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Silverman JB, Vega PN, Tyska MJ, Lau KS. Intestinal Tuft Cells: Morphology, Function, and Implications for Human Health. Annu Rev Physiol 2024; 86:479-504. [PMID: 37863104 PMCID: PMC11193883 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042022-030310] [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] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Tuft cells are a rare and morphologically distinct chemosensory cell type found throughout many organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. These cells were identified by their unique morphologies distinguished by large apical protrusions. Ultrastructural data have begun to describe the molecular underpinnings of their cytoskeletal features, and tuft cell-enriched cytoskeletal proteins have been identified, although the connection of tuft cell morphology to tuft cell functionality has not yet been established. Furthermore, tuft cells display variations in function and identity between and within tissues, leading to the delineation of distinct tuft cell populations. As a chemosensory cell type, they display receptors that are responsive to ligands specific for their environment. While many studies have demonstrated the tuft cell response to protists and helminths in the intestine, recent research has highlighted other roles of tuft cells as well as implicated tuft cells in other disease processes including inflammation, cancer, and viral infections. Here, we review the literature on the cytoskeletal structure of tuft cells. Additionally, we focus on new research discussing tuft cell lineage, ligand-receptor interactions, tuft cell tropism, and the role of tuft cells in intestinal disease. Finally, we discuss the implication of tuft cell-targeted therapies in human health and how the morphology of tuft cells may contribute to their functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B Silverman
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
| | - Paige N Vega
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
| | - Matthew J Tyska
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
| | - Ken S Lau
- Epithelial Biology Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ,
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Huang GX, Hallen NR, Lee M, Zheng K, Wang X, Mandanas MV, Djeddi S, Fernandez D, Hacker J, Ryan T, Bergmark RW, Bhattacharyya N, Lee S, Maxfield AZ, Roditi RE, Buchheit KM, Laidlaw TM, Gern JE, Hallstrand TS, Ray A, Wenzel SE, Boyce JA, Gutierrez-Arcelus M, Barrett NA. Increased epithelial mTORC1 activity in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.13.562288. [PMID: 37904989 PMCID: PMC10614789 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.13.562288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Background The airway epithelium plays a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), but the mechanisms by which airway epithelial cells (EpCs) maintain inflammation are poorly understood. Objective We hypothesized that transcriptomic assessment of sorted airway EpCs across the spectrum of differentiation would allow us to define mechanisms by which EpCs perpetuate airway inflammation. Methods Ethmoid sinus EpCs from adult patients with CRS were sorted into 3 subsets, bulk RNA sequenced, and analyzed for differentially expressed genes and pathways. Single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) datasets from eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic CRSwNP and bulk RNA-seq of EpCs from mild/moderate and severe asthma were assessed. Immunofluorescent staining and ex vivo functional analysis of sinus EpCs were used to validate our findings. Results Analysis within and across purified EpC subsets revealed an enrichment in glycolytic programming in CRSwNP vs CRSsNP. Correlation analysis identified mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) as a potential regulator of the glycolytic program and identified EpC expression of cytokines and wound healing genes as potential sequelae. mTORC1 activity was upregulated in CRSwNP, and ex vivo inhibition demonstrated that mTOR is critical for EpC generation of CXCL8, IL-33, and CXCL2. Across patient samples, the degree of glycolytic activity was associated with T2 inflammation in CRSwNP, and with both T2 and non-T2 inflammation in severe asthma. Conclusions Together, these findings highlight a metabolic axis required to support epithelial generation of cytokines critical to both chronic T2 and non-T2 inflammation in CRSwNP and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- George X. Huang
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Nils R. Hallen
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Minkyu Lee
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Kelly Zheng
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Xin Wang
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | | | - Sarah Djeddi
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital; Boston, MA
| | | | - Jonathan Hacker
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Tessa Ryan
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Regan W. Bergmark
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Neil Bhattacharyya
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Boston, MA
| | - Stella Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Alice Z. Maxfield
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Rachel E. Roditi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Kathleen M. Buchheit
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Tanya M. Laidlaw
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - James E. Gern
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Madison, WI
| | - Teal S. Hallstrand
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center; Seattle, WA
| | - Anuradha Ray
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Sally E. Wenzel
- Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Joshua A. Boyce
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
| | - Maria Gutierrez-Arcelus
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA
| | - Nora A. Barrett
