1
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Anderson G, Cosway EJ, James KD, Ohigashi I, Takahama Y. Generation and repair of thymic epithelial cells. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230894. [PMID: 38980292 PMCID: PMC11232892 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230894] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate immune system, thymus stromal microenvironments support the generation of αβT cells from immature thymocytes. Thymic epithelial cells are of particular importance, and the generation of cortical and medullary epithelial lineages from progenitor stages controls the initiation and maintenance of thymus function. Here, we discuss the developmental pathways that regulate thymic epithelial cell diversity during both the embryonic and postnatal periods. We also examine how thymus microenvironments respond to injury, with particular focus on mechanisms that ensure regeneration of thymic epithelial cells for the restoration of thymus function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Emilie J. Cosway
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kieran D. James
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Thymus Biology Section, Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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2
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Grammer C, Komorowska JA, Swann JB. Vhl safeguards thymic epithelial cell identity and thymopoietic capacity by constraining Hif1a activity during development. iScience 2024; 27:110258. [PMID: 39040069 PMCID: PMC11261450 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110258] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a physiologically hypoxic organ and fulfills its role of generating T cells under low-oxygen conditions. We have therefore investigated how thymic epithelial cells (TECs) cope with physiological hypoxia by focusing on the role of the Hif1a-Vhl axis. In most cell types, the oxygen-labile transcriptional regulator Hif1a is a central player in co-ordinating responses to low oxygen: under normoxic conditions Hif1a is rapidly degraded in a Vhl-guided manner; however, under hypoxic conditions Hif1a is stabilized and can execute its transcriptional functions. Unexpectedly, we find that, although TECs reside in a hypoxic microenvironment, they express little Hif1a protein and do not require Hif1a for their development or function. Instead, we find that Vhl function in TECs is vital to constrain Hif1a activity, as loss of Vhl results in dramatic defects in TEC differentiation and thymopoiesis, which can be rescued by Hif1a co-depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Grammer
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia A. Komorowska
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Albert Ludwig University, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jeremy B. Swann
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
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3
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Weiler P, Lange M, Klein M, Pe'er D, Theis F. CellRank 2: unified fate mapping in multiview single-cell data. Nat Methods 2024; 21:1196-1205. [PMID: 38871986 PMCID: PMC11239496 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02303-9] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing allows us to model cellular state dynamics and fate decisions using expression similarity or RNA velocity to reconstruct state-change trajectories; however, trajectory inference does not incorporate valuable time point information or utilize additional modalities, whereas methods that address these different data views cannot be combined or do not scale. Here we present CellRank 2, a versatile and scalable framework to study cellular fate using multiview single-cell data of up to millions of cells in a unified fashion. CellRank 2 consistently recovers terminal states and fate probabilities across data modalities in human hematopoiesis and endodermal development. Our framework also allows combining transitions within and across experimental time points, a feature we use to recover genes promoting medullary thymic epithelial cell formation during pharyngeal endoderm development. Moreover, we enable estimating cell-specific transcription and degradation rates from metabolic-labeling data, which we apply to an intestinal organoid system to delineate differentiation trajectories and pinpoint regulatory strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Weiler
- Institute of Computational Biology, Department of Computational Health, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marius Lange
- Institute of Computational Biology, Department of Computational Health, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michal Klein
- Institute of Computational Biology, Department of Computational Health, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
- Machine Learning Research, Apple, Paris, France
| | - Dana Pe'er
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Fabian Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Department of Computational Health, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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4
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Ribeiro C, Ferreirinha P, Landry JJM, Macedo F, Sousa LG, Pinto R, Benes V, Alves NL. Foxo3 regulates cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cell homeostasis with implications in T cell development. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:352. [PMID: 38773063 PMCID: PMC11109193 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06728-0] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) create dedicated microenvironments for T cell development and selection. Considering that TECs are sensitive to distinct pathophysiological conditions, uncovering the molecular elements that coordinate their thymopoietic role has important fundamental and clinical implications. Particularly, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a crucial role in central tolerance. Our previous studies, along with others, suggest that mTECs depend on molecular factors linked to genome-protecting pathways, but the precise mechanisms underlying their function remain unknown. These observations led us to examine the role of Foxo3, as it is expressed in TECs and involved in DNA damage response. Our findings show that mice with TEC-specific deletion of Foxo3 (Foxo3cKO) displayed a disrupted mTEC compartment, with a more profound impact on the numbers of CCL21+ and thymic tuft mTEClo subsets. At the molecular level, Foxo3 controls distinct functional modules in the transcriptome of cTECs and mTECs under normal conditions, which includes the regulation of ribosomal biogenesis and DNA damage response, respectively. These changes in the TEC compartment resulted in a reduced total thymocyte cellularity and specific changes in regulatory T cell and iNKT cell development in the Foxo3cKO thymus. Lastly, the thymic defects observed in adulthood correlated with mild signs of altered peripheral immunotolerance in aged Foxo3cKO mice. Moreover, the deficiency in Foxo3 moderately aggravated the autoimmune predisposition observed in Aire-deficient mice. Our findings highlight the importance of Foxo3 in preserving the homeostasis of TECs and in supporting their role in T cell development and tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ribeiro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ferreirinha
