151
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Bouffi C, Kartashov AV, Schollaert KL, Chen X, Bacon WC, Weirauch MT, Barski A, Fulkerson PC. Transcription Factor Repertoire of Homeostatic Eosinophilopoiesis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:2683-95. [PMID: 26268651 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The production of mature eosinophils (Eos) is a tightly orchestrated process with the aim to sustain normal Eos levels in tissues while also maintaining low numbers of these complex and sensitive cells in the blood. To identify regulators of homeostatic eosinophilopoiesis in mice, we took a global approach to identify genome-wide transcriptome and epigenome changes that occur during homeostasis at critical developmental stages, including Eos-lineage commitment and lineage maturation. Our analyses revealed a markedly greater number of transcriptome alterations associated with Eos maturation (1199 genes) than with Eos-lineage commitment (490 genes), highlighting the greater transcriptional investment necessary for differentiation. Eos-lineage-committed progenitors (EoPs) were noted to express high levels of granule proteins and contain granules with an ultrastructure distinct from that of mature resting Eos. Our analyses also delineated a 976-gene Eos-lineage transcriptome that included a repertoire of 56 transcription factors, many of which have never previously been associated with Eos. EoPs and Eos, but not granulocyte-monocyte progenitors or neutrophils, expressed Helios and Aiolos, members of the Ikaros family of transcription factors, which regulate gene expression via modulation of chromatin structure and DNA accessibility. Epigenetic studies revealed a distinct distribution of active chromatin marks between genes induced with lineage commitment and genes induced with cell maturation during Eos development. In addition, Aiolos and Helios binding sites were significantly enriched in genes expressed by EoPs and Eos with active chromatin, highlighting a potential novel role for Helios and Aiolos in regulating gene expression during Eos development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Bouffi
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Andrey V Kartashov
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Kaila L Schollaert
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- School of Electronic and Computing Systems, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
| | - W Clark Bacon
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Division of Biomedical Informatics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229; Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229; and
| | - Artem Barski
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229; Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Patricia C Fulkerson
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229;
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152
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Lee W, Kim HS, Baek SY, Lee GR. Transcription factor IRF8 controls Th1-like regulatory T-cell function. Cell Mol Immunol 2015; 13:785-794. [PMID: 26166768 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2015.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that regulatory T (Treg) cells comprise a heterogeneous population that regulates various aspects of the immune response, and that Treg cells use the factors that are expressed in their target cells to regulate them. We searched for factors that regulate Th1 response in Treg cells using a meta-analysis. In the process, we discovered that transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) was selectively expressed in Treg and Th1 cells. IRF8-deficient Treg cells showed defective expression of CXCR3 and aberrant expression of the Il4 and Il17 genes. Upon treatment with alpha galactosyl-C18-ceramide (αGal-C18-Cer), IRF8-deficient mice showed defective Treg cell recruitment in the liver. Eliciting Th1 immune response by anti-CD40 antibody injection in mice induced IRF8 expression in Treg cells. The expression of IRF8 was induced by Foxp3 in Treg cells. IRF8 had no effect on T-bet expression in Treg and vice versa. Thus, our results strongly suggest that IRF8 controls Th1 immune response in Treg cells independent of T-bet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyong Lee
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 121-742, Korea
| | - Hyeong Su Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 121-742, Korea
| | - Song Yi Baek
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 121-742, Korea
| | - Gap Ryol Lee
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 121-742, Korea
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153
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Grishkan IV, Tosi DM, Bowman MD, Harary M, Calabresi PA, Gocke AR. Antigenic Stimulation of Kv1.3-Deficient Th Cells Gives Rise to a Population of Foxp3-Independent T Cells with Suppressive Properties. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:1399-1407. [PMID: 26150529 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the CNS that has been linked with defects in regulatory T cell function. Therefore, strategies to selectively target pathogenic cells via enhanced regulatory T cell activity may provide therapeutic benefit. Kv1.3 is a voltage-gated potassium channel expressed on myelin-reactive T cells from MS patients. Kv1.3-knockout (KO) mice are protected from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of MS, and Kv1.3-KO Th cells display suppressive capacity associated with increased IL-10. In this article, we demonstrate that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific Kv1.3-KO Th cells exhibit a unique regulatory phenotype characterized by high CD25, CTLA4, pSTAT5, FoxO1, and GATA1 expression without a corresponding increase in Foxp3. These phenotypic changes result from increased signaling through IL-2R. Moreover, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific Kv1.3-KO Th cells can ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis following transfer to wild-type recipients in a manner that is partially dependent on IL-2R and STAT5 signaling. The present study identifies a population of Foxp3(-) T cells with suppressive properties that arises in the absence of Kv1.3 and enhances the understanding of the molecular mechanism by which these cells are generated. This increased understanding could contribute to the development of novel therapies for MS patients that promote heightened immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna V Grishkan
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dominique M Tosi
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Melissa D Bowman
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maya Harary
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter A Calabresi
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne R Gocke
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, USA
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154
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Rieder SA, Metidji A, Glass DD, Thornton AM, Ikeda T, Morgan BA, Shevach EM. Eos Is Redundant for Regulatory T Cell Function but Plays an Important Role in IL-2 and Th17 Production by CD4+ Conventional T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:553-63. [PMID: 26062998 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Eos belongs to the Ikaros family of transcription factors. It was reported to be a regulatory T cell (Treg) signature gene, to play a critical role in Treg suppressor functions, and to maintain Treg stability. We used mice with a global deficiency in Eos to re-examine the role of Eos expression in both Tregs and conventional T cells (Tconvs). Tregs from Eos-deficient (Eos(-/-)) mice developed normally, displayed a normal Treg phenotype, and exhibited normal suppressor function in vitro. Eos(-/-) Tregs were as effective as Tregs from wild-type (WT) mice in suppressing inflammation in a model of inflammatory bowel disease. Bone marrow (BM) from Eos(-/-) mice was as effective as that from WT mice in controlling T cell activation when used to reconstitute immunodeficient mice in the presence of scurfy fetal liver cells. Surprisingly, Eos was expressed in activated Tconvs and was required for IL-2 production, CD25 expression, and proliferation in vitro by CD4(+) Tconvs. Eos(-/-) mice developed more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis than WT mice, displayed increased numbers of effector T cells in the periphery and CNS, and amplified IL-17 production. In conclusion, our studies are not consistent with a role for Eos in Treg development and function but demonstrate that Eos plays an important role in the activation and differentiation of Tconvs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadiye Amcaoglu Rieder
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Amina Metidji
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Deborah Dacek Glass
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Angela M Thornton
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Tohru Ikeda
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129
| | - Bruce A Morgan
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129
| | - Ethan M Shevach
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
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155
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Inflammation negatively regulates FOXP3 and regulatory T-cell function via DBC1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E3246-54. [PMID: 26060310 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1421463112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)-positive Treg cells are crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis. FOXP3 cooperates with its binding partners to elicit Treg cells' signature and function, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of the FOXP3 complex remain unclear. Here we report that Deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1) is a key subunit of the FOXP3 complex. We found that DBC1 interacts physically with FOXP3, and depletion of DBC1 attenuates FOXP3 degradation in inflammatory conditions. Treg cells from Dbc1-deficient mice were more resistant to inflammation-mediated abrogation of Foxp3 expression and function and delayed the onset and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and colitis in mice. These findings establish a previously unidentified mechanism regulating FOXP3 stability during inflammation and reveal a pathway for potential therapeutic modulation and intervention in inflammatory diseases.
