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The repurposing of the CRISPR/Cas bacterial defense system against bacteriophages as simple and flexible molecular tools has revolutionized the field of gene editing. These tools are now widely used in basic research and clinical trials involving human somatic cells. However, a global moratorium on all clinical uses of human germline editing has been proposed because the technology still lacks the required efficacy and safety. Here we focus on the approaches developed since 2013 to decrease the frequency of unwanted mutations (the off-targets) during CRISPR-based gene editing.

Background: The family of D cyclins has a fundamental role in cell cycle progression, but its members (D1, D2, D3) are believed to have redundant functions. However, there is some evidence that contradicts the notion of mutual redundancy and therefore this concept is still a matter of debate. Results: Our data show that the cyclin D1 is indispensable for normal hematopoiesis. Indeed, in the absence of D1, either in genetic deficient mice, or after acute ablation by RNA interference, cyclins D2 and D3 are also not expressed preventing hematopoietic cell division and differentiation at its earliest stage. This role does not depend on the cyclin box, but on the carboxyl regulatory domain of D1 coded by exons 4-5, since hematopoietic differentiation is also blocked by the conditional ablation of this region. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that not all functions of individual D cyclins are redundant and highlight a master role of cyclin D1 in hematopoiesis. Fil: Chaves Ferreira, Miguel. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia. Instituto de Medicina Molecular; Portugal Fil: Krenn, Gerald. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia Fil: Vasseur, Florence. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia. Institut Pasteur; Francia Fil: Barinov, Aleksandr. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia. Institut Pasteur; Francia Fil: Gonçalves, Pedro. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia Fil: Azogui, Orly. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia Fil: Cumano, Ana. Inserm; Francia. Institut Pasteur; Francia Fil: Li, Zhi. Inserm; Francia. Institut Pasteur; Francia Fil: Pellegrini, Sandra. Inserm; Francia. Institut Pasteur; Francia Fil: Rocha, Benedita. Inserm; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia. Institut Pasteur; Francia Fil: Laderach, Diego Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Inserm. Inmmunology- Immunopathology Immunotherapy; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes; Francia

Human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are potent anti-tumor lymphocytes that specifically respond to pyrophosphate (phospho-) antigens, which constitute the basis of current γδ T-cell-based immunotherapy strategies. Despite a clear involvement of the TCR, the costimulation requirements of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells remain ill-defined. Here, we show that the expression of the CD27 receptor by the vast majority of Vγ9Vδ2 peripheral blood lymphocytes endows them with enhanced proliferative capacity upon ligation by its unique ligand CD70, a tumor necrosis factor superfamily member expressed on lymphoma B-cells but also on TCR-activated γδ T cells. Moreover, Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell treatment with soluble recombinant CD70 induced calcium signals and increased transcription of anti-apoptotic Bcl2a1 and cell-cycle-promoting Cyclin D2 genes. We further demonstrate that the manipulation of CD70-CD27 interactions significantly impacted on Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell survival, proliferation and cytokine secretion, in both loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments. Thus, CD27 coreceptor signals strongly promoted the expansion of Th1-biased, CD27(+) Vγ9Vδ2 peripheral blood lymphocytes in the context of TCR-mediated stimulation with phosphoantigens. These data collectively establish a novel role for the CD70-CD27 axis in human γδ T-cell activation and hence open new perspectives for its modulation in clinical settings.

We report the design and synthesis of an aquacarbonyl Ru(II) dication cis-[Ru(CO)2(H2O)4](2+) reagent for histidine (His)-selective metallation of interleukin (IL)-8 at site 33. The artificial, non-toxic interleukin (IL)-8-Ru(II)(CO)2 metalloprotein retained IL-8-dependent neutrophil chemotactic activity and was shown to spontaneously release CO in live cells.

