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Zhu Q, Wang L, Ren H, Zhang J, Zuo Q, Li M, Zhu J, Yang G, Zhang F. Molecular characterization of the B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (blimp1) gene of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and its transcription repression involves recruitment of histone deacetylase HDAC3. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 143:109216. [PMID: 37944681 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Blimp1 is the master regulator of B cell terminal differentiation in mammals, it inhibits expression of many transcription factors including bcl6, which provides the basis for promoting further development of activated B lymphocytes into plasma cells. Blimp-1 is thought to act as a sequence-specific recruitment factor for chromatin-modifying enzymes including histone deacetylases (HDAC) and methyltransferases to repress target genes. The cDNA of Ccblimp1a (Cyprinus carpio) open reading frame is 2337 bp encoding a protein of 777 amino acids. CcBlimp1a contains a SET domain, two Proline Rich domains, and five ZnF_C2H2 domains. Blimp1 are conserved in vertebrate species. Ccblimp1a transcripts were detected in common carp larvae from 1 dpf (day post fertilization)to 31 dpf. Ccblimp1a expression was up-regulated in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and spleen leukocytes (SPL) of common carp stimulated by intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Ccblimp1a expression in PBL and SPL of common carp was induced by TNP-LPS and TNP-KLH. The results indicated TNP-LPS induced a rapid response in PBL and TNP-KLH induced much stronger response in SPL and PBL. IHC results showed that CcBlimp1 positive cells were distributed in the head kidney, trunk kidney, liver, and gut. Immunofluorescence stain results showed that CcBlimp1 was expressed in IgM + lymphocytes. The subcellular localization of CcBlimp1 in the nuclei indicated CcBlimp1 may be involved in the differentiation of IgM + lymphocytes. Further study focusing on the function of CcBlimp1 transcriptional repression was performed using dual luciferase assay. The results showed that the transcription repression of CcBlimp1 on bcl6aa promoter was affected by the histone deacetylation inhibitor and was synergized with histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3). The results of Co-IP in HEK293T and immunoprecipitation in SPL indicated that CcBlimp1 recruited HDAC3 and might be involved in the formation of complexes. These results suggest that CcBlimp1 is an important transcription factor in common carp lymphocytes. Histone deacetylation modification mediated by HDAC3 may have important roles in CcBlimp1 transcriptional repression during the differentiation of lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiannan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Haoyue Ren
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Qingyun Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Mojin Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Jianping Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Guiwen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
| | - Fumiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
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D'Addabbo P, Frezza D, Sulentic CE. Evolutive emergence and divergence of an Ig regulatory node: An environmental sensor getting cues from the aryl hydrocarbon receptor? Front Immunol 2023; 14:996119. [PMID: 36817426 PMCID: PMC9936319 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.996119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
One gene, the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene, is responsible for the expression of all the different antibody isotypes. Transcriptional regulation of the IgH gene is complex and involves several regulatory elements including a large element at the 3' end of the IgH gene locus (3'RR). Animal models have demonstrated an essential role of the 3'RR in the ability of B cells to express high affinity antibodies and to express different antibody classes. Additionally, environmental chemicals such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands modulate mouse 3'RR activity that mirrors the effects of these chemicals on antibody production and immunocompetence in mouse models. Although first discovered as a mediator of the toxicity induced by the high affinity ligand 2,3,7,8-tetracholordibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin), understanding of the AhR has expanded to a physiological role in preserving homeostasis and maintaining immunocompetence. We posit that the AhR also plays a role in human antibody production and that the 3'RR is not only an IgH regulatory node but also an environmental sensor receiving signals through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, including the AhR. This review will 1) highlight the emerging role of the AhR as a key transducer between environmental signals and altered immune function; 2) examine the current state of knowledge regarding IgH gene regulation and the role of the AhR in modulation of Ig production; 3) describe the evolution of the IgH gene that resulted in species and population differences; and 4) explore the evidence supporting the environmental sensing capacity of the 3'RR and the AhR as a transducer of these cues. This review will also underscore the need for studies focused on human models due to the premise that understanding genetic differences in the human population and the signaling pathways that converge at the 3'RR will provide valuable insight into individual sensitivities to environmental factors and antibody-mediated disease conditions, including emerging infections such as SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro D'Addabbo
- Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Frezza
- Department of Biology E. Calef, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Courtney E.W. Sulentic
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, United States