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156
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Li X, Zheng Y. Regulatory T cell identity: formation and maintenance. Trends Immunol 2015; 36:344-53. [PMID: 25981968 PMCID: PMC4458194 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2015.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 04/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
T regulatory (Treg) cells are central to the maintenance of immune homeostasis. The transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) is essential for specifying the Treg cell lineage during development, and continued expression of Foxp3 in mature Treg cells is necessary for suppressive function. Loss of Foxp3 expression in Treg cells is associated with autoimmune pathology. Here, we review recent insights into the mechanisms that maintain Treg cell stability and function, and place these findings within the broader understanding of mechanisms that establish Treg cell identity during development. We integrate emerging principles in Treg cell lineage maintenance with the mechanisms that allow Treg cells to sense and respond to varied inflammatory environments, and outline important areas of future inquiry in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Li
- Nomis Foundation Laboratories for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ye Zheng
- Nomis Foundation Laboratories for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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157
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Khor B, Gagnon JD, Goel G, Roche MI, Conway KL, Tran K, Aldrich LN, Sundberg TB, Paterson AM, Mordecai S, Dombkowski D, Schirmer M, Tan PH, Bhan AK, Roychoudhuri R, Restifo NP, O'Shea JJ, Medoff BD, Shamji AF, Schreiber SL, Sharpe AH, Shaw SY, Xavier RJ. The kinase DYRK1A reciprocally regulates the differentiation of Th17 and regulatory T cells. eLife 2015; 4:e05920. [PMID: 25998054 PMCID: PMC4441007 DOI: 10.7554/elife.05920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The balance between Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells critically modulates immune homeostasis, with an inadequate Treg response contributing to inflammatory disease. Using an unbiased chemical biology approach, we identified a novel role for the dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase DYRK1A in regulating this balance. Inhibition of DYRK1A enhances Treg differentiation and impairs Th17 differentiation without affecting known pathways of Treg/Th17 differentiation. Thus, DYRK1A represents a novel mechanistic node at the branch point between commitment to either Treg or Th17 lineages. Importantly, both Treg cells generated using the DYRK1A inhibitor harmine and direct administration of harmine itself potently attenuate inflammation in multiple experimental models of systemic autoimmunity and mucosal inflammation. Our results identify DYRK1A as a physiologically relevant regulator of Treg cell differentiation and suggest a broader role for other DYRK family members in immune homeostasis. These results are discussed in the context of human diseases associated with dysregulated DYRK activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Khor
- Gastrointestinal Unit and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
- Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - John D Gagnon
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Gautam Goel
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Marly I Roche
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Kara L Conway
- Gastrointestinal Unit and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Khoa Tran
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Leslie N Aldrich
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | | | - Alison M Paterson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Scott Mordecai
- Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - David Dombkowski
- Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | | | - Pauline H Tan
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Atul K Bhan
- Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Nicholas P Restifo
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - John J O'Shea
- Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Benjamin D Medoff
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | | | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Stanley Y Shaw
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Ramnik J Xavier
- Gastrointestinal Unit and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
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158
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Teh CE, Gray DHD. Can you rely on Treg cells on the rebound? Eur J Immunol 2015; 44:3504-7. [PMID: 25410151 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201445273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells comprise a highly dynamic population that restrains autoreactivity. Although complete or long-term depletion of Foxp3(+) CD4(+) Treg cells in adult mice has been shown to result in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease, the impact of transient Treg-cell depletion on self-reactive responses is poorly defined. A new study published in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 3621-3631] shows that, although transient depletion of Treg cells in mice is swiftly followed by recovery of Treg-cell numbers, the "rebounded" population fails to maintain tolerance, culminating in severe autoimmune gastritis. This commentary explores new questions about the quantitative and qualitative aspects of Treg-cell function in immunological tolerance raised by this study and others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charis E Teh
- Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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159
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Lopez-Pastrana J, Shao Y, Chernaya V, Wang H, Yang XF. Epigenetic enzymes are the therapeutic targets for CD4(+)CD25(+/high)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells. Transl Res 2015; 165:221-40. [PMID: 25193380 PMCID: PMC4259825 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
CD4(+)CD25(+/high)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are a subset of CD4(+) T cells that play an essential role in maintaining peripheral immune tolerance. Several transcriptional cofactors have been recently identified, which form complexes with transcription factor Foxp3 of Treg cells and contribute in the suppressive function of Treg cells. However, Foxp3 is still defined as a "master" (multiple pathway) regulator gene that controls the development and stability of Treg cells. Because of its importance, the regulatory mechanisms underlying Foxp3 expression have been a focus of intensive investigation. Recent progress suggests that the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for regulating the Foxp3 gene expression are key components of suppressive activity of Treg cells. This review not only discusses the basic concepts of biology and epigenetic modifications of Treg cells, but also analyzes the translational clinical aspect of epigenetic modifications of Treg cells, focusing on several ongoing clinical trials and the Food and Drugs administration (FDA) approved epigenetic-based drugs. The new progress in identifying epigenetic enzymes functional in Treg cells is a new target for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, graft-vs-host disease and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahaira Lopez-Pastrana
- Centers for Metabolic Disease Research and Cardiovascular Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Penn
| | - Ying Shao
- Centers for Metabolic Disease Research and Cardiovascular Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Penn
| | - Valeria Chernaya
- Centers for Metabolic Disease Research and Cardiovascular Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Penn
| | - Hong Wang
- Centers for Metabolic Disease Research and Cardiovascular Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Penn
| | - Xiao-Feng Yang
- Centers for Metabolic Disease Research and Cardiovascular Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Penn; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Penn.
