The mechanisms of chronic HBV infection and immunopathogenesis are poorly understood due to a lack of a robust small animal model. Here we report the development of a humanized mouse model with both human immune system and human liver cells by reconstituting the immunodeficient A2/NSG (NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice with human HLA-A2 transgene) with human hematopoietic stem cells and liver progenitor cells (A2/NSG-hu HSC/Hep mice). The A2/NSG-hu HSC/Hep mouse supported HBV infection and approximately 75% of HBV infected mice established persistent infection for at least 4 months. We detected human immune responses, albeit impaired in the liver, chronic liver inflammation and liver fibrosis in infected animals. An HBV neutralizing antibody efficiently inhibited HBV infection and associated liver diseases in humanized mice. In addition, we found that the HBV mediated liver disease was associated with high level of infiltrated human macrophages with M2-like activation phenotype. Importantly, similar M2-like macrophage accumulation was confirmed in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver diseases. Furthermore, gene expression analysis showed that induction of M2-like macrophage in the liver is associated with accelerated liver fibrosis and necrosis in patients with acute HBV-induced liver failure. Lastly, we demonstrate that HBV promotes M2-like activation in both M1 and M2 macrophages in cell culture studies. Our study demonstrates that the A2/NSG-hu HSC/Hep mouse model is valuable in studying HBV infection, human immune responses and associated liver diseases. Furthermore, results from this study suggest a critical role for macrophage polarization in hepatitis B virus-induced immune impairment and liver pathology.

It is well established that interleukin (IL)-22 has hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic functions in acute liver injury models; however, its function in patients with liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis (LC) remains obscure. In the current study, we demonstrated that expression of numerous IL-22 pathway-associated genes was significantly upregulated in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected liver tissues compared with normal controls through microarray analysis. In agreement with these findings, liver-infiltrating IL-22+ cells were largely increased in HBV-infected patients with LC compared with those without LC or healthy subjects, and were positively associated with liver fibrosis staging scores. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometric analyses revealed that IL-22 was produced by multiple intrahepatic immune cells, and preferentially by Th17 cells in LC patients. In a HBV transgenic mouse model of T cell-mediated chronic liver inflammation/fibrosis, blockade of IL-22 attenuated hepatic expression of CXCL10 and CCL20, and subsequently reduced Th17 recruitment and liver inflammation/fibrosis progression. In vitro treatment with IL-22 stimulated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to secret several chemokines and subsequently promoted Th17 cell chemotaxis. Blocking CXCR3 or CCL20 reduced Th17 cell chemotaxis by IL-22-treated HSCs. Conclusions Our findings suggest that IL-22 plays a pathological role in exacerbating chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis by recruiting hepatic Th17 cells in HBV infected patients and HBV transgenic mice.

CD47 on tumor cells protects from phagocytosis, while PD-L1 dampens T cell-mediated tumor killing. However, whether and how CD47 and PD-L1 coordinate is poorly understood. We reveal that CD47 and PD-L1 on tumor cells coordinately suppress innate and adaptive sensing to evade immune control. Targeted blockade of both CD47 and PD-L1 on tumor cells with a bispecific anti-PD-L1-SIRPα showed significantly enhanced tumor targeting and therapeutic efficacy versus monotherapy. Mechanistically, systemic delivery of the dual-targeting heterodimer significantly increased DNA sensing, DC cross-presentation, and anti-tumor T cell response. In addition, chemotherapy that increases "eat me" signaling further synergizes with the bispecific reagent for better tumor control. Our data indicate that tumor cells evolve to utilize both innate and adaptive checkpoints to evade anti-tumor immune responses and that tumor cell-specific dual-targeting of both checkpoints represents an improved strategy for tumor immunotherapy.

