Laser induced forward transfer bioprinting of immune cells and chemoattractant proteins for immunological responses studies (Conference Presentation)

Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease: It's All About Context

International Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.1155/2012/314185 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Tara M. Weitz ◽

Terrence Town

Keyword(s):

Immune Cells ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Brain Inflammation ◽

Early Event ◽

Innate Immune Cells ◽

Prime Mover ◽

Reactive Microglia ◽

Future Studies ◽

Immunological Responses ◽

The Central Nervous System

Neuroinflammation is now regarded as both an early event and prime mover in the pathobiology of Alzheimer disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease that represents a growing public health threat. As the resident innate immune cells within the central nervous system, microglia are centrally positioned as key orchestrators of brain inflammation. It is now accepted that numerous forms of activated microglia exist. Furthermore, while some types of reactive microglia are detrimental, others can actually be beneficial. In the context of AD etiopathology, much debate surrounds whether these enigmatic cells play “good” or “bad” roles. In this article, we distill a complex clinical and experimental literature focused on the contribution of microglia to AD pathology and progression. A synthesis of the literature only seems possible when considering context– the conditions under which microglia encounter and mount immunological responses to AD pathology. In order to carry out these diverse contextual responses, a number of key receptors and signaling pathways are variously activated. It will be critically important for future studies to address molecular mediators that lead to beneficial microglial responses and therefore represent important therapeutic targets for AD.

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Moonlighting Proteins Are Important Players in Cancer Immunology

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2020.613069 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Annalisa Adamo ◽

Cristina Frusteri ◽

Maria Teresa Pallotta ◽

Tracey Pirali ◽

Silvia Sartoris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Progression ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Adaptive Immune Response ◽

Decisive Role ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Immunological Responses ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Moonlighting Proteins ◽

Immunosuppressive Microenvironment

Plasticity and adaptation to environmental stress are the main features that tumor and immune system share. Except for intrinsic and high-defined properties, cancer and immune cells need to overcome the opponent’s defenses by activating more effective signaling networks, based on common elements such as transcriptional factors, protein-based complexes and receptors. Interestingly, growing evidence point to an increasing number of proteins capable of performing diverse and unpredictable functions. These multifunctional proteins are defined as moonlighting proteins. During cancer progression, several moonlighting proteins are involved in promoting an immunosuppressive microenvironment by reprogramming immune cells to support tumor growth and metastatic spread. Conversely, other moonlighting proteins support tumor antigen presentation and lymphocytes activation, leading to several anti-cancer immunological responses. In this light, moonlighting proteins could be used as promising new potential targets for improving current cancer therapies. In this review, we describe in details 12 unprecedented moonlighting proteins that during cancer progression play a decisive role in guiding cancer-associated immunomodulation by shaping innate or adaptive immune response.

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Single-cell landscape of immunological responses in COVID-19 patients

10.1101/2020.07.23.217703 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ji-Yuan Zhang ◽

Xiang-Ming Wang ◽

Xudong Xing ◽

Zhe Xu ◽

Chao Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Single Cell ◽

T Cell Receptor ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cell Receptor ◽

T Cell Subsets ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Immunological Responses ◽

Receptor Repertoire

AbstractIn COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, the relationship between disease severity and the host immune response is not fully understood. Here we performed single-cell RNA sequencing in peripheral blood samples of five healthy donors and 13 COVID-19 patients including moderate, severe and convalescent cases. Through determining the transcriptional profiles of immune cells, coupled with assembled T cell receptor and B cell receptor sequences, we analyzed the functional properties of immune cells. Most cell types in COVID-19 patients showed a strong interferon-alpha response, and an overall acute inflammatory response. Moreover, intensive expansion of highly cytotoxic effector T cell subsets, such as CD4+ Effector-GNLY (Granulysin), CD8+ Effector-GNLY and NKT CD160, was associated with convalescence in moderate patients. In severe patients, the immune landscape featured a deranged interferon response, profound immune exhaustion with skewed T cell receptor repertoire and broad T cell expansion. These findings illustrate the dynamic nature of immune responses during the disease progression.

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