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Zhang R, Zhao Y, Chen X, Zhuang Z, Li X, Shen E. Low-dose IL-2 therapy in autoimmune diseases: An update review. Int Rev Immunol 2024; 43:113-137. [PMID: 37882232 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2023.2274574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining self-immune tolerance. Reduced numbers or functions of Treg cells have been involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. Therefore, the approaches that increase the pool or suppressive function of Treg cells in vivo could be a general strategy to treat different autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is essential for the development, survival, maintenance, and function of Treg cells, constitutively expressing the high-affinity receptor of IL-2 and sensitive response to IL-2 in vivo. And low-dose IL-2 therapy in vivo could restore the imbalance between autoimmune response and self-tolerance toward self-tolerance via promoting Treg cell expansion and inhibiting follicular helper T (Tfh) and IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cell differentiation. Currently, low-dose IL-2 treatment is receiving extensive attention in autoimmune disease and transplantation treatment. In this review, we summarize the biology of IL-2/IL-2 receptor, the mechanisms of low-dose IL-2 therapy in autoimmune diseases, the application in the progress of different autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), Alopecia Areata (AA), Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We also discuss the future directions to optimize low-dose IL-2 treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhi Zhang
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Zhao
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangming Chen
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoqing Zhuang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Erxia Shen
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Wang Y, He S, Calendo G, Bui T, Tian Y, Lee CY, Zhou Y, Zhao X, Abraham C, Mo W, Chen M, Sanders-Braggs R, Madzo J, Issa JP, Hexner EO, Wiest DL, Reshef R, Xue HH, Zhang Y. Tissue-infiltrating alloreactive T cells require Id3 to deflect PD-1-mediated immune suppression during GVHD. Blood 2024; 143:166-177. [PMID: 37871574 PMCID: PMC10797551 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023021126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Persisting alloreactive donor T cells in target tissues are a determinant of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but the transcriptional regulators that control the persistence and function of tissue-infiltrating T cells remain elusive. We demonstrate here that Id3, a DNA-binding inhibitor, is critical for sustaining T-cell responses in GVHD target tissues in mice, including the liver and intestine. Id3 loss results in aberrantly expressed PD-1 in polyfunctional T helper 1 (Th1) cells, decreased tissue-infiltrating PD-1+ polyfunctional Th1 cell numbers, impaired maintenance of liver TCF-1+ progenitor-like T cells, and inhibition of GVHD. PD-1 blockade restores the capacity of Id3-ablated donor T cells to mediate GVHD. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that Id3 loss leads to significantly decreased CD28- and PI3K/AKT-signaling activity in tissue-infiltrating polyfunctional Th1 cells, an indicator of active PD-1/PD-L1 effects. Id3 is also required for protecting CD8+ T cells from the PD-1 pathway-mediated suppression during GVHD. Genome-wide RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that Id3 represses transcription factors (e.g., Nfatc2, Fos, Jun, Ets1, and Prdm1) that are critical for PD-1 transcription, exuberant effector differentiation, and interferon responses and dysfunction of activated T cells. Id3 achieves these effects by restraining the chromatin accessibility for these transcription factors. Id3 ablation in donor T cells preserved their graft vs tumor effects in mice undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of ID3 in human CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cells retained their antitumor activity in NOD/SCID/IL2Rg-/- mice early after administration. These findings identify that ID3 is an important target to reduce GVHD, and the gene-editing program of ID3 may have broad implications in T-cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Shan He
- Fels Institute and Department of Cancer Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Tien Bui
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Che Young Lee
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Yan Zhou
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Xin Zhao
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Ciril Abraham
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
- Fels Institute and Department of Cancer Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Wenbin Mo
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Mimi Chen
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | | | - Jozef Madzo
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
| | | | - Elizabeth O. Hexner
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - David L. Wiest
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ran Reshef
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Hai-Hui Xue
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
| | - Yi Zhang
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, NJ
- Fels Institute and Department of Cancer Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
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3
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Zhao Y, Wang H, Jin L, Zhang Z, Liu L, Zhou M, Zhang X, Zhang L. Targeting fusion proteins of the interleukin family: A promising new strategy for the treatment of autoinflammatory diseases. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 192:106647. [PMID: 37984595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106647] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