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Translational Immunology Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA
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Wiarda JE, Becker SR, Sivasankaran SK, Loving CL. Regional epithelial cell diversity in the small intestine of pigs. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skac318. [PMID: 36183288 PMCID: PMC9831138 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding regional distribution and specialization of small intestinal epithelial cells is crucial for developing methods to control appetite, stress, and nutrient uptake in swine. To establish a better understanding of specific epithelial cells found across different regions of the small intestine in pigs, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to recover and analyze epithelial cells from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Cells identified included crypt cells, enterocytes, BEST4 enterocytes, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine (EE) cells. EE cells were divided into two subsets based on the level of expression of the EE lineage commitment gene, NEUROD1. NEUROD1hi EE cells had minimal expression of hormone-encoding genes and were dissimilar to EE cells in humans and mice, indicating a subset of EE cells unique to pigs. Recently discovered BEST4 enterocytes were detected in both crypts and villi throughout the small intestine via in situ staining, unlike in humans, where BEST4 enterocytes are found only in small intestinal villi. Proximal-to-distal gradients of expression were noted for hormone-encoding genes in EE cells and nutrient transport genes in enterocytes via scRNA-seq, demonstrating regional specialization. Regional gene expression in EE cells and enterocytes was validated via quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of RNA isolated from epithelial cells of different small intestinal locations. Though many genes had similar patterns of regional expression when assessed by qPCR of total epithelial cells, some regional expression was only detected via scRNA-seq, highlighting advantages of scRNA-seq to deconvolute cell type-specific regional gene expression when compared to analysis of bulk samples. Overall, results provide new information on regional localization and transcriptional profiles of epithelial cells in the pig small intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne E Wiarda
- Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
- Immunobiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Agricultural Research Service Participation Program, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Sage R Becker
- Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
- Immunobiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Sathesh K Sivasankaran
- Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
- Genome Informatics Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Crystal L Loving
- Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
- Immunobiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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Abstract
Although tuft cells were discovered over 60 years ago, their functions have long been enigmatic, especially in human health. Nonetheless, tuft cells have recently emerged as key orchestrators of the host response to diverse microbial infections in the gut and airway. While tuft cells are epithelial in origin, they exhibit functions akin to immune cells and mediate important interkingdom interactions between the host and helminths, protists, viruses, and bacteria. With broad intra- and intertissue heterogeneity, tuft cells sense and respond to microbes with exquisite specificity. Tuft cells can recognize helminth and protist infection, driving a type 2 immune response to promote parasite expulsion. Tuft cells also serve as the primary physiologic target of persistent murine norovirus (MNV) and promote immune evasion. Recently, tuft cells were also shown to be infected by rotavirus. Other viral infections, such as influenza A virus, can induce tuft cell–dependent tissue repair. In the context of coinfection, tuft cells promote neurotropic flavivirus replication by dampening antiviral adaptive immune responses. Commensal and pathogenic bacteria can regulate tuft cell abundance and function and, in turn, tuft cells are implicated in modulating bacterial infiltration and mucosal barrier integrity. However, the contribution of tuft cells to microbial sensing in humans and their resulting effector responses are poorly characterized. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of microbial activation of tuft cells with an emphasis on tuft cell heterogeneity and differences between mouse and human tuft cell biology as it pertains to human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison S. Strine
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Craig B. Wilen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
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Broner EC, Trujillo JA, Korzinkin M, Subbannayya T, Agrawal N, Ozerov IV, Zhavoronkov A, Rooper L, Kotlov N, Shen L, Pearson AT, Rosenberg AJ, Savage PA, Mishra V, Chatterjee A, Sidransky D, Izumchenko E. Doublecortin-Like Kinase 1 (DCLK1) Is a Novel NOTCH Pathway Signaling Regulator in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:677051. [PMID: 34336664 PMCID: PMC8323482 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.677051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advancements, the 5 year survival of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) hovers at 60%. DCLK1 has been shown to regulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as well as serving as a cancer stem cell marker in colon, pancreatic and renal cancer. Although it was reported that DCLK1 is associated with poor prognosis in oropharyngeal cancers, very little is known about the molecular characterization of DCLK1 in HNSCC. In this study, we performed a comprehensive transcriptome-based computational analysis on hundreds of HNSCC patients from TCGA and GEO databases, and found that DCLK1 expression positively correlates with NOTCH signaling pathway activation. Since NOTCH signaling has a recognized role in HNSCC tumorigenesis, we