D Cyclins play an essential role connecting exogenous stimulation to the intrinsic cell cycle machinery. This family of proteins is composed of three members sharing a highly homologous domain, the cyclin box (coded by exons 1-3), which is responsible for their redundant role in the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein upon association with cydin-dependent kinases Cdk4/6. Both mature T and B-cells have a remarkable division capability after antigen stimulation, essential to the generation of efficient immune responses, raising the interest of D Cyclins in lymphopoiesis. Cyclin Dl, although weakly expressed by lymphocytes, is the D Cyclin most commonly implicated in lymphoid cancers and as having a Cdk-independent transcriptional role. To study the role of Cyclin Dl, we used mice deficient for the Dl cyclin box but sparing exons 4-5. Surprisingly, individual mice have very different phenotypes that we subdivided into four arbitrary groups. Group I mice show the most precocious block in lymphoid lineage differentiation, illustrated by a low cellularity of common lymphoid progenitor cells (CLP). The thymi showed very few CD4*CD8*, double positive (DP) cells, while the CD4 CD8TCR, triple negative (TN) populations were found to be mostly constituted by the early CD44*CD25' (TNI) and few CD44*CD25* (TN2). TNl's early thymocyte progenitors (ETP) were virtually absent. At the B-cell lineage level in the bone marrow (BM) there was a major block in pre-proB differentiation. The number of peripheral T-cells was severely reduced, mainly in LN, since group I T-cells lack CCR7 expression. Group II mice presented moderate thymus atrophy. The block on TN differentiation occurs at a later stage, i.e., in the TN3 to TN4 transition, and the TNI population was characterized by a less severe depletion of the ETP. Group II mice showed a partial pre-proB block and a reduction in pre-B-cells. CLPs were also reduced but to a lesser extent than in group I mice. Group ill and group IV mice appear to have a normal thymocyte population distribution but showed an increase on ETP compartment. Group IV mice displayed thymic hyperplasia while group III mice possessed normal thymus cellularity. B-cell differentiation on both groups appeared to be normal but BM precursors had an increase in both CLP and early haematopoietic progenitor's (LSK) levels as compared with wild type mice. Cyclin Dl involvement in G1 to S transition led us to analyse in vivo division rates. Strikingly, group I mice were virtually devoid of cycling cellsin all lymphoid compartments, explaining why lymphoid lineage cells do not differentiate in these mice. In contrast, in all other groups we observed an increased BrdU incorporation. These contradicting phenotypes correlated with the expression or absence of a truncated Dl protein coded by exons 4-5. The presence of the cyclin Dl truncated mRNA was not found in group I mice but high levels of expression are consistently observed in the remaining groups. In the absence of the Dl truncated protein only trace values of Cyclins D2 and D3 were found, highlighting the role of this protein as a master D cyclin regulator, which further supports the profound aplasia and arrest in lymphoid lineage division on cells that predominantly express Cyclin D2. These results suggest that, while the function of the Dl cyclin box is redundant, the regulatory domain coded by exons 4-5 is fundamental for lymphopoiesis. Full Dl protein was also eliminated by RNA interference both in vitro and in vivo. These experiments reproduced the phenotype of group I mice. We have developed a lentiviral vector with a truncated Dl (exons 4-5) and conditional knockout (KO) mice by floxing exons 4-5 of cyclin Dl. These tools will allow us to show Cyclin Dl Cdk-independent role as a transcription regulator in lymphopoiesis and to attribute this function to exons 4-5. Understanding how exons 4-5 regulate different transcription factors might be a key in…, Les cyclines D jouent un rôle essentiel dans les mécanismes du cycle cellulaire. Cette famille de protéines est composée de trois membres (D1,D2,D3) qui partagent un domaine très homologue de la « cyclin box » (codée par les exons 1-3). Ce domaine est responsable de leur activité redondante dans la phosphorylation de la protéine du rétinoblastome lors de l'association avec les kinases cycline-dépendantes CDK4/6. Parmi les trois cyclines, la cycline Dl, bien que faiblement exprimée dans les lymphocytes, est la cycline la plus impliquée dans les cancers lymphoïdes ou elle aurait une fonction de facteur de transcription indépendante de Cdk. Etant donné