Chemokine Receptors CCR6 and PD1 Blocking scFv E27 Enhances Anti-EGFR CAR-T Therapeutic Efficacy in a Preclinical Model of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, a therapeutic agent for solid tumors, are not completely effective due to a lack of infiltration of T cells into the tumor site and immunity caused by Programmed Death Receptor 1(PD1). Here, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) CAR-T cell was engineered to express the chemokine receptor CCR6 and secrete PD1 blocking Single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) E27 to enhance their anti-tumor effects. The findings showed that CCR6 enhanced the migration of EGFR CAR-E27-CCR6 T cells in vitro by the Transwell migration assay. When incubated with tumor cells, EGFR CAR-E27-CCR6 T cells specifically exerted potent cytotoxicity and produced high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). A non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell line-derived xenograft model was constructed by implanting modified A549 cell lines into immunodeficient NOD.PrkdcscidIl2rgem1/Smoc (NSG) mice. In comparison with traditional EGFR CAR-T cells, live imaging indicated that EGFR CAR-E27-CCR6 T cells displayed superior anti-tumor function. In addition, the histopathological examination of mouse organs showed no obvious organic damage. Our findings confirmed that PD1 blocking and CCR6 can enhance the anti-tumor function of EGFR CAR-T cells in an NSCLC xenograft model, providing an effective treatment strategy to improve the efficacy of CAR-T in NSCLC.

Effective in vivo reactivation of HIV-1 latency reservoir via oral administration of EK-16A-SNEDDS.

The latent reservoir of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major obstacle in the treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The "shock and kill" strategy has emerged as a promising approach for clearing HIV latent reservoirs. However, current latency-reversing agents (LRAs) have limitations in effectively and safely activating the latent virus and reducing the HIV latent reservoirs in clinical practice. Previously, EK-16A was extracted from Euphorbia kansui, which had the effect of interfering with the HIV-1 latent reservoir and inhibiting HIV-1 entry. Nevertheless, there is no suitable and efficient EK-16A oral formulation for in vivo delivery and clinical use. In this study, an oral EK-16A self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (EK-16A-SNEDDS) was proposed to "shock" the HIV-1 latent reservoir. This system aims to enhance the bioavailability and delivery of EK-16A to various organs. The composition of EK-16A-SNEDDS was optimized through self-emulsifying grading and ternary phase diagram tests. Cell models, pharmacokinetic experiments, and pharmacodynamics in HIV-1 latent cell transplant animal models suggested that EK-16A-SNEDDS could be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and enter the blood circulation after oral administration, thereby reaching various organs to activate latent HIV-1. The prepared EK-16A-SNEDDS demonstrated safety and efficacy, exhibited high clinical experimental potential, and may be a promising oral preparation for eliminating HIV-1 latent reservoirs.

Asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 promotes SARS-CoV-2 infection of human normal hepatocytes.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes multi-organ damage, which includes hepatic dysfunction, as observed in over 50% of COVID-19 patients. Angiotensin I converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptidase A) 2 (ACE2) is the primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, and studies have shown the presence of intracellular virus particles in human hepatocytes that express ACE2, but at extremely low levels. Consequently, we asked if hepatocytes might express receptors other than ACE2 capable of promoting the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells. To address this question, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 activation library screening and found that Asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGR1) promoted SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection of HeLa cells. In Huh-7 cells, simultaneous knockout of ACE2 and ASGR1 prevented SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection. In the immortalized THLE-2 hepatocyte cell line and primary hepatic parenchymal cells, both of which barely expressed ACE2, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus could successfully establish an infection. However, after treatment with ASGR1 antibody or siRNA targeting ASGR1, the infection rate significantly dropped, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infects hepatic parenchymal cells mainly through an ASGR1-dependent mechanism. We confirmed that ASGR1 could interact with Spike protein, which depends on receptor binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain (NTD). Finally, we also used Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to verify that SARS-CoV-2 could infect primary hepatic parenchymal cells. After inhibiting ASGR1 in primary hepatic parenchymal cells by siRNA, the infection efficiency of the live virus decreased significantly. Collectively, these findings indicate that ASGR1 is a candidate receptor for SARS-CoV-2 that promotes infection of hepatic parenchymal cells.

