151
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Minato N, Hattori M, Hamazaki Y. Physiology and pathology of T-cell aging. Int Immunol 2020; 32:223-231. [PMID: 31967307 PMCID: PMC7150735 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxaa006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acquired immune function shows recognizable changes over time with organismal aging. These changes include T-cell dysfunction, which may underlie diminished resistance to infection and possibly various chronic age-associated diseases in the elderly. T-cell dysfunction may occur at distinct stages, from naive cells to the end stages of differentiation during immune responses. The thymus, which generates naive T cells, shows unusually early involution resulting in progressive reduction of T-cell output after adolescence, but peripheral T-cell numbers are maintained through antigen-independent homeostatic proliferation of naive T cells driven by the major histocompatibility complex associated with self-peptides and homeostatic cytokines, retaining the diverse repertoire. However, extensive homeostatic proliferation may lead to the emergence of dysfunctional CD4+ T cells with features resembling senescent cells, termed senescence-associated T (SA-T) cells, which increase and accumulate with age. In situations such as chronic viral infection, T-cell dysfunction may also develop via persistent antigen stimulation, termed exhaustion, preventing possible immunopathology due to excessive immune responses. Exhausted T cells are developed through the effects of checkpoint receptors such as PD-1 and may be reversed with the receptor blockade. Of note, although defective in their regular T-cell antigen-receptor-mediated proliferation, SA-T cells secrete abundant pro-inflammatory factors such as osteopontin, reminiscent of an SA-secretory phenotype. A series of experiments in mouse models indicated that SA-T cells are involved in systemic autoimmunity as well as chronic tissue inflammation following tissue stresses. In this review, we discuss the physiological aspects of T-cell dysfunction associated with aging and its potential pathological involvement in age-associated diseases and possibly cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagahiro Minato
- Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masakazu Hattori
- Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoko Hamazaki
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for iPS Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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152
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Elsaesser HJ, Mohtashami M, Osokine I, Snell LM, Cunningham CR, Boukhaled GM, McGavern DB, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC, Brooks DG. Chronic virus infection drives CD8 T cell-mediated thymic destruction and impaired negative selection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:5420-5429. [PMID: 32094187 PMCID: PMC7071912 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913776117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection provokes alterations in inflammatory and suppressive pathways that potentially affect the function and integrity of multiple tissues, impacting both ongoing immune control and restorative immune therapies. Here we demonstrate that chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection rapidly triggers severe thymic depletion, mediated by CD8 T cell-intrinsic type I interferon (IFN) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (Stat2) signaling. Occurring temporal to T cell exhaustion, thymic cellularity reconstituted despite ongoing viral replication, with a rapid secondary thymic depletion following immune restoration by anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1) blockade. Therapeutic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) during chronic infection generated new antiviral CD8 T cells, despite sustained virus replication in the thymus, indicating an impairment in negative selection. Consequently, low amounts of high-affinity self-reactive T cells also escaped the thymus following HSCT during chronic infection. Thus, by altering the stringency and partially impairing negative selection, the host generates new virus-specific T cells to replenish the fight against the chronic infection, but also has the potentially dangerous effect of enabling the escape of self-reactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi J Elsaesser
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Mahmood Mohtashami
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Ivan Osokine
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Laura M Snell
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Cameron R Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Giselle M Boukhaled
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Dorian B McGavern
- Viral Immunology and Intravital Imaging Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20824
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - David G Brooks
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada;
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
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153
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Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells toward pharyngeal endoderm derivatives: Current status and potential. Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 138:175-208. [PMID: 32220297 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The pharyngeal apparatus, a transient embryological structure, includes diverse cells from all three germ layers that ultimately contribute to a variety of adult tissues. In particular, pharyngeal endoderm produces cells of the inner ear, palatine tonsils, the thymus, parathyroid and thyroid glands, and ultimobranchial bodies. Each of these structures and organs contribute to vital human physiological processes, including central immune tolerance (thymus) and metabolic homeostasis (parathyroid and thyroid glands, and ultimobranchial bodies). Thus, improper development or damage to pharyngeal endoderm derivatives leads to complicated and severe human maladies, such as autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, hypothyroidism, and/or hypoparathyroidism. To study and treat such diseases, we can utilize human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which differentiate into functionally mature cells in vitro given the proper developmental signals. Here, we discuss current efforts regarding the directed differentiation of hPSCs toward pharyngeal endoderm derivatives. We further discuss model system and therapeutic applications of pharyngeal endoderm cell types produced from hPSCs. Finally, we provide suggestions for improving hPSC differentiation approaches to pharyngeal endoderm derivatives with emphasis on current single cell-omics and 3D culture system technologies.
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154
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Matsumoto M, Tsuneyama K, Morimoto J, Hosomichi K, Matsumoto M, Nishijima H. Tissue-specific autoimmunity controlled by Aire in thymic and peripheral tolerance mechanisms. Int Immunol 2020; 32:117-131. [PMID: 31586207 PMCID: PMC7005526 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxz066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue-specific autoimmune diseases are assumed to arise through malfunction of two checkpoints for immune tolerance: defective elimination of autoreactive T cells in the thymus and activation of these T cells by corresponding autoantigens in the periphery. However, evidence for this model and the outcome of such alterations in each or both of the tolerance mechanisms have not been sufficiently investigated. We studied these issues by expressing human AIRE (huAIRE) as a modifier of tolerance function in NOD mice wherein the defects of thymic and peripheral tolerance together cause type I diabetes (T1D). Additive huAIRE expression in the thymic stroma had no major impact on the production of diabetogenic T cells in the thymus. In contrast, huAIRE expression in peripheral antigen-presenting cells (APCs) rendered the mice resistant to T1D, while maintaining other tissue-specific autoimmune responses and antibody production against an exogenous protein antigen, because of the loss of Xcr1+ dendritic cells, an essential component for activating diabetogenic T cells in the periphery. These results contrast with our recent demonstration that huAIRE expression in both the thymic stroma and peripheral APCs resulted in the paradoxical development of muscle-specific autoimmunity. Our results reveal that tissue-specific autoimmunity is differentially controlled by a combination of thymic function and peripheral tolerance, which can be manipulated by expression of huAIRE/Aire in each or both of the tolerance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Hosomichi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nishijima
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
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155
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Kondo K, Ohigashi I, Takahama Y. Thymus machinery for T-cell selection. Int Immunol 2020; 31:119-125. [PMID: 30476234 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxy081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An immunocompetent and self-tolerant pool of naive T cells is formed in the thymus through the process of repertoire selection. T cells that are potentially capable of responding to foreign antigens are positively selected in the thymic cortex and are further selected in the thymic medulla to help prevent self-reactivity. The affinity between T-cell antigen receptors expressed by newly generated T cells and self-peptide-major histocompatibility complexes displayed in the thymic microenvironments plays a key role in determining the fate of developing T cells during thymic selection. Recent advances in our knowledge of the biology of thymic epithelial cells have revealed unique machinery that contributes to positive and negative selection in the thymus. In this article, we summarize recent findings on thymic T-cell selection, focusing on the machinery unique to thymic epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Kondo
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan
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156
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Wang HX, Pan W, Zheng L, Zhong XP, Tan L, Liang Z, He J, Feng P, Zhao Y, Qiu YR. Thymic Epithelial Cells Contribute to Thymopoiesis and T Cell Development. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3099. [PMID: 32082299 PMCID: PMC7005006 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the generation and maturation of T cells. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) account for the majority of thymic stromal components. They are further divided into cortical and medullary TECs based on their localization within the thymus and are involved in positive and negative selection, respectively. Establishment of self-tolerance in the thymus depends on promiscuous gene expression (pGE) of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) by TECs. Such pGE is co-controlled by the autoimmune regulator (Aire) and forebrain embryonic zinc fingerlike protein 2 (Fezf2). Over the past two decades, research has found that TECs contribute greatly to thymopoiesis and T cell development. In turn, signals from T cells regulate the differentiation and maturation of TECs. Several signaling pathways essential for the development and maturation of TECs have been discovered. New technology and animal models have provided important observations on TEC differentiation, development, and thymopoiesis. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in classification, development, and maintenance of TECs and mechanisms that control TEC functions during thymic involution and central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Xia Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenrong Pan
- Department of General Surgery, Taihe Branch of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Zheng
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Zhong
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Liang Tan
- Department of Urological Organ Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing He
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pingfeng Feng
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Rong Qiu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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157
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Merrheim J, Villegas J, Van Wassenhove J, Khansa R, Berrih-Aknin S, le Panse R, Dragin N. Estrogen, estrogen-like molecules and autoimmune diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2020; 19:102468. [PMID: 31927086 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In western countries, the slope of autoimmune disease (AD) incidence is increasing and affects 5-8% of the population. Mainly prevalent in women, these pathologies are due to thymic tolerance processes breakdown. The female sex hormone, estrogen, is involved in this AD female susceptibility. However, predisposition factors have to act in concert with unknown triggering environmental factors (virus, microbiota, pollution) to initiate AD. Individuals are exposed to various environmental compounds that display endocrine disruption abilities. The cellular effects of some of these molecules may be mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Here, we review the effects of these molecules on the homeostasis of the thymic cells, the immune tolerance intrinsic factors (transcription factors, epigenetic marks) and on the immune tolerance extrinsic factors (microbiota, virus sensibility). This review highlights the contribution of estrogen and endocrine disruptors on the dysregulation of mechanisms sustaining AD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Merrheim
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - José Villegas
