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Takada H, Osawa L, Komiyama Y, Muraoka M, Suzuki Y, Sato M, Kobayashi S, Yoshida T, Takano S, Maekawa S, Enomoto N. Interleukin-7 Risk Allele, Lymphocyte Counts, and Autoantibodies for Prediction of Risk of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Therapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Oncology 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39079513 DOI: 10.1159/000540648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) therapy was the effective immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC). However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common in patients receiving ICI therapies. Our research aimed to explore the risk factors for irAE development, with attention to interleukin-7 (IL-7) risk alleles, lymphocyte counts, and autoantibodies. METHODS Seventy-six patients receiving AB therapy for u-HCC were recruited. Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping was done for the analysis of rs16906115 polymorphism near IL-7-expressing genes using 20 μL of stored buffy coat at baseline. The association between IL-7 risk alleles, lymphocyte counts, autoantibodies, and irAE development was investigated. RESULTS irAEs were found in 14 (18%) patients. The incidence of irAEs did not differ significantly between the groups showing IL-7 AG/AA and the GG group (p = 0.72). The incidence in the group with a lymphocyte count of 1,130/µL or more at baseline was higher than in that with a value below 1,130/µL (p = 0.0093). The group showing IL-7 AG/AA or lymphocyte count >1,130/μL had a higher irAE prevalence rate than the others (p = 0.019). IL-7 AG/AA or lymphocyte count >1,130/μL and positivity for autoantibodies at baseline were the prognostic factors for irAE development. irAE incidence could be stratified using a combination of IL-7 AG/AA or lymphocyte counts ≥1,130/µL and positive autoantibodies (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION Patients with IL-7 risk alleles, high lymphocyte counts, and autoantibodies at baseline may require careful monitoring for irAE development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Takada
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Leona Osawa
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Komiyama
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masaru Muraoka
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Suzuki
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Mitsuaki Sato
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Shoji Kobayashi
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshida
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Shinichi Takano
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Shinya Maekawa
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Enomoto
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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Bandjar FK, Tabri F, Muchtar SV, Hatta M, Djawad K, Ilyas F, Musafirah S, Massi MN, Bukhari A, Zainuddin AA. Analysis of interleukin 7 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB mRNA expression as potential markers in erythema nodosum leprosum. Dermatol Reports 2024; 16:9773. [PMID: 38623372 PMCID: PMC11017716 DOI: 10.4081/dr.2023.9773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immunological complication of leprosy characterized by acute inflammation of the skin, nerves, and other organs. Identifying laboratory parameters is important for early diagnosis of leprosy reactions. Various cytokine biomarkers have been examined and only a few studies have reported on angiogenesis in leprosy. This study aims to understand the pathomechanism of ENL by examining IL-7 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB mRNA expression that can be the development and consideration of new effective therapies to prevent reactions, recurrences, and defects in leprosy. The study used a cross-sectional analytic design. Sampling was done by peripheral blood from the patient and measuring mRNA expression with specific primers RT-PCR. The expression of mRNA IL-7 and PDGF-BB was significantly different between multibasilar patients without reaction and with ENL reaction, where there was an increased expression in ENL patients. This could be used as the development of potential biomarkers in ENL and development of new therapeutic intervention pathways in ENL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fitri Kadarsih Bandjar
- Departement of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Pattimura, Maluku
- Doctorate Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, South Sulawesi
| | - Farida Tabri
- Departement of Dermatology and Venereology Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
| | - Sri Vitayani Muchtar
- Departement of Dermatology and Venereology Faculty of Medicine Universitas Muslim, Makassar
| | - Mochammad Hatta
- Departement of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
| | - Khaeruddin Djawad
- Departement of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Muhammadiyah, Makassar
| | - Farida Ilyas
- Departement of Dermatology and Venereology Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
| | - Sitti Musafirah
- Departement of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Muhammadiyah, Makassar
| | | | - Agussalim Bukhari
- Departement of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
| | - Andi Alfian Zainuddin
- Departement of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
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3
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Galarza-Muñoz G, Kennedy-Boone D, Schott G, Bradrick SS, Garcia-Blanco MA. Antisense modulation of IL7R splicing to control sIL7R expression in human CD4 + T cells. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1058-1073. [PMID: 35613883 PMCID: PMC9297843 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079137.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The interleukin 7 receptor (IL7R) is strongly associated with increased risk to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, and this association is likely driven by up-regulation of the soluble isoform of IL7R (sIL7R). Expression of sIL7R is determined by exclusion of the alternative exon 6 from IL7R transcripts, and our previous work revealed that the MS risk allele of the SNP rs6897932 within this exon enhances the expression of sIL7R by promoting exclusion of exon 6. sIL7R potentiates the activity of IL7, leading to enhanced expansion of T cells and increased disability in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) murine model of MS. This role in modulating T cell-driven immunity positions sIL7R as an attractive therapeutic target whose expression could be reduced for treatment of MS or increased for treatment of cancers. In this study, we identified novel antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that effectively control the inclusion (anti-sIL7R ASOs) or exclusion (pro-sIL7R ASOs) of this exon in a dose-dependent fashion. These ASOs provided excellent control of exon 6 splicing and sIL7R secretion in human primary CD4+ T cells. Supporting their potential for therapeutic targeting, we showed that lead anti-sIL7R ASOs correct the enhanced exon 6 exclusion imposed by the MS risk allele of rs6897932, whereas lead pro-sIL7R ASOs phenocopy it. The data presented here form the foundation for future preclinical studies that will test the therapeutic potential of these ASOs in MS and immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaddiel Galarza-Muñoz
- Autoimmunity BioSolutions, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Debbie Kennedy-Boone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Geraldine Schott
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Shelton S Bradrick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Mariano A Garcia-Blanco
- Autoimmunity BioSolutions, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
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Meyer A, Parmar PJ, Shahrara S. Significance of IL-7 and IL-7R in RA and autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev 2022; 21:103120. [PMID: 35595051 PMCID: PMC9987213 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
While physiological levels of IL-7 are essential for T cell proliferation, survival and co-stimulation, its escalated concentration has been associated with autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Expression of IL-7 and IL-7R in RA monocytes is linked to disease activity score and TNF transcription. TNF stimulation can modulate IL-7 secretion and IL-7R frequency in myeloid cells, however, only IL-7R transcription levels are downregulated in anti-TNF responsive patients. Elevated levels of IL-7 in RA synovial tissue and fluid are involved in attracting RA monocytes into the inflammatory joints and remodeling them into proinflammatory macrophages and mature osteoclasts. Further, IL-7 amplification of RA Th1 cell differentiation and IFNγ secretion, can directly prime myeloid IL-7R expression and thereby exacerbate IL-7-mediated joint inflammatory and erosive imprints. In parallel, IL-7 accentuates joint angiogenesis by expanding the production of proangiogenic factors from RA macrophages and endothelial cells. In preclinical models, blockade of IL-7 or IL-7R can effectively impair joint inflammation, osteoclast formation, and neovascularization primarily by impeding monocyte and endothelial cell infiltration as well as inhibition of pro-inflammatory macrophage and Th1/Th17 cell differentiation. In conclusion, disruption of IL-7/IL-7R signaling can uniquely intercept the crosstalk between RA myeloid and lymphoid cells in their ability to trigger neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Meyer
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, the University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Prashant J Parmar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, the University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shiva Shahrara
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, the University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA.
