1
|
Hu Y, Zhang Y, Shi F, Yang R, Yan J, Han T, Guan L. Reversal of T-cell exhaustion: Mechanisms and synergistic approaches. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112571. [PMID: 38941674 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112571] [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: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
T cells suffer from long-term antigen stimulation and insufficient energy supply, leading to a decline in their effector functions, memory capabilities, and proliferative capacity, ultimately resulting in T cell exhaustion and an inability to perform normal immune functions in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, exploring how to restore these exhausted T cells to a state with effector functions is of great significance. Exhausted T cells exhibit a spectrum of molecular alterations, such as heightened expression of inhibitory receptors, shifts in transcription factor profiles, and modifications across epigenetic, metabolic, and transcriptional landscapes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various strategies to reverse T cell exhaustion, including immune checkpoint blockade, and explores the potential synergistic effects of combining multiple approaches to reverse T cell exhaustion. It offers new insights and methods for achieving more durable and effective reversal of T cell exhaustion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Fenfen Shi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ruihan Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jiayu Yan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Tao Han
- Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
| | - Liping Guan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mowery CT, Freimer JW, Chen Z, Casaní-Galdón S, Umhoefer JM, Arce MM, Gjoni K, Daniel B, Sandor K, Gowen BG, Nguyen V, Simeonov DR, Garrido CM, Curie GL, Schmidt R, Steinhart Z, Satpathy AT, Pollard KS, Corn JE, Bernstein BE, Ye CJ, Marson A. Systematic decoding of cis gene regulation defines context-dependent control of the multi-gene costimulatory receptor locus in human T cells. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1156-1167. [PMID: 38811842 PMCID: PMC11176074 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01743-5] [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] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) interact with trans regulators to orchestrate gene expression, but how transcriptional regulation is coordinated in multi-gene loci has not been experimentally defined. We sought to characterize the CREs controlling dynamic expression of the adjacent costimulatory genes CD28, CTLA4 and ICOS, encoding regulators of T cell-mediated immunity. Tiling CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens in primary human T cells, both conventional and regulatory subsets, uncovered gene-, cell subset- and stimulation-specific CREs. Integration with CRISPR knockout screens and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) profiling identified trans regulators influencing chromatin states at specific CRISPRi-responsive elements to control costimulatory gene expression. We then discovered a critical CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) boundary that reinforces CRE interaction with CTLA4 while also preventing promiscuous activation of CD28. By systematically mapping CREs and associated trans regulators directly in primary human T cell subsets, this work overcomes longstanding experimental limitations to decode context-dependent gene regulatory programs in a complex, multi-gene locus critical to immune homeostasis.
Collapse
Grants
- P30 DK063720 NIDDK NIH HHS
- R01 HG008140 NHGRI NIH HHS
- T32 GM007618 NIGMS NIH HHS
- S10 OD028511 NIH HHS
- F99 CA234842 NCI NIH HHS
- S10 OD021822 NIH HHS
- K00 CA234842 NCI NIH HHS
- P01 AI138962 NIAID NIH HHS
- U01 HL157989 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01 DK129364 NIDDK NIH HHS
- T32 DK007418 NIDDK NIH HHS
- R01 AI136972 NIAID NIH HHS
- F30 AI157167 NIAID NIH HHS
- R01 HG011239 NHGRI NIH HHS
- NIH grants 1R01DK129364-01A1, P01AI138962, and R01HG008140; the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation (grant no. 2020-D-002-NET); and Northern California JDRF Center of Excellence. A.M. is a member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), and has received funding from the Arc Institute, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old STAR award, a gift from the Jordan Family, a gift from the Byers family and a gift from B. Bakar.
- UCSF ImmunoX Computational Immunology Fellow, is supported by NIH grant F30AI157167, and has received support from NIH grants T32DK007418 and T32GM007618
- NIH grant R01HG008140
- Career Award for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a Lloyd J. Old STAR Award from the Cancer Research Institute, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
- NIH grant U01HL157989
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cody T Mowery
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacob W Freimer
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Salvador Casaní-Galdón
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Umhoefer
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maya M Arce
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ketrin Gjoni
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bence Daniel
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next Generation Sequencing, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katalin Sandor
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin G Gowen
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF CoLabs, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dimitre R Simeonov
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christian M Garrido
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gemma L Curie
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ralf Schmidt
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zachary Steinhart
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ansuman T Satpathy
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub SF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacob E Corn
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Bradley E Bernstein
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chun Jimmie Ye
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub SF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Rosalind Russell/Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alexander Marson
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yuan W, Zhang H, Peng L, Chen C, Feng C, Tang Z, Cui P, Li Y, Li T, Qiu X, Cui Y, Zeng Y, Luo J, Xie X, Guo Y, Jiang X, Dai H. Inhibition of interferon regulatory factor 4 orchestrates T cell dysfunction, extending mouse cardiac allograft survival. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024:00029330-990000000-01090. [PMID: 38811343 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cell dysfunction, which includes exhaustion, anergy, and senescence, is a distinct T cell differentiation state that occurs after antigen exposure. Although T cell dysfunction has been a cornerstone of cancer immunotherapy, its potential in transplant research, while not yet as extensively explored, is attracting growing interest. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) has been shown to play a pivotal role in inducing T cell dysfunction. METHODS A novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin, targeting IRF4 inhibition, was employed to investigate T cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine secretion, expression of T-cell dysfunction-associated molecules, effects of MAPK and mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, and allograft survival in both in vitro and BALB/c to C57BL/6 mouse cardiac transplantation models. RESULTS In vitro, blockade of IRF4 in T cells effectively inhibited T cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and significantly upregulated the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), Helios, CD160, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA-4), markers of T cell dysfunction. Furthermore, it suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17. Combining ultra-low-dose Trametinib (0.1 mg·kg-1·day-1) and Rapamycin (0.1 mg·kg-1·day-1) demonstrably extended graft survival, with 4 out of 5 mice exceeding 100 days post-transplantation. Moreover, analysis of grafts at day 7 confirmed sustained IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) inhibition, enhanced PD-1 expression, and suppressed IFN-γ secretion, reinforcing the in vivo efficacy of this IRF4-targeting approach. The combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically inhibited the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to a more pronounced suppression of IRF4 expression. CONCLUSIONS Targeting IRF4, a key regulator of T cell dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for inducing transplant immune tolerance. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically suppresses the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to profound IRF4 inhibition, promoting allograft acceptance, and offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for improved transplant outcomes. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying pharmacological mechanisms and facilitate translation to clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Yuan
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Hedong Zhang
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Longkai Peng
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Chen Feng
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Zhouqi Tang
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Pengcheng Cui
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Yaguang Li
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Tengfang Li
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xia Qiu
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Yan Cui
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Yinqi Zeng
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Jiadi Luo
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xubiao Xie
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (Zhengzhou People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China
| | - Helong Dai
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang P, Yang X, Zhang L, Sha S, Huang J, Peng J, Gu J, Pearson JA, Hu Y, Zhao H, Wong FS, Wang Q, Wen L. Tlr9 deficiency in B cells leads to obesity by promoting inflammation and gut dysbiosis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4232. [PMID: 38762479 PMCID: PMC11102548 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48611-8] [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] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) recognizes bacterial, viral and self DNA and play an important role in immunity and inflammation. However, the role of TLR9 in obesity is less well-studied. Here, we generate B-cell-specific Tlr9-deficient (Tlr9fl/fl/Cd19Cre+/-, KO) B6 mice and model obesity using a high-fat diet. Compared with control mice, B-cell-specific-Tlr9-deficient mice exhibited increased fat tissue inflammation, weight gain, and impaired glucose and insulin tolerance. Furthermore, the frequencies of IL-10-producing-B cells and marginal zone B cells were reduced, and those of follicular and germinal center B cells were increased. This was associated with increased frequencies of IFNγ-producing-T cells and increased follicular helper cells. In addition, gut microbiota from the KO mice induced a pro-inflammatory state leading to immunological and metabolic dysregulation when transferred to germ-free mice. Using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, we identify altered gut microbial communities including reduced Lachnospiraceae, which may play a role in altered metabolism in KO mice. We identify an important network involving Tlr9, Irf4 and Il-10 interconnecting metabolic homeostasis, with the function of B and T cells, and gut microbiota in obesity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pai Wang
- Department of Gastrocolorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Xin Yang
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Luyao Zhang
- Department of Gastrocolorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sha Sha
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jian Peng
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jianlei Gu
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - James Alexander Pearson
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine and Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Youjia Hu
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - F Susan Wong
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine and Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Quan Wang
- Department of Gastrocolorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Li Wen
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xu J, Li J, Wang X, An Y, Liu W, Luo R, Sun C. IRF4 Knockdown Inhibits the Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps Development by Regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD-Mediated Pyroptosis. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10792-8. [PMID: 38635014 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10792-8] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) is a CRS phenotype. However, the mechanisms of CRSsNP remains unclear. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the GSE36830 and GSE198950 datasets through the GEO2R tool. The six hub genes were screened by the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and Cytoscape software. Then we constructed the mouse models of CRS and verified the expression levels of hub genes by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to observe pathological alterations in mouse tissues. Casepase-3 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The levels of TNF-α, IL-12, IL-6, IL-1β, LDH, and IL-18 were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pyroptosis-related protein expressions were measured by western blotting. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry were performed to assess the proliferation and apoptosis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NP69 cells. Six hub DEGs were identified. The expression levels of IRF4, IKZF1, and CD79A were obviously increased in CRSsNP, while those of ADH6, ADH1A, and LDHC were significantly decreased. IRF4 knockdown attenuated the pathologic features of CRSsNP. IRF4 knockdown reduced levels of the TNF-α, IL-12, IL-6 IL-1β, LDH, and IL-18 as well as the proteins expression of Casepase-1, GSDMD, and NLRP3 both in vivo and in vitro, implying that inflammation and pyroptosis were inhibited. IRF4 knockdown hinders the development of CRSsNP by inhibiting the inflammatory response and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, which offers novel promising treatment strategies for clinical intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, No. 9, Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
| | - Jiahui Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, No. 9, Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, No. 9, Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Yunsong An
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wenlong Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, No. 9, Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Renzhong Luo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, No. 9, Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Changzhi Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, No. 9, Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lyons-Cohen MR, Shamskhou EA, Gerner MY. Site-specific regulation of Th2 differentiation within lymph node microenvironments. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20231282. [PMID: 38442268 PMCID: PMC10912907 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
T helper 2 (Th2) responses protect against pathogens while also driving allergic inflammation, yet how large-scale Th2 responses are generated in tissue context remains unclear. Here, we used quantitative imaging to investigate early Th2 differentiation within lymph nodes (LNs) following cutaneous allergen administration. Contrary to current models, we observed extensive activation and "macro-clustering" of early Th2 cells with migratory type-2 dendritic cells (cDC2s), generating specialized Th2-promoting microenvironments. Macro-clustering was integrin-mediated and promoted localized cytokine exchange among T cells to reinforce differentiation, which contrasted the behavior during Th1 responses. Unexpectedly, formation of Th2 macro-clusters was dependent on the site of skin sensitization. Differences between sites were driven by divergent activation states of migratory cDC2 from different dermal tissues, with enhanced costimulatory molecule expression by cDC2 in Th2-generating LNs promoting prolonged T cell activation, macro-clustering, and cytokine sensing. Thus, the generation of dedicated Th2 priming microenvironments through enhanced costimulatory molecule signaling initiates Th2 responses in vivo and occurs in a skin site-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miranda R. Lyons-Cohen
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elya A. Shamskhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael Y. Gerner
