1
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Seyedhassantehrani N, Burns CS, Verrinder R, Okafor V, Abbasizadeh N, Spencer JA. Intravital two-photon microscopy of the native mouse thymus. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307962. [PMID: 39088574 PMCID: PMC11293686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307962] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The thymus, a key organ in the adaptive immune system, is sensitive to a variety of insults including cytotoxic preconditioning, which leads to atrophy, compression of the blood vascular system, and alterations in hemodynamics. Although the thymus has innate regenerative capabilities, the production of T cells relies on the trafficking of lymphoid progenitors from the bone marrow through the altered thymic blood vascular system. Our understanding of thymic blood vascular hemodynamics is limited due to technical challenges associated with accessing the native thymus in live mice. To overcome this challenge, we developed an intravital two-photon imaging method to visualize the native thymus in vivo and investigated functional changes to the vascular system following sublethal irradiation. We quantified blood flow velocity and shear rate in cortical blood vessels and identified a subtle but significant increase in vessel leakage and diameter ~24 hrs post-sublethal irradiation. Ex vivo whole organ imaging of optically cleared thymus lobes confirmed a disruption of the thymus vascular structure, resulting in an increase in blood vessel diameter and vessel area, and concurrent thymic atrophy. This novel two-photon intravital imaging method enables a new paradigm for directly investigating the thymic microenvironment in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Seyedhassantehrani
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Christian S. Burns
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Ruth Verrinder
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Victoria Okafor
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Nastaran Abbasizadeh
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Joel A. Spencer
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Health Science Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
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2
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Shirafkan F, Hensel L, Rattay K. Immune tolerance and the prevention of autoimmune diseases essentially depend on thymic tissue homeostasis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1339714. [PMID: 38571951 PMCID: PMC10987875 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339714] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate balance of immune reactions towards invading pathogens and immune tolerance towards self is pivotal in preventing autoimmune diseases, with the thymus playing a central role in establishing and maintaining this equilibrium. The induction of central immune tolerance in the thymus involves the elimination of self-reactive T cells, a mechanism essential for averting autoimmunity. Disruption of the thymic T cell selection mechanisms can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. In the dynamic microenvironment of the thymus, T cell migration and interactions with thymic stromal cells are critical for the selection processes that ensure self-tolerance. Thymic epithelial cells are particularly significant in this context, presenting self-antigens and inducing the negative selection of autoreactive T cells. Further, the synergistic roles of thymic fibroblasts, B cells, and dendritic cells in antigen presentation, selection and the development of regulatory T cells are pivotal in maintaining immune responses tightly regulated. This review article collates these insights, offering a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted role of thymic tissue homeostasis in the establishment of immune tolerance and its implications in the prevention of autoimmune diseases. Additionally, the developmental pathways of the thymus are explored, highlighting how genetic aberrations can disrupt thymic architecture and function, leading to autoimmune conditions. The impact of infections on immune tolerance is another critical area, with pathogens potentially triggering autoimmunity by altering thymic homeostasis. Overall, this review underscores the integral role of thymic tissue homeostasis in the prevention of autoimmune diseases, discussing insights into potential therapeutic strategies and examining putative avenues for future research on developing thymic-based therapies in treating and preventing autoimmune conditions.
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3
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Fukuhara T, Ueda Y, Lee SI, Odaka T, Nakajima S, Fujisawa JI, Okuma K, Naganuma M, Okazaki K, Kondo N, Kamioka Y, Matsumoto M, Kinashi T. Thymocyte Development of Humanized Mice Is Promoted by Interactions with Human-Derived Antigen Presenting Cells upon Immunization. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11705. [PMID: 37511462 PMCID: PMC10380196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411705] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune responses in humanized mice are generally inefficient without co-transplantation of human thymus or HLA transgenes. Previously, we generated humanized mice via the intra-bone marrow injection of CD133+ cord blood cells into irradiated adult immunodeficient mice (IBMI-huNSG mice), which could mount functional immune responses against HTLV-1, although the underlying mechanisms were still unknown. Here, we investigated thymocyte development in IBMI-huNSG mice, focusing on the roles of human and mouse MHC restriction. IBMI-huNSG mice had normal developmental profiles but aberrant thymic structures. Surprisingly, the thymic medulla-like regions expanded after immunization due to enhanced thymocyte expansion in association with the increase in HLA-DR+ cells, including CD205+ dendritic cells (DCs). The organ culture of thymus from immunized IBMI-huNSG mice with a neutralizing antibody to HLA-DR showed the HLA-DR-dependent expansion of CD4 single positive thymocytes. Mature peripheral T-cells exhibited alloreactive proliferation when co-cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Live imaging of the thymus from immunized IBMI-huNSG mice revealed dynamic adhesive contacts of human-derived thymocytes and DCs accompanied by Rap1 activation. These findings demonstrate that an increase in HLA-DR+ cells by immunization promotes HLA-restricted thymocyte expansion in humanized mice, offering a unique opportunity to generate humanized mice with ease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takataro Fukuhara
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ueda
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Sung-Il Lee
- Department of Model Animal, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tokifumi Odaka
- Department of Microbiology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nakajima
- Department of Microbiology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Fujisawa
- Department of Microbiology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazu Okuma
- Department of Microbiology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Makoto Naganuma
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuichi Okazaki
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Kondo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuji Kamioka
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Kuramoto 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Kinashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Osaka, Japan
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4
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Mora T, Walczak AM. Towards a quantitative theory of tolerance. Trends Immunol 2023; 44:512-518. [PMID: 37263823 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A cornerstone of the classical view of tolerance is the elimination of self-reactive T cells via negative selection in the thymus. However, high-throughput T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing data have so far failed to detect substantial signatures of negative selection in the observed repertoires. In addition, quantitative estimates as well as recent experiments suggest that the elimination of self-reactive T cells is at best incomplete. We discuss several recent theoretical ideas that might explain tolerance while being consistent with these observations, including collective decision-making through quorum sensing, and sensitivity to change through dynamic tuning and adaptation. We propose that a unified quantitative theory of tolerance should combine these elements to help to explain the plasticity of the immune system and its robustness to autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Mora
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL University), Sorbonne Université, and Université Paris-Cité, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Aleksandra M Walczak
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL University), Sorbonne Université, and Université Paris-Cité, 75005 Paris, France.
