1
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Baldwin I, Robey EA. Adjusting to self in the thymus: CD4 versus CD8 lineage commitment and regulatory T cell development. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230896. [PMID: 38980291 PMCID: PMC11232887 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
During thymic development, thymocytes adjust their TCR response based on the strength of their reactivity to self-peptide MHC complexes. This tuning process allows thymocytes with a range of self-reactivities to survive positive selection and contribute to a diverse T cell pool. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of how thymocytes tune their responsiveness during positive selection, and we present a "sequential selection" model to explain how MHC specificity influences lineage choice. We also discuss recent evidence for cell type diversity in the medulla and discuss how this heterogeneity may contribute to medullary niches for negative selection and regulatory T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Baldwin
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ellen A. Robey
- Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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2
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Vasconcelos-Fontes L, Vieira RC, He M, Ferreira-Reis R, Jurberg AD, Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz D, Andersson J, Cotta-de-Almeida V, Westerberg LS. Controlled WASp activity regulates the proliferative response for Treg cell differentiation in the thymus. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2350450. [PMID: 38356202 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) regulates actin cytoskeletal dynamics and function of hematopoietic cells. Mutations in the WAS gene lead to two different syndromes; Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) caused by loss-of-function mutations, and X-linked neutropenia (XLN) caused by gain-of-function mutations. We previously showed that WASp-deficient mice have a decreased number of regulatory T (Treg) cells in the thymus and the periphery. We here evaluated the impact of WASp mutations on Treg cells in the thymus of WAS and XLN mouse models. Using in vitro Treg differentiation assays, WAS CD4 single-positive thymocytes have decreased differentiation to Treg cells, despite normal early signaling upon IL-2 and TGF-β stimulation. They failed to proliferate and express CD25 at high levels, leading to poor survival and a lower number of Foxp3+ Treg cells. Conversely, XLN CD4 single-positive thymocytes efficiently differentiate into Foxp3+ Treg cells following a high proliferative response to IL-2 and TGF-β, associated with high CD25 expression when compared with WT cells. Altogether, these results show that specific mutations of WASp affect Treg cell development differently, demonstrating a critical role of WASp activity in supporting Treg cell development and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Vasconcelos-Fontes
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rhaissa C Vieira
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Minghui He
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rafaella Ferreira-Reis
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Arnon Dias Jurberg
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniella Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John Andersson
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vinicius Cotta-de-Almeida
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lisa S Westerberg
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Afzali AM, Nirschl L, Sie C, Pfaller M, Ulianov O, Hassler T, Federle C, Petrozziello E, Kalluri SR, Chen HH, Tyystjärvi S, Muschaweckh A, Lammens K, Delbridge C, Büttner A, Steiger K, Seyhan G, Ottersen OP, Öllinger R, Rad R, Jarosch S, Straub A, Mühlbauer A, Grassmann S, Hemmer B, Böttcher JP, Wagner I, Kreutzfeldt M, Merkler D, Pardàs IB, Schmidt Supprian M, Buchholz VR, Heink S, Busch DH, Klein L, Korn T. B cells orchestrate tolerance to the neuromyelitis optica autoantigen AQP4. Nature 2024; 627:407-415. [PMID: 38383779 PMCID: PMC10937377 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07079-8] [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: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica is a paradigmatic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, in which the water-channel protein AQP4 is the target antigen1. The immunopathology in neuromyelitis optica is largely driven by autoantibodies to AQP42. However, the T cell response that is required for the generation of these anti-AQP4 antibodies is not well understood. Here we show that B cells endogenously express AQP4 in response to activation with anti-CD40 and IL-21 and are able to present their endogenous AQP4 to T cells with an AQP4-specific T cell receptor (TCR). A population of thymic B cells emulates a CD40-stimulated B cell transcriptome, including AQP4 (in mice and humans), and efficiently purges the thymic TCR repertoire of AQP4-reactive clones. Genetic ablation of Aqp4 in B cells rescues AQP4-specific TCRs despite sufficient expression of AQP4 in medullary thymic epithelial cells, and B-cell-conditional AQP4-deficient mice are fully competent to raise AQP4-specific antibodies in productive germinal-centre responses. Thus, the negative selection of AQP4-specific thymocytes is dependent on the expression and presentation of AQP4 by thymic B cells. As AQP4 is expressed in B cells in a CD40-dependent (but not AIRE-dependent) manner, we propose that thymic B cells might tolerize against a group of germinal-centre-associated antigens, including disease-relevant autoantigens such as AQP4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Maisam Afzali
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany
| | - Lucy Nirschl
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher Sie
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Pfaller
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Oleksii Ulianov
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Hassler
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Institute for Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christine Federle
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Institute for Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Elisabetta Petrozziello
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Institute for Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sudhakar Reddy Kalluri
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Hsin Hsiang Chen
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Sofia Tyystjärvi
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Muschaweckh
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Lammens
- Department of Biochemistry at the Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Claire Delbridge
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Büttner
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Gönül Seyhan
- Institute for Experimental Hematology, TranslaTUM Cancer Center, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Ole Petter Ottersen
- Division of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rupert Öllinger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TranslaTUM Cancer Center, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TranslaTUM Cancer Center, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian Straub
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Anton Mühlbauer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Simon Grassmann
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bernhard Hemmer
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan P Böttcher
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingrid Wagner
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Clinical Pathology, Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Centre Médical Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mario Kreutzfeldt
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Clinical Pathology, Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Centre Médical Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Doron Merkler
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Clinical Pathology, Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Centre Médical Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Marc Schmidt Supprian
- Institute for Experimental Hematology, TranslaTUM Cancer Center, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Veit R Buchholz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Sylvia Heink
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ludger Klein
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Institute for Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thomas Korn
- Institute for Experimental Neuroimmunology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany.