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang J, Wu Z, Huang Y, Jin L, Xu J, Yao Z, Ouyang X, Zhou Z, Mao S, Cao J, Lai B, Shen W. IRF4 induces M1 macrophage polarization and aggravates ulcerative colitis progression by the Bcl6-dependent STAT3 pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:2390-2404. [PMID: 38164749 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammation. An increasing body of evidence shows that macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is crucial for the development of autoimmune diseases via regulating immune cells. This research was designed to explore the function of IRF4 in UC and its association with macrophage polarization. The in vitro model of UC was established by stimulating colonic epithelial cells with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). A mouse model of UC was constructed by injecting C57BL/6 mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt. Flow cytometry was used to assess percentage of CD11b+ CD86+ and CD11b+ CD206+ cells in bone marrow macrophages. Occult blood tests were used to detect hematochezia. Hematoxylin and eosin staining assay was used to assess colon pathological changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. The interaction of IRF4 and B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) was confirmed using GST pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays. Our findings revealed that IRF4 promoted cell apoptosis and stimulated M1 macrophage polarization in vitro. Furthermore, IRF4 aggravated symptoms of the mouse model of UC and aggravated M1 macrophage polarization in vivo. IRF4 negatively regulated Bcl6 expression. Downregulation of Bcl6 promoted apoptosis and M1 macrophage polarization in the presence of IRF4 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Bcl6 positively mediated the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. In conclusion, IRF4 aggravated UC progression through promoting M1 macrophage polarization via Bcl6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. These findings suggested that IRF4 might be a good target to competitively inhibit or to treat with UC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiwei Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhao Wu
- Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yulin Huang
- Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lin Jin
- Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jinyi Xu
- Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiyi Yao
- Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xi Ouyang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shengxun Mao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jiaqing Cao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bin Lai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Neuhaus F, Lieber S, Shinkevich V, Steitz AM, Raifer H, Roth K, Finkernagel F, Worzfeld T, Burchert A, Keber C, Nist A, Stiewe T, Reinartz S, Beutgen VM, Graumann J, Pauck K, Garn H, Gaida M, Müller R, Huber M. Reciprocal crosstalk between Th17 and mesothelial cells promotes metastasis-associated adhesion of ovarian cancer cells. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1604. [PMID: 38566518 PMCID: PMC10988119 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1604] [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] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND IL-17A and TNF synergistically promote inflammation and tumorigenesis. Their interplay and impact on ovarian carcinoma (OC) progression are, however, poorly understood. We addressed this question focusing on mesothelial cells, whose interaction with tumor cells is known to play a pivotal role in transcoelomic metastasis formation. METHODS Flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry experiments were employed to identify cellular sources of IL-17A and TNF. Changes in transcriptomes and secretomes were determined by bulk and single cell RNA sequencing as well as affinity proteomics. Functional consequences were investigated by microscopic analyses and tumor cell adhesion assays. Potential clinical implications were assessed by immunohistochemistry and survival analyses. RESULTS We identified Th17 cells as the main population of IL-17A- and TNF producers in ascites and detected their accumulation in early omental metastases. Both IL-17A and its receptor subunit IL-17RC were associated with short survival of OC patients, pointing to a role in clinical progression. IL-17A and TNF synergistically induced the reprogramming of mesothelial cells towards a pro-inflammatory mesenchymal phenotype, concomitantly with a loss of tight junctions and an impairment of mesothelial monolayer integrity, thereby promoting cancer cell adhesion. IL-17A and TNF synergistically induced the Th17-promoting cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β as well as the Th17-attracting chemokine CCL20 in mesothelial cells, indicating a reciprocal crosstalk that potentiates the tumor-promoting role of Th17 cells in OC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a novel function for Th17 cells in the OC microenvironment, which entails the IL-17A/TNF-mediated induction of mesothelial-mesenchymal transition, disruption of mesothelial layer integrity and consequently promotion of OC cell adhesion. These effects are potentiated by a positive feedback loop between mesothelial and Th17 cells. Together with the observed clinical associations and accumulation of Th17 cells in omental micrometastases, our observations point to a potential role in early metastases formation and thus to new therapeutic options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Neuhaus
- Institute of Systems ImmunologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
- Department of Translational OncologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Sonja Lieber
- Institute of Systems ImmunologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | | | - Anna Mary Steitz
- Department of Translational OncologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Hartmann Raifer
- Institute of Systems ImmunologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
- FACS Core FacilityCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Kathrin Roth
- Cell Imaging Core Facility, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Florian Finkernagel
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Thomas Worzfeld
- Institute of PharmacologyPhilipps UniversityMarburgGermany
- Department of PharmacologyMax Planck Institute for Heart and Lung ResearchBad NauheimGermany
| | - Andreas Burchert
- Department of HematologyOncology and ImmunologyUniversity Hospital Giessen and MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Corinna Keber
- Comprehensive Biomaterial Bank Marburg (CBBMR) and Institute of PathologyPhilipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Andrea Nist
- Genomics Core FacilityInstitute of Molecular OncologyMember of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Genomics Core FacilityInstitute of Molecular OncologyMember of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Silke Reinartz
- Department of Translational OncologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Vanessa M. Beutgen
- Institute of Translational Proteomics and Translational Proteomics Core FacilityBiochemical Pharmacological CentrePhilipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Johannes Graumann
- Institute of Translational Proteomics and Translational Proteomics Core FacilityBiochemical Pharmacological CentrePhilipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Kim Pauck
- Translational Inflammation Research Division and Core Facility for Single Cell MultiomicsPhilipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Holger Garn
- Translational Inflammation Research Division and Core Facility for Single Cell MultiomicsPhilipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Matthias Gaida
- Institute of PathologyUniversity Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg UniversityMainzGermany
- TRON, Translational Oncology at the University Medical CenterJohannes Gutenberg UniversityMainzGermany
- Research Center for ImmunotherapyUniversity Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg UniversityMainzGermany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Translational OncologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| | - Magdalena Huber
- Institute of Systems ImmunologyCenter for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI)Philipps UniversityMarburgGermany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Huang L, Huang J, Tang N, Xue H, Lin S, Liu S, Chen Q, Lu Y, Liang Q, Wang Y, Zhu Q, Zheng G, Chen Y, Zhu C, Chen C. Insufficient phosphorylation of STAT5 in Tregs inhibits the expression of BLIMP-1 but not IRF4, reduction the proportion of Tregs in pediatric aplastic anemia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26731. [PMID: 38486772 PMCID: PMC10938128 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26731] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Deficiency in regulatory T cells (Tregs) is an important mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of pediatric aplastic anemia, but its specific mechanism is unclear. In our study, we aimed to investigate whether IL-2/STAT5 can regulate the proliferation of Tregs in aplastic anemia (AA) by regulating their expression of B lymphocyte-induced mature protein-1 (BLIMP-1) or interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4). Through clinical research and animal experiments, we found that poor activation of the IL-2/STAT5 signaling pathway may leads to low expression of BLIMP-1 in Tregs of children with AA, which leads to defects in the differentiation and proliferation of Tregs in AA. In AA model mice, treatment with IL-2c reversed the decrease in Treg proportions and reduction in Blimp-1 expression in Tregs by increasing the phosphorylation of Stat5 in Tregs. In AA, deficiency of IRF4 expression in Tregs is closely related to the deficiency of Tregs, but is not regulated by the IL-2/STAT5 pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lifen Huang
- Pediattic Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- Pediattic Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Nannan Tang
- Pediattic Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongman Xue
- Pediattic Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaofen Lin
- Department of Pediatric Hematopathy, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510000, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Su Liu
- Pediattic Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qihui Chen
- Department of Pediatric Hematopathy, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510000, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yinsi Lu
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Liang
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingqing Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Guoxing Zheng
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chengming Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chun Chen
- Pediattic Hematology Laboratory, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affifiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Frueh JT, Campe J, Sunaga-Franze DY, Verheyden NA, Ghimire S, Meedt E, Haslinger D, Harenkamp S, Staudenraus D, Sauer S, Kreft A, Schubert R, Lohoff M, Krueger A, Bonig H, Chiocchetti AG, Zeiser R, Holler E, Ullrich E. Interferon regulatory factor 4 plays a pivotal role in the development of aGVHD-associated colitis. Oncoimmunology 2023; 13:2296712. [PMID: 38170159 PMCID: PMC10761041 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2296712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a master transcription factor that regulates T helper cell (Th) differentiation. It interacts with the Basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF-like (BATF), depletion of which in CD4+ T cells abrogates acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD)-induced colitis. Here, we investigated the immune-regulatory role of Irf4 in a mouse model of MHC-mismatched bone marrow transplantation. We found that recipients of allogenic Irf4-/- CD4+ T cells developed less GVHD-related symptoms. Transcriptome analysis of re-isolated donor Irf4-/- CD4+ T helper (Th) cells, revealed gene expression profiles consistent with loss of effector T helper cell signatures and enrichment of a regulatory T cell (Treg) gene expression signature. In line with these findings, we observed a high expression of the transcription factor BTB and CNC homolog 2; (BACH2) in Irf4-/- T cells, which is associated with the formation of Treg cells and suppression of Th subset differentiation. We also found an association between BACH2 expression and Treg differentiation in patients with intestinal GVHD. Finally, our results indicate that IRF4 and BACH2 act as counterparts in Th cell polarization and immune homeostasis during GVHD. In conclusion, targeting the BACH2/IRF4-axis could help to develop novel therapeutic approaches against GVHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jochen T. Frueh
- Department of Pediatrics, Experimental Immunology and Cell Therapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Julia Campe
- Department of Pediatrics, Experimental Immunology and Cell Therapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Daniele Yumi Sunaga-Franze
- Genomics Platform, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nikita A. Verheyden
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Molecular Immunology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sakhila Ghimire
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Medical Clinic 3, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Meedt
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Medical Clinic 3, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Denise Haslinger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sabine Harenkamp
- German Red Cross Blood Service BaWüHe, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Sascha Sauer
- Genomics Platform, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Kreft
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ralf Schubert
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Division of Pneumology, Allergology, Infectious diseaes und Gastroenterology. Frankfurt am Main, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael Lohoff
- Institute for Microbiology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Molecular Immunology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Halvard Bonig
- German Red Cross Blood Service BaWüHe, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas G. Chiocchetti
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Robert Zeiser
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ernst Holler
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Medical Clinic 3, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Department of Pediatrics, Experimental Immunology and Cell Therapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, a partnership between DKFZ, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- University Cancer Center (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Singh P, Bajpai P, Maheshwari D, Chawla YM, Saini K, Reddy ES, Gottimukkala K, Nayak K, Gunisetty S, Aggarwal C, Jain S, Verma C, Singla P, Soneja M, Wig N, Murali-Krishna K, Chandele A. Functional and transcriptional heterogeneity within the massively expanding HLADR +CD38 + CD8 T cell population in acute febrile dengue patients. J Virol 2023; 97:e0074623. [PMID: 37855600 PMCID: PMC10688317 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00746-23] [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] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE CD8 T cells play a crucial role in protecting against intracellular pathogens such as viruses by eliminating infected cells and releasing anti-viral cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFNγ). Consequently, there is significant interest in comprehensively characterizing CD8 T cell responses in acute dengue febrile patients. Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that a discrete population of CD8 T cells with HLADR+ CD38+ phenotype undergoes massive expansion during the acute febrile phase of natural dengue virus infection. Although about a third of these massively expanding HLADR+ CD38+ CD8 T cells were also CD69high when examined ex vivo, only a small fraction of them produced IFNγ upon in vitro peptide stimulation. Therefore, to better understand such functional diversity of CD8 T cells responding to dengue virus infection, it is important to know the cytokines/chemokines expressed by these peptide-stimulated HLADR+CD38+ CD8 T cells and the transcriptional profiles that distinguish the CD69+IFNγ+, CD69+IFNγ-, and CD69-IFNγ- subsets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prabhat Singh
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Prashant Bajpai
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepti Maheshwari
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Yadya M. Chawla
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Keshav Saini
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Elluri Seetharami Reddy
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Kamalvishnu Gottimukkala
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Kaustuv Nayak
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sivaram Gunisetty
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Charu Aggarwal
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Shweta Jain
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Chaitanya Verma
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Paras Singla
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Manish Soneja
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Naveet Wig
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Kaja Murali-Krishna
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anmol Chandele
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yan H, Dai Y, Zhang X, Zhang H, Xiao X, Fu J, Zou D, Yu A, Jiang T, Li XC, Zhao Z, Chen W. The transcription factor IRF4 determines the anti-tumor immunity of CD8 + T cells. iScience 2023; 26:108087. [PMID: 37860697 PMCID: PMC10583049 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that regulate T cell infiltration and functional states in solid tumors is crucial for advancing cancer immunotherapies. Here, we discovered that the expression of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) was a critical T cell intrinsic requirement for effective anti-tumor immunity. Mice with T-cell-specific ablation of IRF4 showed significantly reduced T cell tumor infiltration and function, resulting in accelerated growth of subcutaneous syngeneic tumors and allowing the growth of allogeneic tumors. Additionally, engineered overexpression of IRF4 in anti-tumor CD8+ T cells that were adoptively transferred significantly promoted their tumor infiltration and transition from a naive/memory-like cell state into effector T cell states. As a result, IRF4-engineered anti-tumor T cells exhibited significantly improved anti-tumor efficacy, and inhibited tumor growth either alone or in combination with PD-L1 blockade. These findings identify IRF4 as a crucial cell-intrinsic driver of T cell infiltration and function in tumors, emphasizing the potential of IRF4-engineering as an immunotherapeutic approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yan