next performed a series of in vitro experiments in a collection of HNSCC cell lines to investigate the role of DCLK1 in NOTCH pathway regulation. Our analyses revealed that DCLK1 inhibition, using either a pharmacological inhibitor or siRNA, resulted in substantially decreased proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation. Furthermore, these effects paralleled downregulation of active NOTCH1, and its downstream effectors, HEY1, HES1 and HES5, whereas overexpression of DCLK1 in normal keratinocytes, lead to an upregulation of NOTCH signaling associated with increased proliferation. Analysis of 233 primary and 40 recurrent HNSCC cancer biopsies revealed that high DCLK1 expression was associated with poor prognosis and showed a trend towards higher active NOTCH1 expression in tumors with elevated DCLK1. Our results demonstrate the novel role of DCLK1 as a regulator of NOTCH signaling network and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther C. Broner
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jonathan A. Trujillo
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | | | - Nishant Agrawal
- Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ivan V. Ozerov
- InSilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Pak Shek Kok, Hong Kong
| | | | - Lisa Rooper
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nikita Kotlov
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Le Shen
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alexander T. Pearson
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ari J. Rosenberg
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Peter A. Savage
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Vasudha Mishra
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Aditi Chatterjee
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Evgeny Izumchenko
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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Acevedo N, Scala G, Merid SK, Frumento P, Bruhn S, Andersson A, Ogris C, Bottai M, Pershagen G, Koppelman GH, Melén E, Sonnhammer E, Alm J, Söderhäll C, Kere J, Greco D, Scheynius A. DNA Methylation Levels in Mononuclear Leukocytes from the Mother and Her Child Are Associated with IgE Sensitization to Allergens in Early Life. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020801. [PMID: 33466918 PMCID: PMC7830007 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation changes may predispose becoming IgE-sensitized to allergens. We analyzed whether DNA methylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is associated with IgE sensitization at 5 years of age (5Y). DNA methylation was measured in 288 PBMC samples from 74 mother/child pairs from the birth cohort ALADDIN (Assessment of Lifestyle and Allergic Disease During INfancy) using the HumanMethylation450BeadChip (Illumina). PBMCs were obtained from the mothers during pregnancy and from their children in cord blood, at 2 years and 5Y. DNA methylation levels at each time point were compared between children with and without IgE sensitization to allergens at 5Y. For replication, CpG sites associated with IgE sensitization in ALADDIN were evaluated in whole blood DNA of 256 children, 4 years old, from the BAMSE (Swedish abbreviation for Children, Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology) cohort. We found 34 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with IgE sensitization to airborne allergens and 38 DMRs associated with sensitization to food allergens in children at 5Y (Sidak p ≤ 0.05). Genes associated with airborne sensitization were enriched in the pathway of endocytosis, while genes associated with food sensitization were enriched in focal adhesion, the bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, and leukocyte migration. Furthermore, 25 DMRs in maternal PBMCs were associated with IgE sensitization to airborne allergens in their children at 5Y, which were functionally annotated to the mTOR (mammalian Target of Rapamycin) signaling pathway. This study supports that DNA methylation is associated with IgE sensitization early in life and revealed new candidate genes for atopy. Moreover, our study provides evidence that maternal DNA methylation levels are associated with IgE sensitization in the child supporting early in utero effects on atopy predisposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Acevedo
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, and Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden; (N.A.); (S.K.M.); (E.M.); (J.A.)
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, 130014 Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Giovanni Scala
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy;
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland;
- Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technologies (BioMediTech), Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Simon Kebede Merid
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, and Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden; (N.A.); (S.K.M.); (E.M.); (J.A.)
| | - Paolo Frumento
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Sören Bruhn
- Department of Medicine Solna, Translational Immunology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (S.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Anna Andersson
- Department of Medicine Solna, Translational Immunology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (S.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Christoph Ogris
- Stockholm Bioinformatics Center, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Science for Life Laboratory, SE-17121 Solna, Sweden; (C.O.); (E.S.)
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matteo Bottai
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Göran Pershagen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Gerard H. Koppelman
- Section of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands;
- Groningen Research Institute of Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Melén
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, and Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden; (N.A.); (S.K.M.); (E.M.); (J.A.)
