Project description:Peptide immunotherapy aims to specifically restore tolerance to the administered self-antigen and prevent autoimmunity without the perturbation of normal immune function. We have developed a dose escalation protocol for subcutaneous delivery of the MHC II-restricted myelin basic protein peptide analogue Ac1-9[4Y] to T cell receptor transgenic (Tg4) mice. Dose escalation allows safe administration of high doses of peptide, which effectively induces antigen-specific tolerance and suppresses the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model for the human condition multiple sclerosis. CD4+ T cells isolated from treated mice are anergic and suppressive in vitro and respond to stimulation by secretion of the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10. To understand the molecular changes occurring throughout the course of dose-escalation immunotherapy, we undertook microarray analysis of CD4+ T cells at different the stages of treatment, using Tg4 Rag-1 deficient mice, which lack naturally occurring regulatory T cells and have a monoclonal CD4+ T cell population
Project description:During infections, Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells must control autoreactive conventional T (Tconv) cell responses against self-peptide antigens while permitting those against pathogen-derived “nonself” peptides. We sought to define the basis of this selectivity using mice in which Tregs reactive to a single prostate-specific self-peptide/MHC (self-pMHC) antigen, termed "C4", were selectively depleted ("C4ΔTEC" mice). We demonstrated that Tregs reactive to the C4 peptide were dispensable for the control of Tconv cells of matched antigen specificity at homeostasis but were required to control such Tconv cells and prevent fulminant prostatic autoimmunity following infection with the pathogen L monocytogenes engineered to express the C4 peptide ("Lm[C4]"). We performed the experiment outlined here to understand how the absence of C4-specific Treg cells in C4ΔTEC mice changes the phenotypic state of the C4-specific Tconv cells following Lm[C4] infection to drive autoimmunity. We found that C4-specific Tconv cells adopted preferential and differential cell states in both C4ΔTEC mice and wild-type mice that have C4-specific Treg cells. Specifically, gene expesion data revealed that C4-specific Tconv cells in wild-type mice preferentially adopted a non-proliferating effector state, while C4-specific Tconv in C4ΔTEC mice appeared as proliferating effector cells and proliferating central-memory cells.
Project description:CD8 T cells play a critical role in immune tolerance maintenance after immune activation. They have recently been reported to target activated CD4 T cells in an MHC-Ia–restricted manner. However, the specific peptides and the corresponding reactive CD8 TCRs responsible for this targeting process remain unknown. In this study, we identified the self-peptides on activated CD4 T cells, cloned the corresponding CD8 TCRs, and validated the in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive function of CD8 T cells carrying these self-reactive TCRs. The therapeutic potential of peptide vaccination and self-reactive CD8 T cells was confirmed in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE). This study consequently redefines the nature of CD8 regulatory T (Treg) cells as self-reactive CD8 T cells.
2026-04-13 | GSE327753 | GEO
Project description:Altered microRNAs in methamphetamine-escalating dose-multiple binge mice
Project description:CD8+ T cells play a critical role in immune tolerance maintainnance after immune activation. It is known to function through targeting activated CD4+ T cells, in both Qa-1- and MHC-Ia-restricted9 manner. However, the exact nature of this targeting process, i.e., the specific peptides and the corresponding reactive CD8 TCRs, remains unknown. In this study, we identified the self-peptides on activated CD4+ T cells that could mediate the CD8+ T cells immunosuppressive activity. By cloning the corresponding CD8 TCRs and the generation of TCR transgenic mice , we were able to validate the immunosuppressive function of CD8+ T cells carrying the self-reactive TCRs both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic potential of peptide vaccination and CD8+ T cell transfer were confirmed in a mouse EAE model. This study suggest that self-tolerance can be maintained by self-reactive CD8+ T cells recognizing self-antigenic peptides through specific TCRs, thus redefine the nature of CD8+ regulatory T cells as self-reactive CD8+ T cells.
Project description:CD8+ T cells play a critical role in immune tolerance maintainnance after immune activation. It is known to function through targeting activated CD4+ T cells, in both Qa-1- and MHC-Ia-restricted9 manner. However, the exact nature of this targeting process, i.e., the specific peptides and the corresponding reactive CD8 TCRs, remains unknown. In this study, we identified the self-peptides on activated CD4+ T cells that could mediate the CD8+ T cells immunosuppressive activity. By cloning the corresponding CD8 TCRs and the generation of TCR transgenic mice , we were able to validate the immunosuppressive function of CD8+ T cells carrying the self-reactive TCRs both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic potential of peptide vaccination and CD8+ T cell transfer were confirmed in a mouse EAE model. This study suggest that self-tolerance can be maintained by self-reactive CD8+ T cells recognizing self-antigenic peptides through specific TCRs, thus redefine the nature of CD8+ regulatory T cells as self-reactive CD8+ T cells.
Project description:Antigen-specific regulation of autoimmune disease is a major clinical research goal. In seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), T cells help to autoreactive B cells matures the citrullinated antigen-specific immune response, generating RA-specific V-domain glycosylated anti-citrullinated (Cit) protein antibodies (VDG ACPA) before arthritis onset. Repeated low or escalating antigen doses administered under “sub-immunogenic” conditions generally favors tolerance. The aims of this study were to explore the safety, pharmacokinetics, immunological and clinical effects of s.c. DEN-181, comprising liposomes encapsulating self-peptide collagen II259-273 (CII) and NF-KB inhibitor 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol)
Project description:<p>The rise in global antibiotic resistance highlights the urgent need for effective antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a potential solution to combat bacterial resistance. However, key challenges remain in addressing the limitations of current peptide drugs and biomaterials, such as narrow action modes, poor protease stability, and challenges in pathogen-specific targeting. This study introduces a series of multifunctional AMPs by integrating self-assembling systems. By regulating the length of cationic amino acid side chains, the optimized peptide Nhar was identified as a triple-functional candidate with the potential to solve these limitations. In aqueous solutions, Nhar self-assembles into nanofibers that trap pathogens, prevent their spread, and selectively kill Gram-positive bacteria. Nhar demonstrates remarkable protease resistance, retaining antimicrobial activity even under 10 mg/mL protease conditions. It induces bacterial death primarily through membrane disruption and multiple synergistic mechanisms. In a Staphylococcus aureus induced mouse bacteremia model, Nhar showed promising therapeutic potential. This work offer important insights for developing multifunctional antimicrobial therapies.</p>
2025-06-13 | MTBLS12424 | MetaboLights
Project description:RNA sequencing of MC38 mouse tumor tissue with escalating drug dose