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine Oncology, The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Yulin Dai
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiaolong Zhang
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hedong Zhang
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiang Xiao
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jinfei Fu
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dawei Zou
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anze Yu
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tao Jiang
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xian C. Li
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wenhao Chen
- Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute & Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Schleussner N, Cauchy P, Franke V, Giefing M, Fornes O, Vankadari N, Assi SA, Costanza M, Weniger MA, Akalin A, Anagnostopoulos I, Bukur T, Casarotto MG, Damm F, Daumke O, Edginton-White B, Gebhardt JCM, Grau M, Grunwald S, Hansmann ML, Hartmann S, Huber L, Kärgel E, Lusatis S, Noerenberg D, Obier N, Pannicke U, Fischer A, Reisser A, Rosenwald A, Schwarz K, Sundararaj S, Weilemann A, Winkler W, Xu W, Lenz G, Rajewsky K, Wasserman WW, Cockerill PN, Scheidereit C, Siebert R, Küppers R, Grosschedl R, Janz M, Bonifer C, Mathas S. Transcriptional reprogramming by mutated IRF4 in lymphoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6947. [PMID: 37935654 PMCID: PMC10630337 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41954-8] [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] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) can affect TF interactions with their cognate DNA-binding motifs. Whether and how TF mutations impact upon the binding to TF composite elements (CE) and the interaction with other TFs is unclear. Here, we report a distinct mechanism of TF alteration in human lymphomas with perturbed B cell identity, in particular classic Hodgkin lymphoma. It is caused by a recurrent somatic missense mutation c.295 T > C (p.Cys99Arg; p.C99R) targeting the center of the DNA-binding domain of Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4), a key TF in immune cells. IRF4-C99R fundamentally alters IRF4 DNA-binding, with loss-of-binding to canonical IRF motifs and neomorphic gain-of-binding to canonical and non-canonical IRF CEs. IRF4-C99R thoroughly modifies IRF4 function by blocking IRF4-dependent plasma cell induction, and up-regulates disease-specific genes in a non-canonical Activator Protein-1 (AP-1)-IRF-CE (AICE)-dependent manner. Our data explain how a single mutation causes a complex switch of TF specificity and gene regulation and open the perspective to specifically block the neomorphic DNA-binding activities of a mutant TF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai Schleussner
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- University Medical Center Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vedran Franke
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maciej Giefing
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, 60-479, Poland
- Institute of Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Oriol Fornes
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Naveen Vankadari
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Salam A Assi
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Mariantonia Costanza
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc A Weniger
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Altuna Akalin
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ioannis Anagnostopoulos
- Institute of Pathology, Universität Würzburg and Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken (CCCMF), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Bukur
- TRON gGmbH - Translationale Onkologie an der Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marco G Casarotto
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Frederik Damm
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Daumke
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Structural Biology, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Edginton-White
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Michael Grau
- Department of Physics, University of Marburg, 35052, Marburg, Germany
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephan Grunwald
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Structural Biology, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin-Leo Hansmann
- Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sylvia Hartmann
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lionel Huber
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Kärgel
- Signal Transduction in Tumor Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Lusatis
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Noerenberg
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Obier
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ulrich Pannicke
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja Fischer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja Reisser
- Department of Physics, Institute of Biophysics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andreas Rosenwald
- Institute of Pathology, Universität Würzburg and Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken (CCCMF), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Schwarz
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Srinivasan Sundararaj
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Andre Weilemann
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Wiebke Winkler
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wendan Xu
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Georg Lenz
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Klaus Rajewsky
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Immune Regulation and Cancer, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wyeth W Wasserman
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Peter N Cockerill
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Claus Scheidereit
- Signal Transduction in Tumor Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ralf Küppers
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Grosschedl
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Janz
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Constanze Bonifer
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Stephan Mathas
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany.
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Santosa EK, Kim H, Rückert T, Le Luduec JB, Abbasi AJ, Wingert CK, Peters L, Frost JN, Hsu KC, Romagnani C, Sun JC. Control of nutrient uptake by IRF4 orchestrates innate immune memory. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:1685-1697. [PMID: 37697097 PMCID: PMC11098052 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01620-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytotoxic lymphocytes with adaptive immune features, including antigen specificity, clonal expansion and memory. As such, NK cells share many transcriptional and epigenetic programs with their adaptive CD8+ T cell siblings. Various signals ranging from antigen, co-stimulation and proinflammatory cytokines are required for optimal NK cell responses in mice and humans during virus infection; however, the integration of these signals remains unclear. In this study, we identified that the transcription factor IRF4 integrates signals to coordinate the NK cell response during mouse cytomegalovirus infection. Loss of IRF4 was detrimental to the expansion and differentiation of virus-specific NK cells. This defect was partially attributed to the inability of IRF4-deficient NK cells to uptake nutrients required for survival and memory generation. Altogether, these data suggest that IRF4 is a signal integrator that acts as a secondary metabolic checkpoint to orchestrate the adaptive response of NK cells during viral infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Endi K Santosa
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyunu Kim
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timo Rückert
- Innate Immunity, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin (DRFZ), ein Leibniz Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Aamna J Abbasi
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Claire K Wingert
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lila Peters
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joe N Frost
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katharine C Hsu
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chiara Romagnani
- Innate Immunity, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin (DRFZ), ein Leibniz Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz-Science Campus Chronic Inflammation, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joseph C Sun
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ildefonso GV, Finley SD. A data-driven Boolean model explains memory subsets and evolution in CD8+ T cell exhaustion. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2023; 9:36. [PMID: 37524735 PMCID: PMC10390540 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-023-00297-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells play a key role in a variety of immune responses, including infection and cancer. Upon stimulation, naïve CD8+ T cells proliferate and differentiate into a variety of memory and effector cell types; however, failure to clear antigens causes prolonged stimulation of CD8+ T cells, ultimately leading to T cell exhaustion (TCE). The functional and phenotypic changes that occur during CD8+ T cell differentiation are well characterized, but the underlying gene expression state changes are not completely understood. Here, we utilize a previously published data-driven Boolean model of gene regulatory interactions shown to mediate TCE. Our network analysis and modeling reveal the final gene expression states that correspond to TCE, along with the sequence of gene expression patterns that give rise to those final states. With a model that predicts the changes in gene expression that lead to TCE, we could evaluate strategies to inhibit the exhausted state. Overall, we demonstrate that a common pathway model of CD8+ T cell gene regulatory interactions can provide insights into the transcriptional changes underlying the evolution of cell states in TCE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geena V Ildefonso
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Stacey D Finley
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Cao J, Liao S, Zeng F, Liao Q, Luo G, Zhou Y. Effects of altered glycolysis levels on CD8 + T cell activation and function. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:407. [PMID: 37422501 PMCID: PMC10329707 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05937-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are an important component of the body's adaptive immune response. During viral or intracellular bacterial infections, CD8+ T cells are rapidly activated and differentiated to exert their immune function by producing cytokines. Alterations in the glycolysis of CD8+ T cells have an important effect on their activation and function, while glycolysis is important for CD8+ T cell functional failure and recovery. This paper summarizes the importance of CD8+ T cell glycolysis in the immune system. We discuss the link between glycolysis and CD8+ T cell activation, differentiation, and proliferation, and the effect of altered glycolysis on CD8+ T cell function. In addition, potential molecular targets to enhance and restore the immune function of CD8+ T cells by affecting glycolysis and the link between glycolysis and CD8+ T cell senescence are summarized. This review provides new insights into the relationship between glycolysis and CD8+ T cell function, and proposes novel strategies for immunotherapy by targeting glycolysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Cao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Shan Liao
- Department of Pathology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Feng Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Qianjin Liao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Gengqiu Luo
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
| | - Yanhong Zhou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lyons-Cohen MR, Shamskhou EA, Gerner MY. Prolonged T cell - DC macro-clustering within lymph node microenvironments initiates Th2 cell differentiation in a site-specific manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.07.547554. [PMID: 37461439 PMCID: PMC10350056 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.07.547554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Formation of T helper 2 (Th2) responses has been attributed to low-grade T cell stimulation, yet how large-scale polyclonal Th2 responses are generated in vivo remains unclear. Here, we used quantitative imaging to investigate early Th2 differentiation within lymph nodes (LNs) following cutaneous allergen administration. Contrary to current models, Th2 differentiation was associated with enhanced T cell activation and extensive integrin-dependent 'macro-clustering' at the T-B border, which also contrasted clustering behavior seen during Th1 differentiation. Unexpectedly, formation of Th2 macro-clusters within LNs was highly dependent on the site of skin sensitization. Differences between sites were driven by divergent activation states of migratory cDC2 from different dermal tissues, with enhanced costimulatory molecule expression by cDC2 in Th2-generating LNs promoting T cell macro-clustering and cytokine sensing. Thus, generation of dedicated priming micro-environments through enhanced costimulatory molecule signaling initiates the generation of Th2 responses in vivo and occurs in a skin site-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elya A. Shamskhou
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael Y. Gerner
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Schmidt C, Harberts A, Reimers D, Bertram T, Voß LC, Schmid J, Lory NC, Spohn M, Koch-Nolte F, Huber S, Raczkowski F, Breloer M, Mittrücker HW. IRF4 is required for migration of CD4 + T cells to the intestine but not for Th2 and Th17 cell maintenance. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1182502. [PMID: 37469513 PMCID: PMC10352983 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1182502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) is central in control of T cell activation and differentiation. Deficiency of IRF4 results in severe immune deficiency and affects maturation and function of most if not all T cell subsets. Here we use mouse infection models for Citrobacter rodentium and Strongyloides ratti to analyze the function of IRF4 in T helper (Th) 17 and Th2 cell responses, respectively. IRF4 deficient mice were impaired in the control of both pathogens, failed to mount Th17 and Th2 cell responses and showed impaired recruitment of T helper cells to the intestine, the infection site of both pathogens. Compromised intestinal migration was associated with reduced expression of the intestinal homing receptors α4β7 integrin, CCR9 and GPR15. Identification of IRF4 binding sites in the gene loci of these receptors suggests a direct control of their expression by IRF4. Competitive T cell transfer assays further demonstrated that loss of one functional Irf4 allele already affected intestinal accumulation and Th2 and Th17 cell generation, indicating that lower IRF4 levels are of disadvantage for Th2 and Th17 cell differentiation as well as their migration to the intestine. Conversion of peripheral CD4+ T cells from an Irf4 wildtype to an Irf4 heterozygous or from an Irf4 heterozygous to a homozygous mutant genotype after C. rodentium or S. ratti infection did not reduce their capacity to produce Th17 or Th2 cytokines and only partially affected their persistence in the intestine, revealing that IRF4 is not essential for maintenance of the Th2 and Th17 phenotype and for survival of these T helper cells in the intestine. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the expression levels of IRF4 determine Th2 and Th17 cell differentiation and their intestinal accumulation but that IRF4 expression is not crucial for Th2 and Th17 cell survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Schmidt
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aenne Harberts
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Reimers
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tabea Bertram
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Leonie Caroline Voß
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joanna Schmid
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Niels Christian Lory
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Spohn
- Clinic of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Bioinformatics Core Unit, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Huber
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friederike Raczkowski
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Minka Breloer
- Section for Molecular Biology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Department for Biology, University Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Willi Mittrücker
