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You Y, Dunst J, Ye K, Sandoz PA, Reinhardt A, Sandrock I, Comet NR, Sarkar RD, Yang E, Duprez E, Agudo J, Brown BD, Utz PJ, Kastenmüller W, Gerlach C, Prinz I, Önfelt B, Kreslavsky T. Direct presentation of inflammation-associated self-antigens by thymic innate-like T cells induces elimination of autoreactive CD8 + thymocytes. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1367-1382. [PMID: 38992254 PMCID: PMC11291280 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01899-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Upregulation of diverse self-antigens that constitute components of the inflammatory response overlaps spatially and temporally with the emergence of pathogen-derived foreign antigens. Therefore, discrimination between these inflammation-associated self-antigens and pathogen-derived molecules represents a unique challenge for the adaptive immune system. Here, we demonstrate that CD8+ T cell tolerance to T cell-derived inflammation-associated self-antigens is efficiently induced in the thymus and supported by redundancy in cell types expressing these molecules. In addition to thymic epithelial cells, this included thymic eosinophils and innate-like T cells, a population that expressed molecules characteristic for all major activated T cell subsets. We show that direct T cell-to-T cell antigen presentation by minute numbers of innate-like T cells was sufficient to eliminate autoreactive CD8+ thymocytes. Tolerance to such effector molecules was of critical importance, as its breach caused by decreased thymic abundance of a single model inflammation-associated self-antigen resulted in autoimmune elimination of an entire class of effector T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan You
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Josefine Dunst
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kewei Ye
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick A Sandoz
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annika Reinhardt
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inga Sandrock
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Natalia R Comet
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rupak Dey Sarkar
- Max Planck Research Group, Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Emily Yang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Estelle Duprez
- Epigenetic Factors in Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis Lab, CRCM, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Judith Agudo
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian D Brown
- The Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul J Utz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wolfgang Kastenmüller
- Max Planck Research Group, Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carmen Gerlach
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Immo Prinz
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Systems Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Björn Önfelt
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Taras Kreslavsky
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Ashby KM, Vobořil M, Salgado OC, Lee ST, Martinez RJ, O'Connor CH, Breed ER, Xuan S, Roll CR, Bachigari S, Heiland H, Stetson DB, Kotenko SV, Hogquist KA. Sterile production of interferons in the thymus affects T cell repertoire selection. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadp1139. [PMID: 39058762 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adp1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Type I and III interferons (IFNs) are robustly induced during infections and protect cells against viral infection. Both type I and III IFNs are also produced at low levels in the thymus at steady state; however, their role in T cell development and immune tolerance is unclear. Here, we found that both type I and III IFNs were constitutively produced by a very small number of AIRE+ murine thymic epithelial cells, independent of microbial stimulation. Antigen-presenting cells were highly responsive to thymic IFNs, and IFNs were required for the activation and maturation of thymic type 1 conventional dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells. Loss of IFN sensing led to reduced regulatory T cell selection, reduced T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity, and enhanced autoreactive T cell responses to self-antigens expressed during peripheral IFN signaling. Thus, constitutive exposure to IFNs in the thymus is required for generating a tolerant and diverse TCR repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Maude Ashby
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Matouš Vobořil
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Oscar C Salgado
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - S Thera Lee
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ryan J Martinez
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christine H O'Connor
- Research Informatics Solutions, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Group, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Elise R Breed
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Shuya Xuan
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Charles R Roll
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Saumith Bachigari
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Hattie Heiland
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Daniel B Stetson
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- Center for Immunology, Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Liu T, Xia S. The Proteostasis of Thymic Stromal Cells in Health and Diseases. Protein J 2024; 43:447-463. [PMID: 38622349 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-024-10197-x] [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] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The thymus is the key immune organ for the development of T cells. Different populations of thymic stromal cells interact with T cells, thereby controlling the dynamic development of T cells through their differentiation and function. Proteostasis represents a balance between protein expression, folding, and modification and protein clearance, and its fluctuation usually depends at least partially on related protein regulatory systems for further survival and effects. However, in terms of the substantial requirement for self-antigens and their processing burden, increasing evidence highlights that protein regulation contributes to the physiological effects of thymic stromal cells. Impaired proteostasis may expedite the progression of thymic involution and dysfunction, accompanied by the development of autoimmune diseases or thymoma. Hence, in this review, we summarize the regulation of proteostasis within different types of thymic stromal cells under physiological and pathological conditions to identify potential targets for thymic regeneration and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Sheng Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
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Qian H, Deng C, Chen S, Zhang X, He Y, Lan J, Wang A, Shi G, Liu Y. Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:103. [PMID: 38783357 PMCID: PMC11112866 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03343-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a central role in RA pathogenesis and are the main cellular component in the inflamed synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). FLSs are emerging as promising new therapeutic targets in RA. However, fibroblasts perform many essential functions that are required for sustaining tissue homeostasis. Direct targeting of general fibroblast markers on FLSs is challenging because fibroblasts in other tissues might be altered and side effects such as reduced wound healing or fibrosis can occur. To date, no FLS-specific targeted therapies have been applied in the clinical management of RA. With the help of high-throughput technologies such as scRNA-seq in recent years, several specific pathogenic FLS subsets in RA have been identified. Understanding the characteristics of these pathogenic FLS clusters and the mechanisms that drive their differentiation can provide new insights into the development of novel FLS-targeting strategies for RA. Here, we discuss the pathogenic FLS subsets in RA that have been elucidated in recent years and potential strategies for targeting pathogenic FLSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Qian
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Chaoqiong Deng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Shiju Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Xinwei Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Yan He
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Jingying Lan
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Aodi Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China
| | - Guixiu Shi
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55th, Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Municipal Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xiamen, XM, 361000, China.
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5
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Stankiewicz LN, Rossi FMV, Zandstra PW. Rebuilding and rebooting immunity with stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:597-616. [PMID: 38593798 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Advances in modern medicine have enabled a rapid increase in lifespan and, consequently, have highlighted the immune system as a key driver of age-related disease. Immune regeneration therapies present exciting strategies to address age-related diseases by rebooting the host's primary lymphoid tissues or rebuilding the immune system directly via biomaterials or artificial tissue. Here, we identify important, unanswered questions regarding the safety and feasibility of these therapies. Further, we identify key design parameters that should be primary considerations guiding technology design, including timing of application, interaction with the host immune system, and functional characterization of the target patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Stankiewicz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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6
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Karabayas M, Ibrahim HE, Roelofs AJ, Reynolds G, Kidder D, De Bari C. Vascular disease persistence in giant cell arteritis: are stromal cells neglected? Ann Rheum Dis 2024:ard-2023-225270. [PMID: 38684323 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-225270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), the most common systemic vasculitis, is characterised by aberrant interactions between infiltrating and resident cells of the vessel wall. Ageing and breach of tolerance are prerequisites for GCA development, resulting in dendritic and T-cell dysfunction. Inflammatory cytokines polarise T-cells, activate resident macrophages and synergistically enhance vascular inflammation, providing a loop of autoreactivity. These events originate in the adventitia, commonly regarded as the biological epicentre of the vessel wall, with additional recruitment of cells that infiltrate and migrate towards the intima. Thus, GCA-vessels exhibit infiltrates across the vascular layers, with various cytokines and growth factors amplifying the pathogenic process. These events activate ineffective repair mechanisms, where dysfunctional vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts phenotypically shift along their lineage and colonise the intima. While high-dose glucocorticoids broadly suppress these inflammatory events, they cause well known deleterious effects. Despite the emerging targeted therapeutics, disease relapse remains common, affecting >50% of patients. This may reflect a discrepancy between systemic and local mediators of inflammation. Indeed, temporal arteries and aortas of GCA-patients can show immune-mediated abnormalities, despite the treatment induced clinical remission. The mechanisms of persistence of vascular disease in GCA remain elusive. Studies in other chronic inflammatory diseases point to the fibroblasts (and their lineage cells including myofibroblasts) as possible orchestrators or even effectors of disease chronicity through interactions with immune cells. Here, we critically review the contribution of immune and stromal cells to GCA pathogenesis and analyse the molecular mechanisms by which these would underpin the persistence of vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maira Karabayas
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Hafeez E Ibrahim
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Anke J Roelofs
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Gary Reynolds
- Centre for Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dana Kidder
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Cosimo De Bari
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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7
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Montero-Herradón S, García-Ceca J, Villarejo-Torres M, Zapata AG. Peripheral T-cell responses of EphB2- and EphB3-deficient mice in a model of collagen-induced arthritis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:159. [PMID: 38558087 PMCID: PMC10984909 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05197-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Both EphB2- and EphB3-deficient mice exhibit profound histological alterations in the thymic epithelial network but few changes in T-cell differentiation, suggesting that this organization would be sufficient to produce functional T lymphocytes. Also, other antigen-presenting cells involved in immunological education could substitute the thymic epithelium. Accordingly, we found an increased frequency of plasmacytoid dendritic cells but not of conventional dendritic cells, medullary fibroblasts or intrathymic B lymphocytes. In addition, there are no lymphoid infiltrates in the organs of mutant mice nor do they contain circulating autoantibodies. Furthermore, attempts to induce arthritic lesions after chicken type II collagen administration fail totally in EphB2-deficient mice whereas all WT and half of the immunized EphB3-/- mice develop a typical collagen-induced arthritis. Our results point out that Th17 cells, IL4-producing Th2 cells and regulatory T cells are key for the induction of disease, but mutant mice appear to have deficits in T cell activation or cell migration properties. EphB2-/- T cells show reduced in vitro proliferative responses to anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies, produce low levels of anti-type II collagen antibodies, and exhibit low proportions of T follicular helper cells. On the contrary, EphB3-/- lymph node cells respond accurately to the different immune stimuli although in lower levels than WT cells but show a significantly reduced migration in in vitro transwell assays, suggesting that no sufficient type II collagen-dependent activated lymphoid cells reached the joints, resulting in reduced arthritic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Montero-Herradón
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier García-Ceca
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Villarejo-Torres
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín G Zapata
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041, Madrid, Spain.
