Sample records for anti-tnf immunotherapy reduces

  1. Anti-TNF levels in cord blood at birth are associated with anti-TNF type.

    PubMed

    Kanis, Shannon L; de Lima, Alison; van der Ent, Cokkie; Rizopoulos, Dimitris; van der Woude, C Janneke

    2018-05-15

    Pregnancy guidelines for women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) provide recommendations regarding anti-TNF cessation during pregnancy, in order to limit fetal exposure. Although infliximab (IFX) leads to higher anti-TNF concentrations in cord blood than adalimumab (ADA), recommendations are similar. We aimed to demonstrate the effect of anti-TNF cessation during pregnancy on fetal exposure, for IFX and ADA separately. We conducted a prospective single center cohort study. Women with IBD, using IFX or ADA, were followed-up during pregnancy. In case of sustained disease remission, anti-TNF was stopped in the third trimester. At birth, anti-TNF concentration was measured in cord blood. A linear regression model was developed to demonstrate anti-TNF concentration in cord blood at birth. In addition, outcomes such as disease activity, pregnancy outcomes and 1-year health outcomes of infants were collected. We included 131 pregnancies that resulted in a live birth (73 IFX, 58 ADA). At birth, 94 cord blood samples were obtained (52 IFX, 42 ADA), showing significantly higher levels of IFX than ADA (p<0.0001). Anti-TNF type and stop week were used in the linear regression model. During the third trimester, IFX transportation over the placenta increases exponentially, however, ADA transportation is limited and increases in a linear fashion. Overall, health outcomes were comparable. Our linear regression model shows that ADA may be continued longer during pregnancy as transportation over the placenta is lower than IFX. This may reduce relapse risk of the mother without increasing fetal anti-TNF exposure.

  2. Reduced Efficacy of Anti-Aβ Immunotherapy in a Mouse Model of Amyloid Deposition and Vascular Cognitive Impairment Comorbidity.

    PubMed

    Weekman, Erica M; Sudduth, Tiffany L; Caverly, Carly N; Kopper, Timothy J; Phillips, Oliver W; Powell, Dave K; Wilcock, Donna M

    2016-09-21

    Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the second most common form of dementia behind Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is estimated that 40% of AD patients also have some form of VCID. One promising therapeutic for AD is anti-Aβ immunotherapy, which uses antibodies against Aβ to clear it from the brain. While successful in clearing Aβ and improving cognition in mice, anti-Aβ immunotherapy failed to reach primary cognitive outcomes in several different clinical trials. We hypothesized that one potential reason the anti-Aβ immunotherapy clinical trials were unsuccessful was due to this high percentage of VCID comorbidity in the AD population. We used our unique model of VCID-amyloid comorbidity to test this hypothesis. We placed 9-month-old wild-type and APP/PS1 mice on either a control diet or a diet that induces hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). After being placed on the diet for 3 months, the mice then received intraperotineal injections of either IgG2a control or 3D6 for another 3 months. While we found that treatment of our comorbidity model with 3D6 resulted in decreased total Aβ levels, there was no cognitive benefit of the anti-Aβ immunotherapy in our AD/VCID mice. Further, microhemorrhages were increased by 3D6 in the APP/PS1/control but further increased in an additive fashion when 3D6 was administered to the APP/PS1/HHcy mice. This suggests that the use of anti-Aβ immunotherapy in patients with both AD and VCID would be ineffective on cognitive outcomes. Despite significant mouse model data demonstrating both pathological and cognitive efficacy of anti-Aβ immunotherapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, clinical trial outcomes have been underwhelming, failing to meet any primary endpoints. We show here that vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) comorbidity eliminates cognitive efficacy of anti-Aβ immunotherapy, despite amyloid clearance. Further, cerebrovascular adverse events of the anti-Aβ immunotherapy are

  3. Anti-TNF-α therapies for the treatment of Crohn's disease: the past, present and future.

    PubMed

    Berns, Marc; Hommes, Daniel W

    2016-01-01

    Anti-TNF-α therapy is a novel approach that has transformed the way moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD) is treated and has significantly improved clinical outcomes of patients with enhanced remission induction and maintenance efficacies. As a result, anti-TNF-α agents have become the primary cost driver in the treatment of CD, as the frequency of hospitalizations and surgical interventions have been drastically reduced. In the review, the authors cover current anti-TNF-α treatments for CD including efficacy, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and safety. In addition, the authors discuss future anti-TNF-α agents currently in the development pipeline including biosimilars, golimumab, oral AVX-470, TNF-α-kinoid vaccine, and non-biologic HMPL-004. While new therapeutics are in the pipeline like anti-integrin and anti-interleukin therapeutics, anti-TNF-α therapy remains at the forefront of CD treatment due to its long-term efficacy and safety profiles. The next horizon for new anti-TNF-α agents is biosimilars, which offer comparable safety and effectiveness to the originator molecules. Biosimilars promise to expand accessibility to anti-TNF-α therapy while significantly reducing the cost burden to patients and healthcare systems.

  4. Active immunotherapy with anti-idiotypic antibody for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

    PubMed

    Li, Guancheng; Xie, Lu; Zhou, Guohua; Zhu, Jiangao; Hu, Jinyue; Sun, Qubing

    2002-12-01

    Two anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies (Ab2), designated 2H4 and 5D3, against two antitumor antibodies Ab1 (FC2 and HNL5) that recognize nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) associated antigen were generated. They could substitute NPC antigen to induce humoral and cellular immune response against NPC cells in syngeneic mice. Nineteen patients with NPC at stage IV were chosen for active immunotherapy. They were treated with aluminum hydroxide-precipitated Ab2 2H4 or 5D3 accompanying radiotherapy. None of the immunization of anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody (mAb) was associated with toxicity or allergies reactions. Nine patients with radiotherapy alone served as control. Both anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3) and anti-NPC antibodies (Ab1') were increased and human anti-mouse Ig antibodies (HAMA) occurred in nineteen patients of the experimental group; whereas the levels of Ab1' did not rise in the control group. Serum IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha levels were increased in most patients in the experimental group, while in the control group, there were no differences of Ab1' and cytokine level between pretherapy and posttherapy. In addition, IL-2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of NPC patients was closely related to serum IL-2 (r = +0.8829) by in situ hybridization. Therefore, mouse anti-idiotypic antibodies 2H4 and 5D3 are safe for active immunotherapy and might enhance humoral and/or cellular immunity of NPC patients receiving radiotherapy.

  5. Decreasing trends in hospitalizations during anti-TNF therapy are associated with time to anti-TNF therapy: Results from two referral centres.

    PubMed

    Mandel, Michael D; Balint, Anita; Golovics, Petra A; Vegh, Zsuzsanna; Mohas, Anna; Szilagyi, Blanka; Szabo, Agnes; Kurti, Zsuzsanna; Kiss, Lajos S; Lovasz, Barbara D; Gecse, Krisztina B; Farkas, Klaudia; Molnar, Tamas; Lakatos, Peter L

    2014-11-01

    Hospitalization is an important outcome measure and a major driver of costs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We analysed medical and surgical hospitalization rates and predictors of hospitalization before and during anti-TNF therapy. Data from 194 consecutive patients were analysed retrospectively (males, 45.4%, median age at diagnosis, 24.0 years, infliximab/adalimumab: 144/50) in whom anti-TNF therapy was started after January 1, 2008. Total follow-up was 1874 patient-years and 474 patient-years with anti-TNF exposure. Hospitalization rates hospitalization decreased only in Crohn's disease (odds ratio: 0.59, 95% confidence interval: 0.51-0.70, median 2-years' anti-TNF exposure) with a same trend for surgical interventions (p=0.07), but not in ulcerative colitis. Need for hospitalization decreased in Crohn's disease with early (within 3-years from diagnosis, p=0.016 by McNemar test), but not late anti-TNF exposure. At logistic regression analysis complicated disease behaviour (p=0.03), concomitant azathioprine (p=0.02) use, but not anti-TNF type, gender, perianal disease or previous surgeries were associated with the risk of hospitalization during anti-TNF therapy. Hospitalization rate decreased significantly in patients with Crohn's disease but not ulcerative colitis after the introduction of anti-TNF therapy and was associated with time to therapy. Complicated disease phenotype and concomitant azathioprine use were additional factors defining the risk of hospitalization. Copyright © 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. The anti-seizure drugs vinpocetine and carbamazepine, but not valproic acid, reduce inflammatory IL-1β and TNF-α expression in rat hippocampus.

    PubMed

    Gómez, Carlos D; Buijs, Rudolf M; Sitges, María

    2014-09-01

    In the present study, the effects of the two classical anti-epileptic drugs, carbamazepine and valproic acid, and the non-classical anti-seizure drug vinpocetine were investigated on the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus of rats by PCR or western blot after the administration of one or seven doses. Next, the effects of the anti-seizure drugs were investigated on the rise in cytokine expression induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) inoculation in vivo. To validate our methods, the changes induced by the pro-convulsive agents 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine were also tested. Finally, the effect of the anti-seizure drugs on seizures and on the concomitant rise in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression induced by 4-aminopyridine was explored. Results show that vinpocetine and carbamazepine reduced the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α from basal conditions, and the increase in both pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. In contrast, valproic acid failed to reduce both the expression of the cytokines from basal conditions and the rise in IL-1β and TNF-α expression induced by LPS. Tonic-clonic seizures induced either by 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole or pilocarpine increased the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α markedly. 4-aminopyridine-induced changes were reduced by all the tested anti-seizure drugs, although valproic acid was less effective. We conclude that the anti-seizure drugs, vinpocetine and carbamazepine, whose mechanisms of action involve a decrease in ion channels permeability, also reduce cerebral inflammation. The mechanism of action of anti-seizure drugs like vinpocetine and carbamazepine involves a decrease in Na(+) channels permeability. We here propose that this mechanism of action also involves a decrease in cerebral inflammation. © 2014 International Society for Neurochemistry.

  7. [Anti-TNF alpha in dermatology].

    PubMed

    Mahe, E; Descamps, V

    2002-12-01

    The discovery of the major role of TNF alpha in the physiopathology of certain inflammatory diseases and notably in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease has led to the development of anti-TNF alpha drugs. These new therapeutic arms issued from bio-technology have rapidly demonstrated their efficacy in the treatment of these two diseases. The anti-TNF alpha arsenal is currently dominated by etanercept, a fusion protein composed of a soluble TNF alpha receptor, and infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody. However, new molecules will soon enrich this arsenal. TNF alpha is a major cytokine of inflammatory diseases of the skin. Many dermatological diseases will probably benefit from these new treatments. Two studies have already demonstrated their interest in cutaneous and articular psoriasis. Encouraging sporadic results suggest other potential indications (Behcet's disease, bullous dermatitis, neutrophilic dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, systemic vascularitis,.). These promising new treatments, although expensive, and with yet unknown long term side effects, justify rigorous assessment of their efficacy and tolerance in each indication. Here again the dermatologist has a major role to play in post-marketing pharmacovigilance.

  8. Sequential cancer immunotherapy: targeted activity of dimeric TNF and IL-8

    PubMed Central

    Adrian, Nicole; Siebenborn, Uta; Fadle, Natalie; Plesko, Margarita; Fischer, Eliane; Wüest, Thomas; Stenner, Frank; Mertens, Joachim C.; Knuth, Alexander; Ritter, Gerd; Old, Lloyd J.; Renner, Christoph

    2009-01-01

    Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are potent effectors of inflammation and their attempts to respond to cancer are suggested by their systemic, regional and intratumoral activation. We previously reported on the recruitment of CD11b+ leukocytes due to tumor site-specific enrichment of TNF activity after intravenous administration of a dimeric TNF immunokine with specificity for fibroblast activation protein (FAP). However, TNF-induced chemo-attraction and extravasation of PMNs from blood into the tumor is a multistep process essentially mediated by interleukin 8. With the aim to amplify the TNF-induced and IL-8-mediated chemotactic response, we generated immunocytokines by N-terminal fusion of a human anti-FAP scFv fragment with human IL-8 (IL-872) and its N-terminally truncated form IL-83-72. Due to the dramatic difference in chemotaxis induction in vitro, we favored the mature chemokine fused to the anti-FAP scFv for further investigation in vivo. BALB/c nu/nu mice were simultaneously xenografted with FAP-positive or -negative tumors and extended chemo-attraction of PMNs was only detectable in FAP-expressing tissue after intravenous administration of the anti-FAP scFv-IL-872 construct. As TNF-activated PMNs are likewise producers and primary targets for IL-8, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of co-administration of both effectors: Sequential application of scFv-IL-872 and dimeric IgG1-TNF fusion proteins significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity when compared either to a single effector treatment regimen or sequential application of non-targeted cytokines, indicating that the tumor-restricted sequential application of IL-872 and TNF is a promising approach for cancer therapy. PMID:19267427

  9. Sarcoidosis-Like Lesions: Another Paradoxical Reaction to Anti-TNF Therapy?

    PubMed

    Decock, Amelie; Van Assche, Gert; Vermeire, Séverine; Wuyts, Wim; Ferrante, Marc

    2017-03-01

    Since the introduction of anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] therapy in inflammatory diseases, paradoxical reactions are increasingly being reported. One of these paradoxical reactions is the development of sarcoidosis-like lesions. This presentation is paradoxical since anti-TNF therapy can also be therapeutic in refractory cases of sarcoidosis. We report two cases of sarcoidosis-like lesions under anti-TNF therapy. Both were patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], treated successfully with adalimumab. Next, we reviewed the literature for similar cases. Medical subject heading terms 'adalimumab', 'infliximab', 'etanercept', 'golimumab' or 'certolizumab', and 'sarcoidosis' were used to perform key word searches of the PubMed database. We identified 90 reported cases of sarcoidosis-like lesions, which developed during anti-TNF therapy. In most cases, the anti-TNF drug involved was etanercept. The median age was 43 years and there was a predominance of female patients. The underlying disease was rheumatoid arthritis in most cases, followed by ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasiform arthritis. In six cases, the underlying disease was IBD. In 71 cases there was at least a partial resolution by discontinuation of the anti-TNF treatment, initiation of steroids or both. Re-initiation of anti-TNF therapy gave relapse in seven out of 20 cases. Sarcoidosis-like lesions are increasingly reported during anti-TNF treatment. Vigilance is appropriate when patients present with symptoms compatible with sarcoidosis. Copyright © 2016 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

  10. TNF-α and Tumor Lysate Promote the Maturation of Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy for Advanced Malignant Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors

    PubMed Central

    Miwa, Shinji; Nishida, Hideji; Tanzawa, Yoshikazu; Takata, Munetomo; Takeuchi, Akihiko; Yamamoto, Norio; Shirai, Toshiharu; Hayashi, Katsuhiro; Kimura, Hiroaki; Igarashi, Kentaro; Mizukoshi, Eishiro; Nakamoto, Yasunari; Kaneko, Shuichi; Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki

    2012-01-01

    Background Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in the immune system. There are many reports concerning DC-based immunotherapy. The differentiation and maturation of DCs is a critical part of DC-based immunotherapy. We investigated the differentiation and maturation of DCs in response to various stimuli. Methods Thirty-one patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors were enrolled in this study. All the patients had metastatic tumors and/or recurrent tumors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were suspended in media containing interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). These cells were then treated with or without 1) tumor lysate (TL), 2) TL + TNF-α, 3) OK-432. The generated DCs were mixed and injected in the inguinal or axillary region. Treatment courses were performed every week and repeated 6 times. A portion of the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the degree of differentiation and maturation of the DCs. Serum IFN-γ and serum IL-12 were measured in order to determine the immune response following the DC-based immunotherapy. Results Approximately 50% of PBMCs differentiated into DCs. Maturation of the lysate-pulsed DCs was slightly increased. Maturation of the TL/TNF-α-pulsed DCs was increased, commensurate with OK-432-pulsed DCs. Serum IFN-γ and serum IL-12 showed significant elevation at one and three months after DC-based immunotherapy. Conclusions Although TL-pulsed DCs exhibit tumor specific immunity, TL-pulsed cells showed low levels of maturation. Conversely, the TL/TNF-α-pulsed DCs showed remarkable maturation. The combination of IL-4/GM-CSF/TL/TNF-α resulted in the greatest differentiation and maturation for DC-based immunotherapy for patients with bone and soft tissue tumors. PMID:23300824

  11. Clinical use of anti-TNF therapy and increased risk of infections

    PubMed Central

    Ali, Tauseef; Kaitha, Sindhu; Mahmood, Sultan; Ftesi, Abdul; Stone, Jordan; Bronze, Michael S

    2013-01-01

    Biologics such as antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs have emerged as important agents in the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases, especially in cases refractory to conventional treatment modalities. However, opportunistic infections have become a major safety concern in patients on anti-TNF therapy, and physicians who utilize these agents must understand the increased risks of infection. A literature review of the published data on the risk of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections associated with anti-TNF therapy was performed and the clinical presentation, diagnostic tests, management, and prevention of opportunistic infections in patients receiving anti-TNF therapy were reviewed. Awareness of the therapeutic potential and associated adverse events is necessary for maximizing therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects from anti-TNF treatments. Patients should be adequately vaccinated when possible and closely monitored for early signs of infection. When serious infections occur, withdrawal of anti-TNF therapy may be necessary until the infection has been identified and properly treated. PMID:23569399

  12. Access criteria for anti-TNF agents in spondyloarthritis: influence on comparative 1-year cost-effectiveness estimates.

    PubMed

    Harvard, Stephanie; Guh, Daphne; Bansback, Nick; Richette, Pascal; Saraux, Alain; Fautrel, Bruno; Anis, Aslam

    2017-01-01

    per QALY was reduced by approximately 25% relative to the basecase analysis (France: €857,992 vs. €1,105,859; Canada: € 626,459 vs. €818,186; Germany: € 422,568 vs. €545,808); UK €578,899 vs. €766,217; Hong Kong €335,418 vs. €456,850). Anti-TNF cost-effectiveness is strongly affected by treatment continuation among non-responders. Access criteria could improve anti-TNF cost-effectiveness by defining patients likely to respond.

  13. Immunotherapy in the management of sepsis.

    PubMed

    Sikora, Janusz Piotr

    2002-01-01

    This work presents the role of Gram-negative bacteria endotoxins, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the complex and not fully explained pathogenesis of sepsis. The so-called "respiratory burst" of neutrophils and the antioxidant mechanisms of the host are also discussed. The work focuses on possible approaches to the management of sepsis connected with immunotherapy. Neutralization of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) therapy with monoclonal antibodies or pentoxifylline (PTXF), as well as soluble recombinant cytokine agonists and antagonists used in clinical trials are taken into consideration. In addition, cytokine manipulation therapy, anti-adhesion techniques, glucocorticoides and antioxidant barrier interference are also described. So far there has been no immunotherapy of sepsis in children of proven clinical efficacy, which prompts an aggressive examination of the immune system aimed at affecting its function.

  14. Paradoxical skin lesions induced by anti-TNF-α agents in SAPHO syndrome.

    PubMed

    Li, Chen; Wu, Xia; Cao, Yihan; Zeng, Yueping; Zhang, Weihong; Zhang, Shuo; Liu, Yuehua; Jin, Hongzhong; Zhang, Wen; Li, Li

    2018-04-03

    The objectives of the study were to characterize the clinical picture of paradoxical skin lesions in SAPHO patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents and to explore its pathogenesis. Patients treated with anti-TNF-α therapy were identified from a cohort of 164 SAPHO patients. The clinical data and skin biopsies were collected. The usage, efficacy, and side effects of anti-TNF-α therapy were recorded. Forty-one (25.0%) patients received anti-TNF-α therapy, of which seven (17.1%) developed paradoxical skin lesions after 1 to 14 infusions. Patients with such lesions were older at onset of skin lesions than those without (p = 0.034). Expression of TNF-α in palmoplantar pustulosis increased after anti-TNF-α therapy in the two examined patients with exacerbated skin lesions. Anti-TNF-α therapy induces paradoxical skin lesions in 17.1% SAPHO patients. Late onset of skin manifestations is associated with an increased risk of such lesions. The paradoxical elevation of TNF-α expression in lesions may contribute to this phenomenon.

  15. Considerations, challenges and future of anti-TNF therapy in treating inflammatory bowel disease.

    PubMed

    Pouillon, Lieven; Bossuyt, Peter; Peyrin-Biroulet, Laurent

    2016-10-01

    Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic disabling conditions. Monoclonal antibody therapy directed against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF) has revolutionized the care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Considerations before starting anti-TNF therapy are highlighted: the best time to start with anti-TNF therapy, either alone or in combination with an immunomodulator, the choice of an anti-TNF agent and the contra-indications to anti-TNF therapy. Primary nonresponse and secondary loss of response are discussed. De-escalating therapy, the role of therapeutic drug monitoring and the use of biosimilars, are handled. Finally, the future directions of anti-TNF therapy are emphasized. Anti-TNF therapy remains the cornerstone in the treatment of IBD. When initiating long-term therapy, safety and cost issues are of great importance. The therapeutic armamentarium in the treatment of IBD is rapidly growing. Therefore, the challenge is to optimize the use and refine the exact position of anti-TNF therapy in the near future, with personalized medicine as the ultimate goal.

  16. Immunotherapy Added to Antibiotic Treatment Reduces Relapse of Disease in a Mouse Model of Tuberculosis.

    PubMed

    Mourik, Bas C; Leenen, Pieter J M; de Knegt, Gerjo J; Huizinga, Ruth; van der Eerden, Bram C J; Wang, Jinshan; Krois, Charles R; Napoli, Joseph L; Bakker-Woudenberg, Irma A J M; de Steenwinkel, Jurriaan E M

    2017-02-01

    Immune-modulating drugs that target myeloid-derived suppressor cells or stimulate natural killer T cells have been shown to reduce mycobacterial loads in tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to determine if a combination of these drugs as adjunct immunotherapy to conventional antibiotic treatment could also increase therapeutic efficacy against TB. In our model of pulmonary TB in mice, we applied treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide for 13 weeks alone or combined with immunotherapy consisting of all-trans retinoic acid, 1,25(OH) 2 -vitamin D3, and α-galactosylceramide. Outcome parameters were mycobacterial load during treatment (therapeutic activity) and 13 weeks after termination of treatment (therapeutic efficacy). Moreover, cellular changes were analyzed using flow cytometry and cytokine expression was assessed at the mRNA and protein levels. Addition of immunotherapy was associated with lower mycobacterial loads after 5 weeks of treatment and significantly reduced relapse of disease after a shortened 13-week treatment course compared with antibiotic treatment alone. This was accompanied by reduced accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the lungs at the end of treatment and increased TNF-α protein levels throughout the treatment period. We demonstrate, in a mouse model of pulmonary TB, that immunotherapy consisting of three clinically approved drugs can improve the therapeutic efficacy of standard antibiotic treatment.

  17. Effects of anti-TNF-α agents on circulating endothelial-derived and platelet-derived microparticles in psoriasis.

    PubMed

    Pelletier, Fabien; Garnache-Ottou, Francine; Biichlé, Sabeha; Vivot, Aurore; Humbert, Philippe; Saas, Philippe; Seillès, Estelle; Aubin, François

    2014-12-01

    Psoriasis involves TNF-α secretion leading to release of microparticles into the bloodstream. We investigated the effect of TNF blockers on microparticles levels before and after treatment in patients (twenty treated by anti-TNF-α agents and 6 by methotrexate) with severe psoriasis. Plasmatic microparticles were labelled using fluorescent monoclonal antibodies and were analysed using cytometry. Three months later, 70% of patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents achieved a reduction in PASI score of at least 75%. The clinical improvement in patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents was associated with a significant reduction of the mean number of platelet microparticles (2837/μl vs 1849/μl, P = 0.02) and of endothelial microparticles (64/μl vs 22/μl, P = 0.001). Microparticles are significantly decreased in psoriatic patients successfully treated by anti-TNF-α. Microparticles levels as circulating endothelial cells represent signs of endothelial dysfunction and are elevated in psoriasis. Then, TNF blockade may be effective to reduce cardiovascular risk through the reduction of circulating microparticles. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Association between anti-TNF-α therapy and all-cause mortality.

    PubMed

    Herrinton, Lisa J; Liu, Liyan; Chen, Lang; Harrold, Leslie R; Raebel, Marsha A; Curtis, Jeffrey R; Griffin, Marie R; Solomon, Daniel H; Saag, Kenneth G; Lewis, James D

    2012-12-01

    To compare mortality among patients with selected autoimmune diseases treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) agents with similar patients treated with non-biologic therapies. Cohort study set within several large health care programs, 1998-2007. Autoimmune disease patients were identified using diagnoses from computerized healthcare data. Use of anti-TNF-α agents and comparison of non-biologic therapies were identified from pharmacy data, and mortality was identified from vital records and other sources. We compared new users of anti-TNF-α agents to new users of non-biologic therapies using propensity scores and Cox proportional hazards analysis to adjust for baseline differences. We also made head-to-head comparisons among anti-TNF-α agents. Among the 46 424 persons included in the analysis, 2924 (6.3%) had died by the end of follow-up, including 1754 (6.1%) of the 28 941 with a dispensing of anti-TNF-α agent and 1170 (6.7%) of the 17 483 who used non-biologic treatment alone. Compared to use of non-biologic therapies, use of anti-TNF-α therapy was not associated with an increased mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.93 with 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.85-1.03); psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis (combined aHR 0.81 with CI 0.61-1.06; or inflammatory bowel disease (aHR 1.12 with CI 0.85-1.46). Mortality rates did not differ to an important degree between patients treated with etanercept, adalimumab, or infliximab. Anti-TNF-α therapy was not associated with increased mortality among patients with autoimmune diseases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  19. Effectiveness and Safety of Immunomodulators with Anti-TNF Therapy in Crohn's Disease

    PubMed Central

    Osterman, Mark T.; Haynes, Kevin; Delzell, Elizabeth; Zhang, Jie; Bewtra, Meenakshi; Brensinger, Colleen M.; Chen, Lang; Xie, Fenglong; Curtis, Jeffrey R.; Lewis, James D.

    2015-01-01

    Background & Aims The benefit of continuing immunomodulators when “stepping up” to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) is uncertain. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of immunomodulators with anti-TNF therapy in CD. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of new users of anti-TNF therapy for CD in Medicare. Users of anti-TNF combination therapy with immunomodulators were matched to up to 3 users of anti-TNF monotherapy via propensity score and compared using 3 metrics of effectiveness – surgery, hospitalization, and discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy or surgery – and 2 metrics of safety – serious infection and non-Candida opportunistic infection. Cox regression was used for all analyses. Results Among new users of infliximab, we matched 381 users of combination therapy to 912 users of monotherapy; among new users of adalimumab, we matched 196 users of combination therapy to 505 users of monotherapy. Combination therapy occurred predominantly as “step up” after thiopurine therapy. The rates of surgery (hazard ratio [HR] 1.20, 95% CI 0.73-1.96), hospitalization (HR 0.82 [0.57-1.19]), discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy or surgery (HR 1.09, [0.88-1.34]), and serious infection (HR 0.93 [0.88-1.34]) did not differ between users of anti-TNF combination therapy and monotherapy. However, the risk of opportunistic infection (HR 2.64 [1.21-5.73]) and herpes zoster (HR 3.16 [1.25-7.97]) were increased with combination therapy. Conclusions We found that continuation of immunomodulators after “stepping up” to anti-TNF therapy did not improve outcomes but was associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infection. PMID:25724699

  20. Systematic review with meta-analysis: the efficacy of a second anti-TNF in patients with inflammatory bowel disease whose previous anti-TNF treatment has failed.

    PubMed

    Gisbert, J P; Marín, A C; McNicholl, A G; Chaparro, M

    2015-04-01

    One-third of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) receiving anti-TNFs do not respond to treatment, and a relevant proportion experience loss of response or intolerance. To investigate the efficacy and safety of a second anti-TNF agent after primary/secondary failure or intolerance to a first drug. studies evaluating the efficacy of infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA) and certolizumab-pegol (CZP) as the second anti-TNF in CD or UC. Bibliographical searches (PubMed/Embase). percentage of response/remission; the meta-analysis was performed using the inverse variance method. We included 46 studies (37 CD, 8 UC, 1 pouchitis). The CD studies comprised 32 switching IFX→ADA, 4 IFX→CZP and 1 ADA→IFX. Overall, the second anti-TNF after the failure of IFX in CD induced remission in 43% and response in 63% of patients. The remission rate was higher when the reason to withdraw the first anti-TNF was intolerance (61%) than after secondary (45%) or primary failure (30%); response rates were, respectively, 72%, 62% and 53%. All UC studies switched IFX→ADA, six of them reporting remission rates ranging from 0% to 50%. Adverse events rate ranged from 0% to 81% in CD, most of them mild (serious adverse event 0-21%, discontinuation rate <20%). The efficacy of a second anti-TNF in CD patients largely depends on the cause for switching. The remission rate is higher when the reason to withdraw the first anti-TNF is intolerance (61%), compared with secondary (45%) or primary failure (30%). Further studies of switch ADA→IFX are needed to evaluate this strategy. PROSPERO-registry-number: CRD42014012943. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. Anti-inflammatory activity of Pistacia lentiscus essential oil: involvement of IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

    PubMed

    Maxia, Andrea; Sanna, Cinzia; Frau, Maria Assunta; Piras, Alessandra; Karchuli, Manvendra Singh; Kasture, Veena

    2011-10-01

    The topical anti-inflammatory activity of essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. was studied using carrageenan induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma. The effect on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rats inserted with cotton pellet was also investigated. On topical application, the oil exhibited a significant decrease in paw edema. The oil also inhibited cotton pellet-induced granuloma, and reduced serum TNF-alpha and IL-6. It can be concluded that the essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus reduces leukocyte migration to the damaged tissue and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity.

  2. Agonist anti-GITR antibody significantly enhances the therapeutic efficacy of Listeria monocytogenes-based immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Shrimali, Rajeev; Ahmad, Shamim; Berrong, Zuzana; Okoev, Grigori; Matevosyan, Adelaida; Razavi, Ghazaleh Shoja E; Petit, Robert; Gupta, Seema; Mkrtichyan, Mikayel; Khleif, Samir N

    2017-08-15

    We previously demonstrated that in addition to generating an antigen-specific immune response, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm)-based immunotherapy significantly reduces the ratio of regulatory T cells (Tregs)/CD4 + and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor microenvironment. Since Lm-based immunotherapy is able to inhibit the immune suppressive environment, we hypothesized that combining this treatment with agonist antibody to a co-stimulatory receptor that would further boost the effector arm of immunity will result in significant improvement of anti-tumor efficacy of treatment. Here we tested the immune and therapeutic efficacy of Listeria-based immunotherapy combination with agonist antibody to glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR) in TC-1 mouse tumor model. We evaluated the potency of combination on tumor growth and survival of treated animals and profiled tumor microenvironment for effector and suppressor cell populations. We demonstrate that combination of Listeria-based immunotherapy with agonist antibody to GITR synergizes to improve immune and therapeutic efficacy of treatment in a mouse tumor model. We show that this combinational treatment leads to significant inhibition of tumor-growth, prolongs survival and leads to complete regression of established tumors in 60% of treated animals. We determined that this therapeutic benefit of combinational treatment is due to a significant increase in tumor infiltrating effector CD4 + and CD8 + T cells along with a decrease of inhibitory cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study that exploits Lm-based immunotherapy combined with agonist anti-GITR antibody as a potent treatment strategy that simultaneously targets both the effector and suppressor arms of the immune system, leading to significantly improved anti-tumor efficacy. We believe that our findings depicted in this manuscript provide a promising and translatable strategy that can enhance the overall

  3. Drugs for Autoimmune Inflammatory Diseases: From Small Molecule Compounds to Anti-TNF Biologics

    PubMed Central

    Li, Ping; Zheng, Ying; Chen, Xin

    2017-01-01

    Although initially described as an anti-tumor mediator, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is generally considered as the master pro-inflammatory cytokine. It plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis. Consequently, anti-TNF therapy has become mainstay treatment for autoimmune diseases. Historically, anti-inflammatory agents were developed before the identification of TNF. Salicylates, the active components of Willow spp., were identified in the mid-19th century for the alleviation of pain, fever, and inflammatory responses. Study of this naturally occurring compound led to the discovery of aspirin, which was followed by the development of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) due to the chemical advances in the 19th–20th centuries. Initially, the most of NSAIDs were organic acid, but the non-acidic compounds were also identified as NSAIDs. Although effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, NSAIDs have some undesirable and adverse effect, such as ulcers, kidney injury, and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. In the past two decades, anti-TNF biologics were developed. Drugs belong to this class include soluble TNF receptor 2 fusion protein and anti-TNF antibodies. The introduction of anti-TNF therapeutics has revolutionized the management of autoimmune diseases, such as RA, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), plaque psoriasis (PP), AS, CD and ulcerative colitis (UC). Nevertheless, up to 40% of patients have no response to anti-TNF treatment. Furthermore, this treatment is associated with some adverse effects such as increased risk of infection, and even triggered the de novo development of autoimmune diseases. Such harmful effect of anti-TNF treatment is likely caused by the global inhibition of TNF biological functions. Therefore, specific inhibition of TNF receptor (TNFR1 or TNFR2) may represent a safer and more

  4. Use of anti-TNF drug levels to optimise patient management

    PubMed Central

    Papamichael, Konstantinos; Cheifetz, Adam S

    2016-01-01

    Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapies, such as infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol and golimumab, have been proven to be effective for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, 10%–30% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) show no initial clinical benefit to anti-TNF therapy (primary non-response), and over 50% after an initial favourable outcome will lose response over time (secondary loss of response (SLR)). Numerous recent studies in IBD have revealed an exposure–response relationship suggesting a positive correlation between high serum anti-TNF concentrations and favourable therapeutic outcomes including clinical, biomarker and endoscopic remission, whereas antidrug antibodies have been associated with SLR and infusion reactions. Currently, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is typically performed when treatment failure occurs either for SLR, drug intolerance (potential immune-mediated reaction) or infusion reaction (reactive TDM). Nevertheless, recent data demonstrate that proactive TDM and a treat-to-target (trough) therapeutic approach may more effectively optimise anti-TNF therapy efficacy, safety and cost. However, implementing TDM in real-life clinical practice is currently limited by the diversity in study design, therapeutic outcomes and assays used, which have hindered the identification of robust clinically relevant concentration thresholds. This review will focus mainly on the pharmacodynamic properties of anti-TNF therapy and the role of TDM in guiding therapeutic decisions in IBD. PMID:28839870

  5. Hepatitis B vaccination effective in children exposed to anti-TNF alpha in utero.

    PubMed

    de Lima, Alison; Kanis, Shannon L; Escher, Johanna C; van der Woude, C Janneke

    2018-05-03

    Neonates exposed to TNF alpha inhibitors in utero are born with detectable drug levels which can still be detected throughout the first year of life. Since 2011, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is routinely administered to all newborns in the Netherlands. Adults treated with anti-TNF have been reported to respond inadequately to the HBV vaccine. The aim of this study was to compare anti-HBs levels in anti-TNF exposed children with non- exposed children following routine Dutch HBV vaccination. We performed a cross-sectional, controlled cohort study from 2014-2017 in a single, tertiary referral center. Pregnant women treated with anti-TNF for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and their subsequent children were recruited from the IBD preconception outpatient clinic. Pregnant women not treated with anti-TNF for IBD and their subsequent children were eligible as controls. Adherence to the Dutch National Vaccination Programme was mandatory for participation in this study. A venous blood sample was obtained one month after final HBV vaccination. Anti-HBs levels were measured by ELISA. Anti-HBs levels at 12 months did not differ between the anti-TNF exposed (n=15) and the control group (n=12) (>1000 IU/L vs >1000 IU/L, p=0.59). All children were successfully immunised against HBV, defined as anti-HBs>10 IU/L. Median anti-TNF levels determined in cord blood at birth were 9.0 µg/mL (IQR: 3.0-15.0 µg/mL) for IFX and 0.4. µg/mL (IQR: 0.3-0.6 µg/mL) for ADA. There were no differences in general birth and health outcomes. Children born with detectable anti-TNF levels can be effectively vaccinated against HBV.

  6. Vedolizumab is an effective alternative in inflammatory bowel disease patients with anti-TNF-alpha therapy-induced dermatological side effects.

    PubMed

    Pijls, Philippe A R R; Gilissen, Lennard P L

    2016-11-01

    The treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases has been revolutionized by the introduction of biological therapy with TNF-alpha blockers. However, TNF-alpha blockers are also associated with a wide variety of dermatological side effects, such as local skin infections, psoriasis and eczema. A new biological therapy, targeting the gut-specific adhesion molecule alpha4beta7 integrin, is the humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody vedolizumab. Vedolizumab prevents leukocyte migration to the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing inflammation. This gut-specific therapy has the potential to reduce systemic side effects, including dermatological ones. We describe 3 inflammatory bowel disease patients who experience anti-TNF-alpha therapy-induced dermatological side effects, consisting of hidradenitis suppurativa, a folliculitis, scalp psoriasis and a dissecting folliculitis. In all patients, anti-TNF-alpha therapy-induced dermatological side effects diminished after switching to vedolizumab. Vedolizumab may be a viable alternative biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients who experience anti-TNF-alpha therapy-induced dermatological side effects. Copyright © 2016 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Efficacy of anti-TNF alpha in severe and/or refractory Behçet's disease: Multicenter study of 124 patients.

    PubMed

    Vallet, H; Riviere, S; Sanna, A; Deroux, A; Moulis, G; Addimanda, O; Salvarani, C; Lambert, M; Bielefeld, P; Seve, P; Sibilia, J; Pasquali, Jl; Fraison, Jb; Marie, I; Perard, L; Bouillet, L; Cohen, F; Sene, D; Schoindre, Y; Lidove, O; Le Hoang, P; Hachulla, E; Fain, O; Mariette, X; Papo, T; Wechsler, B; Bodaghi, B; Rigon, M Resche; Cacoub, P; Saadoun, D

    2015-08-01

    To report the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents in patients with severe and/or refractory manifestations of Behçet's disease (BD). We performed a multicenter study of main characteristics and outcomes of anti-TNF alpha treatments [mainly infliximab (62%), and adalimumab (30%)] in 124 BD patients [48% of men; median age of 33.5 (28-40) years]. Overall response (i.e. complete and partial) rate was 90.4%. Clinical responses were observed in 96.3%, 88%, 70%, 77.8%, 92.3% and 66.7% of patients with severe and/or refractory ocular, mucocutaneous, joint, gastro-intestinal manifestations, central nervous system manifestations and cardiovascular manifestations, respectively. No significant difference was found with respect to the efficacy of anti-TNF used as monotherapy or in association with an immunosuppressive agent. The incidence of BD flares/patient/year was significantly lower during anti-TNF treatment (0.2 ± 0.5 vs 1.7 ± 2.4 before the use of anti-TNF, p < 0.0001). The prednisone dose was significantly reduced at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, retinal vasculitis was negatively associated with complete response to anti-TNF (OR = 0.33 [0.12-0.89]; p = 0.03). The efficacy and relapse free survival were similar regardless of the type of anti-TNF agent used. After a median follow-up of 21 [7-36] months, side effects were reported in 28% of patients, including infections (16.3%) and hypersensitivity reactions (4.1%). Serious adverse events were reported in 13% of cases. Anti-TNF alpha therapy is efficient in all severe and refractory BD manifestations. Efficacy appears to be similar regardless of the anti-TNF agent used (infliximab or adalimumab). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Modulation of GITR for cancer immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Schaer, David A; Murphy, Judith T; Wolchok, Jedd D

    2012-01-01

    Modulation of co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory receptors of the immune system has become a promising new approach for immunotherapy of cancer. With the recent FDA approval of CTLA-4 blockade serving as an important proof of principal, many new targets are now being translated into the clinic. Preclinical research has demonstrated that targeting glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor related gene (GITR), a member of TNF receptor superfamily, by agonist antibodies or natural ligand, can serve as an effective anti-tumor therapy. In this review, we will cover this research and the rationale that has led to initiation of two phase 1 clinical trials targeting GITR as a new immunotherapeutic approach for cancer. PMID:22245556

  9. The future role of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) products in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Camussi, G; Lupia, E

    1998-05-01

    Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) is a pleiotropic cytokine which is overproduced in rheumatoid joints primarily by macrophages. This cytokine has a potential pathogenic role in the establishment of rheumatoid synovitis, in the formation of pannus tissue and in the process of joint destruction, as it increases synoviocyte proliferation and triggers a cascade of secondary mediators involved in the recruitment of inflammatory cells, in neo-angiogenesis and in the process of joint destruction. These findings made TNF alpha a potential target for anticytokine therapy. Experimental studies have shown that TNF alpha blockade by monoclonal antibodies or by soluble TNF receptor reduced the extent and severity of arthritis both in collagen-induced arthritis in mice and in transgenic mice overexpressing TNF alpha, which develop a rheumatoid-like destructive arthritis. Clinical studies based on the use of anti-TNF alpha antibodies or soluble receptors have suggested a potential beneficial effect of TNF alpha-blocking therapy in inducing amelioration of inflammatory parameters in patients with long-standing active disease. In these patients anti-TNF alpha therapy induces a rapid improvement in multiple clinical assessment of disease activity, including morning stiffness, pain score, Ritchie articular index and swollen joint count. The clinical benefits are associated with an improvement in some serological parameters, such as C-reactive protein and serum amyloid-A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood cytokine levels, haemoglobin, white cells and platelet counts, rheumatoid factor titre and histological features of the synovium. However, it remains to be determined whether anti-TNF alpha therapy may be useful in the long term management of rheumatoid patients and in the achievement of better outcomes of disease. Because TNF alpha production also serves a specific function in host defence against infections and tumours, the adverse effects of long term anti-TNF alpha

  10. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Anti-TNF Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    PubMed Central

    Scott, Frank I.; Lichtenstein, Gary R.

    2014-01-01

    While anti-TNF agents have had a marked impact in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, a significant number of patients lose their response to these medications over time. Clinical trials have demonstrated that antibodies against anti-TNF medications may impact treatment response and increase the risk of infusion reaction. Scheduled dosing and concurrent use of immunomodulators may help to mitigate these risks via inhibiting the formation of these antibodies. The recent availability of assays to measure anti-TNF drug levels and antibodies against anti-TNFs offer the opportunity to assess patients who have lost response with infliximab and adalimumab, and potentially determine the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. There is growing evidence that such testing improves patient outcomes and is cost-effective, although heterogeneity in the assays used in clinical and observational trials has resulted in mixed results. PMID:24452768

  11. Influence of Anti-TNF and Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Therapy on Pulmonary Forced Vital Capacity Associated to Ankylosing Spondylitis: A 2-Year Follow-Up Observational Study

    PubMed Central

    Rocha-Muñoz, Alberto Daniel; Brambila-Tapia, Aniel Jessica Leticia; Zavala-Cerna, María Guadalupe; Vásquez-Jiménez, José Clemente; De la Cerda-Trujillo, Liliana Faviola; Vázquez-Del Mercado, Mónica; Rodriguez-Jimenez, Norma Alejandra; Díaz-Rizo, Valeria; Díaz-González, Viviana; Cardona-Muñoz, Ernesto German; Dávalos-Rodríguez, Ingrid Patricia; Salazar-Paramo, Mario; Gamez-Nava, Jorge Ivan; Nava-Zavala, Arnulfo Hernan; Gonzalez-Lopez, Laura

    2015-01-01

    Objective. To evaluate the effect of anti-TNF agents plus synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) versus DMARDs alone for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with reduced pulmonary function vital capacity (FVC%). Methods. In an observational study, we included AS who had FVC% <80% at baseline. Twenty patients were taking DMARDs and 16 received anti-TNF + DMARDs. Outcome measures: changes in FVC%, BASDAI, BASFI, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Borg scale after 6MWT, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire at 24 months. Results. Both DMARDs and anti-TNF + DMARDs groups had similar baseline values in FVC%. Significant improvement was achieved with anti-TNF + DMARDs in FVC%, at 24 months, when compared to DMARDs alone (P = 0.04). Similarly, patients in anti-TNF + DMARDs group had greater improvement in BASDAI, BASFI, Borg scale, and 6MWT when compared to DMARDs alone. After 2 years of follow-up, 14/16 (87.5%) in the anti-TNF + DMARDs group achieved the primary outcome: FVC% ≥80%, compared with 11/20 (55%) in the DMARDs group (P = 0.04). Conclusions. Patients with anti-TNF + DMARDs had a greater improvement in FVC% and cardiopulmonary scales at 24 months compared with DMARDs. This preliminary study supports the fact that anti-TNF agents may offer additional benefits compared to DMARDs in patients with AS who have reduced FVC%. PMID:26078986

  12. Anti-amyloid beta to tau - based immunization: Developments in immunotherapy for Alzheimer disease.

    PubMed

    Lambracht-Washington, Doris; Rosenberg, Roger N

    2013-08-01

    Immunotherapy might provide an effective treatment for Alzheimer disease (AD). A unique feature of AD immunotherapies is that an immune response against a self antigen needs to be elicited without causing adverse autoimmune reactions. Current research is focussed on two possible targets in this regard: One is the inhibition of accumulation and deposition of Amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ42), which is one of the major peptides found in senile plaques and the second target is hyperphosphorylated tau, which forms neurofibrillary tangles inside the nerve cell and shows association with the progression of dementia. Mouse models have shown that immunotherapy targeting Aβ42 as well as tau with the respective anti-Aβ or anti-tau antibodies can provide significant improvements in these mice. While anti-Aβ immunotherapy (active and passive immunizations) is already in several stages of clinical trials, tau based immunizations have been analyzed only in mouse models. Recently, as a significant correlation of progression of dementia and levels of phoshorylated tau was found, high interest has again focussed on further development of tau based therapies. While Aβ immunotherapy might delay the onset of AD, immunotherapy targeting tau might provide benefits in later stages of this disease. And last but not least, targeting Aβ and tau simultaneously with immunotherapy might provide additional therapeutic effects as these two pathologies are likely synergistic; an approach which has not been tested yet. In this review, we will summarize animal models used to test possible therapies for AD, some of the facts about Aβ42 and tau biology, present on overview on halted, ongoing and upcoming clinical trials together with ongoing preclinical studies targeting tau or Aβ42.

  13. Radiation-Induced Astrogliosis and Blood-Brain Barrier Damage Can Be Abrogated Using Anti-TNF Treatment

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wilson, Christy M.; Gaber, M. Waleed; Sabek, Omaima M.

    2009-07-01

    Purpose: In this article, we investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in the initiation of acute damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and brain tissue following radiotherapy (RT) for CNS tumors. Methods and Materials: Intravital microscopy and a closed cranial window technique were used to measure quantitatively BBB permeability to FITC-dextran 4.4-kDa molecules, leukocyte adhesion (Rhodamine-6G) and vessel diameters before and after 20-Gy cranial radiation with and without treatment with anti-TNF. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify astrogliosis post-RT and immunofluorescence was used to visualize protein expression of TNF and ICAM-1 post-RT. Recombinant TNF (rTNF) was used to elucidatemore » the role of TNF in leukocyte adhesion and vessel diameter. Results: Mice treated with anti-TNF showed significantly lower permeability and leukocyte adhesion at 24 and 48 h post-RT vs. RT-only animals. We observed a significant decrease in arteriole diameters at 48 h post-RT that was inhibited in TNF-treated animals. We also saw a significant increase in activated astrocytes following RT that was significantly lower in the anti-TNF-treated group. In addition, immunofluorescence showed protein expression of TNF and ICAM-1 in the cerebral cortex that was inhibited with anti-TNF treatment. Finally, administration of rTNF induced a decrease in arteriole diameter and a significant increase in leukocyte adhesion in venules and arterioles. Conclusions: TNF plays a significant role in acute changes in BBB permeability, leukocyte adhesion, arteriole diameter, and astrocyte activation following cranial radiation. Treatment with anti-TNF protects the brain's microvascular network from the acute damage following RT.« less

  14. Safety of anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy.

    PubMed

    Khan, Nabeel; Asim, Hamna; Lichtenstein, Gary R

    2014-12-01

    The highest incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is seen between the second and fourth decades of life, which is the most fertile age for women. Increased disease activity has been shown to effect female fertility and pregnancy outcomes, stressing the need for drugs that can safely induce and maintain clinical remission without harming either the mother or fetus. Anti-TNF-α agents have been shown to be effective in both inducing and maintaining remission among IBD patients. This review highlights the results of previous studies conducted on pregnant women who were exposed to anti-TNF-α agents during the course of their pregnancy. The drugs reviewed include infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA), certolizumab pegol (CZP) and golimumab (GMB). Of > 200 articles reviewed, 105 were included in the manuscript based on relevance. The keywords used were anti-TNF, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, biologics, pregnancy and inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-TNF agents have been studied extensively during pregnancy from the early case reports to the more recent prospective Pregnancy in IBD and Neonatal Outcomes study. A comprehensive review of the literature has shown that biologics can be safely used during pregnancy. In view of this safety data, it is recommended to maintain therapy during pregnancy.

  15. Anti-TNF-α Drugs Differently Affect the TNFα-sTNFR System and Monocyte Subsets in Patients with Psoriasis

    PubMed Central

    Bianchini, Elena; Bartolomeo, Regina; Fabiano, Antonella; Manfredini, Marco; Ferrari, Federica; Albertini, Giuseppe; Trenti, Tommaso; Nasi, Milena; Pinti, Marcello; Iannone, Anna; Salvarani, Carlo; Pellacani, Giovanni

    2016-01-01

    TNF-α has a central role in the development and maintenance of psoriatic plaques, and its serum levels correlate with disease activity. Anti-TNF-α drugs are, however, ineffective in a relevant percentage of patients for reasons that are currently unknown. To understand whether the response to anti-TNF-α drugs is influenced by the production of anti-drug antibodies or by the modulation of the TNFα-TNFα receptor system, and to identify changes in monocyte phenotype and activity, we analysed 119 psoriatic patients who either responded or did not respond to different anti-TNF-α therapies (adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab), and measured plasma levels of TNF-α, TNF-α soluble receptors, drug and anti-drug antibodies. Moreover, we analyzed the production of TNF-α and TNF-α soluble receptors by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and characterized different monocyte populations. We found that: i) the drug levels varied between responders and non-responders; ii) anti-infliximab antibodies were present in 15% of infliximab-treated patients, while anti-etanercept or anti-adalimumab antibodies were never detected; iii) plasma TNF-α levels were higher in patients treated with etanercept compared to patients treated with adalimumab or infliximab; iv) PBMCs from patients responding to adalimumab and etanercept produced more TNF-α and sTNFRII in vitro than patients responding to infliximab; v) PBMCs from patients not responding to infliximab produce higher levels of TNF-α and sTNFRII than patients responding to infliximab; vi) anti- TNF-α drugs significantly altered monocyte subsets. A complex remodelling of the TNFα-TNFα receptor system thus takes place in patients treated with anti-TNF-α drugs, that involves either the production of anti-drug antibodies or the modulation of monocyte phenotype or inflammatory activity. PMID:27936119

  16. The impact of patient-perceived restricted access to anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study

    PubMed Central

    Sanderson, Tessa; Calnan, Michael; Morris, Marianne; Richards, Pam; Hewlett, Sarah

    2010-01-01

    Objective To explore rheumatoid arthritis patients’ experience of access to anti-TNF therapy in the UK, and of switching therapies after an initial failure. Methods Patients were asked about their experience of accessing, receiving and discontinuing anti-TNF therapy in face-to-face informal interviews, within the context of the larger study about treatment outcomes. 17 individuals with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and experience of receiving anti-TNF therapy were interviewed in one hospital trust in England. Results Different emotions (Theme 1) surrounded the process of accessing anti-TNF therapy: hope, desperation, apprehension, anxiety, and frustration. Experience of receiving anti-TNF therapy (Theme 2) included not only positive transformation, but also fear of failure and discontinuation. The subsequent value that patients placed on anti-TNF therapy (Theme 3) included having a right to receive therapy and being lucky. These three themes were underpinned by the core category of ‘willing to try anything’. Those switching therapies reported increased caution over the possibility of recurring side effects, but some suggestion of benefit. There was a perception that access to anti-TNF therapy was restricted by cost, rather than being recommended for those in clinical need. Conclusions Anti-TNF therapies may have a sudden and dramatic impact on RA patients’ lives that contrasts with other available medications. However, the stress of the patient’s journey through the need to “qualify” for anti-TNF therapy, and the fear of failing or discontinuation of therapy should not be underestimated by clinicians. PMID:19127529

  17. The anti-vaccination movement and resistance to allergen-immunotherapy: a guide for clinical allergists.

    PubMed

    Behrmann, Jason

    2010-09-15

    Despite over a century of clinical use and a well-documented record of efficacy and safety, a growing minority in society questions the validity of vaccination and fear that this common public health intervention is the root-cause of severe health problems. This article questions whether growing public anti-vaccine sentiments might have the potential to spill-over into other therapies distinct from vaccination, namely allergen-immunotherapy. Allergen-immunotherapy shares certain medical vernacular with vaccination (e.g., allergy shots, allergy vaccines), and thus may become "guilty by association" due to these similarities. Indeed, this article demonstrates that anti-vaccine websites have begun unduly discrediting this allergy treatment regimen. Following an explanation of the anti-vaccine movement, the article aims to provide guidance on how clinicians can respond to patient fears towards allergen-immunotherapy in the clinical setting. This guide focuses on the provision of reliable information to patients in order to dispel misconceived associations between vaccination and allergen-immunotherapy, and the discussion of the risks and benefits of both therapies in order to assist patients in making autonomous decisions about their choice of allergy treatment.

  18. The anti-vaccination movement and resistance to allergen-immunotherapy: a guide for clinical allergists

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Despite over a century of clinical use and a well-documented record of efficacy and safety, a growing minority in society questions the validity of vaccination and fear that this common public health intervention is the root-cause of severe health problems. This article questions whether growing public anti-vaccine sentiments might have the potential to spill-over into other therapies distinct from vaccination, namely allergen-immunotherapy. Allergen-immunotherapy shares certain medical vernacular with vaccination (e.g., allergy shots, allergy vaccines), and thus may become "guilty by association" due to these similarities. Indeed, this article demonstrates that anti-vaccine websites have begun unduly discrediting this allergy treatment regimen. Following an explanation of the anti-vaccine movement, the article aims to provide guidance on how clinicians can respond to patient fears towards allergen-immunotherapy in the clinical setting. This guide focuses on the provision of reliable information to patients in order to dispel misconceived associations between vaccination and allergen-immunotherapy, and the discussion of the risks and benefits of both therapies in order to assist patients in making autonomous decisions about their choice of allergy treatment. PMID:20843332

  19. The Risk of Relapse after Anti-TNF Discontinuation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    PubMed

    Gisbert, Javier P; Marín, Alicia C; Chaparro, María

    2016-05-01

    To perform a meta-analysis of the risk of relapse after discontinuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), to evaluate risk factors for relapse, and to assess the response to retreatment with the same anti-TNF. Studies evaluating the incidence of relapse after anti-TNF discontinuation in patients with CD or UC who reached clinical remission with anti-TNFs were included. Bibliographies up to January 2015 were searched. Frequency of relapse after discontinuation of anti-TNF agents was determined; meta-analyses were performed using the inverse-variance method. We included 27 studies (21 infliximab and 6 infliximab/adalimumab). The overall risk of relapse after discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy was 44% for CD (95% confidence interval (CI) 36-51%; I(2)=79%; 912 patients) and 38% for UC (23-52%; I(2)=82%; 266 patients). In CD, the relapse rate was 38% at 6 months after discontinuation (short term), 40% at 12 months (medium term), and 49% at >25 months (long term). In UC, 28% of patients relapsed at 12 months. In CD, when clinical remission was the only criterion for stopping anti-TNF therapy, the relapse rate after 1 year was 42%, which decreased to 26% when endoscopic remission was also required. Retreatment with the same anti-TNF induced remission again in 80% of cases (68-91%). Approximately one-third of patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission under anti-TNF treatment relapsed 1 year after discontinuation. This proportion increased to half in the long term. In CD patients, the risk of relapse was lower when the criterion for discontinuation was endoscopic remission and not only clinical remission. Response to retreatment with the same anti-TNF agent was favorable.

  20. Evolution of collagen arthritis in mice is arrested by treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antibody or a recombinant soluble TNF receptor.

    PubMed Central

    Piguet, P F; Grau, G E; Vesin, C; Loetscher, H; Gentz, R; Lesslauer, W

    1992-01-01

    Immunization of DBA/1 mice with type II collagen within complete Freund's adjuvant leads to arthritis, lasting more than 3 months. Injection of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) IgG, 2 and 3 weeks after immunization prevented the development of arthritis in the following months. This treatment had no effect when started 2 months after induction of the disease. A soluble form of the human recombinant TNF receptor type-beta (rsTNFR-beta), continuously infused at a rate of 20 micrograms/day during the second and third week after immunization, also had a long-term protective effect. Anti-TNF antibody had no effect upon the production of anti-type II collagen antibodies. These results indicate that TNF is critically involved in an early phase of this arthritis. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 PMID:1337334

  1. Anti-Interleukin-9 Antibody Increases the Effect of Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy in Murine Allergic Rhinitis.

    PubMed

    Shin, Ji Hyeon; Kim, Do Hyun; Kim, Boo Young; Kim, Sung Won; Hwang, Se Hwan; Lee, Joohyung; Kim, Soo Whan

    2017-05-01

    Interleukin (IL)-9 induces allergic responses; however, the roles of anti-IL-9 antibody in the induction of tolerance remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of anti-IL-9 antibody on oral tolerance (OT) in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis (AR). BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: the control, AR, OT, and OT with anti-IL-9 antibody (OT+IL9AB) groups. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used for sensitization and challenge. Mice in the OT and OT+IL9AB groups were fed OVA for immunotherapy. During immunotherapy, OT+IL9AB mice were injected with anti-IL-9 antibody. Allergic symptoms, tissue eosinophil counts, and serum OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured. The mRNA expressions of cytokines and transcription factors of T cells of nasal mucosa were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The protein levels of GATA3, ROR-γt, and Foxp3 in nasal mucosa were determined by Western blot. CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. Administration of anti-IL-9 antibody decreased allergic symptoms, OVA-specific IgE levels, and eosinophil counts. In addition, it inhibited T-helper (Th) 2 responses, but had no effect on Th1 responses. Protein levels of ROR-γt and mRNA levels of PU.1 and ROR-γt were reduced by anti-IL-9 antibody. Anti-IL-9 antibody increased Foxp3 and IL-10 mRNA expression, Foxp3 protein, and induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells. Anti-IL-9 antibody decreased allergic inflammation through suppression of Th2 and Th17 cells. Anti-IL-9 antibody enhanced the tolerogenic effects of regulatory T cells. These results suggest that anti-IL-9 antibody might represent a potential therapeutic agent for allergen immunotherapy in patients with uncontrolled allergic airway disease. Copyright © 2017 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology · The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease

  2. Both anti-TNF and CTLA4 Ig treatments attenuate the disease severity of staphylococcal dermatitis in mice.

    PubMed

    Na, Manli; Wang, Wanzhong; Fei, Ying; Josefsson, Elisabet; Ali, Abukar; Jin, Tao

    2017-01-01

    RA patients being treated with biologics are known to have an increased risk of infections. We recently demonstrated that both CTLA4 Ig and anti-TNF treatment aggravate systemic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection in mice, but with distinct clinical manifestations. However, the effects of CTLA4 Ig and anti-TNF treatments on a local S. aureus infection (e.g., skin infection) might differ from their effects on a systemic infection. The aim of this study was to examine the differential effects of anti-TNF versus CTLA4 Ig treatment on S. aureus skin infections in mice. Abatacept (CTLA4 Ig), etanercept (anti-TNF treatment) or PBS was given to NMRI mice subcutaneously inoculated with S. aureus strain SH1000. The clinical signs of dermatitis, along with histopathological changes due to skin infection, were compared between the groups. Both CTLA4 Ig and anti-TNF treatment resulted in less severe skin infections and smaller post-infectious hyperpigmentation compared with controls. Consistent with the clinical signs of dermatitis, smaller lesion size, more epithelial hyperplasia and more granulation were found in skin biopsies from mice receiving anti-TNF compared with PBS controls. However, both CTLA4 Ig and anti-TNF therapy tended to prolong the healing time, although this finding was not statistically significant. Serum MCP-1 levels were elevated in the anti-TNF group relative to the CTLA4 Ig and PBS groups, whereas IL-6 levels were higher in PBS controls than in the other two groups. Both anti-TNF and CTLA4 Ig treatments tended to down-regulate the necrosis/apoptosis ratio in the locally infected skin tissue. Importantly, no tangible difference was found in the bacterial burden among groups. Both CTLA4 Ig and anti-TNF therapies attenuate disease severity but may prolong the healing time required for S. aureus skin infections. Neither treatment has an impact on bacterial clearance in skin tissues.

  3. AVX-470: A Novel Oral Anti-TNF Antibody with Therapeutic Potential in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    PubMed Central

    Bhol, Kailash C.; Tracey, Daniel E.; Lemos, Brenda R.; Lyng, Gregory D.; Erlich, Emma C.; Keane, David M.; Quesenberry, Michael S.; Holdorf, Amy D.; Schlehuber, Lisa D.; Clark, Shawn A.; Fox, Barbara S.

    2013-01-01

    Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the GI tract that is currently treated with injected monoclonal antibodies specific for tumor necrosis factor (TNF). We developed and characterized AVX-470, a novel polyclonal antibody specific for human TNF. We evaluated the oral activity of AVX-470m, a surrogate antibody specific murine TNF, in several well-accepted mouse models of IBD. Methods AVX-470 and AVX-470m were isolated from the colostrum of dairy cows that had been immunized with TNF. The potency, specificity and affinity of both AVX-470 and AVX-470m were evaluated in vitro and compared with infliximab. AVX-470m was orally administered to mice either before or after induction of colitis and activity was measured by endoscopy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and quantitative measurement of mRNA levels. Colitis was induced using either 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) or dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Results AVX-470 and AVX-470m were shown to be functionally comparable in vitro. Moreover, the specificity, neutralizing potency and affinity of AVX-470 were comparable to infliximab. Orally administered AVX-470m effectively reduced disease severity in several mouse models of IBD. Activity was comparable to that of oral prednisolone or parenteral etanercept. The antibody penetrated the colonic mucosa and inhibited TNF-driven mucosal inflammation with minimal systemic exposure. Conclusions AVX-470 is a novel polyclonal anti-TNF antibody with an in vitro activity profile comparable to that of infliximab. Oral administration of a surrogate antibody specific for mouse TNF is effective in treating mouse models of IBD, delivering the anti-TNF to the site of inflammation with minimal systemic exposure. PMID:23949620

  4. Chemokines cooperate with TNF to provide protective anti-viral immunity and to enhance inflammation.

    PubMed

    Alejo, Alí; Ruiz-Argüello, M Begoña; Pontejo, Sergio M; Fernández de Marco, María Del Mar; Saraiva, Margarida; Hernáez, Bruno; Alcamí, Antonio

    2018-05-03

    The role of cytokines and chemokines in anti-viral defense has been demonstrated, but their relative contribution to protective anti-viral responses in vivo is not fully understood. Cytokine response modifier D (CrmD) is a secreted receptor for TNF and lymphotoxin containing the smallpox virus-encoded chemokine receptor (SECRET) domain and is expressed by ectromelia virus, the causative agent of the smallpox-like disease mousepox. Here we show that CrmD is an essential virulence factor that controls natural killer cell activation and allows progression of fatal mousepox, and demonstrate that both SECRET and TNF binding domains are required for full CrmD activity. Vaccination with recombinant CrmD protects animals from lethal mousepox. These results indicate that a specific set of chemokines enhance the inflammatory and protective anti-viral responses mediated by TNF and lymphotoxin, and illustrate how viruses optimize anti-TNF strategies with the addition of a chemokine binding domain as soluble decoy receptors.

  5. Anti-TNF-α therapy in refractory uveitis associated with sarcoidosis: Multicenter study of 17 patients.

    PubMed

    Riancho-Zarrabeitia, Leyre; Calvo-Río, Vanesa; Blanco, Ricardo; Mesquida, Marina; Adan, Alfredo M; Herreras, José M; Aparicio, Ángel; Peiteado-Lopez, Diana; Cordero-Coma, Miguel; García Serrano, José Luis; Ortego-Centeno, Norberto; Maíz, Olga; Blanco, Ana; Sánchez-Bursón, Juan; González-Suárez, Senén; Fonollosa, Alejandro; Santos-Gómez, Montserrat; González-Vela, Carmen; Loricera, Javier; Pina, Trinitario; González-Gay, Miguel A

    2015-12-01

    To assess anti-TNF-α therapy response in uveitis associated with sarcoidosis refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Open-label, multicenter, retrospective study on patients with sarcoid uveitis who underwent anti-TNF-α therapy because of inadequate response to conventional therapy including corticosteroids and at least 1 systemic synthetic immunosuppressive drug. The main outcome measurements were degree of anterior and posterior chamber inflammation, visual acuity, macular thickness, and immunosuppression load. A total of 17 patients (8 men; 29 affected eyes; mean ± standard deviation age 38.4 ± 16.8; range: 13-76 years) were studied. The patients had bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (58.8%), lung parenchyma involvement (47.1%), peripheral lymph nodes (41.2%), and involvement of other organs (52.9%). Angiotensin-converting enzyme was elevated in 58.8%. The most frequent ocular pattern was bilateral chronic relapsing panuveitis. The first biologic agent used was adalimumab in 10 (58.8%) and infliximab in 7 (41.2%) cases. Infliximab 5mg/kg intravenously every 4-8 weeks and adalimumab 40mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks were the most common administration patterns. In most cases anti-TNF-α therapy was given in combination with immunosuppressive drugs. The mean duration of follow-up was 33.9 ± 17.1 months. Significant improvement was observed following anti-TNF-α therapy. Baseline results versus results at 2 years from the onset of biologic therapy were the following: the median of cells in the ocular anterior chamber (interquartile range-IQR) 0.5 (0-2) versus 0 (0-0) (p = 0.003), vitritis 0 (0-1.25) versus 0 (0-0) (p = 0.008), macular thickness (391.1 ± 58.8 versus 247 ± 40.5µm) (p = 0.028), and visual acuity 0.60 ± 0.33 versus 0.74 ± 0.27; p = 0.009. The median daily (interquartile range) dose of prednisone was also reduced from 10 (0-30)mg at the onset of the anti-TNF-α therapy to 0 (0-0)mg at 2 years (p = 0.02). Significant reduction was

  6. Cell-type–restricted anti-cytokine therapy: TNF inhibition from one pathogenic source

    PubMed Central

    Efimov, Grigory A.; Kruglov, Andrei A.; Khlopchatnikova, Zoya V.; Rozov, Fedor N.; Mokhonov, Vladislav V.; Rose-John, Stefan; Scheller, Jürgen; Gordon, Siamon; Stacey, Martin; Drutskaya, Marina S.; Tillib, Sergei V.; Nedospasov, Sergei A.

    2016-01-01

    Overexpression of TNF contributes to pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases, accounting for a remarkable success of anti-TNF therapy. TNF is produced by a variety of cell types, and it can play either a beneficial or a deleterious role. In particular, in autoimmunity pathogenic TNF may be derived from restricted cellular sources. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of cell-type–restricted TNF inhibition in vivo. To this end, we engineered MYSTI (Myeloid-Specific TNF Inhibitor)—a recombinant bispecific antibody that binds to the F4/80 surface molecule on myeloid cells and to human TNF (hTNF). In macrophage cultures derived from TNF humanized mice MYSTI could capture the secreted hTNF, limiting its bioavailability. Additionally, as evaluated in TNF humanized mice, MYSTI was superior to an otherwise analogous systemic TNF inhibitor in protecting mice from lethal LPS/D-Galactosamine–induced hepatotoxicity. Our results suggest a novel and more specific approach to inhibiting TNF in pathologies primarily driven by macrophage-derived TNF. PMID:26936954

  7. Anti-TNF therapy induced immune neutropenia in Crohns disease- report of 2 cases and review of literature.

    PubMed

    Sebastian, Shaji; Ashton, Katherine; Houston, Yasmine; Diggory, Tina Mary; Dore, Philip

    2012-07-01

    Transient neutropenia is reported in some patients on biologic therapy. We report two cases of severe neutropenia in patients with Crohn`s disease following treatment with anti-TNF therapy. In both cases neutrophil specific granulocyte autoantibodies were detected during period of neutropenia and disappeared on cessation of anti-TNF therapy. These may indicate that anti-TNF agents may produce autoimmune agranulocytosis by triggering production granulocyte autoantibodies. The long term management strategy for patients with anti-TNF therapy induced autoimmune neutropenia is uncertain. Copyright © 2012 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Dendritic cell activation enhances anti-PD-1 mediated immunotherapy against glioblastoma.

    PubMed

    Garzon-Muvdi, Tomas; Theodros, Debebe; Luksik, Andrew S; Maxwell, Russell; Kim, Eileen; Jackson, Christopher M; Belcaid, Zineb; Ganguly, Sudipto; Tyler, Betty; Brem, Henry; Pardoll, Drew M; Lim, Michael

    2018-04-17

    The glioblastoma (GBM) immune microenvironment is highly suppressive as it targets and hinders multiple components of the immune system. Checkpoint blockade (CB) is being evaluated for GBM patients. However, biomarker analyses suggest that CB monotherapy may be effective only in a small fraction of GBM patients. We hypothesized that activation of antigen presentation would increase the therapeutic response to PD-1 blockade. We show that activating DCs through TLR3 agonists enhances the anti-tumor immune response to CB and increases survival in GBM. Mice treated with TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) and anti-PD-1 demonstrated increased DC activation and increased T cell proliferation in tumor draining lymph nodes. We show that DCs are necessary for the improved anti-tumor immune response. This study suggests that augmenting antigen presentation is an effective multimodal immunotherapy strategy that intensifies anti-tumor responses in GBM. Specifically, these data represent an expanded role for TLR3 agonists as adjuvants to CB. Using a preclinical model of GBM, we tested the efficacy of combinatorial immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 and TLR3 agonist, poly(I:C). Characterization of the immune response in tumor infiltrating immune cells and in secondary lymphoid organs was performed. Additionally, dendritic cell (DC) depletion experiments were performed.

  9. Effect of Anti-TNF Agents on Postoperative Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: a Single Institution Experience.

    PubMed

    Shwaartz, Chaya; Fields, Adam C; Sobrero, Maximiliano; Cohen, Brian D; Divino, Celia M

    2016-09-01

    Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents have been an integral part in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. However, a subset of inflammatory bowel disease patients ultimately requires surgery and up to 30 % of them have undergone treatment with anti-TNF agents. Studies assessing the effect of anti-TNF agents on postoperative outcomes have been inconsistent. The aim of this study is to assess postoperative morbidity in inflammatory bowel disease patients who underwent surgery with anti-TNF therapy prior to surgery. This is a retrospective review of 282 patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergoing intestinal surgery between 2013 and 2015 at the Mount Sinai Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups based on treatment with anti-TNF agents (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab) within 8 weeks of surgery. Thirty-day postoperative outcomes were recorded. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out. Seventy-three patients were treated with anti-TNF therapy within 8 weeks of surgery while 209 patients did not have exposure. Thirty-day anastomotic leak, intra-abdominal abscess, wound infection, extra-abdominal infection, readmission, and mortality rates were not significantly different between the two groups. The use of anti-TNF medications in inflammatory bowel disease patients within 2 months of intestinal surgery is not associated with an increased risk of 30-day postoperative complications.

  10. Systematic review: predicting and optimising response to anti-TNF therapy in Crohn's disease - algorithm for practical management.

    PubMed

    Ding, N S; Hart, A; De Cruz, P

    2016-01-01

    Nonresponse and loss of response to anti-TNF therapies in Crohn's disease represent significant clinical problems for which clear management guidelines are lacking. To review the incidence, mechanisms and predictors of primary nonresponse and secondary loss of response to formulate practical clinical algorithms to guide management. Through a systematic literature review, 503 articles were identified which fit the inclusion criteria. Primary nonresponse to anti-TNF treatment affects 13-40% of patients. Secondary loss of response to anti-TNF occurs in 23-46% of patients when determined according to dose intensification, and 5-13% of patients when gauged by drug discontinuation rates. Recent evidence suggests that the mechanisms underlying primary nonresponse and secondary loss of response are multifactorial and include disease characteristics (phenotype, location, severity); drug (pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic or immunogenicity) and treatment strategy (dosing regimen) related factors. Clinical algorithms that employ therapeutic drug monitoring (using anti-TNF tough levels and anti-drug antibody levels) may be used to determine the underlying cause of primary nonresponse and secondary loss of response respectively and guide clinicians as to which patients are most likely to respond to anti-TNF therapy and help optimise drug therapy for those who are losing response to anti-TNF therapy. Nonresponse or loss of response to anti-TNF occurs commonly in Crohn's disease. Clinical algorithms utilising therapeutic drug monitoring may establish the mechanisms for treatment failure and help guide the subsequent therapeutic approach. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Effects of local nasal immunotherapy in allergic airway inflammation: Using urea denatured Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

    PubMed Central

    Yu, Sheng-Jie; Liao, En-Chih; Tsai, Jaw-Ji

    2015-01-01

    Despite improvements in anti-allergy medication, the prevalence of allergic airway inflammation remains high, affecting up to 40% of the population worldwide. Allergen immunotherapy is effective for inducing tolerance but has the adverse effect of severe allergic reaction. This can be avoided by denaturing with urea. In this study, we demonstrated that the serum level of allergen-specific IgE in mice sensitized with native Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) crude extract after receiving local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) with urea-denatured Der p crude extract (DN-Dp) significantly decreased compared to that in the normal saline (NS) treatment group. Expressions of IL-4 were significantly reduced in lung tissues after treatment. Inflammation around the bronchial epithelium improved and airway hypersensitivity was down-regulated. LNIT with DN-Dp can down-regulate IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-a expression and then decrease Der p-induced allergic airway inflammation. This therapeutic modality may be used as an alternative treatment for airway allergic diseases. PMID:25933184

  12. Psoriasiform Skin Lesions Are Caused by Anti-TNF Agents Used for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

    PubMed

    George, Lauren A; Gadani, Akash; Cross, Raymond K; Jambaulikar, Guruprasad; Ghazi, Leyla J

    2015-11-01

    Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been associated with the development of psoriasiform skin lesions. We assessed the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with and outcomes of patients with anti-TNF-induced psoriasiform lesions. Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) receiving treatment with anti-TNF therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, or certolizumab pegol) at a tertiary referral center were identified using an IRB-approved clinical data repository. Patients that developed psoriasiform skin lesions after initiation of anti-TNF therapy were included as cases. A group of anti-TNF-treated patients without drug-related psoriasiform lesions were identified as controls. The association between demographic and clinical variables and psoriasiform lesions was assessed using Chi-square analyses and multivariable logistic regression. Five hundred twenty-one patients with IBD undergoing treatment with anti-TNF therapy were identified; of these, 18 (3.5%) had psoriasiform lesions (16 CD and 2 UC). Seventy-two patients were identified as controls. Lesions developed a mean of 58 weeks (range 4-240 weeks) after starting anti-TNF therapy. The majority of patients were female and Caucasian (63 and 78%, respectively). Thirty-nine percent of patients had upper tract disease location. Forty-five patients (50%) were current or former smokers. Location of psoriasiform lesions included palmo-plantar (53%), trunk (47%), and scalp (53%), with 88% reporting involvement of ≥2 locations. Treatment of psoriasiform lesions was instituted with topical therapy in eight patients and systemic therapy (± phototherapy) in five patients. Discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy was recommended in nine patients (50%); of those, three were retreated with a second anti-TNF agent and all had recurrence of psoriasiform lesions. When adjusted for multiple variables, upper GI tract disease was significantly

  13. Superior outcomes for military ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with anti-TNF.

    PubMed

    Rees, Jonathan D; Bennett, A N; Harris, D; Jones, T

    2014-12-01

    The British military has a cohort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) characterised by young age and short disease duration. Many of the most severely affected AS patients have been treated since 2005 at Headley Court with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in accordance with National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance. We wanted to prospectively determine both the safety and efficacy of this new treatment in our British military population and compare this with relevant civilian study outcome data. All AS patients commenced on anti-TNF therapy at Headley Court were prospectively monitored for treatment efficacy and side effects. Outcome measures used included the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index. Our results were compared with a civilian comparison group (NHS) and relevant landmark clinical trial data. Our patients were younger (mean age 34.7 years) and had a shorter duration (mean disease duration 6.9 years) than the civilian (NHS) comparison group. Our safety data were extremely benign with only two patients suffering minor side effects (local injection site reaction). Furthermore, our outcome data were superior to both NHS routine care and to landmark clinical studies. Prior to this study, there were no data on military AS populations receiving anti-TNF therapy. The study confirms British military patients tolerate this therapy extremely well and receive greater benefit from this treatment than that seen in any published study to date. We believe that this confirms that young age and short disease duration are good prognostic factors in the treatment of AS with anti-TNF therapy. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  14. Clinical Outcomes of Golimumab as First, Second or Third Anti-TNF Agent in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis.

    PubMed

    Taxonera, Carlos; Rodríguez, Cristina; Bertoletti, Federico; Menchén, Luís; Arribas, Julia; Sierra, Mónica; Arias, Lara; Martínez-Montiel, Pilar; Juan, Alba; Iglesias, Eva; Algaba, Alicia; Manceñido, Noemí; Rivero, Montserrat; Barreiro-de Acosta, Manuel; López-Serrano, Pilar; Argüelles-Arias, Federico; Gutierrez, Ana; Busquets, David; Gisbert, Javier P; Olivares, David; Calvo, Marta; Alba, Cristina

    2017-08-01

    Golimumab efficacy data in ulcerative colitis (UC) are limited to anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNF)-naive patients. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term and long-term efficacy of golimumab used as first, second, or third anti-TNF in UC in a real-life clinical setting. This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with moderate-to-severe UC treated with golimumab. The primary efficacy endpoints were short-term partial Mayo score response, long-term golimumab failure-free survival, and colectomy-free survival. In 142 patients with UC, golimumab was administered as first (40%), second (23%), or third anti-TNF (37%). Ninety-two patients (65%, 95% confidence interval 56.6-73) achieved short-term clinical response. Forty-five patients (32%, 95% confidence interval 23.7-39.7) achieved clinical remission. Response rates for golimumab were 75% as first anti-TNF, 70% as second anti-TNF (ns versus first anti-TNF), and 50% as third anti-TNF (P = 0.007 versus first anti-TNF). After 12 months median follow-up (interquartile range 6-18), 60 patients (42%, 95% confidence interval 34-51) had golimumab failure, and 15 patients (11%) needed colectomy. Thirty-one patients (22%) needed golimumab dose escalation, and 71% of these regained response after escalation. Starting maintenance with 100 mg golimumab doses and short-term nonresponse were independent predictors of golimumab failure. In this real-life cohort of patients with UC, golimumab therapy was effective for inducing and maintaining clinical response. Although anti-TNF-naive patients had better outcomes, golimumab was also effective in anti-TNF-experienced patients. Only the patients given golimumab after previous failure of 2 anti-TNF agents had significantly worse outcomes. Golimumab dose escalation was beneficial and safe.

  15. Significant sE-Selectin levels reduction after 6 months of anti-TNF-α therapy in non-diabetic patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

    PubMed

    Genre, Fernanda; Armesto, Susana; Corrales, Alfonso; López-Mejías, Raquel; Remuzgo-Martínez, Sara; Pina, Trinitario; Ubilla, Begoña; Mijares, Verónica; Martín-Varillas, José Luis; Rueda-Gotor, Javier; Portilla, Virginia; Dierssen-Sotos, Trinidad; González-López, Marcos Antonio; González-Vela, María Del Carmen; Blanco, Ricardo; Llorca, Javier; Hernández, José Luis; González-Gay, Miguel Ángel

    2017-12-01

    Psoriasis patients have high risk of atherosclerosis, characterized by endothelial dysfunction. We aimed to study the association of the endothelial activation biomarkers monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), soluble (s) E-selectin and P-selectin with disease activity and severity in psoriasis patients treated with anti-TNF-α therapy. Also, to evaluate the relationship of metabolic syndrome features with these biomarkers and the effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on these molecules. Twenty-nine consecutive non-diabetic patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who underwent 6 months of anti-TNF-α-adalimumab therapy were studied. Metabolic and clinical evaluation was performed prior to anti-TNF-α treatment (time 0) and 6 months later. MCP-1, sE-selectin and sP-selectin serum levels were determined by ELISA. Dyslipidemic and obese patients showed higher MCP-1 levels at month 6 from the onset of anti-TNF-α therapy (p = .05 and .01, respectively). sE-selectin positively correlated with pro-inflammatory molecules such as asymmetric dimethylarginine, sP-selectin and resistin at baseline and month 6 (p < .05). sE-selectin levels significantly reduced after 6 months of therapy (p = .0006). Metabolic syndrome features are associated with endothelial activation in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Adalimumab therapy led to a reduction in sE-selectin levels, supporting the beneficial effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on mechanisms associated with the development of atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

  16. Effect of postponed treatment with an anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) F(ab')2 fragment on endotoxin-induced cytokine and neutrophil responses in chimpanzees.

    PubMed Central

    van der Poll, T; Levi, M; ten Cate, H; Jansen, J; Biemond, B J; Haagmans, B L; Eerenberg, A; van Deventer, S J; Hack, C E; ten Cate, J W

    1995-01-01

    TNF is considered to be an intermediate factor in endotoxin-induced release of other cytokines and endotoxin-induced neutrophil degranulation. Little is known about the effect of postponed treatment with anti-TNF in primate endotoxin models. To assess the effect of delayed treatment with anti-TNF in endotoxaemia, six healthy adult chimpanzees were intravenously injected with Escherichia coli endotoxin (4 ng/kg). In three of these animals the administration of endotoxin was followed after 30 min by a bolus i.v. injection of the anti-TNF F(ab')2 fragment MAK 195F (0.1 mg/kg). Post-treatment with MAK 195F completely prevented the appearance of TNF activity in serum elicited by endotoxin, and markedly reduced the rises in the serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8. In addition, the endotoxin-induced increases in the type I and type II soluble TNF receptors were also profoundly inhibited by MAK 195F, suggesting that TNF is involved in the release of its own soluble receptors in endotoxaemia. Neutrophilic leucocytosis was not affected by MAK 195F. In contrast, MAK 195F did significantly abrogate neutrophil degranulation, as measured by the plasma concentrations of lactoferrin. These results indicate that treatment with anti-TNF 30 min after the administration of endotoxin is still effective in attenuating the induction of the cytokine network and of neutrophil degranulation. PMID:7697917

  17. Effect of anti-TNF treatment on body composition and serum adiponectin levels of women with rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Serelis, John; Kontogianni, Meropi D; Katsiougiannis, Stergios; Bletsa, Maria; Tektonidou, Maria G; Skopouli, Fotini N

    2008-06-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) treatment on body composition and serum adiponectin levels of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nineteen women with RA starting anti-TNF treatment were included in the study. Disease activity, body composition, lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) and serum adiponectin concentrations were measured at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up. No important changes on body composition and lumbar spine BMD were observed, while the serum levels of adiponectin levels increased after 1 year of anti-TNF treatment (p = 0.02). Anti-TNF treatment in women with RA does not have any significant effect on body composition; however, it is associated with increase in adiponectin levels which may ameliorate the systemic inflammatory response state associated with RA.

  18. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase TNF production in rheumatoid synovial membrane cultures and whole blood.

    PubMed

    Page, Theresa H; Turner, Jeremy J O; Brown, Anthony C; Timms, Emma M; Inglis, Julia J; Brennan, Fionula M; Foxwell, Brian M J; Ray, Keith P; Feldmann, Marc

    2010-09-15

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenase activity and hence PG production. However, the ability of NSAIDs to ameliorate pain and tenderness does not prevent disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis, a disease whose pathogenesis is linked to the presence of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha. To understand this observation, we have examined the effect of NSAIDs on the production of clinically validated proinflammatory cytokines. We show that a variety of NSAIDs superinduce production of TNF from human peripheral blood monocytes and rheumatoid synovial membrane cultures. A randomized, double-blinded, crossover, placebo-controlled trial in healthy human volunteers also revealed that the NSAID drug celecoxib increased LPS-induced TNF production in whole blood. NSAID-mediated increases in TNF are reversed by either the addition of exogenous PGE(2) or by a PGE(2) EP2 receptor agonist, revealing that PGE(2) signaling via its EP2 receptor provides a valuable mechanism for controlling excess TNF production. Thus, by reducing the level of PGE(2), NSAIDs can increase TNF production and may exacerbate the proinflammatory environment both within the rheumatoid arthritis joint and the systemic environment.

  19. Outcome of tacrolimus and vedolizumab after corticosteroid and anti-TNF failure in paediatric severe colitis.

    PubMed

    Hamel, Blaise; Wu, May; Hamel, Elizabeth O; Bass, Dorsey M; Park, K T

    2018-01-01

    Severe colitis flare from ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) may be refractory to corticosteroids and antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents resulting in high colectomy rates. We aimed to describe the utility of tacrolimus to prevent colectomy during second-line vedolizumab initiation after corticosteroid and anti-TNF treatment failure in paediatric severe colitis. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed between 1 October 2014 and 31 October 2016 at a single tertiary care centre. Inclusion criteria were patients with severe colitis who received tacrolimus before or during vedolizumab induction and previous exposure to anti-TNF therapy with or without corticosteroids. The initiation of tacrolimus was clinician dependent based on an institutional protocol. Twelve patients (10 UC, two CD; median age 16 years; three female) received at least one dose of vedolizumab 10 mg/kg (max of 300 mg) due to anti-TNF therapy failure and persistent flare not responsive to corticosteroids. Of the 12 patients, eight (67%) and four (33%) had failed one or two anti-TNF agents, respectively. Tacrolimus was initiated for acute disease severity during hospitalisation (58%) or ongoing flare during outpatient care (42%). 9 (75%) of 12 patients avoided colectomy or inflammatory bowel disease-related surgery at 24 weeks and eight (68%) continued on vedolizumab maintenance with no adverse events out to 80 weeks. We report real-world data on the outcome of tacrolimus around vedolizumab initiation in paediatric UC or CD after corticosteroid and anti-TNF therapy treatment failure. Our pilot experience indicates a potential benefit of concomitant tacrolimus when initiating vedolizumab therapy.

  20. Extraintestinal Manifestations of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prevalence, Presentation, and Anti-TNF Treatment.

    PubMed

    Greuter, Thomas; Bertoldo, Fabio; Rechner, Roman; Straumann, Alex; Biedermann, Luc; Zeitz, Jonas; Misselwitz, Benjamin; Scharl, Michael; Rogler, Gerhard; Safroneeva, Ekaterina; Ali, Raja A R; Braegger, Christian; Heyland, Klaas; Mueller, Pascal; Nydegger, Andreas; Petit, Laetitia-Marie; Schibli, Susanne; Furlano, Raoul I; Spalinger, Johannes; Schäppi, Michela; Zamora, Samuel; Froehlich, Florian; Herzog, Denise; Schoepfer, Alain M; Vavricka, Stephan R

    2017-08-01

    There is a paucity of data on extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) and their treatment in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Since 2008, the Pediatric Swiss IBD Cohort Study has collected data on the pediatric IBD population in Switzerland. Data on 329 patients were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 55 patients (16.7%) experienced 1-4 EIM (39 Crohn disease, 12 ulcerative colitis, and 4 IBD-unclassified patients). At IBD onset, presence of EIM was more frequent than in the adult population (8.5% vs 5.0%, P = 0.014). EIM were more frequent in Crohn disease when compared to ulcerative colitis/IBD-unclassified (22.5% vs 10.3%, P = 0.003). The most prevalent EIM were peripheral arthritis (26/329, 7.9%) and aphthous stomatitis (24/329, 7.3%). Approximately 27.6% of all EIM appeared before IBD diagnosis. Median time between IBD diagnosis and occurrence of first EIM was 1 month (-37.5-149.0). Thirty-one of the 55 patients (56.4%) were treated with 1 or more anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. IBD patients with EIM were more likely to be treated with anti-TNF compared to those without (56.4% vs 35.0%, P = 0.003). Response rates to anti-TNF depended on underlying EIM and were best for peripheral arthritis (61.5%) and uveitis (66.7%). In a cohort of pediatric patients with IBD, EIM were frequently encountered. In up to 30%, EIM appeared before IBD diagnosis. Knowledge of these findings may translate into an increased awareness of underlying IBD, thereby decreasing diagnostic delay. Anti-TNF for the treatment of certain EIM is effective, although a substantial proportion of new EIM may present despite ongoing anti-TNF therapy.

  1. Autophagy Contributes to the Induction of Anti-TNF Induced Macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Levin, Alon D.; Koelink, Pim J.; Bloemendaal, Felicia M.; Vos, Anne Christine W.; D’Haens, Geert R.; van den Brink, Gijs R.

    2016-01-01

    Background and Aims: Anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] antibodies induce regulatory macrophages which display a phenotype resembling M2 type macrophages. Anti-TNF induced macrophages [Mϕind] have immunosuppressive and wound healing properties. The factors that contribute to the induction of Mϕind remain to be explored. Autophagy has been described as a factor that is important for the induction and function of M2 type macrophages. We studied the contribution of autophagy to the induction of Mϕind. Methods: We studied the effect of autophagy on Mϕind in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Interferon gamma [IFN-γ] induced macrophages [Mφ1] were generated by culturing monocytes in the presence of IFN-γ. Mϕind were generated by performing mixed lymphocyte reactions [MLR] in the presence of anti-TNF antibodies; 28 healthy donors were genotyped for rs_2241880 [ATG16L1]. Cells were analysed by autophagy gene array, immunofluorescence, western blot, flowcytometry, 3H-thymidine incorporation and MTS assay. Results: Mϕind had a different expression profile of autophagy related transcripts with increased expression of 33/40 altered genes compared with Mφ1. In addition, autophagic activity was increased in Mϕind compared with Mφ1. Induction of Mϕind was positively correlated to the number of wild-type alleles for the ATG16L1 T300A risk allele present in the culture. Finally, the autophagy-related protein cathepsin S was highly expressed in Mφind and inhibition resulted in decreased viability as well as decreased expression of CD206. Conclusions: Mϕind have increased levels of autophagy compared with inflammatory Mφ1, and the induction of these macrophages is impaired in donors carrying the T300A risk allele for the ATG16L1. Given the association between Mϕind and clinical response, this suggests that an intact autophagy pathway may be important for an optimal response to anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. PMID:26417049

  2. A human monoclonal anti-TNF alpha antibody (adalimumab) reduces airway inflammation and ameliorates lung histology in a murine model of acute asthma.

