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Mizuno N, Shiga S, Tanaka Y, Kimura T, Yanagawa Y. CDK8/19 inhibitor enhances arginase-1 expression in macrophages via STAT6 and p38 MAPK activation. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 979:176852. [PMID: 39067565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176852] [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: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Macrophages polarize into alternatively activated M2 macrophages through interleukin (IL)-4, and they express high levels of arginase-1, which promotes anti-inflammatory responses. Several studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 8/19 inhibition, and hence, numerous CDK8/19 inhibitors, such as BRD6989, have been developed. However, the effects of CDK8/19 inhibitors on arginase-1 expression in macrophages have not yet been elucidated. This study investigated the effects of CDK8/19 inhibitor on arginase-1 expression in IL-4-activated macrophages. The results showed that BRD6989 increased arginase-1 expression transcriptionally in murine peritoneal macrophages and the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 in an IL-4-dependent manner. In addition, the results indicated that BRD6989 enhances signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 6 phosphorylation. Meanwhile, BRD6989 exhibited the capability to activate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) even in the absence of IL-4 stimulation. Moreover, we observed that a p38 MAPK inhibitor suppressed the BRD6989-induced increase in arginase-1 expression. Besides, BRD6989 increased the surface expression of CD206, an M2 macrophage marker. Thus, this study demonstrated for the first time that CDK8/19 inhibition increases arginase-1 expression, suggesting that this mechanism involves the activation of STAT6 and p38 MAPK. This finding implies that CDK8/19 inhibition may facilitate the production of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsumi Mizuno
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Kanazawa 1757, Tobetsu, Ishikari, 061-0293, Japan.
| | - Saki Shiga
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Kanazawa 1757, Tobetsu, Ishikari, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Tanaka
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Kanazawa 1757, Tobetsu, Ishikari, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Kimura
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Kanazawa 1757, Tobetsu, Ishikari, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Yanagawa
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Kanazawa 1757, Tobetsu, Ishikari, 061-0293, Japan
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2
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Yue Y, Ren Y, Lu C, Li P, Zhang G. Epigenetic regulation of human FOXP3+ Tregs: from homeostasis maintenance to pathogen defense. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1444533. [PMID: 39144146 PMCID: PMC11323565 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1444533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs), characterized by the expression of Forkhead Box P3 (FOXP3), constitute a distinct subset of T cells crucial for immune regulation. Tregs can exert direct and indirect control over immune homeostasis by releasing inhibitory factors or differentiating into Th-like Treg (Th-Treg), thereby actively contributing to the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The epigenetic regulation of FOXP3, encompassing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and post-translational modifications, governs the development and optimal suppressive function of Tregs. In addition, Tregs can also possess the ability to maintain homeostasis in diverse microenvironments through non-suppressive mechanisms. In this review, we primarily focus on elucidating the epigenetic regulation of Tregs as well as their multifaceted roles within diverse physiological contexts while looking forward to potential strategies involving augmentation or suppression of Tregs activity for disease management, particularly in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Guojun Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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3
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Sumida TS, Cheru NT, Hafler DA. The regulation and differentiation of regulatory T cells and their dysfunction in autoimmune diseases. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:503-517. [PMID: 38374298 PMCID: PMC11216899 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-00994-x] [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] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells as a distinct cell lineage with a central role in regulating immune responses provided a deeper understanding of self-tolerance. The transcription factor FOXP3 serves a key role in Treg cell lineage determination and maintenance, but is not sufficient to enable the full potential of Treg cell suppression, indicating that other factors orchestrate the fine-tuning of Treg cell function. Moreover, FOXP3-independent mechanisms have recently been shown to contribute to Treg cell dysfunction. FOXP3 mutations in humans cause lethal fulminant systemic autoinflammation (IPEX syndrome). However, it remains unclear to what degree Treg cell dysfunction is contributing to the pathophysiology of common autoimmune diseases. In this Review, we discuss the origins of Treg cells in the periphery and the multilayered mechanisms by which Treg cells are induced, as well as the FOXP3-dependent and FOXP3-independent cellular programmes that maintain the suppressive function of Treg cells in humans and mice. Further, we examine evidence for Treg cell dysfunction in the context of common autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomokazu S Sumida
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Nardos T Cheru
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David A Hafler
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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4
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Gao C, Liu M, Xin Y, Zeng Y, Yang H, Fan X, Zhao C, Zhang B, Zhang L, Li JJ, Zhao M, Wang Z, Lu Q. Immunostimulatory effects of Toll-like receptor ligands as adjuvants in establishing a novel mouse model for pemphigus vulgaris. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1765. [PMID: 39031979 PMCID: PMC11259602 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1765] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The meticulous selection of appropriate vaccine adjuvants is crucial for optimizing immune responses. Traditionally, pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune disorder, has been modelled using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). In this study, we aimed to discern potential variations in immune responses elicited by Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands as compared to CFA. METHODS A comprehensive investigation was conducted, comparing the effects of these adjuvants in conjunction with ovalbumin or desmoglein-3. Flow cytometry was employed to analyse distinct cell subsets, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay quantified antigen-specific antibodies and cytokine levels. Histological examination of harvested skin tissues and transcriptome analysis of skin lesions were performed to identify differentially expressed genes. RESULTS TLR ligands demonstrated efficacy in inducing PV-like symptoms in wild-type mice, in contrast to CFA. This underscored the substantial impact of the adjuvant on self-antigen tolerance. Furthermore, we proposed an enhanced method for establishing a PV model through adoptive transfer, substituting CFA with TLR ligands. Our results revealed that in contrast to the perception that CFA being the most potent immunopotentiator reported, CFA promoted regulatory T cells (Treg), follicular regulatory T cells and IL-10-producing neutrophils, whereas TLR ligands downregulated CCL17 and IL-10. This suggested potential implications for the recruitment and activation of Treg subsets. While B cell and CD8+ T cell responses exhibited similarity, CFA induced less activation in dendritic cell subsets. A novel mouse model of PV and systemic comparison of immunostimulatory effects of adjuvants were provided by this study. CONCLUSIONS The systematic comparison of CFA and TLR ligands shed light on the distinctive properties of these adjuvants, presenting innovative mouse models for the investigation of pemphigus. This study significantly contributes to adjuvant research and advances our understanding of PV pathogenesis. KEY POINTS/HIGHLIGHTS Immunization with desmoglein 3 and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands effectively induces pemphigus symptoms in wild-type mice, whereas complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) fails. TLR ligands heightened the autoreactivity of donor cells in the adoptive transfer pemphigus model. CFA promoted regulatory T cells and IL-10-producing neutrophils, whereas TLR ligands downregulated CCL17 and IL-10, leading to more effective immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxing Gao
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Mei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Yue Xin
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of DermatologyThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Hui Yang
- Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xinyu Fan
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Bo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Lingzhi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural MedicinesBeijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Mechanisms and Pharmacological Evaluation StudyDepartment of PharmacologyInstitute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Jing J. Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural MedicinesBeijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Mechanisms and Pharmacological Evaluation StudyDepartment of PharmacologyInstitute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Ming Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
| | - Zijun Wang
- Department of DermatologyThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- Laboratory of Molecular ImmunologyThe Rockefeller UniversityNew York CityNew YorkUSA
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune‐Mediated Skin DiseasesChinese Academy of Medical SciencesJiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIsHospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNanjingChina
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5
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Oya Y, Tanaka Y, Nakazawa T, Matsumura R, Glass DD, Nakajima H, Shevach EM. Polyclonally Derived Alloantigen-Specific T Regulatory Cells Exhibit Target-Specific Suppression and Capture MHC Class II from Dendritic Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:1891-1903. [PMID: 38683146 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells prevent allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Although polyclonal Tregs have been used both in animal models and in humans, the fine specificity of their suppressive function is poorly defined. We have generated mouse recipient-derived alloantigen-specific Tregs in vitro and explored the fine specificity of their suppressive function and their mechanism of action in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, when alloantigen and peptide Ag were both presented on the same dendritic cell, both responses were suppressed by iTregs specific either for the alloantigen or for the peptide Ag. In vivo, iTreg suppression was limited to the cognate Ag, and no bystander suppression was observed when both allo-antigen and peptide Ag were present on the same dendritic cell. In vitro, alloantigen-specific Tregs captured cognate MHC but failed to capture noncognate MHC. Our results demonstrate that a polyclonal population of iTregs generated from naive T cells can mediate highly specific function in vivo and support the view that Treg therapy, even with unselected polyclonal populations, is likely to be target antigen-specific and that bystander responses to self-antigens or to infectious agents are unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Oya
- Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases, Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Chibahigashi National Hospital, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
- Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Hospital Organization Chibahigashi National Hospital, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasuyo Tanaka
- Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases, Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Chibahigashi National Hospital, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takuya Nakazawa
- Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Hospital Organization Chibahigashi National Hospital, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Matsumura
- Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Hospital Organization Chibahigashi National Hospital, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Deborah D Glass
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Hiroshi Nakajima
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ethan M Shevach
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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6
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Yano H, Koga K, Sato T, Shinohara T, Iriguchi S, Matsuda A, Nakazono K, Shioiri M, Miyake Y, Kassai Y, Kiyoi H, Kaneko S. Human iPSC-derived CD4 + Treg-like cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors control GvHD in a xenograft model. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:795-802.e6. [PMID: 38848686 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
CD4+ T cells induced from human iPSCs (iCD4+ T cells) offer a therapeutic opportunity for overcoming immune pathologies arising from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, most iCD4+ T cells are conventional helper T cells, which secrete inflammatory cytokines. We induced high-level expression of FOXP3, a master transcription factor of regulatory T cells, in iCD4+ T cells. Human iPSC-derived, FOXP3-induced CD4+ T (iCD4+ Treg-like) cells did not secrete inflammatory cytokines upon activation. Moreover, they showed demethylation of the Treg-specific demethylation region, suggesting successful conversion to immunosuppressive iCD4+ Treg-like cells. We further assessed these iCD4+ Treg-like cells for CAR-mediated immunosuppressive ability. HLA-A2 CAR-transduced iCD4+ Treg-like cells inhibited CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) division in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay with A2+ allogeneic CTLs and suppressed xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in NSG mice treated with A2+ human PBMCs. In most cases, these cells suppressed the xenogeneic GvHD progression as much as natural CD25+CD127- Tregs did.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Yano
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, CiRA, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; Department of Haematology and Oncology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Keiko Koga
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Sato
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tokuyuki Shinohara
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shoichi Iriguchi
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, CiRA, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Matsuda
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazuki Nakazono
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Maki Shioiri
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Miyake
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, CiRA, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Kassai
- Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kiyoi
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shin Kaneko
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, CiRA, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Takeda-CiRA joint research program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
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7
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Yan YY, Wang YM, Shen JH, Jian YJ, Lei CC, Wang Q, Liu C, Zhang XX, Liu XH. The discovery of a novel pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine as a selective CDK8 inhibitor offers a new approach against psoriasis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116705. [PMID: 38713949 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, the drugs used in clinical to treat psoriasis mainly broadly suppress cellular immunity. However, these drugs can only provide temporary and partial symptom relief, they do not cure the condition and may lead to recurrence or even serious toxic side effects. In this study, we describe the discovery of a novel potent CDK8 inhibitor as a treatment for psoriasis. Through structure-based design, compound 46 was identified as the most promising candidate, exhibiting a strong inhibitory effect on CDK8 (IC50 value of 57 nM) along with favourable inhibition against NF-κB. Additionally, it demonstrated a positive effect in an in vitro psoriasis model induced by TNF-α. Furthermore, this compound enhanced the thermal stability of CDK8 and exerted evident effects on the biological function of CDK8, and it had favourable selectivity across the CDK family and tyrosine kinase. This compound showed no obvious inhibitory effect on CYP450 enzyme. Further studies confirmed that compound 46 exhibited therapeutic effect on IMQ-induced psoriasis, alleviated the inflammatory response in mice, and enhanced the expression of Foxp3 and IL-10 in the dorsal skin in vivo. This discovery provides a new strategy for developing selective CDK8 inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity for the treatment of psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yao Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Yu Meng Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Jun Hao Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Yu Jie Jian
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Cen Cen Lei
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Quan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Biological and Food Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, PR China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Spin Electron and Nanomaterials, Suzhou 234000, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, PR China.
