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Zhou B, Zhang M, Ma H, Wang Y, Qiu J, Liu Y, Lu L, Li T, Zhang L, Huang R, Gu Y, Kong E, Liang Y. Distinct palmitoylation of Foxp3 regulates the function of regulatory T cells via palmitoyltransferases. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:787-789. [PMID: 38720064 PMCID: PMC11214613 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01166-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Binhui Zhou
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
- Laboratory of Mouse Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Haoyuan Ma
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
- Laboratory of Mouse Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Juanjuan Qiu
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Liaoxun Lu
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Tianhan Li
- Basic Medical College, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Lichen Zhang
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Yanrong Gu
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Eryan Kong
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
- Laboratory of Mouse Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
| | - Yinming Liang
- Laboratory of Mouse Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
- Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
- Center of Disease Model and Immunology, Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
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Liu J, Zhang B, Zhang G, Shang D. Reprogramming of regulatory T cells in inflammatory tumor microenvironment: can it become immunotherapy turning point? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345838. [PMID: 38449875 PMCID: PMC10915070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and identifying widely used immunosuppressants with minimal side effects are two major challenges currently hampering cancer immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are present in almost all cancer tissues and play an important role in preserving autoimmune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. The tumor inflammatory microenvironment causes the reprogramming of Tregs, resulting in the conversion of Tregs to immunosuppressive phenotypes. This process ultimately facilitates tumor immune escape or tumor progression. However, current systemic Treg depletion therapies may lead to severe autoimmune toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of Treg reprogramming and develop immunotherapies that selectively target Tregs within tumors. This article provides a comprehensive review of the potential mechanisms involved in Treg cell reprogramming and explores the application of Treg cell immunotherapy. The interference with reprogramming pathways has shown promise in reducing the number of tumor-associated Tregs or impairing their function during immunotherapy, thereby improving anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive Treg cell reprogramming could reveal new molecular targets for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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3
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Gao C, Zhu H, Gong P, Wu C, Xu X, Zhu X. The functions of FOXP transcription factors and their regulation by post-translational modifications. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194992. [PMID: 37797785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194992] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The forkhead box subfamily P (FOXP) of transcription factors, consisting of FOXP1, FOXP2, FOXP3, and FOXP4, is involved in the regulation of multisystemic functioning. Disruption of the transcriptional activity of FOXP proteins leads to neurodevelopmental disorders and immunological diseases, as well as the suppression or promotion of carcinogenesis. The transcriptional activities of FOXP proteins are directly or indirectly regulated by diverse post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and methylation. Here, we discuss how post-translational modifications modulate the multiple functions of FOXP proteins and examine the implications for tumorigenesis and cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwen Gao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Honglin Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Peng Gong
- Department of General Surgery & Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors & Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Chen Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Xingzhi Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
| | - Xuefei Zhu
- Department of General Surgery & Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors & Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
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4
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Laudisi F, Stolfi C, Monteleone I, Monteleone G. TGF-β1 signaling and Smad7 control T-cell responses in health and immune-mediated disorders. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350460. [PMID: 37611637 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350460] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is produced by many immune and nonimmune cells and has pleiotropic effects on both innate and adaptive immunity, especially in the control of T-cell differentiation and function. Consistently, loss of TGF-β1 function is associated with exacerbated T-cell-dependent inflammatory responses that culminate in pathological processes in allergic and immune-mediated diseases. In this review, we highlight the roles of TGF-β1 in immunity, focusing mainly on its ability to promote differentiation of regulatory T cells, T helper (Th)-17, and Th9 cells, thus contributing to amplifying or restricting T-cell responses in health and human diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel diseases, type 1 diabetes, asthma, and MS). In addition, we discuss the involvement of Smad7, an inhibitor of TGF-β1 signaling, in immune-mediated disorders (e.g., psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, and inflammatory bowel diseases), as well as the discordant results of clinical trials with mongersen, an oral pharmaceutical compound containing a Smad7 antisense oligonucleotide, in patients with Crohn's disease. Further work is needed to ascertain the reasons for such a discrepancy as well as to identify better candidates for treatment with Smad7 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Laudisi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Stolfi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Monteleone
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Monteleone
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
- Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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5
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Liu Y, Zhou H, Tang X. STUB1/CHIP: New insights in cancer and immunity. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115190. [PMID: 37506582 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115190] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The STUB1 gene (STIP1 homology and U-box-containing protein 1), located at 16q13.3, encodes the CHIP (carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein), an essential E3 ligase involved in protein quality control. CHIP comprises three domains: an N-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, a middle coiled-coil domain, and a C-terminal U-box domain. It functions as a co-chaperone for heat shock protein (HSP) via the TPR domain and as an E3 ligase, ubiquitinating substrates through its U-box domain. Numerous studies suggest that STUB1 plays a crucial role in various physiological process, such as aging, autophagy, and bone remodeling. Moreover, emerging evidence has shown that STUB1 can degrade oncoproteins to exert tumor-suppressive functions, and it has recently emerged as a novel player in tumor immunity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of STUB1's role in cancer, including its clinical significance, impact on tumor progression, dual roles, tumor stem cell-like properties, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and DNA repair. In addition, we explore STUB1's functions in immune cell differentiation and maturation, inflammation, autoimmunity, antiviral immune response, and tumor immunity. Collectively, STUB1 represents a promising and valuable therapeutic target in cancer and immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongshuo Liu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University Genome Editing Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Honghong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University Genome Editing Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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6