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Van Wassenhove
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Rémi Khansa
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Rozen le Panse
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Nadine Dragin
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Inserm UMRS 974, Paris, France; Inovarion, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS 974, Hôpital La Pitié- Salpêtrière, 105 Bd de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
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158
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Dhalla F, Baran‐Gale J, Maio S, Chappell L, Holländer GA, Ponting CP. Biologically indeterminate yet ordered promiscuous gene expression in single medullary thymic epithelial cells. EMBO J 2020; 39:e101828. [PMID: 31657037 PMCID: PMC6939203 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019101828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To induce central T-cell tolerance, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) collectively express most protein-coding genes, thereby presenting an extensive library of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs). To resolve mTEC diversity and whether promiscuous gene expression (PGE) is stochastic or coordinated, we sequenced transcriptomes of 6,894 single mTEC, enriching for 1,795 rare cells expressing either of two TRAs, TSPAN8 or GP2. Transcriptional heterogeneity allowed partitioning of mTEC into 15 reproducible subpopulations representing distinct maturational trajectories, stages and subtypes, including novel mTEC subsets, such as chemokine-expressing and ciliated TEC, which warrant further characterisation. Unexpectedly, 50 modules of genes were robustly defined each showing patterns of co-expression within individual cells, which were mainly not explicable by chromosomal location, biological pathway or tissue specificity. Further, TSPAN8+ and GP2+ mTEC were randomly dispersed within thymic medullary islands. Consequently, these data support observations that PGE exhibits ordered co-expression, although mechanisms underlying this instruction remain biologically indeterminate. Ordered co-expression and random spatial distribution of a diverse range of TRAs likely enhance their presentation and encounter with passing thymocytes, while maintaining mTEC identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Dhalla
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Stefano Maio
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Georg A Holländer
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC IGMMThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Wellcome Sanger InstituteHinxtonUK
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159
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Retroviral Gene Transduction into T Cell Progenitors for Analysis of T Cell Development in the Thymus. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2111:193-203. [PMID: 31933209 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0266-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is an organ where T cells develop throughout life. Using mice as a model animal, molecular mechanisms of intrathymic T cell development have been studied. Fetal thymus organ culture technique enables ex vivo reconstitution of fetal-specific T cell development, while bone marrow chimera technique allows in vivo reconstitution of T cell development in adult thymus. These techniques can be combined with retroviral gene transduction into the T cell progenitors to evaluate the function of genes of interest in developing T cells. Here, we describe the basic protocols for retrovirus gene transduction into fetal or adult T cell progenitors and reconstitution of thymic T cell development including experimental tips such as using cryopreserved fetal liver or bone marrow cells as sources of T cell progenitors.
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160
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Li L, Shang L, Gao J, Liu C, Xia F, Xu M, Qi K, Zeng L, Pan B, Xu K. Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib blocks thymic regeneration after acute thymus injury. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 171:113712. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.113712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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161
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Yang MG, Sun L, Han J, Zheng C, Liang H, Zhu J, Jin T. Biological characteristics of transcription factor RelB in different immune cell types: implications for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Mol Brain 2019; 12:115. [PMID: 31881915 PMCID: PMC6935142 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0532-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor RelB is a member of the nuclear factror-kappa B (NF-κB) family, which plays a crucial role in mediating immune responses. Plenty of studies have demonstrated that RelB actively contributes to lymphoid organ development, dendritic cells maturation and function and T cells differentiation, as well as B cell development and survival. RelB deficiency may cause a variety of immunological disorders in both mice and humans. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system which involves a board of immune cell populations. Thereby, RelB may exert an impact on MS by modulating the functions of dendritic cells and the differentiation of T cells and B cells. Despite intensive research, the role of RelB in MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, is still unclear. Herein, we give an overview of the biological characters of RelB, summarize the updated knowledge regarding the role of RelB in different cell types that contribute to MS pathogenesis and discuss the potential RelB-targeted therapeutic implications for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ge Yang
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jinming Han
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China.,Present address: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chao Zheng
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Hudong Liang
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tao Jin
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China.
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162
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Abstract
The generation of a functional T cell repertoire in the thymus is mainly orchestrated by thymic epithelial cells (TECs), which provide developing T cells with cues for their navigation, proliferation, differentiation and survival. The TEC compartment has been segregated historically into two major populations of medullary TECs and cortical TECs, which differ in their anatomical localization, molecular characteristics and functional roles. However, recent studies have shown that TECs are highly heterogeneous and comprise multiple subpopulations with distinct molecular and functional characteristics, including tuft cell-like or corneocyte-like phenotypes. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of TEC heterogeneity from a molecular, functional and developmental perspective. In particular, we highlight the key insights that were recently provided by single-cell genomic technologies and in vivo fate mapping and discuss them in the context of previously published data.
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163
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Kaneko KB, Tateishi R, Miyao T, Takakura Y, Akiyama N, Yokota R, Akiyama T, Kobayashi TJ. Quantitative analysis reveals reciprocal regulations underlying recovery dynamics of thymocytes and thymic environment in mice. Commun Biol 2019; 2:444. [PMID: 31815199 PMCID: PMC6884561 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0688-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic crosstalk, a set of reciprocal regulations between thymocytes and the thymic environment, is relevant for orchestrating appropriate thymocyte development as well as thymic recovery from various exogenous insults. In this work, interactions shaping thymic crosstalk and the resultant dynamics of thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells are inferred based on quantitative analysis and modeling of the recovery dynamics induced by irradiation. The analysis identifies regulatory interactions consistent with known molecular evidence and reveals their dynamic roles in the recovery process. Moreover, the analysis also predicts, and a subsequent experiment verifies, a previously unrecognized regulation of CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocytes which temporarily increases their proliferation rate upon the decrease in their population size. Our model establishes a pivotal step towards the dynamic understanding of thymic crosstalk as a regulatory network system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa B. Kaneko
- Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tateishi
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyao
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Yuki Takakura
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Ryo Yokota
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Tetsuya J. Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan
- PREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012 Japan
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164
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Du Q, Huynh LK, Coskun F, Molina E, King MA, Raj P, Khan S, Dozmorov I, Seroogy CM, Wysocki CA, Padron GT, Yates TR, Markert ML, de la Morena MT, van Oers NS. FOXN1 compound heterozygous mutations cause selective thymic hypoplasia in humans. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:4724-4738. [PMID: 31566583 PMCID: PMC6819092 DOI: 10.1172/jci127565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on 2 patients with compound heterozygous mutations in forkhead box N1 (FOXN1), a transcription factor essential for thymic epithelial cell (TEC) differentiation. TECs are critical for T cell development. Both patients had a presentation consistent with T-/loB+NK+ SCID, with normal hair and nails, distinct from the classic nude/SCID phenotype in individuals with autosomal-recessive FOXN1 mutations. To understand the basis of this phenotype and the effects of the mutations on FOXN1, we generated mice using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to genocopy mutations in 1 of the patients. The mice with the Foxn1 compound heterozygous mutations had thymic hypoplasia, causing a T-B+NK+ SCID phenotype, whereas the hair and nails of these mice were normal. Characterization of the functional changes due to the Foxn1 mutations revealed a 5-amino acid segment at the end of the DNA-binding domain essential for the development of TECs but not keratinocytes. The transcriptional activity of this Foxn1 mutant was partly retained, indicating a region that specifies TEC functions. Analysis of an additional 9 FOXN1 mutations identified in multiple unrelated patients revealed distinct functional consequences contingent on the impact of the mutation on the DNA-binding and transactivation domains of FOXN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiumei Du
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Larry K. Huynh
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Fatma Coskun
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Erika Molina
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew A. King
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Prithvi Raj
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Shaheen Khan
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Igor Dozmorov
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Christine M. Seroogy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christian A. Wysocki
- Department of Pediatrics, and
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Grace T. Padron
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - M. Louise Markert
- Department of Pediatrics and
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - M. Teresa de la Morena
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington , USA
| | - Nicolai S.C. van Oers
- Departments of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, and
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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165
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Postovalova EA, Makarova OV, Kosyreva AM, Michailova LP. [Morphology of the thymus and the specific features of its cellular composition in experimental acute and chronic ulcerative colitis]. Arkh Patol 2019; 81:53-63. [PMID: 31626205 DOI: 10.17116/patol20198105153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate morphological changes in the thymus, the subpopulation composition of lymphocytes and its non-lymphoid cells in dextran-induced experimental acute ulcerative colitis and in different periods of chronic ulcerative colitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Acute and chronic ulcerative colitis was simulated in C57BL/6 mice, by replacing drinking water with a 1% aqueous dextran sulfate sodium solution. Thymic changes were morphometrically assessed; the number and absolute area of thymic corpuscles and epithelial cells were calculated; and the subpopulation composition of lymphocytes and thymic stromal cells was determined using flow cytofluorimetry; the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the groups. RESULTS In acute catarrhal and ulcerative colitis, there was acute accidental thymic involution with devastation of the cortical substance and with a decline in its volume fraction, with an increase in the levels of cells dying through the mechanism of apoptosis, and with a decrease in the absolute number of lymphocytes, T-helper cells, cytotoxic T-cells, regulatory T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and dendritic cells, with a rise in the index of the area of thymic corpuscles and in the content of late-phase corpuscles among them, and with the appearance of thymic corpuscles as cyst-like cavities. In chronic ulcerative colitis, the cortex was expanded and the area of thymic corpuscles and the count of medullary epithelial cells increased. The cyst-like thymic corpuscles formed clusters, the count of dendritic cells increased in early-stage chronic ulcerative colitis, but the levels of macrophages decreased in both periods of its development. CONCLUSION There is acute accidental involution and thymic hyperplasia with an increase in medullary epithelial cells and thymic corpuscles consisting of cytokeratin 19+ in the epithelial cells in experimental acute and chronic ulcerative colitis, respectively. The more pronounced epithelial cell response found in end-stage experimental chronic ulcerative colitis reflects the enhanced differentiation of regulatory T-lymphocytes and the larger number of which is observed in peripheral blood and in the focus of inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis, according to the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Postovalova
