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Ruiz Pérez M, Vandenabeele P, Tougaard P. The thymus road to a T cell: migration, selection, and atrophy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1443910. [PMID: 39257583 PMCID: PMC11384998 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1443910] [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: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The thymus plays a pivotal role in generating a highly-diverse repertoire of T lymphocytes while preventing autoimmunity. Thymus seeding progenitors (TSPs) are a heterogeneous group of multipotent progenitors that migrate to the thymus via CCR7 and CCR9 receptors. While NOTCH guides thymus progenitors toward T cell fate, the absence or disruption of NOTCH signaling renders the thymus microenvironment permissive to other cell fates. Following T cell commitment, developing T cells undergo multiple selection checkpoints by engaging with the extracellular matrix, and interacting with thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and other immune subsets across the different compartments of the thymus. The different selection checkpoints assess the T cell receptor (TCR) performance, with failure resulting in either repurposing (agonist selection), or cell death. Additionally, environmental cues such as inflammation and endocrine signaling induce acute thymus atrophy, contributing to the demise of most developing T cells during thymic selection. We discuss the occurrence of acute thymus atrophy in response to systemic inflammation. The thymus demonstrates high plasticity, shaping inflammation by abrogating T cell development and undergoing profound structural changes, and facilitating regeneration and restoration of T cell development once inflammation is resolved. Despite the challenges, thymic selection ensures a highly diverse T cell repertoire capable of discerning between self and non-self antigens, ultimately egressing to secondary lymphoid organs where they complete their maturation and exert their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Ruiz Pérez
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent, Center for Inflammation Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent, Center for Inflammation Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Tougaard
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent, Center for Inflammation Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Luo Y, Lu J, Lei Z, Zhu H, Rao D, Wang T, Fu C, Zhang Z, Xia L, Huang W. Lysine methylation modifications in tumor immunomodulation and immunotherapy: regulatory mechanisms and perspectives. Biomark Res 2024; 12:74. [PMID: 39080807 PMCID: PMC11289998 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00621-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysine methylation is a crucial post-translational modification (PTM) that significantly impacts gene expression regulation. This modification not only influences cancer development directly but also has significant implications for the immune system. Lysine methylation modulates immune cell functions and shapes the anti-tumor immune response, highlighting its dual role in both tumor progression and immune regulation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the intrinsic role of lysine methylation in the activation and function of immune cells, detailing how these modifications affect cellular processes and signaling pathways. We delve into the mechanisms by which lysine methylation contributes to tumor immune evasion, allowing cancer cells to escape immune surveillance and thrive. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting lysine methylation in cancer immunotherapy. Emerging strategies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, are being explored for their efficacy in modulating lysine methylation to enhance anti-tumor immune responses. By targeting these modifications, we can potentially improve the effectiveness of existing treatments and develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat cancer more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Luo
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Junli Lu
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhen Lei
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - He Zhu
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Dean Rao
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Chenan Fu
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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3
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Liao K, Chen P, Zhang M, Wang J, Hatzihristidis T, Lin X, Yang L, Yao N, Liu C, Hong Y, Li X, Liu H, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC, Love PE, Chen X, Liu WH, Zhao B, Xiao C. Critical roles of the miR-17∼92 family in thymocyte development, leukemogenesis, and autoimmunity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114261. [PMID: 38776224 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114261] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Thymocyte development requires precise control of PI3K-Akt signaling to promote proliferation and prevent leukemia and autoimmune disorders. Here, we show that ablating individual clusters of the miR-17∼92 family has a negligible effect on thymocyte development, while deleting the entire family severely impairs thymocyte proliferation and reduces thymic cellularity, phenocopying genetic deletion of Dicer. Mechanistically, miR-17∼92 expression is induced by Myc-mediated pre-T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, and miR-17∼92 promotes thymocyte proliferation by suppressing the translation of Pten. Retroviral expression of miR-17∼92 restores the proliferation and differentiation of Myc-deficient thymocytes. Conversely, partial deletion of the miR-17∼92 family significantly delays Myc-driven leukemogenesis. Intriguingly, thymocyte-specific transgenic miR-17∼92 expression does not cause leukemia or lymphoma but instead aggravates skin inflammation, while ablation of the miR-17∼92 family ameliorates skin inflammation. This study reveals intricate roles of the miR-17∼92 family in balancing thymocyte development, leukemogenesis, and autoimmunity and identifies those microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential therapeutic targets for leukemia and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Pengda Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Mengdi Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Furong Laboratory, Changsha, China
| | - Jiazhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Teri Hatzihristidis
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Nan Yao
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chenfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yazhen Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xia Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, China; Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul E Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, China; Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Wen-Hsien Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
| | - Bin Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Furong Laboratory, Changsha, China.
| | - Changchun Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Ruocco MR, Gisonna A, Acampora V, D’Agostino A, Carrese B, Santoro J, Venuta A, Nasso R, Rocco N, Russo D, Cavaliere A, Altobelli GG, Masone S, Avagliano A, Arcucci A, Fiume G. Guardians and Mediators of Metastasis: Exploring T Lymphocytes, Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells, and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in the Breast Cancer Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6224. [PMID: 38892411 PMCID: PMC11172575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancers (BCs) are solid tumors composed of heterogeneous tissues consisting of cancer cells and an ever-changing tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME includes, among other non-cancer cell types, immune cells influencing the immune context of cancer tissues. In particular, the cross talk of immune cells and their interactions with cancer cells dramatically influence BC dissemination, immunoediting, and the outcomes of cancer therapies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) represent prominent immune cell populations of breast TMEs, and they have important roles in cancer immunoescape and dissemination. Therefore, in this article we review the features of TILs, TAMs, and MDSCs in BCs. Moreover, we highlight the mechanisms by which these immune cells remodel the immune TME and lead to breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosaria Ruocco
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.R.); (A.G.)
| | - Armando Gisonna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.R.); (A.G.)
| | - Vittoria Acampora
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.A.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Anna D’Agostino
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (B.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Barbara Carrese
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (B.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Jessie Santoro
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (B.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Alessandro Venuta
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.A.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Rosarita Nasso
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy;
| | - Nicola Rocco
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (N.R.); (D.R.); (G.G.A.)
| | - Daniela Russo
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (N.R.); (D.R.); (G.G.A.)
| | | | - Giovanna Giuseppina Altobelli
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (N.R.); (D.R.); (G.G.A.)