As a means of communication between immune cells and non-immune cells, Interleukins (ILs) has the main functions of stimulating the proliferation and activation of inflammatory immune cells such as dendritic cells and lymphocytes, promote the development of blood cells and so on. However, dysregulation of ILs expression is a major feature of autoinflammatory diseases. The drugs targeting ILs or IL-like biologics have played an important role in the clinical treatment of autoinflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the widespread use of IL products may result in significant off-target adverse reactions. Thus, there is a clear need to develop next-generation ILs products in the biomedical field. Fusion proteins are proteins created through the joining of two or more genes that originally coded for separate proteins. Over the last 30 years, there has been increasing interest in the use of fusion protein technology for developing anti-inflammatory drugs. In comparison to single-target drugs, fusion proteins, as multiple targets drugs, have the ability to enhance the cytokine therapeutic index, resulting in improved efficacy over classical drugs. The strategy of preparing ILs or their receptors as fusion proteins is increasingly used in the treatment of autoimmune and chronic inflammation. This review focuses on the efficacy of several fusion protein drugs developed with ILs or their receptors in the treatment of autoinflammatory diseases, in order to illustrate the prospects of this new technology as an anti-inflammatory drug development protocol in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Zhao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Han Wang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Lin Jin
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Ziwei Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Lianghu Liu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Mengqi Zhou
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Xianzheng Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
| | - Lingling Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anti-inflammatory Immune Drugs Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
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4
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Thiolat A, Pilon C, Caudana P, Moatti A, To NH, Sedlik C, Leclerc M, Maury S, Piaggio E, Cohen JL. Treg-targeted IL-2/anti-IL-2 complex controls graft- versus-host disease and supports anti-tumor effect in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Haematologica 2024; 109:129-142. [PMID: 37706355 PMCID: PMC10772500 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282653] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Modulating an immune response in opposite directions represents the holy grail in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) to avoid insufficient reactivity of donor T cells and hematologic malignancy relapse while controlling the potential development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in which donor T cells attack the recipient's tissues. IL-2/anti-IL-2 complexes (IL-2Cx) represent a therapeutic option to selectively accentuate or dampen the immune response. In dedicated experimental models of allo-HSCT, including also human cells injected in immunodeficient NSG mice, we evaluated side-by-side the therapeutic effect of two IL-2Cx designed either to boost regulatory T cells (Treg) or alternatively to activate effector T cells (Teff), on GVHD occurrence and tumor relapse. We also evaluated the effect of the complexes on the phenotype and function of immune cells in vivo. Unexpectedly, both pro-Treg and pro-Teff IL-2Cx prevented GVHD development. They both induced Treg expansion and reduced CD8+ T-cell numbers, compared to untreated mice. However, only mice treated with the pro-Treg IL-2Cx, showed a dramatic reduction of exhausted CD8+ T cells, consistent with a potent anti-tumor effect. When evaluated on human cells, pro-Treg IL-2Cx also preferentially induced Treg expansion in vitro and in vivo, while allowing the development of a potent anti-tumor effect in NSG mice. Our results demonstrate the clinical relevance of using a pro-Treg, but not a pro-Teff IL2Cx to modulate alloreactivity after HSCT, while promoting a graft-versus-leukemia effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Thiolat
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil
| | - Caroline Pilon
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; AP-HP, Groupe hospitalo-universitaire Chenevier Mondor, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biothérapie, Fédération hospitalo-Universitaire TRUE, F-94010 Créteil
| | - Pamela Caudana
- INSERM U932, PSL Research University, Institute Curie Research Center, Paris, France; Department of Translational Research, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris
| | - Audrey Moatti
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil
| | - Nhu Hanh To
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil
| | - Christine Sedlik
- INSERM U932, PSL Research University, Institute Curie Research Center, Paris, France; Department of Translational Research, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris
| | - Mathieu Leclerc
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalo-Universitaire Chenevier Mondor, Service d'Hématologie Clinique, F-94010 Créteil
| | - Sébastien Maury
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; AP-HP, Groupe hospitalo-universitaire Chenevier Mondor, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biothérapie, Fédération hospitalo-Universitaire TRUE, F-94010 Créteil, France; AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalo-Universitaire Chenevier Mondor, Service d'Hématologie Clinique, F-94010 Créteil
| | - Eliane Piaggio
- INSERM U932, PSL Research University, Institute Curie Research Center, Paris, France; Department of Translational Research, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris
| | - José L Cohen
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, F-94010 Créteil, France; AP-HP, Groupe hospitalo-universitaire Chenevier Mondor, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biothérapie, Fédération hospitalo-Universitaire TRUE, F-94010 Créteil.
