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Ssedyabane F, Niyonzima N, Ngonzi J, Nambi Najjuma J, Mudondo H, Okeny C, Nuwashaba D, Tusubira D. FOXP3 serum concentration; a likely predictor of CIN and cervical cancer: Secondary analysis from a case control study at a clinic in South western Uganda. Gynecol Oncol Rep 2024; 55:101466. [PMID: 39156036 PMCID: PMC11328032 DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers including Forkhead/winged-helix transcription factor box P3 have been proposed in immunohistochemical techniques to diagnose cervical lesions, but can be objectively quantified and measured in blood using methods that can be standardised. In this study we quantified the serum FOXP3 concentrations and assessed their association with cervical lesions at the cervical cancer clinic of Mbarara Regional Hospital (MRRH) Southwestern Uganda. We performed secondary analysis on archived serum samples from a previous unmatched case control study in which we recruited 90 cervical cancer (CC) cases, 90 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) cases before any form of treatment and 90 controls. Clinical and demographic data were recorded. We measured FOXP3 concentrations using quantitative ELISA. We performed descriptive statistics and logistic regression in STATA 17 and took P-values of < 0.05 as statistically significant. The mean concentration of FOXP3 was higher in serum samples from CC cases compared with CIN cases and controls, and this difference was statistically significant (P value < 0.001). More than half (52/90,58 %) of serum samples from CC cases had FOXP3 concentrations greater than 0.0545 ng/ml (P value < 0.001). Increase serum FOXP3 expression was not associated with CIN. Increase in serum FOXP3 concentrations were observed to increase the chances of CC by 2 times (OR: 2.094, P value 0.038, 95 % CI: 1.042---4.209). Serum FOXP3 is likely associated with cervical lesions especially CC in our study population. Serum FOXP3 testing may be useful in resource limited settings to aid detection of such lesions given the challenges associated with cytology and VIA. We recommend diagnostic utility studies for circulating FOXP3 as a biomarker for detection of cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Ssedyabane
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Nixon Niyonzima
- Research and Training Directorate, Uganda Cancer Institute, P. O. Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Ngonzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | - Hope Mudondo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Christopher Okeny
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Doreen Nuwashaba
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Deusdedit Tusubira
- Department of Nursing, Mbarara University of Science of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
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Wang A, Wang Y, Liang R, Li B, Pan F. Improving regulatory T cell-based therapy: insights into post-translational modification regulation. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00252-2. [PMID: 39357622 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2024] [Revised: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are pivotal for maintaining immune homeostasis and play essential roles in various diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), tumors, and infectious diseases. Treg cells exert suppressive function via distinct mechanisms including inhibitory cytokines, granzyme or perforin-mediated cytolysis, metabolic disruption, and suppression of dendritic cells. Forkhead Box P3 (FOXP3), the characteristic transcription factor, is essential for Treg cell function and plasticity. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that FOXP3 activity and Treg cell function are modulated by a variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs), including ubiquitination, acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, glycosylation, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, and uncharacterized modifications. This review describes Treg cell suppressive mechanisms and summarizes the current evidence on PTM regulation of FOXP3 and Treg cell function. Understanding the regulatory role of PTMs in Treg cell plasticity and function will be helpful in designing therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases, GVHD, tumors, and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiting Wang
- Center for Cancer Immunology Research, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Yanwen Wang
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Rui Liang
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bin Li
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Fan Pan
- Center for Cancer Immunology Research, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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Huang M, Ke Z, Lyu MA, Masarova L, Sadeghi T, Flowers CR, Parmar S. CXCR4-enriched T regulatory cells preferentially home to bone marrow and resolve inflammation. iScience 2024; 27:110830. [PMID: 39314243 PMCID: PMC11418154 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110830] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
CXCR4 cell surface expression is critical for the homing of T regulatory (Treg) cells to the bone marrow (BM). We hypothesize that CXCR4 enrichment on Tregs cell surface may abbreviate their transit time to reach BM. Umbilical cord-blood CD25+ Tregs underwent CXCR4 dual enrichment and ex vivo expansion using the CRANE process to generate CXCR4-enriched Tregs (TregCXCR4) cells, which showed a faster migration across the Transwell membrane toward CXCL12/stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF1α) at 15, 30, and 60 min, when compared to unmanipulated Tregcontrol cells (p < 0.0001). TregCXCR4 exhibited preferential homing to BM in vivo at 12 and 24 h. Metacluster analysis of BM showed a decrease in CD8+ and an increase in CD39 and CD73 and CXCR5 when compared to Tregcontrol. TregCXCR4 decreased plasma TGF-β1/β2 and IFN-γ levels. When compared to control, TregCXCR4 cells decreased in CD8+ T cell, IFN-γ, and TNF-α expression in BM. We conclude that TregCXCR4 show enhanced migration toward CXCL12/SDF1α and a preferential homing to BM resulting in resolution of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixian Huang
- Department of Lymphoma/ Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zeng Ke
- Department of Lymphoma/ Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mi-Ae Lyu
- Department of Lymphoma/ Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lucia Masarova
- Department of Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Simrit Parmar
- Department of Lymphoma/ Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Vakrakou AG, Kourepini E, Skordos I, Nieto N, Panoutsakopoulou V, Paschalidis N. Osteopontin Regulates Treg Cell Stability and Function with Implications for Anti-Tumor Immunity and Autoimmunity. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2952. [PMID: 39272810 PMCID: PMC11393878 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16172952] [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: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Foxp3-expressing regulatory T (Treg) cells represent the most highly immunosuppressive cell in the tumor microenvironment (TME) that halts effective anti-tumor immunity. Osteopontin (Opn), an extracellular matrix (ECM) glycophosphoprotein, plays key roles in many types of immune-related diseases and is associated with cancer aggressiveness when expressed by tumor cells. However, its role in Foxp3Treg heterogeneity, function, and stability in the TME is poorly defined. We generated mice with a Foxp3-specific deletion of Opn and assessed the ability of Opn-deficient Tregs to suppress inflammation. As these mice aged, they developed a scurfy-like syndrome characterized by aberrant and excessive activation of effector T cells. We evaluated and further confirmed the reduced suppressive capacity of Opn-deficient Tregs in an in vivo suppression assay of colitis. We also found that mice with Opn-deficient Foxp3+ Tregs have enhanced anti-tumor immunity and reduced tumor burden, associated with an unstable Treg phenotype, paralleled by reduced Foxp3 expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Finally, we observed reduced Foxp3 and Helios expression in Opn-deficient Tregs compared to wild-type controls after in vitro activation. Our findings indicate that targeting Opn in Tregs reveals vigorous and effective ways of promoting Treg instability and dysfunction in the TME, facilitating anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aigli G Vakrakou
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, 21 Papadiamantopoulou, Ilisia, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Kourepini
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efessiou Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Skordos
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efessiou Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Natalia Nieto
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Vily Panoutsakopoulou
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efessiou Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Paschalidis
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efessiou Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Jheng MJ, Kita H. Control of Asthma and Allergy by Regulatory T Cells. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2024:1-15. [PMID: 39154634 DOI: 10.1159/000540407] [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: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial barriers, such as the lungs and skin, face the challenge of providing the tissues' physiological function and maintaining tolerance to the commensal microbiome and innocuous environmental factors while defending the host against infectious microbes. Asthma and allergic diseases can result from maladaptive immune responses, resulting in exaggerated and persistent type 2 immunity and tissue inflammation. SUMMARY Among the diverse populations of tissue immune cells, CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are central to controlling immune responses and inflammation and restoring tissue homeostasis. Humans and mice that are deficient in Treg cells experience extensive inflammation in their mucosal organs and skin. During past decades, major progress has been made toward understanding the immunobiology of Treg cells and the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control their differentiation and function. It is now clear that Treg cells are not a single cell type and that they demonstrate diversity and plasticity depending on their differentiation stages and tissue environment. They could also take on a proinflammatory phenotype in certain conditions. KEY MESSAGES Treg cells perform distinct functions, including the induction of immune tolerance, suppression of inflammation, and promotion of tissue repair. Subsets of Treg cells in mucosal tissues are regulated by their differentiation stage and tissue inflammatory milieu. Treg cell dysfunction likely plays roles in persistent immune responses and tissue inflammation in asthma and allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Jhen Jheng
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Hirohito Kita
- Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
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Seltrecht N, Hardtke-Wolenski M, Iordanidis K, Jonigk D, Galla M, Schambach A, Buitrago-Molina LE, Wedemeyer H, Noyan F, Jaeckel E. Graft-Specific Regulatory T Cells for Long-Lasting, Local Tolerance Induction. Cells 2024; 13:1216. [PMID: 39056797 PMCID: PMC11274814 DOI: 10.3390/cells13141216] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Solid organ transplantation is hindered by immune-mediated chronic graft dysfunction and the side effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for modulating immune responses post-transplantation; however, the transfer of polyspecific Tregs alone is insufficient to induce allotolerance in rodent models. METHODS To enhance the efficacy of adoptive Treg therapy, we investigated different immune interventions in the recipients. By utilizing an immunogenic skin transplant model and existing transplantation medicine reagents, we facilitated the clinical translation of our findings. Specifically, antigen-specific Tregs were used. RESULTS Our study demonstrated that combining the available induction therapies with drug-induced T-cell proliferation due to lymphopenia effectively increased the Treg/T effector ratios. This results in significant Treg accumulation within the graft, leading to long-term tolerance after the transfer of antigen-specific Tregs. Importantly, all the animals achieved operational tolerance, which boosted the presence of adoptively transferred Tregs within the graft. CONCLUSIONS This protocol offers a means to establish tolerance by utilizing antigen-specific Tregs. These results have promising implications for future trials involving adoptive Treg therapy in organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Seltrecht
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
| | - Matthias Hardtke-Wolenski
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Iordanidis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
| | - Danny Jonigk
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Melanie Galla
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Laura Elisa Buitrago-Molina
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
| | - Fatih Noyan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
| | - Elmar Jaeckel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany (L.E.B.-M.); (H.W.); (E.J.)
