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Falkowski L, Buddenkotte J, Datsi A. Epigenetics in T-cell driven inflammation and cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 154:250-260. [PMID: 36641367 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
For decades, scientists have been investigating how processes such as gene expression, stem cell plasticity, and cell differentiation can be modulated. The discovery of epigenetics helped unravel these processes and enabled the identification of major underlying mechanisms that, for example, are central for T cell maturation. T cells go through various stages in their development evolving from progenitor cells into double positive CD4/CD8 T cells that finally leave the thymus as naïve T cells. One major mechanism driving T cell maturation is the modulation of gene activity by temporally sequenced transcription of spatially exposed gene loci. DNA methylation, demethylation, and acetylation are key processes that enable a sequenced gene expression required for T cell differentiation. In vivo, differentiated T cells are subjected to enormous pressures originating from the microenvironment. Signals from this environment, particularly from an inflammatory or a tumor microenvironment, can push T cells to differentiate into specific effector and memory T cells, and even prompt T cells to adopt a state of dysfunctional exhaustion, en route of an epigenetically controlled mechanism. Fundamentals of these processes will be discussed in this review highlighting potential therapeutic interventions, in particular those beneficial to revive exhausted T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Falkowski
- Institute for Transplantational Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joerg Buddenkotte
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Angeliki Datsi
- Institute for Transplantational Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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2
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Meng C, Chen G, Liu Y, Wen D, Cui J, Dong L, Yang Z, Meng H, Gao Y, Feng J, Cui X, Wu C. miR-4687-5p Affects Intracellular Survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through Its Regulation of NRAMP1 Expression in A549 Cells. Microorganisms 2024; 12:227. [PMID: 38276212 PMCID: PMC10818500 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010227] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), as one of the leading causes of death, poses a serious predicament to the world. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. It has been reported that the expression of miRNAs changes upon mycobacterial infection; the screening and identification of miRNAs regulating the expression of genes could benefit our understanding of TB pathogenesis and generate effective strategies for its control and prevention. In this study, luciferase assays showed that miR-4687-5p is bound to the 3'-untranslated region of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1). Additionally, we found a significant increase in miR-4687-5p expression in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-infected A549 cells. Concomitantly, we detected a reduced level of NRAMP1 expression, suggesting that NRAMP1 is one of the targets of miR-4687-5p. Infection experiments evidenced that the transfection of miR-4687-5p induced a decrease in NRAMP1 expression and increased intracellular Mtb loads post-infection, indicating that miR-4687-5p promotes the intracellular survival of Mtb through its downregulation of the NRAMP1 protein level. We also found that the transfection of miR-4687-5p induced increased apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation post-infection with Mtb. The results presented in our study suggest that miR-4687-5p may be indicative of the susceptibility of Mtb infection to humans and could act as a potential therapeutic target for tuberculosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Meng
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Disease of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Guangxin Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Yue Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Da Wen
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jia Cui
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Disease of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Li Dong
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Hangting Meng
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Yuanting Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jiao Feng
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xiaogang Cui
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Disease of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Changxin Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology of Shanxi Province, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China; (C.M.); (G.C.); (Y.L.); (D.W.); (J.C.); (L.D.); (Z.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.G.); (J.F.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Control of Major Infectious Disease of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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Textor J, Buytenhuijs F, Rogers D, Gauthier ÈM, Sultan S, Wortel IMN, Kalies K, Fähnrich A, Pagel R, Melichar HJ, Westermann J, Mandl JN. Machine learning analysis of the T cell receptor repertoire identifies sequence features of self-reactivity. Cell Syst 2023; 14:1059-1073.e5. [PMID: 38061355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The T cell receptor (TCR) determines specificity and affinity for both foreign and self-peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Although the strength of TCR interactions with self-pMHC impacts T cell function, it has been challenging to identify TCR sequence features that predict T cell fate. To discern patterns distinguishing TCRs from naive CD4+ T cells with low versus high self-reactivity, we used data from 42 mice to train a machine learning (ML) algorithm that identifies population-level differences between TCRβ sequence sets. This approach revealed that weakly self-reactive T cell populations were enriched for longer CDR3β regions and acidic amino acids. We tested our ML predictions of self-reactivity using retrogenic mice with fixed TCRβ sequences. Extrapolating our analyses to independent datasets, we predicted high self-reactivity for regulatory T cells and slightly reduced self-reactivity for T cells responding to chronic infections. Our analyses suggest a potential trade-off between TCR repertoire diversity and self-reactivity. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Textor
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands; Medical BioSciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands.
| | - Franka Buytenhuijs
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands
| | - Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada; McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Shabaz Sultan
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands; Medical BioSciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
| | - Inge M N Wortel
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands; Medical BioSciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
| | - Kathrin Kalies
- Institut für Anatomie, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anke Fähnrich
- Institut für Anatomie, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - René Pagel
- Institut für Anatomie, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | | | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada.
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Platzer R, Hellmeier J, Göhring J, Perez ID, Schatzlmaier P, Bodner C, Focke‐Tejkl M, Schütz GJ, Sevcsik E, Stockinger H, Brameshuber M, Huppa JB. Monomeric agonist peptide/MHCII complexes activate T-cells in an autonomous fashion. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57842. [PMID: 37768718 PMCID: PMC10626418 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular crowding of agonist peptide/MHC class II complexes (pMHCIIs) with structurally similar, yet per se non-stimulatory endogenous pMHCIIs is postulated to sensitize T-cells for the recognition of single antigens on the surface of dendritic cells and B-cells. When testing this premise with the use of advanced live cell microscopy, we observe pMHCIIs as monomeric, randomly distributed entities diffusing rapidly after entering the APC surface. Synaptic TCR engagement of highly abundant endogenous pMHCIIs is low or non-existent and affects neither TCR engagement of rare agonist pMHCII in early and advanced synapses nor agonist-induced TCR-proximal signaling. Our findings highlight the capacity of single freely diffusing agonist pMHCIIs to elicit the full T-cell response in an autonomous and peptide-specific fashion with consequences for adaptive immunity and immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Platzer
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Joschka Hellmeier
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied PhysicsViennaAustria
- Present address:
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Imaging and BionanotechnologyMartinsriedGermany
| | - Janett Göhring
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Iago Doel Perez
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Present address:
Takeda Manufacturing Austria AGViennaAustria
| | - Philipp Schatzlmaier
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Clara Bodner
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied PhysicsViennaAustria
| | - Margarete Focke‐Tejkl
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy ResearchMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Eva Sevcsik
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied PhysicsViennaAustria
| | - Hannes Stockinger
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Johannes B Huppa
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
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Wen X, Shen J, De Miglio MR, Zeng D, Sechi LA. Endogenous retrovirus group FRD member 1 is a potential biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1252905. [PMID: 37780849 PMCID: PMC10534008 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1252905] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The activation of endogenous retroviral (ERV) genes in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) suggests the necessity for further research on their functions. Methods In this study, KIRC and healthy cohorts were obtained from TGGA and GEO datasets. Subsequently, differential analysis and functional annotation were conducted using GO, KEGG, and GSEA. Clinical outcomes were then observed and utilized in the development of a nomogram. Results We observed the general low expression of ERVFRD-1 in KIRC tumors compared to normal tissue (P < 0.001) across multiple cohorts. Differential analysis and functional annotation using GO, KEGG, GSEA analysis revealed significant involvement of ERVFRD-1 in tumor immunoregulation: a close relation to the infiltration levels of mast cells and Treg cell (P < 0.001) and occurrence with a variety of immune markers. Methylation status was then applied to uncover potential mechanisms of ERVFRD-1 in KIRC. Notably, higher expression levels of ERVFRD-1 were associated with extended overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival. Finally, based on Cox regression analysis, we constructed a nomogram incorporating ERVFRD-1, pathologic T, and age, which exhibited promising predictive power in assessing the survival outcomes of KIRC patients. Discussion To sum up, our study suggests that ERVFRD-1 plays a role in regulating immunological activity within the tumor microenvironment and is associated with overall survival in KIRC patients. ERVFRD-1 may therefore be a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis assessment of KIRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofen Wen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaxin Shen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Maria Rosaria De Miglio
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - De Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Leonardo A. Sechi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Struttura Complessa (SC) Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
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Lee CH, Huh J, Buckley PR, Jang M, Pinho MP, Fernandes RA, Antanaviciute A, Simmons A, Koohy H. A robust deep learning workflow to predict CD8 + T-cell epitopes. Genome Med 2023; 15:70. [PMID: 37705109 PMCID: PMC10498576 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01225-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-cells play a crucial role in the adaptive immune system by triggering responses against cancer cells and pathogens, while maintaining tolerance against self-antigens, which has sparked interest in the development of various T-cell-focused immunotherapies. However, the identification of antigens recognised by T-cells is low-throughput and laborious. To overcome some of these limitations, computational methods for predicting CD8 + T-cell epitopes have emerged. Despite recent developments, most immunogenicity algorithms struggle to learn features of peptide immunogenicity from small datasets, suffer from HLA bias and are unable to reliably predict pathology-specific CD8 + T-cell epitopes. METHODS We developed TRAP (T-cell recognition potential of HLA-I presented peptides), a robust deep learning workflow for predicting CD8 + T-cell epitopes from MHC-I presented pathogenic and self-peptides. TRAP uses transfer learning, deep learning architecture and MHC binding information to make context-specific predictions of CD8 + T-cell epitopes. TRAP also detects low-confidence predictions for peptides that differ significantly from those in the training datasets to abstain from making incorrect predictions. To estimate the immunogenicity of pathogenic peptides with low-confidence predictions, we further developed a novel metric, RSAT (relative similarity to autoantigens and tumour-associated antigens), as a complementary to 'dissimilarity to self' from cancer studies. RESULTS TRAP was used to identify epitopes from glioblastoma patients as well as SARS-CoV-2 peptides, and it outperformed other algorithms in both cancer and pathogenic settings. TRAP was especially effective at extracting immunogenicity-associated properties from restricted data of emerging pathogens and translating them onto related species, as well as minimising the loss of likely epitopes in imbalanced datasets. We also demonstrated that the novel metric termed RSAT was able to estimate immunogenic of pathogenic peptides of various lengths and species. TRAP implementation is available at: https://github.com/ChloeHJ/TRAP . CONCLUSIONS This study presents a novel computational workflow for accurately predicting CD8 + T-cell epitopes to foster a better understanding of antigen-specific T-cell response and the development of effective clinical therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe H Lee
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Medical Research Council (MRC) Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Jaesung Huh
- Visual Geometry Group, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6NN, UK
| | - Paul R Buckley
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Medical Research Council (MRC) Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Myeongjun Jang
- Intelligent Systems Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QG, UK
| | - Mariana Pereira Pinho
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Medical Research Council (MRC) Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Ricardo A Fernandes
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Agne Antanaviciute
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Medical Research Council (MRC) Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Alison Simmons
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Medical Research Council (MRC) Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Hashem Koohy
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Medical Research Council (MRC) Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
- Alan Turning Fellow in Health and Medicine, The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK.
