Lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated ex vivo gene therapy for haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) has delivered on the promise of a 'one-and-done' treatment for several genetic diseases1. However, ex vivo manipulation and patient conditioning before transplantation are major hurdles that could be overcome by an in vivo approach. Here we demonstrate that in vivo gene delivery to HSPCs after systemic LV administration is enabled by the substantial trafficking of these cells from the liver to the bone marrow in newborn mice. We improved gene-transfer efficiency using a phagocytosis-shielded LV, successfully reaching bona fide HSPCs capable of long-term multilineage output and engraftment after serial transplantation, as confirmed by clonal tracking. HSPC mobilization further increased gene transfer, extending the window of intervention, although permissiveness to LV transduction declined with age. We successfully tested this in vivo strategy in mouse models of adenosine deaminase deficiency, autosomal recessive osteopetrosis and Fanconi anaemia. Interestingly, in vivo gene transfer provided a selective advantage to corrected HSPCs in Fanconi anaemia, leading to near-complete haematopoietic reconstitution and prevention of bone marrow failure. Given that circulating HSPCs in humans are also most abundant shortly after birth, in vivo HSPC gene transfer holds strong translational potential across multiple diseases.
© 2025. The Author(s).

Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns can trigger the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 α (IRE1α) arm of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in innate immune cells. This process maintains ER homeostasis and also coordinates diverse immunomodulatory programs during bacterial and viral infections. However, the role of innate IRE1α signaling in response to fungal pathogens remains elusive. Here, we report that systemic infection with the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans induced proinflammatory IRE1α hyperactivation in myeloid cells that led to fatal kidney immunopathology. Mechanistically, simultaneous activation of the TLR/IL-1R adaptor protein MyD88 and the C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 by C. albicans induced NADPH oxidase-driven generation of ROS, which caused ER stress and IRE1α-dependent overexpression of key inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and TNF-α. Selective ablation of IRE1α in leukocytes, or treatment with an IRE1α pharmacological inhibitor, mitigated kidney inflammation and prolonged the survival of mice with systemic C. albicans infection. Therefore, controlling IRE1α hyperactivation may be useful for impeding the immunopathogenic progression of disseminated candidiasis.

Rationally designed and engineered bacteria represent an emerging unique approach for cancer treatment. Here, we engineer a short-lived bacterium, mp105, that is effective against diverse cancer types and safe for intravenous administration. We reveal that mp105 combats cancer by direct oncolysis, depletion of tumor-associated macrophages, and elicitation of CD4+ T cell immunity. We further engineer a glucose-sensing bacterium named m6001 that selectively colonizes solid tumors. When intratumorally injected, m6001 clears tumors more efficiently than mp105 due to its post-delivery replication in tumors and potent oncolytic capacity. Finally, we combine intravenous injection of mp105 and intratumoral injection of m6001, forming a double team against cancer. The double team enhances cancer therapy compared with single treatment for subjects carrying both intratumorally injectable and uninjectable tumors. The two anticancer bacteria and their combination are applicable to different scenarios, turning bacterial therapy for cancer into a feasible solution.
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Despite their cytotoxic capacity, neutrophils are often co-opted by cancers to promote immunosuppression, tumor growth, and metastasis. Consequently, these cells have received little attention as potential cancer immunotherapeutic agents. Here, we demonstrate in mouse models that neutrophils can be harnessed to induce eradication of tumors and reduce metastatic seeding through the combined actions of tumor necrosis factor, CD40 agonist, and tumor-binding antibody. The same combination activates human neutrophils in vitro, enabling their lysis of human tumor cells. Mechanistically, this therapy induces rapid mobilization and tumor infiltration of neutrophils along with complement activation in tumors. Complement component C5a activates neutrophils to produce leukotriene B4, which stimulates reactive oxygen species production via xanthine oxidase, resulting in oxidative damage and T cell-independent clearance of multiple tumor types. These data establish neutrophils as potent anti-tumor immune mediators and define an inflammatory pathway that can be harnessed to drive neutrophil-mediated eradication of cancer.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Here, we outline detailed protocols to isolate and profile murine splenic dendritic cells (DCs) through advanced flow cytometry of the myeloid compartment and single-cell transcriptomic profiling with integrated cell surface protein expression through CITE-seq. This protocol provides a general transferrable road map for different tissues and species. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Lukowski et al. (2021).
© 2021 The Author(s).