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - O V Makarova
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - A M Kosyreva
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - L P Michailova
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, Moscow, Russia
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166
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Zhang Z, Legoux FP, Vaughan SW, Moon JJ. Opposing peripheral fates of tissue-restricted self antigen-specific conventional and regulatory CD4 + T cells. Eur J Immunol 2019; 50:63-72. [PMID: 31580477 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The development of self antigen-specific T cells is influenced by how the self antigen is expressed. Here, we created a mouse in which a model self antigen is conditionally expressed in different tissue environments. Using peptide:MHCII tetramer-based cell enrichment methods, we examined the development of corresponding endogenous self antigen-specific CD4+ T cell populations. While ubiquitous self antigen expression resulted in efficient deletion of self antigen-specific T cells in the thymus, some tissue-restricted expression patterns resulted in partial deletion of the population in peripheral lymphoid organs. Deletion specifically affected Foxp3- conventional T cells (Tconv) with a bias towards high avidity TCR expressing cells in the case of thymic, but not peripheral deletion. In contrast, Foxp3+ Treg exhibited elevated frequencies with increased TCR avidity. T cells surviving deletion were functionally impaired, with Tconv cells exhibiting more impairment than Tregs. Collectively, our results illustrate how postthymic recognition of tissue-restricted self antigens results in opposing developmental fates for Tconv and Treg cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimeng Zhang
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Program in Immunology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francois P Legoux
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Spencer W Vaughan
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - James J Moon
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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167
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Pan B, Wang D, Li L, Shang L, Xia F, Zhang F, Zhang Y, Gale RP, Xu M, Li Z, Xu K. IL-22 Accelerates Thymus Regeneration via Stat3/Mcl-1 and Decreases Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease in Mice after Allotransplants. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019; 25:1911-1919. [PMID: 31195136 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
High-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation given before an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation severely damage thymic epithelial cells (TECs), resulting in poor post-transplant immune recovery. IL-22 mediates recovery of TECs via a proregenerative effect, but the precise mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. In this study, we found IL-22 improved thymus recovery after damage from irradiation in association with increased number of TECs. This effect was blocked by ruxolitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor. IL-22 increased the number of TECs via a Stat3-dependent signaling in the mTEC1 murine thymic epithelial cell line. This, in turn, upregulated transcription of myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl1), resulting in increased number of TECs. Similar effects were seen in irradiated mice given IL-22. Defects in IL-22 resulted in delayed thymus recovery in irradiated mice and had an impact on levels of thymus function-related genes such as Foxn1, Aire, and Kgf. In mice, post-transplant use of IL-22 improved repair of TECs, increased the numbers of thymus T cells, increased the intrathymic levels of Aire, and increased the proportion of natural regulatory T cells, resulting in decreased severity of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Our data highlight the critical role of the IL-22/Stat3/Mcl-1 pathway in the regeneration of TECs after damage from irradiation in mice and highlight circumstances where normalizing thymus T cell function with IL-22 decreases GVHD after allotransplants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Pan
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Longmei Shang
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fan Xia
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Robert Peter Gale
- Centre for Haematology Research, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mengdi Xu
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kailin Xu
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
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168
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Dynamic changes in epithelial cell morphology control thymic organ size during atrophy and regeneration. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4402. [PMID: 31562306 PMCID: PMC6765001 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11879-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes must be produced throughout life, yet the thymus, where T lymphocytes are made, exhibits accelerated atrophy with age. Even in advanced atrophy, however, the thymus remains plastic, and can be regenerated by appropriate stimuli. Logically, thymic atrophy is thought to reflect senescent cell death, while regeneration requires proliferation of stem or progenitor cells, although evidence is scarce. Here we use conditional reporters to show that accelerated thymic atrophy reflects contraction of complex cell projections unique to cortical epithelial cells, while regeneration requires their regrowth. Both atrophy and regeneration are independent of changes in epithelial cell number, suggesting that the size of the thymus is regulated primarily by rate-limiting morphological changes in cortical stroma, rather than by their cell death or proliferation. Our data also suggest that cortical epithelial morphology is under the control of medullary stromal signals, revealing a previously unrecognized endocrine-paracrine signaling axis in the thymus.
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169
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Cotrim-Sousa L, Freire-Assis A, Pezzi N, Tanaka PP, Oliveira EH, Passos GA. Adhesion between medullary thymic epithelial cells and thymocytes is regulated by miR-181b-5p and miR-30b. Mol Immunol 2019; 114:600-611. [PMID: 31539668 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we demonstrate that adhesion between medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and thymocytes is controlled by miRNAs. Adhesion between mTECs and developing thymocytes is essential for triggering negative selection (NS) of autoreactive thymocytes that occurs in the thymus. Immune recognition is mediated by the MHC / TCR receptor, whereas adhesion molecules hold cell-cell interaction stability. Indeed, these processes must be finely controlled, if it is not, it may lead to aggressive autoimmunity. Conversely, the precise molecular genetic control of mTEC-thymocyte adhesion is largely unclear. Here, we asked whether miRNAs would be controlling this process through the posttranscriptional regulation of mRNAs that encode adhesion molecules. For this, we used small interfering RNA to knockdown (KD) Dicer mRNA in vitro in a murine mTEC line. A functional assay with fresh murine thymocytes co-cultured with mTECs showed that single-positive (SP) CD4 and CD8 thymocyte adhesion was increased after Dicer KD and most adherent subtype was CD8 SP cells. Analysis of broad mTEC transcriptional expression showed that Dicer KD led to the modulation of 114 miRNAs and 422 mRNAs, including those encoding cell adhesion or extracellular matrix proteins, such as Lgals9, Lgals3pb, Tnc and Cd47. Analysis of miRNA-mRNA networks followed by miRNA mimic transfection showed that these mRNAs are under the control of miR-181b-5p and miR-30b*, which may ultimately control mTEC-thymocyte adhesion. The expression of CD80 surface marker in mTECs was increased after Dicer KD following thymocyte adhesion. This indicates the existence of new mechanisms in mTECs that involve the synergistic action of thymocyte adhesion and regulatory miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Cotrim-Sousa
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Amanda Freire-Assis
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; State University of Minas Gerais, Passos, MG, Brazil
| | - Nicole Pezzi
- Graduate Program in Basic and Applied Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro Paranhos Tanaka
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ernna Hérida Oliveira
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Geraldo Aleixo Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Basic and Applied Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Basic and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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170
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FoxN1 mediates thymic cortex–medulla differentiation through modifying a developmental pattern based on epithelial tubulogenesis. Histochem Cell Biol 2019; 152:397-413. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-019-01818-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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171
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Pouzolles M, Machado A, Guilbaud M, Irla M, Gailhac S, Barennes P, Cesana D, Calabria A, Benedicenti F, Sergé A, Raman I, Li QZ, Montini E, Klatzmann D, Adjali O, Taylor N, Zimmermann VS. Intrathymic adeno-associated virus gene transfer rapidly restores thymic function and long-term persistence of gene-corrected T cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 145:679-697.e5. [PMID: 31513879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with T-cell immunodeficiencies are generally treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but alternatives are needed for patients without matched donors. An innovative intrathymic gene therapy approach that directly targets the thymus might improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the efficacy of intrathymic adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes to transduce thymocyte subsets and correct the T-cell immunodeficiency in a zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa (ZAP-70)-deficient murine model. METHODS AAV serotypes were injected intrathymically into wild-type mice, and gene transfer efficiency was monitored. ZAP-70-/- mice were intrathymically injected with an AAV8 vector harboring the ZAP70 gene. Thymus structure, immunophenotyping, T-cell receptor clonotypes, T-cell function, immune responses to transgenes and autoantibodies, vector copy number, and integration were evaluated. RESULTS AAV8, AAV9, and AAV10 serotypes all transduced thymocyte subsets after in situ gene transfer, with transduction of up to 5% of cells. Intrathymic injection of an AAV8-ZAP-70 vector into ZAP-70-/- mice resulted in a rapid thymocyte differentiation associated with the development of a thymic medulla. Strikingly, medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing the autoimmune regulator were detected within 10 days of gene transfer, correlating with the presence of functional effector and regulatory T-cell subsets with diverse T-cell receptor clonotypes in the periphery. Although thymocyte reconstitution was transient, gene-corrected peripheral T cells harboring approximately 1 AAV genome per cell persisted for more than 40 weeks, and AAV vector integration was detected. CONCLUSIONS Intrathymic AAV-transduced progenitors promote a rapid restoration of the thymic architecture, with a single wave of thymopoiesis generating long-term peripheral T-cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pouzolles
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Alice Machado
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Mickaël Guilbaud
- INSERM UMR1089, Université de Nantes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Center of Immunology Marseille-Luminy (CIML), INSERM U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2, Marseille, France
| | - Sarah Gailhac
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Barennes
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France
| | - Daniela Cesana
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedicenti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Arnauld Sergé
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Indu Raman
- Microarray Core Facility, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Microarray Core Facility, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex; Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - David Klatzmann
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Biotherapy (CIC-BTi) and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (i2B), Paris, France
| | - Oumeya Adjali
- INSERM UMR1089, Université de Nantes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Nantes, France.
