Journal Articles

Polymer-mRNA complexes for monocyte-trafficked, lymph node-targeted cancer vaccination Spotlight 

Qiongzhe Ren # 1, Xiaofei Zhao # 1, Lili Zhou # 2, Ruonan Ye 1, Liguo Chen 1, Keyun Ren 3, Xijun Piao 3, Yihan Zhou 4, Yiming Qi 5, Kevin C Chan 4, Li Cao 6, Liang Du 7, Peng Gao 7, Bo Ying 7, Chao Deng 1, Fenghua Meng 1, Fangfang Zhou 8, Congcong Xu 9 10 11, Zhiyuan Zhong 12 13 14

Nature biomedical engineering

To improve mRNA vaccine delivery to lymph nodes, Ren, Zhao, and Zhou et al. developed a DTC-modified, PEI-based, transferrin receptor-associating polyplex (TRAP) that enters cells by binding to TfR1, which is highly expressed on monocytes. In mice, s.c. TRAPs induced local inflammation, leading to monocyte recruitment, and effectively bound to and were taken up by TfR1high monocytes, inducing both differentiation into mo-DCs and HEV-mediated trafficking to draining lymph nodes, where mRNA translation and antigen presentation occurred. In tumor models, TRAP-mRNA vaccines elicited strong, antigen-specific, cytotoxic T cell responses, and reduced tumor progression.

Contributed by Lauren Hitchings

Qiongzhe Ren # 1, Xiaofei Zhao # 1, Lili Zhou # 2, Ruonan Ye 1, Liguo Chen 1, Keyun Ren 3, Xijun Piao 3, Yihan Zhou 4, Yiming Qi 5, Kevin C Chan 4, Li Cao 6, Liang Du 7, Peng Gao 7, Bo Ying 7, Chao Deng 1, Fenghua Meng 1, Fangfang Zhou 8, Congcong Xu 9 10 11, Zhiyuan Zhong 12 13 14

Nature biomedical engineering

To improve mRNA vaccine delivery to lymph nodes, Ren, Zhao, and Zhou et al. developed a DTC-modified, PEI-based, transferrin receptor-associating polyplex (TRAP) that enters cells by binding to TfR1, which is highly expressed on monocytes. In mice, s.c. TRAPs induced local inflammation, leading to monocyte recruitment, and effectively bound to and were taken up by TfR1high monocytes, inducing both differentiation into mo-DCs and HEV-mediated trafficking to draining lymph nodes, where mRNA translation and antigen presentation occurred. In tumor models, TRAP-mRNA vaccines elicited strong, antigen-specific, cytotoxic T cell responses, and reduced tumor progression.

Contributed by Lauren Hitchings

ABSTRACT: Lymph nodes are the primary sites where adaptive immunity is initiated, yet most messenger RNA cancer vaccines reach them inefficiently and instead accumulate in organs such as the liver, limiting therapeutic potency and increasing systemic toxicity. Here we developed a transferrin receptor-associating polyplex formed by electrostatic complexation of mRNA with low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine that had been chemically modified with cyclic disulfide monomers to enhance nucleic acid binding stability, enable thiol-based transferrin receptor engagement and reduce off-target liver uptake. After subcutaneous administration, these polyplexes activated innate immunity, rapidly recruited monocytes with high transferrin receptor expression and bound these cells through cyclic disulfide-mediated interactions. Monocytes then trafficked the vaccine to draining lymph nodes, where mRNA translation and antigen presentation occurred. Delivery of ovalbumin and interleukin 12 mRNA elicited strong antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell responses and inhibited melanoma progression and metastatic disease. Studies using Survivin and human papillomavirus antigens in distinct tumour models demonstrated broad applicability. This monocyte-driven lymph node-targeting strategy enables potent and selective delivery of mRNA cancer vaccines.

Author Info: 1Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. 2Institutes of Biology and Medical Scien

Author Info: 1Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. 2Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. 3Catug Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Suzhou, P. R. China. 4Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, P. R. China. 5School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China. 6College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. 7Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co. Ltd, Suzhou, P. R. China. 8Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. zhoufangfang@suda.edu.cn. 9Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. xucc@suda.edu.cn. 10College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. xucc@suda.edu.cn. 11International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. xucc@suda.edu.cn. 12Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. zyzhong@suda.edu.cn. 13College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. zyzhong@suda.edu.cn. 14International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. zyzhong@suda.edu.cn. #Contributed equally.

Citation: Nat Biomed Eng 2026 May 5 Epub05/05/2026

Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42086923

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    Ferroptosis-armed dendritic cell vaccines for glioma immunotherapy Spotlight 

    Mariia Saviuk 1 2, Victoria D Turubanova 1 3, Sara De Brée 1 2, Sandra Van Lint 2 4, Teresa Mendes Maia 5 6 7, Simon Devos 5 6 7, Iuliia Efimova 1 2, Julie Braet 2 4, Lore Van Oudenhove 8, Gitta Boons 8, Faye Naessens 1 2, Robin Demuynck 1 2, Ellen Saeys 1 2, Christian Vanhove 9, Lukas Bunse 10 11, Peter M van Endert 12 13, Robrecht Raedt 14, Maria V Vedunova 15, Olga Krysko 1, Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke 16 17, Karim Vermaelen 2 4, Tatiana A Mishchenko 15, Elena Catanzaro # 18 19, Dmitri V Krysko # 1 2