- Department for Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rosales-Alvarez RE, Rettkowski J, Herman JS, Dumbović G, Cabezas-Wallscheid N, Grün D. VarID2 quantifies gene expression noise dynamics and unveils functional heterogeneity of ageing hematopoietic stem cells. Genome Biol 2023; 24:148. [PMID: 37353813 PMCID: PMC10290360 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02974-1] [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] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Variability of gene expression due to stochasticity of transcription or variation of extrinsic signals, termed biological noise, is a potential driving force of cellular differentiation. Utilizing single-cell RNA-sequencing, we develop VarID2 for the quantification of biological noise at single-cell resolution. VarID2 reveals enhanced nuclear versus cytoplasmic noise, and distinct regulatory modes stratified by correlation between noise, expression, and chromatin accessibility. Noise levels are minimal in murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and increase during differentiation and ageing. Differential noise identifies myeloid-biased Dlk1+ long-term HSCs in aged mice with enhanced quiescence and self-renewal capacity. VarID2 reveals noise dynamics invisible to conventional single-cell transcriptome analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reyna Edith Rosales-Alvarez
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Immunobiology, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (IMPRS-IEM), Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Rettkowski
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), Freiburg, Germany
| | - Josip Stefan Herman
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gabrijela Dumbović
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS-Centre for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominic Grün
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Thouenon R, Chentout L, Moreno-Corona N, Poggi L, Lombardi EP, Hoareau B, Schmitt Y, Lagresle-Peyrou C, Bustamante J, André I, Cavazzana M, Durandy A, Casanova JL, Galicier L, Fadlallah J, Fischer A, Kracker S. A neomorphic mutation in the interferon activation domain of IRF4 causes a dominant primary immunodeficiency. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20221292. [PMID: 36917008 PMCID: PMC10037104 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report on a heterozygous interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) missense variant identified in three patients from a multigeneration family with hypogammaglobulinemia. Patients' low blood plasmablast/plasma cell and naïve CD4 and CD8 T cell counts contrasted with high terminal effector CD4 and CD8 T cell counts. Expression of the mutant IRF4 protein in control lymphoblastoid B cell lines reduced the expression of BLIMP-1 and XBP1 (key transcription factors in plasma cell differentiation). In B cell lines, the mutant IRF4 protein as wildtype was found to bind to known IRF4 binding motifs. The mutant IRF4 failed to efficiently regulate the transcriptional activity of interferon-stimulated response elements (ISREs). Rapid immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry of endogenous proteins indicated that the mutant and wildtype IRF4 proteins differed with regard to their respective sets of binding partners. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism for autosomal-dominant primary immunodeficiency through altered protein binding by mutant IRF4 at ISRE, leading to defective plasma cell differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romane Thouenon
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Loïc Chentout
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Nidia Moreno-Corona
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Poggi
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Emilia Puig Lombardi
- Université de Paris, Bioinformatics Core Facility, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Benedicte Hoareau
- Sorbonne Université, UMS037, PASS, Plateforme de Cytométrie de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Yohann Schmitt
- Plateforme de génomique, Institut Imagine-Structure Fédérative de Recherche Necker, INSERMU1163 et INSERM US24/CNRS UMS3633, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Chantal Lagresle-Peyrou
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Jacinta Bustamante
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERMU1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France
- Paris Hospital, Study Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle André
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Marina Cavazzana
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
- Departement de Biotherapie Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants malades, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Centre Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Anne Durandy
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Laurent Casanova
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERMU1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France
- Necker Hospital, Pediatric Hematology-Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lionel Galicier
- Clinical Immunology Department, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for Castleman disease, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jehane Fadlallah
- Clinical Immunology Department, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for Castleman disease, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Alain Fischer
- Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
- Necker Hospital, Pediatric Hematology-Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Sven Kracker
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERMUMR 1163, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhao Q, Shao T, Zhu Y, Zong G, Zhang J, Tang S, Lin Y, Ma H, Jiang Z, Xu Y, Wu X, Zhang T. An MRTF-A-ZEB1-IRF9 axis contributes to fibroblast-myofibroblast transition and renal fibrosis. Exp Mol Med 2023:10.1038/s12276-023-00990-6. [PMID: 37121967 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00990-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Myofibroblasts, characterized by the expression of the matricellular protein periostin (Postn), mediate the profibrogenic response during tissue repair and remodeling. Previous studies have demonstrated that systemic deficiency in myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) attenuates renal fibrosis in mice. In the present study, we investigated the myofibroblast-specific role of MRTF-A in renal fibrosis and the underlying mechanism. We report that myofibroblast-specific deletion of MRTF-A, achieved through crossbreeding Mrtfa-flox mice with Postn-CreERT2 mice, led to amelioration of renal fibrosis. RNA-seq identified zinc finger E-Box binding homeobox 1 (Zeb1) as a downstream target of MRTF-A in renal fibroblasts. MRTF-A interacts with TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) to bind to the Zeb1 promoter and activate Zeb1 transcription. Zeb1 knockdown retarded the fibroblast-myofibroblast transition (FMyT) in vitro and dampened renal fibrosis in mice. Transcriptomic assays showed that Zeb1 might contribute to FMyT by repressing the transcription of interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9). IRF9 knockdown overcame the effect of Zeb1 depletion and promoted FMyT, whereas IRF9 overexpression antagonized TGF-β-induced FMyT. In conclusion, our data unveil a novel MRTF-A-Zeb1-IRF9 axis that can potentially contribute to fibroblast-myofibroblast transition and renal fibrosis. Screening for small-molecule compounds that target this axis may yield therapeutic options for the mollification of renal fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianwen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tinghui Shao
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gengjie Zong
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shifan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanshan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongzhen Ma
- Department of Geriatric Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhifan Jiang
- Department of Geriatric Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- School of Sports and Health, Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, China.
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Pham D, Silberger DJ, Nguyen KN, Gao M, Weaver CT, Hatton RD. Batf stabilizes Th17 cell development via impaired Stat5 recruitment of Ets1-Runx1 complexes. EMBO J 2023; 42:e109803. [PMID: 36917143 PMCID: PMC10106990 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109803] [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] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the activator protein-1 (AP-1) factor Batf is required for Th17 cell development, its mechanisms of action to underpin the Th17 program are incompletely understood. Here, we find that Batf ensures Th17 cell identity in part by restricting alternative gene programs through its actions to restrain IL-2 expression and IL-2-induced Stat5 activation. This, in turn, limits Stat5-dependent recruitment of Ets1-Runx1 factors to Th1- and Treg-cell-specific gene loci. Thus, in addition to pioneering regulatory elements in Th17-specific loci, Batf acts indirectly to inhibit the assembly of a Stat5-Ets1-Runx1 complex that enhances the transcription of Th1- and Treg-cell-specific genes. These findings unveil an important role for Stat5-Ets1-Runx1 interactions in transcriptional networks that define alternate T cell fates and indicate that Batf plays an indispensable role in both inducing and maintaining the Th17 program through its actions to regulate the competing actions of Stat5-assembled enhanceosomes that promote Th1- and Treg-cell developmental programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duy Pham
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| | - Daniel J Silberger
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| | - Kim N Nguyen
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| | - Min Gao
- Informatics InstituteUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| | - Casey T Weaver
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| | - Robin D Hatton
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
A multimorphic mutation in IRF4 causes human autosomal dominant combined immunodeficiency. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eade7953. [PMID: 36662884 PMCID: PMC10825898 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade7953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a transcription factor (TF) and key regulator of immune cell development and function. We report a recurrent heterozygous mutation in IRF4, p.T95R, causing an autosomal dominant combined immunodeficiency (CID) in seven patients from six unrelated families. The patients exhibited profound susceptibility to opportunistic infections, notably Pneumocystis jirovecii, and presented with agammaglobulinemia. Patients' B cells showed impaired maturation, decreased immunoglobulin isotype switching, and defective plasma cell differentiation, whereas their T cells contained reduced TH17 and TFH populations and exhibited decreased cytokine production. A knock-in mouse model of heterozygous T95R showed a severe defect in antibody production both at the steady state and after immunization with different types of antigens, consistent with the CID observed in these patients. The IRF4T95R variant maps to the TF's DNA binding domain, alters its canonical DNA binding specificities, and results in a simultaneous multimorphic combination of loss, gain, and new functions for IRF4. IRF4T95R behaved as a gain-of-function hypermorph by binding to DNA with higher affinity than IRF4WT. Despite this increased affinity for DNA, the transcriptional activity on IRF4 canonical genes was reduced, showcasing a hypomorphic activity of IRF4T95R. Simultaneously, IRF4T95R functions as a neomorph by binding to noncanonical DNA sites to alter the gene expression profile, including the transcription of genes exclusively induced by IRF4T95R but not by IRF4WT. This previously undescribed multimorphic IRF4 pathophysiology disrupts normal lymphocyte biology, causing human disease.
Collapse
|
24
|
Arra A, Lingel H, Pierau M, Brunner-Weinzierl MC. PD-1 limits differentiation and plasticity of Tc17 cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1104730. [PMID: 37205114 PMCID: PMC10186197 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1104730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Blockade of surface co-inhibitory receptor programmed cell death-1 (PD-1; CD279) has been established as an important immunotherapeutic approach to treat malignancies. On a cellular level, PD-1 is demonstrated to be of particular importance in inhibiting differentiation and effector function of cytotoxic Tc1 cells (CTLs). Nevertheless, the role of PD-1 in modulating interleukin (IL)-17-producing CD8+ T-cells (Tc17 cells), which generally display suppressed cytotoxic nature, is not well understood. To evaluate the impact of PD-1 in Tc17 responses, we examined its functioning using different in vitro and in vivo models. Upon activation of CD8+ T-cells in Tc17 environment, we found that PD-1 was rapidly expressed on the surface of CD8+ T-cells and triggered a T-cell-internal mechanism that inhibited the expression of IL-17 and Tc17-supporting transcription factors pSTAT3 and RORγt. Expression of type17-polarising cytokine IL-21 and the receptor for IL-23 were also suppressed. Intriguingly, adoptively transferred, PD-1-/- Tc17 cells were highly efficient in rejection of established B16 melanoma in vivo and displayed Tc1 like characteristics ex vivo. When using IL-17A-eGFP reporter mice for in vitro fate tracking, IL-17A-eGFP expressing cells lacking PD-1 signaling upon re-stimulation with IL-12 quickly acquired Tc1 characteristics such as IFN-γ, and granzyme B expression, implicating lineage independent upregulation of CTL-characteristics that are needed for tumor control. In line with plasticity characteristics, absence of PD-1 signaling in Tc17 cells increased the expression of the stemness and persistence-associated molecules TCF1 and BCL6. Thus, PD-1 plays a central role in the specific suppression of Tc17 differentiation and its plasticity in relation to CTL-driven tumor rejection, which provides further explanation as to why the blockade of PD-1 is such an efficient therapeutic target for inducing tumor rejection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Arra
- Department of Experimental Pediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Holger Lingel
- Department of Experimental Pediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mandy Pierau
- Department of Experimental Pediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Monika C. Brunner-Weinzierl
- Department of Experimental Pediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Monika C. Brunner-Weinzierl,
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Lu J, Liang T, Li P, Yin Q. Regulatory effects of IRF4 on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1086803. [PMID: 36814912 PMCID: PMC9939821 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1086803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is implicated in tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, immunotherapy failure and tumor recurrence. Multiple immunosuppressive cells and soluble secreted cytokines together drive and accelerate TME disorders, T cell immunodeficiency and tumor growth. Thus, it is essential to comprehensively understand the TME status, immune cells involved and key transcriptional factors, and extend this knowledge to therapies that target dysfunctional T cells in the TME. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a unique IRF family member that is not regulated by interferons, instead, is mainly induced upon T-cell receptor signaling, Toll-like receptors and tumor necrosis factor receptors. IRF4 is largely restricted to immune cells and plays critical roles in the differentiation and function of effector cells and immunosuppressive cells, particularly during clonal expansion and the effector function of T cells. However, in a specific biological context, it is also involved in the transcriptional process of T cell exhaustion with its binding partners. Given the multiple effects of IRF4 on immune cells, especially T cells, manipulating IRF4 may be an important therapeutic target for reversing T cell exhaustion and TME disorders, thus promoting anti-tumor immunity. This study reviews the regulatory effects of IRF4 on various immune cells in the TME, and reveals its potential mechanisms, providing a novel direction for clinical immune intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Taotao Liang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Hematology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qingsong Yin
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bisphenols, but not phthalate esters, modulate gene expression in activated human MAIT cells in vitro. Toxicol Rep 2023; 10:348-356. [PMID: 36923442 PMCID: PMC10008924 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.02.017] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
One route of human exposure to environmental chemicals is oral uptake. This is primarily true for chemicals that may leach from food packaging materials, such as bisphenols and phthalate esters. Upon ingestion, these compounds are transported along the intestinal tract, from where they can be taken up into the blood stream or distributed to mucosal sites. At mucosal sites, mucosal immune cells and in the blood stream peripheral immune cells may be exposed to these chemicals potentially modulating immune cell functions. In the present study, we investigated the impact of three common bisphenols and two phthalate esters on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in vitro, a frequent immune cell type in the intestinal mucosae and peripheral blood of humans. All compounds were non-cytotoxic at the chosen concentrations. MAIT cell activation was only slightly affected as seen by flow cytometric analysis. Phthalate esters did not affect MAIT cell gene expression, while bisphenol-exposure induced significant changes. Transcriptional changes occurred in ∼ 25 % of genes for BPA, ∼ 22 % for BPF and ∼ 8 % for BPS. All bisphenols down-modulated expression of CCND2, CCL20, GZMB and IRF4, indicating an effect on MAIT cell effector function. Further, BPA and BPF showed a high overlap in modulated genes involved in cellular stress response, activation signaling and effector function suggesting that BPF may not be safe substitute for BPA.
