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Sabui S, Anthonymuthu S, Ramamoorthy K, Skupsky J, Jennings TSK, Rahmatpanah F, Fleckenstein JM, Said HM. Effect of knocking out mouse Slc44a4 on colonic uptake of the microbiota-generated thiamine pyrophosphate and colon physiology. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2024; 327:G36-G46. [PMID: 38713615 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00065.2024] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Humans and mammals obtain vitamin B1 from dietary and gut microbiota sources. A considerable amount of the microbiota-generated vitamin exists in the form of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), and colonocytes are capable of absorbing TPP via a specific carrier-mediated process that involves the colonic TPP transporter (cTPPT encoded by SLC44A4). Little is known about the relative contribution of the SLC44A4 transporter toward total colonic carrier-mediated TPP uptake and its role in colon physiology. To address these issues, we generated an Slc44a4 knockout (KO) mouse model (by Cre-Lox recombination) and found a near-complete inhibition in colonic carrier-mediated [3H]TPP uptake in the Slc44a4 KO compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. We also observed a significant reduction in KO mice's body weight and a shortening of their colon compared with WT. Using RNAseq and Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) approaches, we found that knocking out the colonic Slc44a4 led to changes in the level of expression of many genes, including upregulation in those associated with intestinal inflammation and colitis. Finally, we found that the Slc44a4 KO mice were more susceptible to the effect of the colitogenic dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) compared with WT animals, a finding that lends support to the recent prediction by multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that SLC44A4 is a possible colitis susceptibility gene. In summary, the results of these investigations show that Slc44a4 is the predominant or only transporter involved in the colonic uptake of TPP, that the transporter is important for colon physiology, and that its deletion increases susceptibility to inflammation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that Slc44a4 is the predominant or only transport system involved in the uptake of the gut microbiota-generated thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) in the colon and that its deletion affects colon physiology and increases its susceptibility to inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subrata Sabui
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, California, United States
| | - Selvaraj Anthonymuthu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Kalidas Ramamoorthy
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Jonathan Skupsky
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, California, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Tara Sinta Kartika Jennings
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Farah Rahmatpanah
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
| | - James M Fleckenstein
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Hamid M Said
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, California, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
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Agrawal S, Tran MT, Jennings TSK, Soliman MMH, Heo S, Sasson B, Rahmatpanah F, Agrawal A. Changes in the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 with advancing age in humans. Immun Ageing 2024; 21:21. [PMID: 38515147 PMCID: PMC10956333 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-024-00426-3] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advancing age is a major risk factor for respiratory viral infections. The infections are often prolonged and difficult to resolve resulting hospitalizations and mortality. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted this as elderly subjects have emerged as vulnerable populations that display increased susceptibility and severity to SARS-CoV-2. There is an urgent need to identify the probable mechanisms underlying this to protect against future outbreaks of such nature. Innate immunity is the first line of defense against viruses and its decline impacts downstream immune responses. This is because dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages are key cellular elements of the innate immune system that can sense and respond to viruses by producing inflammatory mediators and priming CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses. RESULTS We investigated the changes in innate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 as a function of age. Our results using human PBMCs from aged, middle-aged, and young subjects indicate that the activation of DCs and monocytes in response to SARS-CoV-2 is compromised with age. The impairment is most apparent in pDCs where both aged and middle-aged display reduced responses. The secretion of IL-29 that confers protection against respiratory viruses is also decreased in both aged and middle-aged subjects. In contrast, inflammatory mediators associated with severe COVID-19 including CXCL-8, TREM-1 are increased with age. This is also apparent in the gene expression data where pathways related host defense display an age dependent decrease with a concomitant increase in inflammatory pathways. Not only are the inflammatory pathways and mediators increased after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 but also at homeostasis. In keeping with reduced DC activation, the induction of cytotoxic CD8 T cells is also impaired in aged subjects. However, the CD8 T cells from aged subjects display increased baseline activation in accordance with the enhanced baseline inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate a decline in protective anti-viral immune responses and increase in damaging inflammatory responses with age indicating that dysregulated innate immune responses play a significant role in the increased susceptibility of aged subjects to COVID-19. Furthermore, the dysregulation in immune responses develops early on as middle-aged demonstrate several of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhanshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Michelle Thu Tran
