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Martín Almazán N, Sala BM, Sandalova T, Sun Y, Resink T, Cichocki F, Söderberg-Nauclér C, Miller JS, Achour A, Sarhan D. Non-classical HLA-E restricted CMV 15-mer peptides are recognized by adaptive NK cells and induce memory responses. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1230718. [PMID: 37809084 PMCID: PMC10552778 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1230718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reactivation causes complications in immunocompromised patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), significantly increasing morbidity and mortality. Adaptive Natural Killer (aNK) cells undergo a persistent reconfiguration in response to HCMV reactivation; however, the exact role of aNK cell memory in HCMV surveillance remains elusive. Methods We employed mass spectrometry and computational prediction approaches to identify HLA-E-restricted HCMV peptides that can elucidate aNK cell responses. We also used the K562 cell line transfected with HLA-E0*0103 for specific peptide binding and blocking assays. Subsequently, NK cells were cocultured with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with each of the identified peptides to examine aNK and conventional (c)NK cell responses. Results Here, we discovered three unconventional HLA-E-restricted 15-mer peptides (SEVENVSVNVHNPTG, TSGSDSDEELVTTER, and DSDEELVTTERKTPR) derived from the HCMV pp65-protein that elicit aNK cell memory responses restricted to HCMV. aNK cells displayed memory responses towards HMCV-infected cells and HCMV-seropositive individuals when primed by DCs loaded with each of these peptides and predicted 9-mer versions. Blocking the interaction between HLA-E and the activation NKG2C receptor but not the inhibitory NKG2A receptor abolished these specific recall responses. Interestingly, compared to the HLA-E complex with the leader peptide VMAPRTLIL, HLA-E complexes formed with each of the three identified peptides significantly changed the surface electrostatic potential to highly negative. Furthermore, these peptides do not comprise the classical HLA-E-restriction motifs. Discussion These findings suggest a differential binding to NKG2C compared to HLA-E complexes with classical leader peptides that may result in the specific activation of aNK cells. We then designed six nonameric peptides based on the three discovered peptides that could elicit aNK cell memory responses to HCMV necessary for therapeutic inventions. The results provide novel insights into HLA-E-mediated signaling networks that mediate aNK cell recall responses and maximize their reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Martín Almazán
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benedetta Maria Sala
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tatyana Sandalova
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yizhe Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tom Resink
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér
- Department of Medicine, Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Biomedicine, Unit for Infection and immunology, MediCity Research Laboratory, InFLAMES Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dhifaf Sarhan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Schmied L, Luu TT, Søndergaard JN, Hald SH, Meinke S, Mohammad DK, Singh SB, Mayer C, Perinetti Casoni G, Chrobok M, Schlums H, Rota G, Truong HM, Westerberg LS, Guarda G, Alici E, Wagner AK, Kadri N, Bryceson YT, Saeed MB, Höglund P. SHP-1 localization to the activating immune synapse promotes NK cell tolerance in MHC class I deficiency. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eabq0752. [PMID: 37040441 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abq0752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells recognize virally infected cells and tumors. NK cell function depends on balanced signaling from activating receptors, recognizing products from tumors or viruses, and inhibitory receptors (such as KIR/Ly49), which recognize major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules. KIR/Ly49 signaling preserves tolerance to self but also conveys reactivity toward MHC-I-low target cells in a process known as NK cell education. Here, we found that NK cell tolerance and education were determined by the subcellular localization of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. In mice lacking MHC-I molecules, uneducated, self-tolerant Ly49A+ NK cells showed accumulation of SHP-1 in the activating immune synapse, where it colocalized with F-actin and the signaling adaptor protein SLP-76. Education of Ly49A+ NK cells by the MHC-I molecule H2Dd led to reduced synaptic accumulation of SHP-1, accompanied by augmented signaling from activating receptors. Education was also linked to reduced transcription of Ptpn6, which encodes SHP-1. Moreover, synaptic SHP-1 accumulation was reduced in NK cells carrying the H2Dd-educated receptor Ly49G2 but not in those carrying the noneducating receptor Ly49I. Colocalization of Ly49A and SHP-1 outside of the synapse was more frequent in educated compared with uneducated NK cells, suggesting a role for Ly49A in preventing synaptic SHP-1 accumulation in NK cell education. Thus, distinct patterning of SHP-1 in the activating NK cell synapse may determine NK cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Schmied
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thuy T Luu
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas N Søndergaard
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CIDER), Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Sophia H Hald
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephan Meinke
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dara K Mohammad
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Food Technology, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil KRG-Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Sunitha B Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, S-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Corinna Mayer
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giovanna Perinetti Casoni
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Chrobok