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Wang J, Gong R, Zhao C, Lei K, Sun X, Ren H. Human FOXP3 and tumour microenvironment. Immunology 2023; 168:248-255. [PMID: 35689826 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a complex system composed of cancer cells, stromal cells and immune cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the TME impede immune surveillance of tumours and suppress antitumor immune responses. Transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) is the main marker of Tregs, which dominates the function of Tregs. FOXP3 was originally thought to be a Tregs-specific expression molecule, and recent studies have found that FOXP3 is expressed in a variety of tumours with inconsistent functional roles. This review summarizes the recent progress of infiltrating Treg-FOXP3 and tumour-FOXP3 in TME, discusses the communication mechanism between FOXP3+ cells and effector T cells in TME, the relationship between FOXP3 and clinical prognosis, and the potential of FOXP3-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.,Qingdao Medical School, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ruining Gong
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ke Lei
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - He Ren
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.,Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Tianjin, China
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7
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Garcia-Becerra N, Aguila-Estrada MU, Palafox-Mariscal LA, Hernandez-Flores G, Aguilar-Lemarroy A, Jave-Suarez LF. FOXP3 Isoforms Expression in Cervical Cancer: Evidence about the Cancer-Related Properties of FOXP3Δ2Δ7 in Keratinocytes. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020347. [PMID: 36672296 PMCID: PMC9856939 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020347] [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: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common type of cancer among women; the main predisposing factor is persistent infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV), mainly the 16 or 18 genotypes. Both hr-HPVs are known to manipulate the cellular machinery and the immune system to favor cell transformation. FOXP3, a critical transcription factor involved in the biology of regulatory T cells, has been detected as highly expressed in the tumor cells of CC patients. However, its biological role in CC, particularly in the keratinocytes, remained unclarified. Therefore, this work aimed to uncover the effect of FOXP3 on the biology of the tumoral cells. First, public databases were analyzed to identify the FOXP3 expression levels and the transcribed isoforms in CC and normal tissue samples. The study's findings demonstrated an increased expression of FOXP3 in HPV16+ CC samples. Additionally, the FOXP3Δ2 variant was detected as the most frequent splicing isoform in tumoral cells, with a high differential expression level in metastatic samples. However, the analysis of FOXP3 expression in different CC cell lines, HPV+ and HPV-, suggests no relationship between the presence of HPV and FOXP3 expression. Since the variant FOXP3Δ2Δ7 was found highly expressed in the HPV16+ SiHa cell line, a model with constitutive expression of FOXP3Δ2Δ7 was established to evaluate its role in proliferation, migration, and cell division. Finally, RNAseq was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways modulated by FOXP3Δ2Δ7. The exogenous expression of FOXP3Δ2Δ7 promotes cell division, proliferation, and migration. The transcriptomic analyses highlight the upregulation of multiple genes with protumor activities. Moreover, immunological and oncogenic pathways were detected as highly enriched. These data support the hypothesis that FOXP3Δ2Δ7 in epithelial cells induces cancer-related hallmarks and provides information about the molecular events triggered by this isoform, which could be important for developing CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Garcia-Becerra
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Marco Ulises Aguila-Estrada
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Luis Arturo Palafox-Mariscal
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Georgina Hernandez-Flores
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Adriana Aguilar-Lemarroy
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
- Correspondence: (A.A.-L.); (L.F.J.-S.)
| | - Luis Felipe Jave-Suarez
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
- Correspondence: (A.A.-L.); (L.F.J.-S.)
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8
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The role of FOXP3 in non-small cell lung cancer and its therapeutic potentials. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108333. [PMID: 36528259 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although in the last few decades we have witnessed the rapid development of treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it still remains the leading cause of cancer-related death. Increasing efforts have been devoted to exploring potential biomarkers and molecular targets for NSCLC. Foxp3, a transcription factor that was discovered as a master regulator of regulatory T cells (Tregs), has been found to express abnormally in tumoral cells including lung cancer cells. In recent years, increasing evidence have surfaced, revealing the carcinogenic effect of FOXP3 in lung cancer. In this review, we analyzed and summarized the function of FOXP3, its regulation and therapeutic potentials in NSCLC, with a hope to facilitate the development of novel treatments for NSCLC.
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The N6-methyladenosine writer WTAP contributes to the induction of immune tolerance post kidney transplantation by targeting regulatory T cells. J Transl Med 2022; 102:1268-1279. [PMID: 36775452 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-022-00811-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is involved in diverse immunoregulation, while the relationship between m6A modification and immune tolerance post kidney transplantation remains unclear. Expression of Wilms tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP), an m6A writer, was firstly detected in tolerant kidney transplant recipients (TOL). Then the role of WTAP on regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation and function in CD4+ T cells from kidney transplant recipients with immune rejection (IR) was investigated. The potential target of WTAP and effect of WTAP on immune tolerance in vivo were subsequently verified. WTAP was upregulated in CD4+ T cells of TOL and positively correlated with Treg cell proportion. In vitro, WTAP overexpression promoted Treg cell differentiation and enhanced Treg cell-mediated suppression toward naïve T cells. Forkhead box other 1 (Foxo1) was identified as a target of WTAP. WTAP enhanced m6A modification of Foxo1 mRNA in coding sequence (CDS) region, leading to up-regulation of Foxo1. Overexpression of m6A demethylase removed the effect of WTAP overexpression, while Foxo1 overexpression reversed these effects. WTAP overexpression alleviated allograft rejection in model mice, as evidenced by reduced inflammatory response and increased Treg population. Our study suggests that WTAP plays a positive role in induction of immune tolerance post kidney transplant by promoting Treg cell differentiation and function.