| | - Stefania Masone
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Angelica Avagliano
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.A.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Alessandro Arcucci
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.A.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Fiume
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
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5
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Porcheddu V, Lhomme G, Giraudet R, Correia E, Maillère B. The self-reactive FVIII T cell repertoire in healthy individuals relies on a short set of epitopes and public clonotypes. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345195. [PMID: 38510258 PMCID: PMC10951066 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345195] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-mutated FVIII-specific CD4 T cell epitopes have been recently found to contribute to the development of inhibitors in patients with hemophilia A (HA), while auto-reactive CD4 T cells specific to FVIII circulate in the blood of healthy individuals at a frequency close to the foreign protein ovalbumin. Thus, although FVIII is a self-protein, the central tolerance raised against FVIII appears to be low. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the FVIII CD4 T cell repertoire in 29 healthy donors. Sequencing of the CDR3β TCR region from isolated FVIII-specific CD4 T cells revealed a limited usage and pairing of TRBV and TRBJ genes as well as a mostly hydrophobic composition of the CDR3β region according to their auto-reactivity. The FVIII repertoire is dominated by a few clonotypes, with only 13 clonotypes accounting for half of the FVIII response. Through a large-scale epitope mapping of the full-length FVIII sequence, we identified 18 immunodominant epitopes located in the A1, A3, C1, and C2 domains and covering half of the T cell response. These epitopes exhibited a broad specificity for HLA-DR or DP molecules or both. T cell priming with this reduced set of peptides revealed that highly expanded clonotypes specific to these epitopes were responsible individually for up to 32% of the total FVIII repertoire. These FVIII T cell epitopes and clonotypes were shared among HLA-unrelated donors tested and previously reported HA patients. Our study highlights the role of the auto-reactive T cell response against FVIII in HA and its similarity to the response observed in healthy individuals. Thus, it provides valuable insights for the development of new tolerance induction and deimmunization strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Porcheddu
- Université de Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement (INRAE), Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire pour la Santé (SIMoS), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Jin Y, Yuan H, Mehta I, Ezenwa O, Morel PA. Alternatively Spliced Variants of Murine CD247 Influence T Cell Development and Activation, Revealing the Importance of the CD3ζ C-Terminal Region. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:541-550. [PMID: 38117282 PMCID: PMC10872740 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
CD247, also known as CD3ζ, is a crucial signaling molecule that transduces signals delivered by TCR through its three ITAMs. CD3ζ is required for successful thymocyte development. Three additional alternatively spliced variants of murine CD247 have been described, that is, CD3ι, CD3θ, and CD3η, that differ from CD3ζ in the C terminus such that the third ITAM is lost. Previous studies demonstrated defects in T cell development in mice expressing CD3η, but the TCR signaling pathways affected by CD3η and the impacts of the CD3ι and CD3θ on T cell development were not explored. In this study, we used a retrovirus-mediated gene transfer technique to express these three isoforms individually and examined the roles of them on T cell development and activation. Rag1-/- mice reconstituted with CD3θ-expressing bone marrow failed to develop mature T cells. CD3ι-expressing T cells exhibited similar development and activation as cells expressing CD3ζ. In contrast, thymic development was severely impaired in CD3η-reconstituted mice. Single-positive but not double-positive CD3η-expressing thymocytes had reduced TCR expression, and CD5 expression was decreased at the double-positive stage, suggesting a defect in positive selection. Peripheral CD3η-expressing T cells had expanded CD44hi populations and upregulation of exhaustion markers seen by flow cytometry and RNA sequencing analysis. Analysis of early signaling events demonstrated significantly reduced activation of both the PLCγ1 and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. There was also a reduction in the frequency of activation of CD3η-expressing T cells. These studies reveal the importance of the CD3ζ C-terminal region in T cell development and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Jin
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Huijuan Yuan
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh PA
| | - Isha Mehta
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Ogechukwu Ezenwa
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Penelope A Morel
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Li Q, Guo H, Xu J, Li X, Wang D, Guo Y, Qing G, Van Vlierberghe P, Liu H. A helicase-independent role of DHX15 promotes MYC stability and acute leukemia cell survival. iScience 2024; 27:108571. [PMID: 38161423 PMCID: PMC10755364 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
DHX15 has been implicated in RNA splicing and ribosome biogenesis, primarily functioning as an RNA helicase. To systematically assess the cellular role of DHX15, we conducted proteomic analysis to investigate the landscape of DHX15 interactome, and identified MYC as a binding partner. DHX15 co-localizes with MYC in cells and directly interacts with MYC in vitro. Importantly, DHX15 contributes to MYC protein stability at the post-translational level and independent of its RNA binding capacity. Mechanistic investigation reveals that DHX15 interferes the interaction between MYC and FBXW7, thereby preventing MYC polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Consequently, the abrogation of DHX15 drastically inhibits MYC-mediated transcriptional output. While DHX15 depletion blocks T cell development and leukemia cell survival as we recently reported, overexpression of MYC significantly rescues the phenotypic defects. These findings shed light on the essential role of DHX15 in mammalian cells and suggest that maintaining sufficient MYC expression is a significant contributor to DHX15-mediated cellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilong Li
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Xinlu Li
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Donghai Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Guoliang Qing
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | | | - Hudan Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
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8
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Smid AI, Garforth SJ, Obaid MS, Bollons HR, James JR. Pre-T cell receptor localization and trafficking are independent of its signaling. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202212106. [PMID: 37516909 PMCID: PMC10373305 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202212106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of the pre-T cell receptor (preTCR) is an important checkpoint during the development of T cells, an essential cell type of our adaptive immune system. The preTCR complex is only transiently expressed and rapidly internalized in developing T cells and is thought to signal in a ligand-independent manner. However, identifying a mechanistic basis for these unique features of the preTCR compared with the final TCR complex has been confounded by the concomitant signaling that is normally present. Thus, we have reconstituted preTCR expression in non-immune cells to uncouple receptor trafficking dynamics from its associated signaling. We find that all the defining features of the preTCR are intrinsic properties of the receptor itself, driven by exposure of an extracellular hydrophobic region, and are not the consequence of receptor activation. Finally, we show that transitory preTCR cell surface expression can sustain tonic signaling in the absence of ligand binding, suggesting how the preTCR can nonetheless drive αβTCR lineage commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei I. Smid
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council–Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sam J. Garforth
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Maryam S. Obaid
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Hannah R. Bollons
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - John R. James
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council–Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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9