Collapse
Key Words
- BPA, bisphenol A
- BPF, bisphenol F
- BPS, bisphenol S
- Bisphenols
- CD, cluster of differentiation
- DEHP, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
- DINP, diisononyl phthalate
- DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide
- EFSA, European Food Safety Agency
- EU, European Union
- FCS, fetal calf serum
- IFNg, interferon gamma
- IMDM, Iscove Modified Dulbecco Medium
- Immunomodulation
- In vitro model
- MAIT cells
- MAIT cells, mucosal-associated invariant T cells
- MeOH, methanol
- NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell
- PE, phthalate ester
- Phthalate ester
- Plasticizers
- RT, room temperature
- SVHC, substance of very high concern
- TDI, tolerable daily intake
- TNF, tumor necrosis factor
- bpc, bacteria per cell
- bw, body weight
Collapse
|
27
|
Tang Y, Lv X, Liu X, Song J, Wu Y, Zhou Q, Zhu R. Three IRF4 paralogs act as negative regulators of type Ⅰ IFN responses in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 131:537-548. [PMID: 36243274 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
IRF4 is a master member of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family playing vital regulatory roles in immune system development and function. Tetrapods have a single-copy IRF4 gene, while teleosts harbor duplicated IRF4 genes. This work describes three IRF4 paralogs from yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), designated PfIRF4A, PfIRF4B and PfIRF4B-like. These genes all contain a typical IRF structural architecture. Phylogenic and synteny analyses indicate that they should arise from the teleost-specific whole-genome duplication. PfIRF4 genes are abundantly expressed in the immune-related tissues and upregulated by PolyI:C, LPS, and Edwardsiella ictaluri. Ectopic expression of these genes inhibits the activation of fish type Ⅰ IFN promoters and downregulates the transcription levels of IFN-responsive genes, thus allowing the efficient replication of a fish rhabdovirus, spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV). PfIRF4s possess a repressive effect on MyD88-mediated activation of IFN and NF-κB. Some differences are observed between each individual paralog. PfIRF4B is the main form expressed across the tissues and the most up-regulated one after pathogen induction. It exerts a stronger inhibitory effect on IFN antiviral response than the other two paralogs. PfIRF4A and PfIRF4B-like are primarily present in the nucleus, while PfIRF4B displays colocalization and direct associations with MyD88 in the cytoplasm. Overall, the data demonstrate that three PfIRF4 paralogs show shared and individual functional properties in the negative regulation of type Ⅰ IFN response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China
| | - Xue Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China
| | - Jingjing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China
| | - Yeqing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China
| | - Rong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhang L, Shi Y, Han X. Immunogenomic correlates of immune-related adverse events for anti-programmed cell death 1 therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1032221. [PMID: 36505471 PMCID: PMC9733471 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1032221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite impressive antitumor efficacy of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, this inhibition can induce mild to severe autoimmune toxicities, termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Yet, predictive pretreatment biomarkers for irAEs development across cancer types remain elusive. We first assessed cellular and molecular factors. To determine factors predicting the risk of irAEs for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy across multiple cancer types, an integrative analysis of cellular and molecular factors from 9104 patients across 21 cancer types and 4865522 postmarketing adverse event reports retrieved from adverse event reporting system was then performed. Accuracy of predictions was quantified as Pearson correlation coefficient determined using leave-one-out cross-validation. Independent validation sets included small cell lung cancer and melanoma cohorts. Out of 4865522 eligible adverse events reports, 10412 cases received anti-PD-1 monotherapy, of which, 2997 (28.78%) exhibited at least one irAE. Among established immunogenomic factors, dendritic cells (DC) abundance showed the strongest correlation with irAEs risk, followed by tumor mutational burden (TMB). Further predictive accuracy was achieved by DC and TMB in combination with CD4+ naive T-cells abundance, and then validated in the small cell lung cancer cohort. Additionally, global screening of multiomics data identified 11 novel predictors of irAEs. Of these, IRF4 showed the highest correlation. Best predictive performance was observed in the IRF4 - TCL1A - SHC-pY317 trivariate model. Associations of IRF4 and TCL1A expression with irAEs development were verified in the melanoma cohort receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Collectively, pretreatment cellular and molecular irAEs-associated features as well as their combinations are identified regardless of cancer types. These findings may deepen our knowledge of irAEs pathogenesis and, ultimately, aid in early detection of high-risk patients and management of irAEs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, Beijing, China,Medical Research Center, Key Laboratory of Digital Technology in Medical Diagnostics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuankai Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yuankai Shi, ; Xiaohong Han,
| | - Xiaohong Han
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK & PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yuankai Shi, ; Xiaohong Han,
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Inflammatory Cytokines That Enhance Antigen Responsiveness of Naïve CD8 + T Lymphocytes Modulate Chromatin Accessibility of Genes Impacted by Antigen Stimulation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214122. [PMID: 36430600 PMCID: PMC9698886 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Naïve CD8+ T lymphocytes exposed to certain inflammatory cytokines undergo proliferation and display increased sensitivity to antigens. Such 'cytokine priming' can promote the activation of potentially autoreactive and antitumor CD8+ T cells by weak tissue antigens and tumor antigens. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cytokine priming, naïve PMEL-1 TCR transgenic CD8+ T lymphocytes were stimulated with IL-15 and IL-21, and chromatin accessibility was assessed using the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) sequencing. PMEL-1 cells stimulated by the cognate antigenic peptide mgp10025-33 served as controls. Cytokine-primed cells showed a limited number of opening and closing chromatin accessibility peaks compared to antigen-stimulated cells. However, the ATACseq peaks in cytokine-primed cells substantially overlapped with those of antigen-stimulated cells and mapped to several genes implicated in T cell signaling, activation, effector differentiation, negative regulation and exhaustion. Nonetheless, the expression of most of these genes was remarkably different between cytokine-primed and antigen-stimulated cells. In addition, cytokine priming impacted the expression of several genes following antigen stimulation in a synergistic or antagonistic manner. Our findings indicate that chromatin accessibility changes in cytokine-primed naïve CD8+ T cells not only underlie their increased antigen responsiveness but may also enhance their functional fitness by reducing exhaustion without compromising regulatory controls.
Collapse
|
30
|
Battaglia S, Dong K, Wu J, Chen Z, Najm FJ, Zhang Y, Moore MM, Hecht V, Shoresh N, Bernstein BE. Long-range phasing of dynamic, tissue-specific and allele-specific regulatory elements. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1504-1513. [PMID: 36195755 PMCID: PMC10567064 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01188-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Epigenomic maps identify gene regulatory elements by their chromatin state. However, prevailing short-read sequencing methods cannot effectively distinguish alleles, evaluate the interdependence of elements in a locus or capture single-molecule dynamics. Here, we apply targeted nanopore sequencing to profile chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation on contiguous ~100-kb DNA molecules that span loci relevant to development, immunity and imprinting. We detect promoters, enhancers, insulators and transcription factor footprints on single molecules based on exogenous GpC methylation. We infer relationships among dynamic elements within immune loci, and order successive remodeling events during T cell stimulation. Finally, we phase primary sequence and regulatory elements across the H19/IGF2 locus, uncovering primate-specific features. These include a segmental duplication that stabilizes the imprinting control region and a noncanonical enhancer that drives biallelic IGF2 expression in specific contexts. Our study advances emerging strategies for phasing gene regulatory landscapes and reveals a mechanism that overrides IGF2 imprinting in human cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Battaglia
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Dong
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jingyi Wu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zeyu Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fadi J Najm
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Molly M Moore
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vivian Hecht
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Inscripta, Inc., Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Noam Shoresh
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bradley E Bernstein
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Gene Regulation Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nagel S, Pommerenke C, Quentmeier H, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, MacLeod RAF. Genomic Aberrations Generate Fusion Gene FOXK2::TP63 and Activate NFKB1 in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10082038. [PMID: 36009586 PMCID: PMC9406051 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10082038] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a severe lymphoid malignancy with a worse prognosis lacking curative treatment regimens. Several gene mutations and deregulated pathways, including NFkB signaling, have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Accordingly, CTCL cell line HUT-78 reportedly contains mutated NFKB2, which is constitutively activated via partial gene deletion, also demonstrating that genomic rearrangements cause driving mutations in this malignancy. Here, along with HUT-78, we analyzed CTCL cell line HH to identify additional aberrations underlying gene deregulation. Karyotyping and genomic profiling of HH showed several rearrangements worthy of detailed investigation. Corresponding to the established karyotype, RNA-seq data and PCR analysis confirmed the presence of t(3;17)(q28;q25), generating a novel fusion gene, FOXK2::TP63. Furthermore, chromosomal rearrangement t(1;4)(p32;q25) was connected to amplification at 4q24–26, affecting aberrant NFKB1 overexpression thereat. Transcription factor binding-site analysis and knockdown experiments demonstrated that IRF4 contributed to NFKB1 expression. Within the same amplicon, we identified amplification and overexpression of NFkB signaling activator CAMK2D (4q26) and p53-inhibitor UBE2D3 (4q24). Genomic profiling data for HUT-78 detailed a deletion at 10q25 underlying reported NFKB2 activation. Moreover, amplifications of ID1 (20q11) and IKZF2 (2q34) in this cell line drove overexpression of these NK cell differentiation factors and possibly thus formed corresponding lineage characteristics. Target gene analysis for NFKB1 via siRNA-mediated knockdown in HH revealed activation of TP63, MIR155, and NOTCH pathway component RBPJ. Finally, treatment of HH with NFkB inhibitor demonstrated a role for NFkB in supporting proliferation, while usage of inhibitor DAPT showed significant survival effects via the NOTCH pathway. Collectively, our data suggest that NFkB and/or NOTCH inhibitors may represent reasonable treatment options for subsets of CTCL patients.
