LTβR and CD40: working together in dendritic cells to optimize immune responses

Proximogram-A multi-omics network-based framework to capture tissue heterogeneity integrating single-cell omics and spatial profiling

The increasing availability of patient-derived multimodal biological data for various diseases has opened up avenues for finding the optimal methods for jointly leveraging the information extracted in a customizable and scalable manner. Here, we propose the Proximogram, a graph-based representation that provides a joint construct for embedding independently obtained omics and spatial data. To evaluate the representation, we generated proximograms from 2 distinct biological sources, namely, multiplexed immunofluorescence images and single-cell RNA-seq data obtained from patients across two pancreatic diseases that include normal and chronic Pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The generated proximograms were used as inputs to 2 distinct graph deep-learning models. The improved classification results over simpler spatial-data-based input graphs point to the increased discriminatory power obtained by integrating structural information from single-cell ligand-receptor signaling data and the spatial architecture of cells in each disease class, which can help point to markers of high diagnostic significance.

Reciprocal regulation of T follicular helper cells and dendritic cells drives colitis development

The immunological mechanisms underlying chronic colitis are poorly understood. T follicular helper (TFH) cells are critical in helping B cells during germinal center reactions. In a T cell transfer colitis model, a lymphoid structure composed of mature dendritic cells (DCs) and TFH cells was found within T cell zones of colonic lymphoid follicles. TFH cells were required for mature DC accumulation, the formation of DC-T cell clusters and colitis development. Moreover, DCs promoted TFH cell differentiation, contributing to colitis development. A lineage-tracing analysis showed that, following migration to the lamina propria, TFH cells transdifferentiated into long-lived pathogenic TH1 cells, promoting colitis development. Our findings have therefore demonstrated the reciprocal regulation of TFH cells and DCs in colonic lymphoid follicles, which is critical in chronic colitis pathogenesis.

Immune system-wide Mendelian randomization and triangulation analyses support autoimmunity as a modifiable component in dementia-causing diseases

Immune system and blood-brain barrier dysfunction are implicated in the development of Alzheimer's and other dementia-causing diseases, but their causal role remains unknown. We performed Mendelian randomization for 1,827 immune system- and blood-brain barrier-related biomarkers and identified 127 potential causal risk factors for dementia-causing diseases. Pathway analyses linked these biomarkers to amyloid-β, tau and α-synuclein pathways and to autoimmunity-related processes. A phenome-wide analysis using Mendelian randomization-based polygenic risk score in the FinnGen study (n = 339,233) for the biomarkers indicated shared genetic background for dementias and autoimmune diseases. This association was further supported by human leukocyte antigen analyses. In inverse-probability-weighted analyses that simulate randomized controlled drug trials in observational data, anti-inflammatory methotrexate treatment reduced the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in high-risk individuals (hazard ratio compared with no treatment, 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.88, P = 0.005). These converging results from different lines of human research suggest that autoimmunity is a modifiable component in dementia-causing diseases.

Robust CD8+ T-cell proliferation and diversification after mogamulizumab in patients with adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma

Skin-related adverse events (AEs) occur frequently in adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) patients treated with mogamulizumab, a humanized anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody. This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms of mogamulizumab-induced skin-related AEs. We analyzed the T-cell receptor β chain repertoire in ATL patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before and after mogamulizumab. Skin-related AEs were present in 16 patients and were absent in 8 patients. Additionally, we included 11 patients before and after chemotherapy without mogamulizumab. Immune-related gene expression in PBMCs before and after mogamulizumab was also assessed (n = 24). Mogamulizumab treatment resulted in CCR4+ T-cell depletion, and the consequent lymphopenia provoked homeostatic CD8+ T-cell proliferation, as evidenced by increased expressions of CD8B and CD8A, which were significantly greater in patients with skin-related AEs than in those without them. We hypothesize that proliferation is driven by the engagement of self-antigens, including skin-related antigens, in the face of regulatory T-cell depletion. Together with the observed activated antigen presentation function, this resulted in T-cell diversification that was significantly greater in patients with skin-related AEs than in those without. We found that the CD8+ T cells that proliferated and diversified after mogamulizumab treatment were almost entirely newly emerged clones. There was an inverse relationship between the degree of CCR4+ T-cell depletion and increased CD8+ T-cell proliferation and diversification. Thus, lymphocyte-depleting mogamulizumab treatment provokes homeostatic CD8+ T-cell proliferation predominantly of newly emerging clones, some of which could have important roles in the pathogenesis of mogamulizumab-induced skin-related AEs.