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heinrich Schlums
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giorgia Rota
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Hieu M Truong
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa S Westerberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, S-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Greta Guarda
- Università della Svizzera Italiana, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Evren Alici
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnika K Wagner
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nadir Kadri
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yenan T Bryceson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge C2:66, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 87, Laboratory Building 5th floor, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Mezida B Saeed
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, S-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Höglund
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, NEO building, Blickagången 16, S-141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge C2:66, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Luu TT, Søndergaard JN, Peña-Pérez L, Kharazi S, Krstic A, Meinke S, Schmied L, Frengen N, Heshmati Y, Kierczak M, Bouderlique T, Wagner AK, Gustafsson C, Chambers BJ, Achour A, Kutter C, Höglund P, Månsson R, Kadri N. FOXO1 and FOXO3 Cooperatively Regulate Innate Lymphoid Cell Development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:854312. [PMID: 35757763 PMCID: PMC9218573 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.854312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play roles in viral clearance and early surveillance against malignant transformation, yet our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms controlling their development and functions remain incomplete. To reveal cell fate-determining pathways in NK cell progenitors (NKP), we utilized an unbiased approach and generated comprehensive gene expression profiles of NK cell progenitors. We found that the NK cell program was gradually established in the CLP to preNKP and preNKP to rNKP transitions. In line with FOXO1 and FOXO3 being co-expressed through the NK developmental trajectory, the loss of both perturbed the establishment of the NK cell program and caused stalling in both NK cell development and maturation. In addition, we found that the combined loss of FOXO1 and FOXO3 caused specific changes to the composition of the non-cytotoxic innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets in bone marrow, spleen, and thymus. By combining transcriptome and chromatin profiling, we revealed that FOXO TFs ensure proper NK cell development at various lineage-commitment stages through orchestrating distinct molecular mechanisms. Combined FOXO1 and FOXO3 deficiency in common and innate lymphoid cell progenitors resulted in reduced expression of genes associated with NK cell development including ETS-1 and their downstream target genes. Lastly, we found that FOXO1 and FOXO3 controlled the survival of committed NK cells via gene regulation of IL-15Rβ (CD122) on rNKPs and bone marrow NK cells. Overall, we revealed that FOXO1 and FOXO3 function in a coordinated manner to regulate essential developmental genes at multiple stages during murine NK cell and ILC lineage commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy T Luu
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Nørskov Søndergaard
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucía Peña-Pérez
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shabnam Kharazi
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aleksandra Krstic
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephan Meinke
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laurent Schmied
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicolai Frengen
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yaser Heshmati
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcin Kierczak
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thibault Bouderlique
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnika Kathleen Wagner
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Gustafsson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benedict J Chambers
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claudia Kutter
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Höglund
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Månsson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nadir Kadri
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Jacobs B, Gebel V, Heger L, Grèze V, Schild H, Dudziak D, Ullrich E. Characterization and Manipulation of the Crosstalk Between Dendritic and Natural Killer Cells Within the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:670540. [PMID: 34054844 PMCID: PMC8160470 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.670540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular therapy has entered the daily clinical life with the approval of CAR T cell therapeutics and dendritic cell (DCs) vaccines in the US and the EU. In addition, numerous other adoptive cellular products, including natural killer (NK) cells, are currently evaluated in early phase I/ II clinical trials for the treatment of cancer patients. Despite these promising accomplishments, various challenges remain to be mastered in order to ensure sustained therapeutic success. These include the identification of strategies by which tumor cells escape the immune system or establish an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). As part of the innate immune system, DCs and NK cells are both present within the TME of various tumor entities. While NK cells are well known for their intrinsic anti-tumor activity by their cytotoxicity capacities and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the role of DCs within the TME is a double-edged sword as different DC subsets have been described with either tumor-promoting or -inhibiting characteristics. In this review, we will discuss recent findings on the interaction of DCs and NK cells under physiological conditions and within the TME. One focus is the crosstalk of various DC subsets with NK cells and their impact on the progression or inhibition of tumor growth. In addition, we will provide suggestions to overcome the immunosuppressive outcome of the interaction of DCs and NK cells within the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Jacobs
