Objective To investigate the effects of LBL-007, a novel fully human lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) monoclonal antibody, in combination with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, on the invasion, migration and proliferation of tumor cells, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods Human lymphocyte cells Jurkat were co-cultured with A549 and MGC803 tumor cell lines and treated with the isotype control antibody human IgG, LBL-007, anti-PD-1 antibody BE0188, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α, the NF-κB signaling pathway agonist). Tumor cell proliferation was assessed using a colony formation assay; invasion was measured by Transwell^TM assay; migration was evaluated using a wound healing assay. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of NF-κB pathway-related proteins: IκB inhibitor kinase alpha (Ikkα), phosphorylated Ikkα (p-IKKα), NF-κB subunit p65, phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), NF-κB Inhibitor Alpha (IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and MMP2. Results Compared with the control and IgG isotype groups, LBL-007 and BE0188 significantly reduced tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. They also decreased the phosphorylation of p-IKKα, p-p65 and p-IκBα, and the expression of MMP9 and MMP2 of tumor cells in the co-culture system. The combined treatment of LBL-007 and BE0188 enhanced inhibitory effects. Treatment with the NF-κB signaling pathway agonist TNF-α reversed the suppressive effects of LBL-007 and BE0188 on tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and NF-κB signaling. Conclusion LBL-007 and anti-PD-1 antibody synergistically inhibit the invasion, migration, and proliferation of A549 and MGC803 tumor cells by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antigens, CD/immunology* ; Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein ; A549 Cells ; I-kappa B Kinase/metabolism* ; Jurkat Cells ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of C1q, the promoter of the classical pathway of the complement system, in regulating postpartum depressive-like behaviors in mice and the therapeutic mechanism of C1q-neutralizing antibodies. METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mouse models of postpartum depression established by hormone-simulated pregnancy (HSP) were evaluated for depression-like behaviors, and peripheral blood levels and hippocampal expressions of C1q were detected using ELISA and Western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining was used for detecting co-labeling of C1q and microglia, and the differentially expressed mRNAs in the hippocampus of HSP mice were analyzed using RNA sequencing. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to screen patients with postpartum depression, from whom peripheral blood mononuclear cells were extracted for detecting C1q expression levels with Western blotting. The HSP mice were subjected to stereotactic injection of C1q-neutralizing antibody or a control IgG in the hippocampus, and the changes in depressive-like behaviors and hippocampal expression of C3 were examined. RESULTS: The HSP mice exhibited obvious depressive behaviors, demonstrated by significantly decreased preference for sugar water and increased forced swimming and tail suspension time. The mouse models showed significantly increased peripheral blood C1q level and hippocampal expression level of C1q, accompanied by an increase in Iba1 and C1q co-labeling in the hippocampus. The expression level of C1q in peripheral monocytes was also significantly increased in patients with postpartum depression. In HSP mice, stereotactic injection of C1q-neutralizing antibody, but not the control IgG, obviously alleviated depressive-like behaviors, shown by significantly increased preference for sugar water and decreased forced swimming and tail suspension time, resulting also in decreased expression of C3 in the hippocampus and lowered serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS C1q-neutralizing antibodies improve postpartum depressive-like behaviors in mice possibly by regulating the C1q/C3 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Female ; Depression, Postpartum ; Complement C1q/metabolism* ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Pregnancy ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of BA.2 variant receptor binding domain (RBD) recombinant protein formulated with CpG 1826 plus alum dual adjuvant. METHODS: The BA.2 variant RBD (residues 308-548) fusing TT-P ₂ epitope was obtained from prokaryotic expression system, purification technology and dialysis renaturation, which was designated as Sot protein. The soluble Sot protein formulated with CpG 1826 plus alum dual adjuvant was designated as Sot/CA subunit vaccine and then the BALB/c mice were intramuscularly administrated with two doses of the Sot/CA subunit vaccine at 14-day interval (day 0 and 14). On day 28, the number of effector T lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ and IL-4 in mice spleen were determined by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay. The serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the level of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) induced by Sot/CA subunit vaccine was also evaluated by the microneutralization assay. RESULTS: The high-purity soluble Sot protein with antigenicity was successfully obtained by the prokaryotic expression, protein purification and dialysis renaturation. The Sot/CA subunit vaccine induced a high level of IgG antibodies and NAbs, which were of cross-neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 and XBB.1.5 variants. Meanwhile, Sot/CA subunit vaccine also induced a high level of effector T lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ (635.00 ± 17.62) and IL-4 (279.20 ± 13.10), respectively. Combined with a decreased IgG1/IgG2a ratio in the serum, which indicating Sot/CA subunit vaccine induced a Th1-type predominant immune response. CONCLUSION The Sot protein formulated with CpG 1826 plus alum dual adjuvant showed that the excellent cellular and humoral immunogenicity, which provided a scientific basis for the development of BA.2 variant subunit vaccines and references for the adjuvant application of subunit vaccines.