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5
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Lykhopiy V, Malviya V, Humblet-Baron S, Schlenner SM. "IL-2 immunotherapy for targeting regulatory T cells in autoimmunity". Genes Immun 2023; 24:248-262. [PMID: 37741949 PMCID: PMC10575774 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-023-00221-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are indispensable for immune homoeostasis and for the prevention of autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) signalling is critical in all aspects of Treg biology. Consequences of defective IL-2 signalling are insufficient numbers or dysfunction of Treg and hence autoimmune disorders in human and mouse. The restoration and maintenance of immune homoeostasis remain central therapeutic aims in the field of autoimmunity. Historically, broadly immunosuppressive drugs with serious side-effects have been used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or prevention of organ-transplant rejection. More recently, ex vivo expanded or in vivo stimulated Treg have been shown to induce effective tolerance in clinical trials supporting the clinical benefit of targeting natural immunosuppressive mechanisms. Given the central role of exogenous IL-2 in Treg homoeostasis, a new and promising focus in drug development are IL-2-based approaches for in vivo targeted expansion of Treg or for enhancement of their suppressive activity. In this review, we summarise the role of IL-2 in Treg biology and consequences of dysfunctional IL-2 signalling pathways. We then examine evidence of efficacy of IL-2-based biological drugs targeting Treg with specific focus on therapeutic candidates in clinical trials and discuss their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Lykhopiy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- argenx BV, Industriepark Zwijnaarde 7, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vanshika Malviya
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephanie Humblet-Baron
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Susan M Schlenner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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6
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Lee S, Lee K, Bae H, Lee K, Lee J, Ma J, Lee YJ, Lee BR, Park WY, Im SJ. Defining a TCF1-expressing progenitor allogeneic CD8 + T cell subset in acute graft-versus-host disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5869. [PMID: 37737221 PMCID: PMC10516895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41357-9] [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: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a severe complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation driven by activated allogeneic T cells. Here, we identify a distinct subset of T cell factor-1 (TCF1)+ CD8+ T cells in mouse allogeneic and xenogeneic transplant models of acute GvHD. These TCF1+ cells exhibit distinct characteristics compared to TCF1- cells, including lower expression of inhibitory receptors and higher expression of costimulatory molecules. Notably, the TCF1+ subset displays exclusive proliferative potential and could differentiate into TCF1- effector cells upon antigenic stimulation. Pathway analyses support the role of TCF1+ and TCF1- subsets as resource cells and effector cells, respectively. Furthermore, the TCF1+ CD8+ T cell subset is primarily present in the spleen and exhibits a resident phenotype. These findings provide insight into the differentiation of allogeneic and xenogeneic CD8+ T cells and have implications for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting acute GvHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solhwi Lee
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kunhee Lee
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonjin Bae
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmin Lee
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghwa Lee
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Junhui Ma
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Ji Lee
- GENINUS Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Woong-Yang Park
- GENINUS Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Jin Im
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Li Q, Wang X, Song Q, Yang S, Wu X, Yang D, Marié IJ, Qin H, Zheng M, Nasri U, Kong X, Wang B, Lizhar E, Cassady K, Tompkins J, Levy D, Martin PJ, Zhang X, Zeng D. Donor T cell STAT3 deficiency enables tissue PD-L1-dependent prevention of graft-versus-host disease while preserving graft-versus-leukemia activity. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e165723. [PMID: 37526084 PMCID: PMC10378157 DOI: 10.1172/jci165723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
STAT3 deficiency (STAT3-/-) in donor T cells prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but the impact on graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity and mechanisms of GVHD prevention remains unclear. Here, using murine models of GVHD, we show that STAT3-/- donor T cells induced only mild reversible acute GVHD while preserving GVL effects against nonsusceptible acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells in a donor T cell dose-dependent manner. GVHD prevention depended on programmed death ligand 1/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1/PD-1) signaling. In GVHD target tissues, STAT3 deficiency amplified PD-L1/PD-1 inhibition of glutathione (GSH)/Myc pathways that regulate metabolic reprogramming in activated T cells, with decreased glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP production and increased mitochondrial ROS production and dysfunction, leading to tissue-specific deletion of host-reactive T cells and prevention of GVHD. Mitochondrial STAT3 deficiency alone did not reduce GSH expression or prevent GVHD. In lymphoid tissues, the lack of host-tissue PD-L1 interaction with PD-1 reduced the inhibition of the GSH/Myc pathway despite reduced GSH production caused by STAT3 deficiency and allowed donor T cell functions that mediate GVL activity. Therefore, STAT3 deficiency in donor T cells augments PD-1 signaling-mediated inhibition of GSH/Myc pathways and augments dysfunction of T cells in GVHD target tissues while sparing T cells in lymphoid tissues, leading to prevention of GVHD while preserving GVL effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinjian Li