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Haematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Veronika Gebel
- Children's Hospital, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Experimental Immunology, Goethe University Frankfurt , Frankfurt, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lukas Heger
- Department of Dermatology, Laboratory of Dendritic Cell Biology, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Victoria Grèze
- Children's Hospital, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Experimental Immunology, Goethe University Frankfurt , Frankfurt, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hansjörg Schild
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Research Centre for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Diana Dudziak
- Department of Dermatology, Laboratory of Dendritic Cell Biology, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Children's Hospital, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Experimental Immunology, Goethe University Frankfurt , Frankfurt, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
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5
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Luu TT, Schmied L, Nguyen NA, Wiel C, Meinke S, Mohammad DK, Bergö M, Alici E, Kadri N, Ganesan S, Höglund P. Short-term IL-15 priming leaves a long-lasting signalling imprint in mouse NK cells independently of a metabolic switch. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:4/4/e202000723. [PMID: 33593878 PMCID: PMC7918643 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cell reactivity is dynamically regulated by IL-15, and NK cells do not need more than a few minutes of exposure to remember the cytokine for several hours. IL-15 priming of NK cells is a broadly accepted concept, but the dynamics and underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We show that as little as 5 min of IL-15 treatment in vitro, followed by removal of excess cytokines, results in a long-lasting, but reversible, augmentation of NK cell responsiveness upon activating receptor cross-linking. In contrast to long-term stimulation, improved NK cell function after short-term IL-15 priming was not associated with enhanced metabolism but was based on the increased steady-state phosphorylation level of signalling molecules downstream of activating receptors. Inhibition of JAK3 eliminated this priming effect, suggesting a cross talk between the IL-15 receptor and ITAM-dependent activating receptors. Increased signalling molecule phosphorylation levels, calcium flux, and IFN-γ secretion lasted for up to 3 h after IL-15 stimulation before returning to baseline. We conclude that IL-15 rapidly and reversibly primes NK cell function by modulating activating receptor signalling. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which NK cell reactivity can potentially be maintained in vivo based on only brief encounters with IL-15 trans-presenting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy T Luu
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Laurent Schmied
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ngoc-Anh Nguyen
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Clotilde Wiel
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Stephan Meinke
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Dara K Mohammad
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Department of Food Technology, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, KRG-Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Martin Bergö
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Evren Alici
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Cell Therapy Institute, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Nadir Kadri
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sridharan Ganesan
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Petter Höglund
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Centre for Haematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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6
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Soluble and Exosome-Bound α-Galactosylceramide Mediate Preferential Proliferation of Educated NK Cells with Increased Anti-Tumor Capacity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020298. [PMID: 33467442 PMCID: PMC7830699 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells can kill target cells via the recognition of stress molecules and down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I). Some NK cells are educated to recognize and kill cells that have lost their MHC-I expression, e.g., tumor or virus-infected cells. A desired property of cancer immunotherapy is, therefore, to activate educated NK cells during anti-tumor responses in vivo. We here analyze NK cell responses to α-galactosylceramide (αGC), a potent activator of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, or to exosomes loaded with αGC. In mouse strains which express different MHC-I alleles using an extended NK cell flow cytometry panel, we show that αGC induces a biased NK cell proliferation of educated NK cells. Importantly, iNKT cell-induced activation of NK cells selectively increased in vivo missing self-responses, leading to more effective rejection of tumor cells. Exosomes from antigen-presenting cells are attractive anti-cancer therapy tools as they may induce both innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby addressing the hurdle of tumor heterogeneity. Adding αGC to antigen-loaded dendritic-cell-derived exosomes also led to an increase in missing self-responses in addition to boosted T and B cell responses. This study manifests αGC as an attractive adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy, as it increases the functional capacity of educated NK cells and enhances the innate, missing self-based antitumor response.