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5
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Interpreting T-cell search "strategies" in the light of evolution under constraints. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010918. [PMID: 36848395 PMCID: PMC9997883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Two decades of in vivo imaging have revealed how diverse T-cell motion patterns can be. Such recordings have sparked the notion of search "strategies": T cells may have evolved ways to search for antigen efficiently depending on the task at hand. Mathematical models have indeed confirmed that several observed T-cell migration patterns resemble a theoretical optimum; for example, frequent turning, stop-and-go motion, or alternating short and long motile runs have all been interpreted as deliberately tuned behaviours, optimising the cell's chance of finding antigen. But the same behaviours could also arise simply because T cells cannot follow a straight, regular path through the tight spaces they navigate. Even if T cells do follow a theoretically optimal pattern, the question remains: which parts of that pattern have truly been evolved for search, and which merely reflect constraints from the cell's migration machinery and surroundings? We here employ an approach from the field of evolutionary biology to examine how cells might evolve search strategies under realistic constraints. Using a cellular Potts model (CPM), where motion arises from intracellular dynamics interacting with cell shape and a constraining environment, we simulate evolutionary optimization of a simple task: explore as much area as possible. We find that our simulated cells indeed evolve their motility patterns. But the evolved behaviors are not shaped solely by what is functionally optimal; importantly, they also reflect mechanistic constraints. Cells in our model evolve several motility characteristics previously attributed to search optimisation-even though these features are not beneficial for the task given here. Our results stress that search patterns may evolve for other reasons than being "optimal". In part, they may be the inevitable side effects of interactions between cell shape, intracellular dynamics, and the diverse environments T cells face in vivo.
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6
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McIntyre LL, Lutes LK, Robey EA. Studying T Cell Development in Neonatal and Adult Thymic Slices. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:233-247. [PMID: 36374461 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_14] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
T cell development occurs in the thymus and is coordinated temporally and spatially within the highly complex thymic microenvironment. Therefore, T cell selection and maturation events cannot be fully recapitulated using traditional two-dimensional tissue culture in vitro. The thymic slice system provides a highly versatile system for studying T cell development ex vivo while preserving three-dimensional thymic architecture. Using the thymic slice system, T cell selection and maturation events can be visualized by live imaging and quantified by flow cytometry. Here we describe the process for generating slices from neonatal and adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L McIntyre
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lydia K Lutes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ellen A Robey
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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7
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Thompson SB, Waldman MM, Jacobelli J. Polymerization power: effectors of actin polymerization as regulators of T lymphocyte migration through complex environments. FEBS J 2022; 289:6154-6171. [PMID: 34273243 PMCID: PMC8761786 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
During their life span, T cells are tasked with patrolling the body for potential pathogens. To do so, T cells migrate through numerous distinct anatomical sites and tissue environments with different biophysical characteristics. To migrate through these different environments, T cells use various motility strategies that rely on actin network remodeling to generate shape changes and mechanical forces. In this review, we initially discuss the migratory journey of T cells and then cover the actin polymerization effectors at play in T cells, and finally, we focus on the function of these effectors of actin cytoskeleton remodeling in mediating T-cell migration through diverse tissue environments. Specifically, we will discuss the current state of the field pertaining to our understanding of the roles in T-cell migration played by members of the three main families of actin polymerization machinery: the Arp2/3 complex; formin proteins; and Ena/VASP proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott B. Thompson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
| | - Monique M. Waldman
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
- Barbara Davis Research Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine
| | - Jordan Jacobelli
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
- Barbara Davis Research Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine
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8
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McRitchie BR, Akkaya B. Exhaust the exhausters: Targeting regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:940052. [PMID: 36248808 PMCID: PMC9562032 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.940052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of cancer immunotherapy has gained immense momentum over the recent years. The advancements in checkpoint blockade have led to a notable progress in treating a plethora of cancer types. However, these approaches also appear to have stalled due to factors such as individuals' genetic make-up, resistant tumor sub-types and immune related adverse events (irAE). While the major focus of immunotherapies has largely been alleviating the cell-intrinsic defects of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), amending the relationship between tumor specific CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells has started driving attention as well. A major roadblock to improve the cross-talk between CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells is the immune suppressive action of tumor infiltrating T regulatory (Treg) cells. Despite their indispensable in protecting tissues against autoimmune threats, Tregs have also been under scrutiny for helping tumors thrive. This review addresses how Tregs establish themselves at the TME and suppress anti-tumor immunity. Particularly, we delve into factors that promote Treg migration into tumor tissue and discuss the unique cellular and humoral composition of TME that aids survival, differentiation and function of intratumoral Tregs. Furthermore, we summarize the potential suppression mechanisms used by intratumoral Tregs and discuss ways to target those to ultimately guide new immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayley R. McRitchie
- Department of Neurology, The College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Billur Akkaya
- Department of Neurology, The College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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9
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Abstract
A high diversity of αβ T cell receptors (TCRs), capable of recognizing virtually any pathogen but also self-antigens, is generated during T cell development in the thymus. Nevertheless, a strict developmental program supports the selection of a self-tolerant T cell repertoire capable of responding to foreign antigens. The steps of T cell selection are controlled by cortical and medullary stromal niches, mainly composed of thymic epithelial cells and dendritic cells. The integration of important cues provided by these specialized niches, including (a) the TCR signal strength induced by the recognition of self-peptide-MHC complexes, (b) costimulatory signals, and (c) cytokine signals, critically controls T cell repertoire selection. This review discusses our current understanding of the signals that coordinate positive selection, negative selection, and agonist selection of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. It also highlights recent advances that have unraveled the functional diversity of thymic antigen-presenting cell subsets implicated in T cell selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Irla
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France;
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10
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Vollmann EH, Rattay K, Barreiro O, Thiriot A, Fuhlbrigge RA, Vrbanac V, Kim KW, Jung S, Tager AM, von Andrian UH. Specialized transendothelial dendritic cells mediate thymic T-cell selection against blood-borne macromolecules. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6230. [PMID: 34711828 PMCID: PMC8553756 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells undergo rigorous selection in the thymus to ensure self-tolerance and prevent autoimmunity, with this process requiring innocuous self-antigens (Ags) to be presented to thymocytes. Self-Ags are either expressed by thymic stroma cells or transported to the thymus from the periphery by migratory dendritic cells (DCs); meanwhile, small blood-borne peptides can access the thymic parenchyma by diffusing across the vascular lining. Here we describe an additional pathway of thymic Ag acquisition that enables circulating antigenic macromolecules to access both murine and human thymi. This pathway depends on a subset of thymus-resident DCs, distinct from both parenchymal and circulating migratory DCs, that are positioned in immediate proximity to thymic microvessels where they extend cellular processes across the endothelial barrier into the blood stream. Transendothelial positioning of DCs depends on DC-expressed CX3CR1 and its endothelial ligand, CX3CL1, and disrupting this chemokine pathway prevents thymic acquisition of circulating proteins and compromises negative selection of Ag-reactive thymocytes. Thus, transendothelial DCs represent a mechanism by which the thymus can actively acquire blood-borne Ags to induce and maintain central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth H Vollmann
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kristin Rattay
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Institute of Pharmacology, Biochemical Pharmacological Center, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Olga Barreiro
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aude Thiriot
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rebecca A Fuhlbrigge
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vladimir Vrbanac
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Humanized Immune System Mouse Program (HISMP), Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ki-Wook Kim
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Steffen Jung
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ulrich H von Andrian
