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Srirat T, Hayakawa T, Mise-Omata S, Nakagawara K, Ando M, Shichino S, Ito M, Yoshimura A. NR4a1/2 deletion promotes accumulation of TCF1 + stem-like precursors of exhausted CD8 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113898. [PMID: 38451819 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113898] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell exhaustion impairs tumor immunity and contributes to resistance against immune checkpoint inhibitors. The nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A (NR4a) family of nuclear receptors plays a crucial role in driving T cell exhaustion. In this study, we observe that NR4a1 and NR4a2 deficiency in CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) results in potent tumor eradication and exhibits not only reduced exhaustion characteristics but also an increase in the precursors/progenitors of exhausted T (Pre-Tex) cell fraction. Serial transfers of NR4a1-/-NR4a2-/-CD8+ TILs into tumor-bearing mice result in the expansion of TCF1+ (Tcf7+) stem-like Pre-Tex cells, whereas wild-type TILs are depleted upon secondary transfer. NR4a1/2-deficient CD8+ T cells express higher levels of stemness/memory-related genes and illustrate potent mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Collectively, these findings suggest that inhibiting NR4a in tumors represents a potent immuno-oncotherapy strategy by increasing stem-like Pre-Tex cells and reducing exhaustion of CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanakorn Srirat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Taeko Hayakawa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Setsuko Mise-Omata
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kensuke Nakagawara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Makoto Ando
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Shichino
- Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2669 Yamazaki, Noda City, Chiba 278-0022, Japan
| | - Minako Ito
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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Weng N, Zhou C, Zhou Y, Zhong Y, Jia Z, Rao X, Qiu H, Zeng G, Jin X, Zhang J, Zhuang Z, Liang Z, Deng Y, Li Q, Yang S, Luo H, Wang H, Wu X. IKZF4/NONO-RAB11FIP3 axis promotes immune evasion in gastric cancer via facilitating PD-L1 endosome recycling. Cancer Lett 2024; 584:216618. [PMID: 38211652 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216618] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
As an immune checkpoint protein expressed by diverse cancer cells, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) facilitates immune evasion by interacting with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) on T cells. Despite the clinical benefits observed in various cancer types, strategies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have demonstrated limited efficacy in gastric cancer (GC). Furthermore, the regulation of PD-L1, especially at post-translational modification levels, remains largely unknown. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms governing PD-L1 expression to enhance anti-tumor immunity. In this study, we have identified that IKAROS family zinc finger 4 (IKZF4) and Non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding (NONO) synergistically regulate and enhance the expression of RAB11 family-interacting protein 3 (RAB11FIP3) in GC. The IKZF4/NONO-RAB11FIP3 axis facilitates the endosomal recycling of PD-L1, particularly on the cell membrane of GC cells. Moreover, overexpression of RAB11FIP3 mitigates the hypo-expression of PD-L1 protein resulting from IKZF4 or NONO deletion. Functionally, the silencing of RAB11FIP3 or IKZF4 promotes T cell proliferation, and enhances T-cell cytotoxicity towards GC cells in vitro, which further inhibits tumor immune evasion in mice via increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor microenvironment (TME) to suppress GC progression. Our study suggests that the IKZF4/NONO-RAB11FIP3 axis promotes immune evasion by facilitating PD-L1 endosome recycling, thus presenting a potential therapeutic target for GC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuoqing Weng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Chuzhou Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Yuhang Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Yanping Zhong
- Department of Health Management, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Zhe Jia
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Xionghui Rao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Huaiyu Qiu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Guangyan Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Xinghan Jin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Jianbao Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Zhehong Zhuang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Zhihao Liang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Yuan Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Qinghai Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Shasha Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Huixing Luo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
| | - Huiyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Xiaobin Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
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Upadhyay S, Hailemariam AE, Mariyam F, Hafiz Z, Martin G, Kothari J, Farkas E, Sivaram G, Bell L, Tjalkens R, Safe S. Bis-Indole Derivatives as Dual Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) and NR4A2 Ligands. Biomolecules 2024; 14:284. [PMID: 38540704 PMCID: PMC10967861 DOI: 10.3390/biom14030284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Bis-indole derived compounds such as 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(3,5-disubstitutedphenyl) methane (DIM-3,5) and the corresponding 4-hydroxyl analogs (DIM8-3,5) are NR4A1 ligands that act as inverse NR4A1 agonists and are potent inhibitors of tumor growth. The high potency of several DIM-3,5 analogs (IC50 < 1 mg/kg/day), coupled with the >60% similarity of the ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of NR4A1 and NR4A2 and the pro-oncogenic activities of both receptors lead us to hypothesize that these compounds may act as dual NR4A1 and NR4A2 ligands. Using a fluorescence binding assay, it was shown that 22 synthetic DIM8-3,5 and DIM-3,5 analogs bound the LBD of NR4A1 and NR4A2 with most KD values in the low µM range. Moreover, the DIM-3,5 and DIM8-3,5 analogs also decreased NR4A1- and NR4A2-dependent transactivation in U87G glioblastoma cells transfected with GAL4-NR4A1 or GAL4-NR4A2 chimeras and a UAS-luciferase reporter gene construct. The DIM-3,5 and DIM8-3,5 analogs were cytotoxic to U87 glioblastoma and RKO colon cancer cells and the DIM-3,5 compounds were more cytotoxic than the DIM8-3,5 compounds. These studies show that both DIM-3,5 and DIM8-3,5 compounds previously identified as NR4A1 ligands bind both NR4A1 and NR4A2 and are dual NR4A1/2 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijana Upadhyay
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Amanuel Esayas Hailemariam
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Fuada Mariyam
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Zahin Hafiz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Gregory Martin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Jainish Kothari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Evan Farkas
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
| | - Gargi Sivaram
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Logan Bell
- Department of Chemistry, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA 91750, USA;
| | - Ronald Tjalkens
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.U.); (A.E.H.); (F.M.); (G.M.); (E.F.)
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Feng Z, Liao M, Bai J, Li Y, Chen Y, Zhang L, Guo X, Li L, Zhang L. Exploring the causal relationship between gut microbiota and multiple myeloma risk based on Mendelian randomization and biological annotation. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1310444. [PMID: 38410384 PMCID: PMC10895040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1310444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The microbial genome-wide association studies (mbGWAS) have highlighted significant host-microbiome interactions based on microbiome heritability. However, establishing causal relationships between particular microbiota and multiple myeloma (MM) remains challenging due to limited sample sizes. Methods Gut microbiota data from a GWAS with 18,340 participants and MM summary statistics from 456,348 individuals. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used as the main bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. To assess the robustness of our results, we further performed supplementary analyses, including MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, MR-Egger, Weighted median, Simple mode, and Weighted mode. Moreover, a backward MR analysis was conducted to investigate the potential for reverse causation. Finally, gene and gene-set-based analyses were then conducted to explore the common biological factors connecting gut microbiota and MM. Results We discovered that 10 gut microbial taxa were causally related to MM risk. Among them, family Acidaminococcaceae, Bacteroidales family S24-7, family Porphyromonadaceae, genus Eubacterium ruminantium group, genus Parabacteroides, and genus Turicibacter were positively correlated with MM. Conversely, class Verrucomicrobia, family Verrucomicrobiaceae, genus Akkermansia, and order Verrucomicrobiales were negatively correlated with MM. The heterogeneity test revealed no Heterogeneity. MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO tests showed no significant horizontal pleiotropy. Importantly, leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of MR results. In the backward MR analysis, no statistically significant associations were discovered between MM and 10 gut microbiota taxa. Lastly, we identified novel host-microbiome shared genes (AUTS2, CDK2, ERBB3, IKZF4, PMEL, SUOX, and RAB5B) that are associated with immunoregulation and prognosis in MM through biological annotation. Discussion Overall, this study provides evidence supporting a potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and MM risk, while also revealing novel host-microbiome shared genes relevant to MM immunoregulation and clinical prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuxi Feng
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Minjing Liao
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jun Bai
- Key Laboratory of the Hematology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- Key Laboratory of the Hematology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuege Guo
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Li
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liansheng Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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5
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Harker JA, Greene TT, Barnett BE, Bao P, Dolgoter A, Zuniga EI. IL-6 and IL-27 play both distinct and redundant roles in regulating CD4 T-cell responses during chronic viral infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1221562. [PMID: 37583704 PMCID: PMC10424726 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1221562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The IL-6 cytokine family signals through the common signal transduction molecule gp130 combined with a cytokine-specific receptor. Gp130 signaling on CD4 T cells is vital in controlling chronic infection of mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus clone 13 (LCMV Cl13), but the precise role of individual members of the IL-6 cytokine family is not fully understood. Transcriptional analysis highlighted the importance of gp130 signaling in promoting key processes in CD4 T cells after LCMV Cl13 infection, particularly genes associated with T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation and IL-21 production. Further, Il27r-/-Il6ra-/- mice failed to generate antibody or CD8 T-cell immunity and to control LCMV Cl13. Transcriptomics and phenotypic analyses of Il27r-/-Il6ra-/- Tfh cells revealed that IL-6R and IL-27R signaling was required to activate key pathways within CD4 T cells. IL-6 and IL-27 signaling has distinct and overlapping roles, with IL-6 regulating Tfh differentiation, IL-27 regulating CD4 T cell survival, and both redundantly promoting IL-21.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. Harker
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Trever T. Greene
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Burton E. Barnett
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Phuc Bao
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Aleksandr Dolgoter