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Rimann I, Gonzalez-Quintial R, Baccala R, Kiosses WB, Teijaro JR, Parker CG, Li X, Beutler B, Kono DH, Theofilopoulos AN. The solute carrier SLC15A4 is required for optimal trafficking of nucleic acid-sensing TLRs and ligands to endolysosomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200544119. [PMID: 35349343 PMCID: PMC9169117 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200544119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A function-impairing mutation (feeble) or genomic deletion of SLC15A4 abolishes responses of nucleic acid–sensing endosomal toll-like receptors (TLRs) and significantly reduces disease in mouse models of lupus. Here, we demonstrate disease reduction in homozygous and even heterozygous Slc15a4 feeble mutant BXSB male mice with a Tlr7 gene duplication. In contrast to SLC15A4, a function-impairing mutation of SLC15A3 did not diminish type I interferon (IFN-I) production by TLR-activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), indicating divergence of function between these homologous SLC15 family members. Trafficking to endolysosomes and function of SLC15A4 were dependent on the Adaptor protein 3 (AP-3) complex. Importantly, SLC15A4 was required for trafficking and colocalization of nucleic acid–sensing TLRs and their ligands to endolysosomes and the formation of the LAMP2+VAMP3+ hybrid compartment in which IFN-I production is initiated. Collectively, these findings define mechanistic processes by which SLC15A4 controls endosomal TLR function and suggest that pharmacologic intervention to curtail the function of this transporter may be a means to treat lupus and other endosomal TLR-dependent diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Rimann
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - Roberto Baccala
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - John R. Teijaro
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - Xiaohong Li
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Dwight H. Kono
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
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Mai HL, Nguyen TVH, Bouchaud G, Henrio K, Cheminant MA, Magnan A, Brouard S. Targeting the interleukin-7 receptor alpha by an anti-CD127 monoclonal antibody improves allergic airway inflammation in mice. Clin Exp Allergy 2020; 50:824-834. [PMID: 32418317 DOI: 10.1111/cea.13665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is the most important cytokine for T-cell homeostasis. IL-7 signals through the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) which is composed of an alpha chain (IL-7Rα), also called CD127 and a common gamma chain. T lymphocytes, especially T helper type 2, play a crucial role in the pathobiology of allergic asthma. OBJECTIVE To study the effects of an anti-CD127 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation induced by house dust mite (HDM). METHODS Allergic airway inflammation was induced in mice using a protocol comprising 4 weekly percutaneous sensitizations followed by 2 weekly intranasal challenges with total HDM extracts and treated by intraperitoneal injections of an anti-CD127 mAb. Because CD127 is shared by both IL-7R and the receptor for thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a group of mice was also treated with an anti-IL-7 mAb to block only the IL-7 signalling pathway. RESULTS Anti-CD127 mAb-treated mice showed significantly lower airway resistance in response to methacholine and improvement in lung histology compared with isotype mAb-treated animals. Anti-CD127 mAb treatment significantly decreased the mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and chemokines (CCL5/RANTES) in lung tissue, decreased the secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and chemokines (CXCL1 and CCL11/eotaxin) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), decreased serum HDM-specific IgE, and reduced the number of total leucocytes and leucocyte subpopulations such as eosinophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and ILC2 in BALF and lung tissue. Mice treated with anti-IL-7 mAb also showed less allergic airway inflammation as evidenced by significantly lower airway resistance and fewer leucocytes in BALF and lung tissue compared to mice treated with the corresponding isotype control mAb. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Targeting the IL-7Rα by an anti-CD127 mAb improves allergic airway inflammation in mice and presents as a potential therapeutic approach for allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Le Mai
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Thi Van Ha Nguyen
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Grégory Bouchaud
- INRA-BIA UR1268, Nantes, France.,Institut du Thorax, INSERM UMR 1087, CNRS UMR 6291, Nantes, France
| | - Kelly Henrio
- Institut du Thorax, INSERM UMR 1087, CNRS UMR 6291, Nantes, France
| | | | - Antoine Magnan
- Institut du Thorax, INSERM UMR 1087, CNRS UMR 6291, Nantes, France
| | - Sophie Brouard
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
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7
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Previte DM, Martins CP, O'Connor EC, Marre ML, Coudriet GM, Beck NW, Menk AV, Wright RH, Tse HM, Delgoffe GM, Piganelli JD. Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 Maintains Mitochondrial and Metabolic Quiescence in Naive CD4 + T Cells. Cell Rep 2020; 27:129-141.e4. [PMID: 30943396 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is an inhibitory receptor expressed by CD4+ T cells and tempers their homeostatic expansion. Because CD4+ T cell proliferation is tightly coupled to bioenergetics, we investigate the role of LAG-3 in modulating naive CD4+ T cell metabolism. LAG-3 deficiency enhances the metabolic profile of naive CD4+ T cells by elevating levels of mitochondrial biogenesis. In vivo, LAG-3 blockade partially restores expansion and the metabolic phenotype of wild-type CD4+ T cells to levels of Lag3-/- CD4+ T cells, solidifying that LAG-3 controls these processes. Lag3-/- CD4+ T cells also demonstrate greater signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation, enabling resistance to interleukin-7 (IL-7) deprivation. These results implicate this pathway as a target of LAG-3-mediated inhibition. Additionally, enhancement of STAT5 activation, as a result of LAG-3 deficiency, contributes to greater activation potential in these cells. These results identify an additional mode of regulation elicited by LAG-3 in controlling CD4+ T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana M Previte
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Christina P Martins
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Erin C O'Connor
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Meghan L Marre
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Gina M Coudriet
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Noah W Beck
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Ashley V Menk
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Rebecca H Wright
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Hubert M Tse
- Department of Microbiology, Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294-2182, USA
| | - Greg M Delgoffe
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Jon D Piganelli
- Department of Surgery, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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IL7RA genetic variants differentially affect IL-7Rα expression and alternative splicing: a role in autoimmune and infectious diseases? Genes Immun 2020; 21:83-90. [PMID: 31929513 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-019-0091-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with susceptibility to immunopathologies like autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The current hypothesis about underlying mechanisms is based on the regulation of IL-7 availability for self-reactive T cells by influencing the generation of a soluble (s)IL-7Rα variant. This assumption was mainly predicated on the well-defined IL7RA SNP rs6897932, which affects alternative splicing and causes aberrant generation of the sIL-7Rα variant with potential effects on the IL-7 serum reservoir. However, more recent studies shed light on novel functions of autoimmunity risk-associated IL7RA SNPs and characterized the largely neglected effect of rs6897932 on membrane (m)IL-7Rα expression. These findings as well as a described role of impaired mIL-7Rα expression and IL7RA SNP influence on chronic infectious diseases necessitates the reevaluation of previous findings on the role of IL7RA SNPs in immunopathology.