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Anderson CC, Bonney EA, Mueller TF, Corthay A, Havele C, Singh NJ, Øynebråten I, Bretscher PA. On antigen-specific signals, immune class regulation and energetics: Report III from the workshops on foundational concepts of immune regulation. Scand J Immunol 2023; 98:e13311. [PMID: 38112131 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
This is a report from a one-week workshop held in Athens, Greece in July of 2022. The workshop aimed to identify emerging concepts relevant to the fundamentals of immune regulation and areas for future research. Theories of immune regulation emphasize the role of T cell help or co-stimulation (signal 2). The workshop participants considered how new data on the characteristics of agonist antigens, the role of the antigen receptor signals (signal 1) in driving fate decisions, the effect of energetics on immunity and a better understanding of class-control in the immune response, may impact theories of immune regulation. These ideas were discussed in the context of tumour immunology, autoimmunity, pregnancy and transplantation. Here we present the discussions as a narrative of different viewpoints to allow the reader to join the conversation. These discussions highlight the evolving understanding of the nature of specific antigen recognition and how both antigen-specific and non-specific mechanisms impact immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin C Anderson
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes and Transplant Institutes, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont, Larner College of medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Thomas F Mueller
- Clinic of Nephrology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Corthay
- Tumor Immunology Lab, Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Calliopi Havele
- Dept of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nevil J Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Inger Øynebråten
- Tumor Immunology Lab, Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter A Bretscher
- Dept of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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8
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Crosstalk of Transcriptional Regulators of Adaptive Immune System and microRNAs: An Insight into Differentiation and Development. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040635. [PMID: 36831302 PMCID: PMC9953855 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as small regulatory RNA molecules, are involved in gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Hence, miRNAs contribute to gene regulation of various steps of different cell subsets' differentiation, maturation, and activation. The adaptive immune system arm, which exhibits the most specific immune responses, is also modulated by miRNAs. The generation and maturation of various T-cell subsets concomitant with B-cells is under precise regulation of miRNAs which function directly on the hallmark genes of each cell subset or indirectly through regulation of signaling pathway mediators and/or transcription factors involved in this maturation journey. In this review, we first discussed the origination process of common lymphocyte progenitors from hematopoietic stem cells, which further differentiate into various T-cell subsets under strict regulation of miRNAs and transcription factors. Subsequently, the differentiation of B-cells from common lymphocyte progenitors in bone marrow and periphery were discussed in association with a network of miRNAs and transcription factors.
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This S, Rogers D, Mallet Gauthier È, Mandl JN, Melichar HJ. What's self got to do with it: Sources of heterogeneity among naive T cells. Semin Immunol 2023; 65:101702. [PMID: 36463711 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
There is a long-standing assumption that naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are largely homogeneous populations despite the extraordinary diversity of their T cell receptors (TCR). The self-immunopeptidome plays a key role in the selection of the naive T cell repertoire in the thymus, and self-peptides are also an important driver of differences between individual naive T cells with regard to their subsequent functional contributions to an immune response. Accumulating evidence suggests that as early as the β-selection stage of T cell development, when only one of the recombined chains of the mature TCR is expressed, signaling thresholds may be established for positive selection of immature thymocytes. Stochastic encounters subsequently made with self-ligands during positive selection in the thymus imprint functional biases that a T cell will carry with it throughout its lifetime, although ongoing interactions with self in the periphery ensure a level of plasticity in the gene expression wiring of naive T cells. Identifying the sources of heterogeneity in the naive T cell population and which functional attributes of T cells can be modulated through post-thymic interventions versus those that are fixed during T cell development, could enable us to better select or generate T cells with particular traits to improve the efficacy of T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien This
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology and McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology and McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
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10
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Krueger A, Łyszkiewicz M, Heissmeyer V. Post-transcriptional control of T-cell development in the thymus. Immunol Lett 2022; 247:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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11
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Huseby ES, Teixeiro E. The perception and response of T cells to a changing environment are based on the law of initial value. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabj9842. [PMID: 35639856 PMCID: PMC9290192 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abj9842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
αβ T cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system and are capable of inducing sterilizing immunity after pathogen infection and eliminating transformed tumor cells. The development and function of T cells are controlled through the T cell antigen receptor, which recognizes peptides displayed on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Here, we review how T cells generate the ability to recognize self-peptide-bound MHC molecules and use signals derived from these interactions to instruct cellular development, activation thresholds, and functional specialization in the steady state and during immune responses. We argue that the basic tenants of T cell development and function follow Weber-Fetcher's law of just noticeable differences and Wilder's law of initial value. Together, these laws argue that the ability of a system to respond and the quality of that response are scalable to the basal state of that system. Manifestation of these laws in T cells generates clone-specific activation thresholds that are based on perceivable differences between homeostasis and pathogen encounter (self versus nonself discrimination), as well as poised states for subsequent differentiation into specific effector cell lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S. Huseby
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Emma Teixeiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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12
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Song J, He Q, Guo X, Wang L, Wang J, Cui C, Hu H, Yang M, Cui Y, Zang N, Yan F, Liu F, Sun Y, Liang K, Qin J, Zhao R, Wang C, Sun Z, Hou X, Li W, Chen L. Mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium alleviates high fat-induced hyperglucagonemia via miR-181a-5p and its target PTEN/AKT signaling. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 537:111445. [PMID: 34464683 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND α-cell dysregulation gives rise to fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Administration of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or their conditioned medium can improve islet function and enhance insulin secretion. However, studies showing the direct effect of MSCs on islet α-cell dysfunction are limited. METHODS In this study, we used high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice and α-cell line exposure to palmitate (PA) to determine the effects of bone marrow-derived MSC-conditioned medium (bmMSC-CM) on glucagon secretion. Plasma and supernatant glucagon were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). To investigate the potential signaling pathways, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), AKT and phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT) were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS In vivo, bmMSC-CM infusion improved the glucose and insulin tolerance and protected against HFD-induced hyperglycemia and hyperglucagonemia. Meanwhile, bmMSC-CM infusion ameliorated HFD-induced islet hypertrophy and decreased α- and β-cell area. Consistently, in vitro, glucagon secretion from α-cells or primary islets was inhibited by bmMSC-CM, accompanied by reduction of intracellular PTEN expression and restoration of AKT signaling. Previous studies and the TargetScan database indicate that miR-181a and its target PTEN play vital roles in ameliorating α-cell dysfunction. We observed that miR-181a-5p was highly expressed in BM-MSCs but prominently lower in αTC1-6 cells. Overexpression or downregulation of miR-181a-5p respectively alleviated or aggravated glucagon secretion in αTC1-6 cells via the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our observations suggest that MSC-derived miR-181a-5p mitigates glucagon secretion of α-cells by regulating PTEN/AKT signaling, which provides novel evidence demonstrating the potential for MSCs in treating T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Song
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Qin He
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xinghong Guo
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Lingshu Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jinbang Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Chen Cui
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Huiqing Hu
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mengmeng Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yixin Cui
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Nan Zang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Fei Yan
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Fuqiang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yujing Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Liang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jun Qin
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ruxing Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zheng Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xinguo Hou
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Province Medicine & Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Jinan Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Wenjuan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Province Medicine & Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Jinan Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Province Medicine & Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China; Jinan Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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13
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Zhao X, Wu LZ, Ng EKY, Leow KWS, Wei Q, Gascoigne NRJ, Brzostek J. Non-Stimulatory pMHC Enhance CD8 T Cell Effector Functions by Recruiting Coreceptor-Bound Lck. Front Immunol 2021; 12:721722. [PMID: 34707605 PMCID: PMC8542885 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.721722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Under physiological conditions, CD8+ T cells need to recognize low numbers of antigenic pMHC class I complexes in the presence of a surplus of non-stimulatory, self pMHC class I on the surface of the APC. Non-stimulatory pMHC have been shown to enhance CD8+ T cell responses to low amounts of antigenic pMHC, in a phenomenon called co-agonism, but the physiological significance and molecular mechanism of this phenomenon are still poorly understood. Our data show that co-agonist pMHC class I complexes recruit CD8-bound Lck to the immune synapse to modulate CD8+ T cell signaling pathways, resulting in enhanced CD8+ T cell effector functions and proliferation, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, co-agonism can boost T cell proliferation through an extrinsic mechanism, with co-agonism primed CD8+ T cells enhancing Akt pathway activation and proliferation in neighboring CD8+ T cells primed with low amounts of antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhao
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liang-Zhe Wu
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Esther K Y Ng
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kerisa W S Leow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qianru Wei
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas R J Gascoigne