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Elina I. Zuniga
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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6
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Zong Q, Li K, Qu H, Hu P, Xu C, Wang H, Wu S, Wang S, Liu HY, Cai D, Bao W. Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Porcine Liver via NR4A2-Mediated Histone Acetylation. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 37384814 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Mycotoxin-induced liver injury is often accompanied by oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. This research aimed to explore the potential mechanism of sodium butyrate (NaBu) in modulating hepatic anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation pathways in deoxynivalenol (DON)-exposed piglets. The results show that DON induced liver injury, increased mononuclear cell infiltration, and decreased serum total protein and albumin concentrations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and TNF-α pathways were highly activated upon DON exposure. This is associated with disturbed antioxidant enzymes and increased inflammatory cytokines secretion. Importantly, NaBu effectively reversed the alterations caused by DON. Mechanistically, the ChIP-seq result revealed that NaBu strongly depressed DON-increased enrichment of histone mark H3K27ac at the genes involved in ROS and TNF-α-mediated pathways. Notably, we demonstrated that nuclear receptor NR4A2 was activated by DON and remarkably recovered with the treatment of NaBu. In addition, the enhanced NR4A2 transcriptional binding enrichments at the promoter regions of OS and inflammatory genes were hindered by NaBu in DON-exposed livers. Consistently, elevated H3K9ac and H3K27ac occupancies were also observed at the NR4A2 binding regions. Taken together, our results indicated that a natural antimycotic additive, NaBu, could mitigate hepatic OS and inflammatory responses, possibly via NR4A2-mediated histone acetylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiufang Zong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Kaiqi Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Huan Qu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Ping Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Chao Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Haifei Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Shenglong Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Hao-Yu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Demin Cai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Wenbin Bao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
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7
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Bending D, Zikherman J. Nr4a nuclear receptors: markers and modulators of antigen receptor signaling. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 81:102285. [PMID: 36764055 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Nr4a1-3 encode a small family of orphan nuclear hormone receptors with transcriptional activity. Their expression reflects both acute and chronic antigen-receptor signaling in T and B-cells, and they have been implicated in critical aspects of lymphocyte development, tolerance, and function. These include roles in regulatory T-cell (Treg), thymic-negative selection, humoral responses, anergy, and exhaustion. Here, we review recent advances in this field such as functional roles in B-cells, transcriptional targets, and mechanism of action. We highlight recurrent themes, including integration of antigen-receptor signaling with costimulatory input, as well as unanswered questions and translational applications of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bending
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Arthritis Research Center, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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8
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Javed A, Santos-França PL, Mattar P, Cui A, Kassem F, Cayouette M. Ikaros family proteins redundantly regulate temporal patterning in the developing mouse retina. Development 2023; 150:286611. [PMID: 36537580 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Temporal identity factors regulate competence of neural progenitors to generate specific cell types in a time-dependent manner, but how they operate remains poorly defined. In the developing mouse retina, the Ikaros zinc-finger transcription factor Ikzf1 regulates production of early-born cell types, except cone photoreceptors. In this study we show that, during early stages of retinal development, another Ikaros family protein, Ikzf4, functions redundantly with Ikzf1 to regulate cone photoreceptor production. Using CUT&RUN and functional assays, we show that Ikzf4 binds and represses genes involved in late-born rod photoreceptor specification, hence favoring cone production. At late stages, when Ikzf1 is no longer expressed in progenitors, we show that Ikzf4 re-localizes to target genes involved in gliogenesis and is required for Müller glia production. We report that Ikzf4 regulates Notch signaling genes and is sufficient to activate the Hes1 promoter through two Ikzf GGAA-binding motifs, suggesting a mechanism by which Ikzf4 may influence gliogenesis. These results uncover a combinatorial role for Ikaros family members during nervous system development and provide mechanistic insights on how they temporally regulate cell fate output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awais Javed
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal H2W 1R7, Canada
- Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Pedro L Santos-França
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal H2W 1R7, Canada
- Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Pierre Mattar
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Allie Cui
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Fatima Kassem
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal H2W 1R7, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Michel Cayouette
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal H2W 1R7, Canada
- Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal H3T 1J4, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal H3T 1J4, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0G4, Canada
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9
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Itahashi K, Irie T, Nishikawa H. Regulatory T-cell development in the tumor microenvironment. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1216-1227. [PMID: 35879813 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are required for maintaining self-tolerance and preventing the development of autoimmune diseases. However, Treg cells are abundant in tumors and suppress antitumor immunity, contributing to tumor development and growth. Thus, the selective deletion of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells is important for successful Treg cell-targeted therapies, providing effective antitumor immunity without inducing deleterious autoimmune disorders. Advancements in sequencing technologies have exposed the diversity and heterogeneity of human Treg cells during activation and differentiation, further emphasizing the importance of understanding tumor-infiltrating Treg cells for the development of Treg cell-targeted therapies. This review provides an overview of the classification and function of Treg cells and summarizes recent knowledge on the activation and differentiation of Treg cells in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Itahashi
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Irie
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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10
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Murphy EP, Crean D. NR4A1-3 nuclear receptor activity and immune cell dysregulation in rheumatic diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:874182. [PMID: 35935773 PMCID: PMC9354819 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.874182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and progression of immune-mediated rheumatic disease (IMRD) involves dysfunction of innate and adaptive immune cell populations leading to altered responses including inflammasome activation, dysregulated cytokine networks, increased immune cell numbers and multifaceted cell-cell communication. Several rheumatic diseases are further characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, immune complex mediated complement activation and the deficit of peripheral immune tolerance due to reduced regulatory T-lymphocyte cell function. Ultimately, in rheumatic disease the loss in cellular and tissue homeostasis culminates in the advancement of chronic inflammation. The three members of the NR4A subfamily of nuclear receptors are immediate early genes, and act as potent transcriptional responders to changes in the cellular and tissue microenvironment. Subfamily members are rapidly expressed in diseases characterized by inflammation and function to control the differentiation and activity of innate and adaptive immune cells in a cell-type and cell-context specific manner. Rheumatic disease including rheumatoid-, psoriatic-, osteo-arthritis and systemic sclerosis display altered NR4A1-3 activity in controlling immune cell migration and function, production of paracrine signaling molecules, synovial tissue hyperplasia, and regulating cartilage turn-over in vivo. Additionally, NR4A1-3 activities mediate cytokine, prostanoid and growth factor signaling to control angiogenesis, modulate the regulatory functions of mesenchymal stromal cells, alter the activation status of dendritic cells, influence the generation of peripheral myeloid and T-lymphocyte lineages and promote the maintenance of functional regulatory T-cells. Further reports uncover the potential of moderating NR4A 1-3 receptors as therapeutic targets in altering immune tolerance, pathological angiogenesis and controlling inflammation in several models of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn P. Murphy
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- *Correspondence: Evelyn P. Murphy
| | - Daniel Crean
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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11
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Ballester-Servera C, Cañes L, Alonso J, Puertas L, Taurón M, Rodríguez C, Martínez-González J. Nuclear receptor NOR-1 (Neuron-derived Orphan Receptor-1) in pathological vascular remodelling and vascular remodelling. CLINICA E INVESTIGACION EN ARTERIOSCLEROSIS : PUBLICACION OFICIAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPANOLA DE ARTERIOSCLEROSIS 2022; 34:229-243. [PMID: 35581107 DOI: 10.1016/j.arteri.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vascular cells and their interaction with inflammatory cells and the immune system play a key role in pathological vascular remodeling. A large number of genes and proteins regulated in a coordinated manner by a small number of transcription factors are involved in this process. In recent years, research on a small subfamily of transcription factors, the NR4A subfamily, has had a major impact on our understanding of vascular biology. The NR4A1 (Nur77), NR4A2 (Nurr1) and NR4A3 (NOR-1) receptors are products of early response genes whose expression is induced by multiple pathophysiological and physical stimuli. Their wide distribution in different tissues and cells places them in the control of numerous processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, survival and apoptosis, as well as inflammation and the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates. This review analyzes the role of these receptors, particularly NOR-1, in pathological vascular remodeling associated with atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carme Ballester-Servera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, España; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, Madrid, España; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España
| | - Laia Cañes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, España; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, Madrid, España
| | - Judith Alonso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, España; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, Madrid, España; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España
| | - Lidia Puertas
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España; Institut de Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (IRHSCSP), Barcelona, España
| | - Manel Taurón
- Servicio de Cirugía Cardiovascular, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España
| | - Cristina Rodríguez
