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Abstract
The thymus is an evolutionarily conserved organ that supports the development of T cells. Not only does the thymic environment support the rearrangement and expression of diverse T cell receptors but also provides a unique niche for the selection of appropriate T cell clones. Thymic selection ensures that the repertoire of available T cells is both useful (being MHC-restricted) and safe (being self-tolerant). The unique antigen-presentation features of the thymus ensure that the display of self-antigens is optimal to induce tolerance to all types of self-tissue. MHC class-specific functions of CD4+ T helper cells, CD8+ killer T cells and CD4+ regulatory T cells are also established in the thymus. Finally, the thymus provides signals for the development of several minor T cell subsets that promote immune and tissue homeostasis. This Review provides an introductory-level overview of our current understanding of the sophisticated thymic selection mechanisms that ensure T cells are useful and safe.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Maude Ashby
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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2
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Wang Q, Lei Y, Wang J, Xu X, Wang L, Zhou H, Guo Z. Expert consensus on the relevance of intestinal microecology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clin Transplant 2024; 38:e15186. [PMID: 37933619 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15186] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) affects gut microbial homeostasis, and intestinal microecology (IM) may also affect the prognosis of HSCT through multiple mechanisms. In order to further understand the key issues of the correlation between intestinal microecology and HSCT and to learn and absorb new research progress, the Tumor and Microecology Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association organized relevant experts to discuss together and propose the "Expert Consensus on the Relevance of Intestinal Microecology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation" for clinicians' reference in their practical work. It is a reference for clinicians in practice and provides a basis for further in-depth research in the field of tumor and microecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wang
- Institute of Infection, Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan Asia General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yumeng Lei
- Institute of Infection, Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan Asia General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Hematology, Hongkong University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaojun Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Hematology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi Guo
- Department of Hematology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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3
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Yan L, Cui Y, Feng J. Biology of Pellino1: a potential therapeutic target for inflammation in diseases and cancers. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1292022. [PMID: 38179042 PMCID: PMC10765590 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1292022] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Pellino1 (Peli1) is a highly conserved E3 Ub ligase that exerts its biological functions by mediating target protein ubiquitination. Extensive evidence has demonstrated the crucial role of Peli1 in regulating inflammation by modulating various receptor signaling pathways, including interleukin-1 receptors, Toll-like receptors, nuclear factor-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathways. Peli1 has been implicated in the development of several diseases by influencing inflammation, apoptosis, necrosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, DNA damage repair, and glycolysis. Peli1 is a risk factor for most cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and lymphoma. Conversely, Peli1 protects against herpes simplex virus infection, systemic lupus erythematosus, esophageal cancer, and toxic epidermolysis bullosa. Therefore, Peli1 is a potential therapeutic target that warrants further investigation. This comprehensive review summarizes the target proteins of Peli1, delineates their involvement in major signaling pathways and biological processes, explores their role in diseases, and discusses the potential clinical applications of Peli1-targeted therapy, highlighting the therapeutic prospects of Peli1 in various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juan Feng
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Nicotine Suppresses Phagocytic Ability of Macrophages by Regulating the miR-296-3p-SIRP α Axis. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2023; 2023:6306358. [PMID: 36845756 PMCID: PMC9946743 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6306358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Phagocytic ability of macrophage is responsible for tuberculosis infection. Nicotine has been shown to attenuate the phagocytic ability of macrophage; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that nicotine increased the message RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) and enhanced the stability of SIRPα mRNA in macrophage. Nicotine decreased the expression of microRNA (miR)-296-3p, which directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of SIRPα mRNA in macrophage. Furthermore, nicotine inhibited the phagocytic ability of macrophage by regulating the miR-296-3p-SIRPα axis. Moreover, nicotine decreased miR-296-3p expression via increasing c-Myc expression in macrophage. Together, we found that nicotine attenuate the phagocytic ability of macrophage by regulating the c-Myc-miR-296-3p-SIRPα signal.