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Zhang Z, Bu L, Luo J, Guo J. Targeting protein kinases benefits cancer immunotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188738. [PMID: 35660645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Small-molecule kinase inhibitors have been well established and successfully developed in the last decades for cancer target therapies. However, intrinsic or acquired drug resistance is becoming the major barrier for their clinical application. With the development of immunotherapies, in particular the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the combination of ICIs with other therapies have recently been extensively explored, among which combination of ICIs with kinase inhibitors achieves promising clinical outcome in a plethora of cancer types. Here we comprehensively summarize the potent roles of protein kinases in modulating immune checkpoints both in tumor and immune cells, and reshaping tumor immune microenvironments by evoking innate immune response and neoantigen generation or presentation. Moreover, the clinical trial and approval of combined administration of kinase inhibitors with ICIs are collected, highlighting the precise strategies to benefit cancer immune therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkun Zhang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Lang Bu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Junhang Luo
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
| | - Jianping Guo
- Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
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Le Menn G, Jabłońska A, Chen Z. The effects of post-translational modifications on Th17/Treg cell differentiation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119223. [PMID: 35120998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells are subsets of CD4+ T cells which play an essential role in immune homeostasis and infection. Dysregulation of the Th17/Treg cell balance was shown to be implicated in the development and progression of several disorders such as autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, and cancer. Multiple factors, including T cell receptor (TCR) signals, cytokines, metabolic and epigenetic regulators can influence the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells and affect their balance. Accumulating evidence indicates that the activity of key molecules such as forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), the retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)s are modulated by the number of post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation, methylation, nitrosylation, acetylation, glycosylation, lipidation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation. PTMs might affect the protein folding efficiency and protein conformational stability, and consequently determine protein structure, localization, and function. Here, we review the recent progress in our understanding of how PTMs modify the key molecules involved in the Th17/Treg cell differentiation, regulate the Th17/Treg balance, and initiate autoimmune diseases caused by dysregulation of the Th17/Treg balance. A better understanding of Th17/Treg regulation may help to develop novel potential therapeutics to treat immune-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenaëlle Le Menn
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Agnieszka Jabłońska
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, University of Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Zhi Chen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, University of Gdańsk, Poland.
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Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosome-Enclosed miR-181a Induces CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells via SIRT1/Acetylation-Mediated FOXP3 Stabilization. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:8890434. [PMID: 35664563 PMCID: PMC9162841 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8890434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been identified as a potential therapeutic approach to immune-related diseases. Here, we show that BMSC-derived exosomes promote FOXP3 expression and induce the conversion of CD4+ T cells into CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells, which is significant for immunosuppressive activity. We found that miR-181a-5p is upregulated in BMSC-derived exosomes and can be transferred to CD4+ T cells. In CD4+ cells, miR-181a directly targets SIRT1 and suppresses its expression. Moreover, downregulated SIRT1 enhances FOXP3 via protein acetylation. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that BMSC-derived exosomal miR-181a is critical in the maintenance of immune tolerance. Furthermore, our results reveal that BMSC-derived exosomal miR-181a induces the production of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells via SIRT1/acetylation/FOXP3.
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Li YJ, Chen Z. Cell-based therapies for rheumatoid arthritis: opportunities and challenges. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2022; 14:1759720X221100294. [PMID: 35634355 PMCID: PMC9131381 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x221100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by chronic synovitis that hardly resolves spontaneously. The current treatment of RA consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs), biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs. Although the treat-to-target strategy has been intensively applied in the past decade, clinical unmet needs still exist since a substantial proportion of patients are refractory or even develop severe adverse effects to current therapies. In recent years, with the deeper understanding of immunopathogenesis of the disease, cell-based therapies have exhibited effective and promising interventions to RA. Several cell-based therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy as well as their beneficial effects have been documented and verified so far. In this review, we summarize the current evidence and discuss the prospect as well as challenges for these three types of cellular therapies in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jing Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Second Clinical Medical School, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
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14
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Moreau JM, Velegraki M, Bolyard C, Rosenblum MD, Li Z. Transforming growth factor-β1 in regulatory T cell biology. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabi4613. [PMID: 35302863 PMCID: PMC10552796 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abi4613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is inextricably linked to regulatory T cell (Treg) biology. However, precisely untangling the role for TGF-β1 in Treg differentiation and function is complicated by the pleiotropic and context-dependent activity of this cytokine and the multifaceted biology of Tregs. Among CD4+ T cells, Tregs are the major producers of latent TGF-β1 and are uniquely able to activate this cytokine via expression of cell surface docking receptor glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP) and αv integrins. Although a preponderance of evidence indicates no essential roles for Treg-derived TGF-β1 in Treg immunosuppression, TGF-β1 signaling is crucial for Treg development in the thymus and periphery. Furthermore, active TGF-β1 instructs the differentiation of other T cell subsets, including TH17 cells. Here, we will review TGF-β1 signaling in Treg development and function and discuss knowledge gaps, future research, and the TGF-β1/Treg axis in the context of cancer immunotherapy and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Moreau
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria Velegraki
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Chelsea Bolyard
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michael D. Rosenblum
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zihai Li
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
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15
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Jin K, Parreau S, Warrington KJ, Koster MJ, Berry GJ, Goronzy JJ, Weyand CM. Regulatory T Cells in Autoimmune Vasculitis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844300. [PMID: 35296082 PMCID: PMC8918523 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessels are indispensable for host survival and are protected from inappropriate inflammation by immune privilege. This protection is lost in patients with autoimmune vasculitides, a heterogeneous group of diseases causing damage to arteries, arterioles, and capillaries. Vasculitis leads to vascular wall destruction and/or luminal occlusion, resulting in hemorrhage and tissue ischemia. Failure in the quantity and quality of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) has been implicated in the breakdown of the vascular immune privilege. Emerging data suggest that Treg deficiencies are disease-specific, affecting distinct pathways in distinct vasculitides. Mechanistic studies have identified faulty CD8+ Tregs in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), a vasculitis of the aorta and the large aortic branch vessels. Specifically, aberrant signaling through the NOTCH4 receptor expressed on CD8+ Treg cells leads to rerouting of intracellular vesicle trafficking and failure in the release of immunosuppressive exosomes, ultimately boosting inflammatory attack to medium and large arteries. In Kawasaki’s disease, a medium vessel vasculitis targeting the coronary arteries, aberrant expression of miR-155 and dysregulated STAT5 signaling have been implicated in undermining CD4+ Treg function. Explorations of mechanisms leading to insufficient immunosuppression and uncontrolled vascular inflammation hold the promise to discover novel therapeutic interventions that could potentially restore the immune privilege of blood vessels and pave the way for urgently needed innovations in vasculitis management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Jin
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Simon Parreau
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Kenneth J. Warrington
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Matthew J. Koster
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Gerald J. Berry
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jörg J. Goronzy
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Cornelia M. Weyand
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Cornelia M. Weyand,
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16
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CD98-induced CD147 signaling stabilizes the Foxp3 protein to maintain tissue homeostasis. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:2618-2631. [PMID: 34759371 PMCID: PMC8632965 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00785-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cell (Treg) stability is necessary for the proper control of immune activity and tissue homeostasis. However, it remains unclear whether Treg stability must be continually reinforced or is established during development under physiological conditions. Foxp3 has been characterized as a central mediator of the genetic program that governs Treg stability. Here, we demonstrate that to maintain Foxp3 protein expression, Tregs require cell-to-cell contact, which is mediated by the CD147-CD98 interaction. As Tregs are produced, CD147, which is expressed on their surface, is stimulated by CD98, which is widely expressed in the physiological environment. As a result, CD147's intracellular domain binds to CDK2 and retains it near the membrane, leading to Foxp3 dephosphorylation and the prevention of Foxp3 degradation. In addition, the optimal distribution of Foxp3+ Tregs under both pathological and physiological conditions depends on CD98 expression. Thus, our study provides direct evidence that Foxp3-dependent Treg stability is reinforced in the periphery by the interaction between CD147 and CD98 in the surrounding environment. More importantly, Tregs with high CD147 expression effectively inhibit inflammatory responses and maintain Foxp3 stability, which has guiding significance for the application of Tregs in immunotherapy.
