No abstract

Over the past decade, there have been remarkable advances in understanding the signaling pathways involved in cancer development. It is well-established that cancer is caused by the dysregulation of cellular pathways involved in proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell metabolism, migration, cell polarity, and differentiation. Besides, growing evidence indicates that extracellular matrix signaling, cell surface proteoglycans, and angiogenesis can contribute to cancer development. Given the genetic instability and vast intra-tumoral heterogeneity revealed by the single-cell sequencing of tumoral cells, the current approaches cannot eliminate the mutating cancer cells. Besides, the polyclonal expansion of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes in response to tumoral neoantigens cannot elicit anti-tumoral immune responses due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells can provide valuable insights regarding the expression of inhibitory immune checkpoints/related signaling factors in immune cells, which can be used to select immune checkpoint inhibitors and adjust their dosage. Indeed, the integration of the data obtained from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors can increase the response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors, decrease the immune-related adverse events, and facilitate tumoral cell elimination. This study aims to review key pathways involved in tumor development and shed light on single-cell sequencing. It also intends to address the shortcomings of immune checkpoint inhibitors, i.e., their varied response rates among cancer patients and increased risk of autoimmunity development, via applying the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells.

Background:Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a non-classical class I molecule highly expressed by extravillous cytotrophoblast cells. Due to a single base pair deletion, its function can be compensated by other isoforms. Investigating the frequency of null allele in Recurrent Miscarriage (RM) subjects could be useful in understanding the relationship between frequency of this allele and RM in a given population.Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency of HLA-G*0105N null allele and its potential association with down-regulation of HLA-G in subjects with RM. Materials and Methods:Western blotting was used to assess the level of HLA-G protein expression. For investigating the frequency of HLA-G*0105N null allele in RM subjects, PCR-RFLP method was used. Exon 3 of HLA-G gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, PpuM-1 enzyme was employed to digest the PCR products and fragments were analyzed using gel electrophoresis.Results:Digestion using restriction enzyme showed the presence of heterozygous HLA-G*0105N null allele in 10% of the test population. Western blotting results confirmed the decrease in expression of HLA-G in the placental tissue of subjects with RM compared to subjects who could give normal birth.Conclusion:The frequency of heterozygous HLA-G*0105N null allele was high to some extent in subjects with RM. The mutation rate in subjects suggested that there is a significant association between RM and frequency of mutations in this allele.

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori is recognized as one of the prevalent causes of human gastricinfection. In the present study, the role of mixed immunization with H. pylori lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and recombinant cytotoxin-associated gene A (rCagA) as a stimulator of host immuneresponses was determined. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized with different formulations by the systemic administrationat 14-day intervals. The effects of the formulations plus CpG adjuvants were assessed before andpost-immunization in separated studies. Moreover, the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines wasquantified in sera of immunized mice using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR)test and the protein levels confirmed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Finally, the specific antibody levels in sera were studied by ELISA and the tendency of cellularresponse was examined by IgG1/IgG2a ratio. Results: Data of Western blotting verified the presence of constructed protein. Analysisof lymphocyte proliferation showed that CpG-conjugated rCagA increases lymphocytesproliferation compared to the control group. Also, it was shown that formulations containing LPSand rCagA promote a Th1 response indicated by interferon-gamma expression and induced Th1/Th2 balance. Additionally, the specific IgG1, total IgG and IgG2a levels elevated in response toall treatments. Ultimately, the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio in the mice immunized with rCagA-containingformulations increased. Conclusion: These results indicated that rCagA protein carried with CpG adjuvant not onlymaintained its antigenicity throughout the experiment but also induced robust Th1-biasedimmune responses. Therefore, it holds promise for the production of an efficient vaccine againstH. pylori infection. <br />

Based on preclinical findings, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) can substantially attenuate CD8+ T-cell-mediated anti-tumoral immune responses. However, clinical studies have reported controversial results regarding the significance of the tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells/PD-L1 axis on the clinical picture and the response rate of patients with high-grade glial tumors to anti-cancer therapies. Herein, we conducted a systematic review according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statements to clarify the clinical significance of the tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells/PD-L1 axis and elucidate the impact of this axis on the response rate of affected patients to anti-cancer therapies. Indeed, a better understanding of the impact of this axis on the response rate of affected patients to anti-cancer therapies can provide valuable insights to address the futile response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with high-grade glial tumors. For this purpose, we systematically searched Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed to obtain peer-reviewed studies published before 1 January 2021. We have observed that PD-L1 overexpression can be associated with the inferior prognosis of glioblastoma patients who have not been exposed to chemo-radiotherapy. Besides, exposure to anti-cancer therapies, e.g., chemo-radiotherapy, can up-regulate inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells. Therefore, unlike unexposed patients, increased tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells in anti-cancer therapy-exposed tumoral tissues can be associated with the inferior prognosis of affected patients. Because various inhibitory immune checkpoints can regulate anti-tumoral immune responses, the single-cell sequencing of the cells residing in the tumor microenvironment can provide valuable insights into the expression patterns of inhibitory immune checkpoints in the tumor micromovement. Thus, administrating immune checkpoint inhibitors based on the data from the single-cell sequencing of these cells can increase patients’ response rates, decrease the risk of immune-related adverse events development, prevent immune-resistance development, and reduce the risk of tumor recurrence.