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Liu C, Zhu J, Mi Y, Jin T. Impact of disease-modifying therapy on dendritic cells and exploring their immunotherapeutic potential in multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:298. [PMID: 36510261 PMCID: PMC9743681 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02663-z] [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: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which play a pivotal role in inducing either inflammatory or tolerogenic response based on their subtypes and environmental signals. Emerging evidence indicates that DCs are critical for initiation and progression of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Current disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for MS can significantly affect DCs' functions. However, the study on the impact of DMT on DCs is rare, unlike T and B lymphocytes that are the most commonly discussed targets of these therapies. Induction of tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) with powerful therapeutic potential has been well-established to combat autoimmune responses in laboratory models and early clinical trials. In contrast to in vitro tolDC induction, in vivo elicitation by specifically targeting multiple cell-surface receptors has shown greater promise with more advantages. Here, we summarize the role of DCs in governing immune tolerance and in the process of initiating and perpetuating MS as well as the effects of current DMT drugs on DCs. We then highlight the most promising cell-surface receptors expressed on DCs currently being explored as the viable pharmacological targets through antigen delivery to generate tolDCs in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Liu
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences & Society, Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yan Mi
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tao Jin
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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6
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Kim KS. Regulation of T cell repertoires by commensal microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1004339. [PMID: 36310871 PMCID: PMC9606468 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1004339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating the host immune systems. It is well established that various commensal microbial species can induce the differentiation of CD4+ T helper subsets such as Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells in antigen-dependent manner. The ability of certain microbial species to induce either Treg cells or Th17 cells is often linked to the altered susceptibility to certain immune disorders that are provoked by aberrant T cell response against self-antigens. These findings raise an important question as to how gut microbiota can regulate T cell repertoire and the activation of autoreactive T cells. This review will highlight microbiota-dependent regulation of thymic T cell development, maintenance of T cell repertoire in the secondary lymphoid tissues and the intestine, and microbiota-mediated modulation of autoreactive and tumor neoantigen-specific T cells in autoimmune diseases and tumors, respectively.
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Semwal MK, Hester AK, Xiao Y, Udeaja C, Cepeda S, Verschelde JS, Jones N, Wedemeyer SA, Emtage S, Wimberly K, Griffith AV. Redox status regulates autophagy in thymic stromal cells and promotes T cell tolerance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204296119. [PMID: 36161925 PMCID: PMC9549397 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204296119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic stromal cells (TSCs) are critical regulators of T cell tolerance, but their basic biology has remained under-characterized because they are relatively rare and difficult to isolate. Recent work has revealed that constitutive autophagy in TSCs is required for self-antigen presentation and central T cell tolerance induction; however, the mechanisms regulating constitutive autophagy in TSCs are not well understood. Hydrogen peroxide has been shown to increase autophagy flux in other tissues, and we previously identified conspicuously low expression of the hydrogen peroxide-quenching enzyme catalase in TSCs. We investigated whether the redox status of TSCs established by low catalase expression regulates their basal autophagy levels and their capacity to impose central T cell tolerance. Transgenic overexpression of catalase diminished autophagy in TSCs and impaired thymocyte clonal deletion, concomitant with increased frequencies of spontaneous lymphocytic infiltrates in lung and liver and of serum antinuclear antigen reactivity. Effects on clonal deletion and autoimmune indicators were diminished in catalase transgenic mice when autophagy was rescued by expression of the Becn1F121A/F121A knock-in allele. These results suggest a metabolic mechanism by which the redox status of TSCs may regulate central T cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manpreet K. Semwal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Allison K. Hester
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Department of Medicine, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Division, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Yangming Xiao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Chioma Udeaja
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Sergio Cepeda
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - John S. Verschelde
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Nicholas Jones
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Sarah A. Wedemeyer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Simon Emtage
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Kymberly Wimberly
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Ann V. Griffith
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