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jonathan J M Landry
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fátima Macedo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Laura G Sousa
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rute Pinto
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vladimir Benes
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nuno L Alves
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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5
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Horie K, Namiki K, Kinoshita K, Miyauchi M, Ishikawa T, Hayama M, Maruyama Y, Hagiwara N, Miyao T, Murata S, Kobayashi TJ, Akiyama N, Akiyama T. Acute irradiation causes a long-term disturbance in the heterogeneity and gene expression profile of medullary thymic epithelial cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1186154. [PMID: 38022666 PMCID: PMC10652284 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1186154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus has the ability to regenerate from acute injury caused by radiation, infection, and stressors. In addition to thymocytes, thymic epithelial cells in the medulla (mTECs), which are crucial for T cell self-tolerance by ectopically expressing and presenting thousands of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs), are damaged by these insults and recover thereafter. However, given recent discoveries on the high heterogeneity of mTECs, it remains to be determined whether the frequency and properties of mTEC subsets are restored during thymic recovery from radiation damage. Here we demonstrate that acute total body irradiation with a sublethal dose induces aftereffects on heterogeneity and gene expression of mTECs. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis showed that irradiation reduces the frequency of mTECs expressing AIRE, which is a critical regulator of TSA expression, 15 days after irradiation. In contrast, transit-amplifying mTECs (TA-mTECs), which are progenitors of AIRE-expressing mTECs, and Ccl21a-expressing mTECs, were less affected. Interestingly, a detailed analysis of scRNA-seq data suggested that the proportion of a unique mTEC cluster expressing Ccl25 and a high level of TSAs was severely decreased by irradiation. In sum, we propose that the effects of acute irradiation disrupt the heterogeneity and properties of mTECs over an extended period, which potentially leads to an impairment of thymic T cell selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Horie
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kano Namiki
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kyouhei Kinoshita
- Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ishikawa
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Mio Hayama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuya Maruyama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naho Hagiwara
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyao
- YCI Laboratory for Immunological Transcriptomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murata
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center of Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
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6
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Zhang X, Zhang P, Cong A, Feng Y, Chi H, Xia Z, Tang H. Unraveling molecular networks in thymic epithelial tumors: deciphering the unique signatures. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264325. [PMID: 37849766 PMCID: PMC10577431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a rare and diverse group of neoplasms characterized by distinct molecular signatures. This review delves into the complex molecular networks of TETs, highlighting key aspects such as chromosomal abnormalities, molecular subtypes, aberrant gene mutations and expressions, structural gene rearrangements, and epigenetic changes. Additionally, the influence of the dynamic tumor microenvironment on TET behavior and therapeutic responses is examined. A thorough understanding of these facets elucidates TET pathogenesis, offering avenues for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, refining prognostic assessments, and tailoring targeted therapeutic strategies. Our review underscores the importance of deciphering TETs' unique molecular signatures to advance personalized treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes. We also discuss future research directions and anticipated challenges in this intriguing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ansheng Cong
- Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanlong Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Chi
- School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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7
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Lee S, Song SG, Chung DH. Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis for Thymic Epithelial Cells of Aged Mice and Humans. Immune Netw 2023; 23:e36. [PMID: 37970235 PMCID: PMC10643332 DOI: 10.4110/in.2023.23.e36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in thymic development and thymopoiesis. As individuals age, TECs undergo various changes that impact their functions, leading to a reduction in cell numbers and impaired thymic selection. These age-related alterations have been observed in both mice and humans. However, the precise mechanisms underlying age-related TEC dysfunction remain unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that connects mouse and human biological processes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive transcriptome analysis of young and old TECs in mice, complemented by further analysis of publicly available human TEC single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis revealed alterations in both known and unknown pathways that potentially contribute to age-related TEC dysfunction. Specifically, we observed downregulation of pathways related to cell proliferation, T cell development, metabolism, and cytokine signaling in old age TECs. Conversely, TGF-β, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated, which have been known to be associated with age-related TEC dysfunctions or newly discovered in this study. Importantly, we found that these age-related changes in mouse TECs were consistently present in human TECs as well. This cross-species validation further strengthens the significance of our findings. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides valuable insight into the biological and immunological characteristics of aged TECs in both mice and humans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of thymic involution and age-induced immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangsin Lee
