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Bosselut R. Genetic Strategies to Study T Cell Development. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:117-130. [PMID: 36374453 PMCID: PMC10803070 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Genetics approaches have been instrumental to deciphering T cell development in the thymus, including gene disruption by homologous recombination and more recently Crispr-based gene editing and transgenic gene expression, especially of specific T cell antigen receptors (TCR). This brief chapter describes commonly used tools and strategies to modify the genome of thymocytes, including mouse strains with lineage- and stage-specific expression of the Cre recombinase used for conditional allele inactivation or expressing unique antigen receptor specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémy Bosselut
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Liu YH, Corbett C, Klaska IP, Makinen K, Nickerson JM, Cornall RJ, Kuffova L, Forrester JV. Partial retinal photoreceptor loss in a transgenic mouse model associated with reduced levels of interphotoreceptor retinol binding protein (IRBP, RBP3). Exp Eye Res 2018; 172:54-65. [PMID: 29571629 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Organ-specific transgenic membrane expression of hen egg lysozyme (HEL) as a "neo-self antigen" has been used in several models to study immunological tolerance. In this study we report the changes which occur in the B10.BR mouse retina when membrane-bound HEL is expressed in photoreceptors under the control of the promoter for interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP, RBP3). On direct clinical examination of the single transgenic (sTg-IRBP:HEL) mouse fundus, a low-level increase in retinal degeneration compared to non-transgenic controls was observed, presenting as drusenoid deposits and occasional small patches of atrophy. On histological examination, there was an overall shortening of outer segments and loss of photoreceptor nuclei in sTg-IRBP:HEL mice, which was more pronounced in the retinal periphery, particularly inferiorly. The fundoscopically observed lesions did not correlate with the photoreceptor shortening/loss but appeared to be located at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium/choriocapillaris layer and were an exaggeration in size and number of similar age-related changes found in wild type (WT) mice. In addition, neither the atrophic lesions nor the photoreceptor shortening were associated with common retinal degeneration genes, nor were they caused by exposure to light damage since mice housed at both high and low ambient light levels had similar degrees of retinal degeneration. Instead, sTg-IRBP:HEL mice expressed reduced levels of soluble retinal IRBP compared to WT mice which were present from postnatal day16 (P16) and preceded development of photoreceptor shortening (onset P21). We propose that insertion of the HEL transgene in the photoreceptor membrane disrupted normal photoreceptor function and led to reduced levels of soluble IRBP and retinal thinning. A similar phenotype has been observed in IRBP deficient mice. Despite the retinal thinning, the amount of HEL expressed in the retina was sufficient to act as an autoantigenic target when the mice were crossed to the HEL T cell receptor Tg mouse, since double transgenic (dTg-IRBP:HEL) mice spontaneously developed a severe uveoretinitis with onset at weaning. We suggest that, although membrane expression of foreign transgene products is likely to modify the structure and function of tissues and cells, the technology provides useful models to investigate mechanisms of antigen-specific immunological tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsia Liu
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Clare Corbett
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Izabela P Klaska
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kimmo Makinen
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; Human Health, Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark
| | | | | | - Lucia Kuffova
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, UK
| | - John V Forrester
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; University of Western Australia, Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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Abstract
Genetics tools, and especially the ability to enforce, by transgenesis, or disrupt, by homologous recombination, gene expression in a cell-specific manner, have revolutionized the study of immunology and propelled the laboratory mouse as the main model to study immune responses. Perhaps more than any other aspect of immunology, the study of T cell development has benefited from these technologies. This brief chapter summarizes genetic tools specific to T cell development studies, focusing on mouse strains with lineage- and stage-specific expression of the Cre recombinase, or expressing unique antigen receptor specificities. It ends with a broader discussion of strategies to enforce ectopic lineage and stage-specific gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Ciucci