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Shirafkan F, Hensel L, Rattay K. Immune tolerance and the prevention of autoimmune diseases essentially depend on thymic tissue homeostasis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1339714. [PMID: 38571951 PMCID: PMC10987875 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate balance of immune reactions towards invading pathogens and immune tolerance towards self is pivotal in preventing autoimmune diseases, with the thymus playing a central role in establishing and maintaining this equilibrium. The induction of central immune tolerance in the thymus involves the elimination of self-reactive T cells, a mechanism essential for averting autoimmunity. Disruption of the thymic T cell selection mechanisms can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. In the dynamic microenvironment of the thymus, T cell migration and interactions with thymic stromal cells are critical for the selection processes that ensure self-tolerance. Thymic epithelial cells are particularly significant in this context, presenting self-antigens and inducing the negative selection of autoreactive T cells. Further, the synergistic roles of thymic fibroblasts, B cells, and dendritic cells in antigen presentation, selection and the development of regulatory T cells are pivotal in maintaining immune responses tightly regulated. This review article collates these insights, offering a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted role of thymic tissue homeostasis in the establishment of immune tolerance and its implications in the prevention of autoimmune diseases. Additionally, the developmental pathways of the thymus are explored, highlighting how genetic aberrations can disrupt thymic architecture and function, leading to autoimmune conditions. The impact of infections on immune tolerance is another critical area, with pathogens potentially triggering autoimmunity by altering thymic homeostasis. Overall, this review underscores the integral role of thymic tissue homeostasis in the prevention of autoimmune diseases, discussing insights into potential therapeutic strategies and examining putative avenues for future research on developing thymic-based therapies in treating and preventing autoimmune conditions.
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Miccoli A, Pianese V, Bidoli C, Fausto AM, Scapigliati G, Picchietti S. Transcriptome profiling of microdissected cortex and medulla unravels functional regionalization in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax thymus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 145:109319. [PMID: 38145782 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a sophisticated primary lymphoid organ in jawed vertebrates, but knowledge on teleost thymus remains scarce. In this study, for the first time in the European sea bass, laser capture microdissection was leveraged to collect two thymic regions based on histological features, namely the cortex and the medulla. The two regions were then processed by RNAseq and in-depth functional transcriptome analyses with the aim of revealing differential gene expression patterns and gene sets enrichments, ultimately unraveling unique microenvironments imperative for the development of functional T cells. The sea bass cortex emerged as a hub of T cell commitment, somatic recombination, chromatin remodeling, cell cycle regulation, and presentation of self antigens from autophagy-, proteasome- or proteases-processed proteins. The cortex therefore accommodated extensive thymocyte proliferation and differentiation up to the checkpoint of positive selection. The medulla instead appeared as the center stage in autoimmune regulation by negative selection and deletion of autoreactive T cells, central tolerance mechanisms and extracellular matrix organization. Region-specific canonical markers of T and non-T lineage cells as well as signals for migration to/from, and trafficking within, the thymus were identified, shedding light on the highly coordinated and exquisitely complex bi-directional interactions among thymocytes and stromal components. Markers ascribable to thymic nurse cells and poorly characterized post-aire mTEC populations were found in the cortex and medulla, respectively. An in-depth data mining also exposed previously un-annotated genomic resources with differential signatures. Overall, our findings contribute to a broader understanding of the relationship between regional organization and function in the European sea bass thymus, and provide essential insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying T-cell mediated adaptive immune responses in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Miccoli
- National Research Council, Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - V Pianese
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - C Bidoli
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - A M Fausto
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - G Scapigliati
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - S Picchietti
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
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Noel JC, Lagassé D, Golding B, Sauna ZE. Emerging approaches to induce immune tolerance to therapeutic proteins. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:1028-1042. [PMID: 37903706 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Immunogenicity affects the safety and efficacy of therapeutic proteins. This review is focused on approaches for inducing immunological tolerance to circumvent the immunogenicity of therapeutic proteins in the clinic. The few immune tolerance strategies that are used in the clinic tend to be inefficient and expensive and typically involve global immunosuppression, putting patients at risk of infections. The hallmark of a desirable immune tolerance regimen is the specific alleviation of immune responses to the therapeutic protein. In the past decade, proof-of-principle studies have demonstrated that emerging technologies, including nanoparticle-based delivery of immunomodulators, cellular targeting and depletion, cellular engineering, gene therapy, and gene editing, can be leveraged to promote tolerance to therapeutic proteins. We discuss the potential of these novel approaches and the barriers that need to be overcome for translation into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine C Noel
- Division of Hemostasis, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Lagassé
- Division of Hemostasis, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Basil Golding
- Division of Plasma Derivatives, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Zuben E Sauna
- Division of Hemostasis, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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11
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Zhong X, Chen J, Wen B, Wu X, Li M, Du F, Chen Y, Deng S, Zhao Y, Shen J, Xiao Z. Potential role of mesenchymal stem cells in T cell aging. J Mol Med (Berl) 2023; 101:1365-1378. [PMID: 37750918 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02371-y] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Immunosenescence occurs with progressive age. T cell aging is manifested by immunodeficiency and inflammation. The main mechanisms are thymic involution, mitochondrial dysfunction, genetic and epigenetic alterations, loss of protein stability, reduction of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, naïve-memory T cell ratio imbalance, T cell senescence, and lack of effector plasticity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are thought to hold great potential as anti-aging therapy. However, the role of MCSs in T cell aging remains elusive. This review makes a tentative summary of the potential role of MSCs in the protection against T cell aging. It might provide a new idea to intervene in the aging of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Zhong
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Department of Pharmacy, People's Hospital of Nanbu County, Nanchong, 637300, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Wen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
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12
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Yayon N, Kedlian VR, Boehme L, Suo C, Wachter B, Beuschel RT, Amsalem O, Polanski K, Koplev S, Tuck E, Dann E, Van Hulle J, Perera S, Putteman T, Predeus AV, Dabrowska M, Richardson L, Tudor C, Kreins AY, Engelbert J, Stephenson E, Kleshchevnikov V, De Rita F, Crossland D, Bosticardo M, Pala F, Prigmore E, Chipampe NJ, Prete M, Fei L, To K, Barker RA, He X, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Bayraktar O, Patel M, Davies GE, Haniffa MA, Uhlmann V, Notarangelo LD, Germain RN, Radtke AJ, Marioni JC, Taghon T, Teichmann SA. A spatial human thymus cell atlas mapped to a continuous tissue axis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.25.562925. [PMID: 37986877 PMCID: PMC10659407 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.25.562925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
T cells develop from circulating precursors, which enter the thymus and migrate throughout specialised sub-compartments to support maturation and selection. This process starts already in early fetal development and is highly active until the involution of the thymus in adolescence. To map the micro-anatomical underpinnings of this process in pre- vs. post-natal states, we undertook a spatially resolved analysis and established a new quantitative morphological framework for the thymus, the Cortico-Medullary Axis. Using this axis in conjunction with the curation of a multimodal single-cell, spatial transcriptomics and high-resolution multiplex imaging atlas, we show that canonical thymocyte trajectories and thymic epithelial cells are highly organised and fully established by post-conception week 12, pinpoint TEC progenitor states, find that TEC subsets and peripheral tissue genes are associated with Hassall's Corpuscles and uncover divergence in the pace and drivers of medullary entry between CD4 vs. CD8 T cell lineages. These findings are complemented with a holistic toolkit for spatial analysis and annotation, providing a basis for a detailed understanding of T lymphocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Yayon
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lena Boehme
- Ghent University, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chenqu Suo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Brianna Wachter
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca T Beuschel
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Lymphocyte Biology Section and Center for Advanced Tissue Imaging, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Oren Amsalem
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Simon Koplev
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Tuck
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Dann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jolien Van Hulle
- Ghent University, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Shani Perera
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Putteman
- Ghent University, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Monika Dabrowska
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Richardson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Tudor
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Y Kreins
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Immunology and Gene Therapy, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research & Teaching Department, London, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Engelbert
