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Post CM, McDonough C, Lawrence BP. Binary and quaternary mixtures of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) differentially affect the immune response to influenza A virus infection. J Immunotoxicol 2024; 21:2340495. [PMID: 38946256 PMCID: PMC11219007 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2024.2340495] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic organofluorine compounds that persist indefinitely in the environment and bioaccumulate throughout all trophic levels. Biomonitoring efforts have detected multiple PFAS in the serum of most people. Immune suppression has been among the most consistent effects of exposure to PFAS. PFAS often co-occur as mixtures in the environment, however, few studies have examined immunosuppression of PFAS mixtures or determined whether PFAS exposure affects immune function in the context of infection. In this study, mixtures containing two or four different PFAS and a mouse model of infection with influenza A virus (IAV) were used to assess immunotoxicity of PFAS mixtures. PFAS were administered via the drinking water as either a binary mixture of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or quaternary mixture of PFOS, PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The results indicated that the binary mixture affected the T-cell response, while the quaternary mixture affected the B-cell response to infection. These findings indicate that the immunomodulatory effects of PFAS mixtures are not simply additive, and that the sensitivity of immune responses to PFAS varies by cell type and mixture. The study also demonstrates the importance of studying adverse health effects of PFAS mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Post
- University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY
| | | | - B. Paige Lawrence
- University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY
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2
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Gordon ER, Fahmy LM, Trager MH, Adeuyan O, Lapolla BA, Schreidah CM, Geskin LJ. From Molecules to Microbes: Tracing Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Pathogenesis through Malignant Inflammation. J Invest Dermatol 2024:S0022-202X(24)00262-8. [PMID: 38703171 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The etiology of CTCL is a subject of extensive investigation. Researchers have explored links between CTCL and environmental chemical exposures, such as aromatic hydrocarbons (eg, pesticides and benzene), as well as infectious factors, including various viruses (eg, human T-lymphotropic virus [HTLV]-I and HTLV-II) and bacteria (eg, Staphylococcus aureus). There has been growing emphasis on the role of malignant inflammation in CTCL development. In this review, we synthesize studies of environmental and infectious exposures, along with research on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the involvement of pathogens in disease etiology, providing insight into the pathogenesis of CTCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Gordon
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lauren M Fahmy
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Megan H Trager
- Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Oluwaseyi Adeuyan
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brigit A Lapolla
- Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Celine M Schreidah
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Larisa J Geskin
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA; Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
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3
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Xu L, Lin L, Xie N, Chen W, Nong W, Li R. Role of aryl hydrocarbon receptors in infection and inflammation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1367734. [PMID: 38680494 PMCID: PMC11045974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1367734] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that is activated by various ligands, including pollutants, microorganisms, and metabolic substances. It is expressed extensively in pulmonary and intestinal epithelial cells, where it contributes to barrier defense. The expression of AhR is pivotal in regulating the inflammatory response to microorganisms. However, dysregulated AhR expression can result in endocrine disorders, leading to immunotoxicity and potentially promoting the development of carcinoma. This review focuses on the crucial role of the AhR in facilitating and limiting the proliferation of pathogens, specifically in relation to the host cell type and the species of etiological agents involved in microbial pathogen infections. The activation of AhR is enhanced through the IDO1-AhR-IDO1 positive feedback loop, which is manipulated by viruses. AhR primarily promotes the infection of SARS-CoV-2 by inducing the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. AhR also plays a significant role in regulating various types of T-cells, including CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, in the context of pulmonary infections. The AhR pathway plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses within the respiratory and intestinal barriers when they are invaded by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Additionally, we propose that targeting the agonist and antagonist of AhR signaling pathways could serve as a promising therapeutic approach for combating pathogen infections, especially in light of the growing prevalence of drug resistance to multiple antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linglan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Research on Clinical Molecular Diagnosis for High Incidence Diseases in Western Guangxi, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Luping Lin
- Key Laboratory of Research on Clinical Molecular Diagnosis for High Incidence Diseases in Western Guangxi, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, China
| | - Nan Xie
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Weihua Nong
- Key Laboratory of Research on Clinical Molecular Diagnosis for High Incidence Diseases in Western Guangxi, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, China
| | - Ranhui Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases and Affiliated Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, University of South China, Changsha, China
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4
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Ma N, Lu Y, Wang J, Liang X, Dong S, Zhao L. Role of CdTe quantum dots on peripheral Immunocytes and selenoprotein P: immunotoxicity at the molecular and cellular levels. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2023; 12:1041-1050. [PMID: 38145088 PMCID: PMC10734625 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The extensive product and application of cadmium-quantum dots (Cd-QDs), one kind of semiconductor nanomaterials, lead to prolonged exposure to the environment. Cd-QDs have shown good properties in biomedical and imaging-related fields; the safety of Cd-QDs limits the application of these materials and technologies, however. The systematic distribution of CdTe QDs in organisms has been ascertained in previous studies. Nevertheless, it is relatively less reported about the toxicity of CdTe QDs to immune macromolecules and organs. Based on this, immunocytes (including lymphocyte subsets-CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, splenocytes) and selenoprotein P (SelP) were chosen as targets for CdTe QDs immunotoxicity studies. Results indicate that CdTe QDs induced cytotoxicity to CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and splenocytes by reducing cell viability and causing apoptosis as CdTe QDs and Cd2+ enter cells. At the molecular level, the direct interaction between CdTe QDs and SelP is proved by multispectral measurements, which demonstrated the alteration of protein structure. The combined results show that CdTe QDs induced adverse effects on the immune system at the cellular and molecular levels. This research contributes to a better understanding of CdTe QDs cause harmful damage to the immune system and provides new strategies for the inhibition and treatment of health damages caused by CdTe QDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Ma
- College of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, 180# Wusi East Road, Baoding, Hebei 071002, P.R. China
| | - Yudie Lu
- College of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, 180# Wusi East Road, Baoding, Hebei 071002, P.R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, 30# Qingquan Road, Yantai, Shandong 264005, P.R. China
| | - Xueyou Liang
- Biochemical Department, Baoding University, 180# Wusi East Road, Baoding, Hebei 071000, P.R. China
