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Background: Nanocovax is a recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 subunit vaccine composed of full-length prefusion stabilized recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins (S-2P) and aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. Methods: We conducted a dose-escalation, open label trial (phase 1) and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (phase 2) to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the Nanocovax vaccine (in 25 microgram (mcg), 50 mcg, and 75 mcg doses, aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted). In phase 1, 60 participants received two intramuscular injection of the vaccine following dose-escalation procedure. The primary outcomes were reactogenicity and laboratory tests to evaluate the vaccine safety. In phase 2 which involved in 560 healthy adults, the primary outcomes are vaccine safety, and anti-S IgG antibody response. Secondary outcomes were surrogate virus neutralization, wild-type SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, and T-cell responses by intracellular staining (ICS) for interferon gamma (IFNg). Anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibody levels were compared with convalescent serum samples from symptomatic Covid-19 patients. Findings: For phase 1 study, no serious adverse events (SAE) were observed for all 60 participants. Most adverse events (AE) were grade 1 and disappeared shortly after injection. For phase 2 study, after randomization, 480 participants were assigned to receive the vaccine with adjuvant, and 80 participants were assigned to receive placebo. Reactogenicity was absent or mild in the majority of participants and of short duration (mean ≤3 days). Unsolicited adverse events were mild in most participants. There were no serious adverse events related to Nanocovax. Regarding the immunogenicity, Nanocovax induced robust anti-S antibody responses. In general, there humoral responses were similar among vaccine groups up to day 90. Anti S-IgG levels and neutralizing antibody titers at the peak response on day 42 were all higher than those of convalescent sera. Interpretation: Up to day 90, Nanocovax was found to be safe, well tolerated, and induced robust immune responses. 25 mcg was selected for a phase 3 trial to evaluate the vaccine efficacy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04683484. NCT04683484, registration date in clinicaltrial.gov is Dec24, 2020, We has started our Phase 1 clinical trial in Vietnam on Dec 17, 2020, Funding: Research funded by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC., and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam Declaration of Interest: The following authors Thuy Phuong Nguyen, Hiep Khong, Tri Minh Le, Tuyen Thi Ngoc Trang, Thanh Thi Dinh, Thuong Van Vo, Thao Thi Thu Vu, Quynh Bao Phuong Nguyen, Vuong Tan Phan, Vinh The Tran, Mai Thi Nhu Tran, Truc Thi Thanh Nguyen, Phat Tan Ha, Hieu Trong Huynh, Khanh Duy Nguyen, Chung Chinh Doan, Thuan Trong Ung, Si Minh Do are employees of Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC. All other authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Approval: The trials were designed and funded by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Vietnam. The trial protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee/Protocol Review Board of the Ministry of Health (Vietnam)