MiR-1307-5p targeting TRAF3 upregulates the MAPK/NF-κB pathway and promotes lung adenocarcinoma proliferation

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression in animals and plants, especially in lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

MiR-1307-5p is an miRNA with significant differences screened by the second generation of high-throughput sequencing in the early stage of our research group. In the current study, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out. MiR-1307-5p mimic, miR-1307-5p inhibitor, and NC were transfected into A549 and H1299 lung adenocarcinoma cells. The correlation between miR-1307-5p and clinicopathological features in pathological samples was analyzed using a lung adenocarcinoma tissue microarray, and miR-1307-5p expression was detected by qPCR. CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, scratch test, and Transwell assays were used to observe cell proliferation and migration. Double luciferase assay, western blot, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry were employed in confirming the target relationship between miR-1307-5p and TRAF3. Western blotting was used to analyze the relationship between miR-1307-5p and the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. Finally, the effect of miR-1307-5p on tumor growth was studied using a subcutaneous tumorigenesis model in nude mice.

RESULTS

Increased miR-1307-5p expression was significantly related to decreased overall survival rate of lung adenocarcinoma patients, revealing miR-1307-5p as a potential oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. MiR-1307-5p mimic significantly promoted while miR-1307-5p inhibitor reduced the growth and proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells. MiR-1307-5p overexpression significantly enhanced the migration ability while miR-1307-5p inhibition reduced the migration ability of A549 and H1299 cells. Target binding of miR-1307-5p to TRAF3 was confirmed by double luciferase assay, western blot, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. miR-1307-5p caused degradation of TRAF3 mRNA and protein. MiR-1307-5p targeted TRAF3 and activated the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. TRAF3 colocalized with p65 and the localization of TRAF3 and p65 changed in each treatment group. Tumor volume of the lv-miR-1307-5p group was significantly larger than that of the lv-NC group, and that of the lv-miR-1307-5p-inhibitor group was significantly smaller than that of the lv-NC group.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, miR-1307-5p targets TRAF3 and activates the NF-κB/MAPK pathway to promote proliferation in lung adenocarcinoma.

Mechanistic basis of co-stimulatory CD40-CD40L ligation mediated regulation of immune responses in cancer and autoimmune disorders

Generation of an accurate humoral and a cell mediated adaptive immune responsesare dictated by binding of an antigen to a T- and a B-cell receptor, respectively (first signal) followed by ligation of costimulatory molecules (second signal). CD40, a costimulatory receptor molecule, expressed mainly on antigen presenting cells, some non-immune cells and tumors, binds to CD40 ligand molecule expressed transiently on T-cells and non-immune cells under inflammatory conditions. In the past decade, the CD40-CD40L interaction has emerged as an immune-potentiating system that governs and regulates host immune response against various diseases and pathogens, failing of which results in detrimental patho-physiologies including cancer and autoimmune disorders. CD40-CD40L transduces immune signals intracellularly via TRAF-dependent and independent mechanisms and further downstream by different MAPK pathways and transcription factors such as NF-κB, p38 etc. While CD40 signaling pathway through its cognate interaction between B and T cells promotes activation and proliferation of B-cells, Ig class switching, and generation of B cell memory; however, CD40-CD40L interaction involving other APCs and non-immune cells relay distinct cell signaling resulting in production of a variety of cytokines/chemokines and cell adhesion molecules ultimately conferring host defense against pathogen. In cancer and autoimmune disorders, CD40-CD40L interaction is also responsible for aberrant expression of many disease specific markers, class I/II MHC molecules and other co-stimulatory molecules such as B7 and CD28 in cell- and disease-specific manner. In the present review, the current state of understanding about the CD40-CD40L mediated regulation of immune and non-immune cells is presented. The current paradigm is to target CD40 using agonist anti-CD40 mAbs alone or in synergistic combination with chemotherapy in order to harness or confer anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory immunity.

Safety testing of monoclonal antibodies in non-human primates: Case studies highlighting their impact on human risk assessment

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are improving the quality of life for patients suffering from serious diseases due to their high specificity for their target and low potential for off-target toxicity. The toxicity of mAbs is primarily driven by their pharmacological activity, and therefore safety testing of these drugs prior to clinical testing is performed in species in which the mAb binds and engages the target to a similar extent to that anticipated in humans. For highly human-specific mAbs, this testing often requires the use of non-human primates (NHPs) as relevant species. It has been argued that the value of these NHP studies is limited because most of the adverse events can be predicted from the knowledge of the target, data from transgenic rodents or target-deficient humans, and other sources. However, many of the mAbs currently in development target novel pathways and may comprise novel scaffolds with multi-functional domains; hence, the pharmacological effects and potential safety risks are less predictable. Here, we present a total of 18 case studies, including some of these novel mAbs, with the aim of interrogating the value of NHP safety studies in human risk assessment. These studies have identified mAb candidate molecules and pharmacological pathways with severe safety risks, leading to candidate or target program termination, as well as highlighting that some pathways with theoretical safety concerns are amenable to safe modulation by mAbs. NHP studies have also informed the rational design of safer drug candidates suitable for human testing and informed human clinical trial design (route, dose and regimen, patient inclusion and exclusion criteria and safety monitoring), further protecting the safety of clinical trial participants.