qu'après stimulation antigénique, les lymphocytes T et B ont une capacité remarquable de division, essentielle à la génération d’une réponse immunitaire efficace, nous avons porté un intérêt particulier au rôle des cyclines D dans la lymphopoïèse. Pour étudier le rôle de la cycline Dl dans la différenciation des lymphocytes, nous avons utilisé des souris déficientes pour les exons 1,2,3 de la « cycline box » Dl mais conservé les exons 4 et 5. Étonnamment, ces souris présentaient des phénotypes très différents que nous avons subdivisés en quatre groupes. Dans le groupe I, les souris avaient un thymus réduit car la différenciation de la lignée lymphoide est bloquée à un stade très précoce, avec un faible nombre de cellules progénitrices (CLP) dans la moelle osseuse. Dans le thymus, les progéniteurs des thymocytes (ETP) étaient pratiquement absents et les précurseurs CD4CD8CD3 (TN) immatures essentiellement constitués par des cellules CD44*CD25 (TN1) et CD44*CD25+ (TN2) les plus immatures. De plus, les CD4*CD8* (DP) qui donnent naissance aux thymocytes matures CD4+ et CD8+ étaient présents en très faible quantité. Dans la moelle osseuse, on observe un blocage majeur dans la différenciation de la lignée B au stade pré-proB. Dans les ganglions, la forte réduction du nombre de lymphocytes T observée était liée au faible nombre d'ETP et à l’absence du récepteur aux chimiokines CCR7. Dans le groupe II, les souris présentaient une diminution moins sévère des ETP et une atrophie modérée du thymus. La différenciation était bloquée à un stade ultérieur, soit dans la transition des étapes TN3 à TN4. Dans la moelle osseuse, les lymphocytes B ont subi un blocage partiel au stade pré-proB et une réduction des cellules pré-B. Le nombre de CLP est également réduit, mais dans une moindre mesure que dans les souris du groupe I. dans les groupes III et IV, les souris ont une répartition normale des thymocytes mais présentaient une augmentation du compartiment ETP. Alors que les souris du groupe III contenaient un nombre normal de thymocytes, les souris du group IV présentaient une hyperplasie thymique. Par ailleurs, en comparaison avec des souris normales, bien que la différenciation des lymphocytes B soit normale, on observe dans les deux groupes une augmentation des CLP et des progéniteurs hématopoïétlque (LSK). L’implication de la cycline Dl dans la transition de G1 à S nous a conduit à analyser les divisions cellulaires in vivo. De manière surprenante, les souris du groupe I étaient fortement dépourvues de cellules en cycle dans tous les compartiments lymphoïdes, ce qui peut expliquer les blocages de la différenciation lymphoide. Par contre, dans les trois autres groupes, on observe une augmentation du nombre de divisions cellulaires. Ces résultats différents peuvent être dû à l'expression ou l'absence d'une protéine Dl tronquée qui contient cependant les exons 4-5. Alors que ces ARNm tronqués ne sont pas détectables dans les souris de groupe I, on observe des niveaux élevés d'expression dans les autres groupes. De plus, nous avons observé une corrélation entre l'absence d’expression des exons 4-5 et la très faible expression des gènes CCND2 et CCND3, ce qui attribue à cette protéine tronquée un rôle prépondérant dans la régulation des cyclines D et permet d’expliquer l'aplasie profonde et…

©2010 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved., γβ T lymphocytes are commonly viewed as embracing properties of both adaptive and innate immunity. Contributing to this is their responsiveness to pathogen products, either with or without the involvement of the TCR and its coreceptors. This study clarifies this paradoxical behavior by showing that these two modes of responsiveness are the properties of two discrete sets of murine lymphoid γβ T cells. Thus, MyD88 deficiency severely impaired the response to malaria infection of CD27(-), IL-17A–producing γβ T cells, but not of IFN-γ–producing γβ cells. Instead, the latter compartment was severely contracted by ablating CD27, which synergizes with TCRγβ in the induction of antiapoptotic mediators and cell cycle-promoting genes in CD27(+), IFN-γ–secreting γβ T cells. Hence, innate versus adaptive receptors differentially control the peripheral pool sizes of discrete proinflammatory γβ T cell subsets during immune responses to infection., This work was supported by an installation grant from the European Molecular Biology Organization (to B.S.-S.), Grants PTDC/SAU-MII/104158/2008 (to B.S.-S.) and PTDC/SAU-MII/099314/2008 (to J.P.S.) from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, and the Wellcome Trust (to A.C.H. and M.W.).