| | - Xing Xing Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China.
| | - Xin Hua Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China; School of Biological and Food Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, PR China.
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8
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Cozzolino K, Sanford L, Hunter S, Molison K, Erickson B, Jones T, Courvan MCS, Ajit D, Galbraith MD, Espinosa JM, Bentley DL, Allen MA, Dowell RD, Taatjes DJ. Mediator kinase inhibition suppresses hyperactive interferon signaling in Down syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.05.547813. [PMID: 37461585 PMCID: PMC10349994 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Hyperactive interferon (IFN) signaling is a hallmark of Down syndrome (DS), a condition caused by trisomy 21 (T21); strategies that normalize IFN signaling could benefit this population. Mediator-associated kinases CDK8 and CDK19 drive inflammatory responses through incompletely understood mechanisms. Using sibling-matched cell lines with/without T21, we investigated Mediator kinase function in the context of hyperactive IFN in DS over a 45min - 24h timeframe. Activation of IFN-response genes was suppressed in cells treated with the CDK8/CDK19 inhibitor cortistatin A (CA), and this occurred through rapid suppression of IFN-responsive transcription factor activity. Moreover, we discovered that CDK8/CDK19 affect splicing, a novel means by which Mediator kinases control gene expression. To further probe Mediator kinase function, we completed cytokine screens and untargeted metabolomics experiments. Cytokines are master regulators of inflammatory responses; by screening 105 different cytokine proteins, we show that Mediator kinases help drive IFN-dependent cytokine responses at least in part through transcriptional regulation of cytokine genes and receptors. Metabolomics revealed that Mediator kinase inhibition altered core metabolic pathways, including broad up-regulation of anti-inflammatory lipid mediators, whose levels were elevated during hyperactive IFN signaling. A subset of these lipid mediators (e.g. oleamide, desmosterol) serve as ligands for nuclear receptors PPAR and LXR, and activation of these receptors occurred specifically during hyperactive IFN signaling in CA-treated cells, revealing a mechanistic link between Mediator kinase activity and nuclear receptor function. Collectively, our results identify new mechanisms by which CDK8/CDK19 regulate gene expression, and establish that Mediator kinase inhibition antagonizes IFN signaling through transcriptional, metabolic, and cytokine responses, with implications for DS and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Cozzolino
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Lynn Sanford
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Samuel Hunter
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Kayla Molison
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Benjamin Erickson
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- UC-Denver RNA Bioscience Initiative
| | - Taylor Jones
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Meaghan C S Courvan
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Crnic Institute Boulder Branch
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Deepa Ajit
- Metabolon, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew D Galbraith
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joaquin M Espinosa
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David L Bentley
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- UC-Denver RNA Bioscience Initiative
| | - Mary A Allen
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Robin D Dowell
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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9
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Yin X, He Z, Chen K, Ouyang K, Yang C, Li J, Tang H, Cai M. Unveiling the impact of CDK8 on tumor progression: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1386929. [PMID: 38606172 PMCID: PMC11006979 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1386929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
CDK8 is an important member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family associated with transcription and acts as a key "molecular switch" in the Mediator complex. CDK8 regulates gene expression by phosphorylating transcription factors and can control the transcription process through Mediator complex. Previous studies confirmed that CDK8 is an important oncogenic factor, making it a potential tumor biomarker and a promising target for tumor therapy. However, CDK8 has also been confirmed to be a tumor suppressor, indicating that it not only promotes the development of tumors but may also be involved in tumor suppression. Therefore, the dual role of CDK8 in the process of tumor development is worth further exploration and summary. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate involvement of CDK8 in transcription-related processes, as well as its role in signaling pathways related to tumorigenesis, with a focus on its critical part in driving cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Yin
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zhilong He
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Kai Ouyang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Changxuan Yang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- Department of Urological Surgical, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manbo Cai
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
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10
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Qin Z, Wang R, Hou P, Zhang Y, Yuan Q, Wang Y, Yang Y, Xu T. TCR signaling induces STAT3 phosphorylation to promote TH17 cell differentiation. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230683. [PMID: 38324068 PMCID: PMC10849914 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230683] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
TH17 differentiation is critically controlled by "signal 3" of cytokines (IL-6/IL-23) through STAT3. However, cytokines alone induced only a moderate level of STAT3 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, TCR stimulation alone induced STAT3 phosphorylation through Lck/Fyn, and synergistically with IL-6/IL-23 induced robust and optimal STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705. Inhibition of Lck/Fyn kinase activity by Srci1 or disrupting the interaction between Lck/Fyn and STAT3 by disease-causing STAT3 mutations selectively impaired TCR stimulation, but not cytokine-induced STAT3 phosphorylation, which consequently abolished TH17 differentiation and converted them to FOXP3+ Treg cells. Srci1 administration or disrupting the interaction between Lck/Fyn and STAT3 significantly ameliorated TH17 cell-mediated EAE disease. These findings uncover an unexpected deterministic role of TCR signaling in fate determination between TH17 and Treg cells through Lck/Fyn-dependent phosphorylation of STAT3, which can be exploited to develop therapeutics selectively against TH17-related autoimmune diseases. Our study thus provides insight into how TCR signaling could integrate with cytokine signal to direct T cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Qin
- Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruining Wang
- Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Hou
- Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianmu Yuan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuedong Yang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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11
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Sjøgren T, Bjune JI, Husebye ES, Oftedal BE, Wolff ASB. Regulatory T cells in autoimmune primary adrenal insufficiency. Clin Exp Immunol 2024; 215:47-57. [PMID: 37578839 PMCID: PMC10776243 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxad087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is most often caused by an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex resulting in failure to produce cortisol and aldosterone. The aetiology is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors, leading to breakdown of immunological tolerance. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are deficient in many autoimmune disorders, but it is not known whether they contribute to development of PAI. We aimed to investigate the frequency and function of naive and expanded Tregs in patients with PAI and polyendocrine syndromes compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to assess the frequency and characterize functional markers of blood Tregs in PAI (N = 15). Expanded Treg suppressive abilities were assessed with a flow cytometry based suppression assay (N = 20), while bulk RNA-sequencing was used to examine transcriptomic differences (N = 16) and oxygen consumption rate was measured by a Seahorse cell metabolic assay (N = 11). Our results showed that Treg frequency and suppressive capacity were similar between patients and controls. An increased expression of killer-cell leptin-like receptors and mitochondrial genes was revealed in PAI patients, but their expanded Tregs did not display signs of mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings do not support a clear role for Tregs in the contribution of PAI development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea Sjøgren
- Endocrine Medicine Group, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jan-Inge Bjune
- Center for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Endocrine Medicine Group, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Bergithe E Oftedal
- Endocrine Medicine Group, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette S B Wolff
- Endocrine Medicine Group, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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12
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Kawakami R, Sakaguchi S. Regulatory T Cells for Control of Autoimmunity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1444:67-82. [PMID: 38467973 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9781-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells, which specifically express the master transcription factor FoxP3, are indispensable for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. Their functional or numerical anomalies can be causative of autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases. Recent advances in the research of the cellular and molecular basis of how Treg cells develop, exert suppression, and maintain their function have enabled devising various ways for controlling physiological and pathological immune responses by targeting Treg cells. It is now envisaged that Treg cells as a "living drug" are able to achieve antigen-specific immune suppression of various immune responses and reestablish immunological self-tolerance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoji Kawakami
- Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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13
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Christofi P, Pantazi C, Psatha N, Sakellari I, Yannaki E, Papadopoulou A. Promises and Pitfalls of Next-Generation Treg Adoptive Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5877. [PMID: 38136421 PMCID: PMC10742252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245877] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are fundamental to maintaining immune homeostasis by inhibiting immune responses to self-antigens and preventing the excessive activation of the immune system. Their functions extend beyond immune surveillance and subpopulations of tissue-resident Treg cells can also facilitate tissue repair and homeostasis. The unique ability to regulate aberrant immune responses has generated the concept of harnessing Tregs as a new cellular immunotherapy approach for reshaping undesired immune reactions in autoimmune diseases and allo-responses in transplantation to ultimately re-establish tolerance. However, a number of issues limit the broad clinical applicability of Treg adoptive immunotherapy, including the lack of antigen specificity, heterogeneity within the Treg population, poor persistence, functional Treg impairment in disease states, and in vivo plasticity that results in the loss of suppressive function. Although the early-phase clinical trials of Treg cell therapy have shown the feasibility and tolerability of the approach in several conditions, its efficacy has remained questionable. Leveraging the smart tools and platforms that have been successfully developed for primary T cell engineering in cancer, the field has now shifted towards "next-generation" adoptive Treg immunotherapy, where genetically modified Treg products with improved characteristics are being generated, as regards antigen specificity, function, persistence, and immunogenicity. Here, we review the state of the art on Treg adoptive immunotherapy and progress beyond it, while critically evaluating the hurdles and opportunities towards the materialization of Tregs as a living drug therapy for various inflammation states and the broad clinical translation of Treg therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiota Christofi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Pantazi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Psatha
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Sakellari
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7710, USA
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Hematology Department, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.C.); (C.P.); (I.S.); (E.Y.)