Animals ; COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology* ; Alum Compounds/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, Subunit/immunology* ; Mice ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology* ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/administration & dosage* ; Female ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; COVID-19/immunology* ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Immunogenicity, Vaccine ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology* ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood* ; Adjuvants, Vaccine ; Immunoglobulin G/blood*

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanism of interleukin-4-modified gold nanoparticle (IL-4-AuNP) on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic mice. Methods: Experimental research methods were adopted. Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and IL-4-AuNP were synthesized by improving the methods described in published literature. The morphology of those two particles were photographed by transmission electron microscopy, and their particle sizes were calculated. The surface potential and hydration particle size of the two particles were detected by nanoparticle potentiometer and particle size analyzer, respectively. The clearance rate of IL-4-AuNP to hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion was measured by hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion kits, respectively. Mouse fibroblast line 3T3 cells were used and divided into the following groups by the random number table (the same below): blank control group, hydrogen peroxide alone group treated with hydrogen peroxide only, hydrogen peroxide+IL-4-AuNP group treated with IL-4-AuNP for 0.5 h and then treated with hydrogen peroxide. After 24 h of culture, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of cells were detected by immunofluorescence method; cell count kit 8 was used to detect relative cell survival rate. The macrophage Raw264.7 mouse cells were then used and divided into blank control group and IL-4-AuNP group that treated with IL-4-AuNP. After 24 h of culture, the expression of arginase 1 (Arg-1) in cells was observed by immunofluorescence method. Twelve male BALB/c mice (mouse age, sex, and strain, the same below) aged 8 to 10 weeks were divided into IL-4-AuNP group and blank control group, treated accordingly. On the 16^th day of treatment, whole blood samples were collected from mice for analysis of white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin level, or platelet count and the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), urea, or creatinine. The inflammation, bleeding, or necrosis in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney tissue of mice were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE). Another 36 mice were selected to make diabetic model, and the full-thickness skin defect wounds were made on the back of these mice. The wounds were divided into blank control group, AuNP alone group, and IL-4-AuNP group, with 12 mice in each group, and treated accordingly. On the 0 (immediately), 4^th, 9^th, and 15^th day of treatment, the wound condition was observed and the wound area was calculated. On the 9^th day of treatment, HE staining was used to detect the length of neonatal epithelium and the thickness of granulation tissue in the wound. On the 15^th day of treatment, immunofluorescence method was used to detect ROS level and the number of Arg-1 positive cells in the wound tissue. The number of samples was 6 in all cases. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, corrected t test, Tukey test, or Dunnett T3 test. Results: The size of prepared AuNP and IL-4-AuNP were uniform. The particle size, surface potential, and hydration particle size of AuNP and IL-4-AuNP were (13.0±2.1) and (13.9±2.5) nm, (-45.8±3.2) and (-20.3±2.2) mV, (14±3) and (16±4) nm, respectively. For IL-4-AuNP, the clearance rate to hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion were (69±4)% and (52±5)%, respectively. After 24 h of culture, the ROS level of 3T3 in hydrogen peroxide alone group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (q=26.12, P<0.05); the ROS level of hydrogen peroxide+IL-4-AuNP group was significantly lower than that in hydrogen peroxide alone group (q=25.12, P<0.05) and close to that in blank control group (P>0.05). After 24 h of culture, the relative survival rate of 3T3 cells in hydrogen peroxide+IL-4-AuNP group was significantly higher than that in hydrogen peroxide alone group (t=51.44, P<0.05). After 24 h of culture, Arg-1 expression of Raw264.7 cells in IL-4-AuNP group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (t'=8.83, P<0.05).On the 16^th day of treatment, there were no significant statistically differences in WBC, RBC, hemoglobin level, or platelet count and the level of AST, ALT, urea, or creatinine of mice between blank control group and IL-4-AuNP group (P>0.05). No obvious inflammation, bleeding or necrosis was observed in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of important organs in IL-4-AuNP group, and no significant changes were observed compared with blank control group. On the 0 and 4^th day of treatment, the wound area of diabetic mice in blank control group, AuNP alone group, and IL-4-AuNP group had no significant difference (P>0.05). On the 9^th day of treatment, the wound areas both in AuNP alone group and IL-4-AuNP group were significantly smaller than that in blank control group (with q values of 9.45 and 14.87, respectively, P<0.05), the wound area in IL-4-AuNP group was significantly smaller than that in AuNP alone group (q=5.42, P<0.05). On the 15^th day of treatment, the wound areas