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9
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Dai H, Kyttaris VC. Interleukin-23 deficiency alters thymic selection in lupus-prone mice. Lupus 2019; 28:1007-1012. [PMID: 31166866 DOI: 10.1177/0961203319854804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported that IL-23 receptor deficiency in MRL.lpr mice ameliorates lupus by altering the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in secondary lymphoid organs. As IL-23 may also impact thymic selection, we evaluated the effect of IL-23 on thymic T cell development in lupus-prone mice. We generated IL-23p19-deficient MRL.lpr mice and harvested their thymus at 8 weeks of age. We found that the late stage double negative DN4 population was increased in IL-23p19-/- MRL.lpr mice when compared to IL-23p19+/+ MRL.lpr mice. Despite this, mature thymocytes (CD24-TCRβ+) were decreased by more than 50% in the IL-23p19-deficient mice versus wild-type controls. This was associated with a decrease in the generation of CD8+ T cells, possibly through downregulation of the IL-7 receptor. CD8+ T cells were not only fewer in numbers but also had decreased expression of the migration-related receptors CD44 and CD62L in the thymus and spleens of IL-23p19-deficient versus wild-type mice. We propose that IL-23 promotes the development of lupus-like autoimmunity not only through T cell polarization and cytokine production in the peripheral lymphoid organs but also by influencing T cell thymic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Dai
- 1 Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA.,2 Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - V C Kyttaris
- 1 Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA.,2 Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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10
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Akkapeddi P, Fragoso R, Hixon JA, Ramalho AS, Oliveira ML, Carvalho T, Gloger A, Matasci M, Corzana F, Durum SK, Neri D, Bernardes GJL, Barata JT. A fully human anti-IL-7Rα antibody promotes antitumor activity against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2019; 33:2155-2168. [PMID: 30850736 PMCID: PMC6733707 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0434-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological cancer for which treatment options often result in incomplete therapeutic efficacy and long-term side-effects. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) and its receptor IL-7Rα promote T-ALL development and mutational activation of IL-7Rα associates with very high risk in relapsed disease. Using combinatorial phage-display libraries and antibody reformatting, we generated a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (named B12) against both wild-type and mutant human IL-7Rα, predicted to form a stable complex with IL-7Rα at a different site from IL-7. B12 impairs IL-7/IL-7R-mediated signaling, sensitizes T-ALL cells to treatment with dexamethasone and can induce cell death per se. The antibody also promotes antibody-dependent natural killer-mediated leukemia cytotoxicity in vitro and delays T-cell leukemia development in vivo, reducing tumor burden and promoting mouse survival. B12 is rapidly internalized and traffics to the lysosome, rendering it an attractive vehicle for targeted intracellular delivery of cytotoxic cargo. Consequently, we engineered a B12–MMAE antibody–drug conjugate and provide proof-of-concept evidence that it has increased leukemia cell killing abilities as compared with the naked antibody. Our studies serve as a stepping stone for the development of novel targeted therapies in T-ALL and other diseases where IL-7Rα has a pathological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma Akkapeddi
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Fragoso
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Julie A Hixon
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ana Sofia Ramalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mariana L Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tânia Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Andreas Gloger
- Departamento de Química, Universidad de La Rioja, Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | | | | | - Scott K Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, UK.
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
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11
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Goropevšek A, Holcar M, Pahor A, Avčin T. STAT signaling as a marker of SLE disease severity and implications for clinical therapy. Autoimmun Rev 2019; 18:144-154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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12
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Belarif L, Mary C, Jacquemont L, Mai HL, Danger R, Hervouet J, Minault D, Thepenier V, Nerrière-Daguin V, Nguyen E, Pengam S, Largy E, Delobel A, Martinet B, Le Bas-Bernardet S, Brouard S, Soulillou JP, Degauque N, Blancho G, Vanhove B, Poirier N. IL-7 receptor blockade blunts antigen-specific memory T cell responses and chronic inflammation in primates. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4483. [PMID: 30367166 PMCID: PMC6203796 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06804-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting the expansion of pathogenic memory immune cells is a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent chronic autoimmune attacks. Here we investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of new anti-human IL-7Rα monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in non-human primates and show that, depending on the target epitope, a single injection of antagonistic anti-IL-7Rα mAbs induces a long-term control of skin inflammation despite repeated antigen challenges in presensitized monkeys. No modification in T cell numbers, phenotype, function or metabolism is observed in the peripheral blood or in response to polyclonal stimulation ex vivo. However, long-term in vivo hyporesponsiveness is associated with a significant decrease in the frequency of antigen-specific T cells producing IFN-γ upon antigen restimulation ex vivo. These findings indicate that chronic antigen-specific memory T cell responses can be controlled by anti-IL-7Rα mAbs, promoting and maintaining remission in T-cell mediated chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyssia Belarif
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, Nantes, 44200, France
| | - Caroline Mary
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, Nantes, 44200, France
| | - Lola Jacquemont
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Hoa Le Mai
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Richard Danger
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Jeremy Hervouet
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - David Minault
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Virginie Thepenier
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, Nantes, 44200, France
| | - Veronique Nerrière-Daguin
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Elisabeth Nguyen
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Sabrina Pengam
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, Nantes, 44200, France
| | - Eric Largy
- Quality Assistance, Thuin, 6536, Belgium.,ARNA laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR5320, IECB, Bordeaux, 33076, France
| | | | - Bernard Martinet
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Stéphanie Le Bas-Bernardet
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Sophie Brouard
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Jean-Paul Soulillou
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Nicolas Degauque
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Gilles Blancho
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,Institut de Transplantation Urologie Néphrologie (ITUN), CHU Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Bernard Vanhove
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, Nantes, 44200, France
| | - Nicolas Poirier
- Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie (CRTI) UMR1064, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Nantes, 44093, France. .,OSE Immunotherapeutics, Nantes, 44200, France.
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13
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Gonzalez-Quintial R, Nguyen A, Kono DH, Oldstone MBA, Theofilopoulos AN, Baccala R. Lupus acceleration by a MAVS-activating RNA virus requires endosomal TLR signaling and host genetic predisposition. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203118. [PMID: 30199535 PMCID: PMC6130858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, yet their contribution remains circumstantial partly due to the lack of well-documented information on infections prior to autoimmune disease onset. Here, we used the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) as a model to mechanistically dissect the impact of viral infection on lupus-like autoimmunity. Virus persistence strongly enhanced disease in mice with otherwise weak genetic predisposition but not in highly predisposed or non-autoimmune mice, indicating a synergistic interplay between genetic susceptibility and virus infection. Moreover, endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were both strictly required for disease acceleration, even though LCMV also induces strong TLR-independent type I interferon (IFN-I) production via RNA helicases and MAVS in conventional DCs. These results suggest that LCMV enhances systemic autoimmunity primarily by providing stimulatory nucleic acids for endosomal TLR engagement, whereas overstimulation of the MAVS-dependent cytosolic pathway in the absence of endosomal TLR signaling is insufficient for disease induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Gonzalez-Quintial
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Anthony Nguyen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Dwight H. Kono
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Michael B. A. Oldstone
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Argyrios N. Theofilopoulos
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Roberto Baccala
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Zhou J, Yu Q. Anti-IL-7 receptor-α treatment ameliorates newly established Sjögren's-like exocrinopathy in non-obese diabetic mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1864:2438-2447. [PMID: 29680668 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The levels of interleukin (IL)-7 and its receptor are elevated in the salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Our previous study indicates that IL-7 plays a critical pathogenic role in the development and onset of SS in a mouse model of this disease. The present study aims at determining whether IL-7 also plays a role in sustaining SS pathologies after the disease onset, by using the non-obese diabetic (NOD) model. Intraperitoneal administration of a blocking antibody against the IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) to female NOD mice aged 10 weeks, which exhibited newly onset clinical SS, for the duration of 3 weeks significantly ameliorated characteristic SS pathologies including hyposalivation and leukocyte infiltration of the submandibular glands (SMGs). These changes were accompanied by a decrease in IFN-γ-producing CD4 T- and CD8 T cells, B cells, and lymphocyte chemoattractants CXCL9, -10, -11 and -13 in the SMGs. Anti-IL-7Rα treatment markedly diminished the amount of TNF-α in the SMGs and increased the level of claudin-1 and aquaporin 5, two molecules critical for normal salivary secretion. Furthermore, neutralization of IFN-γ and TNF-α, individually or in combination, considerably improved salivary secretion, reduced leukocyte infiltration and down-regulated CXCL9 and -13 expression in the SMGs. Collectively, the results indicate that endogenous IL-7R signals promote Th1 and Tc1 responses and IFN-γ- and TNF-α production to sustain the persistence of SS-like sialadenitis in NOD mice. These findings suggest that IL-7 and Th1 cytokines could serve as promising therapeutic targets for this prevalent autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- The Forsyth Institute, 245 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.; Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Qing Yu
- The Forsyth Institute, 245 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.; Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115..
