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Sergio I, Varricchio C, Patel SK, Del Gaizo M, Russo E, Orlando A, Peruzzi G, Ferrandino F, Tsaouli G, Coni S, Peluso D, Besharat ZM, Campolo F, Venneri MA, Del Bufalo D, Lai S, Indraccolo S, Minuzzo S, La Starza R, Bernardini G, Screpanti I, Campese AF, Felli MP. Notch3-regulated microRNAs impair CXCR4-dependent maturation of thymocytes allowing maintenance and progression of T-ALL. Oncogene 2024; 43:2535-2547. [PMID: 38907003 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03079-0] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors causes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive childhood lymphoproliferative disorder. Activating mutations of Notch, Notch1 and Notch3, have been detected in T-ALL patients. In this study, we aimed to deeply characterize hyperactive Notch3-related pathways involved in T-cell dynamics within the thymus and bone marrow to propose these processes as an important step in facilitating the progression of T-ALL. We previously generated a transgenic T-ALL mouse model (N3-ICtg) demonstrating that aberrant Notch3 signaling affects early thymocyte maturation programs and leads to bone marrow infiltration by CD4+CD8+ (DP) T cells that are notably, Notch3highCXCR4high. Newly, our in vivo results suggest that an anomalous immature thymocyte subpopulation, such as CD4-CD8- (DN) over-expressing CD3ɛ, but with low CXCR4 expression, dominates N3-ICtg thymus-resident DN subset in T-ALL progression. MicroRNAs might be of significance in T-ALL pathobiology, however, whether required for leukemia maintenance is not fully understood. The selection of specific DN subsets demonstrates the inverse correlation between CXCR4 expression and a panel of Notch3-deregulated miRNAs. Interestingly, we found that within DN thymocyte subset hyperactive Notch3 inhibits CXCR4 expression through the cooperative effects of miR-139-5p and miR-150-5p, thus impinging on thymocyte differentiation with accumulation of DNCD3ɛ+CXCR4- cells. These data point out that deregulation of Notch3 in T-ALL, besides its role in sustaining dissemination of abnormal DP T cells, as we previously demonstrated, could play a role in selecting specific DN immature T cells within the thymus, thus impeding T cell development, to facilitate T-ALL progression inside the bone marrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Sergio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Varricchio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Martina Del Gaizo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Orlando
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York NY, USA
| | | | | | - Georgia Tsaouli
- Department of Medical-Surgical Science and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Coni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Peluso
- Ph.D School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Campolo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mary Anna Venneri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Lai
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Indraccolo
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Basic and Translational Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Sonia Minuzzo
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberta La Starza
- Hematology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, and S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital Perugia, CREO, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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2
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Vasconcelos-Fontes L, Vieira RC, He M, Ferreira-Reis R, Jurberg AD, Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz D, Andersson J, Cotta-de-Almeida V, Westerberg LS. Controlled WASp activity regulates the proliferative response for Treg cell differentiation in the thymus. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2350450. [PMID: 38356202 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350450] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) regulates actin cytoskeletal dynamics and function of hematopoietic cells. Mutations in the WAS gene lead to two different syndromes; Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) caused by loss-of-function mutations, and X-linked neutropenia (XLN) caused by gain-of-function mutations. We previously showed that WASp-deficient mice have a decreased number of regulatory T (Treg) cells in the thymus and the periphery. We here evaluated the impact of WASp mutations on Treg cells in the thymus of WAS and XLN mouse models. Using in vitro Treg differentiation assays, WAS CD4 single-positive thymocytes have decreased differentiation to Treg cells, despite normal early signaling upon IL-2 and TGF-β stimulation. They failed to proliferate and express CD25 at high levels, leading to poor survival and a lower number of Foxp3+ Treg cells. Conversely, XLN CD4 single-positive thymocytes efficiently differentiate into Foxp3+ Treg cells following a high proliferative response to IL-2 and TGF-β, associated with high CD25 expression when compared with WT cells. Altogether, these results show that specific mutations of WASp affect Treg cell development differently, demonstrating a critical role of WASp activity in supporting Treg cell development and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Vasconcelos-Fontes
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rhaissa C Vieira
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Minghui He
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rafaella Ferreira-Reis
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Arnon Dias Jurberg
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniella Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John Andersson
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vinicius Cotta-de-Almeida
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lisa S Westerberg
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Yu H, Yang W, Cao M, Lei Q, Yuan R, Xu H, Cui Y, Chen X, Su X, Zhuo H, Lin L. Mechanism study of ubiquitination in T cell development and autoimmune disease. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1359933. [PMID: 38562929 PMCID: PMC10982411 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1359933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells play critical role in multiple immune processes including antigen response, tumor immunity, inflammation, self-tolerance maintenance and autoimmune diseases et. Fetal liver or bone marrow-derived thymus-seeding progenitors (TSPs) settle in thymus and undergo T cell-lineage commitment, proliferation, T cell receptor (TCR) rearrangement, and thymic selections driven by microenvironment composed of thymic epithelial cells (TEC), dendritic cells (DC), macrophage and B cells, thus generating T cells with diverse TCR repertoire immunocompetent but not self-reactive. Additionally, some self-reactive thymocytes give rise to Treg with the help of TEC and DC, serving for immune tolerance. The sequential proliferation, cell fate decision, and selection during T cell development and self-tolerance establishment are tightly regulated to ensure the proper immune response without autoimmune reaction. There are remarkable progresses in understanding of the regulatory mechanisms regarding ubiquitination in T cell development and the establishment of self-tolerance in the past few years, which holds great potential for further therapeutic interventions in immune-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenyong Yang
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingqiang Lei
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Renbin Yuan
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - He Xu
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuqian Cui
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuerui Chen
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Su
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
- College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Zhuo
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liangbin Lin
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, China
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4
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Cosway EJ, James KD, White AJ, Parnell SM, Bacon A, McKenzie ANJ, Jenkinson WE, Anderson G. The alarmin IL33 orchestrates type 2 immune-mediated control of thymus regeneration. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7201. [PMID: 37938566 PMCID: PMC10632327 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43072-x] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
As the primary site of T-cell development, the thymus dictates immune competency of the host. The rates of thymus function are not constant, and thymus regeneration is essential to restore new T-cell production following tissue damage from environmental factors and therapeutic interventions. Here, we show the alarmin interleukin (IL) 33 is a product of Sca1+ thymic mesenchyme both necessary and sufficient for thymus regeneration via a type 2 innate immune network. IL33 stimulates expansion of IL5-producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), which triggers a cellular switch in the intrathymic availability of IL4. This enables eosinophil production of IL4 to re-establish thymic mesenchyme prior to recovery of thymopoiesis-inducing epithelial compartments. Collectively, we identify a positive feedback mechanism of type 2 innate immunity that regulates the recovery of thymus function following tissue injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie J Cosway
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kieran D James
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrea J White
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sonia M Parnell
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrea Bacon
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - W E Jenkinson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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5
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Li YR, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Thymus aging and immune reconstitution, progresses and challenges. Semin Immunol 2023; 70:101837. [PMID: 37659170 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Thymus is a primary lymphoid organ essential for the development of T lymphocytes. Age-related thymic involution is a prominent feature of immune senescence. The thymus undergoes rapid growth during fetal and neonatal development, peaks in size before puberty and then begins to undergo a decrease in cellularity with age. Dramatic changes occur with age-associated thymic involution. The most prominent features of thymic involution include: (i) epithelial structure disruption, (ii) adipogenesis, and (iii) thymocyte development arrest. There is a sex disparity in thymus aging. It is a multifactorial process controlled and regulated by a series of molecules, including the transcription factor FOXN1, fibroblast and keratinocyte growth factors (FGF and KGF, respectively), sex steroids, Notch signaling, WNT signaling, and microRNAs. Nevertheless, there is still no satisfactory evolutionary or physiological explanation for age-associated thymic involution, and understanding the precise mechanism(s) for thymus aging remains challenging. Sustained thymic regeneration has yet to be achieved by sex steroid ablation. Recent preclinical studies indicate that long-term thymic reconstitution can be achieved via adoptive transfer of in vitro-generated progenitor T (proT) cells, and improvements in the methods for the generation of human proT cells make this an attractive approach. Future clinical applications may rely on new applications integrating proT cells, cytokine support and sex-steroid inhibition treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ru Li
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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6
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Hor JL, Germain RN. Spatiotemporal and cell-state control of antigen presentation during tolerance and immunity. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 84:102357. [PMID: 37331219 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Effective adaptive immunity is rendered possible by highly organized tissue architecture and coordinated cellular crosstalk. While detailed spatiotemporal analyses of antigen presentation and adaptive immune activation in secondary lymphoid tissues have been a major focus of study, it is clear that antigen presentation in other tissues also plays a critical role in shaping the immune response. In this article, we concentrate on two opposing aspects of adaptive immunity: tolerance and antitumor immunity, to illustrate how a complex set of antigen presentation mechanisms contributes to maintaining a delicate balance between robust immunity and avoidance of autoimmune pathology. We emphasize the importance of how immune cell identity, state, and location collectively determine the nature of adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyh Liang Hor
- Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1892, USA
| | - Ronald N Germain
- Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1892, USA.