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4
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Martinez RJ, Breed ER, Worota Y, Ashby KM, Vobořil M, Mathes T, Salgado OC, O’Connor CH, Kotenko SV, Hogquist KA. Type III interferon drives thymic B cell activation and regulatory T cell generation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220120120. [PMID: 36802427 PMCID: PMC9992806 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220120120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The activation of thymic B cells is critical for their licensing as antigen presenting cells and resulting ability to mediate T cell central tolerance. The processes leading to licensing are still not fully understood. By comparing thymic B cells to activated Peyer's patch B cells at steady state, we found that thymic B cell activation starts during the neonatal period and is characterized by TCR/CD40-dependent activation, followed by immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR) without forming germinal centers. Transcriptional analysis also demonstrated a strong interferon signature, which was not apparent in the periphery. Thymic B cell activation and CSR were primarily dependent on type III IFN signaling, and loss of type III IFN receptor in thymic B cells resulted in reduced thymocyte regulatory T cell (Treg) development. Finally, from TCR deep sequencing, we estimate that licensed B cells induce development of a substantial fraction of the Treg cell repertoire. Together, these findings reveal the importance of steady-state type III IFN in generating licensed thymic B cells that induce T cell tolerance to activated B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Martinez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Elise R. Breed
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Yosan Worota
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Katherine M. Ashby
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Matouš Vobořil
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Tailor Mathes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Oscar C. Salgado
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Christine H. O’Connor
- Research Informatics Solutions, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Group, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Sergei V. Kotenko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ07103
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ07103
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ07103
| | - Kristin A. Hogquist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
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5
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Lombard-Vadnais F, Chabot-Roy G, Zahn A, Rodriguez Torres S, Di Noia JM, Melichar HJ, Lesage S. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase expression by thymic B cells promotes T-cell tolerance and limits autoimmunity. iScience 2022; 26:105852. [PMID: 36654860 PMCID: PMC9840937 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Elimination of self-reactive T cells in the thymus is critical to establish T-cell tolerance. A growing body of evidence suggests a role for thymic B cells in the elimination of self-reactive thymocytes. To specifically address the role of thymic B cells in central tolerance, we investigated the phenotype of thymic B cells in various mouse strains, including non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of autoimmune diabetes. We noted that isotype switching of NOD thymic B cells is reduced as compared to other, autoimmune-resistant, mouse strains. To determine the impact of B cell isotype switching on thymocyte selection and tolerance, we generated NOD.AID-/- mice. Diabetes incidence was enhanced in these mice. Moreover, we observed reduced clonal deletion and a resulting increase in self-reactive CD4+ T cells in NOD.AID-/- mice relative to NOD controls. Together, this study reveals that AID expression in thymic B cells contributes to T-cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Lombard-Vadnais
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Geneviève Chabot-Roy
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Astrid Zahn
- Unité de recherche en biologie moléculaire des cellules B, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Sahily Rodriguez Torres
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Javier M. Di Noia
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada,Unité de recherche en biologie moléculaire des cellules B, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada,Département de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada,Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Heather J. Melichar
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada,Département de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada,Corresponding author
| | - Sylvie Lesage
- Immunologie-oncologie, Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada,Corresponding author
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6
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Greaves RB, Chen D, Green EA. Thymic B Cells as a New Player in the Type 1 Diabetes Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:772017. [PMID: 34745148 PMCID: PMC8566354 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.772017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1d) results from a sustained autoreactive T and B cell response towards insulin-producing β cells in the islets of Langerhans. The autoreactive nature of the condition has led to many investigations addressing the genetic or cellular changes in primary lymphoid tissues that impairs central tolerance- a key process in the deletion of autoreactive T and B cells during their development. For T cells, these studies have largely focused on medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) critical for the effective negative selection of autoreactive T cells in the thymus. Recently, a new cellular player that impacts positively or negatively on the deletion of autoreactive T cells during their development has come to light, thymic B cells. Normally a small population within the thymus of mouse and man, thymic B cells expand in T1d as well as other autoimmune conditions, reside in thymic ectopic germinal centres and secrete autoantibodies that bind selective mTECs precipitating mTEC death. In this review we will discuss the ontogeny, characteristics and functionality of thymic B cells in healthy and autoimmune settings. Furthermore, we explore how in silico approaches may help decipher the complex cellular interplay of thymic B cells with other cells within the thymic microenvironment leading to new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B Greaves
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Dawei Chen
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - E Allison Green
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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7
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Castañeda J, Hidalgo Y, Sauma D, Rosemblatt M, Bono MR, Núñez S. The Multifaceted Roles of B Cells in the Thymus: From Immune Tolerance to Autoimmunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:766698. [PMID: 34790201 PMCID: PMC8591215 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.766698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is home to a significant number of resident B cells which possess several unique characteristics regarding their origin, phenotype and function. Evidence shows that they originate both from precursors that mature intrathymically and as the entry of recirculating mature B cells. Under steady-state conditions they exhibit hallmark signatures of activated B cells, undergo immunoglobulin class-switch, and express the Aire transcription factor. These features are imprinted within the thymus and enable B cells to act as specialized antigen-presenting cells in the thymic medulla that contribute negative selection of self-reactive T cells. Though, most studies have focused on B cells located in the medulla, a second contingent of B cells is also present in non-epithelial perivascular spaces of the thymus. This latter group of B cells, which includes memory B cells and plasma cells, is not readily detected in the thymus of infants or young mice but gradually accumulates during normal aging. Remarkably, in many autoimmune diseases the thymus suffers severe structural atrophy and infiltration of B cells in the perivascular spaces, which organize into follicles similar to those typically found in secondary lymphoid organs. This review provides an overview of the pathways involved in thymic B cell origin and presents an integrated view of both thymic medullary and perivascular B cells and their respective physiological and pathological roles in central tolerance and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Castañeda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yessia Hidalgo
- Cells for cells-Consorcio Regenero, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Sauma
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario Rosemblatt
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Rosa Bono
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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8
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Intrathymic differentiation of natural antibody-producing plasma cells in human neonates. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5761. [PMID: 34599177 PMCID: PMC8486820 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26069-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a central lymphoid organ primarily responsible for the development of T cells. A small proportion of B cells, however, also reside in the thymus to assist negative selection of self-reactive T cells. Here we show that the thymus of human neonates contains a consistent contingent of CD138+ plasma cells, producing all classes and subclasses of immunoglobulins with the exception of IgD. These antibody-secreting cells are part of a larger subset of B cells that share the expression of signature genes defining mouse B1 cells, yet lack the expression of complement receptors CD21 and CD35. Data from single-cell transcriptomic, clonal correspondence and in vitro differentiation assays support the notion of intrathymic CD138+ plasma cell differentiation, alongside other B cell subsets with distinctive molecular phenotypes. Lastly, neonatal thymic plasma cells also include clones reactive to commensal and pathogenic bacteria that commonly infect children born with antibody deficiency. Thus, our findings point to the thymus as a source of innate humoral immunity in human neonates.