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Bodhale N, Nair A, Saha B. Isoform-specific functions of Ras in T-cell development and differentiation. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350430. [PMID: 37173132 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Ras GTPases, well characterized for their role in oncogenesis, are the cells' molecular switches that signal to maintain immune homeostasis through cellular development, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. In the immune system, T cells are the central players that cause autoimmunity if dysregulated. Antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation activates Ras-isoforms, which exhibit isoform-specific activator and effector requirements, functional specificities, and a selective role in T-cell development and differentiation. Recent studies show the role of Ras in T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases; however, there is a scarcity of knowledge about the role of Ras in T-cell development and differentiation. To date, limited studies have demonstrated Ras activation in response to positive and negative selection signals and Ras isoform-specific signaling, including subcellular signaling, in immune cells. The knowledge of isoform-specific functions of Ras in T cells is essential, but still inadequate to develop the T-cell-targeted Ras isoform-specific treatment strategies for the diseases caused by altered Ras-isoform expression and activation in T cells. In this review, we discuss the role of Ras in T-cell development and differentiation, critically analyzing the isoform-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arathi Nair
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
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10
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Sun L, Su Y, Jiao A, Wang X, Zhang B. T cells in health and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:235. [PMID: 37332039 PMCID: PMC10277291 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 123.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells are crucial for immune functions to maintain health and prevent disease. T cell development occurs in a stepwise process in the thymus and mainly generates CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Upon antigen stimulation, naïve T cells differentiate into CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic effector and memory cells, mediating direct killing, diverse immune regulatory function, and long-term protection. In response to acute and chronic infections and tumors, T cells adopt distinct differentiation trajectories and develop into a range of heterogeneous populations with various phenotype, differentiation potential, and functionality under precise and elaborate regulations of transcriptional and epigenetic programs. Abnormal T-cell immunity can initiate and promote the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of T cell development, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell classification, and differentiation in physiological settings. We further elaborate the heterogeneity, differentiation, functionality, and regulation network of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in infectious disease, chronic infection and tumor, and autoimmune disease, highlighting the exhausted CD8+ T cell differentiation trajectory, CD4+ T cell helper function, T cell contributions to immunotherapy and autoimmune pathogenesis. We also discuss the development and function of γδ T cells in tissue surveillance, infection, and tumor immunity. Finally, we summarized current T-cell-based immunotherapies in both cancer and autoimmune diseases, with an emphasis on their clinical applications. A better understanding of T cell immunity provides insight into developing novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Yanhong Su
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Anjun Jiao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China.
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Ashry MSE, Radwan E, Abdellateif MS, Arafah O, Hassan NM. Clinical features, laboratory characteristics, and outcome of ETP and TCRA/D aberrations in pediatric patients with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2023; 35:17. [PMID: 37303010 DOI: 10.1186/s43046-023-00176-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy with few accepted prognostic factors that limit the efficiency of therapy. The aim of the current study was to assess the clinical and laboratory features of T-cell receptor (TCR) aberrations and early T-cell precursor (ETP) subtype as well as their outcome to therapy. METHODS Sixty-three newly diagnosed pediatric T-ALL patients were assessed for the ETP status using immunophenotyping. Screening of TCRA/D aberrations was done by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The data were correlated to the patients' clinical features, response to treatment, and survival rates. RESULTS Seven patients (11%) had ETP-ALL. The ETP-ALL patients were older (P = 0.013), presented with lower white blood cell (WBC) count (P = 0.001) and lower percentage of peripheral blood (PB) blast cells (P = 0.037), more likely to have hyperdiploid karyotype (P = 0.009), and had been associated with TCRA/D gene amplification (P = 0.014) compared to other T-ALL patients. Of note, the same associations had been significantly observed in patients with TCRA/D gene amplification. Patients with TCRA/D amplification frequently coincided with TCRβ aberrations (P = 0.025). TCR-β aberrations were significantly associated with negative MRD at the end of induction compared to TCR-β-negative patients. There was a nonsignificant trend of ETP-positive cases to have lower overall survival (OS) (P = 0.06). Patients with TCR aberrations had no significant differences regarding disease-free survival (DFS) or OS rates compared to those with normal TCR. CONCLUSION ETP-ALL patients tend to have increased mortalities. There was no significant impact of TCR aberrations on the survival rates of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona S El Ashry
- Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Enas Radwan
- Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mona S Abdellateif
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Omar Arafah
- Pediatric Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Naglaa M Hassan
- Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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12
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Wang T, Zhao R, Zhi J, Liu Z, Wu A, Yang Z, Wang W, Ni T, Jing L, Yu M. Tox4 regulates transcriptional elongation and reinitiation during murine T cell development. Commun Biol 2023; 6:613. [PMID: 37286708 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04992-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
HMG protein Tox4 is a regulator of PP1 phosphatases with unknown function in development. Here we show that Tox4 conditional knockout in mice reduces thymic cellularity, partially blocks T cell development, and decreases ratio of CD8 to CD4 through decreasing proliferation and increasing apoptosis of CD8 cells. In addition, single-cell RNA-seq discovered that Tox4 loss also impairs proliferation of the fast-proliferating double positive (DP) blast population within DP cells in part due to downregulation of genes critical for proliferation, notably Cdk1. Moreover, genes with high and low expression level are more dependent on Tox4 than genes with medium expression level. Mechanistically, Tox4 may facilitate transcriptional reinitiation and restrict elongation in a dephosphorylation-dependent manner, a mechanism that is conserved between mouse and human. These results provide insights into the role of TOX4 in development and establish it as an evolutionarily conserved regulator of transcriptional elongation and reinitiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talang Wang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ruoyu Zhao
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200052, China
| | - Junhong Zhi
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ziling Liu
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Aiwei Wu
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zimei Yang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Weixu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Ting Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Lili Jing
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ming Yu
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200052, China.
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13
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Muhowski EM, Rogers LM. Dual TCR-Expressing T Cells in Cancer: How Single-Cell Technologies Enable New Investigation. Immunohorizons 2023; 7:299-306. [PMID: 37129560 PMCID: PMC10354877 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2200062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
TCR diversity measures are often used to understand the immune response in cancer. Traditional measures of diversity rely on bulk RNA sequencing (RNAseq) of the β-chain variable regions. However, the full αβ TCR repertoire is a combination of both the α- and β-chains, which are encoded by separate genes. In contrast with bulk RNAseq, single-cell RNAseq (scRNAseq) allows paired chain analyses, yielding a more accurate measure of the repertoire. Interestingly, ∼30% of mature peripheral T cells express multiple TCR alleles (e.g., two α-chains) and may exhibit dual Ag specificity. scRNAseq has become increasingly common, and data from both human and animal studies are publicly available. However, routine workflows discard secondary TCR alleles and focus on a single TCR clone per cell. This perspectives piece emphasizes why this may not be good practice and highlights unanswered questions in the field of T cell dual specificity.