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Hryhorczuk D, Dardynskaia I, Hirt C, Dardynskiy O, Turner W, Ruestow P, Bartell S, Steenland K, Zvinchuk O, Baccarelli AA. t(14;18) Translocations in Dioxin-Exposed Workers. J Occup Environ Med 2022; 64:331-339. [PMID: 34740219 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if occupational exposure to dioxins is associated with an increased frequency of t(14;18) translocations. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of serum dioxin levels and t(14;18) frequencies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 218 former chemical plant workers and 150 population controls. RESULTS The workers had significantly higher geometric mean serum levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (26.2 vs 2.5 ppt) and TEQ (73.8 vs 17.7 ppt) than controls. There were no significant differences in the prevalence or frequency of t(14;18) translocations in the workers compared to controls. Among former workers with current or past chloracne who were t(14;18) positive, the frequency of translocations significantly increased with quartiles of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and TEQ. CONCLUSION Chloracne appears to modulate the association between dioxin exposure and increased frequency of t(14;18) translocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hryhorczuk
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Hryhorczuk, Dr Dardynskaia); Center for Global Health, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Hryhorczuk, Dr Dardynskiy); Department of Internal Medicine C, Hematology and Oncology, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany (Dr Hirt); Environmental and Earth Sciences, Exponent, Atlanta, Georgia (Mr Turner); City of Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Ruestow); Program in Public Health, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California (Dr Bartell); Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Steenland); Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyiv, Ukraine (Dr Zvinchuk); Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York (Dr Baccarelli)
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Sabuz Vidal O, Deepika D, Schuhmacher M, Kumar V. EDC-induced mechanisms of immunotoxicity: a systematic review. Crit Rev Toxicol 2022; 51:634-652. [PMID: 35015608 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.2009438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) refer to a group of chemicals that cause adverse effects in human health, impairing hormone production and regulation, resulting in alteration of homeostasis, reproductive, and developmental, and immune system impairments. The immunotoxicity of EDCs involves many mechanisms altering gene expression that depend on the activation of nuclear receptors such as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), the estrogen receptor (ER), and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), which also results in skin and intestinal disorders, microbiota alterations and inflammatory diseases. This systematic review aims to review different mechanisms of immunotoxicity and immunomodulation of T cells, focusing on T regulatory (Treg) and Th17 subsets, B cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) caused by specific EDCs such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), bisphenols (BPs) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). To achieve this objective, a systematic study was conducted searching various databases including PubMed and Scopus to find in-vitro, in-vivo, and biomonitoring studies that examine EDC-dependent mechanisms of immunotoxicity. While doing the systematic review, we found species- and cell-specific outcomes and a translational gap between in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. Finally, an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework is proposed, which explains mechanistically toxicity endpoints emerging from different EDCs having similar key events and can help to improve our understanding of EDCs mechanisms of immunotoxicity. In conclusion, this review provides insights into the mechanisms of immunotoxicity mediated by EDCs and will help to improve human health risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Sabuz Vidal
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Deepika Deepika
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Marta Schuhmacher
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.,IISPV, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Reus, Spain
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Segner H, Bailey C, Tafalla C, Bo J. Immunotoxicity of Xenobiotics in Fish: A Role for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179460. [PMID: 34502366 PMCID: PMC8430475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of anthropogenic contaminants on the immune system of fishes is an issue of growing concern. An important xenobiotic receptor that mediates effects of chemicals, such as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Fish toxicological research has focused on the role of this receptor in xenobiotic biotransformation as well as in causing developmental, cardiac, and reproductive toxicity. However, biomedical research has unraveled an important physiological role of the AhR in the immune system, what suggests that this receptor could be involved in immunotoxic effects of environmental contaminants. The aims of the present review are to critically discuss the available knowledge on (i) the expression and possible function of the AhR in the immune systems of teleost fishes; and (ii) the impact of AhR-activating xenobiotics on the immune systems of fish at the levels of immune gene expression, immune cell proliferation and immune cell function, immune pathology, and resistance to infectious disease. The existing information indicates that the AhR is expressed in the fish immune system, but currently, we have little understanding of its physiological role. Exposure to AhR-activating contaminants results in the modulation of numerous immune structural and functional parameters of fish. Despite the diversity of fish species studied and the experimental conditions investigated, the published findings rather uniformly point to immunosuppressive actions of xenobiotic AhR ligands in fish. These effects are often associated with increased disease susceptibility. The fact that fish populations from HAH- and PAH-contaminated environments suffer immune disturbances and elevated disease susceptibility highlights that the immunotoxic effects of AhR-activating xenobiotics bear environmental relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Pathobiology and Infectious Diseases, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Jun Bo
