NKG2A and CD56 are coexpressed on activated TH2 but not TH1 lymphocytes

Restoration of CD3+CD56+ cell level improves skin lesions in severe psoriasis: A pilot clinical study of adoptive immunotherapy for patients with psoriasis using autologous cytokine-induced killer cells

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder mediated by the cells and molecules of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell infusion is considered an effective and safe cancer treatment and is licensed for this use in China. Accumulated evidence indicating that CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells are significantly decreased in psoriatic patients prompted us to investigate if the restoration of CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells may be beneficial for psoriatic patients. We designed a clinical trial for psoriasis treatment that involved CIK cell infusion because CIK cells include a large amount of CD3⁺CD56⁺ T cells (NCT01894373 at www.clinicaltrials.gov). Six patients with severe psoriasis were initially enrolled, and four of them exhibited markedly lower levels of CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells in their peripheral blood (PB) relative to healthy donors. CIK cell infusion-associated toxicity was not observed in any infusion. The percentage of CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells in the PB markedly increased and the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) synchronously decreased in four patients with lower CD3⁺CD56⁺ cell contents, and two of them obtained a more than 4-month PASI75 after completing a four-cycle treatment. However, a decrease in the CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells was observed concomitantly with disease recurrence after short-term amelioration. In contrast, no obvious improvement was observed in the two patients with nearly normal CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells in the PB before treatment. These observations suggest that the normalization of the CD3⁺CD56⁺ cell level may improve the skin lesions of severe psoriasis and warrant further clinical trials for severe psoriasis using repeated CIK adoptive immunotherapy.

Decrease of peripheral and intestinal NKG2A-positive T cells in patients with ulcerative colitis

To investigate the role of inhibitory natural killer receptors (iNKRs) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we analyzed the expression of NKG2A, one of the iNKRs, on T cells in a mouse colitis model and human IBD. During the active phase of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis, the frequency of NKG2A+ T cells was significantly decreased in the peripheral blood, and increased in the intestine, suggesting the mobilization of this T cell subset to the sites of inflammation. Administration of anti-NKG2A antibody increased the number of inflammatory foci in DSS-induced colitis, suggesting the involvement of NKG2A+ T cells in this colitis model. In ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, the frequency of peripheral blood NKG2A+ T cells was significantly decreased, compared with Crohn's disease (CD) patients and healthy controls, regardless of clinical conditions such as treatment modalities and disease activity. Notably, in sharp contrast to the DSS-induced mouse colitis model, the frequency of NKG2A+ cells among intestinal T cells was also decreased in UC patients. These results suggest that inadequate local infiltration of NKG2A+ T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of UC.

Associations between genetic variants in vitamin D metabolism and asthma characteristics in young African Americans: a pilot study

INTRODUCTION

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with asthma severity in children. Young, urban African Americans (AAs) have high rates of hypovitaminosis D and asthma. Our objective was to determine associations between variants in vitamin D metabolism genes and asthma characteristics in a pilot study of young urban AAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two urban AA cohorts of subjects aged 6 to 20 years (139 subjects with asthma and 74 subjects without asthma) were genotyped for 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 3 vitamin D metabolism genes: VDR (vitamin D receptor), CYP24A1 (cytochrome P450 vitamin D 24-hydroxylase), and CYP2R1 (cytochrome P450 vitamin D 25-hydroxylase). In a case-control analysis, SNPs were studied for associations with an asthma diagnosis. Within the asthmatic cohort, SNPs were analyzed for associations with quantitative asthma characteristics. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index percentile.

RESULTS

Only the CYP2R1 SNP rs10766197 homozygous minor genotype was associated with asthma (P = 0.044). CYP24A1 SNP rs2248137 was associated with lower vitamin D levels (P = 0.006). Within the asthma cohort, multiple significant associations between SNPs and asthma characteristics were identified; VDR SNP rs2228570 was associated with the higher nighttime asthma morbidity scores (P = 0.04), lower baseline spirometric measures (P < 0.05), 1 or more positive aeroallergen skin test (P = 0.003), and increased immunoglobulin E levels (P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

This pilot study demonstrates that variants in vitamin D metabolism genes are associated with quantitative asthma characteristics in young, urban AAs. The collection of these associations provides evidence for the need for a large population-based study of vitamin D-relevant SNPs in this cohort.

