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Piersma SJ, Li S, Wong P, Bern MD, Poursine-Laurent J, Yang L, Beckman DL, Parikh BA, Yokoyama WM. Expression of a single inhibitory Ly49 receptor is sufficient to license NK cells for effector functions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.04.597367. [PMID: 38895234 PMCID: PMC11185686 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells recognize target cells through germline-encoded activation and inhibitory receptors enabling effective immunity against viruses and cancer. The Ly49 receptor family in the mouse and killer immunoglobin-like receptor family in humans play a central role in NK cell immunity through recognition of MHC class I and related molecules. Functionally, these receptor families are involved in licensing and rejection of MHC-I-deficient cells through missing-self. The Ly49 family is highly polymorphic, making it challenging to detail the contributions of individual Ly49 receptors to NK cell function. Herein, we showed mice lacking expression of all Ly49s were unable to reject missing-self target cells in vivo, were defective in NK cell licensing, and displayed lower KLRG1 on the surface of NK cells. Expression of Ly49A alone on a H-2Dd background restored missing-self target cell rejection, NK cell licensing, and NK cell KLRG1 expression. Thus, a single inhibitory Ly49 receptor is sufficient to license NK cells and mediate missing-self in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J. Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shasha Li
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Pamela Wong
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael D. Bern
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer Poursine-Laurent
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Diana L. Beckman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bijal A. Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wayne M. Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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2
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Fan C, Xing X, Murphy SJH, Poursine-Laurent J, Schmidt H, Parikh BA, Yoon J, Choudhary MNK, Saligrama N, Piersma SJ, Yokoyama WM, Wang T. Cis-regulatory evolution of the recently expanded Ly49 gene family. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4839. [PMID: 38844462 PMCID: PMC11156856 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48990-y] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomics has revealed the rapid expansion of multiple gene families involved in immunity. Members within each gene family often evolved distinct roles in immunity. However, less is known about the evolution of their epigenome and cis-regulation. Here we systematically profile the epigenome of the recently expanded murine Ly49 gene family that mainly encode either inhibitory or activating surface receptors on natural killer cells. We identify a set of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) for activating Ly49 genes. In addition, we show that in mice, inhibitory and activating Ly49 genes are regulated by two separate sets of proximal CREs, likely resulting from lineage-specific losses of CRE activity. Furthermore, we find that some Ly49 genes are cross-regulated by the CREs of other Ly49 genes, suggesting that the Ly49 family has begun to evolve a concerted cis-regulatory mechanism. Collectively, we demonstrate the different modes of cis-regulatory evolution for a rapidly expanding gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxu Fan
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Xing
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Samuel J H Murphy
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer Poursine-Laurent
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Heather Schmidt
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Bijal A Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Jeesang Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Mayank N K Choudhary
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Naresha Saligrama
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA
| | - Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| | - Wayne M Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, 63110, USA.
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3
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Wickström SL, Wagner AK, Fuchs S, Elemans M, Kritikou J, Mehr R, Kärre K, Johansson MH, Brauner H. MHC Class I–Dependent Shaping of the NK Cell Ly49 Receptor Repertoire Takes Place Early during Maturation in the Bone Marrow. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 209:751-759. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
MHC class I (MHC I) expression in the host influences NK cells in a process termed education. The result of this education is reflected in the responsiveness of NK cells at the level of individual cells as well as in the repertoire of inhibitory MHC I–specific receptors at the NK cell system level. The presence of MHC I molecules in the host environment gives rise to a skewed receptor repertoire in spleen NK cells where subsets expressing few (one or two) inhibitory receptors are expanded whereas subsets with many (three or more) receptors are contracted. It is not known whether this MHC I–dependent skewing is imposed during development or after maturation of NK cells. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the NK cell receptor repertoire is shaped already early during NK cell development in the bone marrow. We used mice with a repertoire imposed by a single MHC I allele, as well as a C57BL/6 mutant strain with exaggerated repertoire skewing, to investigate Ly49 receptor repertoires at different stages of NK cell differentiation. Our results show that NK cell inhibitory receptor repertoire skewing can indeed be observed in the bone marrow, even during the earliest developmental steps where Ly49 receptors are expressed. This may partly be accounted for by selective proliferation of certain NK cell subsets, but other mechanisms must also be involved. We propose a model for how repertoire skewing is established during a developmental phase in the bone marrow, based on sequential receptor expression as well as selective proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina L. Wickström
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- †Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnika K. Wagner
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- ‡Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sina Fuchs
