1
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Källberg E, Mehmeti-Ajradini M, Björk Gunnarsdottir F, Göransson M, Bergenfelz C, Allaoui Fredriksson R, Hagerling C, Johansson ME, Welinder C, Jirström K, Leandersson K. AIRE is expressed in breast cancer TANs and TAMs to regulate the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and inflammation. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:664-678. [PMID: 38060995 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcriptional regulator expressed in the thymus and is necessary for maintaining immunological self-tolerance. Extrathymic AIRE expression is rare, and a role for AIRE in tumor-associated innate immune cells has not yet been established. In this study, we show that AIRE is expressed in human pro-tumor neutrophils. In breast cancer, AIRE was primarily located to tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), and to a lesser extent to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor cells. Expression of AIRE in TAN/TAMs, but not in cancer cells, was associated with an adverse prognosis. We show that the functional role for AIRE in neutrophils and macrophages is to regulate expression of immune mediators and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway involving the Fas/TNFR death receptors and cathepsin G. Here, we propose that the role for AIRE in TAN/TAMs in breast tumors is to regulate cell death and inflammation, thus promoting tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Källberg
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Meliha Mehmeti-Ajradini
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Frida Björk Gunnarsdottir
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marcus Göransson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Caroline Bergenfelz
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Roni Allaoui Fredriksson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Catharina Hagerling
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Martin E Johansson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, Vasaparken Universitetsplatsen 1, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Mass Spectrometry, Department for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Jirström
- Oncology and Therapeutic Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Leandersson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
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2
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Aytekin ES, Cagdas D. APECED and the place of AIRE in the puzzle of the immune network associated with autoimmunity. Scand J Immunol 2023; 98:e13299. [PMID: 38441333 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
In the last 20 years, discoveries about the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein and its critical role in immune tolerance have provided fundamental insights into understanding the molecular basis of autoimmunity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effect of AIRE on immunological tolerance and the characteristics of autoimmune diseases in Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED), which is caused by biallelic AIRE mutations. A better understanding of the immunological mechanisms of AIRE deficiency may enlighten immune tolerance mechanisms and new diagnostic and treatment strategies for autoimmune diseases. Considering that not all clinical features of APECED are present in a given follow-up period, the diagnosis is not easy in a patient at the first visit. Longer follow-up and a multidisciplinary approach are essential for diagnosis. It is challenging to prevent endocrine and other organ damage compared with other diseases associated with multiple autoimmunities, such as FOXP3, LRBA, and CTLA4 deficiencies. Unfortunately, no curative therapy like haematopoietic stem cell transplantation or specific immunomodulation is present that is successful in the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Soyak Aytekin
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, SBU Dr. Sami Ulus Children Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Deniz Cagdas
- Division of Pediatric Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Ihsan Dogramaci Children`s Hospital, Institute of Child Health, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
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3
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Pircher H, Pinschewer DD, Boehm T. MHC I tetramer staining tends to overestimate the number of functionally relevant self-reactive CD8 T cells in the preimmune repertoire. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350402. [PMID: 37179469 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies that used peptide-MHC (pMHC) tetramers (tet) to identify self-specific T cells have questioned the effectiveness of thymic-negative selection. Here, we used pMHCI tet to enumerate CD8 T cells specific for the immunodominant gp33 epitope of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein (GP) in mice transgenically engineered to express high levels of GP as a self-antigen in the thymus. In GP-transgenic mice (GP+ ), monoclonal P14 TCR+ CD8 T cells that express a GP-specific TCR could not be detected by gp33/Db -tet staining, indicative of their complete intrathymic deletion. By contrast, in the same GP+ mice, substantial numbers of polyclonal CD8 T cells identifiable by gp33/Db -tet were present. The gp33-tet staining profiles of polyclonal T cells from GP+ and GP-negative (GP- ) mice were overlapping, but mean fluorescence intensities were ∼15% lower in cells from GP+ mice. Remarkably, the gp33-tet+ T cells in GP+ mice failed to clonally expand after lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, whereas those of GP- mice did so. In Nur77GFP -reporter mice, dose-dependent responses to gp33 peptide-induced TCR stimulation revealed that gp33-tet+ T cells with high ligand sensitivity are lacking in GP+ mice. Hence, pMHCI tet staining identifies self-specific CD8 T cells but tends to overestimate the number of truly self-reactive cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanspeter Pircher
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Daniel D Pinschewer
- Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Boehm
- Department of Developmental Immunology, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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4
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Giardino G, Romano R, Lougaris V, Castagnoli R, Cillo F, Leonardi L, La Torre F, Soresina A, Federici S, Cancrini C, Pacillo L, Toriello E, Cinicola BL, Corrente S, Volpi S, Marseglia GL, Pignata C, Cardinale F. Immune tolerance breakdown in inborn errors of immunity: Paving the way to novel therapeutic approaches. Clin Immunol 2023; 251:109302. [PMID: 36967025 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Up to 25% of the patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) also exhibit immunodysregulatory features. The association of immune dysregulation and immunodeficiency may be explained by different mechanisms. The understanding of mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation in IEI has paved the way for the development of targeted treatments. In this review article, we will summarize the mechanisms of immune tolerance breakdown and the targeted therapeutic approaches to immune dysregulation in IEI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Giardino
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
| | - Roberta Romano
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Vassilios Lougaris
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic and Institute for Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli, University of Brescia and ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Riccardo Castagnoli
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Cillo
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Leonardi
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco La Torre
- Department of Pediatrics, Giovanni XXIII Pediatric Hospital, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Annarosa Soresina
- Unit of Pediatric Immunology, Pediatrics Clinic, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Federici
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Cancrini
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Pacillo
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Research Unit of Primary Immunodeficiencies, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Toriello
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Bianca Laura Cinicola
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Volpi
- Center for Autoinflammatory Diseases and Immunodeficiency, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Marseglia
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudio Pignata
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Cardinale