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160
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Transcriptional and Epigenetic Control of Regulatory T Cell Development. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2015; 136:1-33. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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161
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Kitagawa Y, Ohkura N, Sakaguchi S. Epigenetic control of thymic Treg-cell development. Eur J Immunol 2014; 45:11-6. [PMID: 25348287 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201444577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Revised: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Thymus-derived Treg cells, which express the transcription factor Foxp3, form a functionally stable cell lineage indispensable for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. Foxp3 is critically required for Treg-cell function, in particular for their suppressive function. Recent studies have implicated the contribution of Treg-cell-specific epigenetic modifications as a means to ensure the stable expression of Foxp3 and other molecules associated with Treg-cell function. Unexpectedly, epigenetic modifications introduced in the course of thymic Treg-cell development were found to be independent of Foxp3 expression. These findings require reconsideration of the current model of Treg-cell development based on Foxp3 induction. With reference to other examples of lineage specification, we discuss possible models for thymic Treg-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohko Kitagawa
- Department of Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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162
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Fu W, Farache J, Clardy SM, Hattori K, Mander P, Lee K, Rioja I, Weissleder R, Prinjha RK, Benoist C, Mathis D. Epigenetic modulation of type-1 diabetes via a dual effect on pancreatic macrophages and β cells. eLife 2014; 3:e04631. [PMID: 25407682 PMCID: PMC4270084 DOI: 10.7554/elife.04631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifiers are an emerging class of anti-tumor drugs, potent in multiple cancer contexts. Their effect on spontaneously developing autoimmune diseases has been little explored. We report that a short treatment with I-BET151, a small-molecule inhibitor of a family of bromodomain-containing transcriptional regulators, irreversibly suppressed development of type-1 diabetes in NOD mice. The inhibitor could prevent or clear insulitis, but had minimal influence on the transcriptomes of infiltrating and circulating T cells. Rather, it induced pancreatic macrophages to adopt an anti-inflammatory phenotype, impacting the NF-κB pathway in particular. I-BET151 also elicited regeneration of islet β-cells, inducing proliferation and expression of genes encoding transcription factors key to β-cell differentiation/function. The effect on β cells did not require T cell infiltration of the islets. Thus, treatment with I-BET151 achieves a 'combination therapy' currently advocated by many diabetes investigators, operating by a novel mechanism that coincidentally dampens islet inflammation and enhances β-cell regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxian Fu
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Julia Farache
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Susan M Clardy
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Kimie Hattori
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Palwinder Mander
- Epinova DPU, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Lee
- Epinova DPU, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Inmaculada Rioja
- Epinova DPU, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Ralph Weissleder
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Rab K Prinjha
- Epinova DPU, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Christophe Benoist
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Diane Mathis
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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163
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Barbi J, Pardoll D, Pan F. Treg functional stability and its responsiveness to the microenvironment. Immunol Rev 2014; 259:115-39. [PMID: 24712463 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevent autoimmunity and tissue damage resulting from excessive or unnecessary immune activation through their suppressive function. While their importance for proper immune control is undeniable, the stability of the Treg lineage has recently become a controversial topic. Many reports have shown dramatic loss of the signature Treg transcription factor Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) and Treg function under various inflammatory conditions. Other recent studies demonstrate that most Tregs are extremely resilient in their expression of Foxp3 and the retention of suppressive function. While this debate is unlikely to be settled in the immediate future, improved understanding of the considerable heterogeneity within the Foxp3(+) Treg population and how Treg subsets respond to ranging environmental cues may be keys to reconciliation. In this review, we discuss the diverse mechanisms responsible for the observed stability or instability of Foxp3(+) Treg identity and function. These include transcriptional and epigenetic programs, transcript targeting, and posttranslational modifications that appear responsive to numerous elements of the microenvironment. These mechanisms for Treg functional modulation add to the discussion of Treg stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Barbi
- Department of Oncology, Immunology and Hematopoiesis Division, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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164
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Vahl JC, Drees C, Heger K, Heink S, Fischer JC, Nedjic J, Ohkura N, Morikawa H, Poeck H, Schallenberg S, Rieß D, Hein MY, Buch T, Polic B, Schönle A, Zeiser R, Schmitt-Gräff A, Kretschmer K, Klein L, Korn T, Sakaguchi S, Schmidt-Supprian M. Continuous T cell receptor signals maintain a functional regulatory T cell pool. Immunity 2014; 41:722-36. [PMID: 25464853 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immune homeostasis and prevent inflammatory and autoimmune responses. During development, thymocytes bearing a moderately self-reactive T cell receptor (TCR) can be selected to become Treg cells. Several observations suggest that also in the periphery mature Treg cells continuously receive self-reactive TCR signals. However, the importance of this inherent autoreactivity for Treg cell biology remains poorly defined. To address this open question, we genetically ablated the TCR of mature Treg cells in vivo. These experiments revealed that TCR-induced Treg lineage-defining Foxp3 expression and gene hypomethylation were uncoupled from TCR input in mature Treg cells. However, Treg cell homeostasis, cell-type-specific gene expression and suppressive function critically depend on continuous triggering of their TCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Christoph Vahl
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christoph Drees
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Heger
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Department of Hematology, Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sylvia Heink
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Julius C Fischer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Jelena Nedjic
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Goethestraße 31, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Naganari Ohkura
- Department of Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Morikawa
- Department of Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hendrik Poeck
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Schallenberg
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - David Rieß
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Department of Hematology, Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Marco Y Hein
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thorsten Buch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology & Hygiene, Trogerstraße 30, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany and Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurer Straße 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bojan Polic
- University of Rijeka School of Medicine, B. Branchetta 20, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Anne Schönle
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Zeiser
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annette Schmitt-Gräff
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 115a, 79106 Freiburg Germany
| | - Karsten Kretschmer
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ludger Klein
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Goethestraße 31, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Korn
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Department of Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Marc Schmidt-Supprian
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Department of Hematology, Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 15, 81675 Munich, Germany.