| | - Sijun Dong
- College of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, 180# Wusi East Road, Baoding, Hebei 071002, P.R. China
| | - Lining Zhao
- College of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, 180# Wusi East Road, Baoding, Hebei 071002, P.R. China
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5
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Post CM, Myers JR, Winans B, Lawrence BP. Postnatal administration of S-adenosylmethionine restores developmental AHR activation-induced deficits in CD8+ T cell function during influenza A virus infection. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:kfad019. [PMID: 36847456 PMCID: PMC10109536 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental exposures can influence life-long health; yet, counteracting negative consequences is challenging due to poor understanding of cellular mechanisms. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) binds many small molecules, including numerous pollutants. Developmental exposure to the signature environmental AHR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) significantly dampens adaptive immune responses to influenza A virus (IAV) in adult offspring. CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are crucial for successful infection resolution, which depends on the number generated and the complexity of their functionality. Prior studies showed developmental AHR activation significantly reduced the number of virus-specific CD8+ T cells, but impact on their functions is less clear. Other studies showed developmental exposure was associated with differences in DNA methylation in CD8+ T cells. Yet, empirical evidence that differences in DNA methylation are causally related to altered CD8+ T cell function is lacking. The two objectives were to ascertain whether developmental AHR activation affects CTL function, and whether differences in methylation contribute to reduced CD8+ T cell responses to infection. Developmental AHR triggering significantly reduced CTL polyfunctionality, and modified the transcriptional program of CD8+ T cells. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which increases DNA methylation, but not Zebularine, which diminishes DNA methylation, restored polyfunctionality and boosted the number of virus-specific CD8+ T cells. These findings suggest that diminished methylation, initiated by developmental exposure to an AHR-binding chemical, contributes to durable changes in antiviral CD8+ CTL functions later in life. Thus, deleterious consequence of development exposure to environmental chemicals are not permanently fixed, opening the door for interventional strategies to improve health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Post
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Jason R Myers
- Genomics Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Bethany Winans
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Houser CL, Lawrence BP. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Modulates T Follicular Helper Cell Responses to Influenza Virus Infection in Mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:2319-2330. [PMID: 35444027 PMCID: PMC9117429 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
T follicular helper (Tfh) cells support Ab responses and are a critical component of adaptive immune responses to respiratory viral infections. Tfh cells are regulated by a network of signaling pathways that are controlled, in part, by transcription factors. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an environment-sensing transcription factor that modulates many aspects of adaptive immunity by binding a range of small molecules. However, the contribution of AHR signaling to Tfh cell differentiation and function is not known. In this article, we report that AHR activation by three different agonists reduced the frequency of Tfh cells during primary infection of C57BL/6 mice with influenza A virus (IAV). Further, using the high-affinity and AHR-specific agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, we show that AHR activation reduced Tfh cell differentiation and T cell-dependent B cell responses. Using conditional AHR knockout mice, we demonstrated that alterations of Tfh cells and T cell-dependent B cell responses after AHR activation required the AHR in T cells. AHR activation reduced the number of T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells; however, the ratio of Tfr to Tfh cells was amplified. These alterations to Tfh and Tfr cells during IAV infection corresponded with differences in expression of BCL6 and FOXP3 in CD4+ T cells and required the AHR to have a functional DNA-binding domain. Overall, these findings support that the AHR modulates Tfh cells during viral infection, which has broad-reaching consequences for understanding how environmental factors contribute to variation in immune defenses against infectious pathogens, such as influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Houser
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; and
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; and
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY
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O'Dell CT, Boule LA, Robert J, Georas SN, Eliseeva S, Lawrence BP. Exposure to a mixture of 23 chemicals associated with unconventional oil and gas operations alters immune response to challenge in adult mice. J Immunotoxicol 2021; 18:105-117. [PMID: 34455897 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2021.1965677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations raises concerns regarding the potential for adverse health outcomes following exposure to water tainted by mixtures of UOG associated chemicals. The potential effects that exposure to complex chemical mixtures has on the immune system have yet to be fully evaluated. In this study, effects on the immune system of adult mice exposed to a mixture of 23 chemicals that have been associated with water near active UOG operations were investigated. Female and male mice were exposed to the mixture via their drinking water for at least 8 weeks. At the end of the exposure, cellularity of primary and secondary immune organs, as well as an immune system function, were assessed using three different models of disease, i.e. house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic airway disease, influenza A virus infection, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The results indicated exposures resulted in different impacts on T-cell populations in each disease model. Furthermore, the consequences of exposure differed between female and male mice. Notably, exposure to the chemical mixture significantly increased EAE disease severity in females, but not in male, mice. These findings indicated that direct exposure to this mixture leads to multiple alterations in T-cell subsets and that these alterations differ between sexes. This suggested to us that direct exposure to UOG-associated chemicals may alter the adult immune system, leading to dysregulation in immune cellularity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen T O'Dell
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Lisbeth A Boule
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jacques Robert
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Steve N Georas
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Eliseeva
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
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8
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Pascual F. Developmental Origins of Delayed Adult Immune Response: The AhR Connection. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:54001. [PMID: 33979198 PMCID: PMC8116040 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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9