Temperature-sensitive hydrogel dressing loaded with nicotinamide mononucleotide accelerating wound healing in diabetic mice.

Diabetic foot ulcers, a common complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly impact patients' quality of life and impose a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. However, the currently used treatments are associated with various challenges and the traditionally used dressings lack functional efficacy. Oxidative stress is believed to play a vital role in diabetic wound healing. Therefore, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which is known for its antioxidant properties, offers the potential to accelerate the wound-healing process. Here, a thermosensitive composite hydrogel was synthesized by mixing Pluronic F127 and Pluronic F68 with an antibacterial component chitosan. The hydrogel exhibited favorable properties including a stable structure, appropriate solid-liquid phase change, loose porosity, slow-release, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the NMN-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel effectively promoted cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis and exhibited antioxidant activity. In diabetic thickness skin defect models, NMN-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel treatment significantly accelerated wound healing by promoting collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor- ß1. In summary, NMN-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel can promote diabetic wound healing in a simple, economical, effective, and safe manner, with potential application in treating diabetic wounds.

Allogeneic gene-edited HIV-specific CAR-T cells secreting PD-1 blocking scFv enhance specific cytotoxic activity against HIV Env+ cells invivo.

HIV-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have been developed to target HIV-1 infected CD4+ T-cells that express HIV Env proteins. However, T cell exhaustion and the patient-specific autologous paradigm of CAR-T cell hurdled clinical applications. Here, we created HIV-specific CAR-T cells using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a 3BNC117-E27 (3BE) CAR construct that enabled the expression of programmed cell death protein (PD-1) -blocking scFv E27 and the single-chain variable fragment of the HIV-1-specific broadly neutralizing antibody 3BNC117 to target native HIV Env. Compared with T cells expressing 3BNC117-CAR alone, 3BE CAR-T cells showed greater cytotoxic activity against HIV Env+ cells with stronger proliferation capability, higher killing efficiency, and enhanced cytokine secretion in the presence of HIV Env-expressing cells. Furthermore, we manufactured TCR-deficient 3BE CAR-T cells through gene editing and demonstrated that these CAR-T cells could effectively kill HIV Env â€‹+ â€‹cells in vivo without the occurrence of severe graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in NSG mice. These data suggest that we have provided a feasible approach to the generation of "off-the-shelf" anti-HIV CAR-T cells in combination with PD-1 checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, which can be a powerful therapeutic candidate for the functional cure of HIV.

Evaluation of acid mine drainage sludge as soil substitute for the reclamation of mine solid wastes.

The reclamation of mine waste deposits is often hindered by the scarcity of natural topsoil. Acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS), as a mass-produced waste in metalliferous mines, is a potential topsoil substitute but had not been validated. In this study, a pot experiment with three plant species was conducted to evaluate the capacity of AMDS to support plant growth, buffer acidification, and immobilize heavy metal(loid)s when reclaiming mine waste rocks. Chemical fertilizer and compost chicken manure were applied to AMDS at different rates to explore their effects on plant growth and the physicochemical properties of AMDS. Results showed that all the plants could survive in AMDS even without fertilization. The contents of heavy metal(loid)s in rhizosphere remained almost unchanged over the experimental period, indicating low leachability of revegetated AMDS. Fertilizers enhanced macronutrients and soil enzyme activities, leading to significant increases in plant biomass. However, owing to manure composting and low richness and diversity of the bacterial community in AMDS, the NH4+-N and bioavailable phosphorus contents were extremely low. Bermuda grass was a suitable pioneer species for reclamation for its better adaptability to nutrient deficiency and heavy metal(loid) stress. Overall, AMDS is a viable soil substitute for mine reclamation due to its capability to support plant growth and environmental safety.