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9
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Shelyakin PV, Lupyr KR, Egorov ES, Kofiadi IA, Staroverov DB, Kasatskaya SA, Kriukova VV, Shagina IA, Merzlyak EM, Nakonechnaya TO, Latysheva EA, Manto IA, Khaitov MR, Lukyanov SA, Chudakov DM, Britanova OV. Naïve Regulatory T Cell Subset Is Altered in X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia. Front Immunol 2021; 12:697307. [PMID: 34489944 PMCID: PMC8417104 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.697307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interplay between T- and B-cell compartments during naïve, effector and memory T cell maturation is critical for a balanced immune response. Primary B-cell immunodeficiency arising from X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) offers a model to explore B cell impact on T cell subsets, starting from the thymic selection. Here we investigated characteristics of naïve and effector T cell subsets in XLA patients, revealing prominent alterations in the corresponding T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires. We observed immunosenescence in terms of decreased diversity of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ TCR repertoires in XLA donors. The most substantial alterations were found within naïve CD4+ subsets, and we have investigated these in greater detail. In particular, increased clonality and convergence, along with shorter CDR3 regions, suggested narrower focused antigen-specific maturation of thymus-derived naïve Treg (CD4+CD45RA+CD27+CD25+) in the absence of B cells - normally presenting diverse self and commensal antigens. The naïve Treg proportion among naïve CD4 T cells was decreased in XLA patients, supporting the concept of impaired thymic naïve Treg selection. Furthermore, the naïve Treg subset showed prominent differences at the transcriptome level, including increased expression of genes specific for antigen-presenting and myeloid cells. Altogether, our findings suggest active B cell involvement in CD4 T cell subsets maturation, including B cell-dependent expansion of the naïve Treg TCR repertoire that enables better control of self-reactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel V Shelyakin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ksenia R Lupyr
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny S Egorov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya A Kofiadi
- FSBI "NRC Institute of Immunology" FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy B Staroverov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofya A Kasatskaya
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeriia V Kriukova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina A Shagina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina M Merzlyak
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana O Nakonechnaya
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Irina A Manto
- FSBI "NRC Institute of Immunology" FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Musa R Khaitov
- FSBI "NRC Institute of Immunology" FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey A Lukyanov
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy M Chudakov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V Britanova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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10
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Abstract
T cell-mediated immune tolerance is a state of unresponsiveness of T cells towards specific self or non-self antigens. This is particularly essential during prenatal/neonatal period when T cells are exposed to dramatically changing environment and required to avoid rejection of maternal antigens, limit autoimmune responses, tolerate inert environmental and food antigens and antigens from non-harmful commensal microorganisms, promote maturation of mucosal barrier function, yet mount an appropriate response to pathogenic microorganisms. The cell-intrinsic and cell extrinsic mechanisms promote the generation of prenatal/neonatal T cells with distinct features to meet the complex and dynamic need of tolerance during this period. Reduced exposure or impaired tolerance in early life may have significant impact on allergic or autoimmune diseases in adult life. The uniqueness of conventional and regulatory T cells in human umbilical cord blood (UCB) may also provide certain advantages in UCB transplantation for hematological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Yang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Dan Lu
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Ge
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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11
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Pérez AR, de Meis J, Rodriguez-Galan MC, Savino W. The Thymus in Chagas Disease: Molecular Interactions Involved in Abnormal T-Cell Migration and Differentiation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1838. [PMID: 32983098 PMCID: PMC7492291 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite T. cruzi, is a prevalent parasitic disease in Latin America. Presently, it is spreading around the world by human migration, thus representing a new global health issue. Chronically infected individuals reveal a dissimilar disease progression: while nearly 60% remain without apparent disease for life, 30% develop life-threatening pathologies, such as chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) or megaviscerae. Inflammation driven by parasite persistence seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, there is also evidence of the occurrence of autoimmune events, mainly caused by molecular mimicry and bystander activation. In experimental models of disease, is well-established that T. cruzi infects the thymus and causes locally profound structural and functional alterations. The hallmark is a massive loss of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes, mainly triggered by increased levels of glucocorticoids, although other mechanisms seem to act simultaneously. Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) exhibited an increase in extracellular matrix deposition, which are related to thymocyte migratory alterations. Moreover, medullary TEC showed a decreased expression of AIRE and altered expression of microRNAs, which might be linked to a disrupted negative selection of the T-cell repertoire. Also, almost all stages of thymocyte development are altered, including an abnormal output of CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) and DP immature and mature cells, many of them carrying prohibited TCR-Vβ segments. Evidence has shown that DN and DP cells with an activated phenotype can be tracked in the blood of humans with chronic Chagas disease and also in the secondary lymphoid organs and heart of infected mice, raising new questions about the relevance of these populations in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease and their possible link with thymic alterations and an immunoendocrine imbalance. Here, we discuss diverse molecular mechanisms underlying thymic abnormalities occurring during T. cruzi infection and their link with CCC, which may contribute to the design of innovative strategies to control Chagas disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rosa Pérez
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.,Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juliana de Meis
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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12
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Owen DL, Sjaastad LE, Farrar MA. Regulatory T Cell Development in the Thymus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 203:2031-2041. [PMID: 31591259 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Development of a comprehensive regulatory T (Treg) cell compartment in the thymus is required to maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. In this study, we review cellular and molecular determinants of Treg cell development in the thymus. We focus on the evidence for a self-antigen-focused Treg cell repertoire as well as the APCs responsible for presenting self-antigens to developing thymocytes. We also cover the contribution of different cytokines to thymic Treg development and the cellular populations that produce these cytokines. Finally, we update the originally proposed "two-step" model of thymic Treg differentiation by incorporating new evidence demonstrating that Treg cells develop from two Treg progenitor populations and discuss the functional importance of Treg cells generated via either progenitor pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Owen
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Louisa E Sjaastad
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Michael A Farrar
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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13
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Hidalgo Y, Núñez S, Fuenzalida MJ, Flores-Santibáñez F, Sáez PJ, Dorner J, Lennon-Dumenil AM, Martínez V, Zorn E, Rosemblatt M, Sauma D, Bono MR. Thymic B Cells Promote Germinal Center-Like Structures and the Expansion of Follicular Helper T Cells in Lupus-Prone Mice. Front Immunol 2020; 11:696. [PMID: 32411134 PMCID: PMC7199236 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the activation of autoreactive T and B cells, autoantibody production, and immune complex deposition in various organs. Previous evidence showed abnormal accumulation of B cells in the thymus of lupus-prone mice, but the role of this population in the progression of the disease remains mostly undefined. Here we analyzed the spatial distribution, function, and properties of this thymic B cell population in the BWF1 murine model of SLE. We found that in diseased animals, thymic B cells proliferate, and cluster in structures that resemble ectopic germinal centers. Moreover, we detected antibody-secreting cells in the thymus of diseased-BWF1 mice that produce anti-dsDNA IgG autoantibodies. We also found that thymic B cells from diseased-BWF1 mice induced the differentiation of thymocytes to follicular helper T cells (TFH). These data suggest that the accumulation of B cells in the thymus of BWF1 mice results in the formation of germinal center-like structures and the expansion of a TFH population, which may, in turn, activate and differentiate B cells into autoreactive plasma cells. Therefore, the thymus emerges as an important niche that supports the maintenance of the pathogenic humoral response in the development of murine SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yessia Hidalgo
- Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Cells for Cells-Consorcio Regenero, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Maria Jose Fuenzalida
- Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Fundacion Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Pablo J Sáez
- INSERM U932, Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Jessica Dorner
- FAVET-INBIOGEN, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Victor Martínez
- FAVET-INBIOGEN, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Emmanuel Zorn
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mario Rosemblatt
- Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Fundacion Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Sauma
- Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Rosa Bono
- Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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14
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Importance of Hematopoietic Mixed Chimerism for Induction of Renal Allograft Tolerance in Nonhuman Primates. Transplantation 2019; 103:689-697. [PMID: 30300283 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although induction of durable mixed chimerism is required for murine skin allograft tolerance (TOL), renal allograft TOL has been achieved after induction of only transient mixed chimerism in nonhuman primates (NHPs) and humans. To better define the level/duration of chimerism required for stable renal allograft TOL, we retrospectively analyzed these parameters and compared them with transplant outcomes in NHP combined kidney and bone marrow transplant recipients. METHODS Peripheral blood levels and duration of myeloid or lymphoid chimerism were retrospectively analyzed in 34 NHP combined kidney and bone marrow transplantation recipients which were divided into 3 groups: TOL, n = 10; chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR), n = 12; and T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), n = 12. RESULTS All 4 of the recipients that failed to develop any chimerism lost their allografts due to TCMR after discontinuation of immunosuppression (56 ± 3 d). Among 30 recipients who successfully developed multilineage chimerism, 10 achieved long-term immunosuppression-free survival without rejection (1258 ± 388 d), 12 eventually developed CAMR (932 ± 155 d), and 8 developed TCMR (82 ± 10 d). The maximum level but not duration of lymphoid chimerism was significantly higher in TOL recipients compared with both CAMR (P = 0.0159) and TCMR (P = 0.0074). On the other hand, the maximum myeloid chimerism was significantly higher in TOL than in TCMR (P = 0.0469), but not in CAMR. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that lymphoid chimerism levels of 3.1% or greater could reliably predict long-term immunosuppression-free renal allograft survival (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS This retrospective study confirmed that induction of chimerism is essential for long-term immunosuppression-free survival, which best correlates with lymphoid chimerism levels higher than 3.1%.
