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Nano- and microparticles including crystals, synthetic biomaterials, misfolded proteins or environmental particulates are involved in a wide range of biological processes and diseases. They may present as intrinsic or environmental toxins but may also be applied intentionally, e.g. as immune adjuvants, drug carriers or ion exchangers. The discovery that a wide range of nano- and microparticles share the capacity to induce IL-1β secretion via activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in dendritic cells and macrophages has led to the hypothesis that nano- and microparticles may contribute in a uniform mechanistic manner to different disease entities. Other molecular mechanisms triggered by a range...
NETosis, a form of cell death that manifests by the release of decondensed chromatin to the extracellular space, provides valuable insights into mechanisms and consequences of cellular demise. Because extracellular chromatin can immobilize microbes, the extended nucleohistone network was called a neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), and the process of chromatin release was proposed to serve an innate immune defense function. Extracellular chromatin NETs were initially observed in studies of neutrophils and are most prominent in these types of granulocytes. Subsequent studies showed that other granulocytes and, in a limited way, other cells of the innate immune response may also release nucle...
For long, high dose ionizing radiation was considered as a net immune suppressing agent, as shown, among others, by the exquisite radiosensitivity of the lymphoid system to radiation-induced cell killing. However, recent advances in radiobiology and immunology have made this picture more complex. For example, the recognition that radiation-induced bystander effects, share common mediators with various immunological signalling processes, suggests that they are at least partly immune mediated. Another milestone was the finding, in the field of onco-immunology, that local tumor irradiation can modulate the immunogenicity of tumor cells and the anti-tumor immune responsiveness both locally, in t...
The most efficient way to mount a sustained immune response is to target antigens to antigen presenting cells that trigger both innate and adaptive immune responses. A comprehensive view of the current approaches to the design of new antigenic formulations will enhance our understanding and perspective of targeted immunotherapy. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the currently adopted targeting strategies by a collection of articles on: 1.Novel approaches of antigen targeting for immunotherapeutic strategies against cancer and/or infectious diseases. 2. Diversity and biology of dendritic cell subsets in human and mouse. 3. Combined strategies for the delivery of antigens and adjuvant molecules that stimulate innate immune responses and their influence on the quality of immune responses. 4. Impact of the receptor mediate intracellular trafficking on antigen presentation.
In multicellular organisms, states with a high degree of tissue turnover like embryogenesis, development, and adult tissue homeostasis need an instantaneous, tightly regulated and immunologically silent clearance of these dying cells to ensure appropriate development of the embryo and adult tissue remodelling. The proper and swift clearance of apoptotic cells is essential to prevent cellular leakage of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) which would lead to the stimulation of inflammatory cytokine responses. In addition to the clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis), backup mechanisms are required to cope with DAMPs (HMGB-1, DNA, RNA, S100 molecules, ATP and adenosine) and othe...
Glycans represent a major constituency of post-translational modifications that occur on most, if not all, proteins. Whether on mammalian or invertebrate cell surfaces, they exist as sugar chain moieties designed from the exquisite and coordinated activity of cell-specific glycosylation. Some of the more common glycan structures are linked to cell surface polypeptides via an asparagine (N)-linked residue or a serine/threonine (O)-linked residue, along with a notable contingent found linked to ceramides in the lipid bilayer known as glycosphingolipids. These glycans can associate with complementary glycan-binding proteins (GBP) or lectins to mediate and translate this carbohydrate recognition...
The brief description of tumours being “wounds that do not heal” by Dr Harold F. Dworak nearly three decades ago (N Engl J Med 1986) has provided not only a vivid illustration of neoplastic diseases in general but also, in retrospect conceptually, a plausible immunological definition of cancers. Based on our current understanding in the field, it could have even a multi-dimensional meaning attached with. This relates to several important issues which need to be addressed further, i.e. in terms of a close link between chronic inflammation and tumourigenesis widely observed; clinical and experimental evidence of immunity against tumours versus the highly immunosuppressive tumour microenvir...
Dr. Tomcik receives research funding from Arxx Therapeutics. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.