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7
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Srinivasan J, Vasudev A, Shasha C, Selden HJ, Perez E, LaFleur B, Sinari SA, Krueger A, Richie ER, Ehrlich LIR. The initial age-associated decline in early T-cell progenitors reflects fewer pre-thymic progenitors and altered signals in the bone marrow and thymus microenvironments. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13870. [PMID: 37221658 PMCID: PMC10410006 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13870] [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: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related thymus involution results in decreased T-cell production, contributing to increased susceptibility to pathogens and reduced vaccine responsiveness. Elucidating mechanisms underlying thymus involution will inform strategies to restore thymopoiesis with age. The thymus is colonized by circulating bone marrow (BM)-derived thymus seeding progenitors (TSPs) that differentiate into early T-cell progenitors (ETPs). We find that ETP cellularity declines as early as 3 months (3MO) of age in mice. This initial ETP reduction could reflect changes in thymic stromal niches and/or pre-thymic progenitors. Using a multicongenic progenitor transfer approach, we demonstrate that the number of functional TSP/ETP niches does not diminish with age. Instead, the number of pre-thymic lymphoid progenitors in the BM and blood is substantially reduced by 3MO, although their intrinsic ability to seed and differentiate in the thymus is maintained. Additionally, Notch signaling in BM lymphoid progenitors and in ETPs diminishes by 3MO, suggesting reduced niche quality in the BM and thymus contribute to the early decline in ETPs. Together, these findings indicate that diminished BM lymphopoiesis and thymic stromal support contribute to an initial reduction in ETPs in young adulthood, setting the stage for progressive age-associated thymus involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayashree Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
| | - Anusha Vasudev
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular CarcinogenesisThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUnited States
| | - Carolyn Shasha
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleWashingtonUnited States
| | - Hilary J. Selden
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
| | - Encarnacion Perez
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular CarcinogenesisThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUnited States
| | - Bonnie LaFleur
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and StatisticsThe University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUnited States
| | - Shripad A. Sinari
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and StatisticsThe University of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUnited States
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Molecular ImmunologyJustus‐Liebig‐University GiessenGiessenGermany
| | - Ellen R. Richie
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular CarcinogenesisThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUnited States
| | - Lauren I. R. Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
- Department of OncologyLivestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUnited States
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8
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Jung IY, Noguera-Ortega E, Bartoszek R, Collins SM, Williams E, Davis M, Jadlowsky JK, Plesa G, Siegel DL, Chew A, Levine BL, Berger SL, Moon EK, Albelda SM, Fraietta JA. Tissue-resident memory CAR T cells with stem-like characteristics display enhanced efficacy against solid and liquid tumors. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101053. [PMID: 37224816 PMCID: PMC10313923 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells demonstrate remarkable success in treating hematological malignancies, but their effectiveness in non-hematopoietic cancers remains limited. This study proposes enhancing CAR T cell function and localization in solid tumors by modifying the epigenome governing tissue-residency adaptation and early memory differentiation. We identify that a key factor in human tissue-resident memory CAR T cell (CAR-TRM) formation is activation in the presence of the pleotropic cytokine, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), which enforces a core program of both "stemness" and sustained tissue residency by mediating chromatin remodeling and concurrent transcriptional changes. This approach leads to a practical and clinically actionable in vitro production method for engineering peripheral blood T cells into a large number of "stem-like" CAR-TRM cells resistant to tumor-associated dysfunction, possessing an enhanced ability to accumulate in situ and rapidly eliminate cancer cells for more effective immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Young Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Estela Noguera-Ortega
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert Bartoszek
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sierra M Collins
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erik Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Megan Davis
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julie K Jadlowsky
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gabriela Plesa
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Donald L Siegel
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anne Chew
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruce L Levine
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edmund K Moon
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Steven M Albelda
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joseph A Fraietta
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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9
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MacNabb BW, Rothenberg EV. Speed and navigation control of thymocyte development by the fetal T-cell gene regulatory network. Immunol Rev 2023; 315:171-196. [PMID: 36722494 PMCID: PMC10771342 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13190] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
T-cell differentiation is a tightly regulated developmental program governed by interactions between transcription factors (TFs) and chromatin landscapes and affected by signals received from the thymic stroma. This process is marked by a series of checkpoints: T-lineage commitment, T-cell receptor (TCR)β selection, and positive and negative selection. Dynamically changing combinations of TFs drive differentiation along the T-lineage trajectory, through mechanisms that have been most extensively dissected in adult mouse T-lineage cells. However, fetal T-cell development differs from adult in ways that suggest that these TF mechanisms are not fully deterministic. The first wave of fetal T-cell differentiation occurs during a unique developmental window during thymic morphogenesis, shows more rapid kinetics of differentiation with fewer rounds of cell division, and gives rise to unique populations of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and invariant γδT cells that are not generated in the adult thymus. As the characteristic kinetics and progeny biases are cell-intrinsic properties of thymic progenitors, the differences could be based on distinct TF network circuitry within the progenitors themselves. Here, we review recent single-cell transcriptome data that illuminate the TF networks involved in T-cell differentiation in the fetal and adult mouse thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan W MacNabb
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ellen V Rothenberg
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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10
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Stankiewicz LN, Salim K, Flaschner EA, Wang YX, Edgar JM, Lin BZB, Bingham GC, Major MC, Jones RD, Blau HM, Rideout EJ, Levings MK, Zandstra PW, Rossi FMV. Sex biased human thymic architecture guides T cell development through spatially defined niches. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.13.536804. [PMID: 37090676 PMCID: PMC10120731 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.13.536804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Within the thymus, regulation of the cellular cross-talk directing T cell development is dependent on spatial interactions within specialized niches. To create a holistic, spatially defined map of tissue niches guiding postnatal T cell development we employed the multidimensional imaging platform CO-detection by indEXing (CODEX), as well as CITE-seq and ATAC-seq. We generated age-matched 4-5-month-old postnatal thymus datasets for male and female donors, and identify significant sex differences in both T cell and thymus biology. We demonstrate a crucial role for JAG ligands in directing thymic-like dendritic cell development, reveal important functions of a novel population of ECM- fibroblasts, and characterize the medullary niches surrounding Hassall's corpuscles. Together, these data represent a unique age-matched spatial multiomic resource to investigate how sex-based differences in thymus regulation and T cell development arise, and provide an essential resource to understand the mechanisms underlying immune function and dysfunction in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Salim
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Emily A Flaschner
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yu Xin Wang
- Center for Genetic Disorders and Aging, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - John M Edgar
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bruce ZB Lin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Grace C Bingham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA
| | - Matthew C Major
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ross D Jones
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Helen M Blau
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | | | - Megan K Levings
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Canada
- These authors contributed equally
- Lead contact
| | - Fabio MV Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
- These authors contributed equally
- Lead contact
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11
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Ban I, Tomašić L, Trakala M, Tolić IM, Pavin N. Proliferative advantage of specific aneuploid cells drives evolution of tumor karyotypes. Biophys J 2023; 122:632-645. [PMID: 36654508 PMCID: PMC9989886 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Most tumors have abnormal karyotypes, which arise from mistakes during mitotic division of healthy euploid cells and evolve through numerous complex mechanisms. In a recent mouse model with increased chromosome missegregation, chromosome gains dominate over losses both in pretumor and tumor tissues, whereas T-cell lymphomas are characterized by gains of chromosomes 14 and 15. However, the quantitative understanding of clonal selection leading to tumor karyotype evolution remains unknown. Here we show, by introducing a mathematical model based on a concept of a macro-karyotype, that tumor karyotypes can be explained by proliferation-driven evolution of aneuploid cells. In pretumor cells, increased apoptosis and slower proliferation of cells with monosomies lead to predominant chromosome gains over losses. Tumor karyotypes with gain of one chromosome can be explained by karyotype-dependent proliferation, whereas, for those with two chromosomes, an interplay with karyotype-dependent apoptosis is an additional possible pathway. Thus, evolution of tumor-specific karyotypes requires proliferative advantage of specific aneuploid karyotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Ban
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Bijenička cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lucija Tomašić
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Bijenička cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marianna Trakala
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Iva M Tolić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nenad Pavin
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Bijenička cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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12
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Rosichini M, Bordoni V, Silvestris DA, Mariotti D, Matusali G, Cardinale A, Zambruno G, Condorelli AG, Flamini S, Genah S, Catanoso M, Del Nonno F, Trezzi M, Galletti L, De Stefanis C, Cicolani N, Petrini S, Quintarelli C, Agrati C, Locatelli F, Velardi E. SARS-CoV-2 infection of thymus induces loss of function that correlates with disease severity. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:911-921. [PMID: 36758836 PMCID: PMC9907790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.01.022] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphopenia, particularly when restricted to the T-cell compartment, has been described as one of the major clinical hallmarks in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and proposed as an indicator of disease severity. Although several mechanisms fostering COVID-19-related lymphopenia have been described, including cell apoptosis and tissue homing, the underlying causes of the decline in T-cell count and function are still not completely understood. OBJECTIVE Given that viral infections can directly target thymic microenvironment and impair the process of T-cell generation, we sought to investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on thymic function. METHODS We performed molecular quantification of T-cell receptor excision circles and κ-deleting recombination excision circles to assess, respectively, T- and B-cell neogenesis in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. We developed a system for in vitro culture of primary human thymic epithelial cells (TECs) to mechanistically investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on TEC function. RESULTS We showed that patients with COVID-19 had reduced thymic function that was inversely associated with the severity of the disease. We found that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, through which SARS-CoV-2 enters the host cells, was expressed by thymic epithelium, and in particular by medullary TECs. We also demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can target TECs and downregulate critical genes and pathways associated with epithelial cell adhesion and survival. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that the human thymus is a target of SARS-CoV-2 and thymic function is altered following infection. These findings expand our current knowledge of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on T-cell homeostasis and suggest that monitoring thymic activity may be a useful marker to predict disease severity and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rosichini
