- Current Issue Archive
- Special Issue
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Liu Feng, Zhuang Wanxin, Yang Yuan, Gao Chengjiang
2024(2):2-11,35, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240201
Abstract:
NLRP3 inflammasome is a vital component of the innate immune system, crucial in combatting pathogenic infections and responding to danger signals. At the same time, the aberrant activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is intricately linked with diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and lupus erythematosus. Therefore, regulation and intervention of inflammasome activation processes are pivotal for sustaining immune homeostasis and functionality. This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in elucidating the regulatory mechanisms governing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, including post-translational modifications of NLRP3, interacting molecules, alterations in organelle and cellular localization, as well as metabolic processes and associated metabolites associated with NLRP3 function. Its objective is to offer novel perspectives on understanding inflammasome activation occurrences, inflammatory responses, and therapeutic approaches for inflammation-related disorders.
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2024(2):12-29, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240202
Abstract:
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are ectopic lymphoid structures found in non-lymphoid tissues under chronic inflammatory conditions in recent years. Similar to lymph nodes, TLS primarily consist of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and dendritic cells. TLS are also the direct sites where antitumor immune responses are initiated. Within tumors, TLS promote the aggregation of immune cells, particularly effector T cells and B cells, to the tumor microenvironment, providing an important local site for cellular and humoral antitumor immune responses. This underscores their potential to predict favorable patient prognosis and positive responses to immune therapies. This review provides an overview of assessing and characterizing tumor-associated TLS, detailing their structural elements, composition, and the factors driving their formation. Furthermore, it explores TLS as promising biomarkers in tumor immunotherapy and their prospective clinical applications. The review also addresses the challenges and future prospects of TLS in the context of tumor immunotherapy.
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Zhang Liyuan, Li Yuanyuan, Jiang Zhengfan
2024(2):23-29, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240203
Abstract:
Manganese is an indispensable trace element in the human body, pivotal in development, reproduction, metabolism, neurological functions, and antioxidative processes. Recently, the important role of manganese in host immunity has been increasingly recognized and valued. Serving as a damage-associated molecular pattern, manganese exhibits robust immune activation capabilities. Manganese ions stimulate cells to generate numerous cytokines, including type Ⅰ interferons, regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses, thus showing great potential in adjuvant and tumor immunotherapy. In this review, the homeostatic regulation of Manganese and its role in the immune response are summarized. Subsequently, it extensively explores diverse applications of manganese and its derivatives in immune adjuvants and tumor immunotherapy, and looks ahead to their future prospects.
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Zhang Huafeng, Tang Ke, Ma Jingwei, Chen Jie, Zhou Yabo, Huang Bo
2024(2):30-35, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240204
Abstract:
Glycogen, a polysaccharide composed of glucose molecules linked by α-1,4-glycosidic and α-1,6- glycosidic bonds, is one of the primary energy storage forms in human body. Glycogen is primarily stored in the liver (as liver glycogen) and skeletal muscles (as muscle glycogen), with smaller amounts present in tissues such as myocardium, kidneys, and brain. When the body requires energy, liver glycogen can be broken down into glucose, which is then utilized by various tissues and organs. During exercise, muscle glycogen is consumed by skeletal muscles to meet the energy demands of the muscles. Beyond its crucial roles in maintaining blood glucose levels and providing energy, recent research has revealed that glycogen metabolism also regulates biological processes such as cell differentiation, signal transduction, and redox reactions. This review focuses on the latest research advancements in the regulatory mechanisms of glycogen metabolism in metabolic diseases, tumors, and immune cell responses, highlighting new regulatory modes and mechanisms.
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Wang Shuang, Xiao Jun, Jin Miao, Wang Hongyan
2024(2):36-45, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240205
Abstract:
Cholesterol and its various metabolites are essential components of cell and organelle membranes, playing crucial roles in regulating membrane mobility, permeability, lipid raft formation, and signal transduction. Recent studies have demonstrated that cholesterol intermediates and their derivatives are involved in a variety of biological functions in immune cells, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, effector activity, exhaustion, immune surveillance, and immune evasion. Targeting cholesterol metabolism can influence the progression of various diseases, such as infections, inflammation, and tumors. This article reviews recent advances in understanding how cholesterol metabolic enzymes and metabolites regulate the physiological and pathological functions of immune cells during infections, tumors, and inflammatory responses.
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Chen Dongping, Huang Chunxiang, Wu Caiyuan, Wei Yuan, Kuang Dongming
2024(2):46-57,66, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240206
Abstract:
The tumor immune microenvironment plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of tumors, and is closely related to the long-term effectiveness of treatments. Notably, while being influenced by the microenvironment, treatment can also actively reshape the composition of the microenvironment. In recent years, with the help of emerging technologies such as single-cell sequencing, the interactions between various therapeutic approaches and the immune microenvironment, as well as their impact on therapeutic efficacy, have been revealed in various tumors. This review summarizes the impact of primary tumor immune microenvironments on therapeutic efficacy, introduces the remodeling of microenvironment by different therapeutic approaches, and explores the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing secondary immune microenvironments' interactions with tumors and their implications on treatment outcomes. Clarifying the mechanisms of interactions between the tumor immune microenvironment and treatments has profound implications for monitoring and predicting treatment outcomes, as well as for optimizing cancer therapy.