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Breed ER, Vobořil M, Ashby KM, Martinez RJ, Qian L, Wang H, Salgado OC, O'Connor CH, Hogquist KA. Type 2 cytokines in the thymus activate Sirpα + dendritic cells to promote clonal deletion. Nat Immunol 2022; 23:1042-1051. [PMID: 35637352 PMCID: PMC10037932 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-022-01218-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The thymus contains a diversity of dendritic cells (DCs) that exist in defined locations and have different antigen-processing and -presenting features. This suggests that they play nonredundant roles in mediating thymocyte selection. In an effort to eliminate SIRPα+ classic DC2 subsets, we discovered that a substantial proportion expresses the surface lectin, CD301b, in the thymus. These cells resemble the CD301b+ type 2 immune response promoting DCs that are present in the skin-draining lymph nodes. Transcriptional and phenotypic comparison to other DC subsets in the thymus revealed that thymic CD301b+ cDCs represent an activated state that exhibits enhanced antigen processing and presentation. Furthermore, a CD301b+ cDC2 subset demonstrated a type 2 cytokine signature and required steady-state interleukin-4 receptor signaling. Selective ablation of CD301b+ cDC2 subsets impaired clonal deletion without affecting regulatory T cells (Treg cells). The T cell receptor α repertoire sequencing confirmed that a cDC2 subset promotes deletion of conventional T cells with minimal effect on Treg cell selection. Together, these findings suggest that cytokine-induced activation of DCs in the thymus substantially enforces central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise R Breed
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Matouš Vobořil
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Katherine M Ashby
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ryan J Martinez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Lily Qian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Haiguang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Oscar C Salgado
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christine H O'Connor
- Research Informatics Solutions, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Group, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Provin N, Giraud M. Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Thymic Epithelial Cells and Generation of Thymic Organoids: Applications for Therapeutic Strategies Against APECED. Front Immunol 2022; 13:930963. [PMID: 35844523 PMCID: PMC9277542 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.930963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ essential for the induction of central immune tolerance. Maturing T cells undergo several steps of expansion and selection mediated by thymic epithelial cells (TECs). In APECED and other congenital pathologies, a deficiency in genes that regulate TEC development or their ability to select non auto-reactive thymocytes results in a defective immune balance, and consequently in a general autoimmune syndrome. Restoration of thymic function is thus crucial for the emergence of curative treatments. The last decade has seen remarkable progress in both gene editing and pluripotent stem cell differentiation, with the emergence of CRISPR-based gene correction, the trivialization of reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc) and their subsequent differentiation into multiple cellular fates. The combination of these two approaches has paved the way to the generation of genetically corrected thymic organoids and their use to control thymic genetic pathologies affecting self-tolerance. Here we review the recent advances in differentiation of iPSc into TECs and the ability of the latter to support a proper and efficient maturation of thymocytes into functional and non-autoreactive T cells. A special focus is given on thymus organogenesis and pathway modulation during iPSc differentiation, on the impact of the 2/3D structure on the generated TECs, and on perspectives for therapeutic strategies in APECED based on patient-derived iPSc corrected for AIRE gene mutations.
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Březina J, Vobořil M, Filipp D. Mechanisms of Direct and Indirect Presentation of Self-Antigens in the Thymus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926625. [PMID: 35774801 PMCID: PMC9237256 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The inevitability of evolution of the adaptive immune system with its mechanism of randomly rearranging segments of the T cell receptor (TCR) gene is the generation of self-reactive clones. For the sake of prevention of autoimmunity, these clones must be eliminated from the pool of circulating T cells. This process occurs largely in the thymic medulla where the strength of affinity between TCR and self-peptide MHC complexes is the factor determining thymocyte fate. Thus, the display of self-antigens in the thymus by thymic antigen presenting cells, which are comprised of medullary thymic epithelial (mTECs) and dendritic cells (DCs), is fundamental for the establishment of T cell central tolerance. Whereas mTECs produce and present antigens in a direct, self-autonomous manner, thymic DCs can acquire these mTEC-derived antigens by cooperative antigen transfer (CAT), and thus present them indirectly. While the basic characteristics for both direct and indirect presentation of self-antigens are currently known, recent reports that describe the heterogeneity of mTEC and DC subsets, their presentation capacity, and the potentially non-redundant roles in T cell selection processes represents another level of complexity which we are attempting to unravel. In this review, we underscore the seminal studies relevant to these topics with an emphasis on new observations pertinent to the mechanism of CAT and its cellular trajectories underpinning the preferential distribution of thymic epithelial cell-derived self-antigens to specific subsets of DC. Identification of molecular determinants which control CAT would significantly advance our understanding of how the cellularly targeted presentation of thymic self-antigens is functionally coupled to the T cell selection process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dominik Filipp
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