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165
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Cipolletta D. Adipose tissue-resident regulatory T cells: phenotypic specialization, functions and therapeutic potential. Immunology 2014; 142:517-25. [PMID: 24484282 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Foxp3(+) CD4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells, recognized to be one of the most important defences of the human body against an inappropriate immune response, have recently gained attention from those outside immunology thanks to the compelling evidence for their capability to exert non-canonical immune functions in a variety of tissues in health and disease. The recent discovery of the differences between tissue-resident Treg cells and those derived from lymphoid organs is affecting the mindset of many investigators now questioning the broad applicability of observations originally based on peripheral blood/lymphoid organ cells. So far, the best characterized 'Treg flavour' comes from studies focused on their role in suppressing adipose tissue inflammation and obesity-driven insulin resistance. Adipose tissue derived Treg cells are distinct from their counterparts in lymphoid organs based on their transcriptional profile, T-cell receptor repertoire, and cytokine and chemokine receptor expression pattern. These cells are abundant in visceral adipose tissue of lean mice but their number is greatly reduced in insulin-resistant animal models of obesity. Interestingly, peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ expression by visceral adipose tissue Treg cells is crucial for their accumulation, phenotype and function in the fat and surprisingly necessary for complete restoration of insulin sensitivity in obese mice by the anti-diabetic drug Pioglitazone. This review surveys recent findings relating to the unique phenotype and function of adipose tissue-resident Treg cells, speculates on the nature of their dynamics in lean and obese mouse models, and analyses their potential therapeutic application in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
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166
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Shih HY, Sciumè G, Poholek AC, Vahedi G, Hirahara K, Villarino AV, Bonelli M, Bosselut R, Kanno Y, Muljo SA, O'Shea JJ. Transcriptional and epigenetic networks of helper T and innate lymphoid cells. Immunol Rev 2014; 261:23-49. [PMID: 25123275 PMCID: PMC4321863 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the specification of CD4(+) helper T cells to discrete effector 'lineages' represented a watershed event in conceptualizing mechanisms of host defense and immunoregulation. However, our appreciation for the actual complexity of helper T-cell subsets continues unabated. Just as the Sami language of Scandinavia has 1000 different words for reindeer, immunologists recognize the range of fates available for a CD4(+) T cell is numerous and may be underestimated. Added to the crowded scene for helper T-cell subsets is the continuously growing family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), endowed with common effector responses and the previously defined 'master regulators' for CD4(+) helper T-cell subsets are also shared by ILC subsets. Within the context of this extraordinary complexity are concomitant advances in the understanding of transcriptomes and epigenomes. So what do terms like 'lineage commitment' and helper T-cell 'specification' mean in the early 21st century? How do we put all of this together in a coherent conceptual framework? It would be arrogant to assume that we have a sophisticated enough understanding to seriously answer these questions. Instead, we review the current status of the flexibility of helper T-cell responses in relation to their genetic regulatory networks and epigenetic landscapes. Recent data have provided major surprises as to what master regulators can or cannot do, how they interact with other transcription factors and impact global genome-wide changes, and how all these factors come together to influence helper cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yu Shih
- Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis, and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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167
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Abstract
Combined with TCR stimuli, extracellular cytokine signals initiate the differentiation of naive CD4(+) T cells into specialized effector T-helper (Th) and regulatory T (Treg) cell subsets. The lineage specification and commitment process occurs through the combinatorial action of multiple transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic mechanisms that drive lineage-specific gene expression programs. In this article, we review recent studies on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of distinct Th cell lineages. Moreover, we review current study linking immune disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms with distal regulatory elements and their potential role in the disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash K Tripathi
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and
Åbo Akademi UniversityTurku, Finland
- National Doctoral Programme in Informational and
Structural BiologyTurku, Finland
- Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM),
University of TurkuTurku, Finland
| | - Riitta Lahesmaa
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and
Åbo Akademi UniversityTurku, Finland
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168
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In vitro induced regulatory T cells are unique from endogenous regulatory T cells and effective at suppressing late stages of ongoing autoimmunity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104698. [PMID: 25119105 PMCID: PMC4131893 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Strategies to boost the numbers and functions of regulatory T cells (Tregs) are currently being tested as means to treat autoimmunity. While Tregs have been shown to be effective in this role, strategies to manipulate Tregs to effectively suppress later stages of ongoing diseases need to be established. In this study, we evaluated the ability of TGF-β-induced Tregs (iTregs) specific for the major self-antigen in autoimmune gastritis to suppress established autoimmune gastritis in mice. When transferred into mice during later stages of disease, iTregs demethylated the Foxp3 promoter, maintained Foxp3 expression, and suppressed effector T cell proliferation. More importantly, these iTregs were effective at stopping disease progression. Untreated mice had high numbers of endogenous Tregs (enTregs) but these were unable to stop disease progression. In contrast, iTregs, were found in relatively low numbers in treated mice, yet were effective at stopping disease progression, suggesting qualitative differences in suppressor functions. We identified several inhibitory receptors (LAG-3, PD-1, GARP, and TNFR2), cytokines (TGF-β1 and IL12p35), and transcription factors (IRF4 and Tbet) expressed at higher levels by iTregs compared to enTregs isolated form mice with ongoing disease, which likely accounts for superior suppressor ability in this disease model. These data support efforts to use iTregs in therapies to treat establish autoimmunity, and show that iTregs are more effective than enTregs at suppressing inflammation in this disease model.
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169
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van Loosdregt J, Coffer PJ. Post-translational modification networks regulating FOXP3 function. Trends Immunol 2014; 35:368-78. [PMID: 25047417 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead box (FOX)P3 is a requisite transcription factor for the development and maintenance of immunosuppressive function of regulatory T (Treg) cells, and therefore for immune homeostasis. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) can transiently alter the functionality of transcription factors, and recent evidence reveals that FOXP3 can be regulated by various PTMs including acetylation, ubiquitination, and phosphorylation. Here, we review the current understanding of how these modifications control FOXP3, including regulation of DNA binding, transactivation potential, and proteasomal degradation. We place these findings in the context of the biology of Treg cells, and discuss both limitations in translating biochemical findings into in vivo functions and the opportunities presented by a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that can transiently control FOXP3 activity in response to environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorg van Loosdregt
- Division of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J Coffer
- Division of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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170
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SOCS1 and regulation of regulatory T cells plasticity. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:943149. [PMID: 25133199 PMCID: PMC4123481 DOI: 10.1155/2014/943149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several reports have suggested that natural regulatory T cells (Tregs) lose Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression and suppression activity under certain inflammatory conditions. Treg plasticity has been studied because it may be associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Some studies showed that a minor uncommitted Foxp3+ T cell population, which lacks hypomethylation at Treg-specific demethylation regions (TSDRs), may convert to effector/helper T cells. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, has been reported to play an important role in Treg cell integrity and function by protecting the cells from excessive inflammatory cytokines. In this review, we discuss Treg plasticity and maintenance of suppression functions in both physiological and pathological settings. In addition, we discuss molecular mechanisms of maintaining Treg plasticity by SOCS1 and other molecules. Such information will be useful for therapy of autoimmune diseases and reinforcement of antitumor immunity.