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7
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Meissl K, Simonović N, Amenitsch L, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Klein K, Lassnig C, Puga A, Vogl C, Poelzl A, Bosmann M, Dohnal A, Sexl V, Müller M, Strobl B. STAT1 Isoforms Differentially Regulate NK Cell Maturation and Anti-tumor Activity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2189. [PMID: 33042133 PMCID: PMC7519029 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are important components of the innate immune defense against infections and cancers. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) is a transcription factor that is essential for NK cell maturation and NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance. Two alternatively spliced isoforms of STAT1 exist: a full-length STAT1α and a C-terminally truncated STAT1β isoform. Aberrant splicing is frequently observed in cancer cells and several anti-cancer drugs interfere with the cellular splicing machinery. To investigate whether NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance is affected by a switch in STAT1 splicing, we made use of knock-in mice expressing either only the STAT1α (Stat1α/α) or the STAT1β (Stat1β/β ) isoform. NK cells from Stat1α/α mice matured normally and controlled transplanted tumor cells as efficiently as NK cells from wild-type mice. In contrast, NK cells from Stat1β/β mice showed impaired maturation and effector functions, albeit less severe than NK cells from mice that completely lack STAT1 (Stat1-/- ). Mechanistically, we show that NK cell maturation requires the presence of STAT1α in the niche rather than in NK cells themselves and that NK cell maturation depends on IFNγ signaling under homeostatic conditions. The impaired NK cell maturation in Stat1β/β mice was paralleled by decreased IL-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) surface levels on dendritic cells, macrophages and monocytes. Treatment of Stat1β/β mice with exogenous IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes rescued NK cell maturation but not their effector functions. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that STAT1 isoforms are not functionally redundant in regulating NK cell activity and that the absence of STAT1α severely impairs, but does not abolish, NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Meissl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Natalija Simonović
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lena Amenitsch
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Klein
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Lassnig
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana Puga
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Vogl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Poelzl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Bosmann
- Pulmonary Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alexander Dohnal
- Tumor Immunology, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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8
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Kee BL, Morman RE, Sun M. Transcriptional regulation of natural killer cell development and maturation. Adv Immunol 2020; 146:1-28. [PMID: 32327150 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer cells are lymphocytes that respond rapidly to intracellular pathogens or cancer/stressed cells by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines and by killing target cells through direct cytolysis. NK cells are distinct from B and T lymphocytes in that they become activated through a series of broadly expressed germ line encoded activating and inhibitory receptors or through the actions of inflammatory cytokines. They are the founding member of the innate lymphoid cell family, which mirror the functions of T lymphocytes, with NK cells being the innate counterpart to CD8 T lymphocytes. Despite the functional relationship between NK cells and CD8 T cells, the mechanisms controlling their specification, differentiation and maturation are distinct, with NK cells emerging from multipotent lymphoid progenitors in the bone marrow under the control of a unique transcriptional program. Over the past few years, substantial progress has been made in understanding the developmental pathways and the factors involved in generating mature and functional NK cells. NK cells have immense therapeutic potential and understanding how to acquire large numbers of functional cells and how to endow them with potent activity to control hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic malignancies and autoimmunity is a major clinical goal. In this review, we examine basic aspects of conventional NK cell development in mice and humans and discuss multiple transcription factors that are known to guide the development of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara L Kee
- Department of Pathology and Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
| | - Rosmary E Morman
- Department of Pathology and Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mengxi Sun
- Department of Pathology and Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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9
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Luu TT, Wagner AK, Schmied L, Meinke S, Freund JE, Kambayashi T, Ravens I, Achour A, Bernhardt G, Chambers BJ, Höglund P, Kadri N. IL-15 and CD155 expression regulate LAT expression in murine DNAM1 + NK cells, enhancing their effectors functions. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:494-504. [PMID: 31834938 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