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Allam AH, Charnley M, Pham K, Russell SM. Developing T cells form an immunological synapse for passage through the β-selection checkpoint. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:e201908108. [PMID: 33464309 PMCID: PMC7814350 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201908108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-selection checkpoint of T cell development tests whether the cell has recombined its genomic DNA to produce a functional T cell receptor β (TCRβ). Passage through the β-selection checkpoint requires the nascent TCRβ protein to mediate signaling through a pre-TCR complex. In this study, we show that developing T cells at the β-selection checkpoint establish an immunological synapse in in vitro and in situ, resembling that of the mature T cell. The immunological synapse is dependent on two key signaling pathways known to be critical for the transition beyond the β-selection checkpoint, Notch and CXCR4 signaling. In vitro and in situ analyses indicate that the immunological synapse promotes passage through the β-selection checkpoint. Collectively, these data indicate that developing T cells regulate pre-TCR signaling through the formation of an immunological synapse. This signaling platform integrates cues from Notch, CXCR4, and MHC on the thymic stromal cell to allow transition beyond the β-selection checkpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr H. Allam
- Optical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mirren Charnley
- Optical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kim Pham
- Optical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah M. Russell
- Optical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Immune Signalling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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12
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Kurd NS, Hoover A, Yoon J, Weist BM, Lutes L, Chan SW, Robey EA. Factors that influence the thymic selection of CD8αα intraepithelial lymphocytes. Mucosal Immunol 2021; 14:68-79. [PMID: 32483197 PMCID: PMC10443950 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-020-0295-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Thymocytes bearing αβ T cell receptors (TCRαβ) with high affinity for self-peptide-MHC complexes undergo negative selection or are diverted to alternate T cell lineages, a process termed agonist selection. Among thymocytes bearing TCRs restricted to MHC class I, agonist selection can lead to the development of precursors that can home to the gut and give rise to CD8αα-expressing intraepithelial lymphocytes (CD8αα IELs). The factors that influence the choice between negative selection versus CD8αα IEL development remain largely unknown. Using a synchronized thymic tissue slice model that supports both negative selection and CD8αα IEL development, we show that the affinity threshold for CD8αα IEL development is higher than for negative selection. We also investigate the impact of peptide presenting cells and cytokines, and the migration patterns associated with these alternative cell fates. Our data highlight the roles of TCR affinity and the thymic microenvironments on T cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia S Kurd
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ashley Hoover
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Jaewon Yoon
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Brian M Weist
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, CA, 94404, USA
| | - Lydia Lutes
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Shiao Wei Chan
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ellen A Robey
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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13
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Hsu HP, Chen YT, Chen YY, Lin CY, Chen PY, Liao SY, Lim CCY, Yamaguchi Y, Hsu CL, Dzhagalov IL. Heparan sulfate is essential for thymus growth. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100419. [PMID: 33600795 PMCID: PMC7974028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymus organogenesis and T cell development are coordinated by various soluble and cell-bound molecules. Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans can interact with and immobilize many soluble mediators, creating fields or gradients of secreted ligands. While the role of HS in the development of many organs has been studied extensively, little is known about its function in the thymus. Here, we examined the distribution of HS in the thymus and the effect of its absence on thymus organogenesis and T cell development. We found that HS was expressed most abundantly on the thymic fibroblasts and at lower levels on endothelial, epithelial, and hematopoietic cells. To study the function of HS in the thymus, we eliminated most of HS in this organ by genetically disrupting the glycosyltransferase Ext1 that is essential for its synthesis. The absence of HS greatly reduced the size of the thymus in fetal thymic organ cultures and in vivo, in mice, and decreased the production of T cells. However, no specific blocks in T cell development were observed. Wild-type thymic fibroblasts were able to physically bind the homeostatic chemokines CCL19, CCL21, and CXCL12 ex vivo. However, this binding was abolished upon HS degradation, disrupting the CCL19/CCL21 chemokine gradients and causing impaired migration of dendritic cells in thymic slices. Thus, our results show that HS plays an essential role in the development and growth of the thymus and in regulating interstitial cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Po Hsu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Tzu Chen
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ying Chen
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yu Lin
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Yu Chen
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shio-Yi Liao
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Yu Yamaguchi
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Chia-Lin Hsu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ivan L Dzhagalov
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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14
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Recollections of the discovery of promiscuous antigen expression in mTECs. Nat Immunol 2020; 21:1303-1305. [PMID: 32820273 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0771-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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15
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Ueda Y, Kondo N, Kinashi T. MST1/2 Balance Immune Activation and Tolerance by Orchestrating Adhesion, Transcription, and Organelle Dynamics in Lymphocytes. Front Immunol 2020; 11:733. [PMID: 32435241 PMCID: PMC7218056 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The STE20-like serine/threonine kinases MST1 and MST2 (MST1/2) are mammalian homologs of Hippo in flies. MST1/2 regulate organ size by suppressing the transcription factor YAP, which promotes proliferation. MST1 is predominantly expressed in immune cells, where it plays distinct roles. Here, we review the functions of MST1/2 in immune cells, uncovered by a series of recent studies, and discuss the connection between MST1/2 function and immune responses. MST1/2 regulate lymphocyte development, trafficking, survival, and antigen recognition by naive T cells. MST1/2 also regulate the function of regulatory T cells and effector T cell differentiation, thus acting to balance immune activation and tolerance. Interestingly, MST1/2 elicit these functions not by the “canonical” Hippo pathway, but by the non-canonical Hippo pathway or alternative pathways. In these pathways, MST1/2 regulates cellular processes relating to immune response, such as chemotaxis, cell adhesion, immunological synapse, gene transcriptions. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these processes have revealed important roles of MST1/2 in regulating cytoskeleton remodeling, integrin activation, and vesicular transport in lymphocytes. We discuss the significance of the MST1/2 signaling in lymphocytes in the regulation of organelle dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Ueda
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Kondo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Kinashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
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16
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Lee BJ, Mace EM. From stem cell to immune effector: how adhesion, migration, and polarity shape T-cell and natural killer cell lymphocyte development in vitro and in vivo. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:981-991. [PMID: 32352896 PMCID: PMC7346728 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-08-0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphocyte development is a complex and coordinated pathway originating from pluripotent stem cells during embryogenesis and continuing even as matured lymphocytes are primed and educated in adult tissue. Hematopoietic stem cells develop in a specialized niche that includes extracellular matrix and supporting stromal and endothelial cells that both maintain stem cell pluripotency and enable the generation of differentiated cells. Cues for lymphocyte development include changes in integrin-dependent cell motility and adhesion which ultimately help to determine cell fate. The capacity of lymphocytes to adhere and migrate is important for modulating these developmental signals both by regulating the cues that the cell receives from the local microenvironment as well as facilitating the localization of precursors to tissue niches throughout the body. Here we consider how changing migratory and adhesive phenotypes contribute to human natural killer (NK)- and T-cell development as they undergo development from precursors to mature, circulating cells and how our understanding of this process is informed by in vitro models of T- and NK cell generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barclay J. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Emily M. Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
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17
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Salz A, Gurniak C, Jönsson F, Witke W. Cofilin1-driven actin dynamics controls migration of thymocytes and is essential for positive selection in the thymus. J Cell Sci 2020; 133:jcs238048. [PMID: 31974112 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.238048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin dynamics is essential for T-cell development. We show here that cofilin1 is the key molecule for controlling actin filament turnover in this process. Mice with specific depletion of cofilin1 in thymocytes showed increased steady-state levels of actin filaments, and associated alterations in the pattern of thymocyte migration and adhesion. Our data suggest that cofilin1 is controlling oscillatory F-actin changes, a parameter that influences the migration pattern in a 3-D environment. In a collagen matrix, cofilin1 controls the speed and resting intervals of migrating thymocytes. Cofilin1 was not involved in thymocyte proliferation, cell survival, apoptosis or surface receptor trafficking. However, in cofilin1 mutant mice, impaired adhesion and migration resulted in a specific block of thymocyte differentiation from CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes towards CD4 and CD8 single-positive cells. Our data suggest that tuning of the dwelling time of thymocytes in the thymic niches is tightly controlled by cofilin1 and essential for positive selection during T-cell differentiation. We describe a novel role of cofilin1 in the physiological context of migration-dependent cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andree Salz