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Burke CG, Myers JR, Post CM, Boulé LA, Lawrence BP. DNA Methylation Patterns in CD4+ T Cells of Naïve and Influenza A Virus-Infected Mice Developmentally Exposed to an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligand. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:17007. [PMID: 33449811 PMCID: PMC7810290 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early life environmental exposures can have lasting effects on the function of the immune system and contribute to disease later in life. Epidemiological studies have linked early life exposure to xenobiotics that bind the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) with dysregulated immune responses later in life. Among the immune cells influenced by developmental activation of the AhR are CD 4 + T cells. Yet, the underlying affected cellular pathways via which activating the AhR early in life causes the responses of CD 4 + T cells to remain affected into adulthood remain unclear. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to identify cellular mechanisms that drive impaired CD 4 + T-cell responses later in life following maternal exposure to an exogenous AhR ligand. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were vertically exposed to the prototype AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p -dioxin (TCDD), throughout gestation and early postnatal life. The transcriptome and DNA methylation patterns were evaluated in CD 4 + T cells isolated from naïve and influenza A virus (IAV)-infected adult mice that were developmentally exposed to TCDD or vehicle control. We then assessed the influence of DNA methylation-altering drug therapies on the response of CD 4 + T cells from developmentally exposed mice to infection. RESULTS Gene and protein expression showed that developmental AhR activation reduced CD 4 + T-cell expansion and effector functions during IAV infection later in life. Furthermore, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analyses revealed that developmental AhR activation durably programed DNA methylation patterns across the CD 4 + T-cell genome. Treatment of developmentally exposed offspring with DNA methylation-altering drugs alleviated some, but not all, of the impaired CD 4 + T-cell responses. DISCUSSION Taken together, these results indicate that skewed DNA methylation is one of the mechanisms by which early life exposures can durably change the function of T cells in mice. Furthermore, treatment with DNA methylation-altering drugs after the exposure restored some aspects of CD 4 + T-cell functional responsiveness. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7699.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine G. Burke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jason R. Myers
- Genomics Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Christina M. Post
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Lisbeth A. Boulé
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - B. Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Genomics Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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10
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Mokshagundam S, Ding T, Rumph JT, Dallas M, Stephens VR, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Developmental 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure of either parent enhances the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal mice. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:1209-1223. [PMID: 32519502 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a rare, but potentially fatal intestinal inflammatory condition most often arising in premature infants. Infants provided formula are also at greater risk of developing this disease. Although the majority of formula-fed, preterm infants do not develop NEC, up to 30% of infants with the disease do not survive. Thus, identifying additional, currently unrecognized factors, which may predispose a specific infant to NEC development would be a significant clinical advancement. In this regard, we have previously reported that offspring of female or male mice with a history of developmental exposure to the environmental toxicant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exhibit altered sensitivity to inflammatory challenges and are frequently born premature. Herein, we examined the possibility that, compared to unexposed mice (F1NONE ), developmental TCDD exposure of either parent (maternal, F1MTCDD , or paternal, F1PTCDD ) would enhance the risk of NEC in offspring (F2TCDD mice) in association with supplemental formula feeding. METHODS Beginning on postnatal day 7, all neonates were randomized to maternal milk only or maternal milk with up to 20 supplemental formula feedings. All pups remained with the Dams and were additionally allowed to nurse ad libitum. RESULTS Formula-fed F2NONE pups rarely developed NEC while this disease was common in formula-fed F2MTCDD and F2PTCDD mice. Unexpectedly, 50% of F2MTCDD pups that were not provided supplemental formula also developed NEC. CONCLUSIONS Our studies provide evidence that a history of parental TCDD exposure enhances the risk of NEC in offspring and suggest exposure to environmental immunotoxicants such as TCDD may also contribute to this inflammatory disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Mokshagundam
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Tianbing Ding
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jelonia T Rumph
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Victoria R Stephens
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kevin G Osteen
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Post CM, Boule LA, Burke CG, O'Dell CT, Winans B, Lawrence BP. The Ancestral Environment Shapes Antiviral CD8 + T cell Responses across Generations. iScience 2019; 20:168-183. [PMID: 31569050 PMCID: PMC6817732 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have linked health fates of children to environmental exposures of their great grandparents. However, few studies have considered whether ancestral exposures influence immune function across generations. Here, we report transgenerational inheritance of altered T cell responses resulting from maternal (F0) exposure to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Since F0 exposure to TCDD has been linked to transgenerational transmission of reproductive problems, we asked whether maternal TCDD exposure also caused transgenerational changes in immune function. F0 exposure caused transgenerational effects on the CD8+ T cell response to influenza virus infection in females but not in males. Outcrosses showed changes were passed through both parental lineages. These data demonstrate that F0 exposure to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist causes durable changes to immune responses that can affect subsequent generations. This has broad implications for understanding how the environment of prior generations shapes susceptibility to pathogens and antiviral immunity in later generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Post
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Lisbeth A Boule
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Catherine G Burke
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Colleen T O'Dell
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Bethany Winans
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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12
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Burke CG, Myers JR, Boule LA, Post CM, Brookes PS, Lawrence BP. Early life exposures shape the CD4 + T cell transcriptome, influencing proliferation, differentiation, and mitochondrial dynamics later in life. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11489. [PMID: 31391494 PMCID: PMC6686001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47866-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life environmental exposures drive lasting changes to the function of the immune system and can contribute to disease later in life. One of the ways environmental factors act is through cellular receptors. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is expressed by immune cells and binds numerous xenobiotics. Early life exposure to chemicals that bind the AHR impairs CD4+ T cell responses to influenza A virus (IAV) infection in adulthood. However, the cellular mechanisms that underlie these durable changes remain poorly defined. Transcriptomic profiling of sorted CD4+ T cells identified changes in genes involved in proliferation, differentiation, and metabolic pathways were associated with triggering AHR during development. Functional bioassays confirmed that CD4+ T cells from infected developmentally exposed offspring exhibit reduced proliferation, differentiation, and cellular metabolism. Thus, developmental AHR activation shapes T cell responsive capacity later in life by affecting integrated cellular pathways, which collectively alter responses later in life. Given that coordinated shifts in T cell metabolism are essential for T cell responses to numerous challenges, and that humans are constantly exposed to many different types of AHR ligands, this has far-reaching implications for how AHR signaling, particularly during development, durably influences T cell mediated immune responses across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine G Burke
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA
| | - Jason R Myers
- Genomics Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA
| | - Lisbeth A Boule
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA
| | - Christina M Post
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA
| | - Paul S Brookes
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA.