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joanna Brzostek
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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14
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Abstract
Conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes comprise a mixture of naive and memory cells. Generation and survival of these T-cell subsets is under strict homeostatic control and reflects contact with self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and certain cytokines. Naive T cells arise in the thymus via T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent positive selection to self-peptide/MHC complexes and are then maintained in the periphery through self-MHC interaction plus stimulation via interleukin-7 (IL-7). By contrast, memory T cells are largely MHC-independent for their survival but depend strongly on stimulation via cytokines. Whereas typical memory T cells are generated in response to foreign antigens, some arise spontaneously through contact of naive precursors with self-MHC ligands; we refer to these cells as memory-phenotype (MP) T cells. In this review, we discuss the generation and homeostasis of naive T cells and these two types of memory T cells, focusing on their relative interaction with MHC ligands and cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kawabe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Jaeu Yi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Jonathan Sprent
- Immunology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
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15
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Kumari R, Roy U, Desai S, Nilavar NM, Van Nieuwenhuijze A, Paranjape A, Radha G, Bawa P, Srivastava M, Nambiar M, Balaji KN, Liston A, Choudhary B, Raghavan SC. MicroRNA miR-29c regulates RAG1 expression and modulates V(D)J recombination during B cell development. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109390. [PMID: 34260911 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombination activating genes (RAGs), consisting of RAG1 and RAG2, are stringently regulated lymphoid-specific genes, which initiate V(D)J recombination in developing lymphocytes. We report the regulation of RAG1 through a microRNA (miRNA), miR-29c, in a B cell stage-specific manner in mice and humans. Various lines of experimentation, including CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, demonstrate the target specificity and direct interaction of miR-29c to RAG1. Modulation of miR-29c levels leads to change in V(D)J recombination efficiency in pre-B cells. The miR-29c expression is inversely proportional to RAG1 in a B cell developmental stage-specific manner, and miR-29c null mice exhibit a reduction in mature B cells. A negative correlation of miR-29c and RAG1 levels is also observed in leukemia patients, suggesting the potential use of miR-29c as a biomarker and a therapeutic target. Thus, our results reveal the role of miRNA in the regulation of RAG1 and its relevance in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupa Kumari
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Urbi Roy
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Sagar Desai
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore 560100, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India
| | - Namrata M Nilavar
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | | | - Amita Paranjape
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Gudapureddy Radha
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Pushpinder Bawa
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Mrinal Srivastava
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Mridula Nambiar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
| | | | - Adrian Liston
- Immunology Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Bibha Choudhary
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore 560100, India.
| | - Sathees C Raghavan
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
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16
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Kim C, Ye Z, Weyand CM, Goronzy JJ. miR-181a-regulated pathways in T-cell differentiation and aging. Immun Ageing 2021; 18:28. [PMID: 34130717 PMCID: PMC8203492 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-021-00240-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory noncoding RNAs important for many aspects of cellular processes including cell differentiation and proliferation. Functions of numerous miRNAs have been identified in T cells, with miR-181a regulating T cell activation thresholds during thymic T cell development and during activation of peripheral T cells. Intriguingly, miR-181a is implicated in defective antiviral and vaccine responses in older individuals, as its expression declines in naïve T cells with increasing age. Here, we review the pathways that are regulated by miR-181a and that explain the unique role of miR-181a in T cell development, T cell activation and antiviral T cell responses. These studies provide a framework for understanding how a decline in miR-181a expression in T cells could contribute to age-related defects in adaptive immunity. We furthermore review the mechanisms that cause the age-related decline in miR-181a expression and discuss the potential of restoring miR-181a expression or targeting miR-181a-regulated pathways to improve impaired T cell responses in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulwoo Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Zhongde Ye
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Cornelia M Weyand
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jörg J Goronzy
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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17
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miR-29 modulates CD40 signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by targeting TRAF4: an axis affected by BCR inhibitors. Blood 2021; 137:2481-2494. [PMID: 33171493 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling and T-cell interactions play a pivotal role in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis and disease aggressiveness. CLL cells can use microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets to modulate microenvironmental interactions in the lymph node niches. To identify miRNA expression changes in the CLL microenvironment, we performed complex profiling of short noncoding RNAs in this context by comparing CXCR4/CD5 intraclonal cell subpopulations (CXCR4dimCD5bright vs CXCR4brightCD5dim cells). This identified dozens of differentially expressed miRNAs, including several that have previously been shown to modulate BCR signaling (miR-155, miR-150, and miR-22) but also other candidates for a role in microenvironmental interactions. Notably, all 3 miR-29 family members (miR-29a, miR-29b, miR-29c) were consistently down-modulated in the immune niches, and lower miR-29(a/b/c) levels associated with an increased relative responsiveness of CLL cells to BCR ligation and significantly shorter overall survival of CLL patients. We identified tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) as a novel direct target of miR-29s and revealed that higher TRAF4 levels increase CLL responsiveness to CD40 activation and downstream nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. In CLL, BCR represses miR-29 expression via MYC, allowing for concurrent TRAF4 upregulation and stronger CD40-NF-κB signaling. This regulatory loop is disrupted by BCR inhibitors (bruton tyrosine kinase [BTK] inhibitor ibrutinib or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K] inhibitor idelalisib). In summary, we showed for the first time that a miRNA-dependent mechanism acts to activate CD40 signaling/T-cell interactions in a CLL microenvironment and described a novel miR-29-TRAF4-CD40 signaling axis modulated by BCR activity.
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18
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Weyerer V, Strissel PL, Stöhr C, Eckstein M, Wach S, Taubert H, Brandl L, Geppert CI, Wullich B, Cynis H, Beckmann MW, Seliger B, Hartmann A, Strick R. Endogenous Retroviral-K Envelope Is a Novel Tumor Antigen and Prognostic Indicator of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:657187. [PMID: 33968761 PMCID: PMC8100683 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.657187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the ten most common cancers for men and women with an approximate 75% overall 5-year survival. Sixteen histological tumor subtypes exist and the most common are papillary, chromophobe and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) representing 85% of all RCC. Although epigenetically silenced, endogenous retroviral (ERV) genes become activated in tumors and function to ignite immune responses. Research has intensified to understand ERV protein function and their role as tumor antigens and targets for cancer (immune) therapy. ERV-K env is overexpressed and implicated as a therapeutic target for breast cancer, however studies in RCC are limited. In this investigation a human RCC tissue microarray (TMA) (n=374) predominantly consisting of the most common histological tumor subtypes was hybridized with an ERV-K env antibody and correlated with patient clinical data. TMA results showed the highest amount of ERV-K env protein expression and the strongest significant membrane expression in ccRCC versus other RCC subtypes. High ERV-K env total protein expression of all tumor subtypes significantly correlated with low tumor grading and a longer disease specific survival using multivariable analyses. Cell proliferation and invasion were assayed using the kidney cell lines HEK293 with wild-type p53 and a ccRCC cell line MZ1257RC mutated for p53. Transfecting these cell lines with a codon optimized ERV-K113 env overexpressing CMV vector was performed with or without 5’-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine (Aza) treatment to sustain promoter de-methylation. MZ1257RC showed induction of ERV-K113 expression and significantly increased both proliferation and invasion in the presence or absence of Aza. HEK293 cells demonstrated a restriction of ERV-K113 env expression and invasion with no changes in proliferation in the absence of Aza. However, in the presence of Aza despite increased ERV-K113 env expression, an inhibition of HEK293 proliferation and a further restriction of invasion was found. This study supports ERV-K env as a single prognostic indicator for better survival of RCC, which we propose represents a new tumor antigen. In addition, ERV-K env significantly regulates proliferation and invasion depending on p53 status and Aza treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Weyerer
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pamela L Strissel
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center, European Metropolitan Area Erlangen-Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Adjunct Affiliation With Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Christine Stöhr
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sven Wach
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Helge Taubert
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lisa Brandl
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carol I Geppert
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wullich
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Holger Cynis
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center, European Metropolitan Area Erlangen-Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Reiner Strick
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center, European Metropolitan Area Erlangen-Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Translational Research Centre (TRC), Erlangen, Germany
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19
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Modeling the Dynamics of T-Cell Development in the Thymus. ENTROPY 2021; 23:e23040437. [PMID: 33918050 PMCID: PMC8069328 DOI: 10.3390/e23040437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The thymus hosts the development of a specific type of adaptive immune cells called T cells. T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response through recognition of antigen by the highly variable T-cell receptor (TCR). T-cell development is a tightly coordinated process comprising lineage commitment, somatic recombination of Tcr gene loci and selection for functional, but non-self-reactive TCRs, all interspersed with massive proliferation and cell death. Thus, the thymus produces a pool of T cells throughout life capable of responding to virtually any exogenous attack while preserving the body through self-tolerance. The thymus has been of considerable interest to both immunologists and theoretical biologists due to its multi-scale quantitative properties, bridging molecular binding, population dynamics and polyclonal repertoire specificity. Here, we review experimental strategies aimed at revealing quantitative and dynamic properties of T-cell development and how they have been implemented in mathematical modeling strategies that were reported to help understand the flexible dynamics of the highly dividing and dying thymic cell populations. Furthermore, we summarize the current challenges to estimating in vivo cellular dynamics and to reaching a next-generation multi-scale picture of T-cell development.
