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Agur T, Wedel J, Bose S, Sahankumari AGP, Goodman D, Kong SW, Ghosh CC, Briscoe DM. Inhibition of mevalonate metabolism by statins augments the immunoregulatory phenotype of vascular endothelial cells and inhibits the costimulation of CD4 + T cells. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:947-954. [PMID: 34687147 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The statin family of therapeutics is widely used clinically as cholesterol lowering agents, and their effects to target intracellular mevalonate production is a key mechanism of action. In this study, we performed full transcriptomic RNA sequencing and qPCR to evaluate the effects of mevalonate on the immunoregulatory phenotype of endothelial cells (EC). We find that mevalonate-dependent gene regulation includes a reduction in the expression of multiple pro-inflammatory genes including TNFSF4 (OX40-L) and TNFSF18 (GITR-L) and a co-incident induction of immunoregulatory genes including LGALS3 (Galectin-3) and LGALS9 (Galectin-9). In functional assays, pretreatment of EC with simvastatin to inhibit mevalonate metabolism resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the costimulation of CD45RO+ CD4+ T cell proliferation as well as IL-2, IFNγ and IL-6 production versus vehicle-treated EC. In contrast, pre-treatment of EC with L-mevalonate in combination with simvastatin reversed phenotypic and functional responses. Collectively, these results indicate that relative mevalonate metabolism by EC is critical to sustain EC-dependent mechanisms of immunity. Our findings have broad relevance for the repurposing of statins as therapeutics to augment immunoregulation and/or to inhibit local tissue pro-inflammatory cytokine production following transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timna Agur
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Johannes Wedel
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sayantan Bose
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - A G Pramoda Sahankumari
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel Goodman
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sek Won Kong
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chandra C Ghosh
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David M Briscoe
- The Transplant Research Program and the Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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2
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Muntjewerff EM, Meesters LD, van den Bogaart G, Revelo NH. Reverse Signaling by MHC-I Molecules in Immune and Non-Immune Cell Types. Front Immunol 2020; 11:605958. [PMID: 33384693 PMCID: PMC7770133 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.605958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are well-known for their role in antigen (cross-) presentation, thereby functioning as key players in the communication between immune cells, for example dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells, or immune cells and their targets, such as T cells and virus-infected or tumor cells. However, much less appreciated is the fact that MHC molecules can also act as signaling receptors. In this process, here referred to as reverse MHC class I (MHC-I) signaling, ligation of MHC molecules can lead to signal-transduction and cell regulatory effects in the antigen presenting cell. In the case of MHC-I, reverse signaling can have several outcomes, including apoptosis, migration, induced or reduced proliferation and cytotoxicity towards target cells. Here, we provide an overview of studies showing the signaling pathways and cell outcomes upon MHC-I stimulation in various immune and non-immune cells. Signaling molecules like RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt1), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were common signaling molecules activated upon MHC-I ligation in multiple cell types. For endothelial and smooth muscle cells, the in vivo relevance of reverse MHC-I signaling has been established, namely in the context of adverse effects after tissue transplantation. For other cell types, the role of reverse MHC-I signaling is less clear, since aspects like the in vivo relevance, natural MHC-I ligands and the extended downstream pathways are not fully known.The existing evidence, however, suggests that reverse MHC-I signaling is involved in the regulation of the defense against bacterial and viral infections and against malignancies. Thereby, reverse MHC-I signaling is a potential target for therapies against viral and bacterial infections, cancer immunotherapies and management of organ transplantation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke M Muntjewerff
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Luca D Meesters
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geert van den Bogaart
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Natalia H Revelo
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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3