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15
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Brandt D, Hedrich CM. TCRαβ +CD3 +CD4 -CD8 - (double negative) T cells in autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17:422-430. [PMID: 29428806 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
TCRαβ+CD3+CD4-CD8- "double negative" (DN) T cells comprise a small subset of mature peripheral T cells. The origin and function of DN T cells are somewhat unclear and discussed controversially. While DN T cells resemble a rare and heterogeneous T cell subpopulation in healthy individuals, numbers of TCRαβ+ DN T cells are expanded in several inflammatory conditions, where they also exhibit distinct effector phenotypes and infiltrate inflamed tissues. Thus, DN T cells may be involved in systemic inflammation and tissue damage in autoimmune/inflammatory conditions, including SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, and psoriasis. Here, the current understanding of the origin and phenotype of DN T cells, and their role in the instruction of immune responses, autoimmunity and inflammation will be discussed in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Brandt
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Children's Hospital Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - C M Hedrich
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Children's Hospital Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Department of Women's & Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
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16
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Ghassem-Zadeh S, Gaida MM, Szanyi S, Acha-Orbea H, Frossard JL, Hinz U, Hackert T, Strobel O, Felix K. Distinct pathophysiological cytokine profiles for discrimination between autoimmune pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Transl Med 2017; 15:126. [PMID: 28578701 PMCID: PMC5457650 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1227-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Discriminating between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can be challenging. In this retrospective study, levels of serum and tissue cytokines were analyzed as part of the clinical strategy for the preoperative differentiation between AIP and PDAC. The identification of differential cytokine profiles may help to prevent unnecessary surgical resection and allow optimal treatment of these pathologies. METHODS To compare the cytokine profiles of AIP, CP, and PDAC patients, serum and pancreatic tissue homogenates were subjected to multiplex analysis of 17 inflammatory mediators. In total, serum from 73 patients, composed of 29 AIP (14 AIP-1 and 15 AIP-2), 17 CP, and 27 PDAC, and pancreatic tissue from 36 patients, including 12 AIP (six AIP-1 and six AIP-2), 12 CP, and 12 PDAC, were analyzed. RESULTS Comparing AIP and PDAC patients' serum, significantly higher concentrations were found in AIP for interleukins IL-1β, IL-7, IL-13, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF also allowed discrimination of AIP from CP. Furthermore, once AIP was divided into subtypes, significantly higher serum levels for IL-7 and G-CSF were measured in both subtypes of AIP and in AIP-2 for IL-1β when compared to PDAC. G-CSF and TNF-α were also significantly differentially expressed in tissue homogenates between AIP-2 and PDAC. CONCLUSIONS The cytokines IL-1β, IL-7, and G-CSF can be routinely measured in patients' serum, providing an elegant and non-invasive approach for differential diagnosis. G-CSF is a good candidate to supplement the currently known serum markers in predictive tests for AIP and represents a basis for a combined blood test to differentiate AIP and particularly AIP-2 from PDAC, enhancing the possibility of appropriate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Ghassem-Zadeh
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias M. Gaida
- Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Szilard Szanyi
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans Acha-Orbea
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Frossard
- Department of Medical Specialties, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ulf Hinz
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thilo Hackert
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Strobel
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Felix
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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Vazquez-Mateo C, Collins J, Fleury M, Dooms H. Broad induction of immunoregulatory mechanisms after a short course of anti-IL-7Rα antibodies in NOD mice. BMC Immunol 2017; 18:18. [PMID: 28356069 PMCID: PMC5372316 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-017-0201-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by T cell-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas. Therefore, approaches that effectively halt the pathogenic T cell response are predicted to have preventive or therapeutic benefit for type 1 diabetes patients. We previously demonstrated that long-term blocking of IL-7 signaling, which is critical for the survival and function of T cells, prevented and reversed type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice. However, such persistent inhibition of T cell responses raises concerns about causing immunodeficiency. Here, we asked whether a reduced duration of the treatment with anti-IL-7Rα antibodies retained efficacy in preventing diabetes. Moreover, we sought to identify immunoregulatory mechanisms induced by anti-IL-7Rα administration. RESULTS Anti-IL-7Rα antibodies were administered to prediabetic NOD mice for 3 weeks and blood samples were taken at the end of treatment and 2 weeks later to analyze changes in T cell phenotypes in response to IL-7Rα blockade. We found that the co-inhibitory receptors LAG-3, Tim-3 and PD-1 were increased on peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from anti-IL-7Rα-treated mice. Expression of these receptors contributed to reduced T cell cytokine production in response to TCR stimulation. In addition, the frequency of Tregs within the circulating CD4+ T cells was increased at the end of anti-IL-7Rα antibody treatment and these Tregs showed a more activated phenotype. In vitro restimulation assays revealed that effector T cells from anti-IL-7Rα-treated mice were more sensitive to co-inhibitory receptor induction after TCR stimulation. Importantly, these changes were accompanied by delayed type 1 diabetes disease kinetics. CONCLUSIONS Together, our data show that short-term blockade of IL-7Rα induces detectable changes in co-inhibitory receptor expression and Treg frequencies in peripheral blood of NOD mice. These changes appear to have long-lasting effects by delaying or preventing type 1 diabetes incidence. Hence, our study provides further support for using anti-IL-7Rα antibodies to modulate autoreactive T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Vazquez-Mateo
- Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center/Rheumatology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, E519, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Justin Collins
- Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center/Rheumatology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, E519, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Michelle Fleury
- Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center/Rheumatology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, E519, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Hans Dooms
- Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center/Rheumatology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, E519, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
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18
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Goropevšek A, Gorenjak M, Gradišnik S, Dai K, Holc I, Hojs R, Krajnc I, Pahor A, Avčin T. STAT5 phosphorylation in CD4 T cells from patients with SLE is related to changes in their subsets and follow-up disease severity. J Leukoc Biol 2017; 101:1405-1418. [DOI: 10.1189/jlb.5a0416-194r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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19
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Interleukins 7 and 15 Maintain Human T Cell Proliferative Capacity through STAT5 Signaling. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166280. [PMID: 27855183 PMCID: PMC5113943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes require signals from self-peptides and cytokines, most notably interleukins 7 and 15 (IL-7, IL-15), for survival. While mouse T cells die rapidly if IL-7 or IL-15 is withdrawn, human T cells can survive prolonged withdrawal of IL-7 and IL-15. Here we show that IL-7 and IL-15 are required to maintain human T cell proliferative capacity through the STAT5 signaling pathway. T cells from humanized mice proliferate better if stimulated in the presence of human IL-7 or IL-15 or if T cells are exposed to human IL-7 or IL-15 in mice. Freshly isolated T cells from human peripheral blood lose proliferative capacity if cultured for 24 hours in the absence of IL-7 or IL-15. We further show that phosphorylation of STAT5 correlates with proliferation and inhibition of STAT5 reduces proliferation. These results reveal a novel role of IL-7 and IL-15 in maintaining human T cell function, provide an explanation for T cell dysfunction in humanized mice, and have significant implications for in vitro studies with human T cells.