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Seung Geun Song
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Doo Hyun Chung
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
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8
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Rodrigues PM, Sousa LG, Perrod C, Maceiras AR, Ferreirinha P, Pombinho R, Romera-Cárdenas G, Gomez-Lazaro M, Senkara M, Pistolic J, Cabanes D, Klein L, Saftig P, Alves NL. LAMP2 regulates autophagy in the thymic epithelium and thymic stroma-dependent CD4 T cell development. Autophagy 2023; 19:426-439. [PMID: 35535798 PMCID: PMC9851248 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2074105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide dedicated thymic stroma microenvironments for T cell development. Because TEC functionality is sensitive to aging and cytoablative therapies, unraveling the molecular elements that coordinate their thymopoietic role has fundamental and clinical implications. Particularly, the selection of CD4 T cells depends on interactions between TCRs expressed on T cell precursors and self-peptides:MHC II complexes presented by cortical TECs (cTECs). Although the macroautophagy/autophagy-lysosomal protein degradation pathway is implicated in CD4 T cell selection, the molecular mechanism that controls the generation of selecting MHC II ligands remains elusive. LAMP2 (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2) is a well-recognized mediator of autolysosome (AL) maturation. We showed that LAMP2 is highly expressed in cTECs. Notably, genetic inactivation of Lamp2 in thymic stromal cells specifically impaired the development of CD4 T cells that completed positive selection, without misdirecting MHC II-restricted cells into the CD8 lineage. Mechanistically, defects in autophagy in lamp2-deficient cTECs were linked to alterations in MHC II processing, which was associated with a marked reduction in CD4 TCR repertoire diversity selected within the lamp2-deficient thymic stroma. Together, our findings suggest that LAMP2 interconnects the autophagy-lysosomal axis and the processing of selecting self-peptides:MHC II complexes in cTECs, underling its implications for the generation of a broad CD4 TCR repertoire.Abbreviations: AIRE: autoimmune regulator (autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy); AL: autolysosome; AP: autophagosome; Baf-A1: bafilomycin A1; B2M: beta-2 microglobulin; CTSL: cathepsin L; CD74/Ii: CD74 antigen (invariant polypeptide of major histocompatibility complex, class II antigen-associated); CFSE: carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester; CFU: colony-forming unit; CLIP: class II-associated invariant chain peptides; cTECs: cortical TECs dKO: double knockout; DN: double negative; DP: double positive; ENPEP/LY51: glutamyl aminopeptidase; FOXP3: forkhead box; P3 IFNG/IFNγ: interferon gamma; IKZF2/HELIOS: IKAROS family zinc finger 2; IL2RA/CD25: interleukin 2 receptor, alpha chain; KO: knockout; LAMP2: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2; LIP: lymphopenia-induced proliferation; Lm: Listeria monocytogenes; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MHC: major histocompatibility complex; mTECs: medullary TECs; PRSS16/TSSP: protease, serine 16 (thymus); SELL/CD62L: selectin, lymphocyte; SP: single positive; TCR: T cell receptor; TCRB: T cell receptor beta chain; TECs: thymic epithelial cells; UEA-1: Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1; WT: wild-type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura G. Sousa
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal,Doctoral Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Chiara Perrod
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana R. Maceiras
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ferreirinha
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Pombinho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gema Romera-Cárdenas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - María Gomez-Lazaro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Porto, Portugal
| | - Meryem Senkara
- Biochemisches Institut, Christian Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jelena Pistolic
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Didier Cabanes
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ludger Klein
- Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Saftig
- Biochemisches Institut, Christian Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal,CONTACT Nuno L. Alves Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto4200-135, Portugal
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9
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van Laar GG, van Hamburg JP, Tas SW. Extrathymic AIRE-expressing cells: Friends or foes in autoimmunity and cancer? Clin Exp Rheumatol 2022; 21:103141. [PMID: 35840039 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Auto-immune regulator (AIRE) is a transcription factor that is mainly known for its crucial role in the thymus. Here, AIRE ensures central tolerance by promoting the expression of peripheral tissue antigens in thymic epithelial cells, which is essential for the negative selection of autoreactive T cells. Intriguingly, AIRE expressing cells have recently been identified in other tissues outside the thymus as well. However, the exact function of these extrathymic AIRE expressing cells (eTACs) remains largely enigmatic. Human eTACs are mainly found in secondary lymphoid tissues under homeostatic conditions, but are also found in pathologies such as the inflamed tissues of patients with autoimmune diseases and in various cancer tissues. eTACs have been demonstrated to express dendritic cell (DC)-like markers, such as MHCII, CD40 and CD127, but also CCR7, IDO and PD-L1. Interestingly, eTACs lack high expression of co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD80 or CD86. In mice, different types of peripheral AIRE expressing cells have been described, including cells with an innate lymphoid cell-like phenotype and antigen presenting cell (APC) function. These findings suggest that eTACs are APCs with the possibility to modulate or inhibit immune responses, which is confirmed by functional murine studies demonstrating the ability of eTACs to induce tolerance in autoreactive T cells. The potential immunomodulatory function of eTACs makes them promising targets to restore tolerance in autoimmunity or improve immunotherapy in cancer settings. Yet, this requires a better understanding of these cells and the molecular mechanisms involved. In this review we aim to summarize the current knowledge and understanding of eTACs, including their putative roles in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustaaf G van Laar