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Calderon B, Carrero JA, Unanue ER. The central role of antigen presentation in islets of Langerhans in autoimmune diabetes. Curr Opin Immunol 2014; 26:32-40. [PMID: 24556398 PMCID: PMC4118295 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2013.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The islets of Langerhans normally contain resident antigen presenting cells (APCs), which in normal conditions are mostly represented by macrophages, with a few dendritic cells (DC). We present here the features of these islet APCs, making the point that they have a supportive function in islet homeostasis. Islet APCs express high levels of major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) molecules on their surfaces and are highly active in antigen presentation in the autoimmune diabetes of the NOD mouse: they do this by presenting peptides derived from molecules of the β-cells. These APCs also are instrumental in the localization of diabetogenic T cells into islets. The islet APC present exogenous peptides derived from secretory granules of the β-cell, giving rise to unique peptide-MHC complexes (pMHC) that activate those non-conventional T cells that bypass thymus selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Calderon
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Javier A Carrero
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emil R Unanue
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Danso-Abeam D, Staats KA, Franckaert D, Van Den Bosch L, Liston A, Gray DHD, Dooley J. Aire mediates thymic expression and tolerance of pancreatic antigens via an unconventional transcriptional mechanism. Eur J Immunol 2013; 43:75-84. [PMID: 23041971 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201242761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (Aire), mediates central tolerance of peripheral self. Its activity in thymic epithelial cells (TECs) directs the ectopic expression of thousands of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs), causing the deletion of autoreactive thymocytes. The molecular mechanisms orchestrating the breadth of transcriptional regulation by Aire remain unknown. One prominent model capable of explaining both the uniquely high number of Aire-dependent targets and their specificity posits that tissue-specific transcription factors induced by Aire directly activate their canonical targets, exponentially adding to the total number of Aire-dependent TRAs. To test this "Hierarchical Transcription" model, we analysed mice deficient in the pancreatic master transcription factor pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1), specifically in TECs (Pdx1(ΔFoxn1) ), for the expression and tolerance of pancreatic TRAs. Surprisingly, we found that lack of Pdx1 in TECs did not reduce the transcription of insulin or somatostatin, or alter glucagon expression. Moreover, in a model of thymic deletion driven by a neo-TRA under the control of the insulin promoter, Pdx1 in TECs was not required to affect thymocyte deletion or the generation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. These findings suggest that the capacity of Aire to regulate expression of a huge array of TRAs relies solely on an unconventional transcriptional mechanism, without intermediary transcription factors.
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Calderon B, Unanue ER. Antigen presentation events in autoimmune diabetes. Curr Opin Immunol 2012; 24:119-28. [PMID: 22178549 PMCID: PMC3523676 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2011] [Revised: 11/16/2011] [Accepted: 11/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antigen presenting cells (APC) be they dendritic cells (DC) or macrophages reside in all tissues. Their role varies from presenting antigen, clearing the tissue from unwanted material, helping in the remodeling that follows injury and inflammation, to a supporting or trophic function. Their features, biology, and turnover may be unique for each organ, modulated by the particular anatomy and physiology of the tissue. These features affect the handling and presentation of antigens, either exogenous such as those from viruses or bacteria, or endogenous, autologous proteins in situations of autoimmunity. Herein, we focus on the resident APC of the islets of Langerhans and their role in autoimmune diabetes. The intra-islet APC are central cells in diabetogenesis by presenting beta cell derived antigens and by modulating the localization of T cells into the islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Calderon