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Cellular Immunology Laboratory, INMI L Spallanzani – IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Alessandro Silvestris
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Mariotti
- Cellular Immunology Laboratory, INMI L Spallanzani – IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Matusali
- Virology Laboratory, INMI L Spallanzani – IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Cardinale
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Zambruno
- Genodermatosis Unit, Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Giuseppe Condorelli
- Genodermatosis Unit, Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Flamini
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Shirley Genah
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuigia Catanoso
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Trezzi
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Galletti
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiano De Stefanis
- Pathology Unit, Core Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolò Cicolani
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Petrini
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Cellular Immunology Laboratory, INMI L Spallanzani – IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Velardi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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13
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Heimli M, Flåm ST, Hjorthaug HS, Trinh D, Frisk M, Dumont KA, Ribarska T, Tekpli X, Saare M, Lie BA. Multimodal human thymic profiling reveals trajectories and cellular milieu for T agonist selection. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1092028. [PMID: 36741401 PMCID: PMC9895842 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1092028] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
To prevent autoimmunity, thymocytes expressing self-reactive T cell receptors (TCRs) are negatively selected, however, divergence into tolerogenic, agonist selected lineages represent an alternative fate. As thymocyte development, selection, and lineage choices are dependent on spatial context and cell-to-cell interactions, we have performed Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq) and spatial transcriptomics on paediatric human thymus. Thymocytes expressing markers of strong TCR signalling diverged from the conventional developmental trajectory prior to CD4+ or CD8+ lineage commitment, while markers of different agonist selected T cell populations (CD8αα(I), CD8αα(II), T(agonist), Treg(diff), and Treg) exhibited variable timing of induction. Expression profiles of chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules, together with spatial localisation, supported that dendritic cells, B cells, and stromal cells contribute to agonist selection, with different subsets influencing thymocytes at specific developmental stages within distinct spatial niches. Understanding factors influencing agonist T cells is needed to benefit from their immunoregulatory effects in clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marte Heimli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siri Tennebø Flåm
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Don Trinh
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael Frisk
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,KG Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karl-Andreas Dumont
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Teodora Ribarska
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Xavier Tekpli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mario Saare
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedicte Alexandra Lie
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,*Correspondence: Benedicte Alexandra Lie,
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14
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Depoërs L, Dumont-Lagacé M, Trinh VQH, Houques C, Côté C, Larouche JD, Brochu S, Perreault C. Klf4 protects thymus integrity during late pregnancy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1016378. [PMID: 37180153 PMCID: PMC10174329 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1016378] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy causes abrupt thymic atrophy. This atrophy is characterized by a severe decrease in the number of all thymocyte subsets and qualitative (but not quantitative) changes in thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Pregnancy-related thymic involution is triggered by progesterone-induced functional changes affecting mainly cortical TECs (cTECs). Remarkably, this severe involution is rapidly corrected following parturition. We postulated that understanding the mechanisms of pregnancy-related thymic changes could provide novel insights into signaling pathways regulating TEC function. When we analyzed genes whose expression in TECs was modified during late pregnancy, we found a strong enrichment in genes bearing KLF4 transcription factor binding motifs. We, therefore, engineered a Psmb11-iCre : Klf4lox/lox mouse model to study the impact of TEC-specific Klf4 deletion in steady-state conditions and during late pregnancy. Under steady-state conditions, Klf4 deletion had a minimal effect on TEC subsets and did not affect thymic architecture. However, pregnancy-induced thymic involution was much more pronounced in pregnant females lacking Klf4 expression in TECs. These mice displayed a substantial ablation of TECs with a more pronounced loss of thymocytes. Transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses of Klf4 -/- TECs revealed that Klf4 maintains cTEC numbers by supporting cell survival and preventing epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity during late pregnancy. We conclude that Klf4 is essential for preserving TEC's integrity and mitigating thymic involution during late pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucyle Depoërs
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Maude Dumont-Lagacé
- ExCellThera, Inc., Montréal, QC, Canada
- Piercing Star Technologies, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Vincent Quoc-Huy Trinh
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Cellular Biology, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, and Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Chloé Houques
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Caroline Côté
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-David Larouche
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Brochu
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sylvie Brochu, ; Claude Perreault,
| | - Claude Perreault
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sylvie Brochu, ; Claude Perreault,
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15
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Ohigashi I, Matsuda-Lennikov M, Takahama Y. Large-Scale Isolation of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:189-197. [PMID: 36374458 PMCID: PMC10280300 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_11] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is compartmentalized into the cortex and the medulla. Cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs) characterize T cell-producing and T cell-selecting functions of cortical and medullary microenvironments in the thymus. Enzymatic digestion of the thymus and flow cytometric isolation of TECs and their subpopulations are useful for molecular and cellular characterization of TECs. However, the cellularity of cTECs and mTECs isolated from mouse thymus is limited. In this chapter, we describe the method for isolation of a large number of TECs using enlarged mouse thymus, which enables biochemical and proteomic analysis of TEC subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mami Matsuda-Lennikov
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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16
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Teixeiro E, Daniels MA. In Vitro Analysis of Thymocyte Signaling. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:303-313. [PMID: 36374466 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_19] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
When a developing thymocyte expresses a TCR, it is subjected to numerous interactions with self-peptide/MHC complexes that determine its fate. These include death by neglect, negative selection (apoptosis and lineage deviation), positive selection, and lineage commitment. Identifying signals that govern these unique cell fates requires the ability to assess the activity, level of expression, subcellular location, and molecular associations between numerous proteins within the developing T cell. Given the unique, temporal, and developmental changes that occur during development, isolating and analyzing small populations of thymocytes are necessary to get a complete picture of the development process. Thus, this chapter describes methods designed to analyze thymocyte signaling under various types of peptide-based stimulation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Teixeiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Mark A Daniels
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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17
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Teixeiro E, Daniels MA. Fetal Thymic Organ Culture and Negative Selection. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:293-302. [PMID: 36374465 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_18] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Negative selection removes potentially harmful T cell precursors from the conventional T cell pool. This process can involve the induction of apoptosis, anergy, receptor editing, or deviation into a regulatory T cell lineage. As such, this process is essential for the health of an organism through its contribution to central and peripheral tolerance. While a great deal is known about the process, the precise mechanisms that regulate these various forms of negative selection are not clear. Numerous models exist with the potential to address these questions in vitro and in vivo. This chapter describes fetal thymic organ culture methods designed to analyze the signals that determine these unique cell fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Teixeiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Mark A Daniels
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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18
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Leavens KF, Alvarez-Dominguez JR, Vo LT, Russ HA, Parent AV. Stem cell-based multi-tissue platforms to model human autoimmune diabetes. Mol Metab 2022; 66:101610. [PMID: 36209784 PMCID: PMC9587366 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which pancreatic insulin-producing β cells are specifically destroyed by the immune system. Understanding the initiation and progression of human T1D has been hampered by the lack of appropriate models that can reproduce the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease. The development of platforms combining multiple human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derived tissues to model distinct aspects of T1D has the potential to provide critical novel insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of the human disease. SCOPE OF REVIEW In this review, we summarize the state of hPSC differentiation approaches to generate cell types and tissues relevant to T1D, with a particular focus on pancreatic islet cells, T cells, and thymic epithelium. We present current applications as well as limitations of using these hPSC-derived cells for disease modeling and discuss efforts to optimize platforms combining multiple cell types to model human T1D. Finally, we outline remaining challenges and emphasize future improvements needed to accelerate progress in this emerging field of research. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Recent advances in reprogramming approaches to create patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSCs), genome engineering technologies to efficiently modify DNA of hPSCs, and protocols to direct their differentiation into mature cell types have empowered the use of stem cell derivatives to accurately model human disease. While challenges remain before complex interactions occurring in human T1D can be modeled with these derivatives, experiments combining hPSC-derived β cells and immune cells are already providing exciting insight into how these cells interact in the context of T1D, supporting the viability of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla F Leavens
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juan R Alvarez-Dominguez
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Linda T Vo
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Holger A Russ
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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19