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Erik Sonnhammer
- Stockholm Bioinformatics Center, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Science for Life Laboratory, SE-17121 Solna, Sweden; (C.O.); (E.S.)
| | - Johan Alm
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, and Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden; (N.A.); (S.K.M.); (E.M.); (J.A.)
| | - Cilla Söderhäll
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (C.S.); (J.K.)
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (C.S.); (J.K.)
- Folkhälsan Research Institute, Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dario Greco
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland;
- Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technologies (BioMediTech), Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annika Scheynius
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, and Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden; (N.A.); (S.K.M.); (E.M.); (J.A.)
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Solna, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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7
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Tuft and Cancer Stem Cell Marker DCLK1: A New Target to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123801. [PMID: 33348546 PMCID: PMC7766931 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a tumor stem cell marker in colon, pancreatic, and potentially other cancers that has received wide attention recently. Aside from its role as a tuft cell marker in normal tissue and as a tumor stem cell marker in cancer, previous studies have demonstrated that silencing DCLK1 functionally reduces stemness, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and tumorigenesis in cancers. More recently, DCLK1′s role in regulating the inflammatory, pre-cancer, and tumor microenvironment including its ability to modulate immune cell mechanisms has started to come into focus. Importantly, clinically viable therapeutic means of targeting DCLK1 have finally become available in the form of kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T). Herein, we comprehensively review the mechanistic role of DCLK1 in the tumor microenvironment, assess the potential for targeting DCLK1 in colon, pancreatic and renal cancer. Abstract Microtubule-associated doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is an accepted marker of tuft cells (TCs) and several kinds of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and emerging evidence suggests that DCLK1-positive TCs participate in the initiation and formation of inflammation-associated cancer. DCLK1-expressing CSCs regulate multiple biological processes in cancer, promote resistance to therapy, and are associated with metastasis. In solid tumor cancers, tumor epithelia, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells and blood vessels, extracellular matrix, and hypoxia all support a CSC phenotype characterized by drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Recently, studies have shown that DCLK1-positive CSCs are associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immune checkpoint. Emerging data concerning targeting DCLK1 with small molecular inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells shows promising effects on inhibiting tumor growth and regulating the tumor immune microenvironment. Overall, DCLK1 is reaching maturity as an anti-cancer target and therapies directed against it may have potential against CSCs directly, in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, and as immunotherapies.
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Seiler KM, Goo WH, Zhang Q, Courtney C, Bajinting A, Guo J, Warner BW. Adaptation of extracellular matrix to massive small bowel resection in mice. J Pediatr Surg 2020; 55:1107-1112. [PMID: 32164986 PMCID: PMC7299777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular matrix (ECM) affects cell behavior, and vice versa. How ECM changes after small bowel resection (SBR) to support adaptive cellular processes has not been described. Here we characterize changes in ECM following SBR and integrate this with concomitant transcriptional perturbations. METHODS A 50% proximal SBR or sham surgery was performed on mice. On postoperative day 7, ileal tissue was sequentially depleted of protein components to generate an ECM-enriched fraction. ECM was analyzed for protein composition using mass spectrometry with subsequent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify predicted pathways and upstream regulators. qPCR and RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) were performed to corroborate these predicted pathways. RESULTS 3034 proteins were differentially regulated between sham and SBR, of which 95 were significant (P < 0.05). IPA analysis predicted PPARα agonism to be an upstream regulator of the observed proteomic changes (P < 0.001). qPCR and RNA-Seq with KEGG analysis confirmed significant engagement of the PPAR pathway (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Transcriptional signatures of adapting bowel predict subsequent ECM changes after SBR. How ECM communicates with surrounding cells to drive adaptation and vice versa merits further investigation. Our findings thus far suggest ECM supports tissue hyperplasia and altered metabolic demand following SBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Seiler
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | | | - Qiang Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Cathleen Courtney
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Adam Bajinting
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jun Guo
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Brad W. Warner
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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Mouse intestinal tuft cells express advillin but not villin. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8877. [PMID: 32483224 PMCID: PMC7264147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65469-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuft (or brush) cells are solitary chemosensory cells scattered throughout the epithelia of the respiratory and alimentary tract. The actin-binding protein villin (Vil1) is used as a marker of tuft cells and the villin promoter is frequently used to drive expression of the Cre recombinase in tuft cells. While there is widespread agreement about the expression of villin in tuft cells there are several disagreements related to tuft cell lineage commitment and function. We now show that many of these inconsistencies could be resolved by our surprising finding that intestinal tuft cells, in fact, do not express villin protein. Furthermore, we show that a related actin-binding protein, advillin which shares 75% homology with villin, has a tuft cell restricted expression in the gastrointestinal epithelium. Our study identifies advillin as a marker of tuft cells and provides a mechanism for driving gene expression in tuft cells but not in other epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Our findings fundamentally change the way we identify and study intestinal tuft cells.
