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Sipos F, Műzes G. Colonic Tuft Cells: The Less-Recognized Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6209. [PMID: 38892399 PMCID: PMC11172904 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116209] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuft cells are more than guardian chemosensory elements of the digestive tract. They produce a variety of immunological effector molecules in response to stimulation; moreover, they are essential for defense against protozoa and nematodes. Beyond the description of their characteristics, this review aims to elucidate the potential pathogenic and therapeutic roles of colonic tuft cells in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, focusing on their primarily immunomodulatory action. Regarding inflammatory bowel disease, tuft cells are implicated in both maintaining the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and in tissue repair and regeneration processes. In addition to maintaining intestinal homeostasis, they display complex immune-regulatory functions. During the development of colorectal cancer, tuft cells can promote the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, alter the gastrointestinal microenvironment, and modulate both the anti-tumor immune response and the tumor microenvironment. A wide variety of their biological functions can be targeted for anti-inflammatory or anti-tumor therapies; however, the adverse side effects of immunomodulatory actions must be strictly considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferenc Sipos
- Immunology Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Györgyi Műzes
- Immunology Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
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Wang B, Yu Z, Liu J, Tian Y, Ruan Y, Kong T, Hou M, Yu B, Ling S, Wang D, Chen Y, Xu Y, Deng W, Liang Y. IL-4-induced decrease in both the number and CTLA-4 expression of T reg impairs suppression of Th2 type inflammation in severe atopic dermatitis. J Dermatol Sci 2024; 114:54-63. [PMID: 38556434 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2024.03.007] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treg plays a pivotal role in the suppression of Th2 cell and the maintenance of immune homeostasis. The precise molecular mechanism underlying the disruption of Treg suppression of Th2 cell and the promotion of Th2 type inflammation in allergic diseases remains elusive. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying quantitative and functional changes of Treg in AD. METHODS The molecular mechanism was investigated using flow cytometry, mRNA sequencing, co-culture experiments, co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and bisulfite sequencing in vitro or in AD mice model and patients with AD. RESULTS Increased proportion of Treg was detected in mild and moderate AD. Conversely, characteristic decrease in both the number and CTLA-4 expression of Treg was relevant to serum IL-4 level in severe AD patients, which was verified under a high concentration of IL-4 treatment in vitro. The underlying mechanism is that IL-4/pSTAT6 pathway recruits DNMT1 and HDAC2 to inhibit transcriptional regulation of Foxp3 and CTLA-4 loci. High level of IL-4 impaired the suppression of Treg against Th2 cell differentiation mediated by CTLA-4, and blockade of IL-4Rα signaling in Treg restored Treg number and suppression of Th2 cell in AD model mice and patients with AD. CONCLUSION The number of Treg is relevant to stratification of severity and serum IL-4 level in patients with AD. Abnormal high level of IL-4 epigenetically triggers a decrease in both the number and CTLA-4 expression of Treg. The reduced expression of CTLA-4 on Treg induced by IL-4 impairs suppression of Th2 cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bocheng Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiying Yu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiao Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Tian
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijia Ruan
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tinghui Kong
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingjun Hou
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bihui Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiqi Ling
- Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yishan Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingping Xu
- Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Deng
- Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yunsheng Liang
- Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Jacobse J, Pilat JM, Li J, Brown RE, Kwag A, Buendia MA, Choksi YA, Washington MK, Williams CS, Markham NO, Short SP, Goettel JA. Distinct roles for interleukin-23 receptor signaling in regulatory T cells in sporadic and inflammation-associated carcinogenesis. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1276743. [PMID: 38375204 PMCID: PMC10876294 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1276743] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-23 (IL-23) has been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC). Yet, the cell-specific contributions of IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) signaling in CRC remain unknown. One of the cell types that highly expresses IL-23R are colonic regulatory T cells (Treg cells). The aim of this study was to define the contribution of Treg cell-specific IL-23R signaling in sporadic and inflammation-associated CRC. Methods In mice, the role of IL-23R in Treg cells in colitis-associated cancer (CAC) was investigated using azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulphate in wild-type Treg cell reporter mice (WT, Foxp3 YFP-iCre), and mice harboring a Treg cell-specific deletion of IL-23 (Il23r ΔTreg). The role of IL-23R signaling in Treg cells in sporadic CRC was examined utilizing orthotopic injection of the syngeneic colon cancer cell line MC-38 submucosally into the colon/rectum of mice. The function of macrophages was studied using clodronate. Finally, single-cell RNA-seq of a previously published dataset in human sporadic cancer was reanalyzed to corroborate these findings. Results In CAC, Il23r ΔTreg mice had increased tumor size and increased dysplasia compared to WT mice that was associated with decreased tumor-infiltrating macrophages. In the sporadic cancer model, Il23r ΔTreg mice had increased survival and decreased tumor size compared to WT mice. Additionally, MC-38 tumors of Il23r ΔTreg mice exhibited a higher frequency of pro-inflammatory macrophages and IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells. The decreased tumor size in Il23r ΔTreg mice was macrophage-dependent. These data suggest that loss of IL-23R signaling in Treg cells permits IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells that in turn promotes pro-inflammatory macrophages to clear tumors. Finally, analysis of TCGA data and single-cell RNA-seq analysis of a previously published dataset in human sporadic cancer, revealed that IL23R was highly expressed in CRC compared to other cancers and specifically in tumor-associated Treg cells. Conclusion Inflammation in colorectal carcinogenesis differs with respect to the contribution of IL-23R signaling in regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Jacobse
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Willem-Alexander Children’s Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jennifer M. Pilat
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Rachel E. Brown
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Aaron Kwag
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Matthew A. Buendia
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Yash A. Choksi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
- Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - M. Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Christopher S. Williams
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
- Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Nicholas O. Markham
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sarah P. Short
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
- Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jeremy A. Goettel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
- Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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Pasquereau-Kotula E, du Merle L, Sismeiro O, Pietrosemoli N, Varet H, Legendre R, Trieu-Cuot P, Dramsi S. Transcriptome profiling of human col\onic cells exposed to the gut pathobiont Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294868. [PMID: 38033043 PMCID: PMC10688619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294868] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus gallolyticus sp. gallolyticus (SGG) is a gut pathobiont involved in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). To decipher SGG contribution in tumor initiation and/or acceleration respectively, a global transcriptome was performed in human normal colonic cells (FHC) and in human tumoral colonic cells (HT29). To identify SGG-specific alterations, we chose the phylogenetically closest relative, Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. macedonicus (SGM) as control bacterium. We show that SGM, a bacterium generally considered as safe, did not induce any transcriptional changes on the two human colonic cells. The transcriptional reprogramming induced by SGG in normal FHC and tumoral HT29 cells was significantly different, although most of the genes up- and down-regulated were associated with cancer disease. Top up-regulated genes related to cancer were: (i) IL-20, CLK1, SORBS2, ERG1, PIM1, SNORD3A for normal FHC cells and (ii) TSLP, BHLHA15, LAMP3, ZNF27B, KRT17, ATF3 for cancerous HT29 cells. The total number of altered genes were much higher in cancerous than in normal colonic cells (2,090 vs 128 genes being affected, respectively). Gene set enrichment analysis reveals that SGG-induced strong ER- (endoplasmic reticulum) stress and UPR- (unfolded protein response) activation in colonic epithelial cells. Our results suggest that SGG induces a pro-tumoral shift in human colonic cells particularly in transformed cells potentially accelerating tumor development in the colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Pasquereau-Kotula
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biology of Gram-positive Pathogens Unit, Paris, France
| | - Laurence du Merle
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biology of Gram-positive Pathogens Unit, Paris, France
| | - Odile Sismeiro
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biology of Gram-positive Pathogens Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Natalia Pietrosemoli
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Hugo Varet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Rachel Legendre
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Trieu-Cuot
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biology of Gram-positive Pathogens Unit, Paris, France
| | - Shaynoor Dramsi
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biology of Gram-positive Pathogens Unit, Paris, France