    PubMed

    Catal, F; Mete, E; Tayman, C; Topal, E; Albayrak, A; Sert, H

    2015-01-01

    A few experimental studies related to asthma have unveiled the beneficial effects of TNF alpha blocking agents on the airway histology, cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. In the current study, we aimed to assess the effect of adalimumab on the inflammation and histology of asthma in a murine model. Twelve-week-old BALB/c (H-2d/d) female rats (n=18) were allocated into three groups, including (group I) control (phosphate-buffered saline was implemented), (group II) asthma induced with OVA (n=6), and (group III) asthma induced with OVA+treated with adalimumab (n=6). Rats were executed on the 28th day of the study. The lung samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Lung parenchyma, alveolus, peribronchial and perivascular inflammation were assessed. Lung pathological scoring was performed. Severity of lung damage was found to be reduced significantly in the asthma induced with OVA+treated with adalimumab group. When compared with the untreated group, adalimumab significantly reduced the inflammatory cells around the bronchi and bronchioles, and reduced inflammation of the alveolar wall and alveolar wall thickness as well (median score=1, p=0.52). Peribronchial smooth muscle hypertrophy and oedema were significantly reduced after adalimumab administration. Adalimumab (a human monoclonal anti-TNF alpha antibody) therapy significantly reduced the severity of lung damage by decreasing cellular infiltration and improvement on the lung histology in a murine model of acute asthma. Copyright © 2013 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  3. Gene expression profile predicting the response to anti-TNF treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; analysis of GEO datasets.

    PubMed

    Kim, Tae-Hwan; Choi, Sung Jae; Lee, Young Ho; Song, Gwan Gyu; Ji, Jong Dae

    2014-07-01

    Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy is the treatment of choice for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in whom standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are ineffective. However, a substantial proportion of RA patients treated with anti-TNF agents do not show a significant clinical response. Therefore, biomarkers predicting response to anti-TNF agents are needed. Recently, gene expression profiling has been applied in research for developing such biomarkers. We compared gene expression profiles reported by previous studies dealing with the responsiveness of anti-TNF therapy in RA patients and attempted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that discriminated between responders and non-responders to anti-TNF therapy. We used microarray datasets available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). This analysis included 6 studies and 5 sets of microarray data that used peripheral blood samples for identification of DEGs predicting response to anti-TNF therapy. We found little overlap in the DEGs that were highly ranked in each study. Three DEGs including IL2RB, SH2D2A and G0S2 appeared in more than 1 study. In addition, a meta-analysis designed to increase statistical power found one DEG, G0S2 by the Fisher's method. Our finding suggests the possibility that G0S2 plays as a biomarker to predict response to anti-TNF therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Further investigations based on larger studies are therefore needed to confirm the significance of G0S2 in predicting response to anti-TNF therapy. Copyright © 2014 Société française de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

  4. Potential Impact of Diet on Treatment Effect from Anti-TNF Drugs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    PubMed Central

    Andersen, Vibeke; Hansen, Axel Kornerup; Heitmann, Berit Lilienthal

    2017-01-01

    We wanted to investigate the current knowledge on the impact of diet on anti-TNF response in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), to identify dietary factors that warrant further investigations in relation to anti-TNF treatment response, and, finally, to discuss potential strategies for such investigations. PubMed was searched using specified search terms. One small prospective study on diet and anti-TNF treatment in 56 patients with CD found similar remission rates after 56 weeks among 32 patients with good compliance that received concomitant enteral nutrition and 24 with poor compliance that had no dietary restrictions (78% versus 67%, p = 0.51). A meta-analysis of 295 patients found higher odds of achieving clinical remission and remaining in clinical remission among patients on combination therapy with specialised enteral nutrition and Infliximab (IFX) compared with IFX monotherapy (OR 2.73; 95% CI: 1.73–4.31, p < 0.01, OR 2.93; 95% CI: 1.66–5.17, p < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, evidence-based knowledge on impact of diet on anti-TNF treatment response for clinical use is scarce. Here we propose a mechanism by which Western style diet high in meat and low in fibre may promote colonic inflammation and potentially impact treatment response to anti-TNF drugs. Further studies using hypothesis-driven and data-driven strategies in prospective observational, animal and interventional studies are warranted. PMID:28294972

  5. Non-inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid delays the diagnosis and start of immunotherapy in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

    PubMed

    Espinola-Nadurille, Mariana; Bautista-Gomez, Paola; Flores, Jose; Rivas-Alonso, Veronica; Perez-Esparza, Rodrigo; Solís-Vivanco, Rodolfo; Vargas-Cañas, Steven

    2018-01-01

    Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a form of autoimmune encephalopathy that presents with a wide variety of symptoms, including neuropsychiatric manifestations. The authors' aim for this study was to analyze the results of paraclinical studies of patients with a diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and the association between symptom onset and diagnosis, and start of immunotherapy. Retrospective data of 29 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were gathered and analyzed. Abnormal EEG was found in 27 patients (93.1%), whereas MRI was abnormal in 19 patients (65.5%). In contrast, an inflammatory pattern on CSF analysis was found in only 13 patients (44.8%). The absence of pleocytosis or increased proteins in the CSF was associated with a longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment (p = 0.003). The authors conclude that noninflammatory CSF may delay the correct diagnosis and start of immunotherapy in anti-NMDAR encephalitis. In the presence of suggestive clinical features, extensive studies including EEG are recommended.

  6. Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Conjugation on Anti-TNF-alpha Inhibition of Inflammation in Burns

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-05-01

    Effects of hyaluronic acid conjugation on anti-TNF-α inhibition of inflammation in burns Emily E. Friedrich1, Liang Tso Sun1, Shanmugasundaram...alone, mixed with hyaluronic acid or conjugated to hyaluronic acid . We found that non-conjugated anti-TNF-α decreased macrophage infiltration to a...greater extent than that conjugated to hyaluronic acid ; however there was little effect on the degree of progression or IL-1β levels. A simple transport

  7. Crowdsourced assessment of common genetic contribution to predicting anti-TNF treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Sieberts, Solveig K; Zhu, Fan; García-García, Javier; Stahl, Eli; Pratap, Abhishek; Pandey, Gaurav; Pappas, Dimitrios; Aguilar, Daniel; Anton, Bernat; Bonet, Jaume; Eksi, Ridvan; Fornés, Oriol; Guney, Emre; Li, Hongdong; Marín, Manuel Alejandro; Panwar, Bharat; Planas-Iglesias, Joan; Poglayen, Daniel; Cui, Jing; Falcao, Andre O; Suver, Christine; Hoff, Bruce; Balagurusamy, Venkat S K; Dillenberger, Donna; Neto, Elias Chaibub; Norman, Thea; Aittokallio, Tero; Ammad-Ud-Din, Muhammad; Azencott, Chloe-Agathe; Bellón, Víctor; Boeva, Valentina; Bunte, Kerstin; Chheda, Himanshu; Cheng, Lu; Corander, Jukka; Dumontier, Michel; Goldenberg, Anna; Gopalacharyulu, Peddinti; Hajiloo, Mohsen; Hidru, Daniel; Jaiswal, Alok; Kaski, Samuel; Khalfaoui, Beyrem; Khan, Suleiman Ali; Kramer, Eric R; Marttinen, Pekka; Mezlini, Aziz M; Molparia, Bhuvan; Pirinen, Matti; Saarela, Janna; Samwald, Matthias; Stoven, Véronique; Tang, Hao; Tang, Jing; Torkamani, Ali; Vert, Jean-Phillipe; Wang, Bo; Wang, Tao; Wennerberg, Krister; Wineinger, Nathan E; Xiao, Guanghua; Xie, Yang; Yeung, Rae; Zhan, Xiaowei; Zhao, Cheng; Greenberg, Jeff; Kremer, Joel; Michaud, Kaleb; Barton, Anne; Coenen, Marieke; Mariette, Xavier; Miceli, Corinne; Shadick, Nancy; Weinblatt, Michael; de Vries, Niek; Tak, Paul P; Gerlag, Danielle; Huizinga, Tom W J; Kurreeman, Fina; Allaart, Cornelia F; Louis Bridges, S; Criswell, Lindsey; Moreland, Larry; Klareskog, Lars; Saevarsdottir, Saedis; Padyukov, Leonid; Gregersen, Peter K; Friend, Stephen; Plenge, Robert; Stolovitzky, Gustavo; Oliva, Baldo; Guan, Yuanfang; Mangravite, Lara M; Bridges, S Louis; Criswell, Lindsey; Moreland, Larry; Klareskog, Lars; Saevarsdottir, Saedis; Padyukov, Leonid; Gregersen, Peter K; Friend, Stephen; Plenge, Robert; Stolovitzky, Gustavo; Oliva, Baldo; Guan, Yuanfang; Mangravite, Lara M

    2016-08-23

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects millions world-wide. While anti-TNF treatment is widely used to reduce disease progression, treatment fails in ∼one-third of patients. No biomarker currently exists that identifies non-responders before treatment. A rigorous community-based assessment of the utility of SNP data for predicting anti-TNF treatment efficacy in RA patients was performed in the context of a DREAM Challenge (http://www.synapse.org/RA_Challenge). An open challenge framework enabled the comparative evaluation of predictions developed by 73 research groups using the most comprehensive available data and covering a wide range of state-of-the-art modelling methodologies. Despite a significant genetic heritability estimate of treatment non-response trait (h(2)=0.18, P value=0.02), no significant genetic contribution to prediction accuracy is observed. Results formally confirm the expectations of the rheumatology community that SNP information does not significantly improve predictive performance relative to standard clinical traits, thereby justifying a refocusing of future efforts on collection of other data.

  8. Effect of 1-year anti-TNF-α therapy on aortic stiffness, carotid atherosclerosis, and calprotectin in inflammatory arthropathies: a controlled study.

    PubMed

    Angel, Kristin; Provan, Sella A; Fagerhol, Magne K; Mowinckel, Petter; Kvien, Tore K; Atar, Dan

    2012-06-01

    Premature arterial stiffening and atherosclerosis are increased in patients with inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The proinflammatory protein calprotectin is associated with inflammatory arthropathies, vascular pathology, and acute coronary events. We examined the long-term effects of treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonists on aortic stiffness and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with inflammatory arthropathies, and the relationships to the levels of calprotectin. Fifty-five patients with RA, AS, or PsA and a clinical indication for anti-TNF-α therapy were included and followed with regular examinations for 1 year. Thirty-six patients starting with anti-TNF-α therapy were compared with a nontreatment group of 19 patients. Examinations included assessments of aortic stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity, aPWV), CIMT, and plasma calprotectin. After 1 year, aPWV (mean (s.d.)) was improved in the treatment group, but not in the control group (-0.54 [0.79] m/s vs. 0.06 [0.61] m/s, respectively; P = 0.004), and CIMT progression (median (quartile cut-points, 25th and 75th percentiles)) was reduced in the treatment group compared to the control group (-0.002 [-0.038, 0.030] mm vs. 0.030 [0.011, 0.043] mm, respectively; P = 0.01). In multivariable analyses, anti-TNF-α therapy over time was associated with improved aPWV (P = 0.02) and reduced CIMT progression (P = 0.04), and calprotectin was longitudinally associated with aPWV (P = 0.02). Long-term anti-TNF-α therapy improved aortic stiffness and CIMT progression in patients with inflammatory arthropathies. Calprotectin may be a soluble biomarker reflecting aortic stiffening in these patients.

  9. Effect of 1-year anti-TNF-α therapy on aortic stiffness, carotid atherosclerosis, and calprotectin in inflammatory arthropathies: a controlled study

    PubMed Central

    Angel, Kristin

    2012-01-01

    Background Premature arterial stiffening and atherosclerosis are increased in patients with inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The proinflammatory protein calprotectin is associated with inflammatory arthropathies, vascular pathology, and acute coronary events. We examined the long-term effects of treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonists on aortic stiffness and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with inflammatory arthropathies, and the relationships to the levels of calprotectin. Methods Fifty-five patients with RA, AS, or PsA and a clinical indication for anti-TNF-α therapy were included and followed with regular examinations for 1 year. Thirty-six patients starting with anti-TNF-α therapy were compared with a nontreatment group of 19 patients. Examinations included assessments of aortic stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity, aPWV), CIMT, and plasma calprotectin. Results After 1 year, aPWV (mean (s.d.)) was improved in the treatment group, but not in the control group (−0.54 [0.79] m/s vs. 0.06 [0.61] m/s, respectively; P = 0.004), and CIMT progression (median (quartile cut-points, 25th and 75th percentiles)) was reduced in the treatment group compared to the control group (−0.002 [–0.038, 0.030] mm vs. 0.030 [0.011, 0.043] mm, respectively; P = 0.01). In multivariable analyses, anti-TNF-α therapy over time was associated with improved aPWV (P = 0.02) and reduced CIMT progression (P = 0.04), and calprotectin was longitudinally associated with aPWV (P = 0.02). Conclusions Long-term anti-TNF-α therapy improved aortic stiffness and CIMT progression in patients with inflammatory arthropathies. Calprotectin may be a soluble biomarker reflecting aortic stiffening in these patients. PMID:22378036

  10. Minimum effective dosages of anti-TNF in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

    PubMed

    de la Torre, Inmaculada; Valor, Lara; Nieto, Juan Carlos; Montoro, María; Carreño, Luis

    2014-01-01

    To evaluate the modified dosages of anti-TNF in controlling disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) measured by DAS28-ESR. Cross-sectional study: RA patients treated with etanercept (ETN), adalimumab (ADA) or infliximab (IFX), at standard or modified doses. dosage, concomitant disease modifying drugs (DMARDs), DAS28-ESR. 195 RA patients included (79% women, mean age 58.1 years): ETN=81, ADA=56, IFX=58. Mean disease duration and time to first biological treatment was higher in IFX group (P=.01). Patients distribution by dosage: standard: ETN (72.8%), ADA (69.6%), IFX (27.6%); escalated: IFX (69%), ADA (5.4%), ETN (0%); reduced: ETN (27.1%), ADA (25%), IFX (3.4%). Concomitant DMARDs use was lower in ETN (58.2%) than ADA (66.07%) and IFX (79.31%). Higher proportion of responders (DAS28 ≤3.2) in ADA (65.3%) and ETN (61.7%) than IFX (48.3%). RA clinical control can be preserved with modified anti-TNF dosages. Controlled prospective studies should be performed to define when therapy can be tailored and for which patients. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

  11. Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Management of Psoriasis Induced by Anti-TNF Therapy in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Guerra, Iván; Pérez-Jeldres, Tamara; Iborra, Marisa; Algaba, Alicia; Monfort, David; Calvet, Xavier; Chaparro, María; Mañosa, Miriam; Hinojosa, Esther; Minguez, Miguel; Ortiz de Zarate, Jone; Márquez, Lucía; Prieto, Vanessa; García-Sánchez, Valle; Guardiola, Jordi; Rodriguez, G Esther; Martín-Arranz, María Dolores; García-Tercero, Iván; Sicilia, Beatriz; Masedo, Ángeles; Lorente, Rufo; Rivero, Montserrat; Fernández-Salazar, Luis; Gutiérrez, Ana; Van Domselaar, Manuel; López-SanRomán, Antonio; Ber, Yolanda; García-Sepulcre, Marifé; Ramos, Laura; Bermejo, Fernando; Gisbert, Javier P

    2016-04-01

    Psoriasis induced by anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) therapy has been described as a paradoxical side effect. To determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and management of psoriasis induced by anti-TNF therapy in a large nationwide cohort of inflammatory bowel disease patients. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease were identified from the Spanish prospectively maintained Estudio Nacional en Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal sobre Determinantes genéticos y Ambientales registry of Grupo Español de Trabajo en Enfermedad de Croh y Colitis Ulcerosa. Patients who developed psoriasis by anti-TNF drugs were the cases, whereas patients treated with anti-TNFs without psoriasis were controls. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors. Anti-TNF-induced psoriasis was reported in 125 of 7415 patients treated with anti-TNFs (1.7%; 95% CI, 1.4-2). The incidence rate of psoriasis is 0.5% (95% CI, 0.4-0.6) per patient-year. In the multivariate analysis, the female sex (HR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3-2.9) and being a smoker/former smoker (HR 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.3) were associated with an increased risk of psoriasis. The age at start of anti-TNF therapy, type of inflammatory bowel disease, Montreal Classification, and first anti-TNF drug used were not associated with the risk of psoriasis. Topical steroids were the most frequent treatment (70%), achieving clinical response in 78% of patients. Patients switching to another anti-TNF agent resulted in 60% presenting recurrence of psoriasis. In 45 patients (37%), the anti-TNF therapy had to be definitely withdrawn. The incidence rate of psoriasis induced by anti-TNF therapy is higher in women and in smokers/former smokers. In most patients, skin lesions were controlled with topical steroids. More than half of patients switching to another anti-TNF agent had recurrence of psoriasis. In most patients, the anti-TNF therapy could be maintained.

  12. Addition of an extra immunoglobulin domain to two anti-rodent TNF monoclonal antibodies substantially increased their potency.

    PubMed

    Scallon, Bernard; Cai, Ann; Radewonuk, Jennifer; Naso, Michael

    2004-05-01

    The functional valency of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) has important influences on such things as antigen avidity, Fc-mediated immune effector functions, and clearance of immune complexes. cV1q, a neutralizing rat/mouse chimeric anti-mouse tumor necrosis factor (TNF) monoclonal antibody (mAb), and Rt108, a neutralizing mouse anti-rat TNF (anti-raTNF) mAb, appear to be functionally monovalent for TNF-binding despite containing two antigen binding sites. The functional monovalency of these two independent anti-rodent TNF mAbs is presumably a result of steric hindrance from one TNF molecule binding to one Fab arm that prevents binding of a second TNF molecule to the other Fab arm. To test whether this steric hindrance could be overcome by introducing extra space and flexibility between the Fab arms, these mAbs were engineered to contain an extra CH1 immunoglobulin domain between the CH1 and hinge domains of their heavy chains. In vitro binding data showed that, compared to the original mAbs, the modified mAbs (S-mAbs) had greater capability of binding two TNF molecules simultaneously. In vitro activity assays showed that, compared to the original mAbs, the S-mAbs had significantly greater TNF-neutralization potency, with the S-mAb version of cV1q (S-cV1q) being 200-fold more effective at blocking mouse TNF (muTNF) and the S-mAb version of Rt108 (S-Rt108) being 20-fold more effective at blocking raTNF. Similar results were observed in vivo, where S-cV1q was between 100- and 500-fold more protective than cV1q in mice challenged with endotoxin. These data reveal that introduction of another constant region immunoglobulin domain into two unrelated mAbs dramatically enhanced their neutralization potency. Other mAbs may also show more potent activity using this engineering approach, particularly mAbs that recognize homopolymeric antigens.

  13. Vascular alterations in PDAPP mice after anti-Aβ immunotherapy: Implications for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities.

    PubMed

    Zago, Wagner; Schroeter, Sally; Guido, Teresa; Khan, Karen; Seubert, Peter; Yednock, Ted; Schenk, Dale; Gregg, Keith M; Games, Dora; Bard, Frédérique; Kinney, Gene G

    2013-10-01

    Clinical studies of β-amyloid (Aβ) immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have demonstrated reduction of central Aβ plaque by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the appearance of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). To better understand the relationship between ARIA and the pathophysiology of AD, we undertook a series of studies in PDAPP mice evaluating vascular alterations in the context of central Aβ pathology and after anti-Aβ immunotherapy. We analyzed PDAPP mice treated with either 3 mg/kg/week of 3D6, the murine form of bapineuzumab, or isotype control antibodies for periods ranging from 1 to 36 weeks and evaluated the vascular alterations in the context of Aβ pathology and after anti-Aβ immunotherapy. The number of mice in each treatment group ranged from 26 to 39 and a total of 345 animals were analyzed. The central vasculature displayed morphological abnormalities associated with vascular Aβ deposits. Treatment with 3D6 antibody induced clearance of vascular Aβ that was spatially and temporally associated with a transient increase in microhemorrhage and in capillary Aβ deposition. Microhemorrhage resolved over a time period that was associated with a recovery of vascular morphology and a decrease in capillary Aβ accumulation. These data suggest that vascular leakage events, such as microhemorrhage, may be related to the removal of vascular Aβ. With continued treatment, this initial susceptibility period is followed by restoration of vascular morphology and reduced vulnerability to further vascular leakage events. The data collectively suggested a vascular amyloid clearance model of ARIA, which accounts for the currently known risk factors for the incidence of ARIA in clinical studies. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  14. Crowdsourced assessment of common genetic contribution to predicting anti-TNF treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Sieberts, Solveig K.; Zhu, Fan; García-García, Javier; Stahl, Eli; Pratap, Abhishek; Pandey, Gaurav; Pappas, Dimitrios; Aguilar, Daniel; Anton, Bernat; Bonet, Jaume; Eksi, Ridvan; Fornés, Oriol; Guney, Emre; Li, Hongdong; Marín, Manuel Alejandro; Panwar, Bharat; Planas-Iglesias, Joan; Poglayen, Daniel; Cui, Jing; Falcao, Andre O.; Suver, Christine; Hoff, Bruce; Balagurusamy, Venkat S. K.; Dillenberger, Donna; Neto, Elias Chaibub; Norman, Thea; Aittokallio, Tero; Ammad-ud-din, Muhammad; Azencott, Chloe-Agathe; Bellón, Víctor; Boeva, Valentina; Bunte, Kerstin; Chheda, Himanshu; Cheng, Lu; Corander, Jukka; Dumontier, Michel; Goldenberg, Anna; Gopalacharyulu, Peddinti; Hajiloo, Mohsen; Hidru, Daniel; Jaiswal, Alok; Kaski, Samuel; Khalfaoui, Beyrem; Khan, Suleiman Ali; Kramer, Eric R.; Marttinen, Pekka; Mezlini, Aziz M.; Molparia, Bhuvan; Pirinen, Matti; Saarela, Janna; Samwald, Matthias; Stoven, Véronique; Tang, Hao; Tang, Jing; Torkamani, Ali; Vert, Jean-Phillipe; Wang, Bo; Wang, Tao; Wennerberg, Krister; Wineinger, Nathan E.; Xiao, Guanghua; Xie, Yang; Yeung, Rae; Zhan, Xiaowei; Zhao, Cheng; Calaza, Manuel; Elmarakeby, Haitham; Heath, Lenwood S.; Long, Quan; Moore, Jonathan D.; Opiyo, Stephen Obol; Savage, Richard S.; Zhu, Jun; Greenberg, Jeff; Kremer, Joel; Michaud, Kaleb; Barton, Anne; Coenen, Marieke; Mariette, Xavier; Miceli, Corinne; Shadick, Nancy; Weinblatt, Michael; de Vries, Niek; Tak, Paul P.; Gerlag, Danielle; Huizinga, Tom W. J.; Kurreeman, Fina; Allaart, Cornelia F.; Louis Bridges Jr., S.; Criswell, Lindsey; Moreland, Larry; Klareskog, Lars; Saevarsdottir, Saedis; Padyukov, Leonid; Gregersen, Peter K.; Friend, Stephen; Plenge, Robert; Stolovitzky, Gustavo; Oliva, Baldo; Guan, Yuanfang; Mangravite, Lara M.

    2016-01-01

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects millions world-wide. While anti-TNF treatment is widely used to reduce disease progression, treatment fails in ∼one-third of patients. No biomarker currently exists that identifies non-responders before treatment. A rigorous community-based assessment of the utility of SNP data for predicting anti-TNF treatment efficacy in RA patients was performed in the context of a DREAM Challenge (http://www.synapse.org/RA_Challenge). An open challenge framework enabled the comparative evaluation of predictions developed by 73 research groups using the most comprehensive available data and covering a wide range of state-of-the-art modelling methodologies. Despite a significant genetic heritability estimate of treatment non-response trait (h2=0.18, P value=0.02), no significant genetic contribution to prediction accuracy is observed. Results formally confirm the expectations of the rheumatology community that SNP information does not significantly improve predictive performance relative to standard clinical traits, thereby justifying a refocusing of future efforts on collection of other data. PMID:27549343

  15. Advanced generation anti-prostate specific membrane antigen designer T cells for prostate cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Ma, Qiangzhong; Gomes, Erica M; Lo, Agnes Shuk-Yee; Junghans, Richard P

    2014-02-01

    Adoptive immunotherapy by infusion of designer T cells (dTc) engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) for tumoricidal activity represents a potentially highly specific modality for the treatment of cancer. In this study, 2nd generation (gen) anti-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) dTc were developed for improving the efficacy of previously developed 1st gen dTc for prostate cancer immunotherapy. The 1st gen dTc are modified with chimeric immunoglobulin-T cell receptor (IgTCR) while the 2nd gen dTc are engineered with an immunoglobulin-CD28-T cell receptor (IgCD28TCR), which incorporates a CD28 costimulatory signal for optimal T cell activation. A 2nd gen anti-PSMA IgCD28TCR CAR was constructed by inserting the CD28 signal domain into the 1st gen CAR. 1st and 2nd gen anti-PSMA dTc were created by transducing human T cells with anti-PSMA CARs and their antitumor efficacy was compared for specific activation on PSMA-expressing tumor contact, cytotoxicity against PSMA-expressing tumor cells in vitro, and suppression of tumor growth in an animal model. The 2nd gen dTc can be optimally activated to secrete larger amounts of cytokines such as IL2 and IFNγ than 1st gen and to proliferate more vigorously on PSMA-expressing tumor contact. More importantly, the 2nd gen dTc preserve the PSMA-specific cytotoxicity in vitro and suppress tumor growth in animal models with significant higher potency. Our results demonstrate that 2nd gen anti-PSMA designer T cells exhibit superior antitumor functions versus 1st gen, providing a rationale for advancing this improved agent toward clinical application in prostate cancer immunotherapy. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. B Lymphocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Effects of Anti-TNF-α Agents on B Lymphocytes: A Review of the Literature.

    PubMed

    Pala, Ozlem; Diaz, Alain; Blomberg, Bonnie B; Frasca, Daniela

    2018-06-01

    The aim of this article was to review published research related to B lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis, their role in the pathogenesis of the disease, the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors on B lymphocytes, the risk for infection, and responses to vaccines. A PubMed search was conducted to review recent advances related to B lymphocytes and the effects of anti-TNF-α on B lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. B lymphocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. In this review, we summarize the major mechanisms by which B lymphocytes play a pathologic role in the development and propagation of the disease, as B lymphocytes are recruited to the synovial fluid, where they contribute to local inflammation through the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators (cytokines, chemokines, micro-RNAs) and present antigens to T cells. We discuss the effects of TNF-α, either direct or indirect, on B lymphocytes expressing receptors for this cytokine. We also show that total B-cell numbers have been reported to be reduced in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus healthy controls, but are significantly increased up to normal levels in patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy. As for B-cell subsets, controversial results have been reported, with studies showing decreased frequencies of total memory B cells (and memory subsets) and others showing no differences in patients versus healthy controls. Studies investigating the effects of anti-TNF-α therapy have also given controversial results, with therapy found to increase (or not) the frequency of memory B lymphocytes, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus healthy controls. Those highly variable results could have been due to differences in patient characteristics and limited numbers of subjects. Finally, we summarize the effects of blocking TNF-α with anti-TNF-α agents on possible infections that patients with rheumatoid arthritis may contract, as well as on

  17. Specific immunotherapy ameliorates ulcerative colitis.

    PubMed

    Cai, Min; Zeng, Lu; Li, Lin-Jing; Mo, Li-Hua; Xie, Rui-Di; Feng, Bai-Sui; Zheng, Peng-Yuan; Liu, Zhi-Gang; Liu, Zhan-Ju; Yang, Ping-Chang

    2016-01-01

    Hypersensitivity reaction to certain allergens plays a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to observe the effect of specific immunotherapy in a group of IBD patients. Patients with both ulcerative colitis (UC) and food allergy were recruited into this study. Food allergy was diagnosed by skin prick test and serum specific IgE. The patients were treated with specific immunotherapy (SIT) and Clostridium butyricum (CB) capsules. After treating with SIT and CB, the clinical symptoms of UC were markedly suppressed as shown by reduced truncated Mayo scores and medication scores. The serum levels of specific IgE, interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were also suppressed. Treating with SIT alone or CB alone did not show appreciable improvement of the clinical symptoms of UC. UC with food allergy can be ameliorated by administration with SIT and butyrate-production probiotics.

  18. Pseudoephedrine/ephedrine shows potent anti-inflammatory activity against TNF-α-mediated acute liver failure induced by lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine.

    PubMed

    Wu, Zhongping; Kong, Xiangliang; Zhang, Tong; Ye, Jin; Fang, Zhaoqin; Yang, Xuejun

    2014-02-05

    The anti-inflammatory effects of pseudoephedrine/ephedrine were investigated using the experimental model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver failure in D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitised male rats in order to elucidate effects other than sympathomimetic effects. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with D-GalN (400 mg/kg) and LPS (40 μg/kg) to induce acute liver failure. The treatment groups were then intraperitoneally administered pseudoephedrine/ephedrine at 0 h and 4 h after induction and the activation induced by treatment with pseudoephedrine and/or LPS on the primary Kupffer cells (KCs) was monitored. Compared with controls induced by GalN/LPS alone, pseudoephedrine dramatically reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and bile ductular hyperplasia and hepatic necrosis observed in liver sections. It inhibited both hepatocellular apoptosis and the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1. It lowered the production of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the beginning of acute liver failure induced by D-GalN/LPS. Correspondingly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL) and malondialdehyde were attenuated. Ephedrine demonstrated all these identical protective effects as well. In addition, pseudoephedrine significantly suppressed the production of p-IκB-α, reducing the degradation of sequestered nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the cytoplasm, and inhibited the translocation of NF-κB/p65 to the nucleus, the transcription of TNF-α mRNA and the production of TNF-α in primary KCs. These results suggest that pseudoephedrine and ephedrine have a potent anti-inflammatory activity against D-GalN/LPS-induced acute liver failure in rats, and this comprehensive anti-inflammatory effect may result from the inhibition of TNF-α production. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. A New Venue of TNF Targeting

    PubMed Central

    Libert, Claude

    2018-01-01

    The first Food and Drug Administration-(FDA)-approved drugs were small, chemically-manufactured and highly active molecules with possible off-target effects, followed by protein-based medicines such as antibodies. Conventional antibodies bind a specific protein and are becoming increasingly important in the therapeutic landscape. A very prominent class of biologicals are the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs that are applied in several inflammatory diseases that are characterized by dysregulated TNF levels. Marketing of TNF inhibitors revolutionized the treatment of diseases such as Crohn’s disease. However, these inhibitors also have undesired effects, some of them directly associated with the inherent nature of this drug class, whereas others are linked with their mechanism of action, being pan-TNF inhibition. The effects of TNF can diverge at the level of TNF format or receptor, and we discuss the consequences of this in sepsis, autoimmunity and neurodegeneration. Recently, researchers tried to design drugs with reduced side effects. These include molecules with more specificity targeting one specific TNF format or receptor, or that neutralize TNF in specific cells. Alternatively, TNF-directed biologicals without the typical antibody structure are manufactured. Here, we review the complications related to the use of conventional TNF inhibitors, together with the anti-TNF alternatives and the benefits of selective approaches in different diseases. PMID:29751683

  20. The relationship between body weight and inflammation: Lesson from anti-TNF-α antibody therapy.

    PubMed

    Peluso, Ilaria; Palmery, Maura

    2016-01-01

    Obesity is associated with many pathological conditions. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) is one of the key mediators of inflammation involved in the obesity-related insulin resistance development. We aim to review the human evidence useful to clarify the relationship between inflammation and body weight, with particular reference to TNF-α. Genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic factors, such as diet, could affect TNF-α activity. TNF-α is associated with obesity, but also with anorexia and cachexia. Despite the role of TNF-α in obesity-related diseases, anti-TNF-α antibody therapy is associated with an increase in adiposity. In conclusion the reviewed results suggest that inflammation is more likely a consequence rather than a cause of obesity. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Effectiveness and Safety of Vedolizumab in Anti-TNF-Naïve Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease-A Multicenter Retrospective European Study.

    PubMed

    Kopylov, Uri; Verstockt, Bram; Biedermann, Luc; Sebastian, Shaji; Pugliese, Daniela; Sonnenberg, Elena; Steinhagen, Peter; Arebi, Naila; Ron, Yulia; Kucharzik, Torsten; Roblin, Xavier; Ungar, Bella; Shitrit, Ariella Bar-Gil; Ardizzone, Sandro; Molander, Pauliina; Coletta, Marina; Peyrin-Biroulet, Laurent; Bossuyt, Peter; Avni-Biron, Irit; Tsoukali, Emmanouela; Allocca, Mariangela; Katsanos, Konstantinos; Raine, Tim; Sipponen, Taina; Fiorino, Gionata; Ben-Horin, Shomron; Eliakim, Rami; Armuzzi, Alessandro; Siegmund, Britta; Baumgart, Daniel C; Kamperidis, Nikolaos; Maharshak, Nitsan; Maaser, Christian; Mantzaris, Gerassimos; Yanai, Henit; Christodoulou, Dimitrious K; Dotan, Iris; Ferrante, Marc

    2018-05-18

    Vedolizumab (VDZ) is effective for treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). In GEMINI trials, anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF)-naïve patients had a superior response compared with anti-TNF-exposed patients. In real-world experience (RWE), the number of included anti-TNF-naïve patients was low. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of VDZ in anti-TNF-naïve patients in an RWE setting. This retrospective multicenter European pooled cohort study included consecutive active anti-TNF-naïve IBD patients treated with VDZ. The primary end point was clinical response at week 14. Patients with follow-up beyond week 14 and those discontinuing VDZ at any time were included for maintenance outcomes analysis. Since January 2015, 184 anti-TNF-naïve patients from 23 centers initiated VDZ treatment (Crohn's disease [CD], 50; ulcerative colitis [UC], 134). In CD, 42/50 (82%) patients responded by week 14 and 32 (64%) were in clinical remission; 26/50 (52%) achieved corticosteroid-free remission (CSFR). At last follow-up (44 weeks; interquartile range [IQR], 30-52 weeks), 27/35 (77.1%) patients with available data responded to treatment; 24/35 (68.6%) were in clinical remission, 21/35 (60%) were in CSFR. For UC, 116/134 (79.1%) responded to treatment by week 14, including 53 (39.5%) in clinical remission; 49/134 (36.6%) achieved CSFR. At last follow-up (42.5 weeks; IQR, 30-52 weeks), 79/103 (76.7%) patients responded to treatment, 69/103 (67.0%) were in remission, and 61/103 (59.2%) were in CSFR. Adverse effects were reported in 20 (11%) of the patients, leading to treatment discontinuation in 6 (3.3%). VDZ is similarly effective in ant-TNF-naïve CD and UC patients. The efficacy is higher than reported in anti-TNF-experienced patients and is comparable to that of anti-TNF biologics in this population.

  2. Treatment with anti-TNF alpha protects against the neuropathy induced by the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in a mouse model.

    PubMed

    Alé, Albert; Bruna, Jordi; Morell, Marta; van de Velde, Helgi; Monbaliu, Johan; Navarro, Xavier; Udina, Esther

    2014-03-01

    Bortezomib (BTZ), a proteasome inhibitor, is an effective anti-neoplastic drug used in the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. However, it can induce a reversible peripheral neuropathy that may lead to treatment discontinuation. The mechanism through which BTZ exerts toxic effects in peripheral neurons is not clear. Release of proinflammatory cytokines after nerve damage can induce neurodegeneration, but the effects of BTZ on cytokine expression in neurons are unknown, although BTZ modulates the expression of cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, in tumor cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and the role of these cytokines on the course of BTZ induced neuropathy in mice. IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β1 and IL-1β were up-regulated in dorsal root ganglia but TNF-α and IL-6 increased faster and higher. Then, we studied the potential neuroprotective effect of selective antibodies anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-6 on the evolution of the neuropathy. Treatment with anti-TNF-α but not with anti-IL-6 significantly prevented the decrease of sensory nerve action potentials amplitude and the loss of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. We conclude that monoclonal antibodies directed against TNF-α may be a suitable neuroprotective therapy against the neurotoxicity induced by BTZ. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Anti-TNF-Mediated Modulation of Prohepcidin Improves Iron Availability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, in an IL-6-Mediated Fashion.

    PubMed

    Cavallaro, Flaminia; Duca, Lorena; Pisani, Laura Francesca; Rigolini, Roberta; Spina, Luisa; Tontini, Gian Eugenio; Munizio, Nadia; Costa, Elena; Cappellini, Maria Domenica; Vecchi, Maurizio; Pastorelli, Luca

    2017-01-01

    Background. Anaemia is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), frequently resulting from a combination of iron deficiency and of anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). ACD is characterized by macrophage iron retention induced by proinflammatory cytokines. Hepcidin is the master inducer of iron accumulation during ACD, and its production is mainly regulated by IL-6 and the novel erythroid hormone erythroferrone (ERFE). This study evaluates whether anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies therapy modurates hepcidin production and the levels of its main regulators, leading to a restoration of iron homeostasis. Methods. Sera were collected from 21 IBD patients, before each anti-TNF administration, for the first 6 weeks of therapy. Prohepcidin, erythropoietin, erythroferrone, C reactive protein, interleukin-6, iron markers, and haemoglobin levels were measured and clinical activity indexes were evaluated. Results. Serum prohepcidin, IL-6, CRP, and ferritin were significantly reduced after 6-week treatment; an increase in serum iron and total transferrin was observed. No changes in the EPO-ERFE axis were found. Remarkably, haemoglobin was significantly increased. Conclusions. Anti-TNF therapy improves iron metabolism and, subsequently, anaemia in IBD. This effect appears to be related to the modulation of the cytokine network and specifically IL-6 leading to a relevant decrease of hepcidin, a master regulator of ACD.

  4. Safety of herpes zoster vaccination among inflammatory bowel disease patients being treated with anti-TNF medications.

    PubMed

    Khan, N; Shah, Y; Trivedi, C; Lewis, J D

    2017-10-01

    The risk of herpes zoster (HZ) is elevated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated with anti-TNF medications. While it is optimal to give herpes zoster vaccine prior to initiation of therapy clinical circumstances may not always allow this. To determine the safety of giving herpes zoster vaccine while patients are on anti-TNF therapy. We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving IBD patients who were followed in the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system between 2001 and 2016. Patients who received herpes zoster vaccine while on anti-TNF medication were identified through vaccination codes and confirmed through individual chart review. Our outcome of interest was development of HZ between 0 and 42 days after herpes zoster vaccine administration. Fifty-six thousand four hundred and seventeen patients with IBD were followed in the VA healthcare system. A total of 59 individuals were on anti-TNF medication when they were given herpes zoster vaccine, and amongst them, 12 (20%) were also taking a thiopurine. Median age at the time of herpes zoster vaccine was 64.9 years and 95% of patients had a Charlson Comorbidity Index of ≥2. Median number of encounters within 42 days after receiving herpes zoster vaccine was two. No case of HZ was found within 0-42 days of HZV administration. Our data suggest that co-administering the herpes zoster vaccine to patients who are taking anti-TNF medications is relatively safe. This study significantly expands the evidence supporting the use of herpes zoster vaccine in this population, having included an elderly group of patients with a high Charlson Comorbidity Index who are likely at a much higher risk of developing HZ. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  5. Analysis of cytotoxic activity of the CD4+ T lymphocytes generated by local immunotherapy.

    PubMed Central

    Katsumoto, Y.; Monden, T.; Takeda, T.; Haba, A.; Ito, Y.; Wakasugi, E.; Wakasugi, T.; Sekimoto, M.; Kobayashi, T.; Shiozaki, H.; Shimano, T.; Monden, M.

    1996-01-01

    We previously reported that the anti-tumour effect of OK-432 is considerably enhanced by its intratumoral injection together with fibrinogen. In the present study, we generated killer T cells by culturing tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes from thyroid cancer patients who had received this local immunotherapy. Phenotypic analysis revealed that the T cells were positive for CD3+, CD4+, Leu8-, CD45RO+ and T-cell receptor (TCR)alpha beta+, as well as showing strong surface expression of HLA-DR, CD25, LFA-1 and ICAM-1. The generated CD4+ T cells secreted interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-beta, and interleukin (IL)-6 (but not IL-4), and exhibited a high level of cytolytic activity against several tumour cell lines. The cytolytic activity of these T cells for Daudi cells was inhibited by preincubation with an anti-intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 antibody, but not by preincubation with anti-TCR alpha beta, anti-CD2, or anti-LFA-1 antibodies. Pretreatment with anti-ICAM-1 antibody inhibited T-cell cytolytic activity, but not conjugation with target cells. In addition, incubation with immobilised anti-ICAM-1 enhanced the secretion of IFN-gamma by T cells. We conclude that ICAM-1 expressed on the effector cytotoxic CD4+ T lymphocytes delivers regulatory signals that enhance IFN-gamma secretion. PMID:8554971

  6. Novel Immunotherapies for Autoimmune Hepatitis

    PubMed Central

    Cassim, Shamir; Bilodeau, Marc; Vincent, Catherine; Lapierre, Pascal

    2017-01-01

    Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease of unknown pathogenesis, characterized by a loss of immunological tolerance against liver autoantigens resulting in the progressive destruction of the hepatic parenchyma. Current treatments are based on non-specific immunosuppressive drugs. Although tremendous progress has been made using specific biological agents in other inflammatory diseases, progress has been slow to come for AIH patients. While current treatments are successful in the majority of patients, treatment discontinuation is difficult to achieve, and relapses are frequent. Lifelong immunosuppression is not without risks, especially in the pediatric population; 4% of patient with type 1 AIH will eventually develop hepatocellular carcinoma with a 2.9% probability after 10 years of treatment. Therefore, future treatments should aim to restore tolerance to hepatic autoantigens and induce long-term remission. Promising new immunotherapies have been tested in experimental models of AIH including T and B cell depletion and regulatory CD4+ T cells infusion. Clinical studies on limited numbers of patients have also shown encouraging results using B-cell-depleting (rituximab) and anti-TNF-α (infliximab) antibodies. A better understanding of key molecular targets in AIH combined with effective site-specific immunotherapies could lead to long-term remission without blanket immunosuppression and with minimal deleterious side effects. PMID:28184367

  7. Emu Oil Reduces LPS-Induced Production of Nitric Oxide and TNF-α but not Phagocytosis in RAW 264 Macrophages.

    PubMed

    Miyashita, Tadayoshi; Minami, Kazuhiro; Ito, Minoru; Koizumi, Ryosuke; Sagane, Yoshimasa; Watanabe, Toshihiro; Niwa, Koichi

    2018-04-01

    Emu is the second-largest extant bird native to Australia. Emu oil, obtained from the emu's fat deposits, is used as an ingredient in cosmetic skincare products. Emu oil has been reported to improve several inflammatory symptoms; however, the mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory effects are largely unknown. This study investigated the effects of emu oil on the inflammatory macrophage response in vitro. A murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264, was incubated in culture media supplemented with or without emu oil and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We determined phagocytic activity by measuring the number of fluorescent microspheres taken up by the cells. The phagocytic activity of RAW 264 cells in the presence of LPS was unaffected by emu oil. We also determined production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the culture medium using the Griess reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, and the protein expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) using western blotting. The results indicated that emu oil reduced the LPS-induced production of NO, TNF-α, and iNOS expression in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggested that emu oil does not reduce the phagocytic clearance rate of inflammatory matter; however, it does reduce the production of NO and TNF-α in macrophages. These latter products enhance the inflammatory response and emu oil thereby demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

  8. Basics of cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Fujioka, Yuki; Nishikawa, Hiroyoshi

    2016-01-01

    The immune system is the body's defense against infectious organisms and other invaders including cancer cells. Cancer immunotherapy, which employs our own immune systems to attack cancer cells, is now emerging as a promising modality of cancer treatment based upon the clinical successes of immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell transfer. In hematologic malignancies, clinical application of anti-PD-1 mAb and CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T therapy is now being extensively tested in Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, and CD19 + acute lymphocytic leukemia. In sharp contrast to conventional anti-cancer reagents which directly kill cancer cells, cancer immunotherapy activates various types of immune effector cells to attack cancer cells. However, more than half of the treated patients showed no activation of anti-tumor CD8 + killer T cells and CD4 + helper T cells and failed to respond to immune therapies such as immune checkpoint blockade, even when administered in combination regimens. Thus, development of novel immunotherapies to achieve more effective activation of anti-cancer immunity and immuno-monitoring of biomarkers, allowing proper evaluation of immune responses in cancer patients in order to detect responders, are urgent issues. Additionally, we must pay attention to characteristic immunological side effects not observed following treatment with conventional anti-cancer reagents. Herein, we present a summary outline and discuss the future direction of cancer immunotherapy.

  9. Predictors of work disability after start of anti-TNF therapy in a national cohort of Swedish patients with rheumatoid arthritis: does early anti-TNF therapy bring patients back to work?

    PubMed

    Olofsson, T; Petersson, I F; Eriksson, J K; Englund, M; Nilsson, J A; Geborek, P; Jacobsson, L T H; Askling, J; Neovius, M

    2017-07-01

    To examine predictors of work ability gain and loss after anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) start, respectively, in working-age patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a special focus on disease duration. Patients with RA, aged 19-62 years, starting their first TNF inhibitor 2006-2009 with full work ability (0 sick leave/disability pension days during 3 months before bio-start; n=1048) or no work ability (90 days; n=753) were identified in the Swedish biologics register (Anti-Rheumatic Treatment In Sweden, ARTIS) and sick leave/disability pension days retrieved from the Social Insurance Agency. Outcome was defined as work ability gain ≥50% for patients without work ability at bio-start and work ability loss ≥50% for patients with full work ability, and survival analyses conducted. Baseline predictors including disease duration, age, sex, education level, employment, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Disease Activity Score 28 and relevant comorbidities were estimated using Cox regression. During 3 years after anti-TNF start, the probability of regaining work ability for totally work-disabled patients was 35% for those with disease duration <5 years and 14% for disease duration ≥5 years (adjusted HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.4 to 3.2)). For patients with full work ability at bio-start, disease duration did not predict work ability loss. Baseline disability pension was also a strong predictor of work ability gain after treatment start. A substantial proportion of work-disabled patients with RA who start anti-TNF therapy regain work ability. Those initiating treatment within 5 years of symptom onset have a more than doubled 3-year probability of regaining work ability compared with later treatment starts. This effect seems largely due to the impact of disease duration on disability pension status. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  10. Beyond TNF: TNF superfamily cytokines as targets for the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

    PubMed

    Croft, Michael; Siegel, Richard M

    2017-04-01

    TNF blockers are highly efficacious at dampening inflammation and reducing symptoms in rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, and also in nonrheumatic syndromes such as inflammatory bowel disease. As TNF belongs to a superfamily of 19 structurally related proteins that have both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory activity, reagents that disrupt the interaction between proinflammatory TNF family cytokines and their receptors, or agonize the anti-inflammatory receptors, are being considered for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Biologic agents that block B cell activating factor (BAFF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) have been approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and osteoporosis, respectively. In this Review, we focus on additional members of the TNF superfamily that could be relevant for the pathogenesis of rheumatic disease, including those that can strongly promote activity of immune cells or increase activity of tissue cells, as well as those that promote death pathways and might limit inflammation. We examine preclinical mouse and human data linking these molecules to the control of damage in the joints, muscle, bone or other tissues, and discuss their potential as targets for future therapy of rheumatic diseases.

  11. Combined effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and heat shock protein (HSP)-70 in reducing apoptotic injury in hypoxia: a cell culture study.

    PubMed

    Goel, Gunjan; Guo, Miao; Ding, Jamie; Dornbos, David; Ali, Ahmer; Shenaq, Mohammed; Guthikonda, Murali; Ding, Yuchuan

    2010-10-15

    Studies have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of either TNF-alpha or HSP-70 in ischemia/reperfusion injury following exercise. However, the protective mechanisms involving combined effect of the two proteins, particularly in neuronal apoptosis, remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the beneficial role of TNF-alpha and HSP-70 in the regulation of apoptotic proteins and ERK signaling in hypoxic injury. Cortical neurons from 20 Sprague-Dawley rat embryos were isolated and cultured in five groups with or without pretreatment with recombinant TNF-alpha, HSP-70 protein or both prior to hypoxic conditions: (1) control; (2) control/hypoxia; (3) TNF-alpha/hypoxia; (4) HSP-70/hypoxia and (5) TNF-alpha/HSP-70/hypoxia. Western blotting was used to detect pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, including Bax, AIF, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, and pERK1/2 protein. TNF-alpha and HSP-70 significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and AIF. Also, pretreatment of hypoxic brain tissue with TNF-alpha and HSP-70 significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the levels of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-xL. TNF-alpha and HSP-70 together increased Bcl-2 levels by 70%. Hypoxia caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels by 224%. The most effective inhibition of ERK levels was obtained by the combined administration of TNF-alpha and HSP-70. This study suggested that TNF-alpha and HSP-70 together enhance the decrease in pro-apoptotic protein levels and the increase in anti-apoptotic protein levels in the event of neuronal hypoxia through ERK1/2 signal transduction. 2010. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  12. Magnolol reduced TNF-α-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in endothelial cells via JNK/p38 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

    PubMed

    Liang, Chan-Jung; Lee, Chiang-Wen; Sung, Hsin-Ching; Chen, Yung-Hsiang; Wang, Shu-Huei; Wu, Pei-Jhen; Chiang, Yao-Chang; Tsai, Jaw-Shiun; Wu, Chau-Chung; Li, Chi-Yuan; Chen, Yuh-Lien

    2014-01-01

    Expression of cell adhesion molecules by the endothelium and the attachment of leukocytes to these cells play major roles in inflammation and cardiovascular disorders. Magnolol, a major active component of Magnolia officinalis, has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, the effects of magnolol on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and the related mechanisms were investigated. TNF-α induced VCAM-1 protein expression and mRNA stability were significantly decreased in HAECs pre-treated with magnolol. Magnolol significantly reduced the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 in TNF-α-treated HAECs. The decrease in VCAM-1 expression in response to TNF-α treatment was affected by JNK and p38 inhibitors, not by an ERK inhibitor. Magnolol also attenuates NF-κB activation and the translocation of HuR (an RNA binding protein) in TNF-α-stimulated HAECs. The VCAM-1 expression was weaker in the aortas of TNF-α-treated apo-E deficient mice with magnolol treatment. These data demonstrate that magnolol inhibits TNF-α-induced JNK/p38 phosphorylation, HuR translocation, NF-κB activation, and thereby suppresses VCAM-1 expression resulting in reduced leukocyte adhesion. Taken together, these results suggest that magnolol has an anti-inflammatory property and may play an important role in the prevention of atherosclerosis and inflammatory responses.

  13. A BioDesign Approach to Obtain High Yields of Biosimilars by Anti-apoptotic Cell Engineering: a Case Study to Increase the Production Yield of Anti-TNF Alpha Producing Recombinant CHO Cells.

    PubMed

    Gulce Iz, Sultan; Inevi, Muge Anil; Metiner, Pelin Saglam; Tamis, Duygu Ayyildiz; Kisbet, Nazli

    2018-01-01

    Recent developments in medical biotechnology have facilitated to enhance the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and recombinant proteins in mammalian cells. Human mAbs for clinical applications have focused on three areas, particularly cancer, immunological disorders, and infectious diseases. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which has both proinflammatory and immunoregulatory functions, is an important target in biopharmaceutical industry. In this study, a humanized anti-TNF-α mAb producing stable CHO cell line which produces a biosimilar of Humira (adalimumab) was used. Adalimumab is a fully human anti-TNF mAb among the top-selling mAb products in recent years as a biosimilar. Products from mammalian cell bioprocesses are a derivative of cell viability and metabolism, which is mainly disrupted by cell death in bioreactors. Thus, different strategies are used to increase the product yield. Suppression of apoptosis, also called anti-apoptotic cell engineering, is the most remarkable strategy to enhance lifetime of cells for a longer production period. In fact, using anti-apoptotic cell engineering as a BioDesign approach was inspired by nature; nature gives prolonged life span to some cells like stem cells, tumor cells, and memory B and T cells, and researchers have been using this strategy for different purposes. In this study, as a biomimicry approach, anti-apoptotic cell engineering was used to increase the anti-TNF-α mAb production from the humanized anti-TNF-α mAb producing stable CHO cell line by Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein. It was shown that transient transfection of CHO cells by the Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein expressing plasmid prolonged the cell survival rate and protected cells from apoptosis. The transient expression of Bcl-xL using CHO cells enhanced the anti-TNF-α production. The production of anti-TNF-α in CHO cells was increased up to 215 mg/L with an increase of 160% after cells were transfected with Bcl-xL expressing plasmid

  14. Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Low Disease Activity because of Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy Have Higher TRAIL Levels Than Controls: A Potential Compensatory Effect

    PubMed Central

    López-Mejías, Raquel; Rueda-Gotor, Javier; Miranda-Filloy, José A.; Ubilla, Begoña; Carnero-López, Beatriz; Palmou-Fontana, Natalia; Gómez-Acebo, Inés; Blanco, Ricardo; Pina, Trinitario; Ochoa, Rodrigo; González-Juanatey, Carlos; González-Gay, Miguel A.

    2014-01-01

    Objective. TRAIL is a potential biomarker of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with metabolic syndrome (MeS) and accelerated atherosclerosis. We assessed whether disease activity, systemic inflammation, and MeS features were associated with circulating TRAIL levels in AS patients undergoing TNF-α antagonist infliximab therapy and if infliximab infusion modified TRAIL levels. Methods. We measured TRAIL serum levels in 30 nondiabetic AS patients without CV disease undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy, immediately before and after an infliximab infusion, and in 48 matched controls. Correlations of TRAIL levels with disease activity, systemic inflammation and MeS features, adipokines, and biomarkers of endothelial activation were evaluated. Changes in TRAIL levels following anti-TNF-α infusion were analyzed. Results. TRAIL levels were higher in AS patients than controls. TRAIL levels displayed an inverse correlation with total and LDL cholesterol. We observed an inverse correlation with QUICKI and a marginal association with HOMA-IR. We also found an inverse correlation with resistin and a marginal association with apelin and OPN. Anti-TNF-α infusion did not change TRAIL levels after 120′. Conclusion. Elevated TRAIL levels in AS patients may be the result of a compensatory mechanism to reduce CV risk in these patients. PMID:24976690

  15. Genetic Markers Predict Primary Non-Response and Durable Response To Anti-TNF Biologic Therapies in Crohn's Disease.

    PubMed

    Barber, Grant E; Yajnik, Vijay; Khalili, Hamed; Giallourakis, Cosmas; Garber, John; Xavier, Ramnik; Ananthakrishnan, Ashwin N

    2016-12-01

    One-fifth of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are primary non-responders to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, and an estimated 10-15% will fail therapy annually. Little is known about the genetics of response to anti-TNF therapy. The aim of our study was to identify genetic factors associated with primary non-response (PNR) and loss of response to anti-TNFs in CD. From a prospective registry, we characterized the response of 427 CD patients to their first anti-TNF therapy. Patients were designated as achieving primary response, durable response, and non-durable response based on clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic criteria. Genotyping was performed on the Illumina Immunochip. Separate genetic scores based on presence of predictive genetic alleles were calculated for PNR and durable response and performance of clinical and genetics models were compared. From 359 patients, 36 were adjudged to have PNR (10%), 200 had durable response, and 74 had non-durable response. PNRs had longer disease duration and were more likely to be smokers. Fifteen risk alleles were associated with PNR. Patients with PNR had a significantly higher genetic risk score (GRS) (P =8 × 10 -12 ). A combined clinical-genetic model more accurately predicted PNR when compared with a clinical only model (0.93 vs. 0.70, P <0.001). Sixteen distinct single nucleotide polymorphisms predicted durable response with a higher GRS (P =7 × 10 -13 ). The GRSs for PNR and durable response were not mutually correlated, suggesting distinct mechanisms. Genetic risk alleles can predict primary non-response and durable response to anti-TNF therapy in CD.

  16. TNF/TNFR1 signaling up-regulates CCR5 expression by CD8+ T lymphocytes and promotes heart tissue damage during Trypanosoma cruzi infection: beneficial effects of TNF-alpha blockade.

    PubMed

    Kroll-Palhares, Karina; Silvério, Jaline Coutinho; Silva, Andrea Alice da; Michailowsky, Vladimir; Marino, Ana Paula; Silva, Neide Maria; Carvalho, Cristiano Marcelo Espinola; Pinto, Luzia Maria de Oliveira; Gazzinelli, Ricardo Tostes; Lannes-Vieira, Joseli

    2008-06-01

    In Chagas disease, understanding how the immune response controls parasite growth but also leads to heart damage may provide insight into the design of new therapeutic strategies. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is important for resistance to acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection; however, in patients suffering from chronic T. cruzi infection, plasma TNF-alpha levels correlate with cardiomyopathy. Recent data suggest that CD8-enriched chagasic myocarditis formation involves CCR1/CCR5-mediated cell migration. Herein, the contribution of TNF-alpha, especially signaling through the receptor TNFR1/p55, to the pathophysiology of T. cruzi infection was evaluated with a focus on the development of myocarditis and heart dysfunction. Colombian strain-infected C57BL/6 mice had increased frequencies of TNFR1/p55+ and TNF-alpha+ splenocytes. Although TNFR1-/- mice exhibited reduced myocarditis in the absence of parasite burden, they succumbed to acute infection. Similar to C57BL/6 mice, Benznidazole-treated TNFR1-/- mice survived acute infection. In TNFR1-/- mice, reduced CD8-enriched myocarditis was associated with defective activation of CD44+CD62Llow/- and CCR5+ CD8+ lymphocytes. Also, anti-TNF-alpha treatment reduced the frequency of CD8+CCR5+ circulating cells and myocarditis, though parasite load was unaltered in infected C3H/HeJ mice. TNFR1-/- and anti-TNF-alpha-treated infected mice showed regular expression of connexin-43 and reduced fibronectin deposition, respectively. Furthermore, anti-TNF-alpha treatment resulted in lower levels of CK-MB, a cardiomyocyte lesion marker. Our results suggest that TNF/TNFR1 signaling promotes CD8-enriched myocarditis formation and heart tissue damage, implicating the TNF/TNFR1 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for control of T. cruzi-elicited cardiomyopathy.

  17. Anti-TNF Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Postoperative Crohn's Disease.

    PubMed

    Wright, Emily K; Kamm, Michael A; De Cruz, Peter; Hamilton, Amy L; Selvaraj, Fabiyola; Princen, Fred; Gorelik, Alexandra; Liew, Danny; Prideaux, Lani; Lawrance, Ian C; Andrews, Jane M; Bampton, Peter A; Jakobovits, Simon L; Florin, Timothy H; Gibson, Peter R; Debinski, Henry; Macrae, Finlay A; Samuel, Douglas; Kronborg, Ian; Radford-Smith, Graham; Gearry, Richard B; Selby, Warwick; Bell, Sally J; Brown, Steven J; Connell, William R

    2018-05-25

    Anti-TNF prevents postoperative Crohn's disease recurrence in most patients but not all. This study aimed to define the relationship between adalimumab pharmacokinetics, maintenance of remission and recurrence. As part of a study of postoperative Crohn's disease management, some patients undergoing resection received prophylactic postoperative adalimumab. In these patients, serum and fecal adalimumab concentration and serum anti-adalimumab antibodies [AAAs] were measured at 6, 12 and 18 months postoperatively. Levels of Crohn's disease activity index [CDAI], C-reactive protein [CRP] and fecal calprotectin [FC] were assessed at 6 and 18 months postoperatively. Body mass index and smoking status were recorded. A colonoscopy was performed at 6 and/or 18 months. Fifty-two patients [32 on monotherapy and 20 on combination therapy with thiopurine] were studied. Adalimumab concentration did not differ significantly between patients in endoscopic remission vs recurrence [Rutgeerts ≥ i2] [9.98µg/mL vs 8.43 µg/mL, p = 0.387]. Patients on adalimumab monotherapy had a significantly lower adalimumab concentration [7.89 µg/mL] than patients on combination therapy [11.725 µg/mL] [p = 0.001], and were significantly more likely to have measurable AAA [31% vs 17%, p = 0.001]. Adalimumab concentrations were lower in patients with detectable AAA compared with those without [3.59 µg/mL vs 12.0 µg/mL, p < 0.001]. Adalimumab was not detected in fecal samples. Adalimumab serum concentrations were lower in obese patients compared with in non-obese patients [p = 0.046]. Adalimumab concentration in patients treated with adalimumab to prevent symptomatic endoscopic recurrence postoperatively is, for most patients, well within the therapeutic window, and is not significantly lower in patients who develop recurrence compared with in those who remain in remission. Mechanisms of anti-TNF failure to prevent postoperative recurrence remain to be determined in these patients.

  18. Systematic review: genetic biomarkers associated with anti-TNF treatment response in inflammatory bowel diseases.

    PubMed

    Bek, S; Nielsen, J V; Bojesen, A B; Franke, A; Bank, S; Vogel, U; Andersen, V

    2016-09-01

    Personalised medicine, including biomarkers for treatment selection, may provide new algorithms for more effective treatment of patients. Genetic variation may impact drug response and genetic markers could help selecting the best treatment strategy for the individual patient. To identify polymorphisms and candidate genes from the literature that are associated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) treatment response in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis. We performed a PubMed literature search and retrieved studies reporting original data on association between polymorphisms and anti-TNF treatment response and conducted a meta-analysis. A functional polymorphism in FCGR3A was significantly associated with anti-TNF treatment response among CD patients using biological response criterion (decrease in C-reactive protein, levels). Meta-analyses showed that polymorphisms in TLR2 (rs3804099, OR (95% CI) = 2.17 (1.35-3.47)], rs11938228 [OR = 0.64 (0.43-0.96)], TLR4 (rs5030728) [OR = 3.18 (1.63-6.21)], TLR9 (rs352139) [OR = 0.43 (0.21-0.88)], TNFRSF1A (rs4149570) [OR = 2.06 (1.02-4.17)], IFNG (rs2430561) [OR = 1.66 (1.05-2.63)], IL6 (rs10499563) [OR = 1.65 (1.04-2.63)] and IL1B (rs4848306) [OR = 1.88 (1.05-3.35)] were significantly associated with response among IBD patients using clinical response criteria. A positive predictive value of 0.96 was achieved by combining five genetic markers in an explorative analysis. There are no genetic markers currently available which are adequately predictive of anti-TNF response for use in the clinic. Genetic markers bear the advantage that they do not change over time. Therefore, hypothesis-free approaches, testing a large number of polymorphisms in large, well-characterised cohorts, are required in order to identify genetic profiles with larger effect sizes, which could be employed as biomarkers for treatment selection in clinical settings. © 2016 The Authors. Alimentary

  19. Changing face of care for patients with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease: the role of specialist nurses in the governance of anti-TNF prescribing.

    PubMed

    Connell, W R; Samyue, T; Gibson, P R; Lachal, S; Moore, G T; Macrae, F A; Van Langenberg, D R

    2015-11-01

    Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy is highly effective for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but expensive and potentially toxic. Meticulous supervision prior to and during anti-TNF treatment is required to screen and monitor patients for adverse clinical events. In addition, a systematic administrative process is necessary to comply with Australian Medicare requirements and ensure ongoing therapy is uninterrupted. IBD nurses are essential components of multidisciplinary IBD services, but their role in facilitating the safe and timely delivery of anti-TNF drugs is unacknowledged. The aim of the study was to calculate time spent by IBD nurses on anti-TNF drug governance and its indirect cost. Time spent on activities related to anti-TNF governance was retrospectively assessed by questionnaire among IBD nurses employed at Melbourne hospitals. The capacity of IBD clinics at these hospitals was separately evaluated by surveying medical heads of clinics. On average, each Melbourne IBD service handled 150 existing and 40 new anti-TNF referrals in 2013. The average annual time spent by nurses supervising an existing and newly referred anti-TNF patient was 3.5 and 5.25 h respectively, or a minimum of two full working days per week. If clinicians undertook this activity during normal clinic time, the organisational opportunity cost was at least 58%. Anti-TNF therapy governance is an essential quality component of IBD care that is associated with a definite, indirect cost for every patient treated. IBD nurses are best positioned to undertake this role, but an activity-based funding model is urgently required to resource this element of their work. © 2015 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

  20. Favorable Effect of Anti-TNF Therapy on Insulin Sensitivity in Nonobese, Nondiabetic Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

    PubMed

    Paschou, Stavroula A; Kothonas, Fotios; Lafkas, Apostolos; Myroforidis, Alexandros; Loi, Vasiliki; Terzi, Thomais; Karagianni, Olympia; Poulou, Androniki; Goumas, Konstantinos; Vryonidou, Andromachi

    2018-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anti-TNF therapy on glucose and lipid metabolism in nondiabetic, nonobese patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We studied 44 patients with IBD, without a known history of diabetes. Three of the patients were diagnosed with overt diabetes and were excluded. Eighteen of the remaining patients (9 M/9 F, 33.6 ± 8.8 years) were on anti-TNF therapy for longer than 1 year, while 23 patients (16 M/7 F, 38.7 ± 12.5 years) were treated with aminosalicylates (AMSs). Twelve of the patients from the second group were then treated with anti-TNF and reassessed 6 months later. Fasting glucose, insulin, c-peptide, HbA1c, lipid, CRP, and fibrinogen levels were determined, and HOMA-IR index was calculated in all patients. Patients from the two therapy groups were matched for age and BMI and were not obese. We did not find any differences between patients from the two therapy groups regarding fasting glucose, c-peptide, HbA1c, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, CRP, and HOMA-IR index. In patients who were treated for 6 months with anti-TNF, a statistically significant decrease in insulin (before 15.5 ± 5.9 versus after 9.9 ± 2.9  μ IU/ml, p = 0.042) and c-peptide (before 2.4 ± 1 versus after 1.3 ± 0.4 ng/ml, p = 0.030) levels as well as the HOMA-IR index (before 4.2 ± 1.9 versus after 2.2 ± 0.9, p = 0.045) was observed, without any changes in weight, BMI, glucose, HbA1c, lipid, CRP, and fibrinogen levels. Anti-TNF therapy exerts a favorable effect on insulin sensitivity, while it has no effect on lipid levels in nondiabetic, nonobese patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

  1. Specificity in cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Schietinger, Andrea; Philip, Mary; Schreiber, Hans

    2008-10-01

    From the earliest days in the field of tumor immunology three questions have been asked: do cancer cells express tumor-specific antigens, does the immune system recognize these antigens and if so, what is their biochemical nature? We now know that truly tumor-specific antigens exist, that they are caused by somatic mutations, and that these antigens can induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Because tumor-specific antigens are exclusively expressed by the cancer cell and are often crucial for tumorigenicity, they are ideal targets for anti-cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the antigens that are targeted today by anti-tumor immunotherapy are not tumor-specific antigens, but antigens that are normal molecules also expressed by normal tissues (so-called "tumor-associated" antigens). If tumor-specific antigens exist and are ideal targets for immunotherapy, why are they not being targeted? In this review, we summarize current knowledge of tumor-specific antigens: their identification, immunological relevance and clinical use. We discuss novel tumor-specific epitopes and propose new approaches that could improve the success of cancer immunotherapy, especially for the treatment of solid tumors.

  2. [A real-world study focused on the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab as first-line anti-TNF treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease].

    PubMed

    Navas-López, Víctor Manuel; Pujol Muncunill, Gemma; Llerena, Enrique; Navalón Rubio, María; Gil-Ortega, David; Varea-Calderón, Vicente; Sierra Salinas, Carlos; Martin-de-Carpi, Javier

    2018-02-01

    Adalimumab (ADA), a monoclonal humanised anti-TNF antibody, is usually prescribed as a second-line treatment in paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) patients who have become unresponsive or developed intolerance to infliximab (IFX). In the case series reported, more than 70% of patients had initially been treated with IFX. Data on short- and long-term effectiveness of ADA in anti-TNF naïve patients is limited. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with ADA as a first-line anti-TNF in paediatric CD patients. This is a multicentre retrospective study including anti-TNF naïve paediatric CD patients treated with ADA as first-line anti-TNF. Sixty-two patients (34males), with a mean age of 13.0±2.4years and a disease duration of 7.3 (IQR 2.7-21) months were included. Median wPCDAI was 35 (IQR 24.3-47.5). Fifty-eight out of 62 (93.5%) were on combo therapy at baseline. Clinical remission at week12 was achieved in 50 out of 62 (80.6%) and in 57 out of 60 (95.0%) at week52. Eight patients (13%) reported adverse events. Mean height, growth rate and BMI z-scores improved significantly between baseline and week 52, especially in patients with growth failure. ADA treatment leads to lasting clinical remission in anti-TNF naïve paediatric patients with CD. ADA significantly improved growth rate in children with CD who had growth delay at baseline. Copyright © 2016 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  3. Anti-Aß immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease; relevance of transgenic mouse studies to clinical trials

    PubMed Central

    Wilcock, Donna M.; Colton, Carol A.

    2009-01-01

    Therapeutic approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are focused primarily on the Aß peptide which aggregates to form amyloid deposits in the brain. The amyloid hypothesis states that amyloid is the precipitating factor that results in the other pathologies of Alzheimer's, namely neurofibrillary tangles and neurodegeneration, as well as the clinical dementia. One such therapy that has attracted significant attention is anti-Aß immunotherapy. First described in 1999, immunotherapy uses anti-Aß antibodies to lower brain amyloid levels. Active immunization, in which Aß is combined with an adjuvant to stimulate an immune response producing antibodies and passive immunization, in which antibodies are directly injected, were shown to lower brain amyloid levels and improve cognition in multiple transgenic mouse models. Mechanisms of action were studied in these mice and revealed a complex set of mechanisms that depended on the type of antibody used. When active immunization advanced to clinical trials a subset of patients developed meningoencephalitis; an event not predicted in mouse studies. However, it was suspected that a T-cell response due to the type of adjuvant used was the cause of the meningoencephalitis and studies in mice indicated alternative methods of vaccination. Passive immunization has also advanced to phase III clinical trials on the basis of successful transgenic mouse studies. Reports from the active immunization clinical trial indicated that, indeed, amyloid levels in brain were reduced. While APP transgenic mouse models are useful in studying amyloid pathology these mice do not generate significant tau pathology or neuron loss. Continued development of new mouse models that do generate all of these pathologies will be critical in more accurately testing therapeutics and predicting the clinical outcome of such therapeutics. PMID:19096156

  4. Resveratrol downregulates inflammatory pathway activated by lymphotoxin α (TNF-β) in articular chondrocytes: Comparison with TNF

    PubMed Central

    Buhrmann, Constanze; Popper, Bastian; Aggarwal, Bharat B.

    2017-01-01

    While Lymphotoxin α (TNF-β), a product of lymphocytes, is known to play a pivotal role in inflammatory joint environment, resveratrol has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects via activation of the histondeacetylase Sirt1. Whether TNF-β induction of inflammatory pathways in primary human chondrocytes (PCH) can be modulated by resveratrol, was investigated. Monolayer and alginate cultures of PCH were treated with TNF-β, anti-TNF-β, nicotinamide (NAM), antisense oligonucleotides against Sirt1 (Sirt1-ASO) and/or resveratrol and co-cultured with T-lymphocytes. We found that resveratrol suppressed, similar to anti-TNF-β, TNF-β-induced increased adhesiveness in an inflammatory microenvironment of T-lymphocytes and PCH. In contrast, knockdown of Sirt1 by mRNA abolished the inhibitory effects of resveratrol on the TNF-β-induced adhesiveness, suggesting the essential role of this enzyme for resveratrol-mediated anti-inflammatory signaling. Similar results were obtained in PCH stimulated with TNF-α. Sirt1-ASO, NAM or TNF-β, similar to T-lymphocytes induced inflammatory microenvironment by down-regulation of cartilage-specific proteins, Sox9, Ki67 and enhanced NF-κB-regulated gene products involved in inflammatory and degradative processes in cartilage (MMP-9/-13, COX-2, caspase-3), NF-κB activation and its translocation to the nucleus. Moreover, resveratrol reversed the TNF-β-, NAM-, T-lymphocytes-induced up-regulation of various NF-κB-regulated gene products. Down-regulation of Sirt1 by mRNA interference abrogated the effect of resveratrol on TNF-β-induced effects. Ultrastructural and cell viability assay investigations revealed that resveratrol revoked TNF-β-induced dose-dependent degradative/apoptotic morphological changes, cell viability and proliferation in PCH. Taken together, suppression of TNF-β-induced inflammatory microenvironment in PCH by resveratrol/Sirt1 might be a novel therapeutic approach for targeting

  5. Optimizing Timing of Immunotherapy Improves Control of Tumors by Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Baird, Jason R.; Savage, Talicia; Cottam, Benjamin; Friedman, David; Bambina, Shelly; Messenheimer, David J.; Fox, Bernard; Newell, Pippa; Bahjat, Keith S.; Gough, Michael J.; Crittenden, Marka R.

    2016-01-01

    The anecdotal reports of promising results seen with immunotherapy and radiation in advanced malignancies have prompted several trials combining immunotherapy and radiation. However, the ideal timing of immunotherapy with radiation has not been clarified. Tumor bearing mice were treated with 20Gy radiation delivered only to the tumor combined with either anti-CTLA4 antibody or anti-OX40 agonist antibody. Immunotherapy was delivered at a single timepoint around radiation. Surprisingly, the optimal timing of these therapies varied. Anti-CTLA4 was most effective when given prior to radiation therapy, in part due to regulatory T cell depletion. Administration of anti-OX40 agonist antibody was optimal when delivered one day following radiation during the post-radiation window of increased antigen presentation. Combination treatment of anti-CTLA4, radiation, and anti-OX40 using the ideal timing in a transplanted spontaneous mammary tumor model demonstrated tumor cures. These data demonstrate that the combination of immunotherapy and radiation results in improved therapeutic efficacy, and that the ideal timing of administration with radiation is dependent on the mechanism of action of the immunotherapy utilized. PMID:27281029

  6. Determinants of Risk Infection During Therapy with Anti TNF-Alpha Blocking Agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Benucci, M; Saviola, G; Baiardi, P; Manfredi, M; Sarzi Puttini, P; Atzeni, Fabiola

    2012-01-01

    The use of TNF-alpha antagonists (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab) has changed the course of many rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since their approval, some questions regarding their safety including infections have been observed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in cytokines levels and cells subsets in patients with RA during anti TNF blocking agents treatment and the possible effect on infections’ development. We evaluated in 89 RA patients [39 treated with etanercept (ETN), 29 with adalimumab (ADA) and 21 with infliximab (IFN)] at baseline and after 6 months the following parameters: procalcitonin, ESR, CRP, cytokines as TNF, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8 and the TNF/IL-10 ratio, and peripheral mononuclear cells as CD3+, CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD19+, CD3- /CD16+/56+, CD14+HLADR+, CD20+, CD19+/CD38+. Peripheral mononuclear cells were detected by flow cytometric system Cytomics FC500 and cytokines circulating levels by a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique (Human IL-8 Instant ELISAe Bioscience, Human IL-6 Instant ELISA e Bioscience, Human IL-10 Instant ELISAe Bioscience and Human TNF-a Quantikine immunoassay RD system). A lower reduction of CD14+HLADR+ in ADA group 54.6±10.4% vs ETA 48.4±15.7% vs INF 40.7±16.5%, p<0.039 was found. No differences in all three groups on peripheral mononuclear cells CD3+, CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD19+, CD 20+, CD19+/CD38+, CD3-/CD16+/56+, and cytokine circulating levels were found. The number of infections at 6 months was: 10.3% in ADA group, 12.8% in ETN group and 19.04% in IFN group. A correlation was found between the reduction in CD14+HLADR+ cells and IFN treatment. Our data showed that the level of CD14+HLADR+ cells was reduced during therapy with IFN. ADA and ETN don’t reduce lymphocyte populations and their subsets such as CD14+HLADR+ cells that play an important role host defence. PMID:22655000

  7. Anti-inflammatory natural product goniothalamin reduces colitis-associated and sporadic colorectal tumorigenesis

    PubMed Central

    Vendramini-Costa, Débora Barbosa; Francescone, Ralph; Posocco, David; Hou, Vivianty; Dmitrieva, Oxana; Hensley, Harvey; de Carvalho, João Ernesto; Pilli, Ronaldo Aloise; Grivennikov, Sergei I.

    2017-01-01

    The tumor microenvironment offers multiple targets for cancer therapy, including pro-tumorigenic inflammation. Natural compounds represent an enormous source of new anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. We previously showed that the styryl lactone goniothalamin (GTN) has promising antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Because inflammation is a major driver of colorectal cancer (CRC), we therefore evaluated the therapeutic and preventive potentials of GTN in colitis, colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and spontaneous CRC. First, in a simplistic model of inflammation in vitro, GTN was able to inhibit cytokine production in bone marrow-derived macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide. Next, in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced-colitis model, mice treated with GTN displayed restored tissue architecture, increased cell proliferation in the colonic crypts and reduced epithelial damage. Moreover, colon tissue from GTN-treated mice had significantly less expression of the inflammatory genes interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), S100A9, interleukin 23A (IL-23A), IL-22 and IL-17A. In the azoxymethane/DSS model of CAC, GTN reduced tumor multiplicity, load and size. Additionally, GTN suppressed production of IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α in tumor tissue, as well as abrogated stromal immune cell activation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Finally, in a tamoxifen inducible model of sporadic CRC, GTN-treated mice had significantly fewer tumors and decreased levels of IL-17A, IL-6, S100A9 and TNF-α protein within the tumors. These results suggest that GTN possesses anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities and represents a preventive and therapeutic agent modulating the inflammatory environment in the colon during colitis as well as CAC and CRC development. PMID:27797827

  8. Is secukinumab a safe alternative treatment for ankylosing spondylitis with Guillain Barré syndrome after anti-TNF-α treatment? Case report and literature review.

    PubMed

    Psarelis, Savvas; Hajineocli, Andreas P D; Hadjicosta, Eleni; Elliott, Hugh St A; Johnson, Paul

    2017-05-01

    In this report, we aim to add to the existing body of evidence regarding a link between anti- tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) treatment and demyelination leading to neurological disorders, specifically Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS), and treatment with an interleukin-17A (IL17A) antagonist as a safe alternative for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A literature review was carried out of current research concerning anti-TNF-α and induced GBS. Only papers published in English were reviewed and only peer-reviewed journals searched. Papers published up to September 2016 were included. Animal studies were excluded. Data bases searched for publications online included: Pub Med, Google Scholar, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Searched terms include "anti-TNF" and "Guillain Barré", "IL17 Ankylosing Spondylitis", "Secukinumab" and "TNF-α", "adalimumab", "infliximab", and "etanercept". All combinations and outcomes were used, and from these searches, a provisional reference list was constructed. The short-listed articles were read and their reference lists were reviewed. The electromyogram done for the patient showed demyelination, the MRI of the brain showed no pathologies, and the MRI of the spine was consistent with ankylosing spondylitis without myelopathy. The lumbar puncture results showed albuminocytological dissociation that was consistent with GBS. TNF has a proinflammatory action, and various immunoregulatory actions that, together, seem to promote the development of peripheral neuropathies syndromes in the organism. However, there is no clear mechanism of why or how anti-TNF-α treatment can induce a demyelinating event in a patient. In the case presented, it was found that the patient developed GBS due to treatment with etanercept, an anti-TNF agent. The treatment was stopped immediately. Two years later, he was switched to secukinumab and has been well controlled for the last 8 months with no neurological findings.

  9. The influence of anti-TNF therapy upon incidence of keratinocyte skin cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: longitudinal results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register

    PubMed Central

    Mercer, Louise K; Green, Adele C; Galloway, James B; Davies, Rebecca; Lunt, Mark; Dixon, William G; Watson, Kath D; Symmons, Deborah PM; Hyrich, Kimme L

    2012-01-01

    Objectives To compare the risk of keratinoctye skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) in patients treated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with the general population, and to determine whether anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy exacerbates this risk. Methods Patients with RA enrolled in the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register, a prospective national cohort established in 2001 to monitor the safety of anti-TNF, were followed until 2008. 11 881 patients treated with anti-TNF were compared with 3629 patients receiving non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (nbDMARD). Standardised incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for each cohort and rates between cohorts were compared using Cox proportional HR, adjusted using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Results SIR for skin cancer was increased in both cohorts compared with the English population: SIR 1.72 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.04) anti-TNF; 1.83 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.50) nbDMARD only. In patients without previous skin cancer, BCC incidence per 100 000 patient-years was 342 (95% CI 290 to 402) after anti-TNF and 407 (95% CI 288 to 558) after nbDMARD. HR after anti-TNF adjusted for treatment weighting was 0.95 (95% CI 0.53 to 1.71). SCC incidence per 100 000 patient-years: anti-TNF 53 (95% CI 33 to 79); nbDMARD 43 (95% CI 12 to 110); adjusted HR 1.16 (95% CI 0.35 to 3.84). Conclusions Skin cancers were increased among treated patients with RA. No evidence was found that anti-TNF therapy exacerbates the risk of BCC or SCC but this cannot be excluded. Patients with RA should use sun protection and be monitored for skin cancer. PMID:22241900

  10. The influence of anti-TNF therapy upon incidence of keratinocyte skin cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: longitudinal results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register.

    PubMed

    Mercer, Louise K; Green, Adele C; Galloway, James B; Davies, Rebecca; Lunt, Mark; Dixon, William G; Watson, Kath D; Symmons, Deborah P M; Hyrich, Kimme L

    2012-06-01

    To compare the risk of keratinoctye skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) in patients treated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with the general population, and to determine whether anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy exacerbates this risk. Patients with RA enrolled in the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register, a prospective national cohort established in 2001 to monitor the safety of anti-TNF, were followed until 2008. 11 881 patients treated with anti-TNF were compared with 3629 patients receiving non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (nbDMARD). Standardised incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for each cohort and rates between cohorts were compared using Cox proportional HR, adjusted using inverse probability of treatment weighting. SIR for skin cancer was increased in both cohorts compared with the English population: SIR 1.72 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.04) anti-TNF; 1.83 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.50) nbDMARD only. In patients without previous skin cancer, BCC incidence per 100 000 patient-years was 342 (95% CI 290 to 402) after anti-TNF and 407 (95% CI 288 to 558) after nbDMARD. HR after anti-TNF adjusted for treatment weighting was 0.95 (95% CI 0.53 to 1.71). SCC incidence per 100 000 patient-years: anti-TNF 53 (95% CI 33 to 79); nbDMARD 43 (95% CI 12 to 110); adjusted HR 1.16 (95% CI 0.35 to 3.84). Skin cancers were increased among treated patients with RA. No evidence was found that anti-TNF therapy exacerbates the risk of BCC or SCC but this cannot be excluded. Patients with RA should use sun protection and be monitored for skin cancer.

  11. A pilot study evaluating 99mTc-anti-TNF-alpha scintigraphy in graves' ophtalmopathy patients with different clinical activity score.

    PubMed

    Rebelo Pinto, E dos S; Lopes, F P P L; de Souza, S A L; da Fonseca, L M B; Vaisman, M; Gutfilen, B; dos Santos Teixeira, P de F

    2013-09-01

    The present study describes the preliminary results of the use of 99mTc-anti-TNF-α scintigraphy as a new diagnostic approach to evaluate patients presenting with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Patients (n=25) presenting at different inflammatory stages of GO and 10 healthy volunteers underwent 99mTc-anti-TNF-α scintigraphy. Images were obtained 15 min after the intravenous injection of 370 MBq (10 mCi) 99mTc-anti-TNF-α. Planar images were obtained in a 256×256 matrix (each lasting 5 min) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan lasting 13 min. Regions of interest (ROI) were drawn on the orbit and cerebral hemispheres. The uptake of 99m Tc-anti-TNF-α in these regions was compared and positive scintigraphy established when the ROI was >2.5. In addition, uptake for each positive exam was scored as either slight (2.6-5.1), moderate (5.2-7.6), or high (>7.6). In this pilot study, 69 orbits were evaluated (1 patient had only 1 eye), and 27 had a positive CAS (≥3/7). Scintigraphies were positive in 38 orbits. Comparing the results of the exams with CAS, a high sensitivity and negative predictive values were determined for scintigraphy (96.3% and 96.7%, respectively). However, the specificity and the positive predictive values were 71.4% and 68.4%, respectively, with an accuracy of 81.2%. The exclusion of examinations that were slightly positive from the analysis resulted in an improvement in test accuracy (95.5%). The preliminary results suggest that 99mTc-anti-TNF-α scintigraphy is a promising procedure for the evaluation of active orbital inflammation in GO. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  12. Relapse after withdrawal from anti-TNF therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: an observational study, plus systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Kennedy, N A; Warner, B; Johnston, E L; Flanders, L; Hendy, P; Ding, N S; Harris, R; Fadra, A S; Basquill, C; Lamb, C A; Cameron, F L; Murray, C D; Parkes, M; Gooding, I; Ahmad, T; Gaya, D R; Mann, S; Lindsay, J O; Gordon, J; Satsangi, J; Hart, A; McCartney, S; Irving, P; Lees, C W

    2016-04-01

    Infliximab and adalimumab have established roles in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy. UK regulators mandate reassessment after 12 months' anti-TNF therapy for IBD, with consideration of treatment withdrawal. There is a need for more data to establish the relapse rates following treatment cessation. To establish outcomes following anti-TNF withdrawal for sustained remission using new data from a large UK cohort, and assimilation of all available literature for systematic review and meta-analysis. A retrospective observational study was performed on 166 patients with IBD (146 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 with ulcerative colitis [UC) and IBD unclassified (IBDU)] withdrawn from anti-TNF for sustained remission. Meta-analysis was undertaken of all published studies incorporating 11 further cohorts totalling 746 patients (624 CD, 122 UC). Relapse rates in the UK cohort were 36% by 1 year and 56% by 2 years for CD, and 42% by 1 year and 47% by 2 years for UC/IBDU. Increased relapse risk in CD was associated with age at diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR) 2.78 for age <22 years], white cell count (HR 3.22 for >5.25 × 10 9 /L) and faecal calprotectin (HR 2.95 for >50 μg/g) at drug withdrawal. Neither continued immunomodulators nor endoscopic remission were predictors. In the meta-analysis, estimated 1-year relapse rates were 39% and 35% for CD and UC/IBDU respectively. Retreatment with anti-TNF was successful in 88% for CD and 76% UC/IBDU. Assimilation of all available data reveals remarkable homogeneity. Approximately one-third of patients with IBD flare within 12 months of withdrawal of anti-TNF therapy for sustained remission. © 2016 The Authors. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  13. Anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities of plant extracts used against hematological tumors in traditional medicine of Jordan.

    PubMed

    Assaf, Areej M; Haddadin, Randa N; Aldouri, Nedhal A; Alabbassi, Reem; Mashallah, Sundus; Mohammad, Mohammad; Bustanji, Yasser

    2013-02-13

    Mercurialis annua L., Bongardia chrysogonum L., and Viscum cruciatum Sieb have been traditionally used by local herbalists in Jordan for the treatment of hematopoietic neoplasms. To determine the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial potentials of the three extracts against two of the most common hematopoietic malignancies in the Jordanian populations; Burkitt's lymphoma and Multiple myeloma. The anti-cancer activity was tested against the two cell lines (BJAB Burkitt's lymphoma and U266 multiple myeloma) using the MTT and trypan blue assays. The agar dilution assay was used to study the anti-microbial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, anaerobic bacteria and yeast. The pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in the pretreated cell lines using ELISA assay to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of Viscum cruciatum Sieb against the two cell lines. The results show no evidence of stimulation of tumor growth by any of the three extracts comprising cell lines from hematological malignancies, but Viscum cruciatum Sieb showed a selective anticancer activity against BJAB cells, with IC(50) value of 14.21μg/ml. The antimicrobial effect was only noticed with Viscum cruciatum extract by inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Propionibacterium acne, but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa at MIC of 1.25, 1.25, 0.625 and <5mg/ml, respectively. The highest activity was against the anaerobic bacteria Propionibacterium acne. Viscum cruciatum Sieb extract showed an inhibitory effect on the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8, but it increased TNF-α and IL-1β secretions in BJAB cells. Whereas, it had an inhibitory effect on TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines while it enhanced IL-8 secretions in U266 cells. Among the three tested herbal extracts used in the traditional medicine in Jordan, only Viscum cruciatum Sieb showed high anti-cancer and anti-microbial potentials. They

  14. Poxvirus-encoded TNF decoy receptors inhibit the biological activity of transmembrane TNF.

    PubMed

    Pontejo, Sergio M; Alejo, Ali; Alcami, Antonio

    2015-10-01

    Poxviruses encode up to four different soluble TNF receptors, named cytokine response modifier B (CrmB), CrmC, CrmD and CrmE. These proteins mimic the extracellular domain of the cellular TNF receptors to bind and inhibit the activity of TNF and, in some cases, other TNF superfamily ligands. Most of these ligands are released after the enzymic cleavage of a membrane precursor. However, transmembrane TNF (tmTNF) is not only a precursor of soluble TNF but also exerts specific pro-inflammatory and immunological activities. Here, we report that viral TNF receptors bound and inhibited tmTNF and describe some interesting differences in their activity against the soluble cytokine. Thus, CrmE, which does not inhibit mouse soluble TNF, could block murine tmTNF-induced cytotoxicity. We propose that this anti-tmTNF effect should be taken into consideration when assessing the role of viral TNF decoy receptors in the pathogenesis of poxvirus.

  15. Methotrexate Reduced TNF Bioactivity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Infliximab

    PubMed Central

    Rinaudo-Gaujous, Mélanie; Thomas, Thierry

    2017-01-01

    Objectives. To evaluate methotrexate effect on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha bioactivity during infliximab (IFX) therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to correlate TNF bioactivity with antibody towards IFX (ATI) development and RA clinical response. Materials and Methods. Thirty-nine active women RA patients despite conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) requiring IFX therapy were enrolled, and clinical data and blood samples were recorded at baseline (W0) and at 6 weeks (W6), W22, and W54 of IFX treatment. TNF bioactivity as well as IFX trough and ATI concentrations were assessed on blood samples. Results. TNF bioactivity decreased from W0 to W54 with a large range from W22 at the time of ATI detection. From W22, TNF bioactivity was lower in presence of methotrexate as csDMARD compared to other csDMARDs. IFX trough concentration increased from W0 to W54 with a large range from W22, similarly to TNF bioactivity. Methotrexate therapy prevented ATI presence at W22 and reduced TNF bioactivity compared to other csDMARDs (p = 0.002). Conclusion. This suggests that methotrexate plays a key role in TNF bioactivity and against ATI development. PMID:28352145

  16. Knockdown of TNF-α by DNAzyme Gold Nanoparticles as an Anti-inflammatory Therapy for Myocardial Infarction

    PubMed Central

    Somasuntharam, Inthirai; Yehl, Kevin; Carroll, Sheridan L.; Maxwell, Joshua T.; Martinez, Mario D.; Che, Pao-Lin; Brown, Milton E.; Salaita, Khalid; Davis, Michael E.

    2017-01-01

    In this study, we used deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme) functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to catalytically silence tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in vivo as a potential therapeutic for myocardial infarction (MI). Using primary macrophages as a model, we demonstrated 50% knockdown of TNF-α, which was not attainable using Lipofectamine-based approaches. Local injection of DNAzyme conjugated to gold particles (AuNPs) in the rat myocardium yielded TNF-α knockdown efficiencies of 50%, which resulted in significant anti-inflammatory effects and improvement in acute cardiac function following MI. Our results represent the first example showing the use of DNAzyme AuNP conjugates in vivo for viable delivery and gene regulation. This is significant as TNF-α is a multibillion dollar drug target implicated in many inflammatory-mediated disorders, thus underscoring the potential impact of DNAzyme-conjugated AuNPs. PMID:26773660

  17. Recombinant DNA technology for melanoma immunotherapy: anti-Id DNA vaccines targeting high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen.