- Department of Liver Transplantation, Multi Organ Transplant Program, Toronto General Hospital, United Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
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7
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Wu S, Wang Y, Xiao Z, Zhang J, He Z, Ye M. FOXP3 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma : Implications for cetuximab sensitivity and therapeutic strategies. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2024; 136:331-339. [PMID: 37874348 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-023-02291-4] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigating the impact of FOXP3 (transcription factor forkhead box P3) expression on the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its influence on the sensitivity of ESCC cells towards cetuximab-targeted (an EGFR monoclonal antibody inhibitor) therapy. METHODS A specifically designed recombinant FOXP3 shRNA plasmid was synthesized to target the human FOXP3 gene, and the plasmid was transfected into TE12 cells using a liposome method. Multiple assays were conducted to evaluate the effect of FOXP3 expression on ESCC cells and their response to cetuximab treatment. Proliferation activity and cetuximab sensitivity of ESCC cells were measured using the CCK‑8 assay. The invasion ability of cells was assessed using an in vitro invasion assay. Furthermore, the efficacy of cetuximab in treating ESCC was analyzed using a tumorigenesis assay in nude mice. RESULTS Silencing the FOXP3 gene in the TE12 cell line (shFOXP3 group) resulted in a significant reduction in FOXP3 mRNA and protein expression (p = 0.013). The shFOXP3 group exhibited slowed cell growth (p = 0.035), decreased invasion rate (p = 0.031), and increased sensitivity to cetuximab treatment (p = 0.039) compared to the control group (shNC group). In the in vivo tumorigenesis assay, the shFOXP3 group demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume and lung metastasis rate following cetuximab treatment (p = 0.028 and 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION High FOXP3 expression promotes the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, while negatively affecting their sensitivity to cetuximab-targeted therapy. Consequently, targeting FOXP3 shows potential therapeutic implications for enhancing the effectiveness of cetuximab treatment in ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghong Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Xiao
- Department of Pharmacy, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhonghui He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Ye
- Department of Radiotherapy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.160 Pujian Road, 200127, Shanghai, China.
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Ambrogi M, Vezina CM. Roles of airway and intestinal epithelia in responding to pathogens and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1346087. [PMID: 38736751 PMCID: PMC11082347 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1346087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cells form a resilient barrier and orchestrate defensive and reparative mechanisms to maintain tissue stability. This review focuses on gut and airway epithelia, which are positioned where the body interfaces with the outside world. We review the many signaling pathways and mechanisms by which epithelial cells at the interface respond to invading pathogens to mount an innate immune response and initiate adaptive immunity and communicate with other cells, including resident microbiota, to heal damaged tissue and maintain homeostasis. We compare and contrast how airway and gut epithelial cells detect pathogens, release antimicrobial effectors, collaborate with macrophages, Tregs and epithelial stem cells to mount an immune response and orchestrate tissue repair. We also describe advanced research models for studying epithelial communication and behaviors during inflammation, tissue injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chad M. Vezina
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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9
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Nasa Y, Satake A, Tsuji R, Saito R, Tsubokura Y, Yoshimura H, Ito T. Concomitant use of interleukin-2 and tacrolimus suppresses follicular helper T cell proportion and exerts therapeutic effect against lupus nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus-like chronic graft versus host disease. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1326066. [PMID: 38665907 PMCID: PMC11043470 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1326066] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Defective interleukin-2 (IL-2) production contributes to immune system imbalance in patients with systemic erythematosus lupus (SLE). Recent clinical studies suggested that low-dose IL-2 treatment is beneficial for SLE and the therapeutic effect is associated with regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion. Pharmacological calcineurin inhibition induces a reduction in the number of Tregs because they require stimulation of T cell receptor signaling and IL-2 for optimal proliferation. However, the activation of T cell receptor signaling is partially dispensable for the expansion of Tregs, but not for that of conventional T cells if IL-2 is present. Aim We examined whether addition of IL-2 restores the Treg proportion even with concurrent use of a calcineurin inhibitor and if the follicular helper T cell (Tfh) proportion is reduced in an SLE-like murine chronic graft versus host disease model. Methods Using a parent-into-F1 model, we investigated the effect of IL-2 plus tacrolimus on Treg and Tfh proportions and the therapeutic effect. Results Treatment with a combination of IL-2 and tacrolimus significantly delayed the initiation of proteinuria and decreased the urinary protein concentration, whereas tacrolimus or IL-2 monotherapy did not significantly attenuate proteinuria. Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, a positive regulator of Tfh differentiation, was reduced by combination treatment, whereas phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, a negative regulator, was not reduced. Conclusion Addition of calcineurin inhibitors as adjunct agents may be beneficial for IL-2-based treatment of lupus nephritis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Atsushi Satake
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
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10
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Alvarez F, Liu Z, Bay A, Piccirillo CA. Deciphering the developmental trajectory of tissue-resident Foxp3 + regulatory T cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1331846. [PMID: 38605970 PMCID: PMC11007185 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1331846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Foxp3+ TREG cells have been at the focus of intense investigation for their recognized roles in preventing autoimmunity, facilitating tissue recuperation following injury, and orchestrating a tolerance to innocuous non-self-antigens. To perform these critical tasks, TREG cells undergo deep epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional changes that allow them to adapt to conditions found in tissues both at steady-state and during inflammation. The path leading TREG cells to express these tissue-specialized phenotypes begins during thymic development, and is further driven by epigenetic and transcriptional modifications following TCR engagement and polarizing signals in the periphery. However, this process is highly regulated and requires TREG cells to adopt strategies to avoid losing their regulatory program altogether. Here, we review the origins of tissue-resident TREG cells, from their thymic and peripheral development to the transcriptional regulators involved in their tissue residency program. In addition, we discuss the distinct signalling pathways that engage the inflammatory adaptation of tissue-resident TREG cells, and how they relate to their ability to recognize tissue and pathogen-derived danger signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Alvarez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Zhiyang Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandre Bay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ciriaco A. Piccirillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
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11
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Sarkar R, Shaaz M, Sehrawat S. Myeloid derived suppressor cells potentiate virus-specific memory CD8 + T cell response. Microbes Infect 2024; 26:105277. [PMID: 38103861 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105277] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
How therapeutically administered myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) modulate differentiation of virus-specific CD8+ T cell was investigated. In vitro generated MDSCs from bone marrow precursors inhibited the expansion of stimulated CD8+ T cells but the effector cells in the recipients of MDSCs showed preferential memory transition during Influenza A virus (IAV) or an α- (Herpes Simplex Virus) as well as a γ- (murine herpesvirus 68) herpesvirus infection. Memory CD8+ T cells thus generated constituted a heterogenous population with a large fraction showing effector memory (CD62LloCCR7-) phenotype. Such cells could be efficiently recalled in the rechallenged animals and controlled the secondary infection better. Memory potentiating effects of MDSCs occurred irrespective of the clonality of the responding CD8+ T cells as well as the nature of infecting viruses. Compared to the MDSCs recipients, effector cells of MDSCs recipients showed higher expression of molecules known to drive cellular survival (IL-7R, Bcl2) and memory formation (Tcf7, Id3, eomesodermin). Therapeutically administered MDSCs not only mitigated the tissue damaging response during a resolving IAV infection but also promoted the differentiation of functional memory CD8+ T cells. Therefore, MDSCs therapy could be useful in managing virus-induced immunopathological reactions without compromising immunological memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Sarkar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar Knowledge City PO Manauli, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Mohammad Shaaz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar Knowledge City PO Manauli, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Sharvan Sehrawat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar Knowledge City PO Manauli, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
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12
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Zhao X, Deng H, Feng Y, Wang Y, Yao X, Ma Y, Zhang L, Jie J, Yang P, Yang Y. Immune-cell-mediated tissue engineering strategies for peripheral nerve injury and regeneration. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:2217-2235. [PMID: 38345580 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02557h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
During the process of peripheral nerve repair, there are many complex pathological and physiological changes, including multi-cellular responses and various signaling molecules, and all these events establish a dynamic microenvironment for axon repair, regeneration, and target tissue/organ reinnervation. The immune system plays an indispensable role in the process of nerve repair and function recovery. An effective immune response not only involves innate-immune and adaptive-immune cells but also consists of chemokines and cytokines released by these immune cells. The elucidation of the orchestrated interplay of immune cells with nerve regeneration and functional restoration is meaningful for the exploration of therapeutic strategies. This review mainly enumerates the general immune cell response to peripheral nerve injury and focuses on their contributions to functional recovery. The tissue engineering-mediated strategies to regulate macrophages and T cells through physical and biochemical factors combined with scaffolds are discussed. The dynamic immune responses during peripheral nerve repair and immune-cell-mediated tissue engineering methods are presented, which provide a new insight and inspiration for immunomodulatory therapies in peripheral nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Hui Deng
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Yuan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Yuehan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaomin Yao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Yuyang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Luzhong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Jing Jie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Pengxiang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
| | - Yumin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu Province and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, P. R. China.
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13
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Liu J, Zhang B, Zhang G, Shang D. Reprogramming of regulatory T cells in inflammatory tumor microenvironment: can it become immunotherapy turning point? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345838. [PMID: 38449875 PMCID: PMC10915070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and identifying widely used immunosuppressants with minimal side effects are two major challenges currently hampering cancer immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are present in almost all cancer tissues and play an important role in preserving autoimmune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. The tumor inflammatory microenvironment causes the reprogramming of Tregs, resulting in the conversion of Tregs to immunosuppressive phenotypes. This process ultimately facilitates tumor immune escape or tumor progression. However, current systemic Treg depletion therapies may lead to severe autoimmune toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of Treg reprogramming and develop immunotherapies that selectively target Tregs within tumors. This article provides a comprehensive review of the potential mechanisms involved in Treg cell reprogramming and explores the application of Treg cell immunotherapy. The interference with reprogramming pathways has shown promise in reducing the number of tumor-associated Tregs or impairing their function during immunotherapy, thereby improving anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive Treg cell reprogramming could reveal new molecular targets for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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14
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Inoue M, Tsuji Y, Kashiwada A, Yokoyama A, Iwata A, Abe Y, Kamada H, Tsunoda SI. An immunocytokine consisting of a TNFR2 agonist and TNFR2 scFv enhances the expansion of regulatory T cells through TNFR2 clustering. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 697:149498. [PMID: 38262291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149498] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are lymphocytes that play a central role in peripheral immune tolerance. Tregs are promising targets for the prevention and suppression of autoimmune diseases, allergies, and graft-versus-host disease, and treatments aimed at regulating their functions are being developed. In this study, we created a new modality consisting of a protein molecule that suppressed excessive immune responses by effectively and preferentially expanding Tregs. Recent studies reported that tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (TNFR2) expressed on Tregs is involved in the proliferation and activation of Tregs. Therefore, we created a functional immunocytokine, named TNFR2-ICK-Ig, consisting of a fusion protein of an anti-TNFR2 single-chain Fv (scFv) and a TNFR2 agonist TNF-α mutant protein, as a new modality that strongly enhances TNFR2 signaling. The formation of agonist-receptor multimerization (TNFR2 cluster) is effective for the induction of a strong TNFR2 signal, similar to the TNFR2 signaling mechanism exhibited by membrane-bound TNF. TNFR2-ICK-Ig improved the TNFR2 signaling activity and promoted TNFR2 cluster formation compared to a TNFR2 agonist TNF-α mutant protein that did not have an immunocytokine structure. Furthermore, the Treg expansion efficiency was enhanced. TNFR2-ICK-Ig promotes its effects via scFv, which crosslinks receptors whereas the agonists transmit stimulatory signals. Therefore, this novel molecule expands Tregs via strong TNFR2 signaling by the formation of TNFR2 clustering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Inoue
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan; Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Yuta Tsuji
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Ayaka Kashiwada
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Asahi Yokoyama
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Akane Iwata
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Abe
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan; National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Kamada
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Tsunoda
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan; Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan.
