Science Featured’s Post

I'm excited to share my first scientific paper as first author. A comprehensive characterization of intestinal human intraepithelial lymphocytes in health and coeliac disease. Check out the full paper published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation: https://lnkd.in/d5eCNK82 #immunology #celiacdisease

After several years in the making, the first two publications of our project, which aims to study the local and systemic immune response and its association with clinical parameters, lung microbes are out just a few weeks apart. 1. "Widespread alterations in systemic immune profile are linked to lung function heterogeneity and airway microbes in cystic fibrosis" (https://lnkd.in/gJEavC-d): we used high-resolution flow cytometry on peripheral blood and metatranscriptomics on sputum samples and characterize a specific immune profile in cystic fibrosis patients, and hint to the fact that heterogeneity in lung function might be connected with the activity of B-cell compartment and associated with changes Tregs homeostasis. Further, we highlight potential associations between the transcriptionally active microorganisms in the lungs and several immune variables (cell concentration, fractions, and surface markers expression) with opposing trends between commensals and pathogenic microorganisms.  2. "Clinical implications of innate immune exhaustion in cystic fibrosis" (https://lnkd.in/g6YnGJ5V): we investigated potential links between the innate immune response and lung function in pwCF using the standardized immune function assay TruCulture. We found that stimulated cytokine release does not predict lung function levels or changes in pwCF, but our data indicate exhaustion in the innate immune response after years of chronic bacterial infection. It has been a very difficult journey that I'm glad I shared with many wonderful coauthors. So thank you Mads Lausen, Nina Friesgaard Øbro, Antonella Colque, Camilla de Gier, Rikke Møller, Bibi Uhre Nielsen, Annemette Hald, Marianne Skov, Tacjana Pressler, Sisse Rye Ostrowski, Søren Molin, Hanne Vibeke Marquart, and Helle Krogh Johansen! Thanks also to the funding bodies: Novo Nordisk Foundation, Independent Research Fund Denmark, Fondazione Cariplo And this is not all! What about the local immune response and the bugs at the site of infection? Stay tuned for another manuscript in the near future!

Small Peptides Offer New Hope for Autoimmune Disease Treatment - https://scft.link/hMtor Dr. Viktor Wixler and colleagues from Westfaelische Wilhelms-University of Muenster have published groundbreaking research on small spleen peptides (SSPs) in the journal Biomolecules. Their study reveals that SSPs modulate dendritic cell differentiation and extracellular ATP synthesis, offering promising new treatments for autoimmune diseases. #AutoimmuneDisease #Immunology #MedicalResearch #PeptideTherapy #BiomoleculesJournal #sciencefeatured #sciencenews

🔬 Groundbreaking Discovery in Immune System Research! Scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified a unique type of white blood cell that roams the body, constantly searching for and repairing damaged tissues. This discovery, published in the journal Immunity, challenges the traditional view that regulatory T cells are specialized and confined to specific body parts. These new insights could revolutionize treatments for many inflammatory diseases, with clinical trials in humans now on the horizon. 🧬 Regulatory T Cells: The Body's Healers Unlike most white blood cells that attack infections, regulatory T cells act as healers, stopping immune responses once their job is done and promoting tissue repair. These cells shut down inflammation and repair damage caused by immune responses to injury or illness. 💊 Targeted Treatment Potential Currently, anti-inflammatory drugs affect the entire body, making patients more susceptible to infections. The study suggests that it might be possible to temporarily shut down immune responses and repair damage in specific body parts without affecting the rest of the body. This approach could allow for higher and more targeted doses of medication, potentially leading to rapid results in treating diseases. 🧠 Expert Insights: "We've uncovered new immune system rules. This 'unified healer army' can repair injured muscle, improve insulin response, regrow hair follicles, and more. Its potential for treating a vast range of diseases is fantastic," said Professor Adrian Liston from the University of Cambridge's Department of Pathology. 🔍 Early Testing The team analyzed regulatory T cells in 48 different tissues in mice, finding that these cells move throughout the body to where they are needed. Using a drug they developed, they showed that it is possible to attract these cells to specific body parts, increase their numbers, and activate them to turn off immune responses in targeted areas, promoting healing. 🌟 Implications for Treatment This discovery could enhance treatment for many inflammatory diseases and improve outcomes for organ transplant recipients. By targeting immune responses precisely, new treatments could shut down immune attacks on transplanted organs while allowing the rest of the immune system to function normally, significantly improving patients' quality of life. #Immunology #MedicalResearch #InflammatoryDiseases #CambridgeUniversity #HealthInnovation #RegulatoryTCells #FutureOfMedicine https://lnkd.in/dibaKC6N