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14624, USA.
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Li Y, Xie HQ, Zhang W, Wei Y, Sha R, Xu L, Zhang J, Jiang Y, Guo TL, Zhao B. Type 3 innate lymphoid cells are altered in colons of C57BL/6 mice with dioxin exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 662:639-645. [PMID: 30703721 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are distributed in the gut and regulate inflammation by secreting cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17. The maintenance and function of ILC3s involve the activity of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a potent ligand of which is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), one of the most toxic dioxin congeners. Thus, TCDD exposure might affect ILC3s. To obtain in vivo evidence supporting this notion, we exposed female C57BL/6 mice orally to TCDD (low/high doses: 0.1/10 μg/kg body weight) during pregnancy and lactation periods, and after the exposure, evaluated the mothers and offspring for alterations in ILC3 differentiation and function in the colon. ILC3 frequency among colonic lamina propria lymphocytes was preferentially diminished in the offspring, and, in parallel, the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR)γt, which is associated with ILC3 differentiation, was also decreased in ILC3s. Conversely, the percentages of two subsets of the cells, one positive for natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp46 and the other for IL-17a, were increased in TCDD-exposed mothers and offspring. Moreover, the percentage of IFN-γ+ ILC3s was increased specifically in the mothers, but this was in conjunction with a significant decrease in the MFI of IFN-γ, which suggests that the IFN-γ+ ILC3 subset was functionally altered. In conclusion, maternal exposure to TCDD suppresses ILC3 differentiation in the offspring and influences ILC3 function in distinct manners in the mother and offspring. Our study provides new insights into the intergenerational interference of dioxins in colonic ILC3s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Heidi Qunhui Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wanglong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunbo Wei
- Laboratory of Immunology for Environment and Health, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
| | - Rui Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianqing Zhang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yousheng Jiang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Tai L Guo
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Diagnostic Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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14
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Advances in the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor to regulate early hematopoietic development. Curr Opin Hematol 2019; 25:273-278. [PMID: 29697485 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We summarize current advances to define the role the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays in mammalian hematopoiesis. We emphasize approaches to modulate AHR throughout human hematopoietic development in vitro to support the production of clinically relevant blood products suitable for patient care. RECENT FINDINGS Initial data demonstrate that both pharmacologic AHR inhibition and genetic deletion from human pluripotent stem cells provide useful strategies to enhance the yield of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. AHR hyperactivation following the induction of CD34 megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors skews developed toward erythroid lineages, whereas AHR inhibition supports platelet production. At the level of lymphoid specification, AHR inhibition enhances the proliferation and differentiation of functional human natural killer cells, whereas hyperactivation leads to production of Group 3 innate lymphoid cells and provides a novel platform for studying human innate lymphoid cell development. SUMMARY Modulation of AHR in human hematopoietic cells in vitro is a promising tool to mediate development of terminal hematopoietic cell populations with significant clinical implications to generate cells suitable for antitumor immunotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.