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Yu C, Yang W, Tian L, Qin Y, Gong Y, Cheng W. Construction of immunogenic cell death-related molecular subtypes and prognostic signature in colorectal cancer. Open Med (Wars) 2023; 18:20230836. [PMID: 38025525 PMCID: PMC10655694 DOI: 10.1515/med-2023-0836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a promising treatment for advanced colorectal cancers (CRCs). However, immunotherapy resistance remains a common problem. Immunogenic cell death (ICD), a form of regulated cell death, induces adaptive immunity, thereby enhancing anti-tumor immunity. Research increasingly suggests that inducing ICD is a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy and identifying ICD-related biomarkers for CRCs would create a new direction for targeted therapies. Thus, this study used bioinformatics to address these questions and create a prognostic signature, aiming to improve individualized CRC treatment. We identified two ICD -related molecular subtypes of CRCs. The high subtype showed pronounced immune cell infiltration, high immune activity, and high expression of human leukocyte antigen and immune checkpoints genes. Subsequently, we constructed and validated a prognostic signature comprising six genes (CD1A, TSLP, CD36, TIMP1, MC1R, and NRG1) using random survival forest analyses. Further analysis using this prediction model indicated that patients with CRCs in the low-risk group exhibited favorable clinical outcomes and better immunotherapy responses than those in the high-risk group. Our findings provide novel insights into determining the prognosis and design of personalized immunotherapeutic strategies for patients with CRCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangsu Province Hospital and Nanjing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing210029, China
| | - Weixuan Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Huai’an, Huai’an223300, China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zigong Fourth People’s Hospital, Zigong643000, China
| | - Yue Qin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangsu Province Hospital and Nanjing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing210029, China
| | - Yaoyao Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangsu Province Hospital and Nanjing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing210029, China
| | - Wenfang Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangsu Province Hospital and Nanjing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing210029, China
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Marcella S, Petraroli A, Canè L, Ferrara AL, Poto R, Parente R, Palestra F, Cristinziano L, Modestino L, Galdiero MR, Monti M, Marone G, Triggiani M, Varricchi G, Loffredo S. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a substrate for tryptase in patients with mastocytosis. Eur J Intern Med 2023; 117:111-118. [PMID: 37500310 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous disease associated to uncontrolled proliferation and increased density of mast cells in different organs. This clonal disorder is related to gain-of-function pathogenic variants of the c-kit gene that encodes for KIT (CD117) expressed on mast cell membrane. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which plays a key role in allergic disorders and several cancers. TSLP is a survival and activating factor for human mast cells through the engagement of the TSLP receptor. Activated human mast cells release several preformed mediators, including tryptase. Increased mast cell-derived tryptase is a diagnostic biomarker of mastocytosis. In this study, we found that in these patients serum concentrations of TSLP were lower than healthy donors. There was an inverse correlation between TSLP and tryptase concentrations in mastocytosis. Incubation of human recombinant TSLP with sera from patients with mastocytosis, containing increasing concentrations of tryptase, concentration-dependently decreased TSLP immunoreactivity. Similarly, recombinant β-tryptase reduced the immunoreactivity of recombinant TSLP, inducing the formation of a cleavage product of approximately 10 kDa. Collectively, these results indicate that TSLP is a substrate for human mast cell tryptase and highlight a novel loop involving these mediators in mastocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelica Petraroli
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Luisa Canè
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, Naples, Italy
| | - Anne Lise Ferrara
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Remo Poto
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Roberta Parente
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy
| | - Francesco Palestra
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Leonardo Cristinziano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Luca Modestino
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Galdiero
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy; Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Maria Monti
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, Naples, Italy; Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Gianni Marone
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy; Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology (IEOS), National Research Council, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Massimo Triggiani
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA) 84084, Italy
| | - Gilda Varricchi
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy; Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology (IEOS), National Research Council, Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - Stefania Loffredo
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence, Naples 80131, Italy; Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy; Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology (IEOS), National Research Council, Naples 80131, Italy.