Dendritic Cell KLF2 Expression Regulates T Cell Activation and Proatherogenic Immune Responses

Dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated as important regulators of innate and adaptive inflammation in many diseases, including atherosclerosis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which DCs mitigate or promote inflammatory pathogenesis are only partially understood. Previous studies have shown an important anti-inflammatory role for the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) in regulating activation of various cell types that participate in atherosclerotic lesion development, including endothelial cells, macrophages, and T cells. We used a pan-DC, CD11c-specific cre-lox gene knockout mouse model to assess the role of KLF2 in DC activation, function, and control of inflammation in the context of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. We found that KLF2 deficiency enhanced surface expression of costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86 in DCs and promoted increased T cell proliferation and apoptosis. Transplant of bone marrow from mice with KLF2-deficient DCs into Ldlr-/- mice aggravated atherosclerosis compared with control mice, most likely due to heightened vascular inflammation evidenced by increased DC presence within lesions, enhanced T cell activation and cytokine production, and increased cell death in atherosclerotic lesions. Taken together, these data indicate that KLF2 governs the degree of DC activation and hence the intensity of proatherogenic T cell responses.

T Cell Cancer Therapy Requires CD40-CD40L Activation of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Inducible Nitric-Oxide-Synthase-Producing Dendritic Cells

Effective cancer immunotherapy requires overcoming immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. We found that local nitric oxide (NO) production by tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells is important for adoptively transferred CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells to destroy tumors. These myeloid cells are phenotypically similar to inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2)- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-producing dendritic cells (DC), or Tip-DCs. Depletion of immunosuppressive, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R)-dependent arginase 1(+) myeloid cells enhanced NO-dependent tumor killing. Tumor elimination via NOS2 required the CD40-CD40L pathway. We also uncovered a strong correlation between survival of colorectal cancer patients and NOS2, CD40, and TNF expression in their tumors. Our results identify a network of pro-tumor factors that can be targeted to boost cancer immunotherapies.

Characterisation of inflammatory processes in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric lymphomagenesis in a mouse model

Gastric MALT lymphoma (GML) can be induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in BALB/c mice thymectomised at day 3 post-birth (d3Tx). This represented a unique opportunity to investigate the inflammatory process involved in the recruitment, proliferation and structuration of lymphoid infiltrates in the gastric mucosa of mice developing GML. Complementary molecular and proteomic approaches demonstrated that Th1 and Th2 cytokines were upregulated, along with activators/regulators of the lymphoid response and numerous chemokines. Interleukin-4, interferon γ, lymphotoxin-α and -β were significantly upregulated and correlated with the inflammatory scores for all the d3Tx mice. GML lesions in d3Tx mice infected with H. pylori were associated with the presence of the inflammatory response. The dysregulation of numerous members of the tumour necrosis factor superfamily was also evident and suggests that they could play an important role in GML pathology, especially in light of their ability to promote and control lymphocyte proliferation.

Immunotherapeutic targeting of LIGHT/LTβR/HVEM pathway fully recapitulates the reduced cytotoxic phenotype of LIGHT-deficient T cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamily members play essential roles in the development of the different phases of the immune response. Mouse LIGHT (TNFSF14) is a type II transmembrane protein with a C-terminus extracellular TNF homology domain (THD) that assembles in homotrimers and regulates the course of the immune responses by signaling through 2 receptors, the herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM, TNFRSF14) and the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR, TNFRSF3). LIGHT is a membrane-bound protein transiently expressed on activated T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and immature dendritic cells that can be proteolytically cleaved by a metalloprotease and released to the extracellular milieu. The immunotherapeutic potential of LIGHT blockade was evaluated in vivo. Administration of an antagonist of LIGHT interaction with its receptors attenuated the course of graft-versus-host reaction and recapitulated the reduced cytotoxic activity of LIGHT-deficient T cells adoptively transferred into non-irradiated semiallogeneic recipients. The lack of LIGHT expression on donor T cells or blockade of LIGHT interaction with its receptors slowed down the rate of T cell proliferation and decreased the frequency of precursor alloreactive T cells, retarding T cell differentiation toward effector T cells. The blockade of LIGHT/LTβR/HVEM pathway was associated with delayed downregulation of interleukin-7Rα and delayed upregulation of inducible costimulatory molecule expression on donor alloreactive CD8 T cells that are typical features of impaired T cell differentiation. These results expose the relevance of LIGHT/LTβR/HVEM interaction for the potential therapeutic control of the allogeneic immune responses mediated by alloreactive CD8 T cells that can contribute to prolong allograft survival.