both in AuNP alone group and IL-4-AuNP group were significantly smaller than that in blank control group (with q values of 4.84 and 20.64, respectively, P<0.05), the wound area in IL-4-AuNP group was significantly smaller than that in AuNP alone group (q=15.80, P<0.05); moreover, inflammations such as redness and swelling were significantly reduced in IL-4-AuNP group compared with the other two groups. On the 9^th day of treatment, compared with blank control group and AuNP alone group, the length of neonatal epithelium in the wound of diabetic mice in IL-4-AuNP group was significantly longer (all P<0.05), and the thickness of the granulation tissue in the wound was significantly increased (with q values of 11.33 and 9.65, respectively, all P<0.05). On the 15^th day of treatment, compared with blank control group, ROS levels in wound tissue of diabetic mice in AuNP alone group and IL-4-AuNP group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). On the 15^th day of treatment, the number of Arg-1 positive cells in the wounds of diabetic mice in IL-4-AuNP group was significantly more than that in blank control group and AuNP alone group, respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusions: IL-4-AuNP is safe in vivo, and can improve the oxidative microenvironment by removing ROS and induce macrophage polarization towards M2 phenotype, thus promote efficient diabetic wound healing and regeneration of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic mice.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Interleukin-4 ; Gold/pharmacology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Creatinine ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxides ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Antibodies ; Inflammation ; Necrosis ; Hemoglobins

Daratumumab is the first CD38 monoclonal antibody drug approved for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. It can bind to CD38 expressed by tumor cells, inhibit tumor cell growth and induce myeloma cell apoptosis through a variety of immune-related mechanisms. Meanwhile, CD38 is also expressed in other cells, including regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of hematological tumor diseases other than non-multiple myeloma diseases. This article reviews the research progress and application of this part.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology* ; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Hematologic Neoplasms/drug therapy*

OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that is expressed primarily on activated CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and regulatory T cells. The ligation of OX40 to its sole ligand OX40L potentiates T cell expansion, differentiation, and activation and also promotes dendritic cells to mature to enhance their cytokine production. Therefore, the use of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies for cancer immunotherapy has gained great interest. However, most of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in the clinic are OX40L-competitive and show limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that BGB-A445, a non-ligand-competitive agonistic anti-OX40 antibody currently under clinical investigation, induced optimal T cell activation without impairing dendritic cell function. In addition, BGB-A445 dose-dependently and significantly depleted regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In the MC38 syngeneic model established in humanized OX40 knock-in mice, BGB-A445 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor efficacy, whereas the ligand-competitive anti-OX40 antibody showed antitumor efficacy characterized by a hook effect. Furthermore, BGB-A445 demonstrated a strong combination antitumor effect with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings show that BGB-A445, which does not block OX40-OX40L interaction in contrast to clinical-stage anti-OX40 antibodies, shows superior immune-stimulating effects and antitumor efficacy and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Mice ; Animals ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/physiology* ; Receptors, OX40 ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Ligands ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*

Immunotherapies based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) have significantly improved patient outcomes and offered new approaches to cancer therapy over the past decade. To date, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) of CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 represent the main class of immunotherapy. Blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 has shown remarkable efficacy in several specific types of cancers, however, a large subset of refractory patients presents poor responsiveness to ICB therapy; and the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Recently, numerous studies have revealed that metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells restrains immune responses by remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) with various products of metabolism, and combination therapies involving metabolic inhibitors and ICIs provide new approaches to cancer therapy. Nevertheless, a systematic summary is lacking regarding the manner by which different targetable metabolic pathways regulate immune checkpoints to overcome ICI resistance. Here, we demonstrate the generalized mechanism of targeting cancer metabolism at three crucial immune checkpoints (CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1) to influence ICB therapy and propose potential combined immunotherapeutic strategies co-targeting tumor metabolic pathways and immune checkpoints.
