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Ortiz G, Blanco T, Singh RB, Kahale F, Wang S, Chen Y, Dana R. IL-6 induces Treg dysfunction in desiccating stress-induced dry eye disease. Exp Eye Res 2024; 246:110006. [PMID: 39009059 PMCID: PMC11332651 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.110006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis, and their dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune disorders, including dry eye disease (DED). Treg dysfunction in DED allows T-helper cell 17 (Th17) mediated chronic inflammation at the ocular surface. In this study, the factors causing Treg dysfunction in DED were investigated. We observed reduced expression of Treg functional markers - FoxP3, CD25, and CTLA-4 in the cells isolated from DED mice (DED Tregs). Additionally, DED Tregs showed increased expression levels of receptors for pro-inflammatory cytokine receptors, namely IL-6R, IL-17RA, and IL-23R. An increased expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokine receptors was observed on exposing Tregs isolated from naïve mice (NTregs) to IL-6 or IL-17, but not IL-23, with a concomitant downregulation of FoxP3, CD25, and CTLA-4 in these cells. Furthermore, among these cytokines, IL-6 induced the most pronounced loss of Treg mediated suppression of Th17 proliferation and IL-10 secretion. In vitro and in vivo blockade of IL-6 effectively restored function in DED Tregs, leading to enhanced suppressive function against proliferating Th17 cells and ameliorating disease severity. In conclusion, this study provides insights into mechanisms of Treg dysregulation in DED, specifically delineating the effect of Th17-associated cytokines, with IL-6 emerging as the critical factor inducing Treg dysfunctionality. These findings highlight the potential for developing novel therapeutic interventions for DED through restoration of immunosuppressive function of Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Ortiz
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tomas Blanco
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohan Bir Singh
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francesca Kahale
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shudan Wang
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yihe Chen
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reza Dana
- Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Chu X, Yin Y, Chen S, Chen F, Liu H, Zhao S. Suppressive Role of Pigment Epithelium-derived Factor in a Rat Model of Corneal Allograft Rejection. Transplantation 2024:00007890-990000000-00736. [PMID: 38644534 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000005032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunological rejection is the most common reason for corneal transplantation failure. The importance of T cells in corneal allograft rejection is well demonstrated. Recent studies highlight that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) plays an immunoregulatory role in ocular diseases by enhancing the suppressive phenotype of regulatory T cells besides its other functions in neurotrophy and antiangiogenesis. METHODS The effects of PEDF on immune rejection were examined in rat models of corneal transplantation using slit-lamp microscope observation, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and Western blot. In vitro, we demonstrated PEDF reduced alloreactive T-cell activation using real-time polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and Western blot. RESULTS Topical administration of PEDF provided corneal transplantation rats with an improved graft survival rate of corneal allografts, reduced hemangiogenesis, and infiltration of immune cells in corneas, in particular, type 17 T helper cells while increased regulatory T cells. Moreover, nerve reinnervation within grafts was promoted in PEDF-treated recipient rats. In vitro, PEDF inhibited alloreactive T-cell activation via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/c-Jun signaling pathway and upregulated the expressions of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β, emphasizing the suppressive role of PEDF on immune responses. CONCLUSIONS Our results underscore the feasibility of PEDF in alleviating corneal allograft rejection and further illustrate its potential in managing immune-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoran Chu
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Bekbolsynov D, Waack A, Buskey C, Bhadkamkar S, Rengel K, Petersen W, Brown ML, Sparkle T, Kaw D, Syed FJ, Chattopadhyay S, Chakravarti R, Khuder S, Mierzejewska B, Rees M, Stepkowski S. Differences in Responses of Immunosuppressed Kidney Transplant Patients to Moderna mRNA-1273 versus Pfizer-BioNTech. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:91. [PMID: 38250904 PMCID: PMC10819652 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12010091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppressed kidney transplant (KT) recipients produce a weaker response to COVID-19 vaccination than immunocompetent individuals. We tested antiviral IgG response in 99 KT recipients and 66 healthy volunteers who were vaccinated with mRNA-1273 Moderna or BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. A subgroup of participants had their peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) evaluated for the frequency of T helper 1 (Th1) cells producing IL-2, IFN-γ and/or TNF-α, and IL-10-producing T-regulatory 1 (Tr) cells. Among KT recipients, 45.8% had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG compared to 74.1% of healthy volunteers (p = 0.009); also, anti-viral IgG levels were lower in recipients than in volunteers (p = 0.001). In terms of non-responders (≤2000 U/mL IgG), Moderna's group had 10.8% and Pfizer-BioNTech's group had 34.3% of non-responders at 6 months (p = 0.023); similarly, 15.7% and 31.3% were non-responders in Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech groups at 12 months, respectively (p = 0.067). There were no non-responders among controls. Healthy volunteers had higher Th1 levels than KT recipients, while Moderna produced a higher Th1 response than Pfizer-BioNTech. In contrast, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induced a higher Tr1 response than the Moderna vaccine (p < 0.05); overall, IgG levels correlated with Th1(fTTNF-α)/Tr1(fTIL-10) ratios. We propose that the higher number of non-responders in the Pfizer-BioNTech group than the Moderna group was caused by a more potent activity of regulatory Tr1 cells in KT recipients vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulat Bekbolsynov
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Andrew Waack
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Camryn Buskey
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Shalmali Bhadkamkar
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Keegan Rengel
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Winnifer Petersen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Mary Lee Brown
- Department of Urology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Tanaya Sparkle
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Dinkar Kaw
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Fayeq Jeelani Syed
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Saurabh Chattopadhyay
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Ritu Chakravarti
- Department of Physiology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Sadik Khuder
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Beata Mierzejewska
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Michael Rees
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
- Department of Urology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Stanislaw Stepkowski
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (D.B.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (S.B.); (K.R.); (W.P.); (S.C.); (B.M.); (M.R.)
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Sun J, Wang T, Bian J, Shi W, Ruan Q. Immune tolerance induced in the anterior chamber ameliorates corneal transplant rejection. Clin Immunol 2023; 257:109797. [PMID: 37776968 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109797] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The relevance of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in induction of tolerance against corneal allografts has been well established. However, whether Tregs can be induced in the anterior chamber and suppress local alloimmune response after corneal transplantation is largely unknown. In the current study we report that not only can alloantigen specific Tregs be generated in the anterior chamber during corneal transplantation, they also play important roles in suppressing allograft rejection. Allograft rejected mice exhibit reduced Treg induction in the anterior chamber and the ability of aqueous humor and corneal endothelial cells from allograft rejected mice to induce Tregs is compromised. Further analysis revealed that the expression of immune-tolerance-related molecules is significantly decreased. Finally, we demonstrate that increasing Treg cells specifically in the anterior chamber can effectively suppress allograft rejection and exhibits better efficacy in promoting corneal allograft survival than systemic administration of Treg cells. Our current study may provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of corneal transplant rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jijun Sun
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan 250021, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan 250021, China
| | - Jiang Bian
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Weiyun Shi
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan 250021, China; Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Qingguo Ruan
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Blanco T, Singh RB, Nakagawa H, Taketani Y, Dohlman TH, Chen Y, Chauhan SK, Yin J, Dana R. Conventional type I migratory CD103 + dendritic cells are required for corneal allograft survival. Mucosal Immunol 2023; 16:711-726. [PMID: 36642378 PMCID: PMC10413378 DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Corneal transplant rejection primarily occurs because of the T helper 1 (Th1) effector cell-mediated immune response of the host towards allogeneic tissue. The evidence suggests that type 1 migratory conventional CD103+ dendritic cells (CD103+DC1) acquire an immunosuppressive phenotype in the tumor environment; however, the involvement of CD103+DC1 in allograft survival continues to be an elusive question of great clinical significance in tissue transplantation. In this study, we assess the role of CD103+DC1 in suppressing Th1 alloreactivity against transplanted corneal allografts. The immunosuppressive function of CD103+DC1 has been extensively studied in non-transplantation settings. We found that host CD103+DC1 infiltrates the corneal graft and migrates to the draining lymph nodes to suppress alloreactive CD4+ Th1 cells via the programmed death-ligand 1 axis. The systemic depletion of CD103+ DC1 in allograft recipients leads to amplified Th1 activation, impaired Treg function, and increased rate of allograft rejection. Although allograft recipient Rag1 null mice reconstituted with naïve CD4+CD25- T cells efficiently generated peripheral Treg cells (pTreg), the CD103+DC1-depleted mice failed to generate pTreg. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of pTreg failed to rescue allografts in CD103+DC1-depleted recipients from rejection. These data demonstrate the critical role of CD103+DC1 in regulating host alloimmune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Blanco