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, Madrid, España; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España; Institut de Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (IRHSCSP), Barcelona, España
| | - José Martínez-González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, España; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, Madrid, España; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
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12
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Zhang W, Cao X, Zhong X, Wu H, Feng M, Gwack Y, Noah I, Sun Z. Steroid nuclear receptor coactivator 2 controls immune tolerance by promoting induced T reg differentiation via up-regulating Nr4a2. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn7662. [PMID: 35704583 PMCID: PMC9200286 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn7662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Steroid nuclear receptor coactivator 2 (SRC2) is a member of a family of transcription coactivators. While SRC1 inhibits the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) critical for establishing immune tolerance, we show here that SRC2 stimulates Treg differentiation. SRC2 is dispensable for the development of thymic Tregs, whereas naive CD4+ T cells from mice deficient of SRC2 specific in Tregs (SRC2fl/fl/Foxp3YFP-Cre) display defective Treg differentiation. Furthermore, the aged SRC2fl/fl/Foxp3YFP-Cre mice spontaneously develop autoimmune phenotypes including enlarged spleen and lung inflammation infiltrated with IFNγ-producing CD4+ T cells. SRC2fl/fl/Foxp3YFP-Cre mice also develop severer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) due to reduced Tregs. Mechanically, SRC2 recruited by NFAT1 binds to the promoter and activates the expression of Nr4a2, which then stimulates Foxp3 expression to promote Treg differentiation. Members of SRC family coactivators thus play distinct roles in Treg differentiation and are potential drug targets for controlling immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencan Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Xu Cao
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Xiancai Zhong
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Hongmin Wu
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Mingye Feng
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yousang Gwack
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Isakov Noah
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Bear Sheva, Israel
| | - Zuoming Sun
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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13
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Sekiya T. Comparison Between Nr4a Transcription Factor Regulation and Function in Lymphoid and Tumor Treg Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:866339. [PMID: 35514961 PMCID: PMC9062029 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.866339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the “lymphoid” function of regulatory T (Treg) cells is crucial for organismal homeostasis, these cells are also known to suppress the antitumor immune response in the tumor microenvironments. Thus, a detailed understanding of Treg cell maintenance and function in both lymphoid organs and tumor environments may help to establish novel methods for the reactivating antitumor immunity, while retaining necessary immune tolerance towards self and non-hazardous antigens. Previous studies have hypothesized that Treg cells behave similarly in lymphoid organs and in tumor environments; however, few studies have been conducted specifically researching Treg cell activity in tumor environments. In addition, several recent studies identified a novel mechanism regulating Treg cell function in tumor environments. Our group has previously described the critical roles of the Nr4a family of nuclear orphan receptors, comprising Nr4a1, Nr4a2, and Nr4a3, in the differentiation and maintenance of Treg cells in lymphoid organs. Subsequently, it was found that Nr4a factors help to maintain Treg cell function in tumor environments, thereby playing a suppressive role against T cell antitumor immunity. Importantly, there were some differences between the activities of these Nr4a factors under these conditions, including the specific function of the COX/PGE2 axis in tumor environments. This review was designed to investigate the role of Nr4a factors in the regulation of Treg cell activities both in the lymphoid organs and tumor environments, highlighting the commonalities and differences in their behaviors between Treg cells in these two different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sekiya
- Section of Immune Response Modification, Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Japan.,Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Japan
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14
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Sekiya T, Kasahara H, Takemura R, Fujita S, Kato J, Doki N, Katayama Y, Ozawa Y, Takada S, Eto T, Fukuda T, Ichinohe T, Takanashi M, Onizuka M, Atsuta Y, Okamoto S, Yoshimura A, Takaki S, Mori T. Essential Roles of the Transcription Factor NR4A1 in Regulatory T Cell Differentiation under the Influence of Immunosuppressants. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:2122-2130. [PMID: 35387841 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), used as immunosuppressants, have revolutionized transplantation medicine with their strong suppressive activity on alloreactive T lymphocytes; however, they may also cause various adverse effects, including an increased risk for infection and nephrotoxicity. Regulatory T (Treg) cells can complement the deleterious side effects of CNIs with their effective Ag-specific suppressive activities. However, several studies have shown that CNIs suppress Treg cell differentiation. Therefore, an understanding of the mechanisms by which CNIs suppress Treg cell differentiation, as well as an approach for promoting the differentiation of Treg cells in the presence of CNIs, has significant clinical value. In this article, we report that the nuclear orphan receptor Nr4a1 plays a pivotal role in Treg cell differentiation in the presence of CNIs. Unlike that of its family members, Nr4a2 and Nr4a3, the expression of Nr4a1 was not suppressed by CNI treatment, thereby mediating Treg cell differentiation in the presence of CNIs. In a mouse allogeneic graft-versus-host disease model, Nr4a1 mediated tolerance by promoting Treg cell differentiation in mice administered cyclosporine A, prolonging the survival of recipients. Furthermore, activation of Nr4a1 via its agonist partially restored Treg cell differentiation, which was suppressed by cyclosporine A treatment. Finally, we found that the rs2701129 single-nucleotide polymorphism, which was shown to downregulate NR4A1 expression, showed a trend toward a higher incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, our study will be of clinical significance because we demonstrated the role of Nr4a1 in Treg cell differentiation in the presence of CNIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sekiya
- Section of Immune Response Modification, Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan;
- Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hidenori Kasahara
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Takemura
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Keio University Hospital, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Fujita
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Kato
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Doki
- Hematology Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuta Katayama
- Department of Hematology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-Bomb Survivors Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yukiyasu Ozawa
- Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya First Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Satoru Takada
- Leukemia Research Center, Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Eto
- Department of Hematology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Fukuda
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Ichinohe
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Minoko Takanashi
- Technical Department, Japanese Red Cross Society Blood Service Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Onizuka
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Atsuta
- Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Registry Science for Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Okamoto
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; and
| | - Satoshi Takaki
- Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takehiko Mori
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan;
- Department of Hematology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Hiwa R, Brooks JF, Mueller JL, Nielsen HV, Zikherman J. NR4A nuclear receptors in T and B lymphocytes: Gatekeepers of immune tolerance . Immunol Rev 2022; 307:116-133. [PMID: 35174510 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Random VDJ recombination early in T and B cell development enables the adaptive immune system to recognize a vast array of evolving pathogens via antigen receptors. However, the potential of such randomly generated TCRs and BCRs to recognize and respond to self-antigens requires layers of tolerance mechanisms to mitigate the risk of life-threatening autoimmunity. Since they were originally cloned more than three decades ago, the NR4A family of nuclear hormone receptors have been implicated in many critical aspects of immune tolerance, including negative selection of thymocytes, peripheral T cell tolerance, regulatory T cells (Treg), and most recently in peripheral B cell tolerance. In this review, we discuss important insights from many laboratories as well as our own group into the function and mechanisms by which this small class of primary response genes promotes self-tolerance and immune homeostasis to balance the need for host defense against the inherent risks posed by the adaptive immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Hiwa
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jeremy F Brooks
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - James L Mueller
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Hailyn V Nielsen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engelman Arthritis Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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16
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Martínez-González J, Cañes L, Alonso J, Ballester-Servera C, Rodríguez-Sinovas A, Corrales I, Rodríguez C. NR4A3: A Key Nuclear Receptor in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Remodeling, and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111371. [PMID: 34768801 PMCID: PMC8583700 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms committed in the activation and response of vascular and inflammatory immune cells play a major role in tissue remodeling in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Cardiovascular remodeling entails interrelated cellular processes (proliferation, survival/apoptosis, inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis/degradation, redox homeostasis, etc.) coordinately regulated by a reduced number of transcription factors. Nuclear receptors of the subfamily 4 group A (NR4A) have recently emerged as key master genes in multiple cellular processes and vital functions of different organs, and have been involved in a variety of high-incidence human pathologies including atherosclerosis and other CVDs. This paper reviews the major findings involving NR4A3 (Neuron-derived Orphan Receptor 1, NOR-1) in the cardiovascular remodeling operating in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Martínez-González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.); (J.A.); (C.B.-S.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.M.-G.); (C.R.); Tel.: +34-93-5565896 (J.M.-G.); +34-93-5565897 (C.R.)
| | - Laia Cañes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.); (J.A.); (C.B.-S.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judith Alonso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.); (J.A.); (C.B.-S.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Ballester-Servera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.); (J.A.); (C.B.-S.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Sinovas
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Corrales
- Laboratorio de Coagulopatías Congénitas, Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), 08005 Barcelona, Spain;
- Medicina Transfusional, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (VHIR-UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Rodríguez
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (IRHSCSP), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.M.-G.); (C.R.); Tel.: +34-93-5565896 (J.M.-G.); +34-93-5565897 (C.R.)