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White AJ, Parnell SM, Handel A, Maio S, Bacon A, Cosway EJ, Lucas B, James KD, Cowan JE, Jenkinson WE, Hollander GA, Anderson G. Diversity in Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells Occurs through Loss of a Foxn1-Dependent Gene Signature Driven by Stage-Specific Thymocyte Cross-Talk. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 210:ji2200609. [PMID: 36427001 PMCID: PMC9772400 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In the thymus, cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) and medullary thymic epithelial cells support αβT cell development from lymphoid progenitors. For cTECs, expression of a specialized gene signature that includes Cxcl12, Dll4, and Psmb11 enables the cortex to support T lineage commitment and the generation and selection of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Although the importance of cTECs in T cell development is well defined, mechanisms that shape the cTEC compartment and regulate its functional specialization are unclear. Using a Cxcl12DsRed reporter mouse model, we show that changes in Cxcl12 expression reveal a developmentally regulated program of cTEC heterogeneity. Although cTECs are uniformly Cxcl12DsRed+ during neonatal stages, progression through postnatal life triggers the appearance of Cxcl12DsRed- cTECs that continue to reside in the cortex alongside their Cxcl12DsRed+ counterparts. This appearance of Cxcl12DsRed- cTECs is controlled by maturation of CD4-CD8-, but not CD4+CD8+, thymocytes, demonstrating that stage-specific thymocyte cross-talk controls cTEC heterogeneity. Importantly, although fate-mapping experiments show both Cxcl12DsRed+ and Cxcl12DsRed- cTECs share a common Foxn1+ cell origin, RNA sequencing analysis shows Cxcl12DsRed- cTECs no longer express Foxn1, which results in loss of the FOXN1-dependent cTEC gene signature and may explain the reduced capacity of Cxcl12DsRed- cTECs for thymocyte interactions. In summary, our study shows that shaping of the cTEC compartment during the life course occurs via stage-specific thymocyte cross-talk, which drives loss of Foxn1 expression and its key target genes, which may then determine the functional competence of the thymic cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J. White
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia M. Parnell
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Handel
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Maio
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Bacon
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Emilie J. Cosway
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Beth Lucas
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kieran D. James
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer E. Cowan
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - William E. Jenkinson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Georg A. Hollander
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children’s Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; and
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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20
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Semwal MK, Hester AK, Xiao Y, Udeaja C, Cepeda S, Verschelde JS, Jones N, Wedemeyer SA, Emtage S, Wimberly K, Griffith AV. Redox status regulates autophagy in thymic stromal cells and promotes T cell tolerance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204296119. [PMID: 36161925 PMCID: PMC9549397 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204296119] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic stromal cells (TSCs) are critical regulators of T cell tolerance, but their basic biology has remained under-characterized because they are relatively rare and difficult to isolate. Recent work has revealed that constitutive autophagy in TSCs is required for self-antigen presentation and central T cell tolerance induction; however, the mechanisms regulating constitutive autophagy in TSCs are not well understood. Hydrogen peroxide has been shown to increase autophagy flux in other tissues, and we previously identified conspicuously low expression of the hydrogen peroxide-quenching enzyme catalase in TSCs. We investigated whether the redox status of TSCs established by low catalase expression regulates their basal autophagy levels and their capacity to impose central T cell tolerance. Transgenic overexpression of catalase diminished autophagy in TSCs and impaired thymocyte clonal deletion, concomitant with increased frequencies of spontaneous lymphocytic infiltrates in lung and liver and of serum antinuclear antigen reactivity. Effects on clonal deletion and autoimmune indicators were diminished in catalase transgenic mice when autophagy was rescued by expression of the Becn1F121A/F121A knock-in allele. These results suggest a metabolic mechanism by which the redox status of TSCs may regulate central T cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manpreet K. Semwal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Allison K. Hester
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Department of Medicine, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Division, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Yangming Xiao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Chioma Udeaja
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Sergio Cepeda
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - John S. Verschelde
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Nicholas Jones
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Sarah A. Wedemeyer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Simon Emtage
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Kymberly Wimberly
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Ann V. Griffith
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
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21
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Savino W, Durães J, Maldonado-Galdeano C, Perdigon G, Mendes-da-Cruz DA, Cuervo P. Thymus, undernutrition, and infection: Approaching cellular and molecular interactions. Front Nutr 2022; 9:948488. [PMID: 36225882 PMCID: PMC9549110 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.948488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Undernutrition remains a major issue in global health. Low protein-energy consumption, results in stunting, wasting and/or underweight, three deleterious forms of malnutrition that affect roughly 200 million children under the age of five years. Undernutrition compromises the immune system with the generation of various degrees of immunodeficiency, which in turn, renders undernourished individuals more sensitive to acute infections. The severity of various infectious diseases including visceral leishmaniasis (VL), influenza, and tuberculosis is associated with undernutrition. Immunosuppression resulting from protein-energy undernutrition severely impacts primary and secondary lymphoid organs involved in the response to related pathogens. The thymus—a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the generation of T lymphocytes—is particularly compromised by both undernutrition and infectious diseases. In this respect, we will discuss herein various intrathymic cellular and molecular interactions seen in undernutrition alone or in combination with acute infections. Many examples illustrated in studies on humans and experimental animals clearly revealed that protein-related undernutrition causes thymic atrophy, with cortical thymocyte depletion. Moreover, the non-lymphoid microenvironmental compartment of the organ undergoes important changes in thymic epithelial cells, including their secretory products such as hormones and extracellular matrix proteins. Of note, deficiencies in vitamins and trace elements also induce thymic atrophy. Interestingly, among the molecular interactions involved in the control of undernutrition-induced thymic atrophy is a hormonal imbalance with a rise in glucocorticoids and a decrease in leptin serum levels. Undernutrition also yields a negative impact of acute infections upon the thymus, frequently with the intrathymic detection of pathogens or their antigens. For instance, undernourished mice infected with Leishmania infantum (that causes VL) undergo drastic thymic atrophy, with significant reduction in thymocyte numbers, and decreased levels of intrathymic chemokines and cytokines, indicating that both lymphoid and microenvironmental compartments of the organ are affected. Lastly, recent data revealed that some probiotic bacteria or probiotic fermented milks improve the thymus status in a model of malnutrition, thus raising a new field for investigation, namely the thymus-gut connection, indicating that probiotics can be envisioned as a further adjuvant therapy in the control of thymic changes in undernutrition accompanied or not by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Wilson Savino, ,
| | - Jonathan Durães
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Leishmaniasis Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Maldonado-Galdeano
- Laboratory of Immunology, Reference Center for Lactobacilli Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CERELA-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, National University of Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Perdigon
- Laboratory of Immunology, Reference Center for Lactobacilli Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CERELA-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, National University of Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Daniella Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Cuervo
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Leishmaniasis Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Patricia Cuervo, ,
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22
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Koizumi M, Kama Y, Hirano KI, Endo Y, Tanaka T, Hozumi K, Hosokawa H. Transcription factor Zbtb1 interacts with bridging factor Lmo2 and maintains the T-lineage differentiation capacity of lymphoid progenitor cells. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102506. [PMID: 36126774 PMCID: PMC9582733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102506] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells can differentiate into all types of blood cells. Regulatory mechanisms underlying pluripotency in progenitors, such as the ability of lymphoid progenitor cells to differentiate into T-lineage, remain unclear. We have previously reported that LIM domain only 2 (Lmo2), a bridging factor in large transcriptional complexes, is essential to retain the ability of lymphoid progenitors to differentiate into T-lineage. However, biochemical characterization of Lmo2 protein complexes in physiological hematopoietic progenitors remains obscure. Here, we identified approximately 600 Lmo2-interacting molecules in a lymphoid progenitor cell line by two-step affinity purification with LC-MS/MS analysis. Zinc finger and BTB domain containing 1 (Zbtb1) and CBFA2/RUNX1 partner transcriptional corepressor 3 (Cbfa2t3) were found to be the functionally important binding partners of Lmo2. We determined CRISPR/Cas9-mediated acute disruption of Zbtb1 or Cbfa2t3 in the lymphoid progenitor or bone marrow–derived primary hematopoietic progenitor cells causes significant defects in the initiation of T-cell development when Notch signaling is activated. Our transcriptome analysis of Zbtb1- or Cbfa2t3-deficient lymphoid progenitors revealed that Tcf7 was a common target for both factors. Additionally, ChIP-seq analysis showed that Lmo2, Zbtb1, and Cbfa2t3 cobind to the Tcf7 upstream enhancer region, which is occupied by the Notch intracellular domain/RBPJ transcriptional complex after Notch stimulation, in lymphoid progenitors. Moreover, transduction with Tcf7 restored the defect in the T-lineage potential of Zbtb1-deficient lymphoid progenitors. Thus, in lymphoid progenitors, the Lmo2/Zbtb1/Cbfa2t3 complex directly binds to the Tcf7 locus and maintains responsiveness to the Notch-mediated inductive signaling to facilitate T-lineage differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Koizumi
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kama
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Hirano
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yusuke Endo
- Laboratory of Medical Omics Research, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan; Department of Omics Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Katsuto Hozumi
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hosokawa
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokai University, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
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23
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Covalent TCR-peptide-MHC interactions induce T cell activation and redirect T cell fate in the thymus. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4951. [PMID: 35999236 PMCID: PMC9399087 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32692-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between a T cell receptor (TCR) and a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligand are typically mediated by noncovalent bonds. By studying T cells expressing natural or engineered TCRs, here we describe covalent TCR-pMHC interactions that involve a cysteine-cysteine disulfide bond between the TCR and the peptide. By introducing cysteines into a known TCR-pMHC combination, we demonstrate that disulfide bond formation does not require structural rearrangement of the TCR or the peptide. We further show these disulfide bonds still form even when the initial affinity of the TCR-pMHC interaction is low. Accordingly, TCR-peptide disulfide bonds facilitate T cell activation by pMHC ligands with a wide spectrum of affinities for the TCR. Physiologically, this mechanism induces strong Zap70-dependent TCR signaling, which triggers T cell deletion or agonist selection in the thymus cortex. Covalent TCR-pMHC interactions may thus underlie a physiological T cell activation mechanism that has applications in basic immunology and potentially in immunotherapy. Differentiation and activation of T cells are normally modulated by non-covalent interactions between T cell receptor (TCR) and antigenic peptides. Here the authors use step-wise mutations, biochemical characterization and structural insights to describe the contributions of natural covalent bonds between TCR and antigenic peptides during these processes.
