1
|
Kozlowska J, Humphryes-Kirilov N, Pavlovets A, Connolly M, Kuncheva Z, Horner J, Manso AS, Murray C, Fox JC, McCarthy A. Unveiling new genetic insights in rheumatoid arthritis for drug discovery through Taxonomy3 analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14153. [PMID: 38898196 PMCID: PMC11186831 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64970-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic support for a drug target has been shown to increase the probability of success in drug development, with the potential to reduce attrition in the pharmaceutical industry alongside discovering novel therapeutic targets. It is therefore important to maximise the detection of genetic associations that affect disease susceptibility. Conventional statistical methods such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) only identify some of the genetic contribution to disease, so novel analytical approaches are required to extract additional insights. C4X Discovery has developed Taxonomy3, a unique method for analysing genetic datasets based on mathematics that is novel in drug discovery. When applied to a previously published rheumatoid arthritis GWAS dataset, Taxonomy3 identified many additional novel genetic signals associated with this autoimmune disease. Follow-up studies using tool compounds support the utility of the method in identifying novel biology and tractable drug targets with genetic support for further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Kozlowska
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK.
| | | | - Anastasia Pavlovets
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - Martin Connolly
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - Zhana Kuncheva
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - Jonathan Horner
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - Ana Sousa Manso
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - Clare Murray
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - J Craig Fox
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| | - Alun McCarthy
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
The transcription factor FOXP3 controls the immunosuppressive program in CD4+ T cells that is crucial for systemic immune regulation. Mutations of the single X-chromosomal FOXP3 gene in male individuals cause the inherited autoimmune disease immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X-linked (IPEX) syndrome. Insufficient gene expression and impaired function of mutant FOXP3 protein prevent the generation of anti-inflammatory regulatory T (Treg) cells and fail to inhibit autoreactive T cell responses. Diversification of FOXP3 functional properties is achieved through alternative splicing that leads to isoforms lacking exon 2 (FOXP3Δ2), exon 7 (FOXP3Δ7), or both (FOXP3Δ2Δ7) specifically in human CD4+ T cells. Several IPEX mutations targeting these exons or promoting their alternative splicing revealed that those truncated isoforms cannot compensate for the loss of the full-length isoform (FOXP3fl). In this review, IPEX mutations that change the FOXP3 isoform profile and the resulting consequences for the CD4+ T-cell phenotype are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reiner K Mailer
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang Y, Zhang S, Zhang N, Feng M, Liang Z, Zhao X, Gao C, Qin Y, Wu Y, Liu G, Zhao J, Guo H, Luo J. Reduced activated regulatory T cells and imbalance of Th17/activated Treg cells marks renal involvement in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Mol Immunol 2019; 118:19-29. [PMID: 31837507 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The role of naturally occurring regulatory T cells (Treg) in the control of the immune tolerance of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) has not been well defined. Therefore, we separate the phenotypically heterogeneous Treg cells into different subsets based on the expression of FOXP3 and CD45RA during AAV pathogenesis. Fifty-four AAV patients (38 patients with renal involvement) and 19 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. Levels of CD4+T cell subsets and cytokines were detected by flow cytometry. Treg immunesuppression capacity was measured in co-culture experiments. The diagnostic value for Treg subsets was evaluated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). Patients with AAV had lower percentages and numbers of activated Treg cells (aTreg, P = 0.044, P = 0.002), while higher levels of total Treg cells (P = 0.001, P = 0.026) with diminished immunosuppression capacity. The proportions of effector memory T-cell subpopulation (P < 0.001) were increased in AAV patients. Interestingly, the AUC of the aTreg improved significantly the diagnostic potential of AAV. Furthermore, the ratio of Th17/aTreg was significantly increased in active and renal vasculitis patient and positive correlation between Th17/Treg subset ratio and creatinine or BUN. In addition, we found that cytokine IL-2 and IL-4 exhibited a downward while IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17A trend upward in AAV patients. Increase in total Treg levels, along with functional deficiency, and decrease in aTreg cells constitute potential novel biomarkers for AAV. And the ratio of Th17/aTreg might serve as an important tool to recognize and monitor AAV patients with renal involvement and disease remission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Wang
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Shulan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Min Feng
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Zhaojun Liang
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Xiangcong Zhao
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Chong Gao
- Department of Pathology,Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yan Qin
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Yanyao Wu
- Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Guangying Liu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Jinfang Zhao
- Department of Medical Statistics, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hui Guo
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Shiyan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518005, China.