Collapse
|
32
|
Xia S, Huang J, Yan L, Han J, Zhang W, Shao H, Shen H, Wang J, Wang J, Tao C, Wang D, Wu F. miR-150 promotes progressive T cell differentiation via inhibiting FOXP1 and RC3H1. Hum Immunol 2022; 83:778-788. [PMID: 35999072 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.08.006] [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: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
T cells used in immune cell therapy, represented by T cell receptor therapy (TCR-T), are usually activated and proliferated in vitro and are induced to a terminally differentiated phenotype, with limited viability after transfusion back into the body. T cells exhibited a robust proliferative potential and in vivo viability in the early stages of progressive differentiation. In this study, we identified microRNAs that regulate T cell differentiation. After microRNA sequencing of the four subsets: Naïve T cells (TN), stem cell-like memory T cells (TSCM), central memory T cells (TCM), and effector memory T cells (TEM), miR-150 was identified as the most highly expressed miRNA among the four subsets and was lowly expressed in the TSCM cells. We predicted the target genes of miR-150 miRNA and performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. We observed that the target genes of miR-150 were enriched in pathways associated with T-cell differentiation. FOXP1 and RC3H1 were identified as key target genes of miR-150 in the regulation of T-cell function. We examined the effects of miR-150 on the differentiation and function of healthy donor T-cells. We observed that miR-150 overexpression promoted T-cell differentiation to effector T-cells and effector memory T-cells, enhanced apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α. In addition, the expressions of early differentiation-related genes (ACTN1, CERS6, BCL2, and EOMES), advanced differentiation-related genes (KLRG1), and effector-function-related genes (PRF1 and GZMB) were significantly decreased after overexpression of miR-150. Collectively, our results suggested that miR-150 can promote progressive differentiation of T cells and the downmodulation of miR-150 expression while performing adoptive immunotherapy may inhibit T-cell differentiation and increase the proliferative potential of T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengfang Xia
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianqing Huang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Yan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayi Han
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Shao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Han Shen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinquan Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinquan Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changli Tao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dingding Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fenglin Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Wang L, Kumar A, Das JK, Ren Y, Peng HY, Ballard DJ, Xiong X, Davis JR, Ren X, Yang JM, Song J. Expression of NAC1 Restrains the Memory Formation of CD8 + T Cells during Viral Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:1713. [PMID: 36016335 PMCID: PMC9414488 DOI: 10.3390/v14081713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleus accumbens-associated protein 1 (NAC1) is a transcription co-factor that has been shown to possess multiple roles in stem cell and cancer biology. However, little is known about its roles in regulation of the immune system. In the current study, we observed that expression of NAC1 impacted the survival of CD8+ T cells in vitro. NAC1-/- CD8+ T cells displayed lower metabolism, including reduced glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. In vivo, compared with wild-type (WT) mice, NAC1-/- mice produced a lower response to vaccinia virus (VACV) infection, and viral antigen (Ag)-specific CD8+ T cells decreased more slowly. Additionally, we observed that the NAC1-/- mice demonstrated a stronger memory formation of viral Ag-specific CD8+ T cells post-viral infection. Mechanically, we identified that compared with WT CD8+ T cells, the Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4), a key transcription factor in T cell development, was highly expressed in NAC1-/- CD8+ T cells, insinuating that IRF4 could be a critical regulatory target of NAC1 in the memory formation of CD8+ T cells. Our results indicate that NAC1 restrains the memory formation of CD8+ T cells by modulating IRF4, and targeting NAC1 may be exploited as a new approach to boosting CD8+ T cell memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Wang
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Jugal Kishore Das
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Yijie Ren
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Hao-Yun Peng
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Darby Jane Ballard
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Xiaofang Xiong
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Jacob Rance Davis
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Xingcong Ren
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jin-Ming Yang
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jianxun Song
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Liang Y, Xu Q, Liu S, Li J, Wang F, Li Z, Liao L, Lu Y, Li Y, Mu F, Sun HX, Zhu L. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Killing Mechanisms of Antitumor Cytotoxic CD4+ TCR-T Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:939940. [PMID: 35928827 PMCID: PMC9343810 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.939940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-Ts) have emerged as potent cancer immunotherapies. While most research focused on classical cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, the application of CD4+ T cells in adoptive T cell therapy has gained much interest recently. However, the cytotoxic mechanisms of CD4+ TCR-Ts have not been fully revealed. In this study, we obtained an MHC class I-restricted MART-127-35-specific TCR sequence based on the single-cell V(D)J sequencing technology, and constructed MART-127-35-specific CD4+ TCR-Ts and CD8+ TCR-Ts. The antitumor effects of CD4+ TCR-Ts were comparable to those of CD8+ TCR-Ts in vitro and in vivo. To delineate the killing mechanisms of cytotoxic CD4+ TCR-Ts, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing and found that classical granule-dependent and independent cytolytic pathways were commonly used in CD4+ and CD8+ TCR-Ts, while high expression of LTA and various costimulatory receptors were unique features for cytotoxic CD4+ TCR-Ts. Further signaling pathway analysis revealed that transcription factors Runx3 and Blimp1/Tbx21 were crucial for the development and killing function of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells. Taken together, we report the antitumor effects and multifaceted killing mechanisms of CD4+ TCR-Ts, and also indicate that MHC class I-restricted CD4+ TCR-Ts could serve as potential adoptive T cell therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Liang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qumiao Xu
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Qumiao Xu, ; Feng Mu, ; Hai-Xi Sun, ; Linnan Zhu,
| | - Songming Liu
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lijuan Liao
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuting Lu
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yijian Li
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Mu
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Qumiao Xu, ; Feng Mu, ; Hai-Xi Sun, ; Linnan Zhu,
| | - Hai-Xi Sun
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Beijing, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qumiao Xu, ; Feng Mu, ; Hai-Xi Sun, ; Linnan Zhu,
| | - Linnan Zhu
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Qumiao Xu, ; Feng Mu, ; Hai-Xi Sun, ; Linnan Zhu,
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Wang Y, Tian Q, Ye L. The Differentiation and Maintenance of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Follicular Helper T Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:953022. [PMID: 35909969 PMCID: PMC9329515 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.953022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon acute viral infection, virus-specific CD4+ T cells differentiate into either TH1 cells or follicular helper T (TFH) cells. The molecular pathways governing such bimodal cell fate commitment remain elusive. Additionally, effector virus-specific TFH cells further differentiate into corresponding memory population, which confer long-term protection against re-infection of same viruses by providing immediate help to virus-specific memory B cells. Currently, the molecular mechanisms underlying the long-term maintenance of memory TFH cells are largely unknown. In this review, we discuss current understanding of early differentiation of virus-specific effector TFH cells and long-term maintenance of virus-specific memory TFH cells in mouse models of viral infection and patients of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Immunotherapy, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin Tian
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Immunology, The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lilin Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Immunotherapy, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Immunology, The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lilin Ye,
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Liu W, Fan M, Lu W, Zhu W, Meng L, Lu S. Emerging Roles of T Helper Cells in Non-Infectious Neuroinflammation: Savior or Sinner. Front Immunol 2022; 13:872167. [PMID: 35844577 PMCID: PMC9280647 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.872167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells, also known as T helper (Th) cells, contribute to the adaptive immunity both in the periphery and in the central nervous system (CNS). At least seven subsets of Th cells along with their signature cytokines have been identified nowadays. Neuroinflammation denotes the brain’s immune response to inflammatory conditions. In recent years, various CNS disorders have been related to the dysregulation of adaptive immunity, especially the process concerning Th cells and their cytokines. However, as the functions of Th cells are being discovered, it’s also found that their roles in different neuroinflammatory conditions, or even the participation of a specific Th subset in one CNS disorder may differ, and sometimes contrast. Based on those recent and contradictory evidence, the conflicting roles of Th cells in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury as well as some typical mental disorders will be reviewed herein. Research progress, limitations and novel approaches concerning different neuroinflammatory conditions will also be mentioned and compared.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Meiyang Fan
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Wen Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wenhua Zhu
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Wenhua Zhu, ; Liesu Meng,
| | - Liesu Meng
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Wenhua Zhu, ; Liesu Meng,
| | - Shemin Lu
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi’an, China
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Soichot J, Guttmann N, Rehrauer H, Joller N, Tritten L. Nematode microRNAs can Individually Regulate Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 and mTOR in Differentiating T Helper 2 Lymphocytes and Modulate Cytokine Production in Macrophages. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:909312. [PMID: 35836928 PMCID: PMC9274173 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.909312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes are masterful immunomodulators. This class of pathogens has evolved a spectrum of sophisticated strategies to regulate and evade host immune responses, mediated through the release of various molecules. In this context, the release of microRNAs (miRNAs), short post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, has been of particular interest in the host-parasite interplay. Evidence that parasite-derived miRNAs modulate host innate and adaptive immune responses has become increasingly compelling. However, since miRNAs are usually contained in extracellular vesicles containing other mediators, it is difficult to assign an observed effect on host cells to miRNAs specifically. Here, the effects of some abundantly secreted miRNAs by nematodes used as models of gastrointestinal infections (Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri, Trichuris muris and Ascaris suum) were evaluated, addressing the potential of parasite miRNAs to impair in vitro differentiation of two important types of immune cells in the context of helminth infections, Th2 lymphocytes and macrophages. Mimicking a continuous exposure to low concentrations of nematode miRNAs, the interferon gamma signaling, the IL-2/STAT5 signaling, and the mTOR signaling pathways were identified as downregulated by Hpo-miR-71-5p. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (Irf4) was validated as a target of Hpo-miR-71-5p, while Mtor is targeted by Asu-miR-791-3p, abundant in the T. muris secretions. By trend, Hpo-miR-71-5p impacts mildly but consistently on the amounts of inflammatory cytokines in unpolarized macrophages but leads to slightly increased IL-10 level in alternatively activated cells. In addition, our data suggests that transfected miRNAs remain for days in recipient cells, and that Hpo-miR-71-5p can incorporate into mouse Argonaute protein complexes. Nematode miRNAs can impair both innate and adaptive arms of host immunity. Hpo-miR-71-5p in particular, absent in mammals, interacts with host genes and pathways with crucial involvement in anthelmintic immune responses. This report brings new insights into the dynamics of miRNA-driven immunomodulation and highlights putative targeted pathways. Although the absolute repression is subtle, it is expected that the dozens of different miRNAs released by nematodes may have a synergistic effect on surrounding host cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Soichot
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Guttmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hubert Rehrauer
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich/University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Joller
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucienne Tritten
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Lucienne Tritten,
