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Zwick D, Vo MT, Shim YJ, Reijonen H, Do JS. BACH2: The Future of Induced T-Regulatory Cell Therapies. Cells 2024; 13:891. [PMID: 38891024 PMCID: PMC11172166 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110891] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACH2 (BTB Domain and CNC Homolog 2) is a transcription factor that serves as a central regulator of immune cell differentiation and function, particularly in T and B lymphocytes. A picture is emerging that BACH2 may function as a master regulator of cell fate that is exquisitely sensitive to cell activation status. In particular, BACH2 plays a key role in stabilizing the phenotype and suppressive function of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-derived human forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3)+ inducible regulatory T cells (iTregs), a cell type that holds great clinical potential as a cell therapeutic for diverse inflammatory conditions. As such, BACH2 potentially could be targeted to overcome the instability of the iTreg phenotype and suppressive function that has hampered their clinical application. In this review, we focus on the role of BACH2 in T cell fate and iTreg function and stability. We suggest approaches to modulate BACH2 function that may lead to more stable and efficacious Treg cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zwick
- Frederick National Laboratory, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Mai Tram Vo
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Young Jun Shim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
| | - Helena Reijonen
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Jeong-su Do
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
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2
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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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [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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Parsons RF, Baquerizo A, Kirchner VA, Malek S, Desai CS, Schenk A, Finger EB, Brennan TV, Parekh KR, MacConmara M, Brayman K, Fair J, Wertheim JA. Challenges, highlights, and opportunities in cellular transplantation: A white paper of the current landscape. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:3225-3238. [PMID: 34212485 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Although cellular transplantation remains a relatively small field compared to solid organ transplantation, the prospects for advancement in basic science and clinical care remain bountiful. In this review, notable historical events and the current landscape of the field of cellular transplantation are reviewed with an emphasis on islets (allo- and xeno-), hepatocytes (including bioartificial liver), adoptive regulatory immunotherapy, and stem cells (SCs, specifically endogenous organ-specific and mesenchymal). Also, the nascent but rapidly evolving field of three-dimensional bioprinting is highlighted, including its major processing steps and latest achievements. To reach its full potential where cellular transplants are a more viable alternative than solid organ transplants, fundamental change in how the field is regulated and advanced is needed. Greater public and private investment in the development of cellular transplantation is required. Furthermore, consistent with the call of multiple national transplant societies for allo-islet transplants, the oversight of cellular transplants should mirror that of solid organ transplants and not be classified under the unsustainable, outdated model that requires licensing as a drug with the Food and Drug Administration. Cellular transplantation has the potential to bring profound benefit through progress in bioengineering and regenerative medicine, limiting immunosuppression-related toxicity, and providing markedly reduced surgical morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald F Parsons
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Angeles Baquerizo
- Scripps Center for Cell and Organ Transplantation, La Jolla, California
| | - Varvara A Kirchner
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Sayeed Malek
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chirag S Desai
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Austin Schenk
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Erik B Finger
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Todd V Brennan
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kalpaj R Parekh
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Malcolm MacConmara
- Division of Surgical Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kenneth Brayman
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jeffrey Fair
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Jason A Wertheim
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
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He X, Li S, Zhang J, Cao L, Yang C, Rong P, Yi S, Ghimire K, Ma X, Wang W. Benefit of Belatacept in Cord Blood-Derived Regulatory T Cell-Mediated Suppression of Alloimmune Response. Cell Transplant 2021; 30:9636897211046556. [PMID: 34570631 PMCID: PMC8718163 DOI: 10.1177/09636897211046556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tolerance induction post-transplantation is well-established, but Tregs adoptive transfer alone without combined immunosuppressants have failed so far in achieving clinical outcomes. Here we applied a set of well-designed criteria to test the influence of commonly used immunosuppressants (belatacept, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate) on cord blood-derived Tregs (CB-Tregs). Our study shows that while none of these immunosuppressants modulated the stability and expression of homing molecules by CB-Tregs, belatacept met all other selective criteria, shown by its ability to enhance CB-Tregs-mediated in vitro suppression of the allogeneic response without affecting their viability, proliferation, mitochondrial metabolism and expression of functional markers. In contrast, treatment with tacrolimus or mycophenolate led to reduced expression of functional molecule GITR in CB-Tregs, impaired their viability, proliferation and mitochondrial metabolism. These findings indicate that belatacept could be considered as a candidate in Tregs-based clinical immunomodulation regimens to induce transplant tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing He
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Sang Li
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Cao
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Cejun Yang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Rong
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Shounan Yi
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.,Centre for Transplant and Renal Research (CTRR), Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kedar Ghimire
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research (CTRR), Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Xiaoqian Ma
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, the 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
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Mesenchymal stromal cell mitochondrial transfer to human induced T-regulatory cells mediates FOXP3 stability. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10676. [PMID: 34021231 PMCID: PMC8140113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90115-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The key obstacle to clinical application of human inducible regulatory T cells (iTreg) as an adoptive cell therapy in autoimmune disorders is loss of FOXP3 expression in an inflammatory milieu. Here we report human iTreg co-cultured with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) during short-term ex vivo expansion enhances the stability of iTreg FOXP3 expression and suppressive function in vitro and in vivo, and further that a key mechanism of action is MSC mitochondrial (mt) transfer via tunneling nanotubules (TNT). MSC mt transfer is driven by mitochondrial metabolic function (CD39/CD73 signaling) in proliferating iTreg and promotes iTreg expression of FOXP3 stabilizing factors BACH2 and SENP3. These results elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human MSC mt transfer to proliferating cells. MSC mt transfer stabilizes FOXP3 expression in iTregs, thereby enhancing and sustaining their suppressive function in inflammatory conditions in vitro and in vivo.
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Abstract
T cell-mediated immune tolerance is a state of unresponsiveness of T cells towards specific self or non-self antigens. This is particularly essential during prenatal/neonatal period when T cells are exposed to dramatically changing environment and required to avoid rejection of maternal antigens, limit autoimmune responses, tolerate inert environmental and food antigens and antigens from non-harmful commensal microorganisms, promote maturation of mucosal barrier function, yet mount an appropriate response to pathogenic microorganisms. The cell-intrinsic and cell extrinsic mechanisms promote the generation of prenatal/neonatal T cells with distinct features to meet the complex and dynamic need of tolerance during this period. Reduced exposure or impaired tolerance in early life may have significant impact on allergic or autoimmune diseases in adult life. The uniqueness of conventional and regulatory T cells in human umbilical cord blood (UCB) may also provide certain advantages in UCB transplantation for hematological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Yang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Dan Lu
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Ge
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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El-Ayachi I, Washburn WK, Schenk AD. Recent Progress in Treg Biology and Transplant Therapeutics. CURRENT TRANSPLANTATION REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40472-020-00278-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Regulatory T cell (Treg) biology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. The role of Tregs in solid organ transplantation offers a unique window into Treg ontogeny and function as well as limitless possibilities for clinical application. Here we review recent significant discoveries and key translational work.
Recent Findings
Advances in transplantation deepen understanding of Treg differentiation, expansion, transcription, co-stimulation, and signaling. T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing and single-cell analytics allow unprecedented insight into Treg repertoire diversity and phenotypic heterogeneity. Efforts to replace conventional immunosuppression with Treg adoptive immunotherapy are underway and coalescing around strategies to increase efficiency through development of donor-reactive Tregs.
Summary
Adoptive immunotherapy with Tregs is a leading tolerogenic strategy. Early clinical trials suggest that Treg infusion is safe and reports on efficacy will soon follow.
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