- Department of Pediatrics, Giovanni XXIII Pediatric Hospital, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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5
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Cable J, Saphire EO, Hayday AC, Wiltshire TD, Mousa JJ, Humphreys DP, Breij ECW, Bruhns P, Broketa M, Furuya G, Hauser BM, Mahévas M, Carfi A, Cantaert T, Kwong PD, Tripathi P, Davis JH, Brewis N, Keyt BA, Fennemann FL, Dussupt V, Sivasubramanian A, Kim PM, Rawi R, Richardson E, Leventhal D, Wolters RM, Geuijen CAW, Sleeman MA, Pengo N, Donnellan FR. Antibodies as drugs-a Keystone Symposia report. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1519:153-166. [PMID: 36382536 PMCID: PMC10103175 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14915] [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: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies have broad indications across diverse disease states, such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. New research continues to identify antibodies with therapeutic potential as well as methods to improve upon endogenous antibodies and to design antibodies de novo. On April 27-30, 2022, experts in antibody research across academia and industry met for the Keystone symposium "Antibodies as Drugs" to present the state-of-the-art in antibody therapeutics, repertoires and deep learning, bispecific antibodies, and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Adrian C Hayday
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, King's College London, London, UK.,Cancer Research UK Cancer Immunotherapy Accelerator, London, UK.,Immunosurveillance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Jarrod J Mousa
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Center for Vaccines and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.,Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Esther C W Breij
- Translational Research and Precision Medicine, Genmab BV, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Pierre Bruhns
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, Paris, France
| | - Matteo Broketa
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, Paris, France
| | - Genta Furuya
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Blake M Hauser
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthieu Mahévas
- Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de Référence des Cytopénies Auto-immunes de l'adulte, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Andrea Carfi
- Moderna Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Tineke Cantaert
- Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, The Pasteur Network, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Peter D Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Prabhanshu Tripathi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Bruce A Keyt
- IGM Biosciences, Inc., Mountainview, California, USA
| | | | - Vincent Dussupt
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Philip M Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reda Rawi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eve Richardson
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Rachael M Wolters
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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6
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Benlaribi R, Gou Q, Takaba H. Thymic self-antigen expression for immune tolerance and surveillance. Inflamm Regen 2022; 42:28. [PMID: 36056452 PMCID: PMC9440513 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-022-00211-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are a group of lymphocytes that play a central role in the immune system, notably, eliminating pathogens and attacking cancer while being tolerant of the self. Elucidating how immune tolerance is ensured has become a significant research issue for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases as well as cancer immunity. T cell immune tolerance is established mainly in the thymic medulla by the removal of self-responsive T cells and the generation of regulatory T cells, this process depends mainly on the expression of a variety of tissue restricted antigens (TRAs) by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). The expression of TRAs is known to be regulated by at least two independent factors, Fezf2 and Aire, which play non-redundant and complementary roles by different mechanisms. In this review, we introduce the molecular logic of thymic self-antigen expression that underlies T cell selection for the prevention of autoimmunity and the establishment of immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayene Benlaribi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Qiao Gou
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Takaba
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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7
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Gulla S, Reddy MC, Reddy VC, Chitta S, Bhanoori M, Lomada D. Role of thymus in health and disease. Int Rev Immunol 2022; 42:347-363. [PMID: 35593192 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2022.2064461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, essential for the development of T-cells that will protect from invading pathogens, immune disorders, and cancer. The thymus decreases in size and cellularity with age referred to as thymus involution or atrophy. This involution causes decreased T-cell development and decreased naive T-cell emigration to the periphery, increased proportion of memory T cells, and a restricted, altered T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. The changes in composition and function of the circulating T cell pool as a result of thymic involution led to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases including the recent COVID and a higher risk for autoimmune disorders and cancers. Thymic involution consisting of both structural and functional loss of the thymus has a deleterious effect on T cell development, T cell selection, and tolerance. The mechanisms which act on the structural (cortex and medulla) matrix of the thymus, the gradual accumulation of genetic mutations, and altered gene expressions may lead to immunosenescence as a result of thymus involution. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind thymic involution is critical for identifying diagnostic biomarkers and targets for treatment help to develop strategies to mitigate thymic involution-associated complications. This review is focused on the consequences of thymic involution in infections, immune disorders, and diseases, identifying potential checkpoints and potential approaches to sustain or restore the function of the thymus particularly in elderly and immune-compromised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra Gulla
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Madhava C Reddy
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Vajra C Reddy
- Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Chinnakondrupadu, Guntur, India
| | | | - Manjula Bhanoori
- Department of Biochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India
| | - Dakshayani Lomada
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
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8
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Riccardo F, Tarone L, Camerino M, Giacobino D, Iussich S, Barutello G, Arigoni M, Conti L, Bolli E, Quaglino E, Merighi IF, Morello E, Dentini A, Ferrone S, Buracco P, Cavallo F. Antigen mimicry as an effective strategy to induce CSPG4-targeted immunity in dogs with oral melanoma: a veterinary trial. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004007. [PMID: 35580930 PMCID: PMC9114861 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer in humans. Conventional therapies have limited efficacy, and overall response is still unsatisfactory considering that immune checkpoint inhibitors induce lasting clinical responses only in a low percentage of patients. This has prompted us to develop a vaccination strategy employing the tumor antigen chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 as a target. METHODS To overcome the host's unresponsiveness to the self-antigen CSPG4, we have taken advantage of the conservation of CSPG4 sequence through phylogenetic evolution, so we have used a vaccine, based on a chimeric DNA molecule encompassing both human (Hu) and dog (Do) portions of CSPG4 (HuDo-CSPG4). We have tested its safety and immunogenicity (primary objectives), along with its therapeutic efficacy (secondary outcome), in a prospective, non-randomized, veterinary clinical trial enrolling 80 client-owned dogs with surgically resected, CSPG4-positive, stage II-IV oral melanoma. RESULTS Vaccinated dogs developed anti-Do-CSPG4 and Hu-CSPG4 immune response. Interestingly, the antibody titer in vaccinated dogs was significantly associated with the overall survival. Our data suggest that there may be a contribution of the HuDo-CSPG4 vaccination to the improvement of survival of vaccinated dogs as compared with controls treated with conventional therapies alone. CONCLUSIONS HuDo-CSPG4 adjuvant vaccination was safe and immunogenic in dogs with oral melanoma, with potential beneficial effects on the course of the disease. Thanks to the power of naturally occurring canine tumors as predictive models for cancer immunotherapy response, these data may represent a basis for the translation of this approach to the treatment of human patients with CSPG4-positive melanoma subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Riccardo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Lidia Tarone