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15
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Rychlik KA, Sillé FCM. Environmental exposures during pregnancy: Mechanistic effects on immunity. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:178-196. [PMID: 30708400 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In human studies, it is well established that exposures during embryonic and fetal development periods can influence immune health. Coupled with genetic predisposition, these exposures can alter lifetime chronic and infectious disease trajectory, and, ultimately, life expectancy. Fortunately, as research advances, mechanisms governing long-term effects of prenatal exposures are coming to light and providing the opportunity for intervention and risk reduction. For instance, human association studies have provided a foundation for the association of prenatal exposure to particulate matter with early immunosuppression and later allergic disease in the offspring. Only recently, the mechanisms mediating this response have been revealed and there is much we have yet to discover. Although cellular immune response is understood for many exposure scenarios, molecular pathways are still unidentified. This review will provide commentary and synthesis of the current literature regarding environmental exposures during pregnancy and mechanisms determining immune outcomes. Shared mechanistic features and current gaps in the state of the science are identified and discussed. To such purpose, we address exposures by their immune effect type: immunosuppression, autoimmunity, inflammation and tissue damage, hypersensitivity, and general immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristal A Rychlik
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Fenna C M Sillé
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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16
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Meyers JL, Winans B, Kelsaw E, Murthy A, Gerber S, Lawrence BP. Environmental cues received during development shape dendritic cell responses later in life. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207007. [PMID: 30412605 PMCID: PMC6226176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental signals mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) shape the developing immune system and influence immune function. Developmental exposure to AHR binding chemicals causes persistent changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses later in life, including dampened clonal expansion and differentiation during influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Naïve T cells require activation by dendritic cells (DCs), and AHR ligands modulate the function of DCs from adult organisms. Yet, the consequences of developmental AHR activation by exogenous ligands on DCs later in life has not been examined. We report here that early life activation of AHR durably reduces the ability of DC to activate naïve IAV-specific CD8+ T cells; however, activation of naïve CD4+ T cells was not impaired. Also, DCs from developmentally exposed offspring migrated more poorly than DCs from control dams in both in vivo and ex vivo assessments of DC migration. Conditional knockout mice, which lack Ahr in CD11c lineage cells, suggest that dampened DC emigration is intrinsic to DCs. Yet, levels of chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), a key regulator of DC trafficking, were generally unaffected. Gene expression analyses reveal changes in Lrp1, Itgam, and Fcgr1 expression, and point to alterations in genes that regulate DC migration and antigen processing and presentation as being among pathways disrupted by inappropriate AHR signaling during development. These studies establish that AHR activation during development causes long-lasting changes to DCs, and provide new information regarding how early life environmental cues shape immune function later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Meyers
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Bethany Winans
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Erin Kelsaw
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Aditi Murthy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Scott Gerber
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - B. Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
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17
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Functional Assays of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Toxicology Research. Methods Mol Biol 2018. [PMID: 29882147 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8549-4_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
The hematopoietic stem cell is the foundational cell of the entire blood and immune system and as such is particularly sensitive to toxicological insults. While this review will identify some of the classes of chemicals known to be hematotoxic, most of the discussion will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of various hematological assays used in toxicology research. Furthermore, protocols for isolating both human and murine hematopoietic stem cells are described. Methodologies are also described for various culture systems useful for testing the impacts of potential toxicants on hematopoietic stem cells both in vivo and in vitro.
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18
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Boulé LA, Chapman TJ, Hillman SE, Kassotis CD, O’Dell C, Robert J, Georas SN, Nagel SC, Lawrence BP. Developmental Exposure to a Mixture of 23 Chemicals Associated With Unconventional Oil and Gas Operations Alters the Immune System of Mice. Toxicol Sci 2018; 163:639-654. [PMID: 29718478 PMCID: PMC5974794 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemicals used in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations have the potential to cause adverse biological effects, but this has not been thoroughly evaluated. A notable knowledge gap is their impact on development and function of the immune system. Herein, we report an investigation of whether developmental exposure to a mixture of chemicals associated with UOG operations affects the development and function of the immune system. We used a previously characterized mixture of 23 chemicals associated with UOG, and which was demonstrated to affect reproductive and developmental endpoints in mice. C57Bl/6 mice were maintained throughout pregnancy and during lactation on water containing two concentrations of this 23-chemical mixture, and the immune system of male and female adult offspring was assessed. We comprehensively examined the cellularity of primary and secondary immune organs, and used three different disease models to probe potential immune effects: house dust mite-induced allergic airway disease, influenza A virus infection, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In all three disease models, developmental exposure altered frequencies of certain T cell sub-populations in female, but not male, offspring. Additionally, in the EAE model disease onset occurred earlier and was more severe in females. Our findings indicate that developmental exposure to this mixture had persistent immunological effects that differed by sex, and exacerbated responses in an experimental model of autoimmune encephalitis. These observations suggest that developmental exposure to complex mixtures of water contaminants, such as those derived from UOG operations, could contribute to immune dysregulation and disease later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy J Chapman
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14842
| | - Sara E Hillman
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14842
| | - Christopher D Kassotis
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14842
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212
| | | | - Jacques Robert
- Department of Environmental Medicine
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Steve N Georas
- Department of Environmental Medicine
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14842
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
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19