    PubMed

    Barucca, A; Capitani, M; Cesca, M; Tomassoni, D; Kazmi, U; Concetti, F; Vincenzetti, L; Concetti, A; Venanzi, F M

    2014-11-01

    Anti-idiotypic MK2-23 monoclonal antibody (anti-Id MK2-23 mAb), which mimics the high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen (HMW-MAA), has been used to implement active immunotherapy against melanoma. However, due to safety and standardization issues, this approach never entered extensive clinical trials. In the present study, we investigated the usage of DNA vaccines as an alternative to MK2-23 mAb immunization. MK2-23 DNA plasmids coding for single chain (scFv) MK2-23 antibody were constructed via the insertion of variable heavy (V H) and light (V L) chains of MK2-23 into the pVAC-1mcs plasmids. Two alternative MK2-23 plasmids format V H/V L, and V L/V H were assembled. We demonstrate that both polypeptides expressed by scFv plasmids in vitro retained the ability to mimic HMW-MAA antigen, and to elicit specific anti-HMW-MAA humoral and cellular immunoresponses in immunized mice. Notably, MK2-23 scFv DNA vaccines impaired the onset and growth of transplantable B16 melanoma cells not engineered to express HMW-MAA. This pilot study suggests that optimized MK2-23 scFv DNA vaccines could potentially provide a safer and cost-effective alternative to anti-Id antibody immunization, for melanoma immunotherapy.

  18. Drug-specific risk of tuberculosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-TNF therapy: results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR).

    PubMed

    Dixon, W G; Hyrich, K L; Watson, K D; Lunt, M; Galloway, J; Ustianowski, A; Symmons, D P M

    2010-03-01

    The risk of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be increased following anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, with a proposed differential risk between the anti-TNF drugs etanercept (ETA), infliximab (INF) and adalimumab (ADA). To compare directly the risk between drugs, to explore time to event, site of infection and the role of ethnicity. Data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR), a national prospective observational study, were used to compare TB rates in 10 712 anti-TNF treated patients (3913 ETA, 3295 INF, 3504 ADA) and 3232 patients with active RA treated with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. To April 2008, 40 cases of TB were reported, all in the anti-TNF cohort. The rate of TB was higher for the monoclonal antibodies ADA (144 events/100,000 person-years) and INF (136/100,000 person-years) than for ETA (39/100,000 person-years). After adjustment, the incidence rate ratio compared with ETA-treated patients was 3.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 9.5) for INF and 4.2 (1.4 to 12.4) for ADA. The median time to event was lowest for INF (5.5 months) compared with ETA (13.4 months) and ADA (18.5 months). 13/40 cases occurred after stopping treatment. 25/40 (62%) cases were extrapulmonary, of which 11 were disseminated. Patients of non-white ethnicity had a sixfold increased risk of TB compared with white patients treated with anti-TNF therapy. The rate of TB in patients with RA treated with anti-TNF therapy was three- to fourfold higher in patients receiving INF and ADA than in those receiving ETA.

  19. Immature blood vessels in rheumatoid synovium are selectively depleted in response to anti-TNF therapy.

    PubMed

    Izquierdo, Elena; Cañete, Juan D; Celis, Raquel; Santiago, Begoña; Usategui, Alicia; Sanmartí, Raimon; Del Rey, Manuel J; Pablos, José L

    2009-12-02

    Angiogenesis is considered an important factor in the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) where it has been proposed as a therapeutic target. In other settings, active angiogenesis is characterized by pathologic, immature vessels that lack periendothelial cells. We searched for the presence of immature vessels in RA synovium and analyzed the dynamics of synovial vasculature along the course of the disease, particularly after therapeutic response to TNF antagonists. Synovial arthroscopic biopsies from RA, osteoarthritis (OA) and normal controls were analyzed by double labeling of endothelium and pericytes/smooth muscle mural cells to identify and quantify mature/immature blood vessels. To analyze clinicopathological correlations, a cross-sectional study on 82 synovial biopsies from RA patients with variable disease duration and severity was performed. A longitudinal analysis was performed in 25 patients with active disease rebiopsied after anti-TNF-alpha therapy. We found that most RA synovial tissues contained a significant fraction of immature blood vessels lacking periendothelial coverage, whereas they were rare in OA, and inexistent in normal synovial tissues. Immature vessels were observed from the earliest phases of the disease but their presence or density was significantly increased in patients with longer disease duration, higher activity and severity, and stronger inflammatory cell infiltration. In patients that responded to anti-TNF-alpha therapy, immature vessels were selectively depleted. The mature vasculature was similarly expanded in early or late disease and unchanged by therapy. RA synovium contains a significant fraction of neoangiogenic, immature blood vessels. Progression of the disease increases the presence and density of immature but not mature vessels and only immature vessels are depleted in response to anti-TNFalpha therapy. The different dynamics of the mature and immature vascular fractions has important implications for the

  20. Evaluation of dose reduction versus standard dosing for maintenance of remission in patients with spondyloarthritis and clinical remission with anti-TNF (REDES-TNF): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Pontes, Caridad; Gratacós, Jordi; Torres, Ferran; Avendaño, Cristina; Sanz, Jesús; Vallano, Antoni; Juanola, Xavier; de Miguel, Eugenio; Sanmartí, Raimon; Calvo, Gonzalo

    2015-08-20

    Dose reduction schedules of tumor necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF) as maintenance therapy in patients with spondyloarthritis are used empirically in clinical practice, despite the lack of clinical trials providing evidence for this practice. To address this issue the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER) and Spanish Society of Clinical Pharmacology (SEFC) designed a 3-year multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial (2 years for inclusion and 1 year of follow-up). The study is expected to include 190 patients with axial spondyloarthritis on stable maintenance treatment (≥4 months) with any anti-TNF agent at doses recommended in the summary of product characteristics. Patients will be randomized to either a dose reduction arm or maintenance of the dosing regimen as per the official labelling recommendations. Randomization will be stratified according to the anti-TNF agent received before study inclusion. Patient follow-up, visit schedule, and examinations will be maintained as per normal clinical practice recommendations according to SER guidelines. The study aims to test the hypothesis of noninferiority of the dose reduction strategy compared with standard treatment. The first patients were recruited in July 2012, and study completion is scheduled for the end of April 2015. The REDES-TNF study is a pragmatic clinical trial that aims to provide evidence to support a medical decision now made empirically. The study results may help inform clinical decisions relevant to both patients and healthcare decision makers. EudraCT 2011-005871-18 (21 December 2011).

  1. Biological treatments in Behçet's disease: beyond anti-TNF therapy.

    PubMed

    Caso, Francesco; Costa, Luisa; Rigante, Donato; Lucherini, Orso Maria; Caso, Paolo; Bascherini, Vittoria; Frediani, Bruno; Cimaz, Rolando; Marrani, Edoardo; Nieves-Martín, Laura; Atteno, Mariangela; Raffaele, Carmela G L; Tarantino, Giusyda; Galeazzi, Mauro; Punzi, Leonardo; Cantarini, Luca

    2014-01-01

    Behçet's disease (BD) is universally recognized as a multisystemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with chronic course and unpredictable exacerbations: its clinical spectrum varies from pure vasculitic manifestations with thrombotic complications to protean inflammatory involvement of multiple organs and tissues. Treatment has been revolutionized by the progressed knowledge in the pathogenetic mechanisms of BD, involving dysfunction and oversecretion of multiple proinflammatory molecules, chiefly tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, and IL-6. However, although biological treatment with anti-TNF-α agents has been largely demonstrated to be effective in BD, not all patients are definite responders, and this beneficial response might drop off over time. Therefore, additional therapies for a subset of refractory patients with BD are inevitably needed. Different agents targeting various cytokines and their receptors or cell surface molecules have been studied: the IL-1 receptor has been targeted by anakinra, the IL-1 by canakinumab and gevokizumab, the IL-6 receptor by tocilizumab, the IL12/23 receptor by ustekinumab, and the B-lymphocyte antigen CD-20 by rituximab. The aim of this review is to summarize all current experiences and the most recent evidence regarding these novel approaches with biological drugs other than TNF-α blockers in BD, providing a valuable addition to the actually available therapeutic armamentarium.

  2. Rational combinations of immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

    PubMed

    Blair, Alex B; Zheng, Lei

    2017-06-01

    The complex interaction between the immune system, the tumor and the microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) leads to the resistance of PDA to immunotherapy. To overcome this resistance, combination immunotherapy is being proposed. However, rational combinations that target multiple aspects of the complex anti-tumor immune response are warranted. Novel clinical trials will investigate and optimize the combination immunotherapy for PDA.

  3. The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1B polymorphisms predict response to anti-TNF therapy in patients with autoimmune disease: A meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Chen, Wenjuan; Xu, Hui; Wang, Xiuxiu; Gu, Junying; Xiong, Huizi; Shi, Yuling

    2015-09-01

    Numerous published data on the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1B (TNFRSF1B) gene polymorphisms are shown to be associated with response or non-response to anti-TNF therapy in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and Crohn's Disease (CD). The aim of this study is to investigate whether the TNFRSF1B rs1061622 T/G or TNFRSF1A A/G rs767455 polymorphisms can predict the response to anti-TNF-based therapy in patients with autoimmune diseases. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies on the association between TNFRSF1B rs1061622 T/G polymorphism or TNFRSF1A A/G rs767455 polymorphism and non-responsiveness to anti-TNF therapy in autoimmune diseases. A total of 8 studies involving 929 subjects for TNFRSF1B rs1061622 and 564 subjects for TNFRSF1A rs767455 were finally considered. These studies consisted of seven studies on the TNFRSF1B polymorphism and four studies on the TNFRSF1A polymorphism. Meta-analysis showed significant association between the TNFRSF1B rs1061622 allele and non-responders to anti-TNF therapy [T/G odds ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-0.93, p=0.01]. Stratification by disease type indicated an association between the TNFRSF1B rs1061622 allele and non-responders to TNF antagonist in RA (T/G OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48-0.99, p<0.05) and psoriasis (T/G OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.23-0.67, p<0.001), but not in CD (T/G OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.57-0.93, p=0.57). And there was no association between TNFRSF1A rs767455 genotype and non-responders to the anti-TNF therapy (A/G OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.70-1.23, p=0.59). This meta-analysis demonstrates that TNFRSF1B T allele carriers show a better response to anti-TNF therapy, and individuals carrying TNFRSF1A A allele have no relationship with the response to anti-TNF therapy for autoimmune diseases. The genotyping of this polymorphism could help to optimize the treatment by identifying patients with a likely poor response to biological drugs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All

  4. Design, synthesis and biological assessment of N-adamantyl, substituted adamantyl and noradamantyl phthalimidines for nitrite, TNF-α and angiogenesis inhibitory activities.

    PubMed

    Luo, Weiming; Tweedie, David; Beedie, Shaunna L; Vargesson, Neil; Figg, William D; Greig, Nigel H; Scerba, Michael T

    2018-05-01

    A library of 15 novel and heretofore uncharacterized adamantyl and noradamantyl phthalimidines was synthesized and evaluated for neuroprotective and anti-angiogenic properties. Phthalimidine treatment in LPS-challenged cells effected reductions in levels of secreted TNF-α and nitrite relative to basal amounts. The primary SAR suggests nitration of adamantyl phthalimidines has marginal effect on TNF-α activity but promotes anti-nitrite activity; thioamide congeners retain anti-nitrite activity but are less effective reducing TNF-α. Site-specific nitration and thioamidation provided phthalimidine 24, effecting an 88.5% drop in nitrite concurrent with only a 4% drop in TNF-α. Notable anti-angiogenesis activity was observed for 20, 21 and 22. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  5. Cost-effectiveness of drug monitoring of anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Martelli, Laura; Olivera, Pablo; Roblin, Xavier; Attar, Alain; Peyrin-Biroulet, Laurent

    2017-01-01

    Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of anti-TNF is increasingly used to manage inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The cost-effectiveness of this strategy is debated. All studies comparing the cost-effectiveness of a TDM-based strategy and an empirical dose management of anti-TNF in IBD or RA were screened. Studies were identified through the MEDLINE electronic database (up to July 2016), and annual international meeting abstracts were also manually reviewed. Seven studies were included: two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling 332 patients [247 Crohn's disease (CD) and 85 ulcerative colitis (UC)] and five modeling approaches. Four studies included only CD patients, one included both CD and UC patients, and two included only RA patients. Three studies compared the cost-effectiveness of the two strategies in patients with secondary infliximab (IFX) failure (dose-escalation strategy), one in patients in remission on optimized IFX (de-escalation strategy), one in patients starting adalimumab, and two in patients with clinical response to maintenance anti-TNF therapy. The two RCTs demonstrated that a TDM strategy led to major cost savings, ranging from 28 to 34 %. The three modeling approaches with regard to CD patients demonstrated cost savings ranging from $5396 over a 1-year period to €13,130 per patient at 5 years of follow-up. A TDM strategy also led to major cost savings in the two modeling approaches in RA patients. Available evidence indicates that a TDM strategy leads to major cost savings related to anti-TNF therapy in both IBD and RA patients, with no negative impact on efficacy.

  6. Apoptotic cell infusion treats ongoing collagen-induced arthritis, even in the presence of methotrexate, and is synergic with anti-TNF therapy.

    PubMed

    Bonnefoy, Francis; Daoui, Anna; Valmary-Degano, Séverine; Toussirot, Eric; Saas, Philippe; Perruche, Sylvain

    2016-08-11

    Apoptotic cell-based therapies have been proposed to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intravenous (i.v.) apoptotic cell infusion in ongoing collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and the interaction of this therapy with other treatments used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including methotrexate (MTX) or anti-TNF therapy. The effects of i.v. apoptotic cell infusion were evaluated in a CIA mouse model in DBA/1 mice immunized with bovine type II collagen. The number and functions of antigen-presenting cells (APC), regulatory CD4(+) T cells (Treg), and circulating anti-collagen auto-antibodies were analyzed in CIA mice. Treatment of arthritic mice with i.v. apoptotic cell infusion significantly reduced the arthritis clinical score. This therapeutic approach modified T cell responses against the collagen auto-antigen with selective induction of collagen-specific Treg. In addition, we observed that APC from apoptotic-cell-treated animals were resistant to toll-like receptor ligand activation and favored ex vivo Treg induction, indicating APC reprogramming. Apoptotic cell injection-induced arthritis modulation was dependent on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, as neutralizing anti-TGF-β antibody prevented the effects of apoptotic cells. Methotrexate did not interfere, while anti-TNF therapy was synergic with apoptotic-cell-based therapy. Overall, our data demonstrate that apoptotic-cell-based therapy is efficient in treating ongoing CIA, compatible with current RA treatments, and needs to be evaluated in humans in the treatment of RA.

  7. Azadirachtin interacts with the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) binding domain of its receptors and inhibits TNF-induced biological responses.

    PubMed

    Thoh, Maikho; Kumar, Pankaj; Nagarajaram, Hampathalu A; Manna, Sunil K

    2010-02-19

    The role of azadirachtin, an active component of a medicinal plant Neem (Azadirachta indica), on TNF-induced cell signaling in human cell lines was investigated. Azadirachtin blocks TNF-induced activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and also expression of NF-kappaB-dependent genes such as adhesion molecules and cyclooxygenase 2. Azadirachtin inhibits the inhibitory subunit of NF-kappaB (IkappaB alpha) phosphorylation and thereby its degradation and RelA (p65) nuclear translocation. It blocks IkappaB alpha kinase (IKK) activity ex vivo, but not in vitro. Surprisingly, azadirachtin blocks NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in transfected cells with TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF)2, TNF receptor-associated death domain (TRADD), IKK, or p65, but not with TNFR, suggesting its effect is at the TNFR level. Azadirachtin blocks binding of TNF, but not IL-1, IL-4, IL-8, or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) with its respective receptors. Anti-TNFR antibody or TNF protects azadirachtin-mediated down-regulation of TNFRs. Further, in silico data suggest that azadirachtin strongly binds in the TNF binding site of TNFR. Overall, our data suggest that azadirachtin modulates cell surface TNFRs thereby decreasing TNF-induced biological responses. Thus, azadirachtin exerts an anti-inflammatory response by a novel pathway, which may be beneficial for anti-inflammatory therapy.

  8. Azadirachtin Interacts with the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Binding Domain of Its Receptors and Inhibits TNF-induced Biological Responses*

    PubMed Central

    Thoh, Maikho; Kumar, Pankaj; Nagarajaram, Hampathalu A.; Manna, Sunil K.

    2010-01-01

    The role of azadirachtin, an active component of a medicinal plant Neem (Azadirachta indica), on TNF-induced cell signaling in human cell lines was investigated. Azadirachtin blocks TNF-induced activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and also expression of NF-κB-dependent genes such as adhesion molecules and cyclooxygenase 2. Azadirachtin inhibits the inhibitory subunit of NF-κB (IκBα) phosphorylation and thereby its degradation and RelA (p65) nuclear translocation. It blocks IκBα kinase (IKK) activity ex vivo, but not in vitro. Surprisingly, azadirachtin blocks NF-κB DNA binding activity in transfected cells with TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF)2, TNF receptor-associated death domain (TRADD), IKK, or p65, but not with TNFR, suggesting its effect is at the TNFR level. Azadirachtin blocks binding of TNF, but not IL-1, IL-4, IL-8, or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) with its respective receptors. Anti-TNFR antibody or TNF protects azadirachtin-mediated down-regulation of TNFRs. Further, in silico data suggest that azadirachtin strongly binds in the TNF binding site of TNFR. Overall, our data suggest that azadirachtin modulates cell surface TNFRs thereby decreasing TNF-induced biological responses. Thus, azadirachtin exerts an anti-inflammatory response by a novel pathway, which may be beneficial for anti-inflammatory therapy. PMID:20018848

  9. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a patient treated with anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors.

    PubMed

    Mays, Rana M; Gordon, Rachel A; Durham, K Celeste; LaPolla, Whitney J; Tyring, Stephen K

    2013-03-15

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a tick-bourne illness, which can be fatal if unrecognized. We discuss the case of a patient treated with an anti-TNF-alpha inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis who later developed a generalized erythematous macular eruption accompanied by fever. The clinical findings were suggestive of RMSF, which was later confirmed with serology. Prompt treatment with doxyclycine is recommended for all patients with clinical suspicion of RMSF.

  10. Plasma Levels of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Are Associated with Anti-TNF Responsiveness in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inhibit the Etanercept-driven Rise in Th17 Cell Differentiation in Vitro.

    PubMed

    Jeffery, Louisa; Fisk, Helena L; Calder, Philip C; Filer, Andrew; Raza, Karim; Buckley, Christopher D; McInnes, Iain; Taylor, Peter C; Fisher, Benjamin A

    2017-06-01

    To determine whether levels of plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with response to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and whether this putative effect may have its basis in altering anti-TNF-driven Th17 cell differentiation. Plasma was collected at baseline and after 3 months of anti-TNF treatment in 22 patients with established RA, and fatty acid composition of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) component was measured. CD4+CD25- T cells and monocytes were purified from the blood of healthy donors and cocultured in the presence of anti-CD3, with or without etanercept (ETN), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or the control fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA). Expression of interleukin 17 and interferon-γ was measured by intracellular staining and flow cytometry. Plasma PC EPA levels and the EPA/arachidonic acid ratio correlated inversely with change in the Disease Activity Score at 28 joints (DAS28) at 3 months (-0.51, p = 0.007 and -0.48, p = 0.01, respectively), indicating that higher plasma EPA was associated with a greater reduction in DAS28. Plasma PC EPA was positively associated with European League Against Rheumatism response (p = 0.02). An increase in Th17 cells post-therapy has been associated with nonresponse to anti-TNF. ETN increased Th17 frequencies in vitro . Physiological concentrations of EPA, but not LA, prevented this. EPA status was associated with clinical improvements to anti-TNF therapy in vivo and prevented the effect of ETN on Th17 cells in vitro . EPA supplementation might be a simple way to improve anti-TNF outcomes in patients with RA by suppressing Th17 frequencies.

  11. Advances in personalized cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Kakimi, Kazuhiro; Karasaki, Takahiro; Matsushita, Hirokazu; Sugie, Tomoharu

    2017-01-01

    There are currently three major approaches to T cell-based cancer immunotherapy, namely, active vaccination, adoptive cell transfer therapy and immune checkpoint blockade. Recently, this latter approach has demonstrated remarkable clinical benefits, putting cancer immunotherapy under the spotlight. Better understanding of the dynamics of anti-tumor immune responses (the "Cancer-Immunity Cycle") is crucial for the further development of this form of treatment. Tumors employ multiple strategies to escape from anti-tumor immunity, some of which result from the selection of cancer cells with immunosuppressive activity by the process of cancer immunoediting. Apart from this selective process, anti-tumor immune responses can also be inhibited in multiple different ways which vary from patient to patient. This implies that cancer immunotherapy must be personalized to (1) identify the rate-limiting steps in any given patient, (2) identify and combine strategies to overcome these hurdles, and (3) proceed with the next round of the "Cancer-Immunity Cycle". Cancer cells have genetic alterations which can provide the immune system with targets by which to recognize and eradicate the tumor. Mutated proteins expressed exclusively in cancer cells and recognizable by the immune system are known as neoantigens. The development of next-generation sequencing technology has made it possible to determine the genetic landscape of human cancer and facilitated the utilization of genomic information to identify such candidate neoantigens in individual cancers. Future immunotherapies will need to be personalized in terms of the identification of both patient-specific immunosuppressive mechanisms and target neoantigens.

  12. Diverse cutaneous adverse eruptions caused by anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunotherapies: clinical features and management.

    PubMed

    Shen, John; Chang, Jason; Mendenhall, Melody; Cherry, Grace; Goldman, Jonathan W; Kulkarni, Rajan P

    2018-01-01

    The anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunotherapies have shown exceptional activity in many cancers. However, these immunotherapies can also result in diverse adverse cutaneous eruptions that need to be better characterized for ongoing management. The objective was to provide clinical and histopathologic descriptions of the variety of cutaneous adverse events seen in patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment and discuss their management. Patients with advanced cancers in clinical trials at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment between 2012 and 2016 who developed cutaneous eruptions and were evaluated in the dermatology clinic were included in this retrospective case series study. A total of 16 patients were included in this study; of these, five were treated with pembrolizumab alone, two with avelumab alone, eight with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and one with nivolumab plus T-Vec. Of these 16 patients, eight had received systemic chemotherapy, six had received radiotherapy, and one had received trememlimumab prior to the immunotherapies described in this study. Cutaneous eruptions occurred at variable times, from week 1 to 88, with a median of 11.5 weeks; the morphologies included lichenoid, bullous, psoriasiform, macular, morbiliform appearances, and alopecia which were confirmed histopathologically in several of the cases. All cutaneous immune-related adverse events were either grade 1 or 2. Ten patients were treated with topical corticosteroids, and one also received NBUVB. Four patients eventually required systemic steroids. Three required discontinuation of their anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy secondary to the cutaneous eruptions. There are several different types of adverse cutaneous morphologies that may be seen with administration of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors. Identifying the patterns of eruption may assist in prompt treatment. Most eruptions could be managed with

  13. Reduced numbers of mucosal DR(int) macrophages and increased numbers of CD103(+) dendritic cells during anti-TNF-α treatment in patients with Crohn's disease.

    PubMed

    Dige, Anders; Magnusson, Maria K; Öhman, Lena; Hvas, Christian Lodberg; Kelsen, Jens; Wick, Mary Jo; Agnholt, Jørgen

    2016-01-01

    Anti-TNF-α treatment constitutes a mainstay in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), but its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the effects of adalimumab, a human monoclonal TNF-α antibody, on macrophage (MQ) and dendritic cell (DC) subsets in mucosal biopsies and peripheral blood. Intestinal biopsies and blood samples were obtained from 12 different CD patients both before and 4 weeks after the initiation of the induction of adalimumab treatment. Endoscopic disease activity was estimated by the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease. Biopsies were obtained from inflamed and non-inflamed areas. The numbers of lamina propria CD14 (+) DR(int) and CD14 (+) DR(hi) MQs, CD141(+), CD141(-) and CD103(+) DCs subsets, and circulating monocytes and DCs were analyzed using flow cytometry. At baseline, we observed higher numbers of DR(int) MQs and lower numbers of CD103(+) DCs in inflamed versus non-inflamed mucosa [843 vs. 391/10(5) lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) (p < 0.05) and 9 vs. 19 × 10(5) LPMCs (p = 0.01), respectively]. After four weeks of adalimumab treatment, the numbers of DR(int) MQs decreased [843 to 379/10(5) LPMCs (p = 0.03)], whereas the numbers of CD103(+) DCs increased [9-20 × 10(5) LPMCs (p = 0.003)] compared with baseline. In peripheral blood, no alterations were observed in monocyte or DC numbers between baseline and week 4. In CD, mucosal inflammation is associated with high numbers of DR(int) MQs and low numbers of CD103(+) DCs. This composition of intestinal myeloid subsets is reversed by anti-TNF-α treatment. These results suggest that DR(int) MQs play a pivotal role in CD inflammation.

  14. Intravenous Versus Subcutaneous Anti-TNF-Alpha Agents for Crohn's Disease: A Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety.

    PubMed

    Liu, Jinan; Sylwestrzak, Gosia; Ruggieri, Alexander P; DeVries, Andrea

    2015-07-01

    In recent years, there have been a number of pharmacological innovations for Crohn's disease (CD), a difficult-to-treat condition, including new treatment philosophies (e.g., top-down therapy) and new therapeutic options in terms of the agent and the route of administration. Three anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF-alpha) agents are available for use among CD patients in the United States: infliximab, an intravenous agent, and adalimumab and certolizumab pegol, 2 newer subcutaneous products. Infliximab is considered the "gold standard" because it has the longest clinical experience, and adalimumab and certolizumab pegol have each gained significant market share. To examine differences in effectiveness and safety between currently available intravenous and subcutaneous anti-TNF-alpha agents used to treat patients with CD. Data for this retrospective, administrative claims analysis were obtained from pharmacy and medical claims from major U.S. health plans geographically dispersed across 14 states during 2007-2011. Patients had at least 1 ICD-9-CM diagnosis for CD, 6 months pre-index eligibility, and initiated anti-TNF-alpha therapy on the index date. Patients in each cohort were propensity score matched on pre-index demographics, clinical characteristics, and baseline health care use. During the post-index period, age-sex adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of CD-related symptoms, infections, cancers, and hepatic-related conditions were compared using Cox (PH) models. The matched cohorts included 515 patients in each group, with an average age of 39 years. Median follow-up was 17.5 months in the intravenous cohort and 17.7 months in the subcutaneous cohort. In terms of effectiveness outcomes, age-sex adjusted IRRs for the subcutaneous group, with the intravenous cohort as a reference, were as follows: 0.61 (95% CI = 0.32-1.18, P = 0.14) for anal fissures; 0.97 (95% CI = 0.72-1.30, P = 0.85) for abscess; 1.08 (95% CI = 0.79-1.04, P = 0

  15. The Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Naringin Is Associated with Reduced Expressions of Cell Adhesion Molecules and Chemokines through NF-κB Pathway.

    PubMed

    Hsueh, Tun-Pin; Sheen, Jer-Ming; Pang, Jong-Hwei S; Bi, Kuo-Wei; Huang, Chao-Chun; Wu, Hsiao-Ting; Huang, Sheng-Teng

    2016-02-05

    Naringin has been reported to have an anti-atherosclerosis effect but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of naringin on the TNF-α-induced expressions of cell adhesion molecules, chemokines and NF-κB signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The experiments revealed that naringin, at concentrations without cytotoxicity, dose-dependently inhibited the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to the TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. The TNF-α-induced expressions of cell adhesion molecules, including VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, at both the mRNA and protein levels, were significantly suppressed by naringin in a dose dependent manner. In addition, the TNF-α-induced mRNA and protein levels of chemokines, including fractalkine/CX3CL1, MCP-1 and RANTES, were also reduced by naringin. Naringin significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB, which resulted from the inhibited phosphorylation of IKKα/β, IκB-α and NF-κB. Altogether, we proposed that naringin modulated TNF-α-induced expressions of cell adhesion molecules and chemokines through the inhibition of TNF-α-induced activation of IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway to exert the anti-atherosclerotic effect.

  16. Efficacy and Safety of Anti-TNF-α Agents in Inflammatory Bowel Disease After Liver Transplant: A Case Series.

    PubMed

    Olmedo-Martín, R V; Amo-Trillo, V; González-Grande, R; Tenorio-González, E; Sánchez-García, O; de la Cruz-Lombardo, J; Rodrigo-López, J M; Jiménez-Pérez, M

    2018-03-01

    Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) can appear de novo or worsen after liver transplant. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of anti-tumor necrosis-alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents after transplantation. We reviewed the clinical database of our center searching for all liver transplant patients with inflammatory bowel disease who were treated with anti-TNF-α agents between 1997 and 2017. Clinical response was assessed from clinical activity indices 12 weeks after starting treatment. The median age of the 6 patients (3 women) was 37 years. Four patients were diagnosed before transplantation (2 UC and 2 CD), and in the other 2 the disease appeared de novo (1 UC and 1 CD). The indications for transplant were primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 3), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 2), and hepatitis C virus cirrhosis (n = 1). Clinical response was seen in 3 of the 6 patients and, in the 3 cases for whom endoscopic data were available, no mucous healing was seen. The only adverse effects noted over a mean follow-up of 15 months were 1 cytomegalovirus infection and 1 severe infusion reaction to infliximab. No patients had recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in the graft, and none of the patients died. Use of an anti-TNF-α agent in a liver transplant patient with inflammatory bowel disease may be an effective option, with an acceptable risk-benefit ratio. Further studies are required to confirm their use in this context. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Utility of anti-HSP 70, TNF-alpha, ESR, antinuclear antibody, and antiphospholipid antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

    PubMed

    Süslü, Nilda; Yilmaz, Taner; Gürsel, Bülent

    2009-02-01

    To investigate the performance of various laboratory tests used for patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Prospective clinical trial. Thirty patients who presented with SSNHL and 30 healthy people with no cochleovestibular disorders were selected as study and control groups. The laboratory panel includes the following tests: anti-HSP 70 antibody immunoassay, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and antiphospholipid antibodies. The study group was given corticosteroid therapy and separated into two groups: the corticosteroid responders and the corticosteroid nonresponders. In the follow-up, repeat audiograms were evaluated to determine the response to treatment. TNF-alpha was found at lower titers in the study group when compared with the control group in contrast to other studies. Also, anti-HSP 70 was not found in high titers in the study group. ANA and ESR were the two parameters that were significantly more positive in the study group compared with the control group. Because of the lack of association between a positive test and response to corticosteroid treatment, detection of the anti-HSP 70 antibody, TNF-alpha, ESR, and ANA, at present, do not offer clinically useful information in the treatment of SSNHL. Also, because of the lower titers of TNF-alpha documented in patients with SSNHL, we do not recommend the use of specific TNF-alpha inhibitors in SSNHL.

  18. Impact of 24 months of anti-TNF therapy versus methotrexate on body weight in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective observational study.

    PubMed

    Sfriso, Paolo; Caso, Francesco; Filardo, Giuseppe Sebastiano; Botsios, Costantino; Costa, Luisa; Scarpa, Raffaele; Todesco, Silvano; Spinella, Paolo; Oliviero, Francesca; Punzi, Leonardo

    2016-06-01

    To evaluate the impact of anti-TNF-α therapy on the body weight of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients following 24 months of treatment. Data were collected on all RA patients included in the Veneto Region's Registry of Biological Therapy from January 2007 to July 2012. Inclusion criteria were: start of monotherapy with adalimumab, etanercept, or methotrexate, no previous use of biologic therapy, and at least 24 months of treatment. At baseline, 12, and 24 months, each patient completed a questionnaire about physical activity, smoking, alcohol, and food habits. One hundred and thirty-one RA patients in monotherapy with etanercept (n = 47), adalimumab (n = 44), and methotrexate (n = 40) were enrolled for this study. After 24 months of therapy, there was an increase of weight only in patients treated with anti-TNF-α. Patients on etanercept and adalimumab therapy showed a risk to gain weight six times greater compared to those on methotrexate therapy. The results of present study show that the use of anti-TNF-α in RA patients can be associated to a significant increase of body weight. This increase is not shown in patients under treatment with methotrexate. A more careful evaluation of weight changes needs to be considered in RA patients under anti-TNF-α treatment.

  19. Effect of anti-TNF and conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment on work disability and clinical outcome in a multicentre observational cohort study of psoriatic arthritis.

    PubMed

    Tillett, William; Shaddick, Gavin; Jobling, Amelia; Askari, Ayman; Cooper, Annie; Creamer, Paul; Clunie, Gavin; Helliwell, Philip S; James, Jana; Kay, Lesley; Korendowych, Eleanor; Lane, Suzanne; Packham, Jonathon; Shaban, Ragai; Thomas, Matthew L; Williamson, Lyn; McHugh, Neil

    2017-04-01

    To determine the effect of medical treatment on work disability in patients with active PsA in a real-world setting. Four hundred patients with active PsA commencing or switching to anti-TNF or conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) were recruited to a multicentre UK prospective observational cohort study. Work disability was measured using the work productivity and activity-specific health problem instrument and peripheral joint activity was measured with the disease activity in PsA composite measure. Four hundred patients were recruited, of whom 229 (57.25%) were working (of any age). Sixty-two patients of working age (24%) were unemployed. At 6 months there was a 10% improvement in presenteeism ( P = 0.007) and a 15% improvement in work productivity ( P = 0.001) among working patients commenced on csDMARDs ( n = 164) vs a larger and more rapid 30% improvement in presenteeism ( P < 0.001) and 40% improvement in work productivity ( P < 0.001) among those commenced on anti-TNF therapy ( n = 65). Clinical response was poor among patients commenced on a csDMARD ( n = 272), with an 8.4 point improvement in disease activity in PsA ( P < 0.001) vs those commenced on anti-TNF therapy ( n = 121), who had a 36.8 point improvement ( P < 0.001). We report significant and clinically meaningful improvements in both work disability and clinical outcomes after commencement of anti-TNF therapy in a real-world setting. Improvements in all outcomes among those commencing csDMARDs were slower and of a smaller magnitude. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

  20. Anti-tumor immunotherapy by blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway with recombinant human PD-1-IgV.

    PubMed

    Zhang, C; Wu, S; Xue, X; Li, M; Qin, X; Li, W; Han, W; Zhang, Y

    2008-01-01

    Blockade of the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway can delay tumor growth and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice. The extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig) V domain of PD-1 is important for the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1, suggesting that PD-1-IgV may be a potential target for anti-tumor immunotherapy. The extracellular sequence of human PD-1-IgV (hPD-1-IgV) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The anti-tumor effect of hPD-1-IgV on tumor-bearing mice was tested. hPD-1-IgV recombinant protein could bind PD-L1 at molecular and cellular levels and enhance Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) activity and anti-tumor effect on tumor-bearing mice in vivo. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in tumor-bearing mice was decreased compared with control mice after administration of the recombinant protein. Our results suggest that inhibition of the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 by hPD-1-IgV may be a promising strategy for specific tumor immunotherapy.

  1. Amyloid-ß-directed immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease

    PubMed Central

    Lannfelt, L; Relkin, N R; Siemers, E R

    2014-01-01

    Lannfelt L, Relkin NR, Siemers ER (Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; and Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN, USA). Amyloid-ß-directed immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease. (Key Symposium). J Intern Med 2014; 275: 284–295. Current treatment options for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are limited to medications that reduce dementia symptoms. Given the rapidly ageing populations in most areas of the world, new therapeutic interventions for AD are urgently needed. In recent years, a number of drug candidates targeting the amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide have advanced into clinical trials; however, most have failed because of safety issues or lack of efficacy. The Aß peptide is central to the pathogenesis, and immunotherapy against Aß has attracted considerable interest. It offers the possibility to reach the target with highly specific drugs. Active immunization and passive immunization have been the most widely studied approaches to immunotherapy of AD. A favourable aspect of active immunization is the capacity for a small number of vaccinations to generate a prolonged antibody response. A potential disadvantage is the variability in the antibody response across patients. The potential advantages of passive immunotherapy include the reproducible delivery of a known amount of therapeutic antibodies to the patient and rapid clearance of those antibodies if side effects develop. A disadvantage is the requirement for repeated infusions of antibodies over time. After more than a decade of research, anti-amyloid immunotherapy remains one of the most promising emerging strategies for developing disease-modifying treatments for AD. In this review, we examine the presently ongoing Aß-directed immunotherapies that have passed clinical development Phase IIa. PMID:24605809

  2. Chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory role of melanocortin peptides in TNF-α activated human C-20/A4 chondrocytes

    PubMed Central

    Kaneva, Magdalena K; Kerrigan, Mark JP; Grieco, Paolo; Curley, G Paul; Locke, Ian C; Getting, Stephen J

    2012-01-01

    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Melanocortin MC1 and MC3 receptors, mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of melanocortin peptides. Targeting these receptors could therefore lead to development of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents. We investigated the expression of MC1 and MC3 receptors on chondrocytes and the role of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and the selective MC3 receptor agonist, [DTRP8]-γ-MSH, in modulating production of inflammatory cytokines, tissue-destructive proteins and induction of apoptotic pathway(s) in the human chondrocytic C-20/A4 cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of α-MSH, [DTRP8]-γ-MSH alone or in the presence of the MC3/4 receptor antagonist, SHU9119, on TNF-α induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MMPs, apoptotic pathway(s) and cell death in C-20/A4 chondrocytes were investigated, along with their effect on the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. KEY RESULTS C-20/A4 chondrocytes expressed functionally active MC1,3 receptors. α-MSH and [DTRP8]-γ-MSH treatment, for 30 min before TNF-α stimulation, provided a time-and-bell-shaped concentration-dependent decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8) release and increased release of the chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, whilst decreasing expression of MMP1, MMP3, MMP13 genes.α-MSH and [DTRP8]-γ-MSH treatment also inhibited TNF-α-induced caspase-3/7 activation and chondrocyte death. The effects of [DTRP8]-γ-MSH, but not α-MSH, were abolished by the MC3/4 receptor antagonist, SHU9119. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Activation of MC1/MC3 receptors in C-20/A4 chondrocytes down-regulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cartilage-destroying proteinases, inhibited initiation of apoptotic pathways and promoted release of chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Developing small molecule agonists to MC1/MC3 receptors could be a viable approach for developing chondroprotective and anti

  3. High titers of both rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies at baseline in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are associated with increased circulating baseline TNF level, low drug levels, and reduced clinical responses: a post hoc analysis of the RISING study.

    PubMed

    Takeuchi, Tsutomu; Miyasaka, Nobuyuki; Inui, Takashi; Yano, Toshiro; Yoshinari, Toru; Abe, Tohru; Koike, Takao

    2017-09-02

    Although both rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) are useful for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the impact of these autoantibodies on the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors has been controversial. The aim of this post hoc analysis of a randomized double-blind study (the RISING study) was to investigate the influences of RF and anti-CCP on the clinical response to infliximab in patients with RA. Methotrexate-refractory patients with RA received 3 mg/kg of infliximab from weeks 0 to 6 and then 3, 6, or 10 mg/kg every 8 weeks from weeks 14 to 46. In this post hoc analysis, patients were stratified into three classes on the basis of baseline RF/anti-CCP titers: "low/low-C" (RF < 55 IU/ml, anti-CCP < 42 U/ml), "high/high-C" (RF ≥ 160 IU/ml, anti-CCP ≥ 100 U/ml), and "middle-C" (neither low/low-C nor high/high-C). Baseline plasma TNF level, serum infliximab level, and disease activity were compared between the three classes. Baseline RF and anti-CCP titers showed significant correlations with baseline TNF and infliximab levels in weeks 2-14. Comparison of the three classes showed that baseline TNF level was lowest in the low/low-C group and highest in the high/high-C group (median 0.73 versus 1.15 pg/ml), that infliximab levels at week 14 were highest in the low/low-C group and lowest in the high/high-C group (median 1.0 versus 0.1 μg/ml), and that Disease Activity Score in 28 joints based on C-reactive protein at week 14 was lowest in the low/low-C group and highest in the high/high-C group (median 3.17 versus 3.82). A similar correlation was observed at week 54 in the 3 mg/kg dosing group, but not in the 6 or 10 mg/kg group. Significant decreases in both RF and anti-CCP were observed during infliximab treatment. RF/anti-CCP titers correlated with TNF level. This might explain the association of RF/anti-CCP with infliximab level and clinical response in patients with RA

  4. Generalized pustular psoriasis - A model disease for specific targeted immunotherapy, systematic review.

    PubMed

    Boehner, Alexander; Navarini, Alexander A; Eyerich, Kilian

    2018-05-31

    Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) psoriasis is a rare, multisystemic skin disease characterized by recurrent episodes of pustulation. GPP can be life-threatening and is often difficult to treat. In the era of precision medicine in dermatology, GPP stands exemplary for both challenges and chances - while new treatments offer great hope, there is urgent need for better definition and stratification of this severe and heterogeneous disease. Our objective was to systematically review the literature for evidence of efficacy of targeted immunotherapy and their mode of action in the context of clinical phenotype, classification and pathogenesis of adult GPP. Classifying GPP is challenging since clinical criteria for description and diagnosis are not consistent between expert centers. We therefore defined diagnostic feasibility of the reviewed cases by assessing four criteria: compatible clinical history, typical dermatological features and/or diagnostic histopathology, consistent clinical pictures and the DITRA status. Pathogenesis of GPP is mediated by pathways that partly overlap plaque type psoriasis, with a more pronounced activity of the innate immune system. Both IL-1 and IL-36 but also IL-17 play a major role in disease formation. We ascertained a total of 101 published cases according to our predefined criteria and identified TNF-α, IL-12/23, IL-17 and IL-1β as targets for immunotherapy for the treatment of GPP. Of those cases, 61% showed complete response and 27% partial response to targeted immunotherapy. Only 12% experienced weak or no response. These data indicate that specific immunotherapy can be used to effectively treat GPP, with most evidence existing for anti-IL-17 agents. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  5. Possible role of laser phototherapy in laser immunotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hode, Tomas; Hode, Lars

    2009-02-01

    Laser immunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment method that induces antitumor immunity and appears to be effective both locally and systemically. In this context, an important factor is the overall state of the immune system, both locally and systemically. The success of any immunotherapy treatment depends on the balance between the local immunosuppressive forces induced by the tumor and the immune response of the host organism. Factors that influence this balance include heat-shock proteins (for example HSP70), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukins, and more. Laser phototherapy, which is based on non-thermal photobiological processes, has been shown to modulate the body's own immune response, both locally and systemically, with a strong influence on for example cytokine production and heat-shock protein synthesis. Laser phototherapy may therefore be an important component in the overall efficacy of laser immunotherapy, and may tip the balance between the immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory forces in favor of immunostimulation.

  6. Autocrine stimulation of osteoblast activity by Wnt5a in response to TNF-α in human mesenchymal stem cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Briolay, A.; Lencel, P.; Bessueille, L.

    2013-01-18

    Highlights: ► Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) leads to bone fusions and ankylosis. ► TNF-α stimulates osteoblasts through growth factors in AS. ► We compare the involvement of canonical vs non-canonical Wnt signaling. ► Canonical Wnt signaling is not involved in TNF-α effects in differentiating hMSCs. ► TNF-α stimulates osteoblasts through Wnt5a autocrine secretion in hMSCs. -- Abstract: Although anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatments efficiently block inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), they are inefficient to prevent excessive bone formation. In AS, ossification seems more prone to develop in sites where inflammation has resolved following anti-TNF therapy, suggesting that TNF-α indirectly stimulates ossification.more » In this context, our objectives were to determine and compare the involvement of Wnt proteins, which are potent growth factors of bone formation, in the effects of TNF-α on osteoblast function. In human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), TNF-α significantly increased the levels of Wnt10b and Wnt5a. Associated with this effect, TNF-α stimulated tissue-non specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and mineralization. This effect was mimicked by activation of the canonical β-catenin pathway with either anti-Dkk1 antibodies, lithium chloride (LiCl) or SB216763. TNFreduced, and activation of β-catenin had little effect on expression of osteocalcin, a late marker of osteoblast differentiation. Surprisingly, TNF-α failed to stabilize β-catenin and Dkk1 did not inhibit TNF-α effects. In fact, Dkk1 expression was also enhanced in response to TNF-α, perhaps explaining why canonical signaling by Wnt10b was not activated by TNF-α. However, we found that Wnt5a also stimulated TNAP in MSCs cultured in osteogenic conditions, and increased the levels of inflammatory markers such as COX-2. Interestingly, treatment with anti-Wnt5a antibodies reduced endogenous TNAP expression and activity. Collectively, these data suggest that

  7. Work disability in non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients before and after start of anti-TNF therapy: a population-based regional cohort study from southern Sweden.

    PubMed

    Wallman, Johan K; Jöud, Anna; Olofsson, Tor; Jacobsson, Lennart T H; Bliddal, Henning; Kristensen, Lars E

    2017-05-01

    The aim was to assess work-loss days before and after commencement of anti-TNF treatment in patients with non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis (nr-axSpA). Bionaïve nr-axSpA patients (n = 75), aged 17-62 years, fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria for axial spondyloarthritis and starting anti-TNF treatment during 2004-11, were retrieved from the observational South Swedish Arthritis Treatment Group study. Patient information was linked to Swedish Social Insurance Agency data on sick leave and disability pension from 1 year before to 2 years after anti-TNF initiation. Matched population references were included for comparison and to adjust for secular trends. The nr-axSpA patients had a median age of 35 years and disease duration of 6 years at the start of treatment. During the 2 years after anti-TNF initiation, mean work-loss days (including both sick leave and disability pension) in the nr-axSpA group decreased significantly from 3.4 to 1.9 times more than among the population references. The effect was seen on sick leave, whereas disability pension levels remained similar in both groups throughout. Anti-TNF therapy in nr-axSpA was associated with a significant and sustained improvement of work disability over 2 years. However, the proportion of work-loss days remained almost twice as high as in the general population at the end of follow-up. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

  8. Off-Label Uses of Anti-TNF Therapy in Three Frequent Disorders: Behçet's Disease, Sarcoidosis, and Noninfectious Uveitis

    PubMed Central

    Sánchez-Cano, Daniel; Callejas-Rubio, José Luis; Ruiz-Villaverde, Ricardo; Ríos-Fernández, Raquel; Ortego-Centeno, Norberto

    2013-01-01

    Tumoral necrosis factor α plays a central role in both the inflammatory response and that of the immune system. Thus, its blockade with the so-called anti-TNF agents (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, and golimumab) has turned into the most important tool in the management of a variety of disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropatties, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. Nonetheless, theoretically, some other autoimmune disorders may benefit from these agents. Our aim is to review these off-label uses of anti-TNF blockers in three common conditions: Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis, and noninfectious uveitis. Due to the insufficient number of adequate clinical trials and consequently to their lower prevalence compared to other immune disorders, this review is mainly based on case reports and case series. PMID:23983404

  9. The Case for Adjunctive Monoclonal Antibody Immunotherapy in Schizophrenia.

    PubMed

    Miller, Brian J; Buckley, Peter F

    2016-06-01

    This article presents the case in favor of clinical trials of adjunctive monoclonal antibody immunotherapy in schizophrenia. Evidence for prenatal and premorbid immune risk factors for the development of schizophrenia in the offspring is highlighted. Then key evidence for immune dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia is considered. Next, previous trials of adjunctive anti-inflammatory or other immunotherapy in schizophrenia are discussed. Then evidence for psychosis as a side effect of immunotherapy for other disorders is discussed. Also presented is preliminary evidence for adjunctive monoclonal antibody immunotherapy in psychiatric disorders. Finally, important considerations in the design and implementation of clinical trials of adjunctive monoclonal antibody immunotherapy in schizophrenia are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Characterization of liver injury induced by cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors.

    PubMed

    De Martin, Eleonora; Michot, Jean-Marie; Papouin, Barbara; Champiat, Stéphane; Mateus, Christine; Lambotte, Olivier; Roche, Bruno; Antonini, Teresa Maria; Coilly, Audrey; Laghouati, Salim; Robert, Caroline; Marabelle, Aurélien; Guettier, Catherine; Samuel, Didier

    2018-06-01

    Immunotherapy for metastatic cancer can be complicated by the onset of hepatic immune-related adverse events (IRAEs). This study compared hepatic IRAEs associated with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Among 536 patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 immunotherapies, 19 (3.5%) were referred to the liver unit for grade ≥3 hepatitis. Of these patients, nine had received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and seven had received anti-CTLA-4 mAbs, in monotherapy or in combination with anti-PD-1. Liver investigations were undertaken in these 16 patients, including viral assays, autoimmune tests and liver biopsy, histological review, and immunostaining of liver specimens. In the 16 patients included in this study, median age was 63 (range 33-84) years, and nine (56%) were female. Time between therapy initiation and hepatitis was five (range, 1-49) weeks and median number of immunotherapy injections was two (range, 1-36). No patients developed hepatic failure. Histology related to anti-CTLA-4 mAbs demonstrated granulomatous hepatitis including fibrin ring granulomas and central vein endotheliitis. Histology related to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 mAbs was characterised by lobular hepatitis. The management of hepatic IRAEs was tailored according to the severity of both the biology and histology of liver injury: six patients improved spontaneously; seven received oral corticosteroids at 0.5-1 mg/kg/day; two were maintained on 0.2 mg/kg/day corticosteroids; and one patient required pulses and 2.5 mg/kg/day of corticosteroids, and the addition of a second immunosuppressive drug. In three patients, immunotherapy was reintroduced without recurrence of liver dysfunction. Acute hepatitis resulting from immunotherapy for metastatic cancer is rare (3.5%) and, in most cases, not severe. Histological assessment can distinguish between anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 mAb toxicity. The

  11. Development of an affinity-matured humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody for cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Nakanishi, Takeshi; Maru, Takamitsu; Tahara, Kazuhiro; Sanada, Hideaki; Umetsu, Mitsuo; Asano, Ryutaro; Kumagai, Izumi

    2013-02-01

    We showed previously that humanization of 528, a murine anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody, causes reduced affinity for its target. Here, to improve the affinity of the humanized antibody for use in cancer immunotherapy, we constructed phage display libraries focused on the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of the antibody and carried out affinity selection. Two-step selections using libraries constructed in a stepwise manner enabled a 32-fold affinity enhancement of humanized 528 (h528). Thermodynamic analysis of the interactions between the variable domain fragment of h528 (h528Fv) mutants and the soluble extracellular domain of EGFR indicated that the h528Fv mutants obtained from the first selection showed a large increase in negative enthalpy change due to binding, resulting in affinity enhancement. Furthermore, mutants from the second selection showed a decrease in entropy loss, which led to further affinity maturation. These results suggest that a single mutation in the heavy chain variable domain (i.e. Tyr(52) to Trp) enthalpically contributed for overcoming the energetic barrier to the antigen-antibody interaction, which was a major hurdle for the in vitro affinity maturation of h528. We reported previously that the humanized bispecific diabody hEx3 Db, which targets EGFR and CD3, shows strong anti-tumor activity. hEx3 Db mutants, in which the variable domains of h528 were replaced with those of the affinity-enhanced mutants, were prepared and characterized. In a growth inhibition assay of tumor cells, the hEx3 Db mutants showed stronger anti-tumor activity than that of hEx3 Db, suggesting that affinity enhancement of h528Fv enhances the anti-tumor activity of the bispecific diabody.

  12. Pulsed Dilution Method for the Recovery of Aggregated Mouse TNF-α.

    PubMed

    Mahmoodi, Merat; Ghodsi, Maryam; Moghadam, Malihe; Sankian, Mojtaba

    2017-04-01

    The expression of mouse tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in Escherichia coli is a favorable way to get high yield of protein; however, the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, which is the consequence of insoluble accumulated proteins, is a major obstacle in this system. To overcome this obstacle, we used a pulsed dilution method to convert the product to its native conformation. Reducing agent and guanidine hydrochloride were used to solubilize inclusion bodies formed after TNF-(α) expression. Then, the refolding procedure was performed by pulsed dilution of the denatured protein into a refolding buffer. The properly-folded protein was purified by metal affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE showed a 19.9 kDa band related to the mature TNF-(α) protein. The protein was recognized by anti-mouse TNF-(α) on western blots. The final concentration of the purified recombinant TNF-(α) was 62.5 µg/mL. Our study demonstrates the efficiency of this method to produce a high yield of folded mature TNF- (α).

  13. Approach to the Management of Pediatric-Onset Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (Anti-NMDA) Receptor Encephalitis: A Case Series.

    PubMed

    Brenton, J Nicholas; Kim, Joshua; Schwartz, Richard H

    2016-08-01

    Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (anti-NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a treatable cause of autoimmune encephalitis. It remains unclear if the natural history of this disease is altered by choice of acute therapy or the employment of chronic immunotherapy. Chart review was undertaken for pediatric patients diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Data obtained included patient demographics, disease manifestations, treatment course, and clinical outcomes. Ten patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis were identified. All patients were treated with immunotherapy in the acute period, and all patients experienced good recovery. Neurologic relapse did not occur in any patient. All patients received varied forms of chronic immunosuppression to prevent relapses. Complications of chronic immunotherapy occurred in 50% of patients. The benefits of chronic immunotherapy and the duration of use should be carefully weighed against the risks. Complications from immunotherapy are not uncommon and can be serious. Clinical trials assessing the benefit of long-term immunotherapy in this population are needed. © The Author(s) 2016.

  14. Anti-TNF-α Activity of Brazilian Medicinal Plants and Compounds from Ouratea semiserrata.

    PubMed

    Campana, Priscilla R V; Mansur, Daniel S; Gusman, Grasielle S; Ferreira, Daneel; Teixeira, Mauro M; Braga, Fernão C

    2015-10-01

    Several plant species are used in Brazil to treat inflammatory diseases and associated conditions. TNF-α plays a pivotal role on inflammation, and several plant extracts have been assayed against this target, both in vitro and in vivo. The effect of 11 Brazilian medicinal plants on TNF-α release by LPS-activated THP-1 cells was evaluated. The plant materials were percolated with different solvents to afford 15 crude extracts, whose effect on TNF-α release was determined by ELISA. Among the evaluated extracts, only Jacaranda caroba (Bignoniaceae) presented strong toxicity to THP-1 cells. Considering the 14 non-toxic extracts, TNF-α release was significantly reduced by seven of them (inhibition > 80%), originating from six plants, namely Cuphea carthagenensis (Lythraceae), Echinodorus grandiflorus (Alismataceae), Mansoa hirsuta (Bignoniaceae), Ouratea semiserrata (Ochnaceae), Ouratea spectabilis and Remijia ferruginea (Rubiaceae). The ethanol extract from O. semiserrata leaves was fractionated over Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC to give three compounds previously reported for the species, along with agathisflavone and epicatechin, here described for the first time in the plant. Epicatechin and lanceoloside A elicited significant inhibition of TNF-α release, indicating that they may account for the effect produced by O. semiserrata crude extract. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  15. Influence of CD94 and NKG2A variants on susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and efficacy of anti-TNF treatment.

    PubMed

    Iwaszko, Milena; Świerkot, Jerzy; Kolossa, Katarzyna; Jeka, Sławomir; Wiland, Piotr; Bogunia-Kubik, Katarzyna

    2016-01-01

    The present study aimed to investigate relationships between the CD94 and NKG2A gene polymorphisms and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development as well as their association with the response to anti-TNF therapy. A total of 284 patients with RA receiving anti-TNF therapy and 124 healthy subjects were enrolled to the study. Genotypings for CD94 (rs2302489) and NKG2A (rs7301582, rs2734440, rs2734414) polymorphisms were performed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification employing LightSNiP assays (TIB-MolBiol, Berlin, Germany). Clinical response was evaluated at 12th and 24th week after initiation of the therapy according to the EULAR response criteria. The frequency of the CD94 AA genotype was significantly decreased in RA patients compared to controls (OR=0.44; P=0.016). The CD94 AA homozygotes were also more common among patients negative to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies (OR=11.28; P=0.001) as compared to anti-CCP-positive patients and the presence of the CD94 allele A was associated with lack of anti-CCP antibodies (OR=5.00; P=0.0005). The CD94 rs2302489 TT genotype was over-represented in patients exhibiting worse EULAR response at 12th week (OR=3.33; P=0.017). Furthermore, the lack of response after 12 weeks was more frequent among patients carrying the NKG2A rs7301582C allele (OR=3.68; P=0.019) or the CC genotype (OR=3.58; P=0.035) in comparison to allele T or CT/TT genotypes, respectively. These results indicate that CD94 and NKG2A polymorphisms may contribute to genetic susceptibility to RA or affect the response to anti-TNF therapy in patients of Caucasian origin. Copyright © 2015 Société française de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

  16. Anti-inflammatory effects of a Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract

    PubMed Central

    Shin, Sunhee; Joo, Seong Soo; Jeon, Jeong Hee; Park, Dongsun; Jang, Min-Jung; Kim, Tae-Ook; Kim, Hyun-Kyu; Hwang, Bang Yeon; Kim, Ki-Yon

    2010-01-01

    Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in a carrageenan-air pouch model. HSE (200 mg/kg, oral) suppressed exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-α and NO, while indomethacin decreased TNF-α and PGE2. The suppressive activity of HSE on NO and PGE2 production was confirmed in RAW 264.7. These results demonstrate that HSE exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-α-NO and cyclooxygenase II-PGE2 pathways. PMID:20706037

  17. 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 as new immunotherapy in treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

    PubMed

    Bubanovic, I

    2004-01-01

    Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is serious health problem affecting 2-5% of reproducing couples worldwide. It has long been suspected that nearly 80% of the unexplained RSAs are due to immunologic causes. Although the major tissue confronting the mother's immune system is the placental villous trophoblast, the immunological risk to the developing embryo is not great until the time of implantation. In addition, trophoblast is not sensible to lysis by NK cells, TNF-alpha or macrophages, but may be killed by lymphokine activated NK cells (LAK) and may undergo apoptosis in response to TNF-alpha and/or IFN-gamma in vitro. The two most commonly used treatments for RSA are intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and alloimmunization with partner's leukocytes (LIT). We promote vitamin D3 as new immunomodulatory agent in treatment of RSA. Different mechanisms have been proposed to account for the immunosuppressive effect of 1alpha, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 (VD3). Portion of the VD3 activity involves the downregulation of IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha genes transcription. Because immunomodulatory effects of VD3 are very similar to IL-10 effects, acting of VD3 in immunotherapy of RSA syndrome, preeclamptic and eclamptic pregnancy, as well as PIH syndrome, is very reasonable. We propose using of VD3 as immunotherapy or adjuvant therapy in combination with classic immunotherapies of endangered pregnancies.

  18. Dysregulation of innate immunity in ulcerative colitis patients who fail anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.

    PubMed

    Baird, Angela C; Mallon, Dominic; Radford-Smith, Graham; Boyer, Julien; Piche, Thierry; Prescott, Susan L; Lawrance, Ian C; Tulic, Meri K

    2016-11-07

    To study the innate immune function in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who fail to respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Effects of anti-TNF therapy, inflammation and medications on innate immune function were assessed by measuring peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine expression from 18 inflammatory bowel disease patients pre- and 3 mo post-anti-TNF therapy. Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and cytokine production post TLR stimulation was assessed in UC "responders" ( n = 12) and "non-responders" ( n = 12) and compared to healthy controls ( n = 12). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in blood to assess disease severity/activity and inflammation. Pro-inflammatory (TNF, IL-1β, IL-6), immuno-regulatory (IL-10), Th1 (IL-12, IFNγ) and Th2 (IL-9, IL-13, IL-17A) cytokine expression was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while TLR cellular composition and intracellular signalling was assessed with FACS. Prior to anti-TNF therapy, responders and non-responders had similar level of disease severity and activity. PBMC's ability to respond to TLR stimulation was not affected by TNF therapy, patient's severity of the disease and inflammation or their medication use. At baseline, non-responders had elevated innate but not adaptive immune responses compared to responders ( P < 0.05). Following TLR stimulation, non-responders had consistently reduced innate cytokine responses to all TLRs compared to healthy controls ( P < 0.01) and diminished TNF ( P < 0.001) and IL-1β ( P < 0.01) production compared to responders. This innate immune dysfunction was associated with reduced number of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) ( P < 0.01) but increased number of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) ( P = 0.03) as well as intracellular accumulation of IRAK4 in non-responders following TLR-2, -4 and -7 activation ( P < 0.001). Reduced innate immunity in non-responders may explain

  19. Active Idiotypic Vaccination Versus Control Immunotherapy for Follicular Lymphoma

    PubMed Central

    Levy, Ronald; Ganjoo, Kristen N.; Leonard, John P.; Vose, Julie M.; Flinn, Ian W.; Ambinder, Richard F.; Connors, Joseph M.; Berinstein, Neil L.; Belch, Andrew R.; Bartlett, Nancy L.; Nichols, Craig; Emmanouilides, Christos E.; Timmerman, John M.; Gregory, Stephanie A.; Link, Brian K.; Inwards, David J.; Freedman, Arnold S.; Matous, Jeffrey V.; Robertson, Michael J.; Kunkel, Lori A.; Ingolia, Diane E.; Gentles, Andrew J.; Liu, Chih Long; Tibshirani, Robert; Alizadeh, Ash A.; Denney, Dan W.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose Idiotypes (Ids), the unique portions of tumor immunoglobulins, can serve as targets for passive and active immunotherapies for lymphoma. We performed a multicenter, randomized trial comparing a specific vaccine (MyVax), comprising Id chemically coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) plus granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to a control immunotherapy with KLH plus GM-CSF. Patients and Methods Patients with previously untreated advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL) received eight cycles of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone. Those achieving sustained partial or complete remission (n = 287 [44%]) were randomly assigned at a ratio of 2:1 to receive one injection per month for 7 months of MyVax or control immunotherapy. Anti-Id antibody responses (humoral immune responses [IRs]) were measured before each immunization. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included IR and time to subsequent antilymphoma therapy. Results At a median follow-up of 58 months, no significant difference was observed in either PFS or time to next therapy between the two arms. In the MyVax group (n = 195), anti-Id IRs were observed in 41% of patients, with a median PFS of 40 months, significantly exceeding the median PFS observed in patients without such Id-induced IRs and in those receiving control immunotherapy. Conclusion This trial failed to demonstrate clinical benefit of specific immunotherapy. The subset of vaccinated patients mounting specific anti-Id responses had superior outcomes. Whether this reflects a therapeutic benefit or is a marker for more favorable underlying prognosis requires further study. PMID:24799467

  20. Preclinical evaluation of IL2-based immunocytokines supports their use in combination with dacarbazine, paclitaxel and TNF-based immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Pretto, Francesca; Elia, Giuliano; Castioni, Nadia; Neri, Dario

    2014-09-01

    Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins ("immunocytokines") represent a promising class of armed antibody products, which allow the selective delivery of potent pro-inflammatory payloads at the tumor site. The antibody-based selective delivery of interleukin-2 (IL2) is particularly attractive for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, an indication for which this cytokine received marketing approval from the US Food and drug administration. We used the K1735M2 immunocompetent syngeneic model of murine melanoma to study the therapeutic activity of F8-IL2, an immunocytokine based on the F8 antibody in diabody format, fused to human IL2. F8-IL2 was shown to selectively localize at the tumor site in vivo, following intravenous administration, and to mediate tumor growth retardation, which was potentiated by the combination with paclitaxel or dacarbazine. Combination treatment led to a substantially more effective tumor growth inhibition, compared to the cytotoxic drugs used as single agents, without additional toxicity. Analysis of the immune infiltrate revealed a significant accumulation of CD4(+) T cells 24 h after the administration of the combination. The fusion proteins F8-IL2 and L19-IL2, specific to the alternatively spliced extra domain A and extra domain B of fibronectin respectively, were also studied in combination with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-based immunocytokines. The combination treatment was superior to the action of the individual immunocytokines and was able to eradicate neoplastic lesions after a single intratumoral injection, a procedure that is being clinically used for the treatment of Stage IIIC melanoma. Collectively, these data reinforce the rationale for the use of IL2-based immunocytokines in combination with cytotoxic agents or TNF-based immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma patients.

  1. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of prostate carcinoma.

    PubMed

    McNeel, Douglas G; Bander, Neil H; Beer, Tomasz M; Drake, Charles G; Fong, Lawrence; Harrelson, Stacey; Kantoff, Philip W; Madan, Ravi A; Oh, William K; Peace, David J; Petrylak, Daniel P; Porterfield, Hank; Sartor, Oliver; Shore, Neal D; Slovin, Susan F; Stein, Mark N; Vieweg, Johannes; Gulley, James L

    2016-01-01

    Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. In recent years, several new agents, including cancer immunotherapies, have been approved or are currently being investigated in late-stage clinical trials for the management of advanced prostate cancer. Therefore, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a multidisciplinary panel, including physicians, nurses, and patient advocates, to develop consensus recommendations for the clinical application of immunotherapy for prostate cancer patients. To do so, a systematic literature search was performed to identify high-impact papers from 2006 until 2014 and was further supplemented with literature provided by the panel. Results from the consensus panel voting and discussion as well as the literature review were used to rate supporting evidence and generate recommendations for the use of immunotherapy in prostate cancer patients. Sipuleucel-T, an autologous dendritic cell vaccine, is the first and currently only immunotherapeutic agent approved for the clinical management of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The consensus panel utilized this model to discuss immunotherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer, issues related to patient selection, monitoring of patients during and post treatment, and sequence/combination with other anti-cancer treatments. Potential immunotherapies emerging from late-stage clinical trials are also discussed. As immunotherapy evolves as a therapeutic option for the treatment of prostate cancer, these recommendations will be updated accordingly.

  2. Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Allyl Isothiocyanate through Attenuation of JNK/NF-κB/TNF-α Signaling.

    PubMed

    Subedi, Lalita; Venkatesan, Ramu; Kim, Sun Yeou

    2017-07-03

    Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), present in Wasabia japonica (wasabi), is an aliphatic isothiocyanate derived from the precursor sinigrin, which is a glucosinolate present in vegetables of the Brassica family. Traditionally, it has been used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, blood circulation, and pain. This study focuses on its anti-apoptotic activity through the regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. Furthermore, we assessed its neuroprotective efficacy, which it achieves through the upregulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) production. Pretreatment with AITC significantly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) production in activated microglia, and increased the nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells. AITC inhibited the nuclear factor (NF-κB-mediated transcription by modulating mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, particularly downregulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, which was followed by a reduction in the TNF-α expression in activated microglia. This promising effect of AITC in controlling JNK/NF-κB/TNF-α cross-linking maintains the Bcl-2 gene family and protects neuroblastoma cells from activated microglia-induced toxicity. These findings provide novel insights into the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of AITC on microglial cells, which may have clinical significance in neurodegeneration.

  3. Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Allyl Isothiocyanate through Attenuation of JNK/NF-κB/TNF-α Signaling

    PubMed Central

    Subedi, Lalita

    2017-01-01

    Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), present in Wasabia japonica (wasabi), is an aliphatic isothiocyanate derived from the precursor sinigrin, which is a glucosinolate present in vegetables of the Brassica family. Traditionally, it has been used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, blood circulation, and pain. This study focuses on its anti-apoptotic activity through the regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. Furthermore, we assessed its neuroprotective efficacy, which it achieves through the upregulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) production. Pretreatment with AITC significantly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) production in activated microglia, and increased the nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells. AITC inhibited the nuclear factor (NF-κB-mediated transcription by modulating mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, particularly downregulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, which was followed by a reduction in the TNF-α expression in activated microglia. This promising effect of AITC in controlling JNK/NF-κB/TNF-α cross-linking maintains the Bcl-2 gene family and protects neuroblastoma cells from activated microglia-induced toxicity. These findings provide novel insights into the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of AITC on microglial cells, which may have clinical significance in neurodegeneration. PMID:28671636

  4. Modulation of TNF Release by Choline Requires α7 Subunit Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Mediated Signaling

    PubMed Central

    Parrish, William R; Rosas-Ballina, Mauricio; Gallowitsch-Puerta, Margot; Ochani, Mahendar; Ochani, Kanta; Yang, Li-Hong; Hudson, LaQueta; Lin, Xinchun; Patel, Nirav; Johnson, Sarah M; Chavan, Sangeeta; Goldstein, Richard S; Czura, Christopher J; Miller, Edmund J; Al-Abed, Yousef; Tracey, Kevin J; Pavlov, Valentin A

    2008-01-01

    The α7 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is an essential component in the vagus nerve-based cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway that regulates the levels of TNF, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and other cytokines during inflammation. Choline is an essential nutrient, a cell membrane constituent, a precursor in the biosynthesis of acetylcholine, and a selective natural α7nAChR agonist. Here, we studied the anti-inflammatory potential of choline in murine endotoxemia and sepsis, and the role of the α7nAChR in mediating the suppressive effect of choline on TNF release. Choline (0.1–50 mM) dose-dependently suppressed TNF release from endotoxin-activated RAW macrophage-like cells, and this effect was associated with significant inhibition of NF-κB activation. Choline (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) treatment prior to endotoxin administration in mice significantly reduced systemic TNF levels. In contrast to its TNF suppressive effect in wild type mice, choline (50 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to inhibit systemic TNF levels in α7nAChR knockout mice during endotoxemia. Choline also failed to suppress TNF release from endotoxin-activated peritoneal macrophages isolated from α7nAChR knockout mice. Choline treatment prior to endotoxin resulted in a significantly improved survival rate as compared with saline-treated endotoxemic controls. Choline also suppressed HMGB1 release in vitro and in vivo, and choline treatment initiated 24 h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced polymicrobial sepsis significantly improved survival in mice. In addition, choline suppressed TNF release from endotoxin-activated human whole blood and macrophages. Collectively, these data characterize the anti-inflammatory efficacy of choline and demonstrate that the modulation of TNF release by choline requires α7nAChR-mediated signaling. PMID:18584048

  5. Anti-tumor necrosis factor VNAR single domains reduce lethality and regulate underlying inflammatory response in a murine model of endotoxic shock

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background In sepsis, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is the key factor triggering respiratory burst, tissue injury and disseminated coagulation. Anti-TNF strategies based on monoclonal antibodies or F(ab’)2 fragments have been used in sepsis with contradictory results. Immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNAR) are a unique subset of antibodies consisting of five constant (CNAR) and one variable domains (VNAR). VNAR domains are the smallest, naturally occurring, antibody-based immune recognition units, having potential use as therapy. Our aim was to explore the impact of an anti-TNF VNAR on survival in an experimental model of endotoxic shock. Also, mRNA expression and serum protein of several inflammatory molecules were measured. Results Endotoxic shock was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in male Balb/c mice. Animals were treated with anti-TNF VNAR domains, F(ab’)2 antibody fragments, or saline solution 15 minutes before, 2 h and 24 h after lethal dose100 (LD100) LPS administration. TNF blockade with either VNAR domains or F(ab’)2 fragments were associated with lower mortality (60% and 75%, respectively) compared to LD100. Challenge with LPS induced significant production of serum TNF and interleukins -10 and -6 at 3 h. After that, significant reduction of IL-6 at 24 h (vs 3 h) was shown only in the VNAR group. Nitrites level also increased in response to LPS. In liver, TNF and IL-10 mRNA expression showed a pro-inflammatory imbalance in response to LPS. Blocking TNF was associated with a shift towards an anti-inflammatory status; however, polarization was more pronounced in animals receiving F(ab’)2 fragments than in those with VNAR therapy. With regard to IL-6, gene expression was increased at 3 h in all groups. TNF blockade was associated with rapid and sustained suppression of IL-6 expression, even more evident in the VNAR group. Finally, expression of inducible-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) increased in response to LPS at 3 h, but this

  6. Mucosal healing with thalidomide in refractory Crohn's disease patients intolerant of anti-TNF-α drugs: report of 3 cases and literature review.

    PubMed

    Scribano, Maria Lia; Cantoro, Laura; Marrollo, Marzia; Cosintino, Rocco; Kohn, Anna

    2014-07-01

    Thalidomide is an oral immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory drug with antitumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) activity. Several case reports and some clinical trials have demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease (CD). We report the effect and tolerability of thalidomide in 3 patients with moderate-to-severe CD who were not responsive to anti-TNF-α therapies, and review the relevant literature. The first case is of a 28-year-old female affected by Crohn's colitis complicated by a severe fistulizing perianal disease; she was treated with infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol, which were stopped because of intolerance. The second case is of a 39-year-old female with fistulizing ileocolitis complicated by severe arthralgias and perianal disease with loss of response to infliximab and intolerance of certolizumab pegol. The third case is of a 39-year-old male with gastric and ileocolonic CD refractory to immunosuppressors and intolerant of infliximab. All the 3 cases achieved complete clinical remission and endoscopic healing of mucosal lesions at a low dose of thalidomide (50 to 150 mg/d). In our CD patients who experienced loss of response or were unable to tolerate anti-TNF-α drugs, thalidomide was an effective and well-tolerated therapy for inducing and maintaining long-term remission.

  7. Substance P reduces TNF-α-induced apoptosis in human tenocytes through NK-1 receptor stimulation.

    PubMed

    Backman, Ludvig J; Eriksson, Daniella E; Danielson, Patrik

    2014-10-01

    It has been hypothesised that an upregulation of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) and its preferred receptor, the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1 R), is a causative factor in inducing tenocyte hypercellularity, a characteristic of tendinosis, through both proliferative and antiapoptotic stimuli. We have demonstrated earlier that SP stimulates proliferation of human tenocytes in culture. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SP can mediate an antiapoptotic effect in tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced apoptosis of human tenocytes in vitro. A majority (approximately 75%) of tenocytes in culture were immunopositive for TNF Receptor-1 and TNF Receptor-2. Exposure of the cells to TNF-α significantly decreased cell viability, as shown with crystal violet staining. TNF-α furthermore significantly increased the amount of caspase-10 and caspase-3 mRNA, as well as both BID and cleaved-poly ADP ribosome polymerase (c-PARP) protein. Incubation of SP together with TNF-α resulted in a decreased amount of BID and c-PARP, and in a reduced lactate dehydrogenase release, as compared to incubation with TNF-α alone. The SP effect was blocked with a NK-1 R inhibitor. This study shows that SP, through stimulation of the NK-1 R, has the ability to reduce TNF-α-induced apoptosis of human tenocytes. Considering that SP has previously been shown to stimulate tenocyte proliferation, the study confirms SP as a potent regulator of cell-turnover in tendon tissue, capable of stimulating hypercellularity through different mechanisms. This gives further support for the theory that the upregulated amount of SP seen in tendinosis could contribute to hypercellularity. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  8. Is there a benefit from the concomitant use of immunosupression with anti-TNF in Crohn's disease; heads or tails?

    PubMed

    Lakatos, Peter Laszlo

    2009-09-01

    Over the last some years the increasing knowledge on the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease led to the development of a number of biological agents targeting specific molecules involved in gut inflammation, first of all TNF-alpha and its receptors. Infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab have been successful in inducing and maintaining remission in Crohn's disease at both short and long term. This was recently confirmed by a Cochrane meta-analysis and also open label extension follow-up and cohort studies. Emerging new data however indicate that combination therapy with infliximab-azathioprine appears to have added benefit in inducing steroid-free remission and mucosal healing than either infliximab or azathioprine alone in azathioprine-naïve patients with early disease. Similarly the combination of steroids induction and infliximab was efficacious in luminal Crohn's disease. In contrast, there seems to be no synergism between methotrexate and infliximab. It is also less clear whether it is beneficial to use short or long-term infliximab-azathioprine combination in patients who previously failed therapy with azathioprine. In contrast, combination may potentially be associated with increased risk for infection and cancer. In case control-studies, especially the combination of steroids and anti-TNF and older age increased the risk for infectious complications, while scattered case reports point to the potentially increased risk of a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma) with the use of azathioprine-anti-TNF combination. The aim of this review is to summarize the benefits and risks for the use combination therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors in the treatment of Crohn's disease.

  9. Prussian blue nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy combined with checkpoint inhibition for photothermal immunotherapy of neuroblastoma.

    PubMed

    Cano-Mejia, Juliana; Burga, Rachel A; Sweeney, Elizabeth E; Fisher, John P; Bollard, Catherine M; Sandler, Anthony D; Cruz, Conrad Russell Y; Fernandes, Rohan

    2017-02-01

    We describe "photothermal immunotherapy," which combines Prussian blue nanoparticle (PBNP)-based photothermal therapy (PTT) with anti-CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibition for treating neuroblastoma, a common, hard-to-treat pediatric cancer. PBNPs exhibit pH-dependent stability, which makes them suitable for intratumorally-administered PTT. PBNP-based PTT is able to lower tumor burden and prime an immune response, specifically an increased infiltration of lymphocytes and T cells to the tumor area, which is complemented by the antitumor effects of anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, providing a more durable treatment against neuroblastoma in an animal model. We observe 55.5% survival in photothermal immunotherapy-treated mice at 100days compared to 12.5%, 0%, 0%, and 0% survival in mice receiving: anti-CTLA-4 alone, PBNPs alone, PTT alone, and no treatment, respectively. Additionally, long-term surviving, photothermal immunotherapy-treated mice exhibit protection against neuroblastoma rechallenge, suggesting the development of immunity against these tumors. Our findings suggest the potential of photothermal immunotherapy in improving treatments for neuroblastoma. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Interstitial laser immunotherapy for treatment of metastatic mammary tumors in rats

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Figueroa, Daniel; Joshi, Chet; Wolf, Roman F.; Walla, Jonny; Goddard, Jessica; Martin, Mallory; Kosanke, Stanley D.; Broach, Fred S.; Pontius, Sean; Brown, Destiny; Li, Xiaosong; Howard, Eric; Nordquist, Robert E.; Hode, Tomas; Chen, Wei R.

    2011-03-01

    Thermal therapy has been used for cancer treatment for more than a century. While thermal effect can be direct, immediate, and controllable, it is not sufficient to completely eradicate tumors, particularly when tumors have metastasized locally or to the distant sites. Metastases are the major cause of treatment failure and cancer deaths. Current available therapies, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, only have limited curative effects in patients with late-stage, metastatic cancers. Immunotherapy has been considered as the ultimate approach for cancer treatment since a systemic, anti-tumor, immunological response can be induced. Using the combination of photothermal therapy and immunotherapy, laser immunotherapy (LIT),a novel immunotherapy modality for late-stage cancer treatment, has been developed. LIT has shown great promise in pre-clinical studies and clinical breast cancer and melanoma pilot trials. However, the skin color and the depth of the tumor have been challenges for effective treatment with LIT. To induce a thermal destruction zone of appropriate size without causing thermal damage on the skin, we have developed interstitial laser immunotherapy (ILIT) using a cylindrical diffuser. To determine the effectiveness of ILIT, we treated the DMBA-4 metastatic tumors in rats. The thermal damage in tumor tissue was studied using TTC immersion and hematoxolin and eosin (H & E) staining. Also observed was the overall survival of the treated animals. Our results demonstrated that the ILIT could impact a much larger tumor area, and it significantly reduced the surface damage compared with the early version of non-invasive LIT. The survival data also indicate that ILIT has the potential to become an effective tool for the treatment of deeper, larger, and metastatic tumors, with reduced side effects.

  11. Treatment of advanced melanoma with laser immunotherapy and ipilimumab.

    PubMed

    Naylor, Mark F; Zhou, Feifan; Geister, Brian V; Nordquist, Robert E; Li, Xiaosong; Chen, Wei R

    2017-05-01

    Immunotherapy has become a promising modality for melanoma, especially using checkpoint inhibitors, which revive suppressed T cells against the cancer. Such inhibitors should work better when combined with other treatments which could increase the number and quality of anti-tumor T cells. We treated one patient with advanced (stage IV) melanoma, using the combination of laser immunotherapy (LIT), a novel immunological approach for metastatic cancers that has been shown to stimulate adaptive immunity, and ipilimumab. The patient was treated with LIT, followed with one course of ipilimumab 3 months after the beginning of LIT. After LIT treatment, all treated cutaneous melanoma in head and neck cleared completely. After the application of ipilimumab, all the tumor nodules in the lungs decreased. The patient had remained tumor free for one year. While anecdotal, the responses seen in this patient support the hypothesis that laser immunotherapy increases the number and quality of anti-tumor T cells so that ipilimumab and other checkpoint inhibitors are more effective in enhancing the therapeutic effects. Picture: Schematic of treatment using laser immunotherapy and ipilimumab on a stage IV melanoma patient. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Anti-granuloma activity of Coriandrum sativum in experimental models

    PubMed Central

    Nair, Vinod; Singh, Surender; Gupta, Yogendra Kumar

    2013-01-01

    Background: Coriandrum sativum has been used in the traditional systems of medicine for management of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. Objectives: In this study, we have evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-granuloma activities of Coriandrum sativum hydroalcoholic extract (CSHE) in experimental models. Materials and Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity of CSHE was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema model and the anti-granuloma activity of CSHE was evaluated using the subcutaneous cotton pellet implantation-induced granuloma formation and stimulation of peritoneal macrophages with complete Freund's adjuvant. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1 β levels, and peritoneal macrophage expression of TNF-R1 were evaluated as markers of global inflammation. Results: CSHE at the highest dose tested (32 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in paw edema after carrageenan administration. CSHE treatment also reduced dry granuloma weight in all treated animals. Serum IL-6 and IL-1 β levels were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the CSHE (32 mg/kg)-treated group as compared to control. Although there was an increase in serum TNF-α level in the CSHE-treated group as compared to control, TNF-R1 expression on peritoneal macrophages was found to be reduced. Conclusion: Thus, the result of this study demonstrates the anti-inflammatory and anti-granuloma activities of CSHE in experimental models, and validates its traditional use for the management of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. PMID:23741156

  13. Analysis of associations between polymorphisms within genes coding for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and TNF receptors and responsiveness to TNF-alpha blockers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Swierkot, Jerzy; Bogunia-Kubik, Katarzyna; Nowak, Beata; Bialowas, Katarzyna; Korman, Lucyna; Gebura, Katarzyna; Kolossa, Katarzyna; Jeka, Slawomir; Wiland, Piotr

    2015-03-01

    Despite the fact that therapy with TNF-α inhibitors constitutes a breakthrough in rheumatoid arthritis management, no improvement is still achieved in approximately 30% of cases. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the TNF-α and TNF receptor encoding genes affect the efficacy of therapy with TNF-α inhibitors in patients with RA. Five SNPs within the TNF-α and TNF receptor encoding genes (TNFA: G-308A, G-238A, C-857T; TNFR1A G36A; TNFR1B T676G) were determined in 280 RA patients who had been treated with TNF-α inhibitors for at least 6 months or they stop therapy because of adverse events. The association between the relative change in DAS28 and SNP genotypes was tested by linear regression. At week 24, low disease activity or remission was achieved by 45% of the patients. After 6 months remission of the disease or low disease activity were more frequently observed among patients homozygous for the TNFR1A 36A allele than among those who were GG homozygotes (52% vs. 34%, P=0.04). At week 24 DAS28 was significantly lower in the subgroup of patients homozygous for the TNFA-857T variant compared to the C allele carriers (P=0.045). The other polymorphisms were not found to be significantly associated with EULAR response at week 12 and 24 of the anti-TNF treatment. Homozygosity for the TNFR1A 36A allele and the TNFA-875T variant could act as a genetic factor associated with better response to anti-TNF treatment. Copyright © 2014 Société française de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

  14. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK-1/ERK) inhibitors sensitize reduced glucocorticoid response mediated by TNF{alpha} in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Onda, Kenji; Nagashima, Masahiro; Kawakubo, Yo

    2006-12-08

    Glucocorticoids (GCs) are essential drugs administered topically or systematically for the treatment of autoimmune skin diseases such as pemphigus. However, a certain proportion of patients does not respond well to GCs. Although studies on the relationship between cytokines and GC insensitivity in local tissues have attracted attention recently, little is known about the underlying mechanism(s) for GC insensitivity in epidermal keratinocytes. Here, we report that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) {alpha} reduces GC-induced transactivation of endogenous genes as well as a reporter plasmid which contains GC responsive element (GRE) in human epidermal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT). The GC insensitivity by TNF{alpha} wasmore » not accompanied by changes in mRNA expressions of GR isoforms ({alpha} or {beta}). However, we observed that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK-1/ERK) inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126) significantly sensitized the GC-induced transactivation of anti-inflammatory genes (glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (MKP)-1) and FK506 binding protein (FKBP) 51 gene in the presence of TNF{alpha}. Additionally, we observed that TNF{alpha} reduced prednisolone (PSL)-dependent nuclear translocation of GR, which was restored by pre-treatment of MEK-1 inhibitors. This is the first study demonstrating a role of the MEK-1/ERK cascade in TNF{alpha}-mediated GC insensitivity. Our data suggest that overexpression of TNF{alpha} leads to topical GC insensitivity by reducing GR nuclear translocation in keratinocytes, and our findings also suggest that inhibiting the MEK-1/ERK cascade may offer a therapeutic potential for increasing GC efficacy in epidermis where sufficient inflammatory suppression is required.« less

  15. Efficacy of combination treatment with anti-IgE plus specific immunotherapy in polysensitized children and adolescents with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

    PubMed

    Kuehr, Joachim; Brauburger, Jens; Zielen, Stefan; Schauer, Uwe; Kamin, Wolfgang; Von Berg, Andrea; Leupold, Wolfgang; Bergmann, Karl-Christian; Rolinck-Werninghaus, Claudia; Gräve, Michael; Hultsch, Thomas; Wahn, Ulrich

    2002-02-01

    Specific immunotherapy (SIT) and treatment with monoclonal anti-IgE antibody have complementary modes of action. The purpose of this study was to determine whether combined therapy could provide better efficacy than either treatment alone. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded trial to assess the efficacy and safety of subcutaneously administered anti-IgE (omalizumab) or placebo in children and adolescents with seasonal allergic rhinitis in both a birch pollen season and a grass pollen season (sequential seasons together lasting an average of 84 days). There were 4 treatment arms. Each subject was started on SIT-birch or SIT-grass, and anti-IgE or placebo was started before and maintained during the anticipated pollen seasons (a total of 24 weeks). The primary efficacy variable was symptom load, the sum of daily symptom severity score plus rescue medication use. A total of 221 subjects (intent-to-treat population) aged 6 to 17 years were analyzed for efficacy. Combination therapy reduced symptom load over the 2 pollen seasons by 48% (P <.001) over SIT alone. When analyzed separately by season, the 2 groups receiving unrelated SIT were considered placebo controls. In the grass season, symptom loads were as follows: unrelated (birch) SIT + placebo, 0.89 (reference value); unrelated (birch) SIT + anti-IgE, 0.49 (-45%); SIT-grass + placebo, 0.61 (-32%); SIT-grass + anti-IgE, 0.26 (-71%). Anti-IgE therapy conferred a protective effect independent of the type of allergen. Additional clinical benefit was demonstrated in both pollen seasons, whether there was coverage by SIT or not. This combination might prove useful for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, particularly for polysensitized patients.

  16. Melittin-MIL-2 fusion protein as a candidate for cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Liu, Mingjun; Wang, Haitao; Liu, Linjie; Wang, Bin; Sun, Guirong

    2016-06-01

    Cytokine fusion protein that modulates the immune response holds great potential for cancer immunotherapy. IL-2 is an effective treatment against advanced cancers. However, the therapeutic efficacy of IL-2 is limited by severe systemic toxicity. Several mutants recombinant IL-2 can increase antitumor activity and minimize systemic toxicity. Melittin is an attractive anticancer candidate because of its wide-spectrum lytic properties. We previously generated a bifunctional fusion protein melittin-MIL-2, composed of melittin and a mutant IL-2. The melittin-MIL-2 inhibited the growth of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in vitro and in vivo tumor growth. However, whether this antitumor effect could also be used in cancer immunotherapy was unknown. To assess its cancer immunotherapy potential, we further investigated its more effective antitumor immune response and antitumor effect against cancers of different tissue origins in vitro and in vivo. The specific IL-2 activity of the melittin-MIL-2 fusion protein was tested on the cytokine growth dependent cell line CTLL-2. The cytolytic activity was detected by standard 4-h (51)Cr-release assays. PBMC stimulation in response to the melittin-MIL-2 was determined by IFN-γ release assay. We observed the cancer cell proliferation of different tissue origins by MTT assay. The ability of melittin-MIL-2 to inhibit tumor growth in vivo was evaluated by using human liver (SMMC-7721 cancer cells), lung (A549 cancer cells) and ovarian (SKOV3 cancer cells) cancer xenograft models. To assess the immunity within the tumor microenvironment, the level of some cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-4 was analyzed by ELISA. We injected the MDA-MB-231 cells and the melittin-MIL-2 into mice, and the anti-metastatic effect was examined by counting nodules in the lung. The melittin-MIL-2 was more effective in inducing T cell and NK-cell cytotoxicity. The fusion protein significantly increased IFN-γ production in PBMCs. In vitro, the

  17. Measuring patients' satisfaction with their anti-TNF treatment in severe Crohn's disease: scoring and psychometric validation of the Satisfaction for PAtients in Crohn's diseasE Questionnaire (SPACE-Q(©)).

    PubMed

    Gilet, Hélène; Arnould, Benoit; Fofana, Fatoumata; Clerson, Pierre; Colombel, Jean-Frédéric; D'Hondt, Olivier; Faure, Patrick; Hagège, Hervé; Nachury, Maria; Nahon, Stéphane; Tucat, Gilbert; Vandromme, Luc; Cazala-Telinge, Ines; Thibout, Emmanuel

    2014-01-01

    Severe Crohn's disease management includes anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs that differ from early-stage treatments regarding efficacy, safety, and convenience. This study aimed to finalize and psychometrically validate the Satisfaction for PAtients in Crohn's diseasE Questionnaire (SPACE-Q(©)), developed to measure satisfaction with anti-TNF treatment in patients with severe Crohn's disease. A total of 279 patients with severe Crohn's disease receiving anti-TNF therapy completed the SPACE-Q 62-item pilot version at inclusion and 12 and 13 weeks after first anti-TNF injection. The final SPACE-Q scoring was defined using multitrait and regression analyses and clinical relevance considerations. Psychometric validation included clinical validity against Harvey-Bradshaw score, concurrent validity against Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness against the patient global impression of change (PGIC). Quality of completion was good (55%-67% of patients completed all items). Four items were removed from the questionnaire. Eleven scores were defined within the final 58-item SPACE-Q: disease control; symptoms, anal symptoms, and quality of life transition scales; tolerability; convenience; expectation confirmation toward efficacy, side effects, and convenience; satisfaction with treatment; and motivation. Scores met standards for concurrent validity (correlation between SPACE-Q satisfaction with treatment and TSQM satisfaction scores =0.59), internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α=0.67-0.93), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlations =0.62-0.91), and responsiveness (improvement in treatment experience assessed by the SPACE-Q for patients reporting improvement on the PGIC). Significantly different mean scores were observed between groups of patients with different Harvey-Bradshaw disease severity scores. The SPACE-Q is a valid, reliable, and responsive

  18. Dendritic cells for active anti-cancer immunotherapy: targeting activation pathways through genetic modification.

    PubMed

    Breckpot, Karine; Escors, David

    2009-12-01

    Tumour immunotherapy has become a treatment modality for cancer, harnessing the immune system to recognize and eradicate tumour cells specifically. It is based on the expression of tumour associated antigens (TAA) by the tumour cells and aims at the induction of TAA-specific effector T cell responses, whilst overruling various mechanisms that can hamper the anti-tumour immune response, e.g. regulatory T cells (Treg). (Re-) activation of effector T cells requires the completion of a carefully orchestrated series of specific steps. Particularly important is the provision of TAA presentation and strong stimulatory signals, delivered by co-stimulatory surface molecules and cytokines. These can only be delivered by professional antigen-presenting cells, in particular dendritic cells (DC). Therefore, DC need to be loaded with TAA and appropriately activated. It is not surprising that an extensive part of DC research has focused on the delivery of both TAA and activation signals to DC, developing a one step approach to obtain potent stimulatory DC. The simultaneous delivery of TAA and activation signals is therefore the topic of this review, emphasizing the role of DC in mediating T cell activation and how we can manipulate DC for the pill-pose of enhancing tumour immunotherapy. As we gain a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate induction of TAA-specific T cells, rational approaches for the activation of T cell responses can be developed for the treatment of cancer.