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24
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Liang Z, Dong X, Zhang Z, Zhang Q, Zhao Y. Age-related thymic involution: Mechanisms and functional impact. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13671. [PMID: 35822239 PMCID: PMC9381902 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the primary immune organ responsible for generating self‐tolerant and immunocompetent T cells. However, the thymus gradually involutes during early life resulting in declined naïve T‐cell production, a process known as age‐related thymic involution. Thymic involution has many negative impacts on immune function including reduced pathogen resistance, high autoimmunity incidence, and attenuated tumor immunosurveillance. Age‐related thymic involution leads to a gradual reduction in thymic cellularity and thymic stromal microenvironment disruption, including loss of definite cortical‐medullary junctions, reduction of cortical thymic epithelial cells and medullary thymic epithelial cells, fibroblast expansion, and an increase in perivascular space. The compromised thymic microenvironment in aged individuals substantially disturbs thymocyte development and differentiation. Age‐related thymic involution is regulated by many transcription factors, micro RNAs, growth factors, cytokines, and other factors. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of age‐related thymic involution mechanisms and effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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25
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Mohtashami M, Li YR, Lee CR, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Thymus Reconstitution in Young and Aged Mice Is Facilitated by In Vitro-Generated Progenitor T Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926773. [PMID: 35874726 PMCID: PMC9304753 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prolonged lag in T cell recovery seen in older patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), after chemo-/radiotherapy, can lead to immune dysfunction. As a result, recovering patients may experience a relapse in malignancies and opportunistic infections, leading to high mortality rates. The delay in T cell recovery is partly due to thymic involution, a natural collapse in the size and function of the thymus, as individuals age, and partly due to the damage sustained by the thymic stromal cells through exposure to chemo-/radiotherapy. There is a clear need for new strategies to accelerate intrathymic T cell reconstitution when treating aged patients to counter the effects of involution and cancer therapy regimens. Adoptive transfer of human progenitor T (proT) cells has been shown to accelerate T cell regeneration in radiation-treated young mice and to restore thymic architecture in immunodeficient mice. Here, we demonstrate that the adoptive transfer of in vitro-generated proT cells in aged mice (18-24 months) accelerated thymic reconstitution after treatment with chemotherapy and gamma irradiation compared to HSCT alone. We noted that aged mice appeared to have a more limited expansion of CD4-CD8- thymocytes and slower temporal kinetics in the development of donor proT cells into mature T cells, when compared to younger mice, despite following the same chemo/radiation regimen. This suggests a greater resilience of the young thymus compared to the aged thymus. Nevertheless, newly generated T cells from proT cell engrafted aged and young mice were readily present in the periphery accelerating the reappearance of new naïve T cells. Accelerated T cell recovery was also observed in both aged and young mice receiving both proT cells and HSCT. The strategy of transferring proT cells can potentially be used as an effective cellular therapy in aged patients to improve immune recovery and reduce the risk of opportunistic infections post-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yue Ru Li
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christina R. Lee
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker,
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26
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Gaudeaux P, Moirangthem RD, Bauquet A, Simons L, Joshi A, Cavazzana M, Nègre O, Soheili S, André I. T-Cell Progenitors As A New Immunotherapy to Bypass Hurdles of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:956919. [PMID: 35874778 PMCID: PMC9300856 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.956919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of preference for numerous malignant and non-malignant hemopathies. The outcome of this approach is significantly hampered by not only graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), but also infections and relapses that may occur because of persistent T-cell immunodeficiency following transplantation. Reconstitution of a functional T-cell repertoire can take more than 1 year. Thus, the major challenge in the management of allogeneic HSCT relies on the possibility of shortening the window of immune deficiency through the acceleration of T-cell recovery, with diverse, self-tolerant, and naïve T cells resulting from de novo thymopoiesis from the donor cells. In this context, adoptive transfer of cell populations that can give rise to mature T cells faster than HSCs while maintaining a safety profile compatible with clinical use is of major interest. In this review, we summarize current advances in the characterization of thymus seeding progenitors, and their ex vivo generated counterparts, T-cell progenitors. Transplantation of the latter has been identified as a worthwhile approach to shorten the period of immune deficiency in patients following allogeneic HSCT, and to fulfill the clinical objective of reducing morbimortality due to infections and relapses. We further discuss current opportunities for T-cell progenitor-based therapy manufacturing, including iPSC cell sources and off-the-shelf strategies. These opportunities will be analyzed in the light of results from ongoing clinical studies involving T-cell progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Gaudeaux
- Human Lymphohematopoiesis Laboratory, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Smart Immune, Paris, France
| | - Ranjita Devi Moirangthem
- Human Lymphohematopoiesis Laboratory, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Laura Simons
- Smart Immune, Paris, France
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Akshay Joshi
- Human Lymphohematopoiesis Laboratory, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Marina Cavazzana
- Smart Immune, Paris, France
- Department of Biotherapy, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Centre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM CIC 1416, Paris, France
- Imagine Institute, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Isabelle André
- Human Lymphohematopoiesis Laboratory, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Isabelle André,
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27
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Thompson PK, Chen EL, de Pooter RF, Frelin C, Vogel WK, Lee CR, Venables T, Shah DK, Iscove NN, Leid M, Anderson MK, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Realization of the T Lineage Program Involves GATA-3 Induction of Bcl11b and Repression of Cdkn2b Expression. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:77-92. [PMID: 35705252 PMCID: PMC9248976 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The zinc-finger transcription factor GATA-3 plays a crucial role during early T cell development and also dictates later T cell differentiation outcomes. However, its role and collaboration with the Notch signaling pathway in the induction of T lineage specification and commitment have not been fully elucidated. We show that GATA-3 deficiency in mouse hematopoietic progenitors results in an early block in T cell development despite the presence of Notch signals, with a failure to upregulate Bcl11b expression, leading to a diversion along a myeloid, but not a B cell, lineage fate. GATA-3 deficiency in the presence of Notch signaling results in the apoptosis of early T lineage cells, as seen with inhibition of CDK4/6 (cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6) function, and dysregulated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2b (Cdkn2b) expression. We also show that GATA-3 induces Bcl11b, and together with Bcl11b represses Cdkn2b expression; however, loss of Cdkn2b failed to rescue the developmental block of GATA-3-deficient T cell progenitor. Our findings provide a signaling and transcriptional network by which the T lineage program in response to Notch signals is realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja K. Thompson
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON
| | - Edward L.Y. Chen
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON
| | - Renée F. de Pooter
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON
| | - Catherine Frelin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON
| | - Walter K. Vogel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | | | | | - Divya K. Shah
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON
| | - Norman N. Iscove
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;,Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON
| | - Mark Leid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Michele K. Anderson
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON
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28
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García-León MJ, Mosquera M, Cela C, Alcain J, Zuklys S, Holländer G, Toribio ML. Abrogation of Notch Signaling in Embryonic TECs Impacts Postnatal mTEC Homeostasis and Thymic Involution. Front Immunol 2022; 13:867302. [PMID: 35707539 PMCID: PMC9189879 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.867302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is crucial for fate specification and maturation of thymus-seeding progenitors along the T-cell lineage. Recent studies have extended the role of Notch signaling to thymic epithelial cells (TECs), showing that Notch regulates TEC progenitor maintenance and emergence of medullary TECs (mTECs) in fetal thymopoiesis. Based on immunohistochemistry studies of spatiotemporal regulation of Notch activation in the postnatal thymus, we show that in vivo Notch activation is not confined to fetal TECs. Rather, Notch signaling, likely mediated through the Notch1 receptor, is induced in postnatal cortical and medullary TECs, and increases significantly with age in the latter, in both humans and mice, suggesting a conserved role for Notch signaling in TEC homeostasis during thymus aging. To investigate the functional impact of Notch activation in postnatal TEC biology, we used a mouse model in which RPBJκ, the transcriptional effector of canonical Notch signaling, is deleted in epithelial cells, including TECs, under the control of the transcription factor Foxn1. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analyses revealed no significant differences in TEC composition in mutant (RPBJκ-KOTEC) and wild-type (WT) littermate mice at early postnatal ages. However, a significant reduction of the medullary region was observed in mutant compared to WT older thymi, which was accompanied by an accelerated decrease of postnatal mTEC numbers. Also, we found that organization and integrity of the postnatal thymic medulla critically depends on activation of the canonical Notch signaling pathway, as abrogation of Notch signaling in TECs led to the disruption of the medullary thymic microenvironment and to an accelerated thymus atrophy. These features paralleled a significant increase in the proportion of intrathymic non-T lineage cells, mostly B cells, and a slight decrease of DP thymocyte numbers compatible with a compromised thymic function in mutant mice. Therefore, impaired Notch signaling induced in embryonic development impacts postnatal TECs and leads to an accelerated mTEC degeneration and a premature thymus involution. Collectively, our data have uncovered a new role for Notch1 signaling in the control of adult mTEC homeostasis, and point toward Notch signaling manipulation as a novel strategy for thymus regeneration and functional recovery from immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús García-León
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Mosquera
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmela Cela
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Alcain
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Saulius Zuklys
- Department of Biomedicine and University Children's Hospital of Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg Holländer
- Department of Biomedicine and University Children's Hospital of Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - María L Toribio
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
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Rosichini M, Catanoso M, Screpanti I, Felli MP, Locatelli F, Velardi E. Signaling Crosstalks Drive Generation and Regeneration of the Thymus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:920306. [PMID: 35734178 PMCID: PMC9207182 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.920306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimal recovery of immune competence after periods of hematopoietic insults or stress is crucial to re-establish patient response to vaccines, pathogens and tumor antigens. This is particularly relevant for patients receiving high doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, who experience prolonged periods of lymphopenia, which can be associated with an increased risk of infections, malignant relapse, and adverse clinical outcome. While the thymus represents the primary organ responsible for the generation of a diverse pool of T cells, its function is profoundly impaired by a range of acute insults (including those caused by cytoreductive chemo/radiation therapy, infections and graft-versus-host disease) and by the chronic physiological deterioration associated with aging. Impaired thymic function increases the risk of infections and tumor antigen escape due to a restriction in T-cell receptor diversity and suboptimal immune response. Therapeutic approaches that can promote the renewal of the thymus have the potential to restore immune competence in patients. Previous work has documented the importance of the crosstalk between thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells in establishing correct architecture and function of thymic epithelium. This crosstalk is relevant not only during thymus organogenesis, but also to promote the recovery of its function after injuries. In this review, we will analyze the signals involved in the crosstalk between TECs and hematopoietic cells. We will focus in particular on how signals from T-cells can regulate TEC function and discuss the relevance of these pathways in restoring thymic function and T-cell immunity in experimental models, as well as in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rosichini
