Personalized Tumor RNA Loaded Lipid-Nanoparticles Prime the Systemic and Intratumoral Milieu for Response to Cancer Immunotherapy.

Translation of nanoparticles (NPs) into human clinical trials for patients with refractory cancers has lagged due to unknown biologic reactivities of novel NP designs. To overcome these limitations, simple well-characterized mRNA lipid-NPs have been developed as cancer immunotherapeutic vaccines. While the preponderance of RNA lipid-NPs encoding for tumor-associated antigens or neoepitopes have been designed to target lymphoid organs, they remain encumbered by the profound intratumoral and systemic immunosuppression that may stymie an activated T cell response. Herein, we show that systemic localization of untargeted tumor RNA (derived from whole transcriptome) encapsulated in lipid-NPs, with excess positive charge, primes the peripheral and intratumoral milieu for response to immunotherapy. In immunologically resistant tumor models, these RNA-NPs activate the preponderance of systemic and intratumoral myeloid cells (characterized by coexpression of PD-L1 and CD86). Addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) (to animals primed with RNA-NPs) augments peripheral/intratumoral PD-1+CD8+ cells and mediates synergistic antitumor efficacy in settings where ICIs alone do not confer therapeutic benefit. These synergistic effects are mediated by type I interferon released from plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). In translational studies, personalized mRNA-NPs were safe and active in a client-owned canine with a spontaneous malignant glioma. In summary, we demonstrate widespread immune activation from tumor loaded RNA-NPs concomitant with inducible PD-L1 expression that can be therapeutically exploited. While immunotherapy remains effective for only a subset of cancer patients, combination therapy with systemic immunomodulating RNA-NPs may broaden its therapeutic potency.

Broadly-specific cytotoxic T cells targeting multiple HIV antigens are expanded from HIV+ patients: implications for immunotherapy.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is unable to eradicate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for this disease to augment anti-HIV immunity. T cell therapy is appealing in this regard as T cells have the ability to proliferate, migrate, and their antigen specificity reduces the possibility of off-target effects. However, past human studies in HIV-1 infection that administered T cells with limited specificity failed to provide ART-independent, long-term viral control. In this study, we sought to expand functional, broadly-specific cytotoxic T cells (HXTCs) from HIV-infected patients on suppressive ART as a first step toward developing cellular therapies for implementation in future HIV eradication protocols. Blood samples from seven HIV+ patients on suppressive ART were used to derive HXTCs. Multiantigen specificity was achieved by coculturing T cells with antigen-presenting cells pulsed with peptides representing Gag, Pol, and Nef. All but two lines were multispecific for all three antigens. HXTCs demonstrated efficacy as shown by release of proinflammatory cytokines, specific lysis of antigen-pulsed targets, and the ability to suppress HIV replication in vitro. In conclusion, we are able to generate broadly-specific cytotoxic T cell lines that simultaneously target multiple HIV antigens and show robust antiviral function.

Ultra low-dose IL-2 for GVHD prophylaxis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation mediates expansion of regulatory T cells without diminishing antiviral and antileukemic activity.

PURPOSE: GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) has been associated with low numbers of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). Because Tregs express high levels of the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, they may selectively expand in vivo in response to doses of IL-2 insufficient to stimulate T effector T-cell populations, thereby preventing GVHD. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We prospectively evaluated the effects of ultra low-dose (ULD) IL-2 injections on Treg recovery in pediatric patients after alloSCT and compared this recovery with Treg reconstitution post alloSCT in patients without IL-2. Sixteen recipients of related (n = 12) or unrelated (n = 4) donor grafts received ULD IL-2 post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT; 100,000-200,000 IU/m(2) ×3 per week), starting

Primary Raynaud's phenomenon in an infant: a case report and review of literature.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is an extremely unusual finding in early infancy. In the present report we describe a one-month-old previously healthy male infant who presented with unilateral acrocyanosis. Although infantile acrocyanosis is known to be a benign and self-resolving condition, it is generally bilateral and symmetric. The unilateral nature of the acrocyanosis was an atypical finding in this infant. Consequently, he was closely monitored to evaluate the progression of his acrocyanosis. Based on his benign clinical course and failure to demonstrate other etiologies contributing to his acrocyanosis, he was diagnosed to have primary RP. Due to the rarity of RP in children, we review the progress in understanding the pathophysiology, epidemiology and management of RP and additionally discuss the differential diagnosis of unilateral and bilateral acrocyanosis in infants.

Proximal radio-ulnar synostosis with bone marrow failure syndrome in an infant without a HOXA11 mutation.

SUMMARY: This report summarizes the clinical management of an infant with a proximal radio-ulnar synostosis and inherited bone marrow failure syndrome (PRUS/IBMFS). Molecular studies were negative for the characteristic HOXA11 mutation described earlier. He was successfully treated with a non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling donor at the age of 3 months. We reviewed the literature on PRUS/IBMFS with an emphasis on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease pathogenesis. Absence of the HOXA11 mutation in this case implies that molecular mechanisms beyond the HOXA11 gene, yet to be discovered, may contribute for the development of PRUS/IBMFS.