1
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Baldwin I, Robey EA. Adjusting to self in the thymus: CD4 versus CD8 lineage commitment and regulatory T cell development. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230896. [PMID: 38980291 PMCID: PMC11232887 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
During thymic development, thymocytes adjust their TCR response based on the strength of their reactivity to self-peptide MHC complexes. This tuning process allows thymocytes with a range of self-reactivities to survive positive selection and contribute to a diverse T cell pool. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of how thymocytes tune their responsiveness during positive selection, and we present a "sequential selection" model to explain how MHC specificity influences lineage choice. We also discuss recent evidence for cell type diversity in the medulla and discuss how this heterogeneity may contribute to medullary niches for negative selection and regulatory T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Baldwin
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ellen A. Robey
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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2
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Sekiya T, Hidano S, Takaki S. Tonic TCR and IL-1β signaling mediate phenotypic alterations of naive CD4 + T cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113954. [PMID: 38492221 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Inert naive CD4+ T (TN) cells differentiate into functional T helper (Th) or regulatory T (Treg) cell subsets upon encountering antigens, mediating properly directed immune responses. Although all TN cells can differentiate into any of the Th and Treg cell subsets, heterogeneity exists among TN cells. By constructing reporter mice to detect ongoing T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, we identify that interleukin (IL)-1β signaling affects TN cell characteristics, independent of tonic TCR signaling, which also alters TN cell phenotypes. IL-1β reversibly attenuates the differentiation potential of TN cells toward Treg cells. IL-1β signaling is elevated in the splenic TN cells, consequently attenuating their differentiation potential toward Treg cells. Aberrant elevation of IL-1β signaling augments colitogenic activities of TN cells. TN cells in patients with colitis exhibited elevated IL-1β signaling. We demonstrate that phenotypic alteration in TN cells by IL-1β is an important mechanism in the regulation of immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sekiya
- Section of Immune Response Modification, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan; Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan.
| | - Shinya Hidano
- Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takaki
- Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan
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3
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Eggert J, Zinzow-Kramer WM, Hu Y, Kolawole EM, Tsai YL, Weiss A, Evavold BD, Salaita K, Scharer CD, Au-Yeung BB. Cbl-b mitigates the responsiveness of naive CD8 + T cells that experience extensive tonic T cell receptor signaling. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eadh0439. [PMID: 38319998 PMCID: PMC10897907 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adh0439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Naive T cells experience tonic T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in response to self-antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in secondary lymphoid organs. We investigated how relatively weak or strong tonic TCR signals influence naive CD8+ T cell responses to stimulation with foreign antigens. The heterogeneous expression of Nur77-GFP, a transgenic reporter of tonic TCR signaling, in naive CD8+ T cells suggests variable intensities or durations of tonic TCR signaling. Although the expression of genes associated with acutely stimulated T cells was increased in Nur77-GFPHI cells, these cells were hyporesponsive to agonist TCR stimulation compared with Nur77-GFPLO cells. This hyporesponsiveness manifested as diminished activation marker expression and decreased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2. The protein abundance of the ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b, a negative regulator of TCR signaling, was greater in Nur77-GFPHI cells than in Nur77-GFPLO cells, and Cbl-b deficiency partially restored the responsiveness of Nur77-GFPHI cells. Our data suggest that the cumulative effects of previously experienced tonic TCR signaling recalibrate naive CD8+ T cell responsiveness. These changes include gene expression changes and negative regulation partially dependent on Cbl-b. This cell-intrinsic negative feedback loop may enable the immune system to restrain naive CD8+ T cells with higher self-reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Eggert
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University; Atlanta, 30322, USA
| | - Wendy M. Zinzow-Kramer
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University; Atlanta, 30322, USA
| | - Yuesong Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University; Atlanta, 30322, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Kolawole
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84112, USA
| | - Yuan-Li Tsai
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, 94143, USA
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, 94143, USA
| | - Brian D. Evavold
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84112, USA
| | - Khalid Salaita
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University; Atlanta, 30322, USA
| | | | - Byron B. Au-Yeung
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University; Atlanta, 30322, USA
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4
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Textor J, Buytenhuijs F, Rogers D, Gauthier ÈM, Sultan S, Wortel IMN, Kalies K, Fähnrich A, Pagel R, Melichar HJ, Westermann J, Mandl JN. Machine learning analysis of the T cell receptor repertoire identifies sequence features of self-reactivity. Cell Syst 2023; 14:1059-1073.e5. [PMID: 38061355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The T cell receptor (TCR) determines specificity and affinity for both foreign and self-peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Although the strength of TCR interactions with self-pMHC impacts T cell function, it has been challenging to identify TCR sequence features that predict T cell fate. To discern patterns distinguishing TCRs from naive CD4+ T cells with low versus high self-reactivity, we used data from 42 mice to train a machine learning (ML) algorithm that identifies population-level differences between TCRβ sequence sets. This approach revealed that weakly self-reactive T cell populations were enriched for longer CDR3β regions and acidic amino acids. We tested our ML predictions of self-reactivity using retrogenic mice with fixed TCRβ sequences. Extrapolating our analyses to independent datasets, we predicted high self-reactivity for regulatory T cells and slightly reduced self-reactivity for T cells responding to chronic infections. Our analyses suggest a potential trade-off between TCR repertoire diversity and self-reactivity. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Textor
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands; Medical BioSciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands.
| | - Franka Buytenhuijs
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands
| | - Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada; McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Shabaz Sultan
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands; Medical BioSciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
| | - Inge M N Wortel
- Data Science Group, Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EC, the Netherlands; Medical BioSciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
| | - Kathrin Kalies
- Institut für Anatomie, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anke Fähnrich
- Institut für Anatomie, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - René Pagel
- Institut für Anatomie, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | | | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada.