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171
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Miyazato P, Matsuoka M. Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 and Foxp3 expression: viral strategy in vivo. Int Immunol 2014; 26:419-25. [PMID: 24792037 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxu048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causal agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and inflammatory diseases, including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, uveitis and infective dermatitis. However, it remains to be elucidated how HTLV-1 induces both neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. A critical component in the Treg-cell machinery is the transcription factor Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), which is expressed in ~5% of CD4(+) T cells of healthy individuals. Foxp3 is expressed in around 80% of ATL cases. Recent studies point to the capacity of Treg cells to convert to other cell types, even to those with an inflammatory phenotype. These characteristics might indicate that Treg cells might be playing a critical role in HTLV-1 infection, either by being targeted by the virus or by regulating and modulating the immune response. In this review, we will discuss the interplay between Foxp3 expression and HTLV-1, focusing on important viral proteins that might help the virus to trigger the development of such diverse pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Miyazato
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Masao Matsuoka
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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172
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Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevail as a specialized cell lineage that has a central role in the dominant control of immunological tolerance and maintenance of immune homeostasis. Thymus-derived Tregs (tTregs) and their peripherally induced counterparts (pTregs) are imprinted with unique Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3)-dependent and independent transcriptional and epigenetic characteristics that bestows on them the ability to suppress disparate immunological and non-immunological challenges. Thus, unidirectional commitment and the predominant stability of this regulatory lineage is essential for their unwavering and robust suppressor function and has clinical implications for the use of Tregs as cellular therapy for various immune pathologies. However, recent studies have revealed considerable heterogeneity or plasticity in the Treg lineage, acquisition of alternative effector or hybrid fates, and promotion rather than suppression of inflammation in extreme contexts. In addition, the absolute stability of Tregs under all circumstances has been questioned. Since these observations challenge the safety and efficacy of human Treg therapy, the issue of Treg stability versus plasticity continues to be enthusiastically debated. In this review, we assess our current understanding of the defining features of Foxp3(+) Tregs, the intrinsic and extrinsic cues that guide development and commitment to the Treg lineage, and the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity that shapes the plasticity and stability of this critical regulatory population in inflammatory contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepali V Sawant
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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173
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Pan F, Barbi J. Ubiquitous points of control over regulatory T cells. J Mol Med (Berl) 2014; 92:555-69. [PMID: 24777637 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-014-1156-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Posttranslational modification by ubiquitin tagging is crucial for regulating the stability, activity and cellular localization of many target proteins involved in processes including DNA repair, cell cycle progression, protein quality control, and signal transduction. It has long been appreciated that ubiquitin-mediated events are important for certain signaling pathways leading to leukocyte activation and the stimulation of effector function. Now it is clear that the activities of molecules and pathways central to immune regulation are also modified and controlled by ubiquitin tagging. Among the mechanisms of immune control, regulatory T cells (or Tregs) are themselves particularly sensitive to such regulation. E3 ligases and deubiquitinases both influence Tregs through their effects on the signaling pathways pertinent to these cells or through the direct, posttranslational regulation of Foxp3. In this review, we will summarize and discuss several examples of ubiquitin-mediated control over multiple aspects of Treg biology including the generation, function and phenotypic fidelity of these cells. Fully explored and exploited, these potential opportunities for Treg modulation may lead to novel immunotherapies for both positive and negative fine-tuning of immune restraint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Pan
- Immunology and Hematopoiesis Division, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA,
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174
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Inflammation-induced repression of chromatin bound by the transcription factor Foxp3 in regulatory T cells. Nat Immunol 2014; 15:580-587. [PMID: 24728351 PMCID: PMC4112080 DOI: 10.1038/ni.2868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor Foxp3 is indispensable for the ability of regulatory T (Treg) cells to suppress fatal inflammation. Here, we characterized the role of Foxp3 in chromatin remodeling and regulation of gene expression in actively suppressing Treg cells in an inflammatory setting. Although genome-wide Foxp3 occupancy of DNA regulatory elements was similar in resting and in vivo activated Treg cells, Foxp3-bound enhancers were poised for repression only in activated Treg cells. Following activation, Foxp3-bound sites showed reduced chromatin accessibility and selective H3K27 tri-methylation, which was associated with Ezh2 recruitment and downregulation of nearby gene expression. Thus, Foxp3 poises its targets for repression by facilitating formation of repressive chromatin in regulatory T cells upon their activation in response to inflammatory cues.
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175
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Morikawa H, Sakaguchi S. Genetic and epigenetic basis of Treg cell development and function: from a FoxP3-centered view to an epigenome-defined view of natural Treg cells. Immunol Rev 2014; 259:192-205. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.12174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiromasa Morikawa
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology; WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center; Osaka University; Osaka Japan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology; WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center; Osaka University; Osaka Japan
- Department of Experimental Pathology; Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences; Kyoto University; Kyoto Japan
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176
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Hori S. Lineage stability and phenotypic plasticity of Foxp3+regulatory T cells. Immunol Rev 2014; 259:159-72. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.12175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Hori
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis; RCAI; RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences; Kanagawa Japan
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177
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Cichocki F, Sitnicka E, Bryceson YT. NK cell development and function – Plasticity and redundancy unleashed. Semin Immunol 2014; 26:114-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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178
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Differential roles of epigenetic changes and Foxp3 expression in regulatory T cell-specific transcriptional regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:5289-94. [PMID: 24706905 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1312717110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring regulatory T (Treg) cells, which specifically express the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), are engaged in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. By transcriptional start site cluster analysis, we assessed here how genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation or Foxp3 binding sites were associated with Treg-specific gene expression. We found that Treg-specific DNA hypomethylated regions were closely associated with Treg up-regulated transcriptional start site clusters, whereas Foxp3 binding regions had no significant correlation with either up- or down-regulated clusters in nonactivated Treg cells. However, in activated Treg cells, Foxp3 binding regions showed a strong correlation with down-regulated clusters. In accordance with these findings, the above two features of activation-dependent gene regulation in Treg cells tend to occur at different locations in the genome. The results collectively indicate that Treg-specific DNA hypomethylation is instrumental in gene up-regulation in steady state Treg cells, whereas Foxp3 down-regulates the expression of its target genes in activated Treg cells. Thus, the two events seem to play distinct but complementary roles in Treg-specific gene expression.