Reduction of Pre-Existing Adaptive Immune Responses Against SaCas9 in Humans Using Epitope Mapping and Identification.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is increasingly being used as a gene editing therapeutic technique in complex diseases but concerns remain regarding the clinical risks of Cas9 immunogenicity. In this study, we detected antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9) and anti-SaCas9 T cells in 4.8% and 70% of Chinese donors, respectively. We predicted 135 SaCas9-derived B cell epitopes and 50 SaCas9-derived CD8+ T cell epitopes for HLA-A*24:02, HLA-A*11:01, and HLA-A*02:01. We identified R338 as an immunodominant SaCas9 B cell epitope and SaCas9_200-208 as an immunodominant CD8+ T cell epitope for the three human leukocyte antigen allotypes through immunological assays using sera positive for SaCas9-specific antibodies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells positive for SaCas9-reactive T cells, respectively. We also demonstrated that an SaCas9 variant bearing an R338G substitution reduces B cell immunogenicity and retains its gene-editing function. Our study highlights the immunological risks of the CRISPR-Cas9 system and provides a solution to mitigate pre-existing adaptive immune responses against Cas9 in humans.

FBXO34 promotes latent HIV-1 activation by post-transcriptional modulation.

ABSTRACTAcquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cannot be completely cured, mainly due to the existence of a latent HIV-1 reservoir. However, our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of HIV-1 latent reservoir is not comprehensive. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 activation library screening, we identified E3 ubiquitin ligase F-box protein 34 (FBXO34) and the substrate of FBXO34, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnRNP U) was identified by affinity purification mass spectrometry, as new host factors related to HIV-1 latent maintenance. Overexpression of FBXO34 or knockout of hnRNP U can activate latent HIV-1 in multiple latent cell lines. FBXO34 mainly promotes hnRNP U ubiquitination, which leads to hnRNP U degradation and abolishment of the interaction between hnRNP U and HIV-1 mRNA. In a latently infected cell line, hnRNP U interacts with the ReV region of HIV-1 mRNA through amino acids 1-339 to hinder HIV-1 translation, thereby, promoting HIV-1 latency. Importantly, we confirmed the role of the FBXO34/hnRNP U axis in the primary CD4+ T lymphocyte model, and detected differences in hnRNP U expression levels in samples from patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and healthy people, which further suggests that the FBXO34/hnRNP U axis is a new pathway involved in HIV-1 latency. These results provide mechanistic insights into the critical role of ubiquitination and hnRNP U in HIV-1 latency. This novel FBXO34/hnRNP U axis in HIV transcription may be directly targeted to control HIV reservoirs in patients in the future.

The neutralization of B.1.617.1 and B.1.1.529 sera from convalescent patients and BBIBP-CorV vaccines.

The SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.617.1 (Kappa) contain multiple mutations in the spike protein. However, the effect of B.1.617.1 lineage-related mutants on viral infectivity and inactivated-virus vaccine efficacy remains to be defined. We therefore constructed 12 B.1.617.1-related pseudoviruses and systematically studied the effects of mutations on virus infectivity and neutralization resistance to convalescent and inactivated virus vaccine sera. Our results show that the B.1.617.1 variant exhibited both higher infectivity and neutralization resistance in sera at 1 or 3 months after vaccination of 28 individuals and at 14 and 200 days after discharge of 15 convalescents. Notably, 89% of vaccines and 100% of the convalescent serum samples showed more than 2.5-fold reduction in neutralization against one single mutation: E484Q. Besides, we found a significant decrease in neutralizing activity in convalescent patients and BBIBP-CorV vaccines for B.1.1.529. These findings demonstrate that inactivated-virus vaccination or convalescent sera showed reduced, but still significant, neutralization against the B.1.617.1 variant.

Neutralization of five SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by convalescent and BBIBP-CorV vaccinee serum.

The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) is still escalating throughout the world. However, the level of neutralization of the inactivated viral vaccine recipients' sera and convalescent sera against all VOCs, including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and B.1.1.529 (Omicron) remains to be lack of comparative analysis. Therefore, we constructed pseudoviruses of five VOCs using a lentiviral-based system and analyzed their viral infectivity and neutralization resistance to convalescent and BBIBP-CorV vaccinee serum at different times. Our results show that, compared with the wild-type strain (WT), five VOC pseudoviruses showed higher infection, of which B.1.617.2 and B.1.1.529 variant pseudoviruses exhibited higher infection rates than wild-type or other VOC strains, respectively. Sera from 10 vaccinated individuals at the 1, 3 and 5-month post second dose or from 10 convalescent at 14 and 200 days after discharge retained neutralizing activity against all strains but exhibited decreased neutralization activity significantly against the five VOC variant pseudoviruses over time compared to WT. Notably, 100% (30/30) of the vaccinee serum samples showed more than a 2.5-fold reduction in neutralizing activity against B.1.1.529, and 90% (18/20) of the convalescent serum samples showed more than 2.5-fold reduction in neutralization against B.1.1.529. These findings demonstrate the reduced protection against the VOCs in vaccinated and convalescent individuals over time, indicating that it is necessary to have a booster shot and develop new vaccines capable of eliciting broad neutralization antibodies.

