Activated granulocytes and inflammatory cytokine signaling drive T-cell lymphoma progression and disease symptoms.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs), especially angioimmunoblastic and follicular TCLs, have a dismal prognosis because of the lack of efficient therapies, and patients' symptoms are often dominated by an inflammatory phenotype, including fever, night sweats, weight loss, and skin rash. In this study, we investigated the role of inflammatory granulocytes and activated cytokine signaling on T-cell follicular helper-type PTCL (TFH-PTCL) disease progression and symptoms. We showed that ITK-SYK-driven murine PTCLs and primary human TFH-PTCL xenografts both induced inflammation in mice, including murine neutrophil expansion and massive cytokine release. Granulocyte/lymphoma interactions were mediated by positive autoregulatory cytokine loops involving interferon gamma (CD4+ malignant T cells) and interleukin 6 (IL-6; activated granulocytes), ultimately inducing broad JAK activation (JAK1/2/3 and TYK2) in both cell types. Inflammatory granulocyte depletion via antibodies (Ly6G), genetic granulocyte depletion (LyzM-Cre/MCL1flox/flox), or IL-6 deletion within microenvironmental cells blocked inflammatory symptoms, reduced lymphoma infiltration, and enhanced mouse survival. Furthermore, unselective JAK inhibitors (ruxolitinib) inhibited both TCL progression and granulocyte activation in various PTCL mouse models. Our results support the important role of granulocyte-driven inflammation, cytokine-induced granulocyte/CD4+ TCL interactions, and an intact JAK/STAT signaling pathway for TFH-PTCL development and also support broad JAK inhibition as an effective treatment strategy in early disease stages.

Scope and limitations of biocatalytic carbonyl reduction with white-rot fungi.

The reductive activity of various basidiomycetous fungi towards carbonyl compounds was screened on an analytical level. Some strains displayed high reductive activities toward aromatic carbonyls and aliphatic ketones. Utilizing growing whole-cell cultures of Dichomitus albidofuscus, the reactions were up-scaled to a preparative level in an aqueous system. The reactions showed excellent selectivities and gave the respective alcohols in high yields. Carboxylic acids were also reduced to aldehydes and alcohols under the same conditions. In particular, benzoic, vanillic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acid were reduced to benzyl alcohol, vanillin, dihydroconiferyl alcohol and 1-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan, respectively.