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten Strasse 13, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine Gurniak
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten Strasse 13, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Friederike Jönsson
- Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, Institut Pasteur, UMR 1222 INSERM, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Walter Witke
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten Strasse 13, 53115 Bonn, Germany
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18
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Zhou TA, Hsu CL, Dzhagalov IL. Testing the Efficiency and Kinetics of Negative Selection Using Thymic Slices. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2111:205-219. [PMID: 31933210 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0266-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Central tolerance is an efficient barrier to autoimmunity and negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes is one of its major manifestations. Because of its importance, negative selection has been studied extensively through numerous in vitro and in vivo approaches that have tremendously increased our understanding of the process. Recently, in situ experimental systems using thymus slices have been developed that combine some of the advantages of in vitro assays such as ease of manipulation and high throughput with the existence of three dimensional mature thymus microenvironment. These approaches offer unprecedented opportunity to study negative selection. Here, we describe how thymic slices can be used to measure the kinetics and magnitude of negative selection. Taking the OT-1/Ova system as an example, we provide detailed guidance on cutting thymic slices, labeling and overlaying thymocytes on them and reading out the extent of negative selection by flow cytometry. The system can easily be adapted to evaluate the effects of various mutations or treatments on negative selection or to study the behavior of different cells in the thymus through time-lapse imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyng-An Zhou
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lin Hsu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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19
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20
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Zebrafish and Medaka: Two Teleost Models of T-Cell and Thymic Development. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174179. [PMID: 31454991 PMCID: PMC6747487 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, studies have demonstrated that several features of T-cell and thymic development are conserved from teleosts to mammals. In particular, works using zebrafish (Danio rerio) and medaka (Oryzias latipes) have shed light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these biological processes. In particular, the ease of noninvasive in vivo imaging of these species enables direct visualization of all events associated with these processes, which are, in mice, technically very demanding. In this review, we focus on defining the similarities and differences between zebrafish and medaka in T-cell development and thymus organogenesis; and highlight their advantages as two complementary model systems for T-cell immunobiology and modeling of human diseases.
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21
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Lancaster JN, Thyagarajan HM, Srinivasan J, Li Y, Hu Z, Ehrlich LIR. Live-cell imaging reveals the relative contributions of antigen-presenting cell subsets to thymic central tolerance. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2220. [PMID: 31101805 PMCID: PMC6525199 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09727-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Both medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) and dendritic cells (DC) present tissue-restricted antigens (TRA) to thymocytes to induce central tolerance, but the relative contributions of these antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets remain unresolved. Here we developed a two-photon microscopy approach to observe thymocytes interacting with intact APCs presenting TRAs. We find that mTECs and DCs cooperate extensively to induce tolerance, with their relative contributions regulated by the cellular form of the TRA and the class of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on which antigen is presented. Even when TRA expression is restricted to mTECs, DCs still present self-antigens at least as frequently as mTECs. Notably, the DC subset cDC2 efficiently acquires secreted mTEC-derived TRAs for cross-presentation on MHC-I. By directly imaging interactions between thymocytes and APCs, while monitoring intracellular signaling, this study reveals that distinct DC subsets and AIRE+ mTECs contribute substantially to presentation of diverse self-antigens for establishing central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - H M Thyagarajan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - J Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Y Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Z Hu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - L I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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22
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23
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Hong J, Ge C, Jothikumar P, Yuan Z, Liu B, Bai K, Li K, Rittase W, Shinzawa M, Zhang Y, Palin A, Love P, Yu X, Salaita K, Evavold BD, Singer A, Zhu C. A TCR mechanotransduction signaling loop induces negative selection in the thymus. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:1379-1390. [PMID: 30420628 PMCID: PMC6452639 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0259-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) expressed on thymocytes interacts with self-peptide major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligands to signal apoptosis or survival. Here, we found that negative-selection ligands induced thymocytes to exert forces on the TCR and the co-receptor CD8 and formed cooperative TCR-pMHC-CD8 trimolecular 'catch bonds', whereas positive-selection ligands induced less sustained thymocyte forces on TCR and CD8 and formed shorter-lived, independent TCR-pMHC and pMHC-CD8 bimolecular 'slip bonds'. Catch bonds were not intrinsic to either the TCR-pMHC or the pMHC-CD8 arm of the trans (cross-junctional) heterodimer but resulted from coupling of the extracellular pMHC-CD8 interaction to the intracellular interaction of CD8 with TCR-CD3 via associated kinases to form a cis (lateral) heterodimer capable of inside-out signaling. We suggest that the coupled trans-cis heterodimeric interactions form a mechanotransduction loop that reinforces negative-selection signaling that is distinct from positive-selection signaling in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsung Hong
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Vaccine Production Program Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Chenghao Ge
- Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Prithiviraj Jothikumar
- Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zhou Yuan
- Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Baoyu Liu
- Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Ke Bai
- Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kaitao Li
- Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - William Rittase
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Miho Shinzawa
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amy Palin
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xinhua Yu
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environment Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Khalid Salaita
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brian D Evavold
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alfred Singer
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cheng Zhu
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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24
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Oltra E, Caicedo A. Real Time In Vivo Tracking of Thymocytes in the Anterior Chamber of the Eye by Laser Scanning Microscopy. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30346412 DOI: 10.3791/58236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the method being presented is to show, for the first time, the transplant of newborn thymi into the anterior eye chamber of isogenic adult mice for in vivo longitudinal real-time monitoring of thymocytes´ dynamics within a vascularized thymus segment. Following the transplantation, laser scanning microscopy (LSM) through the cornea allows in vivo noninvasive repeated imaging at cellular resolution level. Importantly, the approach adds to previous intravital T-cell maturation imaging models the possibility for continuous progenitor cell recruitment and mature T-cell egress recordings in the same animal. Additional advantages of the system are the transparency of the grafted area, permitting macroscopic rapid monitoring of the implanted tissue, and the accessibility to the implant allowing for localized in addition to systemic treatments. The main limitation being the volume of the tissue that fits in the reduced space of the eye chamber which demands for lobe trimming. Organ integrity is maximized by dissecting thymus lobes in patterns previously shown to be functional for mature T-cell production. The technique is potentially suited to interrogate a milieu of medically relevant questions related to thymus function that include autoimmunity, immunodeficiency and central tolerance; processes which remain mechanistically poorly defined. The fine dissection of mechanisms guiding thymocyte migration, differentiation and selection should lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting developing T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Oltra
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir; Unidad Mixta CIPF-UCV, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe;
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25