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
| | - Valérie S Zimmermann
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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172
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Yu J, Yan J, Guo Q, Chi Z, Tang B, Zheng B, Yu J, Yin T, Cheng Z, Wu X, Yu H, Dai J, Sheng X, Si L, Cui C, Bai X, Mao L, Lian B, Wang X, Yan X, Li S, Zhou L, Flaherty KT, Guo J, Kong Y. Genetic Aberrations in the CDK4 Pathway Are Associated with Innate Resistance to PD-1 Blockade in Chinese Patients with Non-Cutaneous Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:6511-6523. [PMID: 31375512 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE PD-1 checkpoint blockade immunotherapy induces long and durable response in patients with advanced melanoma. However, only a subset of patients with melanoma benefit from this approach. The mechanism triggering the innate resistance of anti-PD-1 therapy remains unclear.Experimental Design: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analyses were performed in a training cohort (n = 31) using baseline tumor biopsies of patients with advanced melanoma treated with the anti-PD-1 antibody. Copy-number variations (CNVs) for the genes CDK4, CCND1, and CDKN2A were assayed using a TaqMan copy-number assay in a validation cohort (n = 85). The effect of CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with anti-PD-1 antibody monotherapy was evaluated in PD-1-humanized mouse (C57BL/6-hPD-1) and humanized immune system (HIS) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. RESULTS WES revealed several significant gene copy-number gains in the patients of no clinical benefit cohort, such as 12q14.1 loci, which harbor CDK4. The association between CDK4 gain and innate resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy was validated in 85 patients with melanoma (P < 0.05). RNA-Seq analysis of CDK4-normal cell lines and CDK4-normal tumors showed altered transcriptional output in TNFα signaling via NF-κB, inflammatory response, and IFNγ response gene set. In addition, CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib) treatment increased PD-L1 protein levels and enhanced efficacy (P < 0.05) in the C57BL/6-hPD-1 melanoma cell and the HIS PDX model. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we discovered that genetic aberrations in the CDK4 pathway are associated with innate resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with advanced melanoma. Moreover, our study provides a strong rationale for combining CDK4/6 inhibitors with anti-PD-1 antibody for the treatment of advanced melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Junya Yan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Chi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Bixia Tang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zheng
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Jinyu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Yin
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Dai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xinan Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Si
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanliang Cui
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Lili Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Lian
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xieqia Yan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Siming Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Keith T Flaherty
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Yan Kong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
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173
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Larsen BM, Cowan JE, Wang Y, Tanaka Y, Zhao Y, Voisin B, Constantinides MG, Nagao K, Belkaid Y, Awasthi P, Takahama Y, Bhandoola A. Identification of an Intronic Regulatory Element Necessary for Tissue-Specific Expression of Foxn1 in Thymic Epithelial Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:686-695. [PMID: 31243087 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is critical for the establishment of the adaptive immune system and the development of a diverse T cell repertoire. T cell development depends upon cell-cell interactions with epithelial cells in the thymus. The thymus is composed of two different types of epithelial cells: cortical and medullary epithelial cells. Both of these express and critically depend on the transcription factor Foxn1 Foxn1 is also expressed in the hair follicle, and disruption of Foxn1 function in mice results in severe thymic developmental defects and the hairless (nude) phenotype. Despite its importance, little is known about the direct regulation of Foxn1 expression. In this study, we identify a cis-regulatory element (RE) critical for expression of Foxn1 in mouse thymic epithelial cells but dispensable for expression in hair follicles. Analysis of chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and sequence conservation identified regions within the first intron of Foxn1 that possessed the characteristics of REs. Systematic knockout of candidate regions lead us to identify a 1.6 kb region that, when deleted, results in a near total disruption of thymus development. Interestingly, Foxn1 expression and function in the hair follicle were unaffected. RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization showed a near complete loss of Foxn1 mRNA expression in the embryonic thymic bud. Our studies have identified a genomic RE with thymic-specific control of Foxn1 gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Larsen
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jennifer E Cowan
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Yueqiang Wang
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Yu Tanaka
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Yongge Zhao
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Benjamin Voisin
- Dermatology Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Michael G Constantinides
- Metaorganism Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Keisuke Nagao
- Dermatology Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Yasmine Belkaid
- Metaorganism Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Parirokh Awasthi
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
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174
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Bergström B, Lundqvist C, Vasileiadis GK, Carlsten H, Ekwall O, Ekwall AKH. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Gene AIRE Is Induced by Cytokines in Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes and Augments the Pro-inflammatory Response. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1384. [PMID: 31275320 PMCID: PMC6591464 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator AIRE controls the negative selection of self-reactive T-cells as well as the induction of regulatory T-cells in the thymus by mastering the transcription and presentation of tissue restricted antigens (TRAs) in thymic cells. However, extrathymic AIRE expression of hitherto unknown clinical significance has also been reported. Genetic polymorphisms of AIRE have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but no specific disease-mediating mechanism has been identified. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a systemic immune activation and arthritis. Activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are key effector cells, mediating persistent inflammation, and destruction of joints. In this study, we identified AIRE as a cytokine-induced RA risk gene in RA FLS and explored its role in these pathogenic stroma cells. Using RNA interference and RNA sequencing we show that AIRE does not induce TRAs in FLS, but augments the pro-inflammatory response induced by tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1β by promoting the transcription of a set of genes associated with systemic autoimmune disease and annotated as interferon-γ regulated genes. In particular, AIRE promoted the production and secretion of a set of chemokines, amongst them CXCL10, which have been associated with disease activity in RA. Finally, we demonstrate that AIRE is expressed in podoplanin positive FLS in the lining layer of synovial tissue from RA patients. These findings support a novel pro-inflammatory role of AIRE at peripheral inflammatory sites and provide a potential pathological mechanism for its association with RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Bergström
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christina Lundqvist
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Georgios K. Vasileiadis
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hans Carlsten
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Olov Ekwall
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna-Karin H. Ekwall
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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175
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Luan R, Liang Z, Zhang Q, Sun L, Zhao Y. Molecular regulatory networks of thymic epithelial cell differentiation. Differentiation 2019; 107:42-49. [PMID: 31238242 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Functional mature T cells are generated in the thymus. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide the essential microenvironment for T cell development and maturation. According to their function and localization, TECs are roughly divided into cortical TECs (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs), which are responsible for positive and negative selection, respectively. This review summarizes the current understanding of TEC biology, the identification of fetal and adult bipotent TEC progenitors, and the signaling pathways that control the development and maturation of TECs. The understanding of the ontogeny, differentiation, maturation and function of cTECs lags behind that of mTECs. Better understanding TEC biology will provide clues about TEC development and the applications of thymus engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Luan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liguang Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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176
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Du HM, Wang YJ, Liu X, Wang SL, Wu SM, Yuan Z, Zhu XK. Defective Central Immune Tolerance Induced by High-Dose D-Galactose Resembles Aging. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2019; 84:617-626. [DOI: 10.1134/s000629791906004x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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177
