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Sumagin R. Phenotypic and Functional Diversity of Neutrophils in Gut Inflammation and Cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:2-12. [PMID: 37918801 PMCID: PMC10768535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophils [polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs)] execute important effector functions protecting the host against invading pathogens. However, their activity in tissue can exacerbate inflammation and inflammation-associated tissue injury and tumorigenesis. Until recently, PMNs were considered to be short-lived, terminally differentiated phagocytes. However, this view is rapidly changing with the emerging evidence of increased PMN lifespan in tissues, PMN plasticity, and phenotypic heterogeneity. Specialized PMN subsets have been identified in inflammation and in developing tumors, consistent with both beneficial and detrimental functions of PMNs in these conditions. Because PMN and tumor-associated neutrophil activity and the resulting beneficial/detrimental impacts primarily occur after homing to inflamed tissue/tumors, studying the underlying mechanisms of PMN/tumor-associated neutrophil trafficking is of high interest and clinical relevance. This review summarizes some of the key findings from over a decade of work from my laboratory and others on the regulation of PMN recruitment and identification of phenotypically and functionally diverse PMN subtypes as they pertain to gut inflammation and colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Sumagin
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
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2
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Bokil AA, Le Boulvais Børkja M, Wolowczyk C, Lamsal A, Prestvik WS, Nonstad U, Pettersen K, Andersen SB, Bofin AM, Bjørkøy G, Hak S, Giambelluca MS. Discovery of a new marker to identify myeloid cells associated with metastatic breast tumours. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:279. [PMID: 37980483 PMCID: PMC10656772 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03136-w] [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: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myeloid cells play an essential role in cancer metastasis. The phenotypic diversity of these cells during cancer development has attracted great interest; however, their functional heterogeneity and plasticity have limited their role as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. METHODS To identify markers associated with myeloid cells in metastatic tumours, we compared transcriptomic data from immune cells sorted from metastatic and non-metastatic mammary tumours grown in BALB/cJ mice. To assess the translational relevance of our in vivo findings, we assessed human breast cancer biopsies and evaluated the association between arginase 1 protein expression in breast cancer tissues with tumour characteristics and patient outcomes. RESULTS Among the differentially expressed genes, arginase 1 (ARG1) showed a unique expression pattern in tumour-infiltrating myeloid cells that correlated with the metastatic capacity of the tumour. Even though ARG1-positive cells were found almost exclusively inside the metastatic tumour, ARG1 protein was also present in the plasma. In human breast cancer biopsies, the presence of ARG1-positive cells was strongly correlated with high-grade proliferating tumours, poor prognosis, and low survival. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the potential use of ARG1-positive myeloid cells as an independent prognostic marker to evaluate the risk of metastasis in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansooya A Bokil
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Mathieu Le Boulvais Børkja
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Camilla Wolowczyk
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Apsana Lamsal
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Wenche S Prestvik
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Unni Nonstad
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristine Pettersen
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sonja B Andersen
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anna M Bofin
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Geir Bjørkøy
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sjoerd Hak
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Miriam S Giambelluca
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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Yang F, Wendusubilige, Kong J, Zong Y, Wang M, Jing C, Ma Z, Li W, Cao R, Jing S, Gao J, Li W, Wang J. Identifying oxidative stress-related biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine using integrative omics approaches and machine-learning strategies. EPMA J 2023; 14:417-442. [PMID: 37605652 PMCID: PMC10439879 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-023-00334-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare interstitial lung disease with a poor prognosis that currently lacks effective treatment methods. Preventing the acute exacerbation of IPF, identifying the molecular subtypes of patients, providing personalized treatment, and developing individualized drugs are guidelines for predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM / 3PM) to promote the development of IPF. Oxidative stress (OS) is an important pathological process of IPF. However, the relationship between the expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes (OSRGs) and clinical indices in patients with IPF is unclear; therefore, it is still a challenge to identify potential beneficiaries of antioxidant therapy. Because PPPM aims to recognize and manage diseases by integrating multiple methods, patient stratification and analysis based on OSRGs and identifying biomarkers can help achieve the above goals. Methods Transcriptome data from 250 IPF patients were divided into training and validation sets. Core OSRGs were identified in the training set and subsequently clustered to identify oxidative stress-related subtypes. The oxidative stress scores, clinical characteristics, and expression levels of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) of different subtypes were compared to identify patients who were sensitive to