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Rochman Y, Kotliar M, Ben-Baruch Morgenstern N, Barski A, Wen T, Rothenberg ME. TSLP shapes the pathogenic responses of memory CD4 + T cells in eosinophilic esophagitis. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadg6360. [PMID: 37699081 PMCID: PMC10602003 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adg6360] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) mediates type 2 immune responses, and treatments that interfere with TSLP activity are in clinical use for asthma. Here, we investigated whether TSLP contributes to allergic inflammation by directly stimulating human CD4+ T cells and whether this process is operational in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a disease linked to variants in TSLP. We showed that about 10% of esophageal-derived memory CD4+ T cells from individuals with EoE and less than 3% of cells from control individuals expressed the receptor for TSLP and directly responded to TSLP, as determined by measuring the phosphorylation of STAT5, a transcription factor activated downstream of TSLP stimulation. Accordingly, increased numbers of TSLP-responsive memory CD4+ T cells were present in the circulation of individuals with EoE. TSLP increased the proliferation of CD4+ T cells, enhanced type 2 cytokine production, induced the increased abundance of its own receptor, and modified the expression of 212 genes. The epigenetic response to TSLP was associated with an enrichment in BATF and IRF4 chromatin-binding sites, and these transcription factors were induced by TSLP, providing a feed-forward loop. The numbers of circulating and esophageal CD4+ T cells responsive to TSLP correlated with the numbers of esophageal eosinophils, supporting a potential functional role for TSLP in driving the pathogenesis of EoE and providing the basis for a blood-based diagnostic test based on the extent of TSLP-induced STAT5 phosphorylation in circulating CD4+ T cells. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic value of TSLP inhibitors for the treatment of EoE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yrina Rochman
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Michael Kotliar
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Netali Ben-Baruch Morgenstern
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Artem Barski
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Ting Wen
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Marc E. Rothenberg
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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Stanbery AG, Shuchi Smita, Jakob von Moltke, Tait Wojno ED, Ziegler SF. TSLP, IL-33, and IL-25: Not just for allergy and helminth infection. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 150:1302-1313. [PMID: 35863509 PMCID: PMC9742339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The release of cytokines from epithelial and stromal cells is critical for the initiation and maintenance of tissue immunity. Three such cytokines, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-33, and IL-25, are important regulators of type 2 immune responses triggered by parasitic worms and allergens. In particular, these cytokines activate group 2 innate lymphoid cells, TH2 cells, and myeloid cells, which drive hallmarks of type 2 immunity. However, emerging data indicate that these tissue-associated cytokines are not only involved in canonical type 2 responses but are also important in the context of viral infections, cancer, and even homeostasis. Here, we provide a brief review of the roles of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-33, and IL-25 in diverse immune contexts, while highlighting their relative contributions in tissue-specific responses. We also emphasize a biologically motivated framework for thinking about the integration of multiple immune signals, including the 3 featured in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shuchi Smita
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | - Jakob von Moltke
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash
| | | | - Steven F Ziegler
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash; Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Wash.
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9
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Ping G, Tian Y, Zhou Z. Constructing a Tregs-associated signature to predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients: A STROBE-compliant retrospective study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31382. [PMID: 36451426 PMCID: PMC9704903 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a key constituent of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are significantly associated with patient outcomes. Our study aimed to construct a Treg-associated signature to predict the prognosis of CRC patients. The genes' expression values and patients' clinicopathological features were downloaded from TCGA and gene expression omnibus (GEO) databases. The single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing data of CRC were analyzed through the Deeply Integrated human Single-Cell Omics database. WGCNA analysis was used to select Tregs-associated genes (TrAGs). The infiltrated levels of immune and stromal cells were accessed through the ESTIMATE algorithm. Cox regression analysis and the LASSO algorithm were implemented to construct prognostic models. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to annotate enriched gene sets. Based on scRNA sequencing data, our study uncovered that more Tregs were significantly enriched in the TME of CRC. Then we identified 123 differentially expressed TrAGs which mainly participated in immune regulation. Given that CRC patients were reclassified into 2 subgroups with distinct overall survival based on 26 differentially expressed TrAGs with prognostic values, we subsequently constructed a signature for CRC. After training and validating in independent cohorts, we proved that this prognostic model can be well applied to predict the prognosis of CRC patients. Further analysis exhibited that more tumor-suppressing immune cells and higher immune checkpoint genes were enriched in CRC patients with high-risk scores. Moreover, immunohistochemistry analysis validated that the genes in the prognostic model were significantly elevated in CRC tissues. We were the first to construct a prognostic signature for CRC based on TrAGs and further revealed that the poor prognosis of patients was mainly attributed to the tumor-suppressing microenvironment and upregulated immune checkpoint genes in tumor tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Ping