🚨𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐁𝐃🚨 For the first time, a major trigger in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The breakthrough came as researchers discovered a part of DNA only active in some immune cells which causes inflammation in the bowels. Kudos to James Lee & his research team at the The Francis Crick Institute 👏🏼 As one of the 7 million people around world living with IBD, it brings me great joy seeing this. One of the hardest things to deal with is the uncertainty and how little we know about IBD!! #IBD #immunology

🚨 Liver Cancer is on the Rise in Europe - Time to Act NOW! 🚨 📊 A 61% increase in liver cancer cases. 💔 A 56% increase in deaths since 2000. During Liver Cancer Awareness Month, we have a critical opportunity to make a difference. With #EuropeanLiverScreeningWeek** happening right now, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness about liver health and the urgent need for **early screening. 🔍 Why is screening important? - Early detection can save lives by catching liver cancer in its most treatable stages. - #Livercancer symptoms often appear late – screening is a powerful tool to stay ahead. - High-risk groups, like those with liver disease, should get screened regularly to ensure better outcomes. By participating in #EuropeanLiverScreeningWeek, you’re helping shine a light on one of Europe’s most pressing health issues. **Together, we can push for more widespread liver screening across Europe**, leading to early detection, better treatments, and saved lives. 👉 Let’s act NOW. Get screened, spread the word, and join the movement to fight liver cancer! Use the hashtags #LiverCancerAwarenessMonth and #EuropeanLiverScreeningWeek to show your support. #EuropeanLiverScreeningWeek #LiverCancerAwarenessMonth #Hepatitis #LiverHealth #FédérationSOSHépatites #Liver4Life #ScreeningSavesLives #October #LiverCancerAwarenessMonth #EuropeanLiverScreeningWeek #RainOrShine #LiverHealthMatters #EUHealth #PreventionIsKey #EarlyDetectionSavesLives" #EUCancerPlan European Commission EU Health and Food Safety European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) WHO Regional Office for Europe World Health Organization EASL the home of Hepatology International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) UEG - United European Gastroenterology Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) European Cancer Organisation Cancer Patients Europe - CPE Digestive Cancers Europe European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization International Diabetes Federation Europe International Diabetes Federation Aleksander Krag Debbie Shawcross Ben Hainsworth Manuel Romero Gomez Shaibu Issa Nicholas Brooke Marco Greco Marko Korenjak Antonella Cardone Veronika Všetíčková Beatrice Credi Richard Hall Liver4Life Fédération SOS Hépatites & Maladies du foie Anastassiya Semeiskaya Maya Matthews Katie Owens Robb Butler ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology Milka Sokolović European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)