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | | | - Marlaine Maged Hosny Soliman
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Sally Heo
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Bobby Sasson
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Farah Rahmatpanah
- Department of Pathology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Anshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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Cheng P, Jian Q, Fu Z, Deng R, Ma Y. Inhibition of DAI refrains dendritic cells from maturation and prolongs murine islet and skin allograft survival. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1182851. [PMID: 37197662 PMCID: PMC10183602 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1182851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Central to allograft rejection is the T cell-mediated adaptive immune response initiated by activated dendritic cells (DCs). Previous studies have shown that the DNA-dependent activator of IFN regulatory factors (DAI) is involved in the maturation and activation of DCs. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of DAI could prevent DCs from maturation and prolong murine allograft survival. Methods Donor mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were transduced with the recombinant adenovirus vector (AdV-DAI-RNAi-GFP) to inhibit DAI expression (DC-DAI-RNAi), and the immune cell phenotype and function of DC-DAI-RNAi upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were evaluated. Then DC-DAI-RNAi was injected into recipient mice before islet transplantation and skin transplantation. The survival times of islet and skin allograft were recorded and the proportions of T cell subsets in spleen and secretion levels of cytokines in serum were measured. Results We identified that DC-DAI-RNAi inhibited the expression of main co-stimulatory molecules and MHC-II, exhibited strong phagocytic ability, and secreted high levels of immunosuppressive cytokines and low levels of immunostimulating cytokines. Recipient mice treated with DC-DAI-RNAi had longer islet and skin allograft survival times. In the murine islet transplantation model, we observed an increase in Treg cells proportion, a reduction in Th1 and Th17 cells proportions in spleen, and similar trends in their secreted cytokines in serum in the DC-DAI-RNAi group. Conclusion Inhibition of DAI by adenovirus transduction inhibits the maturation and activation of DCs, affects the differentiation of T cell subsets as well as their secreted cytokines, and prolongs allograft survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengrui Cheng
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian Jian
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongli Fu
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ronghai Deng
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ronghai Deng, ; Yi Ma,
| | - Yi Ma
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ronghai Deng, ; Yi Ma,
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Impaired VEGF-A-Mediated Neurovascular Crosstalk Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Potential Hypothesis Explaining Long COVID-19 Symptoms and COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects? Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122452. [PMID: 36557705 PMCID: PMC9784975 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Long coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered syndrome characterized by multiple organ manifestations that persist for weeks to months, following the recovery from acute disease. Occasionally, neurological and cardiovascular side effects mimicking long COVID-19 have been reported in recipients of COVID-19 vaccines. Hypothetically, the clinical similarity could be due to a shared pathogenic role of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein produced by the virus or used for immunization. The S protein can bind to neuropilin (NRP)-1, which normally functions as a coreceptor for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. By antagonizing the docking of VEGF-A to NRP-1, the S protein could disrupt physiological pathways involved in angiogenesis and nociception. One consequence could be the increase in unbound forms of VEGF-A that could bind to other receptors. SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals may exhibit increased plasma levels of VEGF-A during both acute illness and convalescence, which could be responsible for diffuse microvascular and neurological damage. A few studies suggest that serum VEGF-A may also be a potential biomarker for long COVID-19, whereas evidence for COVID-19 vaccines is lacking and merits further investigation.