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen 361005, China
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Pal M, Bao W, Wang R, Liu Y, An X, Mitchell WB, Lobo CA, Minniti C, Shi PA, Manwani D, Yazdanbakhsh K, Zhong H. Hemolysis inhibits humoral B-cell responses and modulates alloimmunization risk in patients with sickle cell disease. Blood 2021; 137:269-280. [PMID: 33152749 PMCID: PMC7820872 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020008511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Red blood cell alloimmunization remains a barrier for safe and effective transfusions in sickle cell disease (SCD), but the associated risk factors remain largely unknown. Intravascular hemolysis, a hallmark of SCD, results in the release of heme with potent immunomodulatory activity, although its effect on SCD humoral response, specifically alloimmunization, remains unclear. Here, we found that cell-free heme suppresses human B-cell plasmablast and plasma cell differentiation by inhibiting the DOCK8/STAT3 signaling pathway, which is critical for B-cell activation, as well as by upregulating heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) through its enzymatic byproducts, carbon monoxide and biliverdin. Whereas nonalloimmunized SCD B cells were inhibited by exogenous heme, B cells from the alloimmunized group were nonresponsive to heme inhibition and readily differentiated into plasma cells. Consistent with a differential B-cell response to hemolysis, we found elevated B-cell basal levels of DOCK8 and higher HO-1-mediated inhibition of activated B cells in nonalloimmunized compared with alloimmunized SCD patients. To overcome the alloimmunized B-cell heme insensitivity, we screened several heme-binding molecules and identified quinine as a potent inhibitor of B-cell activity, reversing the resistance to heme suppression in alloimmunized patients. B-cell inhibition by quinine occurred only in the presence of heme and through HO-1 induction. Altogether, these data suggest that hemolysis can dampen the humoral B-cell response and that B-cell heme responsiveness maybe a determinant of alloimmunization risk in SCD. By restoring B-cell heme sensitivity, quinine may have therapeutic potential to prevent and inhibit alloimmunization in SCD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xiuli An
- Laboratory of Membrane Biology, New York Blood Center, New York, NY
| | - William B Mitchell
- Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore Health Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY
| | - Cheryl A Lobo
- Laboratory of Blood-Borne Parasites, New York Blood Center, New York, NY
| | - Caterina Minniti
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Montefiore Health Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; and
| | - Patricia A Shi
- Sickle Cell Clinical Research Program, New York Blood Center, New York, NY
| | - Deepa Manwani
- Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore Health Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY
| | | | - Hui Zhong
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, and
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7
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Snyder AD, Ochs SD, Johnson BE, Sulentic CEW. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-induced activation of the human IGH hs1.2 enhancer: Mutational analysis of putative regulatory binding motifs. Mol Immunol 2020; 120:164-178. [PMID: 32146146 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The human hs1.2 enhancer within the Ig heavy chain gene (IGH) is polymorphic and associated with a number of autoimmune diseases. The polymorphic region is characterized by tandem repeats of an ∼53-bp invariant sequence containing possible binding sites for several transcription factors. Our previous studies suggest the human hs1.2 enhancer is sensitive to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an environmental toxicant and high affinity ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). TCDD induced hs1.2 enhancer activity in an AhR-dependent manner and the number of invariant sequences influenced the magnitude of activity. To better understand the regulation of human hs1.2 enhancer activity, the objective of the current study was to utilize mutational analysis and luciferase reporter constructs to evaluate the contribution of putative transcription factor binding sites to overall hs1.2 enhancer activity and modulation by TCDD. Basal and LPS-induced activity of the hs1.2 enhancer appeared to be most affected by mutation of sites outside of the invariant sequence or deletion of the entire invariant sequence; whereas sites influencing the effect of TCDD were dependent on the cellular activation state (i.e. unstimulated vs. LPS stimulation) and relatively independent of the putative AhR binding site within the invariant sequence. These results suggest that AhR activation affects human hs1.2 activity through an as yet undetermined non-canonical pathway. A better understanding regarding the role of the hs1.2 enhancer in human Ig expression and how AhR ligands modulate its activity may lead to insights into overall Ig regulation and mechanisms of dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Snyder
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, United States
| | - Sharon D Ochs
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, United States
| | - Brooke E Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, United States
| | - Courtney E W Sulentic
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, United States.