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14
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Ma X, Cao L, Raneri M, Wang H, Cao Q, Zhao Y, Bediaga NG, Naselli G, Harrison LC, Hawthorne WJ, Hu M, Yi S, O’Connell PJ. Human HLA-DR+CD27+ regulatory T cells show enhanced antigen-specific suppressive function. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e162978. [PMID: 37874660 PMCID: PMC10795828 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.162978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have potential for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and graft rejection. Antigen specificity and functional stability are considered critical for their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, expansion of human Tregs in the presence of porcine PBMCs (xenoantigen-expanded Tregs, Xn-Treg) allowed the selection of a distinct Treg subset, coexpressing the activation/memory surface markers HLA-DR and CD27 with enhanced proportion of FOXP3+Helios+ Tregs. Compared with their unsorted and HLA-DR+CD27+ double-positive (DP) cell-depleted Xn-Treg counterparts, HLA-DR+CD27+ DP-enriched Xn-Tregs expressed upregulated Treg function markers CD95 and ICOS with enhanced suppression of xenogeneic but not polyclonal mixed lymphocyte reaction. They also had less Treg-specific demethylation in the region of FOXP3 and were more resistant to conversion to effector cells under inflammatory conditions. Adoptive transfer of porcine islet recipient NOD/SCID IL2 receptor γ-/- mice with HLA-DR+CD27+ DP-enriched Xn-Tregs in a humanized mouse model inhibited porcine islet graft rejection mediated by 25-fold more human effector cells. The prolonged graft survival was associated with enhanced accumulation of FOXP3+ Tregs and upregulated expression of Treg functional genes, IL10 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, but downregulated expression of effector Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine genes, within surviving grafts. Collectively, human HLA-DR+CD27+ DP-enriched Xn-Tregs expressed a specific regulatory signature that enabled identification and isolation of antigen-specific and functionally stable Tregs with potential as a Treg-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Ma
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy Institute, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Cao
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy Institute, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Martina Raneri
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hannah Wang
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Qi Cao
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yuanfei Zhao
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Naiara G. Bediaga
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gaetano Naselli
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonard C. Harrison
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wayne J. Hawthorne
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Min Hu
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shounan Yi
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip J. O’Connell
- Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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15
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Lyu H, Yuan G, Liu X, Wang X, Geng S, Xia T, Zhou X, Li Y, Hu X, Shi Y. Sustained store-operated calcium entry utilizing activated chromatin state leads to instability in iTregs. eLife 2023; 12:RP88874. [PMID: 38055613 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88874] [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] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymus-originated tTregs and in vitro induced iTregs are subsets of regulatory T cells. While they share the capacity of immune suppression, their stabilities are different, with iTregs losing their phenotype upon stimulation or under inflammatory milieu. Epigenetic differences, particularly methylation state of Foxp3 CNS2 region, provide an explanation for this shift. Whether additional regulations, including cellular signaling, could directly lead phenotypical instability requires further analysis. Here, we show that upon TCR (T cell receptor) triggering, SOCE (store-operated calcium entry) and NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) nuclear translocation are blunted in tTregs, yet fully operational in iTregs, similar to Tconvs. On the other hand, tTregs show minimal changes in their chromatin accessibility upon activation, in contrast to iTregs that demonstrate an activated chromatin state with highly accessible T cell activation and inflammation related genes. Assisted by several cofactors, NFAT driven by strong SOCE signaling in iTregs preferentially binds to primed-opened T helper (TH) genes, resulting in their activation normally observed only in Tconv activation, ultimately leads to instability. Conversely, suppression of SOCE in iTregs can partially rescue their phenotype. Thus, our study adds two new layers, cellular signaling and chromatin accessibility, of understanding in Treg stability, and may provide a path for better clinical applications of Treg cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyun Lyu
- Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Guohua Yuan
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Geng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Tie Xia
- Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuyu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yinqing Li
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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16
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Mo Y, Yue M, Yim LY, Zhou R, Yu C, Peng Q, Zhou Y, Luk TY, Lui GCY, Huang H, Lim CYH, Wang H, Liu L, Sun H, Wang J, Song Y, Chen Z. Nicotinamide mononucleotide impacts HIV-1 infection by modulating immune activation in T lymphocytes and humanized mice. EBioMedicine 2023; 98:104877. [PMID: 37980794 PMCID: PMC10694053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104877] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-1-associated immune activation drives CD4+ T cell depletion and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We aimed to determine the role of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), the direct precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) co-enzyme, in CD4+ T cell modulation during HIV-1 infection. METHODS We examined HIV-1 integrated DNA or transcribed RNA, intracellular p24 protein, and T cell activation markers in CD4+ T cells including in vitro HIV-1-infected cells, reactivated patient-derived cells, and in HIV-1-infected humanized mice, under NMN treatment. RNA-seq and CyTOF analyses were used for investigating the effect of NMN on CD4+ T cells. FINDINGS We found that NMN increased the intracellular NAD amount, resulting in suppressed HIV-1 p24 production and proliferation in infected CD4+ T cells, especially in activated CD25+CD4+ T cells. NMN also inhibited CD25 expression on reactivated resting CD4+ T cells derived from cART-treated people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). In HIV-1-infected humanized mice, the frequency of CD4+ T cells was reconstituted significantly by combined cART and NMN treatment as compared with cART or NMN alone, which correlated with suppressed hyperactivation of CD4+ T cells. INTERPRETATION Our results highlight the suppressive role of NMN in CD4+ T cell activation during HIV-1 infection. It warrants future clinical investigation of NMN as a potential treatment in combination with cART in PLWH. FUNDING This work was supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Theme-Based Research Scheme (T11-706/18-N), University Research Committee of The University of Hong Kong, the Collaborative Research with GeneHarbor (Hong Kong) Biotechnologies Limited and National Key R&D Program of China (Grant2021YFC2301900).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Mo
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Yue
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Lok Yan Yim
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Runhong Zhou
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunhao Yu
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoli Peng
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory and AIDS Clinical Research Laboratory, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518112, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Tsz-Yat Luk
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Grace Chung-Yan Lui
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Huarong Huang
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Yu Hubert Lim
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Wang
- HKU-AIDS Institute Shenzhen Research Laboratory and AIDS Clinical Research Laboratory, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518112, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Liu
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongzhe Sun
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wang
- GeneHarbor (Hong Kong) Biotechnologies Ltd., Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Youqiang Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; Center for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518053, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Chai K, Wang C, Zhou J, Mu W, Gao M, Fan Z, Lv G. Quenching thirst with poison? Paradoxical effect of anticancer drugs. Pharmacol Res 2023; 198:106987. [PMID: 37949332 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Anticancer drugs have been developed with expectations to provide long-term or at least short-term survival benefits for patients with cancer. Unfortunately, drug therapy tends to provoke malignant biological and clinical behaviours of cancer cells relating not only to the evolution of resistance to specific drugs but also to the enhancement of their proliferation and metastasis abilities. Thus, drug therapy is suspected to impair long-term survival in treated patients under certain circumstances. The paradoxical therapeutic effects could be described as 'quenching thirst with poison', where temporary relief is sought regardless of the consequences. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which tumours react on drug-induced stress to maintain viability is crucial to develop rational targeting approaches which may optimize survival in patients with cancer. In this review, we describe the paradoxical adverse effects of anticancer drugs, in particular how cancer cells complete resistance evolution, enhance proliferation, escape from immune surveillance and metastasize efficiently when encountered with drug therapy. We also describe an integrative therapeutic framework that may diminish such paradoxical effects, consisting of four main strategies: (1) targeting endogenous stress response pathways, (2) targeting new identities of cancer cells, (3) adaptive therapy- exploiting subclonal competition of cancer cells, and (4) targeting tumour microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Chai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chuanlei Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jianpeng Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Wentao Mu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Menghan Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhongqi Fan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Guoyue Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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18
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Mikami N, Sakaguchi S. Regulatory T cells in autoimmune kidney diseases and transplantation. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023; 19:544-557. [PMID: 37400628 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00733-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) are naturally present in the immune system and have roles in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and immune system and tissue homeostasis. Treg cells suppress T cell activation, expansion and effector functions by various mechanisms, particularly by controlling the functions of antigen-presenting cells. They can also contribute to tissue repair by suppressing inflammation and facilitating tissue regeneration, for example, via the production of growth factors and the promotion of stem cell differentiation and proliferation. Monogenic anomalies of Treg cells and genetic variations of Treg cell functional molecules can cause or predispose patients to the development of autoimmune diseases and other inflammatory disorders, including kidney diseases. Treg cells can potentially be utilized or targeted to treat immunological diseases and establish transplantation tolerance, for example, by expanding natural Treg cells in vivo using IL-2 or small molecules or by expanding them in vitro for adoptive Treg cell therapy. Efforts are also being made to convert antigen-specific conventional T cells into Treg cells and to generate chimeric antigen receptor Treg cells from natural Treg cells for adoptive Treg cell therapies with the aim of achieving antigen-specific immune suppression and tolerance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihisa Mikami
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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Inoue M, Tsuji Y, Ueno R, Miyamoto D, Tanaka K, Moriyasu Y, Shibata S, Okuda M, Ando D, Abe Y, Kamada H, Tsunoda SI. Bivalent structure of a TNFR2-selective and agonistic TNF-α mutein Fc-fusion protein enhances the expansion activity of regulatory T cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13762. [PMID: 37612373 PMCID: PMC10447426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40925-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, TNF receptor type 2 (TNFR2) signaling was found to be involved in the proliferation and activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subpopulation of lymphocytes that suppress immune responses. Tregs mediate peripheral immune tolerance, and the disruption of their functions causes autoimmune diseases or allergy. Therefore, cell expanders or regulators of Tregs that control immunosuppressive activity can be used to treat these diseases. We focused on TNFR2, which is preferentially expressed on Tregs, and created tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) muteins that selectively activate TNFR2 signaling in mice and humans, termed R2agoTNF and R2-7, respectively. In this study, we attempted to optimize the structure of muteins to enhance their TNFR2 agonistic activity and stability in vivo by IgG-Fc fusion following single-chain homo-trimerization. The fusion protein, scR2agoTNF-Fc, enhanced the expansion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and contributed to their immunosuppressive activity ex vivo and in vivo in mice. The prophylactic administration of scR2agoTNF-Fc suppressed inflammation in contact hypersensitivity and arthritis mouse models. Furthermore, scR2-7-Fc preferentially expanded Tregs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells via TNFR2. These TNFR2 agonist-Fc fusion proteins, which have bivalent structures, are novel Treg expanders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Inoue
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
- Center for Drug Design Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Yuta Tsuji
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Reira Ueno
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Daisuke Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tanaka
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Yuka Moriyasu
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Saya Shibata
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Mei Okuda
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ando
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Abe
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Kamada
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
- Center for Drug Design Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Tsunoda
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan.
