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Jing Y, Kong Y, McGinty J, Blahnik-Fagan G, Lee T, Orozco-Figueroa S, Bettini ML, James EA, Bettini M. T-Cell Receptor/HLA Humanized Mice Reveal Reduced Tolerance and Increased Immunogenicity of Posttranslationally Modified GAD65 Epitope. Diabetes 2022; 71:1012-1022. [PMID: 35179565 PMCID: PMC9044133 DOI: 10.2337/db21-0993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence supports a critical role for posttranslationally modified (PTM) islet neoantigens in type 1 diabetes. However, our understanding regarding thymic development and peripheral activation of PTM autoantigen-reactive T cells is still limited. Using HLA-DR4 humanized mice, we observed that deamidation of GAD65115-127 generates a more immunogenic epitope that recruits T cells with promiscuous recognition of both the deamidated and native epitopes and reduced frequency of regulatory T cells. Using humanized HLA/T-cell receptor (TCR) mice, we observed that TCRs reactive to the native or deamidated GAD65115-127 led to efficient development of CD4+ effector T cells; however, regulatory T-cell development was reduced in mice expressing the PTM-reactive TCR, which was partially restored with exogenous PTM peptide. Upon priming, both the native-specific and the deamidated-specific T cells accumulated in pancreatic islets, suggesting that both specificities can recognize endogenous GAD65 and contribute to anti-β-cell responses. Collectively, our observations in polyclonal and single TCR systems suggest that while effector T-cell responses can exhibit cross-reactivity between native and deamidated GAD65 epitopes, regulatory T-cell development is reduced in response to the deamidated epitope, pointing to regulatory T-cell development as a key mechanism for loss of tolerance to PTM antigenic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jing
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Yuelin Kong
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - John McGinty
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Thomas Lee
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Stephanie Orozco-Figueroa
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Matthew L. Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Eddie A. James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
- Corresponding author: Maria Bettini,
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2
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Houeiss P, Boitard C, Luce S. Preclinical Models to Evaluate the Human Response to Autoantigen and Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy in Human Type 1 Diabetes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:883000. [PMID: 35498419 PMCID: PMC9044628 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.883000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of pancreatic islet β-cells by auto-reactive T cells. The clinical management of T1D faces the lack of fully predictive biomarkers in its preclinical stage and of antigen-specific therapies to induce or re-induce immune tolerance to β-cell autoantigens and prevent its development. From a therapeutic standpoint, preclinical models of T1D have fallen short of directly translating into humans. To circumvent this limitation, preclinical models are being optimized to allow defining autoantigen epitopes that are presented to T cells and directly apply to the human. In this review, we propose to make a point on the latest available models such as humanized immunodeficient NOD mice models and HLA and autoantigen transgenic mice and their application in the context of T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Houeiss
- Laboratory Immunology of Diabetes, Cochin Institute, Department Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetologia (EMD), Institut Nationale de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 1016 (INSERMU1016), Paris, France
- Medical Faculty, Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Christian Boitard
- Laboratory Immunology of Diabetes, Cochin Institute, Department Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetologia (EMD), Institut Nationale de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 1016 (INSERMU1016), Paris, France
- Medical Faculty, Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Luce
- Laboratory Immunology of Diabetes, Cochin Institute, Department Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetologia (EMD), Institut Nationale de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 1016 (INSERMU1016), Paris, France
- Medical Faculty, Paris University, Paris, France
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3
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Boddul SV, Sharma RK, Dubnovitsky A, Raposo B, Gerstner C, Shen Y, Iyer VS, Kasza Z, Kwok WW, Winkler AR, Klareskog L, Malmström V, Bettini M, Wermeling F. In vitro and ex vitro functional characterization of human HLA-DRB1∗04 restricted T cell receptors. J Transl Autoimmun 2021; 4:100087. [PMID: 33768201 PMCID: PMC7980064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell sequencing technologies enable the generation of large-scale data sets of paired TCR sequences from patients with autoimmune disease. Methods to validate and characterize patient-derived TCR data are needed, as well as relevant model systems that can support the development of antigen-specific tolerance inducing drugs. We have generated a pipeline to allow streamlined generation of 'artificial' T cells in a robust and reasonably high throughput manner for in vitro and in vivo studies of antigen-specific and patient-derived immune responses. Hereby chimeric (mouse-human) TCR alpha and beta constructs are re-expressed in three different formats for further studies: (i) transiently in HEK cells for peptide-HLA tetramer validation experiments, (ii) stably in the TCR-negative 58 T cell line for functional readouts such as IL-2 production and NFAT-signaling, and lastly (iii) in human HLA-transgenic mice for studies of autoimmune disease and therapeutic interventions. As a proof of concept, we have used human HLA-DRB1∗04:01 restricted TCR sequences specific for a type I diabetes-associated GAD peptide, and an influenza-derived HA peptide. We show that the same chimeric TCR constructs can be used in each of the described assays facilitating sequential validation and prioritization steps leading to humanized animal models.