Involvement of the cytoplasmic cysteine-238 of CD40 in its up-regulation of CD23 expression and its enhancement of TLR4-triggered responses

CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, plays a key role in both adaptive and innate immunity. Engagement of CD40 with its natural trimeric ligand or with cross-linked antibodies results in disulfide-linked CD40 (dl-CD40) homodimer formation, a process mediated by the cysteine-238 residues of the cytoplasmic tail of CD40. The present study was designed to elucidate the biological relevance of cysteine-238-mediated dl-CD40 homodimers to the expression of CD23 on B cells and to investigate its possible involvement in the innate response. Our results indicate that cysteine-238-mediated dl-CD40 homodimerization is required for CD40-induced activation of PI3-kinase/Akt signaling and the subsequent CD23 expression, as inhibition of dl-CD40 homodimer formation through a point mutation-approach specifically impairs these responses. Interestingly, cysteine-238-mediated dl-CD40 homodimers are also shown to play a crucial role in Toll-like receptor 4-induced CD23 expression, further validating the importance of this system in bridging innate and adaptive immune responses. This process also necessitates the activation of the PI3-kinase/Akt cascade. Thus, our results highlight new roles for CD40 and cysteine-238-mediated CD40 homodimers in cell biology and identify a potential new target for therapeutic strategies against CD40-associated chronic inflammatory diseases.

CD40-mediated amplification of local immunity by epithelial cells is impaired by HPV

The interaction between the transmembrane glycoprotein surface receptor CD40 expressed by skin epithelial cells (ECs) and its T-cell–expressed ligand CD154 was suggested to exacerbate inflammatory skin diseases. However, the full spectrum of CD40-mediated effects by ECs underlying this observation is unknown. Therefore, changes in gene expression after CD40 ligation of ECs were studied by microarrays. CD40-mediated activation for 2 hours stimulated the expression of a coordinated network of immune-involved genes strongly interconnected by IL8 and TNF, whereas after 24 hours anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic genes were upregulated. CD40 ligation was associated with the production of chemokines and the attraction of lymphocytes and myeloid cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Thus, CD40-mediated activation of ECs resulted in a highly coordinated response of genes required for the local development and sustainment of adaptive immune responses. The importance of this process was confirmed by a study on the effects of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection to the EC's response to CD40 ligation. HPV infection clearly attenuated the magnitude of the response to CD40 ligation and the EC's capacity to attract PBMCs. The fact that HPV attenuates CD40 signaling in ECs indicates the importance of the CD40-CD154 immune pathway in boosting cellular immunity within epithelia.

Dryocrassin Suppresses Immunostimulatory Function of Dendritic Cells and Prolongs Skin Allograft Survival

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the major specialized antigen-presenting cells for the development of optimal T-cell immunity. DCs can be used as pharmacological targets to monitor novel biological modifiers for the cure of harmful immune responses, such as transplantation rejection. Dryopteris crassirhizoma Nakai (Aspiadaceae) is used for traditional herbal medicine in the region of East Asia. The root of this fern plant has been listed for treating inflammatory diseases. Dryocrassin is the tetrameric phlorophenone component derived from Dryopteris. Here we tested the immunomodulatory potential of dryocrassin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated activation of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs in vitro and in skin allograft transplantation in vivo. Results demonstrated that dryocrassin reduced the emission of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-12p70 by LPS-stimulated DCs. The expression of LPS-induced major histocompatibility complex class II, CD40, and CD86 on DCs was also blocked by dryocrassin. Moreover, LPS-stimulated DC-elicited allogeneic T-cell proliferation was alleviated by dryocrassin. In addition, dryocrassin inhibited LPS-induced activation of IkB kinase, JNK/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and the translocation of NF-κB. Treatment with dryocrassin noticeably diminished 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene-reduced delayed-type hypersensitivity and extended skin allograft survival. Dryocrassin may be one of the potent immunosuppressive agents for transplant rejection via the destruction of DC maturation and function.