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Rohan Bir Singh
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Hayate Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Yukako Taketani
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Thomas H Dohlman
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Yihe Chen
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Sunil K Chauhan
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jia Yin
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Reza Dana
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
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Blanco T, Musayeva A, Singh RB, Nakagawa H, Lee S, Alemi H, Gonzalez-Nolasco B, Ortiz G, Wang S, Kahale F, Dohlman TH, Chen Y, Dana R. The impact of donor diabetes on corneal transplant immunity. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:1345-1358. [PMID: 37245642 PMCID: PMC10527508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Corneal transplantation is the most common form of solid tissue grafting, with an approximately 80% to 90% success rate. However, success rates may decline when donor tissues are derived from patients with a history of diabetes mellitus (DM). To evaluate the underlying immunopathologic processes that cause graft rejection, we used streptozotocin-induced type 1 DM (DM1) and transgenic Lepob/ob type 2 DM (DM2) diabetic murine models as donors and nondiabetic BALB/c as recipients. DM resulted in an increased frequency of corneal antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with an acquired immunostimulatory phenotype. Following transplantation, recipients that received either type of diabetic graft showed increased APC migration and T helper type 1 alloreactive cells, impaired functional regulatory T cells, and graft survival. Insulin treatment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice led to an increased tolerogenic profile of graft APC, lower T helper type 1 sensitization, and a higher frequency of functional regulatory T cells with high suppressive capacity, reflected in increased graft survival. We conclude that both DM1 and DM2 in donors can impact corneal APC functional phenotype, rendering the tissue more immunogenic and thereby increasing the risk of graft failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Blanco
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aytan Musayeva
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rohan Bir Singh
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hayate Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Seokjoo Lee
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hamid Alemi
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruno Gonzalez-Nolasco
- Transplant Research Center, Department of Surgery, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gustavo Ortiz
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shudan Wang
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Francesca Kahale
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas H Dohlman
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yihe Chen
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Reza Dana
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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7
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Tian Y, Zhang T, Li J, Tao Y. Advances in development of exosomes for ophthalmic therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114899. [PMID: 37236425 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes contain multiple bioactive molecules and maintain the connection between cells. Recent advances in exosome-based therapeutics have witnessed unprecedented opportunities in treating ophthalmic diseases, including traumatic diseases, autoimmune diseases, chorioretinal diseases and others. Utilization of exosomes as delivery vectors to encapsulate both drugs and therapeutic genes could yield higher efficacy and avoid the unnecessary immune responses. However, exosome-based therapies also come with some potential ocular risks. In this review, we first present a general introduction to exosomes. Then we provide an overview of available applications and discuss their potential risks. Moreover, we review recently reported exosomes as delivery vectors for ophthalmic diseases. Finally, we put forward future perspectives to grapple with its translation and underlying issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, PR China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, PR China
| | - Jing Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of DNA Damage Response, College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, PR China
| | - Yong Tao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, PR China.