    Nature communications

    A prophylactic DC vaccine loaded with ferroptotic (iron-dependent cell death) glioma cell line lysates protected against glioma growth in mice, superior to immunogenic cell death (ICD) or freeze/thaw (non-ICD) lysates. The vaccine also mediated therapeutic efficacy, induced antigen-specific CTL responses in SLOs, and increased i.t. CTLs (particularly CD39+ effector-memory cells) compared to controls. Ferroptosis induced ICD markers on glioma cells, and blocking calreticulin or ATP, but not HMGB1, abrogated vaccine efficacy. Ferroptotic lysates activated DCs and displayed a unique proteomic profile, potentially presenting novel TAAs.

    Contributed by Alex Najibi

    Mariia Saviuk 1 2, Victoria D Turubanova 1 3, Sara De Brée 1 2, Sandra Van Lint 2 4, Teresa Mendes Maia 5 6 7, Simon Devos 5 6 7, Iuliia Efimova 1 2, Julie Braet 2 4, Lore Van Oudenhove 8, Gitta Boons 8, Faye Naessens 1 2, Robin Demuynck 1 2, Ellen Saeys 1 2, Christian Vanhove 9, Lukas Bunse 10 11, Peter M van Endert 12 13, Robrecht Raedt 14, Maria V Vedunova 15, Olga Krysko 1, Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke 16 17, Karim Vermaelen 2 4, Tatiana A Mishchenko 15, Elena Catanzaro # 18 19, Dmitri V Krysko # 1 2

    Nature communications

    A prophylactic DC vaccine loaded with ferroptotic (iron-dependent cell death) glioma cell line lysates protected against glioma growth in mice, superior to immunogenic cell death (ICD) or freeze/thaw (non-ICD) lysates. The vaccine also mediated therapeutic efficacy, induced antigen-specific CTL responses in SLOs, and increased i.t. CTLs (particularly CD39+ effector-memory cells) compared to controls. Ferroptosis induced ICD markers on glioma cells, and blocking calreticulin or ATP, but not HMGB1, abrogated vaccine efficacy. Ferroptotic lysates activated DCs and displayed a unique proteomic profile, potentially presenting novel TAAs.

    Contributed by Alex Najibi

    ABSTRACT: The type of cell death has proven to play a crucial role in cancer immunotherapy efficacy. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) enhances tumor adjuvanticity and antigenicity by releasing danger signals and altering the immune peptidome. The immunogenicity of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, remains uncertain. Here, we show that dendritic cell (DC) vaccines loaded with ferroptotic lysates protect mice against glioma growth, inducing IFN-_ production, and promoting robust CD8_ T cell infiltration, activation, and effector memory formation in the tumor microenvironment. The intrinsic immunogenicity of ferroptosis was independent of the glioma type and the ferroptosis inducer. Instead, it critically required the presence of the damage-associated molecular patterns calreticulin and ATP, rather than involving HMGB1-TLR4 signaling. However, supplementing these DAMPs into DC vaccines loaded with non-ICD lysates did not restore efficacy to the level of the ferroptosis-based DC vaccine, suggesting a more complex mechanism beyond a purely DAMP-mediated effect. These findings demonstrate that ferroptosis-loaded DC vaccines elicit a potent, tumor-specific immune response, capable of eradicating intracranial gliomas in mice, which highlights their potential in cancer immunotherapy.

    Author Info: 1Cell Death Investigation and Therapy (CDIT) Laboratory, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent Unive

    Author Info: 1Cell Death Investigation and Therapy (CDIT) Laboratory, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 2Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. 3Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny, Russia. 4Thoracic Tumor Immunology Laboratory (TTIL), Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 5VIB Proteomics Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium. 6VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium. 7Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 8myNEO Therapeutics, Ghent, Belgium. 9IBiTech-MEDISIP-Infinity Laboratory, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 10Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 11Neurology Clinic, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. 12Université Paris Cité, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France. 13Service Immunologie Biologique, AP-HP, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France. 144Brain, Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 15Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny, Russia. 16VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium. 17Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 18Cell Death Investigation and Therapy (CDIT) Laboratory, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. elena.catanzaro@ugent.be. 19Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. elena.catanzaro@ugent.be. #Contributed equally.

    Citation: Nat Commun 2026 May 7 Epub05/07/2026

    Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42098128

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      Intermetallic nanoassemblies potentiate systemic STING activation Spotlight 

      Xingwu Zhou # 1 2, Xiang Ling # 1 2, Xiaoqi Sun 1 2, Ziye Wan 1 2, Tobias Dwyer 3, Timothy C Moore 3, Quguang Li 1 2, Hannah E Dobson 1 2, Qi Wu 1 2, Xiangbo Kong 4, Fang Xie 1 2, Xinran An 1 2, Jingyao Gan 1 2, Kaikai Wang 1 2, Young Seok Cho 1 2, Wang Gong 5, Katherine Dong 1 2, Jie Zhang 1 2, Mariko Takahashi 1 2, Cheng Xu 1 2, Swetha Kodamasimham 1 2, Jie Xu 4, Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan 6 7, Steven B Chinn 8, Anna Schwendeman 1 2, Sharon C Glotzer 2 3, Yu Leo Lei 5, James J Moon 1 2 3 9 10

      Science

      Zhou, and Ling et al. engineered CRYSTAL, a crystal-like STING-activating nanoassembly, to stabilize a STING agonist and enhance STING signaling at lower doses. Intravenous CRYSTAL activated myeloid cells, remodeled immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, and primed host STING-dependent CD8+ T cell responses, driving durable tumor regression in advanced murine and rabbit models. Across mice, dogs, and non-human primates, CRYSTAL induced potent, but transient interferon responses, without cytokine release syndrome. Ex vivo treatment of human head and neck cancer biopsies triggered strong interferon signaling.