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Huang X, Cao Y, Bao P, Zhu B, Cheng Z. High expression of PI4K2A predicted poor prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and correlated with immunity. Cancer Med 2022; 12:837-851. [PMID: 35634680 PMCID: PMC9844633 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4895] [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: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PI4K2A has been found to have a tumor-promoting role in various solid tumors and be involved in various biological procedures. In this article, we aim to investigate the prognostic values of PI4K2A and provide new insights in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, Human Protein Atlas online database, and UALCAN database were used to analyze the expression of PI4K2A in COAD and the survival of patients. Univariate and multifactorial Cox regression analyses were used to assess the prognosis of PI4K2A on COAD. GSEA was used to explore PI4K2A-related signaling pathways. In addition, the effect of PI4K2A on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment was investigated by constructing a TIDE model and predicting the association between PI4K2A and anticancer drug sensitivity through the CellMiner database. RESULTS In the TCGA database, PI4K2A was highly expressed in COAD and the similar results were verified by qRT-PCR. Survival analysis, utilizing Kaplan-Meier curves, revealed that COAD patients with high PI4K2A expression had a worse prognosis. In addition, PI4K2A expression was discovered to have been associated with T-stage, N-stage, and pathological stage by logistic analysis. Next, we utilized univariate and multifactorial Cox regression analyses to identify PI4K2A as an independent predictor. Additionally, GSEA analysis indicates that PI4K2A is enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, etc. In COAD, PI4K2A was remarkably associated with the tumor immune microenvironment. In addition, by constructing a TIDE model, we discovered that COAD patients in the PI4K2A low-expression cohort were better treated with ICI. Finally, analysis of the CellMiner database predicted that PI4K2A was adversely correlated with the sensitivity of various anticancer drugs. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that PI4K2A may be a potential predictor of poor prognosis in COAD and a potential biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinkun Huang
- Department of General SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of NantongNantongJiangsu ProvinceChina
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of OperationAffiliated Hospital of NantongNantongJiangsu ProvinceChina
| | - Peng Bao
- Department of Critical Care MedicineAffiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongJiangsu ProvinceChina
| | - Bingye Zhu
- Department of UrologyAffiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University/The Sixth People's Hospital of NantongNantongJiangsu ProvinceChina
| | - Zhouyang Cheng
- Department of General SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of NantongNantongJiangsu ProvinceChina
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Tan J, Taitz J, Sun SM, Langford L, Ni D, Macia L. Your Regulatory T Cells Are What You Eat: How Diet and Gut Microbiota Affect Regulatory T Cell Development. Front Nutr 2022; 9:878382. [PMID: 35529463 PMCID: PMC9067578 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.878382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern industrial practices have transformed the human diet over the last century, increasing the consumption of processed foods. Dietary imbalance of macro- and micro-nutrients and excessive caloric intake represent significant risk factors for various inflammatory disorders. Increased ingestion of food additives, residual contaminants from agricultural practices, food processing, and packaging can also contribute deleteriously to disease development. One common hallmark of inflammatory disorders, such as autoimmunity and allergies, is the defect in anti-inflammatory regulatory T cell (Treg) development and/or function. Treg represent a highly heterogeneous population of immunosuppressive immune cells contributing to peripheral tolerance. Tregs either develop in the thymus from autoreactive thymocytes, or in the periphery, from naïve CD4+ T cells, in response to environmental antigens and cues. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that various dietary factors can directly regulate Treg development. These dietary factors can also indirectly modulate Treg differentiation by altering the gut microbiota composition and thus the production of bacterial metabolites. This review provides an overview of Treg ontogeny, both thymic and peripherally differentiated, and highlights how diet and gut microbiota can regulate Treg development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Tan
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jemma Taitz
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shir Ming Sun
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lachlan Langford
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Duan Ni
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laurence Macia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Cytometry, The University of Sydney and The Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Laurence Macia
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13