- §Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marjet Elemans
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- ¶Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Joanna Kritikou
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ramit Mehr
- ‖Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel; and
| | - Klas Kärre
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria H. Johansson
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna Brauner
- *Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- §Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- #Dermatology Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Kissiov DU, Ethell A, Chen S, Wolf NK, Zhang C, Dang SM, Jo Y, Madsen KN, Paranjpe I, Lee AY, Chim B, Muljo SA, Raulet DH. Binary outcomes of enhancer activity underlie stable random monoallelic expression. eLife 2022; 11:e74204. [PMID: 35617021 PMCID: PMC9135403 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74204] [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: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitotically stable random monoallelic gene expression (RME) is documented for a small percentage of autosomal genes. We developed an in vivo genetic model to study the role of enhancers in RME using high-resolution single-cell analysis of natural killer (NK) cell receptor gene expression and enhancer deletions in the mouse germline. Enhancers of the RME NK receptor genes were accessible and enriched in H3K27ac on silent and active alleles alike in cells sorted according to allelic expression status, suggesting enhancer activation and gene expression status can be decoupled. In genes with multiple enhancers, enhancer deletion reduced gene expression frequency, in one instance converting the universally expressed gene encoding NKG2D into an RME gene, recapitulating all aspects of natural RME including mitotic stability of both the active and silent states. The results support the binary model of enhancer action, and suggest that RME is a consequence of general properties of gene regulation by enhancers rather than an RME-specific epigenetic program. Therefore, many and perhaps all genes may be subject to some degree of RME. Surprisingly, this was borne out by analysis of several genes that define different major hematopoietic lineages, that were previously thought to be universally expressed within those lineages: the genes encoding NKG2D, CD45, CD8α, and Thy-1. We propose that intrinsically probabilistic gene allele regulation is a general property of enhancer-controlled gene expression, with previously documented RME representing an extreme on a broad continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djem U Kissiov
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Alexander Ethell
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Sean Chen
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Natalie K Wolf
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Chenyu Zhang
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Susanna M Dang
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Yeara Jo
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Katrine N Madsen
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Ishan Paranjpe
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Angus Y Lee
- Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Bryan Chim
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Stefan A Muljo
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - David H Raulet
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
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5
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Wu Z, Park S, Lau CM, Zhong Y, Sheppard S, Sun JC, Das J, Altan-Bonnet G, Hsu KC. Dynamic variability in SHP-1 abundance determines natural killer cell responsiveness. Sci Signal 2021; 14:eabe5380. [PMID: 34752140 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abe5380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeguang Wu
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Soo Park
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Colleen M Lau
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yi Zhong
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sam Sheppard
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Joseph C Sun
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Department of Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jayajit Das
- Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, Research Institute at the Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Pelotonia Institute of ImmunoOncology, Wexner College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,Biophysics Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Grégoire Altan-Bonnet
- Immunodynamics Group, Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Katharine C Hsu
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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6
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MyD88 is an essential regulator of NK cell-mediated clearance of MCMV infection. Mol Immunol 2021; 137:94-104. [PMID: 34242922 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The signaling adapter MyD88 is critical for immune cell activation in response to viral or bacterial pathogens via several TLRs, IL-1βR and IL-18R. However, the essential role of MyD88 during activations mediated by germline-encoded NK cell receptors (NKRs), such as Ly49H or NKG2D, has yet to be investigated. To define the NK cell-intrinsic function of MyD88, we generated a novel NK cell conditional knockout mouse for MyD88 (Myd88fl/flNcr1Cre/+). Phenotypic characterization of these mice demonstrated that MyD88 is dispensable for NK cell development and maturation. However, the MyD88-deficient NK cells exhibited significantly reduced cytotoxic potentials in vivo. In addition, the lack of MyD88 significantly reduced the NKG2D-mediated inflammatory cytokine production in vitro. Consistent with this, mice lacking MyD88 were unable to respond and clear MCMV infection. Transcriptomic analyses of splenic NK cells following MCMV infection revealed that inflammatory gene signatures were upregulated in Ly49H+. In contrast, Ly49H- NK cells have significant enrichment in G2M checkpoint genes, revealing distinct transcriptomic profiles of these subsets. Our results identify a central role for MyD88 in Ly49H-dependent gene signatures, including alterations in genes regulating proliferation in Ly49H+ NK cells. In summary, our study reveals a previously unknown function of MyD88 in Ly49H-dependent signaling and in vivo functions of NK cells.