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15
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Chambers CD, Song J, da Silva Antunes R, Sette A, Franco A. T Cell Responses in Pregnant Women Who Received mRNA-Based Vaccination to Prevent COVID-19 Revealed Unknown Exposure to the Natural Infection and Numerous SARS-CoV-2-Specific CD4- CD8- Double Negative T Cells and Regulatory T Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2031. [PMID: 38396707 PMCID: PMC10889590 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042031] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We studied T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in 19 pregnant subjects at different gestational weeks who received three doses of mRNA-based vaccination to prevent COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools were used for T-cell recognition studies: peptides were 15 amino acids long and had previously been defined in COVID-19-convalescent subjects. T-cell activation was evaluated with the AIM assay. Most subjects showed coordinated, spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses and the development of T cell memory. Non-spike-specific T cells in subjects who were not aware of previous COVID-19 infection suggested a prior undetected, asymptomatic infection. CD4- CD8- double negative (DN) T cells were numerous, of which a percentage was specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides. Regulatory T cells (Treg), both spike- and non-spike-specific, were also greatly expanded. Two Treg populations were defined: a population differentiated from naïve T cells, and pTreg, reverting from pro-inflammatory T cells. The Treg cells expressed CCR6, suggesting homing to the endometrium and vaginal epithelial cells. The pregnant women responded to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Asymptomatic COVID-19 was revealed by the T cell response to the non-spike peptides. The numerous DN T cells and Treg pointed our attention to new aspects of the adaptive immune response in vaccine recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina D. Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.D.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Jaeyoon Song
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.D.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Ricardo da Silva Antunes
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alessandra Franco
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.D.C.); (J.S.)
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16
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Lantz BJ, Moriwaki M, Oyebamiji OM, Guo Y, Gonzalez Bosc L. Chronic hypoxia disrupts T regulatory cell phenotype contributing to the emergence of exTreg-T H17 cells. Front Physiol 2024; 14:1304732. [PMID: 38347920 PMCID: PMC10859758 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1304732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The imbalance between pro-inflammatory T helper 17 (TH17) cells and anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been implicated in multiple inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, but the effects of chronic hypoxia (CH) on this balance have yet to be explored. CH-exposed mice have an increased prevalence of TH17 cells in the lungs with no change in Tregs. This imbalance is significant because it precedes the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH), and TH17 cells are a major contributor to CH-induced PH. While Tregs have been shown to attenuate or prevent the development of certain types of PH through activation and adoptive transfer experiments, why Tregs remain unable to prevent disease progression naturally, specifically in CH-induced PH, remains unclear. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis that increased TH17 cells observed following CH are caused by decreased circulating levels of Tregs and switching of Tregs to exTreg-TH17 cells, following CH. We compared gene expression profiles of Tregs from normoxia or 5-day CH splenocytes harvested from Foxp3tm9(EGFP/cre/ERT2)Ayr/J x Ai14-tdTomato mice, which allowed for Treg lineage tracing through the presence or absence of EGFP and/or tdTomato expression. We found Tregs in CH exposed mice contained gene profiles consistent with decreased suppressive ability. We determined cell prevalence and expression of CD25 and OX40, proteins critical for Treg function, in splenocytes from Foxp3tm9(EGFP/cre/ERT2)Ayr/J x Ai14-tdTomato mice under the same conditions. We found TH17 cells to be increased and Tregs to be decreased, following CH, with protein expression of CD25 and OX40 in Tregs matching the gene expression data. Finally, using the lineage tracing ability of this mouse model, we were able to demonstrate the emergence of exTreg-TH17 cells, following CH. These findings suggest that CH causes a decrease in Treg suppressive capacity, and exTregs respond to CH by transitioning to TH17 cells, both of which tilt the Treg-TH17 cell balance toward TH17 cells, creating a pro-inflammatory environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Lantz
- Gonzalez Bosc Laboratory, Health Sciences Center, Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Mika Moriwaki
- Gonzalez Bosc Laboratory, Health Sciences Center, Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Olufunmilola M. Oyebamiji
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Yan Guo
- Department of Public Health and Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Laura Gonzalez Bosc
- Gonzalez Bosc Laboratory, Health Sciences Center, Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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17
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Zhang J, Liu H, Chen Y, Liu H, Zhang S, Yin G, Xie Q. Augmenting regulatory T cells: new therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1312919. [PMID: 38322264 PMCID: PMC10844451 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1312919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune condition marked by inflammation of the joints, degradation of the articular cartilage, and bone resorption. Recent studies found the absolute and relative decreases in circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) in RA patients. Tregs are a unique type of cells exhibiting immunosuppressive functions, known for expressing the Foxp3 gene. They are instrumental in maintaining immunological tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. Increasing the absolute number and/or enhancing the function of Tregs are effective strategies for treating RA. This article reviews the studies on the mechanisms and targeted therapies related to Tregs in RA, with a view to provide better ideas for the treatment of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqian Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongjiang Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuehong Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengxiao Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Geng Yin
- Department of General Practice, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qibing Xie
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Christofi P, Pantazi C, Psatha N, Sakellari I, Yannaki E, Papadopoulou A. Promises and Pitfalls of Next-Generation Treg Adoptive Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5877. [PMID: 38136421 PMCID: PMC10742252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245877] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are fundamental to maintaining immune homeostasis by inhibiting immune responses to self-antigens and preventing the excessive activation of the immune system. Their functions extend beyond immune surveillance and subpopulations of tissue-resident Treg cells can also facilitate tissue repair and homeostasis. The unique ability to regulate aberrant immune responses has generated the concept of harnessing Tregs as a new cellular immunotherapy approach for reshaping undesired immune reactions in autoimmune diseases and allo-responses in transplantation to ultimately re-establish tolerance. However, a number of issues limit the broad clinical applicability of Treg adoptive immunotherapy, including the lack of antigen specificity, heterogeneity within the Treg population, poor persistence, functional Treg impairment in disease states, and in vivo plasticity that results in the loss of suppressive function. Although the early-phase clinical trials of Treg cell therapy have shown the feasibility and tolerability of the approach in several conditions, its efficacy has remained questionable. Leveraging the smart tools and platforms that have been successfully developed for primary T cell engineering in cancer, the field has now shifted towards "next-generation" adoptive Treg immunotherapy, where genetically modified Treg products with improved characteristics are being generated, as regards antigen specificity, function, persistence, and immunogenicity. Here, we review the state of the art on Treg adoptive immunotherapy and progress beyond it, while critically evaluating the hurdles and opportunities towards the materialization of Tregs as a living drug therapy for various inflammation states and the broad clinical translation of Treg therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiota Christofi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Pantazi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Psatha
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Sakellari
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7710, USA
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
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Zevallos VF, Yogev N, Hauptmann J, Nikolaev A, Pickert G, Heib V, Fittler N, Steven S, Luessi F, Neerukonda M, Janoschka C, Tobinski AM, Klotz L, Waisman A, Schuppan D. Dietary wheat amylase trypsin inhibitors exacerbate CNS inflammation in experimental multiple sclerosis. Gut 2023; 73:92-104. [PMID: 37595983 PMCID: PMC10715558 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Wheat has become a main staple globally. We studied the effect of defined pro-inflammatory dietary proteins, wheat amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATI), activating intestinal myeloid cells via toll-like receptor 4, in experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN EAE was induced in C57BL/6J mice on standardised dietary regimes with defined content of gluten/ATI. Mice received a gluten and ATI-free diet with defined carbohydrate and protein (casein/zein) content, supplemented with: (a) 25% of gluten and 0.75% ATI; (b) 25% gluten and 0.19% ATI or (c) 1.5% purified ATI. The effect of dietary ATI on clinical EAE severity, on intestinal, mesenteric lymph node, splenic and central nervous system (CNS) subsets of myeloid cells and lymphocytes was analysed. Activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with MS and healthy controls was compared. RESULTS Dietary ATI dose-dependently caused significantly higher EAE clinical scores compared with mice on other dietary regimes, including on gluten alone. This was mediated by increased numbers and activation of pro-inflammatory intestinal, lymph node, splenic and CNS myeloid cells and of CNS-infiltrating encephalitogenic T-lymphocytes. Expectedly, ATI activated peripheral blood monocytes from both patients with MS and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Dietary wheat ATI activate murine and human myeloid cells. The amount of ATI present in an average human wheat-based diet caused mild intestinal inflammation, which was propagated to extraintestinal sites, leading to exacerbation of CNS inflammation and worsening of clinical symptoms in EAE. These results support the importance of the gut-brain axis in inflammatory CNS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor F Zevallos
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Applied and Health Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK
| | - Nir Yogev
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Koln, Germany
| | - Judith Hauptmann
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alexei Nikolaev
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Geethanjali Pickert
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Valeska Heib
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nicola Fittler
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sebastian Steven
- Department of Cardiology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Felix Luessi
- Department of Neurology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manjusha Neerukonda
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Ann-Marie Tobinski
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Luisa Klotz
- Neurology Department, University Hospital Munster, Munster, Germany
| | - Ari Waisman
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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20
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Franco A, Song J, Chambers C, Sette A, Grifoni A. SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific regulatory T cells (Treg) expand and develop memory in vaccine recipients suggesting a role for immune regulation in preventing severe symptoms in COVID-19. Autoimmunity 2023; 56:2259133. [PMID: 37724524 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2023.2259133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