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5
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Tsai YL, Arias-Badia M, Kadlecek TA, Lwin YM, Srinath A, Shah NH, Wang ZE, Barber D, Kuriyan J, Fong L, Weiss A. TCR signaling promotes formation of an STS1-Cbl-b complex with pH-sensitive phosphatase activity that suppresses T cell function in acidic environments. Immunity 2023; 56:2682-2698.e9. [PMID: 38091950 PMCID: PMC10785950 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
T cell responses are inhibited by acidic environments. T cell receptor (TCR)-induced protein phosphorylation is negatively regulated by dephosphorylation and/or ubiquitination, but the mechanisms underlying sensitivity to acidic environments are not fully understood. Here, we found that TCR stimulation induced a molecular complex of Cbl-b, an E3-ubiquitin ligase, with STS1, a pH-sensitive unconventional phosphatase. The induced interaction depended upon a proline motif in Cbl-b interacting with the STS1 SH3 domain. STS1 dephosphorylated Cbl-b interacting phosphoproteins. The deficiency of STS1 or Cbl-b diminished the sensitivity of T cell responses to the inhibitory effects of acid in an autocrine or paracrine manner in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, the deficiency of STS1 or Cbl-b promoted T cell proliferative and differentiation activities in vivo and inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival, and improved T cell fitness in tumor models. Thus, a TCR-induced STS1-Cbl-b complex senses intra- or extra-cellular acidity and regulates T cell responses, presenting a potential therapeutic target for improving anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Li Tsai
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Marcel Arias-Badia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Theresa A Kadlecek
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yee May Lwin
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aahir Srinath
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Neel H Shah
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zhi-En Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Diane Barber
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John Kuriyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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6
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Qin Y, Mace EM, Barton JP. An inference model gives insights into innate immune adaptation and repertoire diversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305859120. [PMID: 37695895 PMCID: PMC10515141 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305859120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system is the body's first line of defense against infection. Natural killer (NK) cells, a vital part of the innate immune system, help to control infection and eliminate cancer. Studies have identified a vast array of receptors that NK cells use to discriminate between healthy and unhealthy cells. However, at present, it is difficult to explain how NK cells will respond to novel stimuli in different environments. In addition, the expression of different receptors on individual NK cells is highly stochastic, but the reason for these variegated expression patterns is unclear. Here, we studied the recognition of unhealthy target cells as an inference problem, where NK cells must distinguish between healthy targets with normal variability in ligand expression and ones that are clear "outliers." Our mathematical model fits well with experimental data, including NK cells' adaptation to changing environments and responses to different target cells. Furthermore, we find that stochastic, "sparse" receptor expression profiles are best able to detect a variety of possible threats, in agreement with experimental studies of the NK cell repertoire. While our study was specifically motivated by NK cells, our model is general and could also apply more broadly to explain principles of target recognition for other immune cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawei Qin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, CA92521
| | - Emily M. Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
| | - John P. Barton
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, CA92521
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15260
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7
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Frech M, Danzer H, Uchil P, Azizov V, Schmid E, Schälter F, Dürholz K, Mauro D, Rauber S, Muñoz L, Taher L, Ciccia F, Schober K, Irla M, Sarter K, Schett G, Zaiss MM. Butyrophilin 2a2 (Btn2a2) expression on thymic epithelial cells promotes central T cell tolerance and prevents autoimmune disease. J Autoimmun 2023; 139:103071. [PMID: 37356345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Butyrophilins are surface receptors belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. While several members of the butyrophilin family have been implicated in the development of unconventional T cells, butyrophilin 2a2 (Btn2a2) has been shown to inhibit conventional T cell activation. Here, we demonstrate that in steady state, the primary source of Btn2a2 are thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Absence of Btn2a2 alters thymic T cell maturation and bypasses central tolerance mechanisms. Furthermore, Btn2a2-/- mice develop spontaneous autoimmunity resembling human primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS), including formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in target organs. Ligation of Btn2a2 on developing thymocytes is associated with reduced TCR signaling and CD5 levels, while absence of Btn2a2 results in increased TCR signaling and CD5 levels. These results define a novel role for Btn2a2 in promoting central tolerance by modulating TCR signaling strength and indicate a potential mechanism of pSS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Frech
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heike Danzer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pooja Uchil
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vugar Azizov
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva Schmid
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian Schälter
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Dürholz
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniele Mauro
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Simon Rauber
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Luis Muñoz
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Leila Taher
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Francesco Ciccia
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, University Della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Kilian Schober
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Magali Irla
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre D'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Kerstin Sarter
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mario M Zaiss
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
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8
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Bending D, Zikherman J. Nr4a nuclear receptors: markers and modulators of antigen receptor signaling. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 81:102285. [PMID: 36764055 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Nr4a1-3 encode a small family of orphan nuclear hormone receptors with transcriptional activity. Their expression reflects both acute and chronic antigen-receptor signaling in T and B-cells, and they have been implicated in critical aspects of lymphocyte development, tolerance, and function. These include roles in regulatory T-cell (Treg), thymic-negative selection, humoral responses, anergy, and exhaustion. Here, we review recent advances in this field such as functional roles in B-cells, transcriptional targets, and mechanism of action. We highlight recurrent themes, including integration of antigen-receptor signaling with costimulatory input, as well as unanswered questions and translational applications of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bending
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Arthritis Research Center, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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9
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Lee SW, Lee GW, Kim HO, Cho JH. Shaping Heterogeneity of Naive CD8 + T Cell Pools. Immune Netw 2023; 23:e2. [PMID: 36911807 PMCID: PMC9995989 DOI: 10.4110/in.2023.23.e2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune diversification helps protect the host against a myriad of pathogens. CD8+ T cells are essential adaptive immune cells that inhibit the spread of pathogens by inducing apoptosis in infected host cells, ultimately ensuring complete elimination of infectious pathogens and suppressing disease development. Accordingly, numerous studies have been conducted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying CD8+ T cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation into effector and memory cells, and to identify various intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulating these processes. The current knowledge accumulated through these studies has led to a huge breakthrough in understanding the existence of heterogeneity in CD8+ T cell populations during immune response and the principles underlying this heterogeneity. As the heterogeneity in effector/memory phases has been extensively reviewed elsewhere, in the current review, we focus on CD8+ T cells in a "naïve" state, introducing recent studies dealing with the heterogeneity of naive CD8+ T cells and discussing the factors that contribute to such heterogeneity. We also discuss how this heterogeneity contributes to establishing the immense complexity of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Woo Lee
- Medical Research Center for Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea.,Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
| | - Gil-Woo Lee
- Medical Research Center for Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea.,Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
| | | | - Jae-Ho Cho
- Medical Research Center for Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea.,Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea.,BioMedical Sciences Graduate Program, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
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10
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Eggert J, Zinzow-Kramer WM, Hu Y, Tsai YL, Weiss A, Salaita K, Scharer CD, Au-Yeung BB. Accumulation of TCR signaling from self-antigens in naive CD8 T cells mitigates early responsiveness. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.27.525946. [PMID: 36747815 PMCID: PMC9900884 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.27.525946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The cumulative effects of T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction over extended periods of time influences T cell biology, such as the positive selection of immature thymocytes or the proliferative responses of naive T cells. Naive T cells experience recurrent TCR signaling in response to self-antigens in the steady state. However, how these signals influence the responsiveness of naive CD8+ T cells to subsequent agonist TCR stimulation remains incompletely understood. We investigated how naive CD8+ T cells that experienced relatively low or high levels of TCR signaling in response to self-antigens respond to stimulation with foreign antigens. A transcriptional reporter of Nr4a1 (Nur77-GFP) revealed substantial heterogeneity of the amount of TCR signaling naive CD8+ T cells accumulate in the steady state. Nur77-GFPHI cells exhibited diminished T cell activation and secretion of IFNγ and IL-2 relative to Nur77-GFPLO cells in response to agonist TCR stimulation. Differential gene expression analyses revealed upregulation of genes associated with acutely stimulated T cells in Nur77-GFPHI cells but also increased expression of negative regulators such as the phosphatase Sts1. Responsiveness of Nur77-GFPHI cells to TCR stimulation was partially restored at the level of IFNγ secretion by deficiency of Sts1 or the ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b. Our data suggest that extensive accumulation of TCR signaling during steady state conditions induces a recalibration of the responsiveness of naive CD8+ T cells through gene expression changes and negative regulation, at least in part, dependent on Sts1 and Cbl-b. This cell-intrinsic negative feedback loop may allow the immune system to limit the autoreactive potential of highly self-reactive naive CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Eggert
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University
| | - Wendy M. Zinzow-Kramer
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University
| | - Yuesong Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University
| | - Yuan-Li Tsai
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco
| | | | | | - Byron B. Au-Yeung
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University
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11
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This S, Rogers D, Mallet Gauthier È, Mandl JN, Melichar HJ. What's self got to do with it: Sources of heterogeneity among naive T cells. Semin Immunol 2023; 65:101702. [PMID: 36463711 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
There is a long-standing assumption that naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are largely homogeneous populations despite the extraordinary diversity of their T cell receptors (TCR). The self-immunopeptidome plays a key role in the selection of the naive T cell repertoire in the thymus, and self-peptides are also an important driver of differences between individual naive T cells with regard to their subsequent functional contributions to an immune response. Accumulating evidence suggests that as early as the β-selection stage of T cell development, when only one of the recombined chains of the mature TCR is expressed, signaling thresholds may be established for positive selection of immature thymocytes. Stochastic encounters subsequently made with self-ligands during positive selection in the thymus imprint functional biases that a T cell will carry with it throughout its lifetime, although ongoing interactions with self in the periphery ensure a level of plasticity in the gene expression wiring of naive T cells. Identifying the sources of heterogeneity in the naive T cell population and which functional attributes of T cells can be modulated through post-thymic interventions versus those that are fixed during T cell development, could enable us to better select or generate T cells with particular traits to improve the efficacy of T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien This
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology and McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology and McGill Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
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12
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Kim CY, Parrish HL, Kuhns MS. The TCR Cα Domain Regulates Responses to Self-pMHC Class II. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:2033-2041. [PMID: 36426940 PMCID: PMC9643626 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
T cells play a central role in adaptive immunity by recognizing peptide Ags presented by MHC molecules (pMHC) via their clonotypic TCRs. αβTCRs are heterodimers, consisting of TCRα and TCRβ subunits that are composed of variable (Vα, Vβ) and constant (Cα, Cβ) domains. Whereas the Vα, Vβ, and Cβ domains adopt typical Ig folds in the extracellular space, the Cα domain lacks a top β sheet and instead has two loosely associated top strands (C- and F-strands) on its surface. Previous results suggest that this unique Ig-like fold mediates homotypic TCR interactions and influences signaling in vitro. To better understand why evolution has selected this unique structure, we asked, what is the fitness cost for development and function of mouse CD4+ T cells bearing a mutation in the Cα C-strand? In both TCR retrogenic and transgenic mice we observed increased single-positive thymocytes bearing mutant TCRs compared with those expressing wild-type TCRs. Furthermore, our analysis of mutant TCR transgenic mice revealed an increase in naive CD4+ T cells experiencing strong tonic TCR signals, increased homeostatic survival, and increased recruitment of responders to cognate pMHC class II upon immunization compared with the wild-type. The mutation did not, however, overtly impact CD4+ T cell proliferation or differentiation after immunization. We interpret these data as evidence that the unique Cα domain has evolved to fine-tune TCR signaling, particularly in response to weak interactions with self-pMHC class II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Y. Kim
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
| | - Heather L. Parrish
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
| | - Michael S. Kuhns
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
- Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- The BIO-5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ
- The Arizona Center on Aging, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
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13
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Raveney BJE, El‐Darawish Y, Sato W, Arinuma Y, Yamaoka K, Hori S, Yamamura T, Oki S. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) expression distinguishes self-reactive helper T cells in systemic autoimmune disease. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e15864. [PMID: 36069030 PMCID: PMC9549730 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202215864] [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: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic T helper cells (Th cells) that respond to self-antigen cannot be easily distinguished from beneficial Th cells. These cells can generate systemic autoimmune disease in response to widely expressed self-antigens. In this study, we have identified neuropilin-1 (NRP1) as a cell surface marker of self-reactive Th cells. NRP1+ Th cells, absent in non-regulatory T cell subsets in normal mice, appeared in models of systemic autoimmune disease and strongly correlated with disease symptoms. NRP1+ Th cells were greatly reduced in Nr4a2 cKO mice, which have reduced self-reactive responses but showed normal responses against exogenous antigens. Transfer of NRP1+ Th cells was sufficient to initiate or accelerate systemic autoimmune disease, and targeting NRP1-expressing Th cells therapeutically ameliorated SLE-like autoimmune symptoms in BXSB-Yaa mice. Peripheral NRP1+ Th cells were significantly increased in human SLE patients. Our data suggest that self-reactive Th cells can be phenotypically distinguished within the Th cell pool. These findings offer a novel approach to identify self-reactive Th cells and target them to treat systemic autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben JE Raveney
- Department of ImmunologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceTokyoJapan
| | - Yosif El‐Darawish
- Department of ImmunologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceTokyoJapan
| | - Wakiro Sato
- Department of ImmunologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceTokyoJapan
| | - Yoshiyuki Arinuma
- Department of Rheumatology and Infectious DiseasesKitasato University School of MedicineSagamiharaJapan
| | - Kunihiro Yamaoka
- Department of Rheumatology and Infectious DiseasesKitasato University School of MedicineSagamiharaJapan
| | - Shohei Hori
- Laboratory for Immunology and MicrobiologyGraduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Takashi Yamamura
- Department of ImmunologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceTokyoJapan
| | - Shinji Oki
- Department of ImmunologyNational Institute of NeuroscienceTokyoJapan
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14
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Huseby ES, Teixeiro E. The perception and response of T cells to a changing environment are based on the law of initial value. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabj9842. [PMID: 35639856 PMCID: PMC9290192 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abj9842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
αβ T cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system and are capable of inducing sterilizing immunity after pathogen infection and eliminating transformed tumor cells. The development and function of T cells are controlled through the T cell antigen receptor, which recognizes peptides displayed on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Here, we review how T cells generate the ability to recognize self-peptide-bound MHC molecules and use signals derived from these interactions to instruct cellular development, activation thresholds, and functional specialization in the steady state and during immune responses. We argue that the basic tenants of T cell development and function follow Weber-Fetcher's law of just noticeable differences and Wilder's law of initial value. Together, these laws argue that the ability of a system to respond and the quality of that response are scalable to the basal state of that system. Manifestation of these laws in T cells generates clone-specific activation thresholds that are based on perceivable differences between homeostasis and pathogen encounter (self versus nonself discrimination), as well as poised states for subsequent differentiation into specific effector cell lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S. Huseby
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Emma Teixeiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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15
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Hiwa R, Brooks JF, Mueller JL, Nielsen HV, Zikherman J. NR4A nuclear receptors in T and B lymphocytes: Gatekeepers of immune tolerance . Immunol Rev 2022; 307:116-133. [PMID: 35174510 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Random VDJ recombination early in T and B cell development enables the adaptive immune system to recognize a vast array of evolving pathogens via antigen receptors. However, the potential of such randomly generated TCRs and BCRs to recognize and respond to self-antigens requires layers of tolerance mechanisms to mitigate the risk of life-threatening autoimmunity. Since they were originally cloned more than three decades ago, the NR4A family of nuclear hormone receptors have been implicated in many critical aspects of immune tolerance, including negative selection of thymocytes, peripheral T cell tolerance, regulatory T cells (Treg), and most recently in peripheral B cell tolerance. In this review, we discuss important insights from many laboratories as well as our own group into the function and mechanisms by which this small class of primary response genes promotes self-tolerance and immune homeostasis to balance the need for host defense against the inherent risks posed by the adaptive immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Hiwa
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jeremy F Brooks
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - James L Mueller
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Hailyn V Nielsen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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16
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CD4 expression in effector T cells depends on DNA demethylation over a developmentally established stimulus-responsive element. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1477. [PMID: 35304452 PMCID: PMC8933563 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28914-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic patterns that are established during early thymic development might determine mature T cell physiology and function, but the molecular basis and topography of the genetic elements involved are not fully known. Here we show, using the Cd4 locus as a paradigm for early developmental programming, that DNA demethylation during thymic development licenses a novel stimulus-responsive element that is critical for the maintenance of Cd4 gene expression in effector T cells. We document the importance of maintaining high CD4 expression during parasitic infection and show that by driving transcription, this stimulus-responsive element allows for the maintenance of histone H3K4me3 levels during T cell replication, which is critical for preventing de novo DNA methylation at the Cd4 promoter. A failure to undergo epigenetic programming during development leads to gene silencing during effector T cell replication. Our study thus provides evidence of early developmental events shaping the functional fitness of mature effector T cells.
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17
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Wraith DC. Adaptive T cell tuning in immune regulation and immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases. Immunol Lett 2022; 244:12-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Ashouri JF, Lo W, Nguyen TTT, Shen L, Weiss A. ZAP70, too little, too much can lead to autoimmunity*. Immunol Rev 2021; 307:145-160. [PMID: 34923645 PMCID: PMC8986586 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Establishing both central and peripheral tolerance requires the appropriate TCR signaling strength to discriminate self‐ from agonist‐peptide bound to self MHC molecules. ZAP70, a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, directly interacts with the TCR complex and plays a central and requisite role in TCR signaling in both thymocytes and peripheral T cells. By studying ZAP70 hypomorphic mutations in mice and humans with a spectrum of hypoactive or hyperactive activities, we have gained insights into mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Interestingly, both hypoactive and hyperactive ZAP70 can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases, albeit through distinct mechanisms. Immature thymocytes and mature T cells rely on normal ZAP70 function to complete their development in the thymus and to modulate T cell responses in the periphery. Hypoactive ZAP70 function compromises key developmental checkpoints required to establish central tolerance, allowing thymocytes with potentially self‐reactive TCRs a greater chance to escape negative selection. Such ‘forbidden clones’ may escape into the periphery and may pose a greater risk for autoimmune disease development since they may not engage negative regulatory mechanisms as effectively. Hyperactive ZAP70 enhances thymic negative selection but some thymocytes will, nonetheless, escape negative selection and have greater sensitivity to weak and self‐ligands. Such cells must be controlled by mechanisms involved in anergy, expansion of Tregs, and upregulation of inhibitory receptors or signaling molecules. However, such potentially autoreactive cells may still be able to escape control by peripheral negative regulatory constraints. Consistent with findings in Zap70 mutants, the signaling defects in at least one ZAP70 substrate, LAT, can also lead to autoimmune disease. By dissecting the similarities and differences among mouse models of patient disease or mutations in ZAP70 that affect TCR signaling strength, we have gained insights into how perturbed ZAP70 function can lead to autoimmunity. Because of our work and that of others on ZAP70, it is likely that perturbations in other molecules affecting TCR signaling strength will be identified that also overcome tolerance mechanisms and cause autoimmunity. Delineating these molecular pathways could lead to the development of much needed new therapeutic targets in these complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith F. Ashouri
- Department of Medicine Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Wan‐Lin Lo
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology Department of Pathology University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA
| | - Trang T. T. Nguyen
- Department of Medicine Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Lin Shen
- Department of Medicine Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Department of Medicine Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
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19
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Rogers D, Sood A, Wang H, van Beek JJP, Rademaker TJ, Artusa P, Schneider C, Shen C, Wong DC, Bhagrath A, Lebel MÈ, Condotta SA, Richer MJ, Martins AJ, Tsang JS, Barreiro LB, François P, Langlais D, Melichar HJ, Textor J, Mandl JN. Pre-existing chromatin accessibility and gene expression differences among naive CD4 + T cells influence effector potential. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110064. [PMID: 34852223 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells have a remarkable potential to differentiate into diverse effector lineages following activation. Here, we probe the heterogeneity present among naive CD4+ T cells before encountering their cognate antigen to ask whether their effector potential is modulated by pre-existing transcriptional and chromatin landscape differences. Single-cell RNA sequencing shows that key drivers of variability are genes involved in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Using CD5 expression as a readout of the strength of tonic TCR interactions with self-peptide MHC, and sorting on the ends of this self-reactivity spectrum, we find that pre-existing transcriptional differences among naive CD4+ T cells impact follicular helper T (TFH) cell versus non-TFH effector lineage choice. Moreover, our data implicate TCR signal strength during thymic development in establishing differences in naive CD4+ T cell chromatin landscapes that ultimately shape their effector potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aditi Sood
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - HanChen Wang
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jasper J P van Beek
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Patricio Artusa
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Caitlin Schneider
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Connie Shen
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Dylan C Wong
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aanya Bhagrath
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Lebel
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephanie A Condotta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Martin J Richer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Andrew J Martins
- Multiscale Systems Biology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John S Tsang
- Multiscale Systems Biology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luis B Barreiro
- Department of Medicine, Genetic Section, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Paul François
- Department of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - David Langlais
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Genome Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Johannes Textor
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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20
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Elliot TAE, Jennings EK, Lecky DAJ, Thawait N, Flores-Langarica A, Copland A, Maslowski KM, Wraith DC, Bending D. Antigen and checkpoint receptor engagement recalibrates T cell receptor signal strength. Immunity 2021; 54:2481-2496.e6. [PMID: 34534438 PMCID: PMC8585507 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
How T cell receptor (TCR) signal strength modulates T cell function and to what extent this is modified by immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) are key questions in immunology. Using Nr4a3-Tocky mice, we characterized early quantitative and qualitative changes that occur in CD4+ T cells in relation to TCR signaling strength. We captured how dose- and time-dependent programming of distinct co-inhibitory receptors rapidly recalibrates T cell activation thresholds and visualized the immediate effects of ICB on T cell re-activation. Our findings reveal that anti-PD1 immunotherapy leads to an increased TCR signal strength. We defined a strong TCR signal metric of five genes upregulated by anti-PD1 in T cells (TCR.strong), which was superior to a canonical T cell activation gene signature in stratifying melanoma patient outcomes to anti-PD1 therapy. Our study therefore reveals how analysis of TCR signal strength-and its manipulation-can provide powerful metrics for monitoring outcomes to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A E Elliot
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Emma K Jennings
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - David A J Lecky
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Natasha Thawait
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Adriana Flores-Langarica
- Infrastructure and Facilities, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Alastair Copland
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Kendle M Maslowski
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - David C Wraith
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Bending
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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21
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Eggert J, Au-Yeung BB. Functional heterogeneity and adaptation of naive T cells in response to tonic TCR signals. Curr Opin Immunol 2021; 73:43-49. [PMID: 34653787 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Mature CD4+ and CD8+ T cells constitutively experience weak T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation in response to self-antigens, termed tonic (or basal) signaling. How tonic TCR signal strength impacts T cell responses to foreign antigens is an active area of investigation. Such studies rely on surrogate markers of tonic signal strength, including CD5, Ly6C, and transgenic reporters of Nr4a genes. Recent research indicates that strong tonic TCR signal strength influences basal T cell metabolism, effector differentiation, and TCR signal transduction. T cells that experience the strongest tonic TCR signaling exhibit features of T cell activation and negative regulation. These data suggest a model whereby adaptation to tonic signaling has lasting effects that alter T cell activation and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Eggert
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Byron B Au-Yeung
- Division of Immunology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, United States.
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22
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Shelyakin PV, Lupyr KR, Egorov ES, Kofiadi IA, Staroverov DB, Kasatskaya SA, Kriukova VV, Shagina IA, Merzlyak EM, Nakonechnaya TO, Latysheva EA, Manto IA, Khaitov MR, Lukyanov SA, Chudakov DM, Britanova OV. Naïve Regulatory T Cell Subset Is Altered in X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia. Front Immunol 2021; 12:697307. [PMID: 34489944 PMCID: PMC8417104 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.697307] [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: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interplay between T- and B-cell compartments during naïve, effector and memory T cell maturation is critical for a balanced immune response. Primary B-cell immunodeficiency arising from X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) offers a model to explore B cell impact on T cell subsets, starting from the thymic selection. Here we investigated characteristics of naïve and effector T cell subsets in XLA patients, revealing prominent alterations in the corresponding T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires. We observed immunosenescence in terms of decreased diversity of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ TCR repertoires in XLA donors. The most substantial alterations were found within naïve CD4+ subsets, and we have investigated these in greater detail. In particular, increased clonality and convergence, along with shorter CDR3 regions, suggested narrower focused antigen-specific maturation of thymus-derived naïve Treg (CD4+CD45RA+CD27+CD25+) in the absence of B cells - normally presenting diverse self and commensal antigens. The naïve Treg proportion among naïve CD4 T cells was decreased in XLA patients, supporting the concept of impaired thymic naïve Treg selection. Furthermore, the naïve Treg subset showed prominent differences at the transcriptome level, including increased expression of genes specific for antigen-presenting and myeloid cells. Altogether, our findings suggest active B cell involvement in CD4 T cell subsets maturation, including B cell-dependent expansion of the naïve Treg TCR repertoire that enables better control of self-reactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel V Shelyakin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ksenia R Lupyr
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny S Egorov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya A Kofiadi
- FSBI "NRC Institute of Immunology" FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy B Staroverov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofya A Kasatskaya
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeriia V Kriukova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina A Shagina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina M Merzlyak
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana O Nakonechnaya
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Irina A Manto
- FSBI "NRC Institute of Immunology" FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Musa R Khaitov
- FSBI "NRC Institute of Immunology" FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey A Lukyanov
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy M Chudakov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V Britanova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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23
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Hiwa R, Nielsen HV, Mueller JL, Mandla R, Zikherman J. NR4A family members regulate T cell tolerance to preserve immune homeostasis and suppress autoimmunity. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e151005. [PMID: 34343134 PMCID: PMC8492309 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.151005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The NR4A family of orphan nuclear receptors (Nr4a1–3) plays redundant roles to establish and maintain Treg identity; deletion of multiple family members in the thymus results in Treg deficiency and a severe inflammatory disease. Consequently, it has been challenging to unmask redundant functions of the NR4A family in other immune cells. Here we use a competitive bone marrow chimera strategy, coupled with conditional genetic tools, to rescue Treg homeostasis and unmask such functions. Unexpectedly, chimeras harboring Nr4a1–/– Nr4a3–/– (double-knockout, DKO) bone marrow developed autoantibodies and a systemic inflammatory disease despite a replete Treg compartment of largely WT origin. This disease differs qualitatively from that seen with Treg deficiency and is B cell extrinsic. Negative selection of DKO thymocytes is profoundly impaired in a cell-intrinsic manner. Consistent with escape of self-reactive T cells into the periphery, DKO T cells with functional, phenotypic, and transcriptional features of anergy accumulated in chimeric mice. Nevertheless, we observed upregulation of genes encoding inflammatory mediators in anergic DKO T cells, and DKO T cells exhibited enhanced capacity for IL-2 production. These studies reveal cell-intrinsic roles for the NR4A family in both central and peripheral T cell tolerance and demonstrate that each is essential to preserve immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Hiwa
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Hailyn V Nielsen
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - James L Mueller
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Ravi Mandla
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
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24
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This S, Valbon SF, Lebel MÈ, Melichar HJ. Strength and Numbers: The Role of Affinity and Avidity in the 'Quality' of T Cell Tolerance. Cells 2021; 10:1530. [PMID: 34204485 PMCID: PMC8234061 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of T cells to identify foreign antigens and mount an efficient immune response while limiting activation upon recognition of self and self-associated peptides is critical. Multiple tolerance mechanisms work in concert to prevent the generation and activation of self-reactive T cells. T cell tolerance is tightly regulated, as defects in these processes can lead to devastating disease; a wide variety of autoimmune diseases and, more recently, adverse immune-related events associated with checkpoint blockade immunotherapy have been linked to a breakdown in T cell tolerance. The quantity and quality of antigen receptor signaling depend on a variety of parameters that include T cell receptor affinity and avidity for peptide. Autoreactive T cell fate choices (e.g., deletion, anergy, regulatory T cell development) are highly dependent on the strength of T cell receptor interactions with self-peptide. However, less is known about how differences in the strength of T cell receptor signaling during differentiation influences the 'function' and persistence of anergic and regulatory T cell populations. Here, we review the literature on this subject and discuss the clinical implications of how T cell receptor signal strength influences the 'quality' of anergic and regulatory T cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien This
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Immunologie et Infectiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Stefanie F. Valbon
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Immunologie et Infectiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Lebel
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
| | - Heather J. Melichar
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
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25
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Dong M, Mallet Gauthier È, Fournier M, Melichar HJ. Developing the right tools for the job: Lin28 regulation of early life T-cell development and function. FEBS J 2021; 289:4416-4429. [PMID: 34077615 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
T cells comprise a functionally heterogeneous cell population that has important roles in the immune system. While T cells are broadly considered to be a component of the antigen-specific adaptive immune response, certain T-cell subsets display innate-like effector characteristics whereas others perform immunosuppressive functions. These functionally diverse T-cell populations preferentially arise at different stages of ontogeny and are tailored to the immunological priorities of the organism over time. Many differences in early life versus adult T-cell phenotypes can be attributed to the cell-intrinsic properties of the distinct progenitors that seed the thymus throughout development. It is becoming clear that Lin28, an evolutionarily conserved, heterochronic RNA-binding protein that is differentially expressed among early life and adult hematopoietic progenitor cells, plays a substantial role in influencing early T-cell development and function. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which Lin28 shapes the T-cell landscape to protect the developing fetus and newborn. Manipulation of the Lin28 gene regulatory network is being considered as one means of improving hematopoietic stem cell transplant outcomes; as such, understanding the impact of Lin28 on T-cell function is of clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Dong
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ève Mallet Gauthier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Marilaine Fournier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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26
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Nguyen TTT, Wang ZE, Shen L, Schroeder A, Eckalbar W, Weiss A. Cbl-b deficiency prevents functional but not phenotypic T cell anergy. J Exp Med 2021; 218:212089. [PMID: 33974042 PMCID: PMC8117209 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell anergy is an important peripheral tolerance mechanism. We studied how T cell anergy is established using an anergy model in which the Zap70 hypermorphic mutant W131A is coexpressed with the OTII TCR transgene (W131AOTII). Anergy was established in the periphery, not in the thymus. Contrary to enriched tolerance gene signatures and impaired TCR signaling in mature peripheral CD4 T cells, CD4SP thymocytes exhibited normal TCR signaling in W131AOTII mice. Importantly, the maintenance of T cell anergy in W131AOTII mice required antigen presentation via MHC-II. We investigated the functional importance of the inhibitory receptor PD-1 and the E3 ubiquitin ligases Cbl-b and Grail in this model. Deletion of each did not affect expression of phenotypic markers of anergic T cells or T reg numbers. However, deletion of Cbl-b, but not Grail or PD-1, in W131AOTII mice restored T cell responsiveness and signaling. Thus, Cbl-b plays an essential role in the establishment and/or maintenance of unresponsiveness in T cell anergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trang T T Nguyen
- Russell/Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Zhi-En Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lin Shen
- Russell/Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Andrew Schroeder
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Walter Eckalbar
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Russell/Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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27
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Jennings E, Elliot TAE, Thawait N, Kanabar S, Yam-Puc JC, Ono M, Toellner KM, Wraith DC, Anderson G, Bending D. Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 Reporter Mice Are Differentially Sensitive to T Cell Receptor Signal Strength and Duration. Cell Rep 2021; 33:108328. [PMID: 33147449 PMCID: PMC7653457 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nr4a receptors are activated by T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and play key roles in T cell differentiation. Which TCR signaling pathways regulate Nr4a receptors and their sensitivities to TCR signal strength and duration remains unclear. Using Nr4a1/Nur77-GFP and Nr4a3-Timer of cell kinetics and activity (Tocky) mice, we elucidate the signaling pathways governing Nr4a receptor expression. We reveal that Nr4a1–Nr4a3 are Src family kinase dependent. Moreover, Nr4a2 and Nr4a3 are attenuated by calcineurin inhibitors and bind nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1), highlighting a necessary and sufficient role for NFAT1 in the control of Nr4a2 and Nr4a3, but redundancy for Nr4a1. Nr4a1-GFP is activated by tonic and cognate signals during T cell development, whereas Nr4a3-Tocky requires cognate peptide:major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions for expression. Compared to Nr4a3-Tocky, Nr4a1-GFP is approximately 2- to 3-fold more sensitive to TCR signaling and is detectable by shorter periods of TCR signaling. These findings suggest that TCR signal duration may be an underappreciated aspect influencing the developmental fate of T cells in vivo. Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 show differential dependency on the calcineurin/NFAT pathway Nr4a1-GFP is expressed in developing Tcon and Treg within the thymus Nr4a3-Timer expression is largely restricted to thymic and peripheral CD25+ Treg Nr4a3-Timer requires a stronger and/or longer TCR signal for its expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Jennings
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Thomas A E Elliot
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Natasha Thawait
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Shivani Kanabar
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Juan Carlos Yam-Puc
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kai-Michael Toellner
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David C Wraith
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Bending
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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28
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Lo WL, Weiss A. Adapting T Cell Receptor Ligand Discrimination Capability via LAT. Front Immunol 2021; 12:673196. [PMID: 33936119 PMCID: PMC8085316 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.673196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Self- and non-self ligand discrimination is a core principle underlying T cell-mediated immunity. Mature αβ T cells can respond to a foreign peptide ligand presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules (pMHCs) on antigen presenting cells, on a background of continuously sensed self-pMHCs. How αβ T cells can properly balance high sensitivity and high specificity to foreign pMHCs, while surrounded by a sea of self-peptide ligands is not well understood. Such discrimination cannot be explained solely by the affinity parameters of T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and pMHC interaction. In this review, we will discuss how T cell ligand discrimination may be molecularly defined by events downstream of the TCR-pMHC interaction. We will discuss new evidence in support of the kinetic proofreading model of TCR ligand discrimination, and in particular how the kinetics of specific phosphorylation sites within the adaptor protein linker for activation of T cells (LAT) determine the outcome of TCR signaling. In addition, we will discuss emerging data regarding how some kinases, including ZAP-70 and LCK, may possess scaffolding functions to more efficiently direct their kinase activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Lin Lo
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Arthritis Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Arthritis Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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29
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Sood A, Lebel MÈ, Dong M, Fournier M, Vobecky SJ, Haddad É, Delisle JS, Mandl JN, Vrisekoop N, Melichar HJ. CD5 levels define functionally heterogeneous populations of naïve human CD4 + T cells. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:1365-1376. [PMID: 33682083 PMCID: PMC8251777 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Studies in murine models show that subthreshold TCR interactions with self‐peptide are required for thymic development and peripheral survival of naïve T cells. Recently, differences in the strength of tonic TCR interactions with self‐peptide, as read‐out by cell surface levels of CD5, were associated with distinct effector potentials among sorted populations of T cells in mice. However, whether CD5 can also be used to parse functional heterogeneity among human T cells is less clear. Our study demonstrates that CD5 levels correlate with TCR signal strength in human naïve CD4+ T cells. Further, we describe a relationship between CD5 levels on naïve human CD4+ T cells and binding affinity to foreign peptide, in addition to a predominance of CD5hi T cells in the memory compartment. Differences in gene expression and biases in cytokine production potential between CD5lo and CD5hi naïve human CD4+ T cells are consistent with observations in mice. Together, these data validate the use of CD5 surface levels as a marker of heterogeneity among human naïve CD4+ T cells with important implications for the identification of functionally biased T‐ cell populations that can be exploited to improve the efficacy of adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sood
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Lebel
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mengqi Dong
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marilaine Fournier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Suzanne J Vobecky
- Service de Chirurgie Cardiaque, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Élie Haddad
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Sébastien Delisle
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nienke Vrisekoop
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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30
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Sekiya T, Kagawa S, Masaki K, Fukunaga K, Yoshimura A, Takaki S. Regulation of peripheral Th/Treg differentiation and suppression of airway inflammation by Nr4a transcription factors. iScience 2021; 24:102166. [PMID: 33665581 PMCID: PMC7907427 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Helper T (Th) and regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation programs promote the eradication of pathogens, while minimizing adverse immune reactions. Here, we found that Nr4a family of nuclear receptors supports Treg cell induction and represses Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation from naive CD4+ T cells. Nr4a factors are transiently induced in CD4+ T cells immediately after antigen stimulation, thereby mediating epigenetic changes. In differentiating Treg cells, Nr4a factors mainly upregulated the early responsive genes in the Treg cell-specifying gene set, either directly or in cooperation with Ets family transcription factors. In contrast, Nr4a factors repressed AP-1 activity by interrupting a positive feedback loop for Batf factor expression, thus suppressing Th2 cell-associated genes. In an allergic airway inflammation model, Nr4a factors suppressed the pathogenesis, mediating oral tolerance. Lastly, pharmacological activation of an engineered Nr4a molecule prevented allergic airway inflammation, indicating that Nr4a factors may be novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. Among “Treg signature genes”, Nr4a factors mainly induce early responsive ones Nr4a activate target genes directly or by supporting Ets factors' function Nr4a factors repress Th2-driving positive feedback loop for Batf factor expression Pharmacological activation of Nr4a factors' activity prevented airway inflammation
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sekiya
- Section of Immune Response Modification, Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan.,Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan
| | - Shizuko Kagawa
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Katsunori Masaki
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Koichi Fukunaga
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takaki
- Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan
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31
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Trefzer A, Kadam P, Wang SH, Pennavaria S, Lober B, Akçabozan B, Kranich J, Brocker T, Nakano N, Irmler M, Beckers J, Straub T, Obst R. Dynamic adoption of anergy by antigen-exhausted CD4 + T cells. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108748. [PMID: 33567282 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Exhausted immune responses to chronic diseases represent a major challenge to global health. We study CD4+ T cells in a mouse model with regulatable antigen presentation. When the cells are driven through the effector phase and are then exposed to different levels of persistent antigen, they lose their T helper 1 (Th1) functions, upregulate exhaustion markers, resemble naturally anergic cells, and modulate their MAPK, mTORC1, and Ca2+/calcineurin signaling pathways with increasing dose and time. They also become unable to help B cells and, at the highest dose, undergo apoptosis. Transcriptomic analyses show the dynamic adjustment of gene expression and the accumulation of T cell receptor (TCR) signals over a period of weeks. Upon antigen removal, the cells recover their functionality while losing exhaustion and anergy markers. Our data suggest an adjustable response of CD4+ T cells to different levels of persisting antigen and contribute to a better understanding of chronic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Trefzer
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Pallavi Kadam
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Shu-Hung Wang
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pennavaria
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Benedikt Lober
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Batuhan Akçabozan
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jan Kranich
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thomas Brocker
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Naoko Nakano
- Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-0022, Japan
| | - Martin Irmler
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Chair of Experimental Genetics, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e. V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Straub
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Reinhard Obst
- Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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32
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Tsai SJ, Amerman A, Jewell CM. Altering Antigen Charge to Control Self-Assembly and Processing of Immune Signals During Cancer Vaccination. Front Immunol 2021; 11:613830. [PMID: 33488621 PMCID: PMC7815530 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.613830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomaterial delivery systems offer unique potential to improve cancer vaccines by offering targeted delivery and modularity to address disease heterogeneity. Here, we develop a simple platform using a conserved human melanoma peptide antigen (Trp2) modified with cationic arginine residues that condenses an anionic toll-like receptor agonist (TLRa), CpG, into polyplex-like nanoparticles. We reasoned that these structures could offer several useful features for immunotherapy – such as tunable loading, co-delivery of immune cues, and cargo protection – while eliminating the need for synthetic polymers or other complicating delivery systems. We demonstrate that Trp2/CpG polyplexes can readily form over a range of Trp2:CpG ratios and improve antigen uptake by primary antigen presenting cells. We show antigen loading can be tuned by interchanging Trp2 peptides with defined charges and numbers of arginine residues. Notably, these polyplexes with greater antigen loading enhance the functionality of Trp-2 specific T cells and in a mouse melanoma model, decrease tumor burden and improve survival. This work highlights opportunities to control the biophysical properties of nanostructured materials built from immune signals to enhance immunotherapy, without the added complexity or background immune effects often associated with synthetic carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon J Tsai
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Allie Amerman
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Christopher M Jewell
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States.,United States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
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33
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Jennings E, Elliot TAE, Thawait N, Kanabar S, Yam-Puc JC, Ono M, Toellner KM, Wraith DC, Anderson G, Bending D. Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 Reporter Mice Are Differentially Sensitive to T Cell Receptor Signal Strength and Duration. Cell Rep 2020. [PMID: 33147449 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108328.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nr4a receptors are activated by T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and play key roles in T cell differentiation. Which TCR signaling pathways regulate Nr4a receptors and their sensitivities to TCR signal strength and duration remains unclear. Using Nr4a1/Nur77-GFP and Nr4a3-Timer of cell kinetics and activity (Tocky) mice, we elucidate the signaling pathways governing Nr4a receptor expression. We reveal that Nr4a1-Nr4a3 are Src family kinase dependent. Moreover, Nr4a2 and Nr4a3 are attenuated by calcineurin inhibitors and bind nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1), highlighting a necessary and sufficient role for NFAT1 in the control of Nr4a2 and Nr4a3, but redundancy for Nr4a1. Nr4a1-GFP is activated by tonic and cognate signals during T cell development, whereas Nr4a3-Tocky requires cognate peptide:major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions for expression. Compared to Nr4a3-Tocky, Nr4a1-GFP is approximately 2- to 3-fold more sensitive to TCR signaling and is detectable by shorter periods of TCR signaling. These findings suggest that TCR signal duration may be an underappreciated aspect influencing the developmental fate of T cells in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Jennings
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Thomas A E Elliot
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Natasha Thawait
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Shivani Kanabar
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Juan Carlos Yam-Puc
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Masahiro Ono
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kai-Michael Toellner
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David C Wraith
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Bending
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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34
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Strength of tonic T cell receptor signaling instructs T follicular helper cell-fate decisions. Nat Immunol 2020; 21:1384-1396. [PMID: 32989327 PMCID: PMC7578106 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0781-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
T follicular helper (TFH) cells are critical in adaptive immune responses to pathogens and vaccines; however, what drives the initiation of their developmental program remains unclear. Studies suggest that a T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-dependent mechanism may be responsible for the earliest TFH cell-fate decision, but a critical aspect of the TCR has been overlooked: tonic TCR signaling. We hypothesized that tonic signaling influences early TFH cell development. Here, two murine TCR-transgenic CD4+ T cells, LLO56 and LLO118, which recognize the same antigenic peptide presented on major histocompatibility complex molecules but experience disparate strengths of tonic signaling, revealed low tonic signaling promotes TFH cell differentiation. Polyclonal T cells paralleled these findings, with naive Nur77 expression distinguishing TFH cell potential. Two mouse lines were also generated to both increase and decrease tonic signaling strength, directly establishing an inverse relationship between tonic signaling strength and TFH cell development. Our findings elucidate a central role for tonic TCR signaling in early TFH cell-lineage decisions.
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35
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Paprckova D, Stepanek O. Narcissistic T cells: reactivity to self makes a difference. FEBS J 2020; 288:1778-1788. [PMID: 32738029 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
It has been appreciated for more than three decades that the interactions between the T-cell antigen receptor and self-antigens are the major determinants of the cell fates of developing thymocytes and the establishment of central tolerance. However, recent evidence shows that the level of self-reactivity substantially contributes to fate choices of positively selected mature T cells in homeostasis, as well as during immune responses. This implies that individual clones of peripheral T cells are predisposed to specific functional properties based on the self-reactivity of their antigen receptors. Overall, the relative difference in the self-reactivity among peripheral T cells is an important factor contributing to the diversity of T-cell responses to foreign antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Paprckova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Stepanek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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36
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Milam AAV, Bartleson JM, Buck MD, Chang CH, Sergushichev A, Donermeyer DL, Lam WY, Pearce EL, Artyomov MN, Allen PM. Tonic TCR Signaling Inversely Regulates the Basal Metabolism of CD4 + T Cells. Immunohorizons 2020; 4:485-497. [PMID: 32769180 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2000055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The contribution of self-peptide-MHC signaling in CD4+ T cells to metabolic programming has not been definitively established. In this study, we employed LLO118 and LLO56, two TCRtg CD4+ T cells that recognize the same Listeria epitope. We previously have shown that LLO56 T cells are highly self-reactive and respond poorly in a primary infection, whereas LLO118 cells, which are less self-reactive, respond well during primary infection. We performed metabolic profiling and found that naive LLO118 had a dramatically higher basal respiration rate, a higher maximal respiration rate, and a higher glycolytic rate relative to LLO56. The LLO118 cells also exhibited a greater uptake of 2-NBD-glucose, in vitro and in vivo. We extended the correlation of low self-reactivity (CD5lo) with high basal metabolism using two other CD4+ TCRtg cells with known differences in self-reactivity, AND and Marilyn. We hypothesized that the decreased metabolism resulting from a strong interaction with self was mediated through TCR signaling. We then used an inducible knock-in mouse expressing the Scn5a voltage-gated sodium channel. This channel, when expressed in peripheral T cells, enhanced basal TCR-mediated signaling, resulting in decreased respiration and glycolysis, supporting our hypothesis. Genes and metabolites analysis of LLO118 and LLO56 T cells revealed significant differences in their metabolic pathways, including the glycerol phosphate shuttle. Inhibition of this pathway reverts the metabolic state of the LLO118 cells to be more LLO56 like. Overall, these studies highlight the critical relationship between peripheral TCR-self-pMHC interaction, metabolism, and the immune response to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A Viehmann Milam
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Juliet M Bartleson
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Michael D Buck
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg 79108, Germany.,The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - David L Donermeyer
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Wing Y Lam
- Amgen Research, Amgen, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Erika L Pearce
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg 79108, Germany
| | - Maxim N Artyomov
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Paul M Allen
- Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110;
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37
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CD5 dynamically calibrates basal NF-κB signaling in T cells during thymic development and peripheral activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:14342-14353. [PMID: 32513716 PMCID: PMC7322041 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922525117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immature T cells undergo a process of positive selection in the thymus when their new T cell receptor (TCR) engages and signals in response to self-peptides. As the T cell matures, a slew of negative regulatory molecules, including the inhibitory surface glycoprotein CD5, are up-regulated in proportion to the strength of the self-peptide signal. Together these regulators dampen TCR-proximal signaling and help avoid any subsequent peripheral activation of T cells by self-peptides. Paradoxically, antigen-specific T cells initially expressing more CD5 (CD5hi) have been found to better persist as effector/memory cells after a peripheral challenge. The molecular mechanisms underlying such a duality in CD5 function is not clear. We found that CD5 alters the basal activity of the NF-κB signaling in resting peripheral T cells. When CD5 was conditionally ablated, T cells were unable to maintain higher expression of the cytoplasmic NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. Consistent with this, resting CD5hi T cells expressed more of the NF-κB p65 protein than CD5lo cells, without significant increases in transcript levels, in the absence of TCR signals. This posttranslationally stabilized cellular NF-κB depot potentially confers a survival advantage to CD5hi T cells over CD5lo ones. Taken together, these data suggest a two-step model whereby the strength of self-peptide-induced TCR signal lead to the up-regulation of CD5, which subsequently maintains a proportional reserve of NF-κB in peripheral T cells poised for responding to agonistic antigen-driven T cell activation.
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38
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Steach HR, DeBuysscher BL, Schwartz A, Boonyaratanakornkit J, Baker ML, Tooley MR, Pease NA, Taylor JJ. Cross-Reactivity with Self-Antigen Tunes the Functional Potential of Naive B Cells Specific for Foreign Antigens. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 204:498-509. [PMID: 31882518 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Upon Ag exposure, naive B cells expressing BCR able to bind Ag can undergo robust proliferation and differentiation that can result in the production of Ab-secreting and memory B cells. The factors determining whether an individual naive B cell will proliferate following Ag encounter remains unclear. In this study, we found that polyclonal naive murine B cell populations specific for a variety of foreign Ags express high levels of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77, which is known to be upregulated downstream of BCR signaling as a result of cross-reactivity with self-antigens in vivo. Similarly, a fraction of naive human B cells specific for clinically-relevant Ags derived from respiratory syncytial virus and HIV-1 also exhibited an IgMLOW IgD+ phenotype, which is associated with self-antigen cross-reactivity. Functionally, naive B cells expressing moderate levels of Nur77 are most likely to proliferate in vivo following Ag injection. Together, our data indicate that BCR cross-reactivity with self-antigen is a common feature of populations of naive B cells specific for foreign Ags and a moderate level of cross-reactivity primes individual cells for optimal proliferative responses following Ag exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly R Steach
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Blair L DeBuysscher
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Allison Schwartz
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Jim Boonyaratanakornkit
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Melissa L Baker
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Marti R Tooley
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Nicholas A Pease
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Justin J Taylor
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109; .,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; and.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109
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39
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Grossman Z. Immunological Paradigms, Mechanisms, and Models: Conceptual Understanding Is a Prerequisite to Effective Modeling. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2522. [PMID: 31749803 PMCID: PMC6848063 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most mathematical models that describe the individual or collective actions of cells aim at creating faithful representations of limited sets of data in a self-consistent manner. Consistency with relevant physiological rules pertaining to the greater picture is rarely imposed. By themselves, such models have limited predictive or even explanatory value, contrary to standard claims. Here I try to show that a more critical examination of currently held paradigms is necessary and could potentially lead to models that pass the test of time. In considering the evolution of paradigms over the past decades I focus on the “smart surveillance” theory of how T cells can respond differentially, individually and collectively, to both self- and foreign antigens depending on various “contextual” parameters. The overall perspective is that physiological messages to cells are encoded not only in the biochemical connections of signaling molecules to the cellular machinery but also in the magnitude, kinetics, and in the time- and space-contingencies, of sets of stimuli. By rationalizing the feasibility of subthreshold interactions, the “dynamic tuning hypothesis,” a central component of the theory, set the ground for further theoretical and experimental explorations of dynamically regulated immune tolerance, homeostasis and diversity, and of the notion that lymphocytes participate in nonclassical physiological functions. Some of these efforts are reviewed. Another focus of this review is the concomitant regulation of immune activation and homeostasis through the operation of a feedback mechanism controlling the balance between renewal and differentiation of activated cells. Different perspectives on the nature and regulation of chronic immune activation in HIV infection have led to conflicting models of HIV pathogenesis—a major area of research for theoretical immunologists over almost three decades—and can have profound impact on ongoing HIV cure strategies. Altogether, this critical review is intended to constructively influence the outlook of prospective model builders and of interested immunologists on the state of the art and to encourage conceptual work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zvi Grossman
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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40
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Sood A, Lebel MÈ, Fournier M, Rogers D, Mandl JN, Melichar HJ. Differential interferon-gamma production potential among naïve CD4 + T cells exists prior to antigen encounter. Immunol Cell Biol 2019; 97:931-940. [PMID: 31420892 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Individual CD4+ T cells can become one of a number of helper (Th) lineages with distinct effector functions. However, whether biases in Th potential exist prior to antigen encounter is unknown. Studies have identified cell-intrinsic functional heterogeneity among naïve T cells that can be parsed based on the strength of T-cell receptor (TCR) interactions with self-peptide. Here, using CD5 levels as a surrogate for the strength of these basal TCR signals, we sought to identify pre-existing effector biases in the CD4+ T-cell lineage. We show that ex vivo-activated CD5lo CD4+ T cells produce greater amounts of the Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNγ) than their CD5hi counterparts. In addition, a greater percentage of CD5lo effector CD4+ T cells produce IFNγ in both polyclonal and monoclonal CD4+ T-cell populations after antigen challenge in vivo. These results suggest that differential IFNγ production potential exists among CD4+ T cells prior to activation and independent of TCR affinity for foreign antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sood
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, H1T 2M4, Canada.,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Lebel
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, H1T 2M4, Canada.,Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Marilaine Fournier
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Dakota Rogers
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Judith N Mandl
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immunology-Oncology Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, H1T 2M4, Canada.,Département de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
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