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuigia Catanoso
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Velardi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Enrico Velardi,
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Abstract
Since the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), its cognate receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), and the decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) were discovered, a number of studies have uncovered the crucial role of the RANKL-RANK-OPG pathway in controlling the key aspect of bone homeostasis, the immune system, inflammation, cancer, and other systems under pathophysiological condition. These findings have expanded the understanding of the multifunctional biology of the RANKL-RANK-OPG pathway and led to the development of therapeutic potential targeting this pathway. The successful development and application of anti-RANKL antibody in treating diseases causing bone loss validates the utility of therapeutic approaches based on the modulation of this pathway. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of the RANKL-RANK pathway in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, shedding light on the RANKL-RANK dual signaling in coupling bone resorption and bone formation. In this review, we will summarize the current understanding of the RANKL-RANK-OPG system in the context of the bone and the immune system as well as the impact of this pathway in disease conditions, including cancer development and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Takegahara
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hyunsoo Kim
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yongwon Choi
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Abstract
A high diversity of αβ T cell receptors (TCRs), capable of recognizing virtually any pathogen but also self-antigens, is generated during T cell development in the thymus. Nevertheless, a strict developmental program supports the selection of a self-tolerant T cell repertoire capable of responding to foreign antigens. The steps of T cell selection are controlled by cortical and medullary stromal niches, mainly composed of thymic epithelial cells and dendritic cells. The integration of important cues provided by these specialized niches, including (a) the TCR signal strength induced by the recognition of self-peptide-MHC complexes, (b) costimulatory signals, and (c) cytokine signals, critically controls T cell repertoire selection. This review discusses our current understanding of the signals that coordinate positive selection, negative selection, and agonist selection of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. It also highlights recent advances that have unraveled the functional diversity of thymic antigen-presenting cell subsets implicated in T cell selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Irla
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France;
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Ahn SH, Nguyen SL, Kim TH, Jeong JW, Arora R, Lydon JP, Petroff MG. Nuclear Progesterone Receptor Expressed by the Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells Dictates Thymus Involution in Murine Pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:846226. [PMID: 35498436 PMCID: PMC9046655 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.846226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone is a gonadal pro-gestational hormone that is absolutely necessary for the success of pregnancy. Most notable actions of progesterone are observed in the female reproductive organs, the uterus and the ovary. Acting through the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR), progesterone prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo. Interestingly, the maternal thymus also is a known expressor of Pgr; its absence is associated with murine pregnancy complications. However, the localization of its expression and its functional importance were not known. Here, we used a transgenic dual fluorescent reporter mouse model and genetic deletion of Pgr in Foxn1+ thymic epithelial cells (TEC) to demonstrate TEC-specific Pgr expression in pregnancy, especially in the cortex where thymocyte maturation occurs. Using our TEC-specific Pgr deletion mouse model, we demonstrate that TEC-specific Pgr is necessary for pregnancy-induced thymic involution in pregnancy. Our investigation reveals that PGR expression is upregulated in the cortical thymic epithelial cells during pregnancy, and that PGR expression is important for thymic involution during murine pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Hyun Ahn
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Sean L. Nguyen
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Margaret G. Petroff
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Wang H, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Thymic Microenvironment: Interactions Between Innate Immune Cells and Developing Thymocytes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:885280. [PMID: 35464404 PMCID: PMC9024034 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.885280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a crucial organ for the development of T cells. T cell progenitors first migrate from the bone marrow into the thymus. During the journey to become a mature T cell, progenitors require interactions with many different cell types within the thymic microenvironment, such as stromal cells, which include epithelial, mesenchymal and other non-T-lineage immune cells. There are two crucial decision steps that are required for generating mature T cells: positive and negative selection. Each of these two processes needs to be performed efficiently to produce functional MHC-restricted T cells, while simultaneously restricting the production of auto-reactive T cells. In each step, there are various cell types that are required for the process to be carried out suitably, such as scavengers to clean up apoptotic thymocytes that fail positive or negative selection, and antigen presenting cells to display self-antigens during positive and negative selection. In this review, we will focus on thymic non-T-lineage immune cells, particularly dendritic cells and macrophages, and the role they play in positive and negative selection. We will also examine recent advances in the understanding of their participation in thymus homeostasis and T cell development. This review will provide a perspective on how the thymic microenvironment contributes to thymocyte differentiation and T cell maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Wang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Hebbandi Nanjundappa R, Sokke Umeshappa C, Geuking MB. The impact of the gut microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:221. [PMID: 35377005 PMCID: PMC11072498 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04252-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal microbiota is critical for the development of gut-associated lymphoid tissues, including Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, and is instrumental in educating the local as well as systemic immune system. In addition, it also impacts the development and function of peripheral organs, such as liver, lung, and the brain, in health and disease. However, whether and how the intestinal microbiota has an impact on T cell ontogeny in the hymus remains largely unclear. Recently, the impact of molecules and metabolites derived from the intestinal microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus has been investigated in more detail. In this review, we will discuss the recent findings in the emerging field of the gut-thymus axis and we will highlight the current questions and challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, IWK Research Center, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, IWK Research Center, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Markus B Geuking
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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Ji C, Bao L, Yuan S, Qi Z, Wang F, You M, Yu G, Liu J, Cui X, Wang Z, Liu J, Guo W, Feng M, Chen F, Kang Y, Yu S. SRSF1 Deficiency Impairs the Late Thymocyte Maturation and the CD8 Single-Positive Lineage Fate Decision. Front Immunol 2022; 13:838719. [PMID: 35154164 PMCID: PMC8825371 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.838719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms of thymocyte development and lineage determination remain incompletely understood, and the emerging evidences demonstrated that RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are deeply involved in governing T cell fate in thymus. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1), as a classical splicing factor, is a pivotal RBP for gene expression in various biological processes. Our recent study demonstrated that SRSF1 plays essential roles in the development of late thymocytes by modulating the T cell regulatory gene networks post-transcriptionally, which are critical in response to type I interferon signaling for supporting thymocyte maturation. Here, we report SRSF1 also contributes to the determination of the CD8+ T cell fate. By specific ablation of SRSF1 in CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes, we found that SRSF1 deficiency impaired the maturation of late thymocytes and diminished the output of both CD4+ and CD8+ single positive T cells. Interestingly, the ratio of mature CD4+ to CD8+ cells was notably altered and more severe defects were exhibited in CD8+ lineage than those in CD4+ lineage, reflecting the specific function of SRSF1 in CD8+ T cell fate decision. Mechanistically, SRSF1-deficient cells downregulate their expression of Runx3, which is a crucial transcriptional regulator in sustaining CD8+ single positive (SP) thymocyte development and lineage choice. Moreover, forced expression of Runx3 partially rectified the defects in SRSF1-deficient CD8+ thymocyte maturation. Thus, our data uncovered the previous unknown role of SRSF1 in establishment of CD8+ cell identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Bao
- Department of Hematology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shunzong Yuan
- Department of Hematology, The Fifth Medical Center of People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Menghao You
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Guotao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Juanjuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxia Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Central Laboratory, School of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Youmin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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36
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Stefanski HE, Xing Y, Nicholls J, Jonart L, Goren E, Taylor PA, Mills AA, Riddle M, McGrath J, Tolar J, Hollander GA, Blazar BR. P63 targeted deletion under the FOXN1 promoter disrupts pre-and post-natal thymus development, function and maintenance as well as induces severe hair loss. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261770. [PMID: 35077450 PMCID: PMC8789144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive immune deficiency of aging is characterized by severe thymic atrophy, contracted T cell repertoire, and poor immune function. p63 is critical for the proliferative potential of embryonic and adult stem cells, as well as thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Because p63 null mice experience rapid post-natal lethality due to epidermal and limb morphogenesis defects, studies to define a role for p63 expression in TEC biology focused on embryonic thymus development and in vitro experiments. Since post-natal thymic stromal development and function differs from that of the embryo, we assessed the impact of lineage-restricted p63 loss on pre- and post-natal murine TEC function by generating mice with a loss of p63 function targeted to TEC, termed p63TECko mice. In adult p63TECko mice, severe thymic hypoplasia was observed with a lack in a discernable segregation into medullary and cortical compartments and peripheral T cell lymphopenia. This profound thymic defect was seen in both neonatal as well as embryonic p63TECko mice. In addition to TECs, p63 also plays in important role in the development of stratified epithelium of the skin; lack of p63 results in defects in skin epidermal stratification and differentiation. Interestingly, all adult p63TECko mice lacked hair follicles despite having normal p63 expression in the skin. Together our results show a critical role of TEC p63 in thymic development and maintenance and show that p63 expression is critical for hair follicle formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E. Stefanski
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Yan Xing
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Jemma Nicholls
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Leslie Jonart
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Emily Goren
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Patricia A. Taylor
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Alea A. Mills
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Megan Riddle
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - John McGrath
- Molecular Dermatology, St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College, London, England
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Georg A. Hollander
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Children’s Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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CXCL12-driven thymocyte migration is increased by thymic epithelial cells treated with prolactin in vitro. J Biosci 2021. [PMID: 34815373 PMCID: PMC8608580 DOI: 10.1007/s12038-021-00229-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The prolactin hormone (PRL), in addition to its known effects on breast development and lactation, exerts effects on the immune system, including pleiotropic effects on the thymus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of PRL on the epithelial compartment of the thymus. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) (2BH4 cells) and fresh thymocytes were used. Immunofluorescence assay revealed that PRL treatment (10 ng/mL) increases the deposition of laminin and expression of the chemokine CXCL12 in 2BH4 cells. However, no change was observed in the deposition of fibronectin. Moreover, PRL altered F-actin polymerisation, allowing the formation of focal adhesion complexes in treated cells. When 2BH4 cells were pre-treated with PRL, thymocyte adhesion was not altered. However, in the cell migration assay, pre-treatment with PRL potentiated the chemotactic effect of CXCL12 on the migration of total, double-positive, CD4-positive, and CD8-positive thymocytes. Together, the results of this study demonstrate the effect of PRL on thymic epithelial cells, particularly on CXCL12-driven thymocyte migration, confirming that this hormone is a regulator of thymic physiology.