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Kumar V, Randhawa P, Bilodeau R, Mercola D, McClelland M, Agrawal A, Nguyen J, Castro P, Ittmann MM, Rahmatpanah F. Spatial Profiling of the Prostate Cancer Tumor Microenvironment Reveals Multiple Differences in Gene Expression and Correlation with Recurrence Risk. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194923. [PMID: 36230846 PMCID: PMC9562240 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in both the development and progression of prostate cancer. Furthermore, identifying protein and gene expression differences between different regions is valuable for treatment development. We applied Digital Spatial Profiling multiplex analysis to formalin-fixed paraffin embedded prostatectomy tissue blocks to investigate protein and transcriptome differences between tumor, tumor-adjacent stroma (TAS), CD45+ tumor, and CD45+ TAS tissue. Differential expression of an immunology/oncology protein panel (n = 58) was measured. OX40L and CTLA4 were expressed at higher levels while 22 other proteins, including CD11c, were expressed at lower levels (FDR < 0.2 and p-value < 0.05) in TAS as compared to tumor epithelia. A tissue microarray analysis of 97 patients with 1547 cores found positive correlations between high expression of CD11c and increased time to recurrence in tumor and TAS, and inverse relationships for CTLA4 and OX40L, where higher expression in tumor correlated with lower time to recurrence, but higher time to recurrence in TAS. Spatial transcriptomic analysis using a Cancer Transcriptome Atlas panel (n = 1825 genes) identified 162 genes downregulated and 69 upregulated in TAS versus tumor, 26 downregulated and 6 upregulated in CD45+ TAS versus CD45+ tumor. We utilized CIBERSORTx to estimate the relative immune cell fractions using CD45+ gene expression and found higher average fractions for memory B, naïve B, and T cells in TAS. In summary, the combination of protein expression differences, immune cell fractions, and correlations of protein expression with time to recurrence suggest that closely examining the tumor microenvironment provides valuable data that can improve prognostication and treatment techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Kumar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Pavneet Randhawa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robert Bilodeau
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Dan Mercola
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Michael McClelland
- Department of Molecular and Microbiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anshu Agrawal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - James Nguyen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Patricia Castro
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael M. Ittmann
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Farah Rahmatpanah
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Correspondence:
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Agrawal S, Monteiro C, Baca CF, Mohammadi R, Subramanian V, de Melo Bento CA, Agrawal A. Metabolites and growth factors produced by airway epithelial cells induce tolerance in macrophages. Life Sci 2022; 302:120659. [PMID: 35623392 PMCID: PMC10081865 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120659] [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: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Macrophages play a role in preventing inflammation in the respiratory tract. To investigate the mechanisms that lead to tolerance in macrophages, we examined the crosstalk between airway epithelial cells (AECs) and macrophages using a 2D coculture model. Culture of macrophages with AECs led to a significant inhibition of LPS induced pro-inflammatory responses. More importantly, AECs induced the secretion of TGF-β and IL-10 from macrophages even in the absence of LPS stimulation. In addition, the expression of inhibitory molecule, CD200R was also upregulated on AEC exposed macrophages. Furthermore, the AECs exposed macrophages induced significantly increased level of T regulatory cells. Investigation into the possible mechanisms indicated that a combination of growth factor, G-CSF, and metabolites, Kynurenine and lactic acid produced by AECs is responsible for inducing tolerance in macrophages. Interestingly, all these molecules had differential effect on macrophages with G-CSF inducing TGF-β, Kynurenine elevating IL-10, and lactic acid upregulating CD200R. Furthermore, a cocktail of these factors/metabolites induced similar changes in macrophages as AEC exposure. Altogether, these data identify factors secreted by AECs that enhance tolerance in the respiratory tract. These mediators thus have the potential to be used for therapeutic purposes to modulate respiratory inflammation following local viral infections and lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhanshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, CA, USA 92617
| | - Clarice Monteiro
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, CA, USA 92617; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Rezaa Mohammadi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine, CA 92617, USA; Sue and Bill Stem Cell Center, University of California Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Veedamali Subramanian
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Cleonice Alves de Melo Bento
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, CA, USA 92617.
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Mettelman RC, Allen EK, Thomas PG. Mucosal immune responses to infection and vaccination in the respiratory tract. Immunity 2022; 55:749-780. [PMID: 35545027 PMCID: PMC9087965 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The lungs are constantly exposed to inhaled debris, allergens, pollutants, commensal or pathogenic microorganisms, and respiratory viruses. As a result, innate and adaptive immune responses in the respiratory tract are tightly regulated and are in continual flux between states of enhanced pathogen clearance, immune-modulation, and tissue repair. New single-cell-sequencing techniques are expanding our knowledge of airway cellular complexity and the nuanced connections between structural and immune cell compartments. Understanding these varied interactions is critical in treatment of human pulmonary disease and infections and in next-generation vaccine design. Here, we review the innate and adaptive immune responses in the lung and airways following infection and vaccination, with particular focus on influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has put pulmonary research firmly into the global spotlight, challenging previously held notions of respiratory immunity and helping identify new populations at high risk for respiratory distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Mettelman