  19. Circulating levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate are elevated in severe, but not mild psoriasis and are unresponsive to anti-TNF-α treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Checa, Antonio; Xu, Ning; Sar, Daniel G.; Haeggström, Jesper Z.; Ståhle, Mona; Wheelock, Craig E.

    2015-07-01

    Sphingolipids are bioactive molecules with a putative role in inflammation. Alterations in sphingolipids, in particular ceramides, have been consistently observed in psoriatic skin. Herein, we quantified the circulating sphingolipid profile in individuals with mild or severe psoriasis as well as healthy controls. In addition, the effects of anti-TNF-α treatment were determined. Levels of sphingoid bases, including sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), increased in severe (P < 0.001 n = 32), but not in mild (n = 32), psoriasis relative to healthy controls (n = 32). These alterations were not reversed in severe patients (n = 16) after anti-TNF-α treatment despite significant improvement in psoriasis lesions. Circulating levels of sphingomyelins and ceramides shifted in a fatty acid chain length-dependent manner. These alterations were also observed in psoriasis skin lesions and were associated with changes in mRNA levels of ceramide synthases. The lack of S1P response to treatment may have pathobiological implications due to its close relation to the vascular and immune systems. In particular, increased levels of sphingolipids and especially S1P in severe psoriasis patients requiring biological treatment may potentially be associated with cardiovascular comorbidities. The fact that shifts in S1P levels were not ameliorated by anti-TNF-α treatment, despite improvements in the skin lesions, further supports targeting S1P receptors as therapy for severe psoriasis.

  20. Alternative products to treat allergic rhinitis and alternative routes for allergy immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Ipci, Kagan; Oktemer, Tugba; Muluk, Nuray Bayar; Şahin, Ethem; Altıntoprak, Niyazi; Bafaqeeh, Sameer Ali; Kurt, Yasemin; Mladina, Ranko; Šubarić, Marin; Cingi, Cemal

    2016-09-01

    Some alternative products instead of immunotherapy are used in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). In this paper, alternative products to treat allergic rhinitis and alternative routes for allergy immunotherapy are reviewed. Alternative products and methods used instead of immunotherapy are tea therapy, acupuncture, Nigella sativa, cinnamon bark, Spanish needle, acerola, capsaicin (Capsicum annum), allergen-absorbing ointment, and cellulose powder. N. sativa has been used in AR treatment due to its anti-inflammatory effects. N. sativa oil also inhibits the cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. The beneficial effects of N. sativa seed supplementation on the symptoms of AR may be due to its antihistaminic properties. To improve the efficacy of immunotherapy, some measures are taken regarding known immunotherapy applications and alternative routes of intralymphatic immunotherapy and epicutaneous immunotherapy are used. There are alternative routes and products to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.

  1. Genetically determined high activity of IL-12 and IL-18 in ulcerative colitis and TLR5 in Crohns disease were associated with non-response to anti-TNF therapy.

    PubMed

    Bank, S; Andersen, P S; Burisch, J; Pedersen, N; Roug, S; Galsgaard, J; Turino, S Y; Brodersen, J B; Rashid, S; Rasmussen, B K; Avlund, S; Olesen, T B; Hoffmann, H J; Nexø, B A; Sode, J; Vogel, U; Andersen, V

    2018-01-01

    Anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is used for treatment of severe cases of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, one-third of the patients do not respond to the treatment. A recent study indicated that genetically determined high activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ), are associated with non-response to anti-TNF therapy. Using a candidate gene approach, 21 functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 14 genes in the Toll-like receptors, the inflammasome and the IFNG pathways were assessed in 482 and 256 prior anti-TNF naïve Danish patients with CD and UC, respectively. The results were analysed using logistic regression (adjusted for age and gender). Eight functional SNPs were associated with anti-TNF response either among patients with CD (TLR5 (rs5744174) and IFNGR2 (rs8126756)), UC (IL12B (rs3212217), IL18 (rs1946518), IFNGR1 (rs2234711), TBX21 (rs17250932) and JAK2 (rs12343867)) or in the combined cohort of patient with CD and UC (IBD) (NLRP3 (rs10754558), IL12B (rs3212217) and IFNGR1 (rs2234711)) (P<0.05). Only the association with heterozygous genotype of IL12B (rs3212217) (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.11-0.53, P=0.008) among patients with UC withstood Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. In conclusion, Our results suggest that SNPs associated with genetically determined high activity of TLR5 among patients with CD and genetically determined high IL-12 and IL-18 levels among patients with UC were associated with non-response. Further studies will evaluate whether these genes may help stratifying patients according to the expected response to anti-TNF treatment.

  2. Immunotherapy in NSCLC: A Promising and Revolutionary Weapon.

    PubMed

    Rolfo, Christian; Caglevic, Christian; Santarpia, Mariacarmela; Araujo, Antonio; Giovannetti, Elisa; Gallardo, Carolina Diaz; Pauwels, Patrick; Mahave, Mauricio

    2017-01-01

    Lung cancer is the leader malignancy worldwide accounting 1.5 millions of deaths every year. In the United States the 5 year-overall survival is less than 20% for all the newly diagnosed patients. Cisplatin-based cytotoxic chemotherapy for unresectable or metastatic NSCLC patients in the first line of treatment, and docetaxel in the second line, have achieved positive results but with limited benefit in overall survival. Targeted therapies for EGFR and ALK mutant patients have showed better results when compared with chemotherapy, nevertheless most of patients will fail and need to be treated with chemotherapy if they still have a good performance status.Immunotherapy recently has become the most revolutionary treatment in solid tumors patients. First results in unresectable and metastatic melanoma patients treated with an anti CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody showed an unexpected 3-year overall survival of at least 25%.Lung cancer cells have multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms that allow to escape of the immune system and survive, however blocking CTLA-4 pathway with antibodies as monotherapy treatment have not achieved same results than in melanoma patients. PD-1 expression has been demonstrated in different tumor types, suggesting than PD-1 / PD-L1 pathway is a common mechanism used by tumors to avoid immune surveillance and favoring tumor growth. Anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1 antibodies have showed activity in non-small cell lung cancer patients with significant benefit in overall survival, long lasting responses and good safety profile, including naïve and pretreated patients regardless of the histological subtype. Even more, PD-1 negative expression patients achieve similar results in overall survival when compared with patients treated with chemotherapy. In the other side high PD-1 expression patients that undergo immunotherapy treatment achieve better results in terms of survival with lesser toxicity. Combining different immunotherapy treatments, combination of

  3. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid increases anti-cancer effect of tumor necrosis factor-α through up-regulation of TNF receptor 1 in lung cancer cells.

    PubMed

    You, Bo Ra; Han, Bo Ram; Park, Woo Hyun

    2017-03-14

    Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor has anti-cancer effect. Here, we evaluated the effect of SAHA on HDAC activity and cell growth in many normal lung and cancer cells. We observed that the HDAC activities of lung cancer cells were higher than that of normal lung cells. SAHA inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells regardless of the inhibitory effect on HDAC. This agent induced a G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis, which was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP: ΔΨm) loss in lung cancer cells. However, SAHA did not induce cell death in normal lung cells. All tested caspase inhibitors prevented apoptotic cell death in SAHA-treated A549 and Calu-6 lung cancer cells. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) enhanced apoptosis in SAHA-treated lung cancer cells through caspase-8 and caspase-9 activations. Especially, SAHA increased the expression level of TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1), especially acetylation of the region of TNFR1 promoter -223/-29 in lung cancer cells. The down-regulation of TNFR1 suppressed apoptosis in TNF-α and SAHA-treated lung cancer cells. In conclusion, SAHA inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells via a G2/M phase arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis. SAHA also enhanced apoptotic effect of TNF-α in human lung cancer cells through up-regulation of TNFR1. TNF-α may be a key to improve anti-cancer effect of HDAC inhibitors.

  4. The Role of T Lymphocytes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Immunotherapy with Autologous Dendritic Cells

    PubMed Central

    Rodrigues, Cláudia M.; Matias, Bruna F.; Murta, Eddie F.C.; Michelin, Márcia A.

    2011-01-01

    Introduction: Cancer stems from mutations in specific genes that induce uncontrolled cell proliferation. Dendritic cells (DCs) are important immunologic cells and play a crucial role in the induction of an antitumour response. Patients and methods: We examined the immune response mediated by T lymphocytes, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and regulatory T cells, as well as the cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-10], produced by these cell populations, in cancer patients (N = 7) undergoing immunotheraphy with autologous DCs. Results: We observed an initial increase in T helper cells (CD4+) expressing IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12, TNF-α, and IL-10 after initiation of treatment, with statistically significant for the cytokines IL-2, TNF-α and IL-10. A similar significant effect was observed for IL-2-expressing cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). The percentage of total T cells (CD3+) remained elevated throughout immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (CD25+/FOXP3+) only showed high percentage of their maximum value when analyzed the pretreatment levels, with statistically significant. Conclusion: Immunotherapy with DCs stimulated the immune response, as evidenced by an increase in percent fluorescence of most cell populations investigated during the specified treatment period. PMID:21603246

  5. The role of T lymphocytes in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy with autologous dendritic cells.

    PubMed

    Rodrigues, Cláudia M; Matias, Bruna F; Murta, Eddie F C; Michelin, Márcia A

    2011-01-01

    Cancer stems from mutations in specific genes that induce uncontrolled cell proliferation. Dendritic cells (DCs) are important immunologic cells and play a crucial role in the induction of an antitumour response. We examined the immune response mediated by T lymphocytes, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and regulatory T cells, as well as the cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-10], produced by these cell populations, in cancer patients (N = 7) undergoing immunotheraphy with autologous DCs. We observed an initial increase in T helper cells (CD4+) expressing IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12, TNF-α, and IL-10 after initiation of treatment, with statistically significant for the cytokines IL-2, TNF-α and IL-10. A similar significant effect was observed for IL-2-expressing cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). The percentage of total T cells (CD3+) remained elevated throughout immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (CD25+/FOXP3+) only showed high percentage of their maximum value when analyzed the pretreatment levels, with statistically significant. Immunotherapy with DCs stimulated the immune response, as evidenced by an increase in percent fluorescence of most cell populations investigated during the specified treatment period.

  6. Drug insight: Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for inflammatory arthropathies during reproduction, pregnancy and lactation.

    PubMed

    Skomsvoll, Johan F; Wallenius, Marianne; Koksvik, Hege S; Rødevand, Erik; Salvesen, Kjell A; Spigset, Olav; Kvien, Tore K

    2007-03-01

    Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are widely used to reduce disease activity and joint damage, and to improve health-related quality of life in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis. To date, no increased risk of embryotoxicity or teratogenicity, or adverse pregnancy outcome (such as birth defects, premature birth, and low birth weight) has been reported in patients with inflammatory arthropathies treated with anti-TNF therapy, compared with the general population. However, the available data are limited, and methotrexate, which is commonly used in combination with anti-TNF drugs, is teratogenic. Until more data are available, no firm conclusions can be reached regarding the safety of anti-TNF therapy in pregnancy. Nevertheless, in selected cases where there is high disease activity, anti-TNF therapy might be recommended, depending on the results of individual risk-benefit analyses. Fully informed consent from the mother is needed in such cases. Anti-TNF agents are not usually used during lactation, although the risk of toxicity is probably negligible.

  7. Workplace impacts of anti-TNF therapies in rheumatoid arthritis: review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Birnbaum, Howard; Shi, Lizheng; Pike, Crystal; Kaufman, Rebecca; Sun, Peter; Cifaldi, Mary

    2009-02-01

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes pain and serious functional impacts and substantially affects patients' daily lives, including their ability to work. This review examines recent studies of patients with RA treated with TNF antagonists and the impacts these therapies have on the workplace. A total of 133 articles and 14 poster abstracts were reviewed that matched specific criteria. The results of early studies of TNF antagonists varied regarding their effects on patients with RA in the workplace. However, recent studies of adalimumab showed positive impacts across a range of workplace burdens. Treatments such as adalimumab may help employees with RA to remain in the workforce and lead to reduced workplace costs to the employers and employees.

  8. PI3Kδ inhibition reduces TNF secretion and neuroinflammation in a mouse cerebral stroke model.

    PubMed

    Low, Pei Ching; Manzanero, Silvia; Mohannak, Nika; Narayana, Vinod K; Nguyen, Tam H; Kvaskoff, David; Brennan, Faith H; Ruitenberg, Marc J; Gelderblom, Mathias; Magnus, Tim; Kim, Hyun Ah; Broughton, Brad R S; Sobey, Christopher G; Vanhaesebroeck, Bart; Stow, Jennifer L; Arumugam, Thiruma V; Meunier, Frédéric A

    2014-03-14

    Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of permanent disability. Although reperfusion is currently used as treatment, the restoration of blood flow following ischaemia elicits a profound inflammatory response mediated by proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), exacerbating tissue damage and worsening the outcomes for stroke patients. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) controls intracellular TNF trafficking in macrophages and therefore represents a prospective target to limit neuroinflammation. Here we show that PI3Kδ inhibition confers protection in ischaemia/reperfusion models of stroke. In vitro, restoration of glucose supply following an episode of glucose deprivation potentiates TNF secretion from primary microglia-an effect that is sensitive to PI3Kδ inhibition. In vivo, transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion in kinase-dead PI3Kδ (p110δ(D910A/D910A)) or wild-type mice pre- or post-treated with the PI3Kδ inhibitor CAL-101, leads to reduced TNF levels, decreased leukocyte infiltration, reduced infarct size and improved functional outcome. These data identify PI3Kδ as a potential therapeutic target in ischaemic stroke.

  9. B7H6-derived peptides trigger TNF-α-dependent immunostimulatory activity of lymphocytic NK92-MI cells.

    PubMed

    Phillips, Mariana; Romeo, Francesca; Bitsaktsis, Constantine; Sabatino, David

    2016-09-01

    The rise of biologics that can stimulate immune responses towards the eradication of tumors has led to the evolution of cancer-based immunotherapy. Representatively, B7H6 has been recently identified as a protein ligand on tumor cells that binds specifically to the NKp30 receptor and triggers NK cell-derived cytokine production, which ultimately leads to tumor cell lysis and death. In an effort to develop effective immunotherapy approaches, the rational design of a novel class of immunostimulatory peptides (IPs) derived from the binding interface of B7H6:NKp30 is described in this study. The IPs comprised the B7H6 active site sequence for NKp30 binding and immunostimulatory activity. An aminohexanoic acid linker was also introduced at the N-terminus of the peptides for FITC-labeling by Fmoc-solid phase peptide synthesis. The peptides were characterized by LCMS to confirm identities and purities >95%. The secondary structures of the peptides were examined by CD spectroscopy in H2 O, PBS and a H2 O:TFE mixture which demonstrated versatile peptide structures which transitioned from random coil (H2 O) to α-helical (PBS) and turn-type (H2 O:TFE) conformations. Their biological properties were then evaluated by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and cell death assays. The occupancy of the synthetic peptides to a human NK cell line demonstrated comparable binding relative to the natural NKp30 ligand, B7H6, and the human anti-NKp30 monoclonal antibody (mAb), in a concentration dependent manner. A competitive binding assay between the human anti-NKp30 mAb or B7H6, and the synthetic peptides, demonstrated partial displacement of the ligands upon anti-NKp30 mAb treatment, suggesting NKp30 receptor specificities by the synthetic peptides. Moreover, the immunostimulatory activity of B7H6 was demonstrated by the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) by the human NK cell line. The

  10. Methanol extract of Xanthium strumarium L. possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities.

    PubMed

    Kim, In-Tae; Park, Young-Mi; Won, Jong-Heon; Jung, Hyun-Ju; Park, Hee-Juhn; Choi, Jong-Won; Lee, Kyung-Tae

    2005-01-01

    As an attempt to identify bioactive natural products with anti-inflammatory activity, we evaluated the effects of the methanol extract of the semen of Xanthium strumarium L. (MEXS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in RAW 264.7 cells. Our data indicate that MEXS is a potent inhibitor of NO, PGE2 and TNF-alpha production. Consistent with these findings, the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-alpha mRNA were down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, MEXS inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) DNA binding activity and the translocation of NF-kappaB to the nucleus by blocking the degradation of inhibitor of kappa B-alpha (IkappaB-alpha). We further evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of MEXS in vivo. MEXS (100, 200 mg/kg/d, p.o.) reduced acute paw edema induced by carrageenin in rats, and showed analgesic activities in an acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test and a hot plate test in mice. Thus, our study suggests that the inhibitions of iNOS, COX-2 expression, and TNF-alpha release by the methanol extract of the semen of Xanthium strumarium L. are achieved by blocking NF-kappaB activation, and that this is also responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects.

  11. New routes of allergen immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Aricigil, Mitat; Muluk, Nuray Bayar; Sakarya, Engin Umut; Sakalar, Emine Güven; Senturk, Mehmet; Reisacher, William R; Cingi, Cemal

    2016-11-01

    Allergen immunotherapy is the only cure for immunoglobulin E mediated type I respiratory allergies. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) are the most common treatments. In this article, we reviewed new routes of allergen immunotherapy. Data on alternative routes to allow intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT), epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT), local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT), oral immunotherapy (OIT), and oral mucosal immunotherapy (OMIT) were gathered from the literature and were discussed. ILIT features direct injection of allergens into lymph nodes. ILIT may be clinically effective after only a few injections and induces allergen-specific immunoglobulin G, similarly to SCIT. A limitation of ILIT is that intralymphatic injections are required. EPIT features allergen administration by using patches mounted on the skin. EPIT seeks to target epidermal antigen-presenting Langerhans cells rather than mast cells or the vasculature; this should reduce both local and systemic adverse effects. LNIT involves the spraying of allergen extracts into the nasal cavity. Natural or chemically modified allergens (the latter, termed allergoids, lack immunoglobulin E reactivity) are prepared in a soluble form. OIT involves the regular administration of small amounts of a food allergen by mouth and commences with low oral doses, which are then increased as tolerance develops. OMIT seeks to deliver allergenic proteins to an expanded population of Langerhans cells in the mucosa of the oral cavity. ILIT, EPIT, LNIT, OIT, and OMIT are new routes for allergen immunotherapy. They are safe and effective.

  12. Immunotherapy With Magentorheologic Fluids

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-08-01

    anti-tumor effects are weakened by removal of the tumor antigen pool (i.e. surgery) or use of cytoreductive and immunosuppressive therapies (i.e...particles were injected as magneto -rheological fluid (MRF) into an orthotopic primary breast cancer and followed by application of a magnetic field to...SUBJECT TERMS MRF: Magneto -rehological fluid iron particles, IT: immunotherapy, necrotic death, DCs: dendritic cells, cytokines, chemokines

  13. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid increases anti-cancer effect of tumor necrosis factor-α through up-regulation of TNF receptor 1 in lung cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    You, Bo Ra; Han, Bo Ram; Park, Woo Hyun

    2017-01-01

    Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor has anti-cancer effect. Here, we evaluated the effect of SAHA on HDAC activity and cell growth in many normal lung and cancer cells. We observed that the HDAC activities of lung cancer cells were higher than that of normal lung cells. SAHA inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells regardless of the inhibitory effect on HDAC. This agent induced a G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis, which was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP: ΔΨm) loss in lung cancer cells. However, SAHA did not induce cell death in normal lung cells. All tested caspase inhibitors prevented apoptotic cell death in SAHA-treated A549 and Calu-6 lung cancer cells. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) enhanced apoptosis in SAHA-treated lung cancer cells through caspase-8 and caspase-9 activations. Especially, SAHA increased the expression level of TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1), especially acetylation of the region of TNFR1 promoter −223/-29 in lung cancer cells. The down-regulation of TNFR1 suppressed apoptosis in TNF-α and SAHA-treated lung cancer cells. In conclusion, SAHA inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells via a G2/M phase arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis. SAHA also enhanced apoptotic effect of TNF-α in human lung cancer cells through up-regulation of TNFR1. TNF-α may be a key to improve anti-cancer effect of HDAC inhibitors. PMID:28099148

  14. TNF-alpha antagonist induced lupus on three different agents.

    PubMed

    Mudduluru, Bindu Madhavi; Shah, Shalin; Shamah, Steven; Swaminath, Arun

    2017-03-01

    Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) antagonists are biologic agents used in the management of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathies and inflammatory bowel disease. These agents have been recently shown to cause a syndrome called anti-TNF induced lupus (ATIL), a rare condition which has similar clinical manifestations to idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Given that extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease include arthritis, it can be difficult to separate arthritis due to underlying disease from drug-induced arthritis. We present a case of a 28-year-old female with Crohn's disease, who developed disabling arthritis as a clinical manifestation of ATIL following treatment with three anti-TNF agents, namely infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab.

  15. Immunotherapy in allergy and cellular tests

    PubMed Central

    Chirumbolo, Salvatore

    2014-01-01

    The basophil activation test (BAT) is an in vitro assay where the activation of basophils upon exposure to various IgE-challenging molecules is measured by flow cytometry. It is a cellular test able to investigate basophil behavior during allergy and allergy immunotherapy. A panoply of critical issues and suggestive advances have rendered this assay a promising yet puzzling tool to endeavor a full comprehension of innate immunity of allergy desensitization and manage allergen or monoclonal anti-IgE therapy. In this review a brief state of art of BAT in immunotherapy is described focusing onto the analytical issue pertaining BAT performance in allergy specific therapy. PMID:24717453

  16. Anti-TNF-alpha therapy does not modulate leptin in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Gonzalez-Gay, M A; Garcia-Unzueta, M T; Berja, A; Gonzalez-Juanatey, C; Miranda-Filloy, J A; Vazquez-Rodriguez, T R; de Matias, J M; Martin, J; Dessein, P H; Llorca, J

    2009-01-01

    The adipocytokine leptin regulates weight centrally and participates in the regulation of the immune and inflammatory responses. Chronic systemic inflammation is of major importance in the development of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study we investigated whether inflammation, obesity or both of these characteristics are potential determinants of circulating leptin concentrations in a group of RA patients on periodical treatment with the TNF-alpha-blocker-infliximab due to severe disease. We also assessed whether the infusion of infliximab may alter circulating leptin concentrations in patients with severe RA. We investigated 33 patients with RA on periodical treatment with infliximab. Serum leptin levels were determined immediately prior to and after infliximab infusion. There was a positive correlation between body mass index of RA patients and baseline serum level of leptin (rho=0.665, p<0.001). Apart from a significant correlation with VCAM-1 (rho=0.349, p=0.04), no significant correlations between baseline leptin levels and the age at the time of the study or at the onset of the disease, disease duration, ESR and CRP levels, DAS28, lipids, insulin sensitivity, adhesion molecules, resistin, adiponectin, ghrelin or the cumulative prednisone dose at the time of the study were found. Leptin levels did not change upon infliximab infusion (p=0.48). In RA patients on TNF-alpha blocker treatment, circulating leptin levels are unrelated to disease activity but constitute a manifestation of adiposity. The beneficial effect of anti-TNF-alpha therapy on cardiovascular mortality in RA does not seem to be mediated by reduction in serum levels of leptin.

  17. Intratumoral IL-12 and TNF-alpha-loaded microspheres lead to regression of breast cancer and systemic antitumor immunity.

    PubMed

    Sabel, Michael S; Skitzki, Joseph; Stoolman, Lloyd; Egilmez, Nejat K; Mathiowitz, Edith; Bailey, Nicola; Chang, Wen-Jian; Chang, Alfred E

    2004-02-01

    Local, sustained delivery of cytokines at a tumor can enhance induction of antitumor immunity and may be a feasible neoadjuvant immunotherapy for breast cancer. We evaluated the ability of intratumoral poly-lactic-acid-encapsulated microspheres (PLAM) containing interleukin 12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in a murine model of breast cancer to generate a specific antitumor response. BALB/c mice with established MT-901 tumors underwent resection or treatment with a single intratumoral injection of PLAM containing IL-12, TNF-alpha, or GM-CSF, alone or in combination. Two weeks later, lymph nodes and spleens were harvested, activated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and rhIL-2, and assessed for antitumor reactivity by an interferon gamma (IFNgamma) release assay. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) analysis was performed on days 2 and 5 after treatment by mechanically processing the tumors to create a single cell suspension, followed by three-color fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Intratumoral injection of cytokine-loaded PLAM significantly suppressed tumor growth, with the combination of IL-12 and TNF-alpha leading to increased infiltration by polymorphonuclear cells and CD8+ T-cells in comparison with controls. The induction of tumor-specific reactive T-cells in the nodes and spleens, as measured by IFN-gamma production, was highest with IL-12 and TNF-alpha. This treatment resulted in resistance to tumor rechallenge. A single intratumoral injection of IL-12 and TNF-alpha-loaded PLAM into a breast tumor leads to infiltration by polymorphonuclear cells and CD8+ T-cells with subsequent tumor regression. In addition, this local therapy induces specific antitumor T-cells in the lymph nodes and spleens, resulting in memory immune response.

  18. Promising role for Gc-MAF in cancer immunotherapy: from bench to bedside

    PubMed Central

    Saburi, Ehsan; Saburi, Amin; Ghanei, Mostafa

    2017-01-01

    Immunotherapy has been used for years in many types of cancer therapy. Recently, cancer immunotherapy has focused on mechanisms which can enhance the development of cell-mediated immunity. Anticancer medications are administered to inhibit immunosuppressive factors such as nagalase enzyme, which is produced by neoplastic cells and destroys macrophage activating factor (Gc-MAF). Anti-neoplastics medications can also enhance immune-cell activity against tumors. Such medications show great potential in cancer immunotherapy using natural human mechanisms against neoplasms. PMID:29201312

  19. Anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased risk of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis especially in the first 6 months of treatment: updated results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register with special emphasis on risks in the elderly.

    PubMed

    Galloway, James B; Hyrich, Kimme L; Mercer, Louise K; Dixon, William G; Fu, Bo; Ustianowski, Andrew P; Watson, Kath D; Lunt, Mark; Symmons, Deborah P M

    2011-01-01

    To evaluate the risk of serious infections (SIs) in patients with RA treated with anti-TNF therapy with emphasis on the risk across different ages. Using data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register, a prospective observational study, we compared the risk of SI between 11 798 anti-TNF-treated patients and 3598 non-biologic DMARD (nbDMARD)-treated patients. A total of 1808 patients had at least one SI (anti-TNF: 1512; nbDMARD: 296). Incidence rates were: anti-TNF 42/1000 patient-years of follow-up (95% CI 40, 44) and nbDMARD 32/1000 patient-years of follow-up (95% CI 28, 36). The adjusted hazard ratio (adjHR) for SI in the anti-TNF cohort was 1.2 (95% CI 1.1, 1.5). The risk did not differ significantly between the three agents adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab. The risk was highest during the first 6 months of therapy [adjHR 1.8 (95% CI 1.3, 2.6)]. Although increasing age was an independent risk factor for SI in both cohorts, there was no difference in relative risk of infection in patients on anti-TNF therapy in the older population. There was no difference in hospital stay for SI between cohorts. Mortality within 30 days of SI was 50% lower in the anti-TNF cohort [odds ratio 0.5 (95% CI 0.3, 0.8)]. These data add to currently available evidence suggesting that anti-TNF therapy is associated with a small but significant overall risk of SI. This must be balanced against the risks associated with poor disease control or alternative treatments.

  20. Anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased risk of serious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis especially in the first 6 months of treatment: updated results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register with special emphasis on risks in the elderly

    PubMed Central

    Galloway, James B.; Hyrich, Kimme L.; Mercer, Louise K.; Dixon, William G.; Fu, Bo; Ustianowski, Andrew P.; Watson, Kath D.; Lunt, Mark

    2011-01-01

    Objectives. To evaluate the risk of serious infections (SIs) in patients with RA treated with anti-TNF therapy with emphasis on the risk across different ages. Methods. Using data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register, a prospective observational study, we compared the risk of SI between 11 798 anti-TNF-treated patients and 3598 non-biologic DMARD (nbDMARD)-treated patients. Results. A total of 1808 patients had at least one SI (anti-TNF: 1512; nbDMARD: 296). Incidence rates were: anti-TNF 42/1000 patient-years of follow-up (95% CI 40, 44) and nbDMARD 32/1000 patient-years of follow-up (95% CI 28, 36). The adjusted hazard ratio (adjHR) for SI in the anti-TNF cohort was 1.2 (95% CI 1.1, 1.5). The risk did not differ significantly between the three agents adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab. The risk was highest during the first 6 months of therapy [adjHR 1.8 (95% CI 1.3, 2.6)]. Although increasing age was an independent risk factor for SI in both cohorts, there was no difference in relative risk of infection in patients on anti-TNF therapy in the older population. There was no difference in hospital stay for SI between cohorts. Mortality within 30 days of SI was 50% lower in the anti-TNF cohort [odds ratio 0.5 (95% CI 0.3, 0.8)]. Conclusions. These data add to currently available evidence suggesting that anti-TNF therapy is associated with a small but significant overall risk of SI. This must be balanced against the risks associated with poor disease control or alternative treatments. PMID:20675706

  1. Regional survey of tuberculosis risk assessment in rheumatology outpatients commencing anti-TNF-alpha treatment in relation to British Thoracic Society guidelines.

    PubMed

    John, H; Buckley, C; Koh, L; Obrenovic, K; Erb, N; Rowe, I F

    2009-06-01

    The aim of this study was to analyse tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment for rheumatology patients commencing anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) therapy using the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines. Data were obtained retrospectively on 856 outpatients regionally receiving anti-TNF-alpha. Prior to commencing treatment, patients had the following assessments documented: respiratory examination, 47.4%; chest X-ray, 84.5%; TB history, 92.9%; and advice about TB risk, 45.8%. Of the 856 patients, 94.3% were on immunosuppressives but 27% had a tuberculin test; 12.6% had > or =1 high-risk factors for TB. In total, 3.4% were referred to a TB specialist and of these, 24.1% had no risk factors for TB. Of patients with > or =1 risk factor, 76.9% were not referred. Only 4/28 patients at high risk for TB due to ethnicity or birthplace received chemoprophylaxis. Marked inter-unit variation was demonstrated and it was evident that patients require improved screening for TB. Greater awareness is necessary of patients with risk factors, particularly ethnicity, to facilitate more appropriate targeting of chemoprophylaxis. Multi-centre audit is a valuable clinical governance tool.

  2. Generation of dendritic cells from positively selected CD14+ monocytes for anti-tumor immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Curti, Antonio; Isidori, Alessandro; Ferri, Elisa; Terragna, Carolina; Neyroz, Paolo; Cellini, Claudia; Ratta, Marina; Baccarani, Michele; Lemoli, Roberto M

    2004-07-01

    Peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes from multiple myeloma (MM) patients can be induced to differentiate into fully functional, mature, CD83+ dendritic cells (DCs) which are highly efficient in priming autologous T lymphocytes in response to the patient-specific tumor idiotype (Id). We have recently scaled up our manufacturing protocol for application in a phase I-II clinical trial of anti-Id vaccination with DCs in MM patients. Elegible patients received a series of by-monthly immunizations consisting of three subcutaneous and two intravenous injections of Id-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-pulsed DCs (5 x -, 10 x -, 50 x 10(6) cells and 10 x -, 50 x 10(6) cells, respectively). To generate DCs, monocytes were labeled with clinical grade anti-CD14 conjugates and positively selected by immunomagnetic separation. Cells were then cultured, according to Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines, in FCS-free medium in cell culture bags, and differentiated to DCs with GM-CSF plus IL-4 followed by TNF-alpha or, more recently, by a cocktail of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and prostaglandin-E2. Before maturation, Mo-DCs were pulsed with the autologous Id as whole protein or Id (VDJ)-derived HLA class I restricted peptides. Ten MM patients, who had been treated with two courses of high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support, entered into the clinical study. CD14+ monocytes were enriched from 16.1+/-5.7% to 95.5+/-3.2% (recovery 67.9+/-15%, viability > 97%). After cell culture, phenotypic analysis showed that 89.6+/-6.6% of the cells were mature DCs. We obtained 2.89+/-1 x 10(8) DCs/leukapheresis which represented 24.5+/-9% of the initial number of CD14+ cells. Notably, the cytokine cocktail induced a significantly higher percentage and yield (31+/-10.9 of initial CD14+ cells) of DCs than TNF-alpha alone, secretion of larger amounts of IL-12, potent stimulatory activity on allogeneic and autologous T cells. Storage in liquid nitrogen did not modify the phenotype or

  3. Gold Nanoparticle Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Almeida, Joao Paulo Mattos; Figueroa, Elizabeth Raquel; Drezek, Rebekah Anna

    2013-01-01

    Significant progress has been made in the field of cancer immunotherapy, where the goal is to activate or modulate the body’s immune response against cancer. However, current immunotherapy approaches exhibit limitations of safety and efficacy due to systemic delivery. In this context, the use of nanotechnology for the delivery of cancer vaccines and immune adjuvants presents a number of advantages such as targeted delivery to immune cells, enhanced therapeutic effect, and reduced adverse outcomes. Recently, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been explored as immunotherapy carriers, creating new AuNP applications that merit a critical overview. This review highlights recent advances in the development of AuNP mediated immunotherapies that harness AuNP biodistribution, optical properties and their ability to deliver macromolecules such as peptides and oligonucleotides. It has been demonstrated that the use of AuNP carriers can improve the delivery and safety of immunotherapy agents, and that AuNP immunotherapies are well suited for synergistic combination therapy with existing cancer therapies like photothermal ablation. PMID:24103304

  4. Anti-inflammatory activity of Chios mastic gum is associated with inhibition of TNF-alpha induced oxidative stress

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Gum of Chios mastic (Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) is a natural antimicrobial agent that has found extensive use in pharmaceutical products and as a nutritional supplement. The molecular mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory activity, however, are not clear. In this work, the potential role of antioxidant activity of Chios mastic gum has been evaluated. Methods Scavenging of superoxide radical was investigated by electron spin resonance and spin trapping technique using EMPO spin trap in xanthine oxidase system. Superoxide production in endothelial and smooth muscle cells stimulated with TNF-α or angiotensin II and treated with vehicle (DMSO) or mastic gum (0.1-10 μg/ml) was measured by DHE and HPLC. Cellular H2O2 was measured by Amplex Red. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with mastic gum was determined by the decrease of purified PKC activity, by inhibition of PKC activity in cellular homogenate and by attenuation of superoxide production in cells treated with PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Results Spin trapping study did not show significant scavenging of superoxide by mastic gum itself. However, mastic gum inhibited cellular production of superoxide and H2O2 in dose dependent manner in TNF-α treated rat aortic smooth muscle cells but did not affect unstimulated cells. TNF-α significantly increased the cellular superoxide production by NADPH oxidase, while mastic gum completely abolished this stimulation. Mastic gum inhibited the activity of purified PKC, decreased PKC activity in cell homogenate, and attenuated superoxide production in cells stimulated with PKC activator PMA and PKC-dependent angiotensin II in endothelial cells. Conclusion We suggest that mastic gum inhibits PKC which attenuates production of superoxide and H2O2 by NADPH oxidases. This antioxidant property may have direct implication to the anti-inflammatory activity of the Chios mastic gum. PMID:21645369

  5. Increases in IGF-1 After Anti-TNF-α Therapy Are Associated With Bone and Muscle Accrual in Pediatric Crohn Disease.

    PubMed

    DeBoer, Mark D; Lee, Arthur M; Herbert, Kirabo; Long, Jin; Thayu, Meena; Griffin, Lindsay M; Baldassano, Robert N; Denson, Lee A; Zemel, Babette S; Denburg, Michelle R; Herskovitz, Rita; Leonard, Mary B

    2018-03-01

    Low levels of insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in pediatric and adolescent Crohn disease (CD) likely contribute to bone and muscle deficits. Assess changes in IGF-1 levels and associations with bone and muscle accrual following initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) therapy in pediatric and adolescent CD. Participants (n = 75, age 5 to 21 years) with CD were enrolled in a prospective cohort study; 63 completed the 12-month visit. IGF-1 levels at baseline and 10 weeks, as well as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and tibia peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measures of bone and muscle at baseline and 12 months after initiation of anti-TNF-α therapy. Outcomes were expressed as sex-specific z scores. IGF-1 z scores increased from a median (interquartile range) of -1.0 (-1.58 to -0.17) to -0.36 (-1.04 to 0.36) over 10 weeks (P < 0.001). Lesser disease severity and systemic inflammation, as well as greater estradiol z scores (in girls), was significantly associated with greater IGF-1 z scores over time. DXA whole-body bone mineral content, leg lean mass, and total hip and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) z scores were low at baseline (P < 0.0001 vs reference data) and increased significantly (P < 0.001) over 12 months. Greater increases in IGF-1 z scores over 10 weeks predicted improvement in DXA bone and muscle outcomes and pQCT trabecular BMD and cortical area. Adjustment for changes in muscle mass markedly attenuated the associations between IGF-1 levels and bone outcomes. Short-term improvements in IGF-1 z scores predicted recovery of bone and muscle outcomes following initiation of anti-TNF-α therapy in pediatric CD. These data suggest that disease effects on growth hormone metabolism contribute to musculoskeletal deficits in CD.

  6. Parasites and immunotherapy: with or against?

    PubMed

    Yousofi Darani, Hossein; Yousefi, Morteza; Safari, Marzieh; Jafari, Rasool

    2016-06-01

    Immunotherapy is a sort of therapy in which antibody or antigen administrates to the patient in order to treat or reduce the severity of complications of disease. This kind of treatment practiced in a wide variety of diseases including infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, cancers and allergy. Successful and unsuccessful immunotherapeutic strategies have been practiced in variety of parasitic infections. On the other hand parasites or parasite antigens have also been considered for immunotherapy against other diseases such as cancer, asthma and multiple sclerosis. In this paper immunotherapy against common parasitic infections, and also immunotherapy of cancer, asthma and multiple sclerosis with parasites or parasite antigens have been reviewed.

  7. Urokinase plasminogen activator mRNA is induced by IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha in in vitro acantholysis.

    PubMed

    Feliciani, Claudio; Toto, Paola; Wang, Binghe; Sauder, Daniel N; Amerio, Pierluigi; Tulli, Antonio

    2003-08-01

    The role of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) has been well documented in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Activation of plasminogen into active serine protease plasmin initiates extracellular proteolysis leading to acantholysis but the mechanisms underlying this process are not clearly understood. We have previously shown that keratinocyte derived cytokines IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha are involved in PV-induced acantholysis. In the present study we sought to examine whether keratinocyte-derived IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha are correlated with uPA induction in keratinocytes during acantholysis. Normal human keratinocytes were incubated with diluted PV serum. mRNAs for IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and uPA were examined with RT-PCR at various time points and acantholysis was measured. IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and uPA mRNAs were all induced in keratinocytes following PV serum stimulation; IL-1alpha/TNF-alpha mRNAs' expression was earlier than the expression of uPA mRNA. To further examine the role of IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and uPA in acantholysis, we performed antibody blocking studies. Anti-IL-1alpha, anti-TNF-alpha and anti-uPA antibodies suppressed acantholysis by 76%, 80% and 90%, respectively. In addition, anti-IL-1alpha and anti-TNF-alpha antibodies inhibited uPA mRNA induction, whereas anti-uPA antibodies did not alter IL-1alpha/TNF-alpha mRNAs' expression. Our results confirm the role of uPA in acantholysis and suggest an involvement of IL-1alpha/TNF-alpha in uPA induction.

  8. Selective TNF-α inhibitor-induced injection site reactions.

    PubMed

    Murdaca, Giuseppe; Spanò, Francesca; Puppo, Francesco

    2013-03-01

    During the last decade, many new biological immune modulators entered the market as new therapeutic principles. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine known to a have a key role in the pathogenic mechanisms of various immune-mediated or inflammatory diseases. TNF-α blockers have demonstrated efficacy in large, randomized controlled clinical trials either as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-inflammatory or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Although generally well tolerated and safe, potential adverse events may be associated with TNF-α inhibitor treatment. The authors will briefly review the potential adverse drug reactions and the immunological mechanisms of injection site reactions (ISRs) in patients treated with etanercept and adalimumab. Patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors can develop ISR around the sites of injections. 'Type IV delayed type reaction' or 'recall ISRs'. Eosinophilic cellulitis or 'Wells syndrome', 'type III' and 'type I' reactions are reported. Long-term studies are necessary to determine the durability of response and the real risk of ISRs with golimumab and certolizumab pegol. Further studies are also necessary to evaluate the immunogenicity of these drugs.

  9. CP-25, a Novel Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Drug, Inhibits the Functions of Activated Human B Cells through Regulating BAFF and TNF-alpha Signaling and Comparative Efficacy with Biological Agents.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Feng; Shu, Jin-Ling; Li, Ying; Wu, Yu-Jing; Zhang, Xian-Zheng; Han, Le; Tang, Xiao-Yu; Wang, Chen; Wang, Qing-Tong; Chen, Jing-Yu; Chang, Yan; Wu, Hua-Xun; Zhang, Ling-Ling; Wei, Wei

    2017-01-01

    Paeoniflorin-6'- O -benzene sulfonate (code: CP-25) was the chemistry structural modifications of Paeoniflorin (Pae). CP-25 inhibited B cells proliferation stimulated by B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) or Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). CP-25, Rituximab and Etanercept reduced the percentage and numbers of CD19 + B cells, CD19 + CD20 + B cells, CD19 + CD27 + B cells and CD19 + CD20 + CD27 + B cells induced by BAFF or TNF-alpha. There was significant difference between CP-25 and Rituximab or CP-25 and Etanercept. CP-25 down-regulated the high expression of BAFFR, BCMA, and TACI stimulated by BAFF or TNF-alpha. The effects of Rituximab and Etanercept on BAFFR or BCMA were stronger than that of CP-25. CP-25, Rituximab and Etanercept down-regulated significantly the expression of TNFR1 and TNFR2 on B cell stimulated by BAFF or TNF-alpha. CP-25, Rituximab and Etanercept down-regulated the expression of MKK3, P-p38, P-p65, TRAF2, and p52 in B cells stimulated by BAFF and the expression of TRAF2 and P-p65 in B cells stimulated by TNF-alpha. These results suggest that CP-25 regulated moderately activated B cells function by regulating the classical and alternative NF-κB signaling pathway mediated by BAFF and TNF-alpha-TRAF2-NF-κB signaling pathway. This study suggests that CP-25 may be a promising anti-inflammatory immune and soft regulation drug.

  10. Therapeutic management of inflammatory bowel disease in real-life practice in the current era of anti-TNF agents: analysis of the French administrative health databases 2009-2014.

    PubMed

    Kirchgesner, J; Lemaitre, M; Rudnichi, A; Racine, A; Zureik, M; Carbonnel, F; Dray-Spira, R

    2017-01-01

    Management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has evolved in the last decade. To assess IBD therapeutic management, including treatment withdrawal and early treatment use in the current era of anti-TNF agents (anti-TNFs). All patients affiliated to the French national health insurance diagnosed with IBD were included from 2009 to 2013 and followed up until 31 December 2014. Medication uses, treatment sequences after introduction of thiopurine or anti-TNF monotherapies or both (combination therapy), surgical procedures and hospitalisations were assessed. A total of 210 001 patients were diagnosed with IBD [Crohn's disease (CD), 100 112; ulcerative colitis (UC), 109 889]. Five years after diagnosis, cumulative probabilities of anti-TNF monotherapy and combination therapy exposures were 33.8% and 18.3% in CD patients and 12.9% and 7.4% in UC patients, respectively. Among incident patients who received thiopurines or anti-TNFs, the first treatment was thiopurine in 69.1% of CD and 78.2% of UC patients. Among patients treated with anti-TNFs, 45.2% and 54.5% of CD patients and 38.2% and 39.9% of UC patients started monotherapy and combination therapy within 3 months after diagnosis, respectively; 31.3% of CD and 27.1% of UC incident patients withdrew from thiopurine or anti-TNFs for more than 3 months after their first course of treatment. Five years after diagnosis, the cumulative risks of first intestinal resection in CD patients and colectomy in UC patients were 11.9% and 5.7%, respectively. Step-up approach remains the predominant strategy, while exposure to anti-TNFs is high. Surgery rates are low. Treatment withdrawal in IBD is more common than expected. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with refractory uveitis due to Behçet's disease: a 1-year follow-up study of 124 patients.

    PubMed

    Calvo-Río, Vanesa; Blanco, Ricardo; Beltrán, Emma; Sánchez-Bursón, Juán; Mesquida, Marina; Adán, Alfredo; Hernandez, María Victoria; Hernandez Garfella, Marisa; Valls Pascual, Elia; Martínez-Costa, Lucía; Sellas-Fernández, Agustí; Cordero Coma, Miguel; Díaz-Llopis, Manuel; Gallego, Roberto; Salom, David; García Serrano, José L; Ortego, Norberto; Herreras, José M; Fonollosa, Alejandro; García-Aparicio, Angel M; Maíz, Olga; Blanco, Ana; Torre, Ignacio; Fernández-Espartero, Cruz; Jovani, Vega; Peiteado-Lopez, Diana; Pato, Esperanza; Cruz, Juan; Fernández-Cid, Carlos; Aurrecoechea, Elena; García, Miriam; Caracuel, Miguel A; Montilla, Carlos; Atanes, Antonio; Hernandez, Félix Francisco; Insua, Santos; González-Suárez, Senén; Sánchez-Andrade, Amalia; Gamero, Fernando; Linares, Luis; Romero-Bueno, Fredeswinda; García, A Javier; Almodovar, Raquel; Minguez, Enrique; Carrasco Cubero, Carmen; Olive, Alejandro; Vázquez, Julio; Ruiz Moreno, Oscar; Jiménez-Zorzo, Fernando; Manero, Javier; Muñoz Fernández, Santiago; Rueda-Gotor, Javier; González-Gay, Miguel A

    2014-12-01

    The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of anti-TNF-α therapy in refractory uveitis due to Behçet's disease (BD). We performed a multicentre study of 124 patients with BD uveitis refractory to conventional treatment including high-dose corticosteroids and at least one standard immunosuppressive agent. Patients were treated for at least 12 months with infliximab (IFX) (3-5 mg/kg at 0, 2 and 6 weeks and then every 4-8 weeks) or adalimumab (ADA) (usually 40 mg every 2 weeks). The main outcome measures were degree of anterior and posterior chamber inflammation, visual acuity, macular thickness and immunosuppression load. Sixty-eight men and 56 women (221 affected eyes) were studied. The mean age was 38.6 years (s.d. 10.4). HLA-B51 was positive in 66.1% of patients and uveitis was bilateral in 78.2%. IFX was the first biologic agent in 77 cases (62%) and ADA was first in 47 (38%). In most cases anti-TNF-α drugs were used in combination with conventional immunosuppressive drugs. At the onset of anti-TNF-α therapy, anterior chamber and vitreous inflammation was observed in 57% and 64.4% of patients, respectively. In both conditions the damage decreased significantly after 1 year. At baseline, 50 patients (80 eyes) had macular thickening [optical coherence tomography (OCT) >250 μm] and 35 (49 eyes) had cystoid macular oedema (OCT>300 μm) that improved from 420 μm (s.d. 119.5) at baseline to 271 μm (s.d. 45.6) at month 12 (P < 0.01). The best-corrected visual acuity and the suppression load also showed significant improvement. After 1 year of follow-up, 67.7% of patients were inactive. Biologic therapy was well tolerated in most cases. Anti-TNF-α therapy is effective and relatively safe in refractory BD uveitis. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  12. Critical role for TNF in the induction of human antigen-specific regulatory T cells by tolerogenic dendritic cells.

    PubMed

    Kleijwegt, Fleur S; Laban, Sandra; Duinkerken, Gaby; Joosten, Antoinette M; Zaldumbide, Arnaud; Nikolic, Tatjana; Roep, Bart O

    2010-08-01

    TNF is a pleiotropic cytokine with differential effects on immune cells and diseases. Anti-TNF therapy was shown to be effective in rheumatoid arthritis but proved inefficient or even detrimental in other autoimmune diseases. We studied the role of TNF in the induction of Ag-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) by tolerogenic vitamin D3-modulated human dendritic cells (VD3-DCs), which previously were shown to release high amounts of soluble TNF (sTNF) upon maturation with LPS. First, production of TNF by modulated VD3-DCs was analyzed upon maturation with LPS or CD40L with respect to both secreted (cleaved) TNF (sTNF) and expression of the membrane-bound (uncleaved) form of TNF (mTNF). Next, TNF antagonists were tested for their effect on induction of Ag-specific Tregs by modulated DCs and the subsequent functionality of these Tregs. VD3-DCs expressed greater amounts of mTNF than did control DCs (nontreated DCs), independent of the maturation protocol. Inhibition of TNF with anti-TNF Ab (blocking both sTNF and mTNF) during the priming of Tregs with VD3-DCs prevented generation of Tregs and their suppression of proliferation of CD4(+) T cells. In contrast, sTNF receptor II (sTNFRII), mainly blocking sTNF, did not change the suppressive capacity of Tregs. Blocking of TNFRII by anti-CD120b Ab during Treg induction similarly abrogated their subsequent suppressive function. These data point to a specific role for mTNF on VD3-DCs in the induction of Ag-specific Tregs. Interaction between mTNF and TNFRII instructs the induction of suppressive Tregs by VD3-DCs. Anti-TNF therapy may therefore act adversely in different patients or disease pathways.

  13. Correlation between p65 and TNF-α in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Dong, Qiao-Mei; Ling, Chun; Zhu, Jun-Fang; Chen, Xuan; Tang, Yan; Zhao, L I

    2015-11-01

    The correlation between the expression levels of p65 and TNF-α in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) and AML cell lines were investigated. The bone marrow samples of 30 AML patients and 10 non-leukemia controls were studied. The mRNA expression levels of p65 and TNF-α were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Pearson's Correlation test was used to demonstrate the correlation between TNF-α and p65 expression levels in AML specimens. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine whether TNF-α and p65 expression levels could be used to differentiate AML samples from non-leukemia samples. MG132 and anti-TNF-α antibody were used to inhibit the expression of p65 and TNF-α in the AML cell line, HL-60. The expression of p65 and TNF-α were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. The mRNA expression levels of p65 and TNF-α were significantly increased in AML patients compared with non-leukemia control bone marrow samples by RT-qPCR, and the two molecules expression pattern's exhibited sufficient predictive power to distinguish AML patients from non-leukemia control samples. Pearson's correlation analysis demonstrated that TNF-α expression was strongly correlated with p65 expression in AML bone marrow samples. In HL-60 cells, inhibition of TNFreduced the expression of p65; in addition, inhibition of p65 reduced the expression of TNF-α as assessed by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. p65 and TNF-α were highly expressed in AML patients, and these 2 molecules were strongly correlated. The present study indicates that p65 and TNF-α have potential as molecular markers to distinguish AML patients from non-leukemia control samples, and that these 2 molecules may be useful prognostic factor for patients with AML.

  14. Immunotherapy with Allergen Peptides

    PubMed Central

    2007-01-01

    Specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) is disease-modifying and efficacious. However, the use of whole allergen preparations is associated with frequent allergic adverse events during treatment. Many novel approaches are being designed to reduce the allergenicity of immunotherapy preparations whilst maintaining immunogenicity. One approach is the use of short synthetic peptides which representing dominant T cell epitopes of the allergen. Short peptides exhibit markedly reduced capacity to cross link IgE and activate mast cells and basophils, due to lack of tertiary structure. Murine pre-clinical studies have established the feasibility of this approach and clinical studies are currently in progress in both allergic and autoimmune diseases. PMID:20525144

  15. Two-year survival rates of anti-TNF-α therapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with either polyarticular or oligoarticular PsA.

    PubMed

    Iannone, F; Lopriore, S; Bucci, R; Scioscia, C; Anelli, M G; Notarnicola, A; Lapadula, G

    2015-05-01

    To evaluate the 2-year drug survival rates of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with either oligoarticular (oligo-PsA) or polyarticular PsA (poly-PsA). We studied a prospective cohort of 328 PsA patients with peripheral arthritis (213 with poly-PsA and 115 with oligo-PsA), beginning their first ever anti-TNF-α treatment with adalimumab, etanercept, or infliximab. The aim of the study was to evaluate the drug survival rates and possible baseline predictors at 2 years. After 24 months, persistence in therapy with the first anti-TNF-α blocker was not statistically different in the oligo-PsA (70.4%) and poly-PsA (65.7%) subsets. Predictors of drug discontinuation were female sex [hazard ratio (HR) 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-2.68, p = 0.04] and starting the therapy in years 2003-8 (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.80, p = 0.003). In poly-PsA, the persistence of etanercept (68.3%) was significantly higher than that of adalimumab (51.9%, p = 0.01), whereas in oligo-PsA no significant difference was detected. In poly-PsA, the period 2003-8 was a negative predictor (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.21-0.62, p = 0.0001) whereas in oligo-PsA female gender was a positive predictor of drug discontinuation (HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.02-4.24, p = 0.04). With regard to clinical outcomes, the best responses in terms of European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 'good' response or Disease Activity Score (DAS28) remission, crude or adjusted according to the LUND Efficacy indeX (LUNDEX), were seen in patients on etanercept or infliximab. Our study provides some evidence that anti-TNF-α drugs may perform differently in PsA, and that the analysis of clinical disease subsets may improve our knowledge and promote better management of PsA.

  16. Immunotherapy in ovarian cancer.

    PubMed

    Odunsi, K

    2017-11-01

    Immunological destruction of tumors is a multistep, coordinated process that can be modulated or targeted at several critical points to elicit tumor rejection. These steps in the cancer immunity cycle include: (i) generation of sufficient numbers of effector T cells with high avidity recognition of tumor antigens in vivo; (ii) trafficking and infiltration into the tumor; (iii) overcoming inhibitory networks in the tumor microenvironment; (iv) direct recognition of tumor antigens and generation of an effector anti-tumor response; and (v) persistence of the anti-tumor T cells. In an effort to understand whether the immune system plays a role in controlling ovarian cancer, our group and others demonstrated that the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is associated with improved clinical outcome in ovarian cancer patients. Recently, we hypothesized that the quality of infiltrating T cells could also be a critical determinant of outcome in ovarian cancer patients. In the past decade, several immune-based interventions have gained regulatory approval in many solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. These interventions include immune checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy. There are currently no approved immune therapies for ovarian cancer. Immunotherapy in ovarian cancer will have to consider the immune suppressive networks within the ovarian tumor microenvironment; therefore, a major direction is to develop biomarkers that would predict responsiveness to different types of immunotherapies, and allow for treatment selection based on the results. Moreover, such biomarkers would allow rational combination of immunotherapies, while minimizing toxicities. In this review, the current understanding of the host immune response in ovarian cancer patients will be briefly reviewed, progress in immune therapies, and future directions for exploiting immune based strategies for long lasting durable cure. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford

  17. Tumor immune evasion arises through loss of TNF sensitivity.

    PubMed

    Kearney, Conor J; Vervoort, Stephin J; Hogg, Simon J; Ramsbottom, Kelly M; Freeman, Andrew J; Lalaoui, Najoua; Pijpers, Lizzy; Michie, Jessica; Brown, Kristin K; Knight, Deborah A; Sutton, Vivien; Beavis, Paul A; Voskoboinik, Ilia; Darcy, Phil K; Silke, John; Trapani, Joseph A; Johnstone, Ricky W; Oliaro, Jane

    2018-05-18

    Immunotherapy has revolutionized outcomes for cancer patients, but the mechanisms of resistance remain poorly defined. We used a series of whole-genome clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based screens performed in vitro and in vivo to identify mechanisms of tumor immune evasion from cytotoxic lymphocytes [CD8 + T cells and natural killer (NK) cells]. Deletion of key genes within the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling, and antigen presentation pathways provided protection of tumor cells from CD8 + T cell-mediated killing and blunted antitumor immune responses in vivo. Deletion of a number of genes in the TNF pathway also emerged as the key mechanism of immune evasion from primary NK cells. Our screens also identified that the metabolic protein 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (Ado) modulates sensitivity to TNF-mediated killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes and is required for optimal control of tumors in vivo. Remarkably, we found that tumors delete the same genes when exposed to perforin-deficient CD8 + T cells, demonstrating that the dominant immune evasion strategy used by tumor cells is acquired resistance to T cell-derived cytokine-mediated antitumor effects. We demonstrate that TNF-mediated bystander killing is a potent T cell effector mechanism capable of killing antigen-negative tumor cells. In addition to highlighting the importance of TNF in CD8 + T cell- and NK cell-mediated killing of tumor cells, our study also provides a comprehensive picture of the roles of the TNF, IFN, and antigen presentation pathways in immune-mediated tumor surveillance. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

  18. Cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17F, and IL-4 Differentially Affect Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose Stem Cells

    PubMed Central

    Bravenboer, Nathalie

    2016-01-01

    During the initial stages of bone repair, proinflammatory cytokines are released within the injury site, quickly followed by a shift to anti-inflammatory cytokines. The effect of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is controversial. Here, we investigated the effect of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17F and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hASCs). hASCs were treated with TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17F, or IL-4 (10 ng/mL) for 72 h mimicking bone repair. TNFreduced collagen type I gene expression but increased hASC proliferation and ALP activity. IL-6 also strongly enhanced ALP activity (18-fold), as well as bone nodule formation by hASCs. IL-8 did not affect proliferation or osteogenic gene expression but reduced bone nodule formation. IL-17F decreased hASC proliferation but enhanced ALP activity. IL-4 enhanced osteocalcin gene expression and ALP activity but reduced RUNX2 gene expression and bone nodule formation. In conclusion, all cytokines studied have both enhancing and reducing effects on osteogenic differentiation of hASCs, even when applied for 72 h only. Some cytokines, specifically IL-6, may be suitable to induce osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells as a strategy for enhancing bone repair. PMID:27667999

  19. Development of new immunotherapy treatments in different cancer types.

    PubMed

    Stanculeanu, D L; Daniela, Zob; Lazescu, A; Bunghez, R; Anghel, R

    2016-01-01

    Cancer immunotherapy involves the use of therapeutic modalities that determine a manipulation of the immune system by using immune agents such as cytokines, vaccines, cell therapies and humoral, transfection agents. Immunotherapy of cancer has to stimulate the host's anti-tumor response by increasing the effector cell number and the production of soluble mediators and decrease the host's suppressor mechanisms by inducing tumor killing environment and by modulating immune checkpoints. Immunotherapy seems to work better in more immunogenic tumors. Making a review of literature, the article presents the new immunologic treatments in cancers less presented in the latest conferences, cancers in which, immunotherapy is still under investigation. Bladder cancer was the first indication for which immunotherapy was used in 1970. A promising clinical research in bladder cancer is the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although breast cancer is considered immunologically silent, several preclinical and clinical studies suggested that immunotherapy has the potential to improve the clinical outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Cervical cancer, brain cancer, head and neck cancer and colorectal and esophageal cancers are cancer types for which new immune-based cancer treatments are currently under development. Recent agents used in clinical trials will be described in before mentioned cancers.

  20. Development of new immunotherapy treatments in different cancer types

    PubMed Central

    Stanculeanu, DL; Daniela, Zob; Lazescu, A; Bunghez, R; Anghel, R

    2016-01-01

    Cancer immunotherapy involves the use of therapeutic modalities that determine a manipulation of the immune system by using immune agents such as cytokines, vaccines, cell therapies and humoral, transfection agents. Immunotherapy of cancer has to stimulate the host’s anti-tumor response by increasing the effector cell number and the production of soluble mediators and decrease the host’s suppressor mechanisms by inducing tumor killing environment and by modulating immune checkpoints. Immunotherapy seems to work better in more immunogenic tumors. Making a review of literature, the article presents the new immunologic treatments in cancers less presented in the latest conferences, cancers in which, immunotherapy is still under investigation. Bladder cancer was the first indication for which immunotherapy was used in 1970. A promising clinical research in bladder cancer is the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although breast cancer is considered immunologically silent, several preclinical and clinical studies suggested that immunotherapy has the potential to improve the clinical outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Cervical cancer, brain cancer, head and neck cancer and colorectal and esophageal cancers are cancer types for which new immune-based cancer treatments are currently under development. Recent agents used in clinical trials will be described in before mentioned cancers. PMID:27974927

  1. Sulforaphane reduces vascular inflammation in mice and prevents TNF-α-induced monocyte adhesion to primary endothelial cells through interfering with the NF-κB pathway

    PubMed Central

    Nallasamy, Palanisamy; Si, Hongwei; Babu, Pon Velayutham Anandh; Pan, Dengke; Fu, Yu; Brooke, Elizabeth A.S.; Shah, Halley; Zhen, Wei; Zhu, Hong; Liu, Dongmin; Li, Yunbo; Jia, Zhenquan

    2014-01-01

    Sulforaphane, a naturally-occurring isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables, has received wide attention for its potential to improve vascular function in vitro. However, its effect in vivo and the molecular mechanism of sulforaphane at physiological concentrations remain unclear. Here, we report that a sulforaphane concentration as low as 0.5 μM significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), a key event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis both in static and under flow conditions. Such physiological concentrations of sulforaphane also significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced production of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), adhesion molecule sVCAM-1 and sE-Selectin, key mediators in the regulation of enhanced endothelial cell-monocyte interaction. Furthermore, sulforaphane inhibited TNF-α-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity, IκBα degradation and subsequent NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in endothelial cells, suggesting that sulforaphane can inhibit inflammation by suppressing NF-κB signaling. In an animal study, sulforaphane (300 ppm) in a mouse diet significantly abolished TNF-α-increased ex vivo monocyte adhesion and circulating adhesion molecules and chemokines in C57BL/6 mice. Histology showed that sulforaphane treatment significantly prevented the eruption of endothelial lining in the intima layer of the aorta and preserved elastin fibers’ delicate organization as shown by Verhoeff-van Gieson staining. Immunohistochemistry studies showed that sulforaphane treatment also reduced VCAM-1 and monocytes-derived F4/80-positive macrophages in the aorta of TNF-α-treated mice. In conclusion, sulforaphane at physiological concentrations protects against TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial inflammation, in both in vitro and in vivo models. This anti-inflammatory effect of sulforaphane may be, at least in part, associated with interfering with the NF-κB pathway. PMID:24880493

  2. Effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha and anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 antibodies on ischemia/reperfusion lung injury.

    PubMed

    Chiang, Chi-Huei

    2006-10-31

    Inhibition of neutrophil activation and adherence to endothelium by antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), respectively, might attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R). I/R was conducted in an isolated rat lung model. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody and/or anti-ICAM-1 antibody were added before ischemia or after reperfusion. Hemodynamic changes, lung weight gain (LWG), capillary filtration coefficients (Kfc), and pathologic changes were assessed to evaluate the severity of I/R. The LWG, Kfc, pathological changes and lung injury score of treatment groups with anti-TNF-alpha antibody treatment, either pre-ischemia or during reperfusion, were less than those observed in control groups. Similar findings were found in group treated with anti-ICAM-1 antibody or combination therapy during reperfusion. In contrast, pre-I/R treatment with anti-ICAM-1 antibody induced severe lung edema and failure to complete the experimental procedure. No additional therapeutic effect was found in combination therapy. We conclude that TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 play important roles in I/R. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody has therapeutic and preventive effects on I/R. However, combined therapy with anti-TNF-alpha antibody and anti-ICAM-1 antibody may have no additive effect and need further investigation.

  3. Arthritis is inhibited in Borrelia-primed and infected interleukin-17A-deficient mice after administration of anti-gamma-interferon, anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha and anti-interleukin-6 antibodies.

    PubMed

    Kuo, Joseph; Warner, Thomas F; Schell, Ronald F

    2017-08-31

    The role that cytokines play in the induction of Lyme arthritis is gradually being delineated. We showed previously that severe arthritis developed in a T-cell-driven murine model, even in mice lacking interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and administered anti-gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) antibody. Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), two pro-inflammatory cytokines, were detected in cultures of popliteal lymph node cells obtained from these mice. We hypothesized that concomitantly administered anti-IL-6, anti-TNF-α and anti-IFN-γ antibodies would inhibit the development of arthritis in IL-17A-deficient mice. Our results showed that swelling of the hind paws and histopathological changes consistent with arthritis were significantly reduced in IL-17A-deficient mice that administered the three anti-cytokine antibodies. These results suggest that treatment with multiple anti-cytokine antibodies can abrogate the induction of Lyme arthritis in mice. © FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  4. Toward effective immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Duane A; Sampson, John H

    2009-07-01

    The immunologic treatment of cancer has long been heralded as a targeted molecular therapeutic with the promise of eradicating tumor cells with minimal damage to surrounding normal tissues. However, a demonstrative example of the efficacy of immunotherapy in modulating cancer progression is still lacking for most human cancers. Recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the mechanisms leading to full T-cell activation, and recognition of the importance of overcoming tumor-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms, have shed new light on how to generate effective anti-tumor immune responses in humans, and sparked a renewed and enthusiastic effort to realize the full potential of cancer immunotherapy. The immunologic treatment of invasive malignant brain tumors has not escaped this re-invigorated endeavor, and promising therapies are currently under active investigation in dozens of clinical trials at several institutions worldwide. This review will focus on some of the most important breakthroughs in our understanding of how to generate potent anti-tumor immune responses, and some of the clear challenges that lie ahead in achieving effective immunotherapy for the majority of patients with malignant brain tumors. A review of immunotherapeutic strategies currently under clinical evaluation, as well as an outline of promising novel approaches on the horizon, is included to provide perspective on the active and stalwart progress toward effective immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

  5. Anti-inflammatory and anti-granuloma activity of Berberis aristata DC. in experimental models of inflammation

    PubMed Central

    Kumar, Rohit; Gupta, Yogendra Kumar; Singh, Surender

    2016-01-01

    Objective: Berberis aristata (Berberidaceae) is an important medicinal plant used in traditional system of medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. The aim of the present study is to scientifically validate the traditional use of BA in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Materials and Methods: Anti-inflammatory and anti-granuloma activity of BA hydroalcoholic extract (BAHE) were evaluated in experimental models, viz., carrageenan-induced paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation, and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced stimulation of peritoneal macrophages in rats. Expression of inflammatory mediators, viz., tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, TNF-R1, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was carried out in serum and peritoneal macrophages to derive the plausible mechanism of BAHE in activated peritoneal macrophages. Results: Pretreatment with BAHE produced a dose-dependent reduction (P < 0.01) in carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma model. BAHE treatment produced significant (P < 0.01) reduction in serum inflammatory cytokine levels as compared to control. Protein expression of pro-inflammatory markers, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-R1, and COX-2, was found to be reduced in stimulated macrophages whereas anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was upregulated in peritoneal macrophages. Conclusion: The result of the present study thus demonstrates the anti-inflammatory and anti-granuloma activity of BAHE which may be attributed to its inhibitory activity on macrophage-derived cytokine and mediators. PMID:27114638

  6. Anti-inflammatory effects of Mangifera indica L. extract in a model of colitis.

    PubMed

    Márquez, Lucía; Pérez-Nievas, Beatriz G; Gárate, Icíar; García-Bueno, Borja; Madrigal, José Lm; Menchén, Luis; Garrido, Gabino; Leza, Juan C

    2010-10-21

    To investigate the effect of aqueous extract from Mangifera indica L. (MIE) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. MIE (150 mg/kg) was administered in two different protocols: (1) rectally, over 7 d at the same time as DSS administration; and (2) once daily over 14 d (by oral gavage, 7 d before starting DSS, and rectally for 7 d during DSS administration). General observations of clinical signs were performed. Anti-inflammatory activity of MIE was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Colonic lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, expression of inflammatory related mediators [inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, respectively] and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptors 1 and 2] in colonic tissue were also assessed. Interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α serum levels were also measured. The results demonstrated that MIE has anti-inflammatory properties by improvement of clinical signs, reduction of ulceration and reduced MPO activity when administered before DSS. In addition, administration of MIE for 14 d resulted in an increase in GSH and reduction of TBARS levels and iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and TNF R-2 expression in colonic tissue, and a decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α serum levels. MIE has anti-inflammatory activity in a DSS-induced rat colitis model and preventive administration (prior to DSS) seems to be a more effective protocol.

  7. The small-molecule TNF-alpha modulator, UTL-5g, reduces side effects induced by cisplatin and enhances the therapeutic effect of cisplatin in vivo.

    PubMed

    Shaw, JiaJiu; Chen, Ben; Huang, Wen-Hsin; Lee, An-Rong; Media, Joseph; Valeriote, Frederick A

    2011-01-01

    We investigated a small-molecule modulator of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), UTL-5g (also referred to as GBL-5g), as a potential chemoprotective agent against cisplatin-induced side effects including nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and hematotoxicity. Pretreatment of UTL-5g i.p. in BDF1 mice reduced the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine induced by cisplatin treatment. The levels of both aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) in these animals were also reduced by UTL-5g. Pretreatment of UTL-5g did not significantly affect the number of white blood cells (WBC) under current experimental conditions, yet it markedly increased blood platelet counts by more than threefold. Therapeutic assessment in SCID mice inoculated with human HCT-15 tumor cells showed that UTL-5g did not attenuate the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin but increased the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin. The LD50 of UTL-5g was determined to be > 2,000 mg/kg by an acute toxicity study. In summary, our studies showed that 1) UTL-5g significantly reduces nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin in mice, presumably by lowering the levels of TNF-alpha, 2) UTL-5g markedly increased blood platelet counts in mice and 3) UTL-5g treatment increased the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin against HCT-15 cells inoculated in SCID mice.

  8. Peripheral Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) Modulates Amyloid Pathology by Regulating Blood-Derived Immune Cells and Glial Response in the Brain of AD/TNF Transgenic Mice.

    PubMed

    Paouri, Evi; Tzara, Ourania; Kartalou, Georgia-Ioanna; Zenelak, Sofia; Georgopoulos, Spiros

    2017-05-17

    Increasing evidence has suggested that systemic inflammation along with local brain inflammation can play a significant role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Identifying key molecules that regulate the crosstalk between the immune and the CNS can provide potential therapeutic targets. TNF-α is a proinflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and AD. Recent studies have reported that anti-TNF-α therapy or RA itself can modulate AD pathology, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. To investigate the role of peripheral TNF-α as a mediator of RA in the pathogenesis of AD, we generated double-transgenic 5XFAD/Tg197 AD/TNF mice that develop amyloid deposits and inflammatory arthritis induced by human TNF-α (huTNF-α) expression. We found that 5XFAD/Tg197 mice display decreased amyloid deposition, compromised neuronal integrity, and robust brain inflammation characterized by extensive gliosis and elevated blood-derived immune cell populations, including phagocytic macrophages and microglia. To evaluate the contribution of peripheral huTNF-α in the observed brain phenotype, we treated 5XFAD/Tg197 mice systemically with infliximab, an anti-huTNF-α antibody that does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and prevents arthritis. Peripheral inhibition of huTNF-α increases amyloid deposition, rescues neuronal impairment, and suppresses gliosis and recruitment of blood-derived immune cells, without affecting brain huTNF-α levels. Our data report, for the first time, a distinctive role for peripheral TNF-α in the modulation of the amyloid phenotype in mice by regulating blood-derived and local brain inflammatory cell populations involved in β-amyloid clearance. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Mounting evidence supports the active involvement of systemic inflammation, in addition to local brain inflammation, in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. TNF-α is a

  9. TNF blockade induces a dysregulated type I interferon response without autoimmunity in paradoxical psoriasis.

    PubMed

    Conrad, Curdin; Di Domizio, Jeremy; Mylonas, Alessio; Belkhodja, Cyrine; Demaria, Olivier; Navarini, Alexander A; Lapointe, Anne-Karine; French, Lars E; Vernez, Maxime; Gilliet, Michel

    2018-01-02

    Although anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents are highly effective in the treatment of psoriasis, 2-5% of treated patients develop psoriasis-like skin lesions called paradoxical psoriasis. The pathogenesis of this side effect and its distinction from classical psoriasis remain unknown. Here we show that skin lesions from patients with paradoxical psoriasis are characterized by a selective overexpression of type I interferons, dermal accumulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), and reduced T-cell numbers, when compared to classical psoriasis. Anti-TNF treatment prolongs type I interferon production by pDCs through inhibition of their maturation. The resulting type I interferon overexpression is responsible for the skin phenotype of paradoxical psoriasis, which, unlike classical psoriasis, is independent of T cells. These findings indicate that paradoxical psoriasis represents an ongoing overactive innate inflammatory process, driven by pDC-derived type I interferon that does not lead to T-cell autoimmunity.

  10. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid reduce UVB- and TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 secretion in keratinocytes and UVB-induced IL-8 in fibroblasts.

    PubMed

    Storey, Amy; McArdle, Frank; Friedmann, Peter S; Jackson, Malcolm J; Rhodes, Lesley E

    2005-01-01

    Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) inhibit ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced inflammation and other inflammatory states, in vivo. We examined whether this may be mediated by modulation of interleukin (IL)-8, a chemokine pivotal to skin inflammation induced by UVB, in epidermal and dermal cells. We also explored the ability of n-3 PUFA to protect against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induction of IL-8, and assessed relative potencies of the principal dietary n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Pre-supplementation, both HaCaT keratinocyte and CCD922SK fibroblast cell lines showed dose-responses for UVB-induced IL-8 release (p<0.001), assessed 48 h post-irradiation. Cells were supplemented with > or =90% purified EPA, DHA, oleic acid (OA) or vehicle control, for 4.5 d. EPA and DHA supplements were bioavailable to keratinocytes and fibroblasts. In keratinocytes, EPA and DHA were shown to reduce basal secretion of IL-8 by 66% and 63%, respectively (p<0.05), and UVB-induced levels by 66% and 65% at 48 h after 100 mJ per cm2, respectively, (p<0.01). A similar pattern occurred in fibroblasts, whereas OA had no influence on IL-8 release in either cell line. In addition, TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 secretion by keratinocytes was reduced by 54% and 42%, respectively, by EPA and DHA (p<0.001). Hence both n-3 PUFA inhibit production of UVB- and TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 in skin cells; this may be important in the photoprotective and other anti-inflammatory effects conferred by these agents.

  11. AMP-activated protein kinase confers protection against TNF-{alpha}-induced cardiac cell death.

    PubMed

    Kewalramani, Girish; Puthanveetil, Prasanth; Wang, Fang; Kim, Min Suk; Deppe, Sylvia; Abrahani, Ashraf; Luciani, Dan S; Johnson, James D; Rodrigues, Brian

    2009-10-01

    Although a substantial role for 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been established in regulating cardiac metabolism, a less studied action of AMPK is its ability to prevent cardiac cell death. Using established AMPK activators like dexamethasone (DEX) or metformin (MET), the objective of the present study was to determine whether AMPK activation prevents tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced apoptosis in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes were incubated with DEX, MET, or TNF-alpha for varying durations (0-12 h). TNF-alpha-induced cell damage was evaluated by measuring caspase-3 activity and Hoechst staining. Protein and gene estimation techniques were employed to determine the mechanisms mediating the effects of AMPK activators on TNF-alpha-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Incubation of myocytes with TNF-alpha for 8 h has increased caspase-3 activation and apoptotic cell death, an effect that was abrogated by DEX and MET. The beneficial effect of DEX and MET was associated with stimulation of AMPK, which led to a rapid and sustained increase in Bad phosphorylation. This event reduced the interaction between Bad and Bcl-xL, limiting cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Addition of Compound C to inhibit AMPK reduced Bad phosphorylation and prevented the beneficial effects of AMPK against TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity. Our data demonstrate that although DEX and MET are used as anti-inflammatory agents or insulin sensitizers, respectively, their common property to phosphorylate AMPK promotes cardiomyocyte cell survival through its regulation of Bad and the mitochondrial apoptotic mechanism.

  12. Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract in carrageenan-air pouch inflammation model

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Dajeong; Park, Dongsun; Kyung, Jangbeen; Yang, Yun-Hui; Choi, Ehn-Kyoung; Lee, Yoon-Bok; Kim, Hyun-Kyu; Hwang, Bang Yeon

    2012-01-01

    Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in rat carrageenan-air pouch model. Oral administration of HSE (50-200 mg/kg) suppressed carrageenan-induced exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration at a high dose (200 mg/kg). Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content without influence on the cell number. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-α and NO, while indomethacin decreased PGE2. The results indicate that HSE exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-α-NO and cyclooxygenase-2-PGE2 pathways. PMID:22787488

  13. Esculin exhibited anti-inflammatory activities in vivo and regulated TNF-α and IL-6 production in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro through MAPK pathway.

    PubMed

    Niu, Xiaofeng; Wang, Yu; Li, Weifeng; Zhang, Hailin; Wang, Xiumei; Mu, Qingli; He, Zehong; Yao, Huan

    2015-12-01

    Esculin, a coumarinic derivative found in Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Horse-chestnut), has been reported to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. The present study is designed to investigate the protective effects of esculin on various inflammation models in vivo and in vitro and to clarify the possible mechanism. Induced-animal models of inflammation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged mouse peritoneal macrophages were used to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of esculin. In present study, xylene-induced mouse ear edema, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, and carrageenan-induced mouse pleurisy were attenuated by esculin. In vitro, the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in supernatant were reduced by esculin. Meanwhile, we found that esculin significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that esculin has potent anti-inflammatory activities in vivo and in vitro, which may involve the inhibition of the MAPK pathway. Esculin may be a promising preventive agent for inflammatory diseases in human. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Short and long-term immunogenicity and safety following the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients under conventional DMARDs with or without anti-TNF therapy.

    PubMed

    Aikawa, Nadia E; França, Ivan L A; Ribeiro, Ana C; Sallum, Adriana M E; Bonfa, Eloisa; Silva, Clovis A

    2015-01-29

    To assess immunogenicity and safety of the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients under conventional DMARDs with or without anti-TNF therapy. The influences of demographic data, disease activity and treatment on immune response and the potential deleterious effects of vaccine on disease itself were also evaluated. 17 JIA patients immediately pre-etanercept (Group 1) and 10 JIA patients on stable dose of methotrexate (Group 2) received one dose of PPV23. All patients were evaluated pre-vaccination, 2 months and 12 months post-vaccination for seven pneumoccocal serotypes. Serology was performed by enzyme immunoassay and the immunogenicity endpoints included seroprotection (SP), seroconversion (SP) and geometric mean concentration of antibodies(GMC). Clinical and laboratorial parameters of JIA were evaluated before and after vaccination. Groups 1 and 2 were comparable regarding age, gender, disease duration and other DMARDs use (p>0.05). Pre-immunization SP and GMC were alike in patients with and without anti-TNF therapy (p>0.05). The frequencies of patients achieving adequate vaccine response (seroconversion in ≥50% of all serotypes) at 2 months (53 vs. 30%, p=0.424) and 12 months (36 vs. 40%, p=1.0) were similar in JIA patients with and without anti-TNF therapy. Further comparison of patients with and without adequate response at 2 months revealed no influence of demographic, clinical and laboratorial JIA parameters (p>0.05). Serious adverse events were not observed. Anti-TNF therapy in JIA patients does not seem to have an additional deleterious effect on short/long-term PPV23 immunogenicity compared to MTX alone and no influence on disease parameters was observed with this vaccine. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Designer vaccine nanodiscs for personalized cancer immunotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kuai, Rui; Ochyl, Lukasz J.; Bahjat, Keith S.; Schwendeman, Anna; Moon, James J.

    2017-04-01

    Despite the tremendous potential of peptide-based cancer vaccines, their efficacy has been limited in humans. Recent innovations in tumour exome sequencing have signalled the new era of personalized immunotherapy with patient-specific neoantigens, but a general methodology for stimulating strong CD8α+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses remains lacking. Here we demonstrate that high-density lipoprotein-mimicking nanodiscs coupled with antigen (Ag) peptides and adjuvants can markedly improve Ag/adjuvant co-delivery to lymphoid organs and sustain Ag presentation on dendritic cells. Strikingly, nanodiscs elicited up to 47-fold greater frequencies of neoantigen-specific CTLs than soluble vaccines and even 31-fold greater than perhaps the strongest adjuvant in clinical trials (that is, CpG in Montanide). Moreover, multi-epitope vaccination generated broad-spectrum T-cell responses that potently inhibited tumour growth. Nanodiscs eliminated established MC-38 and B16F10 tumours when combined with anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapy. These findings represent a new powerful approach for cancer immunotherapy and suggest a general strategy for personalized nanomedicine.

  16. [Brain tumor immunotherapy: Illusion or hope?

    PubMed

    Migliorini, Denis; Dutoit, Valérie; Walker, Paul R; Dietrich, Pierre-Yves

    2017-05-01

    Immunotherapy has proven efficient for many tumors and is now part of standard of care in many indications. What is the picture for brain tumors? The recent development of anti-CTLA-4 and PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have the ability to restore T lymphocytes activity, has gathered enthusiasm and is now paving the way towards more complex models of immune system manipulation. These models include, among others, vaccination and adoptive T cell transfer technologies. Complementary to those strategies, molecules capable of reshaping the immune tumor microenvironment are currently being investigated in early phase trials. Indeed, the tumor bed is hostile to anti-tumor immune responses due to many escape mechanisms, and this is particularly true in the context of brain tumors, a master in eliciting immunosuppressive cells and molecules. The goal of this review is to describe the hopes and challenges of brain tumors immunotherapy and to propose an inventory of the current clinical research with specific focus on the therapies targeting the tumor microenvironment. Copyright © 2017 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  17. Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment with Immunotherapy for Genitourinary Malignancies.

    PubMed

    Marciscano, Ariel E; Madan, Ravi A

    2018-03-08

    Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in urothelial carcinoma, high-dose interleukin-2 in renal cell carcinoma, and sipuleucel-T in prostate cancer serve as enduring examples that the host immune response can be harnessed to promote effective anti-tumor immunity in genitourinary malignancies. Recently, cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has transformed the prognostic landscape leading to durable responses in a subset of urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma patients with traditionally poor prognosis. Despite this success, many patients fail to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors and progression/relapse remains common. Furthermore, modest clinical activity has been observed with ICIs as a monotherapy in advanced PCa. As such, novel treatment approaches are warranted and improved biomarkers for patient selection and treatment response are desperately needed. Future efforts should focus on exploring synergistic and rational combinations that safely and effectively boost response rates and survival in genitourinary malignancies. Specific areas of interest include (1) evaluating the optimal sequencing, disease burden, and timing of immuno-oncology agents with other anti-cancer therapeutics and (2) validating novel biomarkers of response to immunotherapy to optimize patient selection and to identify individuals most likely to benefit from immunotherapy across the heterogenous spectrum of genitourinary malignancies.

  18. Melanoma immunotherapy: historical precedents, recent successes and future prospects.

    PubMed

    Raaijmakers, Marieke I G; Rozati, Sima; Goldinger, Simone M; Widmer, Daniel S; Dummer, Reinhard; Levesque, Mitchell P

    2013-02-01

    The idea of cancer immunotherapy has been around for more than a century; however, the first immunotherapeutic ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, has only recently been approved by the US FDA for melanoma. With an increasing understanding of the immune response, it is expected that more therapies will follow. This review aims to provide a general overview of immunotherapy in melanoma. We first explain the development of cancer immunotherapy more than a century ago and the general opinions about it over time. This is followed by a general overview of the immune reaction in order to give insight into the possible targets for therapy. Finally, we will discuss the current therapies for melanoma, their shortcomings and why it is important to develop patient stratification criteria. We conclude with an overview of recent discoveries and possible future therapies.

  19. TNF-α gene polymorphisms: association with disease susceptibility and response to anti-TNF-α treatment in psoriatic arthritis.

    PubMed

    Murdaca, Giuseppe; Gulli, Rossella; Spanò, Francesca; Lantieri, Francesca; Burlando, Martina; Parodi, Aurora; Mandich, Paola; Puppo, Francesco

    2014-10-01

    The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene has been proposed as a major candidate gene in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). TNF-α is a therapeutic target for patients responding poorly to conventional treatments. We investigated the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions -238, -308, and +489 of the TNF-α gene in the genetic susceptibility to PsA, in the severity of the disease, and, finally, in the response to TNF-α inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept, or infliximab). Fifty-seven Caucasian PsA patients and 155 healthy matched controls were studied. The SNP +489 variant allele A was significantly associated with PsA susceptibility (P=0.0136) and severity of clinical (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, American College of Rheumatology criteria, Disease Activity Score 28, and Disability Index Health Assessment Questionnaire) and laboratory (C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) parameters (P-values ranging from 0.016 to 2.908 × 10(-12)). The difference in severity was accounted for by the differences between the AA and GA genotypes with respect to the GG genotype. The SNP +489A allele shows a trend of association with the response to PsA treatment with etanercept. These findings suggest a role of the SNP +489A allele in the susceptibility and severity of PsA.

  20. [A spectrum of neurological diseases with anti-VGKC antibody].

    PubMed

    Arimura, Kimiyoshi; Watanabe, Osamu; Nagado, Tatsui

    2007-11-01

    Anti-VGKC antibody causing peripheral nerve hyperexcitability is already an established clinical entity. Recently, many patients with non-herpetic limbic encephalitis (NHLE) with anti-VGKC antibody have been reported. The characteristic clinical features are low serum Na+ concentration and good response to immunotherapy. Anti-VGK antibody positive NHLE is relatively frequent among immune-mediated NHLE. It is important to know that this disease is responsive to immunotherapy. Furthermore, anti-VGKC antibody is also positive in some intractable epilepsies. These findings suggest that anti-VGKC is correlated with hyperexcitability in both the peripheral and central nervous system and that the spectrum of anti-VGKC antibody syndrome is now expanding.

  1. HDAC inhibitors as epigenetic regulators for cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Conte, Mariarosaria; De Palma, Raffaele; Altucci, Lucia

    2018-05-01

    In recent years, anti-tumor immunotherapy has shown promising results, and immune-oncology is now emerging as the fourth major wave in the treatment of tumors after radiotherapy, chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. Understanding the impact of the immune system on neoplastic cells is crucial to improve its effectiveness against cancer. The stratification of patients who might benefit from immunotherapy as well as the personalization of medicine have contributed to the discovery of new immunotherapeutic targets and molecules. In the present review, we discuss the mechanistic role of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) as potential immunomodulating agents to treat cancer. Our current understanding of the use of HDACi in combination with various immunotherapeutic approaches, such as immunomodulating agents and cancer vaccines, is also addressed. The potential clinical applications of the growing number of novel epigenetic drugs for cancer immunotherapy are widening, and some of these therapies are already in clinical trials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Anti-inflammatory effects of Mangifera indica L. extract in a model of colitis

    PubMed Central

    Márquez, Lucía; Pérez-Nievas, Beatriz G; Gárate, Icíar; García-Bueno, Borja; Madrigal, José LM; Menchén, Luis; Garrido, Gabino; Leza, Juan C

    2010-01-01

    AIM: To investigate the effect of aqueous extract from Mangifera indica L. (MIE) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. METHODS: MIE (150 mg/kg) was administered in two different protocols: (1) rectally, over 7 d at the same time as DSS administration; and (2) once daily over 14 d (by oral gavage, 7 d before starting DSS, and rectally for 7 d during DSS administration). General observations of clinical signs were performed. Anti-inflammatory activity of MIE was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Colonic lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, expression of inflammatory related mediators [inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, respectively] and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptors 1 and 2] in colonic tissue were also assessed. Interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α serum levels were also measured. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that MIE has anti-inflammatory properties by improvement of clinical signs, reduction of ulceration and reduced MPO activity when administered before DSS. In addition, administration of MIE for 14 d resulted in an increase in GSH and reduction of TBARS levels and iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and TNF R-2 expression in colonic tissue, and a decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α serum levels. CONCLUSION: MIE has anti-inflammatory activity in a DSS-induced rat colitis model and preventive administration (prior to DSS) seems to be a more effective protocol. PMID:20954278

  3. Anti-nociceptive effect of thalidomide on zymosan-induced experimental articular incapacitation.

    PubMed

    Vale, Mariana L; Cunha, Fernando Q; Brito, Gerly A C; Benevides, Verônica M; Ferreira, Sérgio H; Poole, Stephen; Ribeiro, Ronaldo A

    2006-05-01

    The anti-nociceptive effect of thalidomide on zymosan-induced articular knee joint incapacitation in rats was investigated. Thalidomide (5-45 mg/kg), given 30 min before but not 2 h after the intra-articular injection of zymosan, inhibited the nociceptive response in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, thalidomide pretreatment significantly reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, -68.4%) in the exudate of zymosan-injected joints, but not those of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, CINC-1 or interleukin-10. The expression of TNF-alpha, determined by immunohistochemical staining, in synovial tissues obtained from articular joints injected with zymosan was also inhibited by thalidomide pretreatment. The anti-nociceptive effect of thalidomide was not reversed by the co-administration of an opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, suggesting that endogenous opioids do not mediate the anti-nociceptive effect of thalidomide in this model. In conclusion, the anti-nociceptive activity of thalidomide in zymosan-induced articular incapacitation is associated with the inhibition of TNF-alpha by resident synovial cells.

  4. Effects of Environmental Factors on Soluble Expression of a Humanized Anti-TNF-α scFv Antibody in Escherichia coli

    PubMed Central

    Sina, Mohammad; Farajzadeh, Davoud; Dastmalchi, Siavoush

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: The bacterial cultivation conditions for obtaining anti-TNF-α single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody as the soluble product in E. coli was investigated. Methods: To avoid the production of inclusion bodies, the effects of lactose, IPTG, incubation time, temperature, shaking protocol, medium additives (Mg+2, sucrose), pH, osmotic and heat shocks were examined. Samples from bacterial growth conditions with promising results of soluble expression of GST-hD2 scFv were affinity purified and quantified by SDS-PAGE and image processing for further evaluation. Results: The results showed that cultivation in LB medium under induction by low concentrations of lactose and incubation at 10 °C led to partial solubilization of the expressed anti-TNF-α scFv (GST-hD2). Other variables which showed promising increase in soluble expression of GST-hD2 were osmotic shock and addition of magnesium chloride. Furthermore, addition of sucrose to medium suppressed the expression of scFv completely. The other finding was that the addition of sorbitol decreased the growth rate of bacteria. Conclusion: It can be concluded that low cultivation temperature in the presence of low amount of inducer under a long incubation time or addition of magnesium chloride are the most effective environmental factors studied for obtaining the maximum solubilization of GST-hD2 recombinant protein. PMID:26819916

  5. Effects of Environmental Factors on Soluble Expression of a Humanized Anti-TNF-α scFv Antibody in Escherichia coli.

    PubMed

    Sina, Mohammad; Farajzadeh, Davoud; Dastmalchi, Siavoush

    2015-11-01

    The bacterial cultivation conditions for obtaining anti-TNF-α single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody as the soluble product in E. coli was investigated. To avoid the production of inclusion bodies, the effects of lactose, IPTG, incubation time, temperature, shaking protocol, medium additives (Mg+2, sucrose), pH, osmotic and heat shocks were examined. Samples from bacterial growth conditions with promising results of soluble expression of GST-hD2 scFv were affinity purified and quantified by SDS-PAGE and image processing for further evaluation. The results showed that cultivation in LB medium under induction by low concentrations of lactose and incubation at 10 °C led to partial solubilization of the expressed anti-TNF-α scFv (GST-hD2). Other variables which showed promising increase in soluble expression of GST-hD2 were osmotic shock and addition of magnesium chloride. Furthermore, addition of sucrose to medium suppressed the expression of scFv completely. The other finding was that the addition of sorbitol decreased the growth rate of bacteria. It can be concluded that low cultivation temperature in the presence of low amount of inducer under a long incubation time or addition of magnesium chloride are the most effective environmental factors studied for obtaining the maximum solubilization of GST-hD2 recombinant protein.