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Boule LA, Burke CG, Jin GB, Lawrence BP. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling modulates antiviral immune responses: ligand metabolism rather than chemical source is the stronger predictor of outcome. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1826. [PMID: 29379138 PMCID: PMC5789012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) offers a compelling target to modulate the immune system. AHR agonists alter adaptive immune responses, but the consequences differ across studies. We report here the comparison of four agents representing different sources of AHR ligands in mice infected with influenza A virus (IAV): TCDD, prototype exogenous AHR agonist; PCB126, pollutant with documented human exposure; ITE, novel pharmaceutical; and FICZ, degradation product of tryptophan. All four compounds diminished virus-specific IgM levels and increased the proportion of regulatory T cells. TCDD, PCB126 and ITE, but not FICZ, reduced virus-specific IgG levels and CD8+ T cell responses. Similarly, ITE, PCB126, and TCDD reduced Th1 and Tfh cells, whereas FICZ increased their frequency. In Cyp1a1-deficient mice, all compounds, including FICZ, reduced the response to IAV. Conditional Ahr knockout mice revealed that all four compounds require AHR within hematopoietic cells. Thus, differences in the immune response to IAV likely reflect variances in quality, magnitude, and duration of AHR signaling. This indicates that binding affinity and metabolism may be stronger predictors of immune effects than a compound’s source of origin, and that harnessing AHR will require finding a balance between dampening immune-mediated pathologies and maintaining sufficient host defenses against infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth A Boule
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,CBR International, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Catherine G Burke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Guang-Bi Jin
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Preventative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yaniban University, Yanji City, Jilin Provence, China
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
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20
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Larsson M, Fraccalvieri D, Andersson CD, Bonati L, Linusson A, Andersson PL. Identification of potential aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands by virtual screening of industrial chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:2436-2449. [PMID: 29127629 PMCID: PMC5773624 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0437-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a virtual screening procedure to identify potential ligands to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) among a set of industrial chemicals. AhR is a key target for dioxin-like compounds, which is related to these compounds' potential to induce cancer and a wide range of endocrine and immune system-related effects. The virtual screening procedure included an initial filtration aiming at identifying chemicals with structural similarities to 66 known AhR binders, followed by 3 enrichment methods run in parallel. These include two ligand-based methods (structural fingerprints and nearest neighbor analysis) and one structure-based method using an AhR homology model. A set of 6445 commonly used industrial chemicals was processed, and each step identified unique potential ligands. Seven compounds were identified by all three enrichment methods, and these compounds included known activators and suppressors of AhR. Only approximately 0.7% (41 compounds) of the studied industrial compounds was identified as potential AhR ligands and among these, 28 compounds have to our knowledge not been tested for AhR-mediated effects or have been screened with low purity. We suggest assessment of AhR-related activities of these compounds and in particular 2-chlorotrityl chloride, 3-p-hydroxyanilino-carbazole, and 3-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Larsson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Domenico Fraccalvieri
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Laura Bonati
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Linusson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
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Abstract
Assessing the immunotoxicity of xenobiotics by current regulatory testing has revealed compounds that can cause immunosuppression and stimulation. Flow cytometry is a cutting edge technique that can provide data on how toxicants can alter the quality and quantity of the immune response after exposure. Here we describe protocols for how to use flow cytometry to measure the immune response in multiple rodent organs (blood and lymphoid and nonlymphoid) as well as in novel models recently being utilized in the field of toxicology. These methods can be used for current testing and to determine mechanisms by which a xenobiotic can cause immunotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott T Espenschied
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kymberly M Gowdy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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22
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Ding T, Lambert LA, Aronoff DM, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Sex-Dependent Influence of Developmental Toxicant Exposure on Group B Streptococcus-Mediated Preterm Birth in a Murine Model. Reprod Sci 2017; 25:662-673. [PMID: 29153057 DOI: 10.1177/1933719117741378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Infectious agents are a significant risk factor for preterm birth (PTB); however, the simple presence of bacteria is not sufficient to induce PTB in most women. Human and animal data suggest that environmental toxicant exposures may act in concert with other risk factors to promote PTB. Supporting this "second hit" hypothesis, we previously demonstrated exposure of fetal mice (F1 animals) to the environmental endocrine disruptor 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to an increased risk of spontaneous and infection-mediated PTB in adult animals. Surprisingly, adult F1males also confer an enhanced risk of PTB to their control partners. Herein, we used a recently established model of ascending group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection to explore the impact of a maternal versus paternal developmental TCDD exposure on infection-mediated PTB in adulthood. Group B Streptococcus is an important contributor to PTB in women and can have serious adverse effects on their infants. Our studies revealed that although gestation length was reduced in control mating pairs exposed to low-dose GBS, dams were able to clear the infection and bacterial transmission to pups was minimal. In contrast, exposure of pregnant F1females to the same GBS inoculum resulted in 100% maternal and fetal mortality. Maternal health and gestation length were not impacted in control females mated to F1males and exposed to GBS; however, neonatal survival was reduced compared to controls. Our data revealed a sex-dependent impact of parental TCDD exposure on placental expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and glycogen production, which may be responsible for the differential impact on fetal and maternal outcomes in response to GBS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbing Ding
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren A Lambert
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David M Aronoff
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kevin G Osteen
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,3 Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,4 VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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23
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Fiorito F, Santamaria R, Irace C, De Martino L, Iovane G. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and the viral infection. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 153:27-34. [PMID: 27883971 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a widespread highly toxic environmental contaminant, suppresses immune response and leads to an increased susceptibility to infectious agents. In particular, several studies have provided evidence that TCDD decreases resistance to numerous viruses. Indeed, in vivo and in vitro investigations showed that the presence of TCDD is able to interfere with the replication of both human and animal viruses, such as influenza A viruses, coxsackie virus B3, immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex II, and bovine herpesvirus 1. Moreover, TCDD could induce an exacerbation of latent infection produced by HIV-1, CMV or Epstein-Barr virus. In this review, we first describe the general effects of TCDD exposure on mammalian cells, then we focus on its influence on the viral infections. Overall, the available data support the concept that TCDD exposure may act as an additional risk factor in promoting of viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Fiorito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy.