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Sliker BH, Goetz BT, Barnes R, King H, Maurer HC, Olive KP, Solheim JC. HLA-B influences integrin beta-1 expression and pancreatic cancer cell migration. Exp Cell Res 2020; 390:111960. [PMID: 32194036 PMCID: PMC7182497 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.111960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules present antigenic peptides to cytotoxic T cells, causing lysis of malignant cells. Transplantation biology studies have implicated HLA class I molecules in cell migration, but there has been little evidence presented that they influence cancer cell migration, a contributing factor in metastasis. In this study, we examined the effect of HLA-B on pancreatic cancer cell migration. HLA-B siRNA transfection increased the migration of the S2-013 pancreatic cancer cells but, in contrast, reduced migration of the PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Integrin molecules have previously been implicated in the upregulation of pancreatic cancer cell migration, and knockdown of HLA-B in S2-013 cells heightened the expression of integrin beta 1 (ITGB1), but in the PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells HLA-B knockdown diminished ITGB1 expression. A transmembrane sequence in an S2-013 HLA-B heavy chain matches a corresponding sequence in HLA-B in the BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell line, and knockdown of BxPC-3 HLA-B mimics the effect of S2-013 HLA-B knockdown on migration. In total, our findings indicate that HLA-B influences the expression of ITGB1 in pancreatic cancer cells, with concurrent distinctions in transmembrane sequences and effects on the migration of the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailee H Sliker
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Benjamin T Goetz
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Raina Barnes
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Hannah King
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - H Carlo Maurer
- Columbia University Department of Medicine and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kenneth P Olive
- Columbia University Department of Medicine and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joyce C Solheim
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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4
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Golbert DCF, Santana-Van-Vliet E, Ribeiro-Alves M, Fonsêca MMBD, Lepletier A, Mendes-da-Cruz DA, Loss G, Cotta-de-Almeida V, Vasconcelos ATR, Savino W. Small interference ITGA6 gene targeting in the human thymic epithelium differentially regulates the expression of immunological synapse-related genes. Cell Adh Migr 2018; 12:152-167. [PMID: 28494186 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2017.1327513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus supports differentiation of T cell precursors. This process requires relocation of developing thymocytes throughout multiple microenvironments of the organ, mainly with thymic epithelial cells (TEC), which control intrathymic T cell differentiation influencing the formation and maintenance of the immunological synapse. In addition to the proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), this structure is supported by several adhesion molecules. During the process of thymopoiesis, we previously showed that laminin-mediated interactions are involved in the entrance of T-cell precursors into the thymus, as well as migration of differentiating thymocytes within the organ. Using small interference RNA strategy, we knocked-down the ITGA6 gene (which encodes the CD49f integrin α-chain) in cultured human TEC, generating a decrease in the expression of the corresponding CD49f subunit, in addition to modulation in several other genes related to cell adhesion and migration. Thymocyte adhesion to TEC was significantly impaired, comprising both immature and mature thymocyte subsets. Moreover, we found a modulation of the MHC, with a decrease in membrane expression of HLA-ABC, in contrast with increase in the expression of HLA-DR. Interestingly, the knockdown of the B2M gene (encoding the β-2 microglobulin of the HLA-ABC complex) increased CD49f expression levels, thus unraveling the existence of a cross-talk event in the reciprocal control of CD49f and HLA-ABC. Our data suggest that the expression levels of CD49f may be relevant in the general control of MHC expression by TEC and consequently the corresponding synapse with developing thymocytes mediated by the T-cell receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane Cristina F Golbert
- a Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,b National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,c Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Eliane Santana-Van-Vliet
- a Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,b National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves
- d Evandro Chagas Research Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Marbella Maria B da Fonsêca
- e Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Structural Genomics Consortium , University of Oxford, UK, Structural Genomics Consortium , Old Road Campus, Headington , Oxford , England
| | - Ailin Lepletier
- a Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,b National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Daniella Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz
- a Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,b National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Guilherme Loss
- c Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Vinícius Cotta-de-Almeida
- a Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,b National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza R Vasconcelos
- c Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Wilson Savino