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan.
- Center for Drug Design Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan.
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20
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Chen M, Li J, Zhang L, Wang L, Cheng C, Ji H, Altilia S, Ding X, Cai G, Altomare D, Shtutman M, Byrum SD, Mackintosh SG, Feoktistov A, Soshnikova N, Mogila VA, Tatarskiy V, Erokhin M, Chetverina D, Prawira A, Ni Y, Urban S, McInnes C, Broude EV, Roninson IB. CDK8 and CDK19: positive regulators of signal-induced transcription and negative regulators of Mediator complex proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7288-7313. [PMID: 37378433 PMCID: PMC10415139 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We have conducted a detailed transcriptomic, proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of CDK8 and its paralog CDK19, alternative enzymatic components of the kinase module associated with transcriptional Mediator complex and implicated in development and diseases. This analysis was performed using genetic modifications of CDK8 and CDK19, selective CDK8/19 small molecule kinase inhibitors and a potent CDK8/19 PROTAC degrader. CDK8/19 inhibition in cells exposed to serum or to agonists of NFκB or protein kinase C (PKC) reduced the induction of signal-responsive genes, indicating a pleiotropic role of Mediator kinases in signal-induced transcriptional reprogramming. CDK8/19 inhibition under basal conditions initially downregulated a small group of genes, most of which were inducible by serum or PKC stimulation. Prolonged CDK8/19 inhibition or mutagenesis upregulated a larger gene set, along with a post-transcriptional increase in the proteins comprising the core Mediator complex and its kinase module. Regulation of both RNA and protein expression required CDK8/19 kinase activities but both enzymes protected their binding partner cyclin C from proteolytic degradation in a kinase-independent manner. Analysis of isogenic cell populations expressing CDK8, CDK19 or their kinase-inactive mutants revealed that CDK8 and CDK19 have the same qualitative effects on protein phosphorylation and gene expression at the RNA and protein levels, whereas differential effects of CDK8 versus CDK19 knockouts were attributable to quantitative differences in their expression and activity rather than different functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqian Chen
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Senex Biotechnology, Inc. Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Chen Cheng
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Hao Ji
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Serena Altilia
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Xiaokai Ding
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Guoshuai Cai
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Diego Altomare
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Michael Shtutman
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alexey Feoktistov
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nataliya Soshnikova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladislav A Mogila
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Victor Tatarskiy
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Maksim Erokhin
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Darya Chetverina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Angga Prawira
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yi Ni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Campbell McInnes
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Eugenia V Broude
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Igor B Roninson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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Jovisic M, Mambetsariev N, Singer BD, Morales-Nebreda L. Differential roles of regulatory T cells in acute respiratory infections. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e170505. [PMID: 37463441 PMCID: PMC10348770 DOI: 10.1172/jci170505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory infections trigger an inflammatory immune response with the goal of pathogen clearance; however, overexuberant inflammation causes tissue damage and impairs pulmonary function. CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) interact with cells of both the innate and the adaptive immune system to limit acute pulmonary inflammation and promote its resolution. Tregs also provide tissue protection and coordinate lung tissue repair, facilitating a return to homeostatic pulmonary function. Here, we review Treg-mediated modulation of the host response to respiratory pathogens, focusing on mechanisms underlying how Tregs promote resolution of inflammation and repair of acute lung injury. We also discuss potential strategies to harness and optimize Tregs as a cellular therapy for patients with severe acute respiratory infection and discuss open questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Jovisic
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science
| | | | - Benjamin D. Singer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, and
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Luisa Morales-Nebreda
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science
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22
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Staniszewska M, Kiełbowski K, Rusińska K, Bakinowska E, Gromowska E, Pawlik A. Targeting cyclin-dependent kinases in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis - a review of current evidence. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:1097-1113. [PMID: 37982244 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2285784] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with synovial proliferation and bone erosion, which leads to the structural and functional impairment of the joints. Immune cells, together with synoviocytes, induce a pro-inflammatory environment and novel treatment agents target inflammatory cytokines. Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease, and several cytokines are considered as typical mediators in the progression of the disease, including IL-23, IL-22, and IL-17, among others. AREA COVERED In this review, we try to evaluate whether cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), enzymes that regulate cell cycle and transcription of various genes, could become novel therapeutic targets in RA and psoriasis. We present the main results of in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as scarce clinical reports. EXPERT OPINION CDK inhibitors seem promising for treating RA and psoriasis because of their multidirectional effects. CDK inhibitors may affect not only the process of osteoclastogenesis, thereby reducing joint destruction in RA, but also the process of apoptosis of neutrophils and macrophages responsible for the development of inflammation in both RA and psoriasis. However, assessing the efficacy of these drugs in clinical practice requires multi-center, long-term clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of CDK-blocking therapy in RA and psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kajetan Kiełbowski
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Klaudia Rusińska
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Estera Bakinowska
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Ewa Gromowska
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pawlik
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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Li J, Bai Y, Liu Y, Song Z, Yang Y, Zhao Y. Transcriptome-based chemical screens identify CDK8 as a common barrier in multiple cell reprogramming systems. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112566. [PMID: 37235474 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts can be chemically induced to pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) through an extraembryonic endoderm (XEN)-like state or directly converted into other differentiated cell lineages. However, the mechanisms underlying chemically induced cell-fate reprogramming remain unclear. Here, a transcriptome-based screen of biologically active compounds uncovered that CDK8 inhibition was essential to enable chemically induced reprogramming from fibroblasts into XEN-like cells, then CiPSCs. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that CDK8 inhibition downregulated proinflammatory pathways that suppress chemical reprogramming and facilitated the induction of a multi-lineage priming state, indicating the establishment of plasticity in fibroblasts. CDK8 inhibition also resulted in a chromatin accessibility profile like that under initial chemical reprogramming. Moreover, CDK8 inhibition greatly promoted reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into hepatocyte-like cells and induction of human fibroblasts into adipocytes. These collective findings thus highlight CDK8 as a general molecular barrier in multiple cell reprogramming processes, and as a common target for inducing plasticity and cell fate conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yunfei Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Plastech Pharmaceutical Technology Ltd, Nanjing 210031, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Plastech Pharmaceutical Technology Ltd, Nanjing 210031, China
| | - Zhongya Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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Kokinos EK, Tsymbal SA, Galochkina AV, Bezlepkina SA, Nikolaeva JV, Vershinina SO, Shtro AA, Tatarskiy VV, Shtil AA, Broude EV, Roninson IB, Dukhinova M. Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases 8/19 Restricts Bacterial and Virus-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Monocytes. Viruses 2023; 15:1292. [PMID: 37376593 PMCID: PMC10305654 DOI: 10.3390/v15061292] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperactivation of the immune system remains a dramatic, life-threatening complication of viral and bacterial infections, particularly during pneumonia. Therapeutic approaches to counteract local and systemic outbreaks of cytokine storm and to prevent tissue damage remain limited. Cyclin-dependent kinases 8 and 19 (CDK8/19) potentiate transcriptional responses to the altered microenvironment, but CDK8/19 potential in immunoregulation is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated how a selective CDK8/19 inhibitor, Senexin B, impacts the immunogenic profiles of monocytic cells stimulated using influenza virus H1N1 or bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Senexin B was able to prevent the induction of gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in THP1 and U937 cell lines and in human peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells. Moreover, Senexin B substantially reduced functional manifestations of inflammation, including clustering and chemokine-dependent migration of THP1 monocytes and human pulmonary fibroblasts (HPF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena K Kokinos
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, 191002 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey A Tsymbal
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, 191002 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anastasia V Galochkina
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, 15/17 Prof. Popov Street, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Bezlepkina
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, 191002 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Julia V Nikolaeva
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, 15/17 Prof. Popov Street, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sofia O Vershinina
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, 191002 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna A Shtro
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, 15/17 Prof. Popov Street, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Victor V Tatarskiy
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilova Street, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander A Shtil
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Kashirskoe Highway 24, 115478 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugenia V Broude
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina, Sumter Street 715, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Igor B Roninson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina, Sumter Street 715, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Marina Dukhinova
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, 191002 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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Suzuki K, Kunisada Y, Miyamura N, Eikawa S, Hurtado de Mendoza T, Mose ES, Lu C, Kuroda Y, Ruoslahti E, Lowy AM, Sugahara KN. Tumor-resident regulatory T cells in pancreatic cancer express the αvβ5 integrin as a targetable activation marker. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.24.542137. [PMID: 37292693 PMCID: PMC10245898 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.542137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has abundant immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs), which contribute to a microenvironment resistant to immunotherapy. Here, we report that Tregs in the PDAC tissue, but not those in the spleen, express the αvβ5 integrin in addition to neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), which makes them susceptible to the iRGD tumor-penetrating peptide, which targets cells positive for αv integrin- and NRP-1. As a result, long-term treatment of PDAC mice with iRGD leads to tumor-specific depletion of Tregs and improved efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. αvβ5 integrin + Tregs are induced from both naïve CD4 + T cells and natural Tregs upon T cell receptor stimulation, and represent a highly immunosuppressive subpopulation of CCR8 + Tregs. This study identifies the αvβ5 integrin as a marker for activated tumor-resident Tregs, which can be targeted to achieve tumor-specific Treg depletion and thereby augment anti-tumor immunity for PDAC therapy.