  6. Control of Mycobacterial Infections in Mice Expressing Human Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) but Not Mouse TNF.

    PubMed

    Olleros, Maria L; Chavez-Galan, Leslie; Segueni, Noria; Bourigault, Marie L; Vesin, Dominique; Kruglov, Andrey A; Drutskaya, Marina S; Bisig, Ruth; Ehlers, Stefan; Aly, Sahar; Walter, Kerstin; Kuprash, Dmitry V; Chouchkova, Miliana; Kozlov, Sergei V; Erard, François; Ryffel, Bernard; Quesniaux, Valérie F J; Nedospasov, Sergei A; Garcia, Irene

    2015-09-01

    Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important cytokine for host defense against pathogens but is also associated with the development of human immunopathologies. TNF blockade effectively ameliorates many chronic inflammatory conditions but compromises host immunity to tuberculosis. The search for novel, more specific human TNF blockers requires the development of a reliable animal model. We used a novel mouse model with complete replacement of the mouse TNF gene by its human ortholog (human TNF [huTNF] knock-in [KI] mice) to determine resistance to Mycobacterium bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis infections and to investigate whether TNF inhibitors in clinical use reduce host immunity. Our results show that macrophages from huTNF KI mice responded to BCG and lipopolysaccharide similarly to wild-type macrophages by NF-κB activation and cytokine production. While TNF-deficient mice rapidly succumbed to mycobacterial infection, huTNF KI mice survived, controlling the bacterial burden and activating bactericidal mechanisms. Administration of TNF-neutralizing biologics disrupted the control of mycobacterial infection in huTNF KI mice, leading to an increased bacterial burden and hyperinflammation. Thus, our findings demonstrate that human TNF can functionally replace murine TNF in vivo, providing mycobacterial resistance that could be compromised by TNF neutralization. This new animal model will be helpful for the testing of specific biologics neutralizing human TNF. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  7. Sulforaphane reduces vascular inflammation in mice and prevents TNF-α-induced monocyte adhesion to primary endothelial cells through interfering with the NF-κB pathway.

    PubMed

    Nallasamy, Palanisamy; Si, Hongwei; Babu, Pon Velayutham Anandh; Pan, Dengke; Fu, Yu; Brooke, Elizabeth A S; Shah, Halley; Zhen, Wei; Zhu, Hong; Liu, Dongmin; Li, Yunbo; Jia, Zhenquan

    2014-08-01

    Sulforaphane, a naturally occurring isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables, has received wide attention for its potential to improve vascular function in vitro. However, its effect in vivo and the molecular mechanism of sulforaphane at physiological concentrations remain unclear. Here, we report that a sulforaphane concentration as low as 0.5 μM significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, a key event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis both in static and under flow conditions. Such physiological concentrations of sulforaphane also significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced production of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and adhesion molecules including soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble E-selectin, key mediators in the regulation of enhanced endothelial cell-monocyte interaction. Furthermore, sulforaphane inhibited TNF-α-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcriptional activity, Inhibitor of NF-κB alpha (IκBα) degradation and subsequent NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in endothelial cells, suggesting that sulforaphane can inhibit inflammation by suppressing NF-κB signaling. In an animal study, sulforaphane (300 ppm) in a mouse diet significantly abolished TNF-α-increased ex vivo monocyte adhesion and circulating adhesion molecules and chemokines in C57BL/6 mice. Histology showed that sulforaphane treatment significantly prevented the eruption of endothelial lining in the intima layer of the aorta and preserved elastin fibers' delicate organization, as shown by Verhoeff-van Gieson staining. Immunohistochemistry studies showed that sulforaphane treatment also reduced vascular adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte-derived F4/80-positive macrophages in the aorta of TNF-α-treated mice. In conclusion, sulforaphane at physiological concentrations protects against TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial inflammation, in both in vitro and in vivo models. This anti

  8. A nebulized gelatin nanoparticle-based CpG formulation is effective in immunotherapy of allergic horses.

    PubMed

    Klier, John; Fuchs, Sebastian; May, Anna; Schillinger, Ulrike; Plank, Christian; Winter, Gerhard; Coester, Conrad; Gehlen, Heidrun

    2012-06-01

    In the recent years, nanotechnology has boosted the development of potential drug delivery systems and material engineering on nanoscale basis in order to increase drug specificity and reduce side effects. A potential delivery system for immunostimulating agents such as cytosine-phosphate-guanine-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) needs to be developed to maximize the efficacy of immunotherapy against hypersensitivity. In this study, an aerosol formulation of biodegradable, biocompatible and nontoxic gelatin nanoparticle-bound CpG-ODN 2216 was used to treat equine recurrent airway obstruction in a clinical study. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained from healthy and allergic horses to quantify Th1/Th2 cytokine levels before and after inhalation regimen. Full clinical examinations were performed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of this nebulized gelatin nanoparticle-based CpG formulation. Most remarkable was that regulatory anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic cytokine IL-10 expression was significantly triggered by five consecutive inhalations. Thorough assessment of clinical parameters following nanoparticle treatment indicated a partial remission of the allergic condition. Thus this study, for the first time, showed effectiveness of colloidal nanocarrier-mediated immunotherapy in food-producing animals with potential future applicability to other species including humans.

  9. Frequent rhabdomyolysis in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

    PubMed

    Lim, Jung-Ah; Lee, Soon-Tae; Kim, Tae-Joon; Moon, Jangsup; Sunwoo, Jun-Sang; Byun, Jung-Ick; Jung, Keun-Hwa; Jung, Ki-Young; Chu, Kon; Lee, Sang Kun

    2016-09-15

    The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical presentation and provocation factors of rhabdomyolysis in anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Among the 16 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in our institutional cohort, nine patients had elevated CK enzyme levels and clinical evidence of rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis was more frequent after immunotherapy. The use of dopamine receptor blocker (DRB) increased the risk of rhabdomyolysis. None of the patients without rhabdomyolysis received DRBs. Rhabdomyolysis is a frequent complication in anti-NMDAR encephalitis and more common after immunotherapy and the use of DRBs increases the risk. Therefore, DRBs should be administered carefully in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of ginger in tuberculosis.

    PubMed

    Kulkarni, Rashmi Anant; Deshpande, Ajit Ramesh

    2016-06-01

    Tuberculosis (TB) has reemerged to become the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Inflammatory cytokines play an important role during the course of the disease and may be responsible for tissue damage by lipid peroxidation. The study was aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of ginger in pulmonary TB patients. A total of 69 pulmonary TB patients participated in a randomized and placebo-controlled study. The intervention group received 3 g of ginger extract daily for 1 month and placebo group was supplemented with starch capsule. Participants of both groups were taking standard antitubercular treatment during the study. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, ferritin and malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood samples were analyzed before and after the intervention by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for TNF alpha and ferritin and spectrophotometry for MDA. Ginger supplementation significantly reduced the levels of TNF alpha, ferritin and MDA in ginger supplemented group in comparison to baseline. Ginger supplementation with antitubercular treatment significantly lowered TNF alpha, ferritin and MDA concentrations in comparison to control group. Ginger was found to be effective as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplement along with anti-TB therapy as it possesses strong free radical scavenging property.

  11. Anti-aging drugs reduce hypothalamic inflammation in a sex-specific manner.

    PubMed

    Sadagurski, Marianna; Cady, Gillian; Miller, Richard A

    2017-08-01

    Aging leads to hypothalamic inflammation, but does so more slowly in mice whose lifespan has been extended by mutations that affect GH/IGF-1 signals. Early-life exposure to GH by injection, or to nutrient restriction in the first 3 weeks of life, also modulate both lifespan and the pace of hypothalamic inflammation. Three drugs extend lifespan of UM-HET3 mice in a sex-specific way: acarbose (ACA), 17-α-estradiol (17αE2), and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), with more dramatic longevity increases in males in each case. In this study, we examined the effect of these anti-aging drugs on neuro-inflammation in hypothalamus and hippocampus. We found that age-associated hypothalamic inflammation is reduced in males but not in females at 12 months of age by ACA and 17αE2 and at 22 months of age in NDGA-treated mice. The three drugs blocked indices of hypothalamic reactive gliosis associated with aging, such as Iba-1-positive microglia and GFAP-positive astrocytes, as well as age-associated overproduction of TNF-α. This effect was not observed in drug-treated female mice or in the hippocampus of the drug-treated animals. On the other hand, caloric restriction (CR; an intervention that extends the lifespan in both sexes) significantly reduced hypothalamic microglia and TNF-α in both sexes at 12 months of age. Together, these results suggest that the extent of drug-induced changes in hypothalamic inflammatory processes is sexually dimorphic in a pattern that parallels the effects of these agents on mouse longevity and that mimics the changes seen, in both sexes, of long-lived nutrient restricted or mutant mice. © 2017 The Authors. Aging Cell published by the Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Mental health, fatigue and function are associated with increased risk of disease flare following TNF inhibitor tapering in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an exploratory analysis of data from the Optimizing TNF Tapering in RA (OPTTIRA) trial.

    PubMed

    Bechman, Katie; Sin, Fang En; Ibrahim, Fowzia; Norton, Sam; Matcham, Faith; Scott, David Lloyd; Cope, Andrew; Galloway, James

    2018-01-01

    Tapering of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy appears feasible, safe and effective in selected patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Depression is highly prevalent in RA and may impact on flare incidence through various mechanisms. This study aims to investigate if psychological states predict flare in patients' dose tapering their anti-TNF therapy. This study is a post-hoc analysis of the Optimizing TNF Tapering in RA trial, a multicentre, randomised, open-label study investigating anti-TNF tapering in RA patients with sustained low disease activity. Patient-reported outcomes (Health Assessment Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-dimension scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy fatigue scale (FACIT-F), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)) were collected at baseline. The primary outcome was flare, defined as an increase in 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) ≥0.6 and ≥1 swollen joint. Discrete-time survival models were used to identify patient-reported outcomes that predict flare. Ninety-seven patients were randomised to taper their anti-TNF dose by either 33% or 66%. Forty-one patients flared. Higher baseline DAS28 score was associated with flare (adjusted HR 1.96 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.24), p=0.01). Disability (SF-36 physical component score), fatigue (FACIT-F) and mental health (SF-36 mental health subscale (MH)) predicted flare in unadjusted models. In multivariate analyses, only SF-36 MH remained a statistically significant predictor of flare (adjusted HR per 10 units 0.74 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.93), p=0.01). Baseline DAS28 and mental health status are independently associated with flare in patients who taper their anti-TNF therapy. Fatigue and function also associate with flare but the effect disappears when adjusting for confounders. Given these findings, mental health and functional status should be considered in anti-TNF tapering decisions in order to optimise the likelihood of success. EudraCT Number: 2010-020738-24; ISRCTN: 28955701

  13. Mental health, fatigue and function are associated with increased risk of disease flare following TNF inhibitor tapering in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an exploratory analysis of data from the Optimizing TNF Tapering in RA (OPTTIRA) trial

    PubMed Central

    Bechman, Katie; Sin, Fang En; Ibrahim, Fowzia; Norton, Sam; Matcham, Faith; Scott, David Lloyd; Cope, Andrew; Galloway, James

    2018-01-01

    Background Tapering of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy appears feasible, safe and effective in selected patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Depression is highly prevalent in RA and may impact on flare incidence through various mechanisms. This study aims to investigate if psychological states predict flare in patients’ dose tapering their anti-TNF therapy. Methods This study is a post-hoc analysis of the Optimizing TNF Tapering in RA trial, a multicentre, randomised, open-label study investigating anti-TNF tapering in RA patients with sustained low disease activity. Patient-reported outcomes (Health Assessment Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-dimension scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy fatigue scale (FACIT-F), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)) were collected at baseline. The primary outcome was flare, defined as an increase in 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) ≥0.6 and ≥1 swollen joint. Discrete-time survival models were used to identify patient-reported outcomes that predict flare. Results Ninety-seven patients were randomised to taper their anti-TNF dose by either 33% or 66%. Forty-one patients flared. Higher baseline DAS28 score was associated with flare (adjusted HR 1.96 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.24), p=0.01). Disability (SF-36 physical component score), fatigue (FACIT-F) and mental health (SF-36 mental health subscale (MH)) predicted flare in unadjusted models. In multivariate analyses, only SF-36 MH remained a statistically significant predictor of flare (adjusted HR per 10 units 0.74 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.93), p=0.01). Conclusions Baseline DAS28 and mental health status are independently associated with flare in patients who taper their anti-TNF therapy. Fatigue and function also associate with flare but the effect disappears when adjusting for confounders. Given these findings, mental health and functional status should be considered in anti-TNF tapering decisions in order to optimise the likelihood of success. Trial

  14. Cancer immunotherapy and immunological memory.

    PubMed

    Murata, Kenji; Tsukahara, Tomohide; Torigoe, Toshihiko

    2016-01-01

    Human immunological memory is the key distinguishing hallmark of the adaptive immune system and plays an important role in the prevention of morbidity and the severity of infection. The differentiation system of T cell memory has been clarified using mouse models. However, the human T cell memory system has great diversity induced by natural antigens derived from many pathogens and tumor cells throughout life, and profoundly differs from the mouse memory system constructed using artificial antigens and transgenic T cells. We believe that only human studies can elucidate the human immune system. The importance of immunological memory in cancer immunotherapy has been pointed out, and the trafficking properties and long-lasting anti-tumor capacity of memory T cells play a crucial role in the control of malignant tumors. Adoptive cell transfer of less differentiated T cells has consistently demonstrated superior anti-tumor capacity relative to more differentiated T cells. Therefore, a human T cell population with the characteristics of stem cell memory is thought to be attractive for peptide vaccination and adoptive cell transfer. A novel human memory T cell population that we have identified is closer to the naive state than previous memory T cells in the T cell differentiation lineage, and has the characteristics of stem-like chemoresistance. Here we introduce this novel population and describe the fundamentals of immunological memory in cancer immunotherapy.

  15. Boric acid inhibits LPS-induced TNF-alpha formation through a thiol-dependent mechanism in THP-1 cells.

    PubMed

    Cao, Jun; Jiang, Liping; Zhang, Xiaomei; Yao, Xiaofeng; Geng, Chengyan; Xue, Xiangxin; Zhong, Laifu

    2008-01-01

    Oxidative stress plays an important role during inflammatory diseases and antioxidant administration to diminish oxidative stress may arrest inflammatory processes. Boron has been implicated to modulate certain inflammatory mediators and regulate inflammatory processes. Here we investigated the role of the tripeptide glutathione (GSH) in modulating the effects of boric acid (BA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) formation in THP-1 monocytes. Interestingly, we found that BA had no significant effects on both TNF-alpha production and intracellular GSH contents, whereas it could inhibit LPS-induced TNF-alpha formation and ameliorated the d,l-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO)-induced GSH depletion. Twenty-four hour incubation with BSO induced a decrease of the intracellular GSH and an increase of TNF-alpha. Treatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) did not significantly increase intracellular content of GSH but significantly reduced the secretion of TNF-alpha. BSO-pretreatment for 24h enhanced the LPS-induced secretion and mRNA expression of TNF-alpha further. BA inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha formation was also seen after GSH depletion by BSO. These results indicate that BA may have anti-inflammatory effect in the LPS-stimulated inflammation and the effect of BA on TNF-alpha secretion may be induced via a thiol-dependent mechanism.

  16. Antigen-capturing nanoparticles improve the abscopal effect and cancer immunotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Min, Yuanzeng; Roche, Kyle C.; Tian, Shaomin; Eblan, Michael J.; McKinnon, Karen P.; Caster, Joseph M.; Chai, Shengjie; Herring, Laura E.; Zhang, Longzhen; Zhang, Tian; Desimone, Joseph M.; Tepper, Joel E.; Vincent, Benjamin G.; Serody, Jonathan S.; Wang, Andrew Z.

    2017-09-01

    Immunotherapy holds tremendous promise for improving cancer treatment. To administer radiotherapy with immunotherapy has been shown to improve immune responses and can elicit the 'abscopal effect'. Unfortunately, response rates for this strategy remain low. Herein we report an improved cancer immunotherapy approach that utilizes antigen-capturing nanoparticles (AC-NPs). We engineered several AC-NP formulations and demonstrated that the set of protein antigens captured by each AC-NP formulation is dependent on the NP surface properties. We showed that AC-NPs deliver tumour-specific proteins to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and significantly improve the efficacy of αPD-1 (anti-programmed cell death 1) treatment using the B16F10 melanoma model, generating up to a 20% cure rate compared with 0% without AC-NPs. Mechanistic studies revealed that AC-NPs induced an expansion of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and increased both CD4+T/Treg and CD8+T/Treg ratios (Treg, regulatory T cells). Our work presents a novel strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy with nanotechnology.

  17. Fabrication and efficacy evaluation of chloroquine nanoparticles in CFA-induced arthritic rats using TNF-α ELISA.

    PubMed

    Bhalekar, Mangesh R; Upadhaya, Prashant G; Madgulkar, Ashwini R

    2016-03-10

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, stimulates various immune cells especially macrophages, causing release of various proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α leading to persistent synovitis. Chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug inhibits the production of TNF-α, thus, halting the disease progression. The aim of the present study was fabrication, characterization and demonstration of kinetic and dynamic efficacy of chloroquine loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CQ-SLNs) in arthritic rats and in lowering TNF-α levels. CQ-SLNs were prepared using melt homogenization method and subjected to lyophilization. The particle size, zeta potential, PDI and entrapment efficiency were found to be 113.6±0.15nm, -27.8±1.21mV, 0.125±0.03 and 93.45±0.43% respectively. Ex vivo endocytic uptake studies revealed engrossment of endocytic pathways in the uptake of SLN from intestine. Plasma drug profile upon pharmacokinetic evaluation demonstrated increased AUC, half-life and decreased elimination rate of the drug. Pharmacodynamic studies revealed reduction in the paw volume, bone erosion and cartilage destruction, the same was also reflected in histopathological studies. The TNF-α ELISA concluded that the TNF-α level was significantly reduced in the synovial fluid upon treatment with CQ-SLN, thus, leading to the conclusion that CQ-SLN could be used as a potential in reducing inflammatory TNF-α at the arthritic site and halting the disease progression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer Enters Its Golden Age

    PubMed Central

    Boikos, Sosipatros A.; Antonarakis, Emmanuel S.

    2012-01-01

    In the United States, prostate cancer is the most frequent malignancy in men and ranks second in terms of mortality. Although recurrent or metastatic disease can be managed initially with androgen ablation, most patients eventually develop castration-resistant disease within a number of years, for which conventional treatments (eg, chemotherapy) provide only modest benefits. In the last few years, immunotherapy has emerged as an exciting therapeutic modality for advanced prostate cancer, and this field is evolving rapidly. Encouragingly, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved two novel immunotherapy agents for patients with advanced cancer: the antigen presenting cell-based product sipuleucel-T and the anti-CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4) antibody ipilimumab, based on improvements in overall survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and metastatic melanoma, respectively. Currently, a number of trials are investigating the role of various immunological approaches for the treatment of prostate cancer, many of them with early indications of success. As immunotherapy for prostate cancer enters its golden age, the challenge of the future will be to design rational combinations of immunotherapy agents with each other or with other standard prostate cancer treatments in an effort to improve patient outcomes further. PMID:22844202

  19. [Immunotherapies for drug addictions].

    PubMed

    Montoya, Ivan

    2008-01-01

    Immunotherapies in the form of vaccines (active immunization) or monoclonal antibodies (passive immunization) appear safe and a promising treatment approaches for some substance-related disorders. The mechanism of action of the antibody therapy is by preventing the rapid entry of drugs of abuse into the central nervous system. In theory, immunotherapies could have several clinical applications. Monoclonal antibodies may be useful to treat drug overdoses and prevent the neurotoxic effects of drugs by blocking the access of drugs to the brain. Vaccines may help to prevent the development of addiction, initiate drug abstinence in those already addicted to drugs, or prevent drug use relapse by reducing the pharmacological effects and rewarding properties of the drugs of abuse on the brain. Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies has been investigated for cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and phencyclidine (PCP). Active immunization with vaccines has been studied for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and nicotine. These immunotherapies seem promising therapeutic tools and are at different stages in their development before they can be approved by regulatory agencies for the treatment of substance-related disorders. The purpose of this article is to review the current immunotherapy approaches with emphasis on the risks and benefits for the treatment of these disorders.

  20. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic potential of phenolic acids and flavonoid fractions isolated from Lolium multiflorum.

    PubMed

    Choi, Ki-Choon; Son, Young-Ok; Hwang, Jung-Min; Kim, Beom-Tae; Chae, Minseon; Lee, Jeong-Chae

    2017-12-01

    Interest has recently renewed in using Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Poaceae) (called Italian ryegrass; IRG) silage as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory diet. This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic potential of IRG silage and identified the primary components in IRG active fractions. Total 16 fractions were separated from the chloroform-soluble extract of IRG aerial part using Sephadex LH-20 column before HPLC analysis. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the fractions at doses of 0-100 μg/mL were investigated using various cell-free and cell-mediated assay systems. To explore anti-septic effect of IRG fractions, female ICR and BALB/c mice orally received 40 mg/kg of phenolic acid and flavonoid-rich active fractions F 7 and F 8 every other day for 10 days, respectively, followed by LPS challenge. The active fractions showed greater antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential compared with other fractions. IC 50 values of F 7 and F 8 to reduce LPS-stimulated NO and TNF-α production were around 15 and 30 μg/mL, respectively. Comparison of retention times with authentic compounds through HPLC analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, myricetin and kaempferol in the fractions as primary components. These fractions inhibited LPS-stimulated MAPK and NF-κB activation. Supplementation with F 7 or F 8 improved the survival rates of mice to 70 and 60%, respectively, in LPS-injected mice and reduced near completely serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels. This study highlights antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic activities of IRG active fractions, eventually suggesting their usefulness in preventing oxidative damage and inflammatory disorders.

  1. NIR and MR imaging supported hydrogel based delivery system for anti-TNF alpha probiotic therapy of IBD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Janjic, Jelena M.; Berlec, Ales; Bagia, Christina; Liu, Lu S.; Jeric, Irenej; Gach, Michael; Janjic, Bratislav M.; Strukelj, Borut

    2016-03-01

    Current treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is largely symptomatic and consists of anti-inflammatory agents, immune-suppressives or antibiotics, whereby local luminal action is preferred to minimize systemic side-effects. Recently, anti-TNFα therapy has shown considerable success and is now being routinely used. Here we present a novel approach of using perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsion containing hydrogels (nanoemulgels) as imaging supported delivery systems for anti-TNF alpha probiotic delivery in IBD. To further facilitate image-guided therapy a food-grade lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis capable of TNFα-binding was engineered to incorporate infrared fluorescent protein (IRFP). This modified bacteria was then incorporated into novel PFC nanoemulgels. The nanoemulgels presented here are designed to deliver locally anti-TNFα probiotic in the lower colon and rectum and provide dual imaging signature of gel delivery (MRI) across the rectum and lower colon and bacteria release (NIR). NIR imaging data in vitro demonstrates high IRFP expressing and TNFα-binding bacteria loading in the hydrogel and complete release in 3 hours. Stability tests indicate that gels remain stable for at least 14 days showing no significant change in droplet size, zeta potential and pH. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrate the NIRF expressing bacteria L. lactis binds TNFα in vitro upon release from the gels. Magnetic resonance and near-infrared imaging in vitro demonstrates homogeneity of hydrogels and the imaging capacity of the overall formulation.

  2. Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology consensus on tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Part 2: management.

    PubMed

    Park, Dong Il; Hisamatsu, Tadakazu; Chen, Minhu; Ng, Siew Chien; Ooi, Choon Jin; Wei, Shu Chen; Banerjee, Rupa; Hilmi, Ida Normiha; Jeen, Yoon Tae; Han, Dong Soo; Kim, Hyo Jong; Ran, Zhihua; Wu, Kaichun; Qian, Jiaming; Hu, Pin-Jin; Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi; Andoh, Akira; Suzuki, Yasuo; Sugano, Kentaro; Watanabe, Mamoru; Hibi, Toshifumi; Puri, Amarender S; Yang, Suk-Kyun

    2018-01-01

    Because anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy has become increasingly popular in many Asian countries, the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) among anti-TNF users may raise serious health problems in this region. Thus, the Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology have developed a set of consensus statements about risk assessment, detection and prevention of latent TB infection, and management of active TB infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-TNF treatment. Twenty-three consensus statements were initially drafted and then discussed by the committee members. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Web-based consensus voting was performed by 211 IBD specialists from 9 Asian countries concerning each statement. A consensus statement was accepted if at least 75% of the participants agreed. Part 2 of the statements comprised 3 parts: management of latent TB in preparation for anti-TNF therapy, monitoring during anti-TNF therapy, and management of an active TB infection after anti-TNF therapy. These consensus statements will help clinicians optimize patient outcomes by reducing the morbidity and mortality related to TB infections in patients with IBD receiving anti-TNF treatment.

  3. The IL-6/sIL-6R treatment of a malignant melanoma cell line enhances susceptibility to TNF-{alpha}-induced apoptosis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wagley, Yadav; Yoo, Yung-Choon; Seo, Han Geuk

    2007-03-23

    Melanoma is an intractable tumor that has shown very impressive and promising response to local administration of high dose recombinant TNF-{alpha} in combination with IFN-{gamma} in clinical studies. In this study, we investigated the effect of IL-6/sIL-6R on TNF-{alpha}-resistant B16/F10.9 melanoma cells. A low dose of TNF-{alpha} or IL-6/sIL-6R had minimal affect on the cell growth. However, the highly active fusion protein of sIL-6R and IL-6 (IL6RIL6), covalently linked by a flexible peptide, sensitized TNF-{alpha}-resistant F10.9 melanoma cells to TNF-{alpha}-induced apoptosis. Stimulation of the cells with IL6RIL6 plus TNF-{alpha} resulted in both the activation of caspase-3 and the reduction ofmore » bcl-2 expression. Flow cytometry analysis showed that IL6RIL6-upregulated TNF-R55 and TNF-R75 expression, suggesting an increase in TNF-{alpha} responsiveness by IL6RIL6 resulting from the induction of TNF receptors. Moreover, exposure of F10.9 cells to neutralizing antibody to TNF-R55 significantly inhibited IL6RIL6/TNF-{alpha}-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the IL6/sIL6R/gp130 system, which sensitizes TNF-{alpha}-resistant melanoma cells to TNF-{alpha}-induced apoptosis, may provide a new target for immunotherapy.« less

  4. Reduced levels of TNF alpha in hypercholesterolemic individuals after treatment with pravastatin for 8 weeks.

    PubMed

    Solheim, S; Seljeflot, I; Arnesen, H; Eritsland, J; Eikvar, L

    2001-08-01

    cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) expressed on the endothelial surface play a key role in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis, and increased expression of CAMs has been shown in hypercholesterolemic individuals. The expression of CAMs is mediated by several cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of pravastatin 40 mg per day on selected soluble CAMs; intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin and some circulating markers of inflammation; C-reactive protein (CRP) and the cytokines TNF alpha and IL-6. 40 non-diabetic men, age below 70 years, with serum total cholesterol 6--10 mmol/l combined with HDL-cholesterol < or =1.2 mmol/l were included. The study was randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled, cross over designed with 8 weeks intervention periods. Fasting blood samples were drawn after 8 and 16 weeks. significant reduction of total cholesterol was achieved after treatment with pravastatin (7.8 on placebo vs. 5.7 mmol/l on pravastatin). TNF alpha was significantly reduced after treatment with pravastatin (1.33 on placebo vs. 1.10 pg/ml on pravastatin, P=0.032), whereas no differences in the levels of the measured sCAMs, CRP and IL-6 were found. Subgroup analysis among smokers versus non-smokers showed a significant reduction in the level of TNF alpha only among the smokers. hypercholesterolemic individuals treated with pravastatin 40 mg per day for 8 weeks showed a statistically significant reduction in the levels of TNF alpha as compared with placebo.

  5. Attenuated EAN in TNF-α Deficient Mice Is Associated with an Altered Balance of M1/M2 Macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Hong-Liang; Hassan, Mohammed Y.; Zheng, Xiang-Yu; Azimullah, Sheikh; Quezada, Hernan Concha; Amir, Naheed; Elwasila, Mohamed; Mix, Eilhard; Adem, Abdu; Zhu, Jie

    2012-01-01

    The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and its receptors in neuroautoimmune and neuroinflammatory diseases has been controversial. On the basis of our previous studies, we hereby aimed to further clarify TNF-α’s mechanism of action and to explore the potential role of TNF-α receptor (TNFR)1 as a therapeutic target in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). EAN was induced by immunization with P0 peptide 180–199 in TNF-α knockout (KO) mice and anti-TNFR1 antibodies were used to treat EAN. Particularly, the effects of TNF-α deficiency and TNFR1 blockade on macrophage functions were investigated. The onset of EAN in TNF-α KO mice was markedly later than that in wild type (WT) mice. From day 14 post immunization, the clinical signs of TNF-α KO mice were significantly milder than those of their WT counterparts. Further, we showed that the clinical severity of WT mice treated with anti-TNFR1 antibodies was less severe than that of the control WT mice receiving PBS. Nevertheless, no difference with regard to the clinical signs of EAN or inflammatory infiltration in cauda equina was seen between TNF-α KO and WT mice with EAN after blockade of TNFR1. Although TNF-α deficiency did not alter the proliferation of lymphocytes in response to either antigenic or mitogenic stimuli, it down-regulated the production of interleukin (IL)-12 and nitric oxide (NO), and enhanced the production of IL-10 in macrophages. Increased ratio of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and reduced production of interferon (IFN)-γ in cauda equina infiltrating cells, and elevated levels of IgG2b antibodies against P0 peptide 180–199 in sera were found in TNF-α KO mice with EAN. In conclusion, TNF-α deficiency attenuates EAN via altering the M1/M2 balance of macrophages. PMID:22666471

  6. Safety of allergen immunotherapy: a review of premedication and dose adjustment.

    PubMed

    Morris, A Erika; Marshall, Gailen D

    2012-03-01

    From the first allergen immunotherapy proposed in the early 1900s to the present day, numerous studies have proven the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma and stinging insect hypersensitivity. The major risk, however small, with allergen immunotherapy is anaphylaxis. There has been considerable interest and debate regarding risk factors for immunotherapy reactions (local and systemic) and interventions to reduce the occurrence of these reactions. One of these interventions that is especially debated regards dose adjustment for various reasons, but in particular for local reactions. In this review, we discuss the safety of immunotherapy and provide a comprehensive review of the literature regarding immunotherapy schedules and doses.

  7. Immunotherapy (For Parents)

    MedlinePlus

    ... for kids to fight infection (this is called neutropenia ). Types of Immunotherapy The aim of immunotherapy is ... be used to help children who are experiencing neutropenia. Side Effects Like other cancer treatments, immunotherapy can ...

  8. Venous thrombotic events are not increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti‑TNF therapy: results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register

    PubMed Central

    Davies, Rebecca; Galloway, James B; Watson, Kath D; Lunt, Mark; Symmons, Deborah P M; Hyrich, Kimme L

    2011-01-01

    Objectives Past studies have reported conflicting rates of venous thrombotic events (VTEs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study aimed to compare (1) the rates of VTEs in patients with RA treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy versus those treated with non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (nbDMARDs) alone and (2) the rates between each individual anti-TNF agent and nbDMARDs. Methods Using data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register, a national prospective observational cohort study of biological safety in patients with RA, the authors compared the incidence of VTEs between 11 881 anti-TNF- and 3673 nbDMARD-treated patients. Analysis was limited to the first VTE per person. HRs were calculated using Cox modelling. Adjustment was made for potential confounders including surgery performed during follow-up. Results A total of 196 first VTEs were reported (151 anti-TNF, 45 nbDMARD). Overall there was no difference in the rates of VTEs between anti-TNF- and nbDMARD-treated patients (adjusted HR 0.8 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.5)). The risk was similar across all anti-TNF agents. Rates of postoperative VTEs did not significantly differ between groups. Conclusions These data suggest that anti-TNF therapy is not associated with an increased risk of VTEs in RA patients. PMID:21784722

  9. Mechanisms and applications of interleukins in cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Anestakis, Doxakis; Petanidis, Savvas; Kalyvas, Spyridon; Nday, Christiane M; Tsave, Olga; Kioseoglou, Efrosini; Salifoglou, Athanasios

    2015-01-13

    Over the past years, advances in cancer immunotherapy have resulted in innovative and novel approaches in molecular cancer diagnostics and cancer therapeutic procedures. However, due to tumor heterogeneity and inter-tumoral discrepancy in tumor immunity, the clinical benefits are quite restricted. The goal of this review is to evaluate the major cytokines-interleukins involved in cancer immunotherapy and project their basic biochemical and clinical applications. Emphasis will be given to new cytokines in pre-clinical development, and potential directions for future investigation using cytokines. Furthermore, current interleukin-based approaches and clinical trial data from combination cancer immunotherapies will also be discussed. It appears that continuously increasing comprehension of cytokine-induced effects, cancer stemness, immunoediting, immune-surveillance as well as understanding of molecular interactions emerging in the tumor microenvironment and involving microRNAs, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammation, and DNA methylation processes may hold much promise in improving anti-tumor immunity. To this end, the emerging in-depth knowledge supports further studies on optimal synergistic combinations and additional adjuvant therapies to realize the full potential of cytokines as immunotherapeutic agents.

  10. Effects of thalidomide, cytochrome P-450 and TNF-alpha on angiogenesis in a three-dimensional collagen gel-culture.

    PubMed

    Fujita, Keiko; Asami, Yoshiko; Murata, Eiko; Akita, Masumi; Kaneko, Katsuji

    2002-10-01

    The anti-angiogenic effects of thalidomide were examined in mouse aortae grown in a three-dimensional collagen gel-culture. In our in vitro model, (+/-)-thalidomide and (-)-thalidomide exhibited no anti-angiogenic effects. On the other hand, when the culture was treated with thalidomide plus cytochrome P-450, both types of thalidomides significantly inhibited angiogenesis. Co-administration of 100 microg/ml thalidomide plus 200 microg/ml cytochrome P-450 inhibited angiogenesis more strongly than thalidomide plus cytochrome P-450 at other concentrations (10 microg/ml + 200 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml + 20 microg/ml). To study the relation between the anti-angiogenic effect and TNF-alpha, we also evaluated the concentration of TNF-alpha in the culture medium. We found that the concentration of TNF-alpha was correlated to the strength of the anti-angiogenic effect. The inhibition of angiogenesis by thalidomide and cytochrome P-450 takes place through a suppression of TNF-alpha and involves the metabolism of the thalidomide.

  11. Chronic stress sensitizes rats to pancreatitis induced by cerulein: Role of TNF

    PubMed Central

    Binker, Marcelo G; Binker-Cosen, Andres A; Richards, Daniel; Gaisano, Herbert Y; de Cosen, Rodica H; Cosen-Binker, Laura I

    2010-01-01

    AIM: To investigate chronic stress as a susceptibility factor for developing pancreatitis, as well as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as a putative sensitizer. METHODS: Rat pancreatic acini were used to analyze the influence of TNF-α on submaximal (50 pmol/L) cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulation. Chronic restraint (4 h every day for 21 d) was used to evaluate the effects of submaximal (0.2 μg/kg per hour) cerulein stimulation on chronically stressed rats. RESULTS: In vitro exposure of pancreatic acini to TNF-α disorganized the actin cytoskeleton. This was further increased by TNF-α/CCK treatment, which additionally reduced amylase secretion, and increased trypsin and nuclear factor-κB activities in a protein-kinase-C δ and ε-dependent manner. TNF-α/CCK also enhanced caspases’ activity and lactate dehydrogenase release, induced ATP loss, and augmented the ADP/ATP ratio. In vivo, rats under chronic restraint exhibited elevated serum and pancreatic TNF-α levels. Serum, pancreatic, and lung inflammatory parameters, as well as caspases’activity in pancreatic and lung tissue, were substantially enhanced in stressed/cerulein-treated rats, which also experienced tissues’ ATP loss and greater ADP/ATP ratios. Histological examination revealed that stressed/cerulein-treated animals developed abundant pancreatic and lung edema, hemorrhage and leukocyte infiltrate, and pancreatic necrosis. Pancreatitis severity was greatly decreased by treating animals with an anti-TNF-α-antibody, which diminished all inflammatory parameters, histopathological scores, and apoptotic/necrotic markers in stressed/cerulein-treated rats. CONCLUSION: In rats, chronic stress increases susceptibility for developing pancreatitis, which involves TNF-α sensitization of pancreatic acinar cells to undergo injury by physiological cerulein stimulation. PMID:21105189

  12. Chronic stress sensitizes rats to pancreatitis induced by cerulein: role of TNF-α.

    PubMed

    Binker, Marcelo-G; Binker-Cosen, Andres-A; Richards, Daniel; Gaisano, Herbert-Y; de Cosen, Rodica-H; Cosen-Binker, Laura-I

    2010-11-28

    To investigate chronic stress as a susceptibility factor for developing pancreatitis, as well as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as a putative sensitizer. Rat pancreatic acini were used to analyze the influence of TNF-α on submaximal (50 pmol/L) cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulation. Chronic restraint (4 h every day for 21 d) was used to evaluate the effects of submaximal (0.2 μg/kg per hour) cerulein stimulation on chronically stressed rats. In vitro exposure of pancreatic acini to TNF-α disorganized the actin cytoskeleton. This was further increased by TNF-α/CCK treatment, which additionally reduced amylase secretion, and increased trypsin and nuclear factor-κB activities in a protein-kinase-C δ and ε-dependent manner. TNF-α/CCK also enhanced caspases' activity and lactate dehydrogenase release, induced ATP loss, and augmented the ADP/ATP ratio. In vivo, rats under chronic restraint exhibited elevated serum and pancreatic TNF-α levels. Serum, pancreatic, and lung inflammatory parameters, as well as caspases'activity in pancreatic and lung tissue, were substantially enhanced in stressed/cerulein-treated rats, which also experienced tissues' ATP loss and greater ADP/ATP ratios. Histological examination revealed that stressed/cerulein-treated animals developed abundant pancreatic and lung edema, hemorrhage and leukocyte infiltrate, and pancreatic necrosis. Pancreatitis severity was greatly decreased by treating animals with an anti-TNF-α-antibody, which diminished all inflammatory parameters, histopathological scores, and apoptotic/necrotic markers in stressed/cerulein-treated rats. In rats, chronic stress increases susceptibility for developing pancreatitis, which involves TNF-α sensitization of pancreatic acinar cells to undergo injury by physiological cerulein stimulation.

  13. The emerging role of exosome and microvesicle- (EMV-) based cancer therapeutics and immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Moore, Colin; Kosgodage, Uchini; Lange, Sigrun; Inal, Jameel M

    2017-08-01

    There is an urgent need to develop new combination therapies beyond existing surgery, radio- and chemo-therapy, perhaps initially combining chemotherapy with the targeting specificities of immunotherapy. For this, strategies to limit inflammation and immunosuppression and evasion in the tumour microenvironment are also needed. To devise effective new immunotherapies we must first understand tumour immunology, including the roles of T cells, macrophages, myeloid suppressor cells and of exosomes and microvesicles (EMVs) in promoting angiogenesis, tumour growth, drug resistance and metastasis. One promising cancer immunotherapy discussed uses cationic liposomes carrying tumour RNA (RNA-lipoplexes) to provoke a strong anti-viral-like (cytotoxic CD8 + ) anti-tumour immune response. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived EMVs, with their capacity to migrate towards inflammatory areas including solid tumours, have also been used. As tumour EMVs clearly exacerbate the tumour microenvironment, another therapy option could involve EMV removal. Affinity-based methods to deplete EMVs, including an immunodepletion, antibody-based affinity substrate, are therefore considered. Finally EMV and exosome-mimetic nanovesicles (NVs) delivery of siRNA or chemotherapeutic drugs that target tumours using peptide ligands for cognate receptors on the tumour cells are discussed. We also touch upon the reversal of drug efflux in EMVs from cancer cells which can sensitize cells to chemotherapy. The use of immunotherapy in combination with the advent of EMVs provides potent therapies to various cancers. © 2017 UICC.

  14. [Anti-TNF-alpha therapy in ulcerative colitis].

    PubMed

    Lakatos, Péter László; Lakatos, László

    2008-05-18

    The most important factors that determine treatment strategy in ulcerative colitis (UC) are disease extent and severity. Orally-topically administered 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) remain the treatment of choice in mild-to-moderate UC. In contrast, the treatment of refractory (to steroids, azathioprine or 5-ASA) and fulminant cases is still demanding. New evidence supports a role for infliximab induction and/or maintenance therapy in these subgroup of patients leading to increased remission and decreased colectomy rates. The aim of this paper is to review the rationale for the use of TNF-alpha inhibitors in the treatment of UC.

  15. Increased anti-tumor effects using IL2 with anti-TGFβ reveals competition between mouse NK and CD8 T cells

    PubMed Central

    Alvarez, Maite; Bouchlaka, Myriam N.; Sckisel, Gail D.; Sungur, Can M.; Chen, Mingyi; Murphy, William J.

    2014-01-01

    Due to increasing interest in the removal of immunosuppressive pathways in cancer, the combination of IL2 with antibodies to neutralize TGFβ, a potent immunosuppressive cytokine, was assessed. Combination immunotherapy resulted in significantly greater anti-tumor effects. These were correlated with significant increases in the numbers and functionality of NK cells, NK progenitors and activated CD8 T cells resulting in the observed anti-tumor effects. Combination immunotherapy was also accompanied with lesser toxicities than IL2 therapy alone. Additionally, we observed a dual competition between NK and activated CD8 T cells such that after immunotherapy, the depletion of either effector population resulted in the increased total expansion of the other population and compensatory anti-tumor effects. This study demonstrates the efficacy of this combination immunotherapeutic regimen as a promising cancer therapy and illustrates the existence of potent competitive regulatory pathways between NK and CD8 T cells in response to systemic activation. PMID:25000978

  16. Long-term intravital imaging of the multicolor-coded tumor microenvironment during combination immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Qi, Shuhong; Li, Hui; Lu, Lisen; Qi, Zhongyang; Liu, Lei; Chen, Lu; Shen, Guanxin; Fu, Ling; Luo, Qingming; Zhang, Zhihong

    2016-01-01

    The combined-immunotherapy of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) is one of the most efficient treatments for melanoma patients. However, no synergistic effects of CTX and ACT on the spatio-temporal dynamics of immunocytes in vivo have been described. Here, we visualized key cell events in immunotherapy-elicited immunoreactions in a multicolor-coded tumor microenvironment, and then established an optimal strategy of metronomic combined-immunotherapy to enhance anti-tumor efficacy. Intravital imaging data indicated that regulatory T cells formed an 'immunosuppressive ring' around a solid tumor. The CTX-ACT combined-treatment elicited synergistic immunoreactions in tumor areas, which included relieving the immune suppression, triggering the transient activation of endogenous tumor-infiltrating immunocytes, increasing the accumulation of adoptive cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and accelerating the infiltration of dendritic cells. These insights into the spatio-temporal dynamics of immunocytes are beneficial for optimizing immunotherapy and provide new approaches for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the involvement of immunocytes in cancer immunotherapy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14756.001 PMID:27855783

  17. Biomarkers for immunotherapy in genitourinary malignancies.

    PubMed

    Slovin, Susan F

    2016-04-01

    Immunotherapy for genitourinary malignancies such as prostate, renal, and bladder cancers has experienced a resurgence since the development of 3 novel strategies: the autologous cellular product therapy, Sipuleucel-T for prostate cancer, the checkpoint inhibitors, anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA-4), anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD1), and anti-programmed cell death ligand 1), respectively. These agents have led to strikingly durable responses in several of these solid tumors, but their efficacy has been inconsistent. Why all solid tumors are not equal in their response to these therapies is unclear. More importantly, changes in humoral or cellular responses which may reflect changes in a tumor's biology have been limited due to differences in immune monitoring and lack of consistency in established reliable immunologic endpoints. How to design immunologic end points that reflect a meaningful effect on the cancer remains a challenge for clinical trial development. The issues faced by clinical investigators and the current state of immune monitoring are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. TNF-308 G/A polymorphism and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in the Polish population.

    PubMed

    Piotrowski, Piotr; Wudarski, Mariusz; Sowińska, Anna; Olesińska, Marzena; Jagodziński, Paweł P

    2015-09-01

    Numerous studies have been performed with TNF-α-308 G/A (rs1800629) single nuclear polymorphism (SNP) to evaluate the risk of SLE in various ethnicities. However, the significance of TNF-α-308 G/A in both clinical and laboratory studies of the disease remains unclear. Using a high-resolution melting curve analysis, we assessed the prevalence of TNF-α-308 G/A SNP in SLE patients (n = 262) and controls (n = 528) in a Polish population. We also assessed the contribution of this SNP to various clinical symptoms and the presence of autoantibodies in SLE patients. The p-value obtained using a χ(2) test for the trend of TNF-α-308 G/A was statistically significant (ptrend = 0.0297). However, using logistic regression analysis for the presence of the HLA-DRB1*03:01 haplotype, we observed that the TNF-α-308 G/A SNP may be the DRB1*03:01-dependent risk factor of SLE in the Polish population. There was a significant contribution of TNF-α-308 A/A and A/G genotypes to arthritis OR = [2.692 (1.503-4.822, p = 0.0007, pcorr = 0.0119)] as well as renal SLE manifestation OR = [2.632 (1.575-4.397, p = 0.0002, pcorr = 0.0034)]. There was a significant association between TNF-α-308 A/A and A/G genotypes and the presence of anti-Ro antibodies (Ab) OR = 3.375(1.711-6.658, p = 0.0003, pcorr = 0.0051). However, the logistic regression analysis revealed that only renal manifestations and the presence of anti-anti-Ro antibodies remained significant after adjustment to the presence of the HLA-DRB1*03:01 haplotype. Our studies indicate that the TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism may be a DRB1*03:01 haplotype-dependent genetic risk factor for SLE. However, this SNP was independently associated with renal manifestations and production of anti-Ro Ab.

  19. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote the Osteogenesis in Collagen-Induced Arthritic Mice through the Inhibition of TNF

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Chang; Tang, Xiaojun; Feng, Ruihai; Yao, Genhong; Chen, Weiwei; Li, Wenchao; Liang, Jun; Feng, Xuebing

    2018-01-01

    Objective To investigate the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation on joint damage and osteoporosis in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and to explore the mechanisms by which UC-MSCs modulate the osteogenic differentiation. Methods CIA mice were divided into the following treated groups: UC-MSC transplantation group, antitumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α group, and zoledronic acid (ZA) group. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) was used to analyze the bone morphology parameters. Osteogenic differentiation of treated CIA mice was determined. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from CIA mice were treated with TNF-α in vitro to explore their effects on osteogenesis. Results The arthritis score was significantly reduced in the UC-MSC transplantation and anti-TNF-α-treated CIA groups, compared with control mice (P < 0.001). Micro-CT showed that CIA mice developed osteoporosis at 12 weeks after immunization. The bone morphology parameters were partially improved in UC-MSC-treated CIA mice. Impaired osteogenic differentiation functions were indicated by decreased ALP activity (P < 0.001) and reduced mRNA and protein levels of osteogenic marker genes (P < 0.05) in CIA mice compared with DBA/1 mice. UC-MSC treatment significantly upregulated the impaired osteogenic differentiation ability in CIA mice. Meanwhile, the serum TNF-α level was decreased significantly in the UC-MSC group. The osteogenesis was reduced with the addition of TNF-α in vitro. Conclusion This study demonstrated that UC-MSC transplantation not only significantly improved the joint damage but also played a beneficial role in osteoporosis in CIA mice. Mechanistically, the improved osteogenic differentiation of CIA under UC-MSC treatment may be achieved by inhibition of TNF-α. PMID:29853911

  20. 3D-Printed Atsttrin-Incorporated Alginate/Hydroxyapatite Scaffold Promotes Bone Defect Regeneration with TNF/TNFR Signaling Involvement.

    PubMed

    Wang, Quan; Xia, Qingqing; Wu, Yan; Zhang, Xiaolei; Wen, Feiqiu; Chen, Xiaowen; Zhang, Shufang; Heng, Boon Chin; He, Yong; Ouyang, Hong-Wei

    2015-08-05

    High expression levels of pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α within bone defects can decelerate and impair bone regeneration. However, there are few available bone scaffolds with anti-inflammatory function. The progranulin (PGRN)-derived engineered protein, Atsttrin, is known to exert antagonistic effects on the TNF-α function. Hence, this study investigates whether 3D-printed Atsttrin-incorporated alginate(Alg)/hydroxyapatite(nHAp) scaffolds can facilitate bone healing through affecting the TNF/TNFR signaling. A 3D bioprinting system is used to fabricate Atsttrin-Alg/nHAp composite scaffolds, and the Atsttrin release from this scaffold is characterized, followed by evaluation of its efficacy on bone regeneration both in vitro and in vivo. The 3D-printed Atsttrin-Alg/nHAp scaffold exhibits a precisely defined structure, can sustain Atsttrin release for at least 5 days, has negligible cytotoxicity, and supports cell adhesion. Atsttrin can also attenuate the suppressive effects of TNF-α on BMP-2-induced osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. The 3D-printed Atsttrin-Alg/nHAp scaffold significantly reduces the number of TNF-α positive cells within wound sites, 7 days after post-calvarial defect surgery. Additionally, histological staining and X-ray scanning results also show that the 3D-printed Atsttrin-Alg/nHAp scaffold enhances the regeneration of mice calvarial bone defects. These findings thus demonstrate that the precise structure and anti-inflammatory properties of 3D-printed Atsttrin-Alg/nHAp scaffolds may promote bone defect repair. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. TNF binding protein of variola virus acts as a TNF antagonist at epicutaneous application.

    PubMed

    Gileva, Irina P; Viazovaia, Elena A; Toporkova, Ludmila B; Tsyrendorzhiev, Dondok D; Shchelkunov, Sergei N; Orlovskaya, Irina A

    2015-01-01

    VARV-CrmB is a TNF binding protein of variola virus. VARV-CrmB protein was previously shown to be active as a TNF-antagonist in a number of in vivo and in vitro models. Here we investigated the epicutaneous effect of recombinant VARV-CrmB protein using an experimental model of muTNFinduced migration of skin leukocytes as well as colony forming activity of bone marrow cells (BMC). Epiсutaneous applications of muTNF enhanced the number of cells migrating from skin flaps of BALB/c mice, whereas subsequent applications of VARV-CrmB protein in 30 min after muTNF, abolished that effect. Epicutaneously applied muTNF influenced the activity of committed hematopoietic progenitors causing a reduction of erythroid (BFUe+CFUe) colonies and increase of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) colonies in the colony-forming tests. VARV-CrmB, applied in combination with muTNF, demonstrated an ability to reverse this effect, namely, to increase BFUe+CFUe and reduce CFU-GM back to the control levels. Taking together, these data demonstrate the TNF-blocking properties of VARV-CrmB in vivo at epicutaneous applications. As effective TNF antagonist VARV-CrmB protein might be conceded as a beneficial candidate for future research and development of therapeutic approaches in the field of inflammatory skin diseases.

  2. Inhibition of GSK3 differentially modulates NF-{kappa}B, CREB, AP-1 and {beta}-catenin signaling in hepatocytes, but fails to promote TNF-{alpha}-induced apoptosis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goetschel, Frank; Kern, Claudia; Lang, Simona

    2008-04-01

    Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is known to modulate cell survival and apoptosis through multiple intracellular signaling pathways. However, its hepatoprotective function and its role in activation of NF-{kappa}B and anti-apoptotic factors are poorly understood and remain controversial. Here we investigated whether inhibition of GSK-3 could induce apoptosis in the presence of TNF-{alpha} in primary mouse hepatocytes. We show that pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 in primary mouse hepatocytes does not lead to TNF-{alpha}-induced apoptosis despite reduced NF-{kappa}B activity. Enhanced stability of I{kappa}B-{alpha} appears to be responsible for lower levels of nuclear NF-{kappa}B and hence reduced transactivation. Additionally, inhibition of GSK-3 wasmore » accompanied by marked upregulation of {beta}-catenin, AP-1, and CREB transcription factors. Stimulation of canonical Wnt signaling and CREB activity led to elevated levels of anti-apoptotic factors. Hence, survival of primary mouse hepatocytes may be caused by the activation and/or upregulation of other key regulators of liver homeostasis and regeneration. These signaling molecules may compensate for the compromised anti-apoptotic function of NF-{kappa}B and allow survival of hepatocytes in the presence of TNF-{alpha} and GSK-3 inhibition.« less

  3. Low-dose TNF augments fracture healing in normal and osteoporotic bone by up-regulating the innate immune response

    PubMed Central

    Chan, James K; Glass, Graeme E; Ersek, Adel; Freidin, Andrew; Williams, Garry A; Gowers, Kate; Espirito Santo, Ana I; Jeffery, Rosemary; Otto, William R; Poulsom, Richard; Feldmann, Marc; Rankin, Sara M; Horwood, Nicole J; Nanchahal, Jagdeep

    2015-01-01

    The mechanism by which trauma initiates healing remains unclear. Precise understanding of these events may define interventions for accelerating healing that could be translated to the clinical arena. We previously reported that addition of low-dose recombinant human TNF (rhTNF) at the fracture site augmented fracture repair in a murine tibial fracture model. Here, we show that local rhTNF treatment is only effective when administered within 24 h of injury, when neutrophils are the major inflammatory cell infiltrate. Systemic administration of anti-TNF impaired fracture healing. Addition of rhTNF enhanced neutrophil recruitment and promoted recruitment of monocytes through CCL2 production. Conversely, depletion of neutrophils or inhibition of the chemokine receptor CCR2 resulted in significantly impaired fracture healing. Fragility, or osteoporotic, fractures represent a major medical problem as they are associated with permanent disability and premature death. Using a murine model of fragility fractures, we found that local rhTNF treatment improved fracture healing during the early phase of repair. If translated clinically, this promotion of fracture healing would reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with delayed patient mobilization. PMID:25770819

  4. Low-dose TNF augments fracture healing in normal and osteoporotic bone by up-regulating the innate immune response.

    PubMed

    Chan, James K; Glass, Graeme E; Ersek, Adel; Freidin, Andrew; Williams, Garry A; Gowers, Kate; Espirito Santo, Ana I; Jeffery, Rosemary; Otto, William R; Poulsom, Richard; Feldmann, Marc; Rankin, Sara M; Horwood, Nicole J; Nanchahal, Jagdeep

    2015-05-01

    The mechanism by which trauma initiates healing remains unclear. Precise understanding of these events may define interventions for accelerating healing that could be translated to the clinical arena. We previously reported that addition of low-dose recombinant human TNF (rhTNF) at the fracture site augmented fracture repair in a murine tibial fracture model. Here, we show that local rhTNF treatment is only effective when administered within 24 h of injury, when neutrophils are the major inflammatory cell infiltrate. Systemic administration of anti-TNF impaired fracture healing. Addition of rhTNF enhanced neutrophil recruitment and promoted recruitment of monocytes through CCL2 production. Conversely, depletion of neutrophils or inhibition of the chemokine receptor CCR2 resulted in significantly impaired fracture healing. Fragility, or osteoporotic, fractures represent a major medical problem as they are associated with permanent disability and premature death. Using a murine model of fragility fractures, we found that local rhTNF treatment improved fracture healing during the early phase of repair. If translated clinically, this promotion of fracture healing would reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with delayed patient mobilization. © 2015 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

  5. Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of vedolizumab in patients with simultaneous exposure to an anti-tumour necrosis factor.

    PubMed

    Ben-Horin, S; Ungar, B; Kopylov, U; Lahat, A; Yavzori, M; Fudim, E; Picard, O; Peled, Y; Eliakim, R; Del Tedesco, E; Paul, S; Roblin, X

    2018-04-01

    Data on combination-biologic treatment in (IBD) are still scant. To explore outcomes of patients co-exposed to anti-TNF and vedolizumab. Patients starting vedolizumab having measurable anti-TNF levels after recently stopping adalimumab/infliximab ('VDZ-aTNF' group), were compared with control vedolizumab patients in a retrospective 1:2 matched case-control study. Seventy-five patients were included (25 VDZ-aTNF, 50 VDZ). Adverse events were experienced by 9/25 VDZ-aTNF compared to 13/50 VDZ patients (P = 0.4, follow-up 14 weeks in all). Week 14 clinical remission was attained in 10/25 (40%) of VDZ-aTNF patients versus 23/50 (46%) of VDZ patients (OR = 0.8, 95% CI 0.3-2.1, P = 0.6) and clinical response in 19/25 (76%) versus 39/50 (78%) respectively (OR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.3-2.7, P = 0.8). Corticosteroid-free remission and corticosteroid-free response were experienced by 30% and 54%, respectively, of the entire cohort, and were similar between the two groups. Vedolizumab drug concentrations at week 2, 6 and 14 were similar among VDZ-aTNF and VDZ patients (P > 0.5). Multi-variable analysis showed independent association of some vedolizumab drug-levels time-points with baseline albumin and weight, but not with anti-TNF co-exposure. In a prospective study of a separate cohort of patients starting infliximab (n = 12), the percentage of α4β7+ memory T cells, slightly but nonsignificantly increased throughout weeks 0, 2 to 14 (26 ± 2.3%, 27.8 ± 2.9%, 29.5 ± 2.6% respectively, P = 0.06). Vedolizumab/anti-TNF co-exposure did not generate new safety signals during 14-weeks induction, nor did it reduce efficacy or alter vedolizumab pharmacokinetics. These observations may aid the design of future co-biologics trials and also suggest that a deliberate waiting-interval between anti-TNF cessation and subsequent vedolizumab initiation may not be warranted. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology consensus on tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Part 2: Management.

    PubMed

    Park, Dong Il; Hisamatsu, Tadakazu; Chen, Minhu; Ng, Siew Chien; Ooi, Choon Jin; Wei, Shu Chen; Banerjee, Rupa; Hilmi, Ida Normiha; Jeen, Yoon Tae; Han, Dong Soo; Kim, Hyo Jong; Ran, Zhihua; Wu, Kaichun; Qian, Jiaming; Hu, Pin-Jin; Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi; Andoh, Akira; Suzuki, Yasuo; Sugano, Kentaro; Watanabe, Mamoru; Hibi, Toshifumi; Puri, Amarender S; Yang, Suk-Kyun

    2018-01-01

    Because anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy has become increasingly popular in many Asian countries, the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) among anti-TNF users may raise serious health problems in this region. Thus, the Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology have developed a set of consensus statements about risk assessment, detection and prevention of latent TB infection, and management of active TB infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-TNF treatment. Twenty-three consensus statements were initially drafted and then discussed by the committee members. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Web-based consensus voting was performed by 211 IBD specialists from nine Asian countries concerning each statement. A consensus statement was accepted if at least 75% of the participants agreed. Part 2 of the statements comprised three parts: (3) management of latent TB in preparation for anti-TNF therapy, (4) monitoring during anti-TNF therapy, and (5) management of an active TB infection after anti-TNF therapy. These consensus statements will help clinicians optimize patient outcomes by reducing the morbidity and mortality related to TB infections in patients with IBD receiving anti-TNF treatment. © 2017 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  7. Immunotherapy and immunoescape in colorectal cancer

    PubMed Central

    Mazzolini, Guillermo; Murillo, Oihana; Atorrasagasti, Catalina; Dubrot, Juan; Tirapu, Iñigo; Rizzo, Miguel; Arina, Ainhoa; Alfaro, Carlos; Azpilicueta, Arantza; Berasain, Carmen; Perez-Gracia, José L; Gonzalez, Alvaro; Melero, Ignacio

    2007-01-01

    Immunotherapy encompasses a variety of interventions and techniques with the common goal of eliciting tumor cell destructive immune responses. Colorectal carcinoma often presents as metastatic disease that impedes curative surgery. Novel strategies such as active immunization with dendritic cells (DCs), gene transfer of cytokines into tumor cells or administration of immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies (such as anti-CD137 or anti-CTLA-4) have been assessed in preclinical studies and are at an early clinical development stage. Importantly, there is accumulating evidence that chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be combined in the treatment of some cases with colorectal cancer, with synergistic potentiation as a result of antigens cross-presented by dendritic cells and/or elimination of competitor or suppressive T lymphocyte populations (regulatory T-cells). However, genetic and epigenetic unstable carcinoma cells frequently evolve mechanisms of immunoevasion that are the result of either loss of antigen presentation, or an active expression of immunosuppressive substances. Some of these actively immunosuppressive mechanisms are inducible by cytokines that signify the arrival of an effector immune response. For example, induction of 2, 3 indoleamine dioxygenase (IDO) by IFNγ in colorectal carcinoma cells. Combinational and balanced strategies fostering antigen presentation, T-cell costimulation and interference with immune regulatory mechanisms will probably take the stage in translational research in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. PMID:17990348

  8. In silico synergism and antagonism of an anti-tumour system intervened by coupling immunotherapy and chemotherapy: a mathematical modelling approach.

    PubMed

    Hu, Wen-Yong; Zhong, Wei-Rong; Wang, Feng-Hua; Li, Li; Shao, Yuan-Zhi

    2012-02-01

    Based on the logistic growth law for a tumour derived from enzymatic dynamics, we address from a physical point of view the phenomena of synergism, additivity and antagonism in an avascular anti-tumour system regulated externally by dual coupling periodic interventions, and propose a theoretical model to simulate the combinational administration of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The in silico results of our modelling approach reveal that the tumour population density of an anti-tumour system, which is subject to the combinational attack of chemotherapeutical as well as immune intervention, depends on four parameters as below: the therapy intensities D, the coupling intensity I, the coupling coherence R and the phase-shifts Φ between two combinational interventions. In relation to the intensity and nature (synergism, additivity and antagonism) of coupling as well as the phase-shift between two therapeutic interventions, the administration sequence of two periodic interventions makes a difference to the curative efficacy of an anti-tumour system. The isobologram established from our model maintains a considerable consistency with that of the well-established Loewe Additivity model (Tallarida, Pharmacology 319(1):1-7, 2006). Our study discloses the general dynamic feature of an anti-tumour system regulated by two periodic coupling interventions, and the results may serve as a supplement to previous models of drug administration in combination and provide a type of heuristic approach for preclinical pharmacokinetic investigation.

  9. The research status of immune checkpoint blockade by anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1/PD-l1 antibodies in tumor immunotherapy in China

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Xiaoqin; He, Liangmei; Mao, Kaiyun; Chen, Daming; Jiang, Hongbo; Liu, Zhiping

    2018-01-01

    Abstract Purpose: Using bibliometrics, we analyzed the research status of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB, a popular tumor immunotherapy method represented by antibodies targeted CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1) in tumor immunotherapy in China during the past 2 decades. Methods: Articles in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), patents in Thomson Innovation, and drugs in Cortellis Competitive Intelligence in the field of ICB for tumor immunotherapy from 1996 to 2015 were the subjects of bibliometric analysis. Using database-attached software and Excel, quantitative analyses were performed including examination of the number of documents, citation frequency, h-index, key projects, quantity of publications, public patents, and status of new drug research. Results: The number of publications from 1996 to 2015 in the field of ICB for tumor immunotherapy that came out of China was 380, which was 14.3% of the total publications worldwide and was second only to that of the USA. In the past decade, China has rapidly increased the number of publications and patents in this field. However, indicators of publication influence, such as citation frequency and h-index, were far behind other advanced countries. In addition, the total number of patents in China was much lower than that of the USA. China has introduced 5 drugs for ICB that are being developed for the healthcare market. Conclusion: Tumor immunotherapy research such as ICB in China has developed rapidly with increasing influence in the last 2 decades. However, there is still a relatively large gap compared with the USA. It is expected that China will have greater influence on tumor immunotherapy research in the near future. PMID:29642147

  10. Replicating viral vector platform exploits alarmin signals for potent CD8+ T cell-mediated tumour immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Kallert, Sandra M.; Darbre, Stephanie; Bonilla, Weldy V.; Kreutzfeldt, Mario; Page, Nicolas; Müller, Philipp; Kreuzaler, Matthias; Lu, Min; Favre, Stéphanie; Kreppel, Florian; Löhning, Max; Luther, Sanjiv A.; Zippelius, Alfred; Merkler, Doron; Pinschewer, Daniel D.

    2017-01-01

    Viral infections lead to alarmin release and elicit potent cytotoxic effector T lymphocyte (CTLeff) responses. Conversely, the induction of protective tumour-specific CTLeff and their recruitment into the tumour remain challenging tasks. Here we show that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can be engineered to serve as a replication competent, stably-attenuated immunotherapy vector (artLCMV). artLCMV delivers tumour-associated antigens to dendritic cells for efficient CTL priming. Unlike replication-deficient vectors, artLCMV targets also lymphoid tissue stroma cells expressing the alarmin interleukin-33. By triggering interleukin-33 signals, artLCMV elicits CTLeff responses of higher magnitude and functionality than those induced by replication-deficient vectors. Superior anti-tumour efficacy of artLCMV immunotherapy depends on interleukin-33 signalling, and a massive CTLeff influx triggers an inflammatory conversion of the tumour microenvironment. Our observations suggest that replicating viral delivery systems can release alarmins for improved anti-tumour efficacy. These mechanistic insights may outweigh safety concerns around replicating viral vectors in cancer immunotherapy. PMID:28548102

  11. Immunotherapy: what lies beyond.

    PubMed

    Casale, Thomas B; Stokes, Jeffrey R

    2014-03-01

    Allergen immunotherapy has been used to treat allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and venom allergy, since first described over a century ago. The current standard of care in the United States involves subcutaneous administration of clinically relevant allergens for several months, building up to eventual monthly injections for typically 3 to 5 years. Recent advances have improved the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy. The addition of omalizumab or Toll-like receptor agonists to standard subcutaneous immunotherapy has proved beneficial. Altering the extract itself, either through chemical manipulation producing allergoids or directly producing recombinant proteins or significant peptides, has been evaluated with promising results. The use of different administration techniques, such as sublingual immunotherapy, is common in Europe and is on the immediate horizon in the United States. Other methods of administering allergen immunotherapy have been studied, including epicutaneous, intralymphatic, intranasal, and oral immunotherapy. In this review we focus on new types and routes of immunotherapy, exploring recent human clinical trial data. The promise of better immunotherapies appears closer than ever before, but much work is still needed to develop novel immunotherapies that induce immunologic tolerance and enhanced clinical efficacy and safety over that noted for subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy. Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Influence of immunotherapy with autologous dendritic cells on innate and adaptive immune response in cancer.

    PubMed

    Matias, Bruna F; de Oliveira, Tânia M; Rodrigues, Cláudia M; Abdalla, Douglas R; Montes, Letícia; Murta, Eddie F C; Michelin, Márcia A

    2013-01-01

    The objective of this study was to evaluate some of the mechanisms involved in the activation of the immune system in patients with advanced-stage cancer (n = 7) who received an autologous dendritic cell vaccine. We examined the immune response mediated by macrophages (CD14+), natural killer cells (CD56+), and B lymphocytes (CD19+) by flow cytometry and assessed the expression of Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-12), Th2 (IL-4), and Treg (TGF-β) cytokines by flow cytometry and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The CD14+ TNF-α+ population was significantly increased (P < 0.04) when patients received the vaccine; IL-2 expression in both NK cells and in B lymphocytes was increased after a transient initial increase showed a nearly significant decrease (P < 0.07 and P < 0.06 respectively), whereas the CD19+ and CD56+ populations did not show significant changes. Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy led to increased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-12 and reduced secretion of TGF-β. In conclusion, it is likely that the autologous dendritic cell vaccine stimulated the immune cells from the peripheral blood of patients with cancer and generally increased the production of Th1 cytokines, which are related to immunomodulatory responses against cancer.

  13. Influence of Immunotherapy with Autologous Dendritic Cells on Innate and Adaptive Immune Response in Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Matias, Bruna F.; de Oliveira, Tânia M.; Rodrigues, Cláudia M.; Abdalla, Douglas R.; Montes, Letícia; Murta, Eddie F.C.; Michelin, Márcia A.

    2013-01-01

    The objective of this study was to evaluate some of the mechanisms involved in the activation of the immune system in patients with advanced-stage cancer (n = 7) who received an autologous dendritic cell vaccine. We examined the immune response mediated by macrophages (CD14+), natural killer cells (CD56+), and B lymphocytes (CD19+) by flow cytometry and assessed the expression of Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-12), Th2 (IL-4), and Treg (TGF-β) cytokines by flow cytometry and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The CD14+ TNF-α+ population was significantly increased (P < 0.04) when patients received the vaccine; IL-2 expression in both NK cells and in B lymphocytes was increased after a transient initial increase showed a nearly significant decrease (P < 0.07 and P < 0.06 respectively), whereas the CD19+ and CD56+ populations did not show significant changes. Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy led to increased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-12 and reduced secretion of TGF-β. In conclusion, it is likely that the autologous dendritic cell vaccine stimulated the immune cells from the peripheral blood of patients with cancer and generally increased the production of Th1 cytokines, which are related to immunomodulatory responses against cancer. PMID:23926442

  14. Surface expression of anti-CD3scfv stimulates locoregional immunotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma depending on the E1A-engineered human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Qing; Yuan, Xiang-Fei; Lu, Yang; Li, Zhen-Zhen; Bao, Shi-Qi; Zhang, Xiao-Long; Yang, Yuan-Yuan; Fan, Dong-Mei; Zhang, Yi-Zhi; Wu, Chen-Xuan; Guo, Hong-Xing; Zhang, Yan-Jun; Ye, Zhou; Xiong, Dong-Sheng

    2017-10-01

    Tumor antigens is at the core of cancer immunotherapy, however, the ideal antigen selection is difficult especially in poorly immunogenic tumors. In this study, we designed a strategy to modify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by surface expressing anti-CD3scfv within the tumor site strictly, which depended on the E1A-engineered human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSC.E1A) delivery system. Subsequently, membrane-bound anti-CD3scfv actived the lymphocytes which lysed HCC cells bypassing the expression of antigens or MHC restriction. First, we constructed the anti-CD3scfv gene driven by human α-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter into an adenoviral vector and the E1A gene into the lentiviral vector. Our results showed that anti-CD3scfv could specifically express on the surface of HCC cells and activate the lymphocytes to kill target cells effectively in vitro. HUMSC infected by AdCD3scfv followed by LentiR.E1A could support the adenoviral replication and packaging in vitro 36 h after LentiR.E1A infection. Using a subcutaneous HepG2 xenograft model, we confirmed that AdCD3scfv and LentiR.E1A co-transfected HUMSC could migrate selectively to the tumor site and produce considerable adenoviruses. The new generated AdCD3scfv infected and modified tumor cells successfully. Mice injected with the MSC.E1A.AdCD3scfv and lymphocytes significantly inhibited the tumor growth compared with control groups. Furthermore, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) could sensitize adenovirus infection at low MOI resulting in improved lymphocytes cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. In summary, this study provides a promising strategy for solid tumor immunotherapy. © 2017 UICC.

  15. Helper T lymphocyte response in the peripheral blood of patients with intraepithelial neoplasia submitted to immunotherapy with pegylated interferon-α.

    PubMed

    Michelin, Márcia Antoniazi; Montes, Letícia; Nomelini, Rosekeila Simões; Trovó, Marco Aurélio; Murta, Eddie Fernando Candido

    2015-03-10

    Immunotherapy in cancer patients is a very promising treatment and the development of new protocols and the study of the mechanisms of regression is imperative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of cytokines in helper T (CD4+) lymphocytes during immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We conducted a prospective study with 17 patients with CIN II-III using immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α subcutaneouly weekly, and using flow cytometry we evaluated the peripheric CD4+ T lymphocytes. The results show that in the regression group the patients presented a significant increase in the amount of IFN-γ during the entire immunotherapy, compared with the group without a response. The amount of CD4+ T lymphocytes positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β is significantly lower in patients with good clinical response. The results also demonstrate that patients with regression have a higher amount of intracellular TNF-α in CD4+ T lymphocytes before the start of treatment. Analyzing these data sets, it can be concluded that immunotherapy is a viable clinical treatment for patients with high-grade CIN and that the regression is dependent on the change in the immune response to a Th1 pattern.

  16. Helper T Lymphocyte Response in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Intraepithelial Neoplasia Submitted to Immunotherapy with Pegylated Interferon-α

    PubMed Central

    Michelin, Márcia Antoniazi; Montes, Letícia; Nomelini, Rosekeila Simões; Trovó, Marco Aurélio; Murta, Eddie Fernando Candido

    2015-01-01

    Immunotherapy in cancer patients is a very promising treatment and the development of new protocols and the study of the mechanisms of regression is imperative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of cytokines in helper T (CD4+) lymphocytes during immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We conducted a prospective study with 17 patients with CIN II-III using immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α subcutaneouly weekly, and using flow cytometry we evaluated the peripheric CD4+ T lymphocytes. The results show that in the regression group the patients presented a significant increase in the amount of IFN-γ during the entire immunotherapy, compared with the group without a response. The amount of CD4+ T lymphocytes positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β is significantly lower in patients with good clinical response. The results also demonstrate that patients with regression have a higher amount of intracellular TNF-α in CD4+ T lymphocytes before the start of treatment. Analyzing these data sets, it can be concluded that immunotherapy is a viable clinical treatment for patients with high-grade CIN and that the regression is dependent on the change in the immune response to a Th1 pattern. PMID:25764160

  17. Laser assisted immunotherapy (LIT) for chemotherapy-resistant neoplasms: recent case reports

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nordquist, Robert E.; Bahavar, Cody; Zhou, Feifan; Hode, Tomas; Chen, Wei R.; Li, Xiaosong; Naylor, Mark F.

    2014-02-01

    T-cell stimulators such as anti-CTLA-4 antibodies enhance immunologic responses to chemotherapy-resistant solid tumors, such as melanoma, advanced breast cancer, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer. The efficacy of these new immunotherapy agents can in theory be enhanced substantially by therapies that stimulate new immunologic (T-cell) responses against the tumor. Laser immunotherapy (LIT) with imiquimod and InCVAX are techniques that produce useful responses in patients with advanced melanoma, the prototypical chemotherapy resistant solid tumor. The mechanism of action of these therapies is thought to be immunological, including the development of new T-cell responses. We have therefore been combining LIT using imiquimod and InCVAX treatment with the new T-cell stimulators (ipilimumab) in cases of stage IV melanoma. While still anecdotal, the use of novel combinations of immunologic therapies should provide much improved responses for chemotherapy-resistant solid tumors (such as melanoma) than was previously possible. Newer T-cell stimulating drugs such as the anti-PD-1 antibodies and anti-PD-L1 antibodies will make this general approach to treating chemoresistant advanced tumors even more effective in the future.

  18. Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer: What's Next?

    PubMed Central

    Kandalaft, Lana E.; Powell, Daniel J.; Singh, Nathan; Coukos, George

    2011-01-01

    In the past decade, we have witnessed important gains in the treatment of ovarian cancer; however, additional advances are required to reduce mortality. With compelling evidence that ovarian cancers are immunogenic tumors, immunotherapy should be further pursued and optimized. The dramatic advances in laboratory and clinical procedures in cellular immunotherapy, along with the development of powerful immunomodulatory antibodies, create new opportunities in ovarian cancer therapeutics. Herein, we review current progress and future prospects in vaccine and adoptive T-cell therapy development as well as immunomodulatory therapy tools available for immediate clinical testing. PMID:21079136

  19. Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Myeloid Leukemias

    PubMed Central

    Schürch, Christian M.; Riether, Carsten; Ochsenbein, Adrian F.

    2013-01-01

    Acute and chronic myeloid leukemia (AML, CML) are hematologic malignancies arising from oncogene-transformed hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells known as leukemia stem cells (LSCs). LSCs are selectively resistant to various forms of therapy including irradiation or cytotoxic drugs. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has dramatically improved disease outcome in patients with CML. For AML, however, prognosis is still quite dismal. Standard treatments have been established more than 20 years ago with only limited advances ever since. Durable remission is achieved in less than 30% of patients. Minimal residual disease (MRD), reflected by the persistence of LSCs below the detection limit by conventional methods, causes a high rate of disease relapses. Therefore, the ultimate goal in the treatment of myeloid leukemia must be the eradication of LSCs. Active immunotherapy, aiming at the generation of leukemia-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), may represent a powerful approach to target LSCs in the MRD situation. To fully activate CTLs, leukemia antigens have to be successfully captured, processed, and presented by mature dendritic cells (DCs). Myeloid progenitors are a prominent source of DCs under homeostatic conditions, and it is now well established that LSCs and leukemic blasts can give rise to “malignant” DCs. These leukemia-derived DCs can express leukemia antigens and may either induce anti-leukemic T cell responses or favor tolerance to the leukemia, depending on co-stimulatory or -inhibitory molecules and cytokines. This review will concentrate on the role of DCs in myeloid leukemia immunotherapy with a special focus on their generation, application, and function and how they could be improved in order to generate highly effective and specific anti-leukemic CTL responses. In addition, we discuss how DC-based immunotherapy may be successfully integrated into current treatment strategies to promote remission and potentially cure myeloid leukemias

  20. EAACI: A European Declaration on Immunotherapy. Designing the future of allergen specific immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Allergy today is a public health concern of pandemic proportions, affecting more than 150 million people in Europe alone. In view of epidemiological trends, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) predicts that within the next few decades, more than half of the European population may at some point in their lives experience some type of allergy. Not only do allergic patients suffer from a debilitating disease, with the potential for major impact on their quality of life, career progression, personal development and lifestyle choices, but they also constitute a significant burden on health economics and macroeconomics due to the days of lost productivity and underperformance. Given that allergy triggers, including urbanization, industrialization, pollution and climate change, are not expected to change in the foreseeable future, it is imperative that steps are taken to develop, strengthen and optimize preventive and treatment strategies. Allergen specific immunotherapy is the only currently available medical intervention that has the potential to affect the natural course of the disease. Years of basic science research, clinical trials, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses have convincingly shown that allergen specific immunotherapy can achieve substantial results for patients, improving the allergic individuals’ quality of life, reducing the long-term costs and burden of allergies, and changing the course of the disease. Allergen specific immunotherapy not only effectively alleviates allergy symptoms, but it has a long-term effect after conclusion of the treatment and can prevent the progression of allergic diseases. Unfortunately, allergen specific immunotherapy has not yet received adequate attention from European institutions, including research funding bodies, even though this could be a most rewarding field in terms of return on investments, translational value and European integration and, a field in which Europe is recognized as

  1. EAACI: A European Declaration on Immunotherapy. Designing the future of allergen specific immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Calderon, Moises A; Demoly, Pascal; Gerth van Wijk, Roy; Bousquet, Jean; Sheikh, Aziz; Frew, Anthony; Scadding, Glenis; Bachert, Claus; Malling, Hans J; Valenta, Rudolph; Bilo, Beatrice; Nieto, Antonio; Akdis, Cezmi; Just, Jocelyne; Vidal, Carmen; Varga, Eva M; Alvarez-Cuesta, Emilio; Bohle, Barbara; Bufe, Albrecht; Canonica, Walter G; Cardona, Victoria; Dahl, Ronald; Didier, Alain; Durham, Stephen R; Eng, Peter; Fernandez-Rivas, Montserrat; Jacobsen, Lars; Jutel, Marek; Kleine-Tebbe, Jörg; Klimek, Ludger; Lötvall, Jan; Moreno, Carmen; Mosges, Ralph; Muraro, Antonella; Niggemann, Bodo; Pajno, Giovanni; Passalacqua, Giovanni; Pfaar, Oliver; Rak, Sabina; Senna, Gianenrico; Senti, Gabriela; Valovirta, Erkka; van Hage, Marianne; Virchow, Johannes C; Wahn, Ulrich; Papadopoulos, Nikolaos

    2012-10-30

    Allergy today is a public health concern of pandemic proportions, affecting more than 150 million people in Europe alone. In view of epidemiological trends, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) predicts that within the next few decades, more than half of the European population may at some point in their lives experience some type of allergy.Not only do allergic patients suffer from a debilitating disease, with the potential for major impact on their quality of life, career progression, personal development and lifestyle choices, but they also constitute a significant burden on health economics and macroeconomics due to the days of lost productivity and underperformance. Given that allergy triggers, including urbanization, industrialization, pollution and climate change, are not expected to change in the foreseeable future, it is imperative that steps are taken to develop, strengthen and optimize preventive and treatment strategies.Allergen specific immunotherapy is the only currently available medical intervention that has the potential to affect the natural course of the disease. Years of basic science research, clinical trials, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses have convincingly shown that allergen specific immunotherapy can achieve substantial results for patients, improving the allergic individuals' quality of life, reducing the long-term costs and burden of allergies, and changing the course of the disease. Allergen specific immunotherapy not only effectively alleviates allergy symptoms, but it has a long-term effect after conclusion of the treatment and can prevent the progression of allergic diseases.Unfortunately, allergen specific immunotherapy has not yet received adequate attention from European institutions, including research funding bodies, even though this could be a most rewarding field in terms of return on investments, translational value and European integration and, a field in which Europe is recognized as a

  2. Pseudoprogression manifesting as recurrent ascites with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in urothelial bladder cancer.

    PubMed

    Sweis, Randy F; Zha, Yuanyuan; Pass, Lomax; Heiss, Brian; Chongsuwat, Tara; Luke, Jason J; Gajewski, Thomas F; Szmulewitz, Russell

    2018-04-04

    Immunotherapies targeting the PD-1 checkpoint pathway have recently gained regulatory approval in numerous cancer types. With the widespread use of immune checkpoint therapies, varying patterns of responses and immune-related adverse events are being observed. In this case, we highlight a patient who developed recurrent, large-volume ascites, while simultaneously having a 49% reduction in peritoneal tumor lesion size by RECIST criteria. Sampling of the fluid revealed high levels of IL-6 and IL-15. Cytology revealed no malignant cells on 4 separate paracenteses over a period of 6 weeks. Cell counts revealed that 45% of cells were lymphocytes, and further analysis was performed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The majority of lymphocytes were CD8 + , of which 78% were PD-1 + and 43% were HLA-DR + indicating an activated phenotype. In summary, treatment with anti-PD-1 therapy may result in pseudoprogression manifested by ascitic fluid accumulation due to the influx of activated T cells. Since worsening of ascites is typically associated with disease progression, it is important to consider the possibility of pesudoprogression in such patients undergoing therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

  3. Immunotherapy for food allergy.

    PubMed

    Wild, L G; Lehrer, S B

    2001-01-01

    Food allergy is an important cause of life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Avoidance of allergenic foods is the only method of prevention that currently is available for sensitized patients. This method of prevention is difficult and often impossible. With better characterization of allergens and better understanding of the immunologic mechanism, investigators have developed several therapeutic modalities that potentially are applicable to the treatment and prevention of food allergy. Therapeutic options currently under investigation include peptide immunotherapy, DNA immunization, immunization with immunostimulatory sequences, anti-IgE therapy, and genetic modification of foods. These exciting developments hold promise for the safe and effective treatment and prevention of food allergy in the next several years.

  4. Canine mesenchymal stem cells treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ enhance anti-inflammatory effects through the COX-2/PGE2 pathway.

    PubMed

    Yang, Hye-Mi; Song, Woo-Jin; Li, Qiang; Kim, Su-Yeon; Kim, Hyeon-Jin; Ryu, Min-Ok; Ahn, Jin-Ok; Youn, Hwa-Young

    2018-05-14

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in studies on treatment of various diseases, and their application to immune-mediated diseases has garnered interest. Various methods for enhancing the immunomodulation effect of human MSCs have been used; however, similar approaches for canine MSCs are relatively unexplored. Accordingly, we evaluated immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms in canine MSCs treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were incubated with the conditioned media (CM) from canine MSCs for 48 h. Expression of RNA was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and protein levels were assessed by western blot. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-6 and IL-1β was significantly (one-way ANOVA) decreased in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells incubated with CM from canine MSCs compared to that in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells alone. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory effects of TNF-α- and IFN-γ-primed canine MSCs were significantly increased compared with those of naïve canine MSCs. Expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) were likewise significantly increased in primed canine MSCs. The level of iNOS protein in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells incubated with CM from the primed canine MSCs was decreased, but it increased when the cells were treated with NS-398(PGE 2 inhibitor). In conclusion, compared with naïve canine MSCs, cells primed with TNF-α and IFN-γ cause a greater reduction in release of anti-inflammatory cytokines from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; the mechanism is upregulation of the COX-2/PGE 2 pathway. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  5. A randomized trial of immunotherapy for persistent genital warts

    PubMed Central

    Jardine, David; Lu, Jieqiang; Pang, James; Palmer, Cheryn; Tu, Quanmei; Chuah, John; Frazer, Ian H.

    2012-01-01

    Aim To determine whether immunotherapy with HPV6 L1 virus like particles (VLPs) without adjuvant (VLP immunotherapy) reduces recurrence of genital warts following destructive therapy. Trial design A randomized placebo controlled blinded study of treatment of recurrent genital warts amenable to destructive therapy, conducted independently in Australia and China. Methods Patients received conventional destructive therapy of all evident warts together with intramuscular administration of 1, 5 or 25 µg of VLP immunotherapy, or of placebo immunotherapy (0.9% NaCl), as immunotherapy at week 0 and week 4. Primary outcome, assessed at week 8, was recurrence of visible warts. Results Of 33 protocol compliant Brisbane recipients of placebo immunotherapy, 11 were disease free at two months, and a further 9 demonstrated reduction of > 50% in total wart area. Wart area reduction following destructive treatment correlated with prior duration of disease. Among 102 protocol compliant Brisbane recipients of VLP immunotherapy, disease reduction was significantly greater than among the placebo immunotherapy (50% ± s.e.m. 7%) recipients for subjects receiving 5 µg or 25 µg of VLP immunotherapy/dose (71% ± s.e.m.7%) but not for those receiving 1 µg VLP immunotherapy/dose (42% ± 7%). Of 52 protocol compliant placebo immunotherapy recipients in Wenzhou, 37 were disease free at two months, and a further 8 had > 50% disease reduction. Prior disease duration was much shorter in Wenzhou subject (8.1 ± 1.1 mo) than in Brisbane subjects (53.7 ± 5.5 mo). No significant reduction in mean wart area was observed for the 168 Wenzhou protocol compliant subjects who also received VLP immunotherapy. Conclusions This study confirms the findings in a previous open label trial that administration of VLP immunotherapy may assist in clearance of recurrent genital warts in patients for whom destructive therapy is unsuccessful and that unsuccessful destructive therapy is more common with increasing

  6. Reduced transcript stabilization restricts TNF-alpha expression in RAW264.7 macrophages infected with pathogenic mycobacteria: evidence for an involvement of lipomannan.

    PubMed

    Basler, Tina; Holtmann, Helmut; Abel, Jens; Eckstein, Torsten; Baumer, Wolfgang; Valentin-Weigand, Peter; Goethe, Ralph

    2010-01-01

    Despite the critical role that TNF-alpha plays in the containment of mycobacterial infection, the mechanisms involved in regulation of its expression by mycobacteria are poorly defined. We addressed this question by studying MAP, which causes a chronic enteritis in ruminants and is linked to human Crohn's disease. We found that in MAP infected macrophages, TNF-alpha gene expression was substantially lower than in macrophages infected with nonpathogenic MS or stimulated with LPS. TNF-alpha transcriptional one could not fully explain the differential TNF-alpha mRNA expression, suggesting that there must be a substantial contribution by post-transcriptional mechanisms.Accordingly, we found reduced TNF-alpha mRNA stability in MAP-infected macrophages. Further comparison of MAP- and MS-infected macrophages revealed that lower TNF-alpha mRNA stability combined with lower mRNA and protein expression in MAP-infected macrophages correlated with lower p38 MAPK phosphorylation. These findings were independent of viability of MAP and MS. We demonstrate that the major mycobacterial cell-wall lipoglycan LM of MAP and MS induced TNF-alpha mRNA transcription,but only the MS-LM induced p38 MAPK-dependent transcript stabilization. Overall, our data suggest that pathogenic mycobacteria cause weak p38 and TNF-alpha mRNA stabilization as a result of their structural cell-wall components such as LM and thereby, restrict TNF-alpha expression in macrophages.

  7. Anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol on TNF-{alpha}-induced MCP-1 expression in adipocytes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhu Jian; Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Jiangsu Province Diabetes Center, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029; Yong Wei

    2008-05-02

    Chronic low-grade inflammation characterized by adipose tissue macrophage accumulation and abnormal cytokine production is a key feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Adipose-tissue-derived monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, induced by cytokines, has been shown to play an essential role in the early events during macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue. In this study we investigated the effects of resveratrol upon both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-{alpha}-induced MCP-1 gene expression and its underlying signaling pathways in 3T3-L1 adipoctyes. Resveratrol was found to inhibit TNF-{alpha}-induced MCP-1 secretion and gene transcription, as well as promoter activity, which based on down-regulation of TNF-{alpha}-induced MCP-1 transcription. Nuclearmore » factor (NF)-{kappa}B was determined to play a major role in the TNF-{alpha}-induced MCP-1 expression. Further analysis showed that resveratrol inhibited DNA binding activity of the NF-{kappa}B complex and subsequently suppressed NF-{kappa}B transcriptional activity in TNF-{alpha}-stimulated cells. Finally, the inhibition of MCP-1 may represent a novel mechanism of resveratrol in preventing obesity-related pathologies.« less

  8. Antibody treatment of human tumor xenografts elicits active anti-tumor immunity in nude mice

    PubMed Central

    Liebman, Meredith A.; Roche, Marly I.; Williams, Brent R.; Kim, Jae; Pageau, Steven C.; Sharon, Jacqueline

    2007-01-01

    Athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous tumor xenografts of the human anti-colorectal cancer cell line SW480 were used as a preclinical model to explore anti-tumor immunotherapies. Intratumor or systemic treatment of the mice with murine anti-SW480 serum, recombinant anti-SW480 polyclonal antibodies, or the anti-colorectal cancer monoclonal antibody CO17-1A, caused retardation or regression of SW480 tumor xenografts. Interestingly, when mice that had regressed their tumors were re-challenged with SW480 cells, these mice regressed the new tumors without further antibody treatment. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from mice that had regressed their tumors conferred anti-tumor immunity to naïve nude mice. Pilot experiments suggest that the transferred anti-tumor immunity is mediated by T cells of both γδ and αβ lineages. These results demonstrate that passive anti-tumor immunotherapy can elicit active immunity and support a role for extra-thymic γδ and αβ T cells in tumor rejection. Implications for potential immunotherapies include injection of tumor nodules in cancer patients with anti-tumor antibodies to induce anti-tumor T cell immunity. PMID:17920694

  9. Leptin confers protection against TNF-α-induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes.

    PubMed

    Yu, Lu; Zhao, Yanbo; Xu, Shengjie; Jin, Chongying; Wang, Min; Fu, Guosheng

    2014-12-05

    Leptin, an important adipose-derived hormone, is recognized as a crucial protein in energy homeostasis. Recent studies indicated that leptin is associated with cardiac pathophysiology, however, the role and mechanisms of leptin in cardiomyocytes apoptosis are poorly understood. Here we investigated whether leptin exerted protective effect on cardiomyocytes exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the possible mechanisms. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to TNF-α in the presence or absence of leptin. By FITC/Annexin V flow cytometry and Western blot, we noticed that TNF-α increased Annexin V binding and cleaved caspase-3/PARP, which were attenuated by leptin pretreatment. Moreover, leptin protected cardiomyocytes against mitochondrial apoptosis by inhibiting cytochrome C elevation and Bcl-2 decreasing. TNF-α-induced P38 MAPK and NF-κB activation were abolished by leptin addition, and the P38 and NF-κB inhibitor, SB203580 and Bay117082, also mitigated the apoptotic effect of TNF-α, indicating that their activation might be responsible for the apoptosis in TNF-α-treated cardiomyocytes. Therefore, leptin conferred anti-apoptotic effect in cardiomyocytes exposed to TNF-α possibly by inhibiting TNF-α-activated P38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways.