| | - Rita Santamaria
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Irace
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa De Martino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Iovane
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
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24
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Laiosa MD, Tate ER, Ahrenhoerster LS, Chen Y, Wang D. Effects of Developmental Activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on Long-term Self-renewal of Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124:957-65. [PMID: 26495820 PMCID: PMC4937855 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1509820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human epidemiological and animal studies suggest that developmental exposure to contaminants that activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) lead to suppression of immune system function throughout life. The persistence of immune deficiency throughout life suggests that the cellular target of AHR activation is a fetal hematopoietic progenitor or stem cell. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify the effects of transplacental exposure to an AHR agonist on long-term self-renewal of fetal hematopoietic stem cells. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6 or AHR+/- mice were exposed to the AHR agonist, 2,3,7,8-tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). On day 14 of gestation, hematopoietic progenitors from wild-type or AHR-deficient fetuses were placed into in vitro T-lymphocyte differentiation cultures to identify the effects of transplacental TCDD on AHR activation in the fetus. We next analyzed the fetal hematopoietic progenitor cells for changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, hematopoietic progenitors from fetuses exposed transplacentally to TCDD were mixed 1:1 with cells from congenic controls and used to reconstitute lethally irradiated recipients for analysis of long-term self-renewal potential. RESULTS Our findings suggested that the effects of TCDD on the developing hematopoietic system were mediated by direct AHR activation in the fetus. Furthermore, developmental AHR activation by TCDD increased ROS in the fetal hematopoietic stem cells, and the elevated ROS was associated with a reduced capacity of the TCDD-exposed fetal cells to compete with control cells in a mixed competitive irradiation/reconstitution assay. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that AHR activation by TCDD in the fetus during pregnancy leads to impairment of long-term self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. CITATION Laiosa MD, Tate ER, Ahrenhoerster LS, Chen Y, Wang D. 2016. Effects of developmental activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on long-term self-renewal of murine hematopoietic stem cells. Environ Health Perspect 124:957-965; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509820.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Laiosa
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Address correspondence to M.D. Laiosa, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, 3335 North Maryland Ave., Kenwood Interdisciplinary Complex Room 5071, Milwaukee, WI 53211 USA. Telephone: (414) 229-2279. E-mail:
| | - Everett R. Tate
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lori S. Ahrenhoerster
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Yuhong Chen
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Demin Wang
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Jusko TA, De Roos AJ, Lee SY, Thevenet-Morrison K, Schwartz SM, Verner MA, Murinova LP, Drobná B, Kočan A, Fabišiková A, Čonka K, Trnovec T, Hertz-Picciotto I, Lawrence BP. A Birth Cohort Study of Maternal and Infant Serum PCB-153 and DDE Concentrations and Responses to Infant Tuberculosis Vaccination. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124:813-21. [PMID: 26649893 PMCID: PMC4892928 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1510101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reasons for the highly variable and often poor protection conferred by the Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine are multifaceted and poorly understood. OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine whether early-life exposure to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene] reduces 6-month infant BCG vaccine response. METHODS Data came from families participating in a prospective birth cohort in eastern Slovakia. At birth, maternal and cord blood were collected for chemical analyses, and infants were immunized with BCG. Blood was collected from infants for chemical analyses and to determine 6-month BCG-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA levels. Multivariable linear regression models were fit to examine chemical-BCG associations among approximately 500 mother-infant pairs, with adjustment for confounders. RESULTS The median 6-month infant concentration of the prevalent congener PCB-153 was 113 ng/g lipid [interquartile range (IQR): 37-248], and 388 ng/g lipid (IQR: 115-847) for DDE. Higher 6-month infant concentrations of PCB-153 and DDE were strongly associated with lower 6-month BCG-specific antibody levels. For instance, BCG-specific IgG levels were 37% lower for infants with PCB-153 concentrations at the 75th percentile compared to the 25th percentile (95% CI: -42, -32; p < 0.001). Results were similar in magnitude and precision for DDE. There was also evidence of PCB-DDE additivity, where exposure to both compounds reduced anti-BCG levels more than exposure to either compound alone. CONCLUSIONS The associations observed in this study indicate that environmental exposures may be overlooked contributors to poorer responses to BCG vaccine. The overall association between these exposures and tuberculosis incidence is unknown. CITATION Jusko TA, De Roos AJ, Lee SY, Thevenet-Morrison K, Schwartz SM, Verner MA, Palkovicova Murinova L, Drobná B, Kočan A, Fabišiková A, Čonka K, Trnovec T, Hertz-Picciotto I, Lawrence BP. 2016. A birth cohort study of maternal and infant serum PCB-153 and DDE concentrations and responses to infant tuberculosis vaccination. Environ Health Perspect 124:813-821; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510101.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A. Jusko
- Department of Public Health Sciences, and
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Address correspondence to T.A. Jusko, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Box CU420644, Rochester, NY 14642 USA. Telephone: (585) 273-2849. E-mail:
| | - Anneclaire J. De Roos
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sue Y. Lee
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | | | - Stephen M. Schwartz
- Program in Epidemiology, Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Beata Drobná
- Department of Toxic Organic Pollutants, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Anton Kočan
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Fabišiková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kamil Čonka
- Department of Toxic Organic Pollutants, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | | | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - B. Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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Laiosa MD, Tate ER. Fetal Hematopoietic Stem Cells Are the Canaries in the Coal Mine That Portend Later Life Immune Deficiency. Endocrinology 2015; 156:3458-65. [PMID: 26241066 PMCID: PMC4588830 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Disorders of the blood system are a significant and growing global health concern and include a spectrum of diseases ranging from aplastic anemia and leukemias to immune suppression. This array of hematological disorders is attributed to the fact that the blood system undergoes a perpetual cycle of turn over with aged and exhausted red and white blood cells undergoing daily replacement. The foundational cells of this replenishment process are comprised of rare hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) located in the bone marrow that possess the dual function of long-term self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. This constant turnover makes the hematopoietic system uniquely vulnerable to changes in the environment that impact multilineage differentiation, self-renewal, or both. Notably, environmental endocrine-disrupting exposures occurring during development, when HSCs are first emerging, can lead to alterations in HSC programming that impacts the blood and immune systems throughout life. In this review, we describe the process of fetal hematopoiesis and provide an overview of the intrauterine environmental and endocrine-disrupting compounds that disrupt this process. Finally, we describe research opportunities for fetal HSCs as potential sentinels of later-life blood and immune system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Laiosa