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Geng CA, Chen FY, Zheng JB, Liao P, Li TZ, Zhang XM, Chen X, Chen JJ. Rubiginosin B selectively inhibits Treg cell differentiation and enhances anti-tumor immune responses by targeting calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 116:154898. [PMID: 37247590 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The accumulation of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) dampens anti-tumor immune responses and promotes tumor progression. Therefore, the elimination of Tregs has become a strategy to enhance the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy, although it is still a daunting challenge. Rhododendron brachypodum (R. brachypodum) is a perennial shrub mainly distributed in Southwestern China, whereas the chemical constituents in this plant remain elusive. PURPOSE To identify small-molecule inhibitors of Tregs from R. brachypodum. METHODS Meroterpenoids in R. brachypodum were isolated by column chromatography under the guidance of LCMS analyses. The structures of isolates were identified by spectroscopic data and quantum calculations. The activities of compounds were first evaluated on CD4+ T cell differentiation by flow cytometry in Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg polarizing conditions, and then on CT26 and MC38 murine colorectal carcinoma cells-allografted mice models. The mechanism of action was first investigated by determining Foxp3 degradation in Jurkat T cells transfected with pLVX-TetOne-Puro-Foxp3-tGFP, and then through analyses of Foxp3 expression on several pre-transcriptional signaling molecules. RESULTS Two new prenylated phenolic acids (1 and 2) and a chromane meroterpenoid, rubiginosin B (RGB, 3) were obtained from R. brachypodum. The structure of S-anthopogochromene C (1) was rectified according to the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiment, and rhodobrachypodic acid (2) was proposed as the precursor of RGB by photochemical transformation. In this investigation, we first found that RGB (3) selectively suppressed the de novo differentiation of TGFβ-induced CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (iTregs), overcome the immunosuppressive TME, and consequently inhibited the growth of tumor in mouse models. The mechanistic study revealed that RGB could target calcineurin, inhibited the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) dephosphorylation, and down-regulated Foxp3 expression. The hypothetical binding modes of RGB with calcineurin were predicted by molecular docking, and the interactions were mainly hydrophobic effects and hydrogen bonds. CONCLUSION These results suggest that RGB enhances anti-tumor immune responses by inhibiting Treg cell differentiation through calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway, and therefore RGB or its analogs may be used as adjuvant agents meriting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-An Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Feng-Yang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Science, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jing-Bin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Science, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Ping Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Science, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Tian-Ze Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Xue-Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Science, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China.; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, China.
| | - Ji-Jun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Kheradmand F, Zhang Y, Corry DB. Contribution of adaptive immunity to human COPD and experimental models of emphysema. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1059-1093. [PMID: 36201635 PMCID: PMC9886356 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00036.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the undisputed role of innate immune cells in this condition have dominated the field in the basic research arena for many years. Recently, however, compelling data suggesting that adaptive immune cells may also contribute to the progressive nature of lung destruction associated with COPD in smokers have gained considerable attention. The histopathological changes in the lungs of smokers can be limited to the large or small airways, but alveolar loss leading to emphysema, which occurs in some individuals, remains its most significant and irreversible outcome. Critically, however, the question of why emphysema progresses in a subset of former smokers remained a mystery for many years. The recognition of activated and organized tertiary T- and B-lymphoid aggregates in emphysematous lungs provided the first clue that adaptive immune cells may play a crucial role in COPD pathophysiology. Based on these findings from human translational studies, experimental animal models of emphysema were used to determine the mechanisms through which smoke exposure initiates and orchestrates adaptive autoreactive inflammation in the lungs. These models have revealed that T helper (Th)1 and Th17 subsets promote a positive feedback loop that activates innate immune cells, confirming their role in emphysema pathogenesis. Results from genetic studies and immune-based discoveries have further provided strong evidence for autoimmunity induction in smokers with emphysema. These new findings offer a novel opportunity to explore the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory landscape in the COPD lung and offer insights for development of precision-based treatment to halt lung destruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farrah Kheradmand
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID), Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - David B Corry
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID), Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
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28
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Chen X, Yan Y, Cheng X, Zhang Z, He C, Wu D, Zhao D, Liu X. A novel CDK8 inhibitor with poly-substituted pyridine core: Discovery and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation in vivo. Bioorg Chem 2023; 133:106402. [PMID: 36791618 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
As an ideal anti-inflammatory target, cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. CDK8 inhibition up-regulates Interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression by enhancing the transcriptional activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1), and augmenting IL-10 abundance is a viable strategy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this research, through structure-based drug design and dominant fragment hybridization, a series of poly-substituted pyridine derivatives were designed and synthesized as CDK8 inhibitors. Ultimately, compound CR16 was identified as the best one, which exhibited good inhibitory activity against CDK8 (IC50 = 74.4 nM). In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that CR16 could enhance the transcriptional activity of AP-1, augment the abundance of IL-10, and affect CDK8-related signaling pathways including TLR7/NF-κB/MAPK and IL-10-JAK1-STAT3 pathways. In addition, CR16 showed potent therapeutic effect in an animal model of IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Yaoyao Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Xiu Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, BengBu Medical College, BengBu 233030, PR China
| | - Zhaoyan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Chuanbiao He
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Dan Wu
- School of Biological Engineering, Hefei Technology College, Hefei 238000, PR China
| | - Dahai Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China.
| | - Xinhua Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China.
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29
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Mandarano AH, Harris TL, Creasy BM, Wehenkel M, Duggar M, Wilander BA, Mishra A, Crawford JC, Mullen SA, Williams KM, Pillai M, High AA, McGargill MA. DRAK2 contributes to type 1 diabetes by negatively regulating IL-2 sensitivity to alter regulatory T cell development. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112106. [PMID: 36773294 PMCID: PMC10412737 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112106] [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: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Drak2-deficient (Drak2-/-) mice are resistant to multiple models of autoimmunity yet effectively eliminate pathogens and tumors. Thus, DRAK2 represents a potential target to treat autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanisms by which DRAK2 contributes to autoimmunity, particularly type 1 diabetes (T1D), remain unresolved. Here, we demonstrate that resistance to T1D in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice is due to the absence of Drak2 in T cells and requires the presence of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Contrary to previous hypotheses, we show that DRAK2 does not limit TCR signaling. Rather, DRAK2 regulates IL-2 signaling by inhibiting STAT5A phosphorylation. We further demonstrate that enhanced sensitivity to IL-2 in the absence of Drak2 augments thymic Treg development. Overall, our data indicate that DRAK2 contributes to autoimmunity in multiple ways by regulating thymic Treg development and by impacting the sensitivity of conventional T cells to Treg-mediated suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra H Mandarano
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tarsha L Harris
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Blaine M Creasy
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Marie Wehenkel
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Marygrace Duggar
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Benjamin A Wilander
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ashutosh Mishra
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jeremy Chase Crawford
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sarah A Mullen
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Katherine M Williams
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Meenu Pillai
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Anthony A High
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Maureen A McGargill
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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30
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Ma R, Su H, Jiao K, Liu J. Role of Th17 cells, Treg cells, and Th17/Treg imbalance in immune homeostasis disorders in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e784. [PMID: 36840492 PMCID: PMC9950879 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, following strokes and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic lung inflammation is believed to play a role in the development of COPD. In addition, accumulating evidence shows that the immune system plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Significant advancements have been made in research on the pathogenesis of immune diseases and chronic inflammation in recent years, and T helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells have been found to play a crucial role in the autoimmune response. Th17 cells are a proinflammatory subpopulation that causes autoimmune disease and tissue damage. Treg cells, on the other hand, have a negative effect but can contribute to the occurrence of the same disease when their antagonism fails. This review mainly summarizes the biological characteristics of Th17 cells and Treg cells, their roles in chronic inflammatory diseases of COPD, and the role of the Th17/Treg ratio in the onset, development, and outcome of inflammatory disorders, as well as recent advancements in immunomodulatory treatment targeting Th17/Treg cells in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Ma
- Department of The First Clinical School of MedicineLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina,Department of Gansu Provincial People's HospitalLanzhouChina
| | - Hongling Su
- Department of The First Clinical School of MedicineLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina,Department of Gansu Provincial People's HospitalLanzhouChina
| | - Keping Jiao
- Department of The First Clinical School of MedicineLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina,Department of Gansu Provincial People's HospitalLanzhouChina
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of The First Clinical School of MedicineLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
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31
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Treg-targeted efficient-inducible platform for collagen-induced arthritis treatment. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100557. [PMID: 36714199 PMCID: PMC9874074 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) display great promise in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy. However, their low number and differentiation rate limit their further application in the clinics. In the present study, we first optimized a combination of IL-2, TGF-β and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor AS2863619 (IL-2/TGF-β/AS), which could induce Tregs with high efficiency in vitro. After the induced Tregs (iTregs) were confirmed to suppress lymphocyte proliferation and pro-inflammatory T help cells (Th1 and Th17) activation, a chitosan-stabilized nanoparticle drug delivery system (NDDS) was developed according to the optimized formula of IL-2/TGF-β/AS. In vivo study, the NDDS was injected into the knees of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). As a result, the NDDS remarkably reduced the pathological score of the CIA, alleviated the inflammatory cell infiltration and synovial hyperplasia, and minimized cartilage tissue damage in the knee joint of the CIA mice. Mechanically, the NDDS administration promoted Treg differentiation and decreased Th17 production, consequently reversing the ratio of Treg/Th17, and reducing the secretion of TNF-α in the sera, which facilitated to relieve the severity and progression of arthritis. In sum, NDDS capable of efficiently inducing Tregs were constructed successfully and provided a potential platform for treating RA by restoring the equilibrium of Treg/Th17 destroyed in RA.