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Davide Giacobino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Selina Iussich
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Barutello
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Maddalena Arigoni
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Conti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bolli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Quaglino
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Irene Fiore Merighi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Emanuela Morello
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paolo Buracco
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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9
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Cardinale A, De Luca CD, Locatelli F, Velardi E. Thymic Function and T-Cell Receptor Repertoire Diversity: Implications for Patient Response to Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752042. [PMID: 34899700 PMCID: PMC8652142 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The capacity of T cells to recognize and mount an immune response against tumor antigens depends on the large diversity of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire generated in the thymus during the process of T-cell development. However, this process is dramatically impaired by immunological insults, such as that caused by cytoreductive cancer therapies and infections, and by the physiological decline of thymic function with age. Defective thymic function and a skewed TCR repertoire can have significant clinical consequences. The presence of an adequate pool of T cells capable of recognizing specific tumor antigens is a prerequisite for the success of cancer immunotherapy using checkpoint blockade therapy. However, while this approach has improved the chances of survival of patients with different types of cancer, a large proportion of them do not respond. The limited response rate to checkpoint blockade therapy may be linked to a suboptimal TCR repertoire in cancer patients prior to therapy. Here, we focus on the role of the thymus in shaping the T-cell pool in health and disease, discuss how the TCR repertoire influences patients’ response to checkpoint blockade therapy and highlight approaches able to manipulate thymic function to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cardinale
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.,Department of Maternal and Child Health, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Velardi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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10
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Peterson P, Kisand K, Kluger N, Ranki A. Loss of AIRE-Mediated Immune Tolerance and the Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:760-767. [PMID: 34535292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The core function of the immune response is to distinguish between self and foreign. The multiorgan human autoimmune disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED/autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) is an example of what happens in the body when central immune tolerance goes astray. APECED revealed the existence and function of the autoimmune regulator gene, which has a central role in the development of tolerance. The discovery of autoimmune regulator was the start of a new period in immunology and in understanding the role of central and peripheral tolerance, also very relevant to many skin diseases as we highlight in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nicolas Kluger
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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11
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Verdon DJ, Jenkins MR. Identification and Targeting of Mutant Peptide Neoantigens in Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4245. [PMID: 34439399 PMCID: PMC8391927 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, adoptive cell transfer and checkpoint blockade therapies have revolutionized immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer treatment. Advances in whole exome/genome sequencing and bioinformatic detection of tumour-specific genetic variations and the amino acid sequence alterations they induce have revealed that T cell mediated anti-tumour immunity is substantially directed at mutated peptide sequences, and the identification and therapeutic targeting of patient-specific mutated peptide antigens now represents an exciting and rapidly progressing frontier of personalized medicine in the treatment of cancer. This review outlines the historical identification and validation of mutated peptide neoantigens as a target of the immune system, and the technical development of bioinformatic and experimental strategies for detecting, confirming and prioritizing both patient-specific or "private" and frequently occurring, shared "public" neoantigenic targets. Further, we examine the range of therapeutic modalities that have demonstrated preclinical and clinical anti-tumour efficacy through specifically targeting neoantigens, including adoptive T cell transfer, checkpoint blockade and neoantigen vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Verdon
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Misty R. Jenkins
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
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12
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Truckenbrod EN, Burrack KS, Knutson TP, Borges da Silva H, Block KE, O'Flanagan SD, Stagliano KR, Hurwitz AA, Fulton RB, Renkema KR, Jameson SC. CD8 + T cell self-tolerance permits responsiveness but limits tissue damage. eLife 2021; 10:65615. [PMID: 33929324 PMCID: PMC8147182 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-specific CD8+T cells can escape clonal deletion, but the properties and capabilities of such cells in a physiological setting are unclear. We characterized polyclonal CD8+ T cells specific for the melanocyte antigen tyrosinase-related protein 2 (Trp2) in mice expressing or lacking this enzyme (due to deficiency in Dct, which encodes Trp2). Phenotypic and gene expression profiles of pre-immune Trp2/Kb-specific cells were similar; the size of this population was only slightly reduced in wild-type (WT) compared to Dct-deficient (Dct-/-) mice. Despite comparable initial responses to Trp2 immunization, WT Trp2/Kb-specific cells showed blunted expansion and less readily differentiated into a CD25+proliferative population. Functional self-tolerance clearly emerged when assessing immunopathology: adoptively transferred WT Trp2/Kb-specific cells mediated vitiligo much less efficiently. Hence, CD8+ T cell self-specificity is poorly predicted by precursor frequency, phenotype, or even initial responsiveness, while deficient activation-induced CD25 expression and other gene expression characteristics may help to identify functionally tolerant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristina S Burrack
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | - Todd P Knutson
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | | | - Katharine E Block
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | | | - Katie R Stagliano
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | - Arthur A Hurwitz
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | - Ross B Fulton
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | - Kristin R Renkema
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
| | - Stephen C Jameson
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States
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13
