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Sender R, Weiss Y, Navon Y, Milo I, Azulay N, Keren L, Fuchs S, Ben-Zvi D, Noor E, Milo R. The total mass, number, and distribution of immune cells in the human body. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308511120. [PMID: 37871201 PMCID: PMC10623016 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308511120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system is a complex network of cells with critical functions in health and disease. However, a comprehensive census of the cells comprising the immune system is lacking. Here, we estimated the abundance of the primary immune cell types throughout all tissues in the human body. We conducted a literature survey and integrated data from multiplexed imaging and methylome-based deconvolution. We also considered cellular mass to determine the distribution of immune cells in terms of both number and total mass. Our results indicate that the immune system of a reference 73 kg man consists of 1.8 × 1012 cells (95% CI 1.5-2.3 × 1012), weighing 1.2 kg (95% CI 0.8-1.9). Lymphocytes constitute 40% of the total number of immune cells and 15% of the mass and are mainly located in the lymph nodes and spleen. Neutrophils account for similar proportions of both the number and total mass of immune cells, with most neutrophils residing in the bone marrow. Macrophages, present in most tissues, account for 10% of immune cells but contribute nearly 50% of the total cellular mass due to their large size. The quantification of immune cells within the human body presented here can serve to understand the immune function better and facilitate quantitative modeling of this vital system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Sender
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yarden Weiss
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yoav Navon
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Idan Milo
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Nofar Azulay
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Leeat Keren
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Shai Fuchs
- Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Danny Ben-Zvi
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Elad Noor
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ron Milo
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Nielsen SCA, Boyd SD. Human adaptive immune receptor repertoire analysis-Past, present, and future. Immunol Rev 2019; 284:9-23. [PMID: 29944765 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The genes encoding adaptive immune antigen receptors, namely the immunoglobulins expressed in membrane-bound or secreted forms by B cells, and the cell surface T cell receptors, are unique in human biology because they are generated by combinatorial rearrangement of the genomic DNA. The diversity of receptors so generated in populations of lymphocytes enables the human immune system to recognize antigens expressed by pathogens, but also underlies the pathological specificity of autoimmune diseases and the mistargeted immunity in allergies. Several recent technological developments, foremost among them the invention of high-throughput DNA sequencing instruments, have enabled much deeper and thorough evaluation of clones of human B cells and T cells and the antigen receptors they express during physiological and pathogenic immune responses. The evolutionary struggles between host adaptive immune responses and populations of pathogens are now open to greater scrutiny, elucidation of the underlying reasons for successful or failed immunity, and potential predictive modeling, than ever before. Here we give an overview of the foundations, recent progress, and future prospects in this dynamic area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott D Boyd
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Neely M, Louie S, Xu J, Anthony P, Thuvamontolrat K, Mordwinkin N, Kovacs A. Simultaneous plasma and genital pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of atazanavir and efavirenz in HIV-infected women starting therapy. J Clin Pharmacol 2015; 55:798-808. [PMID: 25683232 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have characterized longitudinal female plasma and genital antiretroviral pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Among 20 regimen-naive HIV-infected adult women initiating atazanavir-based therapy (n = 9) or efavirenz-based therapy (n = 11), we measured blood CD4+ T lymphocytes, and paired plasma and genital HIV RNA and atazanavir or efavirenz 2 days before starting therapy and 2, 4, 7, 10, 21, 28, 60, 120, and 180 days after. The mean (range) log10 baseline plasma viral load was 4.89 copies/mL (2.64-6.09 copies/mL), and genital was3.30 (1.60-5.00). In the atazanavir and efavirenz groups, mean (SD) days to a 50% decrease in plasma viral load was 8.2 (4.9) versus 9.3 (7.4), P = .7, and in the genital tract it was 7.3 (3.5) versus 9.3 (7.7), P = .5. The median (interquartile range) plasma:genital concentration ratio for atazanavir was 0.11 (0.001-0.46) versus 0.34 (0.05-1.30) for efavirenz, P = .5. Average plasma efavirenz or atazanavir concentrations over time did not affect virologic response. Blood CD4+ percentages increased by +2.3 (P = .06) and +3.0 (P = .003) for every 1 mg/L increase in average plasma and genital drug concentration, respectively. Plasma and genital viral pharmacodynamics were similar between the groups and independent of average concentrations, but blood CD4+ response was related in particular to genital extravascular drug concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Neely
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacokinetics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stan Louie
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Economics & Policy Faculty, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jiaao Xu
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Center for Virology and Infectious Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Patricia Anthony
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Center for Virology and Infectious Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kasalyn Thuvamontolrat
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Center for Virology and Infectious Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Andrea Kovacs