Associations between genetic variants in vitamin D metabolism and asthma characteristics in young African Americans: a pilot study

INTRODUCTION

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with asthma severity in children. Young, urban African Americans (AAs) have high rates of hypovitaminosis D and asthma. Our objective was to determine associations between variants in vitamin D metabolism genes and asthma characteristics in a pilot study of young urban AAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two urban AA cohorts of subjects aged 6 to 20 years (139 subjects with asthma and 74 subjects without asthma) were genotyped for 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 3 vitamin D metabolism genes: VDR (vitamin D receptor), CYP24A1 (cytochrome P450 vitamin D 24-hydroxylase), and CYP2R1 (cytochrome P450 vitamin D 25-hydroxylase). In a case-control analysis, SNPs were studied for associations with an asthma diagnosis. Within the asthmatic cohort, SNPs were analyzed for associations with quantitative asthma characteristics. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index percentile.

RESULTS

Only the CYP2R1 SNP rs10766197 homozygous minor genotype was associated with asthma (P = 0.044). CYP24A1 SNP rs2248137 was associated with lower vitamin D levels (P = 0.006). Within the asthma cohort, multiple significant associations between SNPs and asthma characteristics were identified; VDR SNP rs2228570 was associated with the higher nighttime asthma morbidity scores (P = 0.04), lower baseline spirometric measures (P < 0.05), 1 or more positive aeroallergen skin test (P = 0.003), and increased immunoglobulin E levels (P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

This pilot study demonstrates that variants in vitamin D metabolism genes are associated with quantitative asthma characteristics in young, urban AAs. The collection of these associations provides evidence for the need for a large population-based study of vitamin D-relevant SNPs in this cohort.

Molecular profiling of CD3-CD4+ T cells from patients with the lymphocytic variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome reveals targeting of growth control pathways

The clonal CD3(-)CD4(+) T-cell population characterizing lymphocytic variant hypereosinophilic syndrome (L-HES) persists for years, with a subgroup of patients ultimately progressing to T lymphoma. The molecular changes associated with the premalignant clone and the emergence of malignant subclones are unknown, precluding the development of targeted therapy for this HES variant. In this study, we used whole genome arrays to examine gene expression in the CD3(-)CD4(+) T cells and found that 850 genes were differentially regulated during chronic disease compared with CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells from healthy donors. Changes in the expression of 349 genes were altered in association with the clinical progression from chronic L-HES to T lymphoma in 1 patient, with 87 of 349 genes representing further changes in genes whose expression was altered in all chronic disease patients (87 of 850). Array analysis after CD2/CD28-mediated activation revealed that the major gene expression changes observed in the CD3(-)CD4(+) T cells do not reflect activation induced alterations but rather pathways involved in T-cell homeostasis, including transforming growth factor-beta signaling, apoptosis, and T-cell maturation, signaling, and migration. Examination of microRNA expression in the CD3(-)CD4(+) T cells from patients with chronic disease identified 23 microRNAs that changed significantly, among which miR-125a further decreased in association with one patient's evolution to T lymphoma.

Evidence of inflammatory immune signaling in chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study of gene expression in peripheral blood

Background

Genomic profiling of peripheral blood reveals altered immunity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) however interpretation remains challenging without immune demographic context. The object of this work is to identify modulation of specific immune functional components and restructuring of co-expression networks characteristic of CFS using the quantitative genomics of peripheral blood.