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20
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Screening for peptides targeted to IL-7Rα for molecular imaging of rheumatoid arthritis synovium. Arthritis Res Ther 2016; 18:230. [PMID: 27729062 PMCID: PMC5059943 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-016-1133-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) represents a biomarker with potential applications in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis and therapy. We have therefore searched by phage display potential IL-7Rα specific peptides with the primary goal being to develop in vivo molecular imaging tools. METHODS IL-7Rα-targeted peptides were searched within a disulfide-constrained combinatorial phage displayed library of random linear heptapeptides. The apparent dissociation constant (Kd) and half maximal inhibition constant (IC50) were estimated for phage clones and synthesized peptides by ELISA. We used 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (ADC)-stimulated Jurkat cells and human synovial tissue from patients with RA for in vitro characterization of peptides. For molecular imaging studies performed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), experimental arthritis was induced in DBA/1 male mice by immunization with an emulsion of complete Freund's adjuvant and type II collagen from chicken sternal cartilage. RESULTS After several steps of phage display and peptide screening, two IL-7Rα-specific heptapeptides (P258 and P725) were selected from the initial library, based on their affinity for the target (extracellular domain of IL-7Rα, which contains a fibronectin type III repeat-like sequence). P258 (a linear peptide obtained by removing the Cys-constraint) had the lowest affinity for fibronectin itself and was therefore proposed for molecular imaging. After grafting to ultra-small superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO), P258 produced a strong negative contrast on MRI in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), even at 2 hours post injection. The co-localization of USPIO-P258 with IL-7Rα-expressing cells in the synovial tissue from CIA mice and its ability to discriminate the level of IL-7R expression and the disease severity confirmed its efficacy as an in vivo IL-7Rα imaging agent. Interestingly, the cyclic peptide (P725), which was less adequate for molecular imaging because of higher affinity for fibronectin, had a strong ability to compete with IL-7 for the IL-7Rα binding sites, making it a potential candidate for blocking applications. Accordingly, P725 prevented the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation induced by IL-7 in ADC-stimulated Jurkat cells. CONCLUSIONS The two peptides identified in this work demonstrate that IL-7Rα targeting in RA presents potential applications for in vivo molecular imaging and putative blocking purposes.
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21
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PTPN2 attenuates T-cell lymphopenia-induced proliferation. Nat Commun 2015; 5:3073. [PMID: 24445916 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
When the peripheral T-cell pool is depleted, T cells undergo homoeostatic expansion. This expansion is reliant on the recognition of self-antigens and/or cytokines, in particular interleukin-7. The T cell-intrinsic mechanisms that prevent excessive homoeostatic T-cell responses and consequent overt autoreactivity remain poorly defined. Here we show that protein tyrosine phosphatase N2 (PTPN2) is elevated in naive T cells leaving the thymus to restrict homoeostatic T-cell proliferation and prevent excess responses to self-antigens in the periphery. PTPN2-deficient CD8(+) T cells undergo rapid lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP) when transferred into lymphopenic hosts and acquire the characteristics of antigen-experienced effector T cells. The enhanced LIP is attributed to elevated T-cell receptor-dependent, but not interleukin-7-dependent responses, results in a skewed T-cell receptor repertoire and the development of autoimmunity. Our results identify a major mechanism by which homoeostatic T-cell responses are tuned to prevent the development of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
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Interleukin-7 is required for CD4(+) T cell activation and autoimmune neuroinflammation. Clin Immunol 2015; 161:260-9. [PMID: 26319414 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
IL-7 is known to be vital for T cell homeostasis but has previously been presumed to be dispensable for TCR-induced activation. Here, we show that IL-7 is critical for the initial activation of CD4(+) T cells in that it provides some of the necessary early signaling components, such as activated STAT5 and Akt. Accordingly, short-term in vivo IL-7Rα blockade inhibited the activation and expansion of autoantigen-specific CD4(+) T cells and, when used to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), prevented and ameliorated disease. Our studies demonstrate that IL-7 signaling is a prerequisite for optimal CD4(+) T cell activation and that IL-7R antagonism may be effective in treating CD4(+) T cell-mediated neuroinflammation and other autoimmune inflammatory conditions.
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23
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Motylewska E, Nieć M, Siejka A, Komorowski J, Ławnicka H, Świętosławski J, Stępień H. Decreased serum level of IL-7 in patients with active Graves' disease. Cytokine 2015; 75:373-9. [PMID: 26113403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Graves' disease (GD) is a common autoimmune disease which is one of the major causes of hyperthyroidism. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) has been recently reported to play an important role in various autoimmune diseases, but its role in the pathogenesis of GD has not been assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of IL-7 and the soluble form of its receptor (sIL-7R) in the serum of GD patients, and to identify their association with disease activity. METHODS A total of 37 GD patients were enrolled into the experimental group and 16 individuals into the control group. All patients were further classified into three subgroups: a GD-active group (hyperthyroidism and TRAb (thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody) >7.5 U/L) (N=15), a GD-inactive group (euthyreosis and TRAb<1 U/L) (N=8), and other GD patients (euthyreosis and TRAb>1 U/L) (N=14). Concentrations of IL-7 and sIL-7R were assayed with ELISA. Additionally, the relationship between IL-7 and sIL-7R serum concentrations with disease activity (free triiodothyronine [FT3], free thyroxine [FT4], thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and TRAb) was also analyzed. RESULTS The serum concentrations of IL-7 in GD-active patients were significantly lower than those of the control group as well as the GD-inactive and GD-other groups. The serum level of IL-7 in GD patients negatively correlated with FT4 and TRAb concentrations. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the serum level of sIL-7R in GD patients compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest that IL-7 may play a role in the pathogenesis of GD and may be associated with its clinical activity. To this end, the serum level of IL-7 could be an additional diagnostic biomarker predictive of the disease and could be particularly valuable for TRAb-negative GD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Motylewska
- Department of Immunoendocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland
| | - Martyna Nieć
- Department of Immunoendocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Siejka
- Department of Clinical Endocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jan Komorowski
- Department of Clinical Endocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland
| | - Hanna Ławnicka
- Department of Immunoendocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacek Świętosławski
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland
| | - Henryk Stępień
- Department of Immunoendocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Sterlinga 3, 91-425 Lodz, Poland.