Humans ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors* ; CTLA-4 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective: To explore the differences in the biological effects of different expansion systems on natural killer (NK) cells, as well as the safety and preliminary clinical efficacy in the treatment of patients with recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: Peripheral blood cells from healthy donors were stimulated with either CD3 combined with CD52 or K562 feeder cells loaded with IL-21/4-1BB to induce NK cell expansion. Changes in the NK cell phenotype, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxicity before and after expansion were detected. We also evaluated the safety and clinical efficacy of two different expansion strategies for patients received NK infusion. Results: Compared with the CD3/CD52 monoclonal antibody amplification system, the feeder cell expansion group had a higher purity of NK cells and higher expression ratios of NK cell surface activation receptors such as DNAM-1 and NKp30, while inhibitory receptor CTLA-4 expression was low and NKG2D/CD25/CD69/ Trail/PD-1/TIM-3/TIGIT had no statistically significant differences between the groups. Further functional results showed that the expression level of KI67 in NK cells after expansion in the two groups increased significantly, especially in the feeder cell expansion group. Simultaneously, the perforin and granzyme B levels of NK cells in the feeder cell expansion group were significantly higher than in the CD3/CD52 expansion group. A retrospective analysis of eight patients who received monoclonal antibody-expanded NK cell reinfusion and nine patients with trophoblast cell-expanded NK cell reinfusion was done. The disease characteristics of the two groups were comparable, NK cell reinfusion was safe, and there were no obvious adverse reactions. Clinical prognostic results showed that in the CD3/CD52 monoclonal antibody amplification group, the MRD conversion rate was 50% (2/4) , and the feeder cell expansion group was 50% (3/6) . After 5 years of follow-up from allo-HSCT, three patients in the monoclonal antibody expansion group had long-term survival without leukemia, and the remaining five patients had died; two patients died in the feeder cell expansion group, and the other six patients had long-term survival. Six cases had GVHD before NK cell reinfusion, and GVHD did not aggravate or even relieved after NK cell reinfusion. Conclusions: Preliminary results show that the biological characteristics of NK cells with diverse expansion strategies are significantly different, which may affect the clinical prognosis of patients with recurrence or persistent minimal residual disease after HSCT. The two groups of patients treated with NK cells from different expansion strategies had no obvious adverse reactions after NK cell infusion, but efficacy still needs to be further confirmed.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Graft vs Host Disease/metabolism* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of low concentration dithiothreitol (DTT) in removing the interference of monoclonal anti-CD38 on transfusion compatibility testing, and develop a reasonable clinical transfusion strategy. METHODS: The blood type, direct antiglobulin testing (DAT) and antibody screening were tested according to standard methods. Antibody screening cells and donor's red blood cells were treated by DTT 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.02, 0.01 and 0.005 mol/L, and antibody screening and cross-matching of serums after monoclonal anti-CD38 treatment were performed by anti-human globulin card. RESULTS: The 0.01 mol/L DTT at 37℃ for 30 minutes could remove the effect of monoclonal anti-CD38 on antibody screening and cross-matching, meanwhile retain their effectiveness in detecting anti-K, anti-LW, anti-JMH, anti-Lu^b, anti-e, anti-Di^a and anti-Jk^a alloantibodies. All the 10 patients had no acute or delayed haemolytic transfusion reactions and their routine blood tests showed that the red blood cells transfusion was effective. CONCLUSION The 0.01 mol/L DTT is a safe and effective method for removing the interference of monoclonal anti-CD38 with transfusion compatibility testing, while retaining the ability to detect most alloantibodies.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Blood Transfusion ; Dithiothreitol/pharmacology* ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Isoantibodies/pharmacology*

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukins/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/therapy* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr