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Netsrithong R, Garcia-Perez L, Themeli M. Engineered T cells from induced pluripotent stem cells: from research towards clinical implementation. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1325209. [PMID: 38283344 PMCID: PMC10811463 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1325209] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived T (iT) cells represent a groundbreaking frontier in adoptive cell therapies with engineered T cells, poised to overcome pivotal limitations associated with conventional manufacturing methods. iPSCs offer an off-the-shelf source of therapeutic T cells with the potential for infinite expansion and straightforward genetic manipulation to ensure hypo-immunogenicity and introduce specific therapeutic functions, such as antigen specificity through a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Importantly, genetic engineering of iPSC offers the benefit of generating fully modified clonal lines that are amenable to rigorous safety assessments. Critical to harnessing the potential of iT cells is the development of a robust and clinically compatible production process. Current protocols for genetic engineering as well as differentiation protocols designed to mirror human hematopoiesis and T cell development, vary in efficiency and often contain non-compliant components, thereby rendering them unsuitable for clinical implementation. This comprehensive review centers on the remarkable progress made over the last decade in generating functional engineered T cells from iPSCs. Emphasis is placed on alignment with good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards, scalability, safety measures and quality controls, which constitute the fundamental prerequisites for clinical application. In conclusion, the focus on iPSC as a source promises standardized, scalable, clinically relevant, and potentially safer production of engineered T cells. This groundbreaking approach holds the potential to extend hope to a broader spectrum of patients and diseases, leading in a new era in adoptive T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratchapong Netsrithong
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laura Garcia-Perez
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maria Themeli
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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2
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Silva CS, Reis RL, Martins A, Neves NM. Recapitulation of Thymic Function by Tissue Engineering Strategies. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100773. [PMID: 34197034 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100773] [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] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is responsible for the development and selection of T lymphocytes, which in turn also participate in the maturation of thymic epithelial cells. These events occur through the close interactions between hematopoietic stem cells and developing thymocytes with the thymic stromal cells within an intricate 3D network. The complex thymic microenvironment and function, and the current therapies to induce thymic regeneration or to overcome the lack of a functional thymus are herein reviewed. The recapitulation of the thymic function using tissue engineering strategies has been explored as a way to control the body's tolerance to external grafts and to generate ex vivo T cells for transplantation. In this review, the main advances in the thymus tissue engineering field are disclosed, including both scaffold- and cell-based strategies. In light of the current gaps and limitations of the developed systems, the design of novel biomaterials for this purpose with unique features is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina S. Silva
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque da Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Guimarães Portugal
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque da Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Guimarães Portugal
| | - Albino Martins
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque da Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Guimarães Portugal
| | - Nuno M. Neves
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque da Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Guimarães Portugal
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Tong QY, Zhang JC, Guo JL, Li Y, Yao LY, Wang X, Yang YG, Sun LG. Human Thymic Involution and Aging in Humanized Mice. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1399. [PMID: 32733465 PMCID: PMC7358581 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic involution is an important factor leading to the aging of the immune system. Most of what we know regarding thymic aging comes from mouse models, and the nature of the thymic aging process in humans remains largely unexplored due to the lack of a model system that permits longitudinal studies of human thymic involution. In this study, we sought to explore the potential to examine human thymic involution in humanized mice, constructed by transplantation of fetal human thymus and CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells into immunodeficient mice. In these humanized mice, the human thymic graft first underwent acute recoverable involution caused presumably by transplantation stress, followed by an age-related chronic form of involution. Although both the early recoverable and later age-related thymic involution were associated with a decrease in thymic epithelial cells and recent thymic emigrants, only the latter was associated with an increase in adipose tissue mass in the thymus. Furthermore, human thymic grafts showed a dramatic reduction in FOXN1 and AIRE expression by 10 weeks post-transplantation. This study indicates that human thymus retains its intrinsic mechanisms of aging and susceptibility to stress-induced involution when transplanted into immunodeficient mice, offering a potentially useful in vivo model to study human thymic involution and to test therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Yue Tong
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Jue-Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Jing-Long Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Li-Yu Yao
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China.,International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Li-Guang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
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4
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Bortolomai I, Sandri M, Draghici E, Fontana E, Campodoni E, Marcovecchio GE, Ferrua F, Perani L, Spinelli A, Canu T, Catucci M, Di Tomaso T, Sergi Sergi L, Esposito A, Lombardo A, Naldini L, Tampieri A, Hollander GA, Villa A, Bosticardo M. Gene Modification and Three-Dimensional Scaffolds as Novel Tools to Allow the Use of Postnatal Thymic Epithelial Cells for Thymus Regeneration Approaches. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019; 8:1107-1122. [PMID: 31140762 PMCID: PMC6766605 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.18-0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective functionality of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), due to genetic mutations or injuring causes, results in altered T-cell development, leading to immunodeficiency or autoimmunity. These defects cannot be corrected by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and thymus transplantation has not yet been demonstrated to be fully curative. Here, we provide proof of principle of a novel approach toward thymic regeneration, involving the generation of thymic organoids obtained by seeding gene-modified postnatal murine TECs into three-dimensional (3D) collagen type I scaffolds mimicking the thymic ultrastructure. To this end, freshly isolated TECs were transduced with a lentiviral vector system, allowing for doxycycline-induced Oct4 expression. Transient Oct4 expression promoted TECs expansion without drastically changing the cell lineage identity of adult TECs, which retain the expression of important molecules for thymus functionality such as Foxn1, Dll4, Dll1, and AIRE. Oct4-expressing TECs (iOCT4 TEC) were able to grow into 3D collagen type I scaffolds both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that the collagen structure reproduced a 3D environment similar to the thymic extracellular matrix, perfectly recognized by TECs. In vivo results showed that thymic organoids transplanted subcutaneously in athymic nude mice were vascularized but failed to support thymopoiesis because of their limited in vivo persistence. These findings provide evidence that gene modification, in combination with the usage of 3D biomimetic scaffolds, may represent a novel approach allowing the use of postnatal TECs for thymic regeneration. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019;8:1107-1122.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Bortolomai
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- UOS MilanoIRGB CNRMilanItaly
| | - Monica Sandri
- Laboratory of Bioceramics and Bio‐Hybrid CompositesInstitute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC), National Research Council (CNR)FaenzaItaly
| | - Elena Draghici
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Elena Fontana
- UOS MilanoIRGB CNRMilanItaly
- Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoMilanItaly
| | - Elisabetta Campodoni
- Laboratory of Bioceramics and Bio‐Hybrid CompositesInstitute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC), National Research Council (CNR)FaenzaItaly
| | - Genni Enza Marcovecchio
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Francesca Ferrua
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
- Paediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation UnitIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Laura Perani
- Preclinical Imaging Facility, Experimental Imaging CenterIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Antonello Spinelli
- Preclinical Imaging Facility, Experimental Imaging CenterIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Tamara Canu
- Preclinical Imaging Facility, Experimental Imaging CenterIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Marco Catucci
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Tiziano Di Tomaso
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Lucia Sergi Sergi
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Antonio Esposito
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
- Preclinical Imaging Facility, Experimental Imaging CenterIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
| | - Angelo Lombardo
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Luigi Naldini
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- Vita‐Salute San Raffaele UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Anna Tampieri
- Laboratory of Bioceramics and Bio‐Hybrid CompositesInstitute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC), National Research Council (CNR)FaenzaItaly
| | - Georg A. Hollander
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Developmental Immunology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Anna Villa
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
- UOS MilanoIRGB CNRMilanItaly
| | - Marita Bosticardo
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR‐Tiget), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and Gene TherapyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanItaly
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Conforti F, Zhang X, Rao G, De Pas T, Yonemori Y, Rodriguez JA, McCutcheon JN, Rahhal R, Alberobello AT, Wang Y, Zhang YW, Guha U, Giaccone G. Therapeutic Effects of XPO1 Inhibition in Thymic Epithelial Tumors. Cancer Res 2017; 77:5614-5627. [PMID: 28819023 PMCID: PMC8170838 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Exportin 1 (XPO1) mediates nuclear export of many cellular factors known to play critical roles in malignant processes, and selinexor (KPT-330) is the first XPO1-selective inhibitor of nuclear export compound in advanced clinical development phase for cancer treatment. We demonstrated here that inhibition of XPO1 drives nuclear accumulation of important cargo tumor suppressor proteins, including transcription factor FOXO3a and p53 in thymic epithelial tumor (TET) cells, and induces p53-dependent and -independent antitumor activity in vitro Selinexor suppressed the growth of TET xenograft tumors in athymic nude mice via inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Loss of p53 activity or amplification of XPO1 may contribute to resistance to XPO1 inhibitor in TET. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis, we identified a number of proteins whose abundances in the nucleus and cytoplasm shifted significantly following selinexor treatment in the TET cells. Furthermore, we found that XPO1 was highly expressed in aggressive histotypes and advanced stages of human TET, and high XPO1 expression was associated with poorer patient survival. These results underscore an important role of XPO1 in the pathogenesis of TET and support clinical development of the XPO1 inhibitor for the treatment of patients with this type of tumors. Cancer Res; 77(20); 5614-27. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Conforti
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- Oncology Unit of Thymic Cancer, Rare Tumors and Sarcomas, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Xu Zhang
- Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Guanhua Rao
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Tommaso De Pas
- Oncology Unit of Thymic Cancer, Rare Tumors and Sarcomas, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Yoko Yonemori
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jose Antonio Rodriguez
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Spain
| | - Justine N McCutcheon
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Raneen Rahhal
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Anna T Alberobello
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Yisong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Yu-Wen Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
| | - Udayan Guha
- Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Giuseppe Giaccone
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
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Roh KH, Roy K. Engineering approaches for regeneration of T lymphopoiesis. Biomater Res 2016; 20:20. [PMID: 27358746 PMCID: PMC4926289 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-016-0067-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells play a central role in immune-homeostasis; specifically in the induction of antigen-specific adaptive immunity against pathogens and mutated self with immunological memory. The thymus is the unique organ where T cells are generated. In this review, first the complex structures and functions of various thymic microcompartments are briefly discussed to identify critical engineering targets for regeneration of thymic functions in vitro and in vivo. Then the biomimetic regenerative engineering approaches are reviewed in three categories: 1) reconstruction of 3-D thymic architecture, 2) cellular engineering, and 3) biomaterials-based artificial presentation of critical biomolecules. For each engineering approach, remaining challenges and clinical opportunities are also identified and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Ho Roh
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Krishnendu Roy
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
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Mohtashami M, Zarin P, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Induction of T Cell Development In Vitro by Delta-Like (Dll)-Expressing Stromal Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1323:159-67. [PMID: 26294407 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2809-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recreating the thymic microenvironment in vitro poses a great challenge to immunologists. Until recently, the only approach was to utilize the thymic tissue in its three-dimensional form and to transfer the hematopoietic progenitors into this tissue to generate de novo T cells. With the advent of OP9-DL cells (bone marrow-derived cells that are transduced to express Notch ligand, Delta-like), hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) could be induced to differentiate into T cells in culture for the first time outside of the thymic tissue on a monolayer. We, as well as others, asked whether the ability to support T cell development in vitro in a monolayer is unique to BM-derived OP9 cells, and showed that provision of Delta-like expression to thymic epithelial cells and fibroblasts also allowed for T cell development. This provides the opportunity to design an autologous coculture system where the supportive stromal and the hematopoietic components are both derived from the same individual, which has obvious clinical implications. In this chapter, we describe methods for establishing a primary murine dermal fibroblast cell population that is transduced to express Delta-like 4, and describe the conditions for its coculture with HSCs to support T cell lineage initiation and expansion, while comparing it to the now classic OP9-DL coculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Mohtashami
- Department of Immunology, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4N 3M5,
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Decline of FOXN1 gene expression in human thymus correlates with age: possible epigenetic regulation. IMMUNITY & AGEING 2015; 12:18. [PMID: 26516334 PMCID: PMC4625732 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-015-0045-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymic involution is thought to be an important factor of age related immunodeficiency. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of human thymic senescence may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches aimed at the reestablishment of central and peripheral T cell repertoire. RESULTS As an initial approach, here we report that the decline of human thymic FOXN1 transcription correlates with age, while other genes, DLL1, DLL4 and WNT4, essential for thymopoiesis, are constitutively transcribed. Using a human thymic epithelial cell line (hTEC), we show that FOXN1 expression is refractory to signals that induce FOXN1 transcription in primary 3D culture conditions and by stimulation of the canonical WNT signaling pathway. Blockage of FOXN1 induceability in the hTEC line may be mediated by an epigenetic mechanism, the CpG methylation of the FOXN1 gene. CONCLUSION We showed a suppression of FOXN1 transcription both in cultured human thymic epithelial cells and in the aging thymus. We hypothesize that the underlying mechanism may be associated with changes of the DNA methylation state of the FOXN1 gene.
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Le PT, Pearce MM, Zhang S, Campbell EM, Fok CS, Mueller ER, Brincat CA, Wolfe AJ, Brubaker L. IL22 regulates human urothelial cell sensory and innate functions through modulation of the acetylcholine response, immunoregulatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides: assessment of an in vitro model. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111375. [PMID: 25354343 PMCID: PMC4213028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human urinary disorders are generally studied in rodent models due to limitations of functional in vitro culture models of primary human urothelial cells (HUCs). Current HUC culture models are often derived from immortalized cancer cell lines, which likely have functional characteristics differ from healthy human urothelium. Here, we described a simple explant culture technique to generate HUCs and assessed their in vitro functions. Using transmission electron microscopy, we assessed morphology and heterogeneity of the generated HUCs and characterized their intercellular membrane structural proteins relative to ex vivo urothelium tissue. We demonstrated that our cultured HUCs are free of fibroblasts. They are also heterogeneous, containing cells characteristic of both immature basal cells and mature superficial urothelial cells. The cultured HUCs expressed muscarinic receptors (MR1 and MR2), carnitine acetyltransferase (CarAT), immunoregulatory cytokines IL7, IL15, and IL23, as well as the chemokine CCL20. HUCs also expressed epithelial cell-specific molecules essential for forming intercellular structures that maintain the functional capacity to form the physiological barrier of the human bladder urothelium. A subset of HUCs, identified by the high expression of CD44, expressed the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) along with its co-receptor CD14. We demonstrated that HUCs express, at the mRNA level, both forms of the IL22 receptor, the membrane-associated (IL22RA1) and the secreted soluble (IL22RA2) forms; in turn, IL22 inhibited expression of MR1 and induced expression of CarAT and two antimicrobial peptides (S100A9 and lipocalin-2). While the cellular sources of IL22 have yet to be identified, the HUC cytokine and chemokine profiles support the concept that IL22-producing cells are present in the human bladder mucosa tissue and that IL22 plays a regulatory role in HUC functions. Thus, the described explant technique is clearly capable of generating functional HUCs suitable for the study of human urinary tract disorders, including interactions between urothelium and IL22-producing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phong T. Le
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Meghan M. Pearce
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Shubin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Edward M. Campbell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Cynthia S. Fok
- University of Minnesota, Department of Urology, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth R. Mueller
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Cynthia A. Brincat
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Alan J. Wolfe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Linda Brubaker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
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FOXN1 (GFP/w) reporter hESCs enable identification of integrin-β4, HLA-DR, and EpCAM as markers of human PSC-derived FOXN1(+) thymic epithelial progenitors. Stem Cell Reports 2014; 2:925-37. [PMID: 24936476 PMCID: PMC4050347 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in T cell maturation and tolerance induction. The generation of TECs from in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provides a platform on which to study the mechanisms of this interaction and has implications for immune reconstitution. To facilitate analysis of PSC-derived TECs, we generated hESC reporter lines in which sequences encoding GFP were targeted to FOXN1, a gene required for TEC development. Using this FOXN1GFP/w line as a readout, we developed a reproducible protocol for generating FOXN1-GFP+ thymic endoderm cells. Transcriptional profiling and flow cytometry identified integrin-β4 (ITGB4, CD104) and HLA-DR as markers that could be used in combination with EpCAM to selectively purify FOXN1+ TEC progenitors from differentiating cultures of unmanipulated PSCs. Human FOXN1+ TEC progenitors generated from PSCs facilitate the study of thymus biology and are a valuable resource for future applications in regenerative medicine. FOXN1-GFP reporter hESC lines were generated KGF promotes the proliferation of FOXN1-GFP+ cells FOXN1-GFP+ cells express TEC-associated genes ITGB4, HLA-DR, and EpCAM can be used to purify FOXN1+ TEC progenitors (219)
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11
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Boehm T, Swann JB. Thymus involution and regeneration: two sides of the same coin? Nat Rev Immunol 2013; 13:831-8. [DOI: 10.1038/nri3534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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A simple model system enabling human CD34(+) cells to undertake differentiation towards T cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69572. [PMID: 23894504 PMCID: PMC3720953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Channelling the development of haematopoietic progenitor cells into T lymphocytes is dependent upon a series of extrinsic prompts whose temporal and spatial sequence is critical for a productive outcome. Simple models of human progenitor cells development depend in the main on the use of xenogeneic systems which may provide some limitations to development. Methods and Findings Here we provide evidence that a simple model system which utilises both human keratinocyte and