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yichen Tian
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ziqiang Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Ziqiang Zhou, Department of Pathology, Zibo Central Hospital, No. 54 Gongqingtuanxi Road, Zhangdian District, Zibo 255020, China (e-mail: )
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Yao W, German B, Chraa D, Braud A, Hugel C, Meyer P, Davidson G, Laurette P, Mengus G, Flatter E, Marschall P, Segaud J, Guivarch M, Hener P, Birling MC, Lipsker D, Davidson I, Li M. Keratinocyte-derived cytokine TSLP promotes growth and metastasis of melanoma by regulating the tumor-associated immune microenvironment. JCI Insight 2022; 7:161438. [PMID: 36107619 PMCID: PMC9675576 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.161438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a major public health issue displaying frequent resistance to targeted therapy and immunotherapy. A major challenge lies in better understanding how melanoma cells evade immune elimination and how tumor growth and metastasis is facilitated by the tumor microenvironment. Here, we show that expression of the cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) by epidermal keratinocytes is induced by cutaneous melanoma in both mice and humans. Using genetically engineered models of melanoma and tumor cell grafting combined with TSLP-KO or overexpression, we defined a crosstalk between melanoma cells, keratinocytes, and immune cells in establishing a tumor-promoting microenvironment. Keratinocyte-derived TSLP is induced by signals derived from melanoma cells and subsequently acts via immune cells to promote melanoma progression and metastasis. Furthermore, we show that TSLP signals through TSLP receptor-expressing (TSLPR-expressing) DCs to play an unrecognized role in promoting GATA3+ Tregs expressing a gene signature including ST2, CCR8, ICOS, PD-1, CTLA-4, and OX40 and exhibiting a potent suppressive activity on CD8+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. An analogous population of GATA3-expressing Tregs was also identified in human melanoma tumors. Our study provides insights into the role of TSLP in programming a protumoral immune microenvironment in cutaneous melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjin Yao
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Beatriz German
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Dounia Chraa
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Antoine Braud
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.,Dermatology Clinic, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Cecile Hugel
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Pierre Meyer
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Guillaume Davidson
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Patrick Laurette
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Gabrielle Mengus
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Eric Flatter
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Pierre Marschall
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Justine Segaud
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Marine Guivarch
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Pierre Hener
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | | | - Dan Lipsker
- Dermatology Clinic, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Irwin Davidson
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Mei Li
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm U 1258, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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Jou E, Rodriguez-Rodriguez N, McKenzie ANJ. Emerging roles for IL-25 and IL-33 in colorectal cancer tumorigenesis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:981479. [PMID: 36263033 PMCID: PMC9573978 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.981479] [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: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is largely refractory to current immunotherapeutic interventions. The lack of efficacy of existing cancer immunotherapies in CRC reflects the complex nature of the unique intestinal immune environment, which serves to maintain barrier integrity against pathogens and harmful environmental stimuli while sustaining host-microbe symbiosis during homeostasis. With their expression by barrier epithelial cells, the cytokines interleukin-25 (IL-25) and IL-33 play key roles in intestinal immune responses, and have been associated with inappropriate allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases and cancer pathology. Studies in the past decade have begun to uncover the important roles of IL-25 and IL-33 in shaping the CRC tumour immune microenvironment, where they may promote or inhibit tumorigenesis depending on the specific CRC subtype. Notably, both IL-25 and IL-33 have been shown to act on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), but can also stimulate an array of other innate and adaptive immune cell types. Though sometimes their functions can overlap they can also produce distinct phenotypes dependent on the differential distribution of their receptor expression. Furthermore, both IL-25 and IL-33 modulate pathways previously known to contribute to CRC tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis, tumour stemness, invasion and metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of IL-25 and IL-33 in CRC tumorigenesis, with specific focus on dissecting their individual function in the context of distinct subtypes of CRC, and the potential prospects for targeting these pathways in CRC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Jou
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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