antioxidant therapy to conduct differential gene functional enrichment analysis and predict potential therapeutic drugs. Diagnostic markers between subtypes were obtained by integrating multiple machine learning methods, their expression levels were tested in rat models with different degrees of pulmonary fibrosis and validation sets, and nomogram models were constructed. CIBERSORT, single-cell RNA sequencing, and immunofluorescence staining were used to explore the effects of OSRGs on the immune microenvironment. Results Core OSRGs classified IPF into two subtypes. Patients classified into subtypes with low oxidative stress levels had better clinical scores, less severe fibrosis, and lower expression of SASP-related molecules. A reliable nomogram model based on five diagnostic markers was constructed, and these markers' expression stability was verified in animal experiments. The number of neutrophils in the immune microenvironment was significantly different between the two subtypes and was closely related to the degree of fibrosis. Conclusion Within the framework of PPPM, this work comprehensively explored the role of OSRGs and their mediated cellular senescence and immune processes in the progress of IPF and assessed their capabilities aspredictors of high oxidative stress and disease progression,targets of the vicious loop between regulated pulmonary fibrosis and OS for targeted secondary and tertiary prevention, andreferences for personalized antioxidant and antifibrotic therapies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-023-00334-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wendusubilige
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Institute of Ethnic Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwei Kong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhan Zong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Manting Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanqing Jing
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zhaotian Ma
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Institute of Ethnic Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wanyang Li
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences - Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan campus), Beijing, China
| | - Renshuang Cao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Shuwen Jing
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jie Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ji Wang
- National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Muir A, Bennett A, Smith H, Logunova L, Wolfenden A, Fenn J, Lowe AE, Brass A, Grainger JR, Konkel JE, Bradley JE, Mair I, Else KJ. The wild mouse bone marrow has a unique myeloid and lymphoid composition and phenotype. DISCOVERY IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 2:kyad005. [PMID: 38567065 PMCID: PMC10917185 DOI: 10.1093/discim/kyad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The murine bone marrow has a central role in immune function and health as the primary source of leukocytes in adult mice. Laboratory mice provide a human-homologous, genetically manipulable and reproducible model that has enabled an immeasurable volume of high-quality immunological research. However, recent research has questioned the translatability of laboratory mouse research into humans and proposed that the exposure of mice to their wild and natural environment may hold the key to further immunological breakthroughs. To date, there have been no studies providing an in-depth cellular analysis of the wild mouse bone marrow. This study utilized wild mice from an isolated island population (Isle of May, Scotland, UK) and performed flow cytometric and histological analysis to characterize the myeloid, lymphoid, hematopoietic progenitor, and adipocyte compartments within the wild mouse bone marrow. We find that, compared to laboratory mouse bone marrow, the wild mouse bone marrow differs in every cell type assessed. Some of the major distinctions include; a smaller B cell compartment with an enriched presence of plasma cells, increased proportions of KLRG1+ CD8+ T cells, diminished CD11b expression in the myeloid lineage and a five-fold enlargement of the eosinophil compartment. We conclude that the wild mouse bone marrow is dramatically distinct from its laboratory counterparts, with multiple phenotypes that to our knowledge have never been observed in laboratory models. Further research into these unique features may uncover novel immunological mechanisms and grant a greater understanding of the role of the immune system in a natural setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Muir
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alex Bennett
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hannah Smith
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Larisa Logunova
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Wolfenden
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan Fenn
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ann E Lowe
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Andy Brass
- School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - John R Grainger
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Joanne E Konkel
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Iris Mair
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kathryn J Else
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Lavie L, Si-On E, Hoffman A. Giant phagocytes (Gφ) and neutrophil-macrophage hybrids in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques - An activated phenotype. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1101569. [PMID: 36911715 PMCID: PMC9998916 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1101569] [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: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction A small subpopulation of CD66b+ neutrophils with extended lifespan and immensely large size was identified in vitro. They internalized dead neutrophil remnants and cellular debris, transforming them into giant phagocytes (Gφ) resembling macrophage-foam cells with a massive lipid content and CD68+ scavenger receptor expression. Thus, we sought to investigate if similar CD66b+ neutrophils with altered morphology and functions exist in inflammatory/atherosclerotic conditions in vivo, by using human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Methods Thirty-three plaques were obtained from 31 patients undergoing endarterectomy. Carotid plaques were analyzed for CD markers by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence and quantitatively analyzed by confocal microscopy. Intra-plaque lipids were stained with Oil Red O. Results Plaque CD66b+ neutrophils co-expressed myeloperoxidase (MPO)+ and neutrophil elastase (NE)+. Also, co-expression of CD66b+/CD68+, CD66b+/CD36+, CD66b+/vascular-endothelial-growth- factor (VEGF)+ and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT)+/NE+ was noted. Similarly, macrophages co-expressed CD163+/CD68+, CD163+/VEGF+ and CD163+/3-NT+. Both cell types were predominantly localized in lipid-rich areas and stained for lipids. CD66b+ and CD163+ expressions were highly positively correlated with each other and each with CD68+, and 3-NT+. Morphologically, CD66+ cells were big, had a rounded nucleus, and resembled macrophage-foam cell morphology as well as that of Gφ in vitro. To clarify whether CD66b+ and CD163+ cells represent two distinct plaque-populations, plaques were double-stained for CD66b/CD163 co-localization. A third of the plaques was negative for CD66b/CD163 co-localization. Other plaques had a low co-localization, but in few plaques, co-localization was high, collectively, indicating that in some of plaques there were two distinct cell populations, those resembling Gφ, and those co-expressing CD66b+/CD163+, demonstrating a hybrid neutrophil-macrophage phenotype. Interestingly, CD66b+/CD163+ co-localization was highly positively correlated with the oxidant 3-NT, hence, supporting trans-differentiation of CD66b+ cells to CD163+ Cells. Conversely, phagocytosis of dead neutrophils by macrophages might have also occurred. Discussion Thus, we conclude that in some of the plaques CD66b+ cells might represent cells resembling Gφ that developed in prolonged culture conditions. Yet, CD66b+/CD163+ co-expressing cells represent a new neutrophil-macrophage hybrid population of unknown transitioning point, possibly by adopting macrophage markers or contrariwise. Nonetheless, the significance and functions of these cells in plaque biology or other inflammatory/atherosclerotic conditions should be unveiled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Lavie
- Unit of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Erez Si-On
- Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantation, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Aaron Hoffman
- Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantation, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Abstract
A principal purpose of type 2 immunity was thought to be defense against large parasites, but it also functions in the restoration of homeostasis, such as toxin clearance following snake bites. In other cases, like allergy, the type 2 T helper (Th2) cytokines and cells present in the environment are detrimental and cause diseases. In recent years, the recognition of cell heterogeneity within Th2-associated cell populations has revealed specific functions of cells with a particular phenotype or gene signature. In addition, here we discuss the recent data regarding heterogeneity of type 2 immunity-related cells, as well as their newly identified role in a variety of processes ranging from involvement in respiratory viral infections [especially in the context of the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic] to control of cancer development or of metabolic homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamida Hammad
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology and Immunoregulation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; .,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nincy Debeuf
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology and Immunoregulation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; .,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Helena Aegerter
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology and Immunoregulation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; .,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andrew S Brown
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology and Immunoregulation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; .,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart N Lambrecht
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology and Immunoregulation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; .,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Eosinophils as Drivers of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Endotypes or Plasticity? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810150. [PMID: 34576313 PMCID: PMC8467265 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma is now recognized as a heterogeneous disease, encompassing different phenotypes driven by distinct pathophysiological mechanisms called endotypes. Common phenotypes of asthma, referred to as eosinophilic asthma, are characterized by the presence of eosinophilia. Eosinophils are usually considered invariant, terminally differentiated effector cells and have become a primary therapeutic target in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) and other eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs). Biological treatments that target eosinophils reveal an unexpectedly complex role of eosinophils in asthma, including in SEA, suggesting that "not all eosinophils are equal". In this review, we address our current understanding of the role of eosinophils in asthma with regard to asthma phenotypes and endotypes. We further address the possibility that different SEA phenotypes may involve differences in eosinophil biology. We discuss how these differences could arise through eosinophil "endotyping", viz. adaptations of eosinophil function imprinted during their development, or through tissue-induced plasticity, viz. local adaptations of eosinophil function through interaction with their lung tissue niches. In doing so, we also discuss opportunities, technical challenges, and open questions that, if addressed, might provide considerable benefits in guiding the choice of the most efficient precision therapies of SEA and, by extension, other EADs.