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179
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Angin M, Sharma S, King M, Murooka TT, Ghebremichael M, Mempel TR, Walker BD, Bhasin MK, Addo MM. HIV-1 infection impairs regulatory T-cell suppressive capacity on a per-cell basis. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:899-903. [PMID: 24664171 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Although it has been shown that Tregs can be infected with HIV-1, the consequences of infection on a per-cell basis are still unknown. In vitro HIV-GFP infected and noninfected Tregs were isolated by flow-based cell-sorting to investigate Treg suppressive capacity and gene expression profiles. Our data show that HIV-1-infected Tregs were significantly less suppressive than noninfected Tregs and demonstrated down-regulation of genes critical to Treg function. This impaired function may have detrimental consequences for the control of generalized immune activation and accelerate HIV disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Manoj K Bhasin
- BIDMC Genomics and Proteomics Center, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
| | - Marylyn M Addo
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg/Lübeck/Borstel, Germany
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180
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Joller N, Kuchroo VK. Good guys gone bad: exTreg cells promote autoimmune arthritis. Nat Med 2014; 20:15-7. [PMID: 24398957 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Joller
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vijay K Kuchroo
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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181
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Abstract
FOXP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells enforce immune self-tolerance and homeostasis, and variation in some aspects of Treg function may contribute to human autoimmune diseases. Here, we analyzed population-level Treg variability by performing genome-wide expression profiling of CD4(+) Treg and conventional CD4(+) T (Tconv) cells from 168 donors, healthy or with established type-1 diabetes (T1D) or type-2 diabetes (T2D), in relation to genetic and immunologic screening. There was a range of variability in Treg signature transcripts, some almost invariant, others more variable, with more extensive variability for genes that control effector function (ENTPD1, FCRL1) than for lineage-specification factors like FOXP3 or IKZF2. Network analysis of Treg signature genes identified coregulated clusters that respond similarly to genetic and environmental variation in Treg and Tconv cells, denoting qualitative differences in otherwise shared regulatory circuits whereas other clusters are coregulated in Treg, but not Tconv, cells, suggesting Treg-specific regulation of genes like CTLA4 or DUSP4. Dense genotyping identified 110 local genetic variants (cis-expression quantitative trait loci), some of which are specifically active in Treg, but not Tconv, cells. The Treg signature became sharper with age and with increasing body-mass index, suggesting a tuning of Treg function with repertoire selection and/or chronic inflammation. Some Treg signature transcripts correlated with FOXP3 mRNA and/or protein, suggesting transcriptional or posttranslational regulatory relationships. Although no single transcript showed significant association to diabetes, overall expression of the Treg signature was subtly perturbed in T1D, but not T2D, patients.
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182
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FoxA1 directs the lineage and immunosuppressive properties of a novel regulatory T cell population in EAE and MS. Nat Med 2014; 20:272-82. [DOI: 10.1038/nm.3485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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183
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Abstract
Regulatory T (TReg) cells constitute an essential counterbalance to adaptive immune responses. Failure to maintain appropriate TReg cell numbers or function leads to autoimmune, malignant and immunodeficient conditions. Dynamic homeostatic processes preserve the number of forkhead box P3-expressing (FOXP3(+)) TReg cells within a healthy range, with high rates of cell division being offset by apoptosis under steady-state conditions. Recent studies have shown that TReg cells become specialized for different environmental contexts, tailoring their functions and homeostatic properties to a wide range of tissues and immune conditions. In this Review, we describe new insights into the molecular controls that maintain the steady-state homeostasis of TReg cells and the cues that drive TReg cell adaptation to inflammation and/or different locations. We highlight how differing local milieu might drive context-specific TReg cell function and restoration of immune homeostasis, and how dysregulation of these processes can precipitate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Liston
- 1] Autoimmune Genetics Laboratory, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium. [2] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Daniel H D Gray
- 1] The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3053, Australia. [2] Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia
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184
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Delacher M, Schreiber L, Richards DM, Farah C, Feuerer M, Huehn J. Transcriptional control of regulatory T cells. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2014; 381:83-124. [PMID: 24831347 DOI: 10.1007/82_2014_373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) constitute unique T cell lineage that plays a key role for immunological tolerance. Tregs are characterized by the expression of the forkhead box transcription factor Foxp3, which acts as a lineage-specifying factor by determining the unique suppression profile of these immune cells. Here, we summarize the recent progress in understanding how Foxp3 expression itself is epigenetically and transcriptionally controlled, how the Treg-specific signature is achieved and how unique properties of Treg subsets are defined by other transcription factors. Finally, we will discuss recent studies focusing on the molecular targeting of Tregs to utilize the specific properties of this unique cell type in therapeutic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Delacher
- Immune Tolerance, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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185
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Bonelli M, Shih HY, Hirahara K, Singelton K, Laurence A, Poholek A, Hand T, Mikami Y, Vahedi G, Kanno Y, O'Shea JJ. Helper T cell plasticity: impact of extrinsic and intrinsic signals on transcriptomes and epigenomes. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2014; 381:279-326. [PMID: 24831346 DOI: 10.1007/82_2014_371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
CD4(+) helper T cells are crucial for autoimmune and infectious diseases; however, the recognition of the many, diverse fates available continues unabated. Precisely what controls specification of helper T cells and preserves phenotypic commitment is currently intensively investigated. In this review, we will discuss the major factors that impact helper T cell fate choice, ranging from cytokines and the microbiome to metabolic control and epigenetic regulation. We will also discuss the technological advances along with the attendant challenges presented by "big data," which allow the understanding of these processes on comprehensive scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bonelli
- Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institutes of Arthritis, and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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186
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Hisanaga-Oishi Y, Nishiwaki-Ueda Y, Nojima K, Ueda H. Analysis of the expression of candidate genes for type 1 diabetes susceptibility in T cells. Endocr J 2014; 61:577-88. [PMID: 24705559 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej14-0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by T-cell-mediated autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Currently, approximately 50 type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes or chromosomal regions have been identified. However, the functions of type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes in T cells are elusive. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes and T-cell signaling. The expression levels of 22 candidate type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes in T cells from nonobese diabetic (NOD), control C57BL/6 (B6), and NOD-control F1 hybrid mice were analyzed in response to 2 key immunoregulatory cytokines: interleukin-2 (IL-2) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Exogenous gene expression studies were also performed in EL4 and Jurkat E6.1 T-cell lines. Significant differences in the expression of Clec16a, Dlk1, Il2, Ptpn22, Rnls, and Zac1 (also known as Plagl1) were observed in T cells derived from the 3 strains of mice, and TGF-β differentially influenced the expression of Ctla4, Foxp3, Il2, Ptpn22, Sh2b3, and Zac1. We found that TGF-β induced Zac1 expression in both primary T cells and EL4 cells and that exogenous expression of Zac1 and ZAC1 in T-cell lines altered the expression of Il2 and DLK1, respectively. The results of our study indicate the possibility that additional genetic pathways underlying type 1 diabetes susceptibility, including those involving Clec16a, Dlk1, Rnls, Sh2b3, and Zac1 under IL-2 and TGF-β signaling in T cells, may be shared between human and NOD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Hisanaga-Oishi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita 565-0871, Japan
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187
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Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells, as central mediators of immune suppression, play crucial roles in many aspects of immune system's physiology and pathophysiology. The transcription factor Foxp3 has been characterized as a master gene of Tregs. Yet Treg cells possess a distinct pattern of gene expression, including upregulation of immune-suppressive genes and silencing of inflammatory cytokine genes. Recent studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms that establish and maintain such gene regulation in Treg cells. This review discusses recent progress in our understanding of molecular features of Treg cells, with particular attention to Treg-cell lineage commitment and stability.
