Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
STAT6
Inflammation is the main driver of tumor initiation and progression in colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Recent findings have indicated that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) plays a fundamental role in the early stages of CAC, and STAT6 knockout (STAT6−/−) mice are highly resistant to CAC development. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a major role in coordinating immunomodulation in cancer; however, the role of STAT6 in the induction and function of Treg cells is poorly understood. To clarify the contribution of STAT6 to CAC, STAT6−/− and wild type (WT) mice were subjected to an AOM/DSS regimen, and the frequency of peripheral and local Treg cells was determined during the progression of CAC. When STAT6 was lacking, a remarkable reduction in tumor growth was observed, which was associated with decreased inflammation and an increased number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells. STAT6 has a direct role in the induction and function of Treg cells during CAC development.  
  • 897
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Chasing Uterine Cancer with NK Cell-Based Immunotherapies
Gynecological cancers, including endometrial adenocarcinoma, significantly contribute to cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. The immune system plays a significant role in endometrial cancer pathogenesis. (uterine) NK cells, a component of innate immunity, are among the critical innate immune cells in the uterus crucial in menstruation, embryonic development, and fighting infections. NK cell number and function influence endometrial cancer development and progression. Hence, it becomes crucial to understand the role of local (uterine) NK cells in uterine cancer.
  • 896
  • 20 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Cholinergic Polarization of Human Macrophages
Macrophages serve as vital defenders, protecting the body by exhibiting remarkable cellular adaptability in response to invading pathogens and various stimuli. These cells express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, with the α7-nAChR being extensively studied due to its involvement in activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Activation of this pathway plays a crucial role in suppressing macrophages’ production of proinflammatory cytokines, thus mitigating excessive inflammation and maintaining host homeostasis.
  • 896
  • 01 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Mitochondria at Work
Mitochondria can adapt to the requirements of different organs. For instance long-life energy supply for the heart or metabolism for function of the liver. Dysregulations are observed in all major chronic diseases. The paper includes interventional strategies for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, cancer, cachexia and immune system exhaustion.
  • 895
  • 07 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Nanomedicine for Immune Escape in Breast Cancer
Nanomedicine has gained great importance in cancer immunotherapy, as many emerging nanoplatforms with different designs have been recently developed to overcome various mechanisms of cancer immune escape and increase the efficacy of antitumor immune response.
  • 895
  • 11 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Regulatory T Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Human Diseases
Regulatory T (Treg) cells play crucial roles in maintaining immune self-tolerance and immune homeostasis, and closely associated with many human diseases. Treg cells-derived extracellular vesicles (Treg-EVs) have been demonstrated as a novel cell-contact independent inhibitory mechanism of Treg cells. Treg-EVs contain many specific biological molecules, which are delivered to target cells and modulate immune responses by inhibiting T cell proliferation, inducing T cell apoptosis, and changing the cytokine expression profiles of target cells. The abnormal quantity or function of Treg-EVs is associated with several types of human diseases or conditions, such as transplant rejection, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Treg-EVs are promising novel potential targets for disease diagnosis, therapy, and drug transport. Moreover, Treg-EVs possess distinct advantages over Treg cell-based immunotherapies. 
  • 895
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
PD-L1 Expression in Anti-PD-(L)1 Immunotherapy
PD-L1 expression on tumor tissues as assessed by immunohistochemistry has been shown to be an imperfect biomarker that only applies to a limited number of cancers, whereas many patients with PD-L1-negative tumors still respond to anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy. Anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) or anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy (anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy) has achieved unprecedented clinical efficacy for patients with various types and stages of cancers. PD-L1 expression on tumor tissues has clearly shown the predictive value in many types of cancers, as patient responses to anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy are linearly associated with increased levels of PD-L1 expression in many types of cancers. However, positive PD-L1 expression can only partially predict which patients benefit from therapy, as a subset of patients whose tumors lack expression of PD-L1 has also been shown to respond positively to anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy.
  • 892
  • 01 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Th1 Polarization Induced by Dendritic-Cell-Priming Adjuvant in Vaccination
Virus-derived nucleic acids are potential immune-enhancers and particularly good candidates as adjuvants in vaccines in mouse models. The most important nucleic-acid-sensing process involves the dendritic cell (DC) Toll-like receptor (TLR), which participates in the pattern recognition of foreign DNA/RNA structures. Human CD141+ DCs preferentially express TLR3 in endosomes and recognize double-stranded RNA. Antigen cross-presentation occurs preferentially in this subset of DCs (cDCs) via the TLR3–TICAM-1–IRF3 axis. Another subset, plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), specifically expresses TLR7/9 in endosomes.