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14
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Charnley M, Allam AH, Newton LM, Humbert PO, Russell SM. E-cadherin in developing murine T cells controls spindle alignment and progression through β-selection. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade5348. [PMID: 36652509 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade5348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A critical stage of T cell development is β-selection; at this stage, the T cell receptor β (TCRβ) chain is generated, and the developing T cell starts to acquire antigenic specificity. Progression through β-selection is assisted by low-affinity interactions between the nascent TCRβ chain and peptide presented on stromal major histocompatibility complex and cues provided by the niche. In this study, we identify a cue within the developing T cell niche that is critical for T cell development. E-cadherin mediates cell-cell interactions and influences cell fate in many developmental systems. In developing T cells, E-cadherin contributed to the formation of an immunological synapse and the alignment of the mitotic spindle with the polarity axis during division, which facilitated subsequent T cell development. Collectively, these data suggest that E-cadherin facilitates interactions with the thymic niche to coordinate the β-selection stage of T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirren Charnley
- Optical Sciences Centre, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Amr H Allam
- Optical Sciences Centre, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Lucas M Newton
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
- Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Patrick O Humbert
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
- Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sarah M Russell
- Optical Sciences Centre, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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15
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Beckmann D, Langnaese K, Gottfried A, Hradsky J, Tedford K, Tiwari N, Thomas U, Fischer KD, Korthals M. Ca 2+ Homeostasis by Plasma Membrane Ca 2+ ATPase (PMCA) 1 Is Essential for the Development of DP Thymocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021442. [PMID: 36674959 PMCID: PMC9865543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021442] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The strength of Ca2+ signaling is a hallmark of T cell activation, yet the role of Ca2+ homeostasis in developing T cells before expressing a mature T cell receptor is poorly understood. We aimed to unveil specific functions of the two plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPases expressed in T cells, PMCA1 and PMCA4. On a transcriptional and protein level we found that PMCA4 was expressed at low levels in CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) thymocytes and was even downregulated in subsequent stages while PMCA1 was present throughout development and upregulated in CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes. Mice with a targeted deletion of Pmca1 in DN3 thymocytes had an almost complete block of DP thymocyte development with an accumulation of DN4 thymocytes but severely reduced numbers of CD8+ immature single positive (ISP) thymocytes. The DN4 thymocytes of these mice showed strongly elevated basal cytosolic Ca2+ levels and a pre-mature CD5 expression, but in contrast to the DP thymocytes they were only mildly prone to apoptosis. Surprisingly, mice with a germline deletion of Pmca4 did not show any signs of altered progression through the developmental thymocyte stages, nor altered Ca2+ homeostasis throughout this process. PMCA1 is, therefore, non-redundant in keeping cellular Ca2+ levels low in the early thymocyte development required for the DN to DP transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Beckmann
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Langnaese
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anna Gottfried
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Hradsky
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kerry Tedford
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nikhil Tiwari
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Thomas
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Dieter Fischer
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Mark Korthals
- Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
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16
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This S, Rogers D, Mallet Gauthier È, Mandl JN, Melichar HJ. What's self got to do with it: Sources of heterogeneity among naive T cells. Semin Immunol 2023; 65:101702. [PMID: 36463711 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
There is a long-standing assumption that naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are largely homogeneous populations despite the extraordinary diversity of their T cell receptors (TCR). The self-immunopeptidome plays a key role in the selection of the naive T cell repertoire in the thymus, and self-peptides are also an important driver of differences between individual naive T cells with regard to their subsequent functional contributions to an immune response. Accumulating evidence suggests that as early as the β-selection stage of T cell development, when only one of the recombined chains of the mature TCR is expressed, signaling thresholds may be established for positive selection of immature thymocytes. Stochastic encounters subsequently made with self-ligands during positive selection in the thymus imprint functional biases that a T cell will carry with it throughout its lifetime, although ongoing interactions with self in the periphery ensure a level of plasticity in the gene expression wiring of naive T cells. Identifying the sources of heterogeneity in the naive T cell population and which functional attributes of T cells can be modulated through post-thymic interventions versus those that are fixed during T cell development, could enable us to better select or generate T cells with particular traits to improve the efficacy of T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien This
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology and McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology and McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
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17
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The β-selection step shapes T-cell identity. Nature 2023; 613:440-442. [PMID: 36646871 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-00025-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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18
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Lin X, Gao Y, Ding Y, Zhao B. Editorial: Revisiting the thymus: the origin of T cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1197066. [PMID: 37122760 PMCID: PMC10137674 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1197066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yayi Gao
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yi Ding
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Bin Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ;
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19
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Werlen G, Li ML, Tottone L, da Silva-Diz V, Su X, Herranz D, Jacinto E. Dietary glucosamine overcomes the defects in αβ-T cell ontogeny caused by the loss of de novo hexosamine biosynthesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7404. [PMID: 36456551 PMCID: PMC9715696 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35014-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell development requires the coordinated rearrangement of T cell receptor (TCR) gene segments and the expression of either αβ or γδ TCR. However, whether and how de novo synthesis of nutrients contributes to thymocyte commitment to either lineage remains unclear. Here, we find that T cell-specific deficiency in glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase 1 (GFAT1), the rate-limiting enzyme of the de novo hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (dn-HBP), attenuates hexosamine levels, blunts N-glycosylation of TCRβ chains, reduces surface expression of key developmental receptors, thus impairing αβ-T cell ontogeny. GFAT1 deficiency triggers defects in N-glycans, increases the unfolded protein response, and elevates γδ-T cell numbers despite reducing γδ-TCR diversity. Enhancing TCR expression or PI3K/Akt signaling does not reverse developmental defects. Instead, dietary supplementation with the salvage metabolite, glucosamine, and an α-ketoglutarate analogue partially restores αβ-T cell development in GFAT1T-/- mice, while fully rescuing it in ex vivo fetal thymic organ cultures. Thus, dn-HBP fulfils, while salvage nutrients partially satisfy, the elevated demand for hexosamines during early T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Werlen
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Mei-Ling Li
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Luca Tottone
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Dept. of Pharmacology and Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA ,grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL Miami, 33136 USA
| | - Victoria da Silva-Diz
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Dept. of Pharmacology and Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
| | - Xiaoyang Su
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Endocrinology, Child Health Inst. of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
| | - Daniel Herranz
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Dept. of Pharmacology and Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
| | - Estela Jacinto
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
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20
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Anderson MK, da Rocha JDB. Direct regulation of TCR rearrangement and expression by E proteins during early T cell development. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1578. [PMID: 35848146 PMCID: PMC9669112 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