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17
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Hiwa R, Nielsen HV, Mueller JL, Mandla R, Zikherman J. NR4A family members regulate T cell tolerance to preserve immune homeostasis and suppress autoimmunity. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e151005. [PMID: 34343134 PMCID: PMC8492309 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.151005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The NR4A family of orphan nuclear receptors (Nr4a1–3) plays redundant roles to establish and maintain Treg identity; deletion of multiple family members in the thymus results in Treg deficiency and a severe inflammatory disease. Consequently, it has been challenging to unmask redundant functions of the NR4A family in other immune cells. Here we use a competitive bone marrow chimera strategy, coupled with conditional genetic tools, to rescue Treg homeostasis and unmask such functions. Unexpectedly, chimeras harboring Nr4a1–/– Nr4a3–/– (double-knockout, DKO) bone marrow developed autoantibodies and a systemic inflammatory disease despite a replete Treg compartment of largely WT origin. This disease differs qualitatively from that seen with Treg deficiency and is B cell extrinsic. Negative selection of DKO thymocytes is profoundly impaired in a cell-intrinsic manner. Consistent with escape of self-reactive T cells into the periphery, DKO T cells with functional, phenotypic, and transcriptional features of anergy accumulated in chimeric mice. Nevertheless, we observed upregulation of genes encoding inflammatory mediators in anergic DKO T cells, and DKO T cells exhibited enhanced capacity for IL-2 production. These studies reveal cell-intrinsic roles for the NR4A family in both central and peripheral T cell tolerance and demonstrate that each is essential to preserve immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Hiwa
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Hailyn V Nielsen
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - James L Mueller
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Ravi Mandla
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Department of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, United States of America
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18
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Li J, Li L, Sun X, Deng T, Huang G, Li X, Xie Z, Zhou Z. Role of Tet2 in Regulating Adaptive and Innate Immunity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:665897. [PMID: 34222235 PMCID: PMC8247589 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.665897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulated evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications play central roles in gene expression regulation and participate in developing many autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Mechanistically, epigenetic modifications act as a bridge between environmental and cellular factors and susceptibility genes. DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification that is regulated by ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes. Accumulating evidence has revealed that TET family proteins function as gene regulators and antitumor drug targets mainly because of their ability to oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Recently, the effect of Tet2, an essential TET protein, on the development of autoimmune diseases has been explored. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of Tet2 in immune response regulation, clarify the mechanisms of Tet2 in B and T cell differentiation and function, and discuss the opposing effects of Tet2 on inflammatory gene expression in the immune system to provide new potential therapeutic targets for related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lifang Li
- Department of Ultrasound, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tuo Deng
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Gan Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xia Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiguo Xie
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiguang Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
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19
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Xu C, Fu Y, Liu S, Trittipo J, Lu X, Qi R, Du H, Yan C, Zhang C, Wan J, Kaplan MH, Yang K. BATF Regulates T Regulatory Cell Functional Specification and Fitness of Triglyceride Metabolism in Restraining Allergic Responses. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:2088-2100. [PMID: 33879580 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Preserving appropriate function and metabolism in regulatory T (Treg) cells is crucial for controlling immune tolerance and inflammatory responses. Yet how Treg cells coordinate cellular metabolic programs to support their functional specification remains elusive. In this study, we report that BATF couples the TH2-suppressive function and triglyceride (TG) metabolism in Treg cells for controlling allergic airway inflammation and IgE responses. Mice with Treg-specific ablation of BATF developed an inflammatory disorder characterized by TH2-type dominant responses and were predisposed to house dust mite-induced airway inflammation. Loss of BATF enabled Treg cells to acquire TH2 cell-like characteristics. Moreover, BATF-deficient Treg cells displayed elevated levels of cellular TGs, and repressing or elevating TGs, respectively, restored or exacerbated their defects. Mechanistically, TCR/CD28 costimulation enhanced expression and function of BATF, which sustained IRF4 activity to preserve Treg cell functionality. Thus, our studies reveal that BATF links Treg cell functional specification and fitness of cellular TGs to control allergic responses, and suggest that therapeutic targeting of TG metabolism could be used for the treatment of allergic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxian Xu
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Yongyao Fu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Sheng Liu
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jack Trittipo
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Xiaoyu Lu
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Rong Qi
- Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN; and
| | - Hong Du
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Cong Yan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Chi Zhang
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jun Wan
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Mark H Kaplan
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Kai Yang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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20
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Sekiya T, Kagawa S, Masaki K, Fukunaga K, Yoshimura A, Takaki S. Regulation of peripheral Th/Treg differentiation and suppression of airway inflammation by Nr4a transcription factors. iScience 2021; 24:102166. [PMID: 33665581 PMCID: PMC7907427 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Helper T (Th) and regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation programs promote the eradication of pathogens, while minimizing adverse immune reactions. Here, we found that Nr4a family of nuclear receptors supports Treg cell induction and represses Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation from naive CD4+ T cells. Nr4a factors are transiently induced in CD4+ T cells immediately after antigen stimulation, thereby mediating epigenetic changes. In differentiating Treg cells, Nr4a factors mainly upregulated the early responsive genes in the Treg cell-specifying gene set, either directly or in cooperation with Ets family transcription factors. In contrast, Nr4a factors repressed AP-1 activity by interrupting a positive feedback loop for Batf factor expression, thus suppressing Th2 cell-associated genes. In an allergic airway inflammation model, Nr4a factors suppressed the pathogenesis, mediating oral tolerance. Lastly, pharmacological activation of an engineered Nr4a molecule prevented allergic airway inflammation, indicating that Nr4a factors may be novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. Among “Treg signature genes”, Nr4a factors mainly induce early responsive ones Nr4a activate target genes directly or by supporting Ets factors' function Nr4a factors repress Th2-driving positive feedback loop for Batf factor expression Pharmacological activation of Nr4a factors' activity prevented airway inflammation
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sekiya
- Section of Immune Response Modification, Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan.,Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan
| | - Shizuko Kagawa
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Katsunori Masaki
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Koichi Fukunaga
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takaki
- Department of Immune Regulation, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-7-1 Kohnodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-8516, Japan
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21
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YOSHIMURA A, AKI D, ITO M. SOCS, SPRED, and NR4a: Negative regulators of cytokine signaling and transcription in immune tolerance. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2021; 97:277-291. [PMID: 34121041 PMCID: PMC8403526 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.97.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are important intercellular communication tools for immunity. Most cytokines utilize the JAK-STAT and Ras-ERK pathways to promote gene transcription and proliferation; however, this signaling is tightly regulated. The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family and SPRED family are a representative negative regulators of the JAK-STAT pathway and the Ras-ERK pathway, respectively. The SOCS family regulates the differentiation and function of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and regulatory T cells, and is involved in immune tolerance, anergy, and exhaustion. SPRED family proteins have been shown to inactivate Ras by recruiting the Ras-GTPase neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) protein. Human genetic analysis has shown that SOCS family members are strongly associated with autoimmune diseases, allergies, and tumorigenesis, and SPRED1 is involved in NF1-like syndromes and tumors. We also identified the NR4a family of nuclear receptors as a key transcription factor for immune tolerance that suppresses cytokine expression and induces various immuno-regulatory molecules including SOCS1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko YOSHIMURA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Correspondence should be addressed: A. Yoshimura, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan (e-mail: )
| | - Daisuke AKI
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minako ITO
- Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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22
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Stéphan P, Lautraite R, Voisin A, Grinberg-Bleyer Y. Transcriptional Control of Regulatory T Cells in Cancer: Toward Therapeutic Targeting? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3194. [PMID: 33143070 PMCID: PMC7693300 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive research in the past decades has highlighted the tight link between immunity and cancer, leading to the development of immunotherapies that have revolutionized cancer care. However, only a fraction of patients display durable responses to these treatments, and a deeper understanding of the cellular and mechanisms orchestrating immune responses to tumors is mandatory for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. Among the most scrutinized immune cells, Forkhead Box Protein P3 (Foxp3)+ Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are central inhibitors of protective anti-tumor immunity. These tumor-promoting functions render Treg cells attractive immunotherapy targets, and multiple strategies are being developed to inhibit their recruitment, survival, and function in the tumor microenvironment. In this context, it is critical to decipher the complex and multi-layered molecular mechanisms that shape and stabilize the Treg cell transcriptome. Here, we provide a global view of the transcription factors, and their upstream signaling pathways, involved in the programming of Treg cell homeostasis and functions in cancer. We also evaluate the feasibility and safety of novel therapeutic approaches aiming at targeting specific transcriptional regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yenkel Grinberg-Bleyer
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, UMR INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Léon Bérard, 69008 Lyon, France; (P.S.); (R.L.); (A.V.)