  • 891
  • 19 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Manipulating EVs for Therapeutic Applications
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) receive special attention from clinicians due to their assumed usefulness as prognostic markers, immune modulators and physiological delivery tools. The latter application, that supports the reduction of side effects of treatment, is still fraught with many challenges, including established methods for loading EVs with selected cargo and directing them towards target cells. EVs could be loaded with selected cargo either in vitro using several physicochemical techniques, or in vivo by modification of parental cell. Otherwise, EVs may be passively supplemented with selected cargo, such as miRNAs or siRNA. Furthermore, recent findings imply that antigen-specific antibody light chains could coat the surface of EVs to increase the specificity of cell targeting. In addition, the route of EVs’ administration also determines their bioavailability and eventually induced therapeutic effect.
  • 889
  • 03 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Macrophages and Atherosclerosis
Macrophages are the key inflammatory cell type involved in all stages of atherosclerosis development and progression, as demonstrated by numerous studies. Correspondingly, macrophages are currently regarded as a promising therapeutic target for the development of new treatment approaches. The macrophage population is heterogeneous and dynamic, as these cells can switch between a number of distinct functional states with pro- and anti-atherogenic activity in response to various stimuli. An atherosclerotic plaque microenvironment defined by cytokine levels, cell-to-cell interactions, lipid accumulation, hypoxia, neoangiogenesis, and intraplaque haemorrhage may guide local macrophage polarization processes within the lesion.
  • 889
  • 04 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Respiratory Epithelial Cells against Fungal Infections
The respiratory epithelium is highly complex, and its composition varies along the conducting airways and alveoli. In addition to their primary function in maintaining the respiratory barrier and lung homeostasis for gas exchange, epithelial cells interact with inhaled pathogens, which can manipulate cell signaling pathways, promoting adhesion to these cells or hosting tissue invasion. Moreover, pathogens (or their products) can induce the secretion of chemokines and cytokines by epithelial cells, and in this way, these host cells communicate with the immune system, modulating host defenses and inflammatory outcomes.
  • 889
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Immunogenic Cell Death in Cancer Biology and Therapy
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a modality of regulated cell death that is sufficient to promote an adaptive immune response against antigens of the dying cell in an immunocompetent host. An important characteristic of ICD is the release and exposure of damage-associated molecular patterns, which are potent endogenous immune adjuvants. As the induction of ICD can be achieved with conventional cytotoxic agents, it represents a potential approach for the immunotherapy of cancer.
  • 889
  • 02 Sep 2022
Topic Review
IgG N-glycan Signatures as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers
IgG N-glycans are an emerging source of disease-specific biomarkers. The continued development of glycomic databases and the evolution of glyco-analytic methods have resulted in increased throughput, resolution, and sensitivity. IgG N-glycans promote adaptive immune responses through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement activation to combat infection or cancer and promote autoimmunity. In addition to the functional assays, researchers are examining the ability of protein-specific glycosylation to serve as biomarkers of disease. 
  • 889
  • 28 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Iron Absorption and Regulation Mechanisms
Iron deficiency remains one of the main nutritional disorders worldwide and low iron intake and/or bioavailability are currently the major causes of anemia. To fight this public health problem, the scientific challenge is to find an iron form with sufficient bioavailability to increase its levels in humans through food fortification. In turn, biofortification appears as a comparatively advantageous and bearable strategy for the delivery of vitamins and other micronutrients for people without access to a healthy and diverse diet. This approach relies on plant breeding, transgenic techniques, or agronomic practices to obtain a final food product with a higher iron content. It is also known that certain food constituents are able to favor or inhibit iron absorption. The management of these compounds can thus successfully improve the absorption of dietary iron and, ultimately, contribute to fight this disorder present all over the world. This review describes the main causes/manifestations of iron-deficiency anemia, forms of disease prevention and treatment, and the importance of a balanced and preventive diet. A special focus was given to innovative food fortification and biofortification procedures used to improve the iron content in staple food crops. 