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan Piet van Hamburg
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sander W Tas
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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10
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Dong X, Zhang J, Zhang Q, Liang Z, Xu Y, Zhao Y, Zhang B. Cytosolic Nuclear Sensor Dhx9 Controls Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cell Differentiation by p53-Mediated Pathways. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896472. [PMID: 35720303 PMCID: PMC9203851 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) critically participate in T cell maturation and selection for the establishment of immunity to foreign antigens and immune tolerance to self-antigens of T cells. It is well known that many intracellular and extracellular molecules elegantly have mastered the development of medullary TECs (mTECs) and cortical TECs (cTECs). However, the role played by NTP-dependent helicase proteins in TEC development is currently unclear. Herein, we created mice with a TEC-specific DExD/H-box helicase 9 (Dhx9) deletion (Dhx9 cKO) to study the involvement of Dhx9 in TEC differentiation and function. We found that a Dhx9 deficiency in TECs caused a significant decreased cell number of TECs, including mTECs and thymic tuft cells, accompanied by accelerated mTEC maturation but no detectable effect on cTECs. Dhx9-deleted mTECs transcriptionally expressed poor tissue-restricted antigen profiles compared with WT mTECs. Importantly, Dhx9 cKO mice displayed an impaired thymopoiesis, poor thymic T cell output, and they suffered from spontaneous autoimmune disorders. RNA-seq analysis showed that the Dhx9 deficiency caused an upregulated DNA damage response pathway and Gadd45, Cdkn1a, Cdc25, Wee1, and Myt1 expression to induce cell cycle arrest in mTECs. In contrast, the p53-dependent upregulated RANK-NF-κB pathway axis accelerated the maturation of mTECs. Our results collectively indicated that Dhx9, a cytosolic nuclear sensor recognizing viral DNA or RNA, played an important role in mTEC development and function in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Jiayu 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
| | - 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 Regeneration, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- 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 Regeneration, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Baojun Zhang, ; Yong Zhao,
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Baojun Zhang, ; Yong Zhao,
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11
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Lopes N, Boucherit N, Santamaria JC, Provin N, Charaix J, Ferrier P, Giraud M, Irla M. Thymocytes trigger self-antigen-controlling pathways in immature medullary thymic epithelial stages. eLife 2022; 11:69982. [PMID: 35188458 PMCID: PMC8860447 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions of developing T cells with Aire+ medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing high levels of MHCII molecules (mTEChi) are critical for the induction of central tolerance in the thymus. In turn, thymocytes regulate the cellularity of Aire+ mTEChi. However, it remains unknown whether thymocytes control the precursors of Aire+ mTEChi that are contained in mTEClo cells or other mTEClo subsets that have recently been delineated by single-cell transcriptomic analyses. Here, using three distinct transgenic mouse models, in which antigen presentation between mTECs and CD4+ thymocytes is perturbed, we show by high-throughput RNA-seq that self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes induce key transcriptional regulators in mTEClo and control the composition of mTEClo subsets, including Aire+ mTEChi precursors, post-Aire and tuft-like mTECs. Furthermore, these interactions upregulate the expression of tissue-restricted self-antigens, cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules important for T-cell development. This gene activation program induced in mTEClo is combined with a global increase of the active H3K4me3 histone mark. Finally, we demonstrate that these self-reactive interactions between CD4+ thymocytes and mTECs critically prevent multiorgan autoimmunity. Our genome-wide study thus reveals that self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes control multiple unsuspected facets from immature stages of mTECs, which determines their heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noella Lopes
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Nicolas Boucherit
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Jérémy C Santamaria
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Nathan Provin
- Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Jonathan Charaix
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Ferrier
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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12
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Martinez-Ruíz GU, Morales-Sánchez A, Bhandoola A. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in thymic epithelial cells. Immunol Rev 2022; 305:43-58. [PMID: 34750841 PMCID: PMC8766885 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is required for the development of both adaptive and innate-like T cell subsets. There is keen interest in manipulating thymic function for therapeutic purposes in circumstances of autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and for purposes of immunotherapy. Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells play essential roles in directing T cell development. Several transcription factors are known to be essential for thymic epithelial cell development and function, and a few transcription factors have been studied in considerable detail. However, the role of many other transcription factors is less well understood. Further, it is likely that roles exist for other transcription factors not yet known to be important in thymic epithelial cells. Recent progress in understanding of thymic epithelial cell heterogeneity has provided some new insight into transcriptional requirements in subtypes of thymic epithelial cells. However, it is unknown whether progenitors of thymic epithelial cells exist in the adult thymus, and consequently, developmental relationships linking putative precursors with differentiated cell types are poorly understood. While we do not presently possess a clear understanding of stage-specific requirements for transcription factors in thymic epithelial cells, new single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies should enable rapid progress in this field. Here, we review our current knowledge of transcription factors involved in the development, maintenance, and function of thymic epithelial cells, and the mechanisms by which they act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Ulises Martinez-Ruíz