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8
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Piper CJM, Rosser EC, Oleinika K, Nistala K, Krausgruber T, Rendeiro AF, Banos A, Drozdov I, Villa M, Thomson S, Xanthou G, Bock C, Stockinger B, Mauri C. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Contributes to the Transcriptional Program of IL-10-Producing Regulatory B Cells. Cell Rep 2019; 29:1878-1892.e7. [PMID: 31722204 PMCID: PMC6856759 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory B cells (Bregs) play a critical role in the control of autoimmunity and inflammation. IL-10 production is the hallmark for the identification of Bregs. However, the molecular determinants that regulate the transcription of IL-10 and control the Breg developmental program remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates the differentiation and function of IL-10-producing CD19+CD21hiCD24hiBregs and limits their differentiation into B cells that contribute to inflammation. Chromatin profiling and transcriptome analyses show that loss of AhR in B cells reduces expression of IL-10 by skewing the differentiation of CD19+CD21hiCD24hiB cells into a pro-inflammatory program, under Breg-inducing conditions. B cell AhR-deficient mice develop exacerbated arthritis, show significant reductions in IL-10-producing Bregs and regulatory T cells, and show an increase in T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells compared with B cell AhR-sufficient mice. Thus, we identify AhR as a relevant contributor to the transcriptional regulation of Breg differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J M Piper
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth C Rosser
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK; University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK; Versus Arthritis Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology at University College London, University College London Hospitals and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kristine Oleinika
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kiran Nistala
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Krausgruber
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - André F Rendeiro
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aggelos Banos
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
| | | | - Matteo Villa
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Scott Thomson
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Georgina Xanthou
- Cellular Immunology Lab, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Mauri
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
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Wang H, Wei Y, Yu D. Control of lymphocyte homeostasis and effector function by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Int Immunopharmacol 2015; 28:818-24. [PMID: 25907242 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The adaptive immune system, composed of lymphocytes, recognizes diversified antigens and generates immunological memory. According to the canonical model, it is the innate immune system that captures pathogens and senses environment to activate adaptive lymphocytes through antigen presentation, costimulatory signals and cytokine milieu. Emerging evidence indicates that environmental cues can be directly conveyed to lymphocytes by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). AhR is a ligand-activated transcription factor that widely expresses in many immune cell lineages and recognizes a broad range of ligands including endogenous and dietary metabolites, microbial derivatives and xenobiotics. This review will focus on the regulatory role of AhR in not only adaptive but also innate lymphocytes including recently discovered innate lymphoid cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Molecular Immunomodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Yunbo Wei
- Laboratory of Immunology for Environment and Health, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Di Yu
- Molecular Immunomodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia; Laboratory of Immunology for Environment and Health, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
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10
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Wourms MJ, Sulentic CEW. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates an essential transcriptional element in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. Cell Immunol 2015; 295:60-6. [PMID: 25749007 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2015.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Ig heavy chain (Igh) transcription involves several regulatory elements including the 3'Igh regulatory region (3'IghRR). 3'IghRR activity is modulated by several transcription factors, including NF-κB and AP-1 and potentially the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The prototypical AhR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) inhibits antibody secretion and 3'IghRR activity. However, the exact mechanism is unknown and TCDD can modulate NF-κB and AP-1 in an AhR-independent manner. To determine if the AhR is a significant regulator of the 3'IghRR, we utilized a mouse B-cell line that stably expresses a 3'IghRR-regulated transgene and either an AhR antagonist or shRNA targeting the AhR. Disruption of the AhR pathway reversed TCDD-induced suppression of the 3'IghRR-regulated transgene and of endogenous Ig demonstrating a biologically significant effect of the AhR on 3'IghRR activation. Altered human 3'IGHRR activity by AhR ligands, which include dietary, environmental, and pharmaceutical chemicals, may have significant implications to human diseases previously associated with the 3'IGHRR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Wourms
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Courtney E W Sulentic
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA.
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11
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Duan Z, Duan Y, Lei H, Hu N, Shi J, Shen D, Wang X, Hu Y. Attenuation of antigenic immunogenicity by kynurenine, a novel suppressive adjuvant. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014; 10:1295-305. [PMID: 24583631 DOI: 10.4161/hv.28099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel therapeutic strategy is required for autoimmune diseases characterized by the production of autoantibody, because current clinical strategies have limitations. Vaccination against autoimmune diseases is a feasible strategy because vaccines induce immune response memory and the antigen specificity. However, no suitable adjuvant is available to direct the immune response toward tolerance or suppression. In the current study, we evaluated whether kynurenine (Kyn) could serve as a novel suppressive adjuvant to decrease the humoral immune responses against hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the ICR mouse model in vivo and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in B cells in vitro. The underlying mechanisms of Kyn-mediated suppression of LPS-induced IgM responses were explored. The results showed that Kyn significantly decreased HAV immunogenicity when co-administered with HAV, and that Kyn (100 μM/1000 μM) impaired IgM generation compared with that induced by LPS alone. We also demonstrated that microRNA30b (miR30b) played a critical role in the process of Kyn-mediated suppression of IgM responses induced by LPS, and that Bach2, a transcriptional repressor of B cell terminal differentiation, was a novel target of miR30b. These findings suggest that Kyn can serve as a novel and effective suppressive adjuvant for vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqing Duan