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10
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Li K, Wei X, Zhang L, Chi H, Yang J. Raptor/mTORC1 Acts as a Modulatory Center to Regulate Anti-bacterial Immune Response in Rockfish. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2953. [PMID: 31921198 PMCID: PMC6930152 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionarily highly conserved atypical serine/threonine protein kinase, which regulates cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and metabolism. As a regulatory protein, Raptor is awfully important for the stability and function of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). However, the studies about how Raptor/mTORC1 participates in and regulates immune response in lower vertebrates are still limited. In this study, we investigated the regulation of immune response by the Raptor/mTORC1 signaling pathway in rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Sebastes schlegelii Raptor (Ss-Raptor) is a highly conserved protein during the evolution, in both primary and tertiary structure. Ss-Raptor mRNA was widely distributed in various tissues of rockfish and has a relative higher expression in spleen and blood. After infected by Micrococcus luteus or Listonella anguillarum, mRNA expression of Ss-Raptor rapidly increased within 48 h. Once Raptor/mTORC1 signaling was blocked by rapamycin, expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8 was severely impaired, suggesting potential regulatory role of Raptor/mTORC1 signaling in the innate immune response of rockfish. In addition, Raptor/mTORC1 pathway participated in lymphocyte activation of rockfish through promoting 4EBP1 and S6 phosphorylation. Inhibition of Raptor/mTORC1 signaling crippled the lymphocyte expansion during primary adaptive immune response, manifesting by the decrease of lymphoid organ weight and lymphocyte numbers. More importantly, inhibition of Raptor/mTORC1 signaling impaired the lymphocyte mediated cytotoxic response, and made the fish more vulnerable to the bacterial infection. Together, our results suggested that Raptor and its tightly regulated mTORC1 signaling acts as modulatory center to regulate both innate and lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immune response during bacterial infection. This research has shed new light on regulatory mechanism of teleost immune response, and provide helpful evidences to understand the evolution of immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiumei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Libin Zhang
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.,Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Heng Chi
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.,Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Jialong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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11
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Gomez SR, Morgans S, Kristan DM. Rapamycin exposure to host and to adult worms affects life history traits of Heligmosomoides bakeri. Exp Parasitol 2019; 204:107720. [PMID: 31279929 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Parasite life history can be affected by conditions of the host and of the external environment. Rapamycin, a known immunosuppressant of mammals, was fed to laboratory mice that were then infected with the Trichostrongylid nematode Heligmosomoides bakeri to determine if host rapamycin exposure would affect parasite survival, growth, and reproduction. In addition, adult worms from control fed mice were directly exposed to rapamycin to assess if rapamycin would affect worm viability and ex vivo reproduction. We found that host ingestion of rapamycin did not affect H. bakeri survival or growth for male or female worms, but female worms had increased reproduction both in vivo and when removed from the host and cultured ex vivo. After direct rapamycin exposure, motility of female worms was greater at low levels of rapamycin compared to high levels of rapamycin or high levels of DMSO (the vehicle used to solubilize rapamycin) in control media, but was similar to females in low levels of DMSO in control media. Male motility was not affected by the presence of rapamycin or DMSO in the media. Ex vivo egg deposition was higher when exposed to rapamycin than when cultured in control media that contained DMSO, regardless of DMSO dose. Overall, we conclude that host ingestion of rapamycin or direct exposure to rapamycin was generally favorable or neutral for parasite life history traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Gomez
- Department of Biological Sciences, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, 92096, USA
| | - Scott Morgans
- Department of Biological Sciences, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, 92096, USA
| | - Deborah M Kristan
- Department of Biological Sciences, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, 92096, USA.