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Wang H, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Thymic Microenvironment: Interactions Between Innate Immune Cells and Developing Thymocytes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:885280. [PMID: 35464404 PMCID: PMC9024034 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.885280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a crucial organ for the development of T cells. T cell progenitors first migrate from the bone marrow into the thymus. During the journey to become a mature T cell, progenitors require interactions with many different cell types within the thymic microenvironment, such as stromal cells, which include epithelial, mesenchymal and other non-T-lineage immune cells. There are two crucial decision steps that are required for generating mature T cells: positive and negative selection. Each of these two processes needs to be performed efficiently to produce functional MHC-restricted T cells, while simultaneously restricting the production of auto-reactive T cells. In each step, there are various cell types that are required for the process to be carried out suitably, such as scavengers to clean up apoptotic thymocytes that fail positive or negative selection, and antigen presenting cells to display self-antigens during positive and negative selection. In this review, we will focus on thymic non-T-lineage immune cells, particularly dendritic cells and macrophages, and the role they play in positive and negative selection. We will also examine recent advances in the understanding of their participation in thymus homeostasis and T cell development. This review will provide a perspective on how the thymic microenvironment contributes to thymocyte differentiation and T cell maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Wang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker,
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Yue J, Mei Q, Wang P, Miao P, Dong WF, Li L. Light-triggered multifunctional nanoplatform for efficient cancer photo-immunotherapy. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:181. [PMID: 35392911 PMCID: PMC8991811 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is limited by the immune escape of tumor cells and adverse effects. Photo-immunotherapy, the combination of immunotherapy and phototherapy (such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT)), can improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Here, we first explored mesoporous hexagonal core–shell zinc porphyrin-silica nanoparticles (MPSNs), which are composed of a zinc porphyrin core and a mesoporous silica shell, and exhibit high laser-triggered photodynamic and photothermal activity, as well as outstanding drug loading capacity. In other words, MPSNs can be used not only as excellent photosensitizers for photo-immunotherapy, but also as an ideal drug carrier to achieve more efficient synergy. After loading with R837 (imiquimod, a toll-like receptor-7 agonist), MPSNs@R837 will elicit high-efficiency immunogenic cell death via PDT and PTT, and promote dendritic cell maturation after the PH-responsive release of R837, thereby, inducing tumor-specific immune responses. When combined with a programmed death ligand-1 checkpoint blockade, the photo-immunotherapy system markedly restrains primary tumors and metastatic tumors with negligible systemic toxicity. Therefore, the therapeutic strategy of integrating PTT, PDT and checkpoint blockade, shows great potential for suppressing cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yue
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Qian Mei
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China. .,CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Suzhou, 215163, China.
| | - Panyong Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Peng Miao
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Wen-Fei Dong
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China. .,CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Suzhou, 215163, China.
| | - Li Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China. .,CAS Key Laboratory of Biomedical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Suzhou, 215163, China.
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15
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Hebbandi Nanjundappa R, Sokke Umeshappa C, Geuking MB. The impact of the gut microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:221. [PMID: 35377005 PMCID: PMC11072498 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04252-y] [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: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal microbiota is critical for the development of gut-associated lymphoid tissues, including Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, and is instrumental in educating the local as well as systemic immune system. In addition, it also impacts the development and function of peripheral organs, such as liver, lung, and the brain, in health and disease. However, whether and how the intestinal microbiota has an impact on T cell ontogeny in the hymus remains largely unclear. Recently, the impact of molecules and metabolites derived from the intestinal microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus has been investigated in more detail. In this review, we will discuss the recent findings in the emerging field of the gut-thymus axis and we will highlight the current questions and challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, IWK Research Center, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, IWK Research Center, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Markus B Geuking
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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16
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Vobořil M, Březina J, Brabec T, Dobeš J, Ballek O, Dobešová M, Manning J, Blumberg RS, Filipp D. A model of preferential pairing between epithelial and dendritic cells in thymic antigen transfer. eLife 2022; 11:71578. [PMID: 35099391 PMCID: PMC8803313 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), which produce and present self-antigens, are essential for the establishment of central tolerance. Since mTEC numbers are limited, their function is complemented by thymic dendritic cells (DCs), which transfer mTEC-produced self-antigens via cooperative antigen transfer (CAT). While CAT is required for effective T cell selection, many aspects remain enigmatic. Given the recently described heterogeneity of mTECs and DCs, it is unclear whether the antigen acquisition from a particular TEC subset is mediated by preferential pairing with a specific subset of DCs. Using several relevant Cre-based mouse models that control for the expression of fluorescent proteins, we have found that, in regards to CAT, each subset of thymic DCs preferentially targets a distinct mTEC subset(s). Importantly, XCR1+-activated DC subset represented the most potent subset in CAT. Interestingly, thymic DCs can also acquire antigens from more than one mTEC, and of these, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) were determined to be the most efficient. moDCs also represented the most potent DC subset in the acquisition of antigen from other DCs. These findings suggest a preferential pairing model for the distribution of mTEC-derived antigens among distinct populations of thymic DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matouš Vobořil