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17
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Cortés-Hernández A, Alvarez-Salazar EK, Arteaga-Cruz S, Rosas-Cortina K, Linares N, Alberú Gómez JM, Soldevila G. Highly Purified Alloantigen-Specific Tregs From Healthy and Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Can Be Long-Term Expanded, Maintaining a Suppressive Phenotype and Function in the Presence of Inflammatory Cytokines. Front Immunol 2021; 12:686530. [PMID: 34777330 PMCID: PMC8581357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.686530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells (alloTregs) has been proposed as a therapeutic alternative in kidney transplant recipients to the use of lifelong immunosuppressive drugs that cause serious side effects. However, the clinical application of alloTregs has been limited due to their low frequency in peripheral blood and the scarce development of efficient protocols to ensure their purity, expansion, and stability. Here, we describe a new experimental protocol that allows the long-term expansion of highly purified allospecific natural Tregs (nTregs) from both healthy controls and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, which maintain their phenotype and suppressive function under inflammatory conditions. Firstly, we co-cultured CellTrace Violet (CTV)-labeled Tregs from CKD patients or healthy individuals with allogeneic monocyte-derived dendritic cells in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and retinoic acid. Then, proliferating CD4+CD25hiCTV− Tregs (allospecific) were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and polyclonally expanded with anti-CD3/CD28-coated beads in the presence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), IL-2, and rapamycin. After 4 weeks, alloTregs were expanded up to 2,300 times the initial numbers with a purity of >95% (CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+). The resulting allospecific Tregs showed high expressions of CTLA-4, LAG-3, and CD39, indicative of a highly suppressive phenotype. Accordingly, expanded alloTregs efficiently suppressed T-cell proliferation in an antigen-specific manner, even in the presence of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, or TNF-α). Unexpectedly, the long-term expansion resulted in an increased methylation of the specific demethylated region of Foxp3. Interestingly, alloTregs from both normal individuals and CKD patients maintained their immunosuppressive phenotype and function after being expanded for two additional weeks under an inflammatory microenvironment. Finally, phenotypic and functional evaluation of cryopreserved alloTregs demonstrated the feasibility of long-term storage and supports the potential use of this cellular product for personalized Treg therapy in transplanted patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arimelek Cortés-Hernández
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Evelyn Katy Alvarez-Salazar
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Saúl Arteaga-Cruz
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Katya Rosas-Cortina
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Nadyeli Linares
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Josefina M Alberú Gómez
- National Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gloria Soldevila
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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18
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Zhang W, Liu X, Zhu Y, Liu X, Gu Y, Dai X, Li B. Transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of Th17/Treg balance in health and disease. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:2137-2150. [PMID: 34322865 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells play important roles in adaptive immune responses, antagonizing each other in immune disorders. Th17/Treg balance is critical to maintaining the immune homeostasis of human bodies and is tightly regulated under healthy conditions. The transcription factors that are required for driving Th17 and Treg cell lineages differentiation respectively, RORγt and FOXP3 are tightly regulated under different tissue microenvironment, especially the transcriptional induction, posttranslational modifications, and dynamic enzymatic cofactors binding. The imbalance caused by alteration of the quantity or properties of RORγt+ Th17 or FOXP3+ Treg can contribute to inflammatory disorders in humans. Restoring Th17/Treg balance by modifying the enzymatic activities of RORγt and FOXP3 binding partners may be therapeutically applied to treat severe immune disorders. In this review, we focus on the transcriptional and posttranslational regulations of Th17/Treg balance, immune disorders caused by Th17/Treg imbalance, and new therapeutic strategies for restoring immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yicheng Zhu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinnan Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunting Gu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyu Dai
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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19
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Jiang T, Zhang HW, Wen YP, Yin YS, Yang LH, Yang J, Lan T, Tang CW, Yu JK, Tai WL, Yang JH. 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine alleviates the progression of primary biliary cholangitis by suppressing the FoxP3 methylation and promoting the Treg/Th17 balance. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 96:107820. [PMID: 34162167 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a common autoimmune liver disease manifested by the infiltration of CD4+ T cells, and the subsequent targeted injury of biliary epithelial cells (BECs). As important components of CD4 subsets, the Treg/Th17 axis maintains an immunological balance between self-tolerance and inflammation in the liver microenvironment. However, the role and regulatory mechanism of the Treg/Th17 axis in PBC remain unclear. In this study, we examined the Treg/Th17 axis in PBC patients and found that the Treg/Th17 axis was imbalanced in PBC at both the transcriptional and cellular levels, with Treg being a weak candidate, which correlates with the PBC progression. This imbalanced Treg/Th17 axis was likely to be affected by the FoxP3 hypermethylation, which was related to the increase of DNA methyltransferase. Furthermore, the effect of 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine (DAC)-mediated FoxP3 demethylation on PBC mice was investigated. We verified that DAC significantly suppressed the FoxP3 methylation and rebuilt the Treg/Th17 balance, resulting in the alleviation of liver lesions and inflammation. Taken together, our data indicate that DAC plays a positive role in alleviating the progression of PBC through the inhibition of DNA methylation of FoxP3 to rebuild the balanced Treg/Th17 axis. DAC could be considered as a potential candidate for the development of new anti-inflammation strategies in the treatment of PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Jiang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong-Wei Zhang
- The Central Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yan-Ping Wen
- Clinical Laboratory Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yue-Shan Yin
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Li-Hong Yang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Tian Lan
- Digestive Diseases Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng-Wei Tang
- Digestive Diseases Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian-Kun Yu
- The Central Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming, China.
