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Akiyama N, Takizawa N, Miyauchi M, Yanai H, Tateishi R, Shinzawa M, Yoshinaga R, Kurihara M, Demizu Y, Yasuda H, Yagi S, Wu G, Matsumoto M, Sakamoto R, Yoshida N, Penninger JM, Kobayashi Y, Inoue JI, Akiyama T. Identification of embryonic precursor cells that differentiate into thymic epithelial cells expressing autoimmune regulator. J Exp Med 2016; 213:1441-58. [PMID: 27401343 PMCID: PMC4986530 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) expressing autoimmune regulator (Aire) are critical for preventing the onset of autoimmunity. However, the differentiation program of Aire-expressing mTECs (Aire(+) mTECs) is unclear. Here, we describe novel embryonic precursors of Aire(+) mTECs. We found the candidate precursors of Aire(+) mTECs (pMECs) by monitoring the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), which is required for Aire(+) mTEC differentiation. pMECs unexpectedly expressed cortical TEC molecules in addition to the mTEC markers UEA-1 ligand and RANK and differentiated into mTECs in reaggregation thymic organ culture. Introduction of pMECs in the embryonic thymus permitted long-term maintenance of Aire(+) mTECs and efficiently suppressed the onset of autoimmunity induced by Aire(+) mTEC deficiency. Mechanistically, pMECs differentiated into Aire(+) mTECs by tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6-dependent RANK signaling. Moreover, nonclassical nuclear factor-κB activation triggered by RANK and lymphotoxin-β receptor signaling promoted pMEC induction from progenitors exhibiting lower RANK expression and higher CD24 expression. Thus, our findings identified two novel stages in the differentiation program of Aire(+) mTECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuko Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Nobukazu Takizawa
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Hiromi Yanai
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tateishi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Miho Shinzawa
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Riko Yoshinaga
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kurihara
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kamiyoga, Setagaya, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kamiyoga, Setagaya, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan
| | - Hisataka Yasuda
- Nagahama Institute for Biochemical Science, Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd., 50, Kano-cho, Nagahama, Shiga 526-0804, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yagi
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Guoying Wu
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Reiko Sakamoto
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Yoshida
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Josef M Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yasuhiro Kobayashi
- Institute for Oral Science, Matsumoto Dental University, Hiro-oka, Shiojiri-shi, Nagano 399-0781, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichiro Inoue
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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Akiyama T, Tateishi R, Akiyama N, Yoshinaga R, Kobayashi TJ. Positive and Negative Regulatory Mechanisms for Fine-Tuning Cellularity and Functions of Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2015; 6:461. [PMID: 26441966 PMCID: PMC4568481 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-tolerant T cells and regulatory T cells develop in the thymus. A wide variety of cell-cell interactions in the thymus is required for the differentiation, proliferation, and repertoire selection of T cells. Various secreted and cell surface molecules expressed in thymic epithelial cells (TECs) mediate these processes. Moreover, cytokines expressed by cells of hematopoietic origin regulate the cellularity of TECs. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family RANK ligand, lymphotoxin, and CD40 ligand, expressed in T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), promote the differentiation and proliferation of medullary TECs (mTECs) that play critical roles in the induction of immune tolerance. A recent study suggests that interleukin-22 (IL-22) produced by ILCs promotes regeneration of TECs after irradiation. Intriguingly, tumor growth factor-β and osteoprotegerin limit cellularity of mTECs, thereby attenuating regulatory T cell generation. We will review recent insights into the molecular basis for cell-cell interactions regulating differentiation and proliferation of mTECs and also discuss about a perspective on use of mathematical models for understanding this complicated system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tateishi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Riko Yoshinaga
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
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Shinzawa M, Konno H, Qin J, Akiyama N, Miyauchi M, Ohashi H, Miyamoto-Sato E, Yanagawa H, Akiyama T, Inoue JI. Catalytic subunits of the phosphatase calcineurin interact with NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) and attenuate NIK-dependent gene expression. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10758. [PMID: 26029823 PMCID: PMC5377069 DOI: 10.1038/srep10758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor (NF)-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) is a serine/threonine kinase that activates NF-κB pathways, thereby regulating a wide variety of immune systems. Aberrant NIK activation causes tumor malignancy, suggesting a requirement for precise regulation of NIK activity. To explore novel interacting proteins of NIK, we performed in vitro virus screening and identified the catalytic subunit Aα isoform of serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin (CnAα) as a novel NIK-interacting protein. The interaction of NIK with CnAα in living cells was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Calcineurin catalytic subunit Aβ isoform (CnAβ) also bound to NIK. Experiments using domain deletion mutants suggested that CnAα and CnAβ interact with both the kinase domain and C-terminal region of NIK. Moreover, the phosphatase domain of CnAα is responsible for the interaction with NIK. Intriguingly, we found that TRAF3, a critical regulator of NIK activity, also binds to CnAα and CnAβ. Depletion of CnAα and CnAβ significantly enhanced lymphotoxin-β receptor (LtβR)-mediated expression of the NIK-dependent gene Spi-B and activation of RelA and RelB, suggesting that CnAα and CnAβ attenuate NF-κB activation mediated by LtβR-NIK signaling. Overall, these findings suggest a possible role of CnAα and CnAβ in modifying NIK functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Shinzawa
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Konno
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junwen Qin
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education and International Base of Collaboration for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Ohashi
- Division of Interactome Medical Sciences, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Etsuko Miyamoto-Sato