NK cells are innate immune cells characterized by their ability to spontaneously lyse tumor and virally infected cells. We have recently demonstrated that IL-15-sufficient DC regulate NK cell effector functions in mice. Here, we established that among ITAM-proximal signaling molecules, the expression levels of the scaffold molecule Linker for Activation of T cells (LAT) and its transcription factor ELF-1 were reduced 4 days after in vivo depletion of DC. Addition of IL-15, a cytokine presented by DC to NK cells, regulates LAT expression in NK cells with a significant effect on the DNAM1+ subset compared to DNAM1- cells. We also found that LAT expression is regulated via interaction of the DNAM1 receptor with its ligand CD155 in both immature and mature NK cells, independently of NK cell education. Finally, we found that LAT expression within DNAM1+ NK cells might be responsible for enhanced calcium mobilization following the triggering of activating receptors on NK cells. Altogether, we found that LAT expression is tightly regulated in DNAM1+ NK cells, via interaction(s) with DC, which express CD155 and IL-15, resulting in rapid activation of the DNAM1+ subset during activating receptor triggering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy T Luu
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnika K Wagner
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laurent Schmied
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephan Meinke
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jacquelyn E Freund
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Taku Kambayashi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Inga Ravens
- Institute of Immunology, Building 11, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunter Bernhardt
- Institute of Immunology, Building 11, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Benedict J Chambers
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Höglund
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinic for Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nadir Kadri
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Simonović N, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Meissl K, Lassnig C, Reichart U, Kolbe T, Farlik M, Bock C, Sexl V, Müller M, Strobl B. NK Cells Require Cell-Extrinsic and -Intrinsic TYK2 for Full Functionality in Tumor Surveillance and Antibacterial Immunity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:1724-1734. [PMID: 30718299 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a widely expressed receptor-associated kinase that is involved in signaling by a variety of cytokines with important immune regulatory activities. Absence of TYK2 in mice results in impaired NK cell maturation and antitumor activity, although underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using conditional ablation of TYK2 in NK cells we show that TYK2 is required for IFN-γ production by NK cells in response to IL-12 and for an efficient immune defense against Listeria monocytogenes Deletion of TYK2 in NK cells did not impact NK cell maturation and IFN-γ production upon NK cell activating receptor (actR) stimulation. Similarly, NK cell-mediated tumor surveillance was unimpaired upon deletion of TYK2 in NK cells only. In line with the previously reported maturation-associated Ifng promoter demethylation, the less mature phenotype of Tyk2-/- NK cells correlated with an increased CpG methylation at the Ifng locus. Treatment with the DNA hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine restored the ability of Tyk2-/- NK cells to produce IFN-γ upon actR but not upon IL-12 stimulation. NK cell maturation was dependent on the presence of TYK2 in dendritic cells and could be rescued in Tyk2-deficient mice by treatment with exogenous IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes. IL-15 treatment also rescued the in vitro cytotoxicity defect and the impaired actR-induced IFN-γ production of Tyk2-/- NK cells. Collectively, our findings provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, for a key role of TYK2 in the host environment in promoting NK cell maturation and antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalija Simonović
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katrin Meissl
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Lassnig
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Reichart
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Kolbe
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria; and
| | - Matthias Farlik
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Müller
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.,Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Strobl
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
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11
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Ganesan S, Höglund P. Inhibitory Receptor Crosslinking Quantitatively Dampens Calcium Flux Induced by Activating Receptor Triggering in NK Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 9:3173. [PMID: 30693005 PMCID: PMC6339929 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell function is regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory receptors, but the details of this receptor interplay are not extensively understood. We developed a flow cytometry-based assay system in which Ca2+ flux downstream of antibody-mediated activating receptor triggering was studied in the presence or absence of inhibitory receptor co-crosslinking. We show that the inhibitory influence on activating receptor-induced Ca2+ flux is quantitatively regulated, both on murine and human NK cells. Furthermore, both activating and inhibitory receptors operate in an additive way, suggesting that a fine-tuned balance between activating and inhibitory receptors regulate proximal NK cell signaling. We also demonstrate that murine NK cell expression of H2Dd lowered the capacity of Ly49A to deliver inhibitory signals after antibody crosslinking, suggesting that the cis interaction between H2Dd and Ly49A reduce the signaling capacity of Ly49A in this setting. Finally, we show that priming of NK cells by IL-15 rapidly augments Ca2+ flux after activating receptor signaling without attenuating the potential of inhibitory receptors to reduce Ca2+ flux. Our data shed new light on NK cell inhibition and raises new questions for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridharan Ganesan
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Höglund
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