      Contributed by Shishir Pant

      Xingwu Zhou # 1 2, Xiang Ling # 1 2, Xiaoqi Sun 1 2, Ziye Wan 1 2, Tobias Dwyer 3, Timothy C Moore 3, Quguang Li 1 2, Hannah E Dobson 1 2, Qi Wu 1 2, Xiangbo Kong 4, Fang Xie 1 2, Xinran An 1 2, Jingyao Gan 1 2, Kaikai Wang 1 2, Young Seok Cho 1 2, Wang Gong 5, Katherine Dong 1 2, Jie Zhang 1 2, Mariko Takahashi 1 2, Cheng Xu 1 2, Swetha Kodamasimham 1 2, Jie Xu 4, Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan 6 7, Steven B Chinn 8, Anna Schwendeman 1 2, Sharon C Glotzer 2 3, Yu Leo Lei 5, James J Moon 1 2 3 9 10

      Science

      Zhou, and Ling et al. engineered CRYSTAL, a crystal-like STING-activating nanoassembly, to stabilize a STING agonist and enhance STING signaling at lower doses. Intravenous CRYSTAL activated myeloid cells, remodeled immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, and primed host STING-dependent CD8+ T cell responses, driving durable tumor regression in advanced murine and rabbit models. Across mice, dogs, and non-human primates, CRYSTAL induced potent, but transient interferon responses, without cytokine release syndrome. Ex vivo treatment of human head and neck cancer biopsies triggered strong interferon signaling.

      Contributed by Shishir Pant

      ABSTRACT: Natural systems use metal ions to form ordered structures that regulate biological processes, inspiring the rational design of nanotherapeutics. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway drives antitumor immunity but has been difficult to activate systemically owing to poor pharmacology and toxicity. Here, we report CRYSTAL, a structurally ordered intermetallic nanoparticle for potent systemic STING activation. CRYSTAL self-assembles from manganese ions intercalated with cyclic dinucleotides, enabling precise structural control. At an ultralow intravenous dose (0.003 milligrams per kilogram), CRYSTAL activated STING in mice, dogs, and nonhuman primates without cytokine release syndrome. CRYSTAL induced robust tumor regression in advanced murine and rabbit models, remodeled immunosuppressive environments, and promoted host STING-dependent CD8(+) T cell priming. CRYSTAL activated interferon responses in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma biopsies, underscoring its translational potential for cancer immunotherapy.

      Author Info: 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 2Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 3Department of Chemical En

      Author Info: 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 2Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 3Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 4Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 5Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. 6Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. 7Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. 8Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 9Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 10Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. #Contributed equally.

      Citation: Science 2026 May 7 392:eadx1893 Epub05/07/2026

      Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42096576

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        mRNA vaccine immunity is enhanced by hepatocyte detargeting and not dependent on dendritic cell expression Spotlight 

        (1) Marks A (2) Siu S (3) Bianchini F (4) Wang C (5) Lakshmi A (6) Phelan M (7) Zhu A (8) Moon C (9) Morla-Folch J (10) Teunissen AJP (11) Amabile A (12) Baccarini A (13) Merad M (14) Brody JD (15) Dong Y (16) Brown BD

        Nature biotechnology

        To study how cell type-specific expression on mRNA-encoded proteins influences immunity, Marks and Siu et al. incorporated synthetic microRNA target sites into the mRNA. LNP-delivered mRNA did not need to be directly expressed in professional APCs (pAPCs), and expression in muscle cells was sufficient or stronger in immune response induction than pAPCs. mRNA expression in hepatocytes dampened the CD8+ T cell response and reduced mRNA vaccine control of tumor growth. Silencing mRNA expression in hepatocytes reversed these effects and, when mRNA vaccines were used to expand transferred T cells, reduced liver T cell infiltration and toxicity.

        Contributed by Ute Burkhardt

        (1) Marks A (2) Siu S (3) Bianchini F (4) Wang C (5) Lakshmi A (6) Phelan M (7) Zhu A (8) Moon C (9) Morla-Folch J (10) Teunissen AJP (11) Amabile A (12) Baccarini A (13) Merad M (14) Brody JD (15) Dong Y (16) Brown BD

        Nature biotechnology

        To study how cell type-specific expression on mRNA-encoded proteins influences immunity, Marks and Siu et al. incorporated synthetic microRNA target sites into the mRNA. LNP-delivered mRNA did not need to be directly expressed in professional APCs (pAPCs), and expression in muscle cells was sufficient or stronger in immune response induction than pAPCs. mRNA expression in hepatocytes dampened the CD8+ T cell response and reduced mRNA vaccine control of tumor growth. Silencing mRNA expression in hepatocytes reversed these effects and, when mRNA vaccines were used to expand transferred T cells, reduced liver T cell infiltration and toxicity.