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Stephenson
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Fabrizio De Rita
- Freeman Hospital, Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David Crossland
- Freeman Hospital, Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Marita Bosticardo
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Francesca Pala
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Elena Prigmore
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Martin Prete
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lijiang Fei
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ken To
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roger A Barker
- University of Cambridge, John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaoling He
- University of Cambridge, John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Ghent University, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Omer Bayraktar
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Minal Patel
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Graham E Davies
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Immunology and Gene Therapy, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research & Teaching Department, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muzlifah A Haniffa
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Virginie Uhlmann
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Luigi D Notarangelo
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ronald N Germain
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Lymphocyte Biology Section and Center for Advanced Tissue Imaging, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Andrea J Radtke
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Lymphocyte Biology Section and Center for Advanced Tissue Imaging, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John C Marioni
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Taghon
- Ghent University, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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13
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Su X, Li X, Wang S, Xue X, Liu R, Bai X, Gong P, Feng C, Cao L, Wang T, Ding Y, Jiang J, Chen Y, Shi Y, Shao C. Nitric oxide-dependent immunosuppressive function of thymus-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells. Biol Direct 2023; 18:59. [PMID: 37723551 PMCID: PMC10506207 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00415-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thymus is required for T cell development and the formation of the adaptive immunity. Stromal cells, which include thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), are essential for thymic function. However, the immunomodulatory function of thymus-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) has not been fully explored. METHODS MSCs were isolated from mouse thymus and their general characteristics including surface markers and multi-differentiation potential were characterized. The immunomodulatory function of T-MSCs stimulated by IFN-γ and TNF-α was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of MSCs in the thymus was interrogated by using tdTomato-flox mice corssed to various MSC lineage Cre recombinase lines. RESULTS A subset of T-MSCs express Nestin, and are mainly distributed in the thymic medulla region and cortical-medulla junction, but not in the capsule. The Nestin-positive T-MSCs exhibit typical immunophenotypic characteristics and differentiation potential. Additionally, when stimulated with IFN-γ and TNF-α, they can inhibit activated T lymphocytes as efficiently as BM-MSCs, and this function is dependent on the production of nitric oxide (NO). Additionally, the T-MSCs exhibit a remarkable therapeutic efficacy in acute liver injury and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CONCLUSIONS Nestin-positive MSCs are mainly distributed in medulla and cortical-medulla junction in thymus and possess immunosuppressive ability upon stimulation by inflammatory cytokines. The findings have implications in understanding the physiological function of MSCs in thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Su
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Xiaolei Li
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Shiqing Wang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Xiaotong Xue
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Rui Liu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Xiaojing Bai
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Pixia Gong
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Chao Feng
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Lijuan Cao
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yayun Ding
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Junjie Jiang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yongjing Chen
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yufang Shi
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
| | - Changshun Shao
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
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14
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Gatti DM, Gauthier CM, Moeller BE, FitzPatrick RD, Kennedy MHE, Pluzhnikova V, Conway KME, Smazynski J, Chow RL, Reynolds LA. MHCII+CD80+ thymic eosinophils increase in abundance during neonatal development in mice and their accumulation is microbiota dependent. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 114:223-236. [PMID: 37227004 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils are present in the thymus of mammals, yet their function at this site during homeostatic development is unknown. We used flow cytometry to determine the abundance and phenotype of eosinophils (here defined as SSchigh SiglecF+ CD11b+ CD45+ cells) in the thymus of mice during the neonatal period, the later postnatal period, and into adulthood. We show that both the total number of thymic eosinophils and their frequency among leukocytes increase over the first 2 wk of life and that their accumulation in the thymus is dependent on the presence of an intact bacterial microbiota. We report that thymic eosinophils express the interleukin-5 receptor (CD125), CD80, and IDO, and that subsets of thymic eosinophils express CD11c and major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII). We found that the frequency of MHCII-expressing thymic eosinophils increases over the first 2 wk of life, and that during this early-life period the highest frequency of MHCII-expressing thymic eosinophils is located in the inner medullary region. These data suggest a temporal and microbiota-dependent regulation of eosinophil abundance and functional capabilities in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique M Gatti
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Courtney M Gauthier
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Brandon E Moeller
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Rachael D FitzPatrick
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Mia H E Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Victoria Pluzhnikova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Kate M E Conway
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Julian Smazynski
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, 2410 Lee Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 6VSCanada
| | - Robert L Chow
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Lisa A Reynolds
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
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15
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Stankiewicz LN, Salim K, Flaschner EA, Wang YX, Edgar JM, Lin BZB, Bingham GC, Major MC, Jones RD, Blau HM, Rideout EJ, Levings MK, Zandstra PW, Rossi FMV. Sex biased human thymic architecture guides T cell development through spatially defined niches. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.13.536804. [PMID: 37090676 PMCID: PMC10120731 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.13.536804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Within the thymus, regulation of the cellular cross-talk directing T cell development is dependent on spatial interactions within specialized niches. To create a holistic, spatially defined map of tissue niches guiding postnatal T cell development we employed the multidimensional imaging platform CO-detection by indEXing (CODEX), as well as CITE-seq and ATAC-seq. We generated age-matched 4-5-month-old postnatal thymus datasets for male and female donors, and identify significant sex differences in both T cell and thymus biology. We demonstrate a crucial role for JAG ligands in directing thymic-like dendritic cell development, reveal important functions of a novel population of ECM- fibroblasts, and characterize the medullary niches surrounding Hassall's corpuscles. Together, these data represent a unique age-matched spatial multiomic resource to investigate how sex-based differences in thymus regulation and T cell development arise, and provide an essential resource to understand the mechanisms underlying immune function and dysfunction in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Salim
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Emily A Flaschner
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yu Xin Wang
- Center for Genetic Disorders and Aging, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - John M Edgar
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bruce ZB Lin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Grace C Bingham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA
| | - Matthew C Major
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ross D Jones
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Helen M Blau
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | | | - Megan K Levings
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Canada
- These authors contributed equally
- Lead contact
| | - Fabio MV Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- These authors contributed equally
- Lead contact
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16
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Abstract
The theory that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are immunosuppressive cells has prevailed throughout the past decade. However, recent high-throughput, high-resolution mesenchyme-directed single-cell studies have harnessed computational advances to functionally characterize cell states, highlighting the existence of immunostimulatory CAFs. Our group and others have uncovered and experimentally substantiated key functions of cancer antigen-presenting CAFs in T cell immunity, both in vitro and in vivo, refuting the conventional assumption that CAFs impede adaptive immune rejection of tumours. In this Perspective, I unify the follicular and non-follicular, non-endothelial stroma of tumours under the 'peripheral adaptive immune mesenchyme' framework and position subsets of CAFs as direct positive regulators of the adaptive immune system. Building on the understanding of cancer antigen presentation by CAFs and the second touch hypothesis, which postulates that full T cell polarization requires interaction with antigen-presenting cells in the non-lymphoid tissue where the antigen resides, I re-design the 'cancer-immunity cycle' to incorporate intratumoural activation of cancer-specific CD4+ T cells. Lastly, a road map to therapeutic harnessing of immunostimulatory CAF states is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsoumakidou
- Institute of Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece.