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Besnard M, Padonou F, Provin N, Giraud M, Guillonneau C. AIRE deficiency, from preclinical models to human APECED disease. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm046359. [PMID: 33729987 PMCID: PMC7875492 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease that attacks multiple organs and has its onset in childhood. It is an inherited condition caused by a variety of mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene that encodes a protein whose function has been uncovered by the generation and study of Aire-KO mice. These provided invaluable insights into the link between AIRE expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and the broad spectrum of self-antigens that these cells express and present to the developing thymocytes. However, these murine models poorly recapitulate all phenotypic aspects of human APECED. Unlike Aire-KO mice, the recently generated Aire-KO rat model presents visual features, organ lymphocytic infiltrations and production of autoantibodies that resemble those observed in APECED patients, making the rat model a main research asset. In addition, ex vivo models of AIRE-dependent self-antigen expression in primary mTECs have been successfully set up. Thymus organoids based on pluripotent stem cell-derived TECs from APECED patients are also emerging, and constitute a promising tool to engineer AIRE-corrected mTECs and restore the generation of regulatory T cells. Eventually, these new models will undoubtedly lead to main advances in the identification and assessment of specific and efficient new therapeutic strategies aiming to restore immunological tolerance in APECED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Besnard
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Francine Padonou
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nathan Provin
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Carole Guillonneau
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
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14
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Paprckova D, Stepanek O. Narcissistic T cells: reactivity to self makes a difference. FEBS J 2020; 288:1778-1788. [PMID: 32738029 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
It has been appreciated for more than three decades that the interactions between the T-cell antigen receptor and self-antigens are the major determinants of the cell fates of developing thymocytes and the establishment of central tolerance. However, recent evidence shows that the level of self-reactivity substantially contributes to fate choices of positively selected mature T cells in homeostasis, as well as during immune responses. This implies that individual clones of peripheral T cells are predisposed to specific functional properties based on the self-reactivity of their antigen receptors. Overall, the relative difference in the self-reactivity among peripheral T cells is an important factor contributing to the diversity of T-cell responses to foreign antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Paprckova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Stepanek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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15
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Benitez AA, Khalil-Agüero S, Nandakumar A, Gupta NT, Zhang W, Atwal GS, Murphy AJ, Sleeman MA, Haxhinasto S. Absence of central tolerance in Aire-deficient mice synergizes with immune-checkpoint inhibition to enhance antitumor responses. Commun Biol 2020; 3:355. [PMID: 32641748 PMCID: PMC7343867 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1083-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The endogenous anti-tumor responses are limited in part by the absence of tumor-reactive T cells, an inevitable consequence of thymic central tolerance mechanisms ensuring prevention of autoimmunity. Here we show that tumor rejection induced by immune checkpoint blockade is significantly enhanced in Aire-deficient mice, the epitome of central tolerance breakdown. The observed synergy in tumor rejection extended to different tumor models, was accompanied by increased numbers of activated T cells expressing high levels of Gzma, Gzmb, Perforin, Cxcr3, and increased intratumoural levels of Cxcl9 and Cxcl10 compared to wild-type mice. Consistent with Aire's central role in T cell repertoire selection, single cell TCR sequencing unveiled expansion of several clones with high tumor reactivity. The data suggest that breakdown in central tolerance synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade in enhancing anti-tumor immunity and may serve as a model to unmask novel anti-tumor therapies including anti-tumor TCRs, normally purged during central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asiel A Benitez
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Sara Khalil-Agüero
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Anjali Nandakumar
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Namita T Gupta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Wen Zhang
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gurinder S Atwal
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Matthew A Sleeman
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Sokol Haxhinasto
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA.
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16
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Wang W, Thomas R, Sizova O, Su DM. Thymic Function Associated With Cancer Development, Relapse, and Antitumor Immunity - A Mini-Review. Front Immunol 2020; 11:773. [PMID: 32425946 PMCID: PMC7203483 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the central lymphoid organ for T cell development, a cradle of T cells, and for central tolerance establishment, an educator of T cells, maintaining homeostatic cellular immunity. T cell immunity is critical to control cancer occurrence, relapse, and antitumor immunity. Evidence on how aberrant thymic function influences cancer remains largely insufficient, however, there has been recent progress. For example, the involuted thymus results in reduced output of naïve T cells and a restricted T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, inducing immunosenescence and potentially dampening immune surveillance of neoplasia. In addition, the involuted thymus relatively enhances regulatory T (Treg) cell generation. This coupled with age-related accumulation of Treg cells in the periphery, potentially provides a supportive microenvironment for tumors to escape T cell-mediated antitumor responses. Furthermore, acute thymic involution from chemotherapy can create a tumor reservoir, resulting from an inflammatory microenvironment in the thymus, which is suitable for disseminated tumor cells to hide, survive chemotherapy, and become dormant. This may eventually result in cancer metastatic relapse. On the other hand, if thymic involution is wisely taken advantage of, it may be potentially beneficial to antitumor immunity, since the involuted thymus increases output of self-reactive T cells, which may recognize certain tumor-associated self-antigens and enhance antitumor immunity, as demonstrated through depletion of autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene in the thymus. Herein, we briefly review recent research progression regarding how altered thymic function modifies T cell immunity against tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikan Wang
- Cell Biology, Immunology, and Microbiology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Rachel Thomas
- Cell Biology, Immunology, and Microbiology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Olga Sizova
- Department of Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dong-Ming Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
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17
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The renal adverse effects of cancer immunotherapy. J Nephrol 2020; 33:467-481. [PMID: 31912436 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-019-00691-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the development and clinical use of immunotherapy agents has increased exponentially. As clinical experience builds with these agents so too does our understanding of the associated adverse effects. In particular, the effects of immunotherapy on the kidneys, individual nephrons, and kidney function remain less well described than the adverse effects on barrier organ systems such as the gastrointestinal tract and skin. However, phase IV post-marketing surveillance and clinical case studies together with basic research has begun to reveal mechanisms by which immunotherapy mediates renal adverse effects. This work may lead to improvements in treatment guidelines and therapy. These advances are particularly important as post-cancer survival increases leaving patients to cope with the consequences of not only the cancer, but the short- and long-term adverse effects of treatment. Here we discuss the major renal adverse effects encountered with individual immunotherapeutic agents, putative mechanisms, their current management, and how cancer survivorship programs can help patients who have been treated with immunotherapy.