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - E Kaitlynn Allen
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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8
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Agrawal S, Salazar J, Tran TM, Agrawal A. Sex-Related Differences in Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2. Front Immunol 2021; 12:739757. [PMID: 34745109 PMCID: PMC8563790 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.739757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibits a sex bias with males showing signs of more severe disease and hospitalizations compared with females. The mechanisms are not clear but differential immune responses, particularly the initial innate immune response, between sexes may be playing a role. The early innate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 have not been studied because of the gap in timing between the patient becoming infected, showing symptoms, and getting the treatment. The primary objective of the present study was to compare the response of dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes from males and females to SARS-CoV-2, 24 h after infection. To investigate this, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy young individuals were stimulated in vitro with the virus. Our results indicate that PBMCs from females upregulated the expression of HLA-DR and CD86 on pDCs and mDCs after stimulation with the virus, while the activation of these cells was not significant in males. Monocytes from females also displayed increased activation than males. In addition, females secreted significantly higher levels of IFN-α and IL-29 compared with males at 24 h. However, the situation was reversed at 1 week post stimulation and males displayed high levels of IFN-α production compared with females. Further investigations revealed that the secretion of CXCL-10, a chemokine associated with lung complications, was higher in males than females at 24 h. The PBMCs from females also displayed increased induction of CTLs. Altogether, our results suggest that decreased activation of pDCs, mDCs, and monocytes and the delayed and prolonged IFN-α secretion along with increased CXCL-10 secretion may be responsible for the increased morbidity and mortality of males to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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9
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Rijsbergen LC, van Dijk LLA, Engel MFM, de Vries RD, de Swart RL. In Vitro Modelling of Respiratory Virus Infections in Human Airway Epithelial Cells - A Systematic Review. Front Immunol 2021; 12:683002. [PMID: 34489934 PMCID: PMC8418200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.683002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. A large number of RTIs is caused by viruses, often resulting in more severe disease in infants, elderly and the immunocompromised. Upon viral infection, most individuals experience common cold-like symptoms associated with an upper RTI. However, in some cases a severe and sometimes life-threatening lower RTI may develop. Reproducible and scalable in vitro culture models that accurately reflect the human respiratory tract are needed to study interactions between respiratory viruses and the host, and to test novel therapeutic interventions. Multiple in vitro respiratory cell culture systems have been described, but the majority of these are based on immortalized cell lines. Although useful for studying certain aspects of viral infections, such monomorphic, unicellular systems fall short in creating an understanding of the processes that occur at an integrated tissue level. Novel in vitro models involving primary human airway epithelial cells and, more recently, human airway organoids, are now in use. In this review, we describe the evolution of in vitro cell culture systems and their characteristics in the context of viral RTIs, starting from advances after immortalized cell cultures to more recently developed organoid systems. Furthermore, we describe how these models are used in studying virus-host interactions, e.g. tropism and receptor studies as well as interactions with the innate immune system. Finally, we provide an outlook for future developments in this field, including co-factors that mimic the microenvironment in the respiratory tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurine C. Rijsbergen
- Department of Viroscience, Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laura L. A. van Dijk
- Department of Viroscience, Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maarten F. M. Engel
- Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rory D. de Vries
- Department of Viroscience, Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rik L. de Swart
- Department of Viroscience, Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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10
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Teafatiller T, Agrawal S, De Robles G, Rahmatpanah F, Subramanian VS, Agrawal A. Vitamin C Enhances Antiviral Functions of Lung Epithelial Cells. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1148. [PMID: 34439814 PMCID: PMC8394979 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin C is well documented to have antiviral functions; however, there is limited information about its effect on airway epithelial cells-the first cells to encounter infections. Here, we examined the effect of vitamin C on human bronchial epithelium transformed with Ad12-SV40 2B (BEAS-2B) cells, and observed that sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) was the primary vitamin C transporter. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that treating BEAS-2B cells with vitamin C led to a significant upregulation of several metabolic pathways and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) along with a downregulation of pathways involved in lung injury and inflammation. Remarkably, vitamin C also enhanced the expression of the viral-sensing receptors retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1) and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA-5), which was confirmed at the protein and functional levels. In addition, the lungs of l-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase knockout (GULO-KO) mice also displayed a marked decrease in these genes compared to wild-type controls. Collectively, our findings indicate that vitamin C acts at multiple levels to exert its antiviral and protective functions in the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Teafatiller
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Sudhanshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Gabriela De Robles
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (G.D.R.); (F.R.)
| | - Farah Rahmatpanah
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (G.D.R.); (F.R.)
