1
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Bennstein SB, Uhrberg M. Circulating innate lymphoid cells (cILCs): Unconventional lymphocytes with hidden talents. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 154:523-536. [PMID: 39046403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of lymphocytes that are devoid of antigen-specific receptors and are mainly found in tissues. The subtypes ILC1, 2, and 3 mirror T-cell functionality in terms of cytokine production and expression of key transcription factors. Although the majority of ILCs are found in tissue (tILCs), they have also been described within the circulation (cILCs). As a result of their better accessibility and putative prognostic value, human cILCs are getting more and more attention in clinical research. However, cILCs are in many aspects functionally distinct from their tILC counterparts. In fact, from the 3 ILC subsets found within the circulation, only for cILC2s could a clear functional correspondence to their tissue counterparts be established. Indeed, cILC2s are emerging as a major driver of allergic reactions with a particular role in asthma. In contrast, recent studies revealed that cILC1s and cILC3s are predominantly in an immature state and constitute progenitors for natural killer cells and ILCs, respectively. We provide an overview about the phenotype and function of the different cILC subtypes compared to tILCs in health and disease, including transcriptomic signatures, frequency dynamics, and potential clinical value. Furthermore, we will highlight the dynamics of the NKp44+ ILC3 subset, which emerges as prognostic marker in peripheral blood for inflammatory bowel disease and leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina B Bennstein
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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2
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Hegewisch-Solloa E, Nalin AP, Freud AG, Mace EM. Deciphering the localization and trajectory of human natural killer cell development. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 114:487-506. [PMID: 36869821 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad027] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immune cells represent the first line of cellular immunity, comprised of both circulating and tissue-resident natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells. These innate lymphocytes arise from a common CD34+ progenitor that differentiates into mature natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells. The successive stages in natural killer cell maturation are characterized by increased lineage restriction and changes to phenotype and function. Mechanisms of human natural killer cell development have not been fully elucidated, especially the role of signals that drive the spatial localization and maturation of natural killer cells. Cytokines, extracellular matrix components, and chemokines provide maturation signals and influence the trafficking of natural killer cell progenitors to peripheral sites of differentiation. Here we present the latest advances in our understanding of natural killer and innate lymphoid cell development in peripheral sites, including secondary lymphoid tissues (i.e. tonsil). Recent work in the field has provided a model for the spatial distribution of natural killer cell and innate lymphoid cell developmental intermediates in tissue and generated further insights into the developmental niche. In support of this model, future studies using multifaceted approaches seek to fully map the developmental trajectory of human natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells in secondary lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everardo Hegewisch-Solloa
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ansel P Nalin
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Medical Scientist Training Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 460 W 10th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aharon G Freud
- Department of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 460 W 12th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
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3
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Hegewisch-Solloa E, Melsen JE, Ravichandran H, Rendeiro AF, Freud AG, Mundy-Bosse B, Melms JC, Eisman SE, Izar B, Grunstein E, Connors TJ, Elemento O, Horowitz A, Mace EM. Mapping human natural killer cell development in pediatric tonsil by imaging mass cytometry and high-resolution microscopy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.05.556371. [PMID: 37732282 PMCID: PMC10508773 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.05.556371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells develop from CD34+ progenitors in a stage-specific manner defined by changes in cell surface receptor expression and function. Secondary lymphoid tissues, including tonsil, are sites of human NK cell development. Here we present new insights into human NK cell development in pediatric tonsil using cyclic immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry. We show that NK cell subset localization and interactions are dependent on NK cell developmental stage and tissue residency. NK cell progenitors are found in the interfollicular domain in proximity to cytokine-expressing stromal cells that promote proliferation and maturation. Mature NK cells are primarily found in the T-cell rich parafollicular domain engaging in cell-cell interactions that differ depending on their stage and tissue residency. The presence of local inflammation results in changes in NK cell interactions, abundance, and localization. This study provides the first comprehensive atlas of human NK cell development in secondary lymphoid tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everardo Hegewisch-Solloa
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Janine E Melsen
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hiranmayi Ravichandran
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - André F Rendeiro
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14 AKH BT 25.3, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aharon G Freud
