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A null mutation was prepared in the mouse for CD18, the β2 subunit of leukocyte integrins. Homozygous CD18 null mice develop chronic dermatitis with extensive facial and submandibular erosions. The phenotype includes elevated neutrophil counts, increased immunoglobulin levels, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and abundant plasma cells in skin, lymph nodes, gut, and kidney. Very few neutrophils were found in spontaneously occurring skin lesions or with an induced toxic dermatitis. Intravital microscopy in CD18 null mice revealed a lack of firm neutrophil attachment to venules in the cremaster muscle in response to N-formyl- methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. A severe defect in T cell proliferation was found in the CD18 null mice when T cell receptors were stimulated either by staphylococcal enterotoxin A or by major histocompatibility complex alloantigens demonstrating a greater role of CD11/CD18 integrins in T cell responses than previously documented. The null mice are useful for delineating the functions of CD18 in vivo.

Rationale & ObjectiveThe approved therapeutic indication for immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are rapidly expanding including treatment in the adjuvant setting, the immune related toxicities associated with CPI can limit the efficacy of these agents. The literature on the nephrotoxicity of CPI is limited. Here, we present cases of biopsy proven acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) and glomerulonephritis (GN) induced by CPIs and discuss potential mechanisms of these adverse effects.Study design, setting, & participantsWe retrospectively reviewed all cancer patients from 2008 to 2018 who were treated with a CPI and subsequently underwent a kidney biopsy at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.ResultsWe identified 16 cases diagnosed with advanced solid or hematologic malignancy; 12 patients were male, and the median age was 64 (range 38 to 77 years). The median time to developing acute kidney injury (AKI) from starting CPIs was 14 weeks (range 6–56 weeks). The average time from AKI diagnosis to obtaining renal biopsy was 16 days (range from 1 to 46 days). Fifteen cases occurred post anti-PD-1based therapy. ATIN was the most common pathologic finding on biopsy (14 of 16) and presented in almost all cases as either the major microscopic finding or as a mild form of interstitial inflammation in association with other glomerular pathologies (pauci-immune glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, C3 glomerulonephritis, immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, or amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis). CPIs were discontinued in 15 out of 16 cases. Steroids and further immunosuppression were used in most cases as indicated for treatment of ATIN and glomerulonephritis (14 of 16), with the majority achieving complete to partial renal recovery.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that CPI related AKI occurs relatively late after CPI therapy. Our biopsy data demonstrate that ATIN is the most common pathological finding; however it can frequently co-occur with other glomerular pathologies, which may require immune suppressive therapy beyond corticosteroids. In the lack of predictive blood or urine biomarker, we recommend obtaining kidney biopsy for CPI related AKI.

To better define the specific function of Mac-1 (CD11b) versus LFA-1 (CD11a) and the other CD11 integrins in vivo, we have disrupted murine CD11b by targeted homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and generated mice which are homozygous for a mutation in CD11b . A null mutation was confirmed by Southern blotting, RNase protection assay, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Neutrophils isolated from mice deficient in Mac-1 were defective in adherence to keyhole limpet hemocyanin-coated glass, iC3b-mediated phagocytosis, and homotypic aggregation. When challenged by thioglycollate intraperitoneally, Mac-1-deficient mice had similar levels of neutrophil accumulation in the peritoneal cavity at 1, 2, and 4 h. Treatment with mAb to LFA-1 blocked 78% of neutrophil accumulation in Mac-1-deficient mice and 58% in wild-type mice. Neutrophil emigration into the peritoneal cavity 16 h after the implantation of fibrinogen-coated disks was not reduced in Mac-1-deficient mice whereas neutrophil adhesion to the fibrinogen-coated disks was reduced by Ͼ 90%. Neutrophils from Mac-1-deficient mice also showed reduced degranulation. Our results demonstrate that Mac-1 plays a critical role in mediating binding of neutrophils to fibrinogen and neutrophil degranulation, but is not necessary for effective neutrophil emigration, which is more dependent upon LFA-1. ( J. Clin. Invest. 1997. 99:1340-1350.)

One of the hallmark findings in patients suffering from SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is lymphopenia, which is the result of massive lymphocyte death. SARS-CoV (SARS coronavirus), a novel coronavirus that has been etiologically associated with SARS cases, is homologous with MHV (murine hepatitis coronavirus), and MHV small envelope E protein is capable of inducing apoptosis. We hypothesized that SARS-CoV encodes a small envelope E protein that is homologous with MHV E protein, thus inducing T-cell apoptosis. To test this hypothesis, a cDNA encoding SARS-CoV E protein was created using whole gene synthesis. Our results showed that SARS-CoV E protein induced apoptosis in the transfected Jurkat T-cells, which was amplified to higher apoptosis rates in the absence of growth factors. However, apoptosis was inhibited by overexpressed antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Moreover, we found that SARS-CoV E protein interacted with Bcl-xL in vitro and endogenous Bcl-xL in vivo and that Bcl-xL interaction with SARS-CoV E protein was mediated by BH3 (Bcl-2 homology domain 3) of Bcl-xL. Finally, we identified a novel BH3-like region located in the C-terminal cytosolic domain of SARS-CoV E protein, which mediates its binding to Bcl-xL. These results demonstrate, for the first time, a novel molecular mechanism of T-cell apoptosis that contributes to the SARS-CoV-induced lymphopenia observed in most SARS patients.

The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, produces natural rubber that serves as an essential industrial raw material. Here, we present a high-quality reference genome for a rubber tree cultivar GT1 using single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) and Hi-C technologies to anchor the $1.47-Gb genome assembly into 18 pseudochromosomes. The chromosome-based genome analysis enabled us to establish a model of spurge chromosome evolution, since the common paleopolyploid event occurred before the split of Hevea and Manihot. We show recent and rapid bursts of the three Hevea-specific LTR-retrotransposon families during the last 10 million years, leading to the massive expansion by $65.88% ($970 Mbp) of the whole rubber tree genome since the divergence from Manihot. We identify large-scale expansion of genes associated with whole rubber biosynthesis processes, such as basal metabolic processes, ethylene biosynthesis, and the activation of polysaccharide and glycoprotein lectin, which are important properties for latex production. A map of genomic variation between the cultivated and wild rubber trees was obtained, which contains $15.7 million high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified hundreds of candidate domestication genes with drastically lowered genomic diversity in the cultivated but not wild rubber trees despite a relatively short domestication history of rubber tree, some of which are involved in rubber biosynthesis. This genome assembly represents key resources for future rubber tree research and breeding, providing novel targets for improving plant biotic and abiotic tolerance and rubber production.

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Immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including arthritis (arthritis-irAE). Management of arthritis-irAE is challenging because immunomodulatory therapy for arthritis should not impede antitumor immunity. Understanding of the mechanisms of arthritis-irAE is critical to overcome this challenge, but the pathophysiology remains unknown. Here, we comprehensively analyze peripheral blood and/or synovial fluid samples from 20 patients with arthritis-irAE, and unmask a prominent Th1-CD8+ T cell axis in both blood and inflamed joints. CX3CR1hi CD8+ T cells in blood and CXCR3hi CD8+ T cells in synovial fluid, the most clonally expanded T cells, significantly share TCR repertoires. The migration of blood CX3CR1hi CD8+ T cells into joints is possibly mediated by CXCL9/10/11/16 expressed by myeloid cells. Furthermore, arthritis after combined CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitor therapy preferentially has enhanced Th17 and transient Th1/Th17 cell signatures. Our data provide insights into the mechanisms, predictive biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for arthritis-irAE.