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Immunobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Levin D, DiPaolo RJ, Brinster C, Revilleza MJR, Boyd LF, Teyton L, Natarajan K, Mage MG, Shevach EM, Margulies DH. Availability of autoantigenic epitopes controls phenotype, severity, and penetrance in TCR Tg autoimmune gastritis. Eur J Immunol 2009; 38:3339-53. [PMID: 19039784 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200838584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We examined TCR:MHC/peptide interactions and in vivo epitope availability to explore the Th1- or Th2-like phenotype of autoimmune disease in two TCR Tg mouse models of autoimmune gastritis (AIG). The TCR of strains A23 and A51 recognize distinct IA(d)-restricted peptides from the gastric parietal cell H/K-ATPase. Both peptides form extremely stable MHC/peptide (MHC/p) complexes. All A23 animals develop a Th1-like aggressive, inflammatory AIG early in life, while A51 mice develop indolent Th2-like AIG at 6-8 wk with incomplete penetrance. A51 T cells were more sensitive than A23 to low doses of soluble antigen and to MHC/p complexes. Staining with IA(d)/peptide tetramers was only detectable on previously activated T cells from A51. Thus, despite inducing a milder AIG, the A51 TCR displays a higher avidity for its cognate IA(d)/peptide. Nonetheless, in vivo proliferation of adoptively transferred A51 CFSE-labeled T cells in the gastric lymph node was relatively poor compared with A23 T cells. Also, DC from WT gastric lymph node, presenting processed antigen available in vivo, stimulated proliferation of A23 T cells better than A51. Thus, the autoimmune potential of these TCR in their respective Tg lines is strongly influenced by the availability of the peptide epitope, rather than by differential avidity for their respective MHC/p complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditza Levin
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ort Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
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Marks DJB, Mitchison NA, Segal AW, Sieper J. Can unresolved infection precipitate autoimmune disease? Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2006; 305:105-25. [PMID: 16724803 DOI: 10.1007/3-540-29714-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are frequently postulated to arise as post-infectious phenomena. Here we survey the evidence supporting these theories, with particular emphasis on Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis. Direct proof that infection establishes persistent autoimmunity remains lacking, although it may provoke a prolonged inflammatory response when occurring on a susceptible immunological background. The argument of infective causality is by no means trivial, since it carries important consequences for the safety of vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J B Marks
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, University College London, UK
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Byersdorfer CA, Schweitzer GG, Unanue ER. Diabetes Is Predicted by the β Cell Level of Autoantigen. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 175:4347-54. [PMID: 16177075 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.7.4347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Two novel transgenic (Tg) strains were created expressing hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) in a pancreas-specific fashion. RmHP.111 mice had levels of HEL per cell similar to that of the established ILK-3 strain, while RmHP.117 mice had 10-fold lower levels (50,000 molecules per cell). When bred to 3A9 TCR Tg mice, negative selection occurred equally in all three double-Tg combinations, yet only ILK-3 x 3A9 and RmHP.111 x 3A9 mice became diabetic. Additionally, activated 3A9 cells readily transferred diabetes into ILK-3 or RmHP.111 mice, but only marginally into the RmHP.117 strain. In the peripancreatic lymph node, division of naive 3A9 cells was similar between RmHP.111 and RmHP.117 strains, but pancreatic APCs from RmHP.111 x 3A9 mice stimulated HEL-reactive cells to a much greater degree than those from RmHP.117 x 3A9 mice. In this model, diabetes was dependent upon both initial priming in the peripancreatic lymph node and subsequent presentation in the pancreas, with disease incidence predicted by the beta cell level of autoantigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Byersdorfer
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Levisetti MG, Suri A, Frederick K, Unanue ER. Absence of lymph nodes in NOD mice treated with lymphotoxin-beta receptor immunoglobulin protects from diabetes. Diabetes 2004; 53:3115-9. [PMID: 15561941 DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.53.12.3115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Pregnant nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice were treated with lymphotoxin-beta receptor immunoglobulin fusion protein (LTbetaR-Ig) or control human immunoglobulin on days embryonic day 11 (E11) and E14, and offspring were followed for the development of anti-beta-cell antibodies, islet pathology, and hyperglycemia. The development of anti-beta-cell surface antibodies was abrogated in treated mice compared with controls. Autopsy examination of the mice at 30 weeks of age revealed normal development of secondary lymphoid structures in the control animals; however, mice treated with LTbetaR-Ig had no axillary, inguinal, popliteal, or peripancreatic lymph nodes. Histological examination of the pancreata of the control mice revealed a severe and destructive mononuclear cellular infiltrate in the islets, whereas the islets of the LTbetaR-Ig-treated mice were devoid of any insulitis. None of the LTbetaR-Ig-treated mice (n = 22) developed diabetes; in contrast, 80% of the control mice (n = 46) developed diabetes at 1 year of age. The LTbetaR-Ig-treated mice did not contain diabetogenic T-cells. However, the treated mice developed diabetes upon inoculation with diabetogenic T-cells. In this model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes, secondary lymphoid structures, most likely the peripancreatic lymph nodes, were essential for the development of pathologic anti-beta-cell autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo G Levisetti