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20
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Lim CX, Lee B, Geiger O, Passegger C, Beitzinger M, Romberger J, Stracke A, Högenauer C, Stift A, Stoiber H, Poidinger M, Zebisch A, Meister G, Williams A, Flavell RA, Henao-Mejia J, Strobl H. miR-181a Modulation of ERK-MAPK Signaling Sustains DC-SIGN Expression and Limits Activation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells. Cell Rep 2021; 30:3793-3805.e5. [PMID: 32187550 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.02.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
DC-SIGN+ monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mo-DCs) play important roles in bacterial infections and inflammatory diseases, but the factors regulating their differentiation and proinflammatory status remain poorly defined. Here, we identify a microRNA, miR-181a, and a molecular mechanism that simultaneously regulate the acquisition of DC-SIGN expression and the activation state of DC-SIGN+ mo-DCs. Specifically, we show that miR-181a promotes DC-SIGN expression during terminal mo-DC differentiation and limits its sensitivity and responsiveness to TLR triggering and CD40 ligation. Mechanistically, miR-181a sustains ERK-MAPK signaling in mo-DCs, thereby enabling the maintenance of high levels of DC-SIGN and a high activation threshold. Low miR-181a levels during mo-DC differentiation, induced by inflammatory signals, do not support the high phospho-ERK signal transduction required for DC-SIGNhi mo-DCs and lead to development of proinflammatory DC-SIGNlo/- mo-DCs. Collectively, our study demonstrates that high DC-SIGN expression levels and a high activation threshold in mo-DCs are linked and simultaneously maintained by miR-181a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarice X Lim
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Chair of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; DK Inflammation & Immunity Program, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernett Lee
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), Biopolis, 138648 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Olivia Geiger
- Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Christina Passegger
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Chair of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Michaela Beitzinger
- Laboratory for RNA Biology, Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Johann Romberger
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Chair of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Anika Stracke
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Chair of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Christoph Högenauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Anton Stift
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Heribert Stoiber
- Division of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Poidinger
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), Biopolis, 138648 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Armin Zebisch
- Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Pharmacology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Gunter Meister
- Laboratory for RNA Biology, Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Adam Williams
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Richard A Flavell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jorge Henao-Mejia
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Herbert Strobl
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Chair of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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21
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Horkova V, Drobek A, Mueller D, Gubser C, Niederlova V, Wyss L, King CG, Zehn D, Stepanek O. Dynamics of the Coreceptor-LCK Interactions during T Cell Development Shape the Self-Reactivity of Peripheral CD4 and CD8 T Cells. Cell Rep 2021; 30:1504-1514.e7. [PMID: 32023465 PMCID: PMC7003063 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Overtly self-reactive T cells are removed during thymic selection. However, it has been recently established that T cell self-reactivity promotes protective immune responses. Apparently, the level of self-reactivity of mature T cells must be tightly balanced. Our mathematical model and experimental data show that the dynamic regulation of CD4- and CD8-LCK coupling establish the self-reactivity of the peripheral T cell pool. The stoichiometry of the interaction between CD8 and LCK, but not between CD4 and LCK, substantially increases upon T cell maturation. As a result, peripheral CD8+ T cells are more self-reactive than CD4+ T cells. The different levels of self-reactivity of mature CD8+ and CD4+ T cells likely reflect the unique roles of these subsets in immunity. These results indicate that the evolutionary selection pressure tuned the CD4-LCK and CD8-LCK stoichiometries, as they represent the unique parts of the proximal T cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway, which differ between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Coupling of CD8-LCK but not CD4-LCK increases upon T cell maturation Dynamics of coreceptor-LCK coupling stoichiometry establish T cell self-reactivity CD8+ T cells are more self-reactive than CD4+ T cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Horkova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Drobek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Mueller
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Celine Gubser
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Veronika Niederlova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lena Wyss
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center (BMC) Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Carolyn G King
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dietmar Zehn
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Ondrej Stepanek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
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22
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Ye Z, Gould TM, Zhang H, Jin J, Weyand CM, Goronzy JJ. The GSK3β-β-catenin-TCF1 pathway improves naive T cell activation in old adults by upregulating miR-181a. NPJ Aging Mech Dis 2021; 7:4. [PMID: 33558531 PMCID: PMC7870817 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-021-00056-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs play an important role in the regulation of T cell development, activation, and differentiation. One of the most abundant microRNAs in lymphocytes is miR-181a, which controls T cell receptor (TCR) activation thresholds in thymic selection as well as in peripheral T cell responses. We previously found that miR-181a levels decline in T cells in the elderly. In this study, we identified TCF1 as a transcriptional regulator of pri-miR-181a. A decline in TCF1 levels in old individuals accounted for the reduced miR-181a expression impairing TCR signaling. Inhibition of GSK3ß restored expression of miR-181a by inducing TCF1 in T cells from old adults. GSK3ß inhibition enhanced TCR signaling to increase downstream expression of activation markers and production of IL-2. The effect involved the upregulation of miR-181a and the inhibition of DUSP6 expression. Thus, inhibition of GSK3ß can restore responses of old T cells by inducing miR-181a expression through TCF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongde Ye
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA
| | - Timothy M Gould
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA
| | - Huimin Zhang
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA
| | - Jun Jin
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA
| | - Cornelia M Weyand
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA
| | - Jörg J Goronzy
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA.
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23
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Li B, Li W, Liu W, Xing J, Wu Y, Ma Y, Xu D, Li Y. Comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs related to thymic development and involution in goose. Genomics 2020; 113:1176-1188. [PMID: 33276006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Thymic involution is a sign of immunosenescence, but little is known about it in goose. miRNAs and lncRNAs are critical factors regulating organ growth and development. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs during the development and involution of the thymus in Magang goose. The results showed that 2436 genes, 16 miRNAs and 417 lncRNAs were differentially co-expressed between the developmental (20-embryo age, 3-day post-hatch and 3-month age) and degenerative (6-month age) stages. The functional analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in cell proliferation, cell adhesion, apoptotic signaling pathway, and Notch signaling pathway. In addition, we established a gene-gene network through the STRING database and identified 50 key genes. Finally, we constructed a miRNA-mRNA network followed by a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. These results suggest that lncRNAs and miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of thymic development and involution in goose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxin Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wanyan Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Jingjing Xing
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yingying Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yongjiang Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Danning Xu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China.
| | - Yugu Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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24
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Kunze-Schumacher H, Krueger A. The Role of MicroRNAs in Development and Function of Regulatory T Cells - Lessons for a Better Understanding of MicroRNA Biology. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2185. [PMID: 33013919 PMCID: PMC7509487 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical posttranscriptional regulators of the immune system, including function and development of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Although this critical role has been firmly demonstrated through genetic models, key mechanisms of miRNA function in vivo remain elusive. Here, we review the role of miRNAs in Treg cell development and function. In particular, we focus on the question what the study of miRNAs in this context reveals about miRNA biology in general, including context-dependent function and the role of individual targets vs. complex co-targeting networks. In addition, we highlight potential technical pitfalls and state-of-the-art approaches to improve the mechanistic understanding of miRNA biology in a physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Kunze-Schumacher
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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25
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MicroRNA miR-181-A Rheostat for TCR Signaling in Thymic Selection and Peripheral T-Cell Function. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176200. [PMID: 32867301 PMCID: PMC7503384 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The selection of T cells during intra-thymic d evelopment is crucial to obtain a functional and simultaneously not self-reactive peripheral T cell repertoire. However, selection is a complex process dependent on T cell receptor (TCR) thresholds that remain incompletely understood. In peripheral T cells, activation, clonal expansion, and contraction of the active T cell pool, as well as other processes depend on TCR signal strength. Members of the microRNA (miRNA) miR-181 family have been shown to be dynamically regulated during T cell development as well as dependent on the activation stage of T cells. Indeed, it has been shown that expression of miR-181a leads to the downregulation of multiple phosphatases, implicating miR-181a as ‘‘rheostat’’ of TCR signaling. Consistently, genetic models have revealed an essential role of miR-181a/b-1 for the generation of unconventional T cells as well as a function in tuning TCR sensitivity in peripheral T cells during aging. Here, we review these broad roles of miR-181 family members in T cell function via modulating TCR signal strength.