By using near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP)-expressing hematopoietic cells, we established a novel, quantitative, in vivo, noninvasive atherosclerosis imaging system. This murine atherosclerosis imaging approach targets macrophages expressing iRFP in plaques. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR−/−) mice transplanted with beta-actin promoter-derived iRFP transgenic (TG) mouse bone marrow (BM) cells (iRFP → LDLR−/−) were used. Atherosclerosis was induced by a nonfluorescent 1.25% cholesterol diet (HCD). Atherosclerosis was compared among the three differently induced mouse groups. iRFP → LDLR−/− mice fed a normal diet (ND) and LDLR−/− mice transplanted with wild-type (WT) BM cells were used as controls. The in vivo imaging system (IVIS) detected an enhanced iRFP signal in the thoracic aorta of HCD-fed iRFP → LDLR−/− mice, whereas iRFP signals were not observed in the control mice. Time-course imaging showed a gradual increase in the signal area, which was correlated with atherosclerotic plaque progression. Oil red O (ORO) staining of aortas and histological analysis of plaques confirmed that the detected signal was strictly emitted from plaque-positive areas of the aorta. Our new murine atherosclerosis imaging system can noninvasively image atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta and generate longitudinal data, validating the ability of the system to monitor lesion progression.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in children and adults. Genetic factors significantly contribute to early-onset FSGS, but the etiologies of most adult cases remain unknown. Genetic studies of monogenic syndromic FSGS exhibiting extra-renal manifestations have uncovered an unexpected biological role for genes in the development of both podocytes and other cellular lineages. To help define these roles, we studied two unrelated families with FSGS associated with Duane Retraction Syndrome, characterized by impaired horizontal eye movement due to cranial nerve malformation. All four affected individuals developed FSGS and Duane Retraction Syndrome in their first to second decade of life, manifested as restricted abduction together with globe retraction and narrowed palpebral fissure on attempted adduction. Hypoplasia of the abducens nerves and hearing impairment occurred in severely affected individuals. Genetic analyses revealed that affected individuals harbor a rare heterozygous substitution (p.Leu239Pro) in MAFB, a leucine zipper transcription factor. Luciferase assays with cultured monocytes indicated that the substitution significantly reduced transactivation of the F4/80 promoter, the known MAFB recognition element. Additionally, immunohistochemistry indicated reduced MAFB expression in the podocytes of patients. Structural modeling suggested that the p.Leu239Pro substitution in the DNA-binding domain possibly interferes with the stability of the adjacent zinc finger. Lastly, podocytes in neonatal mice with p.Leu239Pro displayed impaired differentiation. Thus, MAFB mutations impair development and/or maintenance of podocytes, abducens neurons and the inner ear. The interactions between MAFB and regulatory elements in these developing organs are likely highly specific based on spatiotemporal requirements.

The transcription factor MafB is expressed by monocytes and macrophages. Efferocytosis (apoptotic cell uptake) by macrophages is important for inhibiting the development of autoimmune diseases, and is greatly reduced in Mafb-deficient macrophages. Here, we show the expression of the first protein in the classical complement pathway C1q is important for mediating efferocytosis and is reduced in Mafb-deficient macrophages. The efferocytosis defect in Mafb-deficient macrophages can be rescued by adding serum from wild-type mice, but not by adding serum from C1q-deficient mice. By hemolysis assay we also show that activation of the classical complement pathway is decreased in Mafb-deficient mice. In addition, MafB overexpression induces C1q-dependent gene expression and signals that induce C1q genes are less effective in the absence of MafB. We also show that Mafb-deficiency can increase glomerular autoimmunity, including anti-nuclear antibody deposition. These results show that MafB is an important regulator of C1q., Complement component C1q activates efferocytosis, suppresses inflammatory responses, and is thereby thought to limit autoimmune disease. Here, the authors show that macrophage transcription factor MafB regulates total serum levels of C1q, which contributes to preventing autoimmune disease in mice.

In order to increase the contribution of donor HSC cells, irradiation and DNA alkylating agents have been commonly used as experimental methods to eliminate HSCs for adult mice. But a technique of HSC deletion for mouse embryo for increase contribution of donor cells has not been published. Here, we established for the first time a procedure for placental HSC transplantation into E11.5 Runx1-deficient mice mated with G1-HRD-Runx1 transgenic mice (Runx1-/-::Tg mice) that have no HSCs in the fetal liver. Following the transplantation of fetal liver cells from mice (allogeneic) or rats (xenogeneic), high donor cell chimerism was observed in Runx1-/-::Tg embryos. Furthermore, chimerism analysis and colony assay data showed that donor fetal liver hematopoietic cells contributed to both white blood cells and red blood cells. Moreover, secondary transplantation into adult recipient mice indicated that the HSCs in rescued Runx1-/-::Tg embryos had normal abilities. These results suggest that mice lacking fetal liver HSCs are a powerful tool for hematopoiesis reconstruction during the embryonic stage and can potentially be used in basic research on HSCs or xenograft models.