“Extra-hepatic” delivery is all the rage, but “extra-hepatocyte” delivery is what we really should be talking about. In the last post we showed you intramuscular administration of LNP019 but this week we want to look at intravenous administration of this neutral hydrophilic LNP. Intravenous systemic administration of this neutral LNP results in a special type of liver tropism. What makes this tropism special is that LNP019 has a high propensity for the sinusoidal endothelial cells. Why is this exciting news? Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are responsible for evaluating and telling your body if something is safe. They have an integral role in both innate and adaptive immunity as well as maintaining immune tolerance. The LSECs make up the capillary beds of the liver, where they are exposed to numerous microbial- and food derived antigens. They send a “safe” signal to the body by promoting immune tolerance and through recruiting immunosuppressive leukocyte subsets. This means that targeting these cells could be useful in designing therapies for autoimmune diseases. However, sometimes LSECs mis-inform the body that a virus or a cancer is safe. In these instances, targeting LSECs with LNPs could be useful to dampen down the “this is safe” signal. In an autoimmune disease the body recognises parts of itself as foreign and attacks itself with the immune system. Delivery of LNP019 encapsulating mRNAs which encode both the “foreign looking” antigens and a co-inhibitory tolerogenic signal in sinusoidal endothelial cells of the liver is a neat way to train your immune system that these antigens are ok, and the immune system no longer needs to fight against these antigens. If the LSECs no longer recognise a virus as a treat a chronic viral illness can persist or if a cancer is no longer seen as a threat, tumour development can be facilitated. In fact, the liver is frequently the site where secondary tumours grow. Many cancer types exploit the tolerogenic function of LSECs to contribute to a metastatic niche within the liver. LNP delivery of mRNAs encoding antigens from the virus or cancer along with co-stimulatory signals can be used as a therapy for these conditions. If LSECs are an interesting target for you or someone you know, get in touch! #pantherna #lnp #delivery #nucleicacids #rna #mrna #therapy #geneediting #biotech #research #drugdevelopment #nanoparticle #autoimmune #virus #cancer #tolerogenic #adaptive #innate #LSEC #endothelial #sinusoidal

Meta-analysis and the integration of datasets can be a very powerful tool. This is an exciting article describing the auto immune disease focused meta-analysis of "public single-cell datasets of over 1.8 million peripheral CD4+ T cells from 953 individuals by projecting cells onto the reference and cataloging cell frequency and qualitative alterations of the populations in 20 diseases." Join Pythia Biosciences with 🎯 Ming "Tommy" Tang and Jenny (Ngoc) Pham for the exiting topic of single cell data integration. https://lnkd.in/gdkuVSdq #singlecell #singlecellanalysis #multiomics #immunology #autoimmunedisease #tcells #datavisualization https://lnkd.in/g59Q2KRa

Impact of Obesity on the IL-6 Immune Marker and Th17 Immune Cells in C57BL/6 Mice Models with Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis body fat is an endocrine producer So Hee Park 1, Kyung Ah Lee 2, Jae-Hyeog Choi 3, SaeGwang Park 4, Dae-Wook Kim 5, So Young Jung 1 Affiliations expand PMID: 36982669 PMCID: PMC10059802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065592 Free PMC article Abstract Obese psoriatic patients experience higher disease severity and exhibit poorer treatment responses and clinical outcomes. It has been proposed that proinflammatory cytokines produced by adipose tissue exacerbate psoriasis; however, the role of obesity in psoriasis remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of obesity in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, focusing on immunological changes. To induce obesity, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks. We then applied imiquimod to the skin on a mouse's back for seven consecutive days to induce psoriasis and scored lesion severity every day for seven days. Cytokine levels in serum and the Th17 cell population in the spleen and draining lymph nodes were studied to identify immunological differences. The clinical severity was more remarkable, and histologically the epidermis was also significantly thicker in the obese group. Increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were observed in serum after psoriasis. They were elevated to a greater degree, with greater expansion of the functional Th17 cell population in the obese group. It is concluded that obesity could exacerbate psoriasis through mechanisms that involve elevated proinflammatory cytokine secretion and an expanded Th17 cell population.

Immune protein linked to long COVID A signalling molecule that helps to kick-start inflammation in the lungs could play a key part in aggravating some long COVID symptoms. Previous research has shown that people with long COVID have elevated levels of the molecule, called interferon gamma (IFN-γ). By inhibiting IFN-γ in mice with COVID-19, “we were able to dampen the chronic conditions after infection”, says immunology researcher and study co-author Jie Sun. “In the future, we could target this pathway for potential treatment of long COVID.” #COVID #longCOVID #intrferongamma #IFNg #treatment https://lnkd.in/db349gPF