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26
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CD5 dynamically calibrates basal NF-κB signaling in T cells during thymic development and peripheral activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:14342-14353. [PMID: 32513716 PMCID: PMC7322041 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922525117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immature T cells undergo a process of positive selection in the thymus when their new T cell receptor (TCR) engages and signals in response to self-peptides. As the T cell matures, a slew of negative regulatory molecules, including the inhibitory surface glycoprotein CD5, are up-regulated in proportion to the strength of the self-peptide signal. Together these regulators dampen TCR-proximal signaling and help avoid any subsequent peripheral activation of T cells by self-peptides. Paradoxically, antigen-specific T cells initially expressing more CD5 (CD5hi) have been found to better persist as effector/memory cells after a peripheral challenge. The molecular mechanisms underlying such a duality in CD5 function is not clear. We found that CD5 alters the basal activity of the NF-κB signaling in resting peripheral T cells. When CD5 was conditionally ablated, T cells were unable to maintain higher expression of the cytoplasmic NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. Consistent with this, resting CD5hi T cells expressed more of the NF-κB p65 protein than CD5lo cells, without significant increases in transcript levels, in the absence of TCR signals. This posttranslationally stabilized cellular NF-κB depot potentially confers a survival advantage to CD5hi T cells over CD5lo ones. Taken together, these data suggest a two-step model whereby the strength of self-peptide-induced TCR signal lead to the up-regulation of CD5, which subsequently maintains a proportional reserve of NF-κB in peripheral T cells poised for responding to agonistic antigen-driven T cell activation.
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27
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Cron MA, Guillochon É, Kusner L, Le Panse R. Role of miRNAs in Normal and Myasthenia Gravis Thymus. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1074. [PMID: 32587589 PMCID: PMC7297979 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01074] [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: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus, a primary lymphoid organ, provides a complex environment essential for the generation of the T-cell repertoire. Thymic alterations occur during life either in the context of thymic involution upon aging or the pathophysiological context of Myasthenia Gravis (MG). These changes involve complicated regulatory networks, in which microRNAs (miRNAs) are key players. Here, we analyzed the role of miRNAs in thymocyte maturation and differentiation sustained by thymic epithelial cells. We compared data from the literature regarding the role of mouse thymic miRNAs and original data obtained from a human thymic miRnome study. We identified a set of highly expressed miRNAs defined as ThymiRs and investigated miRNA expression in infants as compared to adults to determine those associated with human thymic involution. Thymic changes are also frequently observed in MG, an autoimmune disease which results in the production of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies that lead to muscle weaknesses. Alterations such as thymoma in late-onset MG patients and hyperplasia with ectopic germinal centers (GCs) in early-onset (EOMG) patients are found. Thymic miRNA expression has been studied in AChR-MG patients both in thymoma-associated MG (TAMG) and EOMG, and their function through their mRNA targets investigated. Most of the dysregulated thymic miRNAs in EOMG are associated with GC development, such as miR-7, miR-24, miR-139, miR-143, miR-145, miR-146, miR-150, miR-452, miR-548 or thymic inflammation, such as miR-125b, miR-146, or miR-29. Understanding these pathways may provide therapeutic targets or biomarkers of disease manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie A Cron
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Association Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, Paris, France
| | - Émilie Guillochon
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Association Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, Paris, France
| | - Linda Kusner
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Association Institute of Myology, Center of Research in Myology, Paris, France
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28
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Matson CA, Singh NJ. Manipulating the TCR signaling network for cellular immunotherapy: Challenges & opportunities. Mol Immunol 2020; 123:64-73. [PMID: 32422416 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
T cells can help confer protective immunity by eliminating infections and tumors or drive immunopathology by damaging host cells. Both outcomes require a series of steps from the activation of naïve T cells to their clonal expansion, differentiation and migration to tissue sites. In addition to specific recognition of the antigen via the T cell receptor (TCR), multiple accessory signals from costimulatory molecules, cytokines and metabolites also influence each step along the progression of the T cell response. Current efforts to modify effector T cell function in many clinical contexts focus on the latter - which encompass antigen-independent and broad, contextual regulators. Not surprisingly, such approaches are often accompanied by adverse events, as they also affect T cells not relevant to the specific treatment. In contrast, fine tuning T cell responses by precisely targeting antigen-specific TCR signals has the potential to radically alter therapeutic strategies in a focused manner. Development of such approaches, however, requires a better understanding of functioning of the TCR and the biochemical signaling network coupled to it. In this article, we review some of the recent advances which highlight important roles of TCR signals throughout the activation and differentiation of T cells during an immune response. We discuss how, an appreciation of specific signaling modalities and variant ligands that influence the function of the TCR has the potential to influence design principles for the next generation of pharmacologic and cellular therapies, especially in the context of tumor immunotherapies involving adoptive cell transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A Matson
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W Baltimore St, HSF1, Room 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
| | - Nevil J Singh
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W Baltimore St, HSF1, Room 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.
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29
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Li W, Ma N, Yuwen T, Yu B, Zhou Y, Yao Y, Li Q, Chen X, Wan J, Zhang Y, Zhang W. Comprehensive analysis of circRNA expression profiles and circRNA-associated competing endogenous RNA networks in the development of mouse thymus. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:6340-6349. [PMID: 32307889 PMCID: PMC7294154 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus plays an irreplaceable role as a primary lymphoid organ. However, the complicate processes of its development and involution are incompletely understood. Accumulating evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs play key roles in the regulation of biological development. At present, the studies of the circRNA profiles and of circRNA-associated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in the thymus are still scarce. Here, deep-RNA sequencing was used to study the biological mechanisms underlying the development process (from 2-week-old to 6-week-old) and the recession process (from 6-week-old to 3-month-old) of the mouse thymus. It was found that 196 circRNAs, 233 miRNAs and 3807 mRNAs were significantly dysregulated. The circRNA-associated ceRNA networks were constructed in the mouse thymus, which were mainly involved in early embryonic development and the proliferation and division of T cells. Taken together, these results elucidated the regulatory roles of ceRNAs in the development and involution processes of the mouse thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Li
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nana Ma
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Yuwen
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Yufei Yao
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Qi Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Xiaofan Chen
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Wan
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.,Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for human reproductive medicine and Genetic Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.,Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
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30
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Liu J, Liu J, Xiao L, Wang Y, Liu G, Li J, Liang F. Identification of Differentially Expressed miRNAs in the Response of Spleen CD4 + T Cells to Electroacupuncture in Senescence-Accelerated Mice. Cell Biochem Biophys 2020; 78:89-100. [PMID: 32026263 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-020-00900-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Immunological aging impairs immune system protection in the body and is associated with high morbidity and mortality in aged people. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proven to boost immunity. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of EA on miRNA expression in the immune system of senescence-accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8) mice. We utilized SAMP8 mice as an aging model and detected the altered expression of miRNAs in CD4+ T cells after EA stimulation by deep sequencing. Differentially expressed miRNAs in different groups were identified using Venn diagrams and functional analysis was performed. The effect of EA on the expression of the identified miRNAs was investigated in natural-aged C57BL/6J mice and the biological functions of miR-301a-3p and miR-181a-1-3p in CD4+ T cells were identified. Four upregulated and two downregulated miRNAs were identified in group I (EA-SAMP8 vs. shEA-SAMP8); 41 upregulated and nine downregulated miRNAs were identified in group II (EA-SAMP8 vs. SAMP8); 42 upregulated and eight downregulated miRNAs were identified in group III (shEA-SAMP8 vs. SAMP8). The three groups shared four overlapping differentially expressed miRNAs, and 10 miRNAs were only found in group II. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of these 14 miRNAs revealed that their target genes were enriched in 229 "biological process" categories. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that the targets were significantly mapped in 76 pathways. Furthermore, five significant pathways were involved in T cell differentiation. MiRNA-gene-net showed that miR-582-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-144-3p, miR-451a, and miR-301a-3p regulated the most important target genes in these pathways. The expression of these miRNAs was also regulated by EA in aged C57BL/6J mice. In addition, miR-301a-3p was involved in regulating the expression of inflammatory factors by mediating the differentiation of CD4+ T cells in C57BL/6J mice. Analysis of miRNAs indicated that EA contributes to maintaining the balance of CD4+ T cell differentiation in the aging immune system. These results provide novel insights into the effect of EA in immunological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Liu
- College of Acu-moxibustion and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China. .,Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- College of Acu-moxibustion and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wuhan, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yawen Wang