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Churchman SM, El-Jawhari JJ, Burska AN, Parmar R, Goëb V, Conaghan PG, Emery P, Ponchel F. Modulation of peripheral T-cell function by interleukin-7 in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2014; 16:511. [PMID: 25533722 PMCID: PMC4298067 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-014-0511-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a cytokine essential for T-cell lymphopoiesis, survival and polarization with an emerging role in autoimmunity. We previously demonstrated reduced levels of circulating IL-7 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although high amounts are expressed in joints, suggesting differences between systemic and synovial effects. We observed healthy levels of IL-7 in 48% of RA patients in clinical remission (CR) and aimed to investigate the consequences of IL-7 deficiency on T-cell responses. Methods We used RA patients with active disease and in CR presenting various levels of IL-7, to investigate its modulatory effects on T cells by analysing responses to phyto-haemagglutinin (PHA), expression of polarization or survival factors, or suppression by regulatory T cells (Tregs). Results IL-7 levels were normal (>10 pg/ml) in 48% of RA patients in CR. Amongst 63 CR patients followed up for 18 months, lack of IL-7 recovery was observed in 13 out of 15 (86%) patients experiencing relapse but only 11 out of 48 (23%) of those who did not (P = 0.0002). Binary regressions showed high significance for below normal IL-7 levels for self-reported maternal family history of arthritis (odds ratio (OR): 7.66, P = 0.006) and a trend for smoking (OR: 3.33, P = 0.068) with no further demographic or clinical associations. Serum IL-7 correlated with restored CD4+T-cell response to PHA (rho = 0.879); this was not related to an increase in T-cell proliferation capacity or expression of survival factors B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and BCL2-associated protein X (BAX). Expression of Th1 polarization factor (TBET) was also dependent on exposure to IL-7 in vivo (rho = 0.600). In contrast CD25highTregs’ response to PHA was not affected by in vivo IL-7, but their suppression capabilities were related to circulating IL-7 (rho = 0.589). Co-stimulation with IL-7 (mimicking the joint environment) increased responsiveness of CD4+T-cells to PHA, lowering the ability of CD25highTregs to suppress them. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that IL-7 has a critical role in modulating T-cell function in vivo, possibly explaining opposing effects observed systemically and in the joint. Lack of IL-7 recovery in CR by maintaining a suppressed immune system may be a determinant factor in the occurrence of relapse. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-014-0511-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Wang XS, Wen PF, Zhang M, Hu LF, Ni J, Qiu LJ, Liang Y, Zhao W, Huang Q, Tao SS, Xu WD, Feng CC, Cen H, Leng RX, Pan HF, Ye DQ. Interleukin-7 receptor single nucleotide polymorphism rs6897932 (C/T) and the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus. Inflammation 2014; 37:615-20. [PMID: 24242875 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-013-9777-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidences were accumulated to support the view that aberrant interleukin-7 (IL-7) signaling might be associated with autoimmunity. Former studies demonstrated the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6897932 C/T in the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) gene was associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes. Given these, this study was conducted to investigate whether an association existed between SNP rs6897932 and the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a severe systemic autoimmune disease. In this context, 816 SLE patients and 816 controls from a Chinese population were recruited for this study, and the results showed that the major allele C of rs6897932 showed a higher frequency in SLE patients compared with controls (P = 0.039, C versus T); significant difference was also detected under a recessive model with regard to the distribution of genotype frequencies between SLE patients and controls (P = 0.041, CC versus CT + TT), which was not consistent with the results under a dominant model (P = 0.349, CC + CT versus TT). Moreover, association studies were also performed contraposing the relationship between the SNP rs6897932 C/T and lupus nephritis as well as 10 clinical features of SLE; however, no significant association signal was found regarding the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies between SLE patients positive and negative for the presence of 11 sub-phenotypes. In conclusion, the major allele C of SNP rs6897932 may be associated with increased SLE risk in Chinese populations, and further studies are still encouraged to shed light on the true associations between SLE and its susceptibility genes with respect to IL-7R gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Song Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
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Walsh MC, Pearce EL, Cejas PJ, Lee J, Wang LS, Choi Y. IL-18 synergizes with IL-7 to drive slow proliferation of naive CD8 T cells by costimulating self-peptide-mediated TCR signals. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:3992-4001. [PMID: 25200954 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Naive T cell populations are maintained in the periphery at relatively constant levels via mechanisms that control expansion and contraction and are associated with competition for homeostatic cytokines. It has been shown that in a lymphopenic environment naive T cells undergo expansion due, at least in part, to additional availability of IL-7. We have previously found that T cell-intrinsic deletion of TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) 6 (TRAF6ΔT) in mice results in diminished peripheral CD8 T cell numbers. In this study, we report that whereas naive TRAF6ΔT CD8 T cells exhibit normal survival when transferred into a normal T cell pool, proliferation of naive TRAF6ΔT CD8 T cells under lymphopenic conditions is defective. We identified IL-18 as a TRAF6-activating factor capable of enhancing lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP) in vivo, and that IL-18 synergizes with high-dose IL-7 in a TRAF6-dependent manner to induce slow, LIP/homeostatic-like proliferation of naive CD8 T cells in vitro. IL-7 and IL-18 act synergistically to upregulate expression of IL-18R genes, thereby enhancing IL-18 activity. In this context, IL-18R signaling increases PI3K activation and was found to sensitize naive CD8 T cells to a model noncognate self-peptide ligand in a way that conventional costimulation via CD28 could not. We propose that synergistic sensitization by IL-7 and IL-18 to self-peptide ligand may represent a novel costimulatory pathway for LIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Walsh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and
| | - Erika L Pearce
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and
| | - Pedro J Cejas
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and
| | - JangEun Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and
| | - Li-San Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Yongwon Choi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and
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Zaunders JJ, Lévy Y, Seddiki N. Exploiting differential expression of the IL-7 receptor on memory T cells to modulate immune responses. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2014; 25:391-401. [PMID: 25130296 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2014.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-7 is a non-redundant growth, differentiation and survival factor for human T lymphocytes. Most circulating, mature T cells express the receptor for IL-7, but not all. Importantly, CD4 Tregs express greatly reduced levels of IL-7R compared to conventional CD4 T cells, presenting an opportunity to selectively target the latter cells with either more IL-7 to boost responses, or to block IL-7 signalling to limit responses. This article reviews what is known about regulation of IL-7R expression, and recent progress in therapeutic approaches related to IL-7 and its receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Zaunders
- Centre for Applied Medical Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, Australia; Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yves Lévy
- Inserm, U955, Equipe 16, Créteil, 94000, France; Université Paris Est, Faculté de médecine, Créteil, 94000, France; Vaccine Research Institute (VRI), Créteil, 94000, France; AP-HP, Hôpital H. Mondor-A. Chenevier, Service d'immunologie Clinique et maladies infectieuses, Créteil, 94000, France
| | - Nabila Seddiki
- Inserm, U955, Equipe 16, Créteil, 94000, France; Université Paris Est, Faculté de médecine, Créteil, 94000, France; Vaccine Research Institute (VRI), Créteil, 94000, France.
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Mai HL, Boeffard F, Longis J, Danger R, Martinet B, Haspot F, Vanhove B, Brouard S, Soulillou JP. IL-7 receptor blockade following T cell depletion promotes long-term allograft survival. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:1723-33. [PMID: 24569454 DOI: 10.1172/jci66287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell depletion is commonly used in organ transplantation for immunosuppression; however, a restoration of T cell homeostasis following depletion leads to increased memory T cells, which may promote transplant rejection. The cytokine IL-7 is important for controlling lymphopoiesis under both normal and lymphopenic conditions. Here, we investigated whether blocking IL-7 signaling with a mAb that targets IL-7 receptor α (IL-7Rα) alone or following T cell depletion confers an advantage for allograft survival in murine transplant models. We found that IL-7R blockade alone induced indefinite pancreatic islet allograft survival if anti-IL-7R treatment was started 3 weeks before graft. IL-7R blockade following anti-CD4- and anti-CD8-mediated T cell depletion markedly prolonged skin allograft survival. Furthermore, IL-7 inhibition in combination with T cell depletion synergized with either CTLA-4Ig administration or suboptimal doses of tacrolimus to induce long-term skin graft acceptance in this stringent transplant model. Together, these therapies inhibited T cell reconstitution, decreased memory T cell numbers, increased the relative frequency of Tregs, and abrogated both cellular and humoral alloimmune responses. Our data suggest that IL-7R blockade following T cell depletion has potential as a robust, immunosuppressive therapy in transplantation.