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15
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Labarthe L, Henriquez S, Lambotte O, Di Santo JP, Le Grand R, Pflumio F, Arcangeli ML, Legrand N, Bourgeois C. Frontline Science: Exhaustion and senescence marker profiles on human T cells in BRGSF-A2 humanized mice resemble those in human samples. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 107:27-42. [PMID: 31378988 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5hi1018-410rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This work sought to confirm the human-like expression of exhaustion and senescence markers in a mouse model with a humanized immune system (HIS): the Balb/c Rag2KO IL2rgcKO SirpαNOD Flk2KO HLA-A2HHD (BRGSF-A2) mouse reconstituted with human CD34+ cord blood cells. With regard to senescence markers, the percentage of CD57+ T cells was higher in the bone marrow (BM) than in the spleen or blood. The same was true for KLRG1+ hCD8+ T cells. With regard to exhaustion markers, the percentage of programmed death 1 (PD-1+ ) T cells was higher in the BM than in the spleen or blood; the same was true for TIGIT+ hCD4+ cells. These tissue-specific differences were related to both higher proportions of memory T cells in BM and intrinsic differences in expression within the memory fraction. In blood samples from HIS mice and healthy human donors (HDs), we found that the percentage of KLRG1+ cells among hCD8+ T cells was lower in HIS compared to HDs. The opposite was true for CD4+ T cells. Unexpectedly, a high frequency of KLRG1+ cells was observed among naive T cells in HIS mice. CD57 expression on T cells was similar in blood samples from HIS mice and HDs. Likewise, PD-1 expression was similar in the two systems, although a relatively low proportion of HIS hCD4+ T cells expressed TIGIT. The BRGSF-A2 HIS mouse's exhaustion and senescence profile was tissue specific and relatively human like; hence, this mouse might be a valuable tool for determining the preclinical efficacy of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Labarthe
- IDMIT Department, CEA-Université Paris Sud 11-INSERM U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, IBFJ, F-92265, Paris, France.,genOway Paris, F-92265, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Soledad Henriquez
- IDMIT Department, CEA-Université Paris Sud 11-INSERM U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, IBFJ, F-92265, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Lambotte
- IDMIT Department, CEA-Université Paris Sud 11-INSERM U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, IBFJ, F-92265, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Sud, Hôpital Bicêtre, F-94276, Paris, France
| | - James P Di Santo
- Innate Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, F-75015, Paris, France.,INSERM U1223, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Roger Le Grand
- IDMIT Department, CEA-Université Paris Sud 11-INSERM U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, IBFJ, F-92265, Paris, France
| | - Françoise Pflumio
- IRCM, CEA-Université Paris 7-Université Paris Sud 11, INSERM U1274, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Christine Bourgeois
- IDMIT Department, CEA-Université Paris Sud 11-INSERM U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, IBFJ, F-92265, Paris, France
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16
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Santamaria J, Darrigues J, van Meerwijk JP, Romagnoli P. Antigen-presenting cells and T-lymphocytes homing to the thymus shape T cell development. Immunol Lett 2018; 204:9-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Oncogene-specific T cells fail to eradicate lymphoma-initiating B cells in mice. Blood 2018; 132:924-934. [PMID: 30002144 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2018-02-834036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, little is known about the interaction between (pre-)malignant B cells and T cells. We generated transgenic mice that allow B cell-specific induction of the oncogene SV40 large T-antigen (TAg) to analyze the role of oncogene-specific T cells during sporadic B-cell lymphoma development. Constitutive TAg expression in CD19-Cre × LoxP-Tag mice resulted in TAg-tolerant CD8+ T cells and development of B-cell lymphomas. In contrast, CD19-CreERT2 × LoxP-Tag mice retained TAg-competent CD8+ T cells at time of oncogene induction and TAg expression in few B cells of adult mice resulted in exceptionally rare lymphoma formation late in life. Increased lymphoma incidence in the absence of TAg-specific T cells suggested T cell-mediated inhibition of lymphoma progression. However, TAg-initiated B cells were not eliminated by T cells and detected long term. Our results demonstrate a failure of the immune system to eradicate lymphoma-initiating B cells, retaining the risk of lymphoma development.
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18
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Buckley CD, McGettrick HM. Leukocyte trafficking between stromal compartments: lessons from rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2018; 14:476-487. [DOI: 10.1038/s41584-018-0042-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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19
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Pinto AI, Smith J, Kissack MR, Hogg KG, Green EA. Thymic B Cell-Mediated Attack of Thymic Stroma Precedes Type 1 Diabetes Development. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1281. [PMID: 29930554 PMCID: PMC5999731 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from a coordinated autoimmune attack of insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas by the innate and adaptive immune systems, beta cell death being predominantly T cell-mediated. In addition to T cells, peripheral B cells are important in T1D progression. The thymus of mice and man also contains B cells, and lately they have been linked to central tolerance of T cells. The role of thymic B cells in T1D is undefined. Here, we show there are abnormalities in the thymic B cell compartment before beta cell destruction and T1D manifestation. Using non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, we document that preceding T1D development, there is significant accumulation of thymic B cells-partly through in situ development- and the putative formation of ectopic germinal centers. In addition, in NOD mice we quantify thymic plasma cells and observe in situ binding of immunoglobulins to undefined antigens on a proportion of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). By contrast, no ectopic germinal centers or pronounced intrathymic autoantibodies are detectable in animals not genetically predisposed to developing T1D. Binding of autoantibodies to thymic stroma correlates with apoptosis of mTECs, including insulin-expressing cells. By contrast, apoptosis of mTECs was decreased by 50% in B cell-deficient NOD mice suggesting intrathymic autoantibodies may selectively target certain mTECs for destruction. Furthermore, we observe that these thymic B cell-associated events correlated with an increased prevalence of premature thymic emigration of T cells. Together, our data suggest that the thymus may be a principal autoimmune target in T1D and contributes to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Pinto
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Smith
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Miriam R Kissack
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Karen G Hogg
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - E Allison Green
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom.,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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20
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Xiao S, Zhang W, Manley NR. Thymic B cell development is controlled by the B potential of progenitors via both hematopoietic-intrinsic and thymic microenvironment-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193189. [PMID: 29462202 PMCID: PMC5819817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) derived from birth through adult possess differing differentiation potential for T or B cell fate in the thymus; neonatal bone marrow (BM) cells also have a higher potential for B cell production in BM compared to adult HSCs. We hypothesized that this hematopoietic-intrinsic B potential might also regulate B cell development in the thymus during ontogeny. METHODS Foxn1lacZ mutant mice are a model in which down regulation of a thymic epithelial cell (TEC) specific transcription factor beginning one week postnatal causes a dramatic reduction of thymocytes production. In this study, we found that while T cells were decreased, the frequency of thymic B cells was greatly increased in these mutants in the perinatal period. We used this model to characterize the mechanisms in the thymus controlling B cell development. RESULTS Foxn1lacZ mutants, T cell committed intrathymic progenitors (DN1a,b) were progressively reduced beginning one week after birth, while thymic B cells peaked at 3-4 weeks with pre-B-II progenitor phenotype, and originated in the thymus. Heterochronic chimeras showed that the capacity for thymic B cell production was due to a combination of higher B potential of neonatal HSCs, combined with a thymic microenvironment deficiency including reduction of DL4 and increase of IL-7 that promoted B cell fate. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the capacity and time course for thymic B-cell production are primarily controlled by the hematopoietic-intrinsic potential for B cells themselves during ontogeny, but that signals from TECs microenvironment also influence the frequency and differentiation potential of B cell development in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyun Xiao