- Division of Interactome Medical Sciences, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki, Noda-shi, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yanagawa
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun-ichiro Inoue
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Chiu SC, Liu HH, Chen CL, Chen PR, Liu MC, Lin SZ, Chang KT. Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in laboratory animals: offering an insight into stem cell research. Cell Transplant 2015; 24:349-66. [PMID: 25646951 DOI: 10.3727/096368915x686850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a pathological process secondary to underlying bone marrow (BM) insufficiency in adults. It is characterized by the emergence of multipotent hematopoietic progenitors scattered around the affected tissue, most likely in the spleen, liver, and lymph node, etc. EMH in patients frequently receives less medical attention and is neglected unless a compressive or obstructive hematopoietic mass appears to endanger the patient's life. However, on a biological basis, EMH reflects the alteration of relationships among hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and their original and new microenvironments. The ability of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to mobilize from the bone marrow and to accommodate and function in extramedullary tissues is rather complicated and far from our current understanding. Fortunately, many reports from the studies of drugs and genetics using animals have incidentally found EMH to be involved. Thereby, the molecular basis of EMH could further be elucidated from those animals after cross-comparison. A deeper understanding of the extramedullary hematopoietic niche could help expand stem cells in vitro and establish a better treatment in patients for stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Chih Chiu
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Akiyama T, Shinzawa M, Qin J, Akiyama N. Regulations of gene expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells required for preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol 2013; 4:249. [PMID: 23986760 PMCID: PMC3752772 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elimination of potential self-reactive T cells in the thymus is crucial for preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases. Epithelial cell subsets localized in thymic medulla [medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs)] contribute to this process by supplying a wide range of self-antigens that are otherwise expressed in a tissue-specific manner (TSAs). Expression of some TSAs in mTECs is controlled by the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein, of which dysfunctional mutations are the causative factor of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). In addition to the elimination of self-reactive T cells, recent studies indicated roles of mTECs in the development of Foxp3-positive regulatory T cells, which suppress autoimmunity and excess immune reactions in peripheral tissues. The TNF family cytokines, RANK ligand, CD40 ligand, and lymphotoxin were found to promote the differentiation of AIRE- and TSA-expressing mTECs. Furthermore, activation of NF-κB is essential for mTEC differentiation. In this mini-review, we focus on molecular mechanisms that regulate induction of AIRE and TSA expression and discuss possible contributions of these mechanisms to prevent the onset of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
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Akiyama T, Shinzawa M, Akiyama N. RANKL-RANK interaction in immune regulatory systems. World J Orthop 2012; 3:142-50. [PMID: 23173110 PMCID: PMC3502610 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v3.i9.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/15/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK plays a critical role in the development and function of diverse tissues. This review summarizes the studies regarding the functions of RANKL signaling in immune regulatory systems. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that the RANKL signal promotes the survival of dendritic cells (DCs), thereby activating the immune response. In addition, RANKL signaling to DCs in the body surface barriers controls self-tolerance and oral-tolerance through regulatory T cell functions. In addition to regulating DC functions, the RANKL and RANK interaction is critical for the development and organization of several lymphoid organs. The RANKL signal initiates the formation of clusters of lymphoid tissue inducer cells, which is crucial for lymph node organogenesis. Moreover, the RANKL-RANK interaction controls the differentiation of M cells, specialized epithelial cells in mucosal tissues, that take up and transcytose antigen particles to control the immune response to pathogens or commensal bacterium. The development of epithelial cells localized in the thymic medulla (mTECs) is also regulated by the RANKL-RANK signal. Given that the unique property of mTECs to express a wide variety of tissue-specific self-antigens is critical for the elimination of self-antigen reactive T cells in the thymus, the RANKL-RANK interaction contributes to the suppression of autoimmunity. Future studies on the roles of the RANKL-RANK system in immune regulatory functions would be informative for the development and application of inhibitors of RANKL signaling for disease treatment.
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Akiyama T, Shinzawa M, Akiyama N. TNF receptor family signaling in the development and functions of medullary thymic epithelial cells. Front Immunol 2012; 3:278. [PMID: 22969770 PMCID: PMC3432834 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide the microenvironment required for the development of T cells in the thymus. A unique property of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) is their expression of a wide range of tissue-restricted self-antigens, critically regulated by the nuclear protein AIRE, which contributes to the selection of the self-tolerant T cell repertoire, thereby suppressing the onset of autoimmune diseases. The TNF receptor family (TNFRF) protein receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), CD40 and lymphotoxin β receptor (LtβR) regulate the development and functions of mTECs. The engagement of these receptors with their specific ligands results in the activation of the NF-κB family of transcription factors. Two NF-κB activation pathways, the classical and non-classical pathways, promote the development of mature mTECs induced by these receptors. Consistently, TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF6), the signal transducer of the classical pathway, and NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK), the signal transducer of the non-classical pathway, are essential for the development of mature mTECs. This review summarizes the current understanding of how the signaling by the TNF receptor family controls the development and functions of mTEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Cancer Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
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