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Březina
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Brabec
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dobeš
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Ballek
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Dobešová
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jasper Manning
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Richard S Blumberg
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Dominik Filipp
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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17
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Tian Y, Huang B, Li J, Tian X, Zeng X. Identification of the Association Between Toll-Like Receptors and T-Cell Activation in Takayasu’s Arteritis. Front Immunol 2022; 12:792901. [PMID: 35126357 PMCID: PMC8812403 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.792901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore the relationships between Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the activation and differentiation of T-cells in Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK), using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, mRNA abundance of 29 target genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were detected from 27 TAK patients and 10 healthy controls. Compared with the healthy control group, the untreated TAK group and the treated TAK group had an increased mRNA level of TLR2 and TLR4. A sample-to-sample matrix revealed that 80% of healthy controls could be separated from the TAK patients. Correlation analysis showed that the inactive-treated TAK group exhibited a unique pattern of inverse correlations between the TLRs gene clusters (including TLR1/2/4/6/8, BCL6, TIGIT, NR4A1, etc) and the gene cluster associated with T-cell activation and differentiation (including TCR, CD28, T-bet, GATA3, FOXP3, CCL5, etc). The dynamic gene co-expression network indicated the TAK groups had more active communication between TLRs and T-cell activation than healthy controls. BCL6, CCL5, FOXP3, GATA3, CD28, T-bet, TIGIT, IκBα, and NR4A1 were likely to have a close functional relation with TLRs at the inactive stage. The co-expression of TLR4 and TLR6 could serve as a biomarker of disease activity in treated TAK (the area under curve/sensitivity/specificity, 0.919/100%/90.9%). The largest gene co-expression cluster of the inactive-treated TAK group was associated with TLR signaling pathways, while the largest gene co-expression cluster of the active-treated TAK group was associated with the activation and differentiation of T-cells. The miRNA sequencing of the plasma exosomes combining miRDB, DIANA-TarBase, and miRTarBase databases suggested that the miR-548 family miR-584, miR-3613, and miR-335 might play an important role in the cross-talk between TLRs and T-cells at the inactive stage. This study found a novel relation between TLRs and T-cell in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, proposed a new concept of TLR-co-expression signature which might distinguish different disease activity of TAK, and highlighted the miRNA of exosomes in TLR signaling pathway in TAK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Tian
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Biqing Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Li, ; Xiaofeng Zeng,
| | - Xinping Tian
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Li, ; Xiaofeng Zeng,
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18
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Zhou TA, Hsu HP, Tu YH, Cheng HK, Lin CY, Chen NJ, Tsai JW, Robey EA, Huang HC, Hsu CL, Dzhagalov IL. Thymic macrophages consist of two populations with distinct localization and origin. eLife 2022; 11:75148. [PMID: 36449334 PMCID: PMC9754631 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue-resident macrophages are essential to protect from pathogen invasion and maintain organ homeostasis. The ability of thymic macrophages to engulf apoptotic thymocytes is well appreciated, but little is known about their ontogeny, maintenance, and diversity. Here, we characterized the surface phenotype and transcriptional profile of these cells and defined their expression signature. Thymic macrophages were most closely related to spleen red pulp macrophages and Kupffer cells and shared the expression of the transcription factor (TF) SpiC with these cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) showed that the macrophages in the adult thymus are composed of two populations distinguished by the expression of Timd4 and Cx3cr1. Remarkably, Timd4+ cells were located in the cortex, while Cx3cr1+ macrophages were restricted to the medulla and the cortico-medullary junction. Using shield chimeras, transplantation of embryonic thymuses, and genetic fate mapping, we found that the two populations have distinct origins. Timd4+ thymic macrophages are of embryonic origin, while Cx3cr1+ macrophages are derived from adult hematopoietic stem cells. Aging has a profound effect on the macrophages in the thymus. Timd4+ cells underwent gradual attrition, while Cx3cr1+ cells slowly accumulated with age and, in older mice, were the dominant macrophage population in the thymus. Altogether, our work defines the phenotype, origin, and diversity of thymic macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyng-An Zhou
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Hsuan-Po Hsu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yueh-Hua Tu