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nancy R. Manley
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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21
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Breed ER, Lee ST, Hogquist KA. Directing T cell fate: How thymic antigen presenting cells coordinate thymocyte selection. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 84:2-10. [PMID: 28800929 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The development of a self-tolerant and effective T cell receptor repertoire is dependent on interactions coordinated by various antigen presenting cells (APC) within the thymus. T cell receptor-self-peptide-MHC interactions are essential for determining T cell fate, however different cytokine and co-stimulatory signals provided by the diverse APCs within the thymus are also critical. Here, we outline the different localization and functional capabilities of thymic APCs. We also discuss how these distinct APCs work collectively to facilitate the establishment of a diverse T cell receptor repertoire that is tolerant to an array of different self-antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise R Breed
- The Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - S Thera Lee
- The Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- The Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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22
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Mohammed Ali HH, Drela N. Role of thymic B cells in the development of thymus-derived regulatory T cell in vitro. Immunol Lett 2017; 185:56-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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23
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Nuñez S, Moore C, Gao B, Rogers K, Hidalgo Y, Del Nido PJ, Restaino S, Naka Y, Bhagat G, Madsen JC, Bono MR, Zorn E. The human thymus perivascular space is a functional niche for viral-specific plasma cells. Sci Immunol 2016; 1. [PMID: 28459117 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aah4447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The human thymus is susceptible to viral infections that can severely alter thymopoiesis and compromise the mechanisms of acquired tolerance to self-antigens. In humans, plasma cells residing primarily in the bone marrow confer long-lasting protection to common viruses by secreting antigen-specific antibodies. Since the thymus also houses B cells, we examined the phenotypic complexity of these thymic resident cells and their possible protective role against viral infections. Using tissue specimens collected from subjects ranging in age from 5 days to 71 years, we found that starting during the first year of life, CD138+ plasma cells (PC) begin accumulating in the thymic perivascular space (PVS) where they constitutively produce IgG without the need for additional stimulation. These, thymic PC secrete almost exclusively IgG1 and IgG3, the two main complement-fixing effector IgG subclasses. Moreover, using antigen-specific ELISpot assays, we demonstrated that thymic PC include a high frequency of cells reactive to common viral proteins. Our study reveals an unrecognized role of the PVS as a functional niche for viral-specific PCs. The PVS is located between the thymic epithelial areas and the circulation. PCs located in this compartment may therefore provide internal protection against pathogen infections and preserve the integrity and function of the organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nuñez
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Moore
- MGH Transplant Center and Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Baoshan Gao
- MGH Transplant Center and Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kortney Rogers
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yessia Hidalgo
- Department of Biology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro J Del Nido
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Restaino
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoshifumi Naka
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Govind Bhagat
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joren C Madsen
- MGH Transplant Center and Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Emmanuel Zorn
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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Bergkvist KS, Nørgaard MA, Bøgsted M, Schmitz A, Nyegaard M, Gaihede M, Bæch J, Grønholdt ML, Jensen FS, Johansen P, Urup T, El-Galaly TC, Madsen J, Bødker JS, Dybkær K, Johnsen HE. Characterization of memory B cells from thymus and its impact for DLBCL classification. Exp Hematol 2016; 44:982-990.e11. [PMID: 27297329 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The rare memory B cells in thymus (Thy) are considered the cells of origin for primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the normal memory B-cell compartment in Thy and to support its association with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. Seven paired human tissue samples from Thy and sternum bone marrow (BM) were harvested during cardiac surgery. B-cell subsets were phenotyped by Euroflow standard and fluorescence-activated cell sorting for microarray analysis on the Human Exon 1.0 ST Arrays platform. Differentially expressed genes between Thy and BM memory B cells were identified and correlated with the molecular subclasses of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Within Thy, 4% (median; range 2%-14%) of the CD45(+) hematopoietic cells were CD19(+) B cells, with a major fraction being CD27(+)/CD38(-) memory B cells (median 80%, range 76%-93%). The BM contained 14% (median; range 3%-27%), of which only a minor fraction (median 5%, range 2%-10%) were memory B cells. Global gene expression analysis of the memory B-cell subsets from the two compartments identified 133 genes upregulated in Thy, including AICDA, REL, STAT1, TNF family, SLAMF1, CD80, and CD86. In addition, exons 4 and 5 in the 3' end of AICDA were more highly expressed in Thy than in BM. The Thy memory B-cell gene profile was overexpressed in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma compared with other diffuse large B-cell lymphoma subclasses. The present study describes a Thy memory B-cell subset and its gene profile correlated with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas, suggesting origin from Thy memory B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Agge Nørgaard
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Bøgsted
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Alexander Schmitz
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mette Nyegaard
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Michael Gaihede
- Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - John Bæch
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | | | - Preben Johansen
- Department of Pathology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Thomas Urup
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Tarec C El-Galaly
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jakob Madsen
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Julie Støve Bødker
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Karen Dybkær
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Hans Erik Johnsen
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
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25
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Rother MB, Schreurs MWJ, Kroek R, Bartol SJW, van Dongen JJM, van Zelm MC. The Human Thymus Is Enriched for Autoreactive B Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:441-8. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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26
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Sinkora M, Butler JE. Progress in the use of swine in developmental immunology of B and T lymphocytes. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 58:1-17. [PMID: 26708608 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The adaptive immune system of higher vertebrates is believed to have evolved to counter the ability of pathogens to avoid expulsion because their high rate of germline mutations. Vertebrates developed this adaptive immune response through the evolution of lymphocytes capable of somatic generation of a diverse repertoire of their antigenic receptors without the need to increase the frequency of germline mutation. The focus of our research and this article is on the ontogenetic development of the lymphocytes, and the repertoires they generate in swine. Several features are discussed including (a) the "closed" porcine placenta means that de novo fetal development can be studied for 114 days without passive influence from the mother, (b) newborn piglets are precocial permitting them to be reared without their mothers in germ-free isolators, (c) swine are members of the γδ-high group of mammals and thus provides a greater opportunity to characterize the role of γδ T cells and (d) because swine have a simplified variable heavy and light chain genome they offer a convenient system to study antibody repertoire development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Sinkora
- Laboratory of Gnotobiology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Novy Hradek, Czech Republic.