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Bethany Mundy-Bosse
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Johannes C Melms
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032
| | - Shira E Eisman
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
| | - Benjamin Izar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032
| | - Eli Grunstein
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032
| | - Thomas J Connors
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Hospital Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10024
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Amir Horowitz
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Precision Immunology Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York NY 10032
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4
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Arellano-Ballestero H, Sabry M, Lowdell MW. A Killer Disarmed: Natural Killer Cell Impairment in Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Cells 2023; 12:633. [PMID: 36831300 PMCID: PMC9954109 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040633] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) treatment remains a big challenge due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease and its ability to progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The only curative option is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but most patients are unfit for this procedure and are left with only palliative treatment options, causing a big unmet need in the context of this disease. Natural killer (NK) cells are attractive candidates for MDS immunotherapy due to their ability to target myeloid leukemic cells without prior sensitization, and in recent years we have seen an arising number of clinical trials in AML and, recently, MDS. NK cells are reported to be highly dysfunctional in MDS patients, which can be overcome by adoptive NK cell immunotherapy or activation of endogenous NK cells. Here, we review the role of NK cells in MDS, the contribution of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to NK cell impairment, and the most recent data from NK cell-based clinical trials in MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - May Sabry
- Department of Haematology, University College London, London NW3 5PF, UK
- InmuneBio Inc., Boca Raton, FL 33432, USA
- Novamune Ltd., London WC2R 1DJ, UK
| | - Mark W. Lowdell
- Department of Haematology, University College London, London NW3 5PF, UK
- InmuneBio Inc., Boca Raton, FL 33432, USA
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5
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Hasan MZ, Höltermann C, Petersen B, Schrod A, Mätz-Rensing K, Kaul A, Salinas G, Dressel R, Walter L. Detailed phenotypic and functional characterization of CMV-associated adaptive NK cells in rhesus macaques. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1028788. [PMID: 36518759 PMCID: PMC9742600 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1028788] [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: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research on adaptive NK cells in rhesus macaques suffered from the lack of specific antibodies to differentiate between inhibitory CD94/NKG2A and stimulatory CD94/NKG2C heterodimeric receptors. Recently we reported an expansion of NKG2C receptor-encoding genes in rhesus macaques, but their expression and functional role on primary NK cells remained unknown due to this deficit. Thus, we established monoclonal antibodies 4A8 and 7B1 which show identical specificities and bind to both NKG2C-1 and NKG2C-2 but neither react with NKG2C-3 nor NKG2A on transfected cells. Using a combination of 4A8 and Z199 antibodies in multicolor flow cytometry we detected broad expression (4-73%) of NKG2C-1 and/or NKG2C-2 (NKG2C-1/2) on primary NK cells in rhesus macaques from our breeding colony. Stratifying our data to CMV-positive and CMV-negative animals, we noticed a higher proportion (23-73%) of primary NK cells expressing NKG2C-1/2 in CMV+ as compared to CMV- macaques (4-5%). These NKG2C-1/2-positive NK cells in CMV+ macaques are characterized by lower expression of IL12RB2, ZBTB16, SH2D1B, but not FCER1G, as well as high expression of IFNG, indicating that antibody 4A8 detects CMV-associated adaptive NK cells. Single cell RNA seq data of 4A8-positive NK cells from a rhCMV-positive macaque demonstrated that a high proportion of these adaptive NK cells transcribe in addition to NKG2C-1 and NKG2C-2 also NKG2C-3, but interestingly NKG2A as well. Remarkably, in comparison to NKG2A, NKG2C-1 and in particular NKG2C-2 bind Mamu-E with higher avidity. Primary NK cells exposed to Mamu-E-expressing target cells displayed strong degranulation as well as IFN-gamma expression of 4A8+ adaptive NK cells from rhCMV+ animals. Thus, despite co-expression of inhibitory and stimulatory CD94/NKG2 receptors the higher number of different stimulatory NKG2C receptors and their higher binding avidity to Mamu-E outreach inhibitory signaling via NKG2A. These data demonstrate the evolutionary conservation of the CMV-driven development of NKG2C-positive adaptive NK cells with particular molecular signatures in primates and with changes in gene copy numbers and ligand-binding strength of NKG2C isotypes. Thus, rhesus macaques represent a suitable and valuable nonhuman primate animal model to study the CMV-NKG2C liaison in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zahidul Hasan
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany,PhD program Molecular Biology of Cells, GGNB, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Charlotte Höltermann
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany,PhD program Molecular Biology of Cells, GGNB, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Beatrix Petersen
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annette Schrod
- Animal Husbandry, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Mätz-Rensing
- Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Artur Kaul
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- NGS Core Unit for Integrative Genomics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ralf Dressel