        Contributed by Ute Burkhardt

        ABSTRACT: Proteins encoded by mRNA vaccines can be expressed by a diversity of transfected cell types but how cell-type-specific expression influences immunity is poorly understood. To investigate this, we incorporated synthetic microRNA target sites (miRT) into lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-delivered mRNA vaccines to silence mRNA expression specifically in professional antigen-presenting cells (pAPCs), hepatocytes or myocytes. We found that mRNA expression in pAPCs was dispensable for priming antigen-specific T cells, whereas mRNA expression in myocytes induced similar or stronger immune responses, including for SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that antigen cross-presentation or cross-dressing may be more impactful than direct mRNA expression in pAPCs. In contrast, mRNA expression in hepatocytes suppressed the antigen-specific T cell response, partly through PD1/PDL1. In mice bearing tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-expressing lymphoma cells, miRT-mediated hepatocyte-silenced TAA mRNA vaccine enhanced immune response and reduced tumor burden. Thus, non-pAPC expression shapes immunity to mRNA-encoded protein and inclusion of miRTs can boost or blunt mRNA-LNP immunogenicity.

        Author Info: (1) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

        Author Info: (1) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (2) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (3) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (4) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (5) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (6) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (7) Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (8) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (9) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (10) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (11) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (12) Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (13) Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (14) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (15) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. (16) Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. brian.brown@mssm.edu. Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. brian.brown@mssm.edu. Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. brian.brown@mssm.edu. Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. brian.brown@mssm.edu.

        Citation: Nat Biotechnol 2026 Apr 29 Epub04/29/2026

        Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42056385

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        Lymphoid tissue chemokines limit priming duration to preserve CD8+ T cell functionality

        Spotlight 

        (1) Altenburger LM (2) Carvoeiro DC (3) Dehio P (4) Zhou J (5) Laura C (6) Bofi I Cuadros Ë (7) Katoch M (8) KrŸger C (9) de Albuquerque JB (10) Pfenninger P (11) Magdaleno JM (12) Mehling M (13) Iannacone M (14) Gheinani AH (15) Dengjel J (16) Abe J (17) Stein JV

        Science

        Altenburger et al. showed that although in vitro-activated CD8+ T cells that were attached to DCs for long periods exhibited persistent TCR signaling during cell division, in lymphoid tissue, DCs and T cells detached before T cell proliferation began. DC-attached T cells were transiently unresponsive, but regained CCR7 response to CCL19/21 over 24-48hrs to reposition F-actin-promoting factor DOCK2 away from the immune synapse and allow T cell detachment, effector gene transcription, and enhanced cytolysis. Prolonged DC–T cell interaction increased PD-1 and LAG3. Detachment favored increased effector function that lasted throughout the memory phase.

        Contributed by Paula Hochman

        (1) Altenburger LM (2) Carvoeiro DC (3) Dehio P (4) Zhou J (5) Laura C (6) Bofi I Cuadros Ë (7) Katoch M (8) KrŸger C (9) de Albuquerque JB (10) Pfenninger P (11) Magdaleno JM (12) Mehling M (13) Iannacone M (14) Gheinani AH (15) Dengjel J (16) Abe J (17) Stein JV

        Science

        Altenburger et al. showed that although in vitro-activated CD8+ T cells that were attached to DCs for long periods exhibited persistent TCR signaling during cell division, in lymphoid tissue, DCs and T cells detached before T cell proliferation began. DC-attached T cells were transiently unresponsive, but regained CCR7 response to CCL19/21 over 24-48hrs to reposition F-actin-promoting factor DOCK2 away from the immune synapse and allow T cell detachment, effector gene transcription, and enhanced cytolysis. Prolonged DC–T cell interaction increased PD-1 and LAG3. Detachment favored increased effector function that lasted throughout the memory phase.

        Contributed by Paula Hochman

        ABSTRACT: The generation of effector CD8(+) T cells (T(EFF)) requires activation of nave CCR7(+) T cells (T(N)) by dendritic cells (DCs) in lymphoid tissue. How T(N)-DC interaction duration and signal integration are controlled remains unclear. In this study, we show that lymphoid stroma-secreted CCR7 ligands limit interaction duration by progressively inducing CD8(+) T cell release from DCs. At late interaction stages, CCR7 ligands relocalize the F-actin regulator DOCK2 away from the DC interface, permitting T cell detachment, proliferation onset, and acquisition of cytotoxicity. Disruption of CCR7 signaling causes prolonged T cell-DC contacts and produces dysfunctional T(EFF) with elevated inhibitory receptors, reduced antimicrobial activity, and impaired recall responses. Stromal chemokines therefore act as critical regulators of T cell priming by DCs, preserving CD8(+) effector function during acute and memory phases.