Methods

Gene sets were constructed a priori for CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, CD14+ monocytes and CD16+ neutrophils from published data. A group of 111 women were classified using empiric case definition (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and unsupervised latent cluster analysis (LCA). Microarray profiles of peripheral blood were analyzed for expression of leukocyte-specific gene sets and characteristic changes in co-expression identified from topological evaluation of linear correlation networks.

Results

Median expression for a set of 6 genes preferentially up-regulated in CD19+ B cells was significantly lower in CFS (p = 0.01) due mainly to PTPRK and TSPAN3 expression. Although no other gene set was differentially expressed at p < 0.05, patterns of co-expression in each group differed markedly. Significant co-expression of CD14+ monocyte with CD16+ neutrophil (p = 0.01) and CD19+ B cell sets (p = 0.00) characterized CFS and fatigue phenotype groups. Also in CFS was a significant negative correlation between CD8+ and both CD19+ up-regulated (p = 0.02) and NK gene sets (p = 0.08). These patterns were absent in controls.

Conclusion

Dissection of blood microarray profiles points to B cell dysfunction with coordinated immune activation supporting persistent inflammation and antibody-mediated NK cell modulation of T cell activity. This has clinical implications as the CD19+ genes identified could provide robust and biologically meaningful basis for the early detection and unambiguous phenotyping of CFS.

Inhibitory NKG2A and activating NKG2D and NKG2C natural killer cell receptor genes: susceptibility for rheumatoid arthritis

The inhibitory (NKG2A) and activating (NKG2D and NKG2C) natural killer (NK) cell receptors are expressed on a subset of NK and T cells. They regulate the innate and adaptive immune systems related to cytotoxicity and cytokine production that are involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The role of inhibitory and activating NK cell receptor genes might contribute to chronic inflammation and destruction of bone and cartilage in RA. Therefore, we investigated the association of the NKG2A, NKG2C, and NKG2D genotypes with RA. NKG2A (KLRC1) NKG2C (KLRC2), and NKG2D (KLRK1, D12S249E) genes were genotyped in 210 unrelated patients with RA and 298 controls using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. We further investigated the relationships between the genotypes of each single nucleotide polymorphism and the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and bony erosions in RA patients. The major NKG2A c.338-90*A/*A, NKG2C102*Ser/*Ser, and NKG2D72*Ala/*Ala genotypes in RA were significantly associated compared with controls [P = 0.013, odds ratio (OR) = 0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.44-0.91; P < 0.0001, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.44-2.96; and P = 0.019, OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.45-0.93, respectively]. The minor NKG2A c.338-90*G/*G, NKG2C102*Phe/*Phe, and NKG2D72*Thr/*Thr genotypes showed a risk of RA (P = 0.010, OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.17-3.54; P < 0.0001, OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.12-0.48; and P = 0.032, OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.05-5.01, respectively) compared with controls. No significance was observed between the inhibitory (NKG2A) or activating (NKG2C and NKG2D) receptor genotypes and the presence of RF, ANA, or bony erosions in RA.

NKG2A inhibits TH2 cell effector function in vitro

Background

We previously reported that NKG2A, a key inhibitory ligand for HLA-E, is expressed on activated TH2 but not TH1 cells. Here we measured cytokine expression in human ex vivo TH2 cells upon activation with anti-CD3/28 and challenge with an NKG2A-specific agonist.

Methods

TH2 cells were purified from healthy volunteers and activated with anti-CD3/28 in the presence and absence of NKG2A-specific agonist. IL-4 was used as a marker of TH2 effector function and measured by flow cytometry.

Results

Activation of TH2 cells increased NKG2A positivity from (Mean ± SE) 7.3 ± 2.4% to 13.7 ± 3.8%; (p = 0.03). The presence of NKG2A agonist did not significantly alter NKG2A expression, however, the percentage of activated TH2 cells expressing intracellular IL-4 decreased from 25.5 ± 6.8% to 9.3 ± 4.8% (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

We show that signalling through NKG2A suppresses TH2 effector function. This may provide a means to modulate Th1/Th2 balance in diseases where Th2 cytokines predominate.