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Nakao T, Inomata T, Blanco T, Musayeva A, Tahvildari M, Amouzegar A, Yin J, Chauhan SK, Chen Y, Dana R. Amplified Natural Killer Cell Activity and Attenuated Regulatory T-cell Function Are Determinants for Corneal Alloimmunity in Very Young Mice. Transplantation 2023; 107:1302-1310. [PMID: 36584368 PMCID: PMC10205651 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004424] [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: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corneal transplantation outcomes are generally less favorable in young children compared with adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the immunological mechanisms underlying this difference. METHODS A murine model of allogeneic corneal transplantation was used in the study, and graft survival was determined by evaluating opacity scores for 8 wk. Syngeneic transplantation in the very young host served as a surgical control. The frequencies of total and activated natural killer (NK) cells in cornea posttransplantation were kinetically evaluated using flow cytometry. The regulatory T cell (Treg) frequency and function in naive animals were assessed by flow cytometry and in vitro suppression assays, respectively. Finally, graft survival and immune responses were determined in NK cell-depleted, or adult naive Treg-transferred, young hosts. RESULTS Corneal allograft survival in the very young recipients was significantly lower than in adult hosts. The frequencies of total NK cells and their interferon gamma-expressing subset in the cornea were significantly higher in the very young mice posttransplantation. In ungrafted mice, frequencies of Treg in draining lymph nodes as well as their capabilities to suppress NK-cell secretion of interferon gamma were lower in the very young compared with adults. In NK cell-depleted or adult Treg--transferred very young recipients, the allograft survival was significantly improved along with the suppressed NK-cell response. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that amplified activity of NK cells, together with lower suppressive function of Treg, contributes to early rejection of corneal allografts in very young graft recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nakao
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Takenori Inomata
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Tomas Blanco
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Aytan Musayeva
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Maryam Tahvildari
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Afsaneh Amouzegar
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jia Yin
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Sunil K. Chauhan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Yihe Chen
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Reza Dana
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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TIGIT-Fc Prolongs Corneal Allograft Survival in Mice by Upregulating TIGIT/CD226 Expression and the Proportion of Helios + Foxp3 + Treg Cells. Transplantation 2023; 107:372-381. [PMID: 35876368 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduction of graft rejection remains key issue for supporting long-term graft retention after corneal transplantation. The relevance of Treg in reduction of corneal allografts rejection has been demonstrated. It has been recently reported that in addition to Foxp3, Helios is also considered to be a marker of activated Treg. Helios + Foxp3 + Treg are considered to be the true immunosuppressive Treg. TIGIT is an immunosuppressive costimulatory molecule that was found to be highly expressed on the surface of Helios + Foxp3 + Treg. METHODS In this study, we aimed to explore whether supplementing TIGIT would result in an expansion and activation of Helios + Foxp3 + Treg thus to mediate an immune tolerance following corneal transplantation by administering topically and systemically TIGIT-Fc treatment in murine models. RESULTS TIGIT-Fc treatment significantly improved the survival of corneal allograft compared with the control group. TIGIT-Fc treatment increased TIGIT/CD226 expression, the proportion of Helios + Foxp3 + Treg cells and an enhanced ex vivo suppressive effect from peripheral lymph nodes isolated Treg cells. Furthermore, the expression of Helios in corneal grafts was upregulated, whereas expression of CD226 and production of aqueous interferon-γ and VEGF were reduced by TIGIT-Fc treatment. CONCLUSIONS TIGIT-Fc treatment could specifically upregulate Helios + Foxp3 + Treg-mediated immune response after allogeneic corneal transplantation via TIGIT/CD226-CD155 pathway which improves the survival of allografts.
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Nakagawa H, Blanco T, Kahale F, Wang S, Musayeva A, Alemi H, Dohlman TH, Dana R. A Novel Murine Model of Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea 2023; 42:224-231. [PMID: 36582035 PMCID: PMC9805546 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to establish a murine model of endothelial keratoplasty. METHODS Endothelial keratoplasty (EK) was performed using C57BL/6 donor and BALB/c recipient mice. The central endothelium and Descemet membrane were removed from the recipient cornea, and a 1.5-mm posterior lamellar donor graft was made adherent to the recipient cornea with a small amount of viscoelastic. Mice were followed through slitlamp microscopy postoperatively, and OCT was used to assess the cornea and anterior chamber and measure central corneal thickness. Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to confirm graft adherence and endothelial cell morphology. RESULTS Successfully attached EK grafts were visualized in all transplanted animals. Histology and immunostaining confirmed proper graft orientation and adherence, as well as the presence of donor endothelium on transplanted grafts. We observed maximal corneal edema in all animals at day 1 postoperatively which gradually subsided. EK graft survival was 97% at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we describe a novel murine model for EK which we anticipate will enable detailed investigation into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in EK pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayate Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tomas Blanco
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francesca Kahale
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shudan Wang
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aytan Musayeva
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hamid Alemi
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas H. Dohlman
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reza Dana