| | - Wen-Lin Tai
- Clinical Laboratory Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
| | - Jin-Hui Yang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
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20
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Dong Y, Yang C, Pan F. Post-Translational Regulations of Foxp3 in Treg Cells and Their Therapeutic Applications. Front Immunol 2021; 12:626172. [PMID: 33912156 PMCID: PMC8071870 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.626172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are indispensable for immune homeostasis due to their roles in peripheral tolerance. As the master transcription factor of Treg cells, Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) strongly regulates Treg function and plasticity. Because of this, considerable research efforts have been directed at elucidating the mechanisms controlling Foxp3 and its co-regulators. Such work is not only advancing our understanding on Treg cell biology, but also uncovering novel targets for clinical manipulation in autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and tumor therapies. Recently, many studies have explored the post-translational regulation of Foxp3, which have shown that acetylation, phosphorylation, glycosylation, methylation, and ubiquitination are important for determining Foxp3 function and plasticity. Additionally, some of these targets have been implicated to have great therapeutic values. In this review, we will discuss emerging evidence of post-translational regulations on Foxp3 in Treg cells and their exciting therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dong
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Cuiping Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Pan
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, China
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21
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Dong Y, Pan F. Ubiquitin-Dependent Regulation of Treg Function and Plasticity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1278:63-80. [PMID: 33523443 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-6407-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
As an indispensable part of peripheral tolerance, regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in immune homeostasis by suppressing other immune cells. Behind this function is a complex network of transcription factors and signaling cascades that regulates the function and plasticity of regulatory T cells. Among these, Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) is considered as the master transcription factor, and its stability will influence the function and viability of Treg cells. Because of this, understanding the mechanisms that regulate Foxp3 and its co-regulators will provide more understanding to Treg cells and uncover more targets to manipulate Treg cells in treating autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and tumor. Interestingly, several recent studies show that ubiquitin-dependent pathways are important regulators of Foxp3, which suggest both great scientific and therapeutic values. In this chapter, we cover emerging evidence of ubiquitin-dependent, posttranslational regulation of Treg function and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dong
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fan Pan
- Center for Cancer Immunology Research, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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22
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Moore TC, Hasenkrug KJ. B-Cell Control of Regulatory T Cells in Friend Virus Infection. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166583. [PMID: 32598936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
B lymphocytes have well-established effector roles during viral infections, including production of antibodies and functioning as antigen-presenting cells for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. B cells have also been shown to regulate immune responses and induce regulatory T cells (Tregs). In the Friend virus (FV) model, Tregs are known to inhibit effector CD8+ T-cell responses and contribute to virus persistence. Recent work has uncovered a role for B cells in the induction and activation of Tregs during FV infection. In addition to inducing Tregs, B cell antibody production and antigen-presenting cell activity is a target of Treg suppression. This review focuses on the dynamic interactions between B cells and Tregs during FV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler C Moore
- College of Science and Technology, Bellevue University, 1000 Galvin Road South, Bellevue, NE 68005, USA.
| | - Kim J Hasenkrug
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA.
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23
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Grover P, Goel PN, Piccirillo CA, Greene MI. FOXP3 and Tip60 Structural Interactions Relevant to IPEX Development Lead to Potential Therapeutics to Increase FOXP3 Dependent Suppressor T Cell Functions. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:607292. [PMID: 33614551 PMCID: PMC7888439 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.607292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and are critical mediators of immune tolerance. The Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) protein acts as a regulator for Treg development and function. Mutations in the FOXP3 gene can lead to autoimmune diseases such as Immunodysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X-linked (IPEX) syndrome in humans, often resulting in death within the first 2 years of life and a scurfy like phenotype in Foxp3 mutant mice. We discuss biochemical features of the FOXP3 ensemble including its regulation at various levels (epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-translational modifications) and molecular functions. The studies also highlight the interactions of FOXP3 and Tat-interacting protein 60 (Tip60), a principal histone acetylase enzyme that acetylates FOXP3 and functions as an essential subunit of the FOXP3 repression ensemble complex. Lastly, we have emphasized the role of allosteric modifiers that help stabilize FOXP3:Tip60 interactions and discuss targeting this interaction for the therapeutic manipulation of Treg activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Grover
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Peeyush N Goel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ciriaco A Piccirillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mark I Greene
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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24
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Daams R, Massoumi R. Nemo-Like Kinase in Development and Diseases: Insights from Mouse Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239203. [PMID: 33276680 PMCID: PMC7731171 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signalling pathway is a central communication cascade between cells to orchestrate polarity and fate during development and adult tissue homeostasis in various organisms. This pathway can be regulated by different signalling molecules in several steps. One of the coordinators in this pathway is Nemo-like kinase (NLK), which is an atypical proline-directed serine/threonine mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Very recently, NLK was established as an essential regulator in different cellular processes and abnormal NLK expression was highlighted to affect the development and progression of various diseases. In this review, we focused on the recent discoveries by using NLK-deficient mice, which show a phenotype in the development and function of organs such as the lung, heart and skeleton. Furthermore, NLK could conduct the function and differentiation of cells from the immune system, in addition to regulating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's disease and spinocerebellar ataxias. Overall, generations of NLK-deficient mice have taught us valuable lessons about the role of this kinase in certain diseases and development.