We enrolled healthy subjects that received 2 to 4 injections of mRNA-based vaccination to prevent COVID-19 months to a year from the last vaccine boost, and we found numerous SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific regulatory T cell (Treg) that developed T cell memory as effector memory T cells (TEM) and central memory T cells (TCM). CD4+ CD25high Treg expressed the chemokine receptor CCR6 in a considerable percentage, suggesting T cell homing to the vascular endothelium, lung and gut epithelial cells and brain. Treg phenotype was different than peripherally-induced Treg (pTreg) that revert from pro-inflammatory T cells under repeated stimulatory conditions, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific Treg differentiated from naïve T cells in tissues where the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins were synthetized. Twenty two of 22 subjects studied responded to vaccination developing a spike-specific CD4+ T helper (Th)1 response, and 20 of 22 developing a spike-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTL) response. However, in vaccine recipients the expansion of spike-specific pro-inflammatory T cells was less significant than the expansion of spike-specific Treg. Effector (TEM) and central memory (TCM) Treg were numerous as early as after two vaccine doses, with no significant differences following additional vaccine boosts. In co-culture experiments under stimulatory conditions, Treg regulated naïve T cell differentiation toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype and suppressed interferon (IFN)γ production by SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 + Th1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Franco
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jaeyoon Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christina Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alba Grifoni
- Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
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21
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Trujillo-Ochoa JL, Kazemian M, Afzali B. The role of transcription factors in shaping regulatory T cell identity. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:842-856. [PMID: 37336954 PMCID: PMC10893967 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00893-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead box protein 3-expressing (FOXP3+) regulatory T cells (Treg cells) suppress conventional T cells and are essential for immunological tolerance. FOXP3, the master transcription factor of Treg cells, controls the expression of multiples genes to guide Treg cell differentiation and function. However, only a small fraction (<10%) of Treg cell-associated genes are directly bound by FOXP3, and FOXP3 alone is insufficient to fully specify the Treg cell programme, indicating a role for other accessory transcription factors operating upstream, downstream and/or concurrently with FOXP3 to direct Treg cell specification and specialized functions. Indeed, the heterogeneity of Treg cells can be at least partially attributed to differential expression of transcription factors that fine-tune their trafficking, survival and functional properties, some of which are niche-specific. In this Review, we discuss the emerging roles of accessory transcription factors in controlling Treg cell identity. We specifically focus on members of the basic helix-loop-helix family (AHR), basic leucine zipper family (BACH2, NFIL3 and BATF), CUT homeobox family (SATB1), zinc-finger domain family (BLIMP1, Ikaros and BCL-11B) and interferon regulatory factor family (IRF4), as well as lineage-defining transcription factors (T-bet, GATA3, RORγt and BCL-6). Understanding the imprinting of Treg cell identity and specialized function will be key to unravelling basic mechanisms of autoimmunity and identifying novel targets for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge L Trujillo-Ochoa
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Majid Kazemian
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Behdad Afzali
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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22
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Kustrimovic N, Gallo D, Piantanida E, Bartalena L, Lai A, Zerbinati N, Tanda ML, Mortara L. Regulatory T Cells in the Pathogenesis of Graves' Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16432. [PMID: 38003622 PMCID: PMC10671795 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216432] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining a delicate balance between the prompt immune response to pathogens and tolerance towards self-antigens and commensals is crucial for health. T regulatory (Treg) cells are pivotal in preserving self-tolerance, serving as negative regulators of inflammation through the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-2 neutralization, and direct suppression of effector T cells. Graves' disease (GD) is a thyroid-specific autoimmune disorder primarily attributed to the breakdown of tolerance to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. Given the limitations of currently available GD treatments, identifying potential pathogenetic factors for pharmacological targeting is of paramount importance. Both functional impairment and frequency reduction of Tregs seem likely in GD pathogenesis. Genome-wide association studies in GD have identified polymorphisms of genes involved in Tregs' functions, such as CD25 (interleukin 2 receptor), and Forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3). Clinical studies have reported both functional impairment and a reduction in Treg frequency or suppressive actions in GD, although their precise involvement remains a subject of debate. This review begins with an overview of Treg phenotype and functions, subsequently delves into the pathophysiology of GD and into the existing literature concerning the role of Tregs and the balance between Tregs and T helper 17 cells in GD, and finally explores the ongoing studies on target therapies for GD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Kustrimovic
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease—CAAD, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Daniela Gallo
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, ASST dei Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy (M.L.T.)
| | - Eliana Piantanida
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, ASST dei Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy (M.L.T.)
| | - Luigi Bartalena
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, ASST dei Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy (M.L.T.)
| | - Adriana Lai
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, ASST dei Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy (M.L.T.)
| | - Nicola Zerbinati
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, ASST dei Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Tanda
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, ASST dei Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy (M.L.T.)
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Immunology and General Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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23
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Benamar M, Chen Q, Martinez-Blanco M, Chatila TA. Regulatory T cells in allergic inflammation. Semin Immunol 2023; 70:101847. [PMID: 37837939 PMCID: PMC10842049 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immune tolerance to allergens at the environmental interfaces in the airways, skin and gut, marshalling in the process distinct immune regulatory circuits operative in the respective tissues. Treg cells are coordinately mobilized with allergic effector mechanisms in the context of a tissue-protective allergic inflammatory response against parasites, toxins and potentially harmful allergens, serving to both limit the inflammation and promote local tissue repair. Allergic diseases are associated with subverted Treg cell responses whereby a chronic allergic inflammatory environment can skew Treg cells toward pathogenic phenotypes that both perpetuate and aggravate disease. Interruption of Treg cell subversion in chronic allergic inflammatory conditions may thus provide novel therapeutic strategies by re-establishing effective immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Benamar
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Martinez-Blanco
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Talal A Chatila
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Lead Contact, USA.
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24
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Wang X, Sun L, Yang B, Li W, Zhang C, Yang X, Sun Y, Shen X, Gao Y, Ju B, Gao Y, Liu D, Song J, Jia X, Su Y, Jiao A, Liu H, Zhang L, Lan He, Lei L, Chen W, Zhang B. Zfp335 establishes eTreg lineage and neonatal immune tolerance by targeting Hadha-mediated fatty acid oxidation. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e166628. [PMID: 37843279 PMCID: PMC10575732 DOI: 10.1172/jci166628] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are instrumental in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing destructive autoimmunity, but how heterogeneous Treg populations are established remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Zfp335 deletion in Tregs failed to differentiate into effector Tregs (eTregs) and lose Treg-suppressive function and that KO mice exhibited early-onset lethal autoimmune inflammation with unrestricted activation of conventional T cells. Single-cell RNA-Seq analyses revealed that Zfp335-deficient Tregs lacked a eTreg population and showed dramatic accumulation of a dysfunctional Treg subset. Mechanistically, Zfp335-deficient Tregs displayed reduced oxidative phosphorylation and dysfunctional mitochondrial activity. Further studies revealed that Zfp335 controlled eTreg differentiation by regulating fatty acid oxidation (FAO) through direct targeting of the FAO enzyme Hadha. Importantly, we demonstrate a positive correlation between ZNF335 and HADHA expression in human eTregs. Our findings reveal that Zfp335 controls FAO-driven eTreg differentiation to establish immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenhua Li
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Cangang Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Immune-Related Diseases, Xi’an, Shannxi, China
| | - Yae Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaonan Shen
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bomiao Ju
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yafeng Gao
- Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiapeng Song
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Jia
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanhong Su
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Anjun Jiao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lianjun Zhang
- Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Lan He
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - WanJun Chen
- Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Immune-Related Diseases, Xi’an, Shannxi, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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25
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Newman JRB, Long SA, Speake C, Greenbaum CJ, Cerosaletti K, Rich SS, Onengut-Gumuscu S, McIntyre LM, Buckner JH, Concannon P. Shifts in isoform usage underlie transcriptional differences in regulatory T cells in type 1 diabetes. Commun Biol 2023; 6:988. [PMID: 37758901 PMCID: PMC10533491 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05327-7] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified numerous loci with allelic associations to Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) risk. Most disease-associated variants are enriched in regulatory sequences active in lymphoid cell types, suggesting that lymphocyte gene expression is altered in T1D. Here we assay gene expression between T1D cases and healthy controls in two autoimmunity-relevant lymphocyte cell types, memory CD4+/CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and memory CD4+/CD25- T cells, using a splicing event-based approach to characterize tissue-specific transcriptomes. Limited differences in isoform usage between T1D cases and controls are observed in memory CD4+/CD25- T-cells. In Tregs, 402 genes demonstrate differences in isoform usage between cases and controls, particularly RNA recognition and splicing factor genes. Many of these genes are regulated by the variable inclusion of exons that can trigger nonsense mediated decay. Our results suggest that dysregulation of gene expression, through shifts in alternative splicing in Tregs, contributes to T1D pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R B Newman
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - S Alice Long
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Cate Speake
- Center for Interventional Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Carla J Greenbaum
- Center for Interventional Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Karen Cerosaletti
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Stephen S Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Suna Onengut-Gumuscu
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Lauren M McIntyre
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - Jane H Buckner
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Patrick Concannon
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA.
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA.