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188
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Kim EH, Gasper DJ, Lee SH, Plisch EH, Svaren J, Suresh M. Bach2 regulates homeostasis of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and protects against fatal lung disease in mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 192:985-95. [PMID: 24367030 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Variants of the Bach2 gene are linked to vitiligo, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes, but the underlying immunological mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that Bach2 plays crucial roles in maintaining T cell quiescence and governing the differentiation, activation, and survival of Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells. Bach2-deficient T cells display spontaneous activation and produce elevated levels of Th1/Th2-type cytokines. Without Bach2, Treg cells exhibit diminished Foxp3 expression, depleted numbers, hyperactivation, enhanced proliferation, and profound loss of competitive fitness in vivo. Mechanistically, reduced survival of Bach2-deficient Treg cells was associated with reduced Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 levels and elevated Bim/Bcl-2 ratio. Additionally, Bach2 deficiency induced selective loss of Helios(-)Foxp3(+) Treg cells and a Treg cell transcriptome skewed toward the Th1/Th2 effector program at the expense of the Treg program. In vitro experiments confirmed that Bach2: 1) is indispensable for TCR/TGF-β-induced Foxp3 expression; and 2) mitigates aberrant differentiation of Treg cells by repression of the competing Gata3-driven Th2 effector program. Importantly, perturbations in the differentiation of induced Treg cells was linked to a fatal Th2-type chronic inflammatory lung disease in Bach2-deficient mice. Thus, Bach2 enforces T cell quiescence, promotes the development and survival of Treg lineage, restrains aberrant differentiation of Treg cells, and protects against immune-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eui Ho Kim
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
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189
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Passerini L, Santoni de Sio FR, Roncarolo MG, Bacchetta R. Forkhead box P3: the peacekeeper of the immune system. Int Rev Immunol 2013; 33:129-45. [PMID: 24354325 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2013.863303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Ten years ago Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) was discovered as master gene driving CD4(+)CD25(+) T cell regulatory (Treg) function. Since then, several layers of complexity have emerged in the regulation of its expression and function, which is not only exerted in Treg cells. While the mechanisms leading to the highly selective expression of FOXP3 in thymus-derived Treg cells still remain to be elucidated, we review here the current knowledge on the role of FOXP3 in the development of Treg cells and the direct and indirect consequences of FOXP3 mutations on multiple arms of the immune response. Finally, we summarize the newly acquired knowledge on the epigenetic regulation of FOXP3, still largely undefined in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Passerini
- 1Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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190
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Passerini L, Mel ER, Sartirana C, Fousteri G, Bondanza A, Naldini L, Roncarolo MG, Bacchetta R. CD4+ T Cells from IPEX Patients Convert into Functional and Stable Regulatory T Cells by FOXP3 Gene Transfer. Sci Transl Med 2013; 5:215ra174. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3007320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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191
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Abstract
T cells are the master regulators of adaptive immune responses and maintenance of their tolerance is critical to prevent autoimmunity. However, in the case of carcinogenesis, the tumor microenvironment aids T-cell tolerance, which contributes to uncontrolled tumor growth. Recently, there has been significant progress in understanding the intrinsic extracellular (positive and negative costimulatory molecules on APCs) and intracellular mechanisms (E3 ubiquitin ligases, transcriptional and epigenetic repressors), as well as extrinsic mechanisms (Tregs and tolerogenic dendritic cells) that are required for the implementation and maintenance of T-cell tolerance. Ultimately, understanding and manipulating T-cell tolerance will help to break the tolerance state in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roza Nurieva
- Department of Immunology & Center for Inflammation & Cancer, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Junmei Wang
- Department of Immunology & Center for Inflammation & Cancer, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anupama Sahoo
- Department of Immunology & Center for Inflammation & Cancer, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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192
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Lozano T, Casares N, Lasarte JJ. Searching for the Achilles Heel of FOXP3. Front Oncol 2013; 3:294. [PMID: 24350059 PMCID: PMC3847665 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXP3 is a multifaceted transcription factor with a major role in the control of immune homeostasis mediated by T regulatory cells (Treg). The immunoregulatory function of FOXP3 may hinder the induction of immune responses against cancer and infectious agents, and thus, development of inhibitors of its functions might give new therapeutic opportunities for these diseases. But also, FOXP3 is an important tumor suppressor factor in some types of cancers, and therefore, understanding the structure and function of FOXP3 is crucial to gaining insights into the development of FOXP3-targeted therapeutic strategies. FOXP3 homodimerize and likely form supramolecular complexes which might include hundreds of proteins which constitute the FOXP3 interactome. Many of the functions of FOXP3 are clearly regulated by the interactions with these cofactors contributing importantly on the establishment of Treg-cell signature. We summarize here the structural/functional information on this FOXP3 complex, to identify potential opportunities for the development of new strategies to modulate FOXP3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Lozano
- Gene Therapy and Hepatology Area, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra , Pamplona , Spain
| | - Noelia Casares
- Gene Therapy and Hepatology Area, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra , Pamplona , Spain
| | - Juan José Lasarte
- Gene Therapy and Hepatology Area, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra , Pamplona , Spain
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193
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Jethwa H, Adami AA, Maher J. Use of gene-modified regulatory T-cells to control autoimmune and alloimmune pathology: is now the right time? Clin Immunol 2013; 150:51-63. [PMID: 24333533 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2013.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy using genetically targeted T-cells has recently begun to achieve impressive clinical impact in selected tumor types. Furthermore, long-term follow-up studies indicate thus far that integrating viral vectors do not elicit clinically evident genotoxicity in T-cells, unlike hematopoietic stem cells. The optimism engendered by this clinical experience provides a platform for consideration of the extended use of this technology in other disease types. One area of particular interest entails the harnessing of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in order to down-regulate unwanted immune responses. Increasing evidence supports the efficacy of this approach in pre-clinical models of autoimmune disease and allograft rejection. Nonetheless, questions remain about optimal host cell, transgene cargo, phenotypic stability of engineered cells in vivo and potential for toxicity. Here, we review the evidence that genetically engineered Tregs can effectively dampen pathogenic immune responses and critically evaluate the prospects for clinical development of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Jethwa
- Department of Medicine, Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 3DJ, UK
| | - Antonella A Adami
- King's College London, King's Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre, Department of Research Oncology, Guy's Hospital Campus, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - John Maher
- King's College London, King's Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre, Department of Research Oncology, Guy's Hospital Campus, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK; Department of Immunology, Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 3DJ, UK; Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK.