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Hill JA, Southwood S, Sette A, Jevnikar AM, Bell DA, Cairns E. Cutting edge: the conversion of arginine to citrulline allows for a high-affinity peptide interaction with the rheumatoid arthritis-associated HLA-DRB1*0401 MHC class II molecule. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2003; 171:538-41. [PMID: 12847215 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.2.538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 476] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is genetically associated with MHC class II molecules that contain the shared epitope. These MHC molecules may participate in disease pathogenesis by selectively binding arthritogenic peptides for presentation to autoreactive CD4(+) T cells. The nature of the arthritogenic Ag is not known, but recent work has identified posttranslationally modified proteins containing citrulline (deiminated arginine) as specific targets of the IgG Ab response in RA patients. To understand how citrulline might evoke an autoimmune reaction, we have studied T cell responses to citrulline-containing peptides in HLA-DRB1*0401 transgenic (DR4-IE tg) mice. In this study, we demonstrate that the conversion of arginine to citrulline at the peptide side-chain position interacting with the shared epitope significantly increases peptide-MHC affinity and leads to the activation CD4(+) T cells in DR4-IE tg mice. These results reveal how DRB1 alleles with the shared epitope could initiate an autoimmune response to citrullinated self-Ags in RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Hill
- Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Center, London, Ontario, Canada
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Veeraswamy RK, Cella M, Colonna M, Unanue ER. Dendritic cells process and present antigens across a range of maturation states. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2003; 170:5367-72. [PMID: 12759410 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.170.11.5367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We isolated dendritic cells (DC) from lymphoid organs of mice bearing a transgene for a membrane-bound form of the model protein hen egg white lysozyme (HEL). DC from the spleen had a lower representation of costimulatory molecules and class II MHC molecules than those isolated from lymph nodes and thymi. Splenic DC were capable of further maturation by in vivo treatment of mice with LPS. The immature DC from spleen processed HEL and displayed the chemically dominant epitope as evidenced by FACS analysis. These immature DC also presented this epitope to CD4(+) T cells. Splenic DC from another transgenic mouse (ML-5) containing serum HEL also showed the ability to process and present Ag despite low levels of circulating HEL. In vitro-derived DC from the bone marrow (bone marrow-derived DC) of mHEL mice also displayed immature to mature features and in both cases displayed HEL peptides as well as SDS-stable MHC class II molecules. Immature bone marrow-derived DC also processed exogenous HEL. We conclude that the DC sets normally found in tissue show a scale of maturation features but even the most immature process and present peptides by MHC class II molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi K Veeraswamy
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Abstract
The phenomenon of antigen processing and presentation and the concept that T cells recognize peptides resulting from the partial catabolism of proteins, are relatively new. These concepts were first recognized and developed at a time when lymphocyte immunity - the adaptive system - and cellular immunity, with its major component of activated macrophages, were not perceived as part of one integrated system. To me, it was the fundamental findings on the role of major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules that set the framework for understanding how phagocytes and the antigen presenting cell (APC) system interact with the adaptive cellular system, in a truly symbiotic relationship (1). In this chapter we make a historical review of the developments that, in my biased opinion, led to the understanding of antigen presentation as a central event. I emphasize my own work, placing it in my perspective of how I saw the field moving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil R Unanue
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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