- a Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,b National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute , Oswaldo Cruz Foundation , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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Valenzuela NM, Reed EF. Antibodies to HLA Molecules Mimic Agonistic Stimulation to Trigger Vascular Cell Changes and Induce Allograft Injury. CURRENT TRANSPLANTATION REPORTS 2015; 2:222-232. [PMID: 28344919 DOI: 10.1007/s40472-015-0065-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-induced signaling in endothelial and smooth muscle cells causes dramatic cytoskeletal rearrangement, increased survival, motility, proliferation, adhesion molecule and chemokine expression, and adhesion of leukocytes. These mechanisms are directly related to endothelial activation, neointimal proliferation, and intragraft accumulation of leukocytes during antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and chronic rejection. Clustering of HLA by ligands in trans, such as in antigen-presenting cells at the immune synapse, triggers physiological functions analogous to HLA antibody-induced signaling in vascular cells. Emerging evidence has revealed previously unknown functions for HLA beyond antigen presentation, including association with coreceptors in cis to permit signal transduction, and modulation of intracellular signaling downstream of other receptors that may be relevant to HLA signaling in the graft vasculature. We discuss the literature regarding HLA-induced signaling in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, as well as under endogenous biological conditions, and how such signaling relates to functional changes and pathological mechanisms during graft injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Valenzuela
- UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 1000 Veteran Ave Room 1-520, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Elaine F Reed
- UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 1000 Veteran Ave Room 1-520, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Li F, Wei J, Valenzuela NM, Lai C, Zhang Q, Gjertson D, Fishbein MC, Kobashigawa JA, Deng M, Reed EF. Phosphorylated S6 kinase and S6 ribosomal protein are diagnostic markers of antibody-mediated rejection in heart allografts. J Heart Lung Transplant 2014; 34:580-587. [PMID: 25511749 DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2014.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-MHC Class I alloantibodies have been implicated in the processes of acute and chronic rejection. These antibodies (Ab) bind to endothelial cells (EC) and transduce signals leading to the activation of cell survival and proliferation pathways, including Src, FAK and mTOR, as well as downstream targets ERK, S6 kinase (S6K) and S6 ribosomal protein (S6RP). We tested the hypothesis that phosphorylation of S6K, S6RP and ERK in capillary endothelium may serve as an adjunct diagnostic tool for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in heart allografts. METHODS Diagnosis of AMR was based on histology or immunoperoxidase staining of paraffin-embedded tissue, consistent with 2013 ISHLT criteria. Diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR) was based on ISHLT criteria. Endomyocardial biopsies from 67 heart transplant recipients diagnosed with acute rejection [33 with pAMR, 18 with ACR (15 with Grade 1R, 3 with Grade ≥2R), 16 with pAMR and ACR (13 with 1R and 3 with ≥2R)] and 40 age- and gender-matched recipients without rejection were tested for the presence of phosphorylated forms of ERK, S6RP and S6K by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Immunostaining of endomyocardial biopsies with evidence of pAMR showed a significant increase in expression of p-S6K and p-S6RP in capillary EC compared with controls. A weaker association was observed between pAMR and p-ERK. CONCLUSIONS Biopsies diagnosed with pAMR often showed phosphorylation of S6K and S6RP, indicating that staining for p-S6K and p-S6RP is useful for the diagnosis of AMR. Our findings support a role for antibody-mediated HLA signaling in the process of graft injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Jennifer Wei
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Nicole M Valenzuela
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Chi Lai
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Qiuheng Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - David Gjertson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Michael C Fishbein
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Jon A Kobashigawa
- Heart Transplant Program, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, Third Floor Cardiology A3107, los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Mario Deng
- UCLA Cardiovascular Center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Elaine F Reed
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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7
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Transplant glomerulopathy: the interaction of HLA antibodies and endothelium. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:549315. [PMID: 24741606 PMCID: PMC3987972 DOI: 10.1155/2014/549315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Revised: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) is a major cause of chronic graft dysfunction without effective therapy. Although the histological definition of TG is well characterized, the pathophysiological pathways leading to TG development are still poorly understood. Electron microscopy suggests an earlier appearance of TG and suggests that endothelial cell injury is the first sign of the disease. The pathogenic role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies in endothelial cells has been described in acute vascular and humoral rejection. However the mechanisms and pathways of endothelial cell injury by HLA antibodies remain unclear. Despite the description of different causes of the morphological lesion of TG (hepatitis, thrombotic microangiopathy), the strong link between TG and chronic antibody mediated rejection suggests a major role for HLA antibodies in TG formation. In this review, we describe the effect of classes I or II HLA-antibodies in TG and especially the implication of donor specific antibodies (DSA). We update recent studies about endothelial cells and try to explain the different signals and intracellular pathways involved in the progression of TG.
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