| | - Veedamali S. Subramanian
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Anshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
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Rahmatpanah F, Robles GD, Lilly M, Keane T, Kumar V, Mercola D, Randhawa P, McClelland M. RNA expression differences in prostate tumors and tumor-adjacent stroma between Black and White Americans. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1457-1469. [PMID: 34316327 PMCID: PMC8310667 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) in Black Americans (BA) is diagnosed at an earlier median age and a more advanced stage than PCa in White Americans (WA). Tumor-adjacent stroma (TAS) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis of prostate cancer. We examined RNA expression in both tumor and TAS of BA compared to WA. After evaluating the geographical ancestry of each sample, preliminary analysis of our own RNA-seq data of 7 BA and 7 WA TAS revealed 1706 downregulated and 1844 upregulated genes in BA relative to WA PCa patients (p adj < 0.05). An assessment of published RNA-seq data of clinically matched tumor-enriched tissues from 15 BA and 30 WA patients revealed 932 upregulated and 476 downregulated genes in BA relative to WA (p adj < 0.05). When TAS and tumor epithelial cohorts were compared for the top 2500 statistically significant genes, immune responses were downregulated in BA vs WA TAS, while T cell-exhaustion pathways and the immune checkpoint gene CTLA4 were upregulated in BA vs WA tumors. We found fewer activated dendritic cells in tumor and more CD8 T-cells in TAS of BA versus WA PCa patients. Further characterization of these differences in the immune response of PCa patients of distinct geographical ancestry could help to improve diagnostics, prognostics, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Rahmatpanah
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Gabriela De Robles
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Michael Lilly
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Thomas Keane
- Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Dan Mercola
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Pavneet Randhawa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Michael McClelland
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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12
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Alldredge J, Randall L, De Robles G, Agrawal A, Mercola D, Liu M, Randhawa P, Edwards R, McClelland M, Rahmatpanah F. Transcriptome Analysis of Ovarian and Uterine Clear Cell Malignancies. Front Oncol 2020; 10:598579. [PMID: 33415077 PMCID: PMC7784081 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.598579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ovarian and uterine clear cell carcinomas (CCCs) are rare but associated with poor prognosis. This study explored RNA transcription patterns characteristic of these tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 11 ovarian CCCs and five uterine CCCs was performed and compared to publicly available data from high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs). Ingenuity Pathway Analyses were performed. CIBERSORT analyses estimated relative fractions of 22 immune cell types in each RNA-seq sample. Sequencing data was correlated with PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression. RESULTS RNA-seq revealed 1,613 downregulated and 1,212 upregulated genes (corrected p < 0.05, |FC |≥10) in ovarian CCC versus HGSOC. Two subgroups were identified in the ovarian CCC, characterized by ethnicity and expression differences in ARID1A. There were 3,252 differentially expressed genes between PD-L1+/- ovarian CCCs, revealing immune response, cell death, and DNA repair networks, negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression, whereas cellular proliferation networks positively correlated with expression. In clear cell ovarian versus clear cell uterine cancer, 1,607 genes were significantly upregulated, and 109 genes were significantly downregulated (corrected p < 0.05, |FC|≥10). Comparative pathway analysis of late and early stage ovarian CCCs revealed unique metabolic and PTEN pathways, whereas uterine CCCs had unique Wnt/Ca+, estrogen receptor, and CCR5 signaling. CIBERSORT analysis revealed that activated mast cells and regulatory T cell populations were relatively enriched in uterine CCCs. The PD-L1+ ovarian CCCs had enriched resting NK cells and memory B cell populations, while PD-L1- had enriched CD8 T-cells, monocytes, eosinophils, and activated dendritic cells. CONCLUSIONS Unique transcriptional expression profiles distinguish clear cell uterine and ovarian cancers from each other and from other more common histologic subtypes. These insights may aid in devising novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Alldredge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Leslie Randall
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Gabriela De Robles
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Anshu Agrawal
- Department of Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Dan Mercola
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Marisa Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Pavneet Randhawa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Robert Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Michael McClelland
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Farah Rahmatpanah
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
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13
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Ganjian H, Rajput C, Elzoheiry M, Sajjan U. Rhinovirus and Innate Immune Function of Airway Epithelium. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:277. [PMID: 32637363 PMCID: PMC7316886 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Airway epithelial cells, which lines the respiratory mucosa is in direct contact with the environment. Airway epithelial cells are the primary target for rhinovirus and other inhaled pathogens. In response to rhinovirus infection, airway epithelial cells mount both pro-inflammatory responses and antiviral innate immune responses to clear the virus efficiently. Some of the antiviral responses include the expression of IFNs, endoplasmic reticulum stress induced unfolded protein response and autophagy. Airway epithelial cells also recruits other innate immune cells to establish antiviral state and resolve the inflammation in the lungs. In patients with chronic lung disease, these responses may be either defective or induced in excess leading to deficient clearing of virus and sustained inflammation. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms underlying antiviral innate immunity and the dysregulation of some of these mechanisms in patients with chronic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haleh Ganjian