Role of the Lymphotoxin/LIGHT System in the Development and Maintenance of Reticular Networks and Vasculature in Lymphoid Tissues

Lymphoid organs are meeting zones where lymphocytes come together and encounter antigens present in the blood and lymph or as delivered by cells migrating from the draining tissue bed. The exquisite efficiency of this process relies heavily on highly specialized anatomy to direct and position the various players. Gated entry and exit control access to these theaters and reticular networks and associated chemokines guide cells into the proper sections. Lymphoid tissues are remarkably plastic, being able to expand dramatically and then involute upon resolution of the danger. All of the reticular scaffolds and vascular and lymphatic components adapt accordingly. As such, the lymph node (LN) is a wonderful example of a physiologic remodeling process and is potentially a guide to study such elements in pathological settings such as fibrosis, chronic infection, and tumor metastasis. The lymphotoxin/LIGHT axis delivers critical differentiation signals that direct and hone differentiation of both reticular networks and the vasculature. Considerable progress has been made recently in understanding the mesenchymal differentiation pathways leading to these specialized networks and in the remodeling that occurs in reactive LNs. In this article, we will review some new advances in the area in terms of developmental, differentiation, and maintenance events mediated by this axis.

Regulation of PI-3-Kinase and Akt Signaling in T Lymphocytes and Other Cells by TNFR Family Molecules

Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt (protein kinase B) is a common response triggered by a range of membrane-bound receptors on many cell types. In T lymphocytes, the PI3K-Akt pathway promotes clonal expansion, differentiation, and survival of effector cells and suppresses the generation of regulatory T cells. PI3K activation is tightly controlled by signals through the T cell receptor (TCR) and the co-stimulatory receptor CD28, however sustained and periodic signals from additional co-receptors are now being recognized as critical contributors to the activation of this pathway. Accumulating evidence suggests that many members of the Tumor Necrosis Factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, TNFR2 (TNFRSF1B), OX40 (TNFRSF4), 4-1BB (TNFRSF9), HVEM (TNFRSF14), and DR3 (TNFRSF25), that are constitutive or inducible on T cells, can directly or indirectly promote activity in the PI3K-Akt pathway. We discuss recent data which suggests that ligation of one TNFR family molecule organizes a signalosome, via TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) adapter proteins in T cell membrane lipid microdomains, that results in the subsequent accumulation of highly concentrated depots of PI3K and Akt in close proximity to TCR signaling units. We propose this may be a generalizable mechanism applicable to other TNFR family molecules that will result in a quantitative contribution of these signalosomes to enhancing and sustaining PI3K and Akt activation triggered by the TCR. We also review data that other TNFR molecules, such as CD40 (TNFRSF5), RANK (TNFRSF11A), FN14 (TNFRSF12A), TACI (TNFRSF13B), BAFFR (TNFRSF13C), and NGFR (TNFRSF16), contribute to the activation of this pathway in diverse cell types through a similar ability to recruit PI3K or Akt into their signaling complexes.

Acetylcorynoline impairs the maturation of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells via suppression of IκB kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities

Background

Dendritic cells (DCs) are major modulators in the immune system. One active field of research is the manipulation of DCs as pharmacological targets to screen novel biological modifiers for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Acetylcorynoline is the major alkaloid component derived from Corydalis bungeana herbs. We assessed the capability of acetylcorynoline to regulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated activation of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Our experimental data showed that treatment with up to 20 µM acetylcorynoline does not cause cytotoxicity in cells. Acetylcorynoline significantly inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-12p70 by LPS-stimulated DCs. The expression of LPS-induced major histocompatibility complex class II, CD40, and CD86 on DCs was also decreased by acetylcorynoline, and the endocytic capacity of LPS-stimulated DCs was restored by acetylcorynoline. In addition, LPS-stimulated DC-elicited allogeneic T-cell proliferation was blocked by acetylcorynoline, and the migratory ability of LPS-stimulated DCs was reduced by acetylcorynoline. Moreover, acetylcorynoline significantly inhibits LPS-induced activation of IκB kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Importantly, administration of acetylcorynoline significantly attenuates 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity.

Conclusions/Significance

Acetylcorynoline may be one of the potent immunosuppressive agents through the blockage of DC maturation and function.

Lymphotoxin and the amazing technicolor circus of intestinal homeostasis

Recently a new lymphocyte subset called innate lymphoid cells has emerged and it includes key producers of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 in the mucosal environment. Using Citrobacter rodentium infection to deliver a pathogenic insult to the colon, two studies have revealed an underlying role for lymphotoxin-β receptor signaling in the generation of IL-22 by these cells. This observation links a system well known for its ability to organize lymphoid microenvironments into a basic mucosal response.