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25
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Daams R, Sime W, Leandersson K, Sitnicka E, Massoumi R. Deletion of Nemo-like Kinase in T Cells Reduces Single-Positive CD8 + Thymocyte Population. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:1830-1841. [PMID: 32839237 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The β-catenin/Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in all stages of T cell development. Nemo-like kinase (NLK) is an evolutionary conserved serine/threonine kinase and a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. NLK can directly phosphorylate histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), as well as T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (TCF/LEF), causing subsequent repression of target gene transcription. By engineering mice lacking NLK in early stages of T cell development, we set out to characterize the role NLK plays in T cell development and found that deletion of NLK does not affect mouse health or lymphoid tissue development. Instead, these mice harbored a reduced number of single-positive (SP) CD8+ thymocytes without any defects in the SP CD4+ thymocyte population. The decrease in SP CD8+ thymocytes was not caused by a block in differentiation from double-positive CD4+CD8+ cells. Neither TCR signaling nor activation was altered in the absence of NLK. Instead, we observed a significant increase in cell death and reduced phosphorylation of LEF1 as well as HDAC1 among NLK-deleted SP CD8+ cells. Thus, NLK seems to play an important role in the survival of CD8+ thymocytes. Our data provide evidence for a new function for NLK with regard to its involvement in T cell development and supporting survival of SP CD8+ thymocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Daams
- Molecular Tumor Pathology, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 81 Lund, Sweden
| | - Wondossen Sime
- Molecular Tumor Pathology, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 81 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Leandersson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden; and
| | - Ewa Sitnicka
- Lymphoid Development and Regulation, Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ramin Massoumi
- Molecular Tumor Pathology, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 223 81 Lund, Sweden;
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26
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Chen J, Jiang J, Liu Y, Ye Y, Ma Y, Cen Y, Chen W, Wang S, Yang G, Zhang A. Arsenite induces dysfunction of regulatory T cells through acetylation control of the Foxp3 promoter. Hum Exp Toxicol 2020; 40:35-46. [PMID: 32735129 DOI: 10.1177/0960327120934533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic is known to cause damage to the body's immune system by inducing epigenetic changes. However, the molecular mechanism of this damage remains elusive. Here, we report that arsenic disrupts the morphology of lymphocytes, decreases cell viability, and results in abnormal proportions of T lymphocyte subsets. Moreover, our results revealed that arsenic can reduce global acetylation of histone H4 at K16 (H4K16 ac) in lymphocytes via decreasing the level of males absent on the first but upregulates mRNA and protein levels of the forkhead/winged-helix box P3 (Foxp3) gene by increasing the acetylation of histone H4 at K16 (H4K16) at the promoter of Foxp3. Finally, arsenic-induced dysfunction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) could be ameliorated by trichostatin A. Our research indicates that arsenic-induced immunosuppressive effect in human lymphocytes may be related to the acetylation of H4K16 at the promoter of Foxp3 and that histone deacetylase inhibitors may play a role in the prevention and treatment of immune injury caused by arsenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - J Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Y Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Y Ye
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Y Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Y Cen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - W Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - S Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - G Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - A Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, School of Public Health, 74628Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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27
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Li C, Jiang P, Wei S, Xu X, Wang J. Regulatory T cells in tumor microenvironment: new mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies and future prospects. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:116. [PMID: 32680511 PMCID: PMC7367382 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01234-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 378] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) characterized by the expression of the master transcription factor forkhead box protein p3 (Foxp3) suppress anticancer immunity, thereby hindering protective immunosurveillance of tumours and hampering effective antitumour immune responses in tumour-bearing hosts, constitute a current research hotspot in the field. However, Tregs are also essential for the maintenance of the immune tolerance of the body and share many molecular signalling pathways with conventional T cells, including cytotoxic T cells, the primary mediators of tumour immunity. Hence, the inability to specifically target and neutralize Tregs in the tumour microenvironment without globally compromising self-tolerance poses a significant challenge. Here, we review recent advances in characterizing tumour-infiltrating Tregs with a focus on the functional roles of costimulatory and inhibitory receptors in Tregs, evaluate their potential as clinical targets, and systematically summarize their roles in potential treatment strategies. Also, we propose modalities to integrate our increasing knowledge on Tregs phenotype and function for the rational design of checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapies. Finally, we propose possible treatment strategies that can be used to develop Treg-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxiao Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shuhua Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaofei Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Junjie Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
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28
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STUB1 is targeted by the SUMO-interacting motif of EBNA1 to maintain Epstein-Barr Virus latency. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008447. [PMID: 32176739 PMCID: PMC7105294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is strongly associated with several malignancies, including B-cell lymphomas and epithelial tumors. EBNA1 is a key antigen expressed in all EBV-associated tumors during latency that is required for maintenance of the EBV episome DNA and the regulation of viral gene transcription. However, the mechanism utilized by EBV to maintain latent infection at the levels of posttranslational regulation remains largely unclear. Here, we report that EBNA1 contains two SUMO-interacting motifs (SIM2 and SIM3), and mutation of SIM2, but not SIM3, dramatically disrupts the EBNA1 dimerization, while SIM3 contributes to the polySUMO2 modification of EBNA1 at lysine 477 in vitro. Proteomic and immunoprecipitation analyses further reveal that the SIM3 motif is required for the EBNA1-mediated inhibitory effects on SUMO2-modified STUB1, SUMO2-mediated degradation of USP7, and SUMO1-modified KAP1. Deletion of the EBNASIM motif leads to functional loss of both EBNA1-mediated viral episome maintenance and lytic gene silencing. Importantly, hypoxic stress induces the SUMO2 modification of EBNA1, and in turn the dissociation of EBNA1 with STUB1, KAP1 and USP7 to increase the SUMO1 modification of both STUB1 and KAP1 for reactivation of lytic replication. Therefore, the EBNA1SIM motif plays an essential role in EBV latency and is a potential therapeutic target against EBV-associated cancers. The Small Ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) modification of proteins is a reversible post-translational regulation involved in control of gene transcription, among other functions. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects most people worldwide and contributes to the development of several types of cancers due to its ability to induce cell proliferation and survival. EBNA1 is expressed in all forms of EBV-associated tumors. In this study, we found that EBNA1 contains a SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) named EBNA1SIM, which is required for EBNA1 to exert inhibitory effects on a SUMO2-modified complex (SC2) including STUB1, KAP1 and USP7. Disruption of EBNA1SIM leads to loss of both EBNA1-mediated viral episome maintenance and lytic gene silencing. Importantly, hypoxia-mediated reactivation of viral lytic replication induces the EBNA1 dissociation from STUB1 in the SC2 complex. This discovery not only opens a new insight on the interplay between host and virus, but it also provides a therapeutic target specific against EBV-associated cancers.