- Institute of Medical Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Kunming, PR China
| | - Yunqing Duan
- Shanxi Agricultural University; Taigu, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Huangui Lei
- Shanxi Agricultural University; Taigu, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Ningzhu Hu
- Institute of Medical Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Kunming, PR China
| | - Jiandong Shi
- Institute of Medical Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Kunming, PR China
| | - Dong Shen
- Institute of Medical Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Kunming, PR China
| | - Xi Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Kunming, PR China
| | - Yunzhang Hu
- Institute of Medical Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Kunming, PR China
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Sherr DH, Monti S. The role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in normal and malignant B cell development. Semin Immunopathol 2013; 35:705-16. [PMID: 23942720 PMCID: PMC3824572 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-013-0390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor historically studied for its role in environmental chemical-mediated toxicity and carcinogenicity. In the last 5 years, however, it has become clear that the AhR, presumably activated by endogenous ligand(s), plays an important role in immune system development and function. Other articles in this edition summarize AhR function during T cell and antigen-presenting cell development and function, including the effects of AhR activation on dendritic cell function, T cell skewing, inflammation, and autoimmune disease. Here, we focus on AhR expression and function during B cell differentiation. Studies exploiting immunosuppressive environmental chemicals to probe the role of the AhR in humoral immunity are also reviewed to illustrate the multiple levels at which a “nominally activated” AhR could control B cell differentiation from the hematopoietic stem cell through the pro-B cell, mature B cell, and antibody-secreting plasma cell stages. Finally, a putative role for the AhR in the basic biology of B cell malignancies, many of which have been associated with exposure to environmental AhR ligands, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 72 East Concord Street (R-408), Boston, MA, 02118, USA,
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13
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Zhang Q, Kline DE, Bhattacharya S, Crawford RB, Conolly RB, Thomas RS, Andersen ME, Kaminski NE. All-or-none suppression of B cell terminal differentiation by environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2013; 268:17-26. [PMID: 23357550 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Many environmental contaminants can disrupt the adaptive immune response. Exposure to the ubiquitous aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other agonists suppresses the antibody response. The underlying pathway mechanism by which TCDD alters B cell function is not well understood. The present study investigated the mechanism of AhR-mediated pathways and mode of suppression by which TCDD perturbs terminal differentiation of B cells to plasma cells and thereby impairs antibody production. An integrated approach combining computational pathway modeling and in vitro assays with primary mouse B cells activated by lipopolysaccharide was employed. We demonstrated that suppression of the IgM response by TCDD occurs in an all-or-none (binary) rather than graded mode: i.e., it reduces the number of IgM-secreting cells in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting the IgM content in individual plasma cells. The mathematical model of the gene regulatory circuit underpinning B cell differentiation revealed that two previously identified AhR-regulated pathways, inhibition of signaling protein AP-1 and activation of transcription factor Bach2, could account for the all-or-none mode of suppression. Both pathways disrupt the operation of a bistable-switch circuit that contains transcription factors Bcl6, Prdm1, Pax5, and Bach2 and regulates B cell fate. The model further predicted that by transcriptionally activating Bach2, TCDD might delay B cell differentiation and increase the likelihood of isotype switching, thereby altering the antibody repertoire. In conclusion, the present study revealed the mode and specific pathway mechanisms by which the environmental immunosuppressant TCDD suppresses B cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Institute for Chemical Safety Sciences, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, NC 27709, USA.
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14
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Fernando TM, Ochs SD, Liu J, Chambers-Turner RC, Sulentic CEW. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induces transcriptional activity of the human polymorphic hs1,2 enhancer of the 3'Igh regulatory region. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 188:3294-306. [PMID: 22357631 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an environmental toxicant known to inhibit Ab secretion and Ig expression. Inhibition of Ig expression may be partially mediated through repression of the 3'Igh regulatory region (3'IghRR). TCDD inhibits mouse 3'IghRR activation and induces aryl hydrocarbon receptor binding to dioxin response elements within the 3'IghRR enhancers hs1,2 and hs4. The human hs1,2 enhancer (hu-hs1,2) is polymorphic as the result of the presence of one to four invariant sequences (ISs), which have been correlated with several autoimmune diseases. The IS also contains a dioxin response element core motif. Therefore, the objective was to determine whether hu-hs1,2 activity is sensitive to TCDD. Using a mouse B cell line (CH12.LX), we compared the effects of TCDD on mouse hs1,2 versus hu-hs1,2 activity. TCDD inhibited mouse hs1,2 similarly to the mouse 3'IghRR. In contrast, hu-hs1,2 was activated by TCDD, and antagonist studies supported an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent activation, which was replicated in a human B cell line (IM-9). Absence of Pax5 binding sites is a major difference between the human and mouse hs1,2 sequence. Insertion of the high-affinity Pax5 site in hu-hs1,2 markedly blunted reporter activity but did not alter TCDD's effect (i.e., no shift from activation to inhibition). Additionally, deletional analysis demonstrated a significant IS contribution to hu-hs1,2 basal activity, but TCDD-induced activity was not strictly IS number dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that hu-hs1,2 is a significant target of TCDD and support species differences in hs1,2 regulation. Therefore, sensitivity of hu-hs1,2 to chemical-induced modulation may influence the occurrence and/or severity of human diseases associated with hu-hs1,2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharu M Fernando