  • 886
  • 13 Nov 2021
Topic Review
IFN-α-Conditioned Dendritic Cells
Dendritic cells (DCs) are unique cellular drivers orchestrating adaptive immune response. In the light of the recent success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in cancer treatment, DC have recently been reconsidered as critical cellular adjuvants in cancer vaccination. In fact, increasing the presentation of tumor antigens remains one of the major issues for eliciting a strong antitumor immune response. A number of studies have confirmed that type I IFN can efficiently promote the differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes into potent DC (IFN-DC), orientating DC functions towards the priming and expansion of protective antitumor immune responses. IFN-DC can be conveniently exploited for the design of effective strategies of cancer vaccination as a monotherapy or in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors or immunomodulatory drugs.
  • 881
  • 09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Tuft Cells
Tuft cells have emerged as the focus of intense interest following the discovery of their chemosensory role in the intestinal tract, and their ability to activate Type 2 immune responses to helminth parasites. Moreover, they populate a wide range of mucosal tissues and are intimately connected to immune and neuronal cells, either directly or through the release of pharmacologically active mediators. They are now recognised to fulfil both homeostatic roles, in metabolism and tissue integrity, as well as acting as the first sensors of parasite infection, immunity to which is lost in their absence. 
  • 881
  • 22 Dec 2023
Topic Review
CD83 as Checkpoint Molecule Controlling Resolution of Inflammation
Chronic inflammatory diseases and transplant rejection represent major challenges for modern health care. Thus, identification of immune checkpoints that contribute to resolution of inflammation is key to developing novel therapeutic agents for those conditions. In recent years, the CD83 (cluster of differentiation 83) protein has emerged as an interesting potential candidate for such a “pro-resolution” therapy. This molecule occurs in a membrane-bound and a soluble isoform (mCD83 and sCD83, respectively), both of which are involved in resolution of inflammation. Originally described as a maturation marker on dendritic cells (DCs), mCD83 is also expressed by activated B and T cells as well as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and controls turnover of MHC II molecules in the thymus, and thereby positive selection of CD4+ T cells. Additionally, it serves to confine overshooting (auto-)immune responses. Consequently, animals with a conditional deletion of CD83 in DCs or regulatory T cells suffer from impaired resolution of inflammation. Pro-resolving effects of sCD83 became evident in pre-clinical autoimmune and transplantation models, where application of sCD83 reduced disease symptoms and enhanced allograft survival, respectively.
  • 879
  • 07 Feb 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Our Time
Coronavirus disease-19 (a.k.a. COVID-19) is a new disease caused by a coronavirus that is still under investigation concerning how it spreads. Development and deployment of biosensors for the rapid detection of the 2019 novel severe acute respiratory syndrome—coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are of utmost importance and urgency during this recent outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, which spread rapidly around the world. 
  • 879
  • 08 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Bispecific Antibodies for IFN-β Delivery to ErbB2+ Tumors
The main aim of this work was to create a full-length bispecific antibody (BsAb) as a vehicle for the targeted delivery of interferon-beta (IFN-β) to ErbB2+ tumor cells in the form of non-covalent complex of BsAb and IFN-β. Such a construct is a CrossMab-type BsAb, consisting of an ErbB2-recognizing trastuzumab moiety, a part of chimeric antibody to IFN-β, and human IgG1 Fc domain carrying knob-into-hole amino acid substitutions necessary for the proper assembly of bispecific molecules. The IFN-β- recognizing arm of BsAb not only forms a complex with the cytokine but neutralizes its activity, thus providing a mechanism to avoid the side effects of the systemic action of IFN-β by blocking IFN-β Interaction with cell receptors in the process of cytokine delivery to tumor sites. Enzyme sandwich immunoassay confirmed the ability of BsAb to bind to human IFN-β comparable to that of the parental chimeric mAb.
  • 878
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Radiotherapy Induced Immunogenic Cell Death
The immunogenic cell death (ICD) is defined as a regulated cell death able to induce an adaptive immunity. It depends on different parameters including sufficient antigenicity, adjuvanticity and favorable microenvironment conditions. Radiation therapy (RT), a pillar of modern cancer treatment, is being used in many tumor types in curative, (neo) adjuvant, as well as metastatic settings. The anti-tumor effects of RT have been traditionally attributed to the mitotic cell death resulting from the DNA damages triggered by the release of reactive oxygen species. Recent evidence sug-gests that RT may also exert its anti-tumor effect by recruiting tumor-specific immunity. RT is able to induce the release of tumor antigens, to act as an immune adjuvant and thus to synergize with the anti-tumor immunity. The advent of new efficient immunotherapeutic agents, such as im-mune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), in multiple tumor types sheds new light on the opportunity of combining RT and ICI.
  • 877
  • 16 Mar 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 39
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback