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Pardini E, Barachini S, Alì G, Infirri GS, Burzi IS, Montali M, Petrini I. Single-cell sequencing has revealed a more complex array of thymic epithelial cells. Immunol Lett 2024; 269:106904. [PMID: 39117004 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2024.106904] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells participate in the maturation and selection of T lymphocytes. This review explores recent insights from single-cell sequencing regarding classifying thymic epithelial cells in both normal and neoplastic thymus. Cortical thymic epithelial cells facilitate thymocyte differentiation and contribute to positive selection. Medullary epithelial cells are distinguished by their expression of AIRE. Cells progress from a pre-AIRE state, containing precursors with cortical and medullary characteristics, termed junctional cells. Mature medullary epithelial cells exhibit promiscuous gene expression and after that downregulate AIRE mRNA. Post-AIRE cells can adopt a Hassall corpuscle-like phenotype or exhibit distinctive differentiation characteristics including tuft cells, ionocytes, neuroendocrine cells, and myoid cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Pardini
- Department of Translational Research and New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Barachini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Greta Alì
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gisella Sardo Infirri
- Department of Translational Research and New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Sofia Burzi
- Department of Translational Research and New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marina Montali
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Iacopo Petrini
- Department of Translational Research and New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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2
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Iuliani M, Simonetti S, Cristofani L, Cavaliere S, Cortellini A, Russano M, Vincenzi B, Tonini G, Santini D, Pantano F. Circulating receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009432. [PMID: 38908859 PMCID: PMC11328619 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009432] [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] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) can directly promote tumor growth and indirectly support tumor immune evasion by altering the tumor microenvironment and immune cell responses. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of soluble RANKL in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving programmed cell death 1 (PD1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1) checkpoint inhibitor therapy. METHODS Plasma RANKL levels were measured in 100 patients with advanced NSCLC without bone metastases undergoing monotherapy with PD1/PDL1 checkpoint inhibitors. To establish the optimal cut-off value, we used the Cutoff Finder package in R. Survival curves for four distinct patient groups, according to their RANKL and PDL1 levels (high or low), were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. The Cox regression model calculated HRs and 95% CIs for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS The optimal RANKL cut-off was established at 280.4 pg/mL, categorizing patients into groups with high or low RANKL levels. A significant association was observed between increased RANKL concentrations and decreased survival rates at 24 months, only within the subgroup expressing high levels of PDL1 (p=0.002). Additionally, low RANKL levels in conjunction with elevated PDL1 expression correlated with improved PFS (median 22 months, 95% CI 6.70 to 50 vs median 4 months, 95% CI 3.0 to 7.30, p=0.009) and OS (median 26 months, 95% CI 20 to not reached vs median 7 months, 95% CI 6 to 13, p=0.003), indicating RANKL's potential as an indicator of adverse prognosis in these patients. Multivariate analysis identified RANKL as an independent negative prognostic factor for both PFS and OS, regardless of other clinicopathological features. CONCLUSION These results highlight the prognostic and predictive value of RANKL specifically in patients with high PDL1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iuliani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Sonia Simonetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Cavaliere
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessio Cortellini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Russano
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Vincenzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tonini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Santini
- UOC Oncologia Medica A, Policlinico Umberto 1, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pantano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
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3
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Uhlemann H, Epp K, Klesse C, Link-Rachner CS, Surendranath V, Günther UP, Schetelig J, Heidenreich F. Shape of the art: TCR-repertoire after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2024; 37:101558. [PMID: 39098804 DOI: 10.1016/j.beha.2024.101558] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
The human adaptive immune repertoire is characterized by specificity and diversity to provide immunity against past and future tasks. Such tasks are mainly infections but also malignant transformations of cells. With its multiple lines of defense, the human immune system contains both, rapid reaction forces and the potential to capture, disassemble and analyze strange structures in order to teach the adaptive immune system and mount a specific immune response. Prevention and mitigation of autoimmunity is of equal importance. In the context of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) specific challenges exist with the transfer of cells from the adapted donor immune system to the immunosuppressed recipient. Those challenges are immunogenetic disparity between donor and host, reconstitution of immunity early after HCT by expansion of mature immune effector cells, and impaired thymic function, if the recipient is an adult (as it is the case in most HCTs). The possibility to characterize the adaptive immune repertoire by massively parallel sequencing of T-cell receptor gene rearrangements allows for a much more detailed characterization of the T-cell repertoire. In addition, high-dimensional characterization of immune effector cells based on their immunophenotype and single cell RNA sequencing allow for much deeper insights in adaptive immune responses. We here review, existing - still incomplete - information on immune reconstitution after allogeneic HCT. Building on the technological advances much deeper insights into immune recovery after HCT and adaptive immune responses and can be expected in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Uhlemann
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany; DKMS Group gGmbH, Clinical Trials Unit, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Katharina Epp
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Johannes Schetelig
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany; DKMS Group gGmbH, Clinical Trials Unit, Dresden, Germany
| | - Falk Heidenreich
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany; DKMS Group gGmbH, Clinical Trials Unit, Dresden, Germany
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4
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Smith JA, Yuen BTK, Purtha W, Balolong JM, Phipps JD, Crawford F, Bluestone JA, Kappler JW, Anderson MS. Aire mediates tolerance to insulin through thymic trimming of high-affinity T cell clones. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320268121. [PMID: 38709934 PMCID: PMC11098115 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320268121] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a central autoantigen in the pathogenesis of T1D, and thymic epithelial cell expression of insulin under the control of the Autoimmune Regulator (Aire) is thought to be a key component of maintaining tolerance to insulin. In spite of this general working model, direct detection of this thymic selection on insulin-specific T cells has been somewhat elusive. Here, we used a combination of highly sensitive T cell receptor transgenic models for detecting thymic selection and sorting and sequencing of Insulin-specific CD4+ T cells from Aire-deficient mice as a strategy to further define their selection. This analysis revealed a number of unique t cell receptor (TCR) clones in Aire-deficient hosts with high affinity for insulin/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ligands. We then modeled the thymic selection of one of these clones in Aire-deficient versus wild-type hosts and found that this model clone could escape thymic negative selection in the absence of thymic Aire. Together, these results suggest that thymic expression of insulin plays a key role in trimming and removing high-affinity insulin-specific T cells from the repertoire to help promote tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Smith
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Benjamin T. K. Yuen
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Whitney Purtha
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jared M. Balolong
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jonah D. Phipps
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Frances Crawford
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO80206
| | - Jeffrey A. Bluestone
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - John W. Kappler
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO80206
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
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5
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Toadere TM, Ţichindeleanu A, Bondor DA, Topor I, Trella ŞE, Nenu I. Bridging the divide: unveiling mutual immunological pathways of cancer and pregnancy. Inflamm Res 2024; 73:793-807. [PMID: 38492049 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-024-01866-9] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The juxtaposition of two seemingly disparate physiological phenomena within the human body-namely, cancer and pregnancy-may offer profound insights into the intricate interplay between malignancies and the immune system. Recent investigations have unveiled striking similarities between the pivotal processes underpinning fetal implantation and successful gestation and those governing tumor initiation and progression. Notably, a confluence of features has emerged, underscoring parallels between the microenvironment of tumors and the maternal-fetal interface. These shared attributes encompass establishing vascular networks, cellular mobilization, recruitment of auxiliary tissue components to facilitate continued growth, and, most significantly, the orchestration of immune-suppressive mechanisms.Our particular focus herein centers on the phenomenon of immune suppression and its protective utility in both of these contexts. In the context of pregnancy, immune suppression assumes a paramount role in shielding the semi-allogeneic fetus from the potentially hostile immune responses of the maternal host. In stark contrast, in the milieu of cancer, this very same immunological suppression fosters the transformation of the tumor microenvironment into a sanctuary personalized for the neoplastic cells.Thus, the striking parallels between the immunosuppressive strategies deployed during pregnancy and those co-opted by malignancies offer a tantalizing reservoir of insights. These insights promise to inform novel avenues in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. By harnessing our understanding of the immunological events that detrimentally impact fetal development, a knowledge grounded in the context of conditions such as preeclampsia or miscarriage, we may uncover innovative immunotherapeutic strategies to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Maria Toadere
- Department of Physiology, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Andra Ţichindeleanu
- Department of Physiology, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Daniela Andreea Bondor
- Department of Physiology, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioan Topor
- Department of Physiology, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Şerban Ellias Trella
- Department of Physiology, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Iuliana Nenu
- Department of Physiology, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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6
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Chang H, Marquez J, Chen BK, Kim DM, Cheng ML, Liu EV, Yang H, Zhang L, Sinha M, Cheung A, Kwek SS, Chow ED, Bridge M, Aggarwal RR, Friedlander TW, Small EJ, Anderson M, Fong L. Immune Modulation with RANKL Blockade through Denosumab Treatment in Patients with Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:453-461. [PMID: 38276989 PMCID: PMC10993769 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0184] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Denosumab is a fully human mAb that binds receptor activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL). It is routinely administered to patients with cancer to reduce the incidence of new bone metastasis. RANK-RANKL interactions regulate bone turnover by controlling osteoclast recruitment, development, and activity. However, these interactions also can regulate immune cells including dendritic cells and medullary thymic epithelial cells. Inhibition of the latter results in reduced thymic negative selection of T cells and could enhance the generation of tumor-specific T cells. We examined whether administering denosumab could modify modulate circulating immune cells in patients with cancer. Blood was collected from 23 patients with prostate cancer and 3 patients with renal cell carcinoma, all of whom had advanced disease and were receiving denosumab, prior to and during denosumab treatment. Using high-dimensional mass cytometry, we found that denosumab treatment by itself induced modest effects on circulating immune cell frequency and activation. We also found minimal changes in the circulating T-cell repertoire and the frequency of new thymic emigrants with denosumab treatment. However, when we stratified patients by whether they were receiving chemotherapy and/or steroids, patients receiving these concomitant treatments showed significantly greater immune modulation, including an increase in the frequency of natural killer cells early and classical monocytes later. We also saw broad induction of CTLA-4 and TIM3 expression in circulating lymphocytes and some monocyte populations. These findings suggest that denosumab treatment by itself has modest immunomodulatory effects, but when combined with conventional cancer treatments, can lead to the induction of immunologic checkpoints. See related Spotlight by Nasrollahi and Davar, p. 383.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hewitt Chang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jaqueline Marquez
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Brandon K. Chen
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Daniel M. Kim
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Michael L. Cheng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Eric V. Liu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Hai Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Meenal Sinha
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Alexander Cheung
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Serena S. Kwek
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Eric D. Chow
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Advanced Technologies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Mark Bridge
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Rahul R. Aggarwal
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Terence W. Friedlander
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Eric J. Small
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Mark Anderson
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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7
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Källberg E, Mehmeti-Ajradini M, Björk Gunnarsdottir F, Göransson M, Bergenfelz C, Allaoui Fredriksson R, Hagerling C, Johansson ME, Welinder C, Jirström K, Leandersson K. AIRE is expressed in breast cancer TANs and TAMs to regulate the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and inflammation. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:664-678. [PMID: 38060995 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad152] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcriptional regulator expressed in the thymus and is necessary for maintaining immunological self-tolerance. Extrathymic AIRE expression is rare, and a role for AIRE in tumor-associated innate immune cells has not yet been established. In this study, we show that AIRE is expressed in human pro-tumor neutrophils. In breast cancer, AIRE was primarily located to tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), and to a lesser extent to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor cells. Expression of AIRE in TAN/TAMs, but not in cancer cells, was associated with an adverse prognosis. We show that the functional role for AIRE in neutrophils and macrophages is to regulate expression of immune mediators and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway involving the Fas/TNFR death receptors and cathepsin G. Here, we propose that the role for AIRE in TAN/TAMs in breast tumors is to regulate cell death and inflammation, thus promoting tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Källberg
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Meliha Mehmeti-Ajradini
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Frida Björk Gunnarsdottir
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marcus Göransson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Caroline Bergenfelz
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Roni Allaoui Fredriksson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Catharina Hagerling
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Martin E Johansson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, Vasaparken Universitetsplatsen 1, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Mass Spectrometry, Department for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Jirström
- Oncology and Therapeutic Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Leandersson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
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8
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Deng Z, Law CS, Kurra S, Simchoni N, Shum AK. Activated STING in the thymus alters T cell development and selection leading to autoimmunity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.17.580803. [PMID: 38464209 PMCID: PMC10925148 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.17.580803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Classifying systemic inflammatory disorders as autoinflammatory or autoimmune provides insight into disease pathogenesis and whether treatment should target innate molecules and their signaling pathways or the adaptive immune response. COPA syndrome is a monogenic disorder of immune dysregulation that leads to interstitial lung disease and high-titer autoantibodies. Studies show constitutive activation of the innate immune molecule STING is centrally involved in disease. However, the mechanisms by which STING results in loss of T cell tolerance and autoimmunity in COPA syndrome or more common autoimmune diseases is not understood. Using CopaE241K/+ mice, we uncovered a functional role for STING in the thymus. Single cell data of human thymus demonstrates STING is highly expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) involved in processing and presenting self-antigens to thymocytes. In CopaE241K/+ mice, activated STING in mTECs triggered interferon signaling, impaired macroautophagy and caused a defect in negative selection of T cells. Wild-type mice given a systemic STING agonist phenocopied the selection defect and showed enhanced thymic escape of a T cell clone targeting a self-antigen also expressed in melanoma. Our work demonstrates STING activation in TECs shapes the T cell repertoire and contributes to autoimmunity, findings important for settings that activate thymic STING.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimu Deng
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Christopher S. Law
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Santosh Kurra
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Noa Simchoni
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Anthony K. Shum
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, CA 94158
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9
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Zhou JZ, Huang B, Pei B, Sun GW, Pawlitz MD, Zhang W, Li X, Hokynar KC, Yao F, Perera MLW, Wei S, Zheng S, Polin LA, Poulik JM, Ranki A, Krohn K, Cunningham-Rundles C, Yang N, Bhagwat AS, Yu K, Peterson P, Kisand K, Vuong BQ, Cerutti A, Chen K. A Germinal Center Checkpoint of AIRE in B Cells Limits Antibody Diversification. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.10.574926. [PMID: 38260362 PMCID: PMC10802573 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.10.574926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
In response to antigens, B cells undergo affinity maturation and class switching mediated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) in germinal centers (GCs) of secondary lymphoid organs, but uncontrolled AID activity can precipitate autoimmunity and cancer. The regulation of GC antibody diversification is of fundamental importance but not well understood. We found that autoimmune regulator (AIRE), the molecule essential for T cell tolerance, is expressed in GC B cells in a CD40-dependent manner, interacts with AID and negatively regulates antibody affinity maturation and class switching by inhibiting AID function. AIRE deficiency in B cells caused altered antibody repertoire, increased somatic hypermutations, elevated autoantibodies to T helper 17 effector cytokines and defective control of skin Candida albicans. These results define a GC B cell checkpoint of humoral immunity and illuminate new approaches of generating high-affinity neutralizing antibodies for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Z Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Bihui Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Bo Pei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Guang Wen Sun
- School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore 738984, Singapore
| | - Michael D Pawlitz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Xinyang Li
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Kati C Hokynar
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00029, Finland
| | - Fayi Yao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | | | - Shanqiao Wei
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Simin Zheng
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Lisa A Polin
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Janet M Poulik
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology and Allergic Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00250, Finland
| | - Kai Krohn
- Helsinki University Hospital Research Institute, Biomedicum, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| | | | - Naibo Yang
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
- Complete Genomics Inc., Mountain View, California 94043, USA
| | - Ashok S Bhagwat
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Kefei Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Bao Q Vuong
- Department of Biology, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Andrea Cerutti
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mucosal Immunology Studies Team, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
- Lead Contact
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10
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Onji M, Penninger JM. RANKL and RANK in Cancer Therapy. Physiology (Bethesda) 2023; 38:0. [PMID: 36473204 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00020.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) are key regulators of mammalian physiology such as bone metabolism, immune tolerance and antitumor immunity, and mammary gland biology. Here, we explore the multiple functions of RANKL/RANK in physiology and pathophysiology and discuss underlying principles and strategies to modulate the RANKL/RANK pathway as a therapeutic target in immune-mediated cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Onji
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, VBC-Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Josef M Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, VBC-Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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11
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Szwarc MM, Hai L, Maurya VK, Rajapakshe K, Perera D, Ittmann MM, Mo Q, Lin Y, Bettini ML, Coarfa C, Lydon JP. Histopathologic and transcriptomic phenotypes of a conditional RANKL transgenic mouse thymus. Cytokine 2022; 160:156022. [PMID: 36099756 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although conventional knockout and transgenic mouse models have significantly advanced our understanding of Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand (RANKL) signaling in intra-thymic crosstalk that establishes self-tolerance and later stages of lymphopoiesis, the unique advantages of conditional mouse transgenesis have yet to be explored. A main advantage of conditional transgenesis is the ability to express a transgene in a spatiotemporal restricted manner, enabling the induction (or de-induction) of transgene expression during predetermined stages of embryogenesis or during defined postnatal developmental or physiological states, such as puberty, adulthood, and pregnancy. Here, we describe the K5: RANKL bigenic mouse, in which transgene derived RANKL expression is induced by doxycycline and targeted to cytokeratin 5 positive medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). Short-term doxycycline induction reveals that RANKL transgene expression is significantly induced in the thymic medulla and only in response to doxycycline. Prolonged doxycycline induction in the K5: RANKL bigenic results in a significantly enlarged thymus in which mTECs are hyperproliferative. Flow cytometry showed that there is a marked enrichment of CD4+ and CD8+ single positive thymocytes with a concomitant depletion of CD4+ CD8+ double positives. Furthermore, there is an increase in the number of FOXP3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells and Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin 1+ (UEA1+) mTECs. Transcriptomics revealed that a remarkable array of signals-cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, transcription factors, and morphogens-are governed by RANKL and drive in part the K5: RANKL thymic phenotype. Extended doxycycline administration to 6-weeks results in a K5: RANKL thymus that begins to display distinct histopathological features, such as medullary epithelial hyperplasia, extensive immune cell infiltration, and central tissue necrosis. As there are intense efforts to develop clinical approaches to restore thymic medullary function in the adult to treat immunopathological conditions in which immune cell function is compromised following cancer therapy or toxin exposure, an improved molecular understanding of RANKL's involvement in thymic medulla enlargement will be required. We believe the versatility of the conditional K5: RANKL mouse represents a tractable model system to assist in addressing this requirement as well as many other questions related to RANKL's role in thymic normal physiology and disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Vineet K Maurya
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | | | - Dimuthu Perera
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Michael M Ittmann
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yong Lin
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States.
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12
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Benlaribi R, Gou Q, Takaba H. Thymic self-antigen expression for immune tolerance and surveillance. Inflamm Regen 2022; 42:28. [PMID: 36056452 PMCID: PMC9440513 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-022-00211-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are a group of lymphocytes that play a central role in the immune system, notably, eliminating pathogens and attacking cancer while being tolerant of the self. Elucidating how immune tolerance is ensured has become a significant research issue for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases as well as cancer immunity. T cell immune tolerance is established mainly in the thymic medulla by the removal of self-responsive T cells and the generation of regulatory T cells, this process depends mainly on the expression of a variety of tissue restricted antigens (TRAs) by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). The expression of TRAs is known to be regulated by at least two independent factors, Fezf2 and Aire, which play non-redundant and complementary roles by different mechanisms. In this review, we introduce the molecular logic of thymic self-antigen expression that underlies T cell selection for the prevention of autoimmunity and the establishment of immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayene Benlaribi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Qiao Gou
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Takaba
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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13
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Simonetti S, Iuliani M, Stellato M, Cavaliere S, Vincenzi B, Tonini G, Santini D, Pantano F. Extensive plasma proteomic profiling revealed receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) as emerging biomarker of nivolumab clinical benefit in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005136. [PMID: 36104102 PMCID: PMC9476128 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have led to a paradigm change in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), nevertheless, the benefit of treatment is confined to a limited proportion of patients. Therefore, the identification of predictive biomarkers for response to ICIs represents an unmet clinical need. Here, we performed a large-scale plasma proteomic profile of patients with mRCC, treated with nivolumab, to identify soluble molecules potentially associated with clinical benefit. Methods We analyzed the levels of 507 soluble molecules in the pretreatment plasma of 16 patients with mRCC (discovery set) who received nivolumab therapy as a single agent. The ELISA assay was performed to confirm the protein level of candidate biomarkers associated to clinical benefit in 15 patients with mRCC (validation set). Survival curves of complete cohort were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Results Out of 507 screened molecules, 135 factors were selected as expressed above background and 12 of them were significantly overexpressed in patients who did not benefit from treatment (non-responders (NR)) compared with responders (R) group. After multiplicity adjustment, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) was the only molecule that retained the statistical significance (false discovery rate: 0.023). RANKL overexpression in NR patients was confirmed both in discovery (median NR: 528 pg/mL vs median R: 288 pg/mL, p=0.011) and validation set (median NR: 440 pg/mL vs median R: 253 pg/mL, p<0.001). Considering the complete cohort of patients (discovery+validation set), significantly higher RANKL levels were found in patients who primarily progressed from treatment compared with those who had a partial response (p=0.003) or stable disease (p=0.006). Moreover, patients with low RANKL levels had significant improvements in progression-free survival (median 14.0 months vs 3.4 months, p=0.004) and overall survival (median not reached vs 30.1 months, p=0.003). Conclusions Our exploratory study suggests RANKL as a novel independent biomarker of response and survival in patients with mRCC treated with nivolumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Simonetti
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Iuliani
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Stellato
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy .,Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Cavaliere
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy
| | - Bruno Vincenzi
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tonini
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy
| | - Daniele Santini
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy.,UOC Oncologia Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome - Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Francesco Pantano
- Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy
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14
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Sun IH, Gillis-Buck E, Mackenzie TC, Gardner JM. Thymic and extrathymic Aire-expressing cells in maternal-fetal tolerance. Immunol Rev 2022; 308:93-104. [PMID: 35535447 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13082] [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: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Healthy pregnancy requires maternal immune tolerance to both fetal and placental tissues which contain a range of self- and non-self-antigens. While many of the components and mechanisms of maternal-fetal tolerance have been investigated in detail and previously and thoroughly reviewed (Erlebacher A. Annu Rev Immunol. 2013;31:387-411), the role of autoimmune regulator (Aire), a critical regulator of central tolerance expressed by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), has been less explored. Aire is known to facilitate the expression of a range of otherwise tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in mTECs, and here we highlight recent work showing a role for mTEC-mediated thymic selection in maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance. Recently, however, our group and others have identified additional populations of extrathymic Aire-expressing cells (eTACs) in the secondary lymphoid organs. These hematopoietic antigen-presenting cells possess the ability to induce functional inactivation and/or deletion of cognate T cells, and deletion of maternal eTACs during pregnancy increases T-cell activation in the lymph nodes and lymphocytic infiltration of the uterus, leading to pregnancy complications including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and fetal resorption. In this review, we briefly summarize findings related to essential Aire biology, discuss the known roles of Aire-deficiency related to pregnancy complications and infertility, review the newly discovered role for eTACs in the maintenance of maternal-fetal tolerance-as well as recent work defining eTACs at the single-cell level-and postulate potential mechanisms by which eTACs may regulate this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Im-Hong Sun
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eva Gillis-Buck
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tippi C Mackenzie
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - James M Gardner
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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15
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Gulla S, Reddy MC, Reddy VC, Chitta S, Bhanoori M, Lomada D. Role of thymus in health and disease. Int Rev Immunol 2022; 42:347-363. [PMID: 35593192 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2022.2064461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, essential for the development of T-cells that will protect from invading pathogens, immune disorders, and cancer. The thymus decreases in size and cellularity with age referred to as thymus involution or atrophy. This involution causes decreased T-cell development and decreased naive T-cell emigration to the periphery, increased proportion of memory T cells, and a restricted, altered T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. The changes in composition and function of the circulating T cell pool as a result of thymic involution led to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases including the recent COVID and a higher risk for autoimmune disorders and cancers. Thymic involution consisting of both structural and functional loss of the thymus has a deleterious effect on T cell development, T cell selection, and tolerance. The mechanisms which act on the structural (cortex and medulla) matrix of the thymus, the gradual accumulation of genetic mutations, and altered gene expressions may lead to immunosenescence as a result of thymus involution. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind thymic involution is critical for identifying diagnostic biomarkers and targets for treatment help to develop strategies to mitigate thymic involution-associated complications. This review is focused on the consequences of thymic involution in infections, immune disorders, and diseases, identifying potential checkpoints and potential approaches to sustain or restore the function of the thymus particularly in elderly and immune-compromised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra Gulla
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Madhava C Reddy
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Vajra C Reddy
- Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Chinnakondrupadu, Guntur, India
| | | | - Manjula Bhanoori
- Department of Biochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India
| | - Dakshayani Lomada
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
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16
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Policheni AN, Teh CE, Robbins A, Tuzlak S, Strasser A, Gray DHD. PD-1 cooperates with AIRE-mediated tolerance to prevent lethal autoimmune disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2120149119. [PMID: 35394861 PMCID: PMC9169857 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120149119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunological tolerance is established and maintained by a diverse array of safeguards that work together to protect against autoimmunity. Despite the identification of numerous tolerogenic processes, the basis for cooperation among them remains poorly understood. We sought to identify synergy among several well-defined tolerance mediators that alone provide protection only from mild autoimmune symptoms in C57BL/6 mice: BIM, AIRE, CBL-B, and PD-1. Survey of a range of compound mutant mice revealed that the combined loss of the autoimmune regulator, AIRE, with PD-1 unleashed a spontaneous, lethal autoimmune disease. Pdcd1−/−Aire−/− mice succumbed to cachexia before adulthood, with near-complete destruction of the exocrine pancreas. Such fatal autoimmunity was not observed in Pdcd1−/−Bim−/−, Bim−/−Aire−/−, or Cblb−/−Bim−/− mice, suggesting that the cooperation between AIRE-mediated and PD-1–mediated tolerance was particularly potent. Immune profiling revealed largely normal development of FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in Pdcd1−/−Aire−/− mice, yet excessive, early activation of effector T cells. Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated that autoimmune exocrine pancreatitis was driven by conventional CD4+ T cells and could not be prevented by the cotransfer of Treg cells from wild-type mice. The development of autoimmunity in mixed bone marrow chimeras supported these observations, indicating that failure of recessive tolerance was responsible for disease. These findings reveal a potent tolerogenic axis between AIRE and PD-1 that has implications for our understanding of how immune checkpoint blockade might synergize with subclinical defects in central tolerance to elicit autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia N. Policheni
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Charis E. Teh
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alissa Robbins
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Selma Tuzlak
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Strasser
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Daniel H. D. Gray
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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17
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Alawam AS, Cosway EJ, James KD, Lucas B, Bacon A, Parnell SM, White AJ, Jenkinson WE, Anderson G. Failures in thymus medulla regeneration during immune recovery cause tolerance loss and prime recipients for auto-GVHD. J Exp Med 2022; 219:212911. [PMID: 34910105 PMCID: PMC8679781 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20211239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a widely used therapy for blood cancers and primary immunodeficiency. Following transplant, the thymus plays a key role in immune reconstitution by generating a naive αβT cell pool from transplant-derived progenitors. While donor-derived thymopoiesis during the early post-transplant period is well studied, the ability of the thymus to synchronize T cell development with essential tolerance mechanisms is poorly understood. Using a syngeneic mouse transplant model, we analyzed T cell recovery alongside the regeneration and function of intrathymic microenvironments. We report a specific and prolonged failure in the post-transplant recovery of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). This manifests as loss of medulla-dependent tolerance mechanisms, including failures in Foxp3+ regulatory T cell development and formation of the intrathymic dendritic cell pool. In addition, defective negative selection enables escape of self-reactive conventional αβT cells that promote autoimmunity. Collectively, we show that post-transplant T cell recovery involves an uncoupling of thymopoiesis from thymic tolerance, which results in autoimmune reconstitution caused by failures in thymic medulla regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah S Alawam
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Emilie J Cosway
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kieran D James
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Beth Lucas
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrea Bacon
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sonia M Parnell
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrea J White
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - William E Jenkinson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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18
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Martinez-Ruíz GU, Morales-Sánchez A, Bhandoola A. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in thymic epithelial cells. Immunol Rev 2022; 305:43-58. [PMID: 34750841 PMCID: PMC8766885 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is required for the development of both adaptive and innate-like T cell subsets. There is keen interest in manipulating thymic function for therapeutic purposes in circumstances of autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and for purposes of immunotherapy. Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells play essential roles in directing T cell development. Several transcription factors are known to be essential for thymic epithelial cell development and function, and a few transcription factors have been studied in considerable detail. However, the role of many other transcription factors is less well understood. Further, it is likely that roles exist for other transcription factors not yet known to be important in thymic epithelial cells. Recent progress in understanding of thymic epithelial cell heterogeneity has provided some new insight into transcriptional requirements in subtypes of thymic epithelial cells. However, it is unknown whether progenitors of thymic epithelial cells exist in the adult thymus, and consequently, developmental relationships linking putative precursors with differentiated cell types are poorly understood. While we do not presently possess a clear understanding of stage-specific requirements for transcription factors in thymic epithelial cells, new single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies should enable rapid progress in this field. Here, we review our current knowledge of transcription factors involved in the development, maintenance, and function of thymic epithelial cells, and the mechanisms by which they act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Ulises Martinez-Ruíz
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Research Division, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Abigail Morales-Sánchez
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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19
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Wang J, Lareau CA, Bautista J, Gupta A, Sandor K, Germino J, Yin Y, Arvedson M, Reeder GC, Cramer NT, Xie F, Ntranos V, Satpathy AT, Anderson MS, Gardner JM. Single-cell multiomics defines tolerogenic extrathymic Aire-expressing populations with unique homology to thymic epithelium. Sci Immunol 2021; 6:eabl5053. [PMID: 34767455 PMCID: PMC8855935 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abl5053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (Aire), a well-defined transcriptional regulator in the thymus, is also found in extrathymic Aire-expressing cells (eTACs) in the secondary lymphoid organs. eTACs are hematopoietic antigen-presenting cells and inducers of immune tolerance, but their precise identity has remained unclear. Here, we use single-cell multiomics, transgenic murine models, and functional approaches to define eTACs at the transcriptional, genomic, and proteomic level. We find that eTACs consist of two similar cell types: CCR7+ Aire-expressing migratory dendritic cells (AmDCs) and an Airehi population coexpressing Aire and retinoic acid receptor–related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) that we term Janus cells (JCs). Both JCs and AmDCs have the highest transcriptional and genomic homology to CCR7+ migratory dendritic cells. eTACs, particularly JCs, have highly accessible chromatin and broad gene expression, including a range of tissue-specific antigens, as well as remarkable homology to medullary thymic epithelium and RANK-dependent Aire expression. Transgenic self-antigen expression by eTACs is sufficient to induce negative selection and prevent autoimmune diabetes. This transcriptional, genomic, and functional symmetry between eTACs (both JCs and AmDCs) and medullary thymic epithelium—the other principal Aire-expressing population and a key regulator of central tolerance—identifies a core program that may influence self-representation and tolerance across the spectrum of immune development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi Wang
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
| | - Caleb A. Lareau
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Alexander Gupta
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco
| | - Katalin Sandor
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joe Germino
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
| | - Yajie Yin
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matt Arvedson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
| | | | | | - Fang Xie
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco
| | - Vasilis Ntranos
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ansuman T. Satpathy
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
| | - James M. Gardner
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco
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20
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Oikonomou V, Break TJ, Gaffen SL, Moutsopoulos NM, Lionakis MS. Infections in the monogenic autoimmune syndrome APECED. Curr Opin Immunol 2021; 72:286-297. [PMID: 34418591 PMCID: PMC8578378 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is caused by mutations in the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) gene, which impair the thymic negative selection of self-reactive T-cells and underlie the development of autoimmunity that targets multiple endocrine and non-endocrine tissues. Beyond autoimmunity, APECED features heightened susceptibility to certain specific infections, which is mediated by anti-cytokine autoantibodies and/or T-cell driven autoimmune tissue injury. These include the 'signature' APECED infection chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), but also life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, bronchiectasis-associated bacterial pneumonia, and sepsis by encapsulated bacteria. Here we discuss the expanding understanding of the immunological mechanisms that contribute to infection susceptibility in this prototypic syndrome of impaired central tolerance, which provide the foundation for devising improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Oikonomou
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Timothy J Break
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sarah L Gaffen
- University of Pittsburgh, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Pittsburgh PA, USA
| | - Niki M Moutsopoulos
- Oral Immunity and Inflammation Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
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21
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Peterson P, Kisand K, Kluger N, Ranki A. Loss of AIRE-Mediated Immune Tolerance and the Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:760-767. [PMID: 34535292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The core function of the immune response is to distinguish between self and foreign. The multiorgan human autoimmune disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED/autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) is an example of what happens in the body when central immune tolerance goes astray. APECED revealed the existence and function of the autoimmune regulator gene, which has a central role in the development of tolerance. The discovery of autoimmune regulator was the start of a new period in immunology and in understanding the role of central and peripheral tolerance, also very relevant to many skin diseases as we highlight in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nicolas Kluger
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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22
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Konci X, Litvinov IV, Netchiporouk E. Dysregulations in Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) in Controlling B and T Cell Tolerance Have Important Implications for a Broad Range of Dermatologic Diseases. J Cutan Med Surg 2021; 24:312-313. [PMID: 32421429 DOI: 10.1177/1203475419890838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xheni Konci
- 5620 507266 54473 Division of Dermatology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ivan V Litvinov
- 5620 507266 54473 Division of Dermatology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elena Netchiporouk
- 5620 507266 54473 Division of Dermatology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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23
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Li J, Zhou P, Wang L, Hou Y, Zhang X, Zhu S, Guan S. Investigation of Mg-xLi-Zn alloys for potential application of biodegradable bone implant materials. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE. MATERIALS IN MEDICINE 2021; 32:43. [PMID: 33825086 PMCID: PMC8024228 DOI: 10.1007/s10856-021-06516-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Implant therapy after osteosarcoma surgery is a major clinical challenge currently, especially the requirements for mechanical properties, degradability of the implants, and their inhibition of residual tumor cells. Biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloy as medical bone implant material has full advantages and huge potential development space. Wherein, Mg-lithium (Li) based alloy, as an ultra-light alloy, has good properties for implants under certain conditions, and both Mg and Li have inhibitory effects on tumor cells. Therefore, Mg-Li alloy is expected to be applied in bone implant materials for mechanical supporting and inhibiting tumor cells simultaneously. In this contribution, the Mg-xLi-Zinc (Zn) series alloys (x = 3 wt%, 6 wt%, 9 wt%) were prepared to study the influence of different elements and contents on the structure and properties of the alloy, and the biosafety of the alloy was also evaluated. Our data showed that the yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of as-cast Mg-xLi-Zn alloy were higher than those of as-cast Mg-Zn alloy; Mg-xLi-Zn alloy can kill osteosarcoma cells (MG-63) in a concentration-dependent manner, wherein Mg-3Li-Zn alloy (x = 3 wt%) and Mg-6Li-Zn alloy (x = 6 wt%) promoted the proliferation of osteoblasts (MC3T3) at a certain concentration of Li. In summary, our study demonstrated that the Mg-6Li-Zn alloy could be potentially applied as a material of orthopedic implant for its excellent multi-functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingan Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Panyu Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Liguo Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Yachen Hou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xueqi Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Shijie Zhu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Shaokang Guan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering & Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Magnesium Alloy & Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold Technology (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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24
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Santamaria JC, Borelli A, Irla M. Regulatory T Cell Heterogeneity in the Thymus: Impact on Their Functional Activities. Front Immunol 2021; 12:643153. [PMID: 33643324 PMCID: PMC7904894 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.643153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) maintain the integrity of the organism by preventing excessive immune responses. These cells protect against autoimmune diseases but are also important regulators of other immune responses including inflammation, allergy, infection, and tumors. Furthermore, they exert non-immune functions such as tissue repair and regeneration. In the periphery, Foxp3+ Treg have emerged as a highly heterogeneous cell population with distinct molecular and functional properties. Foxp3+ Treg mainly develop within the thymus where they receive instructive signals for their differentiation. Recent studies have revealed that thymic Treg are also heterogeneous with two distinct precursors that give rise to mature Foxp3+ Treg exhibiting non-overlapping regulatory activities characterized by a differential ability to control different types of autoimmune reactions. Furthermore, the thymic Treg cell pool is not only composed of newly developing Treg, but also contain a large fraction of recirculating peripheral cells. Here, we review the two pathways of thymic Treg cell differentiation and their potential impact on Treg activity in the periphery. We also summarize our current knowledge on recirculating peripheral Treg in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy C Santamaria
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Alexia Borelli
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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25
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Marx A, Yamada Y, Simon-Keller K, Schalke B, Willcox N, Ströbel P, Weis CA. Thymus and autoimmunity. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:45-64. [PMID: 33537838 PMCID: PMC7925479 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00842-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The thymus prevents autoimmune diseases through mechanisms that operate in the cortex and medulla, comprising positive and negative selection and the generation of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Egress from the thymus through the perivascular space (PVS) to the blood is another possible checkpoint, as shown by some autoimmune/immunodeficiency syndromes. In polygenic autoimmune diseases, subtle thymic dysfunctions may compound genetic, hormonal and environmental cues. Here, we cover (a) tolerance-inducing cell types, whether thymic epithelial or tuft cells, or dendritic, B- or thymic myoid cells; (b) tolerance-inducing mechanisms and their failure in relation to thymic anatomic compartments, and with special emphasis on human monogenic and polygenic autoimmune diseases and the related thymic pathologies, if known; (c) polymorphisms and mutations of tolerance-related genes with an impact on positive selection (e.g. the gene encoding the thymoproteasome-specific subunit, PSMB11), promiscuous gene expression (e.g. AIRE, PRKDC, FEZF2, CHD4), Treg development (e.g. SATB1, FOXP3), T-cell migration (e.g. TAGAP) and egress from the thymus (e.g. MTS1, CORO1A); (d) myasthenia gravis as the prototypic outcome of an inflamed or disordered neoplastic ‘sick thymus’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Yosuke Yamada
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Katja Simon-Keller
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Berthold Schalke
- Department of Neurology, Bezirkskrankenhaus, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nick Willcox
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttigen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cleo-Aron Weis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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26
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Irla M. RANK Signaling in the Differentiation and Regeneration of Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 11:623265. [PMID: 33552088 PMCID: PMC7862717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.623265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide essential clues for the proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of thymocytes. Recent advances in mouse and human have revealed that TECs constitute a highly heterogeneous cell population with distinct functional properties. Importantly, TECs are sensitive to thymic damages engendered by myeloablative conditioning regimen used for bone marrow transplantation. These detrimental effects on TECs delay de novo T-cell production, which can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in many patients. Alike that TECs guide the development of thymocytes, reciprocally thymocytes control the differentiation and organization of TECs. These bidirectional interactions are referred to as thymic crosstalk. The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) member, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK) and its cognate ligand RANKL have emerged as key players of the crosstalk between TECs and thymocytes. RANKL, mainly provided by positively selected CD4+ thymocytes and a subset of group 3 innate lymphoid cells, controls mTEC proliferation/differentiation and TEC regeneration. In this review, I discuss recent advances that have unraveled the high heterogeneity of TECs and the implication of the RANK-RANKL signaling axis in TEC differentiation and regeneration. Targeting this cell-signaling pathway opens novel therapeutic perspectives to recover TEC function and T-cell production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Irla
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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27
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Nitta T, Takayanagi H. Non-Epithelial Thymic Stromal Cells: Unsung Heroes in Thymus Organogenesis and T Cell Development. Front Immunol 2021; 11:620894. [PMID: 33519827 PMCID: PMC7840694 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.620894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The stromal microenvironment in the thymus is essential for generating a functional T cell repertoire. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are numerically and phenotypically one of the most prominent stromal cell types in the thymus, and have been recognized as one of most unusual cell types in the body by virtue of their unique functions in the course of the positive and negative selection of developing T cells. In addition to TECs, there are other stromal cell types of mesenchymal origin, such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. These mesenchymal stromal cells are not only components of the parenchymal and vascular architecture, but also have a pivotal role in controlling TEC development, although their functions have been less extensively explored than TECs. Here, we review both the historical studies on and recent advances in our understanding of the contribution of such non-TEC stromal cells to thymic organogenesis and T cell development. In particular, we highlight the recently discovered functional effect of thymic fibroblasts on T cell repertoire selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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28
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Abstract
Almost a quarter century has passed since discovery of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). This discovery had a major impact on identification of mechanisms regulating osteoclast differentiation and function, establishment of a research field bridging bone and the immune system (osteoimmunology), and development of a fully human anti-RANKL neutralizing antibody (denosumab). Denosumab is now clinically available for treatment of osteoporosis and cancer-induced bone diseases in the US, Europe and many other countries, including Japan. Denosumab is a so-called blockbuster drug, with sales of 5.0 billion US dollars in 2019. This is a real success story from bench to bedside. In this review, the pivotal roles of the RANKL/RANK/OPG system in osteoclast differentiation and function are shown. RANKL is a ligand required for osteoclast generation, RANK is the receptor for RANKL, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor for RANKL. The review covers recent results showing the importance of RANKL on osteoblasts in regulation of osteogenesis and the role of RANKL-RANK dual signaling in coupling of bone resorption and formation, including demonstration of RANKL reverse signaling that we had previously hypothesized. Possible applications of anti-RANKL antibody in treatment of cancer are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisataka Yasuda
- Nagahama Institute for Biochemical Science, Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd., 50, Kano-cho, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0804, Japan.
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29
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Walsh MC, Choi Y. Regulation of T cell-associated tissues and T cell activation by RANKL-RANK-OPG. J Bone Miner Metab 2021; 39:54-63. [PMID: 33438173 PMCID: PMC8670018 DOI: 10.1007/s00774-020-01178-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-RANK-osteoprotegerin (OPG) system is critical to bone homeostasis, but genetically deficient mouse models have revealed important roles in the immune system as well. RANKL-RANK-OPG is particularly important to T cell biology because of its organogenic control of thymic development and secondary lymphoid tissues influence central T cell tolerance and peripheral T cell function. RANKL-RANK-OPG cytokine-receptor interactions are often controlled by regulation of expression of RANKL on developing T cells, which interacts with RANK expressed on some lymphoid tissue cells to stimulate key downstream signaling pathways that affect critical tuning functions of the T cell compartment, like cell survival and antigen presentation. Activation of peripheral T cells is regulated by RANKL-enhanced dendritic cell survival, and dysregulation of the RANKL-RANK-OPG system in this context is associated with loss of T cell tolerance and autoimmune disease. Given its broader implications for immune homeostasis and osteoimmunology, it is critical to further understand how the RANKL-RANK-OPG system operates in T cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Walsh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yongwon Choi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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30
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Wells KL, Miller CN, Gschwind AR, Wei W, Phipps JD, Anderson MS, Steinmetz LM. Combined transient ablation and single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals the development of medullary thymic epithelial cells. eLife 2020; 9:60188. [PMID: 33226342 PMCID: PMC7771965 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a critical role in central immune tolerance by mediating negative selection of autoreactive T cells through the collective expression of the peripheral self-antigen compartment, including tissue-specific antigens (TSAs). Recent work has shown that gene-expression patterns within the mTEC compartment are heterogenous and include multiple differentiated cell states. To further define mTEC development and medullary epithelial lineage relationships, we combined lineage tracing and recovery from transient in vivo mTEC ablation with single-cell RNA-sequencing in Mus musculus. The combination of bioinformatic and experimental approaches revealed a non-stem transit-amplifying population of cycling mTECs that preceded Aire expression. We propose a branching model of mTEC development wherein a heterogeneous pool of transit-amplifying cells gives rise to Aire- and Ccl21a-expressing mTEC subsets. We further use experimental techniques to show that within the Aire-expressing developmental branch, TSA expression peaked as Aire expression decreased, implying Aire expression must be established before TSA expression can occur. Collectively, these data provide a roadmap of mTEC development and demonstrate the power of combinatorial approaches leveraging both in vivo models and high-dimensional datasets. Specialized cells in the immune system known as T cells protect the body from infection by destroying disease-causing microbes, such as bacteria or viruses. T cells use proteins on their surface called receptors to stick to infectious microbes and remove them from the body. Some newly developed T-cells, however, contain receptors that recognize and bind to cells that belong in the body. If these faulty T cells are released, they can attack healthy tissues and cause an autoimmune disease. After a new T cell is developed, it gets carried to a gland in the chest known as the thymus. Cells in the thymus called mTECs screen T cells for receptors that may bind to the body’s tissues. mTECs do this by presenting T cells with proteins that are commonly found on the surface of healthy cells in the body. If a T cell recognizes any of these ‘tissue specific proteins’, it is destroyed or given a new role in the body. Some faulty T cells, however, still manage to evade detection. One way to uncover why this might happen is to investigate how mTECs develop. Previous work showed that mTECs transition through various stages before reaching their final form. However, the order in which these events occur remained unclear. To gain a better understanding of these developmental steps, Wells, Miller et al. extracted mTECs from the thymus of mice and analyzed the genetic make-up of individual cells. This uncovered a missing link in mTEC development: a new type of cell that is the immediate predecessor of the final mTEC. These ‘predecessor’ cells were actively growing, highlighting that mTECs can be constantly generated in the body. By probing the genes that generate tissue-specific proteins in mTECs, Wells, Miller et al. revealed that these proteins were only produced for short periods and in the late stages of mTEC development. These findings contribute to our understanding of how mTECs develop to screen T cells. Mapping these developmental stages will make it easier to identify when faulty T cells are able to evade mTECs. This will lead to earlier detection of autoimmune diseases which could result in better treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen L Wells
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Andreas R Gschwind
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Wu Wei
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, United States
| | - Jonah D Phipps
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Lars M Steinmetz
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.,Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, United States.,Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
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31
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Simatou A, Sarantis P, Koustas E, Papavassiliou AG, Karamouzis MV. The Role of the RANKL/RANK Axis in the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Anti-RANKL. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207570. [PMID: 33066388 PMCID: PMC7590202 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) and the RANK ligand (RANKL) were reported in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation/activation and bone homeostasis. Additionally, the RANKL/RANK axis is a significant mediator of progesterone-driven mammary epithelial cell proliferation, potentially contributing to breast cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, several studies supported the synergistic effect of RANK and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and described RANK's involvement in epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2)-positive carcinogenesis. Consequently, anti-RANKL treatment has been proposed as a new approach to preventing and treating breast cancer and metastases. Recently, RANKL/RANK signaling pathway inhibition has been shown to modulate the immune environment and enhance the efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies against solid tumors. Clinical and experimental trials have emerged evaluating RANKL inhibition as an enhancer of the immune response, rendering resistant tumors responsive to immune therapies. Trials evaluating the combinatorial effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-RANKL treatment in double-positive (RANK+/ERBB2+) patients are encouraging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
- Correspondence: (A.G.P.); (M.V.K.); Tel.: +30-210-746-2508 (ext. 9) (M.V.K.); Fax: +30-210-746-2703 (M.V.K.)
| | - Michalis V. Karamouzis
- Correspondence: (A.G.P.); (M.V.K.); Tel.: +30-210-746-2508 (ext. 9) (M.V.K.); Fax: +30-210-746-2703 (M.V.K.)
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32
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Ming J, Cronin SJF, Penninger JM. Targeting the RANKL/RANK/OPG Axis for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1283. [PMID: 32850393 PMCID: PMC7426519 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RANKL and RANK are expressed in different cell types and tissues throughout the body. They were originally described for their essential roles in bone remodeling and the immune system but have subsequently been shown to provide essential signals from regulating mammary gland homeostasis during pregnancy to modulating tumorigenesis. The success of RANKL/RANK research serves as a paragon for translational research from the laboratory to the bedside. The case in point has been the development of Denosumab, a RANKL-blocking monoclonal antibody which has already helped millions of patients suffering from post-menopausal osteoporosis and skeletal related events in cancer. Here we will provide an overview of the pathway from its origins to its clinical relevance in disease, with a special focus on emerging evidence demonstrating the therapeutic value of targeting the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis not only in breast cancer but also as an addition to the cancer immunotherapy arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ming
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shane J F Cronin
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Josef M Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Medical Genetics, Life Science Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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33
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Benitez AA, Khalil-Agüero S, Nandakumar A, Gupta NT, Zhang W, Atwal GS, Murphy AJ, Sleeman MA, Haxhinasto S. Absence of central tolerance in Aire-deficient mice synergizes with immune-checkpoint inhibition to enhance antitumor responses. Commun Biol 2020; 3:355. [PMID: 32641748 PMCID: PMC7343867 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1083-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The endogenous anti-tumor responses are limited in part by the absence of tumor-reactive T cells, an inevitable consequence of thymic central tolerance mechanisms ensuring prevention of autoimmunity. Here we show that tumor rejection induced by immune checkpoint blockade is significantly enhanced in Aire-deficient mice, the epitome of central tolerance breakdown. The observed synergy in tumor rejection extended to different tumor models, was accompanied by increased numbers of activated T cells expressing high levels of Gzma, Gzmb, Perforin, Cxcr3, and increased intratumoural levels of Cxcl9 and Cxcl10 compared to wild-type mice. Consistent with Aire's central role in T cell repertoire selection, single cell TCR sequencing unveiled expansion of several clones with high tumor reactivity. The data suggest that breakdown in central tolerance synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade in enhancing anti-tumor immunity and may serve as a model to unmask novel anti-tumor therapies including anti-tumor TCRs, normally purged during central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asiel A Benitez
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Sara Khalil-Agüero
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Anjali Nandakumar
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Namita T Gupta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Wen Zhang
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gurinder S Atwal
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Matthew A Sleeman
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Sokol Haxhinasto
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA.
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Terry RL, Meyran D, Ziegler DS, Haber M, Ekert PG, Trapani JA, Neeson PJ. Immune profiling of pediatric solid tumors. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:3391-3402. [PMID: 32538896 PMCID: PMC7324195 DOI: 10.1172/jci137181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric cancers, particularly high-risk solid tumors, urgently need effective and specific therapies. Their outlook has not appreciably improved in decades. Immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors offer much promise, but most are only approved for use in adults. Though several hundred clinical trials have tested immune-based approaches in childhood cancers, few have been guided by biomarkers or clinical-grade assays developed to predict patient response and, ultimately, to help select those most likely to benefit. There is extensive evidence in adults to show that immune profiling has substantial predictive value, but few studies focus on childhood tumors, because of the relatively small disease population and restricted use of immune-based therapies. For instance, only one published study has retrospectively examined the immune profiles of pediatric brain tumors after immunotherapy. Furthermore, application and integration of advanced multiplex techniques has been extremely limited. Here, we review the current status of immune profiling of pediatric solid tumors, with emphasis on tumor types that represent enormous unmet clinical need, primarily in the context of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Translating optimized and informative immune profiling into standard practice and access to personalized combination therapy will be critical if childhood cancers are to be treated effectively and affordably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael L. Terry
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Deborah Meyran
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Université de Paris, Inserm, U976 HIPI Unit, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Paris, France
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Cancer Center, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle Haber
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul G. Ekert
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joseph A. Trapani
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul J. Neeson