- Bioinformatics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Institute of Information Science, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Hui-Kuei Cheng
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chih-Yu Lin
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Nien-Jung Chen
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Jin-Wu Tsai
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ellen A Robey
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Hsuan-Cheng Huang
- Bioinformatics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Institute of Information Science, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan,Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chia-Lin Hsu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ivan L Dzhagalov
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
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19
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Vollmann EH, Rattay K, Barreiro O, Thiriot A, Fuhlbrigge RA, Vrbanac V, Kim KW, Jung S, Tager AM, von Andrian UH. Specialized transendothelial dendritic cells mediate thymic T-cell selection against blood-borne macromolecules. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6230. [PMID: 34711828 PMCID: PMC8553756 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells undergo rigorous selection in the thymus to ensure self-tolerance and prevent autoimmunity, with this process requiring innocuous self-antigens (Ags) to be presented to thymocytes. Self-Ags are either expressed by thymic stroma cells or transported to the thymus from the periphery by migratory dendritic cells (DCs); meanwhile, small blood-borne peptides can access the thymic parenchyma by diffusing across the vascular lining. Here we describe an additional pathway of thymic Ag acquisition that enables circulating antigenic macromolecules to access both murine and human thymi. This pathway depends on a subset of thymus-resident DCs, distinct from both parenchymal and circulating migratory DCs, that are positioned in immediate proximity to thymic microvessels where they extend cellular processes across the endothelial barrier into the blood stream. Transendothelial positioning of DCs depends on DC-expressed CX3CR1 and its endothelial ligand, CX3CL1, and disrupting this chemokine pathway prevents thymic acquisition of circulating proteins and compromises negative selection of Ag-reactive thymocytes. Thus, transendothelial DCs represent a mechanism by which the thymus can actively acquire blood-borne Ags to induce and maintain central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth H Vollmann
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kristin Rattay
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Institute of Pharmacology, Biochemical Pharmacological Center, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Olga Barreiro
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aude Thiriot
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rebecca A Fuhlbrigge
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vladimir Vrbanac
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Humanized Immune System Mouse Program (HISMP), Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ki-Wook Kim
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Steffen Jung
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ulrich H von Andrian
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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20
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Srinivasan J, Lancaster JN, Singarapu N, Hale LP, Ehrlich LIR, Richie ER. Age-Related Changes in Thymic Central Tolerance. Front Immunol 2021; 12:676236. [PMID: 33968086 PMCID: PMC8100025 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.676236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and hematopoietic antigen presenting cells (HAPCs) in the thymus microenvironment provide essential signals to self-reactive thymocytes that induce either negative selection or generation of regulatory T cells (Treg), both of which are required to establish and maintain central tolerance throughout life. HAPCs and TECs are comprised of multiple subsets that play distinct and overlapping roles in central tolerance. Changes that occur in the composition and function of TEC and HAPC subsets across the lifespan have potential consequences for central tolerance. In keeping with this possibility, there are age-associated changes in the cellular composition and function of T cells and Treg. This review summarizes changes in T cell and Treg function during the perinatal to adult transition and in the course of normal aging, and relates these changes to age-associated alterations in thymic HAPC and TEC subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayashree Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | | | - Nandini Singarapu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Laura P Hale
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Lauren I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Ellen R Richie
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
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21
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Laan M, Salumets A, Klein A, Reintamm K, Bichele R, Peterson H, Peterson P. Post-Aire Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells and Hassall's Corpuscles as Inducers of Tonic Pro-Inflammatory Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:635569. [PMID: 33868260 PMCID: PMC8050345 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.635569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While there is convincing evidence on the role of Aire-positive medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) in the induction of central tolerance, the nature and function of post-Aire mTECs and Hassall's corpuscles have remained enigmatic. Here we summarize the existing data on these late stages of mTEC differentiation with special focus on their potential to contribute to central tolerance induction by triggering the unique pro-inflammatory microenvironment in the thymus. In order to complement the existing evidence that has been obtained from mouse models, we performed proteomic analysis on microdissected samples from human thymic medullary areas at different differentiation stages. The analysis confirms that at the post-Aire stages, the mTECs lose their nuclei but maintain machinery required for translation and exocytosis and also upregulate proteins specific to keratinocyte differentiation and cornification. In addition, at the late stages of differentiation, the human mTECs display a distinct pro-inflammatory signature, including upregulation of the potent endogenous TLR4 agonist S100A8/S100A9. Collectively, the study suggests a novel mechanism by which the post-Aire mTECs and Hassall's corpuscles contribute to the thymic microenvironment with potential cues on the induction of central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martti Laan