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26
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Swaminathan S, Scorza T, Yero A, Farnos O, Burke Schinkel SC, Angel JB, Jenabian MA. Impact of in vitro HIV infection on human thymic regulatory T cell differentiation. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1217801. [PMID: 37547675 PMCID: PMC10400333 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1217801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The differentiation and function of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) is dictated by the master transcription factor FoxP3. During HIV infection, there is an increase in Treg frequencies in the peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. This accentuates immune dysfunction and disease progression. Expression of FoxP3 by thymic Tregs (tTregs) is partially controlled by TGF-β. This cytokine also contributes to Treg development in the peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. Although TGF-β mediates lymphoid tissue fibrosis and peripheral Treg differentiation in HIV-infected individuals, its role in the induction and maintenance of Tregs within the thymus during HIV infection remains unclear. Methods Thymocytes were isolated from fresh human thymic tissues obtained from pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Infection by both R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 strains and TGF-β treatment of human thymocytes was performed in an in vitro co-culture model with OP9-DL1 cells expressing Notch ligand delta-like 1 without T cell receptor (TCR) activation. Results Despite high expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 by tTregs, FoxP3 + CD3highCD8- thymocytes were much less prone to in vitro infection with R5- and X4-tropic HIV strains compared to FoxP3-CD3highCD8- thymocytes. As expected, CD3highCD4+ thymocytes, when treated with TGF-β1, upregulated CD127 and this treatment resulted in increased FoxP3 expression and Treg differentiation, but did not affect the rate of HIV infection. FoxP3 expression and Treg frequencies remained unchanged following in vitro HIV infection alone or in combination with TGF-β1. Conclusion FoxP3 expression and tTreg differentiation is not affected by in vitro HIV infection alone or the combination of in vitro HIV infection and TGF-β treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharada Swaminathan
- Department of Biological Sciences and CERMO-FC Research Centre, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tatiana Scorza
- Department of Biological Sciences and CERMO-FC Research Centre, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexis Yero
- Department of Biological Sciences and CERMO-FC Research Centre, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Omar Farnos
- Department of Biological Sciences and CERMO-FC Research Centre, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan B. Angel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital-General Campus, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammad-Ali Jenabian
- Department of Biological Sciences and CERMO-FC Research Centre, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC, Canada
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27
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Henschel P, Landwehr-Kenzel S, Engels N, Schienke A, Kremer J, Riet T, Redel N, Iordanidis K, Saetzler V, John K, Heider M, Hardtke-Wolenski M, Wedemeyer H, Jaeckel E, Noyan F. Supraphysiological FOXP3 expression in human CAR-Tregs results in improved stability, efficacy, and safety of CAR-Treg products for clinical application. J Autoimmun 2023; 138:103057. [PMID: 37224732 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The forkhead family transcription factor (FOXP3) is an essential regulator for the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and orchestrates both suppressive function and Treg lineage identity. Stable expression of FOXP3 enables Tregs to maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. However, under pro-inflammatory conditions, FOXP3 expression in Tregs can become unstable, leading to loss of suppressive function and conversion into pathogenic T effector cells. Therefore, the success of adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) Tregs is highly dependent on the stability of FOXP3 expression to ensure the safety of the cell product. To warrant the stable expression of FOXP3 in CAR-Treg products, we have developed an HLA-A2-specific CAR vector that co-expresses FOXP3. The transduction of isolated human Tregs with the FOXP3-CAR led to an increase in the safety and efficacy of the CAR-Treg product. In a hostile microenvironment, under pro-inflammatory and IL-2-deficient conditions, FOXP3-CAR-Tregs showed a stable expression of FOXP3 compared to Control-CAR-Tregs. Furthermore, additional exogenous expression of FOXP3 did not induce phenotypic alterations and dysfunctions such as cell exhaustion, loss of functional Treg characteristics or abnormal cytokine secretion. In a humanized mouse model, FOXP3-CAR-Tregs displayed an excellent ability to prevent allograft rejection. Furthermore, FOXP3-CAR-Tregs revealed coherent Treg niche-filling capabilities. Overexpression of FOXP3 in CAR-Tregs has thereby the potential to increase the efficacy and reliability of cellular products, promoting their clinical use in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Henschel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sybille Landwehr-Kenzel
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Niklas Engels
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Schienke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jakob Kremer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Riet
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department I of Internal Medicine, Tumor Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nella Redel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Iordanidis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Valerie Saetzler
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katharina John
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Miriam Heider
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Matthias Hardtke-Wolenski
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Institute of Medical Microbiology, Essen University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elmar Jaeckel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Liver Transplantation, Multi Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Fatih Noyan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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28
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Zambrano MA, Alcaide P. Immune Cells in Cardiac Injury Repair and Remodeling. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:315-323. [PMID: 36961658 PMCID: PMC10852991 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01854-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Immune cells are emerging as central cellular components of the heart which communicate with cardiac resident cells during homeostasis, cardiac injury, and remodeling. These findings are contributing to the development and continuous expansion of the new field of cardio-immunology. We review the most recent literature on this topic and discuss ongoing and future efforts to advance this field forward. RECENT FINDINGS Cell-fate mapping, strategy depleting, and reconstituting immune cells in pre-clinical models of cardiac disease, combined with the investigation of the human heart at the single cell level, are contributing immensely to our understanding of the complex intercellular communication between immune and non-immune cells in the heart. While the acute immune response is necessary to initiate inflammation and tissue repair post injury, it becomes detrimental when sustained over time and contributes to adverse cardiac remodeling and pathology. Understanding the specific functions of immune cells in the context of the cardiac environment will provide new opportunities for immunomodulation to induce or tune down inflammation as needed in heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia Zambrano
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, M&V 701, 02111, Boston, MA, USA
- Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pilar Alcaide
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, M&V 701, 02111, Boston, MA, USA.
- Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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29
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review addresses recent progress in our understanding of the role of regulatory T (Treg) cells in enforcing immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis in the lung at steady state and in directing the immune response in asthmatic lung inflammation. RECENT FINDINGS Regulatory T cells regulate the innate and adaptive immune responses at steady state to enforce immune tolerance in lung tissues at steady state and their control of the allergic inflammatory responses induced by allergens. This regulatory function can break down in the context of chronic asthmatic airway inflammation such that the lung tissue Treg cells become skewed towards a pathogenic phenotype that aggravates and perpetuates disease. Subversion of lung tissue Treg cell function involves their upregulation of Notch4 expression, which in turn acts to amplify T helper type 2 and type 17 and innate lymphoid cell type 2 responses in the airways. SUMMARY A dual role for Treg cells has emerged both as immune regulators but also a potential disease effectors in asthma, with implications for disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Harb
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Germany
| | - Talal A Chatila
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Delgobo M, Weiß E, Ashour D, Richter L, Popiolkowski L, Arampatzi P, Stangl V, Arias-Loza P, Mariotti-Ferrandiz E, Rainer PP, Saliba AE, Ludewig B, Hofmann U, Frantz S, Campos Ramos G. Myocardial Milieu Favors Local Differentiation of Regulatory T Cells. Circ Res 2023; 132:565-582. [PMID: 36744467 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.322183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past years, several studies investigated how distinct immune cell subsets affects post-myocardial infarction repair. However, whether and how the tissue environment controls these local immune responses has remained poorly understood. We sought to investigate how antigen-specific T-helper cells differentiate under myocardial milieu's influence. METHODS We used a transgenic T cell receptor (TCR-M) model and major histocompatibility complex-II tetramers, both myosin-specific, combined with single-cell transcriptomics (single-cell RNA sequencing [scRNA-seq]) and functional phenotyping to elucidate how the antigen-specific CD4+ T cells differentiate in the murine infarcted myocardium and influence tissue repair. Additionally, we transferred proinflammatory versus regulatory predifferentiated TCR-M-cells to dissect how they specially contribute to post-myocardial infarction inflammation. RESULTS Flow cytometry and scRNA-/TCR-seq analyses revealed that transferred TCR-M cells acquired an induced regulatory phenotype (induced regulatory T cell) in the infarcted myocardium and blunted local inflammation. Myocardial TCR-M cells differentiated into 2 main lineages enriched with either cell activation and profibrotic transcripts (eg, Tgfb1) or suppressor immune checkpoints (eg, Pdcd1), which we also found in human myocardial tissue. These cells produced high levels of LAP (latency-associated peptide) and inhibited IL-17 (interleukin-17) responses. Endogenous myosin-specific T-helper cells, identified using genetically barcoded tetramers, also accumulated in infarcted hearts and exhibited a regulatory phenotype. Notably, TCR-M cells that were predifferentiated toward a regulatory phenotype in vitro maintained stable in vivo FOXP3 (Forkhead box P3) expression and anti-inflammatory activity whereas TH17 partially converted toward a regulatory phenotype in the injured myocardium. Overall, the myosin-specific Tregs dampened post-myocardial infarction inflammation, suppressed neighboring T cells, and were associated with improved cardiac function. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide novel evidence that the heart and its draining lymph nodes actively shape local immune responses by promoting the differentiation of antigen-specific Tregs poised with suppressive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murilo Delgobo
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Emil Weiß
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - DiyaaElDin Ashour
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Leon Richter
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Popiolkowski
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Verena Stangl
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria (V.S.)
| | - Paula Arias-Loza
- Department of Nuclear Medicine (P.A.-L.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Encarnita Mariotti-Ferrandiz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMRS959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3) lab, Paris France (E.M.-F.)
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) (E.M.-F.)
| | - Peter P Rainer
- Division of Cardiology at the Medical University of Graz, Austria (P.P.R.)
- BioTechMed Graz, Austria (P.P.R.)
| | - Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Würzburg, Germany (A.-E.S.)
| | - Burkhard Ludewig
- Institute of Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland (B.L.)
| | - Ulrich Hofmann
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Frantz
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gustavo Campos Ramos
- Department of Internal Medicine I (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (M.D., E.W., D.E.A., L.R., L.P., U.H., S.F., G.C.R.), University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
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Uddin MN, Mondal T, Yao Y, Manley K, Lawrence DA. Oxidative stress and neuroimmune proteins in a mouse model of autism. Cell Stress Chaperones 2023; 28:201-217. [PMID: 36795226 PMCID: PMC10050529 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-023-01331-2] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress including decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, elevated lipid peroxidation, and accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the blood from children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been reported. The mechanisms affecting the development of ASD remain unclear; however, toxic environmental exposures leading to oxidative stress have been proposed to play a significant role. The BTBRT+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) strain provides a model to investigate the markers of oxidation in a mouse strain exhibiting ASD-like behavioral phenotypes. In the present study, we investigated the level of oxidative stress and its effects on immune cell populations, specifically oxidative stress affecting surface thiols (R-SH), intracellular glutathione (iGSH), and expression of brain biomarkers that may contribute to the development of the ASD-like phenotypes that have been observed and reported in BTBR mice. Lower levels of cell surface R-SH were detected on multiple immune cell subpopulations from blood, spleens, and lymph nodes and for sera R-SH levels of BTBR mice compared to C57BL/6 J (B6) mice. The iGSH levels of immune cell populations were also lower in the BTBR mice. Elevated protein expression of GATA3, TGM2, AhR, EPHX2, TSLP, PTEN, IRE1α, GDF15, and metallothionein in BTBR mice is supportive of an increased level of oxidative stress in BTBR mice and may underpin the pro-inflammatory immune state that has been reported in the BTBR strain. Results of a decreased antioxidant system suggest an important oxidative stress role in the development of the BTBR ASD-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Nizam Uddin
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Center for Medical Science, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Tapan Mondal
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Center for Medical Science, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Yunyi Yao
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Center for Medical Science, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Kevin Manley
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Center for Medical Science, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - David A Lawrence
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Center for Medical Science, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA.