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38
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Vollmann EH, Rattay K, Barreiro O, Thiriot A, Fuhlbrigge RA, Vrbanac V, Kim KW, Jung S, Tager AM, von Andrian UH. Specialized transendothelial dendritic cells mediate thymic T-cell selection against blood-borne macromolecules. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6230. [PMID: 34711828 PMCID: PMC8553756 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells undergo rigorous selection in the thymus to ensure self-tolerance and prevent autoimmunity, with this process requiring innocuous self-antigens (Ags) to be presented to thymocytes. Self-Ags are either expressed by thymic stroma cells or transported to the thymus from the periphery by migratory dendritic cells (DCs); meanwhile, small blood-borne peptides can access the thymic parenchyma by diffusing across the vascular lining. Here we describe an additional pathway of thymic Ag acquisition that enables circulating antigenic macromolecules to access both murine and human thymi. This pathway depends on a subset of thymus-resident DCs, distinct from both parenchymal and circulating migratory DCs, that are positioned in immediate proximity to thymic microvessels where they extend cellular processes across the endothelial barrier into the blood stream. Transendothelial positioning of DCs depends on DC-expressed CX3CR1 and its endothelial ligand, CX3CL1, and disrupting this chemokine pathway prevents thymic acquisition of circulating proteins and compromises negative selection of Ag-reactive thymocytes. Thus, transendothelial DCs represent a mechanism by which the thymus can actively acquire blood-borne Ags to induce and maintain central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth H Vollmann
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kristin Rattay
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Institute of Pharmacology, Biochemical Pharmacological Center, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Olga Barreiro
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aude Thiriot
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rebecca A Fuhlbrigge
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vladimir Vrbanac
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Humanized Immune System Mouse Program (HISMP), Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ki-Wook Kim
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Steffen Jung
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ulrich H von Andrian
- Department of Immunology & HMS Center for Immune Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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39
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Jain R, Zhao K, Sheridan JM, Heinlein M, Kupresanin F, Abeysekera W, Hall C, Rickard J, Bouillet P, Walczak H, Strasser A, Silke J, Gray DHD. Dual roles for LUBAC signaling in thymic epithelial cell development and survival. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:2946-2956. [PMID: 34381167 PMCID: PMC8481470 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00850-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) form a unique microenvironment that orchestrates T cell differentiation and immunological tolerance. Despite the importance of TECs for adaptive immunity, there is an incomplete understanding of the signalling networks that support their differentiation and survival. We report that the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) is essential for medullary TEC (mTEC) differentiation, cortical TEC survival and prevention of premature thymic atrophy. TEC-specific loss of LUBAC proteins, HOIL-1 or HOIP, severely impaired expansion of the thymic medulla and AIRE-expressing cells. Furthermore, HOIL-1-deficiency caused early thymic atrophy due to Caspase-8/MLKL-dependent apoptosis/necroptosis of cortical TECs. By contrast, deficiency in the LUBAC component, SHARPIN, caused relatively mild defects only in mTECs. These distinct roles for LUBAC components in TECs correlate with their function in linear ubiquitination, NFκB activation and cell survival. Thus, our findings reveal dual roles for LUBAC signaling in TEC differentiation and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reema Jain
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kelin Zhao
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie M Sheridan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melanie Heinlein
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Fiona Kupresanin
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- ANZAC Research Institute, Concord, Australia
| | - Waruni Abeysekera
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cathrine Hall
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James Rickard
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Philippe Bouillet
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Henning Walczak
- Centre for Cell Death, Cancer and Inflammation, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andreas Strasser
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - John Silke
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel H D Gray
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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40
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Xia H, Zhong S, Zhao Y, Ren B, Wang Z, Shi Y, Chai Q, Wang X, Zhu M. Thymic Egress Is Regulated by T Cell-Derived LTβR Signal and via Distinct Thymic Portal Endothelial Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:707404. [PMID: 34276703 PMCID: PMC8281811 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.707404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic blood vessels at the perivascular space (PVS) are the critical site for both homing of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and egress of mature thymocytes. It has been intriguing how different opposite migrations can happen in the same place. A subset of specialized thymic portal endothelial cells (TPECs) associated with PVS has been identified to function as the entry site for HPCs. However, the cellular basis and mechanism underlying egress of mature thymocytes has not been well defined. In this study, using various conventional and conditional gene-deficient mouse models, we first confirmed the role of endothelial lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) for thymic egress and ruled out the role of LTβR from epithelial cells or dendritic cells. In addition, we found that T cell-derived ligands lymphotoxin (LT) and LIGHT are required for thymic egress, suggesting a crosstalk between T cells and endothelial cells (ECs) for thymic egress control. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining analysis interestingly showed that TPECs are also the exit site for mature thymocytes. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of thymic endothelial cells suggested that TPECs are heterogeneous and can be further divided into two subsets depending on BST-1 expression level. Importantly, BST-1hi population is associated with thymic egressing thymocytes while BST-1lo/− population is associated with HPC settling. Thus, we have defined a LT/LIGHT-LTβR signaling–mediated cellular crosstalk regulating thymic egress and uncovered distinct subsets of TPECs controlling thymic homing and egress, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Xia
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Suijuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yixiao Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Boyang Ren
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongnan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaoyao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Chai
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingzhao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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41
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Honan AM, Chen Z. Stromal Cells Underlining the Paths From Autoimmunity, Inflammation to Cancer With Roles Beyond Structural and Nutritional Support. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:658984. [PMID: 34113615 PMCID: PMC8185233 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.658984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stromal cells provide structural support and nutrients in secondary lymphoid organs and non-lymphoid tissues. However, accumulating evidence suggests that a complex relationship exists between stromal cells and immune cells. Interactions between immune cells and stromal cells have been shown to influence the pathology of both autoimmunity and cancer. This review examines the heterogeneity of stromal cells within the lymph node and non-lymphoid tissues during both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions, in particular autoimmunity and cancer, with the goal of better understanding the complex and apparently paradoxical relationship between these two classes of diseases. The review surveys potential novel mechanisms involving the interactions between stromal cells and immune cells which may contribute to the development, pathology and underlying connection between autoimmunity and cancer, including potential pathways from autoimmune inflammation to either “hot” or “cold” tumors. These interactions may provide some insights to explain the rising incidence of both autoimmunity and cancer in young women in industrialized countries and have the potential to be exploited in the development of new interventions for preventions and treatments of both autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Honan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Zhibin Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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42
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VSIG4(+) peritoneal macrophages induce apoptosis of double-positive thymocyte via the secretion of TNF-α in a CLP-induced sepsis model resulting in thymic atrophy. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:526. [PMID: 34023853 PMCID: PMC8139869 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03806-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Thymic atrophy in sepsis is a critical disadvantage because it induces immunosuppression and increases the mortality rate as the disease progresses. However, the exact mechanism of thymic atrophy has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we discovered a novel role for VSIG4-positive peritoneal macrophages (V4(+) cells) as the principal cells that induce thymic atrophy and thymocyte apoptosis. In CLP-induced mice, V4(+) cells were activated after ingestion of invading microbes, and the majority of these cells migrated into the thymus. Furthermore, these cells underwent a phenotypic shift from V4(+) to V4(−) and from MHC II(low) to MHC II(+). In coculture with thymocytes, V4(+) cells mainly induced apoptosis in DP thymocytes via the secretion of TNF-α. However, there was little effect on CD4 or CD8 SP and DN thymocytes. V4(−) cells showed low levels of activity compared to V4(+) cells. Thymic atrophy in CLP-induced V4(KO) mice was much less severe than that in CLP-induced wild-type mice. In addition, V4(KO) peritoneal macrophages also showed similar activity to V4(−) cells. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that V4(+) cells play important roles in inducing immunosuppression via thymic atrophy in the context of severe infection. These data also suggest that controlling the function of V4(+) cells may play a crucial role in the development of new therapies to prevent thymocyte apoptosis in sepsis.
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43
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Hashimoto D, Colet JGR, Murashima A, Fujimoto K, Ueda Y, Suzuki K, Hyuga T, Hemmi H, Kaisho T, Takahashi S, Takahama Y, Yamada G. Radiation inducible MafB gene is required for thymic regeneration. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10439. [PMID: 34001954 PMCID: PMC8129107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89836-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus facilitates mature T cell production by providing a suitable stromal microenvironment. This microenvironment is impaired by radiation and aging which lead to immune system disturbances known as thymic involution. Young adult thymus shows thymic recovery after such involution. Although various genes have been reported for thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells in such processes, the roles of stromal transcription factors in these remain incompletely understood. MafB (v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B) is a transcription factor expressed in thymic stroma and its expression was induced a day after radiation exposure. Hence, the roles of mesenchymal MafB in the process of thymic regeneration offers an intriguing research topic also for radiation biology. The current study investigated whether MafB plays roles in the adult thymus. MafB/green fluorescent protein knock-in mutant (MafB+/GFP) mice showed impaired thymic regeneration after the sublethal irradiation, judged by reduced thymus size, total thymocyte number and medullary complexity. Furthermore, IL4 was induced after irradiation and such induction was reduced in mutant mice. The mutants also displayed signs of accelerated age-related thymic involution. Altogether, these results suggest possible functions of MafB in the processes of thymic recovery after irradiation, and maintenance during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Hashimoto
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Jose Gabriel R Colet
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.,Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Aki Murashima
- Department of Anatomy, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan.
