Development of anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF alpha) treatment offers the potential to alter radically the course of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease using modalities directed against a specific inflammatory mediator. Controlled randomised trials in these diseases demonstrate clinical benefit associated with significant improvement in patients with severe active joint and intestinal disease, often when conventional therapies are unsuccessful. To date, anti-TNF alpha therapy has been well tolerated and shows a favourable safety profile. This review considers the nature of this therapy and current evidence of its clinical benefit and adverse effects.

SUMMARYWe studied the effects of TNF-a or GM-CSF on the production of reactive oxygen species (as measured by chemiluminescence) and degranulation responses of neutrophils to opsonized inflammatory microcrystals. TNF-a in the 10-2000 pM or GM-CSF in the 2-200 pM concentration range caused the concentration-dependent amplification of neutrophil chemiluminescence responses to both calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) and monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) crystals. Degranulation responses, as measured by the extracellular release of the granule enzymes myeloperoxidase or lysozyme, were amplified by Ϸ 50-100% for both MSUM or CPPD crystal-induced neutrophil activation when cells were pretreated with TNF-a at 2000 pM or GM-CSF at 75 pM.

We investigated the role of the NFE2L3 transcription factor in inflammation-induced colorectal cancer. Our studies revealed that Nfe2l3−/− mice exhibit significantly less inflammation in the colon, reduced tumor size and numbers, and skewed localization of tumors with a more pronounced decrease of tumors in the distal colon. CIBERSORT analysis of RNA-seq data from normal and tumor tissue predicted a reduction in mast cells in Nfe2l3−/− animals, which was confirmed by toluidine blue staining. Concomitantly, the transcript levels of Il33 and Rab27a, both important regulators of mast cells, were reduced and increased, respectively, in the colorectal tumors of Nfe2l3−/− mice. Furthermore, we validated NFE2L3 binding to the regulatory sequences of the IL33 and RAB27A loci in human colorectal carcinoma cells. Using digital spatial profiling, we found that Nfe2l3−/− mice presented elevated FOXP3 and immune checkpoint markers CTLA4, TIM3, and LAG3, suggesting an increase in Treg counts. Staining for CD3 and FOXP3 confirmed a significant increase in immunosuppressive Tregs in the colon of Nfe2l3−/− animals. Also, Human Microbiome Project (HMP2) data showed that NFE2L3 transcript levels are higher in the rectum of ulcerative colitis patients. The observed changes in the tumor microenvironment provide new insights into the molecular differences regarding colon cancer sidedness. This may be exploited for the treatment of early-onset colorectal cancer as this emerging subtype primarily displays distal/left-sided tumors.

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a cytokine known for its importance in T cell development and survival. How IL-7 shapes CD8 T cell responses during an acute viral infection is less understood. We had previously shown that IL-7 signaling deficient mice have reduced accumulation of influenza-specific CD8 T cells following influenza infection. We sought to determine whether IL-7 affects early CD8 T cell expansion in the mediastinal lymph node and effector function in the lungs. Using IL-7Rα signaling deficient mice, we show that IL-7 is required for a normal sized mediastinal lymph node and the early clonal expansion of influenza-specific CD8 T cells therein. We show that IL-7 plays a cell-intrinsic role in the accumulation of NP366–374 and PA224–233-specific CD8 T cells in the lymph node. We also found that IL-7 shapes terminal differentiation, degranulation and cytokine production to a greater extent in PA224–233-specific than NP366–374-specific CD8 T cells. We further demonstrate that IL-7 is induced in the lung tissue by viral infection and we characterize multiple cellular sources that contribute to IL-7 production. Our findings on IL-7 and its effects on lower respiratory diseases will be important for expanding the utility of therapeutics that are currently available.