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
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15
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Zhang JG, Cong B, Jia XX, Li H, Li QX, Ma CL, Feng Y. Cholecystokinin octapeptide inhibits immunoglobulin G1 production of lipopolysaccharide-activated B cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2011; 11:1685-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2011.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2011] [Revised: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 05/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Lu H, Crawford RB, Kaplan BLF, Kaminski NE. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated disruption of the CD40 ligand-induced activation of primary human B cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2011; 255:251-60. [PMID: 21807014 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Revised: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 06/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Suppression of the primary antibody response is particularly sensitive to suppression by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in mice; however, surprisingly little is known concerning the effects of TCDD on humoral immunity or B cell function in humans. Results from a limited number of previous studies, primarily employing in vitro activation models, suggested that human B cell effector function is suppressed by TCDD. The present study sought to extend these findings by investigating, in primary human B cells, the effects of TCDD on several critical stages leading to antibody secretion including activation and plasmacytic differentiation using an in vitro CD40 ligand activation model. These studies revealed important differences in the response of human and mouse B cells to TCDD, the most striking being altered expression of plasmacytic differentiation regulators, B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 and paired box protein 5, in mouse but not human B cells. The activation of human B cells was profoundly impaired by TCDD, as evidenced by decreased expression of activation markers CD80, CD86, and CD69. The impaired activation correlated with decreased cell viability, which prevented the progression of human B cells toward plasmacytic differentiation. TCDD treatment also attenuated the early activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and Akt signaling in human B cells. Collectively, the present study provided experimental evidence for novel mechanisms by which TCDD impairs the effector function of primary human B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitian Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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17
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De Abrew KN, Phadnis AS, Crawford RB, Kaminski NE, Thomas RS. Regulation of Bach2 by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a mechanism for suppression of B-cell differentiation by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2011; 252:150-8. [PMID: 21296099 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2010] [Revised: 01/26/2011] [Accepted: 01/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters B-cell differentiation and suppresses antibody production. Previous genomic studies in mouse B cells identified Bach2 as a direct target of the AHR. Bach2 is known to repress expression of Prdm1, a key transcription factor involved in B-cell differentiation, by binding to Maf elements (MAREs) in the regulatory regions of the gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative PCR in TCDD-treated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated B cells showed increased binding of the AHR within the first intron in the Bach2 gene. The binding was further confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). TCDD also induced expression of Bach2 in activated as well as resting B cells from 2 to 24h post-treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Expression of Prdm1 was decreased by TCDD at 24h and was consistent with repression by Bach2. Increased DNA binding activity to the intron 5 MARE with increasing TCDD concentrations was observed by EMSA. Supershifts identified the presence of Bach2 in the DNA binding complex associated with the intron 5 MARE of Prdm1. Functional validation of the role of Bach2 in the suppression of B-cell differentiation by TCDD was performed using RNA interference (RNAi). Knockdown of Bach2 showed approximately 40% reversal in the TCDD-induced suppression of IgM secretion when compared to controls. The results suggest that the transcriptional regulation of Bach2 by the AHR is one of the mechanisms involved in the suppression of B-cell differentiation by TCDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nadira De Abrew
- The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, 6 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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18
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Sulentic CEW, Kaminski NE. The long winding road toward understanding the molecular mechanisms for B-cell suppression by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicol Sci 2010; 120 Suppl 1:S171-91. [PMID: 20952503 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Suppression of humoral immune responses by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was first reported in the mid-1970s. Since this initial observation, much effort has been devoted by many laboratories toward elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the profound impairment of humoral immune responses by TCDD, which is characterized by decreased B cell to plasma cell differentiation and suppression of immunoglobulin production. These efforts have led to a significant body of research demonstrating a direct effect of TCDD on B-cell maturation and function as well as a requisite but as yet undefined role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in these effects. Likewise, a number of molecular targets putatively involved in mediating B-cell dysfunction by TCDD, and other AhR ligands, have been identified. However, our current understanding has primarily relied on findings from mouse models, and the translation of this knowledge to effects on human B cells and humoral immunity in humans is less clear. Therefore, a current challenge is to determine how TCDD and the AhR affect human B cells. Efforts have been made in this direction but continued progress in developing adequate human models is needed. An in-depth discussion of these advances and limitations in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms putatively involved in the suppression of B-cell function by TCDD as well as the implications on human diseases associated in epidemiological studies with exposure to TCDD and dioxin-like compounds is the primary focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney E W Sulentic