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Wan X, Zinselmeyer BH, Zakharov PN, Vomund AN, Taniguchi R, Santambrogio L, Anderson MS, Lichti CF, Unanue ER. Pancreatic islets communicate with lymphoid tissues via exocytosis of insulin peptides. Nature 2018; 560:107-111. [PMID: 30022165 PMCID: PMC6090537 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0341-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tissue-specific autoimmunity occurs when selected antigens presented by susceptible alleles of the major histocompatibility complex are recognized by T cells. However, the reason why certain specific self-antigens dominate the response and are indispensable for triggering autoreactivity is unclear. Spontaneous presentation of insulin is essential for initiating autoimmune type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice1,2. A major set of pathogenic CD4 T cells specifically recognizes the 12-20 segment of the insulin B-chain (B:12-20), an epitope that is generated from direct presentation of insulin peptides by antigen-presenting cells3,4. These T cells do not respond to antigen-presenting cells that have taken up insulin that, after processing, leads to presentation of a different segment representing a one-residue shift, B:13-214. CD4 T cells that recognize B:12-20 escape negative selection in the thymus and cause diabetes, whereas those that recognize B:13-21 have only a minor role in autoimmunity3-5. Although presentation of B:12-20 is evident in the islets3,6, insulin-specific germinal centres can be formed in various lymphoid tissues, suggesting that insulin presentation is widespread7,8. Here we use live imaging to document the distribution of insulin recognition by CD4 T cells throughout various lymph nodes. Furthermore, we identify catabolized insulin peptide fragments containing defined pathogenic epitopes in β-cell granules from mice and humans. Upon glucose challenge, these fragments are released into the circulation and are recognized by CD4 T cells, leading to an activation state that results in transcriptional reprogramming and enhanced diabetogenicity. Therefore, a tissue such as pancreatic islets, by releasing catabolized products, imposes a constant threat to self-tolerance. These findings reveal a self-recognition pathway underlying a primary autoantigen and provide a foundation for assessing antigenic targets that precipitate pathogenic outcomes by systemically sensitizing lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Wan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bernd H Zinselmeyer
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Pavel N Zakharov
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anthony N Vomund
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ruth Taniguchi
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura Santambrogio
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cheryl F Lichti
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emil R Unanue
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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26
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Bending D, Prieto Martín P, Paduraru A, Ducker C, Marzaganov E, Laviron M, Kitano S, Miyachi H, Crompton T, Ono M. A timer for analyzing temporally dynamic changes in transcription during differentiation in vivo. J Cell Biol 2018; 217:2931-2950. [PMID: 29941474 PMCID: PMC6080944 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201711048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bending et al. establish a new tool, Timer of cell kinetics and activity (Tocky), revealing the temporal dynamics of cellular activation and differentiation in vivo. The tool analyzes the temporal sequence of molecular processes during cellular differentiation and can classify cells based on the frequency they receive signaling events in vivo. Understanding the mechanisms of cellular differentiation is challenging because differentiation is initiated by signaling pathways that drive temporally dynamic processes, which are difficult to analyze in vivo. We establish a new tool, Timer of cell kinetics and activity (Tocky; or toki [time in Japanese]). Tocky uses the fluorescent Timer protein, which spontaneously shifts its emission spectrum from blue to red, in combination with computer algorithms to reveal the dynamics of differentiation in vivo. Using a transcriptional target of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, we establish Nr4a3-Tocky to follow downstream effects of TCR signaling. Nr4a3-Tocky reveals the temporal sequence of events during regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation and shows that persistent TCR signals occur during Treg generation. Remarkably, antigen-specific T cells at the site of autoimmune inflammation also show persistent TCR signaling. In addition, by generating Foxp3-Tocky, we reveal the in vivo dynamics of demethylation of the Foxp3 gene. Thus, Tocky is a tool for cell biologists to address previously inaccessible questions by directly revealing dynamic processes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bending
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Paz Prieto Martín
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Alina Paduraru
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Catherine Ducker
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Erik Marzaganov
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Marie Laviron
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
| | - Satsuki Kitano
- Institute for Viral Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyachi
- Institute for Viral Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tessa Crompton
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, England, UK
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, England, UK
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27
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Pinto AI, Smith J, Kissack MR, Hogg KG, Green EA. Thymic B Cell-Mediated Attack of Thymic Stroma Precedes Type 1 Diabetes Development. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1281. [PMID: 29930554 PMCID: PMC5999731 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from a coordinated autoimmune attack of insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas by the innate and adaptive immune systems, beta cell death being predominantly T cell-mediated. In addition to T cells, peripheral B cells are important in T1D progression. The thymus of mice and man also contains B cells, and lately they have been linked to central tolerance of T cells. The role of thymic B cells in T1D is undefined. Here, we show there are abnormalities in the thymic B cell compartment before beta cell destruction and T1D manifestation. Using non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, we document that preceding T1D development, there is significant accumulation of thymic B cells-partly through in situ development- and the putative formation of ectopic germinal centers. In addition, in NOD mice we quantify thymic plasma cells and observe in situ binding of immunoglobulins to undefined antigens on a proportion of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). By contrast, no ectopic germinal centers or pronounced intrathymic autoantibodies are detectable in animals not genetically predisposed to developing T1D. Binding of autoantibodies to thymic stroma correlates with apoptosis of mTECs, including insulin-expressing cells. By contrast, apoptosis of mTECs was decreased by 50% in B cell-deficient NOD mice suggesting intrathymic autoantibodies may selectively target certain mTECs for destruction. Furthermore, we observe that these thymic B cell-associated events correlated with an increased prevalence of premature thymic emigration of T cells. Together, our data suggest that the thymus may be a principal autoimmune target in T1D and contributes to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Pinto
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Smith
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Miriam R Kissack
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Karen G Hogg
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - E Allison Green
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom.,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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28
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Aili A, Zhang J, Wu J, Wu H, Sun X, He Q, Jin R, Zhang Y. CCR2 Signal Facilitates Thymic Egress by Priming Thymocyte Responses to Sphingosine-1-Phosphate. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1263. [PMID: 29930553 PMCID: PMC6001116 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The signal mediated by sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) is essential but seemingly insufficient for thymic export of newly generated T cells. Here, we reported the identification of CCR2 as an additional regulator of this process. CCR2 showed a markedly increased expression in the most mature subset of single-positive (SP) thymocytes. Its deficiency led to a reduction of recent thymic emigrants in the periphery and a simultaneous accumulation of mature SP cells in the thymus. The CCR2 signaling promoted thymic emigration primarily through modulating the chemotactic responses to S1P1 engagement. On the one hand, the chemokinesis induced by CCR2 activation endowed thymocytes with enhanced capacity to respond to S1P-induced migration. On the other hand, CCR2 signaling through Stat3 augmented forkhead box O1 activity, leading to increased expression of S1P1. Taken together, the present study highlights a unique and novel function of CCR2 signaling in the regulation of thymic egress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abudureyimujiang Aili
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Jia Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Haoming Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Xiuyuan Sun
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Qihua He
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China.,Institute of Biological Sciences, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
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29
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Apert C, Romagnoli P, van Meerwijk JPM. IL-2 and IL-15 dependent thymic development of Foxp3-expressing regulatory T lymphocytes. Protein Cell 2018; 9:322-332. [PMID: 28540653 PMCID: PMC5876181 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-017-0425-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppressive regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) expressing the transcription factor Foxp3 play a vital role in the maintenance of tolerance of the immune-system to self and innocuous non-self. Most Treg that are critical for the maintenance of tolerance to self, develop as an independent T-cell lineage from common T cell precursors in the thymus. In this organ, their differentiation requires signals from the T cell receptor for antigen, from co-stimulatory molecules, as well as from cytokine-receptors. Here we focus on the cytokines implicated in thymic development of Treg, with a particular emphasis on the roles of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15. The more recently appreciated involvement of TGF-β in thymic Treg development is also briefly discussed. Finally, we discuss how cytokine-dependence of Treg development allows for temporal, quantitative, and potentially qualitative modulation of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Apert
- CPTP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Paola Romagnoli
- CPTP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France.