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Cao W, Lu J, Li L, Qiu C, Qin X, Wang T, Li S, Zhang J, Xu J. Activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ameliorates Acute Rejection of Rat Liver Transplantation by Regulating Treg Proliferation and PD-1 Expression. Transplantation 2022; 106:2172-2181. [PMID: 35706097 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays important roles in modulating immune responses. However, the role of AhR in rat liver transplantation (LT) has not been explored. METHODS Safety and side effects of N -(3,4-dimethoxycinnamonyl) anthranilic acid (3,4-DAA) and 2-methyl-2H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid amide (CH223191) were evaluated. We used optimal doses of 2 drugs, 3,4-DAA, a drug used for mediating AhR activation, and CH223191, antagonist of AhR (3,4-DAA, CH223191, and 3,4-DAA + CH223191), intraperitoneally administered to recipients daily to investigate the role of AhR in the rat LT model. The recipient livers were used to observe the pathological changes, the cells infiltrating the graft, and changes of AhR and programmed death-1 (PD-1) by Western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence assays. The contents of Foxp3 + and PD-1 + T cells in the recipient spleen and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. In vitro, after isolating CD4 + T cells, they were treated with different AhR ligands to observe the differentiation direction and PD-1 expression level. RESULTS The activation of AhR by 3,4-DAA prolonged survival time and ameliorated graft rejection, which were associated with increased expression of AhR and PD-1 in the livers and increased Foxp3 + T cells and PD-1 + T cells in recipient spleens, livers, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In vitro, primary T cells incubated with 3,4-DAA mediated increased proportion of Treg and PD-1 + T cells. However, the suppression of AhR with CH223191 reverses these effects, both in the LT model and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that AhR activation might reduce the occurrence of rat acute rejection by increasing the proportion of Treg and the expression of PD-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyue Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Center of Gallbladder Disease, Shanghai East Hospital, Institute of Gallstone Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuebin Qin
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA
- Department of Neuroscience, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanbao Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinyan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junming Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Chen Y, Wang S, Alemi H, Dohlman T, Dana R. Immune regulation of the ocular surface. Exp Eye Res 2022; 218:109007. [PMID: 35257715 PMCID: PMC9050918 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite constant exposure to various environmental stimuli, the ocular surface remains intact and uninflamed while maintaining the transparency of the cornea and its visual function. This 'immune privilege' of the ocular surface is not simply a result of the physical barrier function of the mucosal lining but, more importantly, is actively maintained through a variety of immunoregulatory mechanisms that prevent the disruption of immune homeostasis. In this review, we focus on essential molecular and cellular players that promote immune quiescence in steady-state conditions and suppress inflammation in disease-states. Specifically, we examine the interactions between the ocular surface and its local draining lymphoid compartment, by encompassing the corneal epithelium, corneal nerves and cornea-resident myeloid cells, conjunctival goblet cells, and regulatory T cells (Treg) in the context of ocular surface autoimmune inflammation (dry eye disease) and alloimmunity (corneal transplantation). A better understanding of the immunoregulatory mechanisms will facilitate the development of novel, targeted immunomodulatory strategies for a broad range of ocular surface inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihe Chen
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Shudan Wang
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Hamid Alemi
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Thomas Dohlman
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Reza Dana
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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13
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Lužnik Marzidovšek Z, Blanco T, Sun Z, Alemi H, Ortiz G, Nakagawa H, Chauhan SK, Taylor AW, Jurkunas UV, Yin J, Dana R. The Neuropeptide Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Is Critical for Corneal Endothelial Cell Protection and Graft Survival after Transplantation. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2022; 192:270-280. [PMID: 34774519 PMCID: PMC8908049 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Corneal transplantation is the most common form of tissue transplantation. The success of corneal transplantation mainly relies on the integrity of corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs), which maintain tissue transparency by pumping out excess water from the cornea. After transplantation, the rate of CEnC loss far exceeds that seen with normal aging, which can threaten sight. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a neuropeptide that is constitutively found in the aqueous humor with both cytoprotective and immunomodulatory effects. The curent study found high expression of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), the receptor for α-MSH, on CEnCs. The effect of α-MSH/MC1R signaling on endothelial function and allograft survival in vitro and in vivo was investigated using MC1R signaling-deficient mice (Mc1re/e mice with a nonfunctional MC1R). Herein, the results indicate that in addition to its well-known immunomodulatory effect, α-MSH has cytoprotective effects on CEnCs after corneal transplantation, and the loss of MC1R signaling significantly decreases long-term graft survival in vivo. In conclusion, α-MSH/MC1R signaling is critical for CEnC function and graft survival after corneal transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zala Lužnik Marzidovšek
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomas Blanco
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zhongmou Sun
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hamid Alemi
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gustavo Ortiz
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hayate Nakagawa
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sunil K. Chauhan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew W. Taylor
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ula V. Jurkunas
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jia Yin
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Address correspondence to Reza Dana, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., or Jia Yin, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114.