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Qingxiao Song
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
- Fujian Medical University Center of Translational Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, and Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shijie Yang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Dongyun Yang
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Isabelle J Marié
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Hanjun Qin
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Moqian Zheng
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ubaydah Nasri
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Xiaohui Kong
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Bixin Wang
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
- Fujian Medical University Center of Translational Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, and Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Elizabeth Lizhar
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Kaniel Cassady
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Josh Tompkins
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - David Levy
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Paul J Martin
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Xi Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Defu Zeng
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
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8
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Brandstadter JD, Outen R, Maillard I. Having it both ways: how STAT3 deficiency blocks graft-versus-host disease while preserving graft-versus-leukemia activity. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e172251. [PMID: 37526083 PMCID: PMC10378150 DOI: 10.1172/jci172251] [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] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation can cure patients with high-risk leukemia through graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects, the process by which malignant leukemic cells are cleared by donor-derived immune cells from the graft. The problem of harnessing GVL effects while controlling inflammation and host-organ damage linked with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been the most formidable hurdle facing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. This powerful, curative-intent therapy remains among the most toxic treatments in the hematologist's armamentarium due to the combined risks of GVHD-related morbidity, infections, and leukemia relapse. In this issue of the JCI, Li, Wang, et al. report that T cell Stat3 deficiency can extricate GVL effects from GVHD through tissue-specific programmed death-ligand 1/programmed cell death protein 1-dependent (PD-L1/PD-1-dependent) bioenergetic alterations that blunt harmful T cell effects in GVHD target organs, while preserving their beneficial antitumor activity in lymphohematopoietic tissues.
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Huang Y, Wu X, Tang S, Wu H, Nasri U, Qin Q, Song Q, Wang B, Tao H, Chong AS, Riggs AD, Zeng D. Donor programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 is required for organ transplant tolerance in major histocompatibility complex-mismatched mixed chimeras although programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 and major histocompatibility complex class II are not required for inducing chimerism. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:1116-1129. [PMID: 37105316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.04.022] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched mixed chimerism is a promising approach for organ transplantation tolerance; however, human leukocyte antigen-mismatched stable mixed chimerism has not been achieved in the clinic. Tolerogenic dendritic cell (DC) expression of MHC class II (MHC II) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) is important for immune tolerance, but whether donor-MHC II or PD-L1 is required for the induction of stable MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism and transplant tolerance is unclear. Here, we show that a clinically applicable radiation-free regimen can establish stable MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism and organ transplant tolerance in murine models. Induction of MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism does not require donor cell expression of MHC II or PD-L1, but donor-type organ transplant tolerance in the mixed chimeras (MC) requires the donor hematopoietic cells and the organ transplants to express PD-L1. The PD-L1 expressed by donor hematopoietic cells and the programmed cell death 1 expressed by host cells augment host-type donor-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cell anergy/exhaustion and differentiation into peripheral regulatory T (pTreg) cells in association with the organ transplant tolerance in the MC. Conversely, host-type Treg cells augment the expansion of donor-type tolerogenic CD8+ DCs that express PD-L1. These results indicate that PD-L1 expressed by donor-type tolerogenic DCs and expansion of host-type pTreg cells in MHC-mismatched MCs play critical roles in mediating organ transplant tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxun Huang
- Department of Liver Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Shanshan Tang
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Huiqing Wu
- Department of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ubaydah Nasri
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Qi Qin
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingxiao Song
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Bixin Wang
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Fujian Medical University Center of Translational Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hansen Tao
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Summer Student Academy of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Anita S Chong
- The section of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Arthur D Riggs
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Defu Zeng
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA.
