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Lv K, Hu B, Xu M, Wan L, Jin Z, Xu M, Du Y, Ma K, Lv Q, Xu Y, Lei L, Gong H, Liu H, Wu D, Liu Y. IL-39 promotes chronic graft-versus-host disease by increasing T and B Cell pathogenicity. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:34. [PMID: 35655245 PMCID: PMC9161463 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00286-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remains a major complication during the late phase of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). IL-39, a newly described pro-inflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-12 family, plays a role in lupus development. Recently, IL-39 has been identified as a pathogenic factor in acute GVHD (aGVHD). However, the role of IL-39 in the pathogenesis of cGVHD remains unclear. METHODS We constructed a recombinant IL-39 plasmid and established scleroderma and lupus-like cGVHD models. Quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect IL-39 expression in mice and patients post transplantation, respectively. Hydrodynamic gene transfer (HGT) was performed to achieve IL-39 overexpression in vivo. Multiparameter flow cytometry, western blotting, and assays in vitro were performed to investigate the effect of IL-39 on cGVHD. RESULTS The relative expression of IL-23p19 and EBi3 was significantly increased in the intestine of cGVHD mice on day 40 post allo-HSCT, and IL-39 levels were significantly elevated in the serum of patients following allo-HSCT. Overexpression of IL-39 significantly aggravated the severity of cGVHD. Increased IL-39 levels promoted T-cell activation and germinal center responses, and may exacerbate thymic damage. Consistently, blocking IL-39 markedly ameliorated immune dysregulation in the cGVHD mice. Furthermore, we found that IL-39 was produced by B cells, CD11b+ cells, and CD8+T cells after activation. Stimulation of IL-39 led to upregulation of the IL-39 receptor on CD4+T cells and further caused activation of the STAT1/STAT3 pathway, through which IL-39 may exert its pro-inflammatory effects. CONCLUSION Our study reveals a critical role for IL-39 in cGVHD pathogenesis and indicates that IL-39 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for cGVHD prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Lv
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mingzhu Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Li Wan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziqi Jin
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mimi Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Du
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kunpeng Ma
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quansheng Lv
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Yang Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Huanle Gong
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Life Sciences Institute, Immunology Translational Research ProgramYong Loo Lin School of MedicineImmunology ProgramNational University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Depei Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Yuejun Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Successful Regulatory T Cell-Based Therapy Relies on Inhibition of T Cell Effector Function and Enrichment of FOXP3+ Cells in a Humanized Mouse Model of Skin Inflammation. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:7680131. [PMID: 32509883 PMCID: PMC7244960 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7680131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent clinical trials using regulatory T cells (Treg) support the therapeutic potential of Treg-based therapy in transplantation and autoinflammatory diseases. Despite these clinical successes, the effect of Treg on inflamed tissues, as well as their impact on immune effector function in vivo, is poorly understood. Therefore, we here evaluated the effect of human Treg injection on cutaneous inflammatory processes in vivo using a humanized mouse model of human skin inflammation (huPBL-SCID-huSkin). Methods SCID beige mice were transplanted with human skin followed by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 20‐40 × 106 allogeneic human PBMCs. This typically results in human skin inflammation as indicated by epidermal thickening (hyperkeratosis) and changes in dermal inflammatory markers such as the antimicrobial peptide hBD2 and epidermal barrier cytokeratins K10 and K16, as well as T cell infiltration in the dermis. Ex vivo-expanded human Treg were infused intraperitoneally. Human cutaneous inflammation and systemic immune responses were analysed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results We confirmed that human Treg injection inhibits skin inflammation and the influx of effector T cells. As a novel finding, we demonstrate that human Treg injection led to a reduction of IL-17-secreting cells while promoting a relative increase in immunosuppressive FOXP3+ Treg in the human skin, indicating active immune regulation in controlling the local proinflammatory response. Consistent with the local control (skin), systemically (splenocytes), we observed that Treg injection led to lower frequencies of IFNγ and IL-17A-expressing human T cells, while a trend towards enrichment of FOXP3+ Treg was observed. Conclusion Taken together, we demonstrate that inhibition of skin inflammation by Treg infusion, next to a reduction of infiltrating effector T cells, is mediated by restoring both the local and systemic balance between cytokine-producing effector T cells and immunoregulatory T cells. This work furthers our understanding of Treg-based immunotherapy.
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Smyth LA, Ratnasothy K, Tsang JYS, Boardman D, Warley A, Lechler R, Lombardi G. CD73 expression on extracellular vesicles derived from CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells contributes to their regulatory function. Eur J Immunol 2013; 43:2430-40. [PMID: 23749427 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201242909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells maintain immunological tolerance. In this study, the possibility that Treg cells control immune responses via the production of secreted membrane vesicles, such as exosomes, was investigated. Exosomes are released by many cell types, including T cells, and have regulatory functions. Indeed, TCR activation of both freshly isolated Treg cells and an antigen-specific Treg-cell line resulted in the production of exosomes as defined morphologically by EM and by the presence of tetraspanin molecules LAMP-1/CD63 and CD81. Expression of the ecto-5-nucleotide enzyme CD73 by Treg cells has been shown to contribute to their suppressive function by converting extracellular adenosine-5-monophosphate to adenosine, which, following interaction with adenosine receptors expressed on target cells, leads to immune modulation. CD73 was evident on Treg cell derived exosomes, accordingly when these exosomes were incubated in the presence of adenosine-5-monophosphate production of adenosine was observed. Most importantly, CD73 present on Treg cell derived exosomes was essential for their suppressive function hitherto exosomes derived from a CD73-negative CD4(+) T-cell line did not have such capabilities. Overall our findings demonstrate that CD73-expressing exosomes produced by Treg cells following activation contribute to their suppressive activity through the production of adenosine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley Ann Smyth
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
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Martin GH, Grégoire S, Landau DA, Pilon C, Grinberg-Bleyer Y, Charlotte F, Mège JP, Chatenoud L, Salomon BL, Cohen JL. In vivo activation of transferred regulatory T cells specific for third-party exogenous antigen controls GVH disease in mice. Eur J Immunol 2013; 43:2263-72. [PMID: 23765389 PMCID: PMC4738555 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201343449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Treg cells hold enormous promise for therapeutic application in GVH disease, a lethal complication of allogeneic HSC transplantation. Mouse studies showed that donor‐derived recipient‐specific Treg (rsTreg) cells are far more efficient than polyclonal Treg cells in suppressing GVH disease. However, clinical grade preparations of rsTreg cells carries the risk of containing significant numbers of highly pathogenic recipient‐specific effector T cells. We hypothesized that an alternative approach using Treg cells specific for an exogenous (i.e. nondonor, nonrecipient) Ag (exoTreg cells) can overcome this risk by taking advantage of the bystander suppressive effect of Treg cells. For this, we used a murine model for aggressive GVH disease. We expanded ex vivo exoTreg cells that are primed against the HY Ag, which is only expressed in males. ExoTreg cells supressed GVH disease as efficiently as rsTreg cells in recipient male mice. We also applied this strategy in female mice that do not express this Ag. While exoTreg cells were not effective in female recipients when applied alone, providing the cognate HY Ag in vivo along side effectively activated exoTreg cells and completely abrogated GVH disease, establishing a targeted on/off system to provide a suppressive effect on alloreactive effector T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle H Martin
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR7211, INSERM U959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France
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