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29
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Ono M. Control of regulatory T-cell differentiation and function by T-cell receptor signalling and Foxp3 transcription factor complexes. Immunology 2020; 160:24-37. [PMID: 32022254 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Foxp3 controls the differentiation and function of regulatory T-cells (Treg). Studies in the past decades identified numerous Foxp3-interacting protein partners. However, it is still not clear how Foxp3 produces the Treg-type transcriptomic landscape through cooperating with its partners. Here I show the current understanding of how Foxp3 transcription factor complexes regulate the differentiation, maintenance and functional maturation of Treg. Importantly, T-cell receptor (TCR) signalling plays central roles in Treg differentiation and Foxp3-mediated gene regulation. Differentiating Treg will have recognized their cognate antigens and received TCR signals before initiating Foxp3 transcription, which is triggered by TCR-induced transcription factors including NFAT, AP-1 and NF-κB. Once expressed, Foxp3 seizes TCR signal-induced transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms through interacting with AML1/Runx1 and NFAT. Thus, Foxp3 modifies gene expression dynamics of TCR-induced genes, which constitute cardinal mechanisms for Treg-mediated immune suppression. Next, I discuss the following key topics, proposing new mechanistic models for Foxp3-mediated gene regulation: (i) how Foxp3 transcription is induced and maintained by the Foxp3-inducing enhanceosome and the Foxp3 autoregulatory transcription factor complex; (ii) molecular mechanisms for effector Treg differentiation (i.e. Treg maturation); (iii) how Foxp3 activates or represses its target genes through recruiting coactivators and corepressors; (iv) the 'decision-making' Foxp3-containing transcription factor complex for Th17 and Treg differentiation; and (v) the roles of post-translational modification in Foxp3 regulation. Thus, this article provides cutting-edge understanding of molecular biology of Foxp3 and Treg, integrating findings by biochemical and genomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Ono
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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30
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Colamatteo A, Carbone F, Bruzzaniti S, Galgani M, Fusco C, Maniscalco GT, Di Rella F, de Candia P, De Rosa V. Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Foxp3 Expression in Health and Autoimmunity: From Epigenetic to Post-translational Regulation. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3136. [PMID: 32117202 PMCID: PMC7008726 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the transcription factor Forkhead box-p3 (Foxp3) has shed fundamental insights into the understanding of the molecular determinants leading to generation and maintenance of T regulatory (Treg) cells, a cell population with a key immunoregulatory role. Work over the past few years has shown that fine-tuned transcriptional and epigenetic events are required to ensure stable expression of Foxp3 in Treg cells. The equilibrium between phenotypic plasticity and stability of Treg cells is controlled at the molecular level by networks of transcription factors that bind regulatory sequences, such as enhancers and promoters, to regulate Foxp3 expression. Recent reports have suggested that specific modifications of DNA and histones are required for the establishment of the chromatin structure in conventional CD4+ T (Tconv) cells for their future differentiation into the Treg cell lineage. In this review, we discuss the molecular events that control Foxp3 gene expression and address the associated alterations observed in human diseases. Also, we explore how Foxp3 influences the gene expression programs in Treg cells and how unique properties of Treg cell subsets are defined by other transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Colamatteo
- Treg Cell Laboratory, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Fortunata Carbone
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto per L'Endocrinologia e L'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.,Unità di NeuroImmunologia, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Bruzzaniti
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto per L'Endocrinologia e L'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.,Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Galgani
- Treg Cell Laboratory, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto per L'Endocrinologia e L'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Clorinda Fusco
- Treg Cell Laboratory, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco
- Dipartimento di Neurologia, Centro Regionale Sclerosi Multipla, Azienda Ospedaliera "A. Cardarelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Rella
- Clinical and Experimental Senology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Veronica De Rosa
- Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto per L'Endocrinologia e L'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.,Unità di NeuroImmunologia, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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31
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Overexpression of miR-375 Protects Cardiomyocyte Injury following Hypoxic-Reoxygenation Injury. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:7164069. [PMID: 31976033 PMCID: PMC6961604 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7164069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical significance of microRNA-375 in acute myocardial infarction patients and its mimic action in hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) induced ventricular cardiomyocyte H9c2 injury. In the current study, 90 ST-elevated acute MI patients (STEMI), 75 non-ST-elevated acute MI patients (NSTEMI), 90 healthy subjects, 14 weeks old mice, and ventricular cardiomyocyte H9c2 were included. The expressions of plasma microRNA-375 in patients with STEMI and NSTEMI and AMI mouse models were remarkably decreased than in controls (P < 0.001). The areas under the curve (AUC) of plasma microRNA-375 were revealed 0.939 in STEMI and 0.935 in NSTEMI subjects. Moreover, microRNA-375 levels in H/R-exposed cardiac H9c2 cells were evidently downregulated and significantly increased apoptosis rate and caspase-3 activity levels, while overexpression of miR-375 remarkably reduced apoptosis percentage and caspase-3 levels as compared with normal cells. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated that Nemo-like kinase (NLK), NLK mRNA, and protein expression levels were significantly downregulated in H/R-injured H9c2 cells, on the contrary, H9c2 cells transfected with mimic-miR-375 greatly upregulated NLK mRNA and protein expression. Plasma microRNA-375 may serve as an essential clinical biomarker for diagnosis of early-stage AMI. Mimic expression of miR-375 significantly prevented H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury by decreasing caspase-3 activity through upregulation of the NLK gene, recommended as a new therapeutic option for AMI patient.