- College of Acu-moxibustion and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangya Liu
- College of Acu-moxibustion and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Li
- College of Acu-moxibustion and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengxia Liang
- College of Acu-moxibustion and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wuhan, China
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31
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Amado T, Amorim A, Enguita FJ, Romero PV, Inácio D, de Miranda MP, Winter SJ, Simas JP, Krueger A, Schmolka N, Silva-Santos B, Gomes AQ. MicroRNA-181a regulates IFN-γ expression in effector CD8 + T cell differentiation. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:309-320. [PMID: 32002568 PMCID: PMC7007887 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-019-01865-y] [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: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are key players in immunity against intracellular infections and tumors. The main cytokine associated with these protective responses is interferon-γ (IFN-γ), whose production is known to be regulated at the transcriptional level during CD8+ T cell differentiation. Here we found that microRNAs constitute a posttranscriptional brake to IFN-γ expression by CD8+ T cells, since the genetic interference with the Dicer processing machinery resulted in the overproduction of IFN-γ by both thymic and peripheral CD8+ T cells. Using a gene reporter mouse for IFN-γ locus activity, we compared the microRNA repertoires associated with the presence or absence of IFN-γ expression. This allowed us to identify a set of candidates, including miR-181a and miR-451, which were functionally tested in overexpression experiments using synthetic mimics in peripheral CD8+ T cell cultures. We found that miR-181a limits IFN-γ production by suppressing the expression of the transcription factor Id2, which in turn promotes the Ifng expression program. Importantly, upon MuHV-4 challenge, miR-181a-deficient mice showed a more vigorous IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cell response and were able to control viral infection significantly more efficiently than control mice. These data collectively establish a novel role for miR-181a in regulating IFN-γ–mediated effector CD8+ T cell responses in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Amado
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Amorim
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Institute of experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francisco J Enguita
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paula V Romero
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniel Inácio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Pires de Miranda
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Samantha J Winter
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - J Pedro Simas
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nina Schmolka
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. .,Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Bruno Silva-Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Anita Q Gomes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. .,H&TRC Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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32
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Kim C, Jadhav RR, Gustafson CE, Smithey MJ, Hirsch AJ, Uhrlaub JL, Hildebrand WH, Nikolich-Žugich J, Weyand CM, Goronzy JJ. Defects in Antiviral T Cell Responses Inflicted by Aging-Associated miR-181a Deficiency. Cell Rep 2019; 29:2202-2216.e5. [PMID: 31747595 PMCID: PMC6957231 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of protective immunity to infections and vaccinations declines with age. Studies in healthy individuals have implicated reduced miR-181a expression in T cells as contributing to this defect. To understand the impact of miR-181a expression on antiviral responses, we examined LCMV infection in mice with miR-181ab1-deficient T cells. We found that miR-181a deficiency delays viral clearance, thereby biasing the immune response in favor of CD4 over CD8 T cells. Antigen-specific CD4 T cells in mice with miR-181a-deficient T cells expand more and have a broader TCR repertoire with preferential expansion of high-affinity T cells than in wild-type mice. Importantly, generation of antigen-specific miR-181a-deficient CD8 effector T cells is particularly impaired, resulting in lower frequencies of CD8 T cells in the liver even at time points when the infection has been cleared. Consistent with the mouse model, CD4 memory T cells in individuals infected with West Nile virus at older ages tend to be more frequent and of higher affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulwoo Kim
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA
| | - Rohit R Jadhav
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA
| | - Claire E Gustafson
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA
| | - Megan J Smithey
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Alec J Hirsch
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Jennifer L Uhrlaub
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - William H Hildebrand
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Janko Nikolich-Žugich
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Cornelia M Weyand
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA
| | - Jörg J Goronzy
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA.
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33
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Braicu C, Gulei D, Raduly L, Harangus A, Rusu A, Berindan-Neagoe I. Altered expression of miR-181 affects cell fate and targets drug resistance-related mechanisms. Mol Aspects Med 2019; 70:90-105. [PMID: 31703947 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2019.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding transcripts which regulate genetic and epigenetic events by interfering with mRNA translation. miRNAs are involved in regulation of cell fate due to their ability of interfering with physiological or pathological processes. In this review paper, we evaluate the role of miR-181 family members as prognostic or diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets in malignant pathologies in connection with the main hallmarks of cancer that are modulated by the family. Also, we take over the dual role of this family in dependency with the tumour suppressor and oncogenic features presented in cell and cancer type specific manner. Restoration of the altered expression levels contributes to the activation of cell death pathways or to a reduction in the invasion and migration mechanism; moreover, the mechanism of drug resistance is also modulated by miR-181 sequences with important applications in therapeutic strategies for malignant cells sensitisation. Overall, the main miR-181 family regulatory mechanisms are presented in a cancer specific context, emphasizing the possible clinical application of this family in terms of novel diagnosis and therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Braicu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Diana Gulei
- MedFuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lajos Raduly
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Antonia Harangus
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; "Leon Daniello" Pneumophtisiology Clinic, 6 Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu Street, 400332, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | | | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; MedFuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta", Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
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34
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Winter SJ, Krueger A. Development of Unconventional T Cells Controlled by MicroRNA. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2520. [PMID: 31708931 PMCID: PMC6820353 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional gene regulation through microRNA (miRNA) has emerged as a major control mechanism of multiple biological processes, including development and function of T cells. T cells are vital components of the immune system, with conventional T cells playing a central role in adaptive immunity and unconventional T cells having additional functions reminiscent of both innate and adaptive immunity, such as involvement in stress responses and tissue homeostasis. Unconventional T cells encompass cells expressing semi-invariant T cell receptors (TCRs), such as invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) and Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells. Additionally, some T cells with diverse TCR repertoires, including γδT cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and regulatory T (Treg) cells, share some functional and/or developmental features with their semi-invariant unconventional counterparts. Unconventional T cells are particularly sensitive to disruption of miRNA function, both globally and on the individual miRNA level. Here, we review the role of miRNA in the development and function of unconventional T cells from an iNKT-centric point of view. The function of single miRNAs can provide important insights into shared and individual pathways for the formation of different unconventional T cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Winter
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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35
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Zutshi S, Kumar S, Chauhan P, Bansode Y, Nair A, Roy S, Sarkar A, Saha B. Anti-Leishmanial Vaccines: Assumptions, Approaches, and Annulments. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7040156. [PMID: 31635276 PMCID: PMC6963565 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7040156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected protozoan parasitic disease that occurs in 88 countries but a vaccine is unavailable. Vaccination with live, killed, attenuated (physically or genetically) Leishmania have met with limited success, while peptide-, protein-, or DNA-based vaccines showed promise only in animal models. Here, we critically assess several technical issues in vaccination and expectation of a host-protective immune response. Several studies showed that antigen presentation during priming and triggering of the same cells in infected condition are not comparable. Altered proteolytic processing, antigen presentation, protease-susceptible sites, and intracellular expression of pathogenic proteins during Leishmania infection may vary dominant epitope selection, MHC-II/peptide affinity, and may deter the reactivation of desired antigen-specific T cells generated during priming. The robustness of the memory T cells and their functions remains a concern. Presentation of the antigens by Leishmania-infected macrophages to antigen-specific memory T cells may lead to change in the T cells' functional phenotype or anergy or apoptosis. Although cells may be activated, the peptides generated during infection may be different and cross-reactive to the priming peptides. Such altered peptide ligands may lead to suppression of otherwise active antigen-specific T cells. We critically assess these different immunological issues that led to the non-availability of a vaccine for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sunil Kumar
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Prashant Chauhan
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Yashwant Bansode
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Arathi Nair
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Somenath Roy
- Department of Human Physiology with Community Health, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore 721102, India.
| | - Arup Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar 751024, India.
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
- Department of Biotechnology, Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar 751024, India.