| | - Jing Luo
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Luque-Campos N, Contreras-López RA, Jose Paredes-Martínez M, Torres MJ, Bahraoui S, Wei M, Espinoza F, Djouad F, Elizondo-Vega RJ, Luz-Crawford P. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis Progression by Controlling Memory T Cell Response. Front Immunol 2019; 10:798. [PMID: 31040848 PMCID: PMC6477064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have become an interesting therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to their capacity to potently modulate the immune response. RA is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder with an incompletely understood etiology. However, it has been well described that peripheral tolerance defects and the subsequent abnormal infiltration and activation of diverse immune cells into the synovial membrane, are critical for RA development and progression. Moreover, the imbalance between the immune response of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cells, in particular between memory Th17 and memory regulatory T cells (Treg), respectively, is well admitted to be associated to RA immunopathogenesis. In this context, MSCs, which are able to alter the frequency and function of memory lymphocytes including Th17, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and gamma delta (γδ) T cells while promoting Treg cell generation, have been proposed as a candidate of choice for RA cell therapy. Indeed, given the plasticity of memory CD4+ T cells, it is reasonable to think that MSCs will restore the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory memory T cells populations deregulated in RA leading to prompt their therapeutic function. In the present review, we will discuss the role of memory T cells implicated in RA pathogenesis and the beneficial effects exerted by MSCs on the phenotype and functions of these immune cells abnormally regulated in RA and how this regulation could impact RA progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noymar Luque-Campos
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rafael A Contreras-López
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Jose Paredes-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Jose Torres
- Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | | | - Mingxing Wei
- Cellvax, SAS, Parc BIOCITECH, Romainville, France
| | | | | | - Roberto Javier Elizondo-Vega
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular, Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Patricia Luz-Crawford
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Increased tumor-infiltrating CD45RA -CCR7 - regulatory T-cell subset with immunosuppressive properties foster gastric cancer progress. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e3002. [PMID: 28817117 PMCID: PMC5596574 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are major components of tumor-infiltrating immune cells with potent immunosuppressive properties in gastric cancer (GC) microenvironment. However, different subsets of the Tregs and their relevance to GC are unknown. Here, we found that patients with GC showed a significantly higher Tregs infiltration in tumors, and CD45RA−CCR7− Treg subset constituted most tumor-infiltrating Tregs. Tumor-infiltrating CD45RA−CCR7− Treg subset with an effector/memory phenotype accumulated in tumors and expressed low level of HLA-DR. Gastric tumor-derived TNF-α induced CD45RA−CCR7− Treg subset with similar phenotype to their status in tumors and inhibited their HLA-DR expression via activating STAT3 phosphorylation. These tumor-associated CD45RA−CCR7− Treg subset exerted superior immunosuppressive properties to effectively suppress CD8+ T cells’ anti-tumor function including CD8+ T-cell IFN-γ and granzyme B (GrB) production as well as CD8+ T-cell proliferation in vitro, and also contributed to the growth and progression of human gastric tumors in vivo, via IL-10 secretion and cell–cell contact mechanisms. Moreover, increased tumor-infiltrating CD45RA−CCR7− Treg subset as well as higher intratumoral CD45RA−CCR7− Treg/CD8+ T-cell ratio was associated with advanced disease progression and reduced GC patient survival. This study therefore identifies a novel immunosuppressive pathway involving CD45RA−CCR7− Treg subset development within the GC microenvironment. Efforts to inhibit this pathway may therefore prove a valuable strategy to prevent, and to treat this immune suppressive of GC.