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Center for Virology and Infectious Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Chiarini M, Sottini A, Bertoli D, Serana F, Caimi L, Rasia S, Capra R, Imberti L. Newly produced T and B lymphocytes and T-cell receptor repertoire diversity are reduced in peripheral blood of fingolimod-treated multiple sclerosis patients. Mult Scler 2014; 21:726-34. [PMID: 25392322 DOI: 10.1177/1352458514551456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fingolimod inhibits lymphocyte egress from lymphoid tissues, thus altering the composition of the peripheral lymphocyte pool of multiple sclerosis patients. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to evaluate whether fingolimod determines a decrease of newly produced T- and B-lymphocytes in the blood and a reduction in the T-cell receptor repertoire diversity that may affect immune surveillance. METHODS Blood samples were obtained from multiple sclerosis patients before fingolimod therapy initiation and then after six and 12 months. Newly produced T and B lymphocytes were measured by quantifying T-cell receptor excision circles and K-deleting recombination excision circles by real-time PCR, while recent thymic emigrants, naive CD8(+) lymphocytes, immature and naive B cells were determined by immune phenotyping. T-cell receptor repertoire was analyzed by complementarity determining region 3 spectratyping. RESULTS Newly produced T and B lymphocytes were significantly reduced in peripheral blood of fingolimod-treated patients. The decrease was particularly evident in the T-cell compartment. T-cell repertoire restrictions, already present before therapy, significantly increased after 12 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results do not have direct clinical implications but they may be useful for further understanding the mode of action of this immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - L Caimi
- CREA, Diagnostics Department
| | - S Rasia
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy
| | - R Capra
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy
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Johnson PLF, Goronzy JJ, Antia R. A population biological approach to understanding the maintenance and loss of the T-cell repertoire during aging. Immunology 2014; 142:167-75. [PMID: 24405293 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune system requires a diverse T-cell repertoire to be able to respond to a wide variety of pathogens. Worryingly, the repertoire diversity declines dramatically in old age. As thymic output generates novel T cells, the conventional view holds that a decrease in this output with age is responsible for the loss in the repertoire. However, many additional factors affect the repertoire such as homeostatic turnover and antigen-dependent expansion in response to infection. Mathematical models taking a population biology perspective are important tools for understanding how the interplay between these factors affects the immune repertoire. These models suggest that thymic decline is not a major factor but rather that some combination of virus-induced proliferation and T-cell-intrinsic genetic or epigenetic changes gives rise to the oligoclonal expansions that cause the decline in T-cell diversity. We also discuss consequences for strategies to rejuvenate the immune repertoire in old age.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Successful immune reconstitution is important for decreasing posthematopoietic cell transplant (post-HCT) infections, relapse, and secondary malignancy, without increasing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Here we review how different parts of the immune system recover, and the relationship between recovery and clinical outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Innate immunity (e.g., neutrophils, natural killer cells) recovers within weeks, whereas adaptive immunity (B and T cells) recovers within months to years. This has been known for years; however, more recently, the pattern of recovery of additional immune cell subsets has been described. The role of these subsets in transplant complications like infections, GVHD and relapse is becoming increasingly recognized, as gleaned from studies of the association between subset counts or function and complications/outcomes, and from studies depleting or adoptively transferring various subsets. SUMMARY Lessons learned from observational studies on immune reconstitution are leading to new strategies to prevent or treat posttransplant infections. Additional knowledge is needed to develop effective strategies to prevent or treat relapse, second malignancies and GVHD.
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Savkovic B, Macpherson JL, Zaunders J, Kelleher AD, Knop AE, Pond S, Evans L, Symonds G, Murray JM. T-lymphocyte perturbation following large-scale apheresis and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in HIV-infected individuals. Clin Immunol 2012; 144:159-71. [PMID: 22772031 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2012.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Revised: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Analysis and mathematical modeling of T-lymphocyte perturbation following administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and two large-scale aphereses are reported. 74 HIV-1 positive antiretroviral-treated individuals were infused with gene- or sham-transduced CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in a Phase II clinical trial. T cell numbers were examined in four phases: 1) during steady state; 2) increases in peripheral blood (PB) following G-CSF administration; 3) depletion post-aphereses and 4) reconstitution post HSC infusion. The present analysis provides the first direct estimate of CD4+ T cell distribution and trafficking in HIV-infected individuals on stable HAART, indicating that CD4+ T lymphocytes in PB represent 5.5% of the pool of CD4+ T lymphocytes that traffic to PB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borislav Savkovic
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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Funk GA, Gosert R, Hirsch HH. Viral dynamics in transplant patients: implications for disease. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2007; 7:460-72. [PMID: 17597570 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(07)70159-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Viral infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. Quantifying viral loads is widely appreciated as a direct means to diagnose and monitor the course of viral infections. Recent studies indicate that the kinetics of viral load changes rather than single viral load measurements better correlate with organ involvement. In this Review, we will summarise the current knowledge regarding the kinetics of viruses relevant to transplantation including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, the herpes viruses 6 and 7, hepatitis C virus, GB virus C, adenovirus, and the emerging human polyomavirus type BK. We discuss the implications of viral kinetics for organ pathology as well as for the evaluation of antiviral interventions in transplant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg A Funk
- Transplantation Virology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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