| | - Reza Dana
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Address correspondence to Reza Dana, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., or Jia Yin, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114.
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14
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Bian J, Wang T, Sun J, He X, Wu Z, Zhang S, Chi H, Fan T, Wang S, Shi W, Ruan Q. Targeting NF-κB c-Rel in regulatory T cells to treat corneal transplantation rejection. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:3858-3870. [PMID: 34254428 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The relevance of Tregs in the induction of tolerance against corneal allografts has been well established. Although it is well known that the conversion of Tregs into effector-like cells contributes to the loss of corneal immune privilege, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. Using heterologous penetrating keratoplasty model, we found that Tregs from corneal allograft rejected mice (inflam-Tregs) exhibit impaired function and characteristics of effector T cells. Further study showed that the expression of NF-κB c-Rel, a key mediator of effector T cell function, was significantly increased in inflam-Tregs. Mechanistic study revealed that elevated NF-κB c-Rel level in inflam-Tregs impaired Treg function through the promotion of inflammatory cytokine production and glycolysis. More importantly, we demonstrated that targeting NF-κB c-Rel was able to improve the immune suppressive function of inflam-Tregs in vitro and enhance the potential of them to suppress corneal transplantation rejection. Therefore, our current study identified NF-κB c-Rel as a key mediator of the conversion of Tregs into effector-like cells when under inflammatory environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Bian
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Jijun Sun
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaozhen He
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhijiao Wu
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Songmei Zhang
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Hao Chi
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Tingting Fan
- Center for Antibody Drug, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shaowen Wang
- Center for Antibody Drug, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiyun Shi
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Qingguo Ruan
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Center for Antibody Drug, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
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15
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Corneal Allografts: Factors for and against Acceptance. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:5372090. [PMID: 34642632 PMCID: PMC8502534 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5372090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cornea is one of the most commonly transplanted tissues worldwide. However, it is usually omitted in the field of transplantology. Transplantation of the cornea is performed to treat many ocular diseases. It restores eyesight significantly improving the quality of life. Advancements in banking of explanted corneas and progressive surgical techniques increased availability and outcomes of transplantation. Despite the vast growth in the field of transplantation laboratory testing, standards for corneal transplantation still do not include HLA typing or alloantibody detection. This standard practice is based on immune privilege dogma that accounts for high success rates of corneal transplantation. However, the increasing need for retransplantation in high-risk patients with markedly higher risk of rejection causes ophthalmology transplantation centers to reevaluate their standard algorithms. In this review we discuss immune privilege mechanisms influencing the allograft acceptance and factors disrupting the natural immunosuppressive environment of the eye. Current developments in testing and immunosuppressive treatments (including cell therapies), when applied in corneal transplantation, may give very good results, decrease the possibility of rejection, and reduce the need for retransplantation, which is fairly frequent nowadays.