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lutz Walter
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany,*Correspondence: Lutz Walter,
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6
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Martinez AL, Shannon MJ, Eisman SE, Hegewisch-Solloa E, Asif AN, Ebrahim TAM, Mace EM. Quantifying Human Natural Killer Cell Migration by Imaging and Image Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2463:129-151. [PMID: 35344172 PMCID: PMC9159076 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2160-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Migration is an important function for natural killer cells. Cell motility has implications in development, tissue infiltration, and cytotoxicity, and measuring the properties of natural killer (NK) cell migration using in vitro assays can be highly informative. Many researchers have an interest in studying properties of NK cell migration in the context of genetic mutation, disease, or in specific tissues and microenvironments. Motility assays can also provide information on the localization of proteins during different phases of cell migration. These assays can be performed on different surfaces for migration or coupled with chemoattractants and/or target cells to test functional outcomes or characterize cell migration speeds and phenotypes. NK cells undergo migration during differentiation in tissue, and these conditions can be modeled by culturing NK cells on a confluent bed of stromal cells on glass and imaging cell migration. Alternatively, fibronectin- or ICAM-1-coated surfaces promote NK cell migration and can be used as substrates. Here, we will describe techniques for the experimental setup and analysis of NK cell motility assays by confocal microscopy or in-incubator imaging using commercially available systems. Finally, we describe open-source software for analyzing cell migration using manual tracking or automated approaches and discuss considerations for the implementation of each of these methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amera L Martinez
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shira E Eisman
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Aneeza N Asif
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biology, Barnard College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tasneem A M Ebrahim
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Bennstein SB, Weinhold S, Degistirici Ö, Oostendorp RAJ, Raba K, Kögler G, Meisel R, Walter L, Uhrberg M. Efficient In Vitro Generation of IL-22-Secreting ILC3 From CD34 + Hematopoietic Progenitors in a Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Niche. Front Immunol 2021; 12:797432. [PMID: 35003122 PMCID: PMC8739490 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.797432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and in particular ILC3s have been described to be vital for mucosal barrier functions and homeostasis within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Importantly, IL-22-secreting ILC3 have been implicated in the control of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and were shown to reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) as well as the risk of transplant rejection. Unfortunately, IL-22-secreting ILC3 are primarily located in mucosal tissues and are not found within the circulation, making access to them in humans challenging. On this account, there is a growing desire for clinically applicable protocols for in vitro generation of effector ILC3. Here, we present an approach for faithful generation of functionally competent human ILC3s from cord blood-derived CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors on layers of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) generated in good manufacturing practice (GMP) quality. The in vitro-generated ILC3s phenotypically, functionally, and transcriptionally resemble bona fide tissue ILC3 with high expression of the transcription factors (TF) RorγT, AHR, and ID2, as well as the surface receptors CD117, CD56, and NKp44. Importantly, the majority of ILC3 belonged to the desired effector subtype with high IL-22 and low IL-17 production. The protocol thus combines the advantages of avoiding xenogeneic components, which were necessary in previous protocols, with a high propensity for generation of IL-22-producing ILC3. The present approach is suitable for the generation of large amounts of ILC3 in an all-human system, which could facilitate development of clinical strategies for ILC3-based therapy in inflammatory diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina B. Bennstein
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sandra Weinhold
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Özer Degistirici
- Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Therapy, Clinic for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Center for Children and Adolescence Health, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert A. J. Oostendorp
- Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department of Internal Medicine III – Hematology and Oncology, Laboratory of Stem Cell Physiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Raba
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gesine Kögler
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Roland Meisel
- Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Therapy, Clinic for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Center for Children and Adolescence Health, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Walter
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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8