| | - Kota Fujimoto
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Yuko Ueda
- Department of Urology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Kentaro Suzuki
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Taiju Hyuga
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hemmi
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Ehime, Japan
| | - Tsuneyasu Kaisho
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Gen Yamada
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
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Han J, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. A 2020 View of Thymus Stromal Cells in T Cell Development. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:249-256. [PMID: 33397738 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is an intricate primary lymphoid organ, wherein bone marrow-derived lymphoid progenitor cells are induced to develop into functionally competent T cells that express a diverse TCR repertoire, which is selected to allow for the recognition of foreign Ags while avoiding self-reactivity or autoimmunity. Thymus stromal cells, which can include all non-T lineage cells, such as thymic epithelial cells, endothelial cells, mesenchymal/fibroblast cells, dendritic cells, and B cells, provide signals that are essential for thymocyte development as well as for the homeostasis of the thymic stroma itself. In this brief review, we focus on the key roles played by thymic stromal cells during early stages of T cell development, such as promoting the homing of thymic-seeding progenitors, inducing T lineage differentiation, and supporting thymocyte survival and proliferation. We also discuss recent advances on the transcriptional regulation that govern thymic epithelial cell function as well as the cellular and molecular changes that are associated with thymic involution and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxun Han
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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45
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Nanaware PP, Jurewicz MM, Clement CC, Lu L, Santambrogio L, Stern LJ. Distinguishing Signal From Noise in Immunopeptidome Studies of Limiting-Abundance Biological Samples: Peptides Presented by I-A b in C57BL/6 Mouse Thymus. Front Immunol 2021; 12:658601. [PMID: 33995376 PMCID: PMC8116589 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigen presentation by MHC-II proteins in the thymus is central to selection of CD4 T cells, but analysis of the full repertoire of presented peptides responsible for positive and negative selection is complicated by the low abundance of antigen presenting cells. A key challenge in analysis of limiting abundance immunopeptidomes by mass spectrometry is distinguishing true MHC-binding peptides from co-eluting non-specifically bound peptides present in the mixture eluted from immunoaffinity-purified MHC molecules. Herein we tested several approaches to minimize the impact of non-specific background peptides, including analyzing eluates from isotype-control antibody-conjugated beads, considering only peptides present in nested sets, and using predicted binding motif analysis to identify core epitopes. We evaluated these methods using well-understood human cell line samples, and then applied them to analysis of the I-Ab presented immunopeptidome of the thymus of C57BL/6 mice, comparing this to the more easily characterized splenic B cell and dendritic cell populations. We identified a total of 3473 unique peptides eluted from the various tissues, using a data dependent acquisition strategy with a false-discovery rate of <1%. The immunopeptidomes presented in thymus as compared to splenic B cells and DCs identified shared and tissue-specific epitopes. A broader length distribution was observed for peptides presented in the thymus as compared to splenic B cells or DCs. Detailed analysis of 61 differentially presented peptides indicated a wider distribution of I-Ab binding affinities in thymus as compared to splenic B cells. These results suggest different constraints on antigen processing and presentation pathways in central versus peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma P. Nanaware
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Mollie M. Jurewicz
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Cristina C. Clement
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Liying Lu
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Laura Santambrogio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lawrence J. Stern
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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46
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Semwal MK, Jones NE, Griffith AV. Metabolic Regulation of Thymic Epithelial Cell Function. Front Immunol 2021; 12:636072. [PMID: 33746975 PMCID: PMC7968369 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.636072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the primary site of T lymphocyte development, where mutually inductive signaling between lymphoid progenitors and thymic stromal cells directs the progenitors along a well-characterized program of differentiation. Although thymic stromal cells, including thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are critical for the development of T cell-mediated immunity, many aspects of their basic biology have been difficult to resolve because they represent a small fraction of thymus cellularity, and because their isolation requires enzymatic digestion that induces broad physiological changes. These obstacles are especially relevant to the study of metabolic regulation of cell function, since isolation procedures necessarily disrupt metabolic homeostasis. In contrast to the well-characterized relationships between metabolism and intracellular signaling in T cell function during an immune response, metabolic regulation of thymic stromal cell function represents an emerging area of study. Here, we review recent advances in three distinct, but interconnected areas: regulation of mTOR signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and autophagy, with respect to their roles in the establishment and maintenance of the thymic stromal microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manpreet K Semwal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Nicholas E Jones
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Ann V Griffith
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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47
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Besnard M, Padonou F, Provin N, Giraud M, Guillonneau C. AIRE deficiency, from preclinical models to human APECED disease. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm046359. [PMID: 33729987 PMCID: PMC7875492 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease that attacks multiple organs and has its onset in childhood. It is an inherited condition caused by a variety of mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene that encodes a protein whose function has been uncovered by the generation and study of Aire-KO mice. These provided invaluable insights into the link between AIRE expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and the broad spectrum of self-antigens that these cells express and present to the developing thymocytes. However, these murine models poorly recapitulate all phenotypic aspects of human APECED. Unlike Aire-KO mice, the recently generated Aire-KO rat model presents visual features, organ lymphocytic infiltrations and production of autoantibodies that resemble those observed in APECED patients, making the rat model a main research asset. In addition, ex vivo models of AIRE-dependent self-antigen expression in primary mTECs have been successfully set up. Thymus organoids based on pluripotent stem cell-derived TECs from APECED patients are also emerging, and constitute a promising tool to engineer AIRE-corrected mTECs and restore the generation of regulatory T cells. Eventually, these new models will undoubtedly lead to main advances in the identification and assessment of specific and efficient new therapeutic strategies aiming to restore immunological tolerance in APECED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Besnard
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Francine Padonou
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nathan Provin
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Carole Guillonneau
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
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48
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Li JH, Wei TT, Guo L, Cao JH, Feng YK, Guo SN, Liu GH, Ding Y, Chai YR. Curcumin protects thymus against D-galactose-induced senescence in mice. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 394:411-420. [PMID: 32686020 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-020-01945-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Senescence-related decline of thymus affects immune function in the elderly population and contributes to the prevalence of many relevant diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other chronic diseases. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of curcumin, an agent that could counter aging, and explored its optimal intake and the alteration of autoimmune regulator (Aire) after curcumin treatment in the D-galactose (D-gal)-induced accelerated aging mice. ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with D-gal for 8 weeks to establish the accelerated aging model and given curcumin with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight per day by gavage, respectively, for 6 weeks. It indicated that the D-gal-treated mice developed structural changes in the thymi compared with the control group without D-gal and curcumin treatment. As the supplements of curcumin, it resulted in a restoration of the normal thymic anatomy with an increase of proliferating cells and a reduction of apoptotic cells in the thymi of the D-gal-induced aging model mice. Curcumin administration could also expand the expression level of Aire from mRNA level and protein level. The current study demonstrated that curcumin could ameliorate senescence-related thymus involution via upregulating Aire expression, suggesting that curcumin can rejuvenate senescence-associated alterations of thymus induced by D-gal accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Han Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Ting-Ting Wei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Li Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Jia-Hui Cao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yuan-Kang Feng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Shu-Ning Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Guo-Hong Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yu-Rong Chai
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Ke Xue Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
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49
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RORα is a critical checkpoint for T cell and ILC2 commitment in the embryonic thymus. Nat Immunol 2021; 22:166-178. [PMID: 33432227 PMCID: PMC7116838 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-00833-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) contribute to immune homeostasis, protective immunity and tissue repair. Here we demonstrate that functional ILC2 cells can arise in the embryonic thymus from shared T cell precursors, preceding the emergence of CD4+CD8+ (double-positive) T cells. Thymic ILC2 cells migrated to mucosal tissues, with colonization of the intestinal lamina propria. Expression of the transcription factor RORα repressed T cell development while promoting ILC2 development in the thymus. From RNA-seq, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) data, we propose a revised transcriptional circuit to explain the co-development of T cells and ILC2 cells from common progenitors in the thymus. When Notch signaling is present, BCL11B dampens Nfil3 and Id2 expression, permitting E protein-directed T cell commitment. However, concomitant expression of RORα overrides the repression of Nfil3 and Id2 repression, allowing ID2 to repress E proteins and promote ILC2 differentiation. Thus, we demonstrate that RORα expression represents a critical checkpoint at the bifurcation of the T cell and ILC2 lineages in the embryonic thymus.
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50
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A clinically applicable and scalable method to regenerate T-cells from iPSCs for off-the-shelf T-cell immunotherapy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:430. [PMID: 33462228 PMCID: PMC7814014 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20658-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical successes demonstrated by chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy have facilitated further development of T-cell immunotherapy against wide variety of diseases. One approach is the development of “off-the-shelf” T-cell sources. Technologies to generate T-cells from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) may offer platforms to produce “off-the-shelf” and synthetic allogeneic T-cells. However, low differentiation efficiency and poor scalability of current methods may compromise their utilities. Here we show improved differentiation efficiency of T-cells from induced PSCs (iPSCs) derived from an antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cell clone, or from T-cell receptor (TCR)-transduced iPSCs, as starting materials. We additionally describe feeder-free differentiation culture systems that span from iPSC maintenance to T-cell proliferation phases, enabling large-scale regenerated T-cell production. Moreover, simultaneous addition of SDF1α and a p38 inhibitor during T-cell differentiation enhances T-cell commitment. The regenerated T-cells show TCR-dependent functions in vitro and are capable of in vivo anti-tumor activity. This system provides a platform to generate a large number of regenerated T-cells for clinical application and investigate human T-cell differentiation and biology. T-cell immunotherapies, such as CAR-T immunotherapy, are being developed against a wide variety of diseases. Here the authors report the feeder-free, scalable differentiation of human induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) to T-cells with T-cell receptor dependent anti-tumour function in vitro and in vivo.
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