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16
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Zhu J, Inomata T, Fujimoto K, Uchida K, Fujio K, Nagino K, Miura M, Negishi N, Okumura Y, Akasaki Y, Hirosawa K, Kuwahara M, Eguchi A, Shokirova H, Yanagawa A, Midorikawa-Inomata A, Murakami A. Ex Vivo-Induced Bone Marrow-Derived Myeloid Suppressor Cells Prevent Corneal Allograft Rejection in Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:3. [PMID: 34061951 PMCID: PMC8185403 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.7.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the effects of ex vivo-induced bone marrow myeloid-derived suppressor cells (BM-MDSCs) on allogeneic immune responses in corneal transplantation. Methods Bone marrow cells from C57BL/6J (B6) mice were cultured with IL-6 and GM-CSF for four days. The ex vivo induction of the BM-MDSCs was assessed using flow cytometry, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and nitric oxide (NO) production in allogeneic stimulation. T-cell proliferation and regulatory T-cell (Treg) expansion were investigated on allogeneic stimulation in the presence of ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs. IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, and TGF-β1 protein levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. After subconjunctival injection of ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs, the migration of the BM-MDSCs into corneal grafts, allogeneic corneal graft survival, neovascularization, and lymphangiogenesis were assessed using flow cytometry, slit-lamp microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. Results The combination of GM-CSF and IL-6 significantly induced BM-MDSCs with increased iNos mRNA expression. The ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs promoted NO release in allogeneic stimulation in vitro. The ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs inhibited T-cell proliferation and promoted Treg expansion. Decreased IFN-γ and increased IL-2, IL-10, and TGF-β1 production was observed in coculture of ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs. Injected ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs were confirmed to migrate into the grafts. The injected BM-MDSCs also prolonged corneal graft survival and prevented angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Conclusions The ex vivo-induced BM-MDSCs have suppressive effects on allogeneic immune responses and prolong corneal allograft survival via the iNOS pathway, indicating that they may be a potential therapeutic tool for corneal transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Subei People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takenori Inomata
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Strategic Operating Room Management and Improvement, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Hospital Administration, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Fujimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichiro Uchida
- Atopy Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Fujio
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Nagino
- Department of Hospital Administration, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maria Miura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko Negishi
- Atopy Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Indoor Environment Neurophysiology Research, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Okumura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Strategic Operating Room Management and Improvement, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasutsugu Akasaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Hirosawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mizu Kuwahara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Eguchi
- Department of Hospital Administration, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hurramhon Shokirova
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ai Yanagawa
- Department of Digital Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akie Midorikawa-Inomata
- Department of Hospital Administration, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Murakami
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Hospital Administration, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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17
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Yan D, Yu F, Chen L, Yao Q, Yan C, Zhang S, Wu N, Gong D, Sun H, Fu Y, Shao C. Subconjunctival Injection of Regulatory T Cells Potentiates Corneal Healing Via Orchestrating Inflammation and Tissue Repair After Acute Alkali Burn. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:22. [PMID: 33326018 PMCID: PMC7745601 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.14.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of locally delivered regulatory T cells (Tregs) on acute corneal wound healing after alkali burn. Methods After corneal alkali burn, the mice were injected subconjunctivally with regulatory T cells (Tregs) isolated from syngeneic mice. The wound healing process was monitored by clinical manifestation, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As amphiregulin (Areg) was significantly upregulated, its reparative function in injured corneas was suggested. The hypothesis was further verified via loss- and gain-of-function experiments by administrating the antibody of Areg (anti-Areg) and recombinant Areg (rmAreg). Results Subconjunctivally injected Tregs rapidly migrated to injured corneas. The mice treated with Tregs showed prominently reduced corneal opacity, alleviated edema, and faster re-epithelialization compared with the control group. Mechanistically, Treg treatment led to suppressed infiltration of inflammatory cells, along with improved proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells. Tregs expressed upregulated functional markers, including Areg. Expectantly, the levels of Areg in corneas were dramatically higher in the Treg injection group, in line with better corneal restoration. Additional experiments showed that the administration of anti-Areg blunted the reparative effect of Tregs, while exogenous Areg enhanced it. Treg-treated corneas also exhibited less neovascularization and fibrosis at a later reconstruction stage of corneal repair. Conclusions The findings showed that the subconjunctival injection of Tregs effectively promoted corneal wound healing by inhibiting excessive inflammation and enhancing epithelial regeneration, with an indispensable reparative role of Areg. Subsequent complications of corneal vascularization and fibrosis were therefore reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Liangbo Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinke Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenxi Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Nianxuan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Danni Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyi Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
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18
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Topical Adoptive Transfer of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells for Corneal Wound Healing. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 32808268 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0845-6_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are crucial for corneal homeostasis through secretion of various anti-angiogenic molecules and growth factors. Due to its avascular nature, only a limited number of adoptively transferred cells home to the cornea, when administered systemically. In addition, local adoptive transfer of cells poses several challenges and the clinical application of commonly used techniques is limited. Herein, we detail a novel approach for local adoptive transfer of pDCs to the cornea for the treatment of corneal wounds. This approach utilizes a commonly used fibrin sealant as a means of transferring previously isolated cells locally on the cornea. The technique is simple, reproducible, and is accompanied with successful transfer and integration of a substantial number of the cells to the cornea. Application of this approach to transfer pDCs promotes corneal wound healing. Furthermore, this technique can be applied for adoptive transfer of any cell of interest to the cornea.