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
| | - Everett R Tate
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
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Boule LA, Burke CG, Fenton BM, Thevenet-Morrison K, Jusko TA, Lawrence BP. Developmental Activation of the AHR Increases Effector CD4+ T Cells and Exacerbates Symptoms in Autoimmune Disease-Prone Gnaq+/- Mice. Toxicol Sci 2015; 148:555-66. [PMID: 26363170 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Perinatal environmental exposures are potentially important contributors to the increase in autoimmune diseases. Yet, the mechanisms by which these exposures increase self-reactive immune responses later in life are poorly understood. Autoimmune diseases require CD4(+) T cells for initiation, progression, and/or clinical symptoms; thus, developmental exposures that cause durable changes in CD4(+) T cells may play a role. Early life activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) causes persistent changes in the response of CD4(+) T cells to infection later in life but whether CD4(+) T cells are affected by developmental exposure in the context of an autoimmune disease is unknown. Gnaq(+/-) mice develop symptoms of autoimmune disease similar to those measured clinically, and therefore can be used to evaluate gene-environment interactions during development on disease progression. Herein, we examined the effect of AHR activation in utero and via lactation, or solely via lactation, on disease onset and severity in adult Gnaq(+/-) offspring. Developmental activation of the AHR-accelerated disease in Gnaq(+/-) mice, and this correlates with increases in effector CD4(+) T-cell populations. Increased symptom onset and cellular changes due to early life AHR activation were more evident in female Gnaq(+/-) mice compared with males. These observations suggest that developmental AHR activation by pollutants, and other exogenous ligands, may increase the likelihood that genetically predisposed individuals will develop clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Todd A Jusko
- Department of Public Health Sciences, and Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- *Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
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Boule LA, Winans B, Lambert K, Vorderstrasse BA, Topham DJ, Pavelka MS, Lawrence BP. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor during development enhances the pulmonary CD4+ T-cell response to viral infection. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2015; 309:L305-13. [PMID: 26071552 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00135.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infections are a threat to health and economies worldwide, yet the basis for striking variation in the severity of infection is not completely understood. Environmental exposures during development are associated with increased severity and incidence of respiratory infection later in life. Many of these exposures include ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a transcription factor expressed by immune and nonimmune cells. In adult animals, AHR activation alters CD4(+) T cells and changes immunopathology. Developmental AHR activation impacts CD4(+) T-cell responses in lymphoid tissues, but whether skewed responses are also present in the infected lung is unknown. To determine whether pulmonary CD4(+) T-cell responses are modified by developmental AHR activation, mice were exposed to the prototypical AHR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin during development and infected with influenza virus as adults. Lungs of exposed offspring had greater bronchopulmonary inflammation compared with controls, and activated, virus-specific CD4(+) T cells contributed to the infiltrating leukocytes. These effects were CD4(+) T cell subset specific, with increases in T helper type 1 and regulatory T cells, but no change in the frequency of T helper type 17 cells in the infected lung. This is in direct contrast to prior reports of suppressed conventional CD4(+) T-cell responses in the lymph node. Using adoptive transfers and manipulating the pathogen properties, we determined that developmental exposure influenced factors intrinsic and extrinsic to CD4(+) T cells and may involve developmentally induced changes in signals from infected lung epithelial cells. Thus developmental exposures lead to context-dependent changes in pulmonary CD4(+) T-cell subsets, which may contribute to differential responses to respiratory infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth A Boule
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Bethany Winans
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York; and
| | - Kris Lambert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Beth A Vorderstrasse
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
| | - David J Topham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Martin S Pavelka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York; and
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Winans B, Nagari A, Chae M, Post CM, Ko CI, Puga A, Kraus WL, Lawrence BP. Linking the aryl hydrocarbon receptor with altered DNA methylation patterns and developmentally induced aberrant antiviral CD8+ T cell responses. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 194:4446-57. [PMID: 25810390 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Successfully fighting infection requires a properly tuned immune system. Recent epidemiological studies link exposure to pollutants that bind the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) during development with poorer immune responses later in life. Yet, how developmental triggering of AHR durably alters immune cell function remains unknown. Using a mouse model, we show that developmental activation of AHR leads to long-lasting reduction in the response of CD8(+) T cells during influenza virus infection, cells critical for resolving primary infection. Combining genome-wide approaches, we demonstrate that developmental activation alters DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in isolated CD8(+) T cells prior to and during infection. Altered transcriptional profiles in CD8(+) T cells from developmentally exposed mice reflect changes in pathways involved in proliferation and immunoregulation, with an overall pattern that bears hallmarks of T cell exhaustion. Developmental exposure also changed DNA methylation across the genome, but differences were most pronounced following infection, where we observed inverse correlation between promoter methylation and gene expression. This points to altered regulation of DNA methylation as one mechanism by which AHR causes durable changes in T cell function. Discovering that distinct gene sets and pathways were differentially changed in developmentally exposed mice prior to and after infection further reveals that the process of CD8(+) T cell activation is rendered fundamentally different by early life AHR signaling. These findings reveal a novel role for AHR in the developing immune system: regulating DNA methylation and gene expression as T cells respond to infection later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Winans
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Environmental Health Science Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Anusha Nagari
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences and Division of Basic Reproductive Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Minho Chae
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences and Division of Basic Reproductive Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Christina M Post
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Environmental Health Science Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Chia-I Ko
- Department of Environmental Health and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental Health and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - W Lee Kraus
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences and Division of Basic Reproductive Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Environmental Health Science Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642;
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Konkel L. Focusing on the AhR: a potential mechanism for immune effects of prenatal exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2014; 122:A313. [PMID: 25360570 PMCID: PMC4216157 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.122-a313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
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