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23
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Lv Q, Yang A, Shi W, Chen F, Liu Y, Liu Y, Wang D. Calcipotriol and iBRD9 reduce obesity in Nur77 knockout mice by regulating the gut microbiota, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function. Int J Obes (Lond) 2020; 44:1052-1061. [PMID: 32203112 PMCID: PMC7188666 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-020-0564-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is an important factor regulating metabolism. Nur77 knockout mice become obese with age, but the cause of obesity in these mice has not been fully ascertained. We attempted to explain the cause of obesity in Nur77 knockout mice from the perspective of the gut microbiota and to investigate the inhibitory effect of calcipotriol combined with BRD9 inhibitor (iBRD9) on obesity. Methods Eight-week-old wild-type mice and Nur77 knockout C57BL/6J mice were treated with calcipotriol combined with iBRD9 for 12 weeks. Mouse feces were collected and the gut microbiota was assessed by analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequences. The bacterial abundance difference was analyzed, and the intestinal mucosal tight junction protein, antimicrobial peptide, and inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels of the colon and serum LPS and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured. Results Calcipotriol combined with iBRD9 treatment reduced the body weight and body fat percentage in Nur77 knockout mice. In the gut microbiota of Nur77 knockout mice, the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae decreased, and Rikenellaceae increased; while Rikenellaceae decreased after treatment (p < 0.05). Correspondingly, the mRNA levels of intestinal mucosal tight junction proteins (occludin (Ocln), claudin3 (Cldn3)) in the colons of Nur77 knockout mice were significantly decreased, and they increased significantly after treatment (p < 0.001). The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)) were significantly increased in Nur77 knockout mice, and TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly decreased after treatment (p < 0.05, <0.01, or <0.001). The levels of serum LPS, TNF-α, and IL-1β in Nur77 knockout mice were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Serum LPS, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were significantly decreased after treatment (p < 0.05 or <0.01). Conclusions Calcipotriol combined with iBRD9 can regulate the gut microbiota, improve intestinal mucosal barrier function, reduce LPS absorption into the blood, and alleviate obesity in Nur77 knockout mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Lv
- Nutrition Department, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Aolin Yang
- Nutrition Department, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wanying Shi
- Nutrition Department, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yixuan Liu
- Department of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Difei Wang
- Department of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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24
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Ono M. Control of regulatory T-cell differentiation and function by T-cell receptor signalling and Foxp3 transcription factor complexes. Immunology 2020; 160:24-37. [PMID: 32022254 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Foxp3 controls the differentiation and function of regulatory T-cells (Treg). Studies in the past decades identified numerous Foxp3-interacting protein partners. However, it is still not clear how Foxp3 produces the Treg-type transcriptomic landscape through cooperating with its partners. Here I show the current understanding of how Foxp3 transcription factor complexes regulate the differentiation, maintenance and functional maturation of Treg. Importantly, T-cell receptor (TCR) signalling plays central roles in Treg differentiation and Foxp3-mediated gene regulation. Differentiating Treg will have recognized their cognate antigens and received TCR signals before initiating Foxp3 transcription, which is triggered by TCR-induced transcription factors including NFAT, AP-1 and NF-κB. Once expressed, Foxp3 seizes TCR signal-induced transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms through interacting with AML1/Runx1 and NFAT. Thus, Foxp3 modifies gene expression dynamics of TCR-induced genes, which constitute cardinal mechanisms for Treg-mediated immune suppression. Next, I discuss the following key topics, proposing new mechanistic models for Foxp3-mediated gene regulation: (i) how Foxp3 transcription is induced and maintained by the Foxp3-inducing enhanceosome and the Foxp3 autoregulatory transcription factor complex; (ii) molecular mechanisms for effector Treg differentiation (i.e. Treg maturation); (iii) how Foxp3 activates or represses its target genes through recruiting coactivators and corepressors; (iv) the 'decision-making' Foxp3-containing transcription factor complex for Th17 and Treg differentiation; and (v) the roles of post-translational modification in Foxp3 regulation. Thus, this article provides cutting-edge understanding of molecular biology of Foxp3 and Treg, integrating findings by biochemical and genomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Ono
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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25
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Zhao L, Gimple RC, Yang Z, Wei Y, Gustafsson JÅ, Zhou S. Immunoregulatory Functions of Nuclear Receptors: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2020; 31:93-106. [PMID: 31706690 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Members of the nuclear receptor superfamily serve as master regulators in signaling by either positively or negatively regulating gene expression. Accumulating evidence has suggested that nuclear receptors are actively involved in immune responses, with specific roles in different immune cell compartments that contribute to both normal function and to disease development. The druggable properties of nuclear receptors have made them ideal modulatory therapeutic targets. Here, we revisit nuclear receptor biology, summarize recent advances in our understanding of the immunological functions of nuclear receptors, describe cell-type-specific roles and specific nuclear receptors in disease pathogenesis, and explore their potential as novel therapeutic targets. These nuclear receptor-dependent alterations in the immune system are amenable to pharmacological manipulation and suggest novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Ryan C Gimple
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Zhengnan Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Jan-Åke Gustafsson
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Medical Innovation, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at Novum, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Shengtao Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China.
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26
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Zhao L, Hu H, Gustafsson JÅ, Zhou S. Nuclear Receptors in Cancer Inflammation and Immunity. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:172-185. [PMID: 31982345 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2019.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily orchestrate cellular processes that can impact on numerous cancer hallmarks. NR activity plays important roles in the tumor microenvironment by controlling inflammation and immune responses. We summarize recent insights into the diverse mechanisms by which NR activity can control tumor inflammation, the roles of different NRs in modulating tumor immunity, and the biological features of immune cells that express specific NRs in the context of cancer. NR-dependent alterations in tumor inflammation and immunity may be amenable to pharmacological manipulation and offer new clues regarding the development of novel cancer therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education (MOE), and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Hongbo Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Jan-Åke Gustafsson
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Medical Innovation, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at Novum, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Shengtao Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education (MOE), and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, PR China.
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27
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Odagiu L, May J, Boulet S, Baldwin TA, Labrecque N. Role of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR4A Family in T-Cell Biology. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:624122. [PMID: 33597928 PMCID: PMC7883379 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.624122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear orphan receptors NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3 are immediate early genes that are induced by various signals. They act as transcription factors and their activity is not regulated by ligand binding and are thus regulated via their expression levels. Their expression is transiently induced in T cells by triggering of the T cell receptor following antigen recognition during both thymic differentiation and peripheral T cell responses. In this review, we will discuss how NR4A family members impact different aspects of the life of a T cell from thymic differentiation to peripheral response against infections and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Odagiu
- Laboratory of Immunology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julia May
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Salix Boulet
- Laboratory of Immunology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Troy A. Baldwin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Troy A. Baldwin, ; Nathalie Labrecque,
| | - Nathalie Labrecque
- Laboratory of Immunology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Troy A. Baldwin, ; Nathalie Labrecque,
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Abstract
CD8+T cells are important in protective immunity against intracellular pathogens and tumors. In chronic infections or cancer, CD8+T cells are constantly exposed to antigens and inflammatory signals. Such excessive and constitutive signals lead to the deterioration of T cell function, called 'exhaustion'. Exhausted T cells are characterized by low proliferation in response to antigen stimulation, progressive loss of effector function (cytokine production and killing function), expression of multiple inhibitory receptors such as PD-1, Tim3, and LAG3, and metabolic alterations from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. These dysfunctions are associated with altered transcriptional programs and epigenetic regulations and recent studies suggested that NR4a and TOX transcription factors are deeply involved in exhaustion phenotypes. However, an increase the early memory T cells including stem cell memory T (TSCM) cells is critical for T cell persistence and efficient tumor killing especially for adoptive cancer immunotherapy such as CAR-T cell therapy. An increasing amount of evidence supports the therapeutic potential of targeting exhausted T cells and TSCM cells. We have begun to understand the molecular mechanisms of T cell exhaustion and early memory formation, and the clinical application of converting exhausted T cells to rejuvenated early memory T cells is the goal of our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ando
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minako Ito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tanakorn Srirat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisuke Kondo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Weathington N, O’Brien ME, Radder J, Whisenant TC, Bleecker ER, Busse WW, Erzurum SC, Gaston B, Hastie AT, Jarjour NN, Meyers DA, Milosevic J, Moore WC, Tedrow JR, Trudeau JB, Wong HP, Wu W, Kaminski N, Wenzel SE, Modena BD. BAL Cell Gene Expression in Severe Asthma Reveals Mechanisms of Severe Disease and Influences of Medications. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 200:837-856. [PMID: 31161938 PMCID: PMC6812436 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201811-2221oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Gene expression of BAL cells, which samples the cellular milieu within the lower respiratory tract, has not been well studied in severe asthma.Objectives: To identify new biomolecular mechanisms underlying severe asthma by an unbiased, detailed interrogation of global gene expression.Methods: BAL cell expression was profiled in 154 asthma and control subjects. Of these participants, 100 had accompanying airway epithelial cell gene expression. BAL cell expression profiles were related to participant (age, sex, race, and medication) and sample traits (cell proportions), and then severity-related gene expression determined by correlating transcripts and coexpression networks to lung function, emergency department visits or hospitalizations in the last year, medication use, and quality-of-life scores.Measurements and Main Results: Age, sex, race, cell proportions, and medications strongly influenced BAL cell gene expression, but leading severity-related genes could be determined by carefully identifying and accounting for these influences. A BAL cell expression network enriched for cAMP signaling components most differentiated subjects with severe asthma from other subjects. Subsequently, an in vitro cellular model showed this phenomenon was likely caused by a robust upregulation in cAMP-related expression in nonsevere and β-agonist-naive subjects given a β-agonist before cell collection. Interestingly, ELISAs performed on BAL lysates showed protein levels may partly disagree with expression changes.Conclusions: Gene expression in BAL cells is influenced by factors seldomly considered. Notably, β-agonist exposure likely had a strong and immediate impact on cellular gene expression, which may not translate to important disease mechanisms or necessarily match protein levels. Leading severity-related genes were discovered in an unbiased, system-wide analysis, revealing new targets that map to asthma susceptibility loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Weathington