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17
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Shen X, Wang M, Chen W, Xu Y, Zhou Q, Zhu T, Wang G, Cai S, Han Y, Xu C, Wang W, Meng L, Sun H. Senescence-related genes define prognosis, immune contexture, and pharmacological response in gastric cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:2891-2905. [PMID: 37100457 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
As one of the prevalent tumors worldwide, gastric cancer (GC) has obtained sufficient attention in its clinical management and prognostic stratification. Senescence-related genes are involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of GC. A machine learning algorithm-based prognostic signature was developed from six senescence-related genes including SERPINE1, FEN1, PDGFRB, SNCG, TCF3, and APOC3. The TCGA-STAD cohort was utilized as a training set while the GSE84437 and GSE13861 cohorts were analyzed for validation. Immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy efficacy were investigated in the PRJEB25780 cohort. Data from the genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) database revealed pharmacological response. The GSE13861 and GSE54129 cohorts, single-cell dataset GSE134520, and The Human Protein Atlas (THPA) database were utilized for localization of the key senescence-related genes. Association of a higher risk-score with worse overall survival (OS) was identified in the training cohort (TCGA-STAD, P<0.001; HR = 2.03, 95% CI, 1.45-2.84) and the validation cohorts (GSE84437, P = 0.005; HR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.16-1.95; GSE13861, P = 0.03; HR = 2.23, 95% CI, 1.07-4.62). The risk-score was positively correlated with densities of tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive cells (P < 0.05) and was lower in patients who responded to pembrolizumab monotherapy (P = 0.03). Besides, patients with a high risk-score had higher sensitivities to the inhibitors against the PI3K-mTOR and angiogenesis (P < 0.05). Expression analysis verified the promoting roles of FEN1, PDGFRB, SERPINE1, and TCF3, and the suppressing roles of APOC3 and SNCG in GC, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining and single-cell analysis revealed their location and potential origins. Taken together, the senescence gene-based model may potentially change the management of GC by enabling risk stratification and predicting response to systemic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaogang Shen
- Departments of gastrointestinal surgery, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Yu Xu
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Chunwei Xu
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenxian Wang
- Department of Clinical Trial, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Meng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
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18
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Heimli M, Flåm ST, Hjorthaug HS, Trinh D, Frisk M, Dumont KA, Ribarska T, Tekpli X, Saare M, Lie BA. Multimodal human thymic profiling reveals trajectories and cellular milieu for T agonist selection. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1092028. [PMID: 36741401 PMCID: PMC9895842 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1092028] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
To prevent autoimmunity, thymocytes expressing self-reactive T cell receptors (TCRs) are negatively selected, however, divergence into tolerogenic, agonist selected lineages represent an alternative fate. As thymocyte development, selection, and lineage choices are dependent on spatial context and cell-to-cell interactions, we have performed Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq) and spatial transcriptomics on paediatric human thymus. Thymocytes expressing markers of strong TCR signalling diverged from the conventional developmental trajectory prior to CD4+ or CD8+ lineage commitment, while markers of different agonist selected T cell populations (CD8αα(I), CD8αα(II), T(agonist), Treg(diff), and Treg) exhibited variable timing of induction. Expression profiles of chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules, together with spatial localisation, supported that dendritic cells, B cells, and stromal cells contribute to agonist selection, with different subsets influencing thymocytes at specific developmental stages within distinct spatial niches. Understanding factors influencing agonist T cells is needed to benefit from their immunoregulatory effects in clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marte Heimli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siri Tennebø Flåm
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Don Trinh
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael Frisk
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,KG Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karl-Andreas Dumont
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Teodora Ribarska
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Xavier Tekpli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mario Saare
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedicte Alexandra Lie
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,*Correspondence: Benedicte Alexandra Lie,
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19
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Depoërs L, Dumont-Lagacé M, Trinh VQH, Houques C, Côté C, Larouche JD, Brochu S, Perreault C. Klf4 protects thymus integrity during late pregnancy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1016378. [PMID: 37180153 PMCID: PMC10174329 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1016378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy causes abrupt thymic atrophy. This atrophy is characterized by a severe decrease in the number of all thymocyte subsets and qualitative (but not quantitative) changes in thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Pregnancy-related thymic involution is triggered by progesterone-induced functional changes affecting mainly cortical TECs (cTECs). Remarkably, this severe involution is rapidly corrected following parturition. We postulated that understanding the mechanisms of pregnancy-related thymic changes could provide novel insights into signaling pathways regulating TEC function. When we analyzed genes whose expression in TECs was modified during late pregnancy, we found a strong enrichment in genes bearing KLF4 transcription factor binding motifs. We, therefore, engineered a Psmb11-iCre : Klf4lox/lox mouse model to study the impact of TEC-specific Klf4 deletion in steady-state conditions and during late pregnancy. Under steady-state conditions, Klf4 deletion had a minimal effect on TEC subsets and did not affect thymic architecture. However, pregnancy-induced thymic involution was much more pronounced in pregnant females lacking Klf4 expression in TECs. These mice displayed a substantial ablation of TECs with a more pronounced loss of thymocytes. Transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses of Klf4 -/- TECs revealed that Klf4 maintains cTEC numbers by supporting cell survival and preventing epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity during late pregnancy. We conclude that Klf4 is essential for preserving TEC's integrity and mitigating thymic involution during late pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucyle Depoërs
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Maude Dumont-Lagacé
- ExCellThera, Inc., Montréal, QC, Canada
- Piercing Star Technologies, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Vincent Quoc-Huy Trinh
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Cellular Biology, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, and Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Chloé Houques
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Caroline Côté
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-David Larouche
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Brochu
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sylvie Brochu, ; Claude Perreault,
| | - Claude Perreault
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sylvie Brochu, ; Claude Perreault,
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20
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Extra-hematopoietic immunomodulatory role of the guanine-exchange factor DOCK2. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1246. [DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04078-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractStromal cells interact with immune cells during initiation and resolution of immune responses, though the precise underlying mechanisms remain to be resolved. Lessons learned from stromal cell-based therapies indicate that environmental signals instruct their immunomodulatory action contributing to immune response control. Here, to the best of our knowledge, we show a novel function for the guanine-exchange factor DOCK2 in regulating immunosuppressive function in three human stromal cell models and by siRNA-mediated DOCK2 knockdown. To identify immune function-related stromal cell molecular signatures, we first reprogrammed mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs) into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) before differentiating these iPSCs in a back-loop into MSPCs. The iPSCs and immature iPS-MSPCs lacked immunosuppressive potential. Successive maturation facilitated immunomodulation, while maintaining clonogenicity, comparable to their parental MSPCs. Sequential transcriptomics and methylomics displayed time-dependent immune-related gene expression trajectories, including DOCK2, eventually resembling parental MSPCs. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) patient-derived fibroblasts harboring bi-allelic DOCK2 mutations showed significantly reduced immunomodulatory capacity compared to non-mutated fibroblasts. Conditional DOCK2 siRNA knockdown in iPS-MSPCs and fibroblasts also immediately reduced immunomodulatory capacity. Conclusively, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated DOCK2 knockout in iPS-MSPCs also resulted in significantly reduced immunomodulation, reduced CDC42 Rho family GTPase activation and blunted filopodia formation. These data identify G protein signaling as key element devising stromal cell immunomodulation.
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21
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Xu L, Wei C, Chen Y, Wu Y, Shou X, Chen W, Lu D, Sun H, Li W, Yu B, Wang X, Zhang X, Yu Y, Lei Z, Tang R, Zhu J, Li Y, Lu L, Zhou H, Zhou S, Su C, Chen X. IL-33 induces thymic involution-associated naive T cell aging and impairs host control of severe infection. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6881. [PMID: 36371464 PMCID: PMC9653498 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34660-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe infection commonly results in immunosuppression, which leads to impaired pathogen clearance or increased secondary infection in both humans and animals. However, the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that IL-33 results in immunosuppression by inducing thymic involution-associated naive T cell dysfunction with aberrant expression of aging-associated genes and impairs host control of infection in mouse disease models of schistosomiasis or sepsis. Furthermore, we illustrate that IL-33 triggers the excessive generation of medullary thymic epithelial cell (mTEC) IV (thymic tuft cells) in a Pou2f3-dependent manner, as a consequence, disturbs mTEC/cortical TEC (cTEC) compartment and causes thymic involution during severe infection. More importantly, IL-33 deficiency, the anti-IL-33 neutralizing antibody treatment, or IL-33 receptor ST2 deficient thymus transplantation rescues T cell immunity to better control infection in mice. Our findings not only uncover a link between severe infection-induced IL-33 and thymic involution-mediated naive T cell aging, but also suggest that targeting IL-33 or ST2 is a promising strategy to rejuvenate T cell immunity to better control severe infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Respiratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006 P. R. China
| | - Chuan Wei
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Ying Chen
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Yue Wu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Xiaoli Shou
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Wenjie Chen
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Di Lu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Haoran Sun
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Wei Li
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210006 P. R. China
| | - Beibei Yu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- grid.452511.6Department of Blood Transfusion, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008 P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Zhang
- grid.452511.6Imaging Center, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008 P. R. China
| | - Yanxiong Yu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Zhigang Lei
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Rui Tang
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Jifeng Zhu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Yalin Li
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Linrong Lu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInstitute of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Hong Zhou
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032 P. R. China
| | - Sha Zhou
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Chuan Su
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Chen
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166 P. R. China
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22
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Abstract
