YIV-906 potentiated anti-PD1 action against hepatocellular carcinoma by enhancing adaptive and innate immunity in the tumor microenvironment.

YIV-906 (PHY906) is a standardized botanical cancer drug candidate developed with a systems biology approach-inspired by a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, historically used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. In combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, preclinical and clinical results suggest that YIV-906 has the potential to prolong survival and improve quality of life for cancer patients. Here, we demonstrated that YIV-906 plus anti-PD1 could eradicate all Hepa 1-6 tumors in all tumor bearing mice. YIV-906 was found to have multiple mechanisms of action to enhance adaptive and innate immunity. In combination, YIV-906 reduced PD1 or counteracted PD-L1 induction caused by anti-PD1 which led to higher T-cell activation gene expression of the tumor. In addition, YIV-906 could reduce immune tolerance by modulating IDO activity and reducing monocytic MDSC of the tumor. The combination of anti-PD1 and YIV-906 generated acute inflammation in the tumor microenvironment with more M1-like macrophages. YIV-906 could potentiate the action of interferon gamma (IFNg) to increase M1-like macrophage polarization while inhibiting IL4 action to decrease M2 macrophage polarization. Flavonoids from YIV-906 were responsible for modulating IDO activity and potentiating IFNg action in M1-like macrophage polarization. In conclusion, YIV-906 could act as an immunomodulator and enhance the innate and adaptive immune response and potentiate anti-tumor activity for immunotherapies to treat cancer.

B7-H1 expression on non-B and non-T cells promotes distinct effects on T- and B-cell responses in autoimmune arthritis.

The immune system has developed several regulatory mechanisms to maintain homeostasis of adaptive immune responses. T-cell programmed death (PD)-1 recognition of B7-H1 (PD-L1) expressed on APC and non-lymphoid tissue regulates T-cell activation. We show that B7-H1(-/-) mice exhibit exacerbated proteoglycan (PG)-induced arthritis and increased Th-1 CD4(+) T-cell responses. Unexpectedly, the PG-specific antibody response in B7-H1(-/-) mice was diminished. A reduction in the number of peanut agglutinin(+) GC coincided with a decrease in CD19(+) GL-7(+) CD95(+) GC B cells that was a result of increased caspase-induced apoptosis. The percent of CD38(+) CD138(+) emerging plasma cells was decreased. B7-H1(-/-) mice exhibited an increased frequency of CD4(+) PD-1(hi) CXCR5(hi) ICOS(hi) CD62L(lo) T follicular helper cells that displayed a hyperactive phenotype with increased expression of mRNA transcripts for Bcl6, IL-21, and the apoptosis-inducer molecule FasL. In cell transfer of B7-H1(-/-) cells into SCID mice, non-B and non-T cells were sufficient to normalize the antibody response, T-cell hyperactivity, and the development of PG-induced arthritis. These findings indicate that B7-H1 on non-B and non-T cells signals through PD-1 on T effector cells to prevent excessive activation and reduce autoimmune arthritis. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate a novel role for B7-H1 expression in promoting B-cell survival by regulating the activation of T follicular helper cell.

Effects of specific immunotherapy on the B7 family of costimulatory molecules in allergic inflammation.

The effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) on Ag presentation and T lymphocyte stimulation was evaluated by verifying the expression of costimulatory molecules in allergic patients. Thus, CD28 and CTLA-4, B7, and B7-H molecules on immune cells, as well as cytokine production, were analyzed in and out of the pollination period in 30 patients allergic to Betulaceae that had or had nor undergone specific IT. Results showed that IT attenuated the increase in the percentage of CD28(+)CD4 T cells and the decrease in the percentage of CTLA-4(+)CD4(+) T cells seen in untreated individuals. CD19(+)/CD80, CD19(+)/CD86(+), and CD14(+)/CD80(+) APCs were significantly augmented during pollination in unvaccinated individuals. B7-H1-expressing monocytes (CD14(+)) and B lymphocytes (CD19) as well as CD14 and CD19 B7-H1(+)/IL-10(+) APC were augmented in Betulaceae Ag-stimulated cell cultures of vaccinated patients independently of pollination, and were further increased in these individuals during pollination. As a result, the IL-10-IFN-gamma ratio in CD4(+), CD14(+), and CD19(+) cells increased in vaccinated patients, but decreased in unvaccinated individuals during pollination. These data clarify the cellular and molecular basis underlying the recent observation that peripheral expansion of IL-10-producing cells is associated with successful IT. B7-H1 could be an optimal target for IT of allergic diseases using mAbs.