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael E. O’Brien
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Josiah Radder
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Thomas C. Whisenant
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Eugene R. Bleecker
- Division of Genetics, Genomics and Precision Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - William W. Busse
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Serpil C. Erzurum
- Lerner Research Institute, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Benjamin Gaston
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Allergy and Immunology, Case Western Reserve University and Rainbow Babies Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Annette T. Hastie
- Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunologic Diseases, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Nizar N. Jarjour
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Deborah A. Meyers
- Division of Genetics, Genomics and Precision Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Jadranka Milosevic
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Wendy C. Moore
- Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunologic Diseases, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - John R. Tedrow
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - John B. Trudeau
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Hesper P. Wong
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Wei Wu
- Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Naftali Kaminski
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sally E. Wenzel
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Brian D. Modena
- Division of Allergy, National Jewish Hospital, Denver, Colorado
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Tanaka S, Pfleger C, Lai JF, Roan F, Sun SC, Ziegler SF. KAP1 Regulates Regulatory T Cell Function and Proliferation in Both Foxp3-Dependent and -Independent Manners. Cell Rep 2019; 23:796-807. [PMID: 29669285 PMCID: PMC5947873 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.099] [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: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are indispensable for the establishment of tolerance of self-antigens in animals. The transcriptional regulator Foxp3 is critical for Treg development and function, controlling the expression of genes important for Tregs through interactions with binding partners. We previously reported KAP1 as a binding partner of FOXP3 in human Tregs, but the mechanisms by which KAP1 affects Treg function were unclear. In this study, we analyzed mice with Treg-specific deletion of KAP1 and found that they develop spontaneous autoimmune disease. KAP1-deficient Tregs failed to induce Foxp3-regulated Treg signature genes. In addition, KAP1-deficient Tregs were less proliferative due to the decreased expression of Slc1a5, whose expression was KAP1 dependent but Foxp3 independent. This reduced expression of Slc1a5 resulted in reduced mTORC1 activation. Thus, our data suggest that KAP1 regulates Treg function in a Foxp3-dependent manner and also controls Treg proliferation in a Foxp3-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Tanaka
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, 1201 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA
| | - Christian Pfleger
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, 1201 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA
| | - Jen-Feng Lai
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, 1201 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA
| | - Florence Roan
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, 1201 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA; Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shao-Cong Sun
- Department of Immunology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Steven F Ziegler
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, 1201 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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31
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Powell MD, Read KA, Sreekumar BK, Oestreich KJ. Ikaros Zinc Finger Transcription Factors: Regulators of Cytokine Signaling Pathways and CD4 + T Helper Cell Differentiation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1299. [PMID: 31244845 PMCID: PMC6563078 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T helper cells are capable of differentiating into a number of effector subsets that perform diverse functions during adaptive immune responses. The differentiation of each of these subsets is governed, in large part, by environmental cytokine signals and the subsequent activation of downstream, cell-intrinsic transcription factor networks. Ikaros zinc finger (IkZF) transcription factors are known regulators of immune cell development, including that of CD4+ T cell subsets. Over the past decade, members of the IkZF family have also been implicated in the differentiation and function of individual T helper cell subsets, including T helper 1 (TH1), TH2, TH17, T follicular (TFH), and T regulatory (TREG) cells. Now, an increasing body of literature suggests that the distinct cell-specific cytokine environments responsible for the development of each subset result in differential expression of IkZF factors across T helper populations. Intriguingly, recent studies suggest that IkZF members influence T helper subset differentiation in a feed-forward fashion through the regulation of these same cytokine-signaling pathways. Here, we review the increasingly prominent role for IkZF transcription factors in the differentiation of effector CD4+ T helper cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Powell
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kaitlin A Read
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Graduate Program, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Bharath K Sreekumar
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kenneth J Oestreich
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.,Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
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32
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Loss of TET2 and TET3 in regulatory T cells unleashes effector function. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2011. [PMID: 31043609 PMCID: PMC6494907 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09541-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
TET enzymes oxidize 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and other oxidized methylcytosines in DNA. Here we examine the role of TET proteins in regulatory T (Treg) cells. Tet2/3fl/flFoxp3Cre mice lacking Tet2 and Tet3 in Treg cells develop inflammatory disease, and Treg cells from these mice show altered expression of Treg signature genes and upregulation of genes involved in cell cycle, DNA damage and cancer. In littermate mice with severe inflammation, both CD4+Foxp3+ and CD4+Foxp3− cells show strong skewing towards Tfh/Th17 phenotypes. Wild-type Treg cells in mixed bone marrow chimeras and in Tet2/3fl/flFoxp3WT/Cre heterozygous female mice are unable to rescue the aberrant properties of Tet2/3fl/flFoxp3Cre Treg cells. Treg cells from Tet2/3fl/flFoxp3Cre mice tend to lose Foxp3 expression, and transfer of total CD4+ T cells isolated from Tet2/3fl/flFoxp3Cre mice could elicit inflammatory disease in fully immunocompetent mice. Together, these data indicate that Tet2 and Tet3 are guardians of Treg cell stability and immune homeostasis. Loss of TET proteins in immune cell populations is known to result in immunopathology. Here the authors show that deficiency of Tet2 and Tet3 proteins, specifically in the CD4+ FoxP3+ Treg lineage, results in a dominant pathology in which ex-Treg cells and bystander T cells gain aberrant effector function.
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33
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Tan C, Mueller JL, Noviski M, Huizar J, Lau D, Dubinin A, Molofsky A, Wilson PC, Zikherman J. Nur77 Links Chronic Antigen Stimulation to B Cell Tolerance by Restricting the Survival of Self-Reactive B Cells in the Periphery. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:2907-2923. [PMID: 30962292 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Nur77 (Nr4a1) belongs to a small family of orphan nuclear receptors that are rapidly induced by BCR stimulation, yet little is known about its function in B cells. We have previously characterized a reporter of Nr4a1 transcription, Nur77-eGFP, in which GFP expression faithfully detects Ag encounter by B cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we report that Nur77 expression correlates with the degree of self-reactivity, counterselection, and anergy among individual B cell clones from two distinct BCR transgenic mouse models but is dispensable for all of these tolerance mechanisms. However, we identify a role for Nur77 in restraining survival of self-reactive B cells in the periphery under conditions of competition for a limited supply of the survival factor BAFF. We find that Nur77 deficiency results in the progressive accumulation of self-reactive B cells in the mature repertoire with age and is sufficient to break B cell tolerance in VH3H9 H chain transgenic mice. We thus propose that Nur77 is upregulated in self-reactive B cells in response to chronic Ag stimulation and selectively restricts the survival of these cells, gradually pruning self-reactivity from the mature repertoire to impose a novel layer of peripheral B cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Tan
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - James L Mueller
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell/Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Mark Noviski
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - John Huizar
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Fellows Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Denise Lau
- Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology, Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637.,Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; and
| | - Alexandra Dubinin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Ari Molofsky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Patrick C Wilson
- Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology, Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637.,Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; and
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell/Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143;
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Nakatsukasa H, Oda M, Yin J, Chikuma S, Ito M, Koga-Iizuka M, Someya K, Kitagawa Y, Ohkura N, Sakaguchi S, Koya I, Sanosaka T, Kohyama J, Tsukada YI, Yamanaka S, Takamura-Enya T, Lu Q, Yoshimura A. Loss of TET proteins in regulatory T cells promotes abnormal proliferation, Foxp3 destabilization and IL-17 expression. Int Immunol 2019; 31:335-347. [DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mayumi Oda
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Jinghua Yin
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | | | - Minako Ito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
| | | | | | - Yohko Kitagawa
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naganari Ohkura
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ikuko Koya
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sanosaka
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Jun Kohyama
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yu-ichi Tsukada
- Advanced Biological Information Research Division, INAMORI Frontier Research Center, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Soichiro Yamanaka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takeji Takamura-Enya
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Kanagawa Institute of Technology, Shimo-Ogino 1030, Atsugi-shi 243-0292, Japan
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
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35
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Brain regulatory T cells suppress astrogliosis and potentiate neurological recovery. Nature 2019; 565:246-250. [PMID: 30602786 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0824-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 439] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In addition to maintaining immune tolerance, FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells perform specialized functions in tissue homeostasis and remodelling1,2. However, the characteristics and functions of brain Treg cells are not well understood because there is a low number of Treg cells in the brain under normal conditions. Here we show that there is massive accumulation of Treg cells in the mouse brain after ischaemic stroke, and this potentiates neurological recovery during the chronic phase of ischaemic brain injury. Although brain Treg cells are similar to Treg cells in other tissues such as visceral adipose tissue and muscle3-5, they are apparently distinct and express unique genes related to the nervous system including Htr7, which encodes the serotonin receptor 5-HT7. The amplification of brain Treg cells is dependent on interleukin (IL)-2, IL-33, serotonin and T cell receptor recognition, and infiltration into the brain is driven by the chemokines CCL1 and CCL20. Brain Treg cells suppress neurotoxic astrogliosis by producing amphiregulin, a low-affinity epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand. Stroke is a leading cause of neurological disability, and there are currently few effective recovery methods other than rehabilitation during the chronic phase. Our findings suggest that Treg cells and their products may provide therapeutic opportunities for neuronal protection against stroke and neuroinflammatory diseases.