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30
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Lopes N, Charaix J, Cédile O, Sergé A, Irla M. Lymphotoxin α fine-tunes T cell clonal deletion by regulating thymic entry of antigen-presenting cells. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1262. [PMID: 29593265 PMCID: PMC5872006 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) purge the T cell repertoire of autoreactive thymocytes. Although dendritic cells (DC) reinforce this process by transporting innocuous peripheral self-antigens, the mechanisms that control their thymic entry remain unclear. Here we show that mTEC-CD4+ thymocyte crosstalk regulates the thymus homing of SHPS-1+ conventional DCs (cDC), plasmacytoid DCs (pDC) and macrophages. This homing process is controlled by lymphotoxin α (LTα), which negatively regulates CCL2, CCL8 and CCL12 chemokines in mTECs. Consequently, Ltα-deficient mice have increased expression of these chemokines that correlates with augmented classical NF-κB subunits and increased thymic recruitment of cDCs, pDCs and macrophages. This enhanced migration depends mainly on the chemokine receptor CCR2, and increases thymic clonal deletion. Altogether, this study identifies a fine-tuning mechanism of T cell repertoire selection and paves the way for therapeutic interventions to treat autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noëlla Lopes
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2, Marseille, 13288 cedex 09, France
| | - Jonathan Charaix
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2, Marseille, 13288 cedex 09, France
| | - Oriane Cédile
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology Research, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 25, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Arnauld Sergé
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Aix-Marseille Université UM105, 13273 cedex 09, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2, Marseille, 13288 cedex 09, France.
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31
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Aghaallaei N, Bajoghli B. Making Thymus Visible: Understanding T-Cell Development from a New Perspective. Front Immunol 2018; 9:375. [PMID: 29552011 PMCID: PMC5840141 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell development is coupled with a highly ordered migratory pattern. Lymphoid progenitors must follow a precise journey; starting from the hematopoietic tissue, they move toward the thymus and then migrate into and out of distinct thymic microenvironments, where they receive signals and cues required for their differentiation into naïve T-cells. Knowing where, when, and how these cells make directional “decisions” is key to understanding T-cell development. Such insights can be gained by directly observing developing T-cells within their environment under various conditions and following specific experimental manipulations. In the last decade, several model systems have been developed to address temporal and spatial aspects of T-cell development using imaging approaches. In this perspective article, we discuss the advantages and limitations of these systems and highlight a particularly powerful in vivo model that has been recently established. This model system enables the migratory behavior of all thymocytes to be studied simultaneously in a noninvasive and quantitative manner, making it possible to perform systems-level studies that reveal fundamental principles governing T-cell dynamics during development and in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Aghaallaei
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, Rheumatology and Pulmonology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Baubak Bajoghli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, Rheumatology and Pulmonology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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32
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Abstract
Thymocyte selection involves the positive and negative selection of the repertoire of T cell receptors (TCRs) such that the organism does not suffer autoimmunity, yet has the benefit of the ability to recognize any invading pathogen. The signal transduced through the TCR is translated into a number of different signaling cascades that result in transcription factor activity in the nucleus and changes to the cytoskeleton and motility. Negative selection involves inducing apoptosis in thymocytes that express strongly self-reactive TCRs, whereas positive selection must induce survival and differentiation programs in cells that are more weakly self-reactive. The TCR recognition event is analog by nature, but the outcome of signaling is not. A large number of molecules regulate the strength of the TCR-derived signal at various points in the cascades. This review discusses the various factors that can regulate the strength of the TCR signal during thymocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R J Gascoigne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Immunology Program, National University of Singapore, Singapore 11759;
| | - Vasily Rybakin
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, REGA Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Oreste Acuto
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Brzostek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Immunology Program, National University of Singapore, Singapore 11759;
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33
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Perera J, Zheng Z, Li S, Gudjonson H, Kalinina O, Benichou JIC, Block KE, Louzoun Y, Yin D, Chong AS, Dinner AR, Weigert M, Huang H. Self-Antigen-Driven Thymic B Cell Class Switching Promotes T Cell Central Tolerance. Cell Rep 2017; 17:387-398. [PMID: 27705788 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
B cells are unique antigen-presenting cells because their antigen presentation machinery is closely tied to the B cell receptor. Autoreactive thymic B cells can efficiently present cognate self-antigens to mediate CD4+ T cell-negative selection. However, the nature of thymocyte-thymic B cell interaction and how this interaction affects the selection of thymic B cell repertoire and, in turn, the T cell repertoire are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that a large percentage of thymic B cells have undergone class switching intrathymically. Thymic B cell class switching requires cognate interaction with specific T cells. Class-switched thymic B cells have a distinct repertoire compared with unswitched thymic B cells or splenic B cells. Particularly, autoreactive B cell specificities preferentially expand in the thymus by undergoing class switching, and these enriched, class-switched autoreactive thymic B cells play an important role in CD4 T cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Perera
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, and Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Zhong Zheng
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, and Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Shuyin Li
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, and Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Herman Gudjonson
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Graduate Program in the Biophysical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Olga Kalinina
- Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jennifer I C Benichou
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Katharine E Block
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, and Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yoram Louzoun
- Department of Mathematics and Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Dengping Yin
- Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Anita S Chong
- Section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Aaron R Dinner
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Graduate Program in the Biophysical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Martin Weigert
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Haochu Huang
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, and Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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34
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Lancaster JN, Li Y, Ehrlich LIR. Chemokine-Mediated Choreography of Thymocyte Development and Selection. Trends Immunol 2017; 39:86-98. [PMID: 29162323 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
As they differentiate, thymocytes encounter spatially restricted cues critical for differentiation and selection of a functional, self-tolerant T cell repertoire. Sequential migration of developing T cells through distinct thymic microenvironments is enforced by the ordered expression of chemokine receptors. Herein, we provide an updated perspective on T cell differentiation through the lens of recent advances that illuminate the dynamics of chemokine-driven thymocyte migration, localization, and interactions with stromal cells. We consider these findings in the context of earlier groundwork exploring the contribution of chemokines to T cell development, recent advances regarding the specificity of chemokine signaling, and novel techniques for evaluating the T cell repertoire. We suggest future research should amalgamate visualization of localized cellular interactions with downstream molecular signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yu Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lauren I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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35
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Cosway EJ, Lucas B, James KD, Parnell SM, Carvalho-Gaspar M, White AJ, Tumanov AV, Jenkinson WE, Anderson G. Redefining thymus medulla specialization for central tolerance. J Exp Med 2017; 214:3183-3195. [PMID: 28830910 PMCID: PMC5679166 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20171000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