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Euchner J, Sprissler J, Cathomen T, Fürst D, Schrezenmeier H, Debatin KM, Schwarz K, Felgentreff K. Natural Killer Cells Generated From Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Mature to CD56 brightCD16 +NKp80 +/- In-Vitro and Express KIR2DL2/DL3 and KIR3DL1. Front Immunol 2021; 12:640672. [PMID: 34017328 PMCID: PMC8129508 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.640672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into T and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes opens novel possibilities for developmental studies of immune cells and in-vitro generation of cell therapy products. In particular, iPSC-derived NK cells gained interest in adoptive anti-cancer immunotherapies, since they enable generation of homogenous populations of NK cells with and without genetic engineering that can be grown at clinical scale. However, the phenotype of in-vitro generated NK cells is not well characterized. NK cells derive in the bone marrow and mature in secondary lymphoid tissues through distinct stages from CD56brightCD16- to CD56dimCD16+ NK cells that represents the most abandoned population in peripheral blood. In this study, we efficiently generated CD56+CD16+CD3- NK lymphocytes from hiPSC and characterized NK-cell development by surface expression of NK-lineage markers. Hematopoietic priming of hiPSC resulted in 31.9% to 57.4% CD34+CD45+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) that did not require enrichment for NK lymphocyte propagation. HPC were further differentiated into NK cells on OP9-DL1 feeder cells resulting in high purity of CD56brightCD16- and CD56brightCD16+ NK cells. The output of generated NK cells increased up to 40% when OP9-DL1 feeder cells were inactivated with mitomycine C. CD7 expression could be detected from the first week of differentiation indicating priming towards the lymphoid lineage. CD56brightCD16-/+ NK cells expressed high levels of DNAM-1, CD69, natural killer cell receptors NKG2A and NKG2D, and natural cytotoxicity receptors NKp46, NKp44, NKp30. Expression of NKp80 on 40% of NK cells, and a perforin+ and granzyme B+ phenotype confirmed differentiation up to stage 4b. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor KIR2DL2/DL3 and KIR3DL1 were found on up to 3 and 10% of mature NK cells, respectively. NK cells were functional in terms of cytotoxicity, degranulation and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Euchner
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Sprissler
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Fürst
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hubert Schrezenmeier
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Klaus-Michael Debatin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Klaus Schwarz
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kerstin Felgentreff
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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9
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Bennstein SB, Uhrberg M. Biology and therapeutic potential of human innate lymphoid cells. FEBS J 2021; 289:3967-3981. [PMID: 33837637 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have become established as important players in different areas such as tissue homeostasis, integrity of mucosal barriers and regulation of inflammation. While most of the early work on ILCs was based on murine studies, our knowledge on human ILCs is rapidly accumulating, opening novel perspectives towards the translation of ILC biology into the clinic. In this State-of-the-Art Review, we focus on the current knowledge of these most recently discovered members of the lymphocyte family and highlight their role in three major burdens of humanity: infectious diseases, cancer, and allergy and/or autoimmunity. IL-22-producing type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) have become established as important players at the interface between gut epithelia and intestinal microbiome and are implicated in protection from inflammatory bowel disease, the control of graft-versus-host disease and intestinal graft rejection. In contrast, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) exert pro-inflammatory functions and contribute to the pathology of asthma and allergy, which has already been started to be pharmacologically targeted. The contribution of ILCs to the control of viral infection constitutes another emerging topic. Finally, ILCs seem to play a dual role in cancer with beneficial and detrimental contributions depending on the clinical setting. The exploitation of the therapeutic potential of ILCs will constitute an exciting task in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Bianca Bennstein
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
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10
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Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of NK Cells in αβT-Cell and B-Cell Depleted Haplo-HSCT to Cure Pediatric Patients with Acute Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082187. [PMID: 32764469 PMCID: PMC7463940 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
NK cells can exert remarkable graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect in HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT). Here, we dissected the NK-cell repertoire of 80 pediatric acute leukemia patients previously reported to have an excellent clinical outcome after αβT/B-depleted haplo-HSCT. This graft manipulation strategy allows the co-infusion of mature immune cells, mainly NK and γδT cells, and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). To promote NK-cell based antileukemia activity, 36/80 patients were transplanted with an NK alloreactive donor, defined according to the KIR/KIR-Ligand mismatch in the graft-versus-host direction. The analysis of the reconstituted NK-cell repertoire in these patients showed relatively high proportions of mature and functional KIR+NKG2A-CD57+ NK cells, including the alloreactive NK cell subset, one month after HSCT. Thus, the NK cells adoptively transfused with the graft persist as a mature source of effector cells while new NK cells differentiate from the donor HSCs. Notably, the alloreactive NK cell subset was endowed with the highest anti-leukemia activity and its size in the reconstituted repertoire could be influenced by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reactivation. While the phenotypic pattern of donor NK cells did not impact on post-transplant HCMV reactivation, in the recipients, HCMV infection/reactivation fostered a more differentiated NK-cell phenotype. In this cohort, no significant correlation between differentiated NK cells and relapse-free survival was observed.