γδ T cells are widely distributed throughout mucosal and epithelial cell-rich tissues and are an important early source of IL-17 in response to several pathogens. Like αβ T cells, γδ T cells undergo a stepwise process of development in the thymus that requires recombination of genome-encoded segments to assemble mature T cell receptor (TCR) genes. This process is tightly controlled on multiple levels to enable TCR segment assembly while preventing the genomic instability inherent in the double-stranded DNA breaks that occur during this process. Each TCR locus has unique aspects in its structure and requirements, with different types of regulation before and after the αβ/γδ T cell fate choice. It has been known that Runx and Myb are critical transcriptional regulators of TCRγ and TCRδ expression, but the roles of E proteins in TCRγ and TCRδ regulation have been less well explored. Multiple lines of evidence show that E proteins are involved in TCR expression at many different levels, including the regulation of Rag recombinase gene expression and protein stability, induction of germline V segment expression, chromatin remodeling, and restriction of the fetal and adult γδTCR repertoires. Importantly, E proteins interact directly with the cis-regulatory elements of the TCRγ and TCRδ loci, controlling the predisposition of a cell to become an αβ T cell or a γδ T cell, even before the lineage-dictating TCR signaling events. This article is categorized under: Immune System Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Immune System Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele K Anderson
- Department Immunology, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Chann AS, Charnley M, Newton LM, Newbold A, Wiede F, Tiganis T, Humbert PO, Johnstone RW, Russell SM. Stepwise progression of β-selection during T cell development involves histone deacetylation. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 6:6/1/e202201645. [PMID: 36283704 PMCID: PMC9595210 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During T cell development, the first step in creating a unique T cell receptor (TCR) is genetic recombination of the TCRβ chain. The quality of the new TCRβ is assessed at the β-selection checkpoint. Most cells fail this checkpoint and die, but the coordination of fate at the β-selection checkpoint is not yet understood. We shed new light on fate determination during β-selection using a selective inhibitor of histone deacetylase 6, ACY1215. ACY1215 disrupted the β-selection checkpoint. Characterising the basis for this disruption revealed a new, pivotal stage in β-selection, bookended by up-regulation of TCR co-receptors, CD28 and CD2, respectively. Within this "DN3bPre" stage, CD5 and Lef1 are up-regulated to reflect pre-TCR signalling, and their expression correlates with proliferation. These findings suggest a refined model of β-selection in which a coordinated increase in expression of pre-TCR, CD28, CD5 and Lef1 allows for modulating TCR signalling strength and culminates in the expression of CD2 to enable exit from the β-selection checkpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchi S Chann
- Optical Sciences Centre, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia,Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia,Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Mirren Charnley
- Optical Sciences Centre, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia,Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lucas M Newton
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrea Newbold
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Florian Wiede
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Tony Tiganis
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Patrick O Humbert
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia,Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah M Russell
- Optical Sciences Centre, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia .,Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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22
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Ratiu JJ, Barclay WE, Lin E, Wang Q, Wellford S, Mehta N, Harnois MJ, DiPalma D, Roy S, Contreras AV, Shinohara ML, Wiest D, Zhuang Y. Loss of Zfp335 triggers cGAS/STING-dependent apoptosis of post-β selection thymocytes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5901. [PMID: 36202870 PMCID: PMC9537144 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33610-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Production of a functional peripheral T cell compartment typically involves massive expansion of the bone marrow progenitors that seed the thymus. There are two main phases of expansion during T cell development, following T lineage commitment of double-negative (DN) 2 cells and after successful rearrangement and selection for functional TCRβ chains in DN3 thymocytes, which promotes the transition of DN4 cells to the DP stage. The signals driving the expansion of DN2 thymocytes are well studied. However, factors regulating the proliferation and survival of DN4 cells remain poorly understood. Here, we uncover an unexpected link between the transcription factor Zfp335 and control of cGAS/STING-dependent cell death in post-β-selection DN4 thymocytes. Zfp335 controls survival by sustaining expression of Ankle2, which suppresses cGAS/STING-dependent cell death. Together, this study identifies Zfp335 as a key transcription factor regulating the survival of proliferating post-β-selection thymocytes and demonstrates a key role for the cGAS/STING pathway in driving apoptosis of developing T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Ratiu
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | | | - Elliot Lin
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Qun Wang
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | | | - Naren Mehta
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | | | - Devon DiPalma
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Sumedha Roy
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Alejandra V Contreras
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Mari L Shinohara
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Duke University, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - David Wiest
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Yuan Zhuang
- Duke University, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
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23
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Petrova GV, Naumov YN, Naumova EN, Gorski J. Role of cross-reactivity in cellular immune targeting of influenza A M1 58-66 variant peptide epitopes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:956103. [PMID: 36211433 PMCID: PMC9539824 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.956103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunologic significance of cross-reactivity of TCR recognition of peptide:MHC complexes is still poorly understood. We have described TCR cross-reactivity in a system involving polyclonal CD8 T cell recognition of the well characterized influenza viral M158-66 epitope. While M158-66 is generally conserved between influenza A isolates, error-prone transcription generates stable variant RNA during infection which could act as novel epitopes. If packaged and viable, variant genomic RNA generates an influenza quasispecies. The stable RNA variants would generate a new transmissible epitope that can select a specific repertoire, which itself should have cross-reactive properties. We tested two candidate peptides in which Thr65 is changed to Ala (A65) or Ser (S65) using recall responses to identify responding T cell clonotypes. Both peptides generated large polyclonal T cell repertoires of their own with repertoire characteristics and cross-reactivity patterns like that observed for the M158-66 repertoire. Both substitutions could be present in viral genomes or mRNA at sufficient frequency during an infection to drive immunity. Peptides from the resulting protein would be a target for CD8 cells irrespective of virus viability or transmissibility. These data support the hypothesis that cross-reactivity is important for immunity against RNA virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina V. Petrova
- The Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | | | - Elena N. Naumova
- Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jack Gorski
- The Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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24
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Chromatin organizer SATB1 controls the cell identity of CD4 + CD8 + double-positive thymocytes by regulating the activity of super-enhancers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5554. [PMID: 36138028 PMCID: PMC9500044 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ and CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes play a crucial role in T cell development in the thymus. DP cells rearrange the T cell receptor gene Tcra to generate T cell receptors with TCRβ. DP cells differentiate into CD4 or CD8 single-positive (SP) thymocytes, regulatory T cells, or invariant nature kill T cells (iNKT) in response to TCR signaling. Chromatin organizer SATB1 is highly expressed in DP cells and is essential in regulating Tcra rearrangement and differentiation of DP cells. Here we explored the mechanism of SATB1 orchestrating gene expression in DP cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing shows that Satb1 deletion changes the cell identity of DP thymocytes and down-regulates genes specifically and highly expressed in DP cells. Super-enhancers regulate the expressions of DP-specific genes, and our Hi-C data show that SATB1 deficiency in thymocytes reduces super-enhancer activity by specifically decreasing interactions among super-enhancers and between super-enhancers and promoters. Our results reveal that SATB1 plays a critical role in thymocyte development to promote the establishment of DP cell identity by globally regulating super-enhancers of DP cells at the chromatin architectural level.