During αβT cell development, the thymus medulla represents an essential microenvironment for T cell tolerance. This functional specialization is attributed to its typical organized topology consisting of a branching structure that contains medullary thymic epithelial cell (mTEC) networks to support negative selection and Foxp3+ T-regulatory cell (T-reg) development. Here, by performing TEC-specific deletion of the thymus medulla regulator lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR), we show that thymic tolerance mechanisms operate independently of LTβR-mediated mTEC development and organization. Consistent with this, mTECs continue to express Fezf2 and Aire, regulators of intrathymic self-antigens, and support T-reg development despite loss of LTβR-mediated medulla organogenesis. Moreover, we demonstrate that LTβR controls thymic tolerance by regulating the frequency and makeup of intrathymic dendritic cells (DCs) required for effective thymocyte negative selection. In all, our study demonstrates that thymus medulla specialization for thymic tolerance segregates from medulla organogenesis and instead involves LTβR-mediated regulation of the thymic DC pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie J Cosway
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Beth Lucas
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Kieran D James
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Sonia M Parnell
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Manuela Carvalho-Gaspar
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Andrea J White
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Alexei V Tumanov
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - William E Jenkinson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
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36
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Lang MJ, Mori M, Ruer-Laventie J, Pieters J. A Coronin 1–Dependent Decision Switch in Juvenile Mice Determines the Population of the Peripheral Naive T Cell Compartment. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 199:2421-2431. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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37
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Lodygin D, Flügel A. Intravital real-time analysis of T-cell activation in health and disease. Cell Calcium 2017; 64:118-129. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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38
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Hu DY, Wirasinha RC, Goodnow CC, Daley SR. IL-2 prevents deletion of developing T-regulatory cells in the thymus. Cell Death Differ 2017; 24:1007-1016. [PMID: 28362433 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2017.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the thymus, strongly self-reactive T cells may undergo apoptotic deletion or differentiate into Foxp3+ T-regulatory (T-reg) cells. Mechanisms that partition T cells into these two fates are unclear. Here, we show that IL-2 signalling is required to prevent deletion of CD4+ CD8- CCR7+ Helios+ thymocytes poised to upregulate Foxp3. The deletion prevented by IL-2 signalling is Foxp3 independent and occurs later in thymocyte development than the deletion that is prevented by Card11 signalling. Our results distinguish two bottlenecks at which strongly self-reactive thymocytes undergo deletion or progress to the next stage of T-reg differentiation; Card11 regulates the first bottleneck and IL-2 regulates the second.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Y Hu
- Immunology Department, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
| | - Rushika C Wirasinha
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Christopher C Goodnow
- Immunology Department, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia.,Immunology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Stephen R Daley
- Immunology Department, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia.,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
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39
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Daley SR, Teh C, Hu DY, Strasser A, Gray DH. Cell death and thymic tolerance. Immunol Rev 2017; 277:9-20. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R. Daley
- Infection and Immunity Program; Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Monash University; Melbourne VIC Australia
| | - Charis Teh
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Department of Medical Biology; The University of Melbourne; Parkville VIC Australia
| | | | - Andreas Strasser
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Department of Medical Biology; The University of Melbourne; Parkville VIC Australia
| | - Daniel H.D. Gray
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Department of Medical Biology; The University of Melbourne; Parkville VIC Australia
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40
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Introduction to Homeostatic Migration. Methods Mol Biol 2017. [PMID: 28349471 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6931-9_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]
Abstract
Immune cell development and function occur in specialized immunological tissues, the function of which requires active cell migration and interactions between hematopoietic cells and underlying networks of stromal cells. These cells provide a scaffold on which immune cell migrate, provide microenvironments for efficient antigen presentation, and provide signals required for immune cell recruitment and survival. Technical advances in imaging technologies including multiphoton microscopy and 3D tissue reconstructions are being combined with computational approaches to provide new insights into the process of cell migration and function in immunological tissues.
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41
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Lancaster JN, Ehrlich LIR. Analysis of Thymocyte Migration, Cellular Interactions, and Activation by Multiphoton Fluorescence Microscopy of Live Thymic Slices. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1591:9-25. [PMID: 28349472 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6931-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Thymocytes migrate through discrete compartments within the thymus, engaging in cellular interactions essential for their differentiation into functional and self-tolerant T cells. Thus, understanding the temporal and spatial behavior of thymocytes within an intact thymic microenvironment is critical for elucidating processes governing T cell development. Towards this end, we describe methods for preparing thymic explant slices, in which the migration of thymocytes through three-dimensional space can be probed using time-lapse, multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. Thymocytes, enriched for developmental subsets of interest, are labeled with cytoplasmic fluorescent dyes, and seeded onto live thymic slices that express an endogenous, stromal cell-specific fluorescent reporter. In response to chemotactic cues produced by thymic stromal cells, the labeled thymocytes migrate withinthymic microenvironments and engage in cellular interactions that recapitulate a physiological system, whichcan be readily imaged. Here we describe specimen preparation that maintains the integrity of thymic structures. We also describe imaging protocols for acquiring multiple fluorochrome channels to enable detection of thymocyte:stromal cell interactions and quantification of relative intracellular calcium levels to monitor T cell receptor activation. Parameters for quantifying motility and interaction behaviors during data analysis are also briefly described. The thymic slice is a versatile tool for probing live cell behaviors and developing novel hypotheses not readily apparent by static experimental methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway, A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Lauren I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway, A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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42
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Abstract
The ability of T cells to respond to a wide array of foreign antigens while avoiding reactivity to self is largely determined by cellular selection of developing T cells in the thymus. While a great deal is known about the cell types and molecules involved in T-cell selection in the thymus, our understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of this process remain relatively poorly understood. Thymocytes are highly motile within the thymus and travel between specialized microenvironments at different phases of their development while interacting with distinct sets of self-peptides and peptide presenting cells. A knowledge of when, where, and how thymocytes encounter self-peptide MHC ligands at different stages of thymic development is key to understanding T-cell selection. In the past several years, our laboratory has investigated this topic using two-photon time-lapse microscopy to directly visualize thymocyte migration and signaling events, together with a living thymic slice preparation to provide a synchronized experimental model of T-cell selection in situ. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the temporal and spatial aspects of T-cell selection, highlighting our own work, and placing them in the context of work from other groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Kurd
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ellen A Robey
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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43
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T cell receptor signalling in the control of regulatory T cell differentiation and function. Nat Rev Immunol 2016; 16:220-33. [PMID: 27026074 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2016.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 346] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (TReg cells), a specialized T cell lineage, have a pivotal function in the control of self tolerance and inflammatory responses. Recent studies have revealed a discrete mode of T cell receptor (TCR) signalling that regulates TReg cell differentiation, maintenance and function and that affects gene expression, metabolism, cell adhesion and migration of these cells. Here, we discuss the emerging understanding of TCR-guided differentiation of TReg cells in the context of their function in health and disease.