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11
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Bennstein SB, Weinhold S, Manser AR, Scherenschlich N, Noll A, Raba K, Kögler G, Walter L, Uhrberg M. Umbilical cord blood-derived ILC1-like cells constitute a novel precursor for mature KIR +NKG2A - NK cells. eLife 2020; 9:55232. [PMID: 32657756 PMCID: PMC7358013 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their identification several years ago, molecular identity and developmental relation between human ILC1 and NK cells, comprising group 1 ILCs, is still elusive. To unravel their connection, thorough transcriptional, epigenetic, and functional characterization was performed from umbilical cord blood (CB). Unexpectedly, ILC1-like cells lacked Tbet expression and failed to produce IFNγ. Moreover, in contrast to previously described ILC1 subsets they could be efficiently differentiated into NK cells. These were characterized by highly diversified KIR repertoires including late stage NKG2A-KIR+ effector cells that are commonly not generated from previously known NK cell progenitor sources. This property was dependent on stroma cell-derived Notch ligands. The frequency of the novel ILC1-like NK cell progenitor (NKP) significantly declined in CB from early to late gestational age. The study supports a model in which circulating fetal ILC1-like NKPs travel to secondary lymphoid tissues to initiate the formation of diversified NK cell repertoires after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Bianca Bennstein
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sandra Weinhold
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Angela Riccarda Manser
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nadine Scherenschlich
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Angela Noll
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibnitz-Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Raba
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gesine Kögler
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Walter
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibnitz-Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Lee BJ, Hegewisch Solloa E, Shannon MJ, Mace EM. Generation of cell-derived matrices that support human NK cell migration and differentiation. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 108:1369-1378. [PMID: 32392635 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.1ma0420-635r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human NK cells are effectors of the innate immune system that originate from hematopoietic precursors in the bone marrow. While stromal cell lines that support NK cell development from hematopoietic precursors are often used to generate mature NK cells from lymphoid precursors in vitro, the nature of contributing factors of these stromal cells to the generation of functionally mature NK cells has been poorly described. Previous studies have shown that developing NK cells adhere to, and migrate on, developmentally supportive stroma. Here, we describe the generation of cell-derived matrices (CDMs) from a commonly used murine fetal liver stromal cell line. These CDMs are derived directly from the same EL08.1D2 stromal cell line known to support NK cell differentiation and contain ECM structural components fibronectin and collagen. We demonstrate that CDMs support NK cell adhesion and migration with similar properties as intact cells. Further, we show that CDMs support NK cell maturation from lymphoid precursors in vitro, albeit with reduced cell survival compared to intact cell-based differentiation. Together, these results describe a cell-free system that supports NK cell development and that can serve as a useful model for studying the nature of the biochemical interactions between NK cell developmental intermediates and developmentally supportive substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barclay J Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Everardo Hegewisch Solloa
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael J Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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13
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Lee BJ, Mace EM. From stem cell to immune effector: how adhesion, migration, and polarity shape T-cell and natural killer cell lymphocyte development in vitro and in vivo. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:981-991. [PMID: 32352896 PMCID: PMC7346728 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-08-0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphocyte development is a complex and coordinated pathway originating from pluripotent stem cells during embryogenesis and continuing even as matured lymphocytes are primed and educated in adult tissue. Hematopoietic stem cells develop in a specialized niche that includes extracellular matrix and supporting stromal and endothelial cells that both maintain stem cell pluripotency and enable the generation of differentiated cells. Cues for lymphocyte development include changes in integrin-dependent cell motility and adhesion which ultimately help to determine cell fate. The capacity of lymphocytes to adhere and migrate is important for modulating these developmental signals both by regulating the cues that the cell receives from the local microenvironment as well as facilitating the localization of precursors to tissue niches throughout the body. Here we consider how changing migratory and adhesive phenotypes contribute to human natural killer (NK)- and T-cell development as they undergo development from precursors to mature, circulating cells and how our understanding of this process is informed by in vitro models of T- and NK cell generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barclay J. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Emily M. Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
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HCMV Infection in a Mesenchymal Stem Cell Niche: Differential Impact on the Development of NK Cells versus ILC3. J Clin Med 2019; 9:jcm9010010. [PMID: 31861547 PMCID: PMC7027004 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is highly prevalent in most populations worldwide and has a major influence on shaping the human immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells are important antiviral effectors that adapt to HCMV infection by expansion of virus-specific effector/memory cells. The impact of HCMV infection on the development of NK cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC) in general is less well understood. In this context, we have recently established a novel in vitro platform to study human NK cell development in a stem cell niche based on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Here, the system was modified by infecting MSC with HCMV to study the influence of virus infection on NK/ILC development. We show that cord blood-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells are successfully differentiated into mature CD56+CD94+NKG2A+ NK cells on HCMV-infected MSC with significant higher anti-viral cytokine production compared to NK cells developing on non-infected MSC. Furthermore, the generation of ILC3, characterized by expression of the signature transcription factor RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt) and the production of IL-22, was strongly impaired by HCMV infection. These observations are clinically relevant, given that ILC3 are associated with protection from graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following stem cell transplantation and HCMV reactivation in turn is associated with increased incidence of GvHD.
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Manser AR, Scherenschlich N, Thöns C, Hengel H, Timm J, Uhrberg M. KIR Polymorphism Modulates the Size of the Adaptive NK Cell Pool in Human Cytomegalovirus-Infected Individuals. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:2301-2309. [PMID: 31519864 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Acute infection with human CMV (HCMV) induces the development of adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells. In some cases, large expansions of this subset, characterized by coexpression of HLA-C-specific KIR, are stably maintained during the life-long latent phase of infection. The factors that control these unusual expansions in vivo are currently unknown. In this study, the role of KIR polymorphism and expression in this process was analyzed. It is shown that strong NKG2C+ NK cell expansions are dominated by single KIR clones, whereas moderate expansions are frequently polyclonal (p < 0.0001). Importantly, the choice of KIR was not arbitrary but biased toward usage of HLA-C-specific KIR encoded by the centromeric part of group A (cenA) haplotypes. Consideration of KIR allelic variation and gene copy number revealed that the cenA effect was predominantly due to the HLA-C2-specific KIR2DL1 receptor; presence of KIR2DL1 on NKG2C+ NK cells led to significantly larger clonal expansions than the cenB-encoded KIR2DL2 (p = 0.002). Expansion of NKG2C+KIR2DL1+ NK cells was always accompanied by the cognate ligand HLA-C2. Moreover, in these donors the frequency of NKG2C+ NK cells correlated with the concentration of anti-HCMV IgG (r = 0.62, p = 0.008), suggesting direct relevance of NKG2C+KIR2DL1+ NK cells for virus control. Altogether, the study suggests that the homeostasis of NKG2C+ NK cells in HCMV infection is at least partly controlled by coexpression of cognate inhibitory KIR. In particular, the strong interaction of KIR2DL1 and HLA-C2 ligands seems to promote large and stable expansion of adaptive NK cells in HCMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Manser
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nadine Scherenschlich
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christine Thöns
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; and.,Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Timm
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
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