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32
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Clopper KC, Taatjes DJ. Chemical inhibitors of transcription-associated kinases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 70:102186. [PMID: 35926294 PMCID: PMC10676000 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcription by RNA polymerase II (pol II) is regulated by kinases. In recent years, many selective and potent inhibitors of pol II transcription-associated kinases have been developed, and these molecules have advanced understanding of kinase function in mammalian cells. Here, we focus on chemical inhibitors of the transcription-associated kinases CDK7, CDK8, CDK9, CDK12, CDK13, and CDK19. We provide a brief overview of the function of these kinases and common activation mechanisms. We then highlight the advantages of kinase inhibitors compared with other basic research methods, and describe the caveats associated with non-selective compounds (e.g. flavopiridol). We conclude with strategies and recommendations for implementation of chemical inhibitors for experimental analysis of transcription-associated kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Clopper
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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33
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Orozco G, Gupta M, Gedaly R, Marti F. Untangling the Knots of Regulatory T Cell Therapy in Solid Organ Transplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:883855. [PMID: 35720387 PMCID: PMC9198594 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.883855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous preclinical studies have provided solid evidence supporting adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to induce organ tolerance. As a result, there are 7 currently active Treg cell-based clinical trials in solid organ transplantation worldwide, all of which are early phase I or phase I/II trials. Although the results of these trials are optimistic and support both safety and feasibility, many experimental and clinical unanswered questions are slowing the progression of this new therapeutic alternative. In this review, we bring to the forefront the major challenges that Treg cell transplant investigators are currently facing, including the phenotypic and functional diversity of Treg cells, lineage stability, non-standardized ex vivo Treg cell manufacturing process, adequacy of administration route, inability of monitoring and tracking infused cells, and lack of biomarkers or validated surrogate endpoints of efficacy in clinical trials. With this plethora of interrogation marks, we are at a challenging and exciting crossroad where properly addressing these questions will determine the successful implementation of Treg cell-based immunotherapy in clinical transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Orozco
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Meera Gupta
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Alliance Research Initiative [Treg cells to Induce Liver Tolerance (TILT) Alliance], University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Roberto Gedaly
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Alliance Research Initiative [Treg cells to Induce Liver Tolerance (TILT) Alliance], University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States.,Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Francesc Marti
- Department of Surgery - Transplant Division, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Alliance Research Initiative [Treg cells to Induce Liver Tolerance (TILT) Alliance], University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States.,Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
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34
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Challenges and opportunities in achieving effective regulatory T cell therapy in autoimmune liver disease. Semin Immunopathol 2022; 44:461-474. [PMID: 35641679 PMCID: PMC9256571 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00940-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) include autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). These immune-mediated liver diseases involve a break down in peripheral self-tolerance with largely unknown aetiology. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are crucial in maintaining immunological tolerance. Hence, Treg immunotherapy is an attractive therapeutic option in AILD. Currently, AILD do not have a curative treatment option and patients take life-long immunosuppression or bile acids to control hepatic or biliary inflammation. Clinical investigations using good manufacturing practice (GMP) Treg in autoimmune liver disease have thus far demonstrated that Treg therapy is safe and that Treg migrate to inflamed liver tissue. For Treg immunotherapy to achieve efficacy in AILD, Treg must be retained within the liver and maintain their suppressive phenotype to dampen ongoing immune responses to hepatocytes and biliary epithelium. Therefore, therapeutic Treg subsets should be selected for tissue residency markers and maximal functionality. Optimisation of dosing regime and understanding longevity of Treg in vivo are critical to successful Treg therapy. It is also essential to consider combination therapy options to complement infused Treg, for instance low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) to support pre-existing and infused Treg survival and suppressive function. Understanding the hepatic microenvironment in both early- and late-stage AILD presents significant opportunity to better tailor Treg therapy in different patient groups. Modification of a hostile microenvironment to a more favourable one either prior to or during Treg therapy could enhance the efficacy and longevity of infused GMP-Treg. Applying recent technology to discovery of autoantigen responses in AILD, T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing and use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology represents the next frontier for disease-specific CAR-Treg therapies. Consideration of all these aspects in future trials and discovery research would position GMP Treg immunotherapy as a viable personalised-medicine treatment option for effective control of autoimmune liver diseases.
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35
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Nakano S, Mikami N, Miyawaki M, Yamasaki S, Miyamoto S, Yamada M, Temma T, Nishi Y, Nagaike A, Sakae S, Furusawa T, Kawakami R, Tsuji T, Kohno T, Yoshida Y. Therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis by induction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells with high suppressive potential. Biol Pharm Bull 2022; 45:1053-1060. [PMID: 35613869 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-01096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Combination treatment using fingolimod (FTY720), an immunomodulator, and a pathogenic antigen prevents the progression of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI)325-339-induced arthritis. In this study, we focused on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs; CD11b+Gr-1+ cells) and investigated the effects of the combination treatment on these cells. DBA/1J mice with GPI325-339-induced arthritis were treated using FTY720 and/or GPI325-339 for five days. The expanded CD11b+Gr-1+ cell population and its inhibitory potential were examined. The percentage of CD369+CD11b+Gr-1+ cells effectively increased in the combination-treated mice. The inhibitory potential of CD369+CD11b+Gr-1+ cells was higher than that of cells not expressing CD369. Among bone marrow cells, the expression of CD369 in CD11b+Gr-1+ cells increased following stimulation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and the expression of CD11c increased accordingly. The increased CD11c expression indicated a decrease in the potential to suppress T cell proliferation based on the results of the suppression assay. The percentage of CD11c-CD369+ cells in CD11b+Gr-1+ cells that were induced by the combination treatment also increased, and these cells tended to have a higher capacity to inhibit T cell proliferation. In conclusion, the combination treatment using FTY720 and the pathogenic antigen effectively induces MDSC, which demonstrates a high potential for suppressing T cell proliferation in the lymph nodes, thereby establishing an immune-tolerant state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Nakano
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Norihisa Mikami
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University.,Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University
| | - Mai Miyawaki
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Saho Yamasaki
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Shoko Miyamoto
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Mayu Yamada
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Tomoya Temma
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Yousuke Nishi
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Arata Nagaike
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Seijun Sakae
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Takuya Furusawa
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Ryoji Kawakami
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University.,Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University
| | - Takumi Tsuji
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Takeyuki Kohno
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
| | - Yuya Yoshida
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University
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36
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Borys SM, Bag AK, Brossay L, Adeegbe DO. The Yin and Yang of Targeting KLRG1 + Tregs and Effector Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:894508. [PMID: 35572605 PMCID: PMC9098823 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.894508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The literature surrounding KLRG1 has primarily focused on NK and CD8+ T cells. However, there is evidence that the most suppressive Tregs express KLRG1. Until now, the role of KLRG1 on Tregs has been mostly overlooked and remains to be elucidated. Here we review the current literature on KLRG1 with an emphasis on the KLRG1+ Treg subset role during cancer development and autoimmunity. KLRG1 has been recently proposed as a new checkpoint inhibitor target, but these studies focused on the effects of KLRG1 blockade on effector cells. We propose that when designing anti-tumor therapies targeting KLRG1, the effects on both effector cells and Tregs will have to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Borys
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Arup K Bag
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Laurent Brossay
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Dennis O Adeegbe
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
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37
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Yan Y, Xing C, Xiao Y, Shen X, Zhang Z, He C, Shi JB, Liu M, Liu X. Discovery and Anti-Inflammatory Activity Evaluation of a Novel CDK8 Inhibitor through Upregulation of IL-10 for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease In Vivo. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7334-7362. [PMID: 35536548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) level is a promising strategy to suppress the progression of pathogenic inflammation including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Since cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) inhibition can upregulate IL-10 abundance in activated myeloid-derived dendritic cells, it is considered to be an effective target for IBD treatment. Here, the complete discovery process of a novel CDK8 inhibitor as an anti-inflammatory agent was described. Starting with wogonin, structure-based optimization and structure-activity relationship (SAR) study were comprehensively carried out, and then lead compound 85 (N-(2-ethylphenyl)-5-(4-(piperazine-1-carbonyl)phenyl)nicotinamide) was developed as a potent druglike CDK8 inhibitor upregulating IL-10 both in vivo and in vitro. Also, compound 85 (with CDK8 IC50 = 56 nM, IL-10 enhancement rate 88%) exhibited effective anti-inflammatory activity in an animal model of IBD. These results confirmed that certain CDK8 inhibitor could be used as an effective anti-IBD drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyao Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Chen Xing
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Yun Xiao
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Xiaobao Shen
- School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoyan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Chuanbiao He
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Bo Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Mingming Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
| | - Xinhua Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, P. R. China
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38
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Joudi AM, Reyes Flores CP, Singer BD. Epigenetic Control of Regulatory T Cell Stability and Function: Implications for Translation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:861607. [PMID: 35309306 PMCID: PMC8924620 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.861607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immune homeostasis, promote self-tolerance, and have an emerging role in resolving acute inflammation, providing tissue protection, and repairing tissue damage. Some data suggest that FoxP3+ T cells are plastic, exhibiting susceptibility to losing their function in inflammatory cytokine-rich microenvironments and paradoxically contributing to inflammatory pathology. As a result, plasticity may represent a barrier to Treg cell immunotherapy. Here, we discuss controversies surrounding Treg cell plasticity and explore determinants of Treg cell stability in inflammatory microenvironments, focusing on epigenetic mechanisms that clinical protocols could leverage to enhance efficacy and limit toxicity of Treg cell-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M. Joudi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
- Canning Thoracic Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Carla P. Reyes Flores
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
- Canning Thoracic Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Benjamin D. Singer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
- Canning Thoracic Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
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Abstract
The cytokine, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), has a history of more than 40 years. TGF-β is secreted by many tumor cells and is associated with tumor growth and cancer immunity. The canonical TGF-β signaling pathway, SMAD, controls both tumor metastasis and immune regulation, thereby regulating cancer immunity. TGF-β regulates multiple types of immune cells in tumor microenvironment, including T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages. One of the main roles of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment is the generation of regulatory T cells, which contribute to the suppression of anti-tumor immunity. Because cancer is one of the highest causes of death globally, the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors by Honjo and Allison in cancer immunotherapy earned a Nobel Prize in 2018. TGF-β also regulates the levels of immune checkpoints inhibitory receptors on immune cells. Immune checkpoints inhibitors are now being developed along with anti-TGF-β antibody and/or TGF-β inhibitors. More recently, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) were applied to cancer immunity and tried to combine with TGF-β blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - WanJun Chen
- Mucosal Immunology Section, NIDCR, National Institute of Health
| | - Hiroyuki Shibata
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
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40
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The Mediator kinase module: an interface between cell signaling and transcription. Trends Biochem Sci 2022; 47:314-327. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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41
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Wilk C, Effenberg L, Abberger H, Steenpass L, Hansen W, Zeschnigk M, Kirschning C, Buer J, Kehrmann J. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated demethylation of FOXP3-TSDR toward Treg-characteristic programming of Jurkat T cells. Cell Immunol 2022; 371:104471. [PMID: 34954490 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Demethylation of FOXP3-TSDR (Treg specific demethylated region) is a hallmark of stable differentiation and suppressive function of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Previous protocols aiming at human naïve T cell differentiation failed to implement a Treg cell specific epigenetic signature. Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes catalyze DNA demethylation. Plasmids towardexpression of a fusion protein encompassing nonfunctional Cas9, the catalytic domain of TET1, blue fluorescent protein, and encoding single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting specific segments of the FOXP3-TSDR were engineered and transfected into Jurkat T cells. FOXP3-TSDR methylation was analyzed by deep-amplicon bisulfite sequencing while cellular Foxp3, Tbet, Gata3, and Rorgt mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. Overexpression of dCas9TET1 significantly decreased Jurkat cell FOXP3-TSDR methylation and increased Foxp3 mRNA expression while expressions of master transcription factor mRNAs of other major T cell lineages remained largely unaffected. dCas9-TET1 construct transfection mediated Treg programming of patients' primary T cells might be feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Wilk
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Laura Effenberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Hanna Abberger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Laura Steenpass
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Wiebke Hansen
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Zeschnigk
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Carsten Kirschning
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Buer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Kehrmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
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42
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Peripheral tolerance by Treg via constraining OX40 signal in autoreactive T cells against desmoglein 3, a target antigen in pemphigus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2026763118. [PMID: 34848535 PMCID: PMC8670434 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026763118] [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] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune tolerance is crucial to prevent harmful immune reactions against self-antigens and well operated by central thymic tolerance and peripheral tissue tolerance. However, peripheral tolerance had been investigated under influence from thymic tolerance. We successfully decoupled peripheral tolerance from thymic tolerance by utilizing autoantigen-deficient thymus. Experiments revealed that self-antigen presentation in steady state initiated proliferation but subsequent disappearance of autoreactive CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. After screening of representative candidates, including Ctla4, autoimmune regulator, and Pd-1, the mechanism was found to depend on regulatory T cell (Treg) function that constrained OX40 signaling of the T cells. This study presented fundamental, but potent, Treg-mediated tolerance mechanisms of peripheral tissues to prevent autoimmunity as compensatory roles for central tolerance. Antigen-specific peripheral tolerance is crucial to prevent the development of organ-specific autoimmunity. However, its function decoupled from thymic tolerance remains unclear. We used desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), a pemphigus antigen expressed in keratinocytes, to analyze peripheral tolerance under physiological antigen-expression conditions. Dsg3-deficient thymi were transplanted into athymic mice to create a unique condition in which Dsg3 was expressed only in peripheral tissue but not in the thymus. When bone marrow transfer was conducted from high-avidity Dsg3-specific T cell receptor–transgenic mice to thymus-transplanted mice, Dsg3-specific CD4+ T cells developed in the transplanted thymus but subsequently disappeared in the periphery. Additionally, when Dsg3-specific T cells developed in Dsg3−/− mice were adoptively transferred into Dsg3-sufficient recipients, the T cells disappeared in an antigen-specific manner without inducing autoimmune dermatitis. However, Dsg3-specific T cells overcame this disappearance and thus induced autoimmune dermatitis in Treg-ablated recipients but not in Foxp3-mutant recipients with dysfunctional Tregs. The molecules involved in disappearance were sought by screening the transcriptomes of wild-type and Foxp3-mutant Tregs. OX40 of Tregs was suggested to be responsible. Consistently, when OX40 expression of Tregs was constrained, Dsg3-specific T cells did not disappear. Furthermore, Tregs obtained OX40L from dendritic cells in an OX40-dependent manner in vitro and then suppressed OX40L expression in dendritic cells and Birc5 expression in Dsg3-specific T cells in vivo. Lastly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of OX40 signaling in Dsg3-specific T cells restored their disappearance in Treg-ablated recipients. Thus, Treg-mediated peripheral deletion of autoreactive T cells operates as an OX40-dependent regulatory mechanism to avoid undesired autoimmunity besides thymic tolerance.
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43
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Zhang H, Jing L, Liu M, Goto M, Lai F, Liu X, Sheng L, Yang Y, Yang Y, Li Y, Chen X, Lee KH, Xiao Z. Identification of 3, 4-disubstituted pyridine derivatives as novel CDK8 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 223:113634. [PMID: 34147745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Selective inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) has been recently regarded as a potential approach for cancer therapy. A series of novel CDK8 inhibitors with the pyridine core was identified via scaffold hopping from the known CDK8 inhibitor A-7. The new inhibitors were designed to improve the ligand efficiency so as to enhance drug-likeness. Most of the compounds showed significant inhibition against CDK8/cyclin C, and the most active compounds (5d, 5e and 7') displayed IC50 values of 2.4 nM, 5.0 nM and 7.7 nM, respectively. Preliminary kinase profiling of selected compounds against a panel of kinases from different families indicated that this compound class might selectively inhibit CDK8 as well as its paralog CDK19. Some compounds exhibited cellular activity in both MTT and SRB assays against a variety of tumor cells, including HCT-116, A549, MDA-MB-231, KB, KB-VIN and MCF-7. Further flow cytometry analysis revealed a dose-dependent G2/M phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with compounds 6'a, 6'b, 6'j and 6'k. In addition, compound 6'k demonstrated moderate antitumor efficacy in HCT-116 mouse models, although unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles were suggested by preliminary study in mice. The results provided a new structural prototype for the search of selective CDK8 inhibitors as antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haochao Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Liandong Jing
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Man Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Masuo Goto
- Natural Products Research Laboratories, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7568, USA
| | - Fangfang Lai
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Li Sheng
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yajun Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yan Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xiaoguang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Kuo-Hsiung Lee
- Natural Products Research Laboratories, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7568, USA; Chinese Medicine Research and Development Center, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Zhiyan Xiao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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44
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Arnett A, Moo KG, Flynn KJ, Sundberg TB, Johannessen L, Shamji AF, Gray NS, Decker T, Zheng Y, Gersuk VH, Rahman ZS, Levy DE, Marié IJ, Linsley PS, Xavier RJ, Khor B. The Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 (CDK8) Inhibitor DCA Promotes a Tolerogenic Chemical Immunophenotype in CD4 + T Cells via a Novel CDK8-GATA3-FOXP3 Pathway. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 41:e0008521. [PMID: 34124936 PMCID: PMC8384069 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00085-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune health requires innate and adaptive immune cells to engage precisely balanced pro- and anti-inflammatory forces. We employ the concept of chemical immunophenotypes to classify small molecules functionally or mechanistically according to their patterns of effects on primary innate and adaptive immune cells. The high-specificity, low-toxicity cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) inhibitor 16-didehydro-cortistatin A (DCA) exerts a distinct tolerogenic profile in both innate and adaptive immune cells. DCA promotes regulatory T cells (Treg) and Th2 differentiation while inhibiting Th1 and Th17 differentiation in both murine and human cells. This unique chemical immunophenotype led to mechanistic studies showing that DCA promotes Treg differentiation in part by regulating a previously undescribed CDK8-GATA3-FOXP3 pathway that regulates early pathways of Foxp3 expression. These results highlight previously unappreciated links between Treg and Th2 differentiation and extend our understanding of the transcription factors that regulate Treg differentiation and their temporal sequencing. These findings have significant implications for future mechanistic and translational studies of CDK8 and CDK8 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azlann Arnett
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Keagan G. Moo
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Thomas B. Sundberg
- Center for the Science of Therapeutics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liv Johannessen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alykhan F. Shamji
- Center for the Science of Therapeutics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas Decker
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ye Zheng
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Ziaur S. Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David E. Levy
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Isabelle J. Marié
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Ramnik J. Xavier
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bernard Khor
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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45
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Zong X, Hao X, Xu B, Crawford JC, Wright S, Li J, Zhang Y, Bai L, He M, Jiang M, Fan Y, Connelly JP, Pruett-Miller SM, Berns H, Janke L, Li C, Feng Y. Foxp3 enhancers synergize to maximize regulatory T cell suppressive capacity. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20202415. [PMID: 34086055 PMCID: PMC8185987 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
T reg cells bearing a diverse antigen receptor repertoire suppress pathogenic T cells and maintain immune homeostasis during their long lifespan. How their robust function is determined genetically remains elusive. Here, we investigate the regulatory space of the cis-regulatory elements of T reg lineage-specifying factor Foxp3. Foxp3 enhancers are known as distinct readers of environmental cues controlling T reg cell induction or lineage stability. However, their single deficiencies cause mild, if any, immune dysregulation, leaving the key transcriptional mechanisms determining Foxp3 expression and thereby T reg cell suppressive capacity uncertain. We examined the collective activities of Foxp3 enhancers and found that they coordinate to maximize T reg cell induction, Foxp3 expression level, or lineage stability through distinct modes and that ablation of synergistic enhancers leads to lethal autoimmunity in young mice. Thus, the induction and maintenance of a diverse, stable T reg cell repertoire rely on combinatorial Foxp3 enhancers, suggesting broad, stage-specific, synergistic activities of cell-intrinsic factors and cell-extrinsic cues in determining T reg cell suppressive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinying Zong
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Xiaolei Hao
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | - Shaela Wright
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Minghong He
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Menglin Jiang
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Yiping Fan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jon P. Connelly
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | - Hartmut Berns
- Transgenic Gene Knockout Shared Resource, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Laura Janke
- Veterinary Pathology Core, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Chunliang Li
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Yongqiang Feng
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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46
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Kim G, Kim W, Lim S, Lee H, Koo J, Nam K, Kim S, Park S, Choi J. In Vivo Induction of Regulatory T Cells Via CTLA-4 Signaling Peptide to Control Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Prevent Disease Relapse. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004973. [PMID: 34306974 PMCID: PMC8292875 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells play a key role in immune tolerance to self-antigens, thereby preventing autoimmune diseases. However, no drugs targeting Treg cells have been approved for clinical trials yet. Here, a chimeric peptide is generated by conjugation of the cytoplasmic domain of CTLA-4 (ctCTLA-4) with dNP2 for intracellular delivery, dNP2-ctCTLA-4, and evaluated Foxp3 expression during Th0, Th1, Treg, and Th17 differentiation dependent on TGF-β. The lysine motif of ctCTLA-4, not tyrosine motif, is required for Foxp3 expression for Treg induction and amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Transcriptome analysis reveals that dNP2-ctCTLA-4-treated T cells express Treg transcriptomic patterns with properties of suppressive functions. In addition, the molecular interaction between the lysine motif of ctCTLA-4 and PKC-η is critical for Foxp3 expression. Although both CTLA-4-Ig and dNP2-ctCTLA-4 treatment in vivo ameliorated EAE progression, only dNP2-ctCTLA-4 requires Treg cells for inhibition of disease progression and prevention of relapse. Furthermore, the CTLA-4 signaling peptide is able to induce human Tregs in vitro and in vivo as well as from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of multiple sclerosis patients. These results collectively suggest that the chimeric CTLA-4 signaling peptide can be used for successful induction of regulatory T cells in vivo to control autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil‐Ran Kim
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
| | - Won‐Ju Kim
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
| | - Sangho Lim
- Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research‐KNAW, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrecht3584 CTNetherland
| | - Hong‐Gyun Lee
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
| | - Ja‐Hyun Koo
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung‐Ho Nam
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
| | - Sung‐Min Kim
- Department of NeurologyCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul National University HospitalSeoul03080Republic of Korea
| | - Sung‐Dong Park
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
| | - Je‐Min Choi
- Department of Life ScienceCollege of Natural SciencesHanyang UniversityResearch institute for Natural SciencesResearch Institute for Convergence of Basic SciencesHanyang UniversitySeoul04763Republic of Korea
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47
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Martin SF, Esser PR. Innate Immune Mechanisms in Contact Dermatitis. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 268:297-310. [PMID: 34173865 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Allergies are highly prevalent hypersensitivity responses to usually harmless substances. They are mediated by the immune system which causes pathologic responses such as type I (rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic asthma, atopy) or type IV hypersensitivity (allergic contact dermatitis). The different types of allergy are mediated by effector and memory T cells and, in the case of type I hypersensitivity, B cells. A prerequisite for the activation of these cells of the adaptive immune system is the activation of the innate immune system. The resulting inflammation is essential not only for the initiation but also for the elicitation and maintenance of allergies. Great progress has been made in the elucidation of the cellular and molecular pathomechanisms underlying allergen-induced inflammation. It is now recognized that the innate immune system in concert with tissue stress and damage responses orchestrates inflammation. This should enable the development of novel mechanism-based anti-inflammatory treatment strategies as well as of animal-free in vitro assays for the identification and potency classification of contact allergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan F Martin
- Allergy Research Group, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. .,Forschergruppe Allergologie, Klinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Philipp R Esser
- Allergy Research Group, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. .,Forschergruppe Allergologie, Klinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Freiburg, Germany.
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48
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Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are indispensable for the establishment and maintenance of immunological self-tolerance. Their genetic anomalies or variations in function are causative of various monogenic and polygenic autoimmune diseases. Treg-based reestablishment of self-tolerance is envisioned to cure autoimmune diseases in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimon Sakaguchi
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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49
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Mikami N, Tani H, Kawakami R, Sugimoto A, Sakaguchi S, Ikuta T. Brazilian green propolis promotes TNFR2 expression on regulatory T cells. Food Sci Nutr 2021; 9:3200-3208. [PMID: 34136184 PMCID: PMC8194755 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.2281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are needed to suppress inflammatory diseases and maintain immune homeostasis. The suppressive function of Tregs can be used to control autoimmune or inflammatory diseases; therefore, it is well studied how Tregs can be artificially up- or downregulated in vitro and in vivo, by using antibodies, chemical compounds, foods, and natural resources. Propolis is a famous functional food that has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, the influences of propolis on Treg function have not been fully evaluated so far. Here, we demonstrated that Brazilian green propolis increases TNFR2 expression in Tregs via the IRF4/cMyc axis, and artepillin C was a major effective component of propolis on Tregs. These results indicate that propolis and artepillin C have the potential as Treg activators via TNFR2 expression and may be useful for the prevention and/or therapy of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihisa Mikami
- Department of Experimental ImmunologyImmunology Frontier Research CenterOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| | - Hiroko Tani
- Institute for Bee Products and Health ScienceYamada Bee Company, Inc.OkayamaJapan
| | - Ryoji Kawakami
- Department of Experimental ImmunologyImmunology Frontier Research CenterOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| | - Atsushi Sugimoto
- Department of Experimental ImmunologyImmunology Frontier Research CenterOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Department of Experimental ImmunologyImmunology Frontier Research CenterOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| | - Tomoki Ikuta
- Institute for Bee Products and Health ScienceYamada Bee Company, Inc.OkayamaJapan
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50
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Lin Y, Xue K, Li Q, Liu Z, Zhu Z, Chen J, Dang E, Wang L, Zhang W, Wang G, Li B. Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 7 Promotes Th17/Th1 Cell Differentiation in Psoriasis by Modulating Glycolytic Metabolism. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 141:2656-2667.e11. [PMID: 34004188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Excessive activation of CD4+ T cells and T helper type (Th) 17/Th1 cell differentiation are critical events in psoriasis pathogenesis, but the associated molecular mechanism is still unclear. Here, using quantitative proteomics analysis, we found that cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) expression was markedly increased in CD4+ T cells from patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls and was positively correlated with psoriasis severity. Meanwhile, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of CDK7 ameliorated the severity of psoriasis in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model and suppressed CD4+ T-cell activation as well as Th17/Th1 cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the CDK7 inhibitor also reduced the enhanced glycolysis of CD4+ T cells from patients with psoriasis. Proinflammatory cytokine IL-23 induced increased CDK7 expression in CD4+ T cells and activated the protein kinase B/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway, enhancing glycolytic metabolism. Correspondingly, CDK7 inhibition significantly impaired IL-23-induced glycolysis via the protein kinase B/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway. In summary, this study shows that CDK7 promotes CD4+ T-cell activation and Th17/Th1 cell differentiation by regulating glycolysis, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Targeting CDK7 might be a promising immunosuppressive strategy to control skin inflammation mediated by IL-23.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiting Lin
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ke Xue
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China; PLA Institute of State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biopharmaceutics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qingyang Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhenhua Liu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhenlai Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiaoling Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Erle Dang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weigang Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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