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz Medical School, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Charu Rajput
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz Medical School, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Manal Elzoheiry
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz Medical School, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Umadevi Sajjan
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz Medical School, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Physiology, Lewis Katz Medical School, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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14
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Nguyen HMH, Torres JA, Agrawal S, Agrawal A. Nicotine Impairs the Response of Lung Epithelial Cells to IL-22. Mediators Inflamm 2020; 2020:6705428. [PMID: 32189996 PMCID: PMC7066416 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6705428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Smoking is a major risk factor for pulmonary diseases that include chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and cancer. Nicotine is the toxic and addictive component of tobacco products, like cigarettes, that negatively affects the immune system. Here, we examined the effect of nicotine on the IL-22 pathway that protects lung function by increasing transepithelial resistance and epithelial cell regeneration and repair. Our results indicate that exposure to nicotine impairs the regenerative capacity of primary bronchial epithelial cells in scratch assays. IL-22 at 100 ng/ml significantly improved wound healing in epithelial cells; however, the exposure to nicotine hampered the IL-22-mediated effect of wound healing. Investigation into the mechanisms showed that IL-22 receptor, IL-22Rα1, was downregulated in the presence of nicotine as determined by q-PCR and flow cytometry. We also investigated the effect of nicotine on IL-22 production by T cells. Results indicate that nicotine inhibited the secretion of IL-22 from T cells in response to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligand, FICZ. Altogether, the data suggests that nicotine negatively influences the IL-22-IL-22R axis. This impairment may contribute to the nicotine-mediated detrimental effects on lung function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah My-Hanh Nguyen
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jaclene Amber Torres
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sudhanshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anshu Agrawal
- Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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15
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LeMessurier KS, Tiwary M, Morin NP, Samarasinghe AE. Respiratory Barrier as a Safeguard and Regulator of Defense Against Influenza A Virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Front Immunol 2020; 11:3. [PMID: 32117216 PMCID: PMC7011736 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary function of the respiratory system of gas exchange renders it vulnerable to environmental pathogens that circulate in the air. Physical and cellular barriers of the respiratory tract mucosal surface utilize a variety of strategies to obstruct microbe entry. Physical barrier defenses including the surface fluid replete with antimicrobials, neutralizing immunoglobulins, mucus, and the epithelial cell layer with rapidly beating cilia form a near impenetrable wall that separates the external environment from the internal soft tissue of the host. Resident leukocytes, primarily of the innate immune branch, also maintain airway integrity by constant surveillance and the maintenance of homeostasis through the release of cytokines and growth factors. Unfortunately, pathogens such as influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae require hosts for their replication and dissemination, and prey on the respiratory tract as an ideal environment causing severe damage to the host during their invasion. In this review, we outline the host-pathogen interactions during influenza and post-influenza bacterial pneumonia with a focus on inter- and intra-cellular crosstalk important in pulmonary immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim S LeMessurier
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Division of Pulmonology, Allergy-Immunology, and Sleep, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Children's Foundation Research Institute, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Meenakshi Tiwary
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Division of Pulmonology, Allergy-Immunology, and Sleep, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Children's Foundation Research Institute, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Nicholas P Morin
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Division of Critical Care Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Amali E Samarasinghe
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Division of Pulmonology, Allergy-Immunology, and Sleep, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Children's Foundation Research Institute, Memphis, TN, United States
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16
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Ardain A, Marakalala MJ, Leslie A. Tissue-resident innate immunity in the lung. Immunology 2019; 159:245-256. [PMID: 31670391 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The lung is a unique organ that must protect against inhaled pathogens and toxins, without mounting a disproportionate response against harmless particulate matter and without compromising its vital function. Tissue-resident immune cells within the lung provide local immunity and protection from infection but are also responsible for causing disease when dysregulated. There is a growing appreciation of the importance of tissue-resident memory T cells to lung immunity, but non-recirculating, tissue-resident, innate immune cells also exist. These cells provide the first line of defence against pulmonary infection and are essential for co-ordinating the subsequent adaptive response. In this review, we discuss the main lung-resident innate immune subsets and their functions in common pulmonary diseases, such as influenza, bacterial pneumonia, asthma and inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Ardain
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mohlopheni J Marakalala
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Department of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alasdair Leslie
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Department of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
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