        Author Info: (1) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (2) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribo

        Author Info: (1) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (2) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (3) Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. (4) Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (5) Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. (6) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (7) Institute of Neuropathology, UniversitŠtsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-UniversitŠt Erlangen-NŸrnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany. (8) Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. (9) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (10) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (11) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (12) Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. (13) Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. (14) Functional Urology Research Group, Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Department of Urology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. Urological Diseases Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Boston, MA, USA. Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA. (15) Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (16) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. (17) Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

        Citation: Science 2026 Apr 30 392:eadq2080 Epub04/30/2026

        Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42060746

        Tags:

        Spleen-targeted neoantigen mRNA vaccine induces ISG15+ CD8+ T cell-mediated tertiary lymphoid structure formation in hepatocellular carcinoma

        Spotlight 

        (1) Lin X (2) Chen G (3) Tang R (4) Wu M (5) Zhang D (6) Lin F (7) Guan J (8) Yang J (9) Dong X (10) Zheng X (11) Qiu L (12) Yu H (13) Cai Z (14) Liu X

        Cell reports. Medicine

        Lin et al. engineered a spleen-targeted neoantigen mRNA vaccine (STNvac) using a two-component LNP formulation that selectively delivered mRNA to splenic DCs and prompted robust neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell response in an orthotopic Hepa1-6 HCC model. STNvac induced a distinct ISG15+ CD8+ T cell subset with enhanced cytotoxicity that mediated antigen-specific tumor clearance. Single-cell and spatial analyses showed interaction between ISG15+ CD8+ T cells and intratumoral APCs via a GZMA–F2R axis, which drove ISG15+ CD8+ T cell activation, proliferation, and organization into TLSs in human and mouse HCC specimens.

        Contributed by Shishir Pant

        (1) Lin X (2) Chen G (3) Tang R (4) Wu M (5) Zhang D (6) Lin F (7) Guan J (8) Yang J (9) Dong X (10) Zheng X (11) Qiu L (12) Yu H (13) Cai Z (14) Liu X

        Cell reports. Medicine

        Lin et al. engineered a spleen-targeted neoantigen mRNA vaccine (STNvac) using a two-component LNP formulation that selectively delivered mRNA to splenic DCs and prompted robust neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell response in an orthotopic Hepa1-6 HCC model. STNvac induced a distinct ISG15+ CD8+ T cell subset with enhanced cytotoxicity that mediated antigen-specific tumor clearance. Single-cell and spatial analyses showed interaction between ISG15+ CD8+ T cells and intratumoral APCs via a GZMA–F2R axis, which drove ISG15+ CD8+ T cell activation, proliferation, and organization into TLSs in human and mouse HCC specimens.

        Contributed by Shishir Pant

        ABSTRACT: The efficacy of neoantigen vaccine for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited largely due to insufficient T cell mobilization and activation. Herein, we develop a spleen-targeted neoantigen mRNA vaccine (STNvac) with highly efficient spleen-selective mRNA transfection. Using a three-dose vaccination regimen, STNvac demonstrates remarkable therapeutic efficacy in orthotopic HCC model with a high likelihood of complete tumor regression and significantly improved survival rates (p < 0.0001). Notably, we identify a distinct ISG15(+) CD8(+) T cell population as crucial mediators of STNvac-induced immunity with potent antigen-processing and cytotoxic capacities. Intriguingly, STNvac promotes the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) through GZMA-F2R-mediated interactions between ISG15(+) CD8(+) T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which is also confirmed in HCC patients. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the potent antitumor efficacy of spleen-targeted mRNA vaccine and reveal its underlying immune cell interactive mechanisms, presenting high potential for clinical translation.

        Author Info: (1) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 35000

        Author Info: (1) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (2) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (3) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (4) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (5) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (6) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (7) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (8) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (9) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (10) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (11) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. (12) State Key Laboratory of Drug Research & Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China. (13) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. Electronic address: caizhixiong1985@163.com. (14) The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China; Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, P.R. China; The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, P.R. China. Electronic address: xiaoloong.liu@gmail.com.

        Citation: Cell Rep Med 2026 Apr 20 102754 Epub04/20/2026

        Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42013842

        Tags:

        Self-adjuvanting α-helical polypeptide simultaneously delivers neoantigen mRNAs and activates dendritic cells to eradicate tumors

        Spotlight 

        (1) Han J (2) Zhou J (3) Dwivedy A (4) Xue T (5) Bhatta R (6) Liu Y (7) Nguyen D (8) Bo Y (9) Wang Y (10) Wang X (11) Xu M (12) Berry M (13) Bailey K (14) Irudayaraj J (15) Liu J (16) Chen Q (17) Nie S (18) Wang X (19) Wang H

        Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | Free PMC Article

        Han, Zhou, and Dwivedy et al. developed cationic α-helical polypeptides that can condense and stabilize encoding mRNA in nanosized polyplexes. Upon s.c. administration, these polyplexes are taken up by DCs in lymph nodes, induce activation by NF-κB, IRF, p-STING, and cGAS, and improve the processing and presentation of mRNA-encoded antigens compared to mRNA-LNP, lipoplexes, or free mRNA. In E.G7-OVA lymphoma and 4T1 TNBC models, polyplexes elicited potent neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cells, reprogrammed the TIME (enriching DCs, CD86+ macrophages, and CD8+ T cells), enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and synergized with anti-PD-1.