  10. Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic effects of red algae Gracilaria changii (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) extract

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Gracilaria changii (Xia et Abbott) Abbott, Zhang et Xia, a red algae commonly found in the coastal areas of Malaysia is traditionally used for foods and for the treatment of various ailments including inflammation and gastric ailments. The aim of the study was to investigate anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic activities of a mass spectrometry standardized methanolic extract of Gracilaria changii. Methods Methanolic extract of Gracilaria changii (MeOHGCM6 extract) was prepared and standardized using mass spectrometry (MS). Anti-inflammatory activities of MeOHGCM6 extract were examined by treating U937 cells during its differentiation with 10 μg/ml MeOHGCM6 extract. Tumour necrosis factors-α (TNF-α) response level and TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression were monitored and compared to that treated by 10 nM betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug. Gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic activities of MeOHGCM6 extract were examined by feeding rats with MeOHGCM6 extract ranging from 2.5 to 500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) following induction of gastric lesions. Production of mucus and gastric juice, pH of the gastric juice and non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) levels were determined and compared to that fed by 20 mg/kg b.w. omeprazole (OMP), a known anti-ulcer drug. Results MS/MS analysis of the MeOHGCM6 extracts revealed the presence of methyl 10-hydroxyphaeophorbide a and 10-hydroxypheophytin a, known chlorophyll proteins and several unidentified molecules. Treatment with 10 μg/ml MeOHGCM6 extract during differentiation of U937 cells significantly inhibited TNF-α response level and TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression. The inhibitory effect was comparable to that of betamethasone. No cytotoxic effects were recorded for cells treated with the 10 μg/ml MeOHGCM6 extract. Rats fed with MeOHGCM6 extract at 500 mg/kg b.w. showed reduced absolute ethanol-induced gastric lesion sizes by > 99% (p < 0.05). This protective

  11. The Impact of DMARD and Anti-TNF Therapy on Functional Characterization of Short-Term T-Cell Activation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis – A Follow-Up Study

    PubMed Central

    Szalay, Balázs; Cseh, Áron; Mészáros, Gergő; Kovács, László; Balog, Attila; Vásárhelyi, Barna

    2014-01-01

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a systemic dysfunction of T-cells. In this study we tested the impact of DMARD and anti-TNF agents on short-term activation characteristics of T-cells. We enrolled 12 patients with newly diagnosed RA (naïve RA) who were treated with methothrexate (MTX) and glucocorticsteroid (GCS) and 22 patients with established RA non responding to conventional DMARD therapy who were treated with different anti-TNF agents. Nine healthy volunteers served as controls. Blood samples were taken at baseline, then at 4th and 8th week of therapy. The characteristics of several intracellular activation processes during short-term activation of T-cells including cytoplasmic Ca2+ level, mitochondrial Ca2+ level, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) generation were determined by a novel flow-cytometry technique. At baseline, the tested processes were comparable to controls in naïve RA. During GCS therapy, cytoplasmic Ca2+ level and ROS generation decreased. After the addition of MTX to GCS cytoplasmic Ca2+ level became comparable to controls, while ROS generation decreased further. In DMARD non responders, cytoplasmic Ca2+ level was higher than controls at baseline. The cytoplasmic Ca2+ level became comparable to controls and ROS generation decreased during each of the three anti-TNF-α agent therapies. Mitochondrial Ca2+ level and NO generation were unaltered in all of the patient groups. These results indicate that intracellular machinery is affected in T-cells of RA patients. This may alter the behavior of T-cells during activation. Different therapeutic approaches may modulate the abnormal T-cell functions. PMID:25098248

  12. Effectiveness and Safety of Immunomodulators With Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy in Crohn's Disease.

    PubMed

    Osterman, Mark T; Haynes, Kevin; Delzell, Elizabeth; Zhang, Jie; Bewtra, Meenakshi; Brensinger, Colleen M; Chen, Lang; Xie, Fenglong; Curtis, Jeffrey R; Lewis, James D

    2015-07-01

    The benefit of continuing immunomodulators when "stepping up" to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) is uncertain. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of immunomodulators with anti-TNF therapy in CD. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of new users of anti-TNF therapy for CD in Medicare. Users of anti-TNF combination therapy with immunomodulators were matched to up to 3 users of anti-TNF monotherapy via propensity score and compared by using 3 metrics of effectiveness-surgery, hospitalization, and discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy or surgery-and 2 metrics of safety-serious infection and non-Candida opportunistic infection. Cox regression was used for all analyses. Among new users of infliximab, we matched 381 users of combination therapy to 912 users of monotherapy; among new users of adalimumab, we matched 196 users of combination therapy to 505 users of monotherapy. Combination therapy occurred predominantly as "step up" after thiopurine therapy. The rates of surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.96), hospitalization (HR, 0.82; 0.57-1.19), discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy or surgery (HR, 1.09; 0.88-1.34), and serious infection (HR, 0.93; 0.88-1.34) did not differ between users of anti-TNF combination therapy and monotherapy. However, the risks of opportunistic infection (HR, 2.64; 1.21-5.73) and herpes zoster (HR, 3.16; 1.25-7.97) were increased with combination therapy. We found that continuation of immunomodulators after "stepping up" to anti-TNF therapy did not improve outcomes but was associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infection. Copyright © 2015 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Cancer Immunotherapy

    MedlinePlus

    Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. It is a type of biological therapy. Biological therapy uses substances ... t yet use immunotherapy as often as other cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. ...

  14. Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology consensus on tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Part 1: risk assessment.

    PubMed

    Park, Dong Il; Hisamatsu, Tadakazu; Chen, Minhu; Ng, Siew Chien; Ooi, Choon Jin; Wei, Shu Chen; Banerjee, Rupa; Hilmi, Ida Normiha; Jeen, Yoon Tae; Han, Dong Soo; Kim, Hyo Jong; Ran, Zhihua; Wu, Kaichun; Qian, Jiaming; Hu, Pin-Jin; Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi; Andoh, Akira; Suzuki, Yasuo; Sugano, Kentaro; Watanabe, Mamoru; Hibi, Toshifumi; Puri, Amarender S; Yang, Suk-Kyun

    2018-01-01

    Because anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy has become increasingly popular in many Asian countries, the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) among anti-TNF users may raise serious health problems in this region. Thus, the Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology have developed a set of consensus statements about risk assessment, detection and prevention of latent TB infection, and management of active TB infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-TNF treatment. Twenty-three consensus statements were initially drafted and then discussed by the committee members. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Web-based consensus voting was performed by 211 IBD specialists from 9 Asian countries concerning each statement. A consensus statement was accepted if at least 75% of the participants agreed. Part 1 of the statements comprised 2 parts: risk of TB infection Recommendaduring anti-TNF therapy, and screening for TB infection prior to commencing anti-TNF therapy. These consensus statements will help clinicians optimize patient outcomes by reducing the morbidity and mortality related to TB infections in patients with IBD receiving anti-TNF treatment.

  15. Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology consensus on tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Part 1: risk assessment

    PubMed Central

    Park, Dong Il; Hisamatsu, Tadakazu; Chen, Minhu; Ng, Siew Chien; Ooi, Choon Jin; Wei, Shu Chen; Banerjee, Rupa; Hilmi, Ida Normiha; Jeen, Yoon Tae; Han, Dong Soo; Kim, Hyo Jong; Ran, Zhihua; Wu, Kaichun; Qian, Jiaming; Hu, Pin-Jin; Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi; Andoh, Akira; Suzuki, Yasuo; Sugano, Kentaro; Watanabe, Mamoru; Hibi, Toshifumi; Puri, Amarender S.

    2018-01-01

    Because anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy has become increasingly popular in many Asian countries, the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) among anti-TNF users may raise serious health problems in this region. Thus, the Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology have developed a set of consensus statements about risk assessment, detection and prevention of latent TB infection, and management of active TB infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-TNF treatment. Twenty-three consensus statements were initially drafted and then discussed by the committee members. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Web-based consensus voting was performed by 211 IBD specialists from 9 Asian countries concerning each statement. A consensus statement was accepted if at least 75% of the participants agreed. Part 1 of the statements comprised 2 parts: risk of TB infection Recommendaduring anti-TNF therapy, and screening for TB infection prior to commencing anti-TNF therapy. These consensus statements will help clinicians optimize patient outcomes by reducing the morbidity and mortality related to TB infections in patients with IBD receiving anti-TNF treatment. PMID:29422793

  16. Ghrelin levels in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: relation to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment and disease activity.

    PubMed

    Karagiozoglou-Lampoudi, Thomais; Trachana, Maria; Agakidis, Charalampos; Pratsidou-Gertsi, Polyxeni; Taparkou, Anna; Lampoudi, Sotiria; Kanakoudi-Tsakalidou, Florentia

    2011-10-01

    Studies in adults with rheumatoid arthritis reported low serum ghrelin that increased following anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) infusion. Data on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are lacking. The aim of this pilot study was to explore serum ghrelin levels in patients with JIA and the possible association with anti-TNF treatment, disease activity, and nutritional status. Fifty-two patients with JIA (14/52 on anti-TNF treatment) were studied. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was inactive in 3 of 14 anti-TNF-treated patients and in 11 of 38 non-anti-TNF-treated patients. The nutritional status, energy intake/requirements, appetite, and fasting serum ghrelin levels were assessed. Ghrelin control values were obtained from 50 individuals with minor illness matched for age, sex, and body mass index. Ghrelin levels in patients with JIA were significantly lower than in controls (P < .001, confidence interval [CI] = -101 to -331). Analysis according to anti-TNF treatment and disease activity showed that ghrelin levels were comparable to control values only in 3 patients with anti-TNF-induced remission. Ghrelin in non-anti-TNF-treated patients in remission was low. Multiple regression analysis showed that disease activity (P = .002, CI = -84.16 to -20.01) and anti-TNF treatment (P = .003, CI = -82.51 to -18.33) were significant independent predictors of ghrelin after adjusting for other potential confounders. Ghrelin did not correlate with nutritional status, energy balance, and appetite. Serum ghrelin is low in patients with JIA and is restored to values similar to those in controls following anti-TNF-induced remission. Our study provides evidence that TNF blockade is independently associated with serum ghrelin, which possibly contributes to anti-TNF-induced remission. These preliminary results could form the basis for future research. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. In vitro and in vivo effectiveness of egg yolk antibody against Candida albicans (anti-CA IgY).

    PubMed

    Ibrahim, El-Sayed Moustafa; Rahman, A K M Shofiqur; Isoda, Rie; Umeda, Kouji; Van Sa, Nguyen; Kodama, Yoshikatsu

    2008-04-16

    We prepared anti-Candida albicans antibody in chicken egg yolk (anti-CA IgY) and investigated its in vitro and in vivo effectiveness. Anti-CA IgY significantly reduced the adherence capacity of C. albicans to FaDu cells (human pharynx carcinoma cells) in a dose-dependent manner. The protective efficacy of anti-CA IgY was investigated in experimentally induced oral candidiasis in immunosuppressed mice. Oral administration of anti-CA IgY significantly reduced the number of C. albicans and the scores of the tongue lesions. Moreover, anti-CA IgY reduced the colonization of C. albicans in mice organs. These results indicate that anti-CA IgY has a protective effect against the oral candidiasis of experimentally infected mice and reduces the dissemination of C. albicans. Putting together, these results indicate that anti-CA IgY is effective against C. albicans. This effect might be due to the blocking of the binding of C. albicans to the host cells. Therefore, anti-CA IgY might be considered as a prophylactic immunotherapy or possibly an adjunctive antifungal therapy.

  18. Pre-immunotherapy serum CA27.29 (MUC-1) mucin level and CD69+ lymphocytes correlate with effects of Theratope sialyl-Tn-KLH cancer vaccine in active specific immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Reddish, M A; MacLean, G D; Poppema, S; Berg, A; Longenecker, B M

    1996-06-01

    Patients with metastatic breast, colorectal or ovarian cancers received active specific immunotherapy (ASI) with Theratope sialyl-Tn-KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) cancer vaccine emulsified in Detox adjuvant. The median log2 anti-STn IgG titer generated by ASI, estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with solid-phase ovine submaxillary mucin, was 5.322 (range = 0 - 9.322). Following ASI, 51 patients who generated titers higher than the median value for anti-STn+ mucin IgG survived longer than 46 patients who generated lower titers below the median. 38 of the patients were phenotyped for CD69 prior to ASI. The patients with lower numbers of CD69+ peripheral blood lymphocytes prior to immunotherapy (pre-ASI) also had low serum CA27.29 cancer antigen (MUC-1) levels, and had longer times to disease progression and improved survival following ASI. Elevated pre-ASI serum CA27.29 tumor antigen levels were associated with higher numbers of CD69+ PBL, with decreased anti-STn antibody production and decreased survival following ASI. The data are compatible with the hypothesis that elevated serum MUC-1 mucin is specifically immunosuppressive.

  19. Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis: Anti-TNF Therapy in Refractory Pouchitis and Crohn's Disease-Like Complications of the Pouch After Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis Following Colectomy for Ulcerative Colitis.

    PubMed

    Huguet, Mathilde; Pereira, Bruno; Goutte, Marion; Goutorbe, Félix; Dubois, Anne; Bommelaer, Gilles; Buisson, Anthony

    2018-01-18

    Inflammatory complications including chronic refractory pouchitis and Crohn's disease (CD)-like complications of the pouch are common complications after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) following colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of anti-TNF therapy in distinguishing patients with chronic refractory pouchitis from those with CD-like complications of the pouch. We performed a systematic literature search to identify articles and abstracts reporting anti-TNF agents efficacy in treating inflammatory complications of the pouch after IPAA for UC. Short-term and long-term remissions were evaluated at 8 weeks 95%CI[5-10] and 12 months 95%CI[12-18.5], respectively. We identified 21 articles and 3 abstracts including 313 patients treated either with infliximab (n = 194) or adalimumab (n = 119) for inflammatory complications of the pouch. The rates of short-term and long-term clinical remission were 0.50 (95%CI [0.37-0.63]; I2 = 0.57) and 0.52 (95%CI[0.39-0.65]; I2 = 0.59), respectively. The rate of remission after anti-TNF induction therapy seemed to be higher in CD-like complications of the pouch 0.64 (95%CI[0.5-0.77]; I2 = 0.18), compared to refractory pouchitis 0.10 (95%CI [0.00-0.35]; I2 = 0.00) (P = 0.06), whereas no such difference appeared after long-term maintenance therapy 0.57 (95%CI[0.43-0.71]; I2 = 0.32) and 0.37 (95%CI [0.14-0.62]; I2 = 0.47), respectively (P = 0.57). Sensitivity analyses suggested no difference in outcomes. No significant publication bias has been detected. Anti-TNF agents have a clear trend to have higher and faster efficacy in CD-like complications of the pouch compared to refractory pouchitis, highlighting the need to differentiate these two entities both in daily practice and clinical trials. © 2018 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

  20. [Psychological aspects of immunotherapies in the treatment of malignant melanoma].

    PubMed

    Kovács, Péter; Pánczél, Gitta; Melegh, Krisztina; Balatoni, Tímea; Pörneczy, Edit; Lõrincz, Lenke; Czirbesz, Kata; Gorka, Eszter; Liszkay, Gabriella

    2016-03-02

    Psychological problems may arise in connection with oncomedical treatments in three ways: 1. acute and/or 2. chronic ways, as well as 3. co-morbid psychiatric diseases that already exist must also be taken into account. Immunotherapies have the most common and also clinically relevant psychological side effects. Fatigue, anhedonia, social isolation, psychomotor slowness is reported during treatment. Anti-CTLA-4 antibody (ipilimumab) immunotherapy can present one of the most modern opportunities for adequate treatment for patients having distant metastasis or unresectable tumour. In relation to immunotherapies, acute psychological side effects (acute stress) emerging during treatments develop in a way that can mostly be linked to environmental factors, e.g. notification of diagnosis, hospitalisation, progression, deterioration in quality of life, imminent dates of control. Crisis is a temporary and threatening condition that endangers psychological balance. In such conditions, enhanced psychological vulnerability must be taken into account and doctors play a key role in the rapid recognition of the condition. Chronic psychological problems, which may arise from the depressogenic effect of the applied treatment or originated from a pre-melanoma psychiatric condition, may exceed the diagnostic and psychotherapeutic competences of a clinical psychologist. Even in case of a well-defined depressogenic biological mechanism such as the activation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine pathway, positive environmental effects can reduce symptoms and thus increase compliance. Side effects can be treated successfully using psychotherapeutic methods and/or psychiatric medicines. The application of routinely used complex psychosocial screening packages can provide the easiest method to identify worsening psychological condition during immunotherapy and give rapid feedback to the oncologist and the patient. Team work is of particular importance in a situation like this as it requires

  1. Generation of a Canine Anti-EGFR (ErbB-1) Antibody for Passive Immunotherapy in Dog Cancer Patients

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Wei; Weichselbaumer, Marlene; Matz, Miroslawa; Mader, Alexander; Steinfellner, Willibald; Meitz, Sarah; Mechtcheriakova, Diana; Sobanov, Yuri; Willmann, Michael; Stockner, Thomas; Spillner, Edzard; Kunert, Renate; Jensen-Jarolim, Erika

    2014-01-01

    Passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies represents a cornerstone of human anticancer therapies, but has not been established in veterinary medicine yet. As the tumor-associated antigen EGFR (ErbB-1) is highly conserved between humans and dogs, and considering the effectiveness of the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab in human clinical oncology, we present here a “caninized” version of this antibody, can225IgG, for comparative oncology studies. Variable region genes of 225, the murine precursor of cetuximab, were fused with canine constant heavy gamma and kappa chain genes, respectively, and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) DUKX-B11 cells. Of note, 480 clones were screened and the best clones were selected according to productivity and highest specificity in EGFR-coated ELISA. Upon purification with Protein G, the recombinant cetuximab-like canine IgG was tested for integrity, correct assembly, and functionality. Specific binding to the surface of EGFR-overexpressing cells was assessed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence; moreover, binding to canine mammary tissue was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. In cell viability and proliferation assays, incubation with can225IgG led to significant tumor cell growth inhibition. Moreover, this antibody mediated significant tumor cell killing via phagocytosis in vitro. We thus present here, for the first time, the generation of a canine IgG antibody and its hypothetical structure. On the basis of its cetuximab-like binding site, on the one hand, and the expression of a 91% homologous EGFR molecule in canine cancer, on the other hand, this antibody may be a promising research compound to establish passive immunotherapy in dog patients with cancer. PMID:24755200

  2. Immune Effects of Chemotherapy, Radiation, and Targeted Therapy and Opportunities for Combination With Immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Wargo, Jennifer A; Reuben, Alexandre; Cooper, Zachary A; Oh, Kevin S; Sullivan, Ryan J

    2015-08-01

    There have been significant advances in cancer treatment over the past several years through the use of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Despite these advances, treatments such as monotherapy or monomodality have significant limitations. There is increasing interest in using these strategies in combination; however, it is not completely clear how best to incorporate molecularly targeted and immune-targeted therapies into combination regimens. This is particularly pertinent when considering combinations with immunotherapy, as other types of therapy may have significant impact on host immunity, the tumor microenvironment, or both. Thus, the influence of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and molecularly targeted therapy on the host anti-tumor immune response and the host anti-host response (ie, autoimmune toxicity) must be taken into consideration when designing immunotherapy-based combination regimens. We present data related to many of these combination approaches in the context of investigations in patients with melanoma and discuss their potential relationship to management of patients with other tumor types. Importantly, we also highlight challenges of these approaches and emphasize the need for continued translational research. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. LASSBio-1135: a dual TRPV1 antagonist and anti-TNF-alpha compound orally effective in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

    PubMed

    Lima, Cleverton K F; Silva, Rafael M; Lacerda, Renata B; Santos, Bruna L R; Silva, Rafaela V; Amaral, Luciana S; Quintas, Luís E M; Fraga, Carlos A M; Barreiro, Eliezer J; Guimaraes, Marília Z P; Miranda, Ana L P

    2014-01-01

    LASSBio-1135 is an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative with high efficacy in screening models of nociception and inflammation, presumed as a weak COX-2 inhibitor. In order to tease out its mechanism of action, we investigated others possible target for LASSBio-1135, such as TNF-α and TRPV1, to better characterize it as a multitarget compound useful in the treatment of chronic pain. TRPV1 modulation was assessed in TRPV1-expressing Xenopus oocytes against capsaicin and low pH-induced current. Modulation of TNF-α production was evaluated in culture of macrophages stimulated with LPS. In vivo efficacy of LASSBio-1135 was investigated in carrageenan and partial sciatic ligation-induced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Corroborating its previous demonstration of efficacy in a model of capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia, LASSBio-1135 blocks capsaicin-elicited currents in a non-competitive way with an IC50 of 580 nM as well as low pH-induced current at 50 µM. As an additional action, LASSBio-1135 inhibited TNF-α release in these cells stimulated by LPS with an IC50 of 546 nM by reducing p38 MAPK phosphorilation. Oral administration of 100 µmol x Kg(-1) LASSBio-1135 markedly reduced thermal hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan, however at 10 µmol x Kg(-1) only a partial reduction was observed at the 4th h. Neutrophil recruitment and TNF-α production after carrageenan stimulus was also inhibited by the treatment with LASSBio-1135. Modulating TRPV1 and TNF-α production, two key therapeutic targets of neuropathic pain, 100 µmol x Kg(-1) LASSBio-1135 was orally efficacious in reversing thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia produced by partial sciatic ligation 7-11 days after surgery without provoking hyperthermia, a common side effect of TRPV1 antagonists. In conclusion LASSBio-1135, besides being a weak COX-2 inhibitor, is a non-competitive TRPV1 antagonist and a TNF-α inhibitor. As a multitarget compound, LASSBio-1135 is orally efficacious in a model

  4. Combining MPDL3280A with adoptive cell immunotherapy exerts better antitumor effects against cervical cancer.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Yi; Yang, Yicheng; Wu, Shu; Zhu, Yongqiang; Tang, Xiaolong; Liu, Xiaopeng

    2017-07-04

    As the second most common gynecologic malignant tumors with a high mortality rate, cervical cancer jeopardizes women's life worldwide. The low cure rate in cervical cancer patients is mainly attributed to the lack of effective therapies. One feasible novel strategy is to develop immune-based approaches such as adoptive cell immunotherapy of DCCIKs which represents a promising nontoxic antineoplastic immunotherapy preferred in clinic practice. However, the therapeutic effect is not as efficient as anticipated. Possible explanations are tumors exploit immunoregulatory check-points such as programmed death 1(PD1)/PDL1 which provides tumor cells an escape strategy of circumventing immunologic rejection from immune surveillance by hampering activated tumor-specific T cell activities and rendering them functionally exhausted. With reduced transformation activity and enhanced antigenicity, a modified HPV16 E7 (HPV16mE7) was used to load DCs with silenced SOCS1 mediated by a recombinant adenovirus to improve the targetability and efficiency against cervical cancer. Combined with anti-PDL1 antibody MPDL3280A therapy, the co-cultured DCCIKs were transfused into murine models bearing tumor of HPV16 E6/E7 expressing CaSki cells for in vitro/in vivo antitumor activity assay. Although all of the animals succumbed to CaSki tumors even after adoptive DCCIKs transfer or MPDL3280A immunotherapy, the infusion of PDL1 blocking monoclonal antibody with activated T cells cured 40% of animals. These data support PDL1 blockade improves the efficacy of adoptive DCCIKs therapy, providing a new approach of immunotherapy against cervical cancer.

  5. Combining MPDL3280A with adoptive cell immunotherapy exerts better antitumor effects against cervical cancer

    PubMed Central

    Zheng, Yi; Yang, Yicheng; Wu, Shu; Zhu, Yongqiang; Tang, Xiaolong; Liu, Xiaopeng

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT As the second most common gynecologic malignant tumors with a high mortality rate, cervical cancer jeopardizes women's life worldwide. The low cure rate in cervical cancer patients is mainly attributed to the lack of effective therapies. One feasible novel strategy is to develop immune-based approaches such as adoptive cell immunotherapy of DCCIKs which represents a promising nontoxic antineoplastic immunotherapy preferred in clinic practice. However, the therapeutic effect is not as efficient as anticipated. Possible explanations are tumors exploit immunoregulatory check-points such as programmed death 1(PD1)/PDL1 which provides tumor cells an escape strategy of circumventing immunologic rejection from immune surveillance by hampering activated tumor-specific T cell activities and rendering them functionally exhausted. With reduced transformation activity and enhanced antigenicity, a modified HPV16 E7 (HPV16mE7) was used to load DCs with silenced SOCS1 mediated by a recombinant adenovirus to improve the targetability and efficiency against cervical cancer. Combined with anti-PDL1 antibody MPDL3280A therapy, the co-cultured DCCIKs were transfused into murine models bearing tumor of HPV16 E6/E7 expressing CaSki cells for in vitro/in vivo antitumor activity assay. Although all of the animals succumbed to CaSki tumors even after adoptive DCCIKs transfer or MPDL3280A immunotherapy, the infusion of PDL1 blocking monoclonal antibody with activated T cells cured 40% of animals. These data support PDL1 blockade improves the efficacy of adoptive DCCIKs therapy, providing a new approach of immunotherapy against cervical cancer. PMID:27754760

  6. TNF-α contributes to spinal cord synaptic plasticity and inflammatory pain: Distinct role of TNF receptor subtype 1 and 2

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Ling; Berta, Temugin; Xu, Zhen-Zhong; Liu, Tong; Park, Jong Yeon; Ji, Ru-Rong

    2010-01-01

    Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a key proinflammatory cytokine. It is generally believed that TNF-α exerts its effects primarily via TNF receptor subtype-1 (TNFR1). We investigated distinct role of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in spinal cord synaptic transmission and inflammatory pain. Compared to wild-type (WT) mice, TNFR1 and TNFR2 knockout (KO) mice exhibited normal heat sensitivity and unaltered excitatory synaptic transmission in the spinal cord, as revealed by spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in lamina II neurons of spinal cord slices. However, heat hyperalgesia after intrathecal TNF-α and the second-phase spontaneous pain in the formalin test were reduced in both TNFR1- and TNFR2-KO mice. In particular, heat hyperalgesia after intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was decreased in the early phase in TNFR2-KO mice but reduced in both early and later phase in TNFR1-KO mice. Consistently, CFA elicited a transient increase of TNFR2 mRNA levels in the spinal cord on day 1. Notably, TNF-α evoked a drastic increase in sEPSC frequency in lamina II neurons, which was abolished in TNFR1-KO mice and reduced in TNFR2-KO mice. TNF-α also increased NMDA currents in lamina II neurons, and this increase was abolished in TNFR1-KO mice but retained in TNFR2-KO mice. Finally, intrathecal injection of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 prevented heat hyperalgesia elicited by intrathecal TNF-α. Our findings support a central role of TNF-α in regulating synaptic plasticity (central sensitization) and inflammatory pain via both TNFR1 and TNFR2. Our data also uncover a unique role of TNFR2 in mediating early-phase inflammatory pain. PMID:21159431

  7. Resolving TRPV1 and TNF-α Mediated Spinal Cord Synaptic Plasticity and Inflammatory Pain with Neuroprotectin D1

    PubMed Central

    Park, Chul-Kyu; Lü, Ning; Xu, Zhen-Zhong; Liu, Tong; Serhan, Charles N.; Ji, Ru-Rong

    2011-01-01

    Mechanisms of inflammatory pain are not fully understood. We investigated the role of TRPV1 and TNF-α, two critical mediators for inflammatory pain, in regulating spinal cord synaptic transmission. We found in mice lacking Trpv1 the frequency but not the amplitude of spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs) in lamina II neurons of spinal cord slices is reduced. Further, C-fiber-induced spinal long-term potentiation (LTP) in vivo is abolished in Trpv1 knockout mice. TNF-α also increases sEPSC frequency but not amplitude in spinal lamina IIo neurons, and this increase is abolished in Trpv1 knockout mice. Single-cell PCR analysis revealed that TNF-α-responding neurons in lamina IIo are exclusively excitatory (vGluT2+) neurons. Notably, neuroprotectin-1 (NPD1), an anti-inflammatory lipid mediator derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (docosahexaenoic acid) blocks TNF-α- and capsaicin-evoked sEPSC frequency increases but has no effect on basal synaptic transmission. Strikingly, NPD1 potently inhibits capsaicin-induced TRPV1 current (IC50=0.4 nM) in dissociated dorsal root ganglion neurons, and this IC50 is ≈ 500 times lower than that of AMG9810, a commonly used TRPV1 antagonist. NPD1 inhibition of TRPV1 is mediated by GPCRs, since the effects were blocked by pertussis toxin. In contrast, NPD1 had not effect on mustard oil-induced TRPA1 currents. Spinal injection of NPD1, at very low doses (0.1–10 ng), blocks spinal LTP and reduces TRPV1-dependent inflammatory pain, without affecting baseline pain. NPD1 also reduces TRPV1-independent but TNF-α-dependent pain hypersensitivity. Our findings demonstrate a novel role of NPD1 in regulating TRPV1/TNF-α-mediated spinal synaptic plasticity and identify NPD1 as a novel analgesic for treating inflammatory pain. PMID:22016541

  8. A STING-activating nanovaccine for cancer immunotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, Min; Wang, Hua; Wang, Zhaohui; Cai, Haocheng; Lu, Zhigang; Li, Yang; Du, Mingjian; Huang, Gang; Wang, Chensu; Chen, Xiang; Porembka, Matthew R.; Lea, Jayanthi; Frankel, Arthur E.; Fu, Yang-Xin; Chen, Zhijian J.; Gao, Jinming

    2017-07-01

    The generation of tumour-specific T cells is critically important for cancer immunotherapy. A major challenge in achieving a robust T-cell response is the spatiotemporal orchestration of antigen cross-presentation in antigen-presenting cells with innate stimulation. Here, we report a minimalist nanovaccine, comprising a simple physical mixture of an antigen and a synthetic polymeric nanoparticle, PC7A NP, which generates a strong cytotoxic T-cell response with low systemic cytokine expression. Mechanistically, the PC7A NP achieves efficient cytosolic delivery of tumour antigens to antigen-presenting cells in draining lymph nodes, leading to increased surface presentation while simultaneously activating type I interferon-stimulated genes. This effect is dependent on stimulator of interferon genes (STING), but not the Toll-like receptor or the mitochondrial antiviral-signalling protein (MAVS) pathway. The nanovaccine led to potent tumour growth inhibition in melanoma, colon cancer and human papilloma virus-E6/E7 tumour models. The combination of the PC7A nanovaccine and an anti-PD-1 antibody showed great synergy, with 100% survival over 60 days in a TC-1 tumour model. Rechallenging of these tumour-free animals with TC-1 cells led to complete inhibition of tumour growth, suggesting the generation of long-term antitumour memory. The STING-activating nanovaccine offers a simple, safe and robust strategy in boosting anti-tumour immunity for cancer immunotherapy.

  9. Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease: DNA- and protein-based epitope vaccines.

    PubMed

    Davtyan, Hayk; Petrushina, Irina; Ghochikyan, Anahit

    2014-01-01

    Active immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is aimed to induce antibodies specific to amyloid-beta (Aβ) that are capable to reduce the level of Aβ in the CNS of Alzheimer's disease patients. First clinical trial AN-1792 that was based on vaccination with full-length Aβ42 showed that safe and effective AD vaccine should induce high titers of anti-Aβ antibodies without activation of harmful autoreactive T cells. Replacement of self-T cell epitope with foreign epitope, keeping self-B cell epitope intact, may allow to induce high titers of anti-Aβ antibodies while avoiding the activation of T cells specific to Aβ. Here we describe the protocols for evaluation of AD DNA- or multiple antigenic peptide (MAP)-based epitope vaccines composed of Aβ(1-11) B cell epitope fused to synthetic T cell epitope PADRE (Aβ(1-11)-PADRE). All protocols could be used for testing any epitope vaccine constructed in your lab and composed of other T cell epitopes using the appropriate peptides in tests for evaluation of humoral and cellular immune responses.

  10. Prospects for TIM3-Targeted Antitumor Immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Ngiow, Shin Foong; Teng, Michele W L; Smyth, Mark J

    2011-11-01

    New insights into the control of T-cell activation and proliferation have led to the identification of checkpoint proteins that either up- or downmodulate T-cell reactivity. Monoclonal antibody immunotherapies that are reactive with cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 or programmed death receptor 1 have shown promising therapeutic outcomes in mice and humans with established cancer, highlighting the fact that cancer immunotherapy using T-cell checkpoint inhibitors is one of the most promising new therapeutic approaches. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3) is one of many similar inhibitory molecules that are gaining attention as targets, but it remains relatively poorly studied in oncology. This review discusses our recent probing of the mechanism of action of anti-TIM3 antibody against established spontaneous and experimental tumors in mice, in the context of the exciting possibility of rationally combining agents that promote tumor-specific T-cell activation, proliferation, effector function, and survival. ©2011 AACR.

  11. A case of fulminant Type 1 diabetes following anti-PD1 immunotherapy in a genetically susceptible patient.

    PubMed

    Araújo, Manuel; Ligeiro, Dário; Costa, Luís; Marques, Filipa; Trindade, Helder; Correia, José Manuel; Fonseca, Candida

    2017-06-01

    Programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint that has gained popularity in the treatment of several advanced cancers. Inhibiting this checkpoint is known to enhance immune response, but is also known to diminish immune tolerance and to increase autoimmune toxicity. We discuss a case of rapid onset fulminant Type 1 diabetes induced by treatment with anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody, nivolumab, in a patient with late-stage non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma. The patient had no history of previous diabetes but did reveal a high-risk genotype for Type 1 diabetes development (DR3-DQ2; DR4-DQ8). This finding supports that acute Type 1 diabetes can be an important adverse effect of immunotherapies targeting T-cell activation regulation. Because of the severity of this adverse effect, physicians should be aware of it, and studies directed to the detection of new biomarkers for early risk stratification (e.g., HLA) should be sought.

  12. Cerebrovascular events in inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha agents.

    PubMed

    Karmiris, Konstantinos; Bossuyt, Peter; Sorrentino, Dario; Moreels, Tom; Scarcelli, Antonella; Legido, Jesus; Dotan, Iris; Naismith, Graham D; Jussila, Airi; Preiss, Jan C; Kruis, Wolfgang; Li, Andy C Y; Bouguen, Guillaume; Yanai, Henit; Steinwurz, Flavio; Katsanos, Konstantinos H; Subramaniam, Kavitha; Tarabar, Dino; Zaganas, Ioannis V; Ben-Horin, Shomron

    2015-05-01

    Cerebrovascular accidents [CVA] have rarely been reported in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis alpha [anti-TNF alpha] agents. Our aim here was to describe the clinical course of CVA in these patients. This was a European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] retrospective observational study, performed as part of the CONFER [COllaborative Network For Exceptionally Rare case reports] project. A call to all ECCO members was made to report on IBD patients afflicted with CVA during treatment with anti-TNF alpha agents. Clinical data were recorded in a standardised case report form and analysed for event association with anti-TNF alpha treatment. A total of 19 patients were identified from 16 centres: 14 had Crohn's disease, four ulcerative colitis and one IBD colitis unclassified [median age at diagnosis: 38.0 years, range: 18.6-62.5]. Patients received anti-TNF alpha for a median duration of 11.8 months [range: 0-62] at CVA onset; seven had previously been treated with at least one other anti-TNF alpha agent. Complete neurological recovery was observed in 16 patients. Anti-TNF alpha was discontinued in 16/19 patients. However, recurrent CVA or neurological deterioration was not observed in any of the 11 patients who received anti-TNF alpha after CVA [eight resumed after temporary cessation, three continued without interruption] for a median follow-up of 39.8 months [range: 5.6-98.2]. These preliminary findings do not unequivocally indicate a causal role of anti-TNF alpha in CVA complicating IBD. Resuming or continuing anti-TNF alpha in IBD patients with CVA may be feasible and safe in selected cases, but careful weighing of IBD activity versus neurological status is prudent. Copyright © 2015 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  13. Early cytokine modulation after the rapid induction phase of sublingual immunotherapy with mite monomeric allergoids.

    PubMed

    Di Gioacchino, M; Perrone, A; Petrarca, C; Di Claudio, F; Mistrello, G; Falagiani, P; Dadorante, V; Verna, N; Braga, M; Ballone, E; Cavallucci, E

    2008-01-01

    The influence of different treatment schedules of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in activating IL-10-producing T-cells, crucial in inducing allergen-specific tolerance, is not completely understood. The present work was designed to evaluate allergen driven interleukin release by mononuclear cells in the early phase of SLIT, after application of different induction schemes. Twenty mite-allergic patients were enrolled, 10 (group A) treated with a traditional 98 day induction scheme and 10 (group B) with a 16 day scheme with monomeric allergoid vaccine. At the end of the induction phase, the cumulative doses taken by group A and group B patients were equivalent to 50.5 and 50.3 microg of mite group 1 allergens, respectively. The release of Th1-, Th2- and Treg-related interleukins was assessed in culture supernatants of 5 microg/ml Der-p1-stimulated mononuclear cells, isolated before and after the induction phases. No relevant treatment-related side effects were observed. Interleukin release was similar in the two groups at the enrolment. Non-stimulated and Der p 1 stimulated release of studied cytokines was similar in the two groups at enrolment. Der p 1 stimulation significantly increased IL-10 release (p<0.0002) after treatment in group B patients, and this effect was higher (p=0.05) compared to group A patients. Furthermore, at the end of SLIT induction TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IFN-gamma production were reduced in group B patients (p<0.05, p=0.062 and p=0.060, respectively). The rapid induction scheme of sublingual immunotherapy induces an early immune suppression more effectively than the slower one. The rapid induction scheme should be the preferential way to start sublingual immunotherapy, particularly when monomeric allergoids are utilized.

  14. GPER expressed on microglia mediates the anti-inflammatory effect of estradiol in ischemic stroke.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Tian-Zhi; Ding, Qian; Hu, Jun; He, Shi-Ming; Shi, Fei; Ma, Lian-Ting

    2016-04-01

    Stroke could lead to serious morbidity, of which ischemic stroke counts for majority of the cases. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, thus drugs targeting inflammation could be potentially neuroprotective. Estradiol was shown to be neuroprotective as well as anti-inflammatory in animal models of ischemic stroke with unclear mechanism. We hypothesize that the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect of estradiol is mediated by the estradiol receptor G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) expressed on microglia. We have generated the rat global cerebral ischemic model and the primary microglia culture to study the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effect of estradiol. We have further used pharmacological methods and siRNA knockdown approach to study the underlying mechanism. We found that estradiol reduced the level of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and TNF-α, both in vivo and in vitro. We also found that the specific GPER agonist G1 could reduce the level of IL-1β (P = 0 P = 0.0017, one-way ANOVA and post hoc test) and TNF-α (P < 0.0001) in the primary microglia culture. Moreover, the specific GPER antagonist G15 was able to abolish the anti-inflammatory effect of estradiol. Estradiol failed to reduce the level of IL-1β (P = 0.4973, unpaired Student's t-test) and TNF-α (P = 0.1627) when GPER was knocked down. Our studies have suggested that GPER expressed on microglia mediated the anti-inflammatory effect of estradiol after ischemic stroke. Our studies could potentially help to develop more specific drugs to manage inflammation postischemic stroke.

  15. Effect of NK cell immunotherapy on immune function in patients with hepatic carcinoma: A preliminary clinical study

    PubMed Central

    Qin, Zilin; Chen, Jibing; Zeng, Jianying; Niu, Lizhi; Xie, Silun; Wang, Xiaohua; Liang, Yingqing; Wu, Zhenyi; Zhang, Mingjie

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT We investigated the effectiveness of adoptive transfer of KIR ligand-mismatched highly activated nature killer (HANK) cells in patients with hepatic carcinoma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained and cultured in vitro to induce expansion and activation of HANK cells. After 12 d of culture, the cells were divided into 3 parts and infused intravenously on days 13 to 15. The patients (n = 16) were given one to 6 courses of immunotherapy. No side effects were observed. The lymphocyte subsets and cytokine, thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and circulating tumor cell (CTC) levels were measured 1 day before treatment and 1 month after the final infusion: the absolute number of total T cells and NK cells and the IL-2 and TNF-β levels were significantly higher, and the TK1 and CTC levels were significantly lower at 1 month after treatment. The percentage of patients who experienced partial response, disease stabilization, and disease progression at 3 months after treatment was 18.8%, 50.0% and 31.2%, respectively. The total follow-up period was 2–12 months. The median progression-free survival from treatment was 7.5 months. This is the first study on the benefits of HANK cell immunotherapy for hepatic carcinoma These encouraging preliminary observations imply that HANK cell immunotherapy is safe, can improve the immune function of patients with liver cancer, and may even reduce the rate of tumor metastasis and recurrence. However, further studies on larger samples of patients with a longer follow-up period are required to confirm these findings. PMID:28353401

  16. Molecular diagnosis and immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Sastre, Joaquín; Sastre-Ibañez, Marina

    2016-12-01

    To describe recent insights into how molecular diagnosis can improve indication and selection of suitable allergens for specific immunotherapy and increase the safety of this therapy. As specific allergen immunotherapy targets specific allergens, identification of the disease-eliciting allergen is a prerequisite for accurate prescription of treatment. In areas of complex sensitization to aeroallergens or in cases of hymenoptera venom allergy, the use of molecular diagnosis has demonstrated that it may lead to a change in indication and selection of allergens for immunotherapy in a large proportion of patients when compared with diagnosis based on skin prick testing and/or specific IgE determination with commercial extracts. These changes in immunotherapy prescription aided by molecular diagnosis have been demonstrated to be cost-effective in some scenarios. Certain patterns of sensitization to grass or olive pollen and bee allergens may identify patients with higher risk of adverse reaction during immunotherapy. Molecular diagnosis, when used with other tools and patients' clinical records, can help clinicians better to select the most appropriate patients and allergens for specific immunotherapy and, in some cases, predict the risk of adverse reactions. The pattern of sensitization to allergens could potentially predict the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy provided that these immunotherapy products contain a sufficient amount of these allergens. Nevertheless, multiplex assay remains a third-level approach, not to be used as screening method in current practice.

  17. Mechanisms and Αpplications of Ιnterleukins in Cancer Immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Anestakis, Doxakis; Petanidis, Savvas; Kalyvas, Spyridon; Nday, Christiane M.; Tsave, Olga; Kioseoglou, Efrosini; Salifoglou, Athanasios

    2015-01-01

    Over the past years, advances in cancer immunotherapy have resulted in innovative and novel approaches in molecular cancer diagnostics and cancer therapeutic procedures. However, due to tumor heterogeneity and inter-tumoral discrepancy in tumor immunity, the clinical benefits are quite restricted. The goal of this review is to evaluate the major cytokines-interleukins involved in cancer immunotherapy and project their basic biochemical and clinical applications. Emphasis will be given to new cytokines in pre-clinical development, and potential directions for future investigation using cytokines. Furthermore, current interleukin-based approaches and clinical trial data from combination cancer immunotherapies will also be discussed. It appears that continuously increasing comprehension of cytokine-induced effects, cancer stemness, immunoediting, immune-surveillance as well as understanding of molecular interactions emerging in the tumor microenvironment and involving microRNAs, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammation, and DNA methylation processes may hold much promise in improving anti-tumor immunity. To this end, the emerging in-depth knowledge supports further studies on optimal synergistic combinations and additional adjuvant therapies to realize the full potential of cytokines as immunotherapeutic agents. PMID:25590298

  18. Sex-driven differences in immunological responses: challenges and opportunities for the immunotherapies of the third millennium.

    PubMed

    Mirandola, Leonardo; Wade, Raymond; Verma, Rashmi; Pena, Camilo; Hosiriluck, Nattamol; Figueroa, Jose A; Cobos, Everardo; Jenkins, Marjorie R; Chiriva-Internati, Maurizio

    2015-03-01

    Male-based studies, both at the biochemical and at the pre-clinical/clinical trial levels, still predominate in the scientific community. Many studies are based on the wrong assumption that both sexes are fundamentally identical in their response to treatments. As a result, findings obtained mainly in males are applied to females, resulting in negative consequences female patients. In cancer immunotherapy, there is still a scarce focus on this topic. Here we review the main differences in immune modulation and immune system biology between males and females with a particular focus on how these differences affect cancer immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. We reviewed articles published on PubMed from 1999 to 2014, using the keywords: sex hormones, immune response, estrogen, immunotherapy, testosterone, cancer vaccines, sex-based medicine. We also present new data wherein the expression of the cancer testis antigen, Ropporin-1, was determined in patients with multiple myeloma, showing that the expression of Ropporin-1 was influenced by sex. Male and female immune systems display radical differences mainly due to the immune regulatory effects of sex hormones. These differences might have a dramatic impact on the immunological treatment of cancer. Moreover, the expression of tumor antigens that can be targeted by anti-cancer vaccines is associated with sex. Future clinical trials focusing on cancer immunotherapy will need to take into account the differences in the immune response and in the frequency of target antigen expression between male and females, in order to optimize these anti-cancer immunotherapies of the third millennium.

  19. Magnetic resonance enterography changes after antibody to tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) alpha therapy in Crohn's disease: correlation with SES-CD and clinical-biological markers.

    PubMed

    Stoppino, Luca Pio; Della Valle, Nicola; Rizzi, Stefania; Cleopazzo, Elsa; Centola, Annarita; Iamele, Donatello; Bristogiannis, Christos; Stoppino, Giuseppe; Vinci, Roberta; Macarini, Luca

    2016-05-05

    In recent years, the use of MRI in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) has increased. However, few data are available on how MRI parameters of active disease change during treatment with anti-TNF and whether these changes correspond to symptoms, serum biomarkers, or endoscopic appearance. The aim of this study was to determine the changes over time in MRI parameters during treatment with anti-TNF in patients with CD, and to verify the correlation between MRI score, endoscopic appearance and clinical-biological markers. We performed a prospective single centre study of 27 patients with active CD (18 males and 9 females; median age of 27,4 ys; age range, 19-49). All patients underwent ileocolonoscopy and MRI at baseline and 26 weeks after anti-TNF therapy. Endoscopic severity was graded according to the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) and Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity (MaRIA) was calculated. Patients underwent clinical evaluation (CDAI) and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was measured. The associations between variables were assessed with Pearson's bivariate correlation analysis. A total of 135 intestinal segments were studied. The median patient age was 27,4 years, 67 % were male and the mean disease duration was 6,1 years. For induction of remission, 18 patients were treated with infliximab and 9 with adalimumab. The mean SES-CD and MaRIA scores significantly changed at week 26 (SES-CD: 14,7 ± 8,9 at baseline vs. 4,4 ± 4,6 at 26 weeks - p < 0.001; MaRIA: 41,1 ± 14,8 at baseline vs. 32,8 ± 11,7 at 26 weeks - p < 0.001). Also the CDAI and serum levels of CRP decreased significantly following treatment (p < 0.001). The overall MaRIA correlated with endoscopic score and with clinical activity (CDAI) both at baseline and at week 26 (p < 0.05). The correlation between overall MaRIA and CRP was significant only at week 26 (p < 0.001). The MaRIA has a good correlation with SES-CD, a high accuracy

  20. Vectored Intracerebral Immunization with the Anti-Tau Monoclonal Antibody PHF1 Markedly Reduces Tau Pathology in Mutant Tau Transgenic Mice.

    PubMed

    Liu, Wencheng; Zhao, Lingzhi; Blackman, Brittany; Parmar, Mayur; Wong, Man Ying; Woo, Thomas; Yu, Fangmin; Chiuchiolo, Maria J; Sondhi, Dolan; Kaminsky, Stephen M; Crystal, Ronald G; Paul, Steven M

    2016-12-07

    Passive immunization with anti-tau monoclonal antibodies has been shown by several laboratories to reduce age-dependent tau pathology and neurodegeneration in mutant tau transgenic mice. These studies have used repeated high weekly doses of various tau antibodies administered systemically for several months and have reported reduced tau pathology of ∼40-50% in various brain regions. Here we show that direct intrahippocampal administration of the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-vectored anti-phospho-tau antibody PHF1 to P301S tau transgenic mice results in high and durable antibody expression, primarily in neurons. Hippocampal antibody levels achieved after AAV delivery were ∼50-fold more than those reported following repeated systemic administration. In contrast to systemic passive immunization, we observed markedly reduced (≥80-90%) hippocampal insoluble pathological tau species and neurofibrillary tangles following a single dose of AAV-vectored PHF1 compared with mice treated with an AAV-IgG control vector. Moreover, the hippocampal atrophy observed in untreated P301S mice was fully rescued by treatment with the AAV-vectored PHF1 antibody. Vectored passive immunotherapy with an anti-tau monoclonal antibody may represent a viable therapeutic strategy for treating or preventing such tauopathies as frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, or Alzheimer's disease. We have used an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to deliver the genes encoding an anti-phospho-tau monoclonal antibody, PHF1, directly to the brain of mice that develop neurodegeneration due to a tau mutation that causes frontotemporal dementia (FTD). When administered systemically, PHF1 has been shown to modestly reduce tau pathology and neurodegeneration. Since such antibodies do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, we used an AAV vector to deliver antibody directly to the hippocampus and observed much higher antibody levels and a much greater reduction in tau pathology. Using

  1. Progress with anti-tumor necrosis factor therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

    PubMed

    Fernandes, Carlos; Allocca, Mariangela; Danese, Silvio; Fiorino, Gionata

    2015-01-01

    Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy is a valid, effective and increasingly used option in inflammatory bowel disease management. Nevertheless, further knowledge and therapeutic indications regarding these drugs are still evolving. Anti-TNF therapy may be essential to achieve recently proposed end points, namely mucosal healing, prevention of bowel damage and prevention of patient's disability. Anti-TNF drugs are also suggested to be more effective in early disease, particularly in early Crohn's disease. Moreover, its efficacy for prevention of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease is still debated. Costs and adverse effects, the relevance of drug monitoring and the possibility of anti-TNF therapy withdrawal in selected patients are still debated issues. This review aimed to describe and discuss the most relevant data about the progress with anti-TNF therapy for the management of inflammatory bowel disease.

  2. Gelam Honey Inhibits the Production of Proinflammatory, Mediators NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6 in Carrageenan-Induced Acute Paw Edema in Rats

    PubMed Central

    Hussein, Saba Zuhair; Mohd Yusoff, Kamaruddin; Makpol, Suzana; Mohd Yusof, Yasmin Anum

    2012-01-01

    Natural honey is well known for its therapeutic value and has been used in traditional medicine of different cultures throughout the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Malaysian Gelam honey in inflammation-induced rats. Paw edema was induced by a subplantar injection of 1% carrageenan into the rat right hind paw. Rats were treated with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) or Gelam honey at different doses (1 or 2 g/kg, p.o.). The increase in footpad thickness was considered to be edema, which was measured using a dial caliper. Plasma and paw tissue were collected to analyze the production of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as iNOS and COX-2. The results showed that Gelam honey could reduce edema in a dose-dependent fashion in inflamed rat paws, decrease the production of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6 in plasma, and suppress the expression of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 in paw tissue. Oral pretreatment of Gelam honey at 2 g/kg of body weight at two time points (1 and 7 days) showed a significantly decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines, which was similar to the effect of the anti-inflammatory drug Indomethacin (NSAID), both in plasma and tissue. Thus, our results suggest that Gelam honey has anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the rat paw edema size and inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators. Gelam honey is potentially useful for treating inflammatory conditions. PMID:22919407

  3. Anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities in vitro of eight diterpenes from Daphne genkwa based on hierarchical cluster and principal component analysis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Ling; Lan, Xin-Yi; Ji, Jun; Zhang, Chun-Feng; Li, Fei; Wang, Chong-Zhi; Yuan, Chun-Su

    2018-06-01

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory and angiogenic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities in vitro of eight diterpenoids isolated from Daphne genkwa. LC-MS was used to identify diterpenes isolated from D. genkwa. The anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities of eight diterpenoids were evaluated on LPS-induced macrophage RAW264.7 cells and TNF-α-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The eight diterpenes isolated from D. genkwa were identified as yuanhuaphnin, isoyuanhuacine, 12-O-(2'E,4'E-decadienoyl)-4-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetyl, yuanhuagine, isoyuanhuadine, yuanhuadine, yuanhuaoate C and yuanhuacine. All the eight diterpenes significantly down-regulated the excessive secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and NO in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. However, only 12-O-(2'E,4'E-decadienoyl)-4-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetyl markedly reduced production of VEGF, MMP-3, ICAM and VCAM in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. HCA obtained 4 clusters, containing 12-O-(2'E,4'E-decadienoyl)-4-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetyl, isoyuanhuacine, isoyuanhuadine and five other compounds. PCA showed that the ranking of diterpenes sorted by efficacy from highest to lowest was 12-O-(2'E,4'E-decadienoyl)-4-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetyl, yuanhuaphnin, isoyuanhuacine, yuanhuacine, yuanhuaoate C, yuanhuagine, isoyuanhuadine, yuanhuadine. In conclusion, eight diterpenes isolated from D. genkwa showed different levels of activity in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. The comprehensive evaluation of activity by HCA and PCA indicated that of the eight diterpenes, 12-O-(2'E,4'E-decadienoyl)-4-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetyl was the best, and can be developed as a new drug for RA therapy.

  4. Intracellular NAD+ levels are associated with LPS-induced TNF-α release in pro-inflammatory macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Al-Shabany, Abbas Jawad; Moody, Alan John; Foey, Andrew David; Billington, Richard Andrew

    2016-01-01

    Metabolism and immune responses have been shown to be closely linked and as our understanding increases, so do the intricacies of the level of linkage. NAD+ has previously been shown to regulate tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis and TNF-α has been shown to regulate NAD+ homoeostasis providing a link between a pro-inflammatory response and redox status. In the present study, we have used THP-1 differentiation into pro- (M1-like) and anti- (M2-like) inflammatory macrophage subset models to investigate this link further. Pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages showed different resting NAD+ levels and expression levels of NAD+ homoeostasis enzymes. Challenge with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, a pro-inflammatory stimulus for macrophages, caused a large, biphasic and transient increase in NAD+ levels in pro- but not anti-inflammatory macrophages that were correlated with TNF-α release and inhibition of certain NAD+ synthesis pathways blocked TNF-α release. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation also caused changes in mRNA levels of some NAD+ homoeostasis enzymes in M1-like cells. Surprisingly, despite M2-like cells not releasing TNF-α or changing NAD+ levels in response to lipopolysaccharide, they showed similar mRNA changes compared with M1-like cells. These data further strengthen the link between pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages and NAD+. The agonist-induced rise in NAD+ shows striking parallels to well-known second messengers and raises the possibility that NAD+ is acting in a similar manner in this model. PMID:26764408

  5. Lymph Node-Targeted Immunotherapy Mediates Potent Immunity Resulting in Regression of Isolated or Metastatic HPV-Transformed Tumors

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Kent A.; Meisenburg, Brenna L.; Tam, Victor L.; Pagarigan, Robb R.; Wong, Raymond; Joea, Diljeet K.; Lantzy, Liz; Carrillo, Mayra A.; Gross, Todd M.; Malyankar, Uriel M.; Chiang, Chih-Sheng; Da Silva, Diane M.; Kündig, Thomas M.; Kast, W. Martin; Qiu, Zhiyong; Bot, Adrian

    2009-01-01

    Purpose The goal of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of a novel immunotherapy strategy resulting in immunity to localized or metastatic HPV 16-transformed murine tumors. Experimental design Animals bearing E7-expressing tumors were co-immunized by lymph node injection with E7 49-57 antigen and TLR3-ligand (synthetic dsRNA). Immune responses were measured by flow cytometry and anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated by tumor size and survival. In situ cytotoxicity assays and identification of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and T regulatory cells were used to assess the mechanisms of treatment resistance in bulky disease. Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide was explored to augment immunotherapy in late-stage disease. Results In therapeutic and prophylactic settings, immunization resulted in a considerable expansion of E7 49-57 antigen-specific T lymphocytes in the range of 1/10 CD8+ T cells. The resulting immunity was effective in suppressing disease progression and mortality in a pulmonary metastatic disease model. Therapeutic immunization resulted in control of isolated tumors up to a certain volume, and correlated with anti-tumor immune responses measured in blood. In situ analysis showed that within bulky tumors, T cell function was affected by negative regulatory mechanisms linked to an increase in T regulatory cells and could be overcome by cyclophosphamide treatment in conjunction with immunization. Conclusions This study highlights a novel cancer immunotherapy platform with potential for translatability to the clinic and suggests its potential usefulness for controlling metastatic disease, solid tumors of limited size, or larger tumors when combined with cytotoxic agents that reduce the number of tumor-infiltrating T regulatory cells. PMID:19789304

  6. Anti-endotoxic shock effects of cyproheptadine in rats.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lizan; Zhang, Qingzhu; Hu, Xiuzhou; Lun, Ning; Wang, Baosheng; Zhu, Fanhe

    2002-03-01

    To investigate the antagonistic effect and mechanism of the effect of cyproheptadine (Cyp) on endotoxic shock in rats. Endotoxic shock was produced in rats by i.v. injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (5 mg/kg). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF(alpha)) mRNA expression was assessed by Northern blot. Plasma TNF(alpha) content was measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. The intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in single endothelial cells was determined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Cyp 5 mg/kg injected immediately after i.v. LPS raised the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) of shocked rats and improved their 24 h survival rate. Meanwhile, Cyp markedly decreased TNF(alpha) mRNA levels in rat liver (18 +/- 10 vs. LPS + saline 38 +/- 10, P < 0.01) as well as plasma TNF(alpha) content [(7.8 +/- 2.4) microg/L vs. LPS + saline (21.5 +/- 3.2) microg/L, P < 0.01)]. It enhanced plasma SOD activity [(1037.2 +/- 112.8) NU/L vs LPS + saline (615.4 +/- 92.6) NU/L, P < 0.01], reduced the MDA content [(5.2 +/- 1.1) micromol/L vs. LPS + saline (9.8 +/- 1.5) micromol/L, P < 0.01], and inhibited TNF(alpha)-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation. Cyp exerts an anti-endotoxic shock effect by inhibiting TNF(alpha) gene expression, enhancing SOD activity, reducing lipid peroxidation, and preventing [Ca(2+)](i) overload.

  7. Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology consensus on tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. Part 1: Risk assessment.

    PubMed

    Park, Dong Ii; Hisamatsu, Tadakazu; Chen, Minhu; Ng, Siew Chien; Ooi, Choon Jin; Wei, Shu Chen; Banerjee, Rupa; Hilmi, Ida Normiha; Jeen, Yoon Tae; Han, Dong Soo; Kim, Hyo Jong; Ran, Zhihua; Wu, Kaichun; Qian, Jiaming; Hu, Pin-Jin; Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi; Andoh, Akira; Suzuki, Yasuo; Sugano, Kentaro; Watanabe, Mamoru; Hibi, Toshifumi; Puri, Amarender S; Yang, Suk-Kyun

    2018-01-01

    Because anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy has become increasingly popular in many Asian countries, the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) among anti-TNF users may raise serious health problems in this region. Thus, the Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis and the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology have developed a set of consensus statements about risk assessment, detection, and prevention of latent TB infection and management of active TB infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-TNF treatment. Twenty-three consensus statements were initially drafted and then discussed by the committee members. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations were assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Web-based consensus voting was performed by 211 IBD specialists from nine Asian countries concerning each statement. A consensus statement was accepted if at least 75% of the participants agreed. Part 1 of the statements comprised two parts: (i) risk of TB infection during anti-TNF therapy and (ii) screening for TB infection prior to commencing anti-TNF therapy. These consensus statements will help clinicians optimize patient outcomes by reducing the morbidity and mortality related to TB infections in patients with IBD receiving anti-TNF treatment. © 2017 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  8. Ancient Chinese Formula Qiong-Yu-Gao Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity Without Reducing Anti-tumor Activity

    PubMed Central

    Teng, Zhi-Ying; Cheng, Xiao-Lan; Cai, Xue-Ting; Yang, Yang; Sun, Xiao-Yan; Xu, Jin-Di; Lu, Wu-Guang; Chen, Jiao; Hu, Chun-Ping; Zhou, Qian; Wang, Xiao-Ning; Li, Song-Lin; Cao, Peng

    2015-01-01

    Cisplatin is a highly effective anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical use is severely limited by serious side effects, of which nephrotoxicity is the most important. In this study, we investigated whether Qiong-Yu-Gao (QYG), a popular traditional Chinese medicinal formula described 840 years ago, exhibits protective effects against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. Using a mouse model of cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction, we observed that pretreatment with QYG attenuated cisplatin-induced elevations in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, ameliorated renal tubular lesions, reduced apoptosis, and accelerated tubular cell regeneration. Cisplatin-mediated elevations in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) mRNA, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in the kidney were also significantly suppressed by QYG treatment. Furthermore, QYG reduced platinum accumulation in the kidney by decreasing the expression of copper transporter 1 and organic cation transporter 2. An in vivo study using implanted Lewis lung cancer cells revealed that concurrent administration of QYG and cisplatin did not alter the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin. Our findings suggest that the traditional Chinese medicinal formula QYG inhibits cisplatin toxicity by several mechanisms that act simultaneously, without compromising its therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, QYG may be useful in the clinic as a protective agent to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. PMID:26510880

  9. Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta essential oil in activated macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Karimian, Parastoo; Kavoosi, Gholamreza; Amirghofran, Zahra

    2014-01-01

    Objective To investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta (T. minuta) essential oil. Methods In the present study T. minuta essential oil was obtained from leaves of T. minuta via hydro-distillation and then was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The anti-oxidant capacity of T. minuta essential oil was examined by measuring reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen species and hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The anti-inflammatory activity of T. minuta essential oil was determined through measuring NADH oxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and TNF-α mRNA expression in lipopolysacharide-stimulated murine macrophages using real-time PCR. Results Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the main components in the T. minuta essential oil were dihydrotagetone (33.86%), E-ocimene (19.92%), tagetone (16.15%), cis-β-ocimene (7.94%), Z-ocimene (5.27%), limonene (3.1%) and epoxyocimene (2.03%). The T. minuta essential oil had the ability to scavenge all reactive oxygen/reactive nitrogen species radicals with IC50 12-15 µg/mL, which indicated a potent radical scavenging activity. In addition, T. minuta essential oil significantly reduced NADH oxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthaseand TNF-α mRNA expression in the cells at concentrations of 50 µg/mL, indicating a capacity of this product to potentially modulate/diminish immune responses. Conclusions T. minuta essential oil has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities and could potentially be used as a safe effective source of natural anti-oxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatory conditions. PMID:25182441

  10. Adoptive immunotherapy utilizing anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cells for B-cell malignancies.

    PubMed

    Oh, Iekuni; Oh, Yukiko; Ohmine, Ken

    2016-01-01

    Genetically modified T-cells with forced expression of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CD19 CAR) have demonstrated promising clinical results for relapsed and refractory B cell malignancies in early clinical trial settings. The first beneficial tumor regressions were identified among approximately half of CLL patients in 2011. Similarly, CD19 CAR T-cells achieved remissions in about 80% of aggressive B-cell lymphomas in 2012. Furthermore, in 2013 this cellular therapy showed an extremely high rate of efficacy against refractory CD19 positive acute lymphoid leukemia, which had been regarded as the most difficult to treat hematologic disease. Recently, despite the absence of CD19 expression by neoplastic plasma cells, patients with refractory multiple myeloma achieved stringent complete remission after this therapy coupled with high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. However, there are significant toxicities. Cytokine releasing syndrome and neurotoxicity are recognized as life-threatening adverse events. Although phase I/II clinical trials have just started in Japan, given the exciting results obtained to date, this cellular therapy is expected to be a novel breakthrough immunotherapy for treating refractory B-cell malignancies.

  11. Inhibition of CSF1 Receptor Improves the Anti-tumor Efficacy of Adoptive Cell Transfer Immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Tsui, Christopher; Xu, Jingying; Robert, Lídia; Wu, Lily; Graeber, Thomas; West, Brian L.; Bollag, Gideon; Ribas, Antoni

    2013-01-01

    Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) recruits tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells (TIMs) that suppress tumor immunity, including M2 macrophages and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). The CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R) is a tyrosine kinase that is targetable by small molecule inhibitors such as PLX3397. In this study, we used a syngeneic mouse model of BRAFV600E-driven melanoma to evaluate the ability of PLX3397 to improve the efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT). In this model, we found that combined treatment produced superior anti-tumor responses compared with single treatments. In mice receiving the combined treatment, a dramatic reduction of TIMs and a skewing of MHCIIlow to MHCIIhi macrophages was observed. Further, mice receiving the combined treatment exhibited an increase in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells, as revealed by real-time imaging in vivo. In support of these observations, TILs from these mice released higher levels of IFN-γ. In conclusion, CSF-1R blockade with PLX3397 improved the efficacy of ACT immunotherapy by inhibiting the intratumoral accumulation of immune suppressive macrophages. PMID:24247719

  12. Ginsenoside Rg1 exerts synergistic anti-inflammatory effects with low doses of glucocorticoids in vitro.

    PubMed

    Song, Yanqin; Zhao, Feng; Zhang, Leiming; Du, Yuan; Wang, Tian; Fu, Fenghua

    2013-12-01

    Glucocorticoids (GCs) are usually used to treat inflammatory diseases. However, they cause severe and irreversible side effects, which limit the use of these compounds. Ginsenoside Rg1 had been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. The present study was designed to investigate whether Rg1 exhibits synergistic anti-inflammatory effects when combined with glucocorticoids. After stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), murine macrophagic RAW264.7 cells were treated with Rg1, corticosterone (Cort) or Rg1 and Cort. Then nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression were measured. The results showed that Rg1 or Cort could reduce the production of NO and TNF-α, and Rg1 dose-dependently up-regulated GR expression, while Cort dose-dependently down-regulated GR expression. The combination of low concentrations of Rg1 with Cort, which alone could not markedly inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, inhibited the secretion of NO and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and up-regulated the expression of GR. The findings suggested Rg1 can synergize with glucocorticoid to enhance its anti-inflammatory effect. © 2013.

  13. Combinations of ERK and p38 MAPK inhibitors ablate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha ) mRNA induction. Evidence for selective destabilization of TNF-alpha transcripts.

    PubMed

    Rutault, K; Hazzalin, C A; Mahadevan, L C

    2001-03-02

    Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine whose synthesis and secretion are implicated in diverse pathologies. Hence, inhibition of TNF-alpha transcription or translation and neutralization of its protein product represent major pharmaceutical strategies to control inflammation. We have studied the role of ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in controlling TNF-alpha mRNA levels in differentiated THP-1 cells and in freshly purified human monocytes. We show here that it is possible to produce virtually complete inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated TNF-alpha mRNA accumulation by using a combination of ERK and p38 MAP kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, substantial inhibition is achievable using combinations of 1 microm of each inhibitor, whereas inhibitors used individually are incapable of producing complete inhibition even at high concentrations. Finally, addressing mechanisms involved, we show that inhibition of p38 MAP kinase selectively destabilizes TNF-alpha transcripts but does not affect degradation of c-jun transcripts. These results impinge on the controversy in the literature surrounding the mode of action of MAP kinase inhibitors on TNF-alpha mRNA and suggest the use of combinations of MAP kinase inhibitors as an effective anti-inflammatory strategy.

  14. Differential requirement for nitric oxide in IGF-1-induced anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerotic effects

    PubMed Central

    Sukhanov, Sergiy; Higashi, Yusuke; Shai, Shaw-Yung; Blackstock, Christopher; Galvez, Sarah; Vaughn, Charlotte; Titterington, Jane; Delafontaine, Patrick

    2011-01-01

    We have shown previously that insulin like-growth factor I (IGF-1) suppressed atherosclerosis in Apoe−/− mice and activated endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase. To determine whether IGF-1-induced atheroprotection depends on NO, IGF-1- or saline-infused mice were treated with L-NAME, the pan-NO synthase inhibitor or with D-NAME (control). IGF-1 reduced atherosclerosis in both the D-NAME and L-NAME groups suggesting that IGF-1’s anti-atherogenic effect was NO-independent. IGF-1 increased plaque smooth muscle cells, suppressed cell apoptosis and downregulated lipoprotein lipase and these effects were also NO-independent. On the contrary, IGF-1 decreased oxidative stress and suppressed TNF-α levels and these effects were blocked by L-NAME. Thus IGF-1’s anti-oxidant effect is dependent on its ability to increase NO but is distinct from its anti-atherosclerotic effect which is NO-independent. PMID:21872589

  15. Non-typhi Salmonella infection in patients with rheumatic diseases on TNF-alpha antagonist therapy.

    PubMed

    Peña-Sagredo, J L; Fariñas, M C; Perez-Zafrilla, B; Cruz-Valenciano, A; Crespo, M; Joven-Ibañez, B; Riera, E; Manero-Ruiz, F J; Chalmeta, I; Hernández, M V; Rodríguez-Gómez, M; Maíz, O; López, R; Cobo, T; Pita, J; Carmona, L; Gonzalez-Gay, M A

    2009-01-01

    The morbidity and mortality of patients with rheumatic diseases has improved considerably following the use of biologic therapies. However, an increase in the frequency of bacterial infections has been observed in patients receiving these drugs. In the present study we aimed to establish the incidence and clinical manifestations of non-typhi Salmonella infection in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing TNF-alpha antagonist therapy due to severe rheumatic diseases refractory to conventional therapies. The rate of non-typhi Salmonella infection found in the Spanish Registry of Adverse Events of Biological Therapies in Rheumatic Diseases (BIOBADASER) was compared with that observed in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from the EMECAR (Morbidity and Clinical Expression of Rheumatoid Arthritis) Study, who were not treated with TNF-alpha antagonists. The rate found in the BIOBADASER registry was also compared with that available in a non-RA historic control cohort reported in a population from Huesca (Northern Spain). Seventeen cases of non-typhi Salmonella infection were observed in the series of patients exposed to anti-TNF-alpha therapies. The incidence rate of non-typhi Salmonella in BIOBADASER was 0.73 per 1000 patient-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-1.17). The incidence rate in the EMECAR cohort was 0.44 per 1000 patient-years. The relative risk for non-typhi salmonellosis in RA patients exposed to TNF-alpha inhibitors compared to those not treated with biological therapies was 2.07 (95% CI: 0.27-15.73) (p=0.480) whereas the relative risk of non-typhi Salmonella infections in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing TNF-alpha antagonist therapy compared with the non-RA Spanish control cohort was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.38-1.04) (p=0.07). Nine of the 17 patients with non-typhi salmonellosis presented a severe systemic infection. Incidence of non-typhi Salmonella infection is not increased significantly in rheumatic patients

  16. [Anti-PD-1 antibody: basics and clinical application].

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Yoshimasa; Okamura, Haruki

    2013-09-01

    Although the treatment of cancer with monoclonal antibodies has long been pursued, T cell-directed immunotherapy has met with limited success. Recently, much attention has been devoted to the blockade of PD-1 signaling to activate an immune response to cancer. PD-1, a protein expressed on T cells, is a member of the CD28 superfamily, and it transmits coinhibitory signals upon engagement with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. Accumulating evidence suggests that the PD-1 system plays pivotal roles in the regulation of autoimmunity, transplantation immunity, infectious immunity, and tumor immunity. Because the interaction of PD-1 with its ligands occurs in the effector phase of killer T cell responses in peripheral blood, anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies are ideal as specific agents to augment T cell responses to tumors with fewer adverse events than with the inhibition of CTLA-4, because the interaction of CTLA-4 with its ligands occurs in the priming phase of T cell responses within lymph nodes. In recent phase I clinical trials, objective responses were observed in patients with melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer who underwent immunotherapy with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. In addition, the antitumor activity of an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody was observed in patients with melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. The next frontier of immunotherapy targeting the PD-1 axis is to define patient selection criteria and explore combination therapy with other therapeutic manipulations such as adoptive immunotherapies.

  17. Immunotherapy for Drug Abuse

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Xiaoyun; Kosten, Thomas R.

    2013-01-01

    Substance use disorders continue to be major medical and social problems worldwide. Current medications for substance use disorders have many limitations such as cost, availability, medication compliance, dependence, diversion of some to illicit use and relapse to addiction after discontinuing their use. Immunotherapies using either passive monoclonal antibodies or active vaccines have distinctly different mechanisms and therapeutic utility from small molecule approaches to treatment. They have great potential to help the patient achieve and sustain abstinence and have fewer of the above limitations. This review covers the cocaine vaccine development in detail and provides an overview of directions for developing anti-addiction vaccines against the abuse of other substances. The notable success of the first placebo-controlled clinical trial of a cocaine vaccine, TA-CD, has led to an ongoing multi-site, Phase IIb clinical trial in 300 subjects. The results from these trials are encouarging further development of the cocaine vacine as one of the first anti-addiction vaccines to go forward to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for review and approval for human use. PMID:22229313

  18. Immunotherapy for drug abuse.

    PubMed

    Shen, Xiaoyun; Kosten, Thomas R

    2011-12-01

    Substance use disorders continue to be major medical and social problems worldwide. Current medications for substance use disorders have many limitations such as cost, availability, medication compliance, dependence, diversion of some to illicit use and relapse to addiction after discontinuing their use. Immunotherapies using either passive monoclonal antibodies or active vaccines have distinctly different mechanisms and therapeutic utility from small molecule approaches to treatment. They have great potential to help the patient achieve and sustain abstinence and have fewer of the above limitations. This review covers the cocaine vaccine development in detail and provides an overview of directions for developing anti-addiction vaccines against the abuse of other substances. The notable success of the first placebo-controlled clinical trial of a cocaine vaccine, TA-CD, has led to an ongoing multi-site, Phase IIb clinical trial in 300 subjects. The results from these trials are encouarging further development of the cocaine vacine as one of the first anti-addiction vaccines to go forward to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for review and approval for human use.

  19. Reducing Peripheral Inflammation with Infliximab Reduces Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognition in Rats with Hepatic Encephalopathy

    PubMed Central

    Dadsetan, Sherry; Balzano, Tiziano; Forteza, Jerónimo; Cabrera-Pastor, Andrea; Taoro-Gonzalez, Lucas; Hernandez-Rabaza, Vicente; Gil-Perotín, Sara; Cubas-Núñez, Laura; García-Verdugo, José-Manuel; Agusti, Ana; Llansola, Marta; Felipo, Vicente

    2016-01-01

    Inflammation contributes to cognitive impairment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, the process by which peripheral inflammation results in cognitive impairment remains unclear. In animal models, neuroinflammation and altered neurotransmission mediate cognitive impairment. Taking into account these data, we hypothesized that in rats with HE: (1) peripheral inflammation is a main contributor to neuroinflammation; (2) neuroinflammation in hippocampus impairs spatial learning by altering AMPA and/or NMDA receptors membrane expression; (3) reducing peripheral inflammation with infliximab (anti-TNF-a) would improve spatial learning; (4) this would be associated with reduced neuroinflammation and normalization of the membrane expression of glutamate receptors. The aims of this work were to assess these hypotheses. We analyzed in rats with portacaval shunt (PCS) and control rats, treated or not with infliximab: (a) peripheral inflammation by measuring prostaglandin E2, IL10, IL-17, and IL-6; (b) neuroinflammation in hippocampus by analyzing microglial activation and the content of TNF-a and IL-1b; (c) AMPA and NMDA receptors membrane expression in hippocampus; and (d) spatial learning in the Radial and Morris water mazes. We assessed the effects of treatment with infliximab on peripheral inflammation, on neuroinflammation and AMPA and NMDA receptors membrane expression in hippocampus and on spatial learning and memory. PCS rats show increased serum prostaglandin E2, IL-17, and IL-6 and reduced IL-10 levels, indicating increased peripheral inflammation. PCS rats also show microglial activation and increased nuclear NF-kB and expression of TNF-a and IL-1b in hippocampus. This was associated with altered AMPA and NMDA receptors membrane expression in hippocampus and impaired spatial learning and memory in the radial and Morris water maze. Treatment with infliximab reduces peripheral inflammation in PCS rats, normalizing prostaglandin E2, IL-17, IL-6, and

  20. Baicalin plays an anti-inflammatory role through reducing nuclear factor-κB and p38 phosphorylation in S. aureus-induced mastitis.

    PubMed

    Guo, Mengyao; Zhang, Naisheng; Li, Depeng; Liang, Dejie; Liu, Zhicheng; Li, Fenyang; Fu, Yunhe; Cao, Yongguo; Deng, Xuming; Yang, Zhengtao

    2013-06-01

    Mastitis is an inflammatory disease caused by microbial infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the major etiological microorganism responsible for both clinical and subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. A mouse model of S. aureus mastitis is available. Baicalin is isolated from Scutellaria and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of baicalin in S. aureus mastitis. In the present study, the mouse model was infected with S. aureus to cause mammary gland inflammation. Baicalin treatment was administered from 6h until 24h after infection. Baicalin significantly attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-β, and IL-6. Further studies revealed that baicalin downregulated phosphorylation of NF-κB and p38 in the mammary gland with S. aureus mastitis. Our results demonstrated that baicalin reduced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-β, and IL-6 by inhibiting NF-κB and p38 phosphorylation and mRNA expression. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Sub-lethal radiation enhances anti-tumor immunotherapy in a transgenic mouse model of pancreatic cancer

    PubMed Central

    Cao, Zhu Alexander; Daniel, Dylan; Hanahan, Douglas

    2002-01-01

    Background It is not uncommon to observe circulating tumor antigen-specific T lymphocytes in cancer patients despite a lack of significant infiltration and destruction of their tumors. Thus, an important goal for tumor immunotherapy is to identify ways to modulate in vivo anti-tumor immunity to achieve clinical efficacy. We investigate this proposition in a spontaneous mouse tumor model, Rip1-Tag2. Methods Experimental therapies were carried out in two distinctive trial designs, intended to either intervene in the explosive growth of small tumors, or regress bulky end-stage tumors. Rip1-Tag2 mice received a single transfer of splenocytes from Tag-specific, CD4+ T cell receptor transgenic mice, a single sub-lethal radiation, or a combination therapy in which the lymphocyte transfer was preceded by the sub-lethal radiation. Tumor burden, the extent of lymphocyte infiltration into solid tumors and host survival were used to assess the efficacy of these therapeutic approaches. Results In either intervention or regression, the transfer of Tag-specific T cells alone did not result in significant lymphocyte infiltration into solid tumors, not did it affect tumor growth or host survival. In contrast, the combination therapy resulted in significant reduction in tumor burden, increase in lymphocyte infiltration into solid tumors, and extension of survival. Conclusions The results indicate that certain types of solid tumors may be intrinsically resistant to infiltration and destruction by tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Our data suggest that such resistance can be disrupted by sub-lethal radiation. The combinatorial approach presented here merits consideration in the design of clinical trials aimed to achieve T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. PMID:12019035

  2. Local TNF causes NFATc1-dependent cholesterol-mediated podocyte injury

    PubMed Central

    Pedigo, Christopher E.; Ducasa, Gloria Michelle; Leclercq, Farah; Sloan, Alexis; Hashmi, Tahreem; Molina-David, Judith; Ge, Mengyuan; Lassenius, Mariann I.; Groop, Per-Henrik; Kretzler, Matthias; Martini, Sebastian; Reich, Heather; Wahl, Patricia; Ghiggeri, GianMarco; Burke, George W.; Kretz, Oliver; Huber, Tobias B.; Mendez, Armando J.; Merscher, Sandra

    2016-01-01

    High levels of circulating TNF and its receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, predict the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), but their contribution to organ damage in DKD remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the function of local and systemic TNF in podocyte injury. We cultured human podocytes with sera collected from DKD patients, who displayed elevated TNF levels, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) patients, whose TNF levels resembled those of healthy patients. Exogenous TNF administration or local TNF expression was equally sufficient to cause free cholesterol–dependent apoptosis in podocytes by acting through a dual mechanism that required a reduction in ATP-binding cassette transporter A1–mediated (ABCA1-mediated) cholesterol efflux and reduced cholesterol esterification by sterol-O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1). TNF-induced albuminuria was aggravated in mice with podocyte-specific ABCA1 deficiency and was partially prevented by cholesterol depletion with cyclodextrin. TNF-stimulated free cholesterol–dependent apoptosis in podocytes was mediated by nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1). ABCA1 overexpression or cholesterol depletion was sufficient to reduce albuminuria in mice with podocyte-specific NFATc1 activation. Our data implicate an NFATc1/ABCA1-dependent mechanism in which local TNF is sufficient to cause free cholesterol–dependent podocyte injury irrespective of TNF, TNFR1, or TNFR2 serum levels. PMID:27482889

  3. Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of rosuvastatin by regulation of oxidative stress in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model

    PubMed Central

    Shin, Seung Kak; Cho, Jae Hee; Kim, Eui Joo; Kim, Eun-Kyung; Park, Dong Kyun; Kwon, Kwang An; Chung, Jun-Won; Kim, Kyoung Oh; Kim, Yoon Jae

    2017-01-01

    AIM To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of rosuvastatin by regulation of oxidative stress in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. METHODS An acute colitis mouse model was induced by oral administration of 5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 d. In the treated group, rosuvastatin (0.3 mg/kg per day) was administered orally before and after DSS administration for 21 d. On day 21, mice were sacrificed and the colons were removed for macroscopic examination, histology, and Western blot analysis. In the in vitro study, IEC-6 cells were stimulated with 50 ng/mL tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and then treated with or without rosuvastatin (2 μmol/L). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory mediators, and apoptotic markers were measured. RESULTS In DSS-induced colitis mice, rosuvastatin treatment significantly reduced the disease activity index and histological damage score compared to untreated mice (P < 0.05). Rosuvastatin also attenuated the DSS-induced increase of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and NADPH oxidase-1 expression in colon tissue. Multiplex ELISA analysis revealed that rosuvastatin treatment reduced the DSS-induced increase of serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-17, and G-CSF levels. The increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-7, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in the DSS group were attenuated by rosuvastatin treatment. In vitro, rosuvastatin significantly reduced the production of ROS, inflammatory mediators and apoptotic markers in TNF-α-treated IEC-6 cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Rosuvastatin had the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in DSS-induced colitis model. Therefore, it might be a candidate anti-inflammatory drug in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. PMID:28740344

  4. Anti-TNF and thiopurine therapy in pregnant IBD patients does not significantly alter a panel of B-cell and T-cell subsets in 1-year-old infants.

    PubMed

    Kattah, Michael G; Milush, Jeffrey M; Burt, Trevor; McCabe, Robert P; Whang, Michael I; Ma, Averil; Mahadevan, Uma

    2018-04-03

    Infants exposed to combination therapy with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents and thiopurines may exhibit increased infections at 1 year of age compared to unexposed infants. We hypothesized that this increased risk of infection is due to abnormal development of the newborn immune system. We immunophenotyped B-cell and T-cell subsets using multiparameter flow cytometry in 1-year-old infants whose mothers were exposed to therapeutic agents for IBD. We analyzed samples from infants exposed to infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab (ADA) monotherapy (IFX/ADA, n = 11), certolizumab pegol (CZP) monotherapy (CZP, n = 4), IFX or ADA plus thiopurine combination therapy (IFX/ADA + IM, n = 4), and CZP plus thiopurine combination therapy (CZP + IM, n = 2). Percentages of B cells, CD4 + T helper cells, T regulatory cells (T regs ), and CD8 + cytotoxic T cells, were similar among the groups. Infants exposed to combination therapy (IFX/ADA + IM) exhibited trends toward fewer CD27 + B cells, switched memory B cells, plasmablasts, interferon gamma (IFNγ)-producing CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, and CCR5 + CD4 + T cells, but these did not reach statistical significance. Multiparameter immunophenotyping of major B-cell and T-cell subsets suggests that the adaptive newborn immune system develops largely unaltered after exposure to combination therapy as compared to anti-TNF monotherapy.

  5. Vasopressin attenuates TNF-mediated inflammation in the rat cremaster microcirculation.

    PubMed

    McMahon, Paul J; Proctor, Kenneth G

    2009-09-01

    sheer stress). In series 2, the TNF-evoked increase in infiltration, activation, and permeability were all attenuated, and arteriolar blood flow (which determines perfused capillary surface area and hydrostatic pressure) was reduced with i.v. AVP versus i.v. PE (all p < 0.05). In series 3, after hemorrhage to mean arterial pressure <50 mm Hg for 30 minutes, the TNF-evoked increase in infiltration and activation was attenuated, and arteriolar and venular blood flow were both reduced with i.v. AVP versus PE (all p < 0.05). In series 4, after hemorrhage, the TNF-evoked increase in leukocyte activation was potentiated with the vaprisol versus vehicle (p < 0.05) with no effect on arteriolar or venular blood flow. In series 5 (controls), suffusion with lactated Ringers' versus hetastarch solution more than doubled the TNF-evoked increase in activation (p < 0.05). (1) AVP can attenuate TNF-evoked leukocyte infiltration, activation or permeability changes in the skeletal muscle microcirculation. (2) The mechanism is probably receptor mediated and does not entirely depend on sheer stress in venules or Starling forces in capillaries. (3) The magnitude of this anti-inflammatory effect is influenced by several conditions, including volume status, the colloid or crystalloid suffusion fluid, and is possibly specific to the antigenic stimulus (TNF vs. histamine).

  6. Short-term exercise training reduces anti-inflammatory action of interleukin-10 in adults with obesity.

    PubMed

    Barry, Julianne C; Simtchouk, Svetlana; Durrer, Cody; Jung, Mary E; Mui, Alice L; Little, Jonathan P

    2018-06-06

    A key pathological component of obesity is chronic low-grade inflammation, which is propagated by infiltration of immune cells into tissues and overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines that possess anti-inflammatory properties, such as interleukin (IL)-10 and IL6, may also play an important role. This study was designed to determine the impact of short-term exercise on the anti-inflammatory action of IL10 and IL6. Thirty-three inactive obese adults were randomized to two weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Fasting blood samples were collected before and after training. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production was measured in whole blood cultures in the presence or absence of IL10 or IL6. IL10 and IL6 receptor expression were measured on circulating monocytes, neutrophils, and T cells. HIIT and MICT reduced the ability of IL10 to inhibit LPS-induced TNFα production, with a greater effect with HIIT (Group × Time and IL10 × Time interactions, p's < 0.05). This reduction in IL10 function was not explained by altered IL10R1 expression, which was unchanged after training (p > 0.05). HIIT and MICT differentially affected IL6 function (Group × Time and IL6 × Time interactions, p's < 0.05) with evidence of reductions in the anti-inflammatory ability of IL6 with HIIT. Neither HIIT nor MICT altered levels of circulating IL10, IL6, or TNFα. The impact of short-term HIIT and MICT resulted in differential effects on anti-inflammatory cytokine function. The clinical implications remain to be determined but these novel findings indicate that measuring anti-inflammatory cytokine action could reveal important immunomodulatory effects of exercise. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  7. The research status of immune checkpoint blockade by anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1/PD-l1 antibodies in tumor immunotherapy in China: A bibliometrics study.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Xiaoqin; He, Liangmei; Mao, Kaiyun; Chen, Daming; Jiang, Hongbo; Liu, Zhiping

    2018-04-01

    Using bibliometrics, we analyzed the research status of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB, a popular tumor immunotherapy method represented by antibodies targeted CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1) in tumor immunotherapy in China during the past 2 decades. Articles in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), patents in Thomson Innovation, and drugs in Cortellis Competitive Intelligence in the field of ICB for tumor immunotherapy from 1996 to 2015 were the subjects of bibliometric analysis. Using database-attached software and Excel, quantitative analyses were performed including examination of the number of documents, citation frequency, h-index, key projects, quantity of publications, public patents, and status of new drug research. The number of publications from 1996 to 2015 in the field of ICB for tumor immunotherapy that came out of China was 380, which was 14.3% of the total publications worldwide and was second only to that of the USA. In the past decade, China has rapidly increased the number of publications and patents in this field. However, indicators of publication influence, such as citation frequency and h-index, were far behind other advanced countries. In addition, the total number of patents in China was much lower than that of the USA. China has introduced 5 drugs for ICB that are being developed for the healthcare market. Tumor immunotherapy research such as ICB in China has developed rapidly with increasing influence in the last 2 decades. However, there is still a relatively large gap compared with the USA. It is expected that China will have greater influence on tumor immunotherapy research in the near future.

  8. Cellular immunotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas

    PubMed Central

    Finkelstein, Steven Eric; Fishman, Mayer; Conley, Anthony P.; Gabrilovich, Dmitry; Antonia, Scott; Chiappori, Alberto

    2015-01-01

    SUMMARY Soft tissue sarcomas are rare neoplasms, with approximately 9,000 new cases in the United States every year. Unfortunately, there is little progress in the treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcomas in the past two decades beyond the standard approaches of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Immunotherapy is a modality complementary to conventional therapy,. It is appealing because functional anti-tumor activity could affect both local-regional and systemic disease and act over a prolonged period of time. In this report, we review immunotherapeutic investigative strategies being developed, including several tumor vaccine, antigen vaccine, and dendritic cell vaccine strategies. PMID:22401634

  9. Moclobemide exerts anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide-activated primary mixed glial cell culture.

    PubMed

    Bielecka, A M; Paul-Samojedny, M; Obuchowicz, E

    2010-12-01

    An increasing body of evidence indicates that glial activation and neuroinflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Activated glial cells secrete various cytokines that influence neurotransmission, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis. It has been suggested that alterations in cytokine networks are involved in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. Until now, only a few studies demonstrated that some tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in brain glia cells. We have investigated for the first time whether the antidepressant, moclobemide (a reversible selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A) has an influence on pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in primary rat mixed glial cell cultures stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results showed that moclobemide used in a wide range of concentrations diminished LPS-stimulated IL-1β and TNF-α mRNAs expression in cellular extracts and remarkably reduced the levels of both pro-inflammatory cytokines in culture medium. In opposite to this, the drug had no influence on IL-10 mRNA and slightly reduced IL-10 concentration. Moreover, moclobemide decreased LPS-stimulated translocation of NFκB p65 subunit into cellular nuclei. These results suggest that moclobemide exerts anti-inflammatory effect in the central nervous system because it affects the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α/IL-10) in primary mixed glial cell cultures.