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Rausch MP, Meador LR, Metzger TC, Li H, Qiu S, Anderson MS, Hastings KT. GILT in Thymic Epithelial Cells Facilitates Central CD4 T Cell Tolerance to a Tissue-Restricted, Melanoma-Associated Self-Antigen. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:2877-2886. [PMID: 32269095 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Central tolerance prevents autoimmunity, but also limits T cell responses to potentially immunodominant tumor epitopes with limited expression in healthy tissues. In peripheral APCs, γ-IFN-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) is critical for MHC class II-restricted presentation of disulfide bond-containing proteins, including the self-antigen and melanoma Ag tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1). The role of GILT in thymic Ag processing and generation of central tolerance has not been investigated. We found that GILT enhanced the negative selection of TRP1-specific thymocytes in mice. GILT expression was enriched in thymic APCs capable of mediating deletion, namely medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and dendritic cells, whereas TRP1 expression was restricted solely to mTECs. GILT facilitated MHC class II-restricted presentation of endogenous TRP1 by pooled thymic APCs. Using bone marrow chimeras, GILT expression in thymic epithelial cells (TECs), but not hematopoietic cells, was sufficient for complete deletion of TRP1-specific thymocytes. An increased frequency of TRP1-specific regulatory T (Treg) cells was present in chimeras with increased deletion of TRP1-specific thymocytes. Only chimeras that lacked GILT in both TECs and hematopoietic cells had a high conventional T/Treg cell ratio and were protected from melanoma challenge. Thus, GILT expression in thymic APCs, and mTECs in particular, preferentially facilitates MHC class II-restricted presentation, negative selection, and increased Treg cells, resulting in a diminished antitumor response to a tissue-restricted, melanoma-associated self-antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew P Rausch
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004; and
| | - Lydia R Meador
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004; and
| | - Todd C Metzger
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Handong Li
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004; and
| | - Shenfeng Qiu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004; and
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - K Taraszka Hastings
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004; and
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Wang W, Thomas R, Sizova O, Su DM. Thymic Function Associated With Cancer Development, Relapse, and Antitumor Immunity - A Mini-Review. Front Immunol 2020; 11:773. [PMID: 32425946 PMCID: PMC7203483 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the central lymphoid organ for T cell development, a cradle of T cells, and for central tolerance establishment, an educator of T cells, maintaining homeostatic cellular immunity. T cell immunity is critical to control cancer occurrence, relapse, and antitumor immunity. Evidence on how aberrant thymic function influences cancer remains largely insufficient, however, there has been recent progress. For example, the involuted thymus results in reduced output of naïve T cells and a restricted T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, inducing immunosenescence and potentially dampening immune surveillance of neoplasia. In addition, the involuted thymus relatively enhances regulatory T (Treg) cell generation. This coupled with age-related accumulation of Treg cells in the periphery, potentially provides a supportive microenvironment for tumors to escape T cell-mediated antitumor responses. Furthermore, acute thymic involution from chemotherapy can create a tumor reservoir, resulting from an inflammatory microenvironment in the thymus, which is suitable for disseminated tumor cells to hide, survive chemotherapy, and become dormant. This may eventually result in cancer metastatic relapse. On the other hand, if thymic involution is wisely taken advantage of, it may be potentially beneficial to antitumor immunity, since the involuted thymus increases output of self-reactive T cells, which may recognize certain tumor-associated self-antigens and enhance antitumor immunity, as demonstrated through depletion of autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene in the thymus. Herein, we briefly review recent research progression regarding how altered thymic function modifies T cell immunity against tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikan Wang
- Cell Biology, Immunology, and Microbiology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Rachel Thomas
- Cell Biology, Immunology, and Microbiology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Olga Sizova
- Department of Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dong-Ming Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
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Abstract
Foxp3-expressing CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells play key roles in the prevention of autoimmunity and the maintenance of immune homeostasis and represent a major barrier to the induction of robust antitumor immune responses. Thus, a clear understanding of the mechanisms coordinating Treg cell differentiation is crucial for understanding numerous facets of health and disease and for developing approaches to modulate Treg cells for clinical benefit. Here, we discuss current knowledge of the signals that coordinate Treg cell development, the antigen-presenting cell types that direct Treg cell selection, and the nature of endogenous Treg cell ligands, focusing on evidence from studies in mice. We also highlight recent advances in this area and identify key unanswered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Savage
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA; , ,
| | - David E J Klawon
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA; , ,
| | - Christine H Miller
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA; , ,
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The renal adverse effects of cancer immunotherapy. J Nephrol 2020; 33:467-481. [PMID: 31912436 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-019-00691-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the development and clinical use of immunotherapy agents has increased exponentially. As clinical experience builds with these agents so too does our understanding of the associated adverse effects. In particular, the effects of immunotherapy on the kidneys, individual nephrons, and kidney function remain less well described than the adverse effects on barrier organ systems such as the gastrointestinal tract and skin. However, phase IV post-marketing surveillance and clinical case studies together with basic research has begun to reveal mechanisms by which immunotherapy mediates renal adverse effects. This work may lead to improvements in treatment guidelines and therapy. These advances are particularly important as post-cancer survival increases leaving patients to cope with the consequences of not only the cancer, but the short- and long-term adverse effects of treatment. Here we discuss the major renal adverse effects encountered with individual immunotherapeutic agents, putative mechanisms, their current management, and how cancer survivorship programs can help patients who have been treated with immunotherapy.
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Dougall WC, Roman Aguilera A, Smyth MJ. Dual targeting of RANKL and PD-1 with a bispecific antibody improves anti-tumor immunity. Clin Transl Immunology 2019; 8:e01081. [PMID: 31572609 PMCID: PMC6763724 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The addition of RANKL/RANK blockade to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 and anti‐CTLA4 antibodies is associated with increased anti‐tumor immunity in mice. Recent retrospective clinical studies in patients with advanced melanoma and lung cancer suggest the addition of anti‐RANKL antibody to ICI increases the overall response rate relative to ICI treatment alone. Based on this rationale, we developed a novel bispecific antibody (BsAb) co‐targeting RANKL and PD‐1. Methods We characterized target binding and functional activity of the anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 BsAb in cell‐based assays. Anti‐tumor activity was confirmed in experimental lung metastasis models and in mice with established subcutaneously transplanted tumors. Results The anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 BsAb retained binding to both RANKL and PD‐1 and blocked the interaction with respective counter‐structures RANK and PD‐L1. The inhibitory effect of anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 BsAb was confirmed by demonstrating a complete block of RANKL‐dependent osteoclast formation. Monotherapy activity of anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 BsAb was observed in anti‐PD‐1 resistant tumors and, when combined with anti‐CTLA‐4 mAb, increased anti‐tumor responses. An equivalent or superior anti‐tumor response was observed with the anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 BsAb compared with the combination of parental anti‐RANKL plus anti‐PD‐1 antibodies depending upon the tumor model. Discussion Mechanistically, the anti‐tumor activity of anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 BsAb required CD8+T cells, host PD‐1 and IFNγ. Targeting RANKL and PD‐1 simultaneously within the tumor microenvironment (TME) improved anti‐tumor efficacy compared with combination of two separate mAbs. Conclusion In summary, the bispecific anti‐RANKL/PD‐1 antibody demonstrates potent tumor growth inhibition in settings of ICI resistance and represents a novel modality for clinical development in advanced cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Dougall
- Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Herston Qld Australia
| | - Amelia Roman Aguilera
- Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Herston Qld Australia
| | - Mark J Smyth
- Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Herston Qld Australia
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Huemer F, Lang D, Westphal T, Gampenrieder SP, Hutarew G, Weiss L, Hackl H, Lamprecht B, Rinnerthaler G, Greil R. Baseline Absolute Lymphocyte Count and ECOG Performance Score Are Associated with Survival in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1014. [PMID: 31295966 PMCID: PMC6678702 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8071014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint blockade in front-line or second-line treatment improves survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) when compared with chemotherapy alone. However, easily applicable predictive parameters are necessary to guide immune-checkpoint inhibition in clinical practice. In this retrospective bi-centric analysis, we investigated the impact of baseline patient and tumor characteristics on clinical outcome in aNSCLC patients treated with programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. Between May 2015 and January 2018, 142 unselected consecutive NSCLC patients received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors during the course of disease. In multivariate analysis, we identified the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (ECOG > 1 versus ECOG ≤ 1, HR: 3.23, 95%CI: 1.58-6.60, P = 0.001), baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC; high: >0.93 × 109/L versus low: ≤ 0.93 × 109/L, HR: 0.38, 95%CI: 0.23-0.62, P < 0.001), prior or concomitant anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeting therapy (yes versus no, HR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.15-4.14, P = 0.017) and TNM stage (IV versus III, HR: 4.18, 95%CI: 1.01-17.36, P = 0.049) as the most relevant parameters for survival. Neither antibiotic exposure (antibiotic-positive versus antibiotic-negative, HR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.56-1.45, P = 0.675), nor PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (≥1% versus <1%, HR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.41-1.13, P = 0.140) was associated with survival. Baseline ECOG performance status and ALC were associated with survival in aNSCLC patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and assessment of these parameters could be suitable in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Huemer
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Lang
- Department of Pulmonology, Kepler University Hospital, Med Campus III, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Theresa Westphal
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Simon Peter Gampenrieder
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Georg Hutarew
- Institute of Pathology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Lukas Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hubert Hackl
- Division of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernd Lamprecht
- Department of Pulmonology, Kepler University Hospital, Med Campus III, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Gabriel Rinnerthaler
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Richard Greil
- Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
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41
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Clinical Impact of RANK Signalling in Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060791. [PMID: 31181781 PMCID: PMC6627676 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a gynaecological malignancy with poor clinical outcome and limited treatment options. The receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) pathway, activated by RANK ligand (RANKL), critically controls bone metabolism, tumourigenesis and tumour immune responses. Denosumab, a monocloncal RANKL antibody, exerts tumour-suppressive effects in mice and humans. Here, we investigated the relevance of RANK signalling in OC. RANK, RANKL and OPG expression in 192 epithelial OC tissues was compared to expression in 35 non-malignant control tissues and related to clinico-pathological characteristics. Findings were validated in a cohort of 563 OC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The expression of RANK, RANKL and OPG was studied in four OC cell lines and the impact of RANK ligation or blockade on OC cell proliferation was determined. RANK, RANKL and OPG were expressed in epithelial and stromal cells in OC. RANKL expression was elevated in OC tissue, particularly in BRCA1/2 mutated tumours. High RANKL expression independently predicted reduced progression-free (PFS, p = 0.017) and overall survival (OS, p = 0.007), which could be validated in the TCGA cohort (PFS, p = 0.022; OS, p = 0.046, respectively). Expression of RANK and OPG in OC cells was induced by inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNFα. Neither recombinant RANK ligation nor denosumab treatment affected OC cell proliferation. Our study independently links RANKL expression with poor clinical outcome in two unrelated OC cohorts. These findings implicate RANK signalling in the immunopathogenesis of OC and warrant clinical trials with denosumab in OC.