The microenvironment of the thymus is composed of a group of stromal cells that include endoderm-derived thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and mesenchymal stromal cells such as fibroblasts and serves as a site for the development of T cells. TECs are known to play an essential role in T cell differentiation and selection. Mesenchymal stromal cells have been less studied in terms of their immunological significance compared to TECs. Recently, new technologies have made it possible to identify and characterize mesenchymal stromal cells in the thymus, revealing their unique functions in thymic organogenesis and T cell development. This review outlines the current views on mesenchymal stromal cells in the thymus, particularly highlighting the newly discovered function of thymic fibroblasts in T cell repertoire selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nitta
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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23
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Lee J, Park BC, Jang NY, Lee S, Cho YK, Sharma P, Byun SW, Jeon K, Jeon Y, Park U, Ro HJ, Park HR, Kim Y, Lee D, Chung S, Kim YK, Cho N. Inducing Ectopic T Cell Clusters Using Stromal Vascular Fraction Spheroid-Based Immunotherapy to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203842. [PMID: 36058002 PMCID: PMC9534947 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) provide specialized niches for immune cells, resulting in improved prognoses for patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy. Shaping TLS-like niches may improve anti-cancer immunity and overcome the current limitations of immune cell-based immunotherapy. Here, it is shown that stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from adipose tissues can enhance dendritic cell (DC)-mediated T cell immunity by inducing ectopic T lymphocyte clusters. SVF cells expanded ex vivo have phenotypes and functions similar to those of fibroblastic reticular cells in a secondary lymphoid organ, and their properties can be modulated using three-dimensional spheroid culture and coculture with DCs spiked with antigen-loaded iron oxide-zinc oxide core-shell nanoparticles. Thereby, the combination of SVF spheroids and mature DCs significantly augments T cell recruitment and retention at the injection site. This strategy elicits enhanced antigen-specific immune response and anti-tumoral immunity in mice, illustrating the potential for a novel immunotherapeutic design using SVF as a structural scaffold for TLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae‐Won Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul03080Korea
| | - Bum Chul Park
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02481Korea
- Brain Korea Center for Smart Materials and DevicesKorea UniversitySeoul02841Korea
| | - Na Yoon Jang
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Sihyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Young Kyu Cho
- School of Mechanical EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02841Republic of Korea
| | - Prashant Sharma
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Sang Won Byun
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02481Korea
| | - Kyeongseok Jeon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Yun‐Hui Jeon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Uni Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Hyo Jin Ro
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Hyo Ree Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Yuri Kim
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul03080Korea
| | - Dong‐Sup Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02841Republic of Korea
| | - Young Keun Kim
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02481Korea
- Brain Korea Center for Smart Materials and DevicesKorea UniversitySeoul02841Korea
| | - Nam‐Hyuk Cho
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul03080Korea
- Seoul National University Bundang HospitalSeongnam‐siGyeonggi‐do13620Republic of Korea
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24
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Tuosto L. Editorial: Insights in T Cell Biology: 2021. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1039602. [PMID: 36238305 PMCID: PMC9552332 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1039602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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25
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Zhu XX, Li JH, Ni X, Wu X, Hou X, Li YX, Li SJ, Zhao W, Yin XY. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells regulated the gemcitabine-resistance function of CAFs by LINC00460. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:3735-3750. [PMID: 36047966 PMCID: PMC9633316 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly fatal malignancy with extremely poor prognosis. Gemcitabine resistance is a major challenge in the treatment of PDAC. Here, we showed that LINC00460 was associated with the response to gemcitabine both in PDAC patients and PDAC‐PDX. After knocking down LINC00460 in PDAC tumor cells, results of RNA sequencing followed by gene ontology analysis indicated that LINC00460 influenced the activity of growth factors and modified the extracellular matrix. FISH showed that LINC00460 is mostly located in the cytoplasm. Results of RNA pull‐down, LC–MS/MS, RIP, and immunoblotting confirmed that LINC00460 could directly bind to PDAP1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that LINC00460 mediated the cellular communication of PDAC tumor cells and CAFs by PDAP1/PDGFA/PDGFR signaling pathway and regulated the gemcitabine‐resistance function of CAFs, which could be reversed by treatment with a PDGFR inhibitor (crenolanib). PDAC‐PDX tumors with lower expression of LINC00460 showed a better response to gemcitabine plus crenolanib treatment. Our finding supported the application of LINC00460 in precision medicine that uses gemcitabine plus crenolanib to treat PDAC with low expression of LINC00460.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xu Zhu
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian-Hui Li
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuhao Ni
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xun Hou
- Center for Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya-Xiong Li
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shi-Jin Li
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Yin
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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26
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Shichkin VP, Antica M. Key Factors for Thymic Function and Development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926516. [PMID: 35844535 PMCID: PMC9280625 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the organ responsible for T cell development and the formation of the adaptive immunity function. Its multicellular environment consists mainly of the different stromal cells and maturing T lymphocytes. Thymus-specific progenitors of epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid cells with stem cell properties represent only minor populations. The thymic stromal structure predominantly determines the function of the thymus. The stromal components, mostly epithelial and mesenchymal cells, form this specialized area. They support the consistent developmental program of functionally distinct conventional T cell subpopulations. These include the MHC restricted single positive CD4+ CD8- and CD4- CD8+ cells, regulatory T lymphocytes (Foxp3+), innate natural killer T cells (iNKT), and γδT cells. Several physiological causes comprising stress and aging and medical treatments such as thymectomy and chemo/radiotherapy can harm the thymus function. The present review summarizes our knowledge of the development and function of the thymus with a focus on thymic epithelial cells as well as other stromal components and the signaling and transcriptional pathways underlying the thymic cell interaction. These critical thymus components are significant for T cell differentiation and restoring the thymic function after damage to reach the therapeutic benefits.
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27
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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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28
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Bhalla P, Su DM, van Oers NSC. Thymus Functionality Needs More Than a Few TECs. Front Immunol 2022; 13:864777. [PMID: 35757725 PMCID: PMC9229346 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.864777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus, a primary lymphoid organ, produces the T cells of the immune system. Originating from the 3rd pharyngeal pouch during embryogenesis, this organ functions throughout life. Yet, thymopoiesis can be transiently or permanently damaged contingent on the types of systemic stresses encountered. The thymus also undergoes a functional decline during aging, resulting in a progressive reduction in naïve T cell output. This atrophy is evidenced by a deteriorating thymic microenvironment, including, but not limited, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, fibrosis and adipogenesis. An exploration of cellular changes in the thymus at various stages of life, including mouse models of in-born errors of immunity and with single cell RNA sequencing, is revealing an expanding number of distinct cell types influencing thymus functions. The thymus microenvironment, established through interactions between immature and mature thymocytes with thymus epithelial cells (TEC), is well known. Less well appreciated are the contributions of neural crest cell-derived mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, diverse hematopoietic cell populations, adipocytes, and fibroblasts in the thymic microenvironment. In the current review, we will explore the contributions of the many stromal cell types participating in the formation, expansion, and contraction of the thymus under normal and pathophysiological processes. Such information will better inform approaches for restoring thymus functionality, including thymus organoid technologies, beneficial when an individuals’ own tissue is congenitally, clinically, or accidentally rendered non-functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Bhalla
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Dong-Ming Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Genetics, The University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Nicolai S C van Oers
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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29
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Russo F, Ruggiero E, Curto R, Passeri L, Sanvito F, Bortolomai I, Villa A, Gregori S, Annoni A. Editing T cell repertoire by thymic epithelial cell-directed gene transfer abrogates risk of type 1 diabetes development. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 25:508-519. [PMID: 35615710 PMCID: PMC9121074 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Insulin is the primary autoantigen (Ag) targeted by T cells in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although biomarkers precisely identifying subjects at high risk of T1D are available, successful prophylaxis is still an unmet need. Leaky central tolerance to insulin may be partially ascribed to the instability of the MHC-InsB9-23 complex, which lowers TCR avidity, thus resulting in defective negative selection of autoreactive clones and inadequate insulin-specific T regulatory cell (Treg) induction. We developed a lentiviral vector (LV)-based strategy to engineer thymic epithelial cells (TECs) to correct diabetogenic T cell repertoire. Intrathymic (it) LV injection established stable transgene expression in EpCAM+ TECs, by virtue of transduction of TEC precursors. it-LV-driven presentation of the immunodominant portion of ovalbumin allowed persistent and complete negative selection of responsive T cells in OT-II chimeric mice. We successfully applied this strategy to correct the diabetogenic repertoire of young non-obese diabetic mice, imposing the presentation by TECs of the stronger agonist InsulinB9-23R22E and partially depleting the existing T cell compartment. We further circumscribed LV-driven presentation of InsulinB9-23R22E by micro-RNA regulation to CD45− TECs without loss of efficacy in protection from diabetes, associated with expanded insulin-specific Tregs. Overall, our gene transfer-based prophylaxis fine-tuned the central tolerance processes of negative selection and Treg induction, correcting an autoimmune prone T cell repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Russo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Rosalia Curto
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Passeri
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Pathology Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ileana Bortolomai
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy.,Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 20090 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Gregori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
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30