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 45435, USA
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De Abrew KN, Kaminski NE, Thomas RS. An integrated genomic analysis of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated inhibition of B-cell differentiation. Toxicol Sci 2010; 118:454-69. [PMID: 20819909 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters differentiation of B cells and suppresses antibody production. A combination of whole-genome, microarray-based chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-on-chip), and time course gene expression microarray analysis was performed on the mouse B-cell line CH12.LX following exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS and TCDD to identify the primary and downstream transcriptional elements of B-cell differentiation that are altered by the AHR. ChIP-on-chip analysis identified 1893 regions with a significant increase in AHR binding with TCDD treatment. Transcription factor binding site analysis on the ChIP-on-chip data showed enrichment in AHR response elements. Other transcription factors showed significant coenrichment with AHR response elements. When ChIP-on-chip regions were compared with gene expression changes at the early time points, 78 genes were identified as potential direct targets of the AHR. AHR binding and expression changes were confirmed for a subset of genes in primary mouse B cells. Network analysis examining connections between the 78 potential AHR target genes and three transcription factors known to regulate B-cell differentiation indicated multiple paths for potential regulation by the AHR. Enrichment analysis on the differentially expressed genes at each time point evaluated the downstream impact of AHR-regulated gene expression changes on B-cell-related processes. AHR-mediated impairment of B-cell differentiation occurred at multiple nodes of the B-cell differentiation network and potentially through multiple mechanisms including direct cis-acting effects on key regulators of B-cell differentiation, indirect regulation of B-cell differentiation-related pathways, and transcriptional coregulation of target genes by AHR and other transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nadira De Abrew
- The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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Apetoh L, Quintana FJ, Pot C, Joller N, Xiao S, Kumar D, Burns EJ, Sherr DH, Weiner HL, Kuchroo VK. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacts with c-Maf to promote the differentiation of type 1 regulatory T cells induced by IL-27. Nat Immunol 2010; 11:854-61. [PMID: 20676095 PMCID: PMC2940320 DOI: 10.1038/ni.1912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 572] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells ) that produce interleukin 10 (IL-10) are instrumental in the prevention of tissue inflammation, autoimmunity and graft-versus-host disease. The transcription factor c-Maf is essential for the induction of IL-10 by Tr1 cells, but the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of these cells remain unclear. Here we show that the ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which was induced by IL-27, acted in synergy with c-Maf to promote the development of Tr1 cells. After T cell activation under Tr1-skewing conditions, the AhR bound to c-Maf and promoted transactivation of the Il10 and Il21 promoters, which resulted in the generation of Tr1 cells and the amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Manipulating AhR signaling could therefore be beneficial in the resolution of excessive inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Apetoh
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Francisco J. Quintana
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Caroline Pot
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Nicole Joller
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Sheng Xiao
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston 02115, MA, USA
| | - Evan J. Burns
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - David H. Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Howard L. Weiner
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Vijay K. Kuchroo
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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North CM, Crawford RB, Lu H, Kaminski NE. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated suppression of toll-like receptor stimulated B-lymphocyte activation and initiation of plasmacytic differentiation. Toxicol Sci 2010; 116:99-112. [PMID: 20348231 PMCID: PMC2886857 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2009] [Accepted: 03/23/2010] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent suppressor of humoral immunity, disrupting antibody production in response to both T cell-dependent and T cell-independent antigens. Among the cell types required for humoral responses, the B cell is highly, and directly, sensitive to TCDD. B cells become antibody-secreting cells via plasmacytic differentiation, a process regulated by several transcription factors, including activator protein-1, B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6 (BCL-6), and B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1). The overarching conceptual framework guiding experimentation is that TCDD disrupts plasmacytic differentiation by altering the expression or activity for upstream regulators of Blimp-1. Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to investigate TCDD-induced alterations in both activation marker and transcription factor expression following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of purified B cells. TCDD significantly impaired LPS-activated expression of major histocompatibility complex class II, cluster of differentiation (CD)69, CD80, and CD86. Immunosuppressive concentrations of TCDD also suppressed LPS-activated Blimp-1 and phosphorylated c-Jun expression, whereas elevating BCL-6 expression. Because BCL-6 and c-Jun are directly and indirectly regulated by the kinases AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), it was hypothesized that TCDD alters toll-like receptor-activated kinase phosphorylation. TCDD at 0.03 and 0.3 nM significantly impaired phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, and JNK in CH12.LX B cells activated with LPS, CpG oligonucleotides, or resiquimod (R848). In primary B cells, R848-activated phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, and JNK was also impaired by TCDD at 30 nM. These results suggest that impairment of plasmacytic differentiation by TCDD involves altered transcription factor expression, in part, by suppressed kinase phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Norbert E. Kaminski