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12
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O'Leary CE, Schneider C, Locksley RM. Tuft Cells-Systemically Dispersed Sensory Epithelia Integrating Immune and Neural Circuitry. Annu Rev Immunol 2018; 37:47-72. [PMID: 30379593 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-042718-041505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Tuft cells-rare solitary chemosensory cells in mucosal epithelia-are undergoing intense scientific scrutiny fueled by recent discovery of unsuspected connections to type 2 immunity. These cells constitute a conduit by which ligands from the external space are sensed via taste-like signaling pathways to generate outputs unique among epithelial cells: the cytokine IL-25, eicosanoids associated with allergic immunity, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The classic type II taste cell transcription factor POU2F3 is lineage defining, suggesting a conceptualization of these cells as widely distributed environmental sensors with effector functions interfacing type 2 immunity and neural circuits. Increasingly refined single-cell analytics have revealed diversity among tuft cells that extends from nasal epithelia and type II taste cells to ex-Aire-expressing medullary thymic cells and small-intestine cells that mediate tissue remodeling in response to colonizing helminths and protists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E O'Leary
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA; , ,
| | - Christoph Schneider
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA; , ,
| | - Richard M Locksley
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA; , , .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.,University of California, San Francisco, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
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13
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Modeling Host-Pathogen Interactions in the Context of the Microenvironment: Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Comes of Age. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00282-18. [PMID: 30181350 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00282-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissues and organs provide the structural and biochemical landscapes upon which microbial pathogens and commensals function to regulate health and disease. While flat two-dimensional (2-D) monolayers composed of a single cell type have provided important insight into understanding host-pathogen interactions and infectious disease mechanisms, these reductionist models lack many essential features present in the native host microenvironment that are known to regulate infection, including three-dimensional (3-D) architecture, multicellular complexity, commensal microbiota, gas exchange and nutrient gradients, and physiologically relevant biomechanical forces (e.g., fluid shear, stretch, compression). A major challenge in tissue engineering for infectious disease research is recreating this dynamic 3-D microenvironment (biological, chemical, and physical/mechanical) to more accurately model the initiation and progression of host-pathogen interactions in the laboratory. Here we review selected 3-D models of human intestinal mucosa, which represent a major portal of entry for infectious pathogens and an important niche for commensal microbiota. We highlight seminal studies that have used these models to interrogate host-pathogen interactions and infectious disease mechanisms, and we present this literature in the appropriate historical context. Models discussed include 3-D organotypic cultures engineered in the rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor, extracellular matrix (ECM)-embedded/organoid models, and organ-on-a-chip (OAC) models. Collectively, these technologies provide a more physiologically relevant and predictive framework for investigating infectious disease mechanisms and antimicrobial therapies at the intersection of the host, microbe, and their local microenvironments.
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14
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Banerjee A, McKinley ET, von Moltke J, Coffey RJ, Lau KS. Interpreting heterogeneity in intestinal tuft cell structure and function. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:1711-1719. [PMID: 29714721 DOI: 10.1172/jci120330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal tuft cells are a morphologically unique cell type, best characterized by striking microvilli that form an apical tuft. These cells represent approximately 0.5% of gut epithelial cells depending on location. While they are known to express chemosensory receptors, their function has remained unclear. Recently, numerous groups have revealed startling insights into intestinal tuft cell biology. Here, we review the latest developments in understanding this peculiar cell type's structure and function. Recent advances in volumetric microscopy have begun to elucidate tuft cell ultrastructure with respect to its cellular neighbors. Moreover, single-cell approaches have revealed greater diversity in the tuft cell population than previously appreciated and uncovered novel markers to characterize this heterogeneity. Finally, advanced model systems have revealed tuft cells' roles in mucosal healing and orchestrating type 2 immunity against eukaryotic infection. While much remains unknown about intestinal tuft cells, these critical advances have illuminated the physiological importance of these previously understudied cells and provided experimentally tractable tools to interrogate this rare cell population. Tuft cells act as luminal sensors, linking the luminal microbiome to the host immune system, which may make them a potent clinical target for modulating host response to a variety of acute or chronic immune-driven conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Banerjee
- Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Eliot T McKinley
- Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jakob von Moltke
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robert J Coffey
- Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ken S Lau
- Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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