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36
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Chen WW, Wan B, Zhang R, Cao W, Liang L, Zhao YL, Chen J, Yue J. Genetic Polymorphisms of miR-149 Associated with Susceptibility to Both Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2019; 23:442-447. [PMID: 31219360 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2019.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within precursor microRNAs (miRNAs) can affect the expression of the miRNAs and may be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Aims: We investigated the potential associations among four precursor miRNA SNPs (miR-149 A>G, C>T; miR-196a2 C>T; miR-499 C>T) and both PTB and EPTB. Methods: The study included 380 PTB patients, 242 EPTB patients, and 606 healthy control (HC) subjects from a Chinese Han population. We determined the miRNA relative expression levels from 10 HCs and 10 tuberculosis (TB) patients by quantitative PCR. Results: We found that the PTB group had a significantly lower miR-149 level (p < 0.05) versus the HCs. The allele and genotype frequencies of the miR-149 SNPs were significantly different between the TB patients and the HC group. The C allele at the rs2292832 and the A allele at the rs71428439 locus were associated with susceptibility to EPTB. The C allele of rs2292832 was associated with an increased risk of EPTB compared with that of HCs (p < 0.01), and the A allele of rs71428439 was protective against EPTB (p < 0.01) and PTB (p < 0.01). Conclusions: We identified genetic polymorphisms in miR-149 that appear to be associated with susceptibility to both PTB and EPTB within a Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wei Chen
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Baoshan Wan
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ranran Zhang
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Wen Cao
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Li Liang
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Lin Zhao
- 2 National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jin Chen
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jun Yue
- 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
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37
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Honda T, Takemoto K, Ueda K. Identification of a Retroelement-Containing Human Transcript Induced in the Nucleus by Vaccination. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20122875. [PMID: 31200438 PMCID: PMC6627062 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20122875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroelements constitute almost half of the mammalian genome. Given that more than 60% of human genomic bases are transcribed, transcripts containing these retroelements may impact various biological processes. However, the physiological roles of most retroelement-containing transcripts are yet to be revealed. Here, we profiled the expression of retroelement-containing human transcripts during vaccination and found that vaccination upregulated transcripts containing only particular retroelements, such as the MLT-int element of endogenous retroviruses. MLT-int-containing transcripts were distributed mainly in the nucleus, suggesting their unique roles in the nucleus. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MLT-int RNA suppressed interferon promoter activity in the absence of immune stimuli. Based on these lines of evidence, we speculate a model of a role of the previously unnoticed MLT-int element in preventing excess innate immune activation after elimination of immune stimuli. Our results may emphasize the importance of retroelement-containing transcripts in maintaining host immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Honda
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Keiko Takemoto
- Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan.
| | - Keiji Ueda
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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38
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Deng Q, Luo Y, Chang C, Wu H, Ding Y, Xiao R. The Emerging Epigenetic Role of CD8+T Cells in Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review. Front Immunol 2019; 10:856. [PMID: 31057561 PMCID: PMC6482221 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are usually complex and multifactorial, characterized by aberrant production of autoreactive immune cells and/or autoantibodies against healthy cells and tissues. However, the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has not been clearly elucidated. The activation, differentiation, and development of CD8+ T cells can be affected by numerous inflammatory cytokines, transcription factors, and chemokines. In recent years, epigenetic modifications have been shown to play an important role in the fate of CD8+ T cells. The discovery of these modifications that contribute to the activation or suppression of CD8+ cells has been concurrent with the increasing evidence that CD8+ T cells play a role in autoimmunity. These relationships have been studied in various autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), type 1 diabetes (T1D), Grave's disease (GD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), aplastic anemia (AA), and vitiligo. In each of these diseases, genes that play a role in the proliferation or activation of CD8+ T cells have been found to be affected by epigenetic modifications. Various cytokines, transcription factors, and other regulatory molecules have been found to be differentially methylated in CD8+ T cells in autoimmune diseases. These genes are involved in T cell regulation, including interferons, interleukin (IL),tumor necrosis factor (TNF), as well as linker for activation of T cells (LAT), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA4), and adapter proteins. MiRNAs also play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases and several known miRNAs that are involved in these diseases have also been shown to play a role in CD8+ regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiancheng Deng
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yangyang Luo
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Dermatology, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Christopher Chang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Haijing Wu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Dermatology, Hainan Provincial Dermatology Disease Hospital, Haikou, China
| | - Rong Xiao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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39
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Maul J, Alterauge D, Baumjohann D. Micro
RNA
‐mediated regulation of T follicular helper and T follicular regulatory cell identity. Immunol Rev 2019; 288:97-111. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Maul
- Institute for ImmunologyBiomedical CenterLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Dominik Alterauge
- Institute for ImmunologyBiomedical CenterLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Dirk Baumjohann
- Institute for ImmunologyBiomedical CenterLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
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40
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Hu L, Mao L, Liu S, Zhao J, Chen C, Guo M, He Z, Yang J, Xu W, Xu L. Functional Role of MicroRNAs in Thymocyte Development. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2019; 178:315-322. [PMID: 30861526 DOI: 10.1159/000496093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding single-stranded RNAs widely distributed in eukaryotes, which can modulate target gene expression at posttranscriptional level and participate in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Related studies have shown that mi-RNAs are instrumental to many aspects of immunity, including various levels of T-cell immunity. In addition, multiple miRNAs have been ascribed key roles in T-cell development, differentiation, and function. In this review, we highlight the current literature regarding the functional role of miRNAs at various stages of thymocyte development. A better understanding of the relationship between miRNAs and thymocyte development is helpful for the exploration of the exact roles of miRNAs in the development and function of the immune system, as well as related clinical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Hu
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Ling Mao
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Shiming Liu
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Juanjuan Zhao
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Mengmeng Guo
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhixu He
- Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy of the Guizhou Province, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China, .,Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,
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41
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Łyszkiewicz M, Winter SJ, Witzlau K, Föhse L, Brownlie R, Puchałka J, Verheyden NA, Kunze-Schumacher H, Imelmann E, Blume J, Raha S, Sekiya T, Yoshimura A, Frueh JT, Ullrich E, Huehn J, Weiss S, Gutierrez MG, Prinz I, Zamoyska R, Ziętara N, Krueger A. miR-181a/b-1 controls thymic selection of Treg cells and tunes their suppressive capacity. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e2006716. [PMID: 30856173 PMCID: PMC6428341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The interdependence of selective cues during development of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the thymus and their suppressive function remains incompletely understood. Here, we analyzed this interdependence by taking advantage of highly dynamic changes in expression of microRNA 181 family members miR-181a-1 and miR-181b-1 (miR-181a/b-1) during late T-cell development with very high levels of expression during thymocyte selection, followed by massive down-regulation in the periphery. Loss of miR-181a/b-1 resulted in inefficient de novo generation of Treg cells in the thymus but simultaneously permitted homeostatic expansion in the periphery in the absence of competition. Modulation of T-cell receptor (TCR) signal strength in vivo indicated that miR-181a/b-1 controlled Treg-cell formation via establishing adequate signaling thresholds. Unexpectedly, miR-181a/b-1-deficient Treg cells displayed elevated suppressive capacity in vivo, in line with elevated levels of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated 4 (CTLA-4) protein, but not mRNA, in thymic and peripheral Treg cells. Therefore, we propose that intrathymic miR-181a/b-1 controls development of Treg cells and imposes a developmental legacy on their peripheral function.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Flow Cytometry
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/metabolism
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Thymocytes/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Łyszkiewicz
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Planegg-Martiensried, Germany
| | - Samantha J. Winter
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Katrin Witzlau
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lisa Föhse
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca Brownlie
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jacek Puchałka
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikita A. Verheyden
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Heike Kunze-Schumacher
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Esther Imelmann
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jonas Blume
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Solaiman Raha
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Takashi Sekiya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jochen T. Frueh
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jochen Huehn
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Siegfried Weiss
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Immo Prinz
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rose Zamoyska
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Ziętara
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Planegg-Martiensried, Germany
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
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42
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small RNA molecules that have selective gene-regulatory functions. This posttranscriptional regulation by miRNAs is critical for many immunological processes. Many developments in establishing the biological role of miRNAs in solid organ transplantation have been generated in the last decade. Discoveries of immune regulation by miRNAs, resulting in graft prolongation and transplant tolerance, are rapidly advancing and are the subject of this review. RECENT FINDINGS Many elegant experimental studies have revealed intriguing associations between transplant tolerance and specific miRNA profiles. These findings have provided insight into the miRNAs critical for sustaining immune suppression, and have revealed common miRNA pathways that should be further investigated and/or targeted therapeutically. Further reports have strategized and corroborated different methods of manipulating miRNA expression for prolonging allograft survival, yielding promising preclinical evidence of the efficacy of miRNA-based therapies. SUMMARY The review covers these recent developments in miRNA research that can revolutionize how we implement diagnostics and prognostics and how we can strategize transplantation therapies.