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32
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Godoy GJ, Olivera C, Paira DA, Salazar FC, Ana Y, Stempin CC, Motrich RD, Rivero VE. T Regulatory Cells From Non-obese Diabetic Mice Show Low Responsiveness to IL-2 Stimulation and Exhibit Differential Expression of Anergy-Related and Ubiquitination Factors. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2665. [PMID: 31824482 PMCID: PMC6886461 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are pivotal for the maintenance of tolerance. Alterations in their number and/or function have been proposed to occur in the autoimmune-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Comparing the frequencies and absolute numbers of CD4+Foxp3+CD25+ Tregs among 4 to 6-week old NOD, B6, and BALB/c mice, we observed differences in counts and Foxp3 expression in Tregs from secondary lymphoid organs, but not in the thymus. Upon TCR and IL-2 stimulation, NOD Tregs showed lower responses than Tregs from B6 and BALB/c mice. Indeed, NOD Tregs responded with less proliferation and with smaller increments in the expression of CD25, LAP-1, CD39, PD-1, PD-L1, and LAG-3, when in vitro cultured for 3 days with anti-CD3/CD28 in the absence or presence of IL-2, Tregs from NOD mice showed to be highly dependent on IL-2 to maintain Foxp3 expression. Moreover, NOD Tregs become producers of IL-17 and INF-gamma more easily than Tregs from the other strains. In addition, NOD Tregs showed lower responsiveness to IL-2, with significantly reduced levels of pSTAT5, even at high IL-2 doses, with respect to B6 and BALB/c Tregs. Interestingly, NOD Tregs exhibit differences in the expression of SOCS3, GRAIL, and OTUB1 when compared with Tregs from B6 and BALB/c mice. Both, at steady state conditions and also after activation, Tregs from NOD mice showed increased levels of OTUB1 and low levels of GRAIL. In addition, NOD Tregs had differences in the expression of ubiquitin related molecules that play a role in the maintenance of Foxp3 cellular pools. Indeed, significantly higher STUB1/USP7 ratios were detected in NOD Tregs, both at basal conditions and after stimulation, compared to in B6 and BALB/c Tregs. Moreover, the addition of a proteasome inhibitor to cell cultures, conferred NOD Tregs the ability to retain Foxp3 expression. Herein, we provide evidence indicating a differential expression of SOCS3, GRAIL, and STUB1/USP7 in Tregs from NOD mice, factors known to be involved in IL-2R signaling and to affect Foxp3 stability. These findings add to the current knowledge of the immunobiology of Tregs and may be related to the known insufficiency of Tregs from NOD mice to maintain self-tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria J Godoy
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Carolina Olivera
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniela A Paira
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Florencia C Salazar
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Yamile Ana
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Cinthia C Stempin
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ruben D Motrich
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Virginia E Rivero
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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33
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Deng G, Song X, Fujimoto S, Piccirillo CA, Nagai Y, Greene MI. Foxp3 Post-translational Modifications and Treg Suppressive Activity. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2486. [PMID: 31681337 PMCID: PMC6813729 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are engaged in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity. Treg cells include thymic Treg cells and peripheral Treg cells, both of which can suppress the immune response via multiple distinct mechanisms. The differentiation, proliferation, suppressive function and survival of Treg cells are affected by distinct energy metabolic programs. Tissue-resident Treg cells hold unique features in comparison with the lymphoid organ Treg cells. Foxp3 transcription factor is a lineage master regulator for Treg cell development and suppressive activity. Accumulating evidence indicates that the activity of Foxp3 protein is modulated by various post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, O-GlcNAcylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation and methylation. These modifications affect multiple aspects of Foxp3 function. In this review, we define features of Treg cells and roles of Foxp3 in Treg biology, and summarize current research in PTMs of Foxp3 protein involved in modulating Treg function. This review also attempts to define Foxp3 dimer modifications relevant to mediating Foxp3 activity and Treg suppression. Understanding Foxp3 protein features and modulation mechanisms may help in the design of rational therapies for immune diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoping Deng
- Department of Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Ciriaco A Piccirillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yasuhiro Nagai
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark I Greene
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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34
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Deng G, Song X, Greene MI. FoxP3 in T reg cell biology: a molecular and structural perspective. Clin Exp Immunol 2019; 199:255-262. [PMID: 31386175 PMCID: PMC7008219 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are specialized in immune suppression and play a dominant role in peripheral immune tolerance. Treg cell lineage development and function maintenance is determined by the forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) transcriptional factor, whose activity is fine‐tuned by its post‐translational modifications (PTMs) and interaction partners. In this review, we summarize current studies in the crystal structures, the PTMs and interaction partners of FoxP3 protein, and discuss how these insights may provide a roadmap for new approaches to modulate Treg suppression, and new therapies to enhance immune tolerance in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Deng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - X Song
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - M I Greene
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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