MafB, a transcription factor expressed selectively in macrophages, has important roles in some macrophage-related diseases, especially in atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which hematopoietic-specific MafB deficiency induces the development of obesity. Wild-type and hematopoietic cell-specific Mafb-deficient mice were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. The Mafb-deficient mice exhibited higher body weights and faster rates of body weight increase than control mice. The Mafb-deficient mice also had a higher percentage of body fat than the wild-type mice, due to increased adipocyte size and serum cholesterol levels. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed a reduction in apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) in Mafb-deficient adipose tissue. AIM is known as an inhibitor of lipogenesis in adipocytes and is expressed in adipose tissue macrophages. Collectively, our data suggest that Mafb deficiency in hematopoietic cells accelerates the development of obesity.

Fluorescent proteins with light wavelengths within the optical window are one of the improvements in in vivo imaging techniques. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent protein (iRFP) is a stable, nontoxic protein that emits fluorescence within the NIR optical window without the addition of exogenous substrate. However, studies utilizing an in vivo iRFP model have not yet been published. Here, we report the generation of transgenic iRFP mice with ubiquitous NIR fluorescence expression. iRFP expression was observed in approximately 50% of the offspring from a matings between iRFP transgenic and WT mice. The serum and blood cell indices and body weights of iRFP mice were similar to those of WT mice. Red fluorescence with an excitation wavelength of 690 nm and an emission wavelength of 713 nm was detected in both newborn and adult iRFP mice. We also detected fluorescence emission in whole organs of the iRFP mice, including the brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lung, pancreas, bone, testis, thymus, and adipose tissue. Therefore, iRFP transgenic mice may therefore be a useful tool for various types of in vivo imaging.

The large Maf transcription factors c-Maf and MafB are expressed in macrophage-lineage hematopoietic cells, but the expression patterns of MafB and c-Maf in macrophage subtypes and tissue-resident macrophages have not been fully analyzed. First, we analyzed MafB and c-Maf protein expression in tissue-resident macrophages. Mouse lymph nodes, spleens, lungs, and kidneys were subjected to immunohistochemistry using anti-MafB and anti-c-Maf. Both MafB and c-Maf signals were observed in lymph node macrophages. In the splenic macrophages the MafB signal was detected by anti-MafB, but the c-Maf signal was not detected. No expression of c-Maf or MafB was detected in macrophages in the lung and kidney. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a similar pattern of GFP expression in Mafb/GFP knock-in heterozygous mice. To analyze these different expression patterns in greater detail, we examined the expression of MafB and c-Maf by quantitative RT-PCR in different cytokine- or LPS-induced macrophages in vitro. MafB expression was induced by IL-10 or IL-4 with IL-13 and was reduced by LPS or GM-CSF. By contrast, c-Maf expression was induced by IL-10 and reduced by IL-4 with IL-13 or GM-CSF. These results indicate that MafB and c-Maf have different expression patterns in macrophages, suggesting differences in function.

MafB is a transcription factor that induces myelomonocytic differentiation. However, the precise role of MafB in the pathogenic function of macrophages has never been clarified. Here we demonstrate that MafB promotes hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis by suppressing foam-cell apoptosis. Our data show that MafB is predominantly expressed in foam cells found within atherosclerotic lesions, where MafB mediates the oxidized LDL-activated LXR/RXR-induced expression of apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages (AIM). In the absence of MafB, activated LXR/RXR fails to induce the expression of AIM, a protein that is normally responsible for protecting macrophages from apoptosis; thus, Mafb-deficient macrophages are prone to apoptosis. Haematopoietic reconstitution with Mafb-deficient fetal liver cells in recipient LDL receptor-deficient hyperlipidemic mice revealed accelerated foam-cell apoptosis, which subsequently led to the attenuation of the early atherogenic lesion. These findings represent the first evidence that the macrophage-affiliated MafB transcription factor participates in the acceleration of atherogenesis.