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Klemann C, Camacho-Ordonez N, Yang L, Eskandarian Z, Rojas-Restrepo JL, Frede N, Bulashevska A, Heeg M, Al-Ddafari MS, Premm J, Seidl M, Ammann S, Sherkat R, Radhakrishnan N, Warnatz K, Unger S, Kobbe R, Hüfner A, Leahy TR, Ip W, Burns SO, Fliegauf M, Grimbacher B. Clinical and Immunological Phenotype of Patients With Primary Immunodeficiency Due to Damaging Mutations in NFKB2. Front Immunol 2019; 10:297. [PMID: 30941118 PMCID: PMC6435015 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-canonical NF-κB-pathway signaling is integral in immunoregulation. Heterozygous mutations in NFKB2 have recently been established as a molecular cause of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and DAVID-syndrome, a rare condition combining deficiency of anterior pituitary hormone with CVID. Here, we investigate 15 previously unreported patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) from eleven unrelated families with heterozygous NFKB2-mutations including eight patients with the common p.Arg853* nonsense mutation and five patients harboring unique novel C-terminal truncating mutations. In addition, we describe the clinical phenotype of two patients with proximal truncating mutations. Cohort analysis extended to all 35 previously published NFKB2-cases revealed occurrence of early-onset PID in 46/50 patients (mean age of onset 5.9 years, median 4.0 years). ACTH-deficiency occurred in 44%. Three mutation carriers have deceased, four developed malignancies. Only two mutation carriers were clinically asymptomatic. In contrast to typical CVID, most patients suffered from early-onset and severe disease manifestations, including clinical signs of T cell dysfunction e.g., chronic-viral or opportunistic infections. In addition, 80% of patients suffered from (predominately T cell mediated) autoimmune (AI) phenomena (alopecia > various lymphocytic organ-infiltration > diarrhea > arthritis > AI-cytopenia). Unlike in other forms of CVID, auto-antibodies or lymphoproliferation were not common hallmarks of disease. Immunophenotyping showed largely normal or even increased quantities of naïve and memory CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells and normal T-cell proliferation. NK-cell number and function were also normal. In contrast, impaired B-cell differentiation and hypogammaglobinemia were consistent features of NFKB2-associated disease. In addition, an array of lymphocyte subpopulations, such as regulatory T cell, Th17-, cTFH-, NKT-, and MAIT-cell numbers were decreased. We conclude that heterozygous damaging mutations in NFKB2 represent a distinct PID entity exceeding the usual clinical spectrum of CVID. Impairment of the non-canonical NF-κB pathways affects function and differentiation of numerous lymphocyte-subpopulations and thus causes a heterogeneous, more severe form of PID phenotype with early-onset. Further characteristic features are multifaceted, primarily T cell-mediated autoimmunity, such as alopecia, lymphocytic organ infiltration, and in addition frequently ACTH-deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Klemann
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergy and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadezhda Camacho-Ordonez
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Linlin Yang
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Zoya Eskandarian
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jessica L Rojas-Restrepo
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Natalie Frede
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alla Bulashevska
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Heeg
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Pediatrics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Moudjahed Saleh Al-Ddafari
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Applied Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | - Julian Premm
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Seidl
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Surgical Pathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Ammann
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roya Sherkat
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nita Radhakrishnan
- Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and PG Teaching Institute, Noida, India
| | - Klaus Warnatz
- Faculty of Medicine, Division Immunodeficiency (CCI), Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Unger
- Faculty of Medicine, Division Immunodeficiency (CCI), Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robin Kobbe
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anja Hüfner
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Ronan Leahy
- Department of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Winnie Ip
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Theme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan O Burns
- University College London Institute of Immunity and Transplantation London, United Kingdom.,Department of Immunology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Fliegauf
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,CIBSS-Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bodo Grimbacher
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,CIBSS-Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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178
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Ribeiro C, Alves NL, Ferreirinha P. Medullary thymic epithelial cells: Deciphering the functional diversity beyond promiscuous gene expression. Immunol Lett 2019; 215:24-27. [PMID: 30853502 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Within the thymus, cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (cTECs and mTECs, respectively) provide unique microenvironments for the development of T cells that are responsive to diverse foreign antigens while self-tolerant. Essential for tolerance induction, mTECs play a critical role in negative selection and T regulatory cell differentiation. In this article, we review the current knowledge on the functional diversity within mTECs and discuss how these novel subsets contribute to tolerance induction and are integrated in the complex blueprint of mTEC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ribeiro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno L Alves
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ferreirinha
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
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179
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Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ essential for the development of T lymphocytes, which orchestrate adaptive immune responses. T-cell development in the thymus is spatially regulated; key checkpoints in T-cell maturation and selection occur in cortical and medullary regions to eliminate self-reactive T cells, establish central tolerance, and export naïve T cells to the periphery with the potential to recognize diverse pathogens. Thymic output is also temporally regulated due to age-related involution of the thymus accompanied by loss of epithelial cells. This review discusses the structural and age-related control of thymus function in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puspa Thapa
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Donna L Farber
- Department of Surgery, Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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180
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Sekai M, Wang J, Minato N, Hamazaki Y. An improved clonogenic culture method for thymic epithelial cells. J Immunol Methods 2019; 467:29-36. [PMID: 30738040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A clonogenic assay system for thymic epithelial cells (TECs) is of crucial importance for identifying thymic epithelial stem and/or progenitor cells, evaluating their activities, and understanding the mechanisms of thymic involution. However, current systems are not sufficiently sensitive at detecting and quantifying TEC colonies from the adult thymus. Here, we optimized the culture condition to detect visible colonies from adult TECs by modifying our previous culture methods. Epidermal growth factor and leukemia inhibitory factor significantly enhanced the colony-forming efficiency of total TECs from embryo as well as adult mice when added 3 days after plating. Importantly, characteristics of the TEC colonies formed by the improved condition were almost equivalent to those by the original culture condition with respect to self-renewal and the expression of cell surface markers and intracellular keratins. Furthermore, the colonies derived from total TECs showed immature phenotypes and generated both mature cortical TECs and medullary TECs upon implantation in vivo. These data indicate a more sensitive clonogenic assay system for TECs was established and suggest the improved culture condition supports the colony formation of stem/progenitor cells for cTECs, mTECs and/or bipotent TECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Sekai
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Nagahiro Minato
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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181
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Dohr D, Engelmann R, Müller-Hilke B. A novel method to efficiently isolate medullary thymic epithelial cells from murine thymi based on UEA-1 MicroBeads. J Immunol Methods 2019; 467:12-18. [PMID: 30735690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The central mechanism for establishing a self-tolerant and functional T cell repertoire includes the promiscuous expression of otherwise tissue-restricted proteins by medullary thymic epithelial cells (TEC). We here demonstrate a novel and highly efficient method for isolating this rare key cell type. METHODS We combined the enrichment of medullary TEC via UEA-1 MicroBeads with the subsequent depletion of residual CD45+ hematopoietic cells via specific size exclusion and compared our results to the standard Percoll enrichment method and isolation procedure via flow cytometric cell sorting. RESULTS The addition of 2 μl UEA-1 MicroBeads per 108 thymus cells turned out best for optimal enrichment (an average of 22% purity compared to 1.2% for Percoll) and yield (an average of 1.73 × 105 medullary TEC per thymus compared to 5.16 × 104 for Percoll). After depletion of residual CD45+ cells, our method not only reached a purity of 75.5% but also turned out less stressful for the cells as compared to flow cytometric cell sorting. CONCLUSION We here provide a fast and versatile procedure for enriching medullary TEC that yields higher purity and recovery rates than the standard Percoll enrichment method Our enrichment procedure in combination with CD45+ depletion via specific size exclusion is comparable to the current gold standard flow cytometric cell sorting method. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We developed a fast and versatile procedure to isolate a high number medullary TEC to investigate the biochemical processes of medullary TEC in more depths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Dohr
- AG Clinical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Robby Engelmann
- AG Clinical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany..