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zhang Y, Zeng X, Zha X, Lai J, Tan G, Chen S, Yu X, Li Y, Xu L. Correlation of the transcription factors IRF4 and BACH2 with the abnormal NFATC1 expression in T cells from chronic myeloid leukemia patients. Hematology 2022; 27:523-529. [PMID: 35544467 DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2022.2066245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE T cell dysfunction is a common characteristic of patients with myeloid leukemia and is closely related to clinical efficacy and prognosis. In order to clarify the mechanisms leading to the T cell dysfunction, we characterized the gene expression profile of T cells from chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients by microarray analysis and investigated the related regulating pathway. METHODS We employed gene expression profiling, bioinformatics and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) to detect genes differentially expressed in CML patients versus healthy donors. RESULTS There were 1704 genes differentially expressed between CD3+ T cells from CML patients and healthy donors, including 868 up-regulated genes and 836 down-regulated genes, which mostly related to T cell functional pathways. In particular, lower expression of NFATC1, a member of the TCR signaling pathway, was detected in CD3+ T cells from CML patients. We further found that the expression of IRF4 and BACH2, transcription factors that potentially regulate NFATC1, in CD3+ T cells from CML patients was significantly lower than that in healthy donors. CONCLUSION We for the first time observed the altered gene expression profiles of CD3+ T cells from CML patients, and the results suggested that IRF4, BACH2 and NFATC1 may be involved in regulating T cell dysfunction in CML patients in the form of a transcriptional regulatory network. These findings may provide potential targets for tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination with other targeted immunotherapies .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yikai Zhang
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Guangzhou Municipality Tianhe Nuoya Bio-engineering Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangbo Zeng
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianfeng Zha
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Lai
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangxiao Tan
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xibao Yu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Xu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lagumdzic E, Pernold C, Viano M, Olgiati S, Schmitt MW, Mair KH, Saalmüller A. Transcriptome Profiling of Porcine Naïve, Intermediate and Terminally Differentiated CD8 + T Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:849922. [PMID: 35265090 PMCID: PMC8900158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.849922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The pig has the potential to become a leading research model for human diseases, pharmacological and transplantation studies. Since there are many similarities between humans and pigs, especially concerning anatomy, physiology and metabolism, there is necessity for a better understanding of the porcine immune system. In adaptive immunity, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are essential for host defense. However, most data on CTLs come from studies in mice, non-human primates and humans, while detailed information about porcine CD8+ CTLs is still sparse. Aim of this study was to analyze transcriptomes of three subsets of porcine CD8β+ T-cell subsets by using next-generation sequencing technology. Specifically, we described transcriptional profiles of subsets defined by their CD11a/CD27 expression pattern, postulated as naïve (CD8β+CD27+CD11alow), intermediate differentiated (CD8β+CD27dimCD11a+), and terminally differentiated cells (CD8β+CD27-CD11ahigh). Cells were analyzed in ex vivo condition as well as upon in vitro stimulation with concanavalin A (ConA) and PMA/ionomycin. Our analyses show that the highest number of differentially expressed genes was identified between naïve and terminally differentiated CD8+ T-cell subsets, underlining their difference in gene expression signature and respective differentiation stages. Moreover, genes related to early (IL7-R, CCR7, SELL, TCF7, LEF1, BACH2, SATB1, ZEB1 and BCL2) and late (KLRG1, TBX21, PRDM1, CX3CR1, ZEB2, ZNF683, BATF, EZH2 and ID2) stages of CD8+ T-cell differentiation were highly expressed in the naïve and terminally differentiated CD8+ T-cell subsets, respectively. Intermediate differentiated CD8+ T-cell subsets shared a more comparable gene expression profile associated with later stages of T-cell differentiation. Genes associated with cytolytic activity (GNLY, PRF1, GZMB, FASL, IFNG and TNF) were highly expressed in terminally and intermediate differentiated CD8+ T-cell subsets, while naïve CD8+ T cells lacked expression even after in vitro stimulation. Overall, PMA/ionomycin stimulation induced much stronger upregulation of genes compared to stimulation with ConA. Taken together, we provided comprehensive results showing transcriptional profiles of three differentiation stages of porcine CD8+ T-cell subsets. In addition, our study provides a powerful toolbox for the identification of candidate markers to characterize porcine immune cell subsets in more detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emil Lagumdzic
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clara Pernold
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marta Viano
- Istituto di Ricerche Biomediche "A. Marxer" RBM S.p.A., Torino, Italy
| | - Simone Olgiati
- Istituto di Ricerche Biomediche "A. Marxer" RBM S.p.A., Torino, Italy
| | - Michael W Schmitt
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Chemical & Preclinical Safety, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Kerstin H Mair
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Optimized Prediction of Vaccination Success in Pigs, Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Armin Saalmüller
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Amanda S, Tan TK, Ong JZL, Theardy MS, Wong RWJ, Huang XZ, Ali MZ, Li Y, Gong Z, Inagaki H, Foo EY, Pang B, Tan SY, Iida S, Sanda T. IRF4 drives clonal evolution and lineage choice in a zebrafish model of T-cell lymphoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2420. [PMID: 35504924 PMCID: PMC9065160 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IRF4 is a master regulator of immunity and is also frequently overexpressed in mature lymphoid neoplasms. Here, we demonstrate the oncogenicity of IRF4 in vivo, its potential effects on T-cell development and clonal evolution using a zebrafish model. IRF4-transgenic zebrafish develop aggressive tumors with massive infiltration of abnormal lymphocytes that spread to distal organs. Many late-stage tumors are mono- or oligoclonal, and tumor cells can expand in recipient animals after transplantation, demonstrating their malignancy. Mutation of p53 accelerates tumor onset, increases penetrance, and results in tumor heterogeneity. Surprisingly, single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals that the majority of tumor cells are double-negative T-cells, many of which express tcr-γ that became dominant as the tumors progress, whereas double-positive T-cells are largely diminished. Gene expression and epigenetic profiling demonstrates that gata3, mycb, lrrn1, patl1 and psip1 are specifically activated in tumors, while genes responsible for T-cell differentiation including id3 are repressed. IRF4-driven tumors are sensitive to the BRD inhibitor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stella Amanda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tze King Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jolynn Zu Lin Ong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Regina Wan Ju Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiao Zi Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Muhammad Zulfaqar Ali
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhiyuan Gong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hiroshi Inagaki
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Ee Yong Foo
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Brendan Pang
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Soo Yong Tan
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shinsuke Iida
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Takaomi Sanda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore. .,Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Harasgama JC, Kasthuriarachchi TDW, Sirisena DMKP, Kwon H, Lee S, Wan Q, Lee J. Modulation of fish immune response by interferon regulatory factor 4 in redlip mullet (Liza haematocheilus): Delineation through expression profiling, antiviral assay, and macrophage polarization analysis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 130:104356. [PMID: 35065138 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a crucial member of IRF family, which acts as an imperative transcription factor in the development and maturation of multiple lineages of blood cells and also plays a pivotal role in host defense against microbial infections. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the detailed structural and functional aspects of a redlip mullet IRF4 homolog (LhIRF4). The LhIRF4 open reading frame consists of 1347 base pairs encoding 449 amino acids, with the DNA-binding domain sharing significant homology with that of other vertebrate IRF4 homologs. The highest transcription levels of LhIRF4 were observed in the mullet intestine and spleen under normal physiological conditions. Furthermore, a time-dependent upregulation of LhIRF4 transcription was observed in the spleen and head kidney tissues upon pathogenic challenges. When overexpressed in mullet cells, LhIRF4 was localized to the nucleus and significantly stimulated the transcription of several host antiviral genes. Moreover, the overexpression of LhIRF4 strongly inhibited the replication of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in vitro. The function of LhIRF4 in regulation of macrophage M2 polarization has also been evidently demonstrated in RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, our findings indicate the profound role of LhIRF4 in modulating immune responses against microbial infections in redlip mullet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J C Harasgama
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63333, Republic of Korea
| | - T D W Kasthuriarachchi
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63333, Republic of Korea
| | - D M K P Sirisena
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63333, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyukjae Kwon
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63333, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongdo Lee
- General Affairs Division, National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, Busan, 49111, Republic of Korea
| | - Qiang Wan
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63333, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jehee Lee
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63333, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
IRF4 deficiency vulnerates B-cell progeny for leukemogenesis via somatically acquired Jak3 mutations conferring IL-7 hypersensitivity. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:2163-2176. [PMID: 35459909 PMCID: PMC9613660 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-01005-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The processes leading from disturbed B-cell development to adult B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) remain poorly understood. Here, we describe Irf4−/− mice as prone to developing BCP-ALL with age. Irf4−/− preB-I cells exhibited impaired differentiation but enhanced proliferation in response to IL-7, along with reduced retention in the IL-7 providing bone marrow niche due to decreased CXCL12 responsiveness. Thus selected, preB-I cells acquired Jak3 mutations, probably following irregular AID activity, resulting in malignant transformation. We demonstrate heightened IL-7 sensitivity due to Jak3 mutants, devise a model to explain it, and describe structural and functional similarities to Jak2 mutations often occurring in human Ph-like ALL. Finally, targeting JAK signaling with Ruxolitinib in vivo prolonged survival of mice bearing established Irf4−/− leukemia. Intriguingly, organ infiltration including leukemic meningeosis was selectively reduced without affecting blood blast counts. In this work, we present spontaneous leukemogenesis following IRF4 deficiency with potential implications for high-risk BCP-ALL in adult humans.
Collapse
|
43
|
Marasca F, Sinha S, Vadalà R, Polimeni B, Ranzani V, Paraboschi EM, Burattin FV, Ghilotti M, Crosti M, Negri ML, Campagnoli S, Notarbartolo S, Sartore-Bianchi A, Siena S, Prati D, Montini G, Viale G, Torre O, Harari S, Grifantini R, Soldà G, Biffo S, Abrignani S, Bodega B. LINE1 are spliced in non-canonical transcript variants to regulate T cell quiescence and exhaustion. Nat Genet 2022; 54:180-193. [PMID: 35039641 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00989-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
How gene expression is controlled to preserve human T cell quiescence is poorly understood. Here we show that non-canonical splicing variants containing long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE1) enforce naive CD4+ T cell quiescence. LINE1-containing transcripts are derived from CD4+ T cell-specific genes upregulated during T cell activation. In naive CD4+ T cells, LINE1-containing transcripts are regulated by the transcription factor IRF4 and kept at chromatin by nucleolin; these transcripts act in cis, hampering levels of histone 3 (H3) lysine 36 trimethyl (H3K36me3) and stalling gene expression. T cell activation induces LINE1-containing transcript downregulation by the splicing suppressor PTBP1 and promotes expression of the corresponding protein-coding genes by the elongating factor GTF2F1 through mTORC1. Dysfunctional T cells, exhausted in vitro or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), accumulate LINE1-containing transcripts at chromatin. Remarkably, depletion of LINE1-containing transcripts restores TIL effector function. Our study identifies a role for LINE1 elements in maintaining T cell quiescence and suggests that an abundance of LINE1-containing transcripts is critical for T cell effector function and exhaustion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Marasca
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Shruti Sinha
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
| | - Rebecca Vadalà
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Translational and Molecular Medicine, DIMET, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Benedetto Polimeni
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Translational and Molecular Medicine, DIMET, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Valeria Ranzani
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
| | - Elvezia Maria Paraboschi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Marco Ghilotti
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
| | - Mariacristina Crosti
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luce Negri
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
| | | | - Samuele Notarbartolo
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Sartore-Bianchi
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Siena
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Prati
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Montini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Viale
- University of Milan, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Olga Torre
- Department of Medical Sciences, San Giuseppe Hospital MultiMedica IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Harari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences, San Giuseppe Hospital MultiMedica IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Renata Grifantini
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
- CheckmAb Srl, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Soldà
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Biffo
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Abrignani
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Bodega
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', Milan, Italy.