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Research Division, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Abigail Morales-Sánchez
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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13
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Tao Z, Jiang Y, Xia S. Regulation of thymic T regulatory cell differentiation by TECs in health and disease. Scand J Immunol 2021; 94:e13094. [PMID: 34780092 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The thymus produces self-limiting and self-tolerant T cells through the interaction between thymocytes and thymus epithelial cells (TECs), thereby generating central immune tolerance. The TECs are composed of cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells, which regulate the positive and negative selection of T cells, respectively. During the process of negative selection, thymocytes with self-reactive ability are deleted or differentiated into regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are a subset of suppressor T cells that are important for maintaining immune homeostasis. The differentiation and development of Tregs depend on the development of TECs and other underlying molecular mechanisms. Tregs regulated by thymic epithelial cells are closely related to human health and are significant in autoimmune diseases, thymoma and pregnancy. In this review, we summarize the current molecular and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms by which TECs affect the development and function of thymic Tregs. We also review the pathophysiological models of thymic epithelial cells regulating thymic Tregs in human diseases and specific physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Tao
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yalan Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Sheng Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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14
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Herppich S, Beckstette M, Huehn J. The thymic microenvironment gradually modulates the phenotype of thymus-homing peripheral conventional dendritic cells. IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE 2021; 10:175-188. [PMID: 34748687 PMCID: PMC8767516 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background & Aims Thymic conventional dendritic cells (t‑DCs) are crucial for the development of T cells. A substantial fraction of t‑DCs originates extrathymically and migrates to the thymus. Here, these cells contribute to key processes of central tolerance like the clonal deletion of self‑reactive thymocytes and the generation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. So far, it is only incompletely understood which impact the thymic microenvironment has on thymus‑homing conventional DCs (cDCs), which phenotypic changes occur after the entry of peripheral cDCs into the thymus and which functional properties these modulated cells acquire. Materials & Methods In the present study, we mimicked the thymus‑homing of peripheral cDCs by introducing ex vivo isolated splenic cDCs (sp‑DCs) into reaggregated thymic organ cultures (RTOCs). Results Already after two days of culture, the transcriptomic profile of sp‑DCs was modulated and had acquired certain key signatures of t‑DCs. The regulated genes included immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines as well as costimulatory molecules. After four days of culture, sp‑DCs appeared to have at least partially acquired the peculiar Treg cell‐inducing capacity characteristic of t‑DCs. Discussion & Conclusion Taken together, our findings indicate that peripheral cDCs possess a high degree of plasticity enabling them to quickly adapt to the thymus‐specific microenvironment. We further provide indirect evidence that thymus‐specific properties such as the efficient induction of Treg cells under homeostatic conditions can be partially transferred to thymus‑homing peripheral cDC subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Herppich
- Department Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Beckstette
- Department Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jochen Huehn
- Department Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
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15
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Liang Z, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Sun L, Dong X, Li T, Tan L, Xie X, Sun L, Zhao Y. The Development and Survival of Thymic Epithelial Cells Require TSC1-Dependent Negative Regulation of mTORC1 Activity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2039-2050. [PMID: 34535574 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are critical for the development and generation of functionally competent T cells. Until now, the mechanism that regulates the survival of TECs is poorly understood. In the current study, we found that Tsc1 controls the homeostasis of medullary TECs (mTECs) by inhibiting lysosomal-mediated apoptosis pathway in mice. TEC-specific deletion of Tsc1 predominately decreased the cell number of mTECs and, to a lesser content, affected the development cortical TECs. The defect of mTECs caused by Tsc1 deficiency in mice impaired thymocyte development and peripheral T cell homeostasis. Mechanistically, Tsc1 deficiency did not affect the cell proliferation of mTECs but increased the apoptosis of mTECs significantly. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that pathways involved in lysosomal biogenesis, cell metabolism, and apoptosis were remarkably elevated in Tsc1-deficient mTECs compared with their wild-type counterparts. Tsc1-deficient mTECs exhibited overproduction of reactive oxygen species and malfunction of lysosome, with lysosome membrane permeabilization and the release of cathepsin B and cathepsin L to the cytosol, which then lead to Bid cleaved into active truncated Bid and subsequently intrinsic apoptosis. Finally, we showed that the impaired development of mTECs could be partially reversed by decreasing mTORC1 activity via haploinsufficiency of Raptor Thus, Tsc1 is essential for the homeostasis of mTECs by inhibiting lysosomal-mediated apoptosis through mTORC1-dependent pathways.