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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Zhang Q, Bhattacharya S, Kline DE, Crawford RB, Conolly RB, Thomas RS, Kaminski NE, Andersen ME. Stochastic modeling of B lymphocyte terminal differentiation and its suppression by dioxin. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2010; 4:40. [PMID: 20359356 PMCID: PMC2859749 DOI: 10.1186/1752-0509-4-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2009] [Accepted: 04/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Upon antigen encounter, naïve B lymphocytes differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. This humoral immune response is suppressed by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other dioxin-like compounds, which belong to the family of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists. Results To achieve a better understanding of the immunotoxicity of AhR agonists and their associated health risks, we have used computer simulations to study the behavior of the gene regulatory network underlying B cell terminal differentiation. The core of this network consists of two coupled double-negative feedback loops involving transcriptional repressors Bcl-6, Blimp-1, and Pax5. Bifurcation analysis indicates that the feedback network can constitute a bistable system with two mutually exclusive transcriptional profiles corresponding to naïve B cells and plasma cells. Although individual B cells switch to the plasma cell state in an all-or-none fashion when stimulated by the polyclonal activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS), stochastic fluctuations in gene expression make the switching event probabilistic, leading to heterogeneous differentiation response among individual B cells. Moreover, stochastic gene expression renders the dose-response behavior of a population of B cells substantially graded, a result that is consistent with experimental observations. The steepness of the dose response curve for the number of plasma cells formed vs. LPS dose, as evaluated by the apparent Hill coefficient, is found to be inversely correlated to the noise level in Blimp-1 gene expression. Simulations illustrate how, through AhR-mediated repression of the AP-1 protein, TCDD reduces the probability of LPS-stimulated B cell differentiation. Interestingly, stochastic simulations predict that TCDD may destabilize the plasma cell state, possibly leading to a reversal to the B cell phenotype. Conclusion Our results suggest that stochasticity in gene expression, which renders a graded response at the cell population level, may have been exploited by the immune system to launch humoral immune response of a magnitude appropriately tuned to the antigen dose. In addition to suppressing the initiation of the humoral immune response, dioxin-like compounds may also disrupt the maintenance of the acquired immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Division of Computational Biology, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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23
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Bhattacharya S, Conolly RB, Kaminski NE, Thomas RS, Andersen ME, Zhang Q. A bistable switch underlying B-cell differentiation and its disruption by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicol Sci 2010; 115:51-65. [PMID: 20123757 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells upon antigen stimulation, a crucial step in the humoral immune response, is disrupted by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Several key regulatory proteins in the B-cell transcriptional network have been identified, with two coupled mutually repressive feedback loops among the three transcription factors B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl-6), B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1(Blimp-1), and paired box 5 (Pax5) forming the core of the network. However, the precise mechanisms underlying B-cell differentiation and its disruption by TCDD are not fully understood. Here we show with a computational systems biology model that coupling of the two feedback loops at the Blimp-1 node, through parallel inhibition of Blimp-1 gene activation by Bcl-6 and repression of Blimp-1 gene deactivation by Pax5, can generate a bistable switch capable of directing B cells to differentiate into plasma cells. We also use bifurcation analysis to propose that TCDD may suppress the B-cell to plasma cell differentiation process by raising the threshold dose of antigens such as lipopolysaccharide required to trigger the bistable switch. Our model further predicts that high doses of TCDD may render the switch reversible, thus causing plasma cells to lose immune function and dedifferentiate to a B cell-like state. The immunotoxic implications of these predictions are twofold. First, TCDD and related compounds would disrupt the initiation of the humoral immune response by reducing the proportion of B cells that respond to antigen and differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. Second, TCDD may also disrupt the maintenance of the immune response by depleting the pool of available plasma cells through dedifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudin Bhattacharya
- Division of Computational Biology, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
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North CM, Crawford RB, Lu H, Kaminski NE. Simultaneous in vivo time course and dose response evaluation for TCDD-induced impairment of the LPS-stimulated primary IgM response. Toxicol Sci 2009; 112:123-32. [PMID: 19675145 PMCID: PMC2769062 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfp187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2009] [Accepted: 07/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent suppressor of humoral immunity but the specific molecular mechanisms responsible for immunosuppression by TCDD are poorly understood. In vivo and in vitro studies of the primary humoral IgM response demonstrated that the B cell is a sensitive cell type to modulation by TCDD. We hypothesized that in vivo administration of TCDD disrupts expression of transcription factors controlling B cell to plasma cell differentiation. Female C57BL6 mice were treated with a single dose of TCDD (3, 10, or 30 microg/kg) and/or vehicle (sesame oil). On day 4 post-TCDD administration mice were sensitized with 25 microg lipopolysacchride (LPS) by intraperitioneal injection to stimulate an immune response. Splenocytes were isolated on subsequent days following LPS, up to 3 days post-LPS, and the expression of IgM, XBP-1, PAX5, BCL-6, and Blimp-1 was assessed. TCDD treatment dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced IgM antibody-forming cell number, which was correlated with decreased frequency of CD19+ CD138+ cells. Gene expression analysis revealed that TCDD caused a dose-dependent suppression of Igmicro chain, Igkappa chain, IgJ chain, XBP-1, and Blimp-1. TCDD also dose-dependently suppressed LPS-stimulated increases in Blimp-1 protein expression in CD19+ B cells. The deregulation of Blimp-1 expression by TCDD provides a partial explanation for the concomitant suppression of the IgM response and confirms previous observations established in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. North
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Robert B. Crawford
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Haitian Lu
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Norbert E. Kaminski
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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