Achieving immunosuppression-free immune tolerance to an allograft is one of the central goals of transplantation. In this article, we review recent developments in the fields of T cell–based therapies and T cell engineering using chimeric Ag receptors and their potential for effective and targeted immune modulation of T and B cell activity in an effort to eliminate pre-existing alloantibodies (desensitization) and achieve long-term tolerance. Approaches that span preclinical to early clinical studies in transplantation will be reviewed, with specific emphasis on advances in T cell immunotherap ..read more

The BCR consists of surface-bound Ig and a heterodimeric signaling unit comprised of CD79A and CD79B. Upon cognate Ag recognition, the receptor initiates important signals for B cell development and function. The receptor also conveys Ag-independent survival signals termed tonic signaling. Although the requirement of a CD79A/CD79B heterodimer for BCR complex assembly and surface expression is well established based on mice models, few studies have investigated this in human mature B cells. In this study, we found that human tonsillar B cells with high surface expression of IgM or IgG had poten ..read more

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Monocytes (Mos)/macrophages (Ms) orchestrate biological processes critical for efficient skin wound healing. However, current understanding of skin wound Mo/M heterogeneity is limited by traditional experimental approaches such as flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Therefore, we sought to more fully explore Mo/M heterogeneity and associated state transitions during the course of excisional skin wound healing in mice using single-cell RNA sequencing. The live CD45+CD11b+Ly6G– cells were isolated from skin wounds of C57BL/6 mice on days 3, 6, and 10 postinjury and captured using the 10x Ge ..read more

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates immune modulation following exposure of animals to many environmental xenobiotics. However, its role in innate immune responses during viral infection is not fully understood, especially in invertebrates. In this study, a cDNA encoding an AhR homolog was cloned from an arthropod Litopenaeus vannamei (LvAhR). The expression of LvAhR was strongly upregulated in response to the challenge of white spot syndrome virus, a pathogen of highly contagious and fatal infectious disease of shrimp. The relevance of ..read more

IL-17A plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, particularly the neutrophilic corticosteroid (CS)-resistant subtype of asthma. Clinical studies suggest that a subset of asthma patients, i.e., Th17/IL-17A–mediated (type 17) CS-resistant neutrophilic asthma, may improve with Th17/IL-17A pathway blockade. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying type 17 asthma and CS response. In this article, we show that blood levels of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels are positively correlated with IL-17A levels and are not inhibited by high-dose CS usage in ast ..read more

Craniotomies are performed to treat a variety of intracranial pathology. Surgical site infection remains a complication of craniotomy despite the use of prophylactic antibiotics and universal sterile precautions. Infections occur in 1–3% of procedures, with approximately half caused by Staphylococcus aureus that forms a biofilm on the bone flap and is recalcitrant to systemic antibiotic therapy. We used an S. aureus-dsRed construct to compare the phagocytic capacity of leukocytes and microglia in vitro and in vivo using a mouse model of craniotomy infection. In addition, single-cell RNA sequen ..read more

In humans and mice, offspring of allergic mothers are predisposed to development of allergy. In mice, allergic mothers have elevated β-glucosylceramides (βGlcCers) that are transported to the fetus via the placenta and to offspring via milk. The elevated βGlcCers increase the number of fetal liver CD11c+CD11b+ dendritic cells (DCs) and offspring allergen-induced lung eosinophilia. These effects are modifiable by maternal dietary supplementation with the plant-derived lipids α-tocopherol and -tocopherol. It is not known whether βGlcCers and tocopherols directly regulate development of DCs. In t ..read more

Histamine-releasing factor (HRF) is a multifunctional protein with fundamental intracellular functions controlling cell survival and proliferation. HRF is also secreted during allergic reactions and promotes IgE-mediated activation of mast cells and basophils. In this study, we investigated HRF secretion and its relevance to airway inflammation. HRF monomers were constitutively secreted from BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and converted to oligomers over the course of culture. Stimulation with house dust mite (HDM) extract increased HRF secretion substantially. Several cytokin ..read more

In this study, we investigated how pre-existing Ab immunity to influenza virus established from prior immunizations affects the development of CD8+ T cell responses evoked after vaccination with a live attenuated vaccine. Using a mouse model and a panel of live attenuated influenza virus vaccine candidates (cold adapted and single cycle), we show that pre-existing influenza-specific Abs directed against the vaccine backbone attenuate the size and quality of the vaccine-induced CD8+ T cell response. Importantly, we show that increasing the vaccine dose can overcome this impediment, resulting in ..read more