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25
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Zhong T, Lei K, Lin X, Xie Z, Luo S, Zhou Z, Zhao B, Li X. Protein ubiquitination in T cell development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:941962. [PMID: 35990660 PMCID: PMC9386135 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.941962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important form of posttranslational modification, protein ubiquitination regulates a wide variety of biological processes, including different aspects of T cell development and differentiation. During T cell development, thymic seeding progenitor cells (TSPs) in the thymus undergo multistep maturation programs and checkpoints, which are critical to build a functional and tolerant immune system. Currently, a tremendous amount of research has focused on the transcriptional regulation of thymocyte development. However, in the past few years, compelling evidence has revealed that the ubiquitination system also plays a crucial role in the regulation of thymocyte developmental programs. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the molecular mechanisms and cellular pathways that regulate thymocyte ubiquitination and discuss the roles of E3 ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) involved in these processes. Understanding how T cell development is regulated by ubiquitination and deubiquitination will not only enhance our understanding of cell fate determination via gene regulatory networks but also provide potential novel therapeutic strategies for treating autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bin Zhao
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ; Xia Li,
| | - Xia Li
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ; Xia Li,
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26
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Yoganathan K, Yan A, Rocha J, Trotman-Grant A, Mohtashami M, Wells L, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC, Anderson MK. Regulation of the Signal-Dependent E Protein HEBAlt Through a YYY Motif Is Required for Progression Through T Cell Development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:848577. [PMID: 35990644 PMCID: PMC9385190 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.848577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The E protein transcription factors E2A and HEB are critical for many developmental processes, including T cell development. We have shown that the Tcf12 locus gives rise to two distinct HEB proteins, with alternative (HEBAlt) and canonical (HEBCan) N-terminal domains, which are co-expressed during early T cell development. While the functional domains of HEBCan have been well studied, the nature of the HEBAlt-specific (Alt) domain has been obscure. Here we provide compelling evidence that the Alt domain provides a site for the molecular integration of cytokine signaling and E protein activity. Our results indicate that phosphorylation of a unique YYY motif in the Alt domain increases HEBAlt activity by 10-fold, and that this increase is dependent on Janus kinase activity. To enable in vivo studies of HEBAlt in the T cell context, we generated ALT-Tg mice, which can be induced to express a HA-tagged HEBAlt coding cassette in the presence of Cre recombinases. Analysis of ALT-Tg mice on the Vav-iCre background revealed a minor change in the ratio of ISP cells to CD8+ SP cells, and a mild shift in the ratio of T cells to B cells in the spleen, but otherwise the thymus, spleen, and bone marrow lymphocyte subsets were comparable at steady state. However, kinetic analysis of T cell development in OP9-DL4 co-cultures revealed a delay in early T cell development and a partial block at the DN to DP transition when HEBAlt levels or activity were increased. We also observed that HEBCan and HEBAlt displayed significant differences in protein stability that were resolved in the thymocyte context. Finally, a proteomic screen identified STAT1 and Xpo1 as potential members of HEBAlt-containing complexes in thymocytes, consistent with JAK-induced activation of HEBAlt accompanied by translocation to the nucleus. Thus, our results show that the Alt domain confers access to multiple layers of post-translational control to HEBAlt that are not available to HEBCan, and thus may serve as a rheostat to tune E protein activity levels as cells move through different thymic signaling environments during T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kogulan Yoganathan
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anqi Yan
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juliana Rocha
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ashton Trotman-Grant
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Lisa Wells
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michele K. Anderson
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Michele K. Anderson,
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27
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Anderson MK. Shifting gears: Id3 enables recruitment of E proteins to new targets during T cell development and differentiation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:956156. [PMID: 35983064 PMCID: PMC9378783 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.956156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shifting levels of E proteins and Id factors are pivotal in T cell commitment and differentiation, both in the thymus and in the periphery. Id2 and Id3 are two different factors that prevent E proteins from binding to their target gene cis-regulatory sequences and inducing gene expression. Although they use the same mechanism to suppress E protein activity, Id2 and Id3 play very different roles in T cell development and CD4 T cell differentiation. Id2 imposes an irreversible choice in early T cell precursors between innate and adaptive lineages, which can be thought of as a railway switch that directs T cells down one path or another. By contrast, Id3 acts in a transient fashion downstream of extracellular signals such as T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. TCR-dependent Id3 upregulation results in the dislodging of E proteins from their target sites while chromatin remodeling occurs. After the cessation of Id3 expression, E proteins can reassemble in the context of a new genomic landscape and molecular context that allows induction of different E protein target genes. To describe this mode of action, we have developed the “Clutch” model of differentiation. In this model, Id3 upregulation in response to TCR signaling acts as a clutch that stops E protein activity (“clutch in”) long enough to allow shifting of the genomic landscape into a different “gear”, resulting in accessibility to different E protein target genes once Id3 decreases (“clutch out”) and E proteins can form new complexes on the DNA. While TCR signal strength and cytokine signaling play a role in both peripheral and thymic lineage decisions, the remodeling of chromatin and E protein target genes appears to be more heavily influenced by the cytokine milieu in the periphery, whereas the outcome of Id3 activity during T cell development in the thymus appears to depend more on the TCR signal strength. Thus, while the Clutch model applies to both CD4 T cell differentiation and T cell developmental transitions within the thymus, changes in chromatin accessibility are modulated by biased inputs in these different environments. New emerging technologies should enable a better understanding of the molecular events that happen during these transitions, and how they fit into the gene regulatory networks that drive T cell development and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele K. Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Michele K. Anderson,
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28