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ahto Salumets
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Annabel Klein
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kerli Reintamm
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Rudolf Bichele
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Hedi Peterson
- Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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22
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Bautista JL, Cramer NT, Miller CN, Chavez J, Berrios DI, Byrnes LE, Germino J, Ntranos V, Sneddon JB, Burt TD, Gardner JM, Ye CJ, Anderson MS, Parent AV. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of human thymic stroma uncovers novel cellular heterogeneity in the thymic medulla. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1096. [PMID: 33597545 PMCID: PMC7889611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21346-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus' key function in the immune system is to provide the necessary environment for the development of diverse and self-tolerant T lymphocytes. While recent evidence suggests that the thymic stroma is comprised of more functionally distinct subpopulations than previously appreciated, the extent of this cellular heterogeneity in the human thymus is not well understood. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively profile the human thymic stroma across multiple stages of life. Mesenchyme, pericytes and endothelial cells are identified as potential key regulators of thymic epithelial cell differentiation and thymocyte migration. In-depth analyses of epithelial cells reveal the presence of ionocytes as a medullary population, while the expression of tissue-specific antigens is mapped to different subsets of epithelial cells. This work thus provides important insight on how the diversity of thymic cells is established, and how this heterogeneity contributes to the induction of immune tolerance in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhoanne L Bautista
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nathan T Cramer
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Chavez
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David I Berrios
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lauren E Byrnes
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joe Germino
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vasilis Ntranos
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Julie B Sneddon
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Trevor D Burt
- Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology and the Children's Health & Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James M Gardner
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chun J Ye
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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23
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Marx A, Yamada Y, Simon-Keller K, Schalke B, Willcox N, Ströbel P, Weis CA. Thymus and autoimmunity. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:45-64. [PMID: 33537838 PMCID: PMC7925479 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00842-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The thymus prevents autoimmune diseases through mechanisms that operate in the cortex and medulla, comprising positive and negative selection and the generation of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Egress from the thymus through the perivascular space (PVS) to the blood is another possible checkpoint, as shown by some autoimmune/immunodeficiency syndromes. In polygenic autoimmune diseases, subtle thymic dysfunctions may compound genetic, hormonal and environmental cues. Here, we cover (a) tolerance-inducing cell types, whether thymic epithelial or tuft cells, or dendritic, B- or thymic myoid cells; (b) tolerance-inducing mechanisms and their failure in relation to thymic anatomic compartments, and with special emphasis on human monogenic and polygenic autoimmune diseases and the related thymic pathologies, if known; (c) polymorphisms and mutations of tolerance-related genes with an impact on positive selection (e.g. the gene encoding the thymoproteasome-specific subunit, PSMB11), promiscuous gene expression (e.g. AIRE, PRKDC, FEZF2, CHD4), Treg development (e.g. SATB1, FOXP3), T-cell migration (e.g. TAGAP) and egress from the thymus (e.g. MTS1, CORO1A); (d) myasthenia gravis as the prototypic outcome of an inflamed or disordered neoplastic ‘sick thymus’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Yosuke Yamada
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Katja Simon-Keller
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Berthold Schalke
- Department of Neurology, Bezirkskrankenhaus, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nick Willcox
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttigen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cleo-Aron Weis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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24
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Li N, Wang L, Cao N, Zhang L, Han X, Yang L. Early pregnancy affects the expression of toll-like receptor pathway in ovine thymus. Reprod Biol 2020; 20:547-554. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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