Pericytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are ontogenically related, and in fact, no significant phenotypic differences could be observed by flow cytometry. Transcriptome analysis of human pericytes and MSCs revealed that 43 genes were up-regulated more than 10-fold in pericytes compared with MSCs. Identification of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) as one of the most abundant RNA species in pericytes with respect to MSCs and confirmation of TLR4 expression on the cell surface led us to obtain a comprehensive overview of the expression program of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated pericytes. Transcriptional profiling of LPS-treated cells revealed that 22 genes were up-regulated more than 5-fold. Of them, 10 genes encoded chemokines and cytokines (CXCL10, CCL20, IL8, CXCL1, IL6, CCL2, IL1B, CXCL2, IL1A, and CXCL6), and three genes encoded adhesion molecules (ICAM1, VCAM1, and SELE). LPS induced nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-κB in stimulated pericytes. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB activation by SC-514 blocked LPS-induced up-regulation of a subset of chemokine genes, confirming the key role of NF-κB in LPS signaling in pericytes. At the protein level, we assessed the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines IL-6, IL-8, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, and CCL2 not only after LPS treatment but also in HMGB1-stimulated pericytes. Up-regulation of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 resulted in an increased adhesion of peripheral blood leukocytes to an LPS-treated pericyte monolayer. The role of pericytes in the inflammatory context has been scarcely addressed; according to these results, pericytes should be considered as active players in the inflammatory cascade with potential physiopathological implications.

The gene mutated in ataxia telangiectasia, ATM, has been implicated in several cell functions such as cell cycle control and response to DNA damage and insulin. PKB/Akt has also been implicated in the cellular response to insulin, γ-radiation, and cell cycle control. Interestingly, lack of PKB/Akt function in vivo is able to mimic some phenotypic abnormalities associated with ataxia telangiectasia (AT). Here we show that ATM is a major determinant of full PKB/Akt activation in response to insulin or γ-radiation. This effect is mediated through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase domain of ATM that specifically affects Akt serine 473 phosphorylation. This conclusion was inferred from the results obtained in transient transfection assays using exogenous PKB/Akt and ATM in Cos cells. Moreover, the use of ATM inhibitors or small interfering RNA confirmed our observation. Further supporting these results, we also observed that biological responses tightly regulated by Akt, such as transcription factor of the forkhead family activity after insulin treatment or γ-radiation response, were altered in cell lines derived from AT patients and knockout mice for ATM in which phosphorylation in serine 473 was almost abolished. This study proposes new clues in the search of the unknown PDK2 and new explanations for the radiosensitivity or insulin intolerance described more than 30 years ago in AT patients.

In this work we report synthetic adhesins (SAs) enabling the rational design of the adhesion properties of E. coli. SAs have a modular structure comprising a stable β-domain for outer membrane anchoring and surface-exposed immunoglobulin domains with high affinity and specificity that can be selected from large repertoires. SAs are constitutively and stably expressed in an E. coli strain lacking a conserved set of natural adhesins, directing a robust, fast, and specific adhesion of bacteria to target antigenic surfaces and cells. We demonstrate the functionality of SAs in vivo, showing that, compared to wild type E. coli, lower doses of engineered E. coli are sufficient to colonize solid tumors expressing an antigen recognized by the SA. In addition, lower levels of engineered bacteria were found in non-target tissues. Therefore, SAs provide stable and specific adhesion capabilities to E. coli against target surfaces of interest for diverse applications using live bacteria.

Pericytes are mural cells that surround endothelial cells in small blood vessels. Pericytes have traditionally been credited with structural functions, being essential for vessel maturation and stabilization. However, an accumulating body of evidence suggests that pericytes also display immune properties. They can respond to a series of proinflammatory stimuli and are able to sense different types of danger due to their expression of functional pattern recognition receptors, contributing to the onset of innate immune responses. In this context, pericytes not only secrete a variety of chemokines, but they also overexpress adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 involved in the control of immune cell trafficking across vessel walls. In addition to their role in innate immunity, pericytes are involved in adaptive immunity. It has been reported that interaction with pericytes anergizes T cells, which is attributed, at least in part, to the expression of PD-L1. As components of the tumor microenvironment, pericytes can also modulate the antitumor immune response. However, their role is complex and further studies will be required to better understand the crosstalk of pericytes with immune cells in order to consider them as potential therapeutic targets. In any case, pericytes will be looked at with new eyes by immunologists from now on.

Immune cell engagers are engineered antibodies with at least one arm binding a tumor-associated antigen and at least another one directed against an activating receptor in immune effector cells: CD3 for recruitment of T cells and CD16a for NK cells. The first T cell engager (the anti-CD19 blinatumomab) was approved by the FDA in 2014, but no other one hit the market until 2022. Now the field is gaining momentum, with three approvals in 2022 and 2023 (as of May): the anti-CD20 × anti-CD3 mosunetuzumab and epcoritamab and the anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) × anti-CD3 teclistamab, and another three molecules in regulatory review. T cell engagers will likely revolutionize the treatment of hematological malignancies in the short term, as they are considerably more potent than conventional monoclonal antibodies recognizing the same tumor antigens. The field is thriving, with a plethora of different formats and targets, and around 100 bispecific T cell engagers more are already in clinical trials. Bispecific NK cell engagers are also in early-stage clinical studies and may offer similar efficacy with milder side effects. Trispecific antibodies (engaging either T cell or NK cell receptors) raise the game even further with a third binding moiety, which allows either the targeting of an additional tumor-associated antigen to increase specificity and avoid immune escape or the targeting of additional costimulatory receptors on the immune cell to improve its effector functions. Altogether, these engineered molecules may change the paradigm of treatment for relapsed or refractory hematological malignancies.