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Lightbourn CO, Wolf D, Copsel SN, Wang Y, Pfeiffer BJ, Barreras H, Bader CS, Komanduri KV, Perez VL, Levy RB. Use of Post-transplant Cyclophosphamide Treatment to Build a Tolerance Platform to Prevent Liquid and Solid Organ Allograft Rejection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:636789. [PMID: 33737937 PMCID: PMC7962410 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.636789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal transplantation (CT) is the most frequent type of solid organ transplant (SOT) performed worldwide. Unfortunately, immunological rejection is the primary cause of graft failure for CT and therefore advances in immune regulation to induce tolerance remains an unmet medical need. Recently, our work and others in pre-clinical studies found that cyclophosphamide (Cy) administered after (“post-transplant,” PTCy) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), i.e., liquid transplants is effective for graft vs. host disease prophylaxis and enhances overall survival. Importantly, within the past 10 years, PTCy has been widely adopted for clinical HSCT and the results at many centers have been extremely encouraging. The present studies found that Cy can be effectively employed to prolong the survival of SOT, specifically mouse corneal allografts. The results demonstrated that the timing of PTCy administration is critical for these CT and distinct from the kinetics employed following allogeneic HSCT. PTCy was observed to interfere with neovascularization, a process critically associated with immune rejection of corneal tissue that ensues following the loss of ocular “immune privilege.” PTCy has the potential to delete or directly suppress allo-reactive T cells and treatment here was shown to diminish T cell rejection responses. These PTCy doses were observed to spare significant levels of CD4+ FoxP3+ (Tregs) which were found to be functional and could readily receive stimulating signals leading to their in vivo expansion via TNFRSF25 and CD25 agonists. In total, we posit future studies can take advantage of Cy based platforms to generate combinatorial strategies for long-term tolerance induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey O Lightbourn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Dietlinde Wolf
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sabrina N Copsel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Brent J Pfeiffer
- Department of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Henry Barreras
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Cameron S Bader
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Krishna V Komanduri
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Victor L Perez
- Department of Ophthalmology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.,Foster Center for Ocular Immunology at Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Robert B Levy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Coco G, Foulsham W, Nakao T, Yin J, Amouzegar A, Taketani Y, Chauhan SK, Dana R. Regulatory T cells promote corneal endothelial cell survival following transplantation via interleukin-10. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:389-398. [PMID: 31587452 PMCID: PMC6984989 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The functional competence of corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) is critical for survival of corneal allografts, but these cells are often targets of the immune response mediated by graft-attacking effector T cells. Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been studied for their role in regulating the host's alloimmune response towards the graft, the cytoprotective function of these cells on CEnCs has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether Tregs suppress effector T cell-mediated and inflammatory cytokine-induced CEnC death, and to elucidate the mechanism by which this cytoprotection occurs. Using 2 well-established models of corneal transplantation (low-risk and high-risk models), we show that Tregs derived from low-risk graft recipients have a superior capacity in protecting CEnCs against effector T cell-mediated and interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α-induced cell death compared to Tregs derived from high-risk hosts. We further demonstrate that the cytoprotective function of Tregs derived from low-risk hosts occurs independently of direct cell-cell contact and is mediated by the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10. Our study is the first to report that Tregs provide cytoprotection for CEnCs through secretion of IL-10, indicating potentially novel therapeutic targets for enhancing CEnC survival following corneal transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Coco
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - William Foulsham
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Takeshi Nakao
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jia Yin
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Afsaneh Amouzegar
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yukako Taketani
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sunil K Chauhan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Reza Dana
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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