Collapse
|
6
|
Todosenko NM, Khaziakhmatova OG, Yurova KA, Malinina IP, Litvinova LS. [The influence of methylprednisolone on the ability of CD4<sup>+</sup>CD95<sup>+</sup>HLA-DR<sup>+</sup> T-cells to produce proinflammatory medators in cultures of TCR-activated CD3<sup>+</sup>CD45RO<sup>+</sup> T-lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. BIOMEDIT︠S︡INSKAI︠A︡ KHIMII︠A︡ 2017; 63:255-265. [PMID: 28781259 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20176303255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The effect of different concentrations of the glucocorticoid (GC) methylprednisolone (MP) on CD4+CD95+HLA-DR+ T-cells and their ability to produce proinflammatory mediators in cultures of TCR-stimulated CD3+CD45RO+ T-lymphocytes in the in vitro system was investigated. T cells were obtained from healthy donors and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Under conditions of TCR-activation, MP increased the number of CD4+HLA-DR+CD95+ cells in CD3+CD45RO+ cultures obtained from RA patients and did not change their content in the control group. In general, MP decreased production of proinflammatory factors (IFN-, IL-2, IL-17, IL-21 and TNF-) by TCR-activated CD3+CD45RO+ cells from healthy donors and RA, consistent with the overall immunosuppressive mechanism of GC action. The correlation between CD4+CD45RO+HLA-DR+CD95+ T-cell contents and parameters reflecting production of proinflammatory mediators (IL-17, IL-21 and TNF-) in RA patients indicates maintenance of the pro-inflammatory potential of this T-cell population exposed to GC action. We suggest that relative resistance of CD4+CD45RO+CD95+HLA-DR+ T-cells of RA patients to the suppressor effect of GC leads to maintenance and even enhancement in the functional capacities of autoreactive cells in the pathogenesis of RA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - I P Malinina
- Department of Rheumatology Regional Clinical Hospital, Kaliningrad, Russia
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fujii H, Josse J, Tanioka M, Miyachi Y, Husson F, Ono M. Regulatory T Cells in Melanoma Revisited by a Computational Clustering of FOXP3+ T Cell Subpopulations. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:2885-92. [PMID: 26864030 PMCID: PMC4777917 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
CD4+ T cells that express the transcription factor FOXP3 (FOXP3+ T cells) are commonly regarded as immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). FOXP3+ T cells are reported to be increased in tumor-bearing patients or animals and are considered to suppress antitumor immunity, but the evidence is often contradictory. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that FOXP3 is induced by antigenic stimulation and that some non-Treg FOXP3+ T cells, especially memory-phenotype FOXP3low cells, produce proinflammatory cytokines. Accordingly, the subclassification of FOXP3+ T cells is fundamental for revealing the significance of FOXP3+ T cells in tumor immunity, but the arbitrariness and complexity of manual gating have complicated the issue. In this article, we report a computational method to automatically identify and classify FOXP3+ T cells into subsets using clustering algorithms. By analyzing flow cytometric data of melanoma patients, the proposed method showed that the FOXP3+ subpopulation that had relatively high FOXP3, CD45RO, and CD25 expressions was increased in melanoma patients, whereas manual gating did not produce significant results on the FOXP3+ subpopulations. Interestingly, the computationally identified FOXP3+ subpopulation included not only classical FOXP3high Tregs, but also memory-phenotype FOXP3low cells by manual gating. Furthermore, the proposed method successfully analyzed an independent data set, showing that the same FOXP3+ subpopulation was increased in melanoma patients, validating the method. Collectively, the proposed method successfully captured an important feature of melanoma without relying on the existing criteria of FOXP3+ T cells, revealing a hidden association between the T cell profile and melanoma, and providing new insights into FOXP3+ T cells and Tregs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Fujii
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Julie Josse
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques Appliquées, Agrocampus Ouest, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Miki Tanioka
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Miyachi
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - François Husson
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques Appliquées, Agrocampus Ouest, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; and Immunobiology, University College London Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lu Y, Wang X, Gu J, Lu H, Zhang F, Li X, Qian X, Wang X, Lu L. iTreg induced from CD39(+) naive T cells demonstrate enhanced proliferate and suppressive ability. Int Immunopharmacol 2015; 28:925-30. [PMID: 25864618 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells which consist of naturally occurring Treg (nTreg) and induced Treg (iTreg) cells are associated with the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Previous studies were focused on their potential to ameliorate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in human and mice. CD39 is a surface marker both expressed on CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells and Treg cells. CD39(+) Treg cells demonstrate stronger suppressive ability compared to conventional Treg cells. However, whether the potential of CD39(+) naïve T cells induced Treg cells is different from conventional naïve T cells induced Treg cells in vivo and vitro remains to be inconclusive. Here we demonstrate that CD39(+) iTreg cells show enhanced proliferation and suppressive ability as well as lower inflammatory cytokines compared to CD39(-) iTreg cells. To conclude, our findings demonstrate that CD39(+) iTreg cells acquire high suppressive capacity in vitro and vivo, and this may provide a new insight into Treg cell therapy in GVHD clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunjie Lu
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Gu
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangchen Li
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Qian
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuehao Wang
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Liver Transplantation Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Translational Medicine Research Center of Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Saegusa J, Matsuki F, Morinobu A. FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Inflamm Regen 2015. [DOI: 10.2492/inflammregen.35.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Saegusa
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Fumichika Matsuki
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akio Morinobu
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| |
Collapse
|