        Contributed by Ute Burkhardt

        (1) Han J (2) Zhou J (3) Dwivedy A (4) Xue T (5) Bhatta R (6) Liu Y (7) Nguyen D (8) Bo Y (9) Wang Y (10) Wang X (11) Xu M (12) Berry M (13) Bailey K (14) Irudayaraj J (15) Liu J (16) Chen Q (17) Nie S (18) Wang X (19) Wang H

        Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | Free PMC Article

        Han, Zhou, and Dwivedy et al. developed cationic α-helical polypeptides that can condense and stabilize encoding mRNA in nanosized polyplexes. Upon s.c. administration, these polyplexes are taken up by DCs in lymph nodes, induce activation by NF-κB, IRF, p-STING, and cGAS, and improve the processing and presentation of mRNA-encoded antigens compared to mRNA-LNP, lipoplexes, or free mRNA. In E.G7-OVA lymphoma and 4T1 TNBC models, polyplexes elicited potent neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cells, reprogrammed the TIME (enriching DCs, CD86+ macrophages, and CD8+ T cells), enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and synergized with anti-PD-1.

        Contributed by Ute Burkhardt

        ABSTRACT: mRNA-based vaccines have demonstrated tremendous success during the era of COVID-19, but its therapeutic potential for treating cancer, especially poorly immunogenic solid tumors, remains largely underachieved. Herein, we report a class of self-adjuvanting α-helical polypeptides that can dramatically improve the antitumor efficacy of tumor neoantigen-encoding mRNAs. The α-helical polypeptides can facilitate the intracellular delivery of mRNAs into dendritic cells (DCs), simultaneously activate DCs by regulating NF-κB and IRF pathways, and improve the ability of dendritic cells to process and present mRNA-encoded neoantigens. Molecular docking and simulation results also confirm the stable complexation between mRNA and α-helical polypeptides. The conceived polyplex, upon subcutaneous administration, can migrate to the draining lymph nodes and transfect and activate DCs in the lymph nodes, resulting in superior neoantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in vivo. Compared to conventional lipoplexes or SM102 lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA vaccines that yield 0% tumor-free survival, the polyplex yields 83.3% and 33.3% tumor-free survival against E.G7-OVA lymphoma and 4T1 triple negative breast cancer, respectively, among the best antitumor efficacy reported to date for mRNA cancer vaccines. The polyplex also reprograms the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, by stimulating and enriching DCs, M1-phenotype CD86+ macrophages, and CD8+ T cells in the tumors. We also observed the upregulated expression of Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) by intratumoral CD8+ T cells and PD-L1 by 4T1 tumor cells after polyplex treatment and further demonstrated the synergistic effect between polyplex vaccine and anti-PD-1 therapy. Our polyplex system provides a facile and generalizable approach to developing robust mRNA-based cancer vaccines.

        Author Info: (1) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (2) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University o

        Author Info: (1) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (2) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (3) Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (4) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (5) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (6) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (7) Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (8) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (9) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (10) Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (11) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (12) Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (13) Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142. (14) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Cancer Center at Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. Carle College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL (15) Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China. (16) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (17) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (18) Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. (19) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Cancer Center at Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. Carle College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801.

        Citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2026 Apr 21 123:e2504976123 Epub04/15/2026

        Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41984833

        Tags:

        mRNA vaccines engage unconventional pathways in CD8+ T cell priming

        Featured  

        (1) Jo S (2) Li L (3) Thakur C (4) Telfer KA (5) Sultan H (6) Ohara RA (7) He M (8) Nam G (9) Chen J (10) Ou F (11) Draghi M (12) Valiante NM (13) Schreiber RD (14) Randolph GJ (15) Saligrama N (16) Murphy TL (17) Gillanders WE (18) Murphy KM

        Nature | Free PMC Article

        Jo et al. investigated mechanisms of CD8+ T cell priming induced by mRNA-LNP vaccines. Priming occurred in lymphoid organs, using cDC1s and cDC2s as APCs. Cross-presentation was not a primary mechanism; instead, cross-dressing contributed to cDC2-induced priming, which was dependent on type I IFN signaling. CD8+ T cells primed this way exhibited antitumor activity, and functional memory cells were induced. cDC1 induced more cycling and stem-like populations, while cDC2 induced more clonally expanded terminal effector cells.

        (1) Jo S (2) Li L (3) Thakur C (4) Telfer KA (5) Sultan H (6) Ohara RA (7) He M (8) Nam G (9) Chen J (10) Ou F (11) Draghi M (12) Valiante NM (13) Schreiber RD (14) Randolph GJ (15) Saligrama N (16) Murphy TL (17) Gillanders WE (18) Murphy KM

        Nature | Free PMC Article

        Jo et al. investigated mechanisms of CD8+ T cell priming induced by mRNA-LNP vaccines. Priming occurred in lymphoid organs, using cDC1s and cDC2s as APCs. Cross-presentation was not a primary mechanism; instead, cross-dressing contributed to cDC2-induced priming, which was dependent on type I IFN signaling. CD8+ T cells primed this way exhibited antitumor activity, and functional memory cells were induced. cDC1 induced more cycling and stem-like populations, while cDC2 induced more clonally expanded terminal effector cells.