  10. Advances of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Tumor Immunotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Qiao

    2018-01-01

    Immune checkpoints are cell surface molecules that can fine-tune the immune responses, they are crucial for modulating the duration and amplitude of immune reactions while maintaining self-tolerance in order to minimize autoimmune responses. Numerous studies have demonstrated that tumors cells can directly express immune-checkpoint molecules, or induce many inhibitory molecules expression in the tumor microenvironment to inhibit the anti-tumor immunity. Releasing these brakes has emerged as an exciting strategy to cure cancer. In the past few years, clinical trials with therapeutic antibodies targeting to the checkpoint molecules CTLA-4 and PD-1 have rekindled the hope for cancer immunotherapy. In contrast to the conventional treatment, checkpoint inhibitors induce broad and durable antitumor responses. In the future, treatment may involve combination therapy to target different checkpoint molecules and stages of the adaptive immune responses. In this review, we summarized the recent advances of the study and development of other checkpoint molecules in tumor immunotherapy.

  11. Enhancing adoptive cancer immunotherapy with Vγ2Vδ2 T cells through pulse zoledronate stimulation.

    PubMed

    Nada, Mohanad H; Wang, Hong; Workalemahu, Grefachew; Tanaka, Yoshimasa; Morita, Craig T

    2017-01-01

    Human γδ T cells expressing Vγ2Vδ2 T cell receptors monitor foreign- and self-prenyl pyrophosphate metabolites in isoprenoid biosynthesis to mediate immunity to microbes and tumors. Adoptive immunotherapy with Vγ2Vδ2 T cells has been used to treat cancer patients with partial and complete remissions. Most clinical trials and preclinical studies have used continuous zoledronate exposure to expand Vγ2Vδ2 cells where zoledronate is slowly diluted over the course of the culture. Zoledronate inhibits farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS) in monocytes causing isopentenyl pyrophosphate to accumulate that then stimulates Vγ2Vδ2 cells. Because zoledronate inhibition of FDPS is also toxic for T cells, we hypothesized that a short period of exposure would reduce T cell toxicity but still be sufficient for monocytes uptake. Additionally, IL-15 increases the anti-tumor activity of murine αβ T cells in mice but its effect on the in vivo anti-tumor activity of human Vγ2Vδ2 cells has not been assessed. Human Vγ2Vδ2 T cells were expanded by pulse or continuous zoledronate stimulation with IL-2 or IL-15. Expanded Vγ2Vδ2 cells were tested for their expression of effector molecules and killing of tumor cells as well as their in vivo control of human prostate cancer tumors in immunodeficient NSG mice. Pulse zoledronate stimulation with either IL-2 or IL-15 resulted in more uniform expansion of Vγ2Vδ2 cells with higher purity and cell numbers as compared with continuous exposure. The Vγ2Vδ2 cells had higher levels of CD107a and perforin and increased tumor cytotoxicity. Adoptive immunotherapy with Vγ2Vδ2 cells derived by pulse stimulation controlled human PC-3 prostate cancer tumors in NSG mice significantly better than those derived by continuous stimulation, halting tumor growth. Although pulse zoledronate stimulation with IL-15 preserved early memory subsets, adoptive immunotherapy with IL-15-derived Vγ2Vδ2 cells equally inhibited PC-3 tumor growth as those

  12. Veterinary Oncology Immunotherapies.

    PubMed

    Bergman, Philip J

    2018-03-01

    The ideal cancer immunotherapy agent should be able to discriminate between cancer and normal cells, be potent enough to kill small or large numbers of tumor cells, and be able to prevent recurrence of the tumor. Tumor immunology and immunotherapy are among the most exciting and rapidly expanding fields; cancer immunotherapy is now recognized as a pillar of treatment alongside traditional modalities. This article highlights approaches that seem to hold particular promise in human clinical trials and many that have been tested in veterinary medicine. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. The synergy between ionizing radiation and immunotherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Sathianathen, Niranjan J; Krishna, Suprita; Konety, Badrinath R; Griffith, Thomas S

    2017-09-01

    There has been a surge in the use of immunotherapy for genitourinary malignancies. Immunotherapy is an established treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma and nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, but its potential for treating prostate cancer (PCa) remains under investigation. Despite reported survival benefits, no published Phase III PCa trials using immunotherapy only as a treatment has demonstrated direct antitumor effects by reducing prostate-specific antigen levels. Subsequently, the thought of combining immunotherapy with other treatment modalities has gained traction as a way to achieving optimal results. Based on data from other malignancies, it is hypothesized that radiotherapy and immunotherapy can act synergistically to improve outcomes. We will discuss the clinical potential of combining immune-based treatments with radiotherapy as a treatment for advanced PCa.

  14. Immunotherapy of Cancer in 2012

    PubMed Central

    Kirkwood, John M.; Butterfield, Lisa H.; Tarhini, Ahmad A.; Zarour, Hassane; Kalinski, Pawel; Ferrone, Soldano

    2012-01-01

    The immunotherapy of cancer has made significant strides in the past few years due to improved understanding of the underlying principles of tumor biology and immunology. These principles have been critical in the development of immunotherapy in the laboratory and in the implementation of immunotherapy in the clinic. This improved understanding of immunotherapy, enhanced by increased insights into the mechanism of tumor immune response and its evasion by tumors, now permits manipulation of this interaction and elucidates the therapeutic role of immunity in cancer. Also important, this improved understanding of immunotherapy and the mechanisms underlying immunity in cancer has fueled an expanding array of new therapeutic agents for a variety of cancers. Pegylated interferon-α2b as an adjuvant therapy and ipilimumab as therapy for advanced disease, both of which were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for melanoma in March 2011, are 2 prime examples of how an increased understanding of the principles of tumor biology and immunology have been translated successfully from the laboratory to the clinical setting. Principles that guide the development and application of immunotherapy include antibodies, cytokines, vaccines, and cellular therapies. The identification and further elucidation of the role of immunotherapy in different tumor types, and the development of strategies for combining immunotherapy with cytotoxic and molecularly targeted agents for future multimodal therapy for cancer will enable even greater progress and ultimately lead to improved outcomes for patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. PMID:22576456

  15. In vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.

    PubMed

    Suresh, V; Sruthi, V; Padmaja, B; Asha, V V

    2011-04-12

    To determine anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of Cuscuta reflexa in cell lines (in vitro). Anti-inflammatory activity of the water extract was analysed in vitro using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory reactions in murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. The expression of COX-2 and TNF-α genes involved in inflammation was analysed by SQ RT-PCR. EMSA was conducted to analyse the influence of the extract on NF-κB signalling. Anti-cancer activity was analysed on Hep3B cells by MTT assay, DAPI staining, annexin V staining and SQ-RT PCR analysis of BAX, Bcl-2, p53 and survivin. The extract down regulated LPS induced over expression of TNF-α and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells; blocked NF-κB binding to its motifs and induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells as evidenced from MTT, DAPI staining and annexin V staining assays. The extract up regulated pro-apoptotic factors BAX and p53, and down regulated anti-apoptotic factors Bcl-2 and survivin. The study showed that Cuscuta reflexa inhibits LPS induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells through interplay of TNF-α, COX-2 and NF-κB signalling. It induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells through the up regulation of p53, BAX and down regulation of Bcl-2 and survivin. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Anti-α-synuclein immunotherapy reduces α-synuclein propagation in the axon and degeneration in a combined viral vector and transgenic model of synucleinopathy.

    PubMed

    Spencer, Brian; Valera, Elvira; Rockenstein, Edward; Overk, Cassia; Mante, Michael; Adame, Anthony; Zago, Wagner; Seubert, Peter; Barbour, Robin; Schenk, Dale; Games, Dora; Rissman, Robert A; Masliah, Eliezer

    2017-01-13

    Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), PD dementia (PDD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are characterized by progressive accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in neurons. Recent studies have proposed that neuron-to-neuron propagation of α-syn plays a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. We have previously shown that antibodies against the C-terminus of α-syn reduce the intra-neuronal accumulation of α-syn and related deficits in transgenic models of synucleinopathy, probably by abrogating the axonal transport and accumulation of α-syn in in vivo models. Here, we assessed the effect of passive immunization against α-syn in a new mouse model of axonal transport and accumulation of α-syn. For these purpose, non-transgenic, α-syn knock-out and mThy1-α-syn tg (line 61) mice received unilateral intra-cerebral injections with a lentiviral (LV)-α-syn vector construct followed by systemic administration of the monoclonal antibody 1H7 (recognizes amino acids 91-99) or control IgG for 3 months. Cerebral α-syn accumulation and axonopathy was assessed by immunohistochemistry and effects on behavior were assessed by Morris water maze. Unilateral LV-α-syn injection resulted in axonal propagation of α-syn in the contra-lateral site with subsequent behavioral deficits and axonal degeneration. Passive immunization with 1H7 antibody reduced the axonal accumulation of α-syn in the contra-lateral side and ameliorated the behavioral deficits. Together this study supports the notion that immunotherapy might improve the deficits in models of synucleinopathy by reducing the axonal propagation and accumulation of α-syn. This represents a potential new mode of action through which α-syn immunization might work.

  17. Soluble TNF receptor 1-secreting ex vivo-derived dendritic cells reduce injury after stroke.

    PubMed

    Works, Melissa G; Koenig, Jenny B; Sapolsky, Robert M

    2013-09-01

    Inflammation is a major factor in the progression of damage after stroke and in the clinic, current therapies treat the clot, not the resulting damage. We have developed a novel method of protein delivery that exploits the migration ability of leukocytes after ischemic stroke (transient middle cerebral artery occlusion; tMCAO). In our studies, ex vivo-derived dendritic cells (exDCs) migrate to the inflamed rat brain soon after tMCAO onset and the number of cells that remain in the brain after injection is significantly correlated with the amount of local inflammation at the injury site. In addition, exDCs transduced to overexpress soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor1 (sTNFR1) produce functional cargo that is secreted and that blocks TNF-α bioavailability in vitro. When delivered at 6 hours post-tMCAO reperfusion, sTNFR1-exDC-treated rats show significantly smaller infarct size and decreased inflammation compared with animals treated with exDCs transduced with GFP lentivirus. These studies indicate that cell-mediated delivery of proteins may be a promising new approach to reduce brain damage after acute neurologic insult.

  18. Itraconazole inhibits TNF-α-induced CXCL10 expression in oral fibroblasts.

    PubMed

    Ohta, K; Ishida, Y; Fukui, A; Nishi, H; Naruse, T; Takechi, M; Kamata, N

    2015-01-01

    Itraconazole (ICZ) has a broad spectrum of antifungal activity including a wide range of Candida spp. TNF-α, an inflammatory cytokine associated with Th1-mediated oral inflammatory disease, enhances inflammatory mediators, such as CXCR3-agonistic chemokines including CXCL10. We examined the anti-inflammatory potential of ICZ against TNF-α-induced chemokines in oral fibroblasts. We investigated the effects of ICZ on mRNA expressions of various TNF-α-induced chemokines in immortalized oral keratinocytes (RT7) and oral fibroblasts (GT1) using quantitative PCR analysis. Subsequently, the effects of ICZ and fluconazole (FLZ) on TNF-α-induced CXCL10 proteins in GT1 and primary fibroblasts were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The effect of ICZ on signal transduction protein phosphorylation involved in CXCL10 production from TNF-α-stimulated GT1 was examined by western blotting. ICZ inhibited TNF-α-induced CXCL10 mRNA in GT1, but not RT7. Although ICZ did not affect TNF-α-induced IL-8 mRNA, the mRNAs of TNF-α-induced CXCR3-agonistic chemokines such as CXCL9 and CXCL11 were inhibited by ICZ in GT1. TNF-α-induced CXCL10 protein production in GT1 and primary fibroblasts was inhibited by ICZ, but not FLZ. Finally, ICZ inhibited TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of c-JUN, which is related to CXCL10 production by TNF-α-stimulated GT1. ICZ may be useful as therapy for Th1-mediated oral inflammatory disease. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  19. Specific immunotherapy in grass pollen allergy

    PubMed Central

    Mailhol, Claire; Didier, Alain

    2012-01-01

    Since its description by Noon in 1911, desensitization, or allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT), has been largely used in respiratory allergic diseases treatment. It remains the only etiologic treatment for allergic diseases. The development of the sublingual route and new forms of medication, as an alternative to subcutaneous injection, has led to large scale clinical trials. Many of them had been performed with allergen tablets, particularly in the field of pollen allergy. These studies have confirmed that SIT is efficient in reducing all respiratory allergic symptoms. Data on long-term benefits and sustained efficacy after stopping treatment have also been published. These show an impact on natural history of allergic disease, in particular, a reduction in the risk of asthma in desensitized rhinitic subjects and in the acquisition of new sensitivities. The basic mechanisms of immunotherapy are becoming better understood and allow us to envisage improvements in this therapeutic method in the future. The sublingual route appears to be safer with a better safety profile. This may lead to an extension of allergen specific immunotherapy indications in patients with respiratory allergic diseases. PMID:23095875

  20. Sepsis-induced immunosuppression: from cellular dysfunctions to immunotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Hotchkiss, Richard S.; Monneret, Guillaume; Payen, Didier

    2014-01-01

    Sepsis — severe life-threatening infection with organ dysfunction — initiates a complex interplay of host pro- and anti-inflammatory processes. In a real sense, sepsis can be considered a race to the death between the pathogens and the host immune system. It is the proper balance between the often competing pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways that determines the fate of the individual. Although the field of sepsis research has witnessed the failure of many highly-touted clinical trials, a better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of the disorder and the mechanisms responsible for the associated pro- and anti-inflammatory responses is leading to a novel approach to treat this highly lethal condition. Biomarker-guided immunotherapy administered to patients at the proper immune phase of sepsis represents a potential major advance in the treatment of sepsis and more broadly in the field of infectious disease. PMID:24232462

  1. Finding the faithless: perceived atheist prevalence reduces anti-atheist prejudice.

    PubMed

    Gervais, Will M

    2011-04-01

    Although prejudice is typically positively related to relative outgroup size, four studies found converging evidence that perceived atheist prevalence reduces anti-atheist prejudice. Study 1 demonstrated that anti-atheist prejudice among religious believers is reduced in countries in which atheists are especially prevalent. Study 2 demonstrated that perceived atheist prevalence is negatively associated with anti-atheist prejudice. Study 3 demonstrated a causal relationship: Reminders of atheist prevalence reduced explicit distrust of atheists. These results appeared distinct from intergroup contact effects. Study 4 demonstrated that prevalence information decreased implicit atheist distrust. The latter two experiments provide the first evidence that mere prevalence information can reduce prejudice against any outgroup. These findings offer insights about anti-atheist prejudice, a poorly understood phenomenon. Furthermore, they suggest both novel directions for future prejudice research and potential interventions that could reduce a variety of prejudices.

  2. Dual anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic action of topical ivermectin 1% in papulopustular rosacea.

    PubMed

    Schaller, M; Gonser, L; Belge, K; Braunsdorf, C; Nordin, R; Scheu, A; Borelli, C

    2017-11-01

    Recently, therapy of rosacea with inflammatory lesions (papulopustular) has improved substantially with the approval of topical ivermectin 1% cream. It is assumed to have a dual mode of action with anti-inflammatory capacities and anti-parasitic effects against Demodex, which however has not yet been demonstrated in vivo. To find scientific rationale for the dual anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic mode of action of topical ivermectin 1% cream in patients with rosacea. A monocentric pilot study was performed including 20 caucasion patients with moderate to severe rosacea, as assessed by investigator global assessment (IGA score ≥3) and a Demodex density ≥15/cm 2 . Patients were treated with topical ivermectin 1% cream once daily (Soolantra ® ) for ≥12 weeks. The density of Demodex mites was assessed with skin surface biopsies. Expression of inflammatory and immune markers was evaluated with RT-PCR and by immunofluorescence staining. The mean density of mites was significantly decreased at week 6 and week 12 (P < 0.001). The gene expression levels of IL-8, LL-37, HBD3, TLR4 and TNF-α were downregulated at both time points. Reductions in gene expression were significant for LL-37, HBD3 and TNF-α at both follow-up time points and at week 12 for TLR4 (all P < 0.05). Reduced LL-37 expression (P < 0.05) and IL-8 expression were confirmed on the protein level by immunofluorescence staining. All patients improved clinically, and 16 of 20 patients reached therapeutic success defined as IGA score ≤1. Topical ivermectin 1% cream acts by a dual, anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic mode of action against rosacea by killing Demodex spp. in vivo, in addition to significantly improving clinical signs and symptoms in the skin. © 2017 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

  3. Reconceptualizing cancer immunotherapy based on plant production systems

    PubMed Central

    Hefferon, Kathleen

    2017-01-01

    Plants can be used as inexpensive and facile production platforms for vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals. More recently, plant-based biologics have expanded to include cancer immunotherapy agents. The following review describes the current state of the art for plant-derived strategies to prevent or reduce cancers. The review discusses avenues taken to prevent infection by oncogenic viruses, solid tumors and lymphomas. Strategies including cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and virus nanoparticles are described, and examples are provided. The review ends with a discussion of the implications of plant-based cancer immunotherapy for developing countries. PMID:28884013

  4. Expression of TNF-α system members in bovine ovarian follicles and the effects of TNF-α or dexamethasone on preantral follicle survival, development and ultrastructure in vitro.

    PubMed

    Silva, A W B; Ribeiro, R P; Menezes, V G; Barberino, R S; Passos, J R S; Dau, A M P; Costa, J J N; Melo, L R F; Bezerra, F T G; Donato, M A M; Peixoto, C A; Matos, M H T; Gonçalves, P B D; van den Hurk, R; Silva, J R V

    2017-07-01

    This study was conducted to detect the protein expression of TNF-α system members (TNF-α/TNFR1/TNFR2) in bovine ovarian follicles and to evaluate the effects of TNF-α or dexamethasone on the survival and growth of primordial follicles in vitro, as well as on gene expression in cultured ovarian tissue. It was hypothesized that TNF-α induces follicular atresia in ovarian tissues cultured in vitro, and that dexamethasone suppresses the production of endogenous TNF-α, which can improve follicle viability in vitro. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 6days in α-MEM + supplemented with TNF-α (0, 1, 10, 100 or 200ng/ml) or dexamethasone (0, 1, 10, 100 or 200ng/ml). After culture, the expression of mRNAs for BCL-2, BAX, P53, TNF-α, and CASP3 and CASP6 were evaluated. Immunohistochemical results showed that the TNF-α system members, were detected in bovine preantral and antral follicles. After 6days, the TNF-α (10ng/ml) treatment reduced the percentage of normal preantral follicles and increased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in cultured tissue. Dexamethasone (10ng/ml) during 6days of culture did maintain the percentage of normal follicles and the ultrastructure of follicles, while the presence of TNF-α or dexamethasone did not influence primordial follicle activation. However, TNF-α or dexamethasone had no effect on the levels of mRNA for P53, BCL-2, BAX and CASP6, in cultured tissues, but the presence of dexamethasone reduced the levels of CASP3 compared to ovarian slices cultured in control medium (α-MEM + ). In conclusion, proteins of the TNF-α system are expressed at different bovine follicle stages. The addition of TNF-α in culture reduces follicle survival and increases the number of apoptotic cells in ovarian tissue, while the presence of dexamethasone maintains follicle ultrastructure in cultured tissue. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  5. Anti-inflammatory effects of Scoparia dulcis L. and betulinic acid.

    PubMed

    Tsai, Jen-Chieh; Peng, Wen-Huang; Chiu, Tai-Hui; Lai, Shang-Chih; Lee, Chao-Ying

    2011-01-01

    The aims of this study intended to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanol extract from Scoparia dulcis (SDE) and betulinic acid on λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of SDE and betulinic acid was examined by detecting the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the edema paw tissue and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRd) in the liver. The betulinic acid content in SDE was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the anti-inflammatory model, the results showed that SDE (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) and betulinic acid (20 and 40 mg/kg) reduced the paw edema at 3, 4 and 5 h after λ-carrageenan administration. Moreover, SDE and betulinic acid affected the levels of COX-2, NO, TNF-α and IL1-β in the λ-carrageenan-induced edema paws. The activities of SOD, GPx and GRd in the liver tissue were increased and the MDA levels in the edema paws were decreased. It is suggested that SDE and betulinic acid possessed anti-inflammatory activities and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms appear to be related to the reduction of the levels of COX-2, NO, TNF-α and IL1-β in inflamed tissues, as well as the inhibition of MDA level via increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRd. The analytical result showed that the content of betulinic acid in SDE was 6.25 mg/g extract.

  6. IgE-based Immunotherapy of Cancer -A Comparative Oncology Approach

    PubMed Central

    Singer, Josef; Jensen-Jarolim, Erika

    2014-01-01

    Antibody-based immunotherapies are important therapy options in human oncology. Although human humoral specific immunity is constituted of five different immunoglobulin classes, currently only IgG-based immunotherapies have proceeded to clinical application. This review, however, discusses the benefits and difficulties of IgE-based immunotherapy of cancer, with special emphasis on how to translate promising preclinical results into clinical studies. Pursuing the “Comparative Oncology” approach, novel drug candidates are investigated in clinical trials with veterinary cancer patients, most often dogs. By this strategy drug development could be speeded up, animal experiments could be reduced and novel therapy options could be introduced benefitting humans as well as man’s best friend. PMID:25264496

  7. [Anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases during pregnancy and breast-feeding].

    PubMed

    Persić, Mladen

    2013-04-01

    Since the early occurrence of inflammatory bowel diseases in young people, the role of pregnancy on disease course, and the influence of different therapies on pregnancy, fetal development and the safety of breastfeeding have been one of the important questions. Biological therapy has been increasingly used and all the above mentioned questions seem to be of a great interest. The majority of research indicate that the possibility of conception in patients with IBD are the same as in a healthy population, although there is an increased risk for the child in terms of prematurity or low birth weight. Pregnancy in IBD patient should be considered as a high risk. Most medications used to achieve or maintain remission are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Exceptions are thalidomide and methotrexate that are absolutely contraindicated. Anti-TNF drugs are safe but it is advised to stop the treatment after 30-32 weeks of pregnancy due to the possibility of placental transfer of medications. Infliximab is excreted into breast milk in small quantities and breastfeeding is assumed to be safe. Pregnancy in IBD patients should be planned in advance so that the medications that are contraindicated could be excluded on time and further possible complication could be prevented by constant monitoring of pregnancy. Prospective studies of monitoring throughout pregnancy and short-term and long-term forecasts of development of children whose mothers were pregnant when suffered from inflammatory bowel disease are necessary.

  8. Faciobrachial dystonic seizures: the influence of immunotherapy on seizure control and prevention of cognitive impairment in a broadening phenotype.

    PubMed

    Irani, Sarosh R; Stagg, Charlotte J; Schott, Jonathan M; Rosenthal, Clive R; Schneider, Susanne A; Pettingill, Philippa; Pettingill, Rosemary; Waters, Patrick; Thomas, Adam; Voets, Natalie L; Cardoso, Manuel J; Cash, David M; Manning, Emily N; Lang, Bethan; Smith, Shelagh J M; Vincent, Angela; Johnson, Michael R

    2013-10-01

    Voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies, particularly those directed against leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1, are associated with a common form of limbic encephalitis that presents with cognitive impairment and seizures. Faciobrachial dystonic seizures have recently been reported as immunotherapy-responsive, brief, frequent events that often predate the cognitive impairment associated with this limbic encephalitis. However, these observations were made from a retrospective study without serial cognitive assessments. Here, we undertook the first prospective study of faciobrachial dystonic seizures with serial assessments of seizure frequencies, cognition and antibodies in 10 cases identified over 20 months. We hypothesized that (i) faciobrachial dystonic seizures would show a differential response to anti-epileptic drugs and immunotherapy; and that (ii) effective treatment of faciobrachial dystonic seizures would accelerate recovery and prevent the development of cognitive impairment. The 10 cases expand both the known age at onset (28 to 92 years, median 68) and clinical features, with events of longer duration, simultaneously bilateral events, prominent automatisms, sensory aura, and post-ictal fear and speech arrest. Ictal epileptiform electroencephalographic changes were present in three cases. All 10 cases were positive for voltage-gated potassium channel-complex antibodies (346-4515 pM): nine showed specificity for leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1. Seven cases had normal clinical magnetic resonance imaging, and the cerebrospinal fluid examination was unremarkable in all seven tested. Faciobrachial dystonic seizures were controlled more effectively with immunotherapy than anti-epileptic drugs (P = 0.006). Strikingly, in the nine cases who remained anti-epileptic drug refractory for a median of 30 days (range 11-200), the addition of corticosteroids was associated with cessation of faciobrachial dystonic seizures within 1 week in three and within 2

  9. Anti-synthetase syndrome associated with anti PL-12 and anti-Signal recognition particle antibodies and a necrotizing auto-immune myositis.

    PubMed

    Malkan, Ashish; Cappelen-Smith, Cecilia; Beran, Roy; Griffith, Neil; Toong, Catherine; Wang, Min-Xia; Cordato, Dennis

    2015-02-01

    We report a 37-year-old woman with a 2 month history of proximal muscle weakness and extremely high creatine kinase (21,808 U/L) due to necrotizing auto-immune myositis (NAM) in association with anti-synthetase syndrome. Myositis-specific auto-immune antibody panel was positive for anti-Signal recognition particle and anti-PL-12. CT scan of the chest confirmed interstitial lung disease. Prednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and cyclophosphamide therapy was given with gradual improvement. This patient is notable for the unusual combination of NAM and anti-synthetase syndrome with the rare finding of two myositis-specific autoantibodies, which directed testing for associated extramuscular features and management with more aggressive immunotherapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Biologics in the management of ulcerative colitis – comparative safety and efficacy of TNF-α antagonists

    PubMed Central

    Fausel, Rebecca; Afzali, Anita

    2015-01-01

    Ulcerative colitis can cause debilitating symptoms and complications such as colonic strictures, colonic dysplasia, colorectal cancer, and toxic megacolon or perforation. Goals of treatment in ulcerative colitis include resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms, healing of colonic mucosa, and prevention of disease complications. Our treatment armamentarium has expanded dramatically over the past 10 years, and we now have multiple biologic agents approved for the treatment of moderate-severe disease, in addition to conventional therapies such as 5-aminosalicylates, thiopurines, and corticosteroids. In this review, we will provide a detailed discussion of the three tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors currently approved for treatment of ulcerative colitis: infliximab, adalimumab, and golimumab. All three agents are effective for inducing and maintaining clinical response and remission in patients with ulcerative colitis, and they have comparable safety profiles. There are no head-to-head trials comparing their efficacy, and the choice of agent is most often based on insurance coverage, route of administration, and patient preference. Combination therapy with an immunomodulator is proven to be more effective than anti-TNF monotherapy, and patients who lose response to an anti-TNF agent should undergo dose intensification in order to regain clinical response. Despite therapeutic optimization, a significant percentage of patients will not achieve clinical remission with anti-TNF agents, and so newer therapies are on the horizon. PMID:25609972

  11. Periodontal Therapy Reduces the Severity of Active Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients Treated With or Without Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors

    PubMed Central

    Ortiz, P; Bissada, NF; Palomo, L; Han, YW; Al-Zahrani, MS; Panneerselvam, A; Askari, A

    2010-01-01

    Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (PD) are common chronic inflammatory conditions. Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of periodontal treatment on reducing the severity of active RA. This study was undertaken to further examine the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on signs and symptoms of RA in patients treated with or without anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α medications. The effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on periodontitis also was assessed. Methods Forty participants diagnosed with moderate/severe RA (under treatment for RA) and severe periodontitis were randomly assigned to receive initial non-surgical periodontal therapy with scaling/root planing and oral hygiene instructions (n=20) or no periodontal therapy (n=20). To control RA, all participants had been using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and 20 had been using anti-TNF-α in addition to DMARDs before randomization. Periodontal probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival (GI) and plaque (PI) indices, RA disease activity score (DAS-28) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured at baseline and six weeks afterwards. Linear mixed models were used to identify significant differences between subjects receiving periodontal treatment and those who did not. Results Patients receiving periodontal treatment showed a significant decrease in the mean DAS28, ESR (p < 0.001) and serum TNF-α (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant decrease in these parameters in those patients not receiving periodontal treatment. Anti- TNF-α therapy resulted in a significant improvement in CAL, PD, BOP and GI. Conclusions Non-surgical periodontal therapy had a beneficial effect on signs and symptoms of RA regardless of the medications used to treat this condition. Anti-TNF-α therapy without periodontal treatment has no significant effect on the periodontal condition. PMID:19335072

  12. Icariin inhibits TNF-α/IFN-γ induced inflammatory response via inhibition of the substance P and p38-MAPK signaling pathway in human keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Kong, Lingwen; Liu, Jiaqi; Wang, Jia; Luo, Qingli; Zhang, Hongying; Liu, Baojun; Xu, Fei; Pang, Qi; Liu, Yingchao; Dong, Jingcheng

    2015-12-01

    Pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in the etiology of atopic dermatitis. We demonstrated that Herba Epimedii has anti-inflammatory potential in an atopic dermatitis mouse model; however, limited research has been conducted on the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of icariin, the major active ingredient in Herba Epimedii, in human keratinocytes. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential and mechanisms of icariin in the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced inflammatory response in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by observing these cells in the presence or absence of icariin. We measured IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, MCP-1 and GRO-α production by ELISA; IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and tachykinin receptor 1 (TACR1) mRNA expression by real-time PCR; and P38-MAPK, P-ERK and P-JNK signaling expression by western blot in TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells before and after icariin treatment. The expression of TNF-α-R1 and IFN-γ-R1 during the stimulation of the cell models was also evaluated before and after icariin treatment. We investigated the effect of icariin on these pro-inflammatory cytokines and detected whether this effect occurred via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways. We further specifically inhibited the activity of two kinases with 20μM SB203580 (a p38 kinase inhibitor) and 50μM PD98059 (an ERK1/2 kinase inhibitor) to determine the roles of the two signal pathways involved in the inflammatory response. We found that icariin inhibited TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and MCP-1 production in a dose-dependent manner; meanwhile, the icariin treatment inhibited the gene expression of IL-8, IL-1β, ICAM-1 and TACR1 in HaCaT cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Icariin treatment resulted in a reduced expression of p-P38 and p-ERK signal activation induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ; however, only SB203580, the p38 alpha

  13. Orphan immunotherapies for allergic diseases.

    PubMed

    Ridolo, Erminia; Montagni, Marcello; Incorvaia, Cristoforo; Senna, Gianenrico; Passalacqua, Giovanni

    2016-03-01

    As confirmed by systematic reviews and meta-analyses, allergen immunotherapy is clinically effective in the treatment of allergic diseases. In particular, subcutaneous immunotherapy is a pivotal treatment in patients with severe reactions to Hymenoptera venom, whereas subcutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy are indicated in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma by inhalant allergens. Other allergies related to animal dander (other than cat, which is the most studied), such as dog, molds, occupational allergens, and insects, have also been recognized. For these allergens, immunotherapy is poorly studied and often unavailable. Thus, use of the term orphan immunotherapies is appropriate. We used MEDLINE to search the medical literature for English-language articles. Randomized, controlled, masked studies for orphan immunotherapies were selected. In the remaining cases, the available reports were described. The literature on food desensitization is abundant, but for other orphan allergens, such as mosquito, Argas reflexus, dog, or occupational allergens, there are only a few studies, and most are small studies or case reports. Orphan immunotherapy is associated with insufficient evidence of efficacy from controlled trials, an erroneous belief of the limited importance of some allergen sources, and the unlikelihood for producers to have a profit in making commercially available extracts (with an expensive process for registration) to be used in few patients. It should be taken into consideration that adequate preparations should be available also for orphan allergens. Copyright © 2016 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Targeting the T-cell co-stimulatory CD27/CD70 pathway in cancer immunotherapy: rationale and potential.

    PubMed

    van de Ven, Koen; Borst, Jannie

    2015-01-01

    In 2013, cancer immunotherapy was named 'breakthrough of the year' based on the outcome of clinical trials with blocking antibodies to the T-cell co-inhibitory receptors CTLA-4 and PD-1. This success has emphasized that cytotoxic T-cell responses to cancer can occur, but are limited by peripheral tolerance and by immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Targeting of CTLA-4, PD-1 or its ligands partly overcomes these limitations and can now be applied in multiple immunogenic cancer types. Furthermore, an increased success rate is expected from combining CTLA-4 and/or PD-1 blocking with deliberate engagement of T-cell co-stimulatory receptors, particularly TNF receptor (R) family members. The TNFR family includes CD27 (Tnfrsf7), for which an agonistic antibody has recently entered clinical trials. In this review, we describe how CD27 co-stimulation impacts the T-cell response, with the purpose to illuminate how CD27 agonism can be exploited in cancer immunotherapy.

  15. New Onset Autoimmune Hepatitis during Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Treatment in Children.

    PubMed

    Ricciuto, Amanda; Kamath, Binita M; Walters, Thomas D; Frost, Karen; Carman, Nicholas; Church, Peter C; Ling, Simon C; Griffiths, Anne M

    2018-03-01

    To evaluate a large anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-treated pediatric inflammatory bowel disease cohort for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) following presentation of an index case with suspected DILI with autoimmune features after infliximab exposure. To characterize the incidence, natural history, and risk factors for liver enzyme elevation with anti-TNF use. We reviewed the index case and performed a retrospective cohort study of 659 children receiving anti-TNF therapy between 2000 and 2015 at a tertiary pediatric inflammatory bowel disease center. Patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥×2 the upper limit of normal were included. The incidence, evolution, and risk factors for liver injury were examined with univariate and multivariable proportional hazards regression. Causality was assessed using the Roussel-Uclaf Causality Assessment Method. The index case, a teenage girl with Crohn's disease, developed elevated liver enzymes and features of autoimmune hepatitis on liver biopsy 23 weeks after starting infliximab. The injury resolved entirely within 4 months of withdrawing infliximab without additional therapy. Overall, 7.7% of our cohort developed new ALT elevations while on anti-TNF. Most ALT elevations were mild and transient and attributable to alternate etiologies. No additional clear cases of autoimmune hepatitis were identified. Transient liver enzyme abnormalities are relatively common among anti-TNF-treated children. Anti-TNF-related DILI with autoimmune features is rare but must be recognized so that therapy can be stopped. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Inhibition of the transcription factor c-Jun by the MAPK family, and not the NF-κB pathway, suggests that peanut extract has anti-inflammatory properties.

    PubMed

    Catalán, Úrsula; Fernández-Castillejo, Sara; Anglès, Neus; Morelló, Jose Ramón; Yebras, Martí; Solà, Rosa

    2012-10-01

    Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is involved in inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis. We propose an in vitro cellular assay to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of potential modifiers such as food extracts. In the current model we assessed an anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenol-rich peanut extract in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced THP-1 monocytes. THP-1 monocytes were incubated with peanut extract (5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL) consisting of 39% flavonols, 37% flavanols and 24% phenolic acid (or BAY 11-7082 (5 μM) as experiment control) for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS (500 ng/mL) for 4 h. Cytotoxicity was measured as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity release. NF-κB and MAPK family were determined by TransAm kit while TNF-α mRNA levels and its mRNA stability by RT-PCR. Intra- and extracellular TNF-α protein was measured by ELISA, and TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) activity by a fluorimetric assay. Peanut extract inhibited the maximal LPS-induced extracellular TNF-α protein secretion by 18%, 29% and 47% at 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL, respectively (P<0.05). LPS stimulation revealed that 85% of TNF-α was released extracellularly while 15% remained intracellular. Peanut extract did not modify NF-κB but, instead, reduced c-Jun transcription factor activity (P<0.05), decreased TNF-α mRNA (albeit non-significantly) and had no effect on mRNA stability and TACE activity. Polyphenol-rich peanut extract reduces extracellular TNF-α protein by inhibiting c-Jun transcription factor from MAPK family, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. The proposed THP-1 monocyte model could be used to assess food extract impact (site and size effects) on the inflammation pathway. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. The trophic effect of ouabain on retinal ganglion cells is mediated by IL-1β and TNF

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Salles von-Held-Ventura, Juliana; Mázala-de-Oliveira, Thalita; Cândida da Rocha Oliveira, Amanda

    Ouabain is a steroid hormone that binds to the enzyme Na{sup +}, K{sup +} – ATPase and stimulates different intracellular pathways controlling growth, proliferation and cell survival. IL-1β and TNF-α are pleiotropic molecules, conventionally regarded as pro-inflammatory cytokines with well-known effects in the immune system. In addition, IL-1β and TNF-α also play important roles in the nervous system including neuroprotective effects. Previous data from our group showed that ouabain treatment is able to induce an increase in retinal ganglion cell survival kept in mixed retinal cell cultures. The aim of this work was to investigate if IL-1β and TNF-α couldmore » be mediating the trophic effect of ouabain on retinal ganglion cells. Our results show that the trophic effect of ouabain on retinal ganglion cell was inhibited by either anti-IL-1β or anti-TNF-α antibodies. In agreement, IL-1β or TNF-α increased the retinal ganglion cells survival in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, ouabain treatment induces a temporal release of TNF-α and IL-1β from retinal cell cultures. Interestingly, TNF-α and IL-1β regulate each other intracellular levels. Our results suggest that ouabain treatment triggers the activation of TNF-α and IL-1β signaling pathways leading to an increase in retinal ganglion cell survival. - Highlights: • Pro-inflammatory cytokines regulates the ouabain effect on RGC survival. • Ouabain treatment modulates the intracellular levels of TNF-α and IL-1β. • Ouabain induces the release of TNF-α and IL-1β in retinal cell cultures.« less

  18. Serum TNF-α in psoriasis after treatment with propylthiouracil, an antithyroid thioureylene

    PubMed Central

    Elias, Alan N; Nanda, Vanda S; Pandian, Raj

    2004-01-01

    Background Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and its receptors play important roles in the development and persistence of psoriatic plaques. The antithyroid thioureylenes, propylthiouracil and methimazole, are effective in the treatment of patients with psoriasis with a significant number of patients showing clearing or near clearing of their lesions after a several weeks of treatment. Methods The present study examined the effect of treatment with propylthiouracil, given in a dose of 100 mg every 8 hours for 3 months, on the serum levels of TNF-α in 9 patients with plaque psoriasis. Results Propylthiouracil therapy did not result in a significant decline in serum TNF-α concentrations. Conclusions The findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of propylthiouracil in psoriasis appears not to be related to any change in the concentration of TNF-α but occurs via an anti-proliferative mechanism as we have previously speculated. PMID:15119959

  19. Passive Immunotherapy Protects against Enteric Invasion and Lethal Sepsis in a Murine Model of Gastrointestinal Anthrax

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Bruce; Xie, Tao; Rotstein, David; Fang, Hui; Frucht, David M.

    2015-01-01

    The principal portal for anthrax infection in natural animal outbreaks is the digestive tract. Enteric exposure to anthrax, which is difficult to detect or prevent in a timely manner, could be exploited as an act of terror through contamination of human or animal food. Our group has developed a novel animal model of gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax for evaluation of disease pathogenesis and experimental therapeutics, utilizing vegetative Bacillus anthracis (Sterne strain) administered to A/J mice (a complement-deficient strain) by oral gavage. We hypothesized that a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) * that neutralizes the protective antigen (PA) component of B. anthracis lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET) could be an effective treatment. Although the efficacy of this anti-anthrax PA mAb has been shown in animal models of inhalational anthrax, its activity in GI infection had not yet been ascertained. We hereby demonstrate that passive immunotherapy with anti-anthrax PA mAb, administered at the same time as gastrointestinal exposure to B. anthracis, prevents lethal sepsis in nearly all cases (>90%), while a delay of up to forty-eight hours in treatment still greatly reduces mortality following exposure (65%). Moreover, passive immunotherapy protects against enteric invasion, associated mucosal injury and subsequent dissemination by gastrointestinal B. anthracis, indicating that it acts to prevent the initial stages of infection. * Expired raxibacumab being cycled off the Strategic National Stockpile; biological activity confirmed by in vitro assay. PMID:26426050

  20. Passive Immunotherapy Protects against Enteric Invasion and Lethal Sepsis in a Murine Model of Gastrointestinal Anthrax.

    PubMed

    Huang, Bruce; Xie, Tao; Rotstein, David; Fang, Hui; Frucht, David M

    2015-09-29

    The principal portal for anthrax infection in natural animal outbreaks is the digestive tract. Enteric exposure to anthrax, which is difficult to detect or prevent in a timely manner, could be exploited as an act of terror through contamination of human or animal food. Our group has developed a novel animal model of gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax for evaluation of disease pathogenesis and experimental therapeutics, utilizing vegetative Bacillus anthracis (Sterne strain) administered to A/J mice (a complement-deficient strain) by oral gavage. We hypothesized that a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) * that neutralizes the protective antigen (PA) component of B. anthracis lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET) could be an effective treatment. Although the efficacy of this anti-anthrax PA mAb has been shown in animal models of inhalational anthrax, its activity in GI infection had not yet been ascertained. We hereby demonstrate that passive immunotherapy with anti-anthrax PA mAb, administered at the same time as gastrointestinal exposure to B. anthracis, prevents lethal sepsis in nearly all cases (>90%), while a delay of up to forty-eight hours in treatment still greatly reduces mortality following exposure (65%). Moreover, passive immunotherapy protects against enteric invasion, associated mucosal injury and subsequent dissemination by gastrointestinal B. anthracis, indicating that it acts to prevent the initial stages of infection. * Expired raxibacumab being cycled off the Strategic National Stockpile; biological activity confirmed by in vitro assay.

  1. The effects of thalidomide on the stimulation of NF-kappaB activity and TNF-alpha production by lipopolysaccharide in a human colonic epithelial cell line.

    PubMed

    Kim, You Sun; Kim, Joo Sung; Jung, Hyun Chae; Song, In Sung

    2004-04-30

    The immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of thalidomide are associated with inhibition of TNF-alpha levels. However, the mechanism by which thalidomide reduces TNF-alpha production remains elusive. NF-kappaB is known to play a central role in regulating inflammatory responses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We tested whether thalidomide acts through inhibiting NF-kappaB activity. HT-29 cells were stimulated with LPS (1 microg/ml) alone, or after pretreatment with thalidomide (100 microg/ml), and NF-kappaB activity was determined by gel mobility shift assays. RT-PCR was used to measure expression of the proinflammatory cytokine genes TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8. The level of TNF-alpha mRNA was also analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and TNF-alpha protein was measured by ELISA. Thalidomide pretreatment did not affect NF-kappaB activity in HT-29 cells stimulated with LPS but production of TNF-alpha was depressed. Thalidomide was found to accelerate the degradation of TNF-alpha mRNA, but had little effect on IL-1beta or IL-8. These observations suggest that the immunomodulatory effect of thalidomide in colonic epithelial cells is associated with inhibition of TNF-alpha. However, it does not act by inhibiting NF-kappaB but rather by inducing degradation of TNF-alpha mRNA.

  2. Chrysin, an anti-inflammatory molecule, abrogates renal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ahad, Amjid; Ganai, Ajaz Ahmad; Mujeeb, Mohd

    Diabetic nepropathy (DN) is considered as the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, but the current available treatments are limited. Recent experimental evidences support the role of chronic microinflammation in the development of DN. Therefore, the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) pathway has emerged as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of DN. We investigated the nephroprotective effects of chrysin (5, 7-dihydroxyflavone) in a high fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic Wistar albino rat model. Chrysin is a potent anti-inflammatory compound that is abundantly found in plant extracts, honey and bee propolis. The treatment with chrysin for 16more » weeks post induction of diabetes significantly abrogated renal dysfunction and oxidative stress. Chrysin treatment considerably reduced renal TNF-α expression and inhibited the nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kB) activation. Furthermore, chrysin treatment improved renal pathology and suppressed transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), fibronectin and collagen-IV protein expressions in renal tissues. Chrysin also significantly reduced the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-6. Moreover, there were no appreciable differences in fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels between the chrysin treated groups compared to the HFD/STZ-treated group. Hence, our results suggest that chrysin prevents the development of DN in HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats through anti-inflammatory effects in the kidney by specifically targeting the TNF-α pathway. - Highlights: • Chrysin reduced renal oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic rats. • Chrysin reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory in diabetic rats. • Chrysin exhibited renal protective effect by suppressing the TNF-α pathway.« less

  3. Host genetics contributes to the effectiveness of dendritic cell-based HIV immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Reis, Edione C; da Silva, Lais T; da Silva, Wanessa C; Rios, Alexandre; Duarte, Alberto J; Oshiro, Telma M; Crovella, Sergio; Pontillo, Alessandra

    2018-04-11

    Systems biological analysis has recently revealed how innate immune variants as well as gut microbiota impact the individual response to immunization. HIV-infected (HIV+) patients have a worse response rate after standard vaccinations, possibly due to the immune exhaustion, increased gut permeability and microbial translocation. In the last decade, dendritic cells (DC)-based immunotherapy has been proposed as an alternative approach to control HIV plasma viral load, however clinical trials showed a heterogeneity of immunization response. Hypothesizing that host genetics may importantly affects the outcome of immunotherapy in HIV+ patients, genetic polymorphisms' distribution and gene expression modulation were analyzed in a phase I/II clinical trial of DC-based immunotherapy according to immunization response, and quality of vaccine product (DC). Polymorphisms in genes previously associated with progression of HIV infection to AIDS (i.e.: PARD3B, CCL5) contribute to a better response to immunotherapy in HIV+ individuals, possibly through a systemic effect on host immune system, but also directly on vaccine product. Genes expression profile after immunization correlates with different degrees of immune chronic activation/exhaustion of HIV+ patients (i.e. PD1, IL7RA, EOMES), but also with anti-viral response and DC quality (i.e.: APOBEC3G, IL8, PPIA), suggested that an incompetent individual would have a better vaccine response. These findings showed once more that host genetics can affect the response to DC-based immunotherapy in HIV+ individuals, contributing to the heterogeneity of response observed in concluded trials; and it can be used as predictor of immunization success.

  4. Efficacy of combination therapy of anti-TNF-α antibody infliximab and methotrexate in refractory entero-Behçet's disease.

    PubMed

    Iwata, Shigeru; Saito, Kazuyoshi; Yamaoka, Kunihiro; Tsujimura, Shizuyo; Nawata, Masao; Hanami, Kentaro; Tanaka, Yoshiya

    2011-04-01

    It is often difficult to manage refractory gastrointestinal tract complications of Behçet's disease (entero-BD) by conventional therapy. In this study, we assessed the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of infliximab, an anti-tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF)-α antibody, and methotrexate in ten patients with refractory entero-BD refractory to conventional therapies. The short- (weeks) and long-term (by 2 years) effects of infliximab at 3-5 mg/kg body weight every 8 weeks on the clinical course and intestinal manifestations were assessed by abdominal computed tomography (CT) and colonoscopy. The primary endpoint was the rate of disappearance of ileocecal ulceration at 12 months of therapy. All patients showed improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms and disease-associated complications within 4 weeks. Furthermore, the rate of disappearance of ileocecal ulcerations was 50% (5/10 patients) at 6 months and 90% (9/10 patients) at 12 months, and, therefore 90% of patients were satisfied with the primary endpoint. Furthermore, corticosteroid dose was significantly reduced from 22.0 to 1.8 mg/day at 24 months. No severe adverse effects were observed during the 24 months of follow-up. We provide evidence for the rapid and excellent efficacy of infliximab in patients with refractory entero-BD and that the combination of infliximab and methotrexate brings about long-term alleviation of entero-BD and excellent tolerability.

  5. Immunotherapy expands and maintains the function of high affinity tumor infiltrating CD8 T cells in situ

    PubMed Central

    Moran, Amy E.; Polesso, Fanny; Weinberg, Andrew D.

    2016-01-01

    Cancer cells harbor high affinity tumor-associated antigens capable of eliciting potent anti-tumor T cell responses yet detecting these polyclonal T cells is challenging. Therefore, surrogate markers of T cell activation such as CD69, CD44, and PD-1 have been used. We report here that in mice, expression of activation markers including PD-1 is insufficient in the tumor microenvironment to identify tumor-antigen specific T cells. Using the Nur77GFP T cell affinity reporter mouse, we highlight that PD-1 expression can be induced independent of TCR ligation within the tumor. Given this, we characterized the utility of the Nur77GFP model system in elucidating mechanisms of action of immunotherapies independent of PD-1 expression. Co-expression of Nur77GFP and OX40 identifies a polyclonal population of high affinity tumor-associated antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, which produce more IFNγ in situ than OX40 negative and doubles in quantity with anti-OX40 and anti-CTLA4 mAb therapy but not with anti-PD-1 or PD-L1. Moreover, expansion of these high affinity CD8 T cells prolongs survival of tumor bearing animals. Upon chronic stimulation in tumors and after adoptive cell therapy, CD8 TCR signaling and Nur77GFP induction is impaired and tumors progress. However, this can be reversed and overall survival significantly enhanced after adoptive cell therapy with agonist OX40 immunotherapy. Therefore, we propose that OX40 agonist immunotherapy can maintain functional TCR signaling of chronically stimulated tumor resident CD8 T cells thereby increasing the frequency of cytolytic, high affinity, tumor-associated antigen-specific cells. PMID:27503208

  6. Anti-GD2 mAb and Vorinostat synergize in the treatment of neuroblastoma

    PubMed Central

    Kroesen, Michiel; Büll, Christian; Gielen, Paul R.; Brok, Ingrid C.; Armandari, Inna; Wassink, Melissa; Looman, Maaike W. G.; Boon, Louis; den Brok, Martijn H.; Hoogerbrugge, Peter M.; Adema, Gosse J.

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT Neuroblastoma (NBL) is a childhood malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system. For high-risk NBL patients, the mortality rate is still over 50%, despite intensive multimodal treatment. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (mAB) in combination with systemic cytokine immunotherapy has shown clinical efficacy in high-risk NBL patients. Targeted therapy using histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) is currently being explored in cancer treatment and already shows promising results. Using our recently developed transplantable TH-MYCN NBL model, we here report that the HDAC inhibitor Vorinostat synergizes with anti-GD2 mAb therapy in reducing NBL tumor growth. Further mechanistic studies uncovered multiple mechanisms for the observed synergy, including Vorinostat-induced specific NBL cell death and upregulation of the tumor antigen GD2 on the cell surface of surviving NBL cells. Moreover, Vorinostat created a permissive tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor-directed mAb therapy by increasing macrophage effector cells expressing high levels of Fc-receptors (FcR) and decreasing the number and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Collectively, these data imply further testing of other epigenetic modulators with immunotherapy and provide a strong basis for clinical testing of anti-GD2 plus Vorinostat combination therapy in NBL patients. PMID:27471639

  7. Anti-GD2 mAb and Vorinostat synergize in the treatment of neuroblastoma.

    PubMed

    Kroesen, Michiel; Büll, Christian; Gielen, Paul R; Brok, Ingrid C; Armandari, Inna; Wassink, Melissa; Looman, Maaike W G; Boon, Louis; den Brok, Martijn H; Hoogerbrugge, Peter M; Adema, Gosse J

    2016-06-01

    Neuroblastoma (NBL) is a childhood malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system. For high-risk NBL patients, the mortality rate is still over 50%, despite intensive multimodal treatment. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (mAB) in combination with systemic cytokine immunotherapy has shown clinical efficacy in high-risk NBL patients. Targeted therapy using histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) is currently being explored in cancer treatment and already shows promising results. Using our recently developed transplantable TH-MYCN NBL model, we here report that the HDAC inhibitor Vorinostat synergizes with anti-GD2 mAb therapy in reducing NBL tumor growth. Further mechanistic studies uncovered multiple mechanisms for the observed synergy, including Vorinostat-induced specific NBL cell death and upregulation of the tumor antigen GD2 on the cell surface of surviving NBL cells. Moreover, Vorinostat created a permissive tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor-directed mAb therapy by increasing macrophage effector cells expressing high levels of Fc-receptors (FcR) and decreasing the number and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Collectively, these data imply further testing of other epigenetic modulators with immunotherapy and provide a strong basis for clinical testing of anti-GD2 plus Vorinostat combination therapy in NBL patients.

  8. Randomized, controlled trial of TNF-α antagonist in CTL-mediated severe cutaneous adverse reactions.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chuang-Wei; Yang, Lan-Yan; Chen, Chun-Bing; Ho, Hsin-Chun; Hung, Shuen-Iu; Yang, Chih-Hsun; Chang, Chee-Jen; Su, Shih-Chi; Hui, Rosaline Chung-Yee; Chin, See-Wen; Huang, Li-Fang; Lin, Yang Yu-Wei; Chang, Wei-Yang; Fan, Wen-Lang; Yang, Chin-Yi; Ho, Ji-Chen; Chang, Ya-Ching; Lu, Chun-Wei; Chung, Wen-Hung

    2018-03-01

    Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated (CTL-mediated) severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), are rare but life-threatening adverse reactions commonly induced by drugs. Although high levels of CTL-associated cytokines, chemokines, or cytotoxic proteins, including TNF-α and granulysin, were observed in SJS-TEN patients in recent studies, the optimal treatment for these diseases remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and therapeutic mechanism of a TNF-α antagonist in CTL-mediated SCARs. We enrolled 96 patients with SJS-TEN in a randomized trial to compare the effects of the TNF-α antagonist etanercept versus traditional corticosteroids. Etanercept improved clinical outcomes in patients with SJS-TEN. Etanercept decreased the SCORTEN-based predicted mortality rate (predicted and observed rates, 17.7% and 8.3%, respectively). Compared with corticosteroids, etanercept further reduced the skin-healing time in moderate-to-severe SJS-TEN patients (median time for skin healing was 14 and 19 days for etanercept and corticosteroids, respectively; P = 0.010), with a lower incidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in all SJS-TEN patients (2.6% for etanercept and 18.2% for corticosteroids; P = 0.03). In the therapeutic mechanism study, etanercept decreased the TNF-α and granulysin secretions in blister fluids and plasma (45.7%-62.5% decrease after treatment; all P < 0.05) and increased the Treg population (2-fold percentage increase after treatment; P = 0.002), which was related to mortality in severe SJS-TEN. The anti-TNF-α biologic agent etanercept serves as an effective alternative for the treatment of CTL-mediated SCARs. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01276314. Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan.

  9. Nanotechnology Approaches to Improving Cancer Immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Hagan, C Tilden; Medik, Yusra B; Wang, Andrew Z

    2018-01-01

    Cancer immunotherapy is a powerful, growing treatment approach to cancer that can be combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and oncosurgery. Modulating the immune system to enhance anticancer response by several strategies has yielded improved cancer survival. Despite this progress, the success rate for immunotherapy has been below expectations due to unpredictable efficacy and off-target side effects from systemic dosing. Nanotechnology offers numerous different materials and targeting properties to overcome many of these challenges in immunotherapy. In this chapter, we review current immunotherapy and its challenges as well as the latest nanotechnology applications in cancer immunotherapy. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Effect of apigenin, kaempferol and resveratrol on the gene expression and protein secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in RAW-264.7 macrophages.

    PubMed

    Palacz-Wrobel, Marta; Borkowska, Paulina; Paul-Samojedny, Monika; Kowalczyk, Malgorzata; Fila-Danilow, Anna; Suchanek-Raif, Renata; Kowalski, Jan

    2017-09-01

    Polyphenols such as apigenin, kaempferol or resveratrol are typically found in plants, including fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, which have a wide range of biological functions such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, vasodilative, anticoagulative and proapoptotic. Discovering such multifunctional compounds in widely consumed plant-based products - ones that both inhibit the release of TNF-α from tissue macrophages and at the same time enhance the secretion of IL-10 - would be an important signpost in the quest for effective pharmacological treatment of numerous diseases that have an inflammatory etiology. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of biologically active polyphenols such as apigenin, resveratrol and kaempferol on gene expression and protein secretion of IL-10 and TNF-α in line RAW-264.7. Cells were cultured under standard conditions. IL-10 and TNF-α genes expression were examined using QRT-PCR and to assess cytokines concentration ELISA have been used. Apigenin, kaempferol and resveratrol at a dose 30μM significantly decrease the TNF-α expression and secretion. Apigenin decrease the IL-10 expression and secretion. Furthermore, increase in IL-10 secretion after administration of kaempferol and resveratrol were observed. In the process of administration of tested compounds before LPS, which activate macrophages, decrease of TNF-α secretion after apigenin and kaempferol and increase of IL-10 secretion after resveratrol were observed. The results of present work indicate that 1) apigenin, resveratrol and kaempferol may reduce the intensity of inflammatory processes by inhibiting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and resveratrol and kaempferol additionally by increasing the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 2) the studies indicate the potentially beneficial - anti-inflammatory - impact of diet rich in products including apigenin, resveratrol and kaempferol. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights

  11. Allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment of migraines: a prospective study.

    PubMed

    Theodoropoulos, D S; Katzenberger, D R; Jones, W M; Morris, D L; Her, C; Cullen, N A M; Morrisa, D L

    2011-10-01

    Inflammation is a cardinal feature of migraines. A number of observations point to the possibility that an allergic component of a type I (IgE-mediated) nature may be involved in at least some migraineurs. Not only are migraines frequent among patients with allergic rhinitis but quite frequently the same medical approaches are beneficial in both diseases: anti-inflammatories, adrenergic tone modifiers, immune suppressants. The effect that immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis has upon migraines is studied. Patients were recruited who suffered from typical migraines but were not treated with regular migraine controllers (beta blockers, antiepileptics, tricyclics, etc.). They underwent allergen-specific, sublingual immunotherapy with physician-formulated, individually-prepared airborne allergen extracts. Response to treatment was assessed with serum C-reactive protein level changes and symptom scores. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant, was chosen as a marker because its usefulness has already been assessed in interictal migraine activity. Interictal serum CRP levels decline was observed in the course of sublingual immunotherapy. Concurrent improvement in symptom scores for both rhinitis and migraines was also observed. In patients with allergic rhinitis, migraine development and course may have a significant allergic component. Assessment of migraineurs for the possibility of coexisting allergic rhinitis is justified. Treatment of allergic rhinitis by immune response modifiers, such as immunotherapy, may have a place in the management of migraines for these patients.

  12. Inhibitory Effect of a French Maritime Pine Bark Extract-Based Nutritional Supplement on TNF-α-Induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells

    PubMed Central

    McGrath, Kristine C. Y.; Li, Xiao-Hong; McRobb, Lucinda S.; Heather, Alison K.

    2015-01-01

    Oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to endothelial dysfunction, contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The popularity of natural product supplements has increased in recent years, especially those with purported anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant effects. The efficacy and mechanism of many of these products are not yet well understood. In this study, we tested the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of a supplement, HIPER Health Supplement (HIPER), on cytokine-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). HIPER is a mixture of French maritime pine bark extract (PBE), honey, aloe vera, and papaya extract. Treatment for 24 hours with HIPER reduced TNF-α-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that was associated with decreased NADPH oxidase 4 and increased superoxide dismutase-1 expression. HIPER inhibited TNF-α induced monocyte adhesion to HCAECs that was in keeping with decreased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and decreased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Further investigation of mechanism showed HIPER reduced TNF-α induced IκBα and p38 and MEK1/2 MAP kinases phosphorylation. Our findings show that HIPER has potent inhibitory effects on HCAECs inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that may protect against endothelial dysfunction that underlies early atherosclerotic lesion formation. PMID:26664450

  13. Targeted delivery of siRNA to macrophages for anti-inflammatory treatment.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sang-Soo; Ye, Chunting; Kumar, Priti; Chiu, Isaac; Subramanya, Sandesh; Wu, Haoquan; Shankar, Premlata; Manjunath, N

    2010-05-01

    Inflammation mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and the associated neuronal apoptosis characterizes a number of neurologic disorders. Macrophages and microglial cells are believed to be the major source of TNF-alpha in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we show that suppression of TNF-alpha by targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to macrophage/microglial cells dramatically reduces lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis in vivo. Because macrophage/microglia express the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AchR) on their surface, we used a short AchR-binding peptide derived from the rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) as a targeting ligand. This peptide was fused to nona-D-arginine residues (RVG-9dR) to enable siRNA binding. RVG-9dR was able to deliver siRNA to induce gene silencing in macrophages and microglia cells from wild type, but not AchR-deficient mice, confirming targeting specificity. Treatment with anti-TNF-alpha siRNA complexed to RVG-9dR achieved efficient silencing of LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by primary macrophages and microglia cells in vitro. Moreover, intravenous injection with RVG-9dR-complexed siRNA in mice reduced the LPS-induced TNF-alpha levels in blood as well as in the brain, leading to a significant reduction in neuronal apoptosis. These results demonstrate that RVG-9dR provides a tool for siRNA delivery to macrophages and microglia and that suppression of TNF-alpha can potentially be used to suppress neuroinflammation in vivo.

  14. Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Moskovitz, Jessica; Moy, Jennifer; Ferris, Robert L

    2018-03-03

    Discussion of current strategies targeting the immune system related to solid tumors with emphasis on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).This review will outline the current challenges with immunotherapy and future goals for treatment using these agents. Agents targeting immune checkpoint receptors (IR) such as program death 1 (PD1) have been used in the clinical realm for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the use of these agents for these malignancies has provided crucial information about how and why patients respond or not to inhibitory checkpoint receptor blockade therapy (ICR). The anti PD1 agent, nivolumab, was recently approved by the FDA as a standard of care regimen for patients with platinum refractory recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HNSCC. Molecular pathways leading to resistance are starting to be identified, and work is underway to understand the most optimal treatment regimen with incorporation of immunotherapy. ICR has renewed interest in the immunology of cancer, but resistance is not uncommon, and thus understanding of these mechanisms will allow the clinician to appropriately select patients that will benefit from this therapy.

  15. Detection of ABCB5 tumour antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in melanoma patients and implications for immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Borchers, S; Maβlo, C; Müller, C A; Tahedl, A; Volkind, J; Nowak, Y; Umansky, V; Esterlechner, J; Frank, M H; Ganss, C; Kluth, M A; Utikal, J

    2018-01-01

    ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 5 (ABCB5) has been identified as a tumour-initiating cell marker and is expressed in various malignancies, including melanoma. Moreover, treatment with anti-ABCB5 monoclonal antibodies has been shown to inhibit tumour growth in xenotransplantation models. Therefore, ABCB5 represents a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. However, cellular immune responses against ABCB5 in humans have not been described so far. Here, we investigated whether ABCB5-reactive T cells are present in human melanoma patients and tested the applicability of ABCB5-derived peptides for experimental induction of human T cell responses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) isolated from blood samples of melanoma patients (n = 40) were stimulated with ABCB5 peptides, followed by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) for interferon (IFN)-γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. To evaluate immunogenicity of ABCB5 peptides in naive healthy donors, CD8 T cells were co-cultured with ABCB5 antigen-loaded autologous dendritic cells (DC). ABCB5 reactivity in expanded T cells was assessed similarly by ICS. ABCB5-reactive CD8 + T cells were detected ex vivo in 19 of 29 patients, melanoma antigen recognised by T cells (MART-1)-reactive CD8 + T cells in six of 21 patients. In this small, heterogeneous cohort, reactivity against ABCB5 was significantly higher than against MART-1. It occurred significantly more often and independently of clinical characteristics. Reactivity against ABCB5 could be induced in 14 of 16 healthy donors in vitro by repeated stimulation with peptide-loaded autologous DC. As ABCB5-reactive CD8 T cells can be found in the peripheral blood of melanoma patients and an ABCB5-specific response can be induced in vitro in naive donors, ABCB5 could be a new target for immunotherapies in melanoma. © 2017 British Society for Immunology.

  16. Improved antitumor activity of immunotherapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAFV600E melanoma

    PubMed Central

    Hu-Lieskovan, Siwen; Mok, Stephen; Moreno, Blanca Homet; Tsoi, Jennifer; Faja, Lidia Robert; Goedert, Lucas; Pinheiro, Elaine M.; Koya, Richard C.; Graeber, Thomas; Comin-Anduix, Begoña; Ribas, Antoni

    2016-01-01

    Combining immunotherapy and BRAF targeted therapy may result in improved antitumor activity with the high response rates of targeted therapy and the durability of responses with immunotherapy. However, the first clinical trial testing the combination of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib and the CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab was terminated early due to substantial liver toxicities. MEK inhibitors can potentiate the MAPK inhibition in BRAF mutant cells, while potentially alleviating the unwanted paradoxical MAPK activation in BRAF wild type cells that lead to side effects when using BRAF inhibitors alone. However, there is the concern of MEK inhibitors being detrimental to T cell functionality. Using a mouse model of syngeneic BRAFV600E driven melanoma, we tested whether addition of the MEK inhibitor trametinib would enhance the antitumor activity of combined immunotherapy with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib. Combination of dabrafenib and trametinib with pmel-1 adoptive cell transfer (ACT) showed complete tumor regression, increased T cell infiltration into tumors and improved in vivo cytotoxicity. Single agent dabrafenib increased tumor-associated macrophages and T regulatory cells (Tregs) in tumors, which decreased with the addition of trametinib. The triple combination therapy resulted in increased melanosomal antigen and MHC expression, and global immune-related gene up-regulation. Given the up-regulation of PD-L1 seen with dabrafenib and/or trametinib combined with antigen-specific ACT, we tested combination of dabrafenib, trametinib with anti-PD1 therapy in SM1 tumors, and observed superior anti-tumor effect. Our findings support the testing of triple combination therapy of BRAF and MEK inhibitors with immunotherapy in patients with BRAFV600E mutant metastatic melanoma. PMID:25787767

  17. Assessment of income growth in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.

    PubMed

    Bergman, Martin; De, Gourab; Ganguli, Arijit; Signorovitch, James; Bao, Yanjun

    2015-01-01

    To compare income growth over time between employees with RA treated with anti-TNFs and those treated with methotrexate (MTX). Privately insured employees (aged ≥18) with ≥1 RA diagnosis (ICD-9: 714.0) were identified from a large-scale US employer claims database (1998-2011). Patients were stratified into treatment groups (anti-TNF-treated patients and MTX-monotherapy patients) based on their treatment history. The anti-TNF-treated patients comprised patients who filled ≥1 prescription for anti-TNFs, with or without MTX (index date defined as the date of the first anti-TNF prescription). The MTX-treated patients comprised patients who filled ≥1 prescription for MTX-monotherapy (index date randomly selected). The primary study outcome was the annual income growth rate (US dollars). Patients were followed from their index date to health plan disenrollment or the end of data availability (maximum follow-up of 5 years). The effect of treatment type on income growth was assessed using a multivariable generalized estimating equation model, adjusting for key baseline characteristics. Income growth was compared to that of the general employed population using Social Security data (1998-2011). The regression-adjusted annual growth rate in income for anti-TNF-treated patients (n = 1848) was 2.8% (CI = 1.9-3.6%), significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the 0.6% (CI = -0.2-1.4%) for MTX-monotherapy patients (n = 1866). Compared to the general employed population, income growth was lower (p < 0.05) for MTX-monotherapy patients and comparable for anti-TNF-treated patients. Compared to MTX-monotherapy, anti-TNF treatment is associated with a higher income growth rate among employees with RA. Anti-TNF-treated patients experienced comparable income growth to the general employed population norm.

  18. Preparation and evaluation of a new releasable PEGylated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) conjugate for therapeutic application.

    PubMed

    Dai, ChuanYun; Fu, Ya; Chen, ShaoCheng; Li, Biao; Yao, Bo; Liu, WanHong; Zhu, LiQing; Chen, Nan; Chen, Ji; Zhang, Qiang

    2013-01-01

    To design a releasable PEGylated TNF-α (rPEG-TNF-α), a cathepsin B-sensitive dipeptide (Val-Cit moiety) was inserted into conventional PEG-modified TNF-α (PEG-TNF-α), facilitating its clinical use for anti-tumor therapy. Comparative pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies showed that the half-lives of both PEGylated forms of TNF-α were ∼60-fold greater than that of unmodified TNF-α. In addition, the in vitro bioactivity of rPEG-TNF-α was greater than that of PEG-TNF-α with the same degree of PEG modification. Release of TNF-α from rPEG-TNF-α in vitro was dependent on the presence of cathepsin B and was inhibited by a cathepsin B inhibitor. Despite the potent cytotoxicity of unmodified TNF-α against normal cells, its PEGylated forms at higher TNF-α concentrations showed low cytotoxic activity against these cells. In contrast, both forms of PEGylated TNF-α showed potent cytotoxic activity against the B16 and L929 cell lines, with rPEG-TNF-α being 5- and 9-fold more potent, respectively, than PEG-TNF-α. Moreover, rPEG-TNF-α was a more potent in vivo antitumor agent than PEG-TNF-α.

  19. The efficiency of peptide immunotherapy for respiratory allergy.

    PubMed

    Incorvaia, Cristoforo; Montagni, Marcello; Ridolo, Erminia

    2016-06-01

    Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) was introduced more than a century ago and is yet the only disease-modifying treatment for allergy. AIT is currently conducted with whole allergen extracts and several studies clearly support its efficacy in the treatment of respiratory allergies, however the need for a long treatment - that affects costs and patients compliance - and possible IgE-mediated adverse events are still unresolved issues. Peptide immunotherapy is based on the use of short synthetic peptides which represent major T-cell epitopes of the allergen with markedly reduced ability to cross-link IgE and activate mast cells and basophils. Data from clinical trials confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of peptide immunotherapy in patients with cat allergy, with a sustained clinical effect after a short course treatment. Peptide therapy is a promising safe and effective new specific treatment for allergy to be developed for the most important allergens causing rhinitis or asthma.

  20. Negative regulatory role of PI3-kinase in TNF-induced tumor necrosis.

    PubMed

    Matschurat, Susanne; Blum, Sabine; Mitnacht-Kraus, Rita; Dijkman, Henry B P M; Kanal, Levent; De Waal, Robert M W; Clauss, Matthias

    2003-10-20

    Tissue factor is the prime initiator of blood coagulation. Expression of tissue factor in tumor endothelial cells leads to thrombus formation, occlusion of vessels and development of hemorrhagic infarctions in the tumor tissue, often followed by regression of the tumor. Tumor cells produce endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which sensitizes endothelial cells for systemically administered tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and synergistically enhances the TNF-induced expression of tissue factor. We have analyzed the pathways involved in the induction of tissue factor in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after combined stimulation with TNF and VEGF. By using specific low molecular weight inhibitors, we demonstrated that protein kinase C (PKC), p44/42 and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, and stress-activated protein kinase (JNK) are essentially involved in the induction of tissue factor. In contrast, the application of wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase, led to strongly enhanced expression of tissue factor in TNF- and VEGF-treated cells, implicating a negative regulatory role for PI3-kinase. In vivo, the application of wortmannin promoted the formation of TNF-induced hemorrhages and intratumoral necroses in murine meth A tumors. The co-injection of wortmannin lowered the effective dose of applied TNF. Therefore, it is conceivable that the treatment of TNF-sensitive tumors with a combination of TNF and wortmannin will ensure the selective damage of the tumor endothelium and minimize the risk of systemic toxicity of TNF. TNF-treatment in combination with specific inhibition of PI3-kinase is a novel concept in anti-cancer therapy. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  1. Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis during pregnancy: Clinical analysis of reported cases.

    PubMed

    Shi, Yan-Chao; Chen, Xiu-Ju; Zhang, Hong-Mei; Wang, Zhen; Du, Da-Yong

    2017-06-01

    To analyze the clinical features of 13 pregnant patients with anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. Retrospective review of thirteen reported cases was conducted for anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients during pregnancy. The clinical data were collected from papers published in PubMed prior to 16 February 2016. Statistical analysis of the data was performed, which encompasses the patients' age, past medical history, onset of symptoms, concomitant with ovarian teratomas, immunotherapy, outcomes of mothers and newborns. Thirteen cases were reported in 11 articles with a median age of 23 (interquartile range, 19-27) years old. There were eight cases in which the onset periods of gestation happened in the first trimester and five cases in the second trimester. Among 13 cases, five patients had a past medical history, one concomitant with autoimmune Graves' hyperthyroidism, one with bilateral ovarian teratomas removed history, one with anti-NMDAR encephalitis five years before pregnancy and two with psychiatric symptoms. Five patients were found with ovarian teratomas. Seven patients responded to first-line immunotherapy whereas all of two patients responded to second-line immunotherapy when the first-line immunotherapy failed. Following up all the 13 patients, most experienced a substantial recovery, except one had spasticity and dystonia in one hand, and one died of a superimposed infection. Three fetuses were miscarried or aborted in total. Most newborns were healthy, except two cases (2/10) with abnormal neurologic signs. Clinical analysis of the data indicates that most patients respond to first-line immunotherapy. A second-line immunotherapy is effective when first-line immunotherapy fails. It has also been found that most mothers and newborns can have good outcomes. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  2. An update on pharmacogenomics in rheumatoid arthritis with a focus on TNF-blocking agents.

    PubMed

    Ranganathan, Prabha

    2008-12-01

    TNFalpha is a proinflammatory cytokine, which is crucial in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In recent years, biological therapies which block the damaging effects of TNFalpha on synovium and cartilage have been developed. TNF antagonists, such as etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab, although highly effective in RA, are expensive, totaling several thousand US dollars in yearly costs. In addition, only approximately 60% of patients respond to these agents. This has led to the need to prospectively identify patients most likely to respond to these agents, which can be achieved by pharmacogenomics approaches. Polymorphisms in genes encoding for TNFalpha, the MHC region, and the Fcgamma receptor IIIA, as well as their ability to predict disease progression in RA and response to anti-TNF therapies, have been the focus of a number of studies, which are discussed in this review. There is no consensus at present as to whether pharmacogenomics will allow prediction of anti-TNF therapy efficacy in RA. Large, prospective, multicenter studies are needed to replicate and validate the results of the studies outlined in this review.

  3. Novel paradigm for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer by engaging prophylactic immunity against hepatitis B virus.

    PubMed

    Malecki, Marek; Putzer, Emily; Quach, Caroline; Dodivenaka, Chaitanya; Tombokan, Xenia

    2016-12-01

    Only eight women out of one hundred diagnosed with ovarian epithelial cancers, which progressed to the clinical stage IV, survive 10 years. First line therapies: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy inflict very serious iatrogenic consequences. Passive immunotherapy of ovarian cancers offers only low efficacy. Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for ovarian cancers are not available. Interestingly, prophylactic vaccines for Hepatitis B Viruses (HBV) are very effective. The specific aim of this work was to design, synthesize, and administer biomolecules, which would engage prophylactic, vaccination-induced immunity for HBV towards killing of ovarian cancer cells with high specificity and efficacy. Tissue biopsies, ascites, and blood were acquired from the patients, whose identities were entirely concealed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, pursuant to the Institutional Review Board approval, and with the Patients' informed consent. By biomolecular engineering, we have created a novel family of biomolecules: antibody × vaccine engineered constructs (AVEC: anti-HER-2 × HBsAg). We have collected the blood from the volunteers, and measured the titers of anti-HBV antibodies resulting from the FDA approved and CDC scheduled HBV vaccinations. We have acquired tumor biopsies, ascites, and blood from patients suffering from the advanced ovarian cancers. We have established cultures of HER-2 over-expressing epithelial ovarian cancers: OV-90, TOC-112D, SKOV-3, as well as human ovary surface epithelial (HOSE) and human artery endothelial (HAE) cells. Treatment of the HER-2+ ovarian cancer cells with AVEC: anti-HER-2 × HBsAg, accompanied by administration of blood drawn from patients with high titers of the anti-HBV antibodies, resulted in much higher therapeutic efficacy as compared to treatment with the naked anti-HER-2 antibodies alone and/or with the relevant isotype antibodies. This treatment had practically no effect upon the HOSE and HAE

  4. Formatted anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha VHH proteins derived from camelids show superior potency and targeting to inflamed joints in a murine model of collagen-induced arthritis.

    PubMed

    Coppieters, Ken; Dreier, Torsten; Silence, Karen; de Haard, Hans; Lauwereys, Marc; Casteels, Peter; Beirnaert, Els; Jonckheere, Heidi; Van de Wiele, Christophe; Staelens, Ludovicus; Hostens, Jeroen; Revets, Hilde; Remaut, Erik; Elewaut, Dirk; Rottiers, Pieter

    2006-06-01

    The advent of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-blocking drugs has provided rheumatologists with an effective, but highly expensive, treatment for the management of established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our aim was to explore preclinically the application of camelid anti-TNF VHH proteins, which are single-domain antigen binding (VHH) proteins homologous to human immunoglobulin V(H) domains, as TNF antagonists in a mouse model of RA. Llamas were immunized with human and mouse TNF, and antagonistic anti-TNF VHH proteins were isolated and cloned for bacterial production. The resulting anti-TNF VHH proteins were recombinantly linked to yield bivalent mouse and human TNF-specific molecules. To increase the serum half-life and targeting properties, an anti-serum albumin anti-TNF VHH domain was incorporated into the bivalent molecules. The TNF-neutralizing potential was analyzed in vitro. Mouse TNF-specific molecules were tested in a therapeutic protocol in murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Disease progression was evaluated by clinical scoring and histologic evaluation. Targeting properties were evaluated by 99mTc labeling and gamma camera imaging. The bivalent molecules were up to 500 times more potent than the monovalent molecules. The antagonistic potency of the anti-human TNF VHH proteins exceeded even that of the anti-TNF antibodies infliximab and adalimumab that are used clinically in RA. Incorporation of binding affinity for albumin into the anti-TNF VHH protein significantly prolonged its serum half-life and promoted its targeting to inflamed joints in the murine CIA model of RA. This might explain the excellent therapeutic efficacy observed in vivo. These data suggest that because of the flexibility of their format, camelid anti-TNF VHH proteins can be converted into potent therapeutic agents that can be produced and purified cost-effectively.

  5. Limbic encephalitis associated with anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Kishitani, Toru; Matsunaga, Akiko; Ikawa, Masamichi; Hayashi, Kouji; Yamamura, Osamu; Hamano, Tadanori; Watanabe, Osamu; Tanaka, Keiko; Nakamoto, Yasunari; Yoneda, Makoto

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Several types of autoantibodies have been reported in autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE), such as antibodies against the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex including leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1). We recently reported a patient with autoimmune LE and serum anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase (NAE) antibodies, a specific diagnostic marker for Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE), who was diagnosed with HE based on the presence of antithyroid antibodies and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This case suggests that LE patients with antibodies to both the thyroid and NAE could be diagnosed with HE and respond to immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicoimmunological features and efficacy of immunotherapy in LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies to determine whether the LE is a clinical subtype of HE. We examined serum anti-NAE antibodies in 78 LE patients with limbic abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging and suspected HE based on positivity for antithyroid antibodies. Nineteen of the 78 patients had anti-NAE antibodies; however, 5 were excluded because they were double positive for antibodies to the VGKC complex including LGI1. No antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), contactin-associated protein 2 (Caspr2), γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptor (GABABR), or α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) were detected in the 19 patients. Among the remaining 14 who were positive only for anti-NAE antibodies, the median age was 62.5 (20–83) years, 9 (64%) were women, and 8 (57%) showed acute onset, with less than 2 weeks between onset and admission. Consciousness disturbance (71%) and memory disturbance (64%) were frequently observed, followed by psychiatric symptoms (50%) and seizures (43%). The frequency of these symptoms significantly differed between the acute- and subacute-onset groups. Abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid and electroencephalogram were commonly observed (92

  6. c-FLIP is involved in erythropoietin-mediated protection of erythroid-differentiated cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.

    PubMed

    Vittori, Daniela; Vota, Daiana; Callero, Mariana; Chamorro, María E; Nesse, Alcira

    2010-05-04

    The TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor) affects a wide range of biological activities, such as cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cell life or death responses to this cytokine might depend on cell conditions. This study focused on the modulation of factors that would affect the sensitivity of erythroid-differentiated cells to TNF-alpha. Hemin-differentiated K562 cells showed higher sensitivity to TNF-induced apoptosis than undifferentiated cells. At the same time, hemin-induced erythroid differentiation reduced c-FLIP (cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein) expression. However, this negative effect was prevented by prior treatment with Epo (erythropoietin), which allowed the cell line to maintain c-FLIP levels. On the other hand, erythroid-differentiated UT-7 cells - dependent on Epo for survival - showed resistance to TNF-alpha pro-apoptotic action. Only after the inhibition of PI3K (phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase)-mediated pathways, which was accompanied by negative c-FLIP modulation and increased erythroid differentiation, were UT-7 cells sensitive to TNF-alpha-triggered apoptosis. In summary, erythroid differentiation might deregulate the balance between growth promotion and death signals induced by TNF-alpha, depending on cell type and environmental conditions. The role of c-FLIP seemed to be critical in the protection of erythroid-differentiated cells from apoptosis or in the determination of their sensitivity to TNF-mediated programmed cell death. Epo, which for the first time was found to be involved in the prevention of c-FLIP down-regulation, proved to have an anti-apoptotic effect against the pro-inflammatory factor. The identification of signals related to cell life/death switching would have significant implications in the control of proliferative diseases and would contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying the anaemia associated with inflammatory processes.

  7. Fuzheng Huayu recipe alleviates hepatic fibrosis via inhibiting TNF-α induced hepatocyte apoptosis.

    PubMed

    Tao, Yan-yan; Yan, Xiu-chuan; Zhou, Tao; Shen, Li; Liu, Zu-long; Liu, Cheng-hai

    2014-11-18

    What was the relationship of Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY) inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and HSC activation at different stage of liver fibrosis? In order to answer this question, the study was carried out to dynamically observe FZHY's effect on hepatocyte apoptosis and HSC activation and further explored underling mechanism of FZHY against hepatocyte apoptosis. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal, model, FZHY, and N-acetylcystein (NAC) groups. Acute hepatic injury and liver fibrosis in mice were induced by CCl4. Three days before the first CCl4 injection, treatment with FZHY powder or NAC respectively was started. In vitro, primary hepatocytes were pretreated with FZHY medicated serum or Z-VAD-FMK and then incubated with ActD and TNF-α. Primary HSCs were treated with DNA from apoptotic hepatocytes incubated by Act D/TNF-α or FZHY medicated. Liver sections were analyzed for HE staining and immunohistochemical evaluation of apoptosis. Serum ALT and AST, Alb content and TNF-α expression in liver tissue were detected. Hyp content was assayed and collagen deposition was visualized. Expressions of α-SMA and type I collagen were analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and DNA ladder for hepatocyte apoptosis and immunoblotting for TNF-R1, Bcl-2 and Bax were also analyzed. Mice showed characteristic features of massive hepatocytes apoptosis in early stage of liver injury and developed severe hepatic fibrosis in later phase. FZHY treatment significantly alleviated acute liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis, and inhibited liver fibrosis by decreasing α-SMA expression and hepatic Hyp content. In vitro, primary hepatocytes were induced by TNF-α and Act D. The anti-apoptotic effect of FZHY was generated by reducing TNFR1 expression and balancing the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax. Meanwhile, the nuclear DNA from apoptotic hepatocytes stimulated HSC activation in a dose dependent manner, and the DNA from

  8. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) receptor-II is required for TNF-α–induced leukocyte-endothelial interaction in vivo

    PubMed Central

    Chandrasekharan, Unni M.; Siemionow, Maria; Unsal, Murat; Yang, Lin; Poptic, Earl; Bohn, Justin; Ozer, Kagan; Zhou, Zhongmin; Howe, Philip H.; Penn, Marc

    2007-01-01

    Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) binds to 2 distinct cell-surface receptors: TNF-α receptor-I (TNFR-I: p55) and TNF-α receptor-II (TNFR-II: p75). TNF-α induces leukocyte adhesion molecules on endothelial cells (ECs), which mediate 3 defined steps of the inflammatory response; namely, leukocyte rolling, firm adhesion, and transmigration. In this study, we have investigated the role of p75 in TNF-α–induced leukocyte adhesion molecules using cultured ECs derived from wild-type (WT), p75-null (p75−/−), or p55-null (p55−/−) mice. We observed that p75 was essential for TNF-α–induced E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression. We also investigated the putative role of p75 in inflammation in vivo using an intravital microscopic approach with a mouse cremaster muscle model. TNF-α–stimulated leukocyte rolling, firm adhesion to ECs, and transmigration were dramatically reduced in p75−/− mice. Transplanted WT cremaster in p75−/− mice showed a robust leukocyte rolling and firm adhesion upon TNF-α activation, suggesting that the impairment in EC-leukocyte interaction in p75−/− mice is due to EC dysfunction. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that endothelial p75 is essential for TNF-α–induced leukocyte–endothelial-cell interaction. Our findings may contribute to the identification of novel p75-targeted therapeutic approaches for inflammatory diseases. PMID:17068152

  9. Anti-TNF-A therapy about infliximab and adalimamab for the effectiveness in ulcerative colitis compared with conventional therapy: a meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Zheng; Dai, Cong; Liu, Wei-Xin

    2015-01-01

    TNF-α has an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). It seems that anti-TNF-α therapy is beneficial in the treatment of UC. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of Infliximab and Adalimamab with UC compared with conventional therapy. The Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for studies investigating the efficacy of infliximab and adalimumab on UC. Infliximab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical response (RR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.50) of UC compared with conventional therapy, but those had not a statistically significant effects in clinical remission (RR = 1.63; 95% CI 0.84 to 3.18) and reduction of colectomy rate (RR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.12) of UC. And adalimumab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical remission (RR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.24 to 2.67) and clinical response (RR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64) of UC compared with conventional therapy. Our meta-analyses suggested that Infliximab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical response of UC compared with conventional therapy and adalimumab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical remission and clinical response of UC compared with conventional therapy.

  10. Anti-TNF-A Therapy about Infliximab and Adalimamab for the Effectiveness in Ulcerative Colitis Compared with Conventional Therapy: A Meta-Analysis.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Zheng; Dai, Cong; Liu, Wei-xin

    2015-06-01

    TNF-α has an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). It seems that anti-TNF-α therapy is beneficial in the treatment of UC. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of Infliximab and Adalimamab with UC compared with con- ventional therapy. The Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for studies investigating the efficacy of infliximab and adalimumab on UC. Infliximab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical response (RR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.50) of UC compared with conventional therapy, but those had not a statistically significant effects in clinical remission (RR = 1.63; 95% CI 0.84 to 3.18) and reduction of colectomy rate (RR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.12) of UC. And adalimumab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical remission (RR =1.82; 95% CI 1.24 to 2.67) and clinical response (RR =1.36; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64) of UC compared with conventional therapy. Our meta-analyses suggested that Infliximab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical response of UC compared with conventional therapy and adalimumab had a statistically significant effects in induction of clinical remission and clinical response of UC compared with conventional therapy.

  11. The thalidomide analogue CC-3052 inhibits HIV-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression in acutely and chronically infected cells in vitro

    PubMed Central

    La Maestra, L; Zaninoni, A; Marriott, J B; Lazzarin, A; Dalgleish, A G; Barcellini, W

    2000-01-01

    We investigated the in vitro effect of the water-soluble, highly stable thalidomide analogue CC-3052 on HIV-1 expression and TNF-α production in latently infected promonocytic U1 cells, acutely infected T cells and monocyte-derived human macrophages (MDM), and in mitogen-stimulated ex vivo cultures from patients with primary acute HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis of RNAs, and ELISA for p24 antigen release and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. TNF-α expression was evaluated by RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA for mRNA and ELISA for protein secretion. We demonstrated that CC-3052 is able to inhibit HIV-1 expression, as evaluated by mRNA, p24 release and RT activity, in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and cytokine-stimulated U1 cells. Furthermore, CC-3052 inhibited HIV-1 expression, as evaluated by p24 and RT activity, in acutely infected MDM and T cells. As far as TNF-α is concerned, CC-3052 significantly reduced TNF-α mRNA and protein secretion in PMA-stimulated U937 and U1 cells, and in PMA-stimulated uninfected and acutely infected MDM. Consistently, the addition of CC-3052 reduced TNF-α production in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole blood cultures from patients during the primary acute phase of HIV-1 infection. Since TNF-α is among the most potent enhancers of HIV-1 expression, the effect of CC-3052 on TNF-α may account for its inhibitory activity on HIV-1 expression. Given the well documented immunopathological role of TNF-α and its correlation with viral load, advanced disease and poor prognosis, CC-3052 could be an interesting drug for the design of therapeutic strategies in association with anti-retroviral agents. PMID:10606973

  12. The thalidomide analogue CC-3052 inhibits HIV-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression in acutely and chronically infected cells in vitro.

    PubMed

    La Maestra, L; Zaninoni, A; Marriott, J B; Lazzarin, A; Dalgleish, A G; Barcellini, W

    2000-01-01

    We investigated the in vitro effect of the water-soluble, highly stable thalidomide analogue CC-3052 on HIV-1 expression and TNF-alpha production in latently infected promonocytic U1 cells, acutely infected T cells and monocyte-derived human macrophages (MDM), and in mitogen-stimulated ex vivo cultures from patients with primary acute HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis of RNAs, and ELISA for p24 antigen release and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. TNF-alpha expression was evaluated by RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA for mRNA and ELISA for protein secretion. We demonstrated that CC-3052 is able to inhibit HIV-1 expression, as evaluated by mRNA, p24 release and RT activity, in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and cytokine-stimulated U1 cells. Furthermore, CC-3052 inhibited HIV-1 expression, as evaluated by p24 and RT activity, in acutely infected MDM and T cells. As far as TNF-alpha is concerned, CC-3052 significantly reduced TNF-alpha mRNA and protein secretion in PMA-stimulated U937 and U1 cells, and in PMA-stimulated uninfected and acutely infected MDM. Consistently, the addition of CC-3052 reduced TNF-alpha production in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole blood cultures from patients during the primary acute phase of HIV-1 infection. Since TNF-alpha is among the most potent enhancers of HIV-1 expression, the effect of CC-3052 on TNF-alpha may account for its inhibitory activity on HIV-1 expression. Given the well documented immunopathological role of TNF-alpha and its correlation with viral load, advanced disease and poor prognosis, CC-3052 could be an interesting drug for the design of therapeutic strategies in association with anti-retroviral agents.

  13. Laser immunotherapy for advanced solid tumors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naylor, Mark; Li, Xiaosong; Hode, Tomas; Alleruzzo, Lu; Raker, Joseph; Lam, Siu Kit; Zhou, Feifan; Chen, Wei

    2017-02-01

    Immunologically oriented therapy (immunotherapy) has arguably proved to be the most effective method for treating advanced melanoma, the prototypical chemotherapy-resistant solid tumor. The efficacy and benefit of immunotherapy for other tumors, including those that are at least partly responsive to chemotherapy, is less well established. Breast cancer, one of the most common of the solid tumors in humans, is partially responsive to traditional chemotherapy. We believe that breast cancer patients, like melanoma patients, will benefit from the application of immunotherapy techniques. Here we review the different forms of laser immunotherapy (LIT), a key type of immunologically oriented therapy, discuss its use in melanoma and in breast cancer, and discuss its potentially pivotal role in the immunotherapy armamentarium.