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Zhang M, Lin X, Yang Z, Li X, Zhou Z, Love PE, Huang J, Zhao B. Metabolic regulation of T cell development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:946119. [PMID: 35958585 PMCID: PMC9357944 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.946119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell development in the thymus is tightly controlled by complex regulatory mechanisms at multiple checkpoints. Currently, many studies have focused on the transcriptional and posttranslational control of the intrathymic journey of T-cell precursors. However, over the last few years, compelling evidence has highlighted cell metabolism as a critical regulator in this process. Different thymocyte subsets are directed by distinct metabolic pathways and signaling networks to match the specific functional requirements of the stage. Here, we epitomize these metabolic alterations during the development of a T cell and review several recent works that provide insights into equilibrating metabolic quiescence and activation programs. Ultimately, understanding the interplay between cellular metabolism and T cell developmental programs may offer an opportunity to selectively regulate T cell subset functions and to provide potential novel therapeutic approaches to modulate autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoxi Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhou Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xia Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiguang Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Paul E. Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ; ; Jiaqi Huang, ;;
| | - Bin Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ; ; Jiaqi Huang, ;;
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29
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Krueger A, Łyszkiewicz M, Heissmeyer V. Post-transcriptional control of T-cell development in the thymus. Immunol Lett 2022; 247:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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30
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Kästle M, Merten C, Hartig R, Plaza-Sirvent C, Schmitz I, Bommhardt U, Schraven B, Simeoni L. Type of PaperY192 within the SH2 Domain of Lck Regulates TCR Signaling Downstream of PLC-γ1 and Thymic Selection. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137271. [PMID: 35806279 PMCID: PMC9267008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Signaling via the TCR, which is initiated by the Src-family tyrosine kinase Lck, is crucial for the determination of cell fates in the thymus. Because of its pivotal role, ablation of Lck results in a profound block of T-cell development. Here, we show that, in addition to its well-known function in the initiation of TCR signaling, Lck also acts at a more downstream level. This novel function of Lck is determined by the tyrosine residue (Y192) located in its SH2 domain. Thymocytes from knock-in mice expressing a phosphomimetic Y192E mutant of Lck initiate TCR signaling upon CD3 cross-linking up to the level of PLC-γ1 phosphorylation. However, the activation of downstream pathways including Ca2+ influx and phosphorylation of Erk1/2 are impaired. Accordingly, positive and negative selections are blocked in LckY192E knock-in mice. Collectively, our data indicate that Lck has a novel function downstream of PLCγ-1 in the regulation of thymocyte differentiation and selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Kästle
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
| | - Camilla Merten
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
| | - Roland Hartig
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
| | - Carlos Plaza-Sirvent
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Ingo Schmitz
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Ursula Bommhardt
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I3), Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Health and Medical Prevention (CHaMP), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Burkhart Schraven
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I3), Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Health and Medical Prevention (CHaMP), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Luca Simeoni
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (M.K.); (C.M.); (R.H.); (C.P.-S.); (I.S.); (U.B.)
- Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I3), Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Health and Medical Prevention (CHaMP), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.S.); (L.S.)
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31
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Han J, Wan M, Ma Z, He P. The TOX subfamily: all-round players in the immune system. Clin Exp Immunol 2022; 208:268-280. [PMID: 35485425 PMCID: PMC9226143 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymocyte selection-related HMG box protein (TOX) subfamily comprises evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding proteins, and is expressed in certain immune cell subsets and plays key roles in the development of CD4+ T cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, and in CD8+ T-cell exhaustion. Although its roles in CD4+ T and natural killer (NK) cells have been extensively studied, recent findings have demonstrated previously unknown roles for TOX in the development of ILCs, Tfh cells, as well as CD8+ T-cell exhaustion; however, the molecular mechanism underlying TOX regulation of these immune cells remains to be elucidated. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the influence of TOX on the development of various immune cells and CD8+ T-cell exhaustion and the roles of specific TOX family members in the immune system. Moreover, this review suggests candidate regulatory targets for cell therapy and immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Han
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Minjie Wan
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhanchuan Ma
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ping He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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32
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Cosway EJ, White AJ, Parnell SM, Schweighoffer E, Jolin HE, Bacon A, Rodewald HR, Tybulewicz V, McKenzie ANJ, Jenkinson WE, Anderson G. Eosinophils are an essential element of a type 2 immune axis that controls thymus regeneration. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabn3286. [PMID: 35275754 PMCID: PMC7612579 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abn3286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic interventions used for cancer treatment provoke thymus damage and limit the recovery of protective immunity. Here, we show that eosinophils are an essential part of an intrathymic type 2 immune network that enables thymus recovery after ablative therapy. Within hours of damage, the thymus undergoes CCR3-dependent colonization by peripheral eosinophils, which reestablishes the epithelial microenvironments that control thymopoiesis. Eosinophil regulation of thymus regeneration occurs via the concerted action of NKT cells that trigger CCL11 production via IL4 receptor signaling in thymic stroma, and ILC2 that represent an intrathymic source of IL5, a cytokine that therapeutically boosts thymus regeneration after damage. Collectively, our findings identify an intrathymic network composed of multiple innate immune cells that restores thymus function during reestablishment of the adaptive immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie J. Cosway
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrea J. White
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sonia M. Parnell
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | - Andrea Bacon
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Hans-Reimer Rodewald
- Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Victor Tybulewicz
- Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK,Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - W. E. Jenkinson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK,Correspondence to: Professor Graham Anderson, Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Floor 4 Institute for Biomedical Research, Medical School, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom. Tel: (44)1214146817.
