancer may vary according to the specific kind of tumor and its anatomical location. The healthy human lymph nodes contain mainly the CD56bright NK cell subset while in melanoma metastatic lymph nodes the CD56dimCD57+KIR+CCR7+ NK cell subpopulation prevails. The five NK cell subpopulations are found in breast cancer patients, where they differ for expression pattern of chemokine receptors, maturation stage, functional capabilities. In pregnancy, uterine NK cells show a prevalence of the CD56brightCD16- NK cell compartment, whose activity is influenced by KIRs repertoire. This NK cell subset's super specialization could be explained by (i) the expansion of single mature CD56dim clones, (ii) the recruitment and maturation of CD56bright NK cells through specific stimuli, and (iii) the in situ development of tumor-resident NK cells from tissue-resident CD56bright NK cells independently of the circulating NK cell compartment. This new and unexpected biological feature of the NK cell compartment could be an important source of new biomarkers to improve patients' diagnosis.

Retuning of Mouse NK Cells after Interference with MHC Class I Sensing Adjusts Self-Tolerance but Preserves Anticancer Response.

Natural killer (NK) cells are most efficient if their targets do not express self MHC class I, because NK cells carry inhibitory receptors that interfere with activating their cytotoxic pathway. Clinicians have taken advantage of this by adoptively transferring haploidentical NK cells into patients to mediate an effective graft-versus-leukemia response. With a similar rationale, antibody blockade of MHC class I-specific inhibitory NK cell receptors is currently being tested in clinical trials. Both approaches are challenged by the emerging concept that NK cells may constantly adapt or "tune" their responsiveness according to the amount of self MHC class I that they sense on surrounding cells. Hence, these therapeutic attempts would initially result in increased killing of tumor cells, but a parallel adaptation process might ultimately lead to impaired antitumor efficacy. We have investigated this question in two mouse models: inhibitory receptor blockade in vivo and adoptive transfer to MHC class I-disparate hosts. We show that changed self-perception via inhibitory receptors in mature NK cells reprograms the reactivity such that tolerance to healthy cells is always preserved. However, reactivity against cancer cells lacking critical MHC class I molecules (missing self-reactivity) still remains or may even be increased. This dissociation between activity against healthy cells and tumor cells may provide an answer as to why NK cells mediate graft-versus-leukemia effects without causing graft-versus-host disease and may also be utilized to improve immunotherapy.

Mechanical stress downregulates MHC class I expression on human cancer cell membrane.

In our body, cells are continuously exposed to physical forces that can regulate different cell functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation and death. In this work, we employed two different strategies to mechanically stress cancer cells. The cancer and healthy cell populations were treated either with mechanical stress delivered by a micropump (fabricated by deep X-ray nanolithography) or by ultrasound wave stimuli. A specific down-regulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules expression on cancer cell membrane compared to different kinds of healthy cells (fibroblasts, macrophages, dendritic and lymphocyte cells) was observed, stimulating the cells with forces in the range of nano-newton, and pressures between 1 and 10 bar (1 bar = 100.000 Pascal), depending on the devices used. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy analysis, after mechanical treatment, in the range between 700-1800 cm(-1), indicated a relative concentration variation of MHC class I. PCA analysis was also performed to distinguish control and stressed cells within different cell lines. These mechanical induced phenotypic changes increase the tumor immunogenicity, as revealed by the related increased susceptibility to Natural Killer (NK) cells cytotoxic recognition.

Enrichment of CD56(dim)KIR + CD57 + highly cytotoxic NK cells in tumour-infiltrated lymph nodes of melanoma patients.

An important checkpoint in the progression of melanoma is the metastasis to lymph nodes. Here, to investigate the role of lymph node NK cells in disease progression, we analyze frequency, phenotype and functions of NK cells from tumour-infiltrated (TILN) and tumour-free ipsilateral lymph nodes (TFLN) of the same patients. We show an expansion of CD56(dim)CD57(dim)CD69 + CCR7 +KIR+ NK cells in TILN. TILN NK cells display robust cytotoxic activity against autologous melanoma cells. In the blood of metastatic melanoma patients, the frequency of NK cells expressing the receptors for CXCL8 receptor is increased compared with healthy subjects, and blood NK cells also express the receptors for CCL2 and IL-6. These factors are produced in high amount in TILN and in vitro switch the phenotype of blood NK cells from healthy donors to the phenotype associated with TILN. Our data suggest that the microenvironment of TILN generates and/or recruits a particularly effective NK cell subset.

Different insight into amphiphilic PEG-PLA copolymers: influence of macromolecular architecture on the micelle formation and cellular uptake.

One constrain in the use of micellar carriers as drug delivery systems (DDSs) is their low stability in aqueous solution. In this study "tree-shaped" copolymers of general formula mPEG-(PLA)n (n = 1, 2 or 4; mPEG = poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether 2K or 5K Da; PLA = atactic or isotactic poly(lactide)) were synthesized to evaluate the architecture and chemical composition effect on the micelles formation and stability. Copolymers with mPEG/PLA ratio of about 1:1 wt/wt were obtained using a "core-first" synthetic route. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Zeta Potential measurements showed that mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 copolymer, characterized by mPEG chain of 2000 Da and two blocks of atactic PLA, was able to form monodisperse and stable micelles. To analyze the interaction among micelles and tumor cells, FITC conjugated mPEG-(PLA)n were synthesized. The derived micelles were tested on two, histological different, tumor cell lines: HEK293t and HeLa cells. Fluorescence Activated Cells Sorter (FACS) analysis showed that the FITC conjugated mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 copolymer stain tumor cells with high efficiency. Our data demonstrate that both PEG size and PLA structure control the biological interaction between the micelles and biological systems. Moreover, using confocal microscopy analysis, the staining of tumor cells obtained after incubation with mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 was shown to be localized inside the tumor cells. Indeed, the mPEG2K-(PD,LLA)2 paclitaxel-loaded micelles mediate a potent antitumor cytotoxicity effect.