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Ferreirinha P, Pinheiro RGR, Landry JJM, Alves NL. Identification of fibroblast progenitors in the developing mouse thymus. Development 2022; 149:275509. [PMID: 35587733 PMCID: PMC9188757 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The thymus stroma constitutes a fundamental microenvironment for T-cell generation. Despite the chief contribution of thymic epithelial cells, recent studies emphasize the regulatory role of mesenchymal cells in thymic function. Mesenchymal progenitors are suggested to exist in the postnatal thymus; nonetheless, an understanding of their nature and the mechanism controlling their homeostasis in vivo remains elusive. We resolved two new thymic fibroblast subsets with distinct developmental features. Whereas CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1− cells prevailed in the embryonic thymus and declined thereafter, CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1+ cells emerged in the late embryonic period and predominated in postnatal life. The fibroblastic-associated transcriptional programme was upregulated in CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1+ cells, suggesting that they represent a mature subset. Lineage analysis showed that CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1+ maintained their phenotype in thymic organoids. Strikingly, CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1− generated CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1+, inferring that this subset harboured progenitor cell activity. Moreover, the abundance of CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1+ fibroblasts was gradually reduced in Rag2−/− and Rag2−/−Il2rg−/− thymi, indicating that fibroblast maturation depends on thymic crosstalk. Our findings identify CD140αβ+GP38+SCA-1− as a source of fibroblast progenitors and define SCA-1 as a marker for developmental stages of thymic fibroblast differentiation. Summary: This study resolves previously unidentified subsets of immature and mature thymic fibroblasts, providing further evidence that their homeostasis is controlled by signals provided by developing thymocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ferreirinha
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto 1 , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular 2 , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
| | - Ruben G. R. Pinheiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto 1 , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular 2 , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
- Doctoral Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar 3 , , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
- Universidade do Porto 3 , , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
| | - Jonathan J. M. Landry
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory 4 , 69117 Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto 1 , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular 2 , 4200-135, Porto , Portugal
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31
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Handel AE, Cheuk S, Dhalla F, Maio S, Hübscher T, Rota I, Deadman ME, Ekwall O, Lütolf M, Weinberg K, Holländer G. Developmental dynamics of the neural crest-mesenchymal axis in creating the thymic microenvironment. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm9844. [PMID: 35559672 PMCID: PMC9106291 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The thymic stroma is composed of epithelial and nonepithelial cells providing separate microenvironments controlling homing, differentiation, and selection of hematopoietic precursor cells to functional T cells. Here, we explore at single-cell resolution the complex composition and dynamic changes of the nonepithelial stromal compartment across different developmental stages in the human and mouse thymus, and in an experimental model of the DiGeorge syndrome, the most common form of human thymic hypoplasia. The detected gene expression signatures identify previously unknown stromal subtypes and relate their individual molecular profiles to separate differentiation trajectories and functions, revealing an unprecedented heterogeneity of different cell types that emerge at discrete developmental stages and vary in their expression of key regulatory signaling circuits and extracellular matrix components. Together, these findings highlight the dynamic complexity of the nonepithelial thymus stroma and link this to separate instructive roles essential for normal thymus organogenesis and tissue maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam E. Handel
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stanley Cheuk
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fatima Dhalla
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefano Maio
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tania Hübscher
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ioanna Rota
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mary E. Deadman
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Olov Ekwall
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matthias Lütolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Weinberg
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Georg Holländer
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children’s Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
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32
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Lympho-Hematopoietic Microenvironments and Fish Immune System. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11050747. [PMID: 35625475 PMCID: PMC9138301 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Teleost fish, the most abundant group of vertebrates, represent an excellent tool to establish possible correlations between the histological organization of their lymphoid organs and their immunological capacities. This approach allows us to analyze embryonic and larval lymphopoiesis, the remarkable organization of the teleost thymus, the role of the kidney as a true equivalent of the lympho-hematopoietic bone marrow of higher vertebrates, the mechanisms of antigen trapping in both ellipsoids and the so-called melano-macrophage centers (MMCs) and their relation with the generation of memory and the lack of germinal centers, and the extended development of the lymphoid tissue associated to mucosae. Abstract In the last 50 years information on the fish immune system has increased importantly, particularly that on species of marked commercial interest (i.e., salmonids, cods, catfish, sea breams), that occupy a key position in the vertebrate phylogenetical tree (i.e., Agnatha, Chondrichtyes, lungfish) or represent consolidated experimental models, such as zebrafish or medaka. However, most obtained information was based on genetic sequence analysis with little or no information on the cellular basis of the immune responses. Although jawed fish contain a thymus and lympho-hematopoietic organs equivalents to mammalian bone marrow, few studies have accounted for the presumptive relationships between the organization of these cell microenvironments and the known immune capabilities of the fish immune system. In the current review, we analyze this topic providing information on: (1) The origins of T and B lymphopoiesis in Agnatha and jawed fish; (2) the remarkable organization of the thymus of teleost fish; (3) the occurrence of numerous, apparently unrelated organs housing lympho-hematopoietic progenitors and, presumably, B lymphopoiesis; (4) the existence of fish immunological memory in the absence of germinal centers.
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33
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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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34
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Huang J, Liu X, Wei Y, Li X, Gao S, Dong L, Rao X, Zhong J. Emerging Role of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 in Autoimmune Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:830863. [PMID: 35309368 PMCID: PMC8931313 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.830863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP4), originally identified as an aminopeptidase in 1960s, is an ubiquitously expressed protease presented as either a membrane-bound or soluble form. DPP4 cleaves dipeptide off from the N-terminal of its substrates, altering the bioactivity of its substrates. Subsequent studies reveal that DPP4 is also involved in various cellular processes by directly binding to a number of ligands, including adenosine deaminase, CD45, fibronectin, plasminogen, and caveolin-1. In recent years, many novel functions of DPP4, such as promoting fibrosis and mediating virus entry, have been discovered. Due to its implication in fibrotic response and immunoregulation, increasing studies are focusing on the potential role of DPP4 in inflammatory disorders. As a moonlighting protein, DPP4 possesses multiple functions in different types of cells, including both enzymatic and non-enzymatic functions. However, most of the review articles on the role of DPP4 in autoimmune disease were focused on the association between DPP4 enzymatic inhibitors and the risk of autoimmune disease. An updated comprehensive summary of DPP4’s immunoregulatory actions including both enzymatic dependent and independent functions is needed. In this article, we will review the recent advances of DPP4 in immune regulation and autoimmune rheumatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinxin Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingying Wei
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinlu Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shupei Gao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingli Dong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jixin Zhong, ; Xiaoquan Rao, ; Lingli Dong,
| | - Xiaoquan Rao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jixin Zhong, ; Xiaoquan Rao, ; Lingli Dong,
| | - Jixin Zhong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jixin Zhong, ; Xiaoquan Rao, ; Lingli Dong,
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35
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Fujimori S, Ohigashi I, Abe H, Matsushita Y, Katagiri T, Taketo MM, Takahama Y, Takada S. Fine-tuning of β-catenin in mouse thymic epithelial cells is required for postnatal T-cell development. eLife 2022; 11:69088. [PMID: 35042581 PMCID: PMC8769649 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In the thymus, the thymic epithelium provides a microenvironment essential for the development of functionally competent and self-tolerant T cells. Previous findings showed that modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in mouse thymic epithelial cells (TECs) disrupts embryonic thymus organogenesis. However, the role of β-catenin in TECs for postnatal T-cell development remains to be elucidated. Here, we analyzed gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) of β-catenin highly specific in mouse TECs. We found that GOF of β-catenin in TECs results in severe thymic dysplasia and T-cell deficiency beginning from the embryonic period. By contrast, LOF of β-catenin in TECs reduces the number of cortical TECs and thymocytes modestly and only postnatally. These results indicate that fine-tuning of β-catenin expression within a permissive range is required for TECs to generate an optimal microenvironment to support postnatal T-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayumi Fujimori
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
| | - Hayato Abe
- Student Laboratory, School of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yosuke Matsushita
- Division of Genome Medicine, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
| | - Toyomasa Katagiri
- Division of Genome Medicine, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
| | - Makoto M Taketo
- Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science, Kyoto University Hospital
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Shinji Takada
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
- Department of Basic Biology in the School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)
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36
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Alexandre YO, Schienstock D, Lee HJ, Gandolfo LC, Williams CG, Devi S, Pal B, Groom JR, Cao W, Christo SN, Gordon CL, Starkey G, D'Costa R, Mackay LK, Haque A, Ludewig B, Belz GT, Mueller SN. A diverse fibroblastic stromal cell landscape in the spleen directs tissue homeostasis and immunity. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabj0641. [PMID: 34995096 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abj0641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick O Alexandre
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dominik Schienstock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hyun Jae Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Luke C Gandolfo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Cameron G Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sapna Devi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bhupinder Pal
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Joanna R Groom
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Wang Cao
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan N Christo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Claire L Gordon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Graham Starkey
- Liver and Intestinal Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rohit D'Costa
- DonateLife Victoria, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura K Mackay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashraful Haque
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Burkhard Ludewig
- Institute of Immunobiology, Medical Research Center, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gabrielle T Belz
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott N Mueller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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37