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18
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Pinho MP, Patente TA, Flatow EA, Sallusto F, Barbuto JAM. Frequency determination of breast tumor-reactive CD4 and CD8 T cells in humans: unveiling the antitumor immune response. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:1607674. [PMID: 31413917 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1607674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
As cancer immunotherapy gains importance, the determination of a patient's ability to react to his/her tumor is unquestionably relevant. Though the presence of T cells that recognize specific tumor antigens is well established, the total frequency of tumor-reactive T cells in humans is difficult to assess, especially due to the lack of broad analysis techniques. Here, we describe a strategy that allows this determination, in both CD4 and CD8 compartments, using T cell proliferation induced by tumor cell-lysate pulsed dendritic cells as the readout. All 12 healthy donor tested had circulating CD4 and CD8 tumor cell-reactive T cells. The detection of these T cells, not only in the naïve but also in the memory compartment, can be seen as an evidence of tumor immunosurveillance in humans. As expected, breast cancer patients had higher frequencies of blood tumor-reactive T cells, but with differences among breast cancer subtypes. Interestingly, the frequency of blood tumor-reactive T cells in patients did not correlate to the frequency of infiltrating tumor-reactive T cells, highlighting the danger of implying a local tumor response from blood obtained data. In conclusion, these data add T cell evidence to immunosurveillance in humans, confirm that immune parameters in blood may be misleading and describe a tool to follow the tumor-specific immune response in patients and, thus, to design better immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pereira Pinho
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago Andrade Patente
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Alexandra Flatow
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Federica Sallusto
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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19
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Su MA, Anderson MS. Pulling RANK on Cancer: Blocking Aire-Mediated Central Tolerance to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:854-859. [PMID: 31160305 PMCID: PMC6550349 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A major breakthrough in cancer treatment occurred with the development of strategies that overcome T-cell tolerance toward tumor cells. These approaches enhance antitumor immunity by overcoming mechanisms that are normally in place to prevent autoimmunity but simultaneously prevent rejection of tumor cells. Although tolerance mechanisms that restrict antitumor immunity take place both in the thymus and periphery, only immunotherapies that target peripheral tolerance mechanisms occurring outside of the thymus are currently available. We review here recent gains in our understanding of how thymic tolerance mediated by the autoimmune regulator (Aire) impedes antitumor immunity. It is now clear that transient depletion of Aire-expressing cells in the thymus can be achieved with RANKL blockade. Finally, we discuss key findings that support the repurposing of anti-RANKL as a cancer immunotherapy with a unique mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Su
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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20
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Ahern E, Smyth MJ, Dougall WC, Teng MWL. Roles of the RANKL–RANK axis in antitumour immunity — implications for therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2018; 15:676-693. [DOI: 10.1038/s41571-018-0095-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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21
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Conteduca G, Indiveri F, Filaci G, Negrini S. Beyond APECED: An update on the role of the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) in physiology and disease. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17:325-330. [PMID: 29427825 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) is a transcription factor expressed both in the thymus, by medullary thymic epithelial cells, and in secondary lymphoid organs. AIRE controls the local transcription of organ- specific proteins typically expressed in peripheral tissues, thus allowing the negative selection of self- reactive T cells. The crucial role played by AIRE in central immune tolerance emerged in the studies on the pathogenesis of Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy, a rare inherited polyendocrine/autoimmune disease. Thereafter, several studies found evidences indicating that AIRE impairment might be pathogenically involved in several autoimmune diseases and in tumorigenesis. In this review, we focus on recent advances relative to AIRE's effect on T cell development in physiology and disease. In particular, we address the following issues: 1) AIRE function and mTECs biology, 2) the impact of AIRE gene mutations in autoimmune diseases, and 3) the role of AIRE gene in anti-tumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Conteduca
- Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA)-I3, Laboratory of Hematology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Francesco Indiveri
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Simone Negrini
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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22
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Abstract
About two decades ago, cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene materialized one of the most important actors on the scene of self-tolerance. Thymic transcription of genes encoding tissue-specific antigens (ts-ags) is activated by AIRE protein and embodies the essence of thymic self-representation. Pathogenic AIRE variants cause the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, which is a rare and complex disease that is gaining attention in research on autoimmunity. The animal models of disease, although not identically reproducing the human picture, supply fundamental information on mechanisms and extent of AIRE action: thanks to its multidomain structure, AIRE localizes to chromatin enclosing the target genes, binds to histones, and offers an anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription. In addition, AIRE enhances mRNA diversity by favoring alternative mRNA splicing. Once synthesized, ts-ags are presented to, and cause deletion of the self-reactive thymocyte clones. However, AIRE function is not restricted to the activation of gene transcription. AIRE would control presentation and transfer of self-antigens for thymic cellular interplay: such mechanism is aimed at increasing the likelihood of engagement of the thymocytes that carry the corresponding T-cell receptors. Another fundamental role of AIRE in promoting self-tolerance is related to the development of thymocyte anergy, as thymic self-representation shapes at the same time the repertoire of regulatory T cells. Finally, AIRE seems to replicate its action in the secondary lymphoid organs, albeit the cell lineage detaining such property has not been fully characterized. Delineation of AIRE functions adds interesting data to the knowledge of the mechanisms of self-tolerance and introduces exciting perspectives of therapeutic interventions against the related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Vito Fazzi Regional Hospital, Lecce, Italy