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Innate immune signaling induces interleukin-7 production from salivary gland cells and accelerates the development of primary Sjögren's syndrome in a mouse model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77605. [PMID: 24147035 PMCID: PMC3798297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated IL-7 in the target tissues is closely associated with multiple autoimmune disorders, including Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). We recently found that IL-7 plays an essential role in the development and onset of primary SS (pSS) in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice, a well-defined mouse model of primary SS. However, environmental signals that cause excessive IL-7 production are not well-characterized. Innate immune signaling plays a critical role in shaping the adaptive immune responses including autoimmune responses. We and others have previously shown that innate immune signaling can induce IL-7 expression in lungs and intestines of C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we characterized the effects of poly I:C, a double-stranded RNA analog and toll-like receptor 3 agonist, on the induction of IL-7 expression in salivary glands and on pSS development. We showed that poly I:C administration to C57BL/6 mice rapidly induced IL-7 expression in the salivary glands in a type 1 IFN- and IFN-γ-dependent manner. Moreover, poly I:C-induced IL-7 contributed to the optimal up-regulation of CXCL9 in the salivary glands, which may subsequently promote recruitment of more IFN-γ-producing T cells. Repeated administration of poly I:C to C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice accelerated the development of SS-like exocrinopathy, and this effect was abolished by the blockade of IL-7 receptor signaling with a neutralizing antibody. Finally, poly I:C or a combination of IFN-α and IFN-γ induced IL-7 gene expression and protein production in a human salivary gland epithelial cell line. Hence, we demonstrate that IL-7 expression in the salivary gland cells can be induced by poly I:C and delineate a crucial mechanism by which innate immune signals facilitate the development of pSS, which is through induction of IL-7 in the target tissues.
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Jin JO, Kawai T, Cha S, Yu Q. Interleukin-7 enhances the Th1 response to promote the development of Sjögren's syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy in mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 65:2132-42. [PMID: 23666710 DOI: 10.1002/art.38007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although elevated interleukin-7 (IL-7) levels have been reported in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), the role of IL-7 in this disease remains unclear. We undertook this study to characterize the previously unexplored role of IL-7 in the development and onset of primary SS using the C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 (B6.NOD-Aec) mouse model, which recapitulates human primary SS. METHODS For gain-of-function studies, recombinant IL-7 or control phosphate buffered saline was injected intraperitoneally (IP) into 12-week-old B6.NOD-Aec mice for 8 weeks. For loss-of-function studies, anti-IL-7 receptor α-chain (anti-IL-7Rα) antibody or its isotype control IgG was administered IP into 16-week-old B6.NOD-Aec mice. Salivary flow measurement, histologic and flow cytometric analysis of salivary glands, and serum antinuclear antibody assay were performed to assess various disease parameters. RESULTS Administration of exogenous IL-7 accelerated the development of primary SS, whereas blockade of IL-7Rα signaling almost completely abolished the development of primary SS, based on salivary gland inflammation and apoptosis, autoantibody production, and secretory dysfunction. IL-7 positively regulated interferon-γ (IFNγ)-producing Th1 and CD8+ T cells in the salivary glands without affecting IL-17. Moreover, IL-7 enhanced the expression of CXCR3 ligands in a T cell- and IFNγ-dependent manner. Accordingly, IFNγ induced a human salivary gland epithelial cell line to produce CXCR3 ligands. IL-7 also increased the level of tumor necrosis factor α, another Th1-associated cytokine that can facilitate tissue destruction and inflammation. CONCLUSION IL-7 plays a pivotal pathogenic role in SS, which is underpinned by an enhanced Th1 response and IFNγ/CXCR3 ligand-mediated lymphocyte infiltration of target organs. These results suggest that targeting the IL-7 pathway may be a potential future strategy for preventing and treating SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-O Jin
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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31
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Feng D, Barnes BJ. Bioinformatics analysis of the factors controlling type I IFN gene expression in autoimmune disease and virus-induced immunity. Front Immunol 2013; 4:291. [PMID: 24065968 PMCID: PMC3776951 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) display increased levels of type I interferon (IFN)-induced genes. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are natural interferon producing cells and considered to be a primary source of IFN-α in these two diseases. Differential expression patterns of type I IFN-inducible transcripts can be found in different immune cell subsets and in patients with both active and inactive autoimmune disease. A type I IFN gene signature generally consists of three groups of IFN-induced genes – those regulated in response to virus-induced type I IFN, those regulated by the IFN-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway, and those by the IFN-induced phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI-3K) pathway. These three groups of type I IFN-regulated genes control important cellular processes such as apoptosis, survival, adhesion, and chemotaxis, that when dysregulated, contribute to autoimmunity. With the recent generation of large datasets in the public domain from next-generation sequencing and DNA microarray experiments, one can perform detailed analyses of cell-type specific gene signatures as well as identify distinct transcription factors (TFs) that differentially regulate these gene signatures. We have performed bioinformatics analysis of data in the public domain and experimental data from our lab to gain insight into the regulation of type I IFN gene expression. We have found that the genetic landscape of the IFNA and IFNB genes are occupied by TFs, such as insulators CTCF and cohesin, that negatively regulate transcription, as well as interferon regulatory factor (IRF)5 and IRF7, that positively and distinctly regulate IFNA subtypes. A detailed understanding of the factors controlling type I IFN gene transcription will significantly aid in the identification and development of new therapeutic strategies targeting the IFN pathway in autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Feng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences , Newark, NJ , USA ; Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School-Cancer Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey , Newark, NJ , USA
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Hedrich CM, Rauen T, Crispin JC, Koga T, Ioannidis C, Zajdel M, Kyttaris VC, Tsokos GC. cAMP-responsive element modulator α (CREMα) trans-represses the transmembrane glycoprotein CD8 and contributes to the generation of CD3+CD4-CD8- T cells in health and disease. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:31880-7. [PMID: 24047902 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.508655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor-αβ(+) CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) "double-negative" T cells are expanded in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. In both disorders, double-negative T cells infiltrate tissues, induce immunoglobulin production, and secrete proinflammatory cytokines. Double-negative T cells derive from CD8(+) T cells through down-regulation of CD8 surface co-receptors. However, the molecular mechanisms orchestrating this process remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element modulator α (CREMα), which is expressed at increased levels in T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients, contributes to transcriptional silencing of CD8A and CD8B. We provide the first evidence that CREMα trans-represses a regulatory element 5' of the CD8B gene. Therefore, CREMα represents a promising candidate in the search for biomarkers and treatment options in diseases in which double-negative T cells contribute to the pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Hedrich
- From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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Dooms H. Interleukin-7: Fuel for the autoimmune attack. J Autoimmun 2013; 45:40-8. [PMID: 23831438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a critical survival factor for lymphocytes and recent studies suggest targeting the IL-7/IL-7Rα pathway holds promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Several lines of evidence, genetic as well as functional, indicate an important role for this cytokine in autoimmune inflammation: polymorphisms in the IL-7Rα have been associated with increased risk for autoimmune disease and blocking IL-7/IL-7Rα with antibodies showed therapeutic efficacy in several autoimmune mouse models. Insights are starting to emerge about the mechanisms underlying IL-7's role in autoimmunity and tolerance, revealing surprising novel functions beyond its traditional activity as a T cell survival factor. In the first part of this review, the functions of IL-7 in the immune system are concisely described, providing a basis for understanding their potential role in promoting autoimmune responses. In the second part, current knowledge about the role of IL-7 in various autoimmune conditions is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Dooms