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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.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, 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
| | - 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
| | - Lina Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, 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
| | - Tianxiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Tan
- Department of Urological Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xubiao Xie
- Department of Urological Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liguang Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China; and .,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, 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.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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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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17
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Duah M, Li L, Shen J, Lan Q, Pan B, Xu K. Thymus Degeneration and Regeneration. Front Immunol 2021; 12:706244. [PMID: 34539637 PMCID: PMC8442952 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.706244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system’s ability to resist the invasion of foreign pathogens and the tolerance to self-antigens are primarily centered on the efficient functions of the various subsets of T lymphocytes. As the primary organ of thymopoiesis, the thymus performs a crucial role in generating a self-tolerant but diverse repertoire of T cell receptors and peripheral T cell pool, with the capacity to recognize a wide variety of antigens and for the surveillance of malignancies. However, cells in the thymus are fragile and sensitive to changes in the external environment and acute insults such as infections, chemo- and radiation-therapy, resulting in thymic injury and degeneration. Though the thymus has the capacity to self-regenerate, it is often insufficient to reconstitute an intact thymic function. Thymic dysfunction leads to an increased risk of opportunistic infections, tumor relapse, autoimmunity, and adverse clinical outcome. Thus, exploiting the mechanism of thymic regeneration would provide new therapeutic options for these settings. This review summarizes the thymus’s development, factors causing thymic injury, and the strategies for improving thymus regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Duah
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Shen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qiu Lan
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Bin Pan
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kailin Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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18
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The quest for the "HOIL-1" grail of T-cell development. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:2983-2985. [PMID: 34465894 PMCID: PMC8481552 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00856-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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19
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Tateo V, Manuzzi L, Parisi C, De Giglio A, Campana D, Pantaleo MA, Lamberti G. An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:316. [PMID: 33915954 PMCID: PMC8066729 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic tumors are a group of rare mediastinal malignancies that include three different histological subtypes with completely different clinical behavior: the thymic carcinomas, the thymomas, and the rarest thymic neuroendocrine tumors. Nowadays, few therapeutic options are available for relapsed and refractory thymic tumors after a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. In the last years, the deepening of knowledge on thymus' biological characterization has opened possibilities for new treatment options. Several clinical trials have been conducted, the majority with disappointing results mainly due to inaccurate patient selection, but recently some encouraging results have been presented. In this review, we summarize the molecular alterations observed in thymic tumors, underlying the great biological differences among the different histology, and the promising targeted therapies for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tateo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Lisa Manuzzi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Claudia Parisi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Andrea De Giglio
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Campana
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lamberti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.T.); (L.M.); (C.P.); (D.C.); (M.A.P.); (G.L.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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20
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Zhang Q, Liang Z, Zhang J, Lei T, Dong X, Su H, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Tan L, Zhao Y. Sirt6 Regulates the Development of Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells and Contributes to the Establishment of Central Immune Tolerance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:655552. [PMID: 33869219 PMCID: PMC8044826 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.655552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although some advances have been made in understanding the molecular regulation of mTEC development, the role of epigenetic regulators in the development and maturation of mTEC is poorly understood. Here, using the TEC-specific Sirt6 knockout mice, we found the deacetylase Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) is essential for the development of functionally competent mTECs. First of all, TEC-specific Sirt6 deletion dramatically reduces the mTEC compartment, which is caused by reduced DNA replication and subsequent impaired proliferation ability of Sirt6-deficient mTECs. Secondly, Sirt6 deficiency specifically accelerates the differentiation of mTECs from CD80–Aire– immature population to CD80+Aire– intermediate mature population by promoting the expression of Spib. Finally, Sirt6 ablation in TECs markedly interferes the proper expression of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) and impairs the development of thymocytes and nTreg cells. In addition, TEC conditional knockout of Sirt6 results in severe autoimmune disease manifested by reduced body weight, the infiltration of lymphocytes and the presence of autoantibodies. Collectively, this study reveals that the expression of epigenetic regulator Sirt6 in TECs is crucial for the development and differentiation of mTECs, which highlights the importance of Sirt6 in the establishment of central immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Lei
- University of 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
| | - Huiting Su
- Department of Central Laboratory and Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yifang Chen
- 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
| | - Liang Tan
- Center of Organ Transplantation, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 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.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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21