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Musiol S, Alessandrini F, Jakwerth CA, Chaker AM, Schneider E, Guerth F, Schnautz B, Grosch J, Ghiordanescu I, Ullmann JT, Kau J, Plaschke M, Haak S, Buch T, Schmidt-Weber CB, Zissler UM. TGF-β1 Drives Inflammatory Th Cell But Not Treg Cell Compartment Upon Allergen Exposure. Front Immunol 2022; 12:763243. [PMID: 35069535 PMCID: PMC8777012 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.763243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β1 is known to have a pro-inflammatory impact by inducing Th9 and Th17 cells, while it also induces anti-inflammatory Treg cells (Tregs). In the context of allergic airway inflammation (AAI) its dual role can be of critical importance in influencing the outcome of the disease. Here we demonstrate that TGF-β is a major player in AAI by driving effector T cells, while Tregs differentiate independently. Induction of experimental AAI and airway hyperreactivity in a mouse model with inducible genetic ablation of the gene encoding for TGFβ-receptor 2 (Tgfbr2) on CD4+T cells significantly reduced the disease phenotype. Further, it blocked the induction of pro-inflammatory T cell frequencies (Th2, Th9, Th17), but increased Treg cells. To translate these findings into a human clinically relevant context, Th2, Th9 and Treg cells were quantified both locally in induced sputum and systemically in blood of allergic rhinitis and asthma patients with or without allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). Natural allergen exposure induced local and systemic Th2, Th9, and reduced Tregs cells, while therapeutic allergen exposure by AIT suppressed Th2 and Th9 cell frequencies along with TGF-β and IL-9 secretion. Altogether, these findings support that neutralization of TGF-β represents a viable therapeutic option in allergy and asthma, not posing the risk of immune dysregulation by impacting Tregs cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Musiol
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Francesca Alessandrini
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Constanze A Jakwerth
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Adam M Chaker
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Evelyn Schneider
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Ferdinand Guerth
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Benjamin Schnautz
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Grosch
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Ileana Ghiordanescu
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Julia T Ullmann
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Josephine Kau
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Mirjam Plaschke
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Haak
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thorsten Buch
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carsten B Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Zissler
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
The development of therapies to eliminate the latent HIV-1 reservoir is hampered by our incomplete understanding of the biomolecular mechanism governing HIV-1 latency. To further complicate matters, recent single cell RNA-seq studies reported extensive heterogeneity between latently HIV-1-infected primary T cells, implying that latent HIV-1 infection can persist in greatly differing host cell environments. We here show that transcriptomic heterogeneity is also found between latently infected T cell lines, which allowed us to study the underlying mechanisms of intercell heterogeneity at high signal resolution. Latently infected T cells exhibited a de-differentiated phenotype, characterized by the loss of T cell-specific markers and gene regulation profiles reminiscent of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). These changes had functional consequences. As reported for stem cells, latently HIV-1 infected T cells efficiently forced lentiviral superinfections into a latent state and favored glycolysis. As a result, metabolic reprogramming or cell re-differentiation destabilized latent infection. Guided by these findings, data-mining of single cell RNA-seq data of latently HIV-1 infected primary T cells from patients revealed the presence of similar dedifferentiation motifs. >20% of the highly detectable genes that were differentially regulated in latently infected cells were associated with hematopoietic lineage development (e.g. HUWE1, IRF4, PRDM1, BATF3, TOX, ID2, IKZF3, CDK6) or were hematopoietic markers (SRGN; hematopoietic proteoglycan core protein). The data add to evidence that the biomolecular phenotype of latently HIV-1 infected cells differs from normal T cells and strategies to address their differential phenotype need to be considered in the design of therapeutic cure interventions. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 persists in a latent reservoir in memory CD4 T cells for the lifetime of a patient. Understanding the biomolecular mechanisms used by the host cells to suppress viral expression will provide essential insights required to develop curative therapeutic interventions. Unfortunately, our current understanding of these control mechanisms is still limited. By studying gene expression profiles, we demonstrated that latently HIV-1-infected T cells have a de-differentiated T cell phenotype. Software-based data integration allowed for the identification of drug targets that would re-differentiate viral host cells and, in extension, destabilize latent HIV-1 infection events. The importance of the presented data lies within the clear demonstration that HIV-1 latency is a host cell phenomenon. As such, therapeutic strategies must first restore proper host cell functionality to accomplish efficient HIV-1 reactivation.
Collapse
|
46
|
Gordino G, Costa‐Pereira S, Corredeira P, Alves P, Costa L, Gomes AQ, Silva‐Santos B, Ribot JC. MicroRNA-181a restricts human γδ T cell differentiation by targeting Map3k2 and Notch2. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e52234. [PMID: 34821000 PMCID: PMC8728617 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202052234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
γδ T cells are a conserved population of lymphocytes that contributes to anti-tumor responses through its overt type 1 inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. We have previously shown that human γδ T cells acquire this profile upon stimulation with IL-2 or IL-15, in a differentiation process dependent on MAPK/ERK signaling. Here, we identify microRNA-181a as a key modulator of human γδ T cell differentiation. We observe that miR-181a is highly expressed in patients with prostate cancer and that this pattern associates with lower expression of NKG2D, a critical mediator of cancer surveillance. Interestingly, miR-181a expression negatively correlates with an activated type 1 effector profile obtained from in vitro differentiated γδ T cells and miR-181a overexpression restricts their levels of NKG2D and TNF-α. Upon in silico analysis, we identify two miR-181a candidate targets, Map3k2 and Notch2, which we validate via overexpression coupled with luciferase assays. These results reveal a novel role for miR-181a as critical regulator of human γδ T cell differentiation and highlight its potential for manipulation of γδ T cells in next-generation immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Gordino
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Sara Costa‐Pereira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Patrícia Corredeira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Patrícia Alves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Luís Costa
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- Medical Oncology DivisionHospital de Santa MariaCentro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa NorteLisbonPortugal
| | - Anita Q Gomes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Bruno Silva‐Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Julie C Ribot
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo AntunesFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Routine application of the Lymph2Cx assay for the subclassification of aggressive B-cell lymphoma: report of a prospective real-world series. Virchows Arch 2022; 481:935-943. [PMID: 36219238 PMCID: PMC9734243 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-022-03420-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The subclassification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) into germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtypes has become mandatory in the 2017 update of the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms and will continue to be used in the WHO 5th edition. The RNA-based Lymph2Cx assay has been validated as a reliable surrogate of high-throughput gene expression profiling assays for distinguishing between GCB and ABC DLBCL and provides reliable results from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) material. This test has been previously used in clinical trials, but experience from real-world routine application is rare. We routinely applied the Lymph2Cx assay to day-to-day diagnostics on a series of 147 aggressive B-cell lymphoma cases and correlated our results with the immunohistochemical subclassification using the Hans algorithm and fluorescence in situ hybridization findings using break-apart probes for MYC, BCL2, and BCL6. The routine use of the Lymph2Cx assay had a high technical success rate (94.6%) with a low rate of failure due to poor material and/or RNA quality. The Lymph2Cx assay was discordant with the Hans algorithm in 18% (23 of 128 cases). Discordant cases were mainly classified as GCB by the Hans algorithm and as ABC by Lymph2Cx (n = 11, 8.6%). Only 5 cases (3.9%) were classified as non-GCB by the Hans algorithm and as GCB by Lymph2Cx. Additionally, 5.5% of cases (n = 7) were left unclassified by Lymph2Cx, whereas they were defined as GCB (n = 4) or non-GCB (n = 3) by the Hans algorithm. Our data support the routine applicability of the Lymph2Cx assay.
Collapse
|
48
|
Hall BM, Hall RM, Tran GT, Robinson CM, Wilcox PL, Rakesh PK, Wang C, Sharland AF, Verma ND, Hodgkinson SJ. Interleukin-5 (IL-5) Therapy Prevents Allograft Rejection by Promoting CD4 +CD25 + Ts2 Regulatory Cells That Are Antigen-Specific and Express IL-5 Receptor. Front Immunol 2021; 12:714838. [PMID: 34912327 PMCID: PMC8667344 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.714838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cell population is heterogenous and contains three major sub-groups. First, thymus derived T regulatory cells (tTreg) that are naïve/resting. Second, activated/memory Treg that are produced by activation of tTreg by antigen and cytokines. Third, effector lineage CD4+CD25+T cells generated from CD4+CD25- T cells' activation by antigen to transiently express CD25 and Foxp3. We have shown that freshly isolated CD4+CD25+T cells are activated by specific alloantigen and IL-4, not IL-2, to Ts2 cells that express the IL-5 receptor alpha. Ts2 cells are more potent than naïve/resting tTreg in suppressing specific alloimmunity. Here, we showed rIL-5 promoted further activation of Ts2 cells to Th2-like Treg, that expressed foxp3, irf4, gata3 and il5. In vivo, we studied the effects of rIL-5 treatment on Lewis heart allograft survival in F344 rats. Host CD4+CD25+T cells were assessed by FACS, in mixed lymphocyte culture and by RT-PCR to examine mRNA of Ts2 or Th2-like Treg markers. rIL-5 treatment given 7 days after transplantation reduced the severity of rejection and all grafts survived ≥60d whereas sham treated rats fully rejected by day 31 (p<0.01). Treatment with anti-CD25 or anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody abolished the benefits of treatment with rIL-5 and accelerated rejection. After 10d treatment with rIL-5, hosts' CD4+CD25+ cells expressed more Il5ra and responded to specific donor Lewis but not self. Enriched CD4+CD25+ cells from rIL-5 treated rats with allografts surviving >60 days proliferated to specific donor only when rIL-5 was present and did not proliferate to self or third party. These cells had more mRNA for molecules expressed by Th2-like Treg including Irf4, gata3 and Il5. These findings were consistent with IL-5 treatment preventing rejection by activation of Ts2 cells and Th2-like Treg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce M Hall
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachael M Hall
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Giang T Tran
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine M Robinson
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul L Wilcox
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Prateek K Rakesh
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Chuanmin Wang
- Transplantation Immunobiology Group, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexandra F Sharland
- Transplantation Immunobiology Group, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nirupama D Verma
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Suzanne J Hodgkinson
- Immune Tolerance Laboratory, South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Quan Q, Xiong X, Wu S, Yu M. Identification of Immune-Related Key Genes in Ovarian Cancer Based on WGCNA. Front Genet 2021; 12:760225. [PMID: 34868239 PMCID: PMC8634599 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.760225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ovarian cancer (OV) is a fatal gynecologic malignancy and has poor survival rate in women over the age of forty. In our study, we aimed to identify genes related to immune microenvironment regulations and explore genes associated with OV prognosis. Methods: The RNA-seq data of GDC TCGA Ovarian Cancer cohort of 376 patients was retrieved from website. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and ESTIMATE algorithm were applied to identify the key genes associated with the immune scores. The correlation between key genes and 22 immune cell types were estimated by using CIBERSORT algorithms. Results: WGCNA showed that the pink module was most correlated with the immune score. Seven of 14 key genes (FCRL3, IFNG, KCNA3, LY9, PLA2G2D, THEMIS, and TRAT1) were significantly associated with the OS of OV patients. Correlation analysis showed our key genes positively related to M1 macrophages, CD8 T cells, plasma cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells and activated memory CD4 T cells, and negatively related to naive CD4 T cells, M0 macrophages, activated dendritic cells (DCs) and memory B cells. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that lower abundances of neutrophils and higher abundances of M1 macrophages, plasma cells, T cells gamma delta (γδT) cells and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells predicted better OV prognosis. Conclusion: Forteen key genes related to the immune infiltrating of OV were identified, and seven of them were significantly related to prognosis. These key genes have potential roles in tumor infiltrating immune cells differentiation and proliferation. This study provided potential prognostic markers and immunotherapy targets for OV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingli Quan
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinxin Xiong
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shanyun Wu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Meixing Yu
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Di Silvestre D, Garavelli S, Procaccini C, Prattichizzo F, Passignani G, De Rosa V, Mauri P, Matarese G, de Candia P. CD4 + T-Cell Activation Prompts Suppressive Function by Extracellular Vesicle-Associated MicroRNAs. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:753884. [PMID: 34778265 PMCID: PMC8580371 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.753884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding molecules targeting messenger RNAs and inhibiting protein translation, modulate key biological processes, including cell growth and development, energy utilization, and homeostasis. In particular, miRNAs control the differentiation, survival, and activation of CD4 + T conventional (Tconv) cells, key players of the adaptive immunity, and regulate the physiological response to infections and the pathological loss of immune homeostasis in autoimmunity. Upon T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, the described global miRNA quantitative decrease occurring in T cells is believed to promote the acquisition of effector functions by relaxing the post-transcriptional repression of genes associated with proliferation and cell activity. MiRNAs were initially thought to get downregulated uniquely by intracellular degradation; on the other hand, miRNA secretion via extracellular vesicles (EVs) represents an additional mechanism of rapid downregulation. By focusing on molecular interactions by means of graph theory, we have found that miRNAs released by TCR-stimulated Tconv cells are significantly enriched for targeting transcripts upregulated upon stimulation, including those encoding for crucial proteins associated with Tconv cell activation and function. Based on this computational approach, we present our perspective based on the following hypothesis: a stimulated Tconv cell will release miRNAs targeting genes associated with the effector function in the extracellular space in association with EVs, which will thus possess a suppressive potential toward other Tconv cells in the paracrine environment. We also propose possible future directions of investigation aimed at taking advantage of these phenomena to control Tconv cell effector function in health and autoimmunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Di Silvestre
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ITB-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Garavelli
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Procaccini
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.,Unitá di Neuroimmunologia, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Passignani
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ITB-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica De Rosa
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.,Unitá di Neuroimmunologia, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Mauri
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ITB-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Matarese
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.,Treg Cell Laboratory, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Universitá Degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|