| | - John E Butler
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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27
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Schuldt NJ, Auger JL, Hogquist KA, Binstadt BA. Bi-Allelic TCRα or β Recombination Enhances T Cell Development but Is Dispensable for Antigen Responses and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145762. [PMID: 26693713 PMCID: PMC4687847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dual TCRα-expressing T cells outnumber dual TCRβ-expressing cells by ~10:1. As a result, efforts to understand how dual TCR T cells impact immunity have focused on dual TCRα expression; dual TCRβ expression remains understudied. We recently demonstrated, however, that dual TCRβ expression accelerated disease in a TCR transgenic model of autoimmune arthritis through enhanced positive selection efficiency, indicating that dual TCRβ expression, though rare, can impact thymic selection. Here we generated mice hemizygous for TCRα, TCRβ, or both on the C57BL/6 background to investigate the impact bi-allelic TCR chain recombination has on T cell development, repertoire diversity, and autoimmunity. Lack of bi-allelic TCRα or TCRβ recombination reduced αβ thymocyte development efficiency, and the absence of bi-allelic TCRβ recombination promoted γδ T cell development. However, we observed no differences in the numbers of naïve and expanded antigen-specific T cells between TCRα+/-β+/- and wildtype mice, and TCR repertoire analysis revealed only subtle differences in Vβ gene usage. Finally, the absence of dual TCR T cells did not impact induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis pathogenesis. Thus, despite more stringent allelic exclusion of TCRβ relative to TCRα, bi-allelic TCRβ expression can measurably impact thymocyte development and is necessary for maintaining normal αβ/γδ T cell proportions.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/genetics
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation/immunology
- Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor/immunology
- Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/microbiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J. Schuldt
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Auger
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Kristin A. Hogquist
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
| | - Bryce A. Binstadt
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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28
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Hu Z, Lancaster JN, Ehrlich LIR. The Contribution of Chemokines and Migration to the Induction of Central Tolerance in the Thymus. Front Immunol 2015; 6:398. [PMID: 26300884 PMCID: PMC4528182 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As T cells develop, they migrate throughout the thymus where they undergo essential bi-directional signaling with stromal cells in distinct thymic microenvironments. Immature thymocyte progenitors are located in the thymic cortex. Following T cell receptor expression and positive selection, thymocytes undergo a dramatic transition: they become rapidly motile and relocate to the thymic medulla. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) within the cortex and medulla display peptides derived from a wide array of self-proteins, which promote thymocyte self-tolerance. If a thymocyte is auto-reactive against such antigens, it undergoes either negative selection, via apoptosis, or differentiation into the regulatory T cell lineage. This induction of central tolerance is critical for prevention of autoimmunity. Chemokines and adhesion molecules play an essential role in tolerance induction, as they promote migration of developing thymocytes through the different thymic microenvironments and enhance interactions with APCs displaying self-antigens. Herein, we review the contribution of chemokines and other regulators of thymocyte localization and motility to T cell development, with a focus on their contribution to the induction of central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zicheng Hu
- Ehrlich Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, TX , USA
| | - Jessica Naomi Lancaster
- Ehrlich Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, TX , USA
| | - Lauren I R Ehrlich
- Ehrlich Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, TX , USA
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29
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Yamano T, Steinert M, Klein L. Thymic B Cells and Central T Cell Tolerance. Front Immunol 2015; 6:376. [PMID: 26257742 PMCID: PMC4510420 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Central T cell tolerance is believed to be mainly induced by thymic dendritic cells and medullary thymic epithelial cells. The thymus also harbors substantial numbers of B cells. These may arise though intrathymic B lymphopoiesis or immigration from the bloodstream. Importantly, and in contrast to resting “mainstream” B cells in the periphery, thymic B cells display elevated levels of MHC class II and constitutively express CD80. Arguably, their most unexpected feature is the expression of autoimmune regulator. These unique features of thymic B cells result from a licensing process that involves cross-talk with CD4 single-positive T cells and CD40 signaling. Together, these recent findings suggest that B cells play a more prominent role as thymic APCs than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyoshi Yamano
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich , Munich , Germany
| | - Madlen Steinert
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich , Munich , Germany
| | - Ludger Klein
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich , Munich , Germany
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30
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Lopes N, Sergé A, Ferrier P, Irla M. Thymic Crosstalk Coordinates Medulla Organization and T-Cell Tolerance Induction. Front Immunol 2015; 6:365. [PMID: 26257733 PMCID: PMC4507079 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus ensures the generation of a functional and highly diverse T-cell repertoire. The thymic medulla, which is mainly composed of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and dendritic cells (DCs), provides a specialized microenvironment dedicated to the establishment of T-cell tolerance. mTECs play a privileged role in this pivotal process by their unique capacity to express a broad range of peripheral self-antigens that are presented to developing T cells. Reciprocally, developing T cells control mTEC differentiation and organization. These bidirectional interactions are commonly referred to as thymic crosstalk. This review focuses on the relative contributions of mTEC and DC subsets to the deletion of autoreactive T cells and the generation of natural regulatory T cells. We also summarize current knowledge regarding how hematopoietic cells conversely control the composition and complex three-dimensional organization of the thymic medulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noëlla Lopes
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2 , Marseille , France
| | - Arnauld Sergé
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Aix-Marseille Université UM105 , Marseille , France
| | - Pierre Ferrier
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2 , Marseille , France
| | - Magali Irla
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2 , Marseille , France
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31
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Yamano T, Nedjic J, Hinterberger M, Steinert M, Koser S, Pinto S, Gerdes N, Lutgens E, Ishimaru N, Busslinger M, Brors B, Kyewski B, Klein L. Thymic B Cells Are Licensed to Present Self Antigens for Central T Cell Tolerance Induction. Immunity 2015; 42:1048-61. [PMID: 26070482 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Thymic antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells and medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) use distinct strategies of self-antigen expression and presentation to mediate central tolerance. The thymus also harbors B cells; whether they also display unique tolerogenic features and how they genealogically relate to peripheral B cells is unclear. Here, we found that Aire is expressed in thymic but not peripheral B cells. Aire expression in thymic B cells coincided with major histocompatibility class II (MHCII) and CD80 upregulation and immunoglobulin class-switching. These features were recapitulated upon immigration of naive peripheral B cells into the thymus, whereby this intrathymic licensing required CD40 signaling in the context of cognate interactions with autoreactive CD4(+) thymocytes. Moreover, a licensing-dependent neo-antigen selectively upregulated in immigrating B cells mediated negative selection through direct presentation. Thus, autoreactivity within the nascent T cell repertoire fuels a feed forward loop that endows thymic B cells with tolerogenic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyoshi Yamano
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Jelena Nedjic
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Hinterberger
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Madlen Steinert
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Koser
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sheena Pinto
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norbert Gerdes
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pettenkoferstrasse 9, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Esther Lutgens
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pettenkoferstrasse 9, 80336 Munich, Germany; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Naozumi Ishimaru
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan
| | - Meinrad Busslinger
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 7, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Brors
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bruno Kyewski
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ludger Klein
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336 Munich, Germany.