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194
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Quintana FJ. Regulation of central nervous system autoimmunity by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Semin Immunopathol 2013; 35:627-35. [PMID: 23999753 PMCID: PMC3819215 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-013-0397-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor controls the activity of several components of the immune system, many of which play an important role in neuroinflammation. This review discusses the role of AhR in T cells and dendritic cells, its relevance for the control of autoimmunity in the central nervous system, and its potential as a therapeutic target for immune-mediated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Quintana
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,
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195
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Tang Q, Bluestone JA. Regulatory T-cell therapy in transplantation: moving to the clinic. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2013; 3:3/11/a015552. [PMID: 24186492 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a015552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential to transplantation tolerance and their therapeutic efficacy is well documented in animal models. Moreover, human Tregs can be identified, isolated, and expanded in short-term ex vivo cultures so that a therapeutic product can be manufactured at relevant doses. Treg therapy is being planned at multiple transplant centers around the world. In this article, we review topics critical to effective implementation of Treg therapy in transplantation. We will address issues such as Treg dose, antigen specificity, and adjunct therapies required for transplant tolerance induction. We will summarize technical advances in Treg manufacturing and provide guidelines for identity and purity assurance of Treg products. Clinical trial designs and Treg manufacturing plans that incorporate the most up-to-date scientific understanding in Treg biology will be essential for harnessing the tolerogenic potential of Treg therapy in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qizhi Tang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
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196
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Dooley J, Linterman MA, Liston A. MicroRNA regulation of T-cell development. Immunol Rev 2013; 253:53-64. [PMID: 23550638 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are short, 19-24 nucleotide long, RNA molecules capable of regulating the longevity and, to a lesser extent, translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) species. The function of the microRNA network, and indeed, even that of individual microRNA species, can have profoundly different roles in even a single cell type as the microRNA/mRNA composition evolves. As the role of microRNA within T cells has come under increasing scrutiny, several distinct checkpoints have been demonstrated to have a particular reliance on microRNA regulation. MicroRNAs are arguably most important in T cells during the earliest and last stages in T-cell biology. The first stages of early thymic differentiation have a crucial reliance on the microRNA network, while later stages and peripheral homeostasis are largely, although not completely, microRNA-independent. The most profound effects on T cells are in the activation of effector and regulatory functions of conventional and regulatory T cells, where microRNA deficiency results in a near-complete loss of function. In this review, we focus on integrating the research on individual microRNA into a more global understanding of the function of the microRNA regulatory network in T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Dooley
- Autoimmune Genetics Laboratory, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
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197
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Luo CT, Li MO. Transcriptional control of regulatory T cell development and function. Trends Immunol 2013; 34:531-9. [PMID: 24016547 PMCID: PMC7106436 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 08/11/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
An intermediate amount of T cell stimulation induces Foxp3 transcription. Treg cell lineage factor Foxp3 cooperates with its partners to promote Treg cell function. Cell signaling-regulated Foxo1 is indispensable for Treg cell function.
Regulatory T (Treg) cells differentiate from thymocytes or peripheral T cells in response to host and environmental cues, culminating in induction of the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and the Treg cell-specific epigenome. An intermediate amount of antigen stimulation is required to induce Foxp3 expression by engaging T cell receptor (TCR)-activated [e.g., nuclear factor (NF)-κB] and TCR-inhibited (e.g., Foxo) transcription factors. Furthermore, Treg cell differentiation is associated with attenuated Akt signaling, resulting in enhanced nuclear retention of Foxo1, which is indispensable for Treg cell function. These findings reveal that Treg cell lineage commitment is not only controlled by genetic and epigenetic imprinting, but also modulated by transcriptional programs responding to extracellular signals.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Differentiation/immunology
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/immunology
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Humans
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/immunology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Transcription, Genetic/genetics
- Transcription, Genetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong T. Luo
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ming O. Li
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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198
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Walker LSK. Treg and CTLA-4: two intertwining pathways to immune tolerance. J Autoimmun 2013; 45:49-57. [PMID: 23849743 PMCID: PMC3989116 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 294] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Both the CTLA-4 pathway and regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential for the control of immune homeostasis. Their therapeutic relevance is highlighted by the increasing use of anti-CTLA-4 antibody in tumor therapy and the development of Treg cell transfer strategies for use in autoimmunity and transplantation settings. The CTLA-4 pathway first came to the attention of the immunological community in 1995 with the discovery that mice deficient in Ctla-4 suffered a fatal lymphoproliferative syndrome. Eight years later, mice lacking the critical Treg transcription factor Foxp3 were shown to exhibit a remarkably similar phenotype. Much of the debate since has centered on the question of whether Treg suppressive function requires CTLA-4. The finding that it does in some settings but not in others has provoked controversy and inevitable polarization of opinion. In this article, I suggest that CTLA-4 and Treg represent complementary and largely overlapping mechanisms of immune tolerance. I argue that Treg commonly use CTLA-4 to effect suppression, however CTLA-4 can also function in the non-Treg compartment while Treg can invoke CTLA-4-independent mechanisms of suppression. The notion that Foxp3 and CTLA-4 direct independent programs of immune regulation, which in practice overlap to a significant extent, will hopefully help move us towards a better appreciation of the underlying biology and therapeutic significance of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy S K Walker
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.
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199
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Overlapping gene coexpression patterns in human medullary thymic epithelial cells generate self-antigen diversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:E3497-505. [PMID: 23980163 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1308311110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Promiscuous expression of numerous tissue-restricted self-antigens (TRAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) is essential to safeguard self-tolerance. A distinct feature of promiscuous gene expression is its mosaic pattern (i.e., at a given time, each self-antigen is expressed only in 1-3% of mTECs). How this mosaic pattern is generated at the single-cell level is currently not understood. Here, we show that subsets of human mTECs expressing a particular TRA coexpress distinct sets of genes. We identified three coexpression groups comprising overlapping and complementary gene sets, which preferentially mapped to certain chromosomes and intrachromosomal gene clusters. Coexpressed gene loci tended to colocalize to the same nuclear subdomain. The TRA subsets aligned along progressive differentiation stages within the mature mTEC subset and, in vitro, interconverted along this sequence. Our data suggest that single mTECs shift through distinct gene pools, thus scanning a sizeable fraction of the overall repertoire of promiscuously expressed self-antigens. These findings have implications for the temporal and spatial (re)presentation of self-antigens in the medulla in the context of tolerance induction.
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200
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Josefowicz SZ. Regulators of chromatin state and transcription in CD4 T-cell polarization. Immunology 2013; 139:299-308. [PMID: 23590627 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mature naive CD4 T-cells possess the potential for an array of highly specialized functions, from inflammatory to potently suppressive. This potential is encoded in regulatory DNA elements and is fulfilled through modification of chromatin and selective activation by the collaborative function of diverse transcription factors in response to environmental cues. The mechanisms and strategies employed by transcription factors for the programming of CD4 T-cell subsets will be discussed. In particular, the focus will be on co-operative activity of environmental response factors in the initial activation of regulatory DNA elements and chromatin alteration, and the subsequent role of 'master regulator' transcription factors in defining the fidelity and environmental responsiveness of different CD4 T-cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Z Josefowicz
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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