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23
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Takaba H, Takayanagi H. The Mechanisms of T Cell Selection in the Thymus. Trends Immunol 2017; 38:805-816. [PMID: 28830733 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2017.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
T cells undergo positive and negative selection in the thymic cortex and medulla, respectively. A promiscuous expression of a wide array of self-antigens in the thymus is essential for the negative selection of self-reactive T cells and the establishment of central tolerance. Aire was originally thought to be the exclusive factor regulating the expression of tissue-restricted antigens, but Fezf2 recently emerged as a critical transcription factor in this regulatory activity. Fezf2 is selectively expressed in thymic medullary epithelial cells, regulates a large number of tissue-restricted antigens and suppresses the onset of autoimmune responses. Here, we discuss novel findings on the transcriptional mechanisms of tissue restricted-antigen expression in the medullary thymic epithelial cells and its effects on T cell selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takaba
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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24
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Bakhru P, Zhu ML, Wang HH, Hong LK, Khan I, Mouchess M, Gulati AS, Starmer J, Hou Y, Sailer D, Lee S, Zhao F, Kirkwood JM, Moschos S, Fong L, Anderson MS, Su MA. Combination central tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade unleashes antimelanoma immunity. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93265. [PMID: 28931755 PMCID: PMC5621898 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockade of immune checkpoint proteins (e.g., CTLA-4, PD-1) improves overall survival in advanced melanoma; however, therapeutic benefit is limited to only a subset of patients. Because checkpoint blockade acts by "removing the brakes" on effector T cells, the efficacy of checkpoint blockade may be constrained by the limited pool of melanoma-reactive T cells in the periphery. In the thymus, autoimmune regulator (Aire) promotes deletion of T cells reactive against self-antigens that are also expressed by tumors. Thus, while protecting against autoimmunity, Aire also limits the generation of melanoma-reactive T cells. Here, we show that Aire deficiency in mice expands the pool of CD4+ T cells capable of melanoma cell eradication and has additive effects with anti-CTLA-4 antibody in slowing melanoma tumor growth and increasing survival. Moreover, pharmacologic blockade of central T cell tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade in combination enhanced antimelanoma immunity in a synergistic manner. In melanoma patients treated with anti-CTLA-4 antibody, clinical response to therapy was associated with a human Aire polymorphism. Together, these findings suggest that Aire-mediated central tolerance constrains the efficacy of peripheral checkpoint inhibition and point to simultaneous blockade of Aire and checkpoint inhibitors as a novel strategy to enhance antimelanoma immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Bakhru
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meng-Lei Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hsing-Hui Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lee K. Hong
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Imran Khan
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ajay S. Gulati
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, and
| | - Joshua Starmer
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yafei Hou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David Sailer
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sandra Lee
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
| | - Fengmin Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stergios Moschos
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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25
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Fishman D, Kisand K, Hertel C, Rothe M, Remm A, Pihlap M, Adler P, Vilo J, Peet A, Meloni A, Podkrajsek KT, Battelino T, Bruserud Ø, Wolff ASB, Husebye ES, Kluger N, Krohn K, Ranki A, Peterson H, Hayday A, Peterson P. Autoantibody Repertoire in APECED Patients Targets Two Distinct Subgroups of Proteins. Front Immunol 2017; 8:976. [PMID: 28861084 PMCID: PMC5561390 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
High titer autoantibodies produced by B lymphocytes are clinically important features of many common autoimmune diseases. APECED patients with deficient autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene collectively display a broad repertoire of high titer autoantibodies, including some which are pathognomonic for major autoimmune diseases. AIRE deficiency severely reduces thymic expression of gene-products ordinarily restricted to discrete peripheral tissues, and developing T cells reactive to those gene-products are not inactivated during their development. However, the extent of the autoantibody repertoire in APECED and its relation to thymic expression of self-antigens are unclear. We here undertook a broad protein array approach to assess autoantibody repertoire in APECED patients. Our results show that in addition to shared autoantigen reactivities, APECED patients display high inter-individual variation in their autoantigen profiles, which collectively are enriched in evolutionarily conserved, cytosolic and nuclear phosphoproteins. The APECED autoantigens have two major origins; proteins expressed in thymic medullary epithelial cells and proteins expressed in lymphoid cells. These findings support the hypothesis that specific protein properties strongly contribute to the etiology of B cell autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmytro Fishman
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Quretec Ltd., Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | | | - Anu Remm
- Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maire Pihlap
- Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Priit Adler
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Quretec Ltd., Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jaak Vilo
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Quretec Ltd., Tartu, Estonia
| | - Aleksandr Peet
- Children's Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Antonella Meloni
- Pediatric Clinic II, Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Katarina Trebusak Podkrajsek
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tadej Battelino
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Øyvind Bruserud
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette S B Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Nicolas Kluger
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kai Krohn
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hedi Peterson
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Quretec Ltd., Tartu, Estonia
| | - Adrian Hayday
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, King's College, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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26