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Su MA, Anderson MS. Pulling RANK on Cancer: Blocking Aire-Mediated Central Tolerance to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:854-859. [PMID: 31160305 PMCID: PMC6550349 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A major breakthrough in cancer treatment occurred with the development of strategies that overcome T-cell tolerance toward tumor cells. These approaches enhance antitumor immunity by overcoming mechanisms that are normally in place to prevent autoimmunity but simultaneously prevent rejection of tumor cells. Although tolerance mechanisms that restrict antitumor immunity take place both in the thymus and periphery, only immunotherapies that target peripheral tolerance mechanisms occurring outside of the thymus are currently available. We review here recent gains in our understanding of how thymic tolerance mediated by the autoimmune regulator (Aire) impedes antitumor immunity. It is now clear that transient depletion of Aire-expressing cells in the thymus can be achieved with RANKL blockade. Finally, we discuss key findings that support the repurposing of anti-RANKL as a cancer immunotherapy with a unique mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Su
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Sobacchi C, Menale C, Villa A. The RANKL-RANK Axis: A Bone to Thymus Round Trip. Front Immunol 2019; 10:629. [PMID: 30984193 PMCID: PMC6450200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its cognate receptor Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) during a search for novel tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily members has dramatically changed the scenario of bone biology by providing the functional and biochemical proof that RANKL signaling via RANK is the master factor for osteoclastogenesis. In parallel, two independent studies reported the identification of mouse RANKL on activated T cells and of a ligand for osteoprotegerin on a murine bone marrow-derived stromal cell line. After these seminal findings, accumulating data indicated RANKL and RANK not only as essential players for the development and activation of osteoclasts, but also for the correct differentiation of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) that act as mediators of the central tolerance process by which self-reactive T cells are eliminated while regulatory T cells are generated. In light of the RANKL-RANK multi-task function, an antibody targeting this pathway, denosumab, is now commonly used in the therapy of bone loss diseases including chronic inflammatory bone disorders and osteolytic bone metastases; furthermore, preclinical data support the therapeutic application of denosumab in the framework of a broader spectrum of tumors. Here, we discuss advances in cellular and molecular mechanisms elicited by RANKL-RANK pathway in the bone and thymus, and the extent to which its inhibition or augmentation can be translated in the clinical arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sobacchi
- Milan Unit, Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (CNR-IRGB), Milan, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Ciro Menale
- Milan Unit, Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (CNR-IRGB), Milan, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Anna Villa
- Milan Unit, Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (CNR-IRGB), Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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The RANK-RANKL axis: an opportunity for drug repurposing in cancer? Clin Transl Oncol 2019; 21:977-991. [PMID: 30656607 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-018-02023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Drug repurposing offers advantages over traditional drug development in terms of cost, speed and improved patient outcomes. The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand (RANKL) inhibitor denosumab is approved for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with advanced malignancies involving bone, including solid tumours and multiple myeloma. Following improved understanding of the role of RANK/RANKL in cancer biology, denosumab has already been repurposed as a treatment for giant cell tumour of bone. Here, we review the role of RANK/RANKL in tumourigenesis, including effects on tumour initiation, progression and metastasis and consider the impact of RANK/RANKL on tumour immunology and immune evasion. Finally, we look briefly at ongoing trials and future opportunities for therapeutic synergy when combining denosumab with anti-cancer agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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45
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Abstract
Bone is a crucial element of the skeletal-locomotor system, but also functions as an immunological organ that harbors hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and immune progenitor cells. Additionally, the skeletal and immune systems share a number of regulatory molecules, including cytokines and signaling molecules. Osteoimmunology was created as an interdisciplinary field to explore the shared molecules and interactions between the skeletal and immune systems. In particular, the importance of an inseparable link between the two systems has been highlighted by studies on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in which pathogenic helper T cells induce the progressive destruction of multiple joints through aberrant expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL). The conceptual bridge of osteoimmunology provides not only a novel framework for understanding these biological systems but also a molecular basis for the development of therapeutic approaches for diseases of bone and/or the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Okamoto
- Department of Osteoimmunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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46
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Constantine GM, Lionakis MS. Lessons from primary immunodeficiencies: Autoimmune regulator and autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy. Immunol Rev 2019; 287:103-120. [PMID: 30565240 PMCID: PMC6309421 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein and the delineation of its critical contributions in the establishment of central immune tolerance has significantly expanded our understanding of the immunological mechanisms that protect from the development of autoimmune disease. The parallel identification and characterization of patient cohorts with the monogenic disorder autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), which is typically caused by biallelic AIRE mutations, has underscored the critical contribution of AIRE in fungal immune surveillance at mucosal surfaces and in prevention of multiorgan autoimmunity in humans. In this review, we synthesize the current clinical, genetic, molecular and immunological knowledge derived from basic studies in Aire-deficient animals and from APECED patient cohorts. We also outline major advances and research endeavors that show promise for informing improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with APECED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Constantine
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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47
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Ahern E, Smyth MJ, Dougall WC, Teng MWL. Roles of the RANKL–RANK axis in antitumour immunity — implications for therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2018; 15:676-693. [DOI: 10.1038/s41571-018-0095-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Colombo M, Mirandola L, Chiriva-Internati M, Basile A, Locati M, Lesma E, Chiaramonte R, Platonova N. Cancer Cells Exploit Notch Signaling to Redefine a Supportive Cytokine Milieu. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1823. [PMID: 30154786 PMCID: PMC6102368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is a well-known key player in the communication between adjacent cells during organ development, when it controls several processes involved in cell differentiation. Notch-mediated communication may occur through the interaction of Notch receptors with ligands on adjacent cells or by a paracrine/endocrine fashion, through soluble molecules that can mediate the communication between cells at distant sites. Dysregulation of Notch pathway causes a number of disorders, including cancer. Notch hyperactivation may be caused by mutations of Notch-related genes, dysregulated upstream pathways, or microenvironment signals. Cancer cells may exploit this aberrant signaling to "educate" the surrounding microenvironment cells toward a pro-tumoral behavior. This may occur because of key cytokines secreted by tumor cells or it may involve the microenvironment through the activation of Notch signaling in stromal cells, an event mediated by a direct cell-to-cell contact and resulting in the increased secretion of several pro-tumorigenic cytokines. Up to now, review articles were mainly focused on Notch contribution in a specific tumor context or immune cell populations. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview on the outcomes of Notch-mediated pathological interactions in different tumor settings and on the molecular and cellular mediators involved in this process. We describe how Notch dysregulation in cancer may alter the cytokine network and its outcomes on tumor progression and antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Colombo
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Kiromic Biopharma Inc., Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Andrea Basile
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Locati
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Elena Lesma
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Platonova
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Cheng M, Anderson MS. Thymic tolerance as a key brake on autoimmunity. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:659-664. [PMID: 29925986 PMCID: PMC6370479 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0128-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although the thymus has long been recognized as a key organ for T cell selection, the intricate details linking these selection events to human autoimmunity have been challenging to decipher. Over the last two decades, there has been rapid progress in understanding the role of thymic tolerance mechanisms in autoimmunity through genetics. Here we review some of the recent progress in understanding key thymic tolerance processes that are critical for preventing autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickie Cheng
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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50
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Vaccine therapy in hematologic malignancies. Blood 2018; 131:2640-2650. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-11-785873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Immune-based therapy has emerged as a paradigm shift in cancer therapy with dramatic responses observed in previously incurable disease. Cancer vaccines are being developed to disrupt tumor-associated tolerance and activate and selectively expand tumor-specific lymphocytes within the native effector cell repertoire while maintaining immune-regulatory protection against autoimmunity. Although individual antigen approaches result in immune response with a suggestion of clinical effect in some settings, broader efficacy may be dependent on presentation of multiple antigens that capture clonal diversity presented in the context of functionally potent antigen-presenting cells. The use of whole cell–based strategies such as dendritic cell/tumor fusions have yielded provocative results in single-arm studies and are currently being explored in multicenter randomized trials. The posttransplant setting is a potentially promising platform for vaccination due to cytoreduction and relative depletion of inhibitory accessory cells fostering greater immune responsiveness. Integration of these efforts with other immunotherapeutic strategies and agents that target the tumor microenvironment is being studied in an effort to generate durable immunologic responses with clinically meaningful impact on disease.
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