- Department of Medicine, Arthritis Center/Rheumatology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, E519, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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Juvet SC, Thomson CW, Kim EY, Han M, Zhang L. FcRγ controls the fas-dependent regulatory function of lymphoproliferative double negative T cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65253. [PMID: 23762329 PMCID: PMC3675138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and lymphoproliferation (LPR) mice are deficient in Fas, and accumulate large numbers of αβ-TCR+, CD4−, CD8− double negative (DN) T cells. The function of these DN T cells remains largely unknown. The common γ subunit of the activating Fc receptors, FcRγ, plays an important role in mediating innate immune responses. We have shown previously that a significant proportion of DN T cells express FcRγ, and that this molecule is required for TCR transgenic DN T cells to suppress allogeneic immune responses. Whether FcRγ plays a critical role in LPR DN T cell-mediated suppression of immune responses to auto and allo-antigens is not known. Here, we demonstrated that FcRγ+, but not FcRγ− LPR DN T cells could suppress Fas+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro and attenuated CD4+ T cell-mediated graft-versus host disease. Although FcRγ expression did not allow LPR DN T cells to inhibit the expansion of Fas-deficient cells within the LPR context, adoptive transfer of FcRγ+, but not FcRγ−, DN T cells inhibited lymphoproliferation in generalized lymphoproliferative disease (GLD) mice. Furthermore, FcRγ acted in a cell-intrinsic fashion to limit DN T cell accumulation by increasing the rate of apoptosis in proliferated cells. These results indicate that FcRγ can confer Fas-dependent regulatory properties on LPR DN T cells, and suggest that FcRγ may be a novel marker for functional DN Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Juvet
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Respirology and Toronto Lung Transplant Program, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Clinician-Scientist Training Program, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher W. Thomson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Edward Y. Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Li Zhang
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Juvet SC, Thomson CW, Kim EY, Joe B, Adeyi O, Zhang L. FcRγ promotes T cell apoptosis in Fas-deficient mice. J Autoimmun 2013; 42:80-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Abstract
Human soluble interleukin-7 receptor (sIL7R)α circulates in high molar excess compared with IL-7, but its biology remains unclear. We demonstrate that sIL7Rα has moderate affinity for IL-7 but does not bind thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Functionally, sIL7Rα competes with cell-associated IL-7 receptor to diminish excessive IL-7 consumption and, thus, enhances the bioactivity of IL-7 when the cytokine is limited, as it is presumed to be in vivo. IL-7 signaling in the presence of sIL7Rα also diminishes expression of CD95 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1, both regulatory molecules. Murine models confirm diminished consumption of IL-7 in the presence of sIL7Rα and also demonstrate a potentiating effect of sIL7Rα on IL-7-mediated homeostatic expansion and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis exacerbation. In multiple sclerosis and several other autoimmune diseases, IL7R genotype influences susceptibility. We measured increased sIL7Rα levels, as well as increased IL-7 levels, in multiple sclerosis patients with the predisposing IL7R genotype, consistent with diminished IL-7 consumption in vivo. This work demonstrates that sIL7Rα potentiates IL-7 bioactivity and provides a basis to explain the increased risk of autoimmunity observed in individuals with genotype-induced elevations of sIL7Rα.
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Tardif V, Manenkova Y, Berger M, Hoebe K, Zuo JP, Yuan C, Kono DH, Theofilopoulos AN, Lawson BR. Critical role of transmethylation in TLR signaling and systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol 2013; 147:133-43. [PMID: 23583916 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2013.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Post-translational protein modifications can play a significant role in immune cell signaling. Recently, we showed that inhibition of transmethylation curtails experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, notably by reducing T cell receptor (TCR)-induced activation of CD4(+) T cells. Here, we demonstrate that transmethylation inhibition by a reversible S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase inhibitor (DZ2002) led to immunosuppression by reducing TLR-, B cell receptor (BCR)- and TCR-induced activation of immune cells, most likely by blocking NF-κB activity. Moreover, prophylactic treatment with DZ2002 prevented lupus-like disease from developing in both BXSB and MRL-Fas(lpr) mouse models. DZ2002 treatment initiated during active disease significantly improved outcomes in both in vivo models, suggesting methylation inhibition as a novel approach for the treatment of autoimmune/inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Tardif
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Baccala R, Gonzalez-Quintial R, Schreiber RD, Lawson BR, Kono DH, Theofilopoulos AN. Anti-IFN-α/β receptor antibody treatment ameliorates disease in lupus-predisposed mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:5976-84. [PMID: 23175700 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The demonstration in humans and mice that nucleic acid-sensing TLRs and type I IFNs are essential disease mediators is a milestone in delineating the mechanisms of lupus pathogenesis. In this study, we show that Ifnb gene deletion does not modify disease progression in NZB mice, thereby strongly implicating IFN-α subtypes as the principal pathogenic effectors. We further document that long-term treatment of male BXSB mice with an anti-IFN-α/β receptor Ab of mouse origin reduced serologic, cellular, and histologic disease manifestations and extended survival, suggesting that disease acceleration by the Tlr7 gene duplication in this model is mediated by type I IFN signaling. The efficacy of this treatment in BXSB mice was clearly evident when applied early in the disease process, but only partial reductions in some disease characteristics were observed when treatment was initiated at later stages. A transient therapeutic effect was also noted in the MRL-Fas(lpr) model, although overall mortality was unaffected. The combined findings suggest that IFN-α/β receptor blockade, particularly when started at early disease stages, may be a useful treatment approach for human systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Baccala
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Lee WW, Shin MS, Kang Y, Lee N, Jeon S, Kang I. The relationship of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with circulatory IFN-α levels and IL-7 receptor α expression on CD8+ T cells in human aging. Cytokine 2012; 58:332-5. [PMID: 22484243 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Revised: 01/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) is the high affinity receptor for IL-7 which is essential for T cell homeostasis. We recently reported an age-associated expansion of human effector memory (EM) CD8(+) T cells expressing IL-7Rα low (IL-7Rα(low)), which could be detrimental to hosts by occupying "immunological space". We investigated the potential mechanisms for this phenomenon, focusing on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and INF-α. In the elderly (age ≥ 65), CMV infection was associated with a decreased frequency of naïve CD8(+) T cells as well as with an increased frequency of total EM and IL-7Rα(low) EM CD8(+) T cells. However, in the young (age ≤ 40), this viral infection was associated only with an increased frequency of IL-7Rα(low) EM CD8(+) T cells. There was no association found between CMV immune status and plasma levels of IFN-α. In CMV-infected young and elderly people, INF-α levels had no correlation with the frequency of IL-7Rα(low) EM CD8(+) T cells although this cytokine levels correlated with the frequency of IL-7Rα(low) CD45RA(+) EM CD8(+) T cells in CMV-uninfected elderly people. Our findings suggest that the effect of CMV infection on the frequency of CD8(+) T cell subsets may begin with IL-7Rα(low) EM CD8(+) T cells and spread to other subsets with aging. Also, IFN-α could be associated with the expansion of IL-7Rα(low) CD45RA(+) EM CD8(+) T cells in the CMV-uninfected elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Woo Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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