        ABSTRACT: Vaccines composed of mRNA and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) activate B cells and T cells by inducing in vivo production of specific protein antigens. While B cells can be activated directly by antigens, T cell activation requires antigen processing and presentation by MHC molecules on specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In response to viral infections, tumours, and protein- and cDNA-based vaccines, antigen presentation to CD8(+) T cells is particularly dependent on type 1 conventional dendritic (cDC1) cells, which are specialized for efficient cross-presentation of exogenous antigens(1-4). However, whether similar mechanisms have a role in mRNA-LNP vaccination is unclear. Here we report that mRNA-LNP vaccines do not require cDC1 cells or the WDFY4-dependent cross-presentation pathway for CD8(+) T cell priming but instead engage both cDC1 and cDC2 cells redundantly. While CD8(+) T cells primed exclusively by either cDC1 or cDC2 cells showed phenotypic differences, both could mediate anti-tumour responses and memory formation. Importantly, acquisition by cDCs of peptide-MHC-I complexes from non-haematopoietic cells, called cross-dressing, provides a substantial component of CD8(+) T cell priming, in a manner dependent on type I interferon. mRNA-LNP induction of cross-dressing might explain their ability to activate CD8(+) T cells against antigens not encoded by the vaccine.

        Author Info: (1) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (2) Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis Sc

        Author Info: (1) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (2) Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (3) Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (4) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (5) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (6) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (7) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (8) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (9) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (10) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (11) Innovac Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA. (12) Innovac Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA. (13) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (14) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (15) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (16) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. (17) Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. gillandersw@wustl.edu. The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. gillandersw@wustl.edu. The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. gillandersw@wustl.edu. (18) Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. kmurphy@wustl.edu.

        Citation: Nature 2026 Apr 15 Epub04/15/2026

        Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41986715

        Tags:

        Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay inhibition reshapes the cancer immunopeptidome Featured  

        (1) Vendramin R (2) Fu H (3) Fernandez Patel S (4) Zhao Y (5) Qian D (6) Ligammari L (7) Bartok O (8) Greenberg P (9) Levy R (10) Castro A (11) Thakkar K (12) Murai J (13) Lu WT (14) Sng CCT (15) Weller C (16) Beattie G (17) Bhamra A (18) Farriol-Duran R (19) Karagianni D (20) Augustine M (21) Dijkstra KK (22) Pinder CL (23) Simpson BS (24) Cheung GW (25) Galvez-Cancino F (26) Vlckova P (27) Surinova S (28) Rodriguez-Justo M (29) Shah M (30) McGranahan N (31) Carlton JG (32) Gršnroos E (33) Reading JL (34) Samuels Y (35) Swanton C (36) Quezada SA (37) Litchfield K

        Immunity

        Vendramin, Fu, Fernandez Patel, Zhao, et al. investigated nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in cancer, and detected high activity of this pathway in tumors, with lower scores associated with better ICB responses in clinical data. Inhibition of SMG1 reduced NMD activity and resulted in significant increases in immunogenic MHC-I-presented neoantigens. This resulted in improved antitumor immune responses and synergized with ICB in vivo.

        (1) Vendramin R (2) Fu H (3) Fernandez Patel S (4) Zhao Y (5) Qian D (6) Ligammari L (7) Bartok O (8) Greenberg P (9) Levy R (10) Castro A (11) Thakkar K (12) Murai J (13) Lu WT (14) Sng CCT (15) Weller C (16) Beattie G (17) Bhamra A (18) Farriol-Duran R (19) Karagianni D (20) Augustine M (21) Dijkstra KK (22) Pinder CL (23) Simpson BS (24) Cheung GW (25) Galvez-Cancino F (26) Vlckova P (27) Surinova S (28) Rodriguez-Justo M (29) Shah M (30) McGranahan N (31) Carlton JG (32) Gršnroos E (33) Reading JL (34) Samuels Y (35) Swanton C (36) Quezada SA (37) Litchfield K

        Immunity

        Vendramin, Fu, Fernandez Patel, Zhao, et al. investigated nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in cancer, and detected high activity of this pathway in tumors, with lower scores associated with better ICB responses in clinical data. Inhibition of SMG1 reduced NMD activity and resulted in significant increases in immunogenic MHC-I-presented neoantigens. This resulted in improved antitumor immune responses and synergized with ICB in vivo.

        ABSTRACT: DNA mutations are a well-characterized source of neoepitopes in immunotherapy. Here, we examined the contribution of dysregulated RNA processing to neoantigen production. Leveraging multi-omics and checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) response data from >1,000 patients, we identified reduced activity of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway kinase SMG1 as a predictor of improved CPI response. NMD inhibition through SMG1 targeting stabilized transcripts containing premature termination codons, most of which were of non-mutational origin. This reshaped the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I)-bound immunopeptidome and increased neoantigen abundance to levels comparable to high mutation burden tumors. Functionally, NMD inhibition drove antigen-dependent T cell-mediated tumor cell killing in vitro, promoted activation of tissue-resident T cells in patient-derived models ex vivo, and improved CPI efficacy in vivo. Our findings establish NMD inhibition as a strategy to harness a previously inaccessible source of canonical and non-canonical neoantigens, with the potential to increase tumor immunogenicity across cancers.