  14. Combining radiation plus immunotherapy to improve systemic immune response.

    PubMed

    Cushman, Taylor R; Gomez, Daniel; Kumar, Rachit; Likacheva, Anna; Chang, Joe Y; Cadena, Alex P; Paris, Sebastien; Welsh, James W

    2018-02-01

    Over the past decade, the fields of oncology have made great strides in therapies. The development of new therapeutics and increased understanding of the role of the immune system in the development and treatment of cancer has led to increased collaboration between oncologic fields. Recent technologic advancements in radiation therapy (RT), including stereotactic beam radiation therapy (SBRT), have improved local control and offer an alternative to surgery for the control of oligometastatic disease. Immunotherapy has proven a promising therapeutic in the treatment of metastatic disease but treatment resistance remains a significant obstacle in the majority of patients. Together, radiation and immunotherapy offer potential to eliminate metastatic disease, reduce time to recurrence and improve overall survival. Major obstacles to these positive outcomes include high tumor burden, intratumoral heterogeneity, and the negative effects of tumor stroma, to name a few. Multimodality treatments are under heavy investigation. Promising data from clinical trials is emerging to highlight the value of RT in combination with immunotherapy. However, the mechanisms behind their synergistic effects remain to be fully elucidated. This review aims to highlight the existing literature and offers hypotheses to explain mechanisms behind the synergy of RT and immunotherapy.

  15. Comparison of autogeneic and allogeneic natural killer cells immunotherapy on the clinical outcome of recurrent breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Liang, Shuzhen; Xu, Kecheng; Niu, Lizhi; Wang, Xiaohua; Liang, Yingqing; Zhang, Mingjie; Chen, Jibing; Lin, Mao

    2017-01-01

    In the present study, we aimed to compare the clinical outcome of autogeneic and allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells immunotherapy for the treatment of recurrent breast cancer. Between July 2016 and February 2017, 36 patients who met the enrollment criteria were randomly assigned to two groups: autogeneic NK cells immunotherapy group (group I, n=18) and allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy group (group II, n=18). The clinical efficacy, quality of life, immune function, circulating tumor cell (CTC) level, and other related indicators were evaluated. We found that allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy has better clinical efficacy than autogeneic therapy. Moreover, allogeneic NK cells therapy improves the quality of life, reduces the number of CTCs, reduces carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) expression, and significantly enhances immune function. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial to compare the clinical outcome of autogeneic and allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy for recurrent breast cancer. PMID:28894383

  16. Tumour necrosis factor-α regulates human eosinophil apoptosis via ligation of TNF-receptor 1 and balance between NF-κB and AP-1.

    PubMed

    Kankaanranta, Hannu; Ilmarinen, Pinja; Zhang, Xianzhi; Adcock, Ian M; Lahti, Aleksi; Barnes, Peter J; Giembycz, Mark A; Lindsay, Mark A; Moilanen, Eeva

    2014-01-01

    Eosinophils play a central role in asthma. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on longevity of isolated human eosinophils. In contrast to Fas, TNF-α inhibited eosinophil apoptosis as evidenced by a combination of flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation assay and morphological analyses. The effect of TNF-α on eosinophil apoptosis was reversed by a TNF-α neutralising antibody. The anti-apoptotic effect of TNF-α was not due to autocrine release of known survival-prolonging cytokines interleukins 3 and 5 or granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor as their neutralisation did not affect the effect of TNF-α. The anti-apoptotic signal was mediated mainly by the TNF-receptor 1. TNF-α induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκB and an increase in NF-κB DNA-binding activity. The survival-prolonging effect of TNF-α was reversed by inhibitors of NF-κB pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and gliotoxin and by an inhibitor of IκB kinase, BMS-345541. TNF-α induced also an increase in AP-1 DNA-binding activity and the antiapoptotic effect of TNF-α was potentiated by inhibitors of AP-1, SR 11302 and tanshinone IIA and by an inhibitor of c-jun-N-terminal kinase, SP600125, which is an upstream kinase activating AP-1. Our results thus suggest that TNF-α delays human eosinophil apoptosis via TNF-receptor 1 and the resulting changes in longevity depend on yin-yang balance between activation of NF-κB and AP-1.

  17. Homologous ELISA for detection of oligomeric human TNF: properties of the assay.

    PubMed

    Petyovka, N; Lyach, L; Voitenok, N N

    1995-10-26

    In order to quantify oligomeric human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), we have developed a sensitive homologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Hm-ELISA) using the same monoclonal antibody (MoAb) for both solid and liquid phase. Different anti-TNF MoAb have been compared in terms of their efficacy in the Hm-ELISA, affinity, neutralization capacity and epitope specificity. The data suggest, that effectiveness in the Hm-ELISA may represent a novel characteristic of MoAb. Of the MoAbs tested, 5 N was capable of recognizing oligomeric TNF in the Hm-ELISA with a detection limit of 15 pg/ml. Furthermore, using Hm-ELISA against human TNF, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and lymphotoxin, we have demonstrated that these cytokines are oligomeric in physiological solutions, but are converted into monomeric forms in the presence of the non-ionic detergent Tween 20. High salt buffer was employed to abrogate a nonspecific false positive reaction in the Hm-ELISA found in nearly half of the plasma samples obtained from healthy subjects. Finally, a good correlation between the Hm-ELISA and the L929 bioassay was observed for natural and recombinant TNF measured in human plasma.

  18. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidatant activities of various isolated compounds from Cratoxylum species.

    PubMed

    Rodanant, Pirasut; Boonnak, Nawong; Surarit, Rudee; Kuvatanasuchati, Jintakorn; Lertsooksawat, Wannee

    2017-05-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate the bioactivity of twenty-nine known isolated compounds from Cratoxylum species including three anthraquinones, four triterpenes, and twenty-two xanthones. All isolated compounds were subjected to antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Cytotoxicity evaluations were performed by MTT assay. The anti-oxidatant activity was performed using DPPH assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated from the production of cytokines TNF-α and IL1-β using ELISA assay. Human gingival fibroblasts and monocytes could tolerate both anthraquinones and triterpenes. All isolated anthraquinones showed moderate-to-high antibacterial efficacy while compound A3 also demonstrated moderate anti-inflammatory effect. None of the isolated triterpenes, except for T1, inhibited the expression of TNF-α. A number of isolated xanthones was toxic to HGFs and monocytes. Compound X5, X14 and a 1:1 mixture of X5 and X6 showed comparative anti-inflammatory activity to dexamethasone. Several triterpene and xanthone compounds also expressed antibacterial effect against P. gingivalis. Some isolated xanthones exerted anti-oxidant activity comparable to ascorbic acid. Accordingly, selected pure compounds from plants of Cratoxylum genus might be of benefit in developing medications that are important in treating periodontal diseases.

  19. Immunotherapy of allergic contact dermatitis.

    PubMed

    Spiewak, Radoslaw

    2011-08-01

    The term 'immunotherapy' refers to treating diseases by inducing, enhancing or suppressing immune responses. As allergy is an excessive, detrimental immune reaction to otherwise harmless environmental substances, immunotherapy of allergic disease is aimed at the induction of tolerance toward sensitizing antigens. This article focuses on the historical developments, present state and future outlook for immunotherapy with haptens as a therapeutic modality for allergic contact dermatitis. Inspired by the effectiveness of immunotherapy in respiratory allergies, attempts were undertaken at curing allergic contact dermatitis by means of controlled administration of the sensitizing haptens. Animal and human experiments confirmed that tolerance to haptens can be induced most effectively when the induction of tolerance precedes attempted sensitization. In real life, however, therapy is sought by people who are already sensitized and an effective reversal of hypersensitivity seems more difficult to achieve. Decades of research on Rhus hypersensitivity led to a conclusion that immunotherapy can suppress Rhus dermatitis, however, only to a limited degree, for a short period of time, and at a high risk of side effects, which makes this method therapeutically unprofitable. Methodological problems with most available studies of immunotherapy of contact allergy to nickel make any definite conclusions impossible at this stage.

  20. Reducing the dimensions of acoustic devices using anti-acoustic-null media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Borui; Sun, Fei; He, Sailing

    2018-02-01

    An anti-acoustic-null medium (anti-ANM), a special homogeneous medium with anisotropic mass density, is designed by transformation acoustics (TA). Anti-ANM can greatly compress acoustic space along the direction of its main axis, where the size compression ratio is extremely large. This special feature can be utilized to reduce the geometric dimensions of classic acoustic devices. For example, the height of a parabolic acoustic reflector can be greatly reduced. We also design a brass-air structure on the basis of the effective medium theory to materialize the anti-ANM in a broadband frequency range. Numerical simulations verify the performance of the proposed anti-ANM.

  1. Anti-inflammatory activity and molecular mechanism of delphinidin 3-sambubioside, a Hibiscus anthocyanin.

    PubMed

    Sogo, Takayuki; Terahara, Norihiko; Hisanaga, Ayami; Kumamoto, Takuma; Yamashiro, Takaaki; Wu, Shusong; Sakao, Kozue; Hou, De-Xing

    2015-01-01

    Delphinidin 3-sambubioside (Dp3-Sam), a Hibiscus anthocyanin, was isolated from the dried calices of Hibiscus sabdariffa L, which has been used for folk beverages and herbal medicine although the molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. Based on the properties of Dp3-Sam and the information of inflammatory processes, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and molecular mechanisms in both cell and animal models in the present study. In the cell model, Dp3-Sam and Delphinidin (Dp) reduced the levels of inflammatory mediators including iNOS, NO, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α induced by LPS. Cellular signaling analysis revealed that Dp3-Sam and Dp downregulated NF-κB pathway and MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling. In animal model, Dp3-Sam and Dp reduced the production of IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α and attenuated mouse paw edema induced by LPS. Our in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that Hibiscus Dp3-Sam possessed potential anti-inflammatory properties. © 2015 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

  2. Antimelanogenesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Selected Culinary-Medicinal Mushrooms.

    PubMed

    Saad, Hazwani Mat; Sim, Kae Shin; Tan, Yee Shin

    2018-01-01

    Five culinary-medicinal mushrooms are commonly available in the Malaysian market: Agaricus bisporus (white and brown), Ganoderma lucidum, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Pleurotus floridanus, and P. pulmonarius. These species were selected for use in the current study, the aim of which was to investigate the antimelanogenesis and anti-inflammatory activity of these mushrooms in an attempt to evaluate their potential use in cosmeceuticals. Mushroom fruiting bodies were extracted with hot water, and the extracts were freeze-dried before testing. The antimelanogenesis activity of the extracts was determined by cell viability assay, measurement of intracellular melanin content, and cellular tyrosinase assay with B16F10 melanoma cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of the mushroom extracts was tested by measuring the levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin-10 excreted by RAW264.7 macrophages. Brown A. bisporus reduced intracellular melanin content to the largest extent-up to 57.05 ± 3.90%-without a cytotoxic effect on B16F10 melanoma cells. This extract also reduced cellular tyrosinase activity to 17.93 ± 2.65%, performing better than kojic acid, the positive control. In parallel, the extract from brown A. bisporus, at the highest concentration tested, has appreciable anti-inflammatory activity through reductions of NO and TNF-α levels. The other 5 extracts showed moderate antimelanogenesis and anti-inflammatory activities. In summary, our findings show that A. bisporus (brown) extract has the potential to be used as an ingredient in whitening skincare products and to sooth the inflammatory response on the skin.

  3. In vitro anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic activities of thalidomide dithiocarbamate analogs.

    PubMed

    El-Aarag, Bishoy Y A; Kasai, Tomonari; Zahran, Magdy A H; Zakhary, Nadia I; Shigehiro, Tsukasa; Sekhar, Sreeja C; Agwa, Hussein S; Mizutani, Akifumi; Murakami, Hiroshi; Kakuta, Hiroki; Seno, Masaharu

    2014-08-01

    Inhibition of angiogenesis is currently perceived as a promising strategy in the treatment of cancer. The anti-angiogenicity of thalidomide has inspired a second wave of research on this teratogenic drug. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic activities of two thalidomide dithiocarbamate analogs by studying their anti-proliferative effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. Their action on the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, VEGF165, and MMP-2 was also assessed. Furthermore, their effect on angiogenesis was evaluated through wound healing, migration, tube formation, and nitric oxide (NO) assays. Results illustrated that the proliferation of HUVECs and MDA-MB-231 cells was not significantly affected by thalidomide at 6.25-100μM. Thalidomide failed to block angiogenesis at similar concentrations. By contrast, thalidomide dithiocarbamate analogs exhibited significant anti-proliferative action on HUVECs and MDA-MB-231 cells without causing cytotoxicity and also showed powerful anti-angiogenicity in wound healing, migration, tube formation, and NO assays. Thalidomide analogs 1 and 2 demonstrated more potent activity to suppress expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, VEGF165, and MMP-2 than thalidomide. Analog 1 consistently, showed the highest potency and efficacy in all the assays. Taken together, our results support further development and evaluation of novel thalidomide analogs as anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic agents. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  4. Combination immunotherapy and active-specific tumor cell vaccination augments anti-cancer immunity in a mouse model of gastric cancer

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Active-specific immunotherapy used as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy is rather unexplored for cancers with poorly characterized tumor antigens like gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to augment a therapeutic immune response to a low immunogenic tumor cell line derived from a spontaneous gastric tumor of a CEA424-SV40 large T antigen (CEA424-SV40 TAg) transgenic mouse. Methods Mice were treated with a lymphodepleting dose of cyclophosphamide prior to reconstitution with syngeneic spleen cells and vaccination with a whole tumor cell vaccine combined with GM-CSF (a treatment strategy abbreviated as LRAST). Anti-tumor activity to subcutaneous tumor challenge was examined in a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic setting and compared to corresponding controls. Results LRAST enhances tumor-specific T cell responses and efficiently inhibits growth of subsequent transplanted tumor cells. In addition, LRAST tended to slow down growth of established tumors. The improved anti-tumor immune response was accompanied by a transient decrease in the frequency and absolute number of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells (Tregs). Conclusions Our data support the concept that whole tumor cell vaccination in a lymphodepleted and reconstituted host in combination with GM-CSF induces therapeutic tumor-specific T cells. However, the long-term efficacy of the treatment may be dampened by the recurrence of Tregs. Strategies to counteract suppressive immune mechanisms are required to further evaluate this therapeutic vaccination protocol. PMID:21859450

  5. TNF-α dependent production of inducible nitric oxide is involved in PGE1 protection against acute liver injury

    PubMed Central

    Muntane, J; Rodriguez, F; Segado, O; Quintero, A; Lozano, J; Siendones, E; Pedraza, C; Delgado, M; O'Valle, F; Garcia, R; Montero, J; De la Mata, M; Mino, G

    2000-01-01

    BACKGROUND—Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide modulate damage in several experimental models of liver injury. We have previously shown that protection against D-galactosamine (D-GalN) induced liver injury by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was accompanied by an increase in TNF-α and nitrite/nitrate in serum.
AIMS—The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of TNF-α and nitric oxide during protection by PGE1 of liver damage induced by D-GalN.
METHODS—Liver injury was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of 1 g/kg of D-GalN. PGE1 was administered 30 minutes before D-GalN. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was inhibited by methylisothiourea (MT), and TNF-α concentration in serum was lowered by administration of anti-TNF-α antibodies. Liver injury was evaluated by alanine aminotransferase activity in serum, and histological examination and DNA fragmentation in liver. TNF-α and nitrite/nitrate concentrations were determined in serum. Expression of TNF-α and iNOS was also assessed in liver sections.
RESULTS—PGE1 decreased liver injury and increased TNF-α and nitrite/nitrate concentrations in serum of rats treated with D-GalN. PGE1 protection was related to enhanced expression of TNF-α and iNOS in hepatocytes. Administration of anti-TNF-α antibodies or MT blocked the protection by PGE1 of liver injury induced by D-GalN.
CONCLUSIONS—This study suggests that prior administration of PGE1 to D-GalN treated animals enhanced expression of TNF-α and iNOS in hepatocytes, and that this was causally related to protection by PGE1 against D-GalN induced liver injury.


Keywords: tumour necrosis factor α; nitric oxide; prostaglandin E1; methylisothiourea; D-galactosamine; liver injury PMID:10986217

  6. Is immunotherapy an opportunity for effective treatment of drug addiction?

    PubMed

    Zalewska-Kaszubska, Jadwiga

    2015-11-27

    Immunotherapy has a great potential of becoming a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of addiction to psychoactive drugs. It may be used to treat addiction but also to prevent neurotoxic complications of drug overdose. In preclinical studies two immunological methods have been tested; active immunization, which relies on the administration of vaccines and passive immunization, which relies on the administration of monoclonal antibodies. Until now researchers have succeeded in developing vaccines and/or antibodies against addiction to heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine and phencyclidine. Their effectiveness has been confirmed in preclinical studies. At present, clinical studies are being conducted for vaccines against nicotine and cocaine and also anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody. These preclinical and clinical studies suggest that immunotherapy may be useful in the treatment of addiction and drug overdose. However, there are a few problems to be solved. One of them is controlling the level of antibodies due to variability between subjects. But even obtaining a suitable antibody titer does not guarantee the effectiveness of the vaccine. Additionally, there is a risk of intentional or unintentional overdose. As vaccines prevent passing of drugs through the blood/brain barrier and thereby prevent their positive reinforcement, some addicted patients may erroneously seek higher doses of psychoactive substances to get "high". Consequently, vaccination should be targeted at persons who have a strong motivation to free themselves from drug dependency. It seems that immunotherapy may be an opportunity for effective treatment of drug addiction if directed to adequate candidates for treatment. For other addicts, immunotherapy may be a very important element supporting psycho- and pharmacotherapy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Developing Precision Immunotherapies - Annual Plan

    Cancer.gov

    Despite remarkable progress, cancer immunotherapies can be toxic to some patients. Learn how NCI-funded research will extend the benefits of immunotherapy to more patients through biomarker research and collaboration.

  8. Mortality in adult intensive care patients with severe systemic inflammatory response syndromes is strongly associated with the hypo-immune TNF -238A polymorphism.

    PubMed

    Pappachan, John V; Coulson, Tim G; Child, Nicholas J A; Markham, David J; Nour, Sarah M; Pulletz, Mark C K; Rose-Zerilli, Matthew J; de Courcey-Golder, Kim; Barton, Sheila J; Yang, Ian A; Holloway, John W

    2009-10-01

    The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is associated with activation of innate immunity. We studied the association between mortality and measures of disease severity in the intensive care unit (ICU) and functional polymorphisms in genes coding for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), macrophage migratory inhibitory factor (MIF), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA). Two hundred thirty-three patients with severe SIRS were recruited from one general adult ICU in a tertiary centre in the UK. DNA from patients underwent genotyping by 5' nuclease assay. Genotype was compared to phenotype. Primary outcome was mortality in ICU. Minor allele frequencies were TLR4 +896G 7%, MIF 173C 16%, TNF -238A 10% and LTA +252G 34%. The frequency of the hypoimmune minor allele TNF -238A was significantly higher in patients who died in ICU compared to those who survived (p = 0.0063) as was the frequency of the two haplotypes LTA +252G, TNF -1031T, TNF -308G, TNF -238A and LTA +252G, TNF-1031T, TNF-308A and TNF-238A (p = 0.0120 and 0.0098, respectively). These findings re-enforce the view that a balanced inflammatory/anti-inflammatory response is the most important determinant of outcome in sepsis. Genotypes that either favour inflammation or its counter-regulatory anti-inflammatory response are likely to influence mortality and morbidity.

  9. Inhibition of TNF-α in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus attenuates hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting neurohormonal excitation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Song, Xin-Ai; Jia, Lin-Lin; Cui, Wei

    We hypothesized that chronic inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) delays the progression of hypertension and attenuates cardiac hypertrophy by up-regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs), decreasing nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and NAD(P)H oxidase activities, as well as restoring the neurotransmitters balance in the PVN of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Adult normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) and SHR rats received bilateral PVN infusion of a TNF-α blocker (pentoxifylline or etanercept) or vehicle for 4 weeks. SHR rats showed higher mean arterial pressure and cardiac hypertrophy compared with WKY rats, as indicated by increased whole heartmore » weight/body weight ratio, whole heart weight/tibia length ratio, left ventricular weight/tibia length ratio, and cardiac atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and beta-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) mRNA expressions. Compared with WKY rats, SHR rats had higher PVN levels of tyrosine hydroxylase, PICs, the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), NF-κB p65 activity, mRNA expressions of NOX-2 and NOX-4, and lower PVN levels of IL-10 and 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), and higher plasma norepinephrine. PVN infusion of pentoxifylline or etanercept attenuated all these changes in SHR rats. These findings suggest that SHR rats have an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, as well as an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the PVN; and chronic inhibition of TNF-α in the PVN delays the progression of hypertension by restoring the balances of neurotransmitters and cytokines in the PVN, and attenuating PVN NF-κB p65 activity and oxidative stress, thereby attenuating hypertension-induced sympathetic hyperactivity and cardiac hypertrophy. - Highlights: • Spontaneously hypertensive rats exhibit neurohormonal excitation in the PVN. • PVN

  10. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cell adhesion to human endothelial cells is under dominant control of one TNF receptor type, TNF-R55

    PubMed Central

    1993-01-01

    Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a pleiotropic cytokine triggering cell responses through two distinct membrane receptors. Stimulation of leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium is one of the many TNF-alpha activities and is explained by the upregulation of adhesion molecules on the endothelial cell surface. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated, cultured, and demonstrated to express both TNF receptor types, TNF-R55 and TNF-R75. Cell adhesion to HUVEC was studied using the HL60, U937, and MOLT-4 cell lines. HUVEC were activated by either TNF-alpha, binding to both TNF-R55 and TNF- R75, and by receptor type-specific agonists, binding exclusively to TNF- R55 or to TNF-R75. The TNF-alpha-induced cell adhesion to HUVEC was found to be controlled almost exclusively by TNF-R55. This finding correlated with the exclusive activity of TNF-R55 in the TNF-alpha- dependent regulation of the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, and vascular cell adhesion molecule type 1 (VCAM-1). The CD44 adhesion molecule in HUVEC was also found to be upregulated through TNF-R55. However, both TNF-R55 and TNF- R75 upregulate alpha 2 integrin expression in HUVEC. The predominant role of TNF-R55 in TNF-alpha-induced adhesion in HUVEC may correlate with its specific control of NF-kappa B activation, since kappa B elements are known to be present in ICAM-1, E-selectin, and VCAM-1 gene regulatory sequences. PMID:8386742

  11. Immunotherapy is different: Implications for vaccine clinical trial design.

    PubMed

    Simon, Richard

    2017-09-02

    Cancer Immunotherapetics differ fundamentally from most cancer therapies in that they involve manipulation of the immune system to induce an anti-tumor response. This fundamental difference results in differences in the pre-clinical and clinical development of immunotherapeutics. Even the regulatory culture of developing one drug at a time and demonstrating that it, when added to standard therapy, prolongs patient survival, is often not suitable for the development of effective immunotherapy regimens. In this commentary, we explore some of these differences and describe novel clinical trial designs which may be useful in immunotherapeutics regimen development.

  12. Immunotherapy of patients with metastatic melanoma.

    PubMed

    Yu, Zhe; Si, Lu

    2017-04-01

    Malignant melanoma (MM) is the primary cause of skin cancer related death and the incidence is increasing in the past years. Advanced MM still has a poor prognosis, but in recent years, the development of immunotherapy has changed its poor prognosis. Immune checkpoints show the revolutionary treatment of metastatic melanoma. Ipilimumab and pembrolizumab, monoclonal antibodies against the CTLA-4 and PD-1 respectively, have been shown to prolong overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced melanoma. The combination immunotherapy seems to be superior to monotherapy. In this review, recently immunotherapy clinical trial results are presented. The combination of immunotherapy provides new options for the treatment of MM patients. However, further studies are necessary to answer such question as optimal treatment, combination of immunotherapies, crowd selection and risk balance in patients with melanoma.

  13. DNA-inorganic hybrid nanovaccine for cancer immunotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Guizhi; Liu, Yijing; Yang, Xiangyu; Kim, Young-Hwa; Zhang, Huimin; Jia, Rui; Liao, Hsien-Shun; Jin, Albert; Lin, Jing; Aronova, Maria; Leapman, Richard; Nie, Zhihong; Niu, Gang; Chen, Xiaoyuan

    2016-03-01

    Cancer evolves to evade or compromise the surveillance of the immune system, and cancer immunotherapy aims to harness the immune system in order to inhibit cancer development. Unmethylated CpG dinucleotide-containing oligonucleotides (CpG), a class of potent adjuvants that activate the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) located in the endolysosome of many antigen-presenting cells (APCs), are promising for cancer immunotherapy. However, clinical application of synthetic CpG confronts many challenges such as suboptimal delivery into APCs, unfavorable pharmacokinetics caused by limited biostability and short in vivo half-life, and side effects associated with leaking of CpG into the systemic circulation. Here we present DNA-inorganic hybrid nanovaccines (hNVs) for efficient uptake into APCs, prolonged tumor retention, and potent immunostimulation and cancer immunotherapy. hNVs were self-assembled from concatemer CpG analogs and magnesium pyrophosphate (Mg2PPi). Mg2PPi renders hNVs resistant to nuclease degradation and thermal denaturation, both of which are demanding characteristics for effective vaccination and the storage and transportation of vaccines. Fluorophore-labeled hNVs were tracked to be efficiently internalized into the endolysosomes of APCs, where Mg2PPi was dissolved in an acidic environment and thus CpG analogs were exposed to hNVs. Internalized hNVs in APCs led to (1) elevated secretion of proinflammatory factors, and (2) elevated expression of co-stimulatory factors. Compared with molecular CpG, hNVs dramatically prolonged the tissue retention of CpG analogs and reduced splenomegaly, a common side effect of CpG. In a melanoma mouse model, two injections of hNVs significantly inhibited the tumor growth and outperformed the molecular CpG. These results suggest hNVs are promising for cancer immunotherapy.Cancer evolves to evade or compromise the surveillance of the immune system, and cancer immunotherapy aims to harness the immune system in order to inhibit

  14. Ectodomain shedding of TNF receptor 1 induced by protein synthesis inhibitors regulates TNF-{alpha}-mediated activation of NF-{kappa}B and caspase-8

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ogura, Hirotsugu; Tsukumo, Yoshinori; Department of Bioengineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501

    2008-04-01

    The transcription factor nuclear factor {kappa}B (NF-{kappa}B) plays a major role in the inducible resistance to death receptor-mediated apoptosis. It has been established that the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) sensitizes many types of cells to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-{alpha}-induced apoptosis, mainly due to its ability to block de novo synthesis of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Nevertheless, we have surprisingly found that CHX, as well as its structural analogue acetoxycycloheximide (Ac-CHX), prevents TNF-{alpha}-mediated activation of NF-{kappa}B and caspase-8 in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Both CHX and Ac-CHX reduced the expression of cell surface TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1) in amore » dose-dependent manner, while Ac-CHX was approximately 100-fold more effective than CHX. Consistent with this observation, Ac-CHX induced the proteolytic cleavage of TNF-R1 and its release into the culture medium. CHX and Ac-CHX profoundly decreased constitutive and inducible expression of c-FLIP, whereas these compounds potentiated TNF-{alpha}-induced caspase-8 activation only when metalloprotease inhibitors were present. Thus, our results indicate that ectodomain shedding of TNF-R1 induced by protein synthesis inhibitors regulates TNF-{alpha}-mediated activation of NF-{kappa}B and caspase-8.« less

  15. The potency of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) specific as immunotherapy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

    PubMed Central

    Sudjarwo, Sri Agus; Eraiko, Koerniasari; Sudjarwo, Giftania Wardani; Koerniasari

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to characterize of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgYs) specific as immunotherapy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection. Lohmann laying hens were immunized intramuscularly with antigenic of MTBC. Egg yolk was separated from egg white, and IgY antibody was then purified by multiple polyethylene glycols 6000 extraction and ammonium sulfate purification steps. The IgY anti-MTBC concentration in egg yolk increased at 2 weeks and it reached a maximum at 4 weeks after immunization. After 6 weeks, the levels of IgY anti-MTBC decreased gradually. The antibody of MTBC was detected and produces a specific line of precipitation in agar gel precipitation test beginning the week 2 after the first immunization. Analysis of results obtained with ELISA showed a significant increase in the MTBC specific antibodies after 2 weeks and reached a plateau at 4 weeks from the booster immunization. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the IgY preparation to be pure and dissociated into protein bands with molecular weights of 112, 78, 69, 49, and 28 kDa and Western blot analysis shown the presence of anti-MTBC IgY in egg yolks, with molecular weights of approximately 78 kDa. These results suggested that egg yolk could be a practical strategy in large-scale production of specific anti-MTBC IgY for immunotherapy of TBC. PMID:28795022

  16. The potency of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) specific as immunotherapy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

    PubMed

    Sudjarwo, Sri Agus; Eraiko, Koerniasari; Sudjarwo, Giftania Wardani; Koerniasari

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to characterize of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgYs) specific as immunotherapy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection. Lohmann laying hens were immunized intramuscularly with antigenic of MTBC. Egg yolk was separated from egg white, and IgY antibody was then purified by multiple polyethylene glycols 6000 extraction and ammonium sulfate purification steps. The IgY anti-MTBC concentration in egg yolk increased at 2 weeks and it reached a maximum at 4 weeks after immunization. After 6 weeks, the levels of IgY anti-MTBC decreased gradually. The antibody of MTBC was detected and produces a specific line of precipitation in agar gel precipitation test beginning the week 2 after the first immunization. Analysis of results obtained with ELISA showed a significant increase in the MTBC specific antibodies after 2 weeks and reached a plateau at 4 weeks from the booster immunization. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the IgY preparation to be pure and dissociated into protein bands with molecular weights of 112, 78, 69, 49, and 28 kDa and Western blot analysis shown the presence of anti-MTBC IgY in egg yolks, with molecular weights of approximately 78 kDa. These results suggested that egg yolk could be a practical strategy in large-scale production of specific anti-MTBC IgY for immunotherapy of TBC.

  17. Butter feeding enhances TNF-alpha production from macrophages and lymphocyte adherence in murine small intestinal microvessels.

    PubMed

    Fujiyama, Yoichi; Hokari, Ryota; Miura, Soichiro; Watanabe, Chikako; Komoto, Shunsuke; Oyama, Tokushige; Kurihara, Chie; Nagata, Hiroshi; Hibi, Toshifumi

    2007-11-01

    Dietary fat is known to modulate immune functions. Intake of an animal fat-rich diet has been linked to increased risk of inflammation; however, little is known about how animal fat ingestion directly affects intestinal immune function. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of butter feeding on lymphocyte migration in intestinal mucosa and the changes in adhesion molecules and cytokines involved in this effect. T-lymphocytes isolated from the spleen were fluorescence-labeled and injected into recipient mice. Butter was administered into the duodenum, and villus microvessels of the small intestinal mucosa were observed under an intravital microscope. mRNA expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines in the intestinal mucosa were determined by quantitative PCR. The effect of butter feeding on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA expression of intestinal macrophages was also determined. Intraluminal butter administration significantly increased lymphocyte adherence to intestinal microvessels accompanied by increases in expression levels of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, MAdCAM-1 and VCAM-1. This accumulation was significantly attenuated by anti-MAdCAM-1 and anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. Butter administration significantly increased TNF-alpha in the lamina proprial macrophages but not interleukin-6. Anti-TNF-alpha treatment attenuated the enhanced expression of adhesion molecules induced by butter administration. T-lymphocyte adherence to microvessels of the small intestinal mucosa was significantly enhanced after butter ingestion. This enhancement is due to increase in expression levels of adhesion molecules of the intestinal mucosa, which is mediated by TNF-alpha from macrophages in the intestinal lamina propria.

  18. Smac mimetic enables the anticancer action of BCG-stimulated neutrophils through TNF-α but not through TRAIL and FasL.

    PubMed

    Jinesh G, Goodwin; Chunduru, Srinivas; Kamat, Ashish M

    2012-07-01

    BCG, the current gold standard immunotherapy for bladder cancer, exerts its activity via recruitment of neutrophils to the tumor microenvironment. Many patients do not respond to BCG therapy, indicating the need to understand the mechanism of action of BCG-stimulated neutrophils and to identify ways to overcome resistance to BCG therapy. Using isolated human neutrophils stimulated with BCG, we found that TNF-α is the key mediator secreted by BCG-stimulated neutrophils. RT4v6 human bladder cancer cells, which express TNFR1, CD95/Fas, CD95 ligand/FasL, DR4, and DR5, were resistant to BCG-stimulated neutrophil conditioned medium but effectively killed by the combination of conditioned medium and Smac mimetic. rhTNF-α and rhFasL, but not rhTRAIL, in combination with Smac mimetic, generated signature molecular events similar to those produced by BCG-stimulated neutrophils in combination with Smac mimetic. However, experiments using neutralizing antibodies to these death ligands showed that TNF-α secreted from BCG-stimulated neutrophils was the key mediator of anticancer action. These findings explain the mechanism of action of BCG and identified Smac mimetics as potential combination therapeutic agents for bladder cancer.

  19. Synthesis, pharmacological activities and molecular docking studies of pyrazolyltriazoles as anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agents.

    PubMed

    Dayakar, Cherupally; Kumar, Buddana Sudheer; Sneha, Galande; Sagarika, Gudem; Meghana, Koneru; Ramakrishna, Sistla; Prakasham, Reddy Shetty; China Raju, Bhimapaka

    2017-10-15

    A series of novel pyrazolyl alcohols (5a-h), pyrazolyl azides (6a-h), and pyrazolyltriazoles (8a-h, 10a-p and 12a-l) were prepared and evaluated for their bioactivity (anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory) profile. The compound 5c displayed the potent anti-bacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus (MIC 3.9 and MBC 7.81µg/mL). In vitro anti-inflammatory activity data denoted that compound 8b is effective among the tested compounds against IL-6 (IC 50 6.23μM). Docking analysis of compounds 5f, 8a-b, 8e-f and 8h displayed high binding energies for the compounds 8a-b and 8h towards TNF-α dimer (2AZ5 protein) and IL-6 (1ALU protein). In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 8b and 8h with respect to LPS induced mice model indicated that compound 8h showed significant reduction in TNF-α. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Anti-inflammatory, Anti-estrogenic, and Anti-implantation Activity of Bergia suffruticosa (Delile) Fenzl

    PubMed Central

    Bind, Sandeep Kumar; Jivrajani, Mehul; Anandjiwala, Sheetal; Nivsarkar, Manish

    2015-01-01

    Background: Bergia suffruticosa (Delile) Fenzl (Syn. Bergia odorata Edgew) (Elatinaceae family) is used traditionally to repair bones and is applied as a poultice on sores. It is also used for stomach troubles and as an antidote to scorpion stings. So far, very little scientific work has been reported to validate its ethnomedical uses in the alleviation of pain, bone repair, etc., Objective: This study was designed to explore the anti-inflammatory and anti-implantation potential of n-hexane extract of B. suffruticosa whole plant in mice along with identification of its chemical constituents. Materials and Methods: n-Hexane extract of B. suffruticosa whole plant was screened for acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activity followed by an anti-estrogenic activity. Eventually, n-hexane extract was tested for anti-implantation activity by exploiting markers of uterine receptivity, lipid peroxidation, and superoxide enzyme activity. The extract was administered orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight in each study. Results: Thin layer chromatography fingerprint profile of n-hexane extract revealed the presence of lupeol and β-sitosterol. The n-hexane extract reduced the edema by 80% in acute inflammation, whereas it reduced edema to 75% on the 5th day in chronic inflammation. The n-hexane extract reduced elevated malonaldehyde level from 6 to 2.5 nmol/g × 10−5 and increased superoxide dismutase enzyme activity from 0 to 350 units/g in treated animals on the 5th day of pregnancy. Moreover, extract decreased uterine weight from 0.33 to 0.2 g in estradiol treated animals. Conclusion: These results indicate that n-hexane extract of B. suffruticosa is having potent anti-inflammatory, anti-estrogenic, and anti-implantation activity. This is the first report of all the pharmacological activities of B. suffruticosa mentioned above. SUMMARY TLC fingerprint profile of n-hexane extract of Bergia suffruticosa whole plant revealed the presence of lupeol and

  1. Can Immunotherapy Succeed in Glioblastoma?

    Cancer.gov

    Researchers are hopeful that, for the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma, immunotherapy might succeed where other therapies have not. As this Cancer Currents post reports, different immunotherapy approaches are being tested in clinical trials.

  2. Myocardial and vascular adrenergic alterations in a rat model of endotoxin shock: reversal by an anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody.

    PubMed

    Boillot, A; Massol, J; Maupoil, V; Grelier, R; Bernard, B; Capellier, G; Berthelot, A; Barale, F

    1997-03-01

    a) To investigate responsiveness to exogenous catecholamines in rat endotoxin shock by studying both myocardial and vascular functional parameters, and to determine the relationship of these parameters with other relevant biological parameters of the adrenergic pathway, such as myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP); b) to investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha via prophylactic anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody administration. Experimental, comparative hospital. Laboratory in a university hospital. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 280 to 340 g. Intravenous injection of Escherichia coli endotoxin (5 mg/100 g) in the first group; injection of the same dose of endotoxin preceded by 2 mg/100 g of anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody in the second group; injection of saline in the third (control) group. TNF-alpha concentration was measured before and during the first 3 hrs in all three groups. Myocardial and vascular functional parameters were obtained, respectively, from Langendorff perfused hearts and isolated aortic rings. Adrenergic biochemical parameters (catecholamines, density and affinity of beta-receptors, and isoproterenol-stimulated myocardial cAMP) were determined 3 hrs after injections in the three groups. After endotoxin injection, serum TNF-alpha concentrations peaked at 60 mins (2496 +/- 412 pg/mL) and returned slowly to control values at 3 hrs; serum TNF-alpha concentrations remained under the limit of detection in the other two groups. When compared with the control group, plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly (p < .05) increased. Baseline values for differential left ventricular pressure and coronary flow were significantly (p < .001, p < .01, respectively) reduced in the endotoxin group; heart rate remained unchanged. In the endotoxin and control groups, isoproterenol induced a similar increase in differential left ventricular pressure and in heart rate

  3. Synergistic antitumor effect of combining metronomic chemotherapy with adoptive cell immunotherapy in nude mice.

    PubMed

    Shi, Shujing; Tao, Leilei; Song, Haizhu; Chen, Longbang; Huang, Guichun

    2014-05-01

    Adoptive cell immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK cell) represents a promising non-toxic anticancer therapy. However, the clinical efficacy of CIK cells is limited because of abnormal tumor vasculature. Metronomic chemotherapy shows promising anticancer activity by its potential antiangiogenic effect and reduced toxicity. We hypothesized that metronomic chemotherapy with paclitaxel could improve the antitumor effect of adoptive CIK cell immunotherapy. Mice health status was analyzed by measuring mice weight and observing mice behavior. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the recruitment of CIK cells, the expression of endothelial cell molecules, as well as the hypoxic tumor area. Metronomic paclitaxel synergized with adoptive CIK cell immunotherapy to inhibit the growth of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Metronomic paclitaxel reduced hypoxic tumor area and increased CIK cell infiltration. Hypoxia impeded the adhesion of CIK cells and reduced the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules. In vivo studies demonstrated that more CIK cells were found in endothelial cell adhesion molecules high expressed area. Our study provides a new rationale for combining metronomic chemotherapy with adoptive cell immunotherapy in the treatment of xenograft NSCLC tumors in immunodeficient mice. Further clinical trials integrating translational research are necessary to better evaluate the clinical benefit of this promising approach. © 2014 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  4. Taurine supplementation regulates Iκ-Bα protein expression in adipose tissue and serum IL-4 and TNF-α concentrations in MSG obesity.

    PubMed

    Caetano, Luiz Carlos; Bonfleur, Maria Lúcia; Ribeiro, Rosane Aparecida; Nardelli, Tarlliza Romanna; Lubaczeuski, Camila; do Nascimento da Silva, Juliana; Carneiro, Everardo Magalhães; Balbo, Sandra Lucinei

    2017-03-01

    Obesity is usually associated with low-grade inflammation, which impairs insulin action. The amino acid, taurine (TAU), regulates glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism and presents anti-inflammatory actions. Here, we evaluated whether inflammatory markers are altered in the serum and retroperitoneal adipose tissue of monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rats, supplemented or not with TAU. Male Wistar rats received subcutaneous injections of MSG (4 mg/kg body weight/day, MSG group) or hypertonic saline (CTL) during the first 5 days of life. From 21 to 120 days of age, half of each of the MSG and CTL groups received 2.5 % TAU in their drinking water (CTAU and MTAU). At 120 days of age, MSG rats were obese and hyperinsulinemic. TAU supplementation reduced fat deposition without affecting insulinemia in MTAU rats. MSG rats presented increased pIκ-Bα/Iκ-Bα protein expression in the retroperitoneal adipose tissue. TAU supplementation decreased the ratio of pIκ-Bα/Iκ-Bα protein, possibly contributing to the increased Iκ-Bα content in MTAU adipose tissue. Furthermore, MSG obesity or supplementation did not alter TNF-α, IL-1β or IL-6 content in adipose tissue. In contrast, MSG rats presented lower serum TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations, and these alterations were prevented by TAU treatment. MSG obesity in rats was not associated with alterations in pro-inflammatory markers in retroperitoneal fat stores; however, reductions in the serum concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines and of TNF-α were observed. TAU treatment decreased adiposity, and this effect was associated with the normalization of circulating TNF-α and IL-4 concentrations in MTAU rats.

  5. Risks of serious infection or lymphoma with anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Dulai, Parambir S; Thompson, Kimberly D; Blunt, Heather B; Dubinsky, Marla C; Siegel, Corey A

    2014-09-01

    Many physicians hesitate to recommend anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy for pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because of concerns about risk of infection and cancer. We performed a systematic review to quantify the incidence of serious infection, lymphoma, and death among pediatric patients with IBD who received anti-TNF therapy. These values were compared with those expected from other treatments, from adults with IBD, and from the general pediatric population. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, and Web of Knowledge for studies of infliximab therapy for children with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, or adalimumab therapy for children with Crohn's disease. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated, comparing rates of infection and cancer among pediatric patients exposed to anti-TNF agents vs expected rates from pediatric patients not exposed to anti-TNF therapies or adult patients exposed to anti-TNF agents. Our analysis included 5528 patients with 9516 patient-years of follow-up evaluation (PYF). The rate of serious infections among pediatric patients treated with anti-TNF agents (352/10,000 PYF) was similar to that of pediatric patients who received immunomodulator monotherapy (333/10,000 PYF; SIR, 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.36), but significantly lower than the expected rate for pediatric patients treated with steroids (730/10,000 PYF; SIR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.40-0.58) or adults treated with anti-TNF agents (654/10,000 PYF; SIR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.43-0.67). Five treatment-related deaths occurred (4 from sepsis and 1 from arrhythmia). Two patients developed lymphoma (2.1/10,000 PYF). This value was similar to the expected rate of lymphoid neoplasia in the entire pediatric population (5.8/100,000 PYF; SIR, 3.5; 95% CI, 0.35-19.6), and lower than the population of pediatric patients receiving thiopurine monotherapy (4.5/10,000 PYF; SIR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.03-6.44), and among adults treated

  6. Anti-inflammatory effects of Lactobacillus brevis K65 on RAW 264.7 cells and in mice with dextran sulphate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis.

    PubMed

    Liu, Y-W; Ong, W-K; Su, Y-W; Hsu, C-C; Cheng, T-H; Tsai, Y-C

    2016-06-01

    Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with anti-inflammatory effects may be beneficial to the prevention or treatment for inflammation-related diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases. In an in vitro assay, heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis K65 (K65) reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and prostaglandin E2 in RAW 264.7 cells. In RAW 264.7 cells stably expressing an ind=ucible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) reporter, viable K65 showed greater inhibition of iNOS production than its heat-killed form. In order to further examine the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of K65, viable K65 was orally administered to BALB/c mice before and during the period of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). K65 improved UC symptoms, including reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and lowered the activity of myeloperoxidase. Furthermore, K65 inhibited TNF-α, cyclo-oxygenase 2, forkhead box P3, and Toll-like receptor 4 mRNA expression in the colonic tissue of DSS-induced UC mice. Taken together, K65, a LAB with in vitro anti-inflammatory activity showed preventive effects on mice with DSS-induced UC by lowering the expression of inflammatory molecules.

  7. Impact of anti-rheumatic treatment on immunogenicity of pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine in patients with arthritis.

    PubMed

    Kapetanovic, Meliha C; Kristensen, Lars-Erik; Saxne, Tore; Aktas, Teodora; Mörner, Andreas; Geborek, Pierre

    2014-01-02

    An adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 influenza (pH1N1) vaccine (Pandemrix) was reported as highly immunogenic resulting in seroconversion in 77 to 94% of adults after administration of a single dose. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of different anti-rheumatic treatments on antibody response to pH1N1 vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondylarthropathy (SpA). Patients with arthritis (n = 291; mean age 57 years, 64% women) participated. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay was performed on blood samples drawn before and after a mean (SD) of 8.3 (4) months following vaccination. A positive immune response i.e. seroconversion was defined as negative prevaccination serum and postvaccination HI titer ≥40 or a ≥4-fold increase in HI titer. All patients were divided into predefined groups based on diagnosis (RA or SpA) and ongoing treatment: methotrexate (MTX), anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) as monotherapy, MTX combined with anti-TNF, other biologics (abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)/analgesics. Predictors of positive immune response were studied using logistic regression analysis. The percentage of patients with positive immune response in the different treatment groups was: 1. RA on MTX 42%; 2. RA on anti-TNF monotherapy 53%; 3. RA on anti-TNF + MTX 43%; 4. RA on other biologics (abatacept 20%, rituximab 10% and tocilizumab 50%); 5. SpA on anti-TNF monotherapy 76%; 6. SpA on anti-TNF + MTX 47%; and 7. SpA on NSAIDs/analgesics 59%. RA patients on rituximab had significantly lower (P < 0.001) and SpA on anti-TNF monotherapy significantly better response rates compared to other treatment groups (P 0.001 to 0.033). Higher age (P < 0.001) predicted impaired immune response. Antibody titers 3 to 6 months after vaccination was generally lower compared to those within the first 3 months but no further decrease in titers were observed 6 to 22 months after

  8. Immunotherapy

    MedlinePlus

    ... in the laboratory, see CAR T-Cell Therapy: Engineering Patients' Immune Cells to Treat Their Cancers . Monoclonal ... NCI’s Role in Immunotherapy Research CAR T Cells: Engineering Patients’ Immune Cells to Treat Their Cancers Can ...

  9. Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF)–TNF receptor 1-inducible cytoprotective proteins in the mouse liver: relevance of suppressors of cytokine signalling

    PubMed Central

    Sass, Gabriele; Shembade, Noula D.; Tiegs, Gisa

    2004-01-01

    TNF (tumour necrosis factor α) induces tolerance towards itself in experimental liver injury. Tolerance induction has been shown to be dependent on TNFR1 (TNF receptor 1) signalling, but mechanisms and mediators of TNF-induced hepatic tolerance are unknown. We investigated the TNF-inducible gene-expression profile in livers of TNFR2−/− mice, using cDNA array technology. We found that, out of 793 investigated genes involved in inflammation, cell cycle and signal transduction, 282 were expressed in the mouse liver in response to TNF via TNFR1. Among those, expression of 78 genes was induced, while expression of 60 genes was reduced. We investigated further the cellular expression of the 27 most prominently induced genes, and found that 20 of these genes were up-regulated directly in parenchymal liver cells, representing potentially protective proteins and possible mediators of TNF tolerance. In vitro experiments revealed that overexpression of SOCS1 (silencer of cytokine signalling 1), a member of the SOCS family of proteins, as well as of HO-1 (haem oxygenase-1), but not of SOCS2 or SOCS3, protected isolated primary mouse hepatocytes from TNF-induced apoptosis. The identification of protective genes in hepatocytes is the prerequisite for future development of gene therapies for immune-mediated liver diseases. PMID:15554901

  10. Genomics of NSCLC patients both affirm PD-L1 expression and predict their clinical responses to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Brogden, Kim A; Parashar, Deepak; Hallier, Andrea R; Braun, Terry; Qian, Fang; Rizvi, Naiyer A; Bossler, Aaron D; Milhem, Mohammed M; Chan, Timothy A; Abbasi, Taher; Vali, Shireen

    2018-02-27

    Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a co-stimulatory and immune checkpoint protein. PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) is a hallmark of adaptive resistance and its expression is often used to predict the outcome of Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) and PD-L1 immunotherapy treatments. However, clinical benefits do not occur in all patients and new approaches are needed to assist in selecting patients for PD-1 or PD-L1 immunotherapies. Here, we hypothesized that patient tumor cell genomics influenced cell signaling and expression of PD-L1, chemokines, and immunosuppressive molecules and these profiles could be used to predict patient clinical responses. We used a recent dataset from NSCLC patients treated with pembrolizumab. Deleterious gene mutational profiles in patient exomes were identified and annotated into a cancer network to create NSCLC patient-specific predictive computational simulation models. Validation checks were performed on the cancer network, simulation model predictions, and PD-1 match rates between patient-specific predicted and clinical responses. Expression profiles of these 24 chemokines and immunosuppressive molecules were used to identify patients who would or would not respond to PD-1 immunotherapy. PD-L1 expression alone was not sufficient to predict which patients would or would not respond to PD-1 immunotherapy. Adding chemokine and immunosuppressive molecule expression profiles allowed patient models to achieve a greater than 85.0% predictive correlation among predicted and reported patient clinical responses. Our results suggested that chemokine and immunosuppressive molecule expression profiles can be used to accurately predict clinical responses thus differentiating among patients who would and would not benefit from PD-1 or PD-L1 immunotherapies.

  11. Cancer immunotherapy by a recombinant phage vaccine displaying EGFR mimotope: an in vivo study.

    PubMed

    Asadi-Ghalehni, Majid; Ghaemmaghami, Mohamad; Klimka, Alexander; Javanmardi, Masoud; Navari, Mohsen; Rasaee, Mohammad Javad

    2015-06-01

    To date, several small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal-antibodies (like ICR-62) have been used to treat tumors over-expressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the limitations associated with these conventional applications accentuate the necessity of alternative approaches. Mimotopes as compelling molecular tools could rationally be employed to circumvent these drawbacks. In the present study, an M13 phage displaying ICR-62 binding peptide mimotope is exploited as a vaccine candidate. It exhibited high affinity towards ICR62 and polyclonal anti-P-BSA antibodies. Following the mice immunization, phage-based mimotope vaccine induced humoral immunity. Elicited anti-EGFR mimotope antibodies were detected using ELISA method. Moreover, the phage vaccine was tested on the Lewis lung carcinoma mice model to investigate the prophylactic and therapeutic effects. The tumor volume was measured and recorded in different animal groups to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of the vaccine. Our data indicate that the reported phage-based mimotope could potentially elicit specific antibodies resulting in low titers of EGFR-specific antibodies and reduced tumor growth. However, in vivo experiments of prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination showed no specific advantage. Furthermore, phage-mimotope vaccine might be a promising approach in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

  12. Allergen specific sublingual immunotherapy in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis.

    PubMed

    Đurić-Filipović, Ivana; Caminati, Marco; Kostić, Gordana; Filipović, Đorđe; Živković, Zorica

    2016-08-01

    The incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) is significantly increased, especially in younger children. Current treatment for children with asthma and allergic rhinitis include allergen avoidance, standard pharmacotherapy, and immunotherapy. Since standard pharmacotherapy is prescribed for symptoms, immunotherapy at present plays an important role in the treatment of allergic diseases. This article presents insights into the up-to-date understanding of immunotherapy in the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis and asthma. PubMed articles published from 1990 to 2014 were reviewed using the MeSH terms "asthma", "allergic rhinitis", "children", and "immune therapy". Additional articles were identified by hand searching of the references in the initial search. Numerous studies have shown that sublingual application of allergen specific immunotherapy (SLIT) is an adequate, safe and efficient substitution to subcutaneous route of allergens administration (SCIT) in the treatment of IgE-mediated respiratory tract allergies in children. According to the literature, better clinical efficacy is connected with the duration of treatment and mono sensitized patients. At least 3 years of treatment and stable asthma before the immunotherapy are positive predictors of good clinical efficacy and tolerability of SLIT. SLIT reduces the symptoms of allergic diseases and the use of medicaments, and improves the quality of life of children with the diseases.

  13. Allergen immunotherapy: exploring areas for further inquiry.

    PubMed

    Ramsey, Tam; Lai, Wanda; Svider, Peter F; Hojjat, Houmehr; Eloy, Jean Anderson; Folbe, Adam J

    2017-12-01

    Allergy-related illness impacts millions of individuals worldwide. Our objectives were to characterize current trends of clinical trials research relating to allergen immunotherapy and to describe the landscape of allergen immunotherapy in National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported research inquiry. On ClinicalTrials.gov, the following terms were searched: allergen immunotherapy OR allergy immunotherapy. Variables, including completion status, dates, design, study population, funder, location, and allergen were recorded. The NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORTER) system was also used to gather relevant variables. A total of 372 clinical trials met inclusion criteria. The proportion of industry-funded clinical trials has declined over 15 years. There has been a slow decline in pollen allergy immunotherapy research, with an increase in both food and animal allergy immunotherapy research. Otolaryngologists comprised only 6.4% of clinical trials principal investigators (PIs). There was a total adjusted NIH funding of $74,986,125 for the 118 total funding years. Despite an immense interest in allergen immunotherapy, this analysis demonstrates that otolaryngologists represented a small proportion of PIs leading associated clinical trials and basic science inquiry. The proportion of trials with industry sponsorship has declined considerably in recent decades. These trends could help direct future resource allocation for allergen immunotherapy. © 2017 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

  14. Potentiality of immunotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Tsuchiya, Nobuhiro; Sawada, Yu; Endo, Itaru; Uemura, Yasushi; Nakatsura, Tetsuya

    2015-01-01

    Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of primary liver cancer, is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Despite the high incidence, treatment options remain limited for advanced HCC, and as a result prognosis continues to be poor. Current therapeutic options, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have only modest efficacy. New treatment modalities to prolong survival and to minimize the risk of adverse response are desperately needed for patients with advanced HCC. Tumor immunotherapy is a promising, novel treatment strategy that may lead to improvements in both treatment-associated toxicity and outcome. The strategies have developed in part through genomic studies that have yielded candidate target molecules and in part through basic biology studies that have defined the pathways and cell types regulating immune response. Here, we summarize the various types of HCC immunotherapy and argue that the newfound field of HCC immunotherapy might provide critical advantages in the effort to improve prognosis of patients with advanced HCC. Already several immunotherapies, such as tumor-associated antigen therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors and cell transfer immunotherapy, have demonstrated safety and feasibility in HCC patients. Unfortunately, immunotherapy currently has low efficacy in advanced stage HCC patients; overcoming this challenge will place immunotherapy at the forefront of HCC treatment, possibly in the near future. PMID:26420958

  15. Potentiality of immunotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Tsuchiya, Nobuhiro; Sawada, Yu; Endo, Itaru; Uemura, Yasushi; Nakatsura, Tetsuya

    2015-09-28

    Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of primary liver cancer, is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Despite the high incidence, treatment options remain limited for advanced HCC, and as a result prognosis continues to be poor. Current therapeutic options, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have only modest efficacy. New treatment modalities to prolong survival and to minimize the risk of adverse response are desperately needed for patients with advanced HCC. Tumor immunotherapy is a promising, novel treatment strategy that may lead to improvements in both treatment-associated toxicity and outcome. The strategies have developed in part through genomic studies that have yielded candidate target molecules and in part through basic biology studies that have defined the pathways and cell types regulating immune response. Here, we summarize the various types of HCC immunotherapy and argue that the new-found field of HCC immunotherapy might provide critical advantages in the effort to improve prognosis of patients with advanced HCC. Already several immunotherapies, such as tumor-associated antigen therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors and cell transfer immunotherapy, have demonstrated safety and feasibility in HCC patients. Unfortunately, immunotherapy currently has low efficacy in advanced stage HCC patients; overcoming this challenge will place immunotherapy at the forefront of HCC treatment, possibly in the near future.

  16. Antioxidant Peptides Identified from Ovotransferrin by the ORAC Method Did Not Show Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities in Endothelial Cells.

    PubMed

    Jahandideh, Forough; Chakrabarti, Subhadeep; Davidge, Sandra T; Wu, Jianping

    2016-01-13

    Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) is a widely used method of measuring antioxidant capacities of various antioxidant components. Surprisingly, 16 antioxidant peptides previously identified from egg protein ovotransferrin using the ORAC method did not show any anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in cells. After simulated gastro-intestinal digestion (GID), several peptide digests significantly reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced pro-inflammatory intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by 65.7 ± 10.4% and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by 53.5 ± 9.6% to 61.0 ± 14.5%, but only GWNI reduced TNF-α-activated superoxide generation by 71.0 ± 12.9% when tested with dihydroethidium (DHE) assay. Mass spectrometer analysis identified two new peptides, GWN and GW, in the GWNI digest; however, only GW reduced TNF-α-induced VCAM-1 expression (64.3 ± 20.6%) significantly compared to the TNF-α treated cells. Our study suggested that ORAC lacked biological relevance in assessing bioactive peptides.

  17. Recent advances and future challenges in cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Okuyama, Namiko; Tamada, Koji; Tamura, Hideto

    2016-01-01

    Remarkable advances have been made in cancer immunotherapy. Recent treatment strategies, especially chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, reportedly achieve higher objective responses and better survival rates than previous immunotherapies for patients with treatment-resistant malignancies, creating a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. Several clinical trials of cancer immunotherapy for patients with various malignancies are ongoing. However, those with certain malignancies, such as low-immunogenic cancers, cannot be successfully treated with T-cell immunotherapy, and subsets of immunotherapy-treated patients relapse, meaning that more effective immunotherapeutic strategies are needed for such patients. Furthermore, the safety, convenience, and cost of cancer immunotherapy need to be improved in the near future. Herein, we discuss recent advances and future challenges in cancer immunotherapy, i.e., the identification of neoantigens for the development of individualized immunotherapies, the development of new CAR-T cell therapies, including so-called armored CAR-T cells that can induce greater clinical effects and thereby achieve longer survival, the development of off-the-shelf treatment regimens using non-self cells or cell lines, and effective cancer immunotherapy combinations.

  18. Alterations in ubiquitin ligase Siah-2 and its corepressor N-CoR after P-MAPA immunotherapy and anti-androgen therapy: new therapeutic opportunities for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

    PubMed

    Garcia, Patrick Vianna; Apolinário, Letícia Montanholi; Böckelmann, Petra Karla; da Silva Nunes, Iseu; Duran, Nelson; Fávaro, Wagner José

    2015-01-01

    The present study describes the role of the ubiquitin ligase Siah-2 and corepressor N-CoR in controlling androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) signaling in an appropriate animal model (Fischer 344 female rats) of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), especially under conditions of anti-androgen therapy with flutamide. Furthermore, this study describes the mechanisms of a promising therapeutic alternative for NMIBC based on Protein aggregate magnesium-ammonium phospholinoleate-palmitoleate anhydride (P-MAPA) intravesical immunotherapy combined with flutamide, involving the interaction among steroid hormone receptors, their regulators and Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Our results demonstrated that increased Siah-2 and AR protein levels and decreased N-CoR, cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and estrogen receptors levels played a critical role in the urothelial carcinogenesis, probably leading to escape of urothelial cancer cells from immune system attack. P-MAPA immunotherapy led to distinct activation of innate immune system TLRs 2 and 4-mediated, resulting in increase of interferon signaling pathway, which was more effective in recovering the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment and in recovering the bladder histology features than BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) treatments. The AR blockade therapy was important in the modulating of downstream molecules of TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathway, decreasing the inflammatory cytokines signaling and enhancing the interferon signaling pathway when associated with P-MAPA. Taken together, the data obtained suggest that interferon signaling pathway activation and targeting AR and Siah-2 signals by P-MAPA intravesical immunotherapy alone and/ or in combination with AR blockade may provide novel therapeutic approaches for NMIBC.

  19. Gentiolactone, a Secoiridoid Dilactone from Gentiana triflora, Inhibits TNF-α, iNOS and Cox-2 mRNA Expression and Blocks NF-κB Promoter Activity in Murine Macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Yamada, Hidetoshi; Kikuchi, Sayaka; Inui, Tomoki; Takahashi, Hideyuki; Kimura, Ken-ichi

    2014-01-01

    Background Gentian roots have been used as a herbal medicine because of their anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory effects remain to be completely explained. Methods and Findings Here, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of gentian roots and showed that root extracts from Gentiana triflora inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells. The extracts also contained swertiamarin and gentiopicroside, which are the major active compounds of gentian roots; however, neither compound had any effect on LPS-induced TNF-α production in our test system. We isolated gentiolactone as an inhibitor of TNF-α production from the extracts. Gentiolactone also inhibited LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression at the mRNA level. Moreover, gentiolactone suppressed NF-κB transcriptional activity without inhibition of IκB degradation or NF-κB nuclear transport. Conclusions Our results indicate that inhibition of TNF-α, iNOS and Cox-2 expression by gentiolactone is one of the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory properties of gentian roots. PMID:25423092

  20. TNF-induced target cell killing by CTL activated through cross-presentation.

    PubMed

    Wohlleber, Dirk; Kashkar, Hamid; Gärtner, Katja; Frings, Marianne K; Odenthal, Margarete; Hegenbarth, Silke; Börner, Carolin; Arnold, Bernd; Hämmerling, Günter; Nieswandt, Bernd; van Rooijen, Nico; Limmer, Andreas; Cederbrant, Karin; Heikenwalder, Mathias; Pasparakis, Manolis; Protzer, Ulrike; Dienes, Hans-Peter; Kurts, Christian; Krönke, Martin; Knolle, Percy A

    2012-09-27

    Viruses can escape cytotoxic T cell (CTL) immunity by avoiding presentation of viral components via endogenous MHC class I antigen presentation in infected cells. Cross-priming of viral antigens circumvents such immune escape by allowing noninfected dendritic cells to activate virus-specific CTLs, but they remain ineffective against infected cells in which immune escape is functional. Here, we show that cross-presentation of antigen released from adenovirus-infected hepatocytes by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells stimulated cross-primed effector CTLs to release tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which killed virus-infected hepatocytes through caspase activation. TNF receptor signaling specifically eliminated infected hepatocytes that showed impaired anti-apoptotic defense. Thus, CTL immune surveillance against infection relies on two similarly important but distinct effector functions that are both MHC restricted, requiring either direct antigen recognition on target cells and canonical CTL effector function or cross-presentation and a noncanonical effector function mediated by TNF. Copyright © 2012 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Antiangiogenic agents can increase lymphocyte infiltration into tumor and enhance the effectiveness of adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.

    PubMed

    Shrimali, Rajeev K; Yu, Zhiya; Theoret, Marc R; Chinnasamy, Dhanalakshmi; Restifo, Nicholas P; Rosenberg, Steven A

    2010-08-01

    Adoptive cell transfer (ACT)-based immunotherapies can mediate objective cancer regression in animal models and in up to 70% of patients with metastatic melanoma; however, it remains unclear whether the tumor vasculature impedes the egress of tumor-specific T cells, thus hindering this immunotherapy. Disruption of the proangiogenic interaction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with its receptor (VEGFR-2) has been reported to "normalize" tumor vasculature, enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents by increasing their delivery to the tumor intersitium. We thus sought to determine whether disrupting VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling could enhance the effectiveness of ACT in a murine cancer model. The administration of an antibody against mouse VEGF synergized with ACT to enhance inhibition of established, vascularized, B16 melanoma (P = 0.009) and improve survival (P = 0.003). Additive effects of an antibody against VEGFR-2 in conjunction with ACT were seen in this model (P = 0.013). Anti-VEGF, but not anti-VEGFR-2, antibody significantly increased infiltration of transferred cells into the tumor. Thus, normalization of tumor vasculature through disruption of the VEGF/VEGFR-2 axis can increase extravasation of adoptively transferred T cells into the tumor and improve ACT-based immunotherapy. These studies provide a rationale for the exploration of combining antiangiogenic agents with ACT for the treatment of patients with cancer.

  2. Infection reduces anti-predator behaviors in house finches.

    PubMed

    Adelman, James S; Mayer, Corinne; Hawley, Dana M

    2017-04-01

    Infectious diseases can cause host mortality through direct or indirect mechanisms, including altered behavior. Diminished anti-predator behavior is among the most-studied causes of indirect mortality during infection, particularly for systems in which a parasite's life-cycle requires transmission from prey to predator. Significantly less work has examined whether directly-transmitted parasites and pathogens also reduce anti-predator behaviors. Here we test whether the directly-transmitted bacterial pathogen, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), reduces responses to predation-related stimuli in house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ). MG causes conjunctivitis and reduces survival among free-living finches, but rarely causes mortality in captivity, suggesting a role for indirect mechanisms. Wild-caught finches were individually housed in captivity and exposed to the following treatments: 1) visual presence of a stuffed, mounted predator (a Cooper's Hawk ( Accipiter cooperii )) or control object (a vase or a stuffed, mounted mallard duck ( Anas platyrhynchos )), 2) vocalizations of the same predator and non-predator, 3) approach of a researcher to enclosures, and 4) simulated predator attack (capture by hand). MG infection reduced anti-predator responses during visual exposure to a mounted predator and simulated predator attack, even for birds without detectable visual obstruction from conjunctivitis. However, MG infection did not significantly alter responses during human approach or audio playback. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that predation plays a role in MG-induced mortality in the wild, with reduced locomotion, a common form of sickness behavior for many taxa, as a likely mechanism. Our results therefore suggest that additional research on the role of sickness behaviors in predation could prove illuminating.

  3. Compassionate access anti-tumour necrosis factor-α therapy for ulcerative colitis in Australia: the benefits to patients.

    PubMed

    Costello, S P; Ghaly, S; Beswick, L; Pudipeddi, A; Agarwal, A; Sechi, A; O'Connor, S; Connor, S J; Sparrow, M P; Bampton, P; Walsh, A J; Andrews, J M

    2015-06-01

    The efficacy of infliximab has been demonstrated in patients with both acute severe and moderate-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). However, there is a need for 'real-life data' to ensure that conclusions from trial settings are applicable in usual care. We therefore examined the national experience of anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) therapy in UC. Case notes review of patients with UC who had received compassionate access (CA) anti-TNF-α therapy from prospectively maintained inflammatory bowel disease databases of six Australian adult teaching hospitals. Patients either received drug for acute severe UC (ASUC) failing steroids (n = 29) or for medically refractory UC (MRUC) (n = 35). In ASUC, the treating physicians judged that anti-TNF-α therapy was successful in 20/29 patients (69%); in these cases, anti-TNF-α was able to be discontinued (after 1-3 infusions in 19/20 responders) as clinical remission was achieved. Consistent with this perceived benefit, only 7/29 (24%) subsequently underwent colectomy during a median follow up of 12 months (interquartile range (IQR) 5-16). Eight of the 35 patients with MRUC (23%) required colectomy during a median follow up of 28 months (IQR 11-43). The majority of these patients (20/35 or 57%) had anti-TNF-α therapy for ≥4 months, whereas, 27/29 (93%) of ASUC patients had CA for ≤3 months. These data show an excellent overall benefit for anti-TNF-α therapy in both ASUC and MRUC. In particular, only short-duration anti-TNF-α was required in ASUC. These real-life data thus support the clinical trial data and should lead to broader use of this therapy in UC. © 2015 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

  4. Cellular immunotherapy for malignant gliomas.

    PubMed

    Lin, Yi; Okada, Hideho

    2016-10-01

    Cancer immunotherapy has made much progress in recent years. Clinical trials evaluating a variety of immunotherapeutic approaches are underway in patients with malignant gliomas. Thanks to recent advancements in cell engineering technologies, infusion of ex vivo prepared immune cells have emerged as promising strategies of cancer immunotherapy. Herein, the authors review recent and current studies using cellular immunotherapies for malignant gliomas. Specifically, they cover the following areas: a) cellular vaccine approaches using tumor cell-based or dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines, and b) adoptive cell transfer (ACT) approaches, including lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, γδ T cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells and T-cell receptor (TCR) transduced T cells. While some of the recent studies have shown promising results, the ultimate success of cellular immunotherapy in brain tumor patients would require improvements in the following areas: 1) feasibility in producing cellular therapeutics; 2) identification and characterization of targetable antigens given the paucity and heterogeneity of tumor specific antigens; 3) the development of strategies to promote effector T-cell trafficking; 4) overcoming local and systemic immune suppression, and 5) proper interpretation of imaging data for brain tumor patients receiving immunotherapy.

  5. Inhibitory effects of clotrimazole on TNF-alpha-induced adhesion molecule expression and angiogenesis.

    PubMed

    Thapa, Dinesh; Lee, Jong Suk; Park, Min-A; Cho, Mi-Yeon; Park, Young-Joon; Choi, Han Gon; Jeong, Tae Cheon; Kim, Jung-Ae

    2009-04-01

    Cell adhesion molecules play a pivotal role in chronic inflammation and pathological angiogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of clotrimazole (CLT) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced changes in adhesion molecule expression. CLT dose-dependently inhibited monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressions in TNF-alpha-stimulated HT29 colonic epithelial cells. This inhibitory action of CLT correlated with a significant reduction in TNF-alpha-induced adhesion of monocytes to HT29 cells, which was comparable to the inhibitory effects of anti-ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 monoclonal antibodies on monocyte-epithelial adhesion. These inhibitory actions of CLT were, at least in part, attributable to the inhibition of redox sensitive NF-kappaB activation, as CLT inhibited TNF-alpha-induced ROS generation as well as NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and activation in HT29 cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion was also mimicked by the specific NF-kappaB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). Inflammatory mediators including TNF-alpha have known to promote angiogenesis, which in turn further contributes to inflammatory pathology. Therefore, we additionally evaluated whether CLT modulates TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis using in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The CAM assay showed that CLT dose-dependently attenuated TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis, and the effect was correlated with decreased inflammation of the CAM tissue. In conclusion, our results suggest that CLT can inhibit TNF-alpha-triggered expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and angiogenesis during inflammation.

  6. Retrospective cohort study of anti-tumor necrosis factor agent use in a veteran population

    PubMed Central

    Madkour, Nermeen; Kazerooni, Rashid

    2014-01-01

    Introduction. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents are effective for several immunologic conditions (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn’s disease (CD), and psoriasis). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents via chart review. Methods. Single-site, retrospective cohort study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents in veterans initiated between 2010 and 2011. Primary aim evaluated response at 12 months post-index date. Secondary aims evaluated initial response prior to 12 months post-index date and infection events. Results. A majority of patients were prescribed anti-TNF agents for CD (27%) and RA (24%). Patients were initiated on etanercept (41%), adalimumab (40%), and infliximab (18%) between 2010 and 2011. No differences in patient demographics were reported. Response rates were high overall. Sixty-five percent of etanercept patients, 82% of adalimumab patients, and 59% of infliximab patients were either partial or full responders, respectively. Approximately 16%, 11%, and 12% of etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab were non-responders, respectively. Infections between the groups were non-significant. Etanercept and adalimumab patients had higher but non-significant odds of being a responder relative to infliximab. Conclusions. Most patients initiated with anti-TNF agent were responders at 12 months follow-up for all indications in a veteran population. PMID:24883246

  7. Magnolol attenuates VCAM-1 expression in vitro in TNF-α-treated human aortic endothelial cells and in vivo in the aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Yung-Hsiang; Lin, Shing-Jong; Chen, Jaw-Wen; Ku, Hung-Hai; Chen, Yuh-Lien

    2002-01-01

    In a previous study, we showed that magnolol, a potent antioxidant derived from a Chinese herb, attenuates monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) expression and intimal hyperplasia in the balloon-injured aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Expression of cell adhesion molecules by the arterial endothelium and the attachment of leukocytes to the endothelium may play a major role in atherosclerosis. In the present study, the effects of magnolol on the expression of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecules and the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-treated human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were investigated.Pretreatment of HAECs with magnolol (5 μM) significantly suppressed the TNF-α-induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) (64.8±1.9%), but had no effect on the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial cell selectin.Magnolol (5 and 10 μM) significantly reduced the binding of the human monocytic cell line, U937, to TNF-α-stimulated HAECs (58.4 and 56.4% inhibition, respectively). Gel shift assays using the 32P-labelled NF-κB consensus sequence as probe showed that magnolol pretreatment reduced the density of the shifted bands seen after TNF-α-induced activation. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence staining of nuclear extracts demonstrated a 58% reduction in the amount of NF-κB p65 in the nuclei in magnolol-treated HAECs. Magnolol also attenuated intracellular H2O2 generation in both control and TNF-α treated HAECs.Furthermore, in vivo, magnolol attenuates the intimal thickening and TNF-α and VCAM-1 protein expression seen in the thoracic aortas of cholesterol-fed rabbits.Taken together, these data demonstrate that magnolol inhibits TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and thereby suppresses expression of VCAM-1, resulting in reduced adhesion of leukocytes. These results suggest that magnolol has anti-inflammatory properties and may

  8. Conference Scene: novelties in immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Mitsias, Dimitris I; Kalogiros, Lampros A; Papadopoulos, Nikolaos G

    2013-10-01

    The only method aiming to permanently cure allergic disorders is allergen immunotherapy. Over the last 20 years there has been great progress in understanding the mechanisms that govern allergen immunotherapy in order to meet three basic prerequisites: safety, effectiveness and compliance. In the present summary report from the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology-World Allergy Organization Congress held last June in Milan, we review key points concerning the main axes as diagnosis, novel modalities, routes and protocols, as well as two important immunotherapy fields: food and insect venom allergy.

  9. Anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects of flavonoids isolated from Lycium barbarum Linnaeus on human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

    PubMed

    Wu, Wen-Bin; Hung, Dian-Kun; Chang, Fung-Wei; Ong, Eng-Thaim; Chen, Bing-Huei

    2012-10-01

    Anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects of flavonoids isolated from Lycium barbarum fruits, a traditional Chinese medicine, on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated. Initially, flavonoids were extracted with 80% ethanol and separated using a Cosmosil 140 C18-OPN column, with the acidic fraction eluted with deionized water being composed of chlorogenic acid, caffeoyl quinic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid and the neutral fraction eluted with methanol composed of quercetin-diglycoside, rutin and kaempferol-O-rutinoside. Flavonoid extract was effective in inhibiting expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) induced by TNF-α in HUVECs. The RT-PCR analysis indicated that ICAM-1 mRNA induced by TNF-α was inhibited by flavonoid extract. The flavonoid extract attenuated TNF-α-induced IκB phosphorylation as well as NF-κB, p65 and p50 translocation from cytosol to nucleus, through inhibition on TNF-α- and H(2)O(2)-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. For the anti-angiogenic study, the flavonoid extract inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced cell proliferation and migration in HUVECs, as well as angiogenesis. However, the flavonoid extract did not inhibit VEGF signaling. Surprisingly, HUVECs adhesion to the extracellular matrix was compromised and adhesion-induced signaling was retarded by the flavonoid extract.

  10. Orthosiphon stamineus Leaf Extract Affects TNF-α and Seizures in a Zebrafish Model

    PubMed Central

    Choo, Brandon Kar Meng; Kundap, Uday P.; Kumari, Yatinesh; Hue, Seow-Mun; Othman, Iekhsan; Shaikh, Mohd Farooq

    2018-01-01

    Epileptic seizures result from abnormal brain activity and can affect motor, autonomic and sensory function; as well as, memory, cognition, behavior, or emotional state. Effective anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are available but have tolerability issues due to their side effects. The Malaysian herb Orthosiphon stamineus, is a traditional epilepsy remedy and possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities, all of which are known to protect against seizures. This experiment thus aimed to explore if an ethanolic leaf extract of O. stamineus has the potential to be a novel symptomatic treatment for epileptic seizures in a zebrafish model; and the effects of the extract on the expression levels of several genes in the zebrafish brain which are associated with seizures. The results of this study indicate that O. stamineus has the potential to be a novel symptomatic treatment for epileptic seizures as it is pharmacologically active against seizures in a zebrafish model. The anti-convulsive effect of this extract is also comparable to that of diazepam at higher doses and can surpass diazepam in certain cases. Treatment with the extract also counteracts the upregulation of NF-κB, NPY and TNF-α as a result of a Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) treated seizure. The anti-convulsive action for this extract could be at least partially due to its downregulation of TNF-α. Future work could include the discovery of the active anti-convulsive compound, as well as determine if the extract does not cause cognitive impairment in zebrafish. PMID:29527169

  11. Issues in stinging insect allergy immunotherapy: a review.

    PubMed

    Finegold, Ira

    2008-08-01

    The treatment of insect allergy by desensitization still continues to present with some unanswered questions. This review will focus mainly on articles that have dealt with these issues in the past 2 years. With the publication in 2007 of Allergen Immunotherapy: a practice parameter second update, many of the key issues were reviewed and summarized. Other recent studies deal with omalizumab pretreatment of patients with systemic mastocytosis and very severe allergic reactions to immunotherapy. It would appear that venom immunotherapy is somewhat unique compared to inhalant allergen immunotherapy in that premedication prior to rush protocols may not be necessary and that intervals of therapy may be longer than with allergen immunotherapy. The use of concomitant medications such as beta-blockers may be indicated in special situations. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can be stopped temporarily before venom injections to prevent reactions. The issue of when to discontinue immunotherapy remains unsettled and should be individualized to patient requirements. The newest revision of the Immunotherapy Parameters provides much needed information concerning successful treatment with immunotherapy of Hymenoptera-sensitive patients.

  12. Comparative effectiveness of switching to alternative tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists versus switching to rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who failed previous TNF antagonists: the MIRAR Study.

    PubMed

    Gomez-Reino, Juan J; Maneiro, Jose Ramon; Ruiz, Jorge; Roselló, Rosa; Sanmarti, Raimon; Romero, Ana Belen

    2012-11-01

    To compare the effectiveness of switching to rituximab (RTX) with switching to alternative tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) failing on TNF antagonists. A multicentre prospective 3-year observational study was performed in patients with RA treated with RTX or an alternative TNF antagonist. The baseline 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score were compared with 6, 9 and 12 month values, adjusting for propensity score quintiles. Propensity scores were estimated for each patient using logistic regression with treatment as the dependent variable and baseline prior number of TNFs >1, years from diagnosis >5, extra-articular manifestations, previous toxicity, use of ≥2 disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, age and sex as independent variables. 1124 patients were treated with either RTX (n=591, 52.6%) or alternative TNF antagonists (n=533, 47.4%). RTX-treated patients had longer disease duration (p=0.0001), larger numbers of previous TNF antagonists (p<0.0001) and tender and swollen joints (p<0.0001). There was no significant difference in the reduction in DAS28 at 6, 9 and 12 months between RTX-treated patients and those treated with TNF antagonists. However, the reduction in DAS28 was significantly different between RTX-treated patients and adalimumab/infliximab-treated patients (p=0.001 and p=0.05, respectively). There was a marginally significant difference at any time period in the proportion of patients achieving an improvement in the HAQ score of >0.22 (p=0.06). Optimal treatment for patients with RA failing on treatment with TNF antagonists may include RTX. This study suggests that the improvement in DAS28 is larger in patients treated with RTX than in those treated with monoclonal anti-TNF agents.

  13. Towards the development of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) sensitizers: making TNF work against cancer.

    PubMed

    Mocellin, Simone; Pilati, Pierluigi; Nitti, Donato

    2007-01-01

    Although TNF antitumor activity has been demonstrated in many preclinical models and in non-comparative clinical trials, no evidence exists that TNF-based treatments increase patient survival. Moreover, due to systemic toxicity, TNF can only be administered through sophisticated locoregional drug-delivery systems in patients with some types of organ-confined solid tumors; as a corollary, the impossibility to administer TNF through the systemic route does not allow to test the effectiveness of this cytokine in other clinical settings for the treatment of a broader spectrum of tumor types. A challenge many researchers are tackling is to dissect the cascade of molecular events underlying tumor sensitivity to TNF so to fully explore the anticancer potential of this molecule. The rationale for the development of strategies aimed at sensitizing malignant cells to TNF is to exploit tumor-specific molecular derangements to modulate TNF biological activities and ultimately maximize its tumor-selective cytotoxicity. This would not only enhance the anticancer activity of current TNF-based locoregional regimens, but would also open the avenue to the systemic administration of this cytokine and thus to a much wider clinical experimentation of TNF in the oncology field. In this review we first summarize the molecular biology of TNF and its cancer-related properties; then, the available findings regarding some among the most promising and best characterized TNF sensitizers are overviewed.

  14. HPV-18 confers resistance to TNF-{alpha} in organotypic cultures of human keratinocytes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Boccardo, Enrique; Noya, Francisco; Broker, Thomas R.

    2004-10-25

    The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-{alpha}) inhibits normal keratinocytes proliferation. However, many human papillomavirus (HPV)-immortalized or transformed cell lines are resistant to TNF-{alpha} antiproliferative effect. The present study analyzes the effects of TNF-{alpha} on organotypic cultures of primary human keratinocytes (PHKs) that express HPV-18 oncogenes. Raft cultures prepared with PHKs acutely transfected with HPV-18 whole genome or infected with recombinant retroviruses containing only E6/E7 or E7 were treated with 2 nM TNF-{alpha}. While BrdU incorporation into basal/parabasal cells of normal PHKs cultures was markedly inhibited by TNF-{alpha} cultures transfected with HPV-18 whole genome showed proliferation in all cell strata.more » Furthermore, BrdU incorporation into cultures expressing E6/E7 or E7 was not significantly reduced, indicating that E7 alone confers partial resistance to TNF-{alpha}. Besides, TNF-{alpha} treatment did not alter p16{sup ink4a}, p21{sup cip1}, p27{sup kip1}, or cyclin E levels, but did reduce cyclin A and PCNA levels in sensitive cells.« less

  15. Drug survival of the first course of anti-TNF agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative spondyloarthritis: analysis from the MonitorNet database.

    PubMed

    Scirè, Carlo A; Caporali, Roberto; Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo; Frediani, Bruno; Di Franco, Manuela; Tincani, Angela; Sinigaglia, Luigi; Sfriso, Paolo; Tirri, Rosella; Bellis, Emanuela; Delsante, Giovanni; Porru, Giovanni; Salaffi, Fausto; Giuggioli, Dilia; Rossini, Maurizio; Todoerti, Monica; Bazzichi, Laura; Govoni, Marcello; Gerli, Roberto; Raschetti, Roberto; Minisola, Giovanni; Montecucco, Carlomaurizio; Todesco, Silvano

    2013-01-01

    To compare drug survival of different anti-TNF drugs (infliximab, INF, etanercept, ETA, and adalimumab, ADA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) by analysing data collected from an Italian multicenter observational cohort study. All patients with RA or SpA registered in the MonitorNet database who started their first course of anti-TNF therapy were included. Overall drug survival was measured, along with specific reasons of discontinuation (inefficacy or adverse events). A first set of analyses using RA as reference category assessed the relationship between diagnosis and drug survival. A second set of analyses stratified by diagnosis (RA and SpA) used INF as reference drug. Adjustment for confounders was performed. The results are presented as adjusted hazard ratios (adjHR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). 2640 RA patients and 1220 SpA patients with a median follow-up of 17 months (IQR 7.2-33.4) were included in the analyses. Patients with a diagnosis of SpA showed a lower risk of drug discontinuation with an adjHR (95%CI) of 0.81 (0.73, 0.90). In SpA, the subset of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) showed the best survival on treatment. In RA, both ETA and ADA showed a significantly lower probability of withdrawal when compared to INF [adjHR (95%CI) 0.46 (0.38, 0.56) and 0.68 (0.57, 0.81), respectively]. Similar results were found in SpA. Drug survival for SpA is longer than that in RA mainly due to the AS subgroup. In both RA and SpA, ETA and ADA showed a better retention on treatment when compared to INF.

  16. 6-Thioguanine-loaded polymeric micelles deplete myeloid-derived suppressor cells and enhance the efficacy of T cell immunotherapy in tumor-bearing mice

    DOE PAGES

    Jeanbart, Laura; Kourtis, Iraklis C.; van der Vlies, André J.; ...

    2015-05-16

    Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that suppress effector T cell responses and can reduce the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. We previously showed that ultra-small polymer nanoparticles efficiently drain to the lymphatics after intradermal injection and target antigen-presenting cells, including Ly6c hi Ly6g ₋monocytic MDSCs (Mo-MDSCs), in skin-draining lymph nodes (LNs) and spleen. Here, we developed ultra-small polymer micelles loaded with 6-thioguanine (MC-TG), a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of myelogenous leukemia, with the aim of killing Mo-MDSCs in tumor-bearing mice and thus enhancing T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. We found that 2 daysmore » post-injection in tumor-bearing mice (B16-F10 melanoma or E.G7-OVA thymoma), MC-TG depleted Mo-MDSCs in the spleen, Ly6c lo Ly6g + granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) in the draining LNs, and Gr1 int Mo-MDSCs in the tumor. In both tumor models, MC-TG decreased the numbers of circulating Mo- and G-MDSCs, as well as of Ly6c hi macrophages, for up to 7 days following a single administration. MDSC depletion was dose dependent and more effective with MC-TG than with equal doses of free TG. Finally, we tested whether this MDSC-depleting strategy might enhance cancer immunotherapies in the B16-F10 melanoma model. We found that MC-TG significantly improved the efficacy of adoptively transferred, OVA-specific CD8 + T cells in melanoma cells expressing OVA. Ultimately, these findings highlight the capacity of MC-TG in depleting MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment and show promise in promoting anti-tumor immunity when used in combination with T cell immunotherapies.« less

  17. 6-Thioguanine-loaded polymeric micelles deplete myeloid-derived suppressor cells and enhance the efficacy of T cell immunotherapy in tumor-bearing mice

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jeanbart, Laura; Kourtis, Iraklis C.; van der Vlies, André J.

    Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that suppress effector T cell responses and can reduce the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. We previously showed that ultra-small polymer nanoparticles efficiently drain to the lymphatics after intradermal injection and target antigen-presenting cells, including Ly6c hi Ly6g ₋monocytic MDSCs (Mo-MDSCs), in skin-draining lymph nodes (LNs) and spleen. Here, we developed ultra-small polymer micelles loaded with 6-thioguanine (MC-TG), a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of myelogenous leukemia, with the aim of killing Mo-MDSCs in tumor-bearing mice and thus enhancing T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. We found that 2 daysmore » post-injection in tumor-bearing mice (B16-F10 melanoma or E.G7-OVA thymoma), MC-TG depleted Mo-MDSCs in the spleen, Ly6c lo Ly6g + granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) in the draining LNs, and Gr1 int Mo-MDSCs in the tumor. In both tumor models, MC-TG decreased the numbers of circulating Mo- and G-MDSCs, as well as of Ly6c hi macrophages, for up to 7 days following a single administration. MDSC depletion was dose dependent and more effective with MC-TG than with equal doses of free TG. Finally, we tested whether this MDSC-depleting strategy might enhance cancer immunotherapies in the B16-F10 melanoma model. We found that MC-TG significantly improved the efficacy of adoptively transferred, OVA-specific CD8 + T cells in melanoma cells expressing OVA. Ultimately, these findings highlight the capacity of MC-TG in depleting MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment and show promise in promoting anti-tumor immunity when used in combination with T cell immunotherapies.« less

  18. Dual Effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the acute lung inflammation induced by intestinal ischemia and reperfusion: Action on anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

    PubMed

    de Lima, F Mafra; Villaverde, A B; Albertini, R; Corrêa, J C; Carvalho, R L P; Munin, E; Araújo, T; Silva, J A; Aimbire, F

    2011-07-01

    It is unknown if pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in acute lung inflammation induced by intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (i-I/R) can be modulated by low-level laser therapy (LLLT). A controlled ex vivo study was developed in which rats were irradiated (660 nm, 30 mW, 0.08 cm² of spot size) on the skin over the right upper bronchus 1 hour post-mesenteric artery occlusion and euthanized 4 hours later. For pretreatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or IL-10 antibodies, the rats received either one of the agents 15 minutes before the beginning of reperfusion. Lung edema was measured by the Evans blue extravasation and pulmonary neutrophils influx was determined by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Both TNF and IL-10 expression and protein in lung were evaluated by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. LLLT reduced the edema (80.1 ± 41.8 µg g⁻¹  dry weight), neutrophils influx (0.83 ± 0.02 × 10⁶  cells ml⁻¹), MPO activity (2.91 ± 0.60), and TNF (153.0 ± 21.0 pg mg⁻¹  tissue) in lung when compared with respective control groups. Surprisingly, the LLLT increased the IL-10 (0.65 ± 0.13) in lung from animals subjected to i-I/R. Moreover, LLLT (0.32 ± 0.07 pg ml⁻¹) reduced the TNF-α level in RPAECs when compared with i-I/R group. The presence of anti-TNF or IL-10 antibodies did not alter the LLLT effect on IL-10 (465.1 ± 21.0 pg mg⁻¹  tissue) or TNF (223.5 ± 21.0 pg mg⁻¹ tissue) in lung from animals submitted to i-I/R. The results indicate that the LLLT attenuates the i-I/R-induced acute lung inflammation which favor the IL-10 production and reduce TNF generation. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  19. Systemic blockade of TNF-α does not improve insulin resistance in humans.

    PubMed

    Ferraz-Amaro, I; Arce-Franco, M; Muñiz, J; López-Fernández, J; Hernández-Hernández, V; Franco, A; Quevedo, J; Martínez-Martín, J; Díaz-González, F

    2011-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term modulation of inflammatory activity by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors has some influence on insulin resistance (IR). 16 active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without CV risk factors treated with anti-TNF-α agents were included in this study. RA activity by disease activity score 28, IR by HOMA2-IR, body composition by impedance analysis, physical activity by accelerometry, abdominal fat distribution by magnetic resonance imaging, and serum level of key adipokines by ELISA were measured at baseline and during a 1-year follow-up period. Patient body mass index increased significantly (26.94 ± 3.88 vs. 28.06 ± 4.57 kg/m2, p=0.02) after 1 year of treatment. Body composition, in terms of fat and fat-free mass, remained unchanged except for a significant elevation in body cell mass (25.50 ± 4.60 vs. 26.60 ± 3.17 kg, p=0.02). Basal levels of IR in the RA patients included in this study were significantly higher than healthy controls (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 1.11 ± 0.56, p=0.011) but did not change during the follow-up. Nor did basal concentrations of adiponectin, visfatin, leptin, ghrelin, resistin, and apelin in response to anti-TNF-α treatment; only retinol-binding protein 4, showed a significant increase (51.7 ± 32.7 vs. 64.9 ± 28.4 μg/ml, p=0.03) at the end of the study. IR, adiposity distribution, and serum levels of most adipokines are not significantly affected by long-term inhibition of TNF-α in RA patients. Our data suggest that although systemic blockade of TNF-α exerts an anticachectic effect in RA patients, it does not seem to play a major role in IR. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  20. Immunotherapy for Dogs: Running Behind Humans

    PubMed Central

    Klingemann, Hans

    2018-01-01

    A number of excellent reviews on the potential of canine cancer immunotherapy are available, but many extrapolate from observations in humans when in fact only very few immunotherapies have been developed for canines that have shown efficacy in well-designed studies. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are aware that the market for more expensive immunotherapies in canines is limited resulting in limited funding for clinical trials. However, dogs and other pets deserve access to this new form of cancer therapy. The purpose of this brief review is to summarize the current status of available immunotherapies for dogs and their near-term prospects, provided we can effectively translate discoveries and progress in humans to canines. PMID:29459862