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36
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37
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Boudreaux SP, Duren RP, Call SG, Nguyen L, Freire PR, Narayanan P, Redell MS, Conneely OM. Drug targeting of NR4A nuclear receptors for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2019; 33:52-63. [PMID: 29884904 PMCID: PMC6286710 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-018-0174-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
NR4As are AML tumor suppressors that are frequently silenced in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite their potential as novel targets for therapeutic intervention, mechanisms of NR4A silencing and strategies for their reactivation remain poorly defined. Here we show that NR4A silencing in AML occurs through blockade of transcriptional elongation rather than epigenetic promoter silencing. By intersection of NR4A-regulated gene signatures captured upon acute, exogenous expression of NR4As in human AML cells with in silico chemical genomics screening, we identify several FDA-approved drugs including dihydroergotamine (DHE) that reactivate NR4A expression and regulate NR4A-dependent gene signatures. We show that DHE induces NR4A expression via recruitment of the super elongation complex to enable elongation of NR4A promoter paused RNA polymerase II. Finally, DHE exhibits AML selective NR4A-dependent anti-leukemic activity in cytogenetically distinct human AML cells in vitro and delays AML progression in mice revealing its potential as a novel therapeutic agent in AML.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Cell Proliferation
- Dihydroergotamine/pharmacology
- Drug Delivery Systems/methods
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/genetics
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/metabolism
- Transcriptome
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Vasoconstrictor Agents/pharmacology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth P Boudreaux
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Program in Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- New Iberia Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, LA, 70560, USA
| | - Ryan P Duren
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Program in Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Steven G Call
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Loc Nguyen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Pablo R Freire
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Padmini Narayanan
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Michele S Redell
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Orla M Conneely
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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38
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Development and Functional Modulation of Regulatory T Cells by Transcription Factors and Epigenetics. Cornea 2018; 37 Suppl 1:S42-S49. [PMID: 30211750 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000001720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Studies of Treg are not only necessary for understanding the mechanism of immune homeostasis but also extremely useful for the development of treatments of various immune diseases. Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) was identified as the master gene responsible for the immune-suppressing activity of Tregs. The promoter region and several intronic enhancers, designated conserved noncoding sequence (CNS) 0, 1, 2, and 3, at the Foxp3 gene locus have important roles in Foxp3 expression and Treg development. We demonstrated that transcription factors Nr4a and Smad2/3 are required for development of thymic Tregs and induced Tregs, respectively. In addition to transcription factors, Treg-specific DNA demethylation has been shown to be important for Treg stability. In particular, DNA demethylation of CNS2 was implicated in Treg stability, and members of the ten-eleven translocation family of demethylation factors were recently demonstrated to have important roles in 5'-C-phosphate-G-3' demethylation at CNS2. This article summarizes recent findings regarding the roles of transcription factors and epigenetic modifications in the differentiation, maintenance, and function of Tregs. This review will facilitate clinical application of Tregs to diseases in the field of ophthalmology, including uveitis and age-related macular degeneration.
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39
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Sekiya T, Hibino S, Saeki K, Kanamori M, Takaki S, Yoshimura A. Nr4a Receptors Regulate Development and Death of Labile Treg Precursors to Prevent Generation of Pathogenic Self-Reactive Cells. Cell Rep 2018; 24:1627-1638.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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40
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Hibino S, Chikuma S, Kondo T, Ito M, Nakatsukasa H, Omata-Mise S, Yoshimura A. Inhibition of Nr4a Receptors Enhances Antitumor Immunity by Breaking Treg-Mediated Immune Tolerance. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3027-3040. [PMID: 29559474 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced infiltration of regulatory T cells (Treg) into tumor tissue is detrimental to patients with cancer and is closely associated with poor prognosis as they create an immunosuppressive state that suppresses antitumor immune responses. Therefore, breaking Treg-mediated immune tolerance is important when considering cancer immunotherapy. Here, we show that the Nr4a nuclear receptors, key transcription factors maintaining Treg genetic programs, contribute to Treg-mediated suppression of antitumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment. Mice lacking Nr4a1 and Nr4a2 genes specifically in Tregs showed resistance to tumor growth in transplantation models without exhibiting any severe systemic autoimmunity. The chemotherapeutic agent camptothecin and a common cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor were found to inhibit transcriptional activity and induction of Nr4a factors, and they synergistically exerted antitumor effects. Genetic inactivation or pharmacologic inhibition of Nr4a factors unleashed effector activities of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and evoked potent antitumor immune responses. These findings demonstrate that inactivation of Nr4a in Tregs breaks immune tolerance toward cancer, and pharmacologic modulation of Nr4a activity may be a novel cancer treatment strategy targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.Significance: This study reveals the role of Nr4a transcription factors in Treg-mediated tolerance to antitumor immunity, with possible therapeutic implications for developing effective anticancer therapies. Cancer Res; 78(11); 3027-40. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Hibino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Chikuma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisuke Kondo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minako Ito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Nakatsukasa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Setsuko Omata-Mise
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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41
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Kalim KW, Yang JQ, Li Y, Meng Y, Zheng Y, Guo F. Reciprocal Regulation of Glycolysis-Driven Th17 Pathogenicity and Regulatory T Cell Stability by Cdc42. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 200:2313-2326. [PMID: 29440353 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1601765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A balance between Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) is important for host immunity and immune tolerance. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we have identified Cdc42 as a central regulator of Th17/Treg balance. Deletion of Cdc42 in T cells enhanced Th17 differentiation but diminished induced Treg differentiation and suppressive function. Treg-specific deletion of Cdc42 decreased natural Tregs but increased effector T cells including Th17 cells. Notably, Cdc42-deficient Th17 cells became pathogenic associated with enhanced glycolysis and Cdc42-deficient Tregs became unstable associated with weakened glycolytic signaling. Inhibition of glycolysis in Cdc42-deficient Th17 cells diminished their pathogenicity and restoration of glycolysis in Cdc42-deficient Tregs rescued their instability. Intriguingly, Cdc42 deficiency in T cells led to exacerbated wasting disease in mouse models of colitis and Treg-specific deletion of Cdc42 caused early, fatal lymphoproliferative diseases. In summary, we show that Cdc42 is a bona fide regulator of peripheral tolerance through suppression of Th17 aberrant differentiation/pathogenicity and promotion of Treg differentiation/stability/function involving metabolic signaling and thus Cdc42 pathway might be harnessed in autoimmune disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid W Kalim
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Jun-Qi Yang
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Key Laboratory for Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214000, China; and
| | - Yuan Li
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Yan Meng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229;
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42
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Hou M, Li W, Xie Z, Ai J, Sun B, Tan G. Effects of anticholinergic agent on miRNA profiles and transcriptomes in a murine model of allergic rhinitis. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:6558-6569. [PMID: 28901404 PMCID: PMC5865825 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticholinergic agent, ipratropium bromide (IB) ameliorates symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) using neuroimmunologic mechanisms. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. In the present study, 27 mice with AR induced by ovalbumin were randomly allocated to one of three groups: Model group, model group with IB treatment for 2 weeks, and model group with IB treatment for 4 weeks. Allergic symptoms were evaluated according to symptoms scores. Differentially expressed genes [microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs)] of nasal mucosa were identified by microarray analysis. The expression levels of candidate genes were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The data indicates that the symptoms scores in allergic mice were significantly reduced by IB treatment. In the nasal mucosa of allergic mice with IB treatment, 207 mRNAs and 87 miRNAs were differentially expressed, when compared with the sham group. IB treatment significantly downregulated the expression levels of interleukin-4Rα and prostaglandin D2 synthase, whereas the leukemia inhibitory factor, A20 and nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 1 expression levels were upregulated. Similarly, the expression levels of mmu-miR-124-3p/5p, −133b-5p, −133a-3p/5p, −384-3p, −181a-5p, −378a-5p and −3071-5p were significantly increased. RT-qPCR data further validated these mRNA and miRNA expression levels. Thus, IB treatment regulated expression of allergic immune-associated mRNAs and miRNAs of the nasal mucosa in allergic mice, which may be associated with ameliorated nasal allergic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Hou
- Department of Otolaryngology‑Head Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Otolaryngology‑Head Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Zuozhong Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology‑Head Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Jingang Ai
- Department of Otolaryngology‑Head Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology‑Head Neck Surgery, Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Guolin Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology‑Head Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
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43
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Carpenter AC, Wohlfert E, Chopp LB, Vacchio MS, Nie J, Zhao Y, Shetty J, Xiao Q, Deng C, Tran B, Cam M, Gaida MM, Belkaid Y, Bosselut R. Control of Regulatory T Cell Differentiation by the Transcription Factors Thpok and LRF. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 199:1716-1728. [PMID: 28754678 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The CD4+ lineage-specific transcription factor Thpok is required for intrathymic CD4+ T cell differentiation and, together with its homolog LRF, supports CD4+ T cell helper effector responses. However, it is not known whether these factors are needed for the regulatory T cell (Treg) arm of MHC class II responses. In this study, by inactivating in mice the genes encoding both factors in differentiated Tregs, we show that Thpok and LRF are redundantly required to maintain the size and functions of the postthymic Treg pool. They support IL-2-mediated gene expression and the functions of the Treg-specific factor Foxp3. Accordingly, Treg-specific disruption of Thpok and Lrf causes a lethal inflammatory syndrome similar to that resulting from Treg deficiency. Unlike in conventional T cells, Thpok and LRF functions in Tregs are not mediated by their repression of the transcription factor Runx3. Additionally, we found that Thpok is needed for the differentiation of thymic Treg precursors, an observation in line with the fact that Foxp3+ Tregs are CD4+ cells. Thus, a common Thpok-LRF node supports both helper and regulatory arms of MHC class II responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Carpenter
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Elizabeth Wohlfert
- Microbiome Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.,Mucosal Immunology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Laura B Chopp
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.,Immunology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Melanie S Vacchio
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jia Nie
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Yongmei Zhao
- Center for Cancer Research Sequencing Facility, Advanced Technology Research Facility, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Jyoti Shetty