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44
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Sood A, Dong M, Melichar HJ. Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27585240 DOI: 10.3791/54355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic selection proceeds in a unique and highly organized thymic microenvironment resulting in the generation of a functional, self-tolerant T cell repertoire. In vitro models to study T lineage commitment and development have provided valuable insights into this process. However, these systems lack the complete three-dimensional thymic milieu necessary for T cell development and, therefore, are incomplete approximations of in vivo thymic selection. Some of the challenges related to modeling T cell development can be overcome by using in situ models that provide an intact thymic microenvironment that fully supports thymic selection of developing T cells. Thymic slice organotypic cultures complement existing in situ techniques. Thymic slices preserve the integrity of the thymic cortical and medullary regions and provide a platform to study development of overlaid thymocytes of a defined developmental stage or of endogenous T cells within a mature thymic microenvironment. Given the ability to generate ~20 slices per mouse, thymic slices present a unique advantage in terms of scalability for high throughput experiments. Further, the relative ease in generating thymic slices and potential to overlay different thymic subsets or other cell populations from diverse genetic backgrounds enhances the versatility of this method. Here we describe a protocol for the preparation of thymic slices, isolation and overlay of thymocytes, and dissociation of thymic slices for flow cytometric analysis. This system can also be adapted to study non-conventional T cell development as well as visualize thymocyte migration, thymocyte-stromal cell interactions, and TCR signals associated with thymic selection by two-photon microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sood
- Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont; Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Université de Montréal
| | - Mengqi Dong
- Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont; Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Université de Montréal
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal;
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45
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Intravital imaging technology reveals immune system dynamics in vivo. Allergol Int 2016; 65:225-7. [PMID: 27238377 DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent 'intravital' imaging is a new research technique by which the interior of living tissues and organs (in living bodies, if possible) can be observed, revealing the kinetics of cell and molecular processes in real time. Recent technological innovations in optical equipment and fluorescence imaging techniques have enabled a variety of cellular phenomena in different tissues and organs to be characterized under completely native conditions. This shift from static to dynamic biology constitutes the beginning of a new era in biomedical sciences.
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46
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Lucas B, McCarthy NI, Baik S, Cosway E, James KD, Parnell SM, White AJ, Jenkinson WE, Anderson G. Control of the thymic medulla and its influence on αβT-cell development. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:23-37. [PMID: 27088905 PMCID: PMC4982089 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid tissue that supports the generation of αβT cells. In this review, we describe the processes that give rise to the thymus medulla, a site that nurtures self-tolerant T-cell generation following positive selection events that take place in the cortex. To summarize the developmental pathways that generate medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) from their immature progenitors, we describe work on both the initial emergence of the medulla during embryogenesis, and the maintenance of the medulla during postnatal stages. We also investigate the varying roles that receptors belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily have on thymus medulla development and formation, and highlight the impact that T-cell development has on thymus medulla formation. Finally, we examine the evidence that the thymic medulla plays an important role during the intrathymic generation of distinct αβT-cell subtypes. Collectively, these studies provide new insight into the development and functional importance of medullary microenvironments during self-tolerant T-cell production in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Lucas
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Nicholas I. McCarthy
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Song Baik
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Emilie Cosway
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Kieran D. James
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Sonia M. Parnell
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Andrea J. White
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - William E. Jenkinson
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Graham Anderson
- MRC Centre for Immune RegulationInstitute for Immunology and ImmunotherapyMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
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47
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Ueda Y, Kondo N, Ozawa M, Yasuda K, Tomiyama T, Kinashi T. Sema3e/Plexin D1 Modulates Immunological Synapse and Migration of Thymocytes by Rap1 Inhibition. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:3019-31. [PMID: 26921307 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1502121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of thymocyte trafficking plays an important role during thymic selection, but our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes is limited. In this study, we demonstrated that class III semaphorin E (sema3e), a guidance molecule during neural and vascular development, directly inhibited Rap1 activation and LFA-1-dependent adhesion through the GTPase-activating protein activity of plexin D1. Sema3e inhibited Rap1 activation of thymocytes in response to chemokines and TCR stimulation, LFA-mediated adhesion, and T cell-APC interactions. Immunological synapse (IS) formation in mature thymocytes on supported lipid bilayers was also attenuated by sema3e. Impaired IS formation was associated with reduced Rap1 activation on the contact surface and cell periphery. Moreover, a significant increase of CD4(+) thymocytes was detected in the medulla of mice with T cell lineage-specific deletion of plexin D1. Two-photon live imaging of thymic explants and slices revealed enhanced Rap1 activation and migration of CD69(+) double-positive and single-positive cells with plexin D1 deficiency. Our results demonstrate that sema3e/plexin D1 modulates IS formation and Ag-scanning activities of thymocytes within thymic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Ueda
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Kondo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Madoka Ozawa
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Kaneki Yasuda
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; and
| | - Takashi Tomiyama
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Kinashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 573-1010, Japan;
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48
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Abstract
Potentially harmful T cell precursors are removed from the conventional T cell pool by negative selection. This process can involve the induction of apoptosis, anergy, receptor editing or deviation into a regulatory T cell lineage. As such this process is essential for the health of an organism through its contribution to central and peripheral tolerance. While a great deal is known about the process, the precise mechanisms that regulate negative selection are not clear. Furthermore, the signals that distinguish the different forms of negative selection are not fully understood. Numerous models exist with the potential to address these questions in vitro and in vivo. This chapter describes methods of fetal thymic organ culture designed to analyze the signals that determine these unique cell fates.
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49
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Ross JO, Melichar HJ, Halkias J, Robey EA. Studying T Cell Development in Thymic Slices. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1323:131-40. [PMID: 26294404 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2809-5_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recently, tissue slices have been adapted to study both mouse and human T cell development. Thymic slices combine and complement the strengths of existing organotypic culture systems to study thymocyte differentiation. Specifically, the thymic slice system allows for high throughput experiments and the ability to introduce homogenous developmental intermediate populations into an environment with a well-established cortex and medulla. These qualities make thymic slices a highly versatile and technically accessible model to study thymocyte development. Here we describe methods to prepare, embed, and slice thymic lobes to study T cell development in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny O Ross
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 142 Life Sciences Addition, #3200, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3200, USA
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50
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Anderson G, Jenkinson WE. Co-ordination of intrathymic self-representation. Nat Immunol 2015; 16:895-6. [PMID: 26287586 DOI: 10.1038/ni.3251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Graham Anderson
- MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute for Biomedical Research, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - William E Jenkinson
- MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute for Biomedical Research, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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