| | - Brigitte Müller-Hilke
- AG Clinical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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182
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Pan B, Zhang F, Lu Z, Li L, Shang L, Xia F, Fu R, Xu M, Zeng L, Xu K. Donor T-cell-derived interleukin-22 promotes thymus regeneration and alleviates chronic graft-versus-host disease in murine allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 67:194-201. [PMID: 30557822 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Defect of thymus results in poor posttransplant immune recovery and dysfunction of immune tolerance after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants (allo-HCT). Improving thymus regeneration represents a potential strategy to accelerate recovery of T-cell immunity. IL-22 was reported to mediate thymus regeneration after injury. In this study, we found donor T-cell is a major source of IL-22 in allotransplant recipient. Through applying IL-22 knock out (IL-22KO) mice in allo-HCT, we found donor T-cell derived IL-22 promotes thymus regeneration in association with increased level of intra-thymic IL-22. IL-22KO T-cell-transplanted recipients show deficient thymus recovery which is reversed by injection of exogenous IL-22. T-cell derived IL-22 promotes proliferation of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) in vitro. In addition, donor T-cell derived IL-22 increases expression level of Aire in the thymus and decreases skin chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Furthermore, short-term use of exogenous IL-22 posttransplant accelerates recovery of thymus without increasing severity of acute GVHD. Our data indicate that cross-talk between T-cell and TECs is an important mechanism to mediate reconstitution of T-cell immunity after allo-HCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Pan
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zhenzhen Lu
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Longmei Shang
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fan Xia
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ruixue Fu
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Mengdi Xu
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lingyu Zeng
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kailin Xu
- Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
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183
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Cohen IR, Efroni S. The Immune System Computes the State of the Body: Crowd Wisdom, Machine Learning, and Immune Cell Reference Repertoires Help Manage Inflammation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:10. [PMID: 30723470 PMCID: PMC6349705 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we outline an overview of the mammalian immune system that updates and extends the classical clonal selection paradigm. Rather than focusing on strict self-not-self discrimination, we propose that the system orchestrates variable inflammatory responses that maintain the body and its symbiosis with the microbiome while eliminating the threat from pathogenic infectious agents and from tumors. The paper makes four points:
The immune system classifies healthy and pathologic states of the body—including both self and foreign elements—by deploying individual lymphocytes as cellular computing machines; immune cells transform input signals from the body into an output of specific immune reactions. Rather than independent clonal responses, groups of individually activated immune-system cells co-react in lymphoid organs to make collective decisions through a type of self-organizing swarm intelligence or crowd wisdom. Collective choices by swarms of immune cells, like those of schools of fish, are modified by relatively small numbers of individual regulators responding to shifting conditions—such collective inflammatory responses are dynamically responsive. Self-reactive autoantibody and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires shared by healthy individuals function in a biological version of experience-based supervised machine learning. Immune system decisions are primed by formative experience with training sets of self-antigens encountered during lymphocyte development; these initially trained T cell and B cell repertoires form a Wellness Profile that then guides immune responses to test sets of antigens encountered later. This experience-based machine learning strategy is analogous to that deployed by supervised machine-learning algorithms.
We propose experiments to test these ideas. This overview of the immune system bears clinical implications for monitoring wellness and for treating autoimmune disease, cancer, and allograft reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irun R Cohen
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sol Efroni
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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184
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Semaphorin 3A Negatively Affects Proliferation of Mouse Thymus Epithelial Cells In Vitro. Bull Exp Biol Med 2019; 166:339-343. [PMID: 30627913 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-019-04346-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We studied effects of semaphorin 3A, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and their combinations on the proliferative activity of cortical (cTEC1-2) and medullary (mTEC3-10) thymus epithelium cell lines. Semaphorin 3A inhibited the proliferative activity of epithelial cells, while HGF and KGF, in contrast, exerted a stimulating effect. The effect of KGF and semaphorin 3A on different cell lines depended on the expression of receptors for these two factors. When the combination of two factors was used, semaphorin 3A was able to neutralize the stimulating effect of HGF and KGF. It can be assumed that semaphorin 3A synthesized in the thymus stroma, can act as a functional antagonist of HGF and KGF and have an inhibitory effect when these drugs are administered into the body for the therapeutic purpose of restoring thymus functions.
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185
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Villa A, Notarangelo LD. RAG gene defects at the verge of immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation. Immunol Rev 2019; 287:73-90. [PMID: 30565244 PMCID: PMC6309314 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mutations of the recombinase activating genes (RAG) in humans underlie a broad spectrum of clinical and immunological phenotypes that reflect different degrees of impairment of T- and B-cell development and alterations of mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Recent studies have shown that this phenotypic heterogeneity correlates, albeit imperfectly, with different levels of recombination activity of the mutant RAG proteins. Furthermore, studies in patients and in newly developed animal models carrying hypomorphic RAG mutations have disclosed various mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation in this condition. Careful annotation of clinical outcome and immune reconstitution in RAG-deficient patients who have received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has shown that progress has been made in the treatment of this disease, but new approaches remain to be tested to improve stem cell engraftment and durable immune reconstitution. Finally, initial attempts have been made to treat RAG deficiency with gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi D Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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186
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Apavaloaei A, Brochu S, Dong M, Rouette A, Hardy MP, Villafano G, Murata S, Melichar HJ, Perreault C. PSMB11 Orchestrates the Development of CD4 and CD8 Thymocytes via Regulation of Gene Expression in Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 202:966-978. [PMID: 30567730 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
T cell development depends on sequential interactions of thymocytes with cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) and medullary thymic epithelial cells. PSMB11 is a catalytic proteasomal subunit present exclusively in cTECs. Because proteasomes regulate transcriptional activity, we asked whether PSMB11 might affect gene expression in cTECs. We report that PSMB11 regulates the expression of 850 cTEC genes that modulate lymphostromal interactions primarily via the WNT signaling pathway. cTECs from Psmb11 -/- mice 1) acquire features of medullary thymic epithelial cells and 2) retain CD8 thymocytes in the thymic cortex, thereby impairing phase 2 of positive selection, 3) perturbing CD8 T cell development, and 4) causing dramatic oxidative stress leading to apoptosis of CD8 thymocytes. Deletion of Psmb11 also causes major oxidative stress in CD4 thymocytes. However, CD4 thymocytes do not undergo apoptosis because, unlike CD8 thymocytes, they upregulate expression of chaperones and inhibitors of apoptosis. We conclude that PSMB11 has pervasive effects on both CD4 and CD8 thymocytes via regulation of gene expression in cTECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Apavaloaei
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Sylvie Brochu
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Mengqi Dong
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.,Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Alexandre Rouette
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Marie-Pierre Hardy
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Geno Villafano
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269; and
| | - Shigeo Murata
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.,Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Claude Perreault
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada; .,Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
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187
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Bi-directional signaling by membrane-bound KitL induces proliferation and coordinates thymic endothelial cell and thymocyte expansion. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4685. [PMID: 30410062 PMCID: PMC6224562 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The ligand for the c-Kit receptor, KitL, exists as a membrane-associated (mKitL) and a soluble form (sKitL). KitL functions outside c-Kit activation have not been identified. We show that co-culture of c-Kit– and mKitL–expressing NIH3T3 cells results in signaling through mKitL: c-Kit–bound mKitL recruits calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML) to selectively activate Akt, leading to CREB phosphorylation, mTOR pathway activation, and increased cell proliferation. Activation of mKitL in thymic vascular endothelial cells (VECs) induces mKitL- and Akt-dependent proliferation, and genetic ablation of mKitL in thymic VECs blocks their c-Kit responsiveness and proliferation during neonatal thymic expansion. Therefore, mKitL–c-Kit form a bi-directional signaling complex that acts in the developing thymus to coordinate thymic VEC and early thymic progenitor (ETP) expansion by simultaneously promoting ETP survival and VEC proliferation. This mechanism may be relevant to both normal tissues and malignant tumors that depend on KitL–c-Kit signaling for their proliferation. c-Kit receptor–Kit ligand complex signaling is known to activate c-Kit and is essential for tissue development. Here, Buono et al. show that membrane-bound KitL signaling induces proliferation via CAML-Akt-CREB pathway activation, establishing a role for bidirectional signaling in tissue expansion.