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Chen Y, McAndrews KM, Kalluri R. Clinical and therapeutic relevance of cancer-associated fibroblasts. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021; 18:792-804. [PMID: 34489603 PMCID: PMC8791784 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00546-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 452] [Impact Index Per Article: 150.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) found in primary and metastatic tumours are highly versatile, plastic and resilient cells that are actively involved in cancer progression through complex interactions with other cell types in the tumour microenvironment. As well as generating extracellular matrix components that contribute to the structure and function of the tumour stroma, CAFs undergo epigenetic changes to produce secreted factors, exosomes and metabolites that influence tumour angiogenesis, immunology and metabolism. Because of their putative pro-oncogenic functions, CAFs have long been considered an attractive therapeutic target; however, clinical trials of treatment strategies targeting CAFs have mostly ended in failure and, in some cases, accelerated cancer progression and resulted in inferior survival outcomes. Importantly, CAFs are heterogeneous cells and their characteristics and interactions with other cell types might change dynamically as cancers evolve. Studies involving single-cell RNA sequencing and novel mouse models have increased our understanding of CAF diversity, although the context-dependent roles of different CAF populations and their interchangeable plasticity remain largely unknown. Comprehensive characterization of the tumour-promoting and tumour-restraining activities of CAF subtypes, including how these complex bimodal functions evolve and are subjugated by neoplastic cells during cancer progression, might facilitate the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In this Review, the clinical relevance of CAFs is summarized with an emphasis on their value as prognosis factors and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen M McAndrews
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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38
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Tao Z, Jiang Y, Xia S. Regulation of thymic T regulatory cell differentiation by TECs in health and disease. Scand J Immunol 2021; 94:e13094. [PMID: 34780092 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The thymus produces self-limiting and self-tolerant T cells through the interaction between thymocytes and thymus epithelial cells (TECs), thereby generating central immune tolerance. The TECs are composed of cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells, which regulate the positive and negative selection of T cells, respectively. During the process of negative selection, thymocytes with self-reactive ability are deleted or differentiated into regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are a subset of suppressor T cells that are important for maintaining immune homeostasis. The differentiation and development of Tregs depend on the development of TECs and other underlying molecular mechanisms. Tregs regulated by thymic epithelial cells are closely related to human health and are significant in autoimmune diseases, thymoma and pregnancy. In this review, we summarize the current molecular and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms by which TECs affect the development and function of thymic Tregs. We also review the pathophysiological models of thymic epithelial cells regulating thymic Tregs in human diseases and specific physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Tao
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yalan Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Sheng Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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39
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Mino N, Muro R, Ota A, Nitta S, Lefebvre V, Nitta T, Fujio K, Takayanagi H. The Transcription Factor Sox4 is Required for Thymic Tuft Cell Development. Int Immunol 2021; 34:45-52. [PMID: 34687536 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxab098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) help shape the thymic microenvironment for T cell development by expressing a variety of peripheral tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs). The self-tolerance of T cells is established by negative selection of autoreactive T cells that bind to TRAs. To increase the diversity of TRAs, a fraction of mTECs terminally differentiate into distinct subsets resembling atypical types of epithelial cells in specific peripheral tissues. As such, thymic tuft cells that express peripheral tuft cell genes have recently emerged. Here we show that the transcription factor Sox4 is highly expressed in mTECs and is essential for the development of thymic tuft cells. Mice lacking Sox4 specifically in TECs had a significantly reduced number of thymic tuft cells with no effect on the differentiation of other mTEC subsets, including Aire + and Ccl21a + mTECs. Furthermore, Sox4 expression was diminished in mice deficient in TEC-specific lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR), indicating a role for the LTβR-Sox4 axis in the differentiation of thymic tuft cells. Given that Sox4 promotes differentiation of peripheral tuft cells, our findings suggest that mTECs employ the same transcriptional program as peripheral epithelial cells. This mechanism may explain how mTECs diversify peripheral antigen expression to project an immunological self within the thymic medulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Mino
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ryunosuke Muro
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ayami Ota
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Sachiko Nitta
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Veronique Lefebvre
- Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Keishi Fujio
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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40
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Haunerdinger V, Moccia MD, Opitz L, Vavassori S, Dave H, Hauri-Hohl MM. Novel Combination of Surface Markers for the Reliable and Comprehensive Identification of Human Thymic Epithelial Cells by Flow Cytometry: Quantitation and Transcriptional Characterization of Thymic Stroma in a Pediatric Cohort. Front Immunol 2021; 12:740047. [PMID: 34659232 PMCID: PMC8514761 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.740047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential in supporting the development of mature T cells from hematopoietic progenitor cells and facilitate their lineage-commitment, proliferation, T-cell receptor repertoire selection and maturation. While animal model systems have greatly aided in elucidating the contribution of stromal cells to these intricate processes, human tissue has been more difficult to study, partly due to a lack of suitable surface markers comprehensively defining human TECs. Here, we conducted a flow cytometry based surface marker screen to reliably identify and quantify human TECs and delineate medullary from cortical subsets. These findings were validated by transcriptomic and histologic means. The combination of EpCAM, podoplanin (pdpn), CD49f and CD200 comprehensively identified human TECs and not only allowed their reliable distinction in medullary and cortical subsets but also their detailed quantitation. Transcriptomic profiling of each subset in comparison to fibroblasts and endothelial cells confirmed the identity of the different stromal cell subsets sorted according to the proposed strategy. Our dataset not only demonstrated transcriptional similarities between TEC and cells of mesenchymal origin but furthermore revealed a subset-specific distribution of a specific set of extracellular matrix-related genes in TECs. This indicates that TECs significantly contribute to the distinct compartmentalization - and thus function - of the human thymus. We applied the strategy to quantify TEC subsets in 31 immunologically healthy children, which revealed sex-specific differences of TEC composition early in life. As the distribution of mature CD4- or CD8-single-positive thymocytes was correspondingly altered, the composition of the thymic epithelial compartment may directly impact on the CD4-CD8-lineage choice of thymocytes. We prove that the plain, reliable strategy proposed here to comprehensively identify human TEC subpopulations by flow cytometry based on surface marker expression is suitable to determine their frequency and phenotype in health and disease and allows sorting of live cells for downstream analysis. Its use reaches from a reliable diagnostic tool for thymic biopsies to improved phenotypic characterization of thymic grafts intended for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Haunerdinger
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Domenica Moccia
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lennart Opitz
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Vavassori
- Division of Immunology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Pediatric Immunology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hitendu Dave
- Division of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, University Children's Hospital and Children's Research Centre, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias M Hauri-Hohl
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
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41
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Bainter W, Lougaris V, Wallace JG, Badran Y, Hoyos-Bachiloglu R, Peters Z, Wilkie H, Das M, Janssen E, Beano A, Farhat KB, Kam C, Bercich L, Incardona P, Villanacci V, Bondioni MP, Meini A, Baronio M, Abarzua P, Parolini S, Tabellini G, Maio S, Schmidt B, Goldsmith JD, Murphy G, Hollander G, Plebani A, Chou J, Geha RS. Combined immunodeficiency with autoimmunity caused by a homozygous missense mutation in inhibitor of nuclear factor 𝛋B kinase alpha (IKKα). Sci Immunol 2021; 6:eabf6723. [PMID: 34533979 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abf6723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Bainter
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vassilios Lougaris
- Pediatrics Clinic, Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Jacqueline G Wallace
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yousef Badran
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Zachary Peters
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hazel Wilkie
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mrinmoy Das
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erin Janssen
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abdallah Beano
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Khaoula Ben Farhat
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christy Kam
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luisa Bercich
- Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Incardona
- Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Villanacci
- Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Bondioni
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Meini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Manuela Baronio
- Pediatrics Clinic, Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Phammela Abarzua
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Silvia Parolini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanna Tabellini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Maio
- Department of Paediatrics, the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Birgitta Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Goldsmith
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George Murphy
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Georg Hollander
- Department of Paediatrics, the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Plebani
- Pediatrics Clinic, Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Janet Chou
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Raif S Geha
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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42
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Burns VE, Kerppola TK. Virus Infection Induces Keap1 Binding to Cytokine Genes, Which Recruits NF-κB p50 and G9a-GLP and Represses Cytokine Transcription. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:1437-1447. [PMID: 34400522 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Proinflammatory cytokine gene transcription must be moderated to avoid the pathological consequences of excess cytokine production. The relationships between virus infection and the mechanisms that moderate cytokine transcription are incompletely understood. We investigated the influence of Keap1 on cytokine gene induction by Sendai virus infection in mouse embryo fibroblasts. Virus infection induced Keap1 binding to the Ifnb1, Tnf, and Il6 genes. Keap1 moderated viral induction of their transcription by mechanisms that did not require Nrf2. Keap1 was required for NF-κB p50 recruitment, but not for NF-κB p65 or IRF3 recruitment, to these genes. Keap1 formed complexes with NF-κB p50 and NF-κB p65, which were visualized using bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis. These bimolecular fluorescence complementation complexes bound chromosomes in live cells, suggesting that Keap1 could bind chromatin in association with NF-κB proteins. Keap1 was required for viral induction of G9a-GLP lysine methyltransferase binding and H3K9me2 modification at cytokine genes. G9a-GLP inhibitors counteracted transcription repression by Keap1 and enhanced Keap1 and NF-κB recruitment to cytokine genes. The interrelationships among Keap1, NF-κB, and G9a-GLP recruitment, activities, and transcriptional effects suggest that they form a feedback circuit, which moderates viral induction of cytokine transcription. Nrf2 counteracted Keap1 binding to cytokine genes and the recruitment of NF-κB p50 and G9a-GLP by Keap1. Whereas Keap1 has been reported to influence cytokine expression indirectly through its functions in the cytoplasm, these findings provide evidence that Keap1 regulates cytokine transcription directly in the nucleus. Keap1 binds to cytokines genes upon virus infection and moderates their induction by recruiting NF-κB p50 and G9a-GLP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom Klaus Kerppola
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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43