- University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
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32
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Simonetti M, Yilmazer A, Kretschmer K. Genetic Tools for Analyzing Foxp3 + Treg Cells: Fluorochrome-Based Transcriptional Reporters and Genetic Fate-Mapping. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2559:95-114. [PMID: 36180629 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2647-4_8] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The lack of unambiguous Foxp3+ Treg cell-specific surface markers has prompted the development of various transgenic mouse lines with Foxp3-dependent reporter activity, which involved different fluorochromes and transgenic strategies, including coexpression of multiple transgenes, such as Cre recombinase. Since then, Foxp3 transcriptional reporter has proven to be an indispensable tool to identify and isolate viable Foxp3+ Treg cell populations. However, the physiologic Treg cell pool is functionally heterogeneous and consists of intrathymically (tTreg) and peripherally (pTreg) induced Treg cells, which may confound interpretation of data relying on indiscriminatory Foxp3-fluorochrome reporter expressed in all Treg cells. In this chapter, we describe how the dual Foxp3RFP/GFP reporter can be exploited to discriminate both developmental sublineages based on tTreg cell lineage-specific GFP/Cre recombinase activity, in conjunction with Foxp3-driven RFP expression in all Foxp3+ Treg cells, and provide guidelines for experimental design and implementation. We also elaborate on the possibility to exploit GFP/Cre expression of Foxp3RFP/GFP reporter mice for the manipulation of gene expression (activation and inactivation), such as lineage tracing and in vivo ablation of tTreg cells, while sparing pTreg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Simonetti
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Acelya Yilmazer
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Karsten Kretschmer
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany.
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Kremer J, Henschel P, Simon D, Riet T, Falk C, Hardtke-Wolenski M, Wedemeyer H, Noyan F, Jaeckel E. Membrane-bound IL-2 improves the expansion, survival, and phenotype of CAR Tregs and confers resistance to calcineurin inhibitors. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1005582. [PMID: 36618378 PMCID: PMC9816406 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1005582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and the establishment of immune tolerance. Since Tregs do not secrete endogenous IL-2, they are especially dependent on external IL-2. IL-2 deficiency leads to lower Treg numbers, instability of the Treg phenotype and loss of immune regulation. After organ transplantation, patients are treated with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), which further limits available IL-2. Application of low-dose IL-2 expands Tregs but also activates NK and CD8+ T cells. It was recently shown that graft-specific Tregs recognizing mismatched MHC I molecules via a chimeric antigen receptor were far more potent than polyclonal Tregs in the regulation of immune responses after solid organ transplantation in a humanized mouse model. Methods Therefore, our aim was to enhance the function and stability of transferred CAR-Tregs via expression of membrane-associated IL-2 (mbIL-2). Results mbIL-2 promoted higher survival, phenotypic stability, and function among CAR-Tregs than observed in clinical trials. The cells were also more stable under inflammatory conditions. In a preclinical humanized mouse model, we demonstrated that mbIL-2 CAR Tregs survive better in the Treg niche than control CAR Tregs and are even resistant to CNI therapy without affecting other Tregs, thus acting mainly in cis. Discussion The functional and phenotypic improvements observed after membrane-attached IL-2 expression in CAR-Tregs will be important step for enhancing CAR-Treg therapies currently being tested in clinical trials for use after kidney and liver transplantation as well as in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Kremer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Pierre Henschel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Simon
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Riet
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Tumor Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne and Center for Molecular Medicine, Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christine Falk
- Institute of Transplant Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Matthias Hardtke-Wolenski
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Essen University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Fatih Noyan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elmar Jaeckel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of liver transplantation, Multi Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Ghobadinezhad F, Ebrahimi N, Mozaffari F, Moradi N, Beiranvand S, Pournazari M, Rezaei-Tazangi F, Khorram R, Afshinpour M, Robino RA, Aref AR, Ferreira LMR. The emerging role of regulatory cell-based therapy in autoimmune disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1075813. [PMID: 36591309 PMCID: PMC9795194 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1075813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune disease, caused by unwanted immune responses to self-antigens, affects millions of people each year and poses a great social and economic burden to individuals and communities. In the course of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and multiple sclerosis, disturbances in the balance between the immune response against harmful agents and tolerance towards self-antigens lead to an immune response against self-tissues. In recent years, various regulatory immune cells have been identified. Disruptions in the quality, quantity, and function of these cells have been implicated in autoimmune disease development. Therefore, targeting or engineering these cells is a promising therapeutic for different autoimmune diseases. Regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells, regulatory dendritic cells, myeloid suppressor cells, and some subsets of innate lymphoid cells are arising as important players among this class of cells. Here, we review the roles of each suppressive cell type in the immune system during homeostasis and in the development of autoimmunity. Moreover, we discuss the current and future therapeutic potential of each one of these cell types for autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farbod Ghobadinezhad
- Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran,Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN) Office, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Nasim Ebrahimi
- Division of Genetics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mozaffari
- Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Neda Moradi
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, University of Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sheida Beiranvand
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehran Pournazari
- Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Roya Khorram
- Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maral Afshinpour
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United States
| | - Rob A. Robino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States,Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States,Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States,Xsphera Biosciences, Boston, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Leonardo M. R. Ferreira, ; Amir Reza Aref,
| | - Leonardo M. R. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States,Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States,Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States,*Correspondence: Leonardo M. R. Ferreira, ; Amir Reza Aref,
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Zhang H, Tomar VS, Li J, Basavaraja R, Yan F, Gui J, McBrearty N, Costich TL, Beiting DP, Blanco MA, Conejo-Garcia JR, Saggu G, Berger A, Nefedova Y, Gabrilovich DI, Fuchs SY. Protection of Regulatory T Cells from Fragility and Inactivation in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancer Immunol Res 2022; 10:1490-1505. [PMID: 36255418 PMCID: PMC9722544 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Fragility of regulatory T (Treg) cells manifested by the loss of neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and expression of IFNγ undermines the immune suppressive functions of Treg cells and contributes to the success of immune therapies against cancers. Intratumoral Treg cells somehow avoid fragility; however, the mechanisms by which Treg cells are protected from fragility in the tumor microenvironment are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that the IFNAR1 chain of the type I IFN (IFN1) receptor was downregulated on intratumoral Treg cells. Downregulation of IFNAR1 mediated by p38α kinase protected Treg cells from fragility and maintained NRP1 levels, which were decreased in response to IFN1. Genetic or pharmacologic inactivation of p38α and stabilization of IFNAR1 in Treg cells induced fragility and inhibited their immune suppressive and protumorigenic activities. The inhibitor of sumoylation TAK981 (Subasumstat) upregulated IFNAR1, eliciting Treg fragility and inhibiting tumor growth in an IFNAR1-dependent manner. These findings describe a mechanism by which intratumoral Treg cells retain immunosuppressive activities and suggest therapeutic approaches for inducing Treg fragility and increasing the efficacy of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongru Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Vivek S. Tomar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman
School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Raghavendra Basavaraja
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Fangxue Yan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jun Gui
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Noreen McBrearty
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tara Lee Costich
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and
Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Daniel P. Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - M. Andres Blanco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jose R. Conejo-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and
Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Gurpanna Saggu
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Lexington, MA,
02421, USA
| | - Allison Berger
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Lexington, MA,
02421, USA
| | | | | | - Serge Y. Fuchs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Correspondence to: Serge Y.
Fuchs, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University
of Pennsylvania, 380 S. University Ave, Hill 316, Philadelphia, PA 19104; USA.