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Qamra A, Xing M, Padmanabhan N, Kwok JJT, Zhang S, Xu C, Leong YS, Lee Lim AP, Tang Q, Ooi WF, Suling Lin J, Nandi T, Yao X, Ong X, Lee M, Tay ST, Keng ATL, Gondo Santoso E, Ng CCY, Ng A, Jusakul A, Smoot D, Ashktorab H, Rha SY, Yeoh KG, Peng Yong W, Chow PK, Chan WH, Ong HS, Soo KC, Kim KM, Wong WK, Rozen SG, Teh BT, Kappei D, Lee J, Connolly J, Tan P. Epigenomic Promoter Alterations Amplify Gene Isoform and Immunogenic Diversity in Gastric Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:630-651. [DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-16-1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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27
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Conteduca G, Fenoglio D, Parodi A, Battaglia F, Kalli F, Negrini S, Tardito S, Ferrera F, Salis A, Millo E, Pasquale G, Barra G, Damonte G, Indiveri F, Ferrone S, Filaci G. AIRE polymorphism, melanoma antigen-specific T cell immunity, and susceptibility to melanoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:60872-60884. [PMID: 27563821 PMCID: PMC5308622 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIRE is involved in susceptibility to melanoma perhaps regulating T cell immunity against melanoma antigens (MA). To address this issue, AIRE and MAGEB2 expressions were measured by real time PCR in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) from two strains of C57BL/6 mice bearing either T or C allelic variant of the rs1800522 AIRE SNP. Moreover, the extent of apoptosis induced by mTECs in MAGEB2-specific T cells and the susceptibility to in vivo melanoma B16F10 cell challenge were compared in the two mouse strains.The C allelic variant, protective in humans against melanoma, induced lower AIRE and MAGEB2 expression in C57BL/6 mouse mTECs than the T allele. Moreover, mTECs expressing the C allelic variant induced lower extent of apoptosis in MAGEB2-specific syngeneic T cells than mTECs bearing the T allelic variant (p < 0.05). Vaccination against MAGEB2 induced higher frequency of MAGEB2-specific CTL and exerted higher protective effect against melanoma development in mice bearing the CC AIRE genotype than in those bearing the TT one (p < 0.05). These findings show that allelic variants of one AIRE SNP may differentially shape the MA-specific T cell repertoire potentially influencing susceptibility to melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Fenoglio
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessia Parodi
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Florinda Battaglia
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Kalli
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Negrini
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samuele Tardito
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrera
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Millo
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pasquale
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giusi Barra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Damonte
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Indiveri
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
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Abstract
More than 15 years ago, mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene were identified as the cause of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1). It is now clear that this transcription factor has a crucial role in promoting self-tolerance in the thymus by regulating the expression of a wide array of self-antigens that have the commonality of being tissue-restricted in their expression pattern in the periphery. In this Review, we highlight many of the recent advances in our understanding of the complex biology that is related to AIRE, with a particular focus on advances in genetics, molecular interactions and the effect of AIRE on thymic selection of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, we highlight new areas of biology that are potentially affected by this key regulator of immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
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29
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Abstract
Genetic alterations are known drivers of autoimmune disease; however, there is a much higher incidence of autoimmunity in women, implicating sex-specific factors in disease development. The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene contributes to the maintenance of central tolerance, and complete loss of AIRE function results in the development of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1. In this issue of the JCI, Dragin and colleagues demonstrate that AIRE expression is downregulated in females as the result of estrogen-mediated alterations at the AIRE promoter. The association between estrogen and reduction of AIRE may at least partially account for the elevated incidence of autoimmune disease in women and has potential implications for sex hormone therapy.
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30
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Akiyama T, Tateishi R, Akiyama N, Yoshinaga R, Kobayashi TJ. Positive and Negative Regulatory Mechanisms for Fine-Tuning Cellularity and Functions of Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2015; 6:461. [PMID: 26441966 PMCID: PMC4568481 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-tolerant T cells and regulatory T cells develop in the thymus. A wide variety of cell-cell interactions in the thymus is required for the differentiation, proliferation, and repertoire selection of T cells. Various secreted and cell surface molecules expressed in thymic epithelial cells (TECs) mediate these processes. Moreover, cytokines expressed by cells of hematopoietic origin regulate the cellularity of TECs. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family RANK ligand, lymphotoxin, and CD40 ligand, expressed in T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), promote the differentiation and proliferation of medullary TECs (mTECs) that play critical roles in the induction of immune tolerance. A recent study suggests that interleukin-22 (IL-22) produced by ILCs promotes regeneration of TECs after irradiation. Intriguingly, tumor growth factor-β and osteoprotegerin limit cellularity of mTECs, thereby attenuating regulatory T cell generation. We will review recent insights into the molecular basis for cell-cell interactions regulating differentiation and proliferation of mTECs and also discuss about a perspective on use of mathematical models for understanding this complicated system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tateishi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Riko Yoshinaga
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
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31
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Akiyama N, Shinzawa M, Miyauchi M, Yanai H, Tateishi R, Shimo Y, Ohshima D, Matsuo K, Sasaki I, Hoshino K, Wu G, Yagi S, Inoue JI, Kaisho T, Akiyama T. Limitation of immune tolerance-inducing thymic epithelial cell development by Spi-B-mediated negative feedback regulation. J Exp Med 2014; 211:2425-38. [PMID: 25385757 PMCID: PMC4235644 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20141207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) expressing the autoimmune regulator AIRE and various tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) are critical for preventing the onset of autoimmunity and may attenuate tumor immunity. However, molecular mechanisms controlling mTEC development remain elusive. Here, we describe the roles of the transcription factor Spi-B in mTEC development. Spi-B is rapidly up-regulated by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) cytokine signaling, which triggers mTEC differentiation, and in turn up-regulates CD80, CD86, some TSAs, and the natural inhibitor of RANKL signaling, osteoprotegerin (OPG). Spi-B-mediated OPG expression limits mTEC development in neonates but not in embryos, suggesting developmental stage-specific negative feedback regulation. OPG-mediated negative regulation attenuates cellularity of thymic regulatory T cells and tumor development in vivo. Hence, these data suggest that this negative RANKL-Spi-B-OPG feedback mechanism finely tunes mTEC development and function and may optimize the trade-off between prevention of autoimmunity and induction of antitumor immunity.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- B7-1 Antigen/immunology