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Key Words
- APC, antigen presenting cells
- BM, bone marrow
- Ca2+, calcium
- Cell lines
- GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase
- GFP, green fluorescent protein
- GWAS, Genome-wide association studies
- HA, Influenza hemagglutinin
- HLA
- HLA, Human leukocyte antigen
- HSCs, hematopoietic stem cells
- Humanized animal models
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- NFAT, Nuclear factor of activated T-cells
- RA, Rheumatoid arthritis
- RAG, Recombination-activating genes
- T1D, Type-1 diabetes
- TCR
- TCR, T cell receptor
- TCRa, TCR alpha
- TCRb, TCR beta
- TMR, HLA tetramer
- Tolerance
- hCD4, human CD4
- hTCR, human TCR
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjaykumar V Boddul
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ravi Kumar Sharma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anatoly Dubnovitsky
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bruno Raposo
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Gerstner
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yunbing Shen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vaishnavi Srinivasan Iyer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Zsolt Kasza
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - William W Kwok
- Translational Research Program, BRI at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aaron R Winkler
- Department of Inflammation and Immunology, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lars Klareskog
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vivianne Malmström
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Fredrik Wermeling
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Gu BH, Sprouse ML, Madison MC, Hong MJ, Yuan X, Tung HY, Landers CT, Song LZ, Corry DB, Bettini M, Kheradmand F. A Novel Animal Model of Emphysema Induced by Anti-Elastin Autoimmunity. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2019; 203:349-359. [PMID: 31182478 PMCID: PMC6688643 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Loss of immune tolerance to self-antigens can promote chronic inflammation and disrupt the normal function of multiple organs, including the lungs. Degradation of elastin, a highly insoluble protein and a significant component of the lung structural matrix, generates proinflammatory molecules. Elastin fragments (EFs) have been detected in the serum of smokers with emphysema, and elastin-specific T cells have also been detected in the peripheral blood of smokers with emphysema. However, an animal model that could recapitulate T cell-specific autoimmune responses by initiating and sustaining inflammation in the lungs is lacking. In this study, we report an animal model of autoimmune emphysema mediated by the loss of tolerance to elastin. Mice immunized with a combination of human EFs plus rat EFs but not mouse EFs showed increased infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells to the lungs and developed emphysema. We cloned and expanded mouse elastin-specific CD4+ T cells from the lung and spleen of immunized mice. Finally, we identified TCR sequences from the autoreactive T cell clones, suggesting possible pathogenic TCRs that can cause loss of immune tolerance against elastin. This new autoimmune model of emphysema provides a useful tool to examine the immunological factors that promote loss of immune tolerance to self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bon-Hee Gu
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Maran L Sprouse
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Matthew C Madison
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Monica J Hong
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Xiaoyi Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Hui-Ying Tung
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Cameron T Landers
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Li-Zhen Song
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - David B Corry
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Maria Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030;
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Farrah Kheradmand
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030;
- Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
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5
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Abstract