Tel: 1-215-573-6949;
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Skartsis N, Ferreira LMR, Tang Q. The dichotomous outcomes of TNFα signaling in CD4 + T cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1042622. [PMID: 36466853 PMCID: PMC9708889 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1042622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
TNFa blocking agents were the first-in-class biologic drugs used for the treatment of autoimmune disease. Paradoxically, however, exacerbation of autoimmunity was observed in some patients. TNFa is a pleiotropic cytokine that has both proinflammatory and regulatory effects on CD4+ T cells and can influence the adaptive immune response against autoantigens. Here, we critically appraise the literature and discuss the intricacies of TNFa signaling that may explain the controversial findings of previous studies. The pleiotropism of TNFa is based in part on the existence of two biologically active forms of TNFa, soluble and membrane-bound, with different affinities for two distinct TNF receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, leading to activation of diverse downstream molecular pathways involved in cell fate decisions and immune function. Distinct membrane expression patterns of TNF receptors by CD4+ T cell subsets and their preferential binding of distinct forms of TNFα produced by a diverse pool of cellular sources during different stages of an immune response are important determinants of the differential outcomes of TNFa-TNF receptor signaling. Targeted manipulation of TNFa-TNF receptor signaling on select CD4+ T cell subsets may offer specific therapeutic interventions to dampen inflammation while fortifying immune regulation for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Skartsis
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Mayo Clinic William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Leonardo M. R. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Gladstone University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Institute of Genome Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Santambrogio L, Franco A. The yin/yang balance of the MHC-self -immunopeptidome. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1035363. [PMID: 36405763 PMCID: PMC9666884 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1035363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The MHC-self immunopeptidome of professional antigen presenting cells is a cognate ligand for the TCRs expressed on both conventional and thymic-derived natural regulatory T cells. In regulatory T cells, the TCR signaling associated with MHC-peptide recognition induces antigen specific as well as bystander immunosuppression. On the other hand, TCR activation of conventional T cells is associated with protective immunity. As such the peripheral T cell repertoire is populated by a number of T cells with different phenotypes and different TCRs, which can recognize the same MHC-self-peptide complex, resulting in opposite immunological outcomes. This article summarizes what is known about regulatory and conventional T cell recognition of the MHC-self-immunopeptidome at steady state and in inflammatory conditions associated with increased T and B cell self-reactivity, discussing how changes in the MHC-ligandome including epitope copy number and post-translational modifications can tilt the balance toward the expansion of pro-inflammatory or regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Santambrogio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Physiology and Biophysics, Englander Institute of Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alessandra Franco
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, La Jolla, CA, United States
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38
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Palomares O, Elewaut D, Irving PM, Jaumont X, Tassinari P. Regulatory T cells and immunoglobulin E: A new therapeutic link for autoimmunity? Allergy 2022; 77:3293-3308. [PMID: 35852798 DOI: 10.1111/all.15449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases have a prevalence of approximately 7 to 9% and are classified as either organ-specific diseases, including type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and myasthenia gravis, or systemic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome. While many advancements have been made in understanding of the mechanisms of autoimmune disease, including the nature of self-tolerance and its breakdown, there remain unmet needs in terms of effective and highly targeted treatments. T regulatory cells (Tregs) are key mediators of peripheral tolerance and are implicated in many autoimmune diseases, either as a result of reduced numbers or altered function. Tregs may be broadly divided into those generated in the thymus (tTregs) and those generated in the periphery (pTregs). Tregs target many different immune cell subsets and tissues to suppress excessive inflammation and to support tissue repair and homeostasis: there is a fine balance between Treg cell stability and the plasticity that is required to adjust Tregs' regulatory purposes to particular immune responses. The central role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in allergic disease is well recognized, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that this immunoglobulin also has a wider role encompassing other diseases including autoimmune disease. Anti-IgE treatment restores the capacity of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) impaired by IgE- high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεR1) cross-linking to induce Tregs in vitro in atopic patients. The finding that anti-IgE therapy restores Treg cell homeostasis, and that this mechanism is associated with clinical improvement in asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria suggests that anti-IgE therapy may also have a potential role in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in which Tregs are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dirk Elewaut
- Department of Rheumatology, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter M Irving
- Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust, London, UK
- King's College London, London, UK
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Abstract
Inflammation is a biological process that dynamically alters the surrounding microenvironment, including participating immune cells. As a well-protected organ surrounded by specialized barriers and with immune privilege properties, the central nervous system (CNS) tightly regulates immune responses. Yet in neuroinflammatory conditions, pathogenic immunity can disrupt CNS structure and function. T cells in particular play a key role in promoting and restricting neuroinflammatory responses, while the inflamed CNS microenvironment can influence and reshape T cell function and identity. Still, the contraction of aberrant T cell responses within the CNS is not well understood. Using autoimmunity as a model, here we address the contribution of CD4 T helper (Th) cell subsets in promoting neuropathology and disease. To address the mechanisms antagonizing neuroinflammation, we focus on the control of the immune response by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and describe the counteracting processes that preserve their identity under inflammatory challenges. Finally, given the influence of the local microenvironment on immune regulation, we address how CNS-intrinsic signals reshape T cell function to mitigate abnormal immune T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nail Benallegue
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Hania Kebir
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Jorge I. Alvarez
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Abstract
The identification and characterization of tumor antigens are central objectives in developing anti-cancer immunotherapy. Traditionally, tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are considered relatively restricted to tumor cells (i.e., overexpressed proteins in tumor cells), whereas tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) are considered unique to tumor cells. Recent studies have focused on identifying patient-specific neoantigens, which might be highly immunogenic because they are not expressed in normal tissues. The opposite strategy has emerged with the discovery of anti-regulatory T cells (anti-Tregs) that recognize and attack many cell types in the tumor microenvironment, such as regulatory immune cells, in addition to tumor cells. The term proposed in this review is "tumor microenvironment antigens" (TMAs) to describe the antigens that draw this attack. As therapeutic targets, TMAs offer several advantages that differentiate them from more traditional tumor antigens. Targeting TMAs leads not only to a direct attack on tumor cells but also to modulation of the tumor microenvironment, rendering it immunocompetent and tumor-hostile. Of note, in contrast to TAAs and TSAs, TMAs also are expressed in non-transformed cells with consistent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression. Inflammation often induces HLA expression in malignant cells, so that targeting TMAs could additionally affect tumors with no or very low levels of surface HLA expression. This review defines the characteristics, differences, and advantages of TMAs compared with traditional tumor antigens and discusses the use of these antigens in immune modulatory vaccines as an attractive approach to immunotherapy. Different TMAs are expressed by different cells and could be combined in anti-cancer immunotherapies to attack tumor cells directly and modulate local immune cells to create a tumor-hostile microenvironment and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Immune modulatory vaccines offer an approach for combinatorial therapy with additional immunotherapy including checkpoint blockade, cellular therapy, or traditional cancer vaccines. These combinations would increase the number of patients who can benefit from such therapeutic measures, which all have optimal efficiency in inflamed tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Hald Andersen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 25C, 5th floor, DK-2730, Herlev, Denmark.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Hesse L, Oude Elberink J, van Oosterhout AJ, Nawijn MC. Allergen immunotherapy for allergic airway diseases: Use lessons from the past to design a brighter future. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108115. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Hurrell BP, Helou DG, Howard E, Painter JD, Shafiei-Jahani P, Sharpe AH, Akbari O. PD-L2 controls peripherally induced regulatory T cells by maintaining metabolic activity and Foxp3 stability. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5118. [PMID: 36045140 PMCID: PMC9433378 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32899-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are central to limit immune responses to allergens. Here we show that PD-L2 deficiency prevents the induction of tolerance to ovalbumin and control of airway hyperreactivity, in particular by limiting pTreg numbers and function. In vitro, PD-1/PD-L2 interactions increase iTreg numbers and stability. In mice lacking PD-L2 we find lower numbers of splenic pTregs at steady state, producing less IL-10 upon activation and with reduced suppressive activity. Remarkably, the numbers of splenic pTregs are restored by adoptively transferring PD-L2high dendritic cells to PD-L2KO mice. Functionally, activated pTregs lacking PD-L2 show lower Foxp3 expression, higher methylation of the Treg-Specific Demethylation Region (TSDR) and a decreased Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) cycle associated with a defect in mitochondrial function and ATP production. Consequently, pyruvate treatment of PD-L2KO mice partially restores IL-10 production and airway tolerance. Together, our study highlights the importance of the PD-1/PD-L2 axis in the control of metabolic pathways regulating pTreg Foxp3 stability and suppressive functions, opening up avenues to further improve mucosal immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin P Hurrell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Doumet Georges Helou
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Howard
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jacob D Painter
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pedram Shafiei-Jahani
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Omid Akbari
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Bahabayi A, Zeng X, Tuerhanbayi B, Zhang Y, Hasimu A, Guo S, Liu T, Zheng M, Alimu X, Liu C. Changes in circulating TCF1- and GARP-associated regulatory T cell subsets reflect the clinical status of patients with chronic HBV infection. Med Microbiol Immunol 2022; 211:237-247. [PMID: 35953613 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-022-00748-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the expression changes and clinical significance of regulatory T (Treg) cells and follicular regulatory T (TFR) cell subsets divided by glycoprotein A repetitions predominant protein (GARP) and T cell factor 1(TCF1) in peripheral blood of patients with chronic HBV infection. The peripheral blood of 26 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 27 inactive HBsAg carriers and 32 healthy controls were collected and GARP + percentages in Treg and TFR cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, Treg and TFR cell subsets sorted by CD62L and TCF1 were analyzed and compared. Correlation analyses were performed between Treg and TFR cell subpopulations and clinical parameters as well as cytokine concentrations, including IL-21, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in plasma. Circulating Treg and TFR levels were elevated in CHB patients. Moreover, GARP and TCF1 were up-regulated in circulating Treg and TFR cells of CHB patients. TCF1 + CD62L- Treg cells were increased while TCF1-CD62L + Treg cells were decreased in CHB patients. TCF1 + CD62L- and TCF1-CD62L- TFR cells were increased while TCF1 + CD62L + TFR cells were decreased in CHB patients. TCF1 + CD62L- Treg cells were positively correlated with HBV DNA, ALT and plasma IL-10, while TCF1 + CD62L + TFR cells were negatively correlated with HBV DNA, HBeAg, HBsAg, ALT, AST, T-BIL and positively correlated with plasma IL-21. Treg and TFR subsets sorted by TCF1, CD62L and GARP were changed in CHB patients. Changes in Treg and TFR functional subsets are associated with antiviral immunity in CHB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayibaota Bahabayi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Xingyue Zeng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Bulidierxin Tuerhanbayi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Ainizati Hasimu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Siyu Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Tianci Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Mohan Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiayidan Alimu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University People's Hospital, 11# Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China.
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Effect of Intervention of Probiotics in Advance on Treg/Th17 in Premature Mice. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:6131069. [PMID: 35941976 PMCID: PMC9356875 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6131069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To preliminarily understand the differentiation characteristics of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 at a different time in preterm mice, the impacts of probiotics on immune function progression, as well as the correlation of probiotics with Tregs and Th17. On embryonic day 18 of gestation, a mouse model of preterm birth was built using mifepristone (RU486). Following IPI of RU486, newborn mice were randomized to probiotics or NS gavage administration. Full-term newborn mice were given the same dose of NS gavage administration. Phenotypic analysis of peripheral immune cell frequency was performed using flow cytometry. Cytokine measurements were phenotyped by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. On the 14th and 21st days after birth, the highest and lowest expressions of Foxp3, the Treg transcription factor, were observed in full-term mice and premature mice by NS gavage administration, respectively, while the opposite trend was found in the Th17 transcription factor IL-17.IL-2, IL-6, and TGF-β rose with age but showed different trends among the three groups. IL-2 is the highest in full-term mice and the lowest in premature mice. IL-6 and TGF-β is the lowest in full-term mice and the highest in premature mice. Probiotics are beneficial to the development and maturation of the immune system, which may play a role in regulating the ratio of Treg/Th17. Probiotic preintervention can effectively promote the differentiation of Treg and inhibit the differentiation of Th17 in premature mice. Its mechanism of action may play a biological role by regulating cytokine (IL-2, IL-6, and TGF-β) secretions.