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Borelli A, Irla M. Lymphotoxin: from the physiology to the regeneration of the thymic function. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:2305-2314. [PMID: 34290396 PMCID: PMC8329281 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00834-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The members of the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) superfamily, the ligand lymphotoxin α1β2 (LTα1β2) and its unique receptor lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR), play a pivotal role in the establishment and regulation of the immune system by allowing a tight communication between lymphocytes and stromal cells. Recent advances using transgenic mice harboring a specific deletion of the Ltbr gene in distinct stromal cells have revealed important roles for LTβR signaling in the thymic function that ensures the generation of a diverse and self-tolerant T-cell repertoire. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on this signaling axis in the thymic homing of lymphoid progenitors and peripheral antigen-presenting cells, the trafficking and egress of thymocytes, the differentiation of medullary thymic epithelial cells, and the establishment of central tolerance. We also highlight the importance of LTα1β2/LTβR axis in controlling the recovery of the thymic function after myeloablative conditioning regimen, opening novel perspectives in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Borelli
- grid.417850.f0000 0004 0639 5277Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Irla
- grid.417850.f0000 0004 0639 5277Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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44
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Shou Y, Koroleva E, Spencer CM, Shein SA, Korchagina AA, Yusoof KA, Parthasarathy R, Leadbetter EA, Akopian AN, Muñoz AR, Tumanov AV. Redefining the Role of Lymphotoxin Beta Receptor in the Maintenance of Lymphoid Organs and Immune Cell Homeostasis in Adulthood. Front Immunol 2021; 12:712632. [PMID: 34335629 PMCID: PMC8320848 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.712632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) is a promising therapeutic target in autoimmune and infectious diseases as well as cancer. Mice with genetic inactivation of LTβR display multiple defects in development and organization of lymphoid organs, mucosal immune responses, IgA production and an autoimmune phenotype. As these defects are imprinted in embryogenesis and neonate stages, the impact of LTβR signaling in adulthood remains unclear. Here, to overcome developmental defects, we generated mice with inducible ubiquitous genetic inactivation of LTβR in adult mice (iLTβRΔ/Δ mice) and redefined the role of LTβR signaling in organization of lymphoid organs, immune response to mucosal bacterial pathogen, IgA production and autoimmunity. In spleen, postnatal LTβR signaling is required for development of B cell follicles, follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), recruitment of neutrophils and maintenance of the marginal zone. Lymph nodes of iLTβRΔ/Δ mice were reduced in size, lacked FDCs, and had disorganized subcapsular sinus macrophages. Peyer`s patches were smaller in size and numbers, and displayed reduced FDCs. The number of isolated lymphoid follicles in small intestine and colon were also reduced. In contrast to LTβR-/- mice, iLTβRΔ/Δ mice displayed normal thymus structure and did not develop signs of systemic inflammation and autoimmunity. Further, our results suggest that LTβR signaling in adulthood is required for homeostasis of neutrophils, NK, and iNKT cells, but is dispensable for the maintenance of polyclonal IgA production. However, iLTβRΔ/Δ mice exhibited an increased sensitivity to C. rodentium infection and failed to develop pathogen-specific IgA responses. Collectively, our study uncovers new insights of LTβR signaling in adulthood for the maintenance of lymphoid organs, neutrophils, NK and iNKT cells, and IgA production in response to mucosal bacterial pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Shou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,Department of Gastroenterology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ekaterina Koroleva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | | | - Sergey A. Shein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Anna A. Korchagina
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Kizil A. Yusoof
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Raksha Parthasarathy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Leadbetter
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Armen N. Akopian
- Department of Endodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Amanda R. Muñoz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Alexei V. Tumanov
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Alexei V. Tumanov,
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45
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Li L, Wu J, Abdi R, Jewell CM, Bromberg JS. Lymph node fibroblastic reticular cells steer immune responses. Trends Immunol 2021; 42:723-734. [PMID: 34256989 PMCID: PMC8324561 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lymph nodes (LNs), where immune responses are initiated, are organized into distinctive compartments by fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). FRCs imprint immune responses by supporting LN architecture, recruiting immune cells, coordinating immune cell crosstalk, and presenting antigens. Recent high-resolution transcriptional and histological analyses have enriched our knowledge of LN FRC genetic and spatial heterogeneities. Here, we summarize updated anatomic, phenotypic, and functional identities of FRC subsets, delve into topological and transcriptional remodeling of FRCs in inflammation, and illustrate the crosstalk between FRCs and immune cells. Discussing FRC functions in immunity and tolerance, we highlight state-of-the-art FRC-based therapeutic approaches for maintaining physiological homeostasis, steering protective immunity, inducing transplantation tolerance, and treating diverse immune-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lushen Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Reza Abdi
- Transplantation Research Center, Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christopher M Jewell
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Jonathan S Bromberg
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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46
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Nitta T, Ota A, Iguchi T, Muro R, Takayanagi H. The fibroblast: An emerging key player in thymic T cell selection. Immunol Rev 2021; 302:68-85. [PMID: 34096078 PMCID: PMC8362222 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblasts have recently attracted attention as a key stromal component that controls the immune responses in lymphoid tissues. The thymus has a unique microenvironment comprised of a variety of stromal cells, including fibroblasts and thymic epithelial cells (TECs), the latter of which is known to be important for T cell development because of their ability to express self‐antigens. Thymic fibroblasts contribute to thymus organogenesis during embryogenesis and form the capsule and medullary reticular network in the adult thymus. However, the immunological significance of thymic fibroblasts has thus far only been poorly elucidated. In this review, we will summarize the current views on the development and functions of thymic fibroblasts as revealed by new technologies such as multicolor flow cytometry and single cell–based transcriptome profiling. Furthermore, the recently discovered role of medullary fibroblasts in the establishment of T cell tolerance by producing a unique set of self‐antigens will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayami Ota
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Iguchi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryunosuke Muro
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Tsukasaki M, Asano T, Muro R, Huynh NCN, Komatsu N, Okamoto K, Nakano K, Okamura T, Nitta T, Takayanagi H. OPG Production Matters Where It Happened. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108124. [PMID: 32905763 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a circulating decoy receptor for RANKL, a multifunctional cytokine essential for the differentiation of tissue-specific cells in bone and immune systems such as osteoclasts, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and intestinal microfold cells (M cells). However, it is unknown whether OPG functions only at the production site or circulates to other tissues acting in an endocrine fashion. Here we explore the cellular source of OPG by generating OPG-floxed mice and show that locally produced OPG, rather than circulating OPG, is crucial for bone and immune homeostasis. Deletion of OPG in osteoblastic cells leads to severe osteopenia without affecting serum OPG. Deletion of locally produced OPG increases mTEC and M cell numbers while retaining the normal serum OPG level. This study shows that OPG limits its functions within the tissue where it was produced, illuminating the importance of local regulation of the RANKL system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Tsukasaki
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Asano
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryunosuke Muro
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nam Cong-Nhat Huynh
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Komatsu
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Okamoto
- Department of Osteoimmunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Nakano
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, 162-8655 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Okamura
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, 162-8655 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan.
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48
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Han J, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. A 2020 View of Thymus Stromal Cells in T Cell Development. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:249-256. [PMID: 33397738 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is an intricate primary lymphoid organ, wherein bone marrow-derived lymphoid progenitor cells are induced to develop into functionally competent T cells that express a diverse TCR repertoire, which is selected to allow for the recognition of foreign Ags while avoiding self-reactivity or autoimmunity. Thymus stromal cells, which can include all non-T lineage cells, such as thymic epithelial cells, endothelial cells, mesenchymal/fibroblast cells, dendritic cells, and B cells, provide signals that are essential for thymocyte development as well as for the homeostasis of the thymic stroma itself. In this brief review, we focus on the key roles played by thymic stromal cells during early stages of T cell development, such as promoting the homing of thymic-seeding progenitors, inducing T lineage differentiation, and supporting thymocyte survival and proliferation. We also discuss recent advances on the transcriptional regulation that govern thymic epithelial cell function as well as the cellular and molecular changes that are associated with thymic involution and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxun Han
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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49
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Gago da Graça C, van Baarsen LGM, Mebius RE. Tertiary Lymphoid Structures: Diversity in Their Development, Composition, and Role. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:273-281. [PMID: 33397741 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lymph node stromal cells coordinate the adaptive immune response in secondary lymphoid organs, providing both a structural matrix and soluble factors that regulate survival and migration of immune cells, ultimately promoting Ag encounter. In several inflamed tissues, resident fibroblasts can acquire lymphoid-stroma properties and drive the formation of ectopic aggregates of immune cells, named tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). Mature TLSs are functional sites for the development of adaptive responses and, consequently, when present, can have an impact in both autoimmunity and cancer conditions. In this review, we go over recent findings concerning both lymph node stromal cells and TLSs function and formation and further describe what is currently known about their role in disease, particularly their potential in tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Gago da Graça
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa G M van Baarsen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and.,Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Reina E Mebius
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands;
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Modeling the Dynamics of T-Cell Development in the Thymus. ENTROPY 2021; 23:e23040437. [PMID: 33918050 PMCID: PMC8069328 DOI: 10.3390/e23040437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The thymus hosts the development of a specific type of adaptive immune cells called T cells. T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response through recognition of antigen by the highly variable T-cell receptor (TCR). T-cell development is a tightly coordinated process comprising lineage commitment, somatic recombination of Tcr gene loci and selection for functional, but non-self-reactive TCRs, all interspersed with massive proliferation and cell death. Thus, the thymus produces a pool of T cells throughout life capable of responding to virtually any exogenous attack while preserving the body through self-tolerance. The thymus has been of considerable interest to both immunologists and theoretical biologists due to its multi-scale quantitative properties, bridging molecular binding, population dynamics and polyclonal repertoire specificity. Here, we review experimental strategies aimed at revealing quantitative and dynamic properties of T-cell development and how they have been implemented in mathematical modeling strategies that were reported to help understand the flexible dynamics of the highly dividing and dying thymic cell populations. Furthermore, we summarize the current challenges to estimating in vivo cellular dynamics and to reaching a next-generation multi-scale picture of T-cell development.
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