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43
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Abstract
After selection in the thymus, the post-thymic T cell compartments comprise heterogenous subsets of naive and memory T cells that make continuous T cell receptor (TCR) contact with self-ligands bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. T cell recognition of self-MHC ligands elicits covert TCR signaling and is particularly important for controlling survival of naive T cells. Such tonic TCR signaling is tightly controlled and maintains the cells in a quiescent state to avoid autoimmunity. Here, we review how naive and memory T cells are differentially tuned and wired for TCR sensitivity to self and foreign ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Ho Cho
- Academy of Immunology and Microbiology, Institute for Basic Science, Pohang, Korea.,Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
| | - Jonathan Sprent
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea.,Immunology Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
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44
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Kunze-Schumacher H, Winter SJ, Imelmann E, Krueger A. miRNA miR-21 Is Largely Dispensable for Intrathymic T-Cell Development. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2497. [PMID: 30455689 PMCID: PMC6230590 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of T cells in the thymus is tightly controlled to continually produce functional, but not autoreactive, T cells. miRNAs provide a layer of post-transcriptional gene regulation to this process, but the role of many individual miRNAs in T-cell development remains unclear. miR-21 is prominently expressed in immature thymocytes followed by a steep decline in more mature cells. We hypothesized that such a dynamic expression was indicative of a regulatory function in intrathymic T-cell development. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed T-cell development in miR-21-deficient mice at steady state and under competitive conditions in mixed bone-marrow chimeras. We complemented analysis of knock-out animals by employing over-expression in vivo. Finally, we assessed miR-21 function in negative selection in vivo as well as differentiation in co-cultures. Together, these experiments revealed that miR-21 is largely dispensable for physiologic T-cell development. Given that miR-21 has been implicated in regulation of cellular stress responses, we assessed a potential role of miR-21 in endogenous regeneration of the thymus after sublethal irradiation. Again, miR-21 was completely dispensable in this process. We concluded that, despite prominent and highly dynamic expression in thymocytes, miR-21 expression was not required for physiologic T-cell development or endogenous regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samantha J Winter
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Esther Imelmann
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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45
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Shinde P, Bharat V, Rodriguez-Oquendo A, Zhou B, Vella AT. Understanding how combinatorial targeting of TLRs and TNFR family costimulatory members promote enhanced T cell responses. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2018; 18:1073-1083. [PMID: 30169979 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1518422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Due to the ability of pathogen-associated molecular patters and tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family costimulatory agonists to boost T cell responses, studies have combined Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands with TNFR family costimulatory receptor agonists to induce impressive and long-lasting T cell responses. Although some studies have determined how these combinatorial vaccines promote enhanced T cell responses, much remains unknown about the mechanism used by these combinations to promote synergistic T cell responses - especially in settings of infectious diseases or cancer. AREAS COVERED In this review, we look in detail at the signaling pathways induced by combinatorial targeting of TLR and TNFR family costimulatory members that help them promote synergistic T cell responses. Understanding this can greatly aid the development of novel vaccine regimens that promote cellular immune responses, which is essential for treating certain infectious diseases and cancer. EXPERT OPINION Vaccines against some infectious diseases as well as therapeutic cancer vaccines require cellular immunity. Therefore, we evaluate here how signaling pathways induced by TLR ligand and costimulatory agonist combinations promote enhanced T cell responses during immunization with model antigens, viral pathogens, or tumor antigens. Once pathways that drive these combinatorial vaccines to boost T cell activation are identified, they can be incorporated in vaccines designed to target pathogens or cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paurvi Shinde
- a Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - Vinita Bharat
- b Department of Neurosurgery , Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford , CA , USA
| | | | - Beiyan Zhou
- d Department of Immunology, UConn School of Medicine , UConn Health , Farmington , CT , USA
| | - Anthony T Vella
- d Department of Immunology, UConn School of Medicine , UConn Health , Farmington , CT , USA
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46
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Guerder S, Hassel C, Carrier A. Thymus-specific serine protease, a protease that shapes the CD4 T cell repertoire. Immunogenetics 2018; 71:223-232. [PMID: 30225612 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-018-1078-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The lifespan of T cells is determined by continuous interactions of their T cell receptors (TCR) with self-peptide-MHC (self-pMHC) complexes presented by different subsets of antigen-presenting cells (APC). In the thymus, developing thymocytes are positively selected through recognition of self-pMHC presented by cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTEC). They are subsequently negatively selected by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) or thymic dendritic cells (DC) presenting self-pMHC complexes. In the periphery, the homeostasis of mature T cells is likewise controlled by the interaction of their TCR with self-pMHC complexes presented by lymph node stromal cells while they may be tolerized by DC presenting tissue-derived self-antigens. To perform these tasks, the different subsets of APC are equipped with distinct combination of antigen processing enzymes and consequently present specific repertoire of self-peptides. Here, we discuss one such antigen processing enzyme, the thymus-specific serine protease (TSSP), which is predominantly expressed by thymic stromal cells. In thymic DC and TEC, TSSP edits the repertoire of peptide presented by class II molecules and thus shapes the CD4 T cell repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Guerder
- INSERM, U1043, 31300, Toulouse, France. .,CNRS, UMR5282, 31300, Toulouse, France. .,Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31300, Toulouse, France. .,INSERM UMR1043, Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, CHU Purpan, BP 3028, 31024, Toulouse CEDEX 3, France.
| | - Chervin Hassel
- INSERM, U1043, 31300, Toulouse, France.,CNRS, UMR5282, 31300, Toulouse, France.,Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, 31300, Toulouse, France
| | - Alice Carrier
- Aix-Marseille University, Inserm, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
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47
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Giri BR, Mahato RI, Cheng G. Roles of microRNAs in T cell immunity: Implications for strategy development against infectious diseases. Med Res Rev 2018; 39:706-732. [PMID: 30272819 DOI: 10.1002/med.21539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
T cell immunity plays a vital role in pathogen infections. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded noncoding RNAs that regulate T cell immunity by targeting key transcriptional factors, signaling proteins, and cytokines associated with T cell activation, differentiation, and function. The dysregulation of miRNA expression in T cells may lead to specific immune responses and can provide new therapeutic opportunities against various infectious diseases. Here, we summarize recent studies that focus on the roles of miRNAs in T cell immunity and highlight miRNA functions in prevalent infectious diseases. Additionally, we also provide insights into the functions of extracellular vesicle miRNAs and attempt to delineate the mechanism of miRNA sorting into extracellular vesicles and their immunomodulatory functions. Moreover, methodologies and strategies for miRNA delivery against infectious diseases are summarized. Finally, potential strategies for miRNA-based therapies are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash R Giri
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ram I Mahato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Guofeng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
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48
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Xu M, Gan T, Ning H, Wang L. MicroRNA Functions in Thymic Biology: Thymic Development and Involution. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2063. [PMID: 30254640 PMCID: PMC6141719 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During the entire processes of thymus organogenesis, maturation, and involution, gene regulation occurs post-transcriptionally via recently discovered microRNA (miRNA) transcripts. Numerous reports indicate that miRNAs may be involved in the construction of a normal thymic microenvironment, which constitutes a critical component to support T lymphocyte development. MiRNAs are also expressed in thymic stromal cells including thymic epithelial cells (TECs) during maturation and senescence. This review focuses on the function of miRNAs in thymic development and involution. A better understanding of these processes will provide new insights into the regulatory network of TECs and further comprehension of how genes control TECs to maintain the thymic microenvironment during thymus development and aging, thus supporting a normal cellular immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwen Xu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Tao Gan
- Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Huiting Ning
- Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Liefeng Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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49
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Vahidi Z, Samadi M, Mahmoudi M, RezaieYazdi Z, Sahebari M, Tabasi N, Esmaeili SA, Sahebkar A, Rastin M. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ameliorate the expression of miR-155 and miR-181a in SLE patients. J Funct Foods 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2018.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
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50
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Pohar J, Simon Q, Fillatreau S. Antigen-Specificity in the Thymic Development and Peripheral Activity of CD4 +FOXP3 + T Regulatory Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1701. [PMID: 30083162 PMCID: PMC6064734 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Treg) are essential for the life of the organism, in particular because they protect the host against its own autoaggressive CD4+Foxp3- T lymphocytes (Tconv). Treg distinctively suppress autoaggressive immunity while permitting efficient defense against infectious diseases. This split effect indicates that Treg activity is controlled in an antigen-specific manner. This specificity is achieved first by the formation of the Treg repertoire during their development, and second by their activation in the periphery. This review presents novel information on the antigen-specificity of Treg development in the thymus, and Treg function in the periphery. These aspects have so far remained imprecisely understood due to the lack of knowledge of the actual antigens recognized by Treg during the different steps of their life, so that most previous studies have been performed using artificial antigens. However, recent studies identified some antigens mediating the positive selection of autoreactive Treg in the thymus, and the function of Treg in the periphery in autoimmune and allergic disorders. These investigations emphasized the remarkable specificity of Treg development and function. Indeed, the development of autoreactive Treg in the thymus was found to be mediated by single autoantigens, so that the absence of one antigen led to a dramatic loss of Treg reacting toward that antigen. The specificity of Treg development is important because the constitution of the Treg repertoire, and especially the presence of holes in this repertoire, was found to crucially influence human immunopathology. Indeed, it was found that the development of human immunopathology was permitted by the lack of Treg against the antigens driving the autoimmune or allergic T cell responses rather than by the impairment of Treg activation or function. The specificity of Treg suppression in the periphery is therefore intimately associated with the mechanisms shaping the formation of the Treg repertoire during their development. This novel information refines significantly our understanding of the antigen-specificity of Treg protective function, which is required to envision how these cells distinctively regulate unwanted immune responses as well as for the development of appropriate approaches to optimally harness them therapeutically in autoimmune, malignant, and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelka Pohar
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, INSERM U1151-CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Quentin Simon
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, INSERM U1151-CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France
| | - Simon Fillatreau
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, INSERM U1151-CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,AP-HP, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
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