Anti-tumor effects of inactivated Sendai virus particles with an IL-2 gene on angiosarcoma.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a life-threatening tumor that is resistant to conventional therapies. The therapeutic effects of Sendai virus particles (hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope: HVJ-E) carrying IL-2 gene (HVJ-E/IL-2) were examined in a mouse model of angiosarcoma. Intra-tumoral injection of HVJ-E/IL-2 effectively inhibited the growth of angiosarcoma cells (ISOS-1) inoculated in mice and improved tumor-free rates. HVJ-E/IL-2 stimulated local accumulation of CD8 (+) T cells and NK cells and reduced regulatory T cells in regional lymph nodes. Notably, the prevalence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells was lower in HVJ-E/IL-2-treated mice than in HVJ-E-treated mice. HVJ-E/IL-2 treatment promoted IFN-γ production from CD8 (+) T cells in response to tumor cells, more significantly than HVJ-E treatment. Greatly improved tumor-free rates were obtained when sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was administered in combination with HVJ-E/IL-2. Immunogene therapy with HVJ-E/IL-2 with or without sunitinib could be a promising therapeutic option for cutaneous angiosarcoma.

α(1,3) Fucosyltransferases IV and VII are essential for the initial recruitment of basophils in chronic allergic inflammation.

Basophils act as initiator cells for the development of IgE-mediated chronic allergic inflammation (IgE-CAI). However, detailed mechanisms of initial recruitment of basophils into the skin have yet to be clarified. Selectins mediate leukocyte capture and rolling on the vascular endothelium for extravasation. Counter-receptor activity of selectins is regulated by α(1, 3) fucosyltransferases (FTs) IV and VII. To clarify the contribution of selectin ligands regulated by FTs for initial basophil recruitment, IgE-CAI was induced in mice deficient in FT-IV and/or FT-VII genes. Although FT-IV(-/-) and FT-VII(-/-) mice exhibited comparable skin responses to wild-type mice, the FT-IV(-/-)/FT-VII(-/-) mice showed significantly impaired inflammation. Although the transfer of basophils to FcRγ(-/-) mice induced IgE-CAI, this induction was completely absent when basophils from FT-IV(-/-)/FT-VII(-/-) mice were transferred. L-selectin, but not P- and E-selectin, blocking Abs inhibited skin inflammation in vivo. P-selectin glycoprotein-1 (PSGL-1) antibody also ameliorated skin inflammation, and basophils were bound to L-selectin in a PSGL-1-dependent manner, which was regulated by FT-IV/VII. Functional PSGL-1 generated by basophil FT-IV/VII and its subsequent binding to L-selectin could be one of the essential steps required for initial basophil recruitment and the development of IgE-CAI in mice.

Indomethacin inhibits eosinophil migration to prostaglandin D2 : therapeutic potential of CRTH2 desensitization for eosinophilic pustular folliculitis.

Indomethacin is a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, and shows therapeutic potential for various eosinophilic skin diseases, particularly eosinophilic pustular folliculitis. One of the unique characteristics of indomethacin is that, unlike other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it is a potent agonist of chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T helper type 2 cells (CRTH2), a receptor for prostaglandin D2 (PGD2 ). This study investigated the pharmacological actions of indomethacin on eosinophil migration to clarify the actual mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of indomethacin on eosinophilic pustular folliculitis. Eosinophils exhibited chemokinetic and chemotactic responses to both PGD2 and indomethacin through CRTH2 receptors. Pre-treatment of eosinophils with indomethacin greatly inhibited eosinophil migration to PGD2 and, to a much lesser extent, to eotaxin (CCL11); these effects could be mediated by homologous and heterologous desensitization of eosinophil CRTH2 and CCR3, respectively, by agonistic effects of indomethacin on CRTH2. Indomethacin also cancelled a priming effect of Δ(12) -PGJ2 , a plasma metabolite of PGD2 , on eosinophil chemotaxis to eotaxin. Indomethacin down-modulated cell surface expression of both CRTH2 and CCR3. Hair follicle epithelium and epidermal keratinocytes around eosinophilic pustules together with the eccrine apparatus of palmoplantar lesions of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis were immunohistochemically positive for lipocalin-type PGD synthase. Indomethacin may exert therapeutic effects against eosinophilic skin diseases in which PGD2 -CRTH2 signals play major roles by reducing eosinophil responses to PGD2 .

Anti pruritic effects of topical crotamiton, capsaicin, and a corticosteroid on pruritogen-induced scratching behavior.

Itch accompanies various skin diseases. As a number of mediators other than histamine can be involved in the itch sensation, H1 receptor antagonists are not necessarily effective in treating itch. External application of antipruritic drugs is occasionally used as an alternative therapy for pruritic skin conditions, such as pruritus on primary non-diseased, non-inflamed skin. Even so, the actual effects of these drugs on the itch sensation have yet to be studied in detail. To verify the antipruritic effects of crotamiton, capsaicin, and a corticosteroid on the itch sensation, we examined the inhibitory effects of these drugs on various pruritogen-induced scratching behaviors in mice. Topical application of 10% crotamiton moderately inhibited histamine-, serotonin-, and PAR-2 agonist-induced scratching behaviors. Topical capsaicin (0.025%) also exerted a moderate suppressive effect on histamine-, substance P-, and PAR-2 agonist-induced itch responses. Notably, topical corticosteroid (0.05% clobetasol propionate) remarkably inhibited the scratching behaviors induced by all of the pruritogenic agents tested. Therapeutic effects of capsaicin on substance P-induced pruritus did not seem to be mediated by desensitization of the TRPV1 (+) C fibers and/or by altered responsiveness of the mast cells. In addition, the antipruritic effects of crotamiton and corticosteroid appear to be, at least partly, associated with a TRPV1-independent pathway. This study examined the itch responses to pruritogens and demonstrated the mode of action of the externally applied antipruritic drugs.

Stable form of galectin-9, a Tim-3 ligand, inhibits contact hypersensitivity and psoriatic reactions: a potent therapeutic tool for Th1- and/or Th17-mediated skin inflammation.

Tim-3 is a cell surface molecule preferentially expressed in Th1 and Th17 cells. Galectin-9 is a ligand for Tim-3 and the binding of galectin-9 to Tim-3 induces apoptosis. We recently developed a stable form of galectin-9 (sGal-9) by partial deletion of the linker peptide. In this study, we characterized the therapeutic effects of sGal-9 on inflammatory reactions in contact hypersensitivity and IL-23-induced psoriatic mouse models. In contact hypersensitivity in mice, the ear swelling response was suppressed by sGal-9. In vitro treatment with sGal-9 resulted in cell apoptosis of CD4, CD8, and hepatic NK cells. sGal-9-treated mice had decreased IFN-gamma- and IL-17-producing T cells. Similarly, sGal-9 reduced epidermal thickness and dermal cellular infiltrate levels in IL-23-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation. This was accompanied by decreased skin lesion levels of IL-17 and IL-22. sGal-9 may be a unique and useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of Th1- and/or Th17-mediated skin inflammation.