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Bautista JL, Cramer NT, Miller CN, Chavez J, Berrios DI, Byrnes LE, Germino J, Ntranos V, Sneddon JB, Burt TD, Gardner JM, Ye CJ, Anderson MS, Parent AV. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of human thymic stroma uncovers novel cellular heterogeneity in the thymic medulla. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1096. [PMID: 33597545 PMCID: PMC7889611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21346-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus' key function in the immune system is to provide the necessary environment for the development of diverse and self-tolerant T lymphocytes. While recent evidence suggests that the thymic stroma is comprised of more functionally distinct subpopulations than previously appreciated, the extent of this cellular heterogeneity in the human thymus is not well understood. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively profile the human thymic stroma across multiple stages of life. Mesenchyme, pericytes and endothelial cells are identified as potential key regulators of thymic epithelial cell differentiation and thymocyte migration. In-depth analyses of epithelial cells reveal the presence of ionocytes as a medullary population, while the expression of tissue-specific antigens is mapped to different subsets of epithelial cells. This work thus provides important insight on how the diversity of thymic cells is established, and how this heterogeneity contributes to the induction of immune tolerance in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhoanne L Bautista
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nathan T Cramer
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Chavez
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David I Berrios
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lauren E Byrnes
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joe Germino
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vasilis Ntranos
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Julie B Sneddon
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Trevor D Burt
- Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology and the Children's Health & Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James M Gardner
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chun J Ye
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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22
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Ferreirinha P, Ribeiro C, Morimoto J, Landry JJM, Matsumoto M, Meireles C, White AJ, Ohigashi I, Araújo L, Benes V, Takahama Y, Anderson G, Matsumoto M, Alves NL. A novel method to identify Post-Aire stages of medullary thymic epithelial cell differentiation. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:311-318. [PMID: 32845012 PMCID: PMC7891440 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator+ (Aire) medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a critical role in tolerance induction. Several studies demonstrated that Aire+ mTECs differentiate further into Post-Aire cells. Yet, the identification of terminal stages of mTEC maturation depends on unique fate-mapping mouse models. Herein, we resolve this limitation by segmenting the mTEChi (MHCIIhi CD80hi ) compartment into mTECA/hi (CD24- Sca1- ), mTECB/hi (CD24+ Sca1- ), and mTECC/hi (CD24+ Sca1+ ). While mTECA/hi included mostly Aire-expressing cells, mTECB/hi contained Aire+ and Aire- cells and mTECC/hi were mainly composed of cells lacking Aire. The differential expression pattern of Aire led us to investigate the precursor-product relationship between these subsets. Strikingly, transcriptomic analysis of mTECA/hi , mTECB/hi , and mTECC/hi sequentially mirrored the specific genetic program of Early-, Late- and Post-Aire mTECs. Corroborating their Post-Aire nature, mTECC/hi downregulated the expression of tissue-restricted antigens, acquired traits of differentiated keratinocytes, and were absent in Aire-deficient mice. Collectively, our findings reveal a new and simple blueprint to survey late stages of mTEC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ferreirinha
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Camila Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular ImmunologyInstitute for Enzyme ResearchTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | | | - Minoru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular ImmunologyInstitute for Enzyme ResearchTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | - Catarina Meireles
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Andrea J. White
- Institute of Immunology and ImmunotherapyCollege of Medical and Dental SciencesMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental ImmunologyInstitute of Advanced Medical SciencesUniversity of TokushimaTokushimaJapan
| | - Leonor Araújo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Vladimir Benes
- Genomics Core FacilityEuropean Molecular Biology LaboratoryHeidelbergGermany
| | | | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and ImmunotherapyCollege of Medical and Dental SciencesMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular ImmunologyInstitute for Enzyme ResearchTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
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23
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Du H, Wang Y, Liu X, Wang S, Wu S, Yuan Z, Zhu X. miRNA-146a-5p mitigates stress-induced premature senescence of D-galactose-induced primary thymic stromal cells. Cytokine 2021; 137:155314. [PMID: 33002743 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Senescent thymic stromal cells (TSCs) producing senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) may play a role at later phases of thymic involution. However, the etiology and mechanisms responsible for TSC senescence remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of oxidative stress on TSCs and role of miRNA-146a-5p in stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) were identified. D-galactose (D-gal) induced oxidative stress in primary TSCs and a limited cumulative oxidative stress induced premature senescence but not apoptosis of TSCs. miRNA-146a-5p overexpression can mitigate the SIPS by targeting tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) instead of increasing autophagy clearance. Furthermore, exogenous miRNA-146a-5p reversed the upregulation of chemokines including Cxcl5, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and antimicrobial peptides in TSCs with SIPS. In conclusion, the accumulated oxidative stress may be partially responsible for senescence in TSCs and modulation of miRNA-146a-5p may attenuate this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Du
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 7 Mulan Road, Economic Development Zone, Benxi, China; Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 7 Mulan Road, Economic Development Zone, Benxi, China
| | - Xue Liu
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 7 Mulan Road, Economic Development Zone, Benxi, China
| | - Siliang Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, China
| | - Simeng Wu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhe Yuan
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, China
| | - Xike Zhu
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 7 Mulan Road, Economic Development Zone, Benxi, China.