- Center for Cancer Research Sequencing Facility, Advanced Technology Research Facility, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Qi Xiao
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Callie Deng
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Bao Tran
- Center for Cancer Research Sequencing Facility, Advanced Technology Research Facility, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Margaret Cam
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Matthias M Gaida
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.,Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yasmine Belkaid
- Microbiome Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.,Mucosal Immunology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Rémy Bosselut
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
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Iizuka-Koga M, Nakatsukasa H, Ito M, Akanuma T, Lu Q, Yoshimura A. Induction and maintenance of regulatory T cells by transcription factors and epigenetic modifications. J Autoimmun 2017; 83:113-121. [PMID: 28709726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are an essential cell subset for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Foxp3 (Forkhead box P3) is the Treg master gene which is essential for immune suppressing activity. In addition, Tregs are characterized by a distinct pattern of gene expression, including upregulation of immune-suppressive genes and silencing of inflammatory genes. The molecular mechanisms of Treg development and maintenance have been intensively investigated. Tregs are characterized by expression of the transcription factor Foxp3. Several intronic enhancers and a promoter at the Foxp3 gene locus were shown to play important roles in Treg differentiation. The enhancers have been designated as conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) 0, 1, 2, and 3. We showed that the transcription factors Nr4a and Smad2/3 are essential for the development of thymic Tregs and induced Tregs, respectively. Recently, Treg-specific DNA demethylation has been shown to play an important role in Treg stability. DNA demethylation of CNS2 has been implicated in Treg stability, and recent reports have revealed that the ten-eleven translocation (Tet) family of demethylation factor plays an important role in CpG demethylation at CNS2. This article reviews the recent progress on the roles of transcription factors and epigenetic modifications in the differentiation, maintenance, and function of Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mana Iizuka-Koga
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroko Nakatsukasa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Minako Ito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takashi Akanuma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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45
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Myers DR, Lau T, Markegard E, Lim HW, Kasler H, Zhu M, Barczak A, Huizar JP, Zikherman J, Erle DJ, Zhang W, Verdin E, Roose JP. Tonic LAT-HDAC7 Signals Sustain Nur77 and Irf4 Expression to Tune Naive CD4 T Cells. Cell Rep 2017; 19:1558-1571. [PMID: 28538176 PMCID: PMC5587137 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.04.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells differentiate into T helper cell subsets in feedforward manners with synergistic signals from the T cell receptor (TCR), cytokines, and lineage-specific transcription factors. Naive CD4+ T cells avoid spontaneous engagement of feedforward mechanisms but retain a prepared state. T cells lacking the adaptor molecule LAT demonstrate impaired TCR-induced signals yet cause a spontaneous lymphoproliferative T helper 2 (TH2) cell syndrome in mice. Thus, LAT constitutes an unexplained maintenance cue. Here, we demonstrate that tonic signals through LAT constitutively export the repressor HDAC7 from the nucleus of CD4+ T cells. Without such tonic signals, HDAC7 target genes Nur77 and Irf4 are repressed. We reveal that Nur77 suppresses CD4+ T cell proliferation and uncover a suppressive role for Irf4 in TH2 polarization; halving Irf4 gene-dosage leads to increases in GATA3+ and IL-4+ cells. Our studies reveal that naive CD4+ T cells are dynamically tuned by tonic LAT-HDAC7 signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darienne R Myers
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tannia Lau
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Evan Markegard
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Hyung W Lim
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Herbert Kasler
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Minghua Zhu
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Andrea Barczak
- Lung Biology Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John P Huizar
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Arthritis Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Julie Zikherman
- Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Arthritis Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - David J Erle
- Lung Biology Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Weiguo Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Eric Verdin
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeroen P Roose
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Okada M, Kanamori M, Someya K, Nakatsukasa H, Yoshimura A. Stabilization of Foxp3 expression by CRISPR-dCas9-based epigenome editing in mouse primary T cells. Epigenetics Chromatin 2017; 10:24. [PMID: 28503202 PMCID: PMC5422987 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-017-0129-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenome editing is expected to manipulate transcription and cell fates and to elucidate the gene expression mechanisms in various cell types. For functional epigenome editing, assessing the chromatin context-dependent activity of artificial epigenetic modifier is required. Results In this study, we applied clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-dCas9-based epigenome editing to mouse primary T cells, focusing on the Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) gene locus, a master transcription factor of regulatory T cells (Tregs). The Foxp3 gene locus is regulated by combinatorial epigenetic modifications, which determine the Foxp3 expression. Foxp3 expression is unstable in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced Tregs (iTregs), while stable in thymus-derived Tregs (tTregs). To stabilize Foxp3 expression in iTregs, we introduced dCas9-TET1CD (dCas9 fused to the catalytic domain (CD) of ten-eleven translocation dioxygenase 1 (TET1), methylcytosine dioxygenase) and dCas9-p300CD (dCas9 fused to the CD of p300, histone acetyltransferase) with guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeted to the Foxp3 gene locus. Although dCas9-TET1CD induced partial demethylation in enhancer region called conserved non-coding DNA sequences 2 (CNS2), robust Foxp3 stabilization was not observed. In contrast, dCas9-p300CD targeted to the promoter locus partly maintained Foxp3 transcription in cultured and primary T cells even under inflammatory conditions in vitro. Furthermore, dCas9-p300CD promoted expression of Treg signature genes and enhanced suppression activity in vitro. Conclusions Our results showed that artificial epigenome editing modified the epigenetic status and gene expression of the targeted loci, and engineered cellular functions in conjunction with endogenous epigenetic modification, suggesting effective usage of these technologies, which help elucidate the relationship between chromatin states and gene expression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13072-017-0129-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Okada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582 Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Kanamori
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582 Japan
| | - Kazue Someya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582 Japan
| | - Hiroko Nakatsukasa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582 Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582 Japan
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47
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Melnik BC, Schmitz G. Milk's Role as an Epigenetic Regulator in Health and Disease. Diseases 2017; 5:diseases5010012. [PMID: 28933365 PMCID: PMC5456335 DOI: 10.3390/diseases5010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is the intention of this review to characterize milk's role as an epigenetic regulator in health and disease. Based on translational research, we identify milk as a major epigenetic modulator of gene expression of the milk recipient. Milk is presented as an epigenetic "doping system" of mammalian development. Milk exosome-derived micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) that target DNA methyltransferases are implicated to play the key role in the upregulation of developmental genes such as FTO, INS, and IGF1. In contrast to miRNA-deficient infant formula, breastfeeding via physiological miRNA transfer provides the appropriate signals for adequate epigenetic programming of the newborn infant. Whereas breastfeeding is restricted to the lactation period, continued consumption of cow's milk results in persistent epigenetic upregulation of genes critically involved in the development of diseases of civilization such as diabesity, neurodegeneration, and cancer. We hypothesize that the same miRNAs that epigenetically increase lactation, upregulate gene expression of the milk recipient via milk-derived miRNAs. It is of critical concern that persistent consumption of pasteurized cow's milk contaminates the human food chain with bovine miRNAs, that are identical to their human analogs. Commercial interest to enhance dairy lactation performance may further increase the epigenetic miRNA burden for the milk consumer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo C Melnik
- Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Osnabrück, Am Finkenhügel 7a, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
| | - Gerd Schmitz
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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48
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Harakal J, Rival C, Qiao H, Tung KS. Regulatory T Cells Control Th2-Dominant Murine Autoimmune Gastritis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:27-41. [PMID: 27259856 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1502344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pernicious anemia and gastric carcinoma are serious sequelae of autoimmune gastritis (AIG). Our study indicates that in adult C57BL/6-DEREG mice expressing a transgenic diphtheria toxin receptor under the Foxp3 promoter, transient regulatory T cell (Treg) depletion results in long-lasting AIG associated with both H(+)K(+)ATPase and intrinsic factor autoantibody responses. Although functional Tregs emerge over time during AIG occurrence, the effector T cells rapidly become less susceptible to Treg-mediated suppression. Whereas previous studies have implicated dysregulated Th1 cell responses in AIG pathogenesis, eosinophils have been detected in gastric biopsy specimens from patients with AIG. Indeed, AIG in DEREG mice is associated with strong Th2 cell responses, including dominant IgG1 autoantibodies, elevated serum IgE, increased Th2 cytokine production, and eosinophil infiltration in the stomach-draining lymph nodes. In addition, the stomachs exhibit severe mucosal and muscular hypertrophy, parietal cell loss, mucinous epithelial cell metaplasia, and massive eosinophilic inflammation. Notably, the Th2 responses and gastritis severity are significantly ameliorated in IL-4- or eosinophil-deficient mice. Furthermore, expansion of both Th2-promoting IFN regulatory factor 4(+) programmed death ligand 2(+) dendritic cells and ILT3(+) rebounded Tregs was detected after transient Treg depletion. Collectively, these data suggest that Tregs maintain physiological tolerance to clinically relevant gastric autoantigens, and Th2 responses can be a pathogenic mechanism in AIG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Harakal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; and
| | - Claudia Rival
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; and Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Hui Qiao
- Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; and Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Kenneth S Tung
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908; and Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
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49
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Roles of transcription factors and epigenetic modifications in differentiation and maintenance of regulatory T cells. Microbes Infect 2016; 18:378-386. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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50
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Harnessing the plasticity of CD4(+) T cells to treat immune-mediated disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2016; 16:149-63. [PMID: 26875830 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2015.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 353] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
CD4(+) T cells differentiate and acquire distinct functions to combat specific pathogens but can also adapt their functions in response to changing circumstances. Although this phenotypic plasticity can be potentially deleterious, driving immune pathology, it also provides important benefits that have led to its evolutionary preservation. Here, we review CD4(+) T cell plasticity by examining the molecular mechanisms that regulate it - from the extracellular cues that initiate and drive cells towards varying phenotypes, to the cytosolic signalling cascades that decipher these cues and transmit them into the cell and to the nucleus, where these signals imprint specific gene expression programmes. By understanding how this functional flexibility is achieved, we may open doors to new therapeutic approaches that harness this property of T cells.
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