fibroblast cell lines arrayed on a synthetic tantalum coated matrix provides a permissive environment for the development of human CD34⁺ haematopoietic cells into mature CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in the presence of Interleukin 7 (IL-7), Interleukin 15 (IL-15) and the Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt-3L). This system was used to compare the ability of CD34+ cells to produce mature thymocytes and showed that whilst these cells derived from cord blood were able to productively differentiate into thymocytes the system was not permissive for the development of CD34+ cells from adult peripheral blood. Conclusions/Significance Our study provides direct evidence for the capacity of human cord blood CD34+ cells to differentiate along the T lineage in a simple human model system. Productive commitment of the CD34⁺ cells to generate T cells was found to be dependent on a three-dimensional matrix which induced the up-regulation of the Notch delta-like ligand 4 (Dll-4) by epithelial cells.
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Azad M, Kaviani S, Noruzinia M, Mortazavi Y, Mobarra N, Alizadeh S, Shahjahani M, Skandari F, Ahmadi MH, Atashi A, Abroun S, Zonoubi Z. Gene Expression Status and Methylation Pattern in Promoter of P15INK4b and P16INK4a in Cord Blood CD34 (+) Stem Cells. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2013; 16:822-8. [PMID: 23997911 PMCID: PMC3758052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/08/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective(s) : Stem cell differentiation into different cell lineages depends upon several factors, cell cycle control elements and intracellular signaling elements, including P15INK4b and P16INK4a genes. Epigenetics may be regarded as a control mechanism which is affected by these factors with respect to their promoter structure. Materials and Methods : The CD34 + cord blood stem cells were purified, isolated and then expanded. The undifferentiated day genome was isolated from part of the cultured cells, and the seventh day differentiated genome was isolated from the other part after differentiation to erythroid lineage. The procedure was followed by a separate Real-Time PCR for the two genes using the obtained cDNA. The processed DNA of the former stages was used for MSP (Methylation Specific PCR) reaction. Finally, pre- and post differentiation results were compared. Results : After performing MSP for each gene, it became clear that P15INK4b gene has undergone methylation and expression in predifferentiation stage. In addition, its status has not been changed after differentiation. P15INK4b gene expression was reduced after the differentiation. The other gene, P16INK4a, showed no predifferentiation methylation. Itwas completely expressed methylated and underwent reduced expression after differentiation. Conclusion : Specific predifferentiation expression of P15INK4b and P16INK4a genes along with reduction in their expression after erythroid differentiation indicated animportant role for these two genes in biology of CD34+ cells in primary stages and before differentiation. In addition, both genes are capable of epigenetic modifications due to the structure of their promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Azad
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Kaviani
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran,Corresponding author: Saeid Kaviani. Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +98-21-82883832; Fax: +98-21-88013030;
| | - Mehrdad Noruzinia
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yousef Mortazavi
- Hematology Department, Zanjan Medical Sciences University, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Naser Mobarra
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shaban Alizadeh
- Department of Hematology, Allied Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shahjahani
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Skandari
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Amir Atashi
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Abroun
- Hematology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zonoubi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mahdiyeh Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University,Tehran, Iran
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Normal Thymic Size and Low Rate of Infections in Human Donor Milk Fed HIV-Exposed Uninfected Infants from Birth to 18 Months of Age. Int J Pediatr 2013; 2013:373790. [PMID: 23737805 PMCID: PMC3657437 DOI: 10.1155/2013/373790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the immune function in HIV-exposed uninfected (HIV-EU) infants fed human donor milk. Methods. Ultrasound-obtained thymic index (Ti), T-lymphocyte subsets, and the number of infections were examined from birth to 18 months of age in 18 HIV-EU infants. The infants were compared to a cohort of 47 term, HIV-unexposed breastfed or formula-fed infants. Results. The thymic size at 12 months of age was not significantly different between the HIV-EU group and the control infants (P = 0.56). At 4 months of age, the HIV-EU infants had significantly fewer infections than the control infants (P < 0.001). Furthermore, in the control group, the infants exclusively breastfed at 4 months of age had significantly fewer infections at 8 months when compared to age-matched formula-fed infants (P = 0.001). Conclusion. HIV-EU infants fed human donor milk have normal growth of thymus and contract fewer infections than other healthy infants. This finding along with fewer infections in exclusively breastfed infants compared to formula-fed infants supports the beneficial effect of human milk on the immune system. We suggest, when breastfeeding is not possible, that providing human donor milk to vulnerable groups of infants will be beneficial for their maturing immune system.