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24
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Mestanova V, Varga I, Adamkov M. Impaired histomorphology might provoke cell cycle regulators alteration in thymus of children with various congenital heart defects. Med Hypotheses 2020; 138:109599. [PMID: 32036197 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Thymus, as a primary site of appropriate adaptive immunity formation, is an essential organ in face of a self-tolerance as well as a potential menace from impairment of body integrity. Due to vital selection processes during differentiation and maturation of T lymphocytes, control over cell survival and programmed cell death must be orchestrated in detail. Indeed, thymus is highly sensitive to wide spectrum of stressors that initiate acute structural changes. Hypoxia, one of the most common complications in congenital heart defects (CHDs) patients, provokes stress-induced thymus involution. Disrupted embryolonic development of thymus in association with congenital heart defects, may negatively affect physiological immune mechanisms. We propose that detailed analysis of thymic morphology could critically contribute to unveil the pathophysiology of diseases associated with disrupted adaptive immunity in children with heterogeneous congenital heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Mestanova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Malá Hora 4, Martin 036 01, Slovak Republic.
| | - Ivan Varga
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovak Republic
| | - Marian Adamkov
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Malá Hora 4, Martin 036 01, Slovak Republic
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25
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Luan R, Liang Z, Zhang Q, Sun L, Zhao Y. Molecular regulatory networks of thymic epithelial cell differentiation. Differentiation 2019; 107:42-49. [PMID: 31238242 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Functional mature T cells are generated in the thymus. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide the essential microenvironment for T cell development and maturation. According to their function and localization, TECs are roughly divided into cortical TECs (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs), which are responsible for positive and negative selection, respectively. This review summarizes the current understanding of TEC biology, the identification of fetal and adult bipotent TEC progenitors, and the signaling pathways that control the development and maturation of TECs. The understanding of the ontogeny, differentiation, maturation and function of cTECs lags behind that of mTECs. Better understanding TEC biology will provide clues about TEC development and the applications of thymus engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Luan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, 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
| | - Liguang Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 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; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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26
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Passos GA, Speck‐Hernandez CA, Assis AF, Mendes‐da‐Cruz DA. Update on Aire and thymic negative selection. Immunology 2018; 153:10-20. [PMID: 28871661 PMCID: PMC5721245 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty years ago, the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene was associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy, and was cloned and sequenced. Its importance goes beyond its abstract link with human autoimmune disease. Aire identification opened new perspectives to better understand the molecular basis of central tolerance and self-non-self distinction, the main properties of the immune system. Since 1997, a growing number of immunologists and molecular geneticists have made important discoveries about the function of Aire, which is essentially a pleiotropic gene. Aire is one of the functional markers in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), controlling their differentiation and expression of peripheral tissue antigens (PTAs), mTEC-thymocyte adhesion and the expression of microRNAs, among other functions. With Aire, the immunological tolerance became even more apparent from the molecular genetics point of view. Currently, mTECs represent the most unusual cells because they express almost the entire functional genome but still maintain their identity. Due to the enormous diversity of PTAs, this uncommon gene expression pattern was termed promiscuous gene expression, the interpretation of which is essentially immunological - i.e. it is related to self-representation in the thymus. Therefore, this knowledge is strongly linked to the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes. In this update, we focus on the most relevant results of Aire as a transcriptional and post-transcriptional controller of PTAs in mTECs, its mechanism of action, and its influence on the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes as the bases of the induction of central tolerance and prevention of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo A. Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics GroupDepartment of GeneticsRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
- Discipline of Genetics and Molecular BiologyDepartment of Morphology, Physiology and Basic PathologySchool of Dentistry of Ribeirão PretoUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Cesar A. Speck‐Hernandez
- Graduate Programme in Basic and Applied ImmunologyRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Amanda F. Assis
- Molecular Immunogenetics GroupDepartment of GeneticsRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Daniella A. Mendes‐da‐Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus ResearchOswaldo Cruz InstituteOswaldo Cruz FoundationRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on NeuroimmunomodulationRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
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27
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Rodrigues PM, Peterson P, Alves NL. Setting Up the Perimeter of Tolerance: Insights into mTEC Physiology. Trends Immunol 2017; 39:2-5. [PMID: 29236672 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a central role in T cell tolerance. However, how the mTEC compartment is maintained remains elusive. We review recent discoveries on new transcription factors involved in mTEC homeostasis and discuss the possibility that their actions might be facilitated by the unique biology of mTECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Rodrigues
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Thymus Development and Function Laboratory, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nuno L Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Thymus Development and Function Laboratory, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal.
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28
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A novel role for p53 in self-tolerance. Blood 2017; 130:388-389. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-06-789115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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