        Author Info: (1) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Inst

        Author Info: (1) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. Electronic address: r.vendramin@ucl.ac.uk. (2) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Pre-Cancer Immunology Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (3) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Organelle Dynamics Lab, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Organelle Dynamics Lab, the Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. (4) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. (5) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (6) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (7) Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (8) Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (9) Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (10) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (11) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (12) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Drug Discovery Technology Laboratories, Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan. (13) Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Department of Oncology, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. (14) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (15) Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (16) CRUK City of London Centre Single Cell Genomics Facility, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Bioinformatics Hub, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (17) Proteomics Research Translational Technology Platform, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (18) CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (19) CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Immune Regulation and Tumor Immunotherapy Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (20) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK. (21) Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Department of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands. (22) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (23) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (24) Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (25) CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Immune Regulation and Tumor Immunotherapy Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Immune Regulation Lab, Centre for Immuno-Oncology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. (26) Organoid Translational Technology Platform, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (27) Proteomics Research Translational Technology Platform, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (28) Department of Research Pathology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (29) CRUK City of London Explant and Patient-Derived Xenograft Core, London, UK. (30) CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (31) Organelle Dynamics Lab, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Organelle Dynamics Lab, the Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. (32) Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. (33) CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Pre-Cancer Immunology Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. (34) Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (35) Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. Electronic address: charles.swanton@crick.ac.uk. (36) CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Immune Regulation and Tumor Immunotherapy Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. Electronic address: s.quezada@ucl.ac.uk. (37) The Tumor Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Lab, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK. Electronic address: k.litchfield@ucl.ac.uk.

        Citation: Immunity 2026 Apr 8 Epub04/08/2026

        Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41956098

        Tags:

          Tim-3-targeted vaccines overcome tumor immunosuppression and reduce cDC1 dependence to elicit potent anti-tumor immunity Spotlight 

          (1) Fu C (2) Ma T (3) Clausen BE (4) Mellman I (5) Jiang A

          Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | Free PMC Article

          Fu et al. showed that an i.v. or s.c. Tim3-targeted vaccine, generated by conjugating antigens to anti-Tim3 antibodies, delivered antigens to both cDC1s and cDC2s and elicited robust and durable CD8+ T cell responses. This Tim3-targeted vaccine restored cross-priming in both β-catenin-driven DC dysfunction and established tumor-mediated immunosuppression across different tumor settings. In Batf3-/- mice lacking cDC1s, CD8+ T cell priming and tumor control were reduced, but not eliminated. A single dose of anti-Tim3 neoantigen vaccine eradicated large established solid tumors and generated memory responses in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner.

          Contributed by Shishir Pant

          (1) Fu C (2) Ma T (3) Clausen BE (4) Mellman I (5) Jiang A

          Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | Free PMC Article

          Fu et al. showed that an i.v. or s.c. Tim3-targeted vaccine, generated by conjugating antigens to anti-Tim3 antibodies, delivered antigens to both cDC1s and cDC2s and elicited robust and durable CD8+ T cell responses. This Tim3-targeted vaccine restored cross-priming in both β-catenin-driven DC dysfunction and established tumor-mediated immunosuppression across different tumor settings. In Batf3-/- mice lacking cDC1s, CD8+ T cell priming and tumor control were reduced, but not eliminated. A single dose of anti-Tim3 neoantigen vaccine eradicated large established solid tumors and generated memory responses in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner.

          Contributed by Shishir Pant

          ABSTRACT: Conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s) are specialized for cross-presenting tumor antigens and determining the efficacy of immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive cell therapy. However, their rarity and tumor-induced dysfunction severely limit CD8 T cell priming and represent a central bottleneck to therapeutic efficacy. While strategies such as anti-DEC-205-mediated antigen delivery and Flt3L-driven DC expansion can enhance host DC function, their reliance on functional cDC1s remains a significant constraint. We developed Tim-3-targeted vaccines by conjugating tumor antigens or neoantigens to anti-Tim-3 antibodies. These vaccines delivered antigens to both cDC1s and cDC2s, and elicited robust, durable CD8 T cell responses. Remarkably, Tim-3-targeted vaccines endowed cDC2s with efficient cross-presentation capacity that matched that of cDC1s. In tumor-bearing mice or in CD11c-_-catenin(active) mice, which model _-catenin-driven DC dysfunction, Tim-3-targeted vaccination restored cross-priming and counteracted tumor- and DC-mediated immunosuppression. In Batf3(-/-) mice lacking cDC1s, anti-Tim-3-based vaccines still elicited significant CD8 T cell cross-priming and tumor control-albeit both were reduced compared to wild-type mice- demonstrating that cDC1s contribute to but are not essential for Tim-3-targeted vaccine-induced CD8 T cell priming and anti-tumor efficacy. Strikingly, a single dose of anti-Tim-3-neoantigen vaccination eradicated large established MC38 tumors in a CD8 T cell-dependent manner. Together, these data identify Tim-3-targeted vaccines as a next-generation cancer vaccine platform that broadens DC engagement, reduces reliance on cDC1s, and overcomes tumor- and DC-mediated immunosuppression, addressing key limitations of current DC-based cancer vaccines.

          Author Info: (1) Center for Cutaneous Biology and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202. Immunology Program, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health

          Author Info: (1) Center for Cutaneous Biology and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202. Immunology Program, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. (2) Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309. (3) Institute for Molecular Medicine and Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz 55131, Germany. (4) Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143. Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129. (5) Center for Cutaneous Biology and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202. Immunology Program, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

          Citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2026 Mar 24 123:e2518080123 Epub03/19/2026

          Link to PUBMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41855265

          Tags:
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