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Kong X, Wu X, Wang B, Zeng D, Cassady K, Nasri U, Zheng M, Wu A, Qin H, Tsai W, Salhotra A, Nakamura R, Martin PJ, Zeng D. Trafficking between clonally related peripheral T-helper cells and tissue-resident T-helper cells in chronic GVHD. Blood 2022; 140:2740-2753. [PMID: 36084473 PMCID: PMC9935547 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is an autoimmune-like syndrome. CXCR5-PD-1hi peripheral T-helper (Tph) cells have an important pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases, but the role of Tph cells in cGVHD remains unknown. We show that in patients with cGVHD, expansion of Tph cells among blood CD4+ T cells was associated with cGVHD severity. These cells augmented memory B-cell differentiation and production of immunoglobulin G via interleukin 21 (IL-21). Tph cell expansion was also observed in a murine model of cGVHD. This Tph cell expansion in the blood is associated with the expansion of pathogenic tissue-resident T-helper (Trh) cells that form lymphoid aggregates surrounded by collagen in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) target tissues. Adoptive transfer experiments showed that Trh cells from GVHD target tissues give rise to Tph cells in the blood, and conversely, Tph cells from the blood give rise to Trh cells in GVHD target tissues. Tph cells in the blood and Trh cells in GVHD target tissues had highly overlapping T-cell receptor α and β repertoires. Deficiency of IL-21R, B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6), or T-bet in donor T cells markedly reduced the proportions of Tph cells in the blood and Trh cells in GVHD target tissues and reduced T-B interaction in the lymphoid aggregates. These results indicate that clonally related pathogenic Tph cells and Trh cells traffic between the blood and cGVHD target tissues, and that IL-21R-BCL6 signaling and T-bet are required for the development and expansion of Tph and Trh cells in the pathogenesis of cGVHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Kong
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Department of Integrative Genomics Core, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Bixin Wang
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
- Fujian Medical University Center of Translational Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Deye Zeng
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Kaniel Cassady
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Ubaydah Nasri
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Moqian Zheng
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Alyssa Wu
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Hanjun Qin
- Department of Integrative Genomics Core, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Weimin Tsai
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Amandeep Salhotra
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Ryotaro Nakamura
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | | | - Defu Zeng
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Institute of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
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Song Q, Nasri U, Nakamura R, Martin PJ, Zeng D. Retention of Donor T Cells in Lymphohematopoietic Tissue and Augmentation of Tissue PD-L1 Protection for Prevention of GVHD While Preserving GVL Activity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:907673. [PMID: 35677056 PMCID: PMC9168269 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.907673] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (Allo-HCT) is a curative therapy for hematological malignancies (i.e., leukemia and lymphoma) due to the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity mediated by alloreactive T cells that can eliminate residual malignant cells and prevent relapse. However, the same alloreactive T cells can cause a serious side effect, known as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD and GVL occur in distinct organ and tissues, with GVHD occurring in target organs (e.g., the gut, liver, lung, skin, etc.) and GVL in lympho-hematopoietic tissues where hematological cancer cells primarily reside. Currently used immunosuppressive drugs for the treatment of GVHD inhibit donor T cell activation and expansion, resulting in a decrease in both GVHD and GVL activity that is associated with cancer relapse. To prevent GVHD, it is important to allow full activation and expansion of alloreactive T cells in the lympho-hematopoietic tissues, as well as prevent donor T cells from migrating into the GVHD target tissues, and tolerize infiltrating T cells via protective mechanisms, such as PD-L1 interacting with PD-1, in the target tissues. In this review, we will summarize major approaches that prevent donor T cell migration into GVHD target tissues and approaches that augment tolerization of the infiltrating T cells in the GVHD target tissues while preserving strong GVL activity in the lympho-hematopoietic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiao Song
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Fujian Medical University Center of Translational Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, and Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ubaydah Nasri
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States
| | - Ryotaro Nakamura
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States
| | - Paul J Martin
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Defu Zeng
- Arthur D. Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, The Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States.,Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, Unites States
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