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7
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Millan AJ, Hom BA, Libang JB, Sindi S, Manilay JO. Evidence for Prescribed NK Cell Ly-49 Developmental Pathways in Mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:1215-1227. [PMID: 33495236 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies of NK cell inhibitory Ly-49 genes showed their expression is stochastic. However, relatively few studies have examined the mechanisms governing acquisition of inhibitory receptors in conjunction with activating Ly-49 receptors and NK cell development. We hypothesized that the surface expression of activating Ly-49 receptors is nonrandom and is influenced by inhibitory Ly-49 receptors. We analyzed NK cell "clusters" defined by combinatorial expression of activating (Ly-49H and Ly-49D) and inhibitory (Ly-49I and Ly-49G2) receptors in C57BL/6 mice. Using the product rule to evaluate the interdependencies of the Ly-49 receptors, we found evidence for a tightly regulated expression at the immature NK cell stage, with the highest interdependencies between clusters that express at least one activating receptor. Further analysis demonstrated that certain NK clusters predominated at the immature (CD27+CD11b-), transitional (CD27+CD11b+), and mature (CD27-CD11b-) NK cell stages. Using parallel in vitro culture and in vivo transplantation of sorted NK clusters, we discovered nonrandom expression of Ly-49 receptors, suggesting that prescribed pathways of NK cluster differentiation exist. Our data infer that surface expression of Ly-49I is an important step in NK cell maturation. Ki-67 expression and cell counts confirmed that immature NK cells proliferate more than mature NK cells. We found that MHC class I is particularly important for regulation of Ly-49D and Ly-49G2, even though no known MHC class I ligand for these receptors is present in B6 mice. Our data indicate that surface expression of both activating and inhibitory Ly-49 receptors on NK cell clusters occurs in a nonrandom process correlated to their maturation stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J Millan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343.,Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343; and
| | - Bryan A Hom
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343
| | - Jeremy B Libang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343
| | - Suzanne Sindi
- Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343; and.,Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343
| | - Jennifer O Manilay
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343; .,Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343
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8
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Judge SJ, Dunai C, Aguilar EG, Vick SC, Sturgill IR, Khuat LT, Stoffel KM, Van Dyke J, Longo DL, Darrow MA, Anderson SK, Blazar BR, Monjazeb AM, Serody JS, Canter RJ, Murphy WJ. Minimal PD-1 expression in mouse and human NK cells under diverse conditions. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:3051-3068. [PMID: 32134744 PMCID: PMC7260004 DOI: 10.1172/jci133353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PD-1 expression is a hallmark of both early antigen-specific T cell activation and later chronic stimulation, suggesting key roles in both naive T cell priming and memory T cell responses. Although significant similarities exist between T cells and NK cells, there are critical differences in their biology and functions reflecting their respective adaptive and innate immune effector functions. Expression of PD-1 on NK cells is controversial despite rapid incorporation into clinical cancer trials. Our objective was to stringently and comprehensively assess expression of PD-1 on both mouse and human NK cells under multiple conditions and using a variety of readouts. We evaluated NK cells from primary human tumor samples, after ex vivo culturing, and from multiple mouse tumor and viral models using flow cytometry, quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), and RNA-Seq for PD-1 expression. We demonstrate that, under multiple conditions, human and mouse NK cells consistently lack PD-1 expression despite the marked upregulation of other activation/regulatory markers, such as TIGIT. This was in marked contrast to T cells, which were far more prominent within all tumors and expressed PD-1. These data have important implications when attempting to discern NK from T cell effects and to determine whether PD-1 targeting can be expected to have direct effects on NK cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cordelia Dunai
- Department of Dermatology, UCD, Sacramento, California, USA
| | | | - Sarah C. Vick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Lam T. Khuat
- Department of Dermatology, UCD, Sacramento, California, USA
| | | | | | - Dan L. Longo
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Morgan A. Darrow
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCD, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Stephen K. Anderson
- Molecular Immunology Section, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Masonic Cancer Center and
- Division of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Arta M. Monjazeb
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UCD, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jonathan S. Serody
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - William J. Murphy
- Department of Dermatology, UCD, Sacramento, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, UCD, Sacramento, California, USA
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