HIV-1-Specific CAR-T Cells With Cell-Intrinsic PD-1 Checkpoint Blockade Enhance Anti-HIV Efficacy in vivo.

Adoptive cellular immunotherapy therapy using broadly neutralizing antibody-based chimeric antigen receptor-T cells (bNAb-based CAR-T) has shown great potency and safety for the functional cure of HIV. The efficacy of bNAb-based CAR-T cells could be compromised by adaptive resistance during HIV chronic infection according to the phenomenon that cellular exhaustion was observed in endogenous cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) along with upregulated expression of PD-1. Here, we created HIV-specific CAR-T cells using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and a 3BNC117-DNR CAR (3BD CAR) construct that enables the expression of PD-1 dominant negative receptor (DNR) and the single-chain variable fragment of the HIV-1-specific broadly neutralizing antibody 3BNC117 to target native HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env). Compared with HIV CAR expression alone, 3BD CAR-T cells displayed potent lytic and functional responses to Env-expressing cell lines and HIV-infected CD4+ T cells. Moreover, 3BD CAR-T cells can kill HIV-latently-infected cell lines, which are reactivated by the secretory cytokines of effector cells followed by contact with initial HIV-expressing fraction. Furthermore, bioluminescence imaging indicated that 3BD CAR-T cells displayed superior anti-HIV function in an HIV NCG mouse model of transplanting Env+/PD-L1+ cells (LEL6). These studies suggested that our proposed combinational strategy of HIV CAR-T therapy with PD-1 blockade therapy is feasible and potent, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for HIV functional cure.

FKBP3 Induces Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Latency by Recruiting Histone Deacetylase 1/2 to the Viral Long Terminal Repeat.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) cannot be completely eliminated because of existence of the latent HIV-1 reservoir. However, the facts of HIV-1 latency, including its establishment and maintenance, are incomplete. FKBP3, encoded by the FKBP3 gene, belongs to the immunophilin family of proteins and is involved in immunoregulation and such cellular processes as protein folding. In a previous study, we found that FKBP3 may be related to HIV-1 latency using CRISPR screening. In this study, we knocked out the FKBP3 gene in multiple latently infected cell lines to promote latent HIV-1 activation. We found that FKBP3 could indirectly bind to the HIV-1 long terminal repeat through interaction with YY1, thereby recruiting histone deacetylase 1/2 to it. This promotes histone deacetylation and induces HIV-1 latency. Finally, in a primary latent cell model, we confirmed the effect of FKBP3 knockout on the latent activation of HIV-1. Our results suggest a new mechanism for the epigenetic regulation of HIV-1 latency and a new potential target for activating latent HIV-1. IMPORTANCE The primary reason why AIDS cannot be completely cured is the existence of a latent HIV-1 reservoir. Currently, the facts of HIV-1 latency, including its establishment and maintenance, are incomplete. Using a CRISPR library in our earlier screening of genes related to HIV-1 latency, we identified FBKP3 as a candidate gene related to HIV-1 latency. Therefore, in this mechanistic study, we first confirmed the HIV-1 latency-promoting effect of FKBP3 and determined that FKBP3 promotes histone deacetylation by recruiting histone deacetylase 1/2 to the HIV-1 long terminal repeat. We also confirmed, for the first time, that FKBP3 can act as a transcription factor (TF) recruitment scaffold and participate in epigenetic regulation of HIV-1 latency. These findings suggest a new mechanism for the epigenetic regulation of HIV-1 latency and a new potential target for activating latent HIV-1.