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188
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Singarapu N, Ma K, Reeh KAG, Shen J, Lancaster JN, Yi S, Xie H, Orkin SH, Manley NR, Ehrlich LIR, Jiang N, Richie ER. Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 is essential for development and maintenance of a functional TEC compartment. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14335. [PMID: 30254371 PMCID: PMC6156232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32729-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) are essential for thymocyte differentiation and repertoire selection. Despite their indispensable role in generating functional T cells, the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate TEC development from endodermal progenitors in the third pharyngeal pouch (3rd PP) are not fully understood. We recently reported that the T-box transcription factor TBX1 negatively regulates TEC development. Although initially expressed throughout the 3rd PP, Tbx1 becomes downregulated in thymus-fated progenitors and when ectopically expressed impairs TEC progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Here we show that ectopic Tbx1 expression in thymus fated endoderm increases expression of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) target genes in TEC. PRC2 is an epigenetic modifier that represses gene expression by catalyzing trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3. The increased expression of PRC2 target genes suggests that ectopic Tbx1 interferes with PRC2 activity and implicates PRC2 as an important regulator of TEC development. To test this hypothesis, we used Foxn1Cre to delete Eed, a PRC2 component required for complex stability and function in thymus fated 3rd PP endoderm. Proliferation and differentiation of fetal and newborn TEC were disrupted in the conditional knockout (EedCKO) mutants leading to severely dysplastic adult thymi. Consistent with PRC2-mediated transcriptional silencing, the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEG) were upregulated in EedCKO TEC. Moreover, a high frequency of EedCKO DEG overlapped with DEG in TEC that ectopically expressed Tbx1. These findings demonstrate that PRC2 plays a critical role in TEC development and suggest that Tbx1 expression must be downregulated in thymus fated 3rd PP endoderm to ensure optimal PRC2 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Singarapu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA
| | - Keyue Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Kaitlin A G Reeh
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA
| | - Jianjun Shen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA
| | - Jessica N Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Song Yi
- Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Huafeng Xie
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nancy R Manley
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, 500 DW Brooks Drive, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lauren I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ellen R Richie
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA.
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189
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Clave E, Araujo IL, Alanio C, Patin E, Bergstedt J, Urrutia A, Lopez-Lastra S, Li Y, Charbit B, MacPherson CR, Hasan M, Melo-Lima BL, Douay C, Saut N, Germain M, Trégouët DA, Morange PE, Fontes M, Duffy D, Di Santo JP, Quintana-Murci L, Albert ML, Toubert A. Human thymopoiesis is influenced by a common genetic variant within the TCRA-TCRD locus. Sci Transl Med 2018; 10:10/457/eaao2966. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao2966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary lymphoid organ where naïve T cells are generated; however, with the exception of age, the parameters that govern its function in healthy humans remain unknown. We characterized the variability of thymic function among 1000 age- and sex-stratified healthy adults of the Milieu Intérieur cohort, using quantification of T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in peripheral blood T cells as a surrogate marker of thymopoiesis. Age and sex were the only nonheritable factors identified that affect thymic function. TREC amounts decreased with age and were higher in women compared to men. In addition, a genome-wide association study revealed a common variant (rs2204985) within the T cell receptor TCRA-TCRD locus, between the DD2 and DD3 gene segments, which associated with TREC amounts. Strikingly, transplantation of human hematopoietic stem cells with the rs2204985 GG genotype into immunodeficient mice led to thymopoiesis with higher TRECs, increased thymocyte counts, and a higher TCR repertoire diversity. Our population immunology approach revealed a genetic locus that influences thymopoiesis in healthy adults, with potentially broad implications in precision medicine.
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190
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Lau CI, Yánez DC, Solanki A, Papaioannou E, Saldaña JI, Crompton T. Foxa1 and Foxa2 in thymic epithelial cells (TEC) regulate medullary TEC and regulatory T-cell maturation. J Autoimmun 2018; 93:131-138. [PMID: 30061015 PMCID: PMC6119767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Foxa1 and Foxa2 transcription factors are essential for mouse development. Here we show that they are expressed in thymic epithelial cells (TEC) where they regulate TEC development and function, with important consequences for T-cell development. TEC are essential for T-cell differentiation, lineage decisions and repertoire selection. Conditional deletion of Foxa1 and Foxa2 from murine TEC led to a smaller thymus with a greater proportion of TEC and a greater ratio of medullary to cortical TEC. Cell-surface MHCI expression was increased on cortical TEC in the conditional Foxa1Foxa2 knockout thymus, and MHCII expression was reduced on both cortical and medullary TEC populations. These changes in TEC differentiation and MHC expression led to a significant reduction in thymocyte numbers, reduced positive selection of CD4+CD8+ cells to the CD4 lineage, and increased CD8 cell differentiation. Conditional deletion of Foxa1 and Foxa2 from TEC also caused an increase in the medullary TEC population, and increased expression of Aire, but lower cell surface MHCII expression on Aire-expressing mTEC, and increased production of regulatory T-cells. Thus, Foxa1 and Foxa2 in TEC promote positive selection of CD4SP T-cells and modulate regulatory T-cell production and activity, of importance to autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-In Lau
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Diana C Yánez
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Anisha Solanki
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Eleftheria Papaioannou
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - José Ignacio Saldaña
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, UK
| | - Tessa Crompton
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
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191
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Villegas JA, Gradolatto A, Truffault F, Roussin R, Berrih-Aknin S, Le Panse R, Dragin N. Cultured Human Thymic-Derived Cells Display Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cell Phenotype and Functionality. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1663. [PMID: 30083154 PMCID: PMC6064927 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells are one of the main components of the thymic microenvironment required for T-cell development. In this work, we describe an efficient method free of enzymatic and Facs-sorted methods to culture human medullary thymic epithelial cells without affecting the cell phenotypic, physiologic and functional features. Human medulla thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are obtained by culturing thymic biopsies explants. After 7 days of primo-culture, mTECs keep their ability to express key molecules involved in immune tolerance processes such as autoimmune regulator, tissue-specific antigens, chemokines, and cytokines. In addition, the cells sensor their cultured environment and consequently adjust their gene expression network. Therefore, we describe and provide a human mTEC model that may be used to test the effect of various molecules on thymic epithelial cell homeostasis and physiology. This method should allow the investigations of the specificities and the knowledge of human mTECs in normal or pathological conditions and therefore discontinue the extrapolations done on the murine models.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Villegas
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Angeline Gradolatto
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Truffault
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | | | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Dragin
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,Inovarion, Paris, France
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192
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Hirakawa M, Nagakubo D, Kanzler B, Avilov S, Krauth B, Happe C, Swann JB, Nusser A, Boehm T. Fundamental parameters of the developing thymic epithelium in the mouse. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11095. [PMID: 30038304 PMCID: PMC6056470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29460-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The numbers of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes steadily increase during embryogenesis. To examine this dynamic, we generated several TEC-specific transgenic mouse lines, which express fluorescent proteins in the nucleus, the cytosol and in the membranes under the control of the Foxn1 promoter. These tools enabled us to determine TEC numbers in tissue sections by confocal fluorescent microscopy, and in the intact organ by light-sheet microscopy. Compared to histological procedures, flow cytometric analysis of thymic cellularity is shown to underestimate the numbers of TECs by one order of magnitude; using enzymatic digestion of thymic tissue, the loss of cortical TECs (cTECs) is several fold greater than that of medullary TECs (mTECs), although different cTEC subsets appear to be still present in the final preparation. Novel reporter lines driven by Psmb11 and Prss16 promoters revealed the trajectory of differentiation of cTEC-like cells, and, owing to the additional facility of conditional cell ablation, allowed us to follow the recovery of such cells after their depletion during embryogenesis. Multiparametric histological analyses indicate that the new transgenic reporter lines not only reveal the unique morphologies of different TEC subsets, but are also conducive to the analysis of the complex cellular interactions in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Hirakawa
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daisuke Nagakubo
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany.,Division of Health and Hygienic Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, 7-2-1 Kamiohno, Himeji, Hyogo, 670-8524, Japan
| | - Benoît Kanzler
- Transgenic Mouse Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sergiy Avilov
- Imaging Facility, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Krauth
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Happe
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jeremy B Swann
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anja Nusser
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Boehm
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108, Freiburg, Germany.