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33
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Tsiomita S, Liveri EM, Vardaka P, Vogiatzi A, Skiadaresis A, Saridis G, Tsigkas I, Michaelidis TM, Mavrothalassitis G, Thyphronitis G. ETS2 repressor factor (ERF) is involved in T lymphocyte maturation acting as regulator of thymocyte lineage commitment. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:641-657. [PMID: 35258130 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.1a0720-439r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymocyte differentiation and lineage commitment is regulated by an extensive network of transcription factors and signaling molecules among which Erk plays a central role. However, Erk effectors as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying this network are not well understood. Erf is a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional repressor regulated by Erk-dependent phosphorylation. Here, we investigated the role of Erf in T cell maturation and lineage commitment, using a double-fluorescent Erf-floxed mouse to produce thymus-specific Erf knockouts. We observed significant accumulation of thymocytes in the CD4/CD8 DP stage, followed by a significant reduction in CD4SP cells, a trend for lower CD8SP cell frequency, and an elevated percentage of γδ expressing thymocytes in Erf-deficient mice. Also, an elevated number of CD69+ TCRβ+ cells indicates that thymocytes undergoing positive selection accumulate at this stage. The expression of transcription factors Gata3, ThPOK, and Socs1 that promote CD4+ cell commitment was significantly decreased in Erf-deficient mice. These findings suggest that Erf is involved in T cell maturation, acting as a positive regulator during CD4 and eventually CD8 lineage commitment, while negatively regulates the production of γδ T cells. In addition, Erf-deficient mice displayed decreased percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ splenocytes and elevated levels of IL-4 indicating that Erf may have an additional role in the homeostasis, differentiation, and immunologic response of helper and cytotoxic T cells in the periphery. Overall, our results show, for the first time, Erf's involvement in T cell biology suggesting that Erf acts as a potential regulator during thymocyte maturation and thymocyte lineage commitment, in γδ T cell generation, as well as in Th cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyridoula Tsiomita
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Effrosyni Maria Liveri
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Panagiota Vardaka
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Angeliki Vogiatzi
- Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Argyris Skiadaresis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - George Saridis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ioannis Tsigkas
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Theologos M Michaelidis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Ioannina, Greece
| | - George Mavrothalassitis
- Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.,IMBB, FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - George Thyphronitis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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Scaramuzzino S, Potier D, Ordioni R, Grenot P, Payet-Bornet D, Luche H, Malissen B. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers an instructive T-cell receptor role in adult γδ T-cell lineage commitment. EMBO J 2022; 41:e110023. [PMID: 35128689 PMCID: PMC8886544 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021110023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
After entering the adult thymus, bipotent T‐cell progenitors give rise to αβ or γδ T cells. To determine whether the γδ T‐cell receptor (TCR) has an instructive role in γδ T‐cell lineage commitment or only “confirms” a pre‐established γδ Τ‐cell lineage state, we exploited mice lacking expression of LAT, an adaptor required for γδ TCR signaling. Although these mice showed a T‐cell development block at the CD4−CD8− double‐negative third (DN3) stage, 0.3% of their DN3 cells expressed intermediate levels of γδ TCR (further referred to as γδint) at their surface. Single‐cell transcriptomics of LAT‐deficient DN3 γδint cells demonstrated no sign of commitment to the γδ T‐cell lineage, apart from γδ TCR expression. Although the lack of LAT is thought to tightly block DN3 cell development, we unexpectedly found that 25% of LAT‐deficient DN3 γδint cells were actively proliferating and progressed up to the DN4 stage. However, even those cells failed to turn on the transcriptional program associated with the γδ T‐cell lineage. Therefore, the γδ TCR‐LAT signaling axis builds upon a γδ T‐cell uncommitted lineage state to fully instruct adult γδ T‐cell lineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Scaramuzzino
- Centre d'Immunophénomique (CIPHE), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS UMR, Marseille, France.,Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Delphine Potier
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Robin Ordioni
- Centre d'Immunophénomique (CIPHE), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS UMR, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Grenot
- Centre d'Immunophénomique (CIPHE), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS UMR, Marseille, France
| | - Dominique Payet-Bornet
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Hervé Luche
- Centre d'Immunophénomique (CIPHE), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS UMR, Marseille, France
| | - Bernard Malissen
- Centre d'Immunophénomique (CIPHE), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS UMR, Marseille, France.,Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
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Abstract
Epigenetic regulators are pivotal factors that influence and control T cell development. Recent findings continue to reveal additional elements of epigenetic modifications that play significant and crucial roles at different stages of T cell development. Through gaining a better understanding of the various epigenetic factors that influence the formation and survival of maturing T cells, new therapies can potentially be developed to combat diseases caused by dysregulated epigenetic chromatin modifications. In this review, we summarize the recent studies which shed light on the epigenetic regulation of T cell development especially at the critical stage of β-selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avik Dutta
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Harini Venkataganesh
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Paul E Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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36
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Dutta A, Venkataganesh H, Love PE. New Insights into Epigenetic Regulation of T Cell Differentiation. Cells 2021; 10:3459. [PMID: 34943965 PMCID: PMC8700096 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immature CD4- CD8- thymocytes progress through several developmental steps in the thymus, ultimately emerging as mature CD4+ (helper) or CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells. Activation of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the presence of specific cytokines results in the induction of transcriptional programs that result in their differentiation into effector or memory cells and in the case of CD4+ T cells, the adoption of distinct T-helper fates. Previous studies have shown that histone modification and DNA methylation play important roles in each of these events. More recently, the roles of specific epigenetic regulators in T cell differentiation have been clarified. The identification of the epigenetic modifications and modifiers that control mature T cell differentiation and specification has also provided further insights into how dysregulation of these processes can lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings that have provided new insights into epigenetic regulation of T cell differentiation in both mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avik Dutta
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (A.D.); (H.V.)
| | - Harini Venkataganesh
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (A.D.); (H.V.)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Paul E. Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (A.D.); (H.V.)
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37
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Modeling of human T cell development in vitro as a read-out for hematopoietic stem cell multipotency. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2113-2122. [PMID: 34643218 PMCID: PMC8589437 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210144] [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: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in distinct sites throughout fetal and adult life and give rise to all cells of the hematopoietic system. Because of their multipotency, HSCs are capable of curing a wide variety of blood disorders through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, due to HSC heterogeneity, site-specific ontogeny and current limitations in generating and expanding HSCs in vitro, their broad use in clinical practice remains challenging. To assess HSC multipotency, evaluation of their capacity to generate T lymphocytes has been regarded as a valid read-out. Several in vitro models of T cell development have been established which are able to induce T-lineage differentiation from different hematopoietic precursors, although with variable efficiency. Here, we review the potential of human HSCs from various sources to generate T-lineage cells using these different models in order to address the use of both HSCs and T cell precursors in the clinic.
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