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Highlights d CmAb-(IL10) 2 prolongs the half-life of IL-10 and minimizes its toxicity d Tumor-targeted IL-10 induces superior antitumor effects over nontargeted IL-10 d CmAb-(IL10) 2 prevents tumor-specific CD8 + TILs apoptosis through IL-10R on DCs d CmAb-(IL10) 2 overcomes resistance to immune checkpoint blockade

BackgroundIn China, high prevalence of HBV and HCV parallels with the growing epidemic of syphilis and HIV in the general population poses a great threat to blood safety. This study investigated the prevalence of serologic markers for transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) among four Chinese blood centers.MethodsWe examined whole blood donations collected from January 2000 through December 2010 at four Chinese blood centers. Post-donation testing of TTIs (HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis) were conducted using two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for each seromarker. The prevalence of serologic markers for TTIs (%) was calculated and additional analysis was conducted to examine donor characteristics associated with positive TTIs serology.ResultsOf the 4,366,283 donations, 60% were from first-time donors and 40% were from repeated donors. The overall prevalence of HIV, HBsAg, HCV and syphilis was 0.08%, 0.86%, 0.51% and 0.47%, respectively. The prevalence profile of TTIs varied among different blood centers and appeared at relatively high levels. Overall, the prevalence of HBsAg and HCV demonstrated a decline trend among four blood centers, while the prevalence of HIV and syphilis displayed three different trends: constantly steady, continually increasing and declining among different centers.ConclusionsThis study reflects the risk of TTIs has been greatly reduced in China, but blood transfusion remains an ongoing risk factor for the spread of blood-borne infections, and further work and improvements are needed to strengthen both safety and availability of blood in China.

Purpose The inhibition of tumor growth by anti-CD20 antibody (Ab) treatment is mediated by antibody- and complement-dependent cytotoxicity in xenograft tumor models. Additionally, anti-CD20 therapy for B-cell lymphoma can result in intrinsic and extrinsic tumor resistance to further Ab treatment. However, adaptive immune response-related resistance has not been well studied in anti-CD20-mediated tumor control, and adaptive immunity has long been underestimated. The purpose of this study was to explore whether T cells are involved in mediating the effects of anti-CD20 therapy and what factors contribute to adaptive immune response-related resistance. Experimental Design Using a syngeneic mouse B-cell lymphoma model, we investigated the role of CD8+ T cells in anti-CD20-mediated tumor regression. Furthermore, we revealed how the tumor-specific T-cell response was initiated by anti-CD20. Finally, we studied adaptive immune response-related resistance in advanced B-cell lymphoma. Results CD8+ T cells played an essential role in anti-CD20-mediated tumor regression. Mechanistically, anti-CD20 therapy promoted DC-mediated cross-presentation. Importantly, macrophages were also necessary for the increase in the tumor-specific CTL response after anti-CD20 treatment, via the production of type I IFN to activate DC function. Furthermore, adaptive resistance is gradually developed through the CTLA-4 pathway in Treg cells in larger lymphomas. Further blockade of CTLA-4 can synergize with anti-CD20 treatment in anti-tumor activities. Conclusions The therapeutic function of anti-CD20 depends on tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell responses initiated by anti-CD20 through macrophages and DCs. CTLA-4 blockade can synergize with anti-CD20 to overcome adaptive immune response-related resistance in advanced B-cell lymphoma.

Bladder cancer, the second most common genitourinary malignancy, severely endangers the human health. Rising evidence suggests that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are involve in tumor progression. In this study, we observed that metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) was functionally expressed in normal and cancerous bladder cells and its expression was positively correlated with high bladder cancer grading. We further confirmed that the activation of mGluR4 by VU0155041, an mGluR4-specific agonist, decreased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and cell viability, promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in bladder cancer cells, whereas MSOP (group III mGluR antagonist) or mGluR4 knockdown eliminated the effects of mGluR4 activity. Western blotting revealed the decreased cyclin D1 expression, increased procaspase-8/9/3 cleavage, and unbalanced Bcl-2/Bax expression in bladder cancer cell lines after mGluR4 activation, and likewise MSOP and mGluR4 knockdown abrogated the actions of mGluR4 activity. In vivo study showed that mGluR4 activation significantly inhibited tumor growth of bladder cancer via suppressing proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and inhibition of Akt phosphorylation were also observed after mGluR4 activation. Similar with VU0155041, the Akt-specific inhibitor markedly promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation. Nevertheless, the PTEN-specific inhibitor significantly abolished the mGluR4 activation-induced cell apoptosis and proliferative inhibition in bladder cancer cell lines. These results indicate that mGluR4 can regulate the switch between survival and death via the cAMP/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway in bladder cancer cells. Our findings suggest that mGluR4 has diagnostic and prognostic potential for bladder cancer, and the development of mGluR4 agonist may be a promising strategy for bladder cancer treatment.