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Liu B, Ohishi K, Orito Y, Nakamori Y, Nishikawa H, Ino K, Suzuki K, Matsumoto T, Masuya M, Hamada H, Mineno J, Ono R, Nosaka T, Shiku H, Katayama N. Manipulation of human early T lymphopoiesis by coculture on human bone marrow stromal cells: potential utility for adoptive immunotherapy. Exp Hematol 2012; 41:367-76.e1. [PMID: 23257689 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Revised: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
T cell precursors are an attractive target for adoptive immunotherapy. We examined the regulation of human early T lymphopoiesis by human bone marrow stromal cells to explore in vitro manipulation of human T cell precursors in a human-only coculture system. The generation of CD7(+)CD56(-)cyCD3(-) proT cells from human hematopoietic progenitors on telomerized human bone marrow stromal cells was enhanced by stem cell factor, flt3 ligand, and thrombopoietin, but these stimulatory effects were suppressed by interleukin 3. Expression of Notch ligands Delta-1 and -4 on stromal cells additively promoted T cell differentiation into the CD7(+)cyCD3(+) pre-T cell stage, while cell growth was strongly inhibited. By combining these coculture systems, we found that initial coculture with telomerized stromal cells in the presence of stem cell factor, flt3 ligand, and thrombopoietin, followed by coculture on Delta-1- and -4-coexpressing stromal cells led to a higher percentage and number of pre-T cells. Adoptive immunotherapy using peripheral blood T cells transduced with a tumor antigen-specific T cell receptor (TCR) is a promising strategy but has several limitations, such as the risk of forming a chimeric TCR with the endogenous TCR. We demonstrated that incubation of TCR-transduced hematopoietic progenitors with the combination of coculture systems gave rise to CD7(+)TCR(+)CD3(+)CD1a(-) T cell precursors that rapidly proliferated and differentiated under the culture condition to induce mature T cell differentiation. These data show the regulatory mechanism of early T lymphopoiesis on human stromal cells and the potential utility of engineered human stromal cells to manipulate early T cell development for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Liu
- Hematology and Oncology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan
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Bilwani FA, Knight KL. Adipocyte-derived soluble factor(s) inhibits early stages of B lymphopoiesis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:4379-86. [PMID: 23002443 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
B lymphopoiesis declines with age, and in rabbits this occurs by 8 wk of age. We found that CFU fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) in the bone marrow (BM) decrease 10-fold by a few weeks of age and that the CFU-Fs preferentially differentiate into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts. BM becomes filled with fat spaces during this time, making rabbit a unique model to study the effects of accelerated fat accumulation on B lymphopoiesis. We show that adipocytes of both rabbit and human secrete a soluble factor(s) that inhibits B lymphopoiesis, and we tested if this inhibition was due to effects on the BM stroma or hematopoietic progenitors. Pretreatment of BM mononuclear cells with adipocyte conditioned medium dramatically inhibited their differentiation into proB cells in cocultures with OP9 stromal cells. In contrast, pretreatment of OP9 stromal cells with adipocyte conditioned medium had no effect on B lymphopoiesis. Using human hematopoietic stem cells, we show that inhibition by the adipocyte-derived factor occurred at the common lymphoid progenitor to preproB cell stage. We propose that the age-related decline in B lymphopoiesis is due to a decrease in CFU-Fs, an increase in adipocytes, and an adipocyte-derived factor that blocks B lymphopoiesis at the common lymphoid progenitor to preproB cell stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fareena A Bilwani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
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