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32
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Lu FT, Yang W, Wang YH, Ma HD, Tang W, Yang JB, Li L, Ansari AA, Lian ZX. Thymic B cells promote thymus-derived regulatory T cell development and proliferation. J Autoimmun 2015; 61:62-72. [PMID: 26071985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Thymic CD4(+) FoxP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical for the development of immunological tolerance and immune homeostasis and requires contributions of both thymic dendritic and epithelial cells. Although B cells have been reported to be present within the thymus, there has not hitherto been a definition of their role in immune cell development and, in particular, whether or how they contribute to the Treg cellular thymic compartment. Herein, using both phenotypic and functional approaches, we demonstrate that thymic B cells contribute to the maintenance of thymic Treg cells and, using an in vitro culture system, demonstrate that thymic B cells contribute to the size of the thymic Treg compartment via cell-cell MHC II contact and the involvement of two independent co-stimulatory pathways that include interactions between the CD40/CD80/CD86 co-stimulatory molecules. Our data also suggest that thymic B cells promote the generation of thymic Treg cell precursors (pre-Treg cells), but not the conversion of FoxP3(+) Treg cells from pre-Treg cells. In addition, thymic B cells directly promote the proliferation of thymic Treg cells that is MHC II contact dependent with a minimal if any role for co-stimulatory molecules including CD40/CD80/CD86. Both pathways are independent of TGFβ. In conclusion, we rigorously define the critical role of thymic B cells in the development of thymic Treg cells from non-Treg to precursor stage and in the proliferation of mature thymic Treg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Ting Lu
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Wei Yang
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Yin-Hu Wang
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Hong-Di Ma
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Wei Tang
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Jing-Bo Yang
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Liang Li
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Aftab A Ansari
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Zhe-Xiong Lian
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
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33
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The development and function of thymic B cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:2657-63. [PMID: 25837998 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1895-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Thymic B cells are a unique population of B lymphocytes that reside at the cortico-medullary junction of the thymus, an organ that is specialized for the development and selection of T cells. These B cells are distinct from peripheral B cells both in terms of their origin and phenotype. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that they develop within the thymus from B lineage-committed progenitors and are not recirculating peripheral B cells. Furthermore, thymic B cells have a highly activated phenotype. Because of their location in the thymic medulla, they have been thought to play a role in T cell negative selection. Thymic B cells are capable of inducing negative selection in a number of model antigen systems, including viral super antigen, peptides from immunoglobulin, and cognate self antigen presented by B cell receptor-mediated uptake. These findings establish thymic B cells as a novel and important population to study; however, much work remains to be done to understand how all of these unique aspects of thymic B cell biology inform their function.
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34
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Melichar HJ, Ross JO, Taylor KT, Robey EA. Stable interactions and sustained TCR signaling characterize thymocyte-thymocyte interactions that support negative selection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 194:1057-1061. [PMID: 25520400 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Negative selection is one of the primary mechanisms that render T cells tolerant to self. Thymic dendritic cells play an important role in negative selection, in line with their ability to induce migratory arrest and sustained TCR signals. Thymocytes themselves display self-peptide/MHC class I complexes, and although there is evidence that they can support clonal deletion, it is not clear whether they do so directly via stable cell-cell contacts and sustained TCR signals. In this study, we show that murine thymocytes can support surprisingly efficient negative selection of Ag-specific thymocytes. Furthermore, we observe that agonist-dependent thymocyte-thymocyte interactions occurred as stable, motile conjugates led by the peptide-presenting thymocyte and in which the trailing peptide-specific thymocyte exhibited persistent elevations in intracellular calcium concentration. These data confirm that self-Ag presentation by thymocytes is an additional mechanism to ensure T cell tolerance and further strengthen the correlation between stable cellular contacts, sustained TCR signals, and efficient negative selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather J Melichar
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jenny O Ross
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kayleigh T Taylor
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ellen A Robey
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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35
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Xing C, Ma N, Xiao H, Wang X, Zheng M, Han G, Chen G, Hou C, Shen B, Li Y, Wang R. Critical role for thymic CD19+CD5+CD1dhiIL-10+ regulatory B cells in immune homeostasis. J Leukoc Biol 2014; 97:547-56. [PMID: 25516754 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.3a0414-213rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study tested the hypothesis that besides the spleen, LNs, peripheral blood, and thymus contain a regulatory IL-10-producing CD19(+)CD5(+)CD1d(high) B cell subset that may play a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Indeed, this population was identified in the murine thymus, and furthermore, when cocultured with CD4(+) T cells, this population of B cells supported the maintenance of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs in vitro, in part, via the CD5-CD72 interaction. Mice homozygous for Cd19(Cre) (CD19(-/-)) express B cells with impaired signaling and humoral responses. Strikingly, CD19(-/-) mice produce fewer CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs and a greater percentage of CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) T cells. Consistent with these results, transfer of thymic CD19(+)CD5(+)CD1d(hi) B cells into CD19(-/-) mice resulted in significantly up-regulated numbers of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs with a concomitant reduction in CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) T cell populations in the thymus, spleen, and LNs but not in the BM of recipient mice. In addition, thymic CD19(+)CD5(+)CD1d(hi) B cells significantly suppressed autoimmune responses in lupus-like mice via up-regulation of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs and IL-10-producing Bregs. This study suggests that thymic CD19(+)CD5(+)CD1d(hi)IL-10(+) Bregs play a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xing
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Ning Ma
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - He Xiao
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xiaoqian Wang
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Mingke Zheng
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Gencheng Han
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Guojiang Chen
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Chunmei Hou
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Beifen Shen
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yan Li
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Renxi Wang
- *Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Immunology, Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, China; and State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
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Fujihara C, Williams JA, Watanabe M, Jeon H, Sharrow SO, Hodes RJ. T cell-B cell thymic cross-talk: maintenance and function of thymic B cells requires cognate CD40-CD40 ligand interaction. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:5534-44. [PMID: 25344473 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Thymic development requires bidirectional interaction or cross-talk between developing T cells and thymic stromal cells, a relationship that has been best characterized for the interaction between thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells. We have characterized in this article the requirement for similar cross-talk in the maintenance and function of thymic B cells, another population that plays a role in selection of developing thymic T cells. We found that maintenance of thymic B cells is strongly dependent on the presence of mature single-positive thymocytes and on the interactions of these T cells with specific Ag ligand. Maintenance of thymic B cell number is strongly dependent on B cell-autonomous expression of CD40, but not MHC class II, indicating that direct engagement of CD40 on thymic B cells is necessary to support their maintenance and proliferation. Thymic B cells can mediate negative selection of superantigen-specific, self-reactive, single-positive thymocytes, and we show that CD40 expression on B cells is critical for this negative selection. Cross-talk with thymic T cells is thus required to support the thymic B cell population through a pathway that requires cell-autonomous expression of CD40, and that reciprocally functions in negative selection of autoreactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiharu Fujihara
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Joy A Williams
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Masashi Watanabe
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Hyein Jeon
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Susan O Sharrow
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Richard J Hodes
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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Influence of maternal immunization with allergens on the thymic maturation of lymphocytes with regulatory potential in children: a broad field for further exploration. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:780386. [PMID: 25009823 PMCID: PMC4070472 DOI: 10.1155/2014/780386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of mechanisms are involved in the regulation of offspring allergy development through maternal immunization with allergens. The passive transfer of antigens, antibodies, and cytokines, the induction of phenotypic alterations in offspring lymphocytes, and the induction of regulatory populations in offspring have been proposed, but these mechanisms remain incompletely understood. It is likely that maternal immunization could affect the intrathymic maturation of offspring TCD4+, TCD8+, γδT, nTreg, iNKT, and B lymphocytes, although there are currently no human maternal immunization protocols for the regulation of allergic responses in children. Some studies have suggested a direct interaction between the maternal immune status and the offspring intrathymic microenvironment; this interaction could influence the maturation of offspring regulatory cells and must be explored for the development of therapies to control allergy development in children.