The ability to express and study a single T cell receptor (TCR) in vivo is an important aspect of both basic and translational immunological research. Traditionally, this was achieved by using TCR transgenic mice. In the past decade, a more efficient approach for single TCR expression was developed. This relatively rapid and accessible method utilizes retrovirus-mediated stem cell-based gene transfer and is commonly referred to as the TCR retrogenic approach. In this approach, hematopoietic bone marrow precursors are transduced with retroviral vector carrying both alpha and beta chains of a T cell receptor. After successful transduction, bone marrow is injected into recipient mice, in which T cell development is driven by expression of the vector-encoded TCR. This article details the materials and methods required to generate TCR retrogenic mice. It is divided into three sections and provides detailed methods for generation of stable retroviral producer cell lines, isolation and optimal transduction of hematopoietic bone marrow cells, and subsequent analysis of TCR retrogenic T cells. A detailed example of such analysis is provided. The current protocol is a culmination of many years of optimization and is the most efficient approach to date. Bone marrow transduction and transfer into recipient mice can now be achieved in a short period of four days. The protocol can be followed in most laboratories with standard biomedical equipment, and is supported by a troubleshooting guide that covers potential pitfalls and unexpected results. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelin Kong
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yi Jing
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, Texas
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6
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Sprouse ML, Blahnik G, Lee T, Tully N, Benarjee P, James EA, Redondo MJ, Bettini ML, Bettini M. Streamlined Single Cell TCR Isolation and Generation of Retroviral Vectors for In Vitro and In Vivo Expression of Human TCRs. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28930975 DOI: 10.3791/55379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Although, several methods for sequencing of paired T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains from single T cells have been developed, none so far have been conducive to downstream in vivo functional analysis of TCR heterodimers. We have developed an improved protocol based on a two-step multiplex-nested PCR, which results in a PCR product that spans entire variable regions of a human TCR alpha and beta chains. By identifying unique restriction sites and incorporating them into the PCR primers, we have made the PCR product compatible with direct sub-cloning into the template retroviral vector. The resulting retroviral construct encodes a chimeric human/mouse TCR with a mouse intracellular domain, which is functional in mouse cells or in in vivo mouse models. Overall, the protocol described here combines human single cell paired TCR alpha and beta chain identification with streamlined generation of retroviral vectors readily adaptable for in vitro and in vivo TCR expression. The video and the accompanying material are designed to give a highly detailed description of the single cell PCR, so that the critical steps can be followed and potential pitfalls avoided. Additionally, we provide a detailed description of the cloning steps necessary to generate the expression vector. Once mastered, the whole procedure from single cell sorting to TCR expression could be performed in a short two-week period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maran L Sprouse
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
| | | | - Thomas Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
| | - Natalie Tully
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
| | - Pinaki Benarjee
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
| | | | - Maria J Redondo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital;
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7
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Bettini ML, Bettini M. Understanding Autoimmune Diabetes through the Prism of the Tri-Molecular Complex. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:351. [PMID: 29312143 PMCID: PMC5735072 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The strongest susceptibility allele for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is human leukocyte antigen (HLA), which supports a central role for T cells as the drivers of autoimmunity. However, the precise mechanisms that allow thymic escape and peripheral activation of beta cell antigen-specific T cells are still largely unknown. Studies performed with the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse have challenged several immunological dogmas, and have made the NOD mouse a key experimental system to study the steps of immunodysregulation that lead to autoimmune diabetes. The structural similarities between the NOD I-Ag7 and HLA-DQ8 have revealed the stability of the T cell receptor (TCR)/HLA/peptide tri-molecular complex as an important parameter in the development of autoimmune T cells, as well as afforded insights into the key antigens targeted in T1D. In this review, we will provide a summary of the current understanding with regard to autoimmune T cell development, the significance of the antigens targeted in T1D, and the relationship between TCR affinity and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Bettini
- Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew L. Bettini, ; Maria Bettini,
| | - Maria Bettini
- Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew L. Bettini, ; Maria Bettini,
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