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Rao J, Li S, Wang Q, Cheng Q, Ji Y, Fu W, Huang H, Shi L, Wu X. Comparison of Peripheral Blood Regulatory T Cells and Functional Subsets Between Ocular and Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:851808. [PMID: 35755064 PMCID: PMC9218215 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.851808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to discuss the function mechanism of regulatory T cells and its subsets in the pathogenic process of myasthenia gravis by contracting the activation levels of those cells in peripheral blood among healthy people, patients with ocular myasthenia gravis (oMG) and patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Method Healthy people, newly diagnosed oMG patients, and gMG patients were enrolled in this study. The percentage of the CD3+CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells, CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3hi CD45RA–aTreg cells, CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3loCD45RA–n-sTreg cells, and CD3+CD4+CD25+ Foxp3loCD45RA+rTreg cells in the peripheral blood were examined by flow cytometry. And then analyzed the differences of Treg cells and its subsets among the study members. Results The percentage of the CD4+CD25+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of oMG patients and gMG patients were both lower than that of healthy people (p < 0.05), the percentage of patients with oMG had no distinct difference with that of patients with gMG (p = 0.475), however. Also, the percentage of CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the oMG and gMG patients’ group were both lower than that of healthy group. And the percentage of CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with oMG and healthy people were both higher than that of patients with gMG (p < 0.05). The percentage of rTreg in the CD3+CD4+CD25+Treg of the peripheral blood for both gMG and oMG patients’ group were lower than healthy group (p < 0.05), but there was no statistical significance between the oMG and gMG patients’ group (p = 0.232). The percentage of the aTreg cells in the CD3+CD4+CD25+Treg cells of the peripheral blood for the oMG patients was higher than that of gMG patients (p < 0.05), but both of them were lower than healthy group (p < 0.05). The percentage of n-sTreg cells in the peripheral blood descended among the gMG patients’ group, oMG patients’ group, and healthy group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The changes in the number and function of Treg cells and its subsets can cause the impairment of negative immune regulation, which may mediate the triggering of oMG and its progression to gMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Siyu Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiyu Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yu Ji
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wenwen Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Ling Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaorong Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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Gao YF, Lu YY, Fan XZ, Wang YH, Tian JH, Saed YA, Li RS, Zhou XS. Blockage of TIM-3 relieves lupus nephritis by expanding Treg cells and promoting their suppressive capacity in MRL/lpr mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 110:108971. [PMID: 35777268 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108971] [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: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
T Cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin Containing Protein-3 (TIM-3) is an important immune checkpoint protein that is expressed in Tregs and affects their function. However, the expression and role of TIM-3 in modulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) in lupus nephritis (LN) are still unknown. In this study, we found that the percentage of TIM-3+ cells among spleen lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells and Tregs was higher in MRL/lpr mice than in MpJ mice. TIM-3high CD4+ T cells and TIM-3high Tregs were mainly responsible for the increase. The percentage of Tregs in TIM-3high CD4+ T cells was lower than that in TIM-3low CD4+ T cells, and the expression of CTLA-4 and IL-10 was lower in TIM-3high Tregs than in the TIM-3low Tregs in MRL/lpr mice. Blockade of TIM-3 in vivo significantly increased the Treg population and the expression of CTLA-4 and IL-10 in Tregs, thus relieving the LN symptoms and pathology in MRL/lpr mice. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis indicated that TIM-3 regulates Treg cells in LN mainly through cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the T cell receptor signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation and the FoxO signaling pathway. Together, our study has demonstrated that TIM-3 regulates Tregs in LN and that overexpression of TIM-3 in CD4+ T cells and Tregs leads to Treg quantity and quality deficiency in MRL/lpr mice. Blockade of TIM-3 protects against LN by expanding Tregs and enhancing their suppressive capacity. Finally, TIM-3 might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Fang Gao
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Yuan-Yue Lu
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiu-Zhao Fan
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Department of Nephrology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shanxi Kidney Disease Institute, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Yan-Hong Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Ji-Hua Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Yasin-Abdi Saed
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Rong-Shan Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Department of Nephrology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shanxi Kidney Disease Institute, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
| | - Xiao-Shuang Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China; Department of Nephrology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shanxi Kidney Disease Institute, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
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Yamagishi R, Kamachi F, Nakamura M, Yamazaki S, Kamiya T, Takasugi M, Cheng Y, Nonaka Y, Yukawa-Muto Y, Thuy LTT, Harada Y, Arai T, Loo TM, Yoshimoto S, Ando T, Nakajima M, Taguchi H, Ishikawa T, Akiba H, Miyake S, Kubo M, Iwakura Y, Fukuda S, Chen WY, Kawada N, Rudensky A, Nakae S, Hara E, Ohtani N. Gasdermin D-mediated release of IL-33 from senescent hepatic stellate cells promotes obesity-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabl7209. [PMID: 35749514 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abl7209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Long-term senescent cells exhibit a secretome termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Although the mechanisms of SASP factor induction have been intensively studied, the release mechanism and how SASP factors influence tumorigenesis in the biological context remain unclear. In this study, using a mouse model of obesity-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we identified the release mechanism of SASP factors, which include interleukin-1β (IL-1β)- and IL-1β-dependent IL-33, from senescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) via gasdermin D (GSDMD) amino-terminal-mediated pore. We found that IL-33 was highly induced in senescent HSCs in an IL-1β-dependent manner in the tumor microenvironment. The release of both IL-33 and IL-1β was triggered by lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a cell wall component of gut microbiota that was transferred and accumulated in the liver tissue of high-fat diet-fed mice, and the release of these factors was mediated through cell membrane pores formed by the GSDMD amino terminus, which was cleaved by LTA-induced caspase-11. We demonstrated that IL-33 release from HSCs promoted HCC development via the activation of ST2-positive Treg cells in the liver tumor microenvironment. The accumulation of GSDMD amino terminus was also detected in HSCs from human NASH-associated HCC patients, suggesting that similar mechanism could be involved in a certain type of human HCC. These results uncover a release mechanism for SASP factors from sensitized senescent HSCs in the tumor microenvironment, thereby facilitating obesity-associated HCC progression. Furthermore, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of inhibitors of GSDMD-mediated pore formation for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Yamagishi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Fumitaka Kamachi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University).,Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakamura
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shota Yamazaki
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomonori Kamiya
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Masaki Takasugi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Yi Cheng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Yoshiki Nonaka
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Yukawa-Muto
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University).,Department of Hepatology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Le Thi Thanh Thuy
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Yohsuke Harada
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Arai
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tze Mun Loo
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan.,Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Yoshimoto
- Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ando
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakajima
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hayao Taguchi
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takamasa Ishikawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Hisaya Akiba
- Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sachiko Miyake
- Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Kubo
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Research Institute for Biomedical Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan.,Laboratory for Cytokine Regulation, Research Center for Integrative Medical Science (IMS), RIKEN Yokohama Institute, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Iwakura
- Center for Animal Disease Models, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shinji Fukuda
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan.,Gut Environmental Design Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.,Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Wei-Yu Chen
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Norifumi Kawada
- Department of Hepatology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University)
| | - Alexander Rudensky
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susumu Nakae
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, Japan.,Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama, Japan
| | - Eiji Hara
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Naoko Ohtani
- Department of Pathophysiology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan (formerly, Osaka City University).,Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan.,AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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Hao Y, Dong H, Li W, Lv X, Shi B, Gao P. The Molecular Role of IL-35 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:874823. [PMID: 35719927 PMCID: PMC9204334 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.874823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and a common cause of cancer-related death. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms, pathogenesis, and treatment of NSCLC can help improve patient outcomes. Significant progress has been made in the treatment of NSCLC, and immunotherapy can prolong patient survival. However, the overall cure and survival rates are low, especially in patients with advanced metastases. Interleukin-35 (IL-35), an immunosuppressive factor, is associated with the onset and prognosis of various cancers. Studies have shown that IL-35 expression is elevated in NSCLC, and it is closely related to the progression and prognosis of NSCLC. However, there are few studies on the mechanism of IL-35 in NSCLC. This study discusses the role of IL-35 and its downstream signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of NSCLC and provides new insights into its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiu Hao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongna Dong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuejiao Lv
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bingqing Shi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Watanabe R, Hashimoto M. Vasculitogenic T Cells in Large Vessel Vasculitis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:923582. [PMID: 35784327 PMCID: PMC9240193 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.923582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasculitis is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that causes inflammation of the blood vessels. Large vessel vasculitis is classified as either giant cell arteritis (GCA), which occurs exclusively in the elderly, or Takayasu arteritis (TAK), which mainly affects young women. Various cell types are involved in the pathogenesis of large vessel vasculitis. Among these, dendritic cells located between the adventitia and the media initiate the inflammatory cascade as antigen-presenting cells, followed by activation of macrophages and T cells contributing to vessel wall destruction. In both diseases, naive CD4+ T cells are polarized to differentiate into Th1 or Th17 cells, whereas differentiation into regulatory T cells, which suppress vascular inflammation, is inhibited. Skewed T cell differentiation is the result of aberrant intracellular signaling, such as the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) or the Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathways. It has also become clear that tissue niches in the vasculature fuel activated T cells and maintain tissue-resident memory T cells. In this review, we outline the most recent understanding of the pathophysiology of large vessel vasculitis. Then, we provide a summary of skewed T cell differentiation in the vasculature and peripheral blood. Finally, new therapeutic strategies for correcting skewed T cell differentiation as well as aberrant intracellular signaling are discussed.
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Leukemia derived dendritic cell (DC leu) mediated immune response goes along with reduced (leukemia-specific) regulatory T-cells. Immunobiology 2022; 227:152237. [PMID: 35749805 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The blastmodulatory Kit-M, composed of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) and Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), is known to convert myeloid leukaemic blasts (from AML patients) into leukaemia derived dendritic cells (DCleu), which activate immunoreactive cells to gain antileukemic/leukaemia-specific activity. In this study we had a special focus on the influence of Kit-M treated, DC/DCleu containing patients'whole blood (WB, n = 16) on the provision of immunosuppressive regulatory T-cells. We could confirm that Kit-M significantly increased frequencies of (mature) dendritic cells (DC) and DCleu from leukemic whole blood (WB) without induction of blast proliferation. After mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) with patients' T-cells we confirmed that DCleu mediated leukemia-specific responses- going along with activated and leukemia-specific T- and NK-cells in an intracellular cytokine staining assay (ICS) and a degranulation assay (Deg)- resulted in an increased anti-leukemic cytotoxicity (Cytotoxicity Fluorolysis Assay = CTX). We could demonstrate that (leukemia-specific) CD4+ and CD8+ regulatory T-cell population (Treg) decreased significantly after MLC compared to controls. We found significant positive correlations of leukemia-specific CD3+CD4+ cells with frequencies of (mature) DCleu. Achieved anti-leukemic cytotoxicity correlated significantly positive with leukemia-specific CD3+CD8+ cells and significantly negatively with (leukemia-specific) Treg. In summary we demonstrate that immunesuppressive (leukemia-specific) regulatory T-cells are significantly downregulated after Kit-M triggered MLC- going along with a (reinstalled) antileukemic reactivity of the immune system (as demonstrated with functional assays ICS, Deg, CTX).
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