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Klein L, Kyewski B, Allen PM, Hogquist KA. Positive and negative selection of the T cell repertoire: what thymocytes see (and don't see). Nat Rev Immunol 2014; 14:377-91. [PMID: 24830344 PMCID: PMC4757912 DOI: 10.1038/nri3667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 875] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The fate of developing T cells is specified by the interaction of their antigen receptors with self-peptide-MHC complexes that are displayed by thymic antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Various subsets of thymic APCs are strategically positioned in particular thymic microenvironments and they coordinate the selection of a functional and self-tolerant T cell repertoire. In this Review, we discuss the different strategies that these APCs use to sample and process self antigens and to thereby generate partly unique, 'idiosyncratic' peptide-MHC ligandomes. We discuss how the particular composition of the peptide-MHC ligandomes that are presented by specific APC subsets not only shapes the T cell repertoire in the thymus but may also indelibly imprint the behaviour of mature T cells in the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludger Klein
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Bruno Kyewski
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul M Allen
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA
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Walters SN, Webster KE, Daley S, Grey ST. A Role for Intrathymic B Cells in the Generation of Natural Regulatory T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:170-6. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Autoreactive thymic B cells are efficient antigen-presenting cells of cognate self-antigens for T cell negative selection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:17011-6. [PMID: 24082098 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1313001110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus contains a population of B cells that colocalize with dendritic cells and medullary thymic epithelial cells in the thymic medulla. The development and functional significance of these cells are largely unknown. Using recombination-activating gene 2 GFP reporter mice along with parabiosis experiments, we demonstrate that the vast majority of thymic B cells develop from progenitors within the thymus. Thymic B cells express unique phenotypic markers compared with peripheral B cells; particularly they express high levels of MHC class II, suggesting that they are poised to present self-antigens efficiently. Using Ig knock-in and T-cell receptor transgenic mice specific for the self-antigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, we show that autoreactive thymic B cells serve as efficient antigen-presenting cells for T cell negative selection even when they are present at low frequencies. Furthermore, the endogenous thymic B-cell repertoire also functions in this capacity. These results suggest that developing thymic B cells could efficiently capture a broad array of autoantigens through their B-cell receptors, presenting peptides derived from those autoantigens to developing thymocytes and eliminating cognate T cells.
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41
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Guerri L, Peguillet I, Geraldo Y, Nabti S, Premel V, Lantz O. Analysis of APC types involved in CD4 tolerance and regulatory T cell generation using reaggregated thymic organ cultures. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 190:2102-10. [PMID: 23365074 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tolerance to self-Ags is generated in the thymus. Both epithelial and hematopoietic thymic stromal cells play an active and essential role in this process. However, the role of each of the various stromal cell types remains unresolved. To our knowledge, we describe the first comparative analysis of several types of thymic hematopoietic stromal cells (THSCs) for their ability to induce CD4 tolerance to self, in parallel with the thymic epithelium. The THSCs--two types of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs), plasmacytoid dendritic cells, macrophages (MΦs), B lymphocytes, and eosinophils--were first characterized and quantified in adult mouse thymus. They were then examined in reaggregated thymic organ cultures containing mixtures of monoclonal and polyclonal thymocytes. This thymocyte mixture allows for the analysis of Ag-specific events while avoiding the extreme skewing frequently seen in purely monoclonal systems. Our data indicate that thymic epithelium alone is capable of promoting self-tolerance by eliminating autoreactive CD4 single-positive thymocytes and by supporting regulatory T cell (Treg) development. We also show that both non-Treg CD4 single-positive thymocytes and Tregs are efficiently deleted by the two populations of cDCs present in the thymus, as well as to a lesser extent by MΦs. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, and eosinophils were not able to do so. Finally, cDCs were also the most efficient THSCs at supporting Treg development in the thymus, suggesting that although they may share some characteristics required for negative selection with MΦs, they do not share those required for the support of Treg development, making cDCs a unique cell subset in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Guerri
- INSERM U932 and Centre d'Investigation Clinique, CIC-BT507, Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France.
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Hodge DL, Reynolds D, Cerbán FM, Correa SG, Baez N, Young HA, Rodriguez-Galan MC. MCP-1/CCR2 interactions direct migration of peripheral B and T lymphocytes to the thymus during acute infectious/inflammatory processes. Eur J Immunol 2012; 42:2644-54. [PMID: 22740067 PMCID: PMC3781587 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201242408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Mature lymphocyte immigration into the thymus has been documented in mouse, rat, and pig models, and highly increases when cells acquire an activated phenotype. Entrance of peripheral B and T cells into the thymus has been described in healthy and pathological situations. However, it has not been proposed that leukocyte recirculation to the thymus could be a common feature occurring during the early phase of a Th1 inflammatory/infectious process when a large number of peripheral cells acquire an activated phenotype and the cellularity of the thymus is seriously compromised. The data we present here demonstrate that in well-established Th1 models triggered by different types of immunogens, for example, LPS treatment (a bacterial product), Candida albicans infection (a fungus), and after Trypanosoma cruzi infection (a parasite), a large number of mature peripheral B and T cells enter the thymus. This effect is dependent on, but not exclusive of, the available space in the thymus. Our data also demonstrate that MCP-1/CCR2 (where MCP-1 is monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) interaction is responsible for the infiltration of peripheral cells to the thymus in these Th1-inflammatory/infectious situations. Finally, systemic expression of IL-12 and IL-18 produced during the inflammatory process is ultimately responsible for these migratory events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah L. Hodge
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick MD 21702-1201 USA
| | - Della Reynolds
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick MD 21702-1201 USA
| | - Fabio M. Cerbán
- Inmunología. CIBICI-CONICET. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Silvia G. Correa
- Inmunología. CIBICI-CONICET. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Natalia Baez
- Inmunología. CIBICI-CONICET. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Howard A. Young
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick MD 21702-1201 USA
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Ray A, Basu S, Williams CB, Salzman NH, Dittel BN. A novel IL-10-independent regulatory role for B cells in suppressing autoimmunity by maintenance of regulatory T cells via GITR ligand. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 188:3188-98. [PMID: 22368274 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
B cells are important for the regulation of autoimmune responses. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), B cells are required for spontaneous recovery in acute models. Production of IL-10 by regulatory B cells has been shown to modulate the severity EAE and other autoimmune diseases. Previously, we suggested that B cells regulated the number of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T regulatory cells (Treg) in the CNS during EAE. Because Treg suppress autoimmune responses, we asked whether B cells control autoimmunity by maintenance of Treg numbers. B cell deficiency achieved either genetically (μMT) or by depletion with anti-CD20 resulted in a significant reduction in the number of peripheral but not thymic Treg. Adoptive transfer of WT B cells into μMT mice restored both Treg numbers and recovery from EAE. When we investigated the mechanism whereby B cells induce the proliferation of Treg and EAE recovery, we found that glucocorticoid-induced TNF ligand, but not IL-10, expression by B cells was required. Of clinical significance is the finding that anti-CD20 depletion of B cells accelerated spontaneous EAE and colitis. Our results demonstrate that B cells play a major role in immune tolerance required for the prevention of autoimmunity by maintenance of Treg via their expression of glucocorticoid-induced TNFR ligand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijit Ray
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53201-2178, USA
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