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12
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Tripathi P, Sedimbi SK, Singh AK, Löfbom L, Issazadeh-Navikas S, Weiss S, Förster I, Karlsson MCI, Yrlid U, Kadri N, Cardell SL. Innate and adaptive stimulation of murine diverse NKT cells result in distinct cellular responses. Eur J Immunol 2018; 49:443-453. [PMID: 30427069 PMCID: PMC6587840 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201847647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) cells recognize glycolipids presented on CD1d. They share features of adaptive T lymphocytes and innate NK cells, and mediate immunoregulatory functions via rapid production of cytokines. Invariant (iNKT) and diverse (dNKT) NKT cell subsets are defined by their TCR. The immunological role of dNKT cells, that do not express the invariant TCRα‐chain used by iNKT cells, is less well explored than that of iNKT cells. Here, we investigated signals driving Toll‐like receptor (TLR) ligand activation of TCR‐transgenic murine dNKT cells. IFN‐γ production by dNKT cells required dendritic cells (DC), cell‐to‐cell contact and presence of TLR ligands. TLR‐stimulated DC activated dNKT cells to secrete IFN‐γ in a CD1d‐, CD80/86‐ and type I IFN‐independent manner. In contrast, a requirement for IL‐12p40, and a TLR ligand‐selective dependence on IL‐18 or IL‐15 was observed. TLR ligand/DC stimulation provoked early secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines by both CD62L+ and CD62L− dNKT cells. However, proliferation was limited. In contrast, TCR/co‐receptor‐mediated activation resulted in proliferation and delayed production of a broader cytokine spectrum preferentially in CD62L− dNKT cells. Thus, innate (TLR ligand/DC) and adaptive (TCR/co‐receptor) stimulation of dNKT cells resulted in distinct cellular responses that may contribute differently to the formation of immune memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhanshu Tripathi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Saikiran K Sedimbi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Avadhesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Linda Löfbom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas
- Neuroinflammation Unit, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen Biocentre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Siegfried Weiss
- Institute of Immunology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Irmgard Förster
- Immunology and Environment, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mikael C I Karlsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulf Yrlid
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nadir Kadri
- Center of Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susanna L Cardell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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13
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Finch DK, Stolberg VR, Ferguson J, Alikaj H, Kady MR, Richmond BW, Polosukhin VV, Blackwell TS, McCloskey L, Curtis JL, Freeman CM. Lung Dendritic Cells Drive Natural Killer Cytotoxicity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease via IL-15Rα. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2018; 198:1140-1150. [PMID: 29676596 PMCID: PMC6221577 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201712-2513oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Lung natural killer cells (NKs) kill a greater percentage of autologous lung parenchymal cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than in nonobstructed smokers. To become cytotoxic, NKs require priming, typically by dendritic cells (DCs), but whether priming occurs in the lungs in COPD is unknown. METHODS We used lung tissue and in some cases peripheral blood from patients undergoing clinically indicated resections to determine in vitro killing of CD326+ lung epithelial cells by isolated lung CD56+ NKs. We also measured the cytotoxicity of unprimed blood NKs after preincubation with lung DCs. To investigate mechanisms of DC-mediated priming, we used murine models of COPD induced by cigarette smoke (CS) exposure or by polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) deficiency, and blocked IL-15Rα (IL-15 receptor α subunit) trans-presentation by genetic and antibody approaches. RESULTS Human lung NKs killed isolated autologous lung epithelial cells; cytotoxicity was increased (P = 0.0001) in COPD, relative to smokers without obstruction. Similarly, increased lung NK cytotoxicity compared with control subjects was observed in CS-exposed mice and pIgR-/- mice. Blood NKs both from smokers without obstruction and subjects with COPD showed minimal epithelial cell killing, but in COPD, preincubation with lung DCs increased cytotoxicity. NKs were primed by CS-exposed murine DCs in vitro and in vivo. Inhibiting IL-15Rα trans-presentation eliminated NK priming both by murine CS-exposed DCs and by lung DCs from subjects with COPD. CONCLUSIONS Heightened NK cytotoxicity against lung epithelial cells in COPD results primarily from lung DC-mediated priming via IL-15 trans-presentation on IL-15Rα. Future studies are required to test whether increased NK cytotoxicity contributes to COPD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna K. Finch
- Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, MedImmune Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Valerie R. Stolberg
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - John Ferguson
- Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, MedImmune Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Henrih Alikaj
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mohamed R. Kady
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Bradley W. Richmond
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Timothy S. Blackwell
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Lisa McCloskey
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jeffrey L. Curtis
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Christine M. Freeman
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
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