Neutrophils represent the primary defense against microbial threats playing a pivotal role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. This review examines the multifaceted involvement of neutrophils in periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of teeth summarizing the contribution of neutrophil dysfunction in periodontitis and periodontal-related comorbidities. Periodontitis, a pathological condition promoted by dysbiosis of the oral microbiota, is characterized by the chronic inflammation of the gingiva and subsequent tissue destruction. Neutrophils are among the first immune cells recruited to the site of infection, releasing antimicrobial peptides, enzymes, and reactive oxygen species to eliminate pathogens. The persistent inflammatory state in periodontitis can lead to aberrant neutrophil activation and a sustained release of proinflammatory mediators, finally resulting in tissue damage, bone resorption, and disease progression. Growing evidence now points to the correlation between periodontitis and systemic comorbidities. Indeed, the release of inflammatory mediators, immune complexes, and oxidative stress by neutrophils, bridge the gap between local and systemic immunity, thus highlighting neutrophils as key players in linking periodontal inflammation to chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. This review underscores the crucial role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and the complex link between neutrophil dysfunction, local inflammation, and systemic comorbidities. A comprehensive understanding of neutrophil contribution to periodontitis development and their impact on periodontal comorbidities holds significant implications for the management of oral health. Furthermore, it highlights the need for the development of novel approaches aimed at limiting the persistent recruitment and activation of neutrophils, also reducing the impact of periodontal inflammation on broader health contexts, offering promising avenues for improved disease management and patient care.

The PIM family of serine/threonine kinases (PIM1, PIM2, and PIM3) are involved in the development of cancer and represent promising therapeutic targets. We investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting PIM kinases in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), particularly the activated B‐cell‐like (ABC) subtype, using the pan‐PIM inhibitor AZD1208. We demonstrated that PIM1 and PIM2 are more highly expressed in ABC‐ cells than in germinal center B‐cell‐like (GCB) ‐DLBCL cells, and that ABC‐DLBCL cell lines are more sensitive to PIM inhibition with AZD1208. Transcriptome analysis of ABC‐DLBCL cell lines treated with AZD1208 revealed a downregulation of genes involved in NF‐κB signaling, a crucial pathway for ABC‐DLBCL. We also explored synergistic drug combinations using a high‐throughput screen, which identified BCL2 and glutaminase inhibitors as effective partners for AZD1208, particularly in aggressive ABC‐DLBCL and double‐hit cell lines. The combination of AZD1208 with the clinically available BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax was synergistic in most DLBCL cell lines, and this combination induced apoptosis and reduced levels of AKT and MCL1 proteins. In conclusion, our findings suggested that AZD1208, especially when combined with BCL2 inhibitors like venetoclax, holds promise as a treatment strategy for aggressive lymphomas. These combinations may enable lower doses of PIM inhibitors, leading to increased tolerability and improved anti‐tumor activity in clinical settings. The study also highlighted the potential for targeting PIM kinases in combination with other therapies to overcome drug resistance in DLBCL.

Background/Objectives: Reprogramming of the cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, offering therapeutic opportunities to target cancer cell vulnerabilities for therapeutic purposes. 3-Bromopyruvate (3BP) is a small alkylating agent that functions as an anti-metabolite, targeting key substrates in cancer metabolism and demonstrating antitumor activity across multiple cancer types. However, unformulated 3BP is associated with significant toxicity. This study investigates the efficacy of KAT/3BP, a clinical derivative of 3BP currently in phase 1 trials for hepatocellular carcinoma, in preclinical lymphoma models. Results: In vitro, KAT/3BP exhibited cytotoxic activity across 12 lymphoma cell lines—including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma—with a median IC₅₀ of 3.7 μM. It also remained effective against lymphoma cell lines with acquired resistance to FDA-approved therapies. In vivo, treatment with KAT/3BP led to reduced tumor size in a syngeneic mouse model, with the combination of oral and intratumoral administration showing the greatest efficacy. Furthermore, KAT/3BP demonstrated synergistic activity when combined with standard lymphoma therapies such as bendamustine and R-CHOP. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential of KAT/3BP as a novel therapeutic option, either as a single agent or in combination regimens, for treating lymphomas.