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Dong Rui, Lei Aihua, Yao Meng, Zhou Jie
2024(2):58-66, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240207
Abstract:
Maintaining immune homeostasis is crucial for neonatal health following birth, as neonates encounter the colonization of gut flora and a plethora of external antigens. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a group of innate immune cells of myeloid origin with immunosuppressive functions, are known for their significant role in promoting tumor progression. Recent studies, however, have highlighted the critical immunoprotective functions of neonatal MDSCs. Unlike tumor-associated MDSCs, neonatal MDSCs exhibit strong antibacterial activity and play a vital role in preventing inflammatory responses in newborns. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the etiology, characteristics, immunomodulatory functions, and regulatory mechanisms of neonatal MDSCs, emphasizing their role in neonatal inflammatory diseases. This insight aims to provide new strategies for the immunotherapy of neonatal inflammatory diseases.
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Liu Jiaqi, Li Yuqing, Ye Lilin, Xu Lifan
2024(2):67-71,90, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240208
Abstract:
CD8+ T cells are the primary mediators of antigen-specific immune responses, with their functional states finely regulated by molecular mechanisms, playing a crucial role in tumor immunity. In recent years, CD8+ T-cell-based cellular therapies (e.g., TCR-T and CAR-T cell therapy) and immune checkpoint therapies that block PD-1 signaling pathway have achieved unprecedented success in clinical cancer treatments. However, the therapeutic effects of these immunotherapies are still limited, mainly due to immune resistance, with a significant factor being the functional exhaustion of tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Consequently, a major focus and challenge in immunotherapy research is to understand the regulatory mechanisms behind this functional exhaustion and to develop intervention strategies and targets to enhance CD8+ T cell effector functions. This article reviews the research progress in antitumor immune responses of CD8+ T cells from three perspectives: The heterogeneity of exhausted CD8+ T cells, their response to PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and their epigenetic characteristics.
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2024(2):72-80, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240209
Abstract:
The decidua, a specialized endometrium during pregnancy, plays a crucial role in promoting embryonic growth and maintaining immune tolerance. Recent research shows that decidual tissue is enriched with a large number of immune cells, primarily natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages. During normal pregnancy, various immune and non-immune cells regulate each other to maintain an overall immune balance at the maternalfetal interface. Disruption of this immune balance can lead to various pregnancy-related complications, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. This review highlights the sources, subsets, physiological functions, and pathological roles of decidual NK cells during the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Chen Wenjing, Gao Ruiyu, Huang Jingwen, Ye Jingying, Liu Wanli
2024(2):81-90, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240210
Abstract:
B cells play a crucial role in recognizing external antigens through their surface B cell receptor (BCR), essential for generating protective antibodies and immune memory. Regulation of B cell immune activation is closely linked to various upper respiratory tract diseases. Adenoid hypertrophy (ATH), a common childhood condition, is characterized by lymphoid follicular hyperplasia, yet its exact mechanisms remain elusive. This review consolidates research on BCR trophic signaling that sustains B cell viability in resting state. It clarifies the regulatory mechanisms governing B cell immune activation and the establishment of rapid, effective immune memory, with a specific focus on early molecular activation events and the pivotal role of mIgG-tail in memory antibody responses. Dysregulation of B cell activation processes can disrupt immune balance, potentially precipitating disease. This synthesis explores the connection between regulation of B cell activation and ATH pathogenesis, examining the potential impacts of signaling pathway dysregulation or mutations on ATH. The review aims to enhance understanding of the disease mechanisms underlying ATH, with the goal of identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for this condition.
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2024(2):91-99, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240211
Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant threat to human health. Tuberculous granuloma is a typical pathological feature of TB and also a "refuge" for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to escape host immune defense and achieve long-term survival and latent infection. Mtb exploits these granulomas to spread and propagate within the body, leading to persistent infections that are difficult to eradicate. The metabolic cascade reactions and metabolites produced by immune cells in the granuloma environment are crucial for disease progression and the induction of protective anti-tuberculosis immunity. Mtb can use its virulence factors to target key host metabolic pathways, resist immune defenses, achieve long-term survival, and promote granuloma progression. This paper discusses the key immunometabolism pathways and the regulation mechanism of Mtbhost interaction in granuloma. It provides insights for developing new tuberculosis prevention and treatment strategies targeting granuloma pathogenesis.
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Dai Yixin, Ni Xinbo, Zeng Wenwen
2024(2):100-110,116, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240212
Abstract:
The interaction between the immune system and the nervous system within and across organs has garnered increasing attention in the scientific community. Studies confirm that this interaction manifests not only in research but also in daily life: common symptoms such as swelling and pain during tissue damage or infection result from the mutual interactions between these systems. In conditions such as pneumonia or pulmonary infections, patients often experience symptoms like drowsiness, fatigue, and reduced appetite. The lungs, being vital respiratory organs, facilitate gas exchange through their unique structure and tissues, while also serving as the body's primary defense against pathogen invasion. The immune system and nervous system play pivotal roles in regulating lung function and maintaining homeostasis, influencing the onset and progression of various respiratory diseases. This article emphasizes recent advancements in understanding neuroimmune interactions specifically related to the lungs, aiming to illuminate potential applications for modulating the neuroimmune network in the treatment of respiratory diseases.
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Zhao Liuqi, Zou Jing, Shen Qingqing, Tong Linhui, Yang Qing, Zhang Yuehuang, Wang Honglin
2024(2):111-116, DOI: 10.12287/j.issn.2096-8965.20240213
Abstract:
Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Recent advances in immunological and molecular biological studies have identified numerous potential therapeutic targets for vitiligo, paving the way for novel treatment strategies. This article reviews the advancements in researching novel immunotherapy targets such as the JAK/ STAT pathway, PDE-4, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and IL-15, along with their respective targeted drugs. The article aims to provide insights into the clinical translation of future therapeutic targets for vitiligo.