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Mair I, Wolfenden A, Lowe AE, Bennett A, Muir A, Smith H, Fenn J, Bradley JE, Else KJ. A lesson from the wild: The natural state of eosinophils is Ly6G hi. Immunology 2021; 164:766-776. [PMID: 34486729 PMCID: PMC8561109 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13413] [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: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
With a long history of promoting pathological inflammation, eosinophils are now emerging as important regulatory cells. Yet, findings from controlled laboratory experiments so far lack translation to animals, including humans, in their natural environment. In order to appreciate the breadth of eosinophil phenotype under non‐laboratory, uncontrolled conditions, we exploit a free‐living population of the model organism Mus musculus domesticus. Eosinophils were present at significantly higher proportions in the spleen and bone marrow of wild mice compared with laboratory mice. Strikingly, the majority of eosinophils of wild mice exhibited a unique Ly6Ghi phenotype seldom described in laboratory literature. Ly6G expression correlated with activation status in spleen and bone marrow, but not peritoneal exudate cells, and is therefore likely not an activation marker per se. Intermediate Ly6G expression was transiently induced in a small proportion of eosinophils from C57BL/6 laboratory mice during acute infection with the whipworm Trichuris muris, but not during low‐dose chronic infection, which better represents parasite exposure in the wild. We conclude that the natural state of the eosinophil is not adequately reflected in the standard laboratory mouse, which compromises our attempts to dissect their functional relevance. Our findings emphasize the importance of studying the immune system in its natural context – alongside more mechanistic laboratory experiments – in order to capture the entirety of immune phenotypes and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Mair
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Wolfenden
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ann E Lowe
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alex Bennett
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Muir
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hannah Smith
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan Fenn
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Kathryn J Else
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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The twilight zone: plasticity and mixed ontogeny of neutrophil and eosinophil granulocyte subsets. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:337-346. [PMID: 34009400 PMCID: PMC8132041 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00862-z] [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: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
It is now becoming clear that neutrophils and eosinophils are heterogeneous cells with potentially multiple subsets in health and disease. With greater marker coverage by multi-color flow cytometry and single-cell level sequencing of granulocyte populations, novel phenotypes of these cells began to emerge. Intriguingly, many newly described subsets blend distinctions between classical myeloid lineage phenotypes, which are especially true for tissue resident or recruited cells in contexts of inflammation and disease. This includes reports of neutrophils with features of eosinophils, monocytes and dendritic cells, and eosinophil subsets expressing neutrophil markers. Moreover, novel studies show the ability of immature neutrophils to transdifferentiate into mature cells belonging to other myeloid lineages (eosinophils, monocytes/macrophages). In this review, we summarize novel findings in this exciting research frontier and shed light on potential processes driving the plasticity and heterogeneity of granulocyte subsets. Specifically, we discuss the hematopoietic flexibility of granulocyte precursors in bone marrow and the adaptation of myeloid cells to local tissue microenvironments. The understanding of such intermediate and developmental phenotypes is very important, as it can teach us about origins of functionally distinct myeloid cells during inflammation, and explain reasons for successes and failures of biologics targeting terminally differentiated granulocytes.
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