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193
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Jones R, Cosway EJ, Willis C, White AJ, Jenkinson WE, Fehling HJ, Anderson G, Withers DR. Dynamic changes in intrathymic ILC populations during murine neonatal development. Eur J Immunol 2018; 48:1481-1491. [PMID: 29851080 PMCID: PMC6174991 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201847511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Members of the innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family have been implicated in the development of thymic microenvironments and the recovery of this architecture after damage. However, a detailed characterization of this family in the thymus is lacking. To better understand the thymic ILC compartment, we have utilized multiple in vivo models including the fate mapping of inhibitor of DNA binding‐2 (Id2) expression and the use of Id2 reporter mice. Our data demonstrate that ILCs are more prominent immediately after birth, but were rapidly diluted as the T‐cell development program increased. As observed in the embryonic thymus, CCR6+NKp46− lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells were the main ILC3 population present, but numbers of these cells swiftly declined in the neonate and ILC3 were barely detectable in adult thymus. This loss of ILC3 means ILC2 are the dominant ILC population in the thymus. Thymic ILC2 were able to produce IL‐5 and IL‐13, were located within the medulla, and did not result from ILC3 plasticity. Furthermore, in WT mice, thymic ILC2 express little RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand) arguing that functionally, these cells provide different signals to LTi cells in the thymus. Collectively, these data reveal a dynamic switch in the ILC populations of the thymus during neonatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys Jones
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Emilie J Cosway
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claire Willis
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrea J White
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - William E Jenkinson
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Hans J Fehling
- Institute of Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - David R Withers
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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194
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Wu H, Qin X, Dai H, Zhang Y. Time-course transcriptome analysis of medullary thymic epithelial cells in the early phase of thymic involution. Mol Immunol 2018; 99:87-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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195
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Cheng M, Anderson MS. Thymic tolerance as a key brake on autoimmunity. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:659-664. [PMID: 29925986 PMCID: PMC6370479 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0128-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although the thymus has long been recognized as a key organ for T cell selection, the intricate details linking these selection events to human autoimmunity have been challenging to decipher. Over the last two decades, there has been rapid progress in understanding the role of thymic tolerance mechanisms in autoimmunity through genetics. Here we review some of the recent progress in understanding key thymic tolerance processes that are critical for preventing autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickie Cheng
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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196
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Bornstein C, Nevo S, Giladi A, Kadouri N, Pouzolles M, Gerbe F, David E, Machado A, Chuprin A, Tóth B, Goldberg O, Itzkovitz S, Taylor N, Jay P, Zimmermann VS, Abramson J, Amit I. Single-cell mapping of the thymic stroma identifies IL-25-producing tuft epithelial cells. Nature 2018; 559:622-626. [PMID: 30022162 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0346-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
T cell development and selection are coordinated in the thymus by a specialized niche of diverse stromal populations1-3. Although much progress has been made over the years in identifying the functions of the different cell types of the thymic stromal compartment, there is no comprehensive characterization of their diversity and heterogeneity. Here we combined massively parallel single-cell RNA-sequencing4,5, spatial mapping, chromatin profiling and gene targeting to characterize de novo the entire stromal compartment of the mouse thymus. We identified dozens of cell states, with thymic epithelial cells (TECs) showing the highest degree of heterogeneity. Our analysis highlights four major medullary TEC (mTEC I-IV) populations, with distinct molecular functions, epigenetic landscapes and lineage regulators. Specifically, mTEC IV constitutes a new and highly divergent TEC lineage with molecular characteristics of the gut chemosensory epithelial tuft cells. Mice deficient in Pou2f3, a master regulator of tuft cells, have complete and specific depletion of mTEC IV cells, which results in increased levels of thymus-resident type-2 innate lymphoid cells. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive characterization of the thymic stroma and identifies a new tuft-like TEC population, which is critical for shaping the immune niche in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamutal Bornstein
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shir Nevo
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amir Giladi
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Kadouri
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Marie Pouzolles
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - François Gerbe
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Eyal David
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alice Machado
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Anna Chuprin
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Beáta Tóth
- Department of Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ori Goldberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Shalev Itzkovitz
- Department of Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Jay
- IGF, CNRS, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Valérie S Zimmermann
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Ido Amit
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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197
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Paiola M, Knigge T, Duflot A, Pinto PIS, Farcy E, Monsinjon T. Oestrogen, an evolutionary conserved regulator of T cell differentiation and immune tolerance in jawed vertebrates? DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 84:48-61. [PMID: 29408048 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In teleosts, as in mammals, the immune system is tightly regulated by sexual steroid hormones, such as oestrogens. We investigated the effects of 17β-oestradiol on the expression of several genes related to T cell development and resulting T cell subpopulations in sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, for a primary lymphoid organ, the thymus, and two secondary lymphoid organs, the head-kidney and the spleen. In parallel, the oxidative burst capacity was assessed in leucocytes of the secondary lymphoid organs. Apoptosis- and proliferation-related genes, indicative of B and T cell clonal selection and lymphoid progenitor activity, were not affected by elevated oestrogen-levels. Sex-related oestrogen-responsiveness in T cell and antigen-presenting cell markers was observed, the expression of which was differentially induced by oestrogen-exposure in the three lymphoid organs. Remarkably, in the spleen, oestrogen increased regulatory T cell-related gene expression was associated with a decrease in oxidative burst capacity. To the best of our knowledge, this study indicates for the first time that physiological levels of oestrogen are likely to promote immune tolerance by modulating thymic function (i.e., T cell development and output) and peripheral T cells in teleosts, similar to previously reported oestrogenic effects in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Paiola
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Thomas Knigge
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Aurélie Duflot
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Patricia I S Pinto
- Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, CCMAR - Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Emilie Farcy
- Montpellier University, UMR MARBEC (UM, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD), 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Tiphaine Monsinjon
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France.
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198
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Horie K, Kudo T, Yoshinaga R, Akiyama N, Sasanuma H, Kobayashi TJ, Shimbo M, Jeon H, Miyao T, Miyauchi M, Shirakawa M, Shiba D, Yoshida N, Muratani M, Takahashi S, Akiyama T. Long-term hindlimb unloading causes a preferential reduction of medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing autoimmune regulator (Aire). Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 501:745-750. [PMID: 29753741 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.05.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hindlimb unloading (HU) of rodents has been used as a ground-based model of spaceflight. In this study, we investigated the detailed impact of 14-day HU on the murine thymus. Thymic mass and cell number were significantly reduced after 14 days of hindlimb unloading, which was accompanied by an increment of plasma corticosterone. Although corticosterone reportedly causes selective apoptosis of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes (CD4+CD8+DPs) in mice treated with short-term HU, the reduction of thymocyte cellularity after the 14-day HU was not selective for CD4+CD8+DPs. In addition to the thymocyte reduction, the cellularity of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) was also reduced by the 14-day HU. Flow cytometric and RNA-sequencing analysis suggested that medullary TECs (mTECs) were preferentially reduced after HU. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining suggested that the 14-day HU caused a reduction of the mTECs expressing autoimmune regulator (Aire). Our data suggested that HU impacts both thymocytes and TECs. Consequently, these data imply that thymic T cell repertoire formation could be disturbed during spaceflight-like stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Horie
- Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takashi Kudo
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Riko Yoshinaga
- Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sasanuma
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Tetsuya J Kobayashi
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
| | - Miki Shimbo
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hyojung Jeon
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyao
- Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Masaki Shirakawa
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; JEM Utilization Center, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, JAXA, Ibaraki 305-8505, Japan
| | - Dai Shiba
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; JEM Utilization Center, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, JAXA, Ibaraki 305-8505, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Yoshida
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Department of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan; Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Mouse Epigenetics Project, ISS/Kibo experiment, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, Japan.
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199
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Aili A, Zhang J, Wu J, Wu H, Sun X, He Q, Jin R, Zhang Y. CCR2 Signal Facilitates Thymic Egress by Priming Thymocyte Responses to Sphingosine-1-Phosphate. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1263. [PMID: 29930553 PMCID: PMC6001116 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The signal mediated by sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) is essential but seemingly insufficient for thymic export of newly generated T cells. Here, we reported the identification of CCR2 as an additional regulator of this process. CCR2 showed a markedly increased expression in the most mature subset of single-positive (SP) thymocytes. Its deficiency led to a reduction of recent thymic emigrants in the periphery and a simultaneous accumulation of mature SP cells in the thymus. The CCR2 signaling promoted thymic emigration primarily through modulating the chemotactic responses to S1P1 engagement. On the one hand, the chemokinesis induced by CCR2 activation endowed thymocytes with enhanced capacity to respond to S1P-induced migration. On the other hand, CCR2 signaling through Stat3 augmented forkhead box O1 activity, leading to increased expression of S1P1. Taken together, the present study highlights a unique and novel function of CCR2 signaling in the regulation of thymic egress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abudureyimujiang Aili
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Jia Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Haoming Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Xiuyuan Sun
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Qihua He
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China.,Institute of Biological Sciences, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
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200
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Kernfeld EM, Genga RMJ, Neherin K, Magaletta ME, Xu P, Maehr R. A Single-Cell Transcriptomic Atlas of Thymus Organogenesis Resolves Cell Types and Developmental Maturation. Immunity 2018; 48:1258-1270.e6. [PMID: 29884461 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Thymus development is critical to the adaptive immune system, yet a comprehensive transcriptional framework capturing thymus organogenesis at single-cell resolution is still needed. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to capture 8 days of thymus development, perturbations of T cell receptor rearrangement, and in vitro organ cultures, producing profiles of 24,279 cells. We resolved transcriptional heterogeneity of developing lymphocytes, and genetic perturbation confirmed T cell identity of conventional and non-conventional lymphocytes. We characterized maturation dynamics of thymic epithelial cells in vivo, classified cell maturation state in a thymic organ culture, and revealed the intrinsic capacity of thymic epithelium to preserve transcriptional regularity despite exposure to exogenous retinoic acid. Finally, by integrating the cell atlas with human genome-wide association study (GWAS) data and autoimmune-disease-related genes, we implicated embryonic thymus-resident cells as possible participants in autoimmune disease etiologies. This resource provides a single-cell transcriptional framework for biological discovery and molecular analysis of thymus organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Kernfeld
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ryan M J Genga
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kashfia Neherin
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Margaret E Magaletta
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ping Xu
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - René Maehr
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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