- B7-1 Antigen/metabolism
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Differentiation/immunology
- Cells, Cultured
- Epithelial Cells/immunology
- Epithelial Cells/metabolism
- Feedback, Physiological
- Female
- Gene Expression/immunology
- Immune Tolerance/genetics
- Immune Tolerance/immunology
- Male
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Nude
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Osteoprotegerin/genetics
- Osteoprotegerin/immunology
- Osteoprotegerin/metabolism
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/immunology
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets/immunology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets/metabolism
- RANK Ligand/immunology
- RANK Ligand/metabolism
- Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B/genetics
- Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B/immunology
- Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Thymus Gland/immunology
- Thymus Gland/metabolism
- NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuko Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Miho Shinzawa
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Hiromi Yanai
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tateishi
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yusuke Shimo
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ohshima
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Koichi Matsuo
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Izumi Sasaki
- Laboratory for Immune Regulation, World Premier International Research Center Initiative, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Katsuaki Hoshino
- Laboratory for Immune Regulation, World Premier International Research Center Initiative, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Laboratory for Inflammatory Regulation, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Guoying Wu
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yagi
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Jun-ichiro Inoue
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Tsuneyasu Kaisho
- Laboratory for Immune Regulation, World Premier International Research Center Initiative, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Laboratory for Inflammatory Regulation, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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32
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Pinto S, Sommermeyer D, Michel C, Wilde S, Schendel D, Uckert W, Blankenstein T, Kyewski B. Misinitiation of intrathymic MART-1 transcription and biased TCR usage explain the high frequency of MART-1-specific T cells. Eur J Immunol 2014; 44:2811-21. [PMID: 24846220 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201444499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Immunity to tumor differentiation antigens, such as melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (MART-1), has been comprehensively studied. Intriguingly, CD8(+) T cells specific for the MART-1(26(27)-35) epitope in the context of HLA-A0201 are about 100 times more abundant compared with T cells specific for other tumor-associated antigens. Moreover, MART-1-specific CD8(+) T cells show a highly biased usage of the Vα-region gene TRAV12-2. Here, we provide independent support for this notion, by showing that the combinatorial pairing of different TCRα- and TCRβ- chains derived from HLA-A2-MART-1(26-35) -specific CD8(+) T-cell clones is unusually permissive in conferring MART-1 specificity, provided the CDR1α TRAV12-2 region is used. Whether TCR bias alone accounts for the unusual abundance of HLA-A2-MART-1(26-35) -specific CD8(+) T cells has remained conjectural. Here, we provide an alternative explanation: misinitiated transcription of the MART-1 gene resulting in truncated mRNA isoforms leads to lack of promiscuous transcription of the MART-1(26-35) epitope in human medullary thymic epithelial cells and, consequently, evasion of central self-tolerance toward this epitope. Thus, biased TCR usage and leaky central tolerance might act in an independent and additive manner to confer high frequency of MART-1(26-35) -specific CD8(+) T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena Pinto
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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33
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Su MA, Anderson MS. Breaking through the central tolerance ceiling to unleash anticancer immune responses. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e950169. [PMID: 25610739 DOI: 10.4161/21624011.2014.950169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Central thymic tolerance mechanisms create a formidable barrier against the generation of self-reactive T cells. While preventing autoimmunity, this barrier also limits an effective antitumor immunological response. We recently reported that anti-RANKL blocking antibody breaches this central tolerance barrier, thus increasing the repertoire of melanoma reactive T cells. Thus, central tolerance blockade may be an effective therapeutic strategy to enhance anticancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Su
- Department of Pediatrics/Microbiology and Immunology; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center; University of California ; San Francisco, CA USA
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34
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Khan IS, Mouchess ML, Zhu ML, Conley B, Fasano KJ, Hou Y, Fong L, Su MA, Anderson MS. Enhancement of an anti-tumor immune response by transient blockade of central T cell tolerance. J Exp Med 2014; 211:761-8. [PMID: 24752296 PMCID: PMC4010907 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20131889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic central tolerance is a critical process that prevents autoimmunity but also presents a challenge to the generation of anti-tumor immune responses. Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) eliminate self-reactive T cells by displaying a diverse repertoire of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) that are also shared by tumors. Therefore, while protecting against autoimmunity, mTECs simultaneously limit the generation of tumor-specific effector T cells by expressing tumor self-antigens. This ectopic expression of TSAs largely depends on autoimmune regulator (Aire), which is expressed in mature mTECs. Thus, therapies to deplete Aire-expressing mTECs represent an attractive strategy to increase the pool of tumor-specific effector T cells. Recent work has implicated the TNF family members RANK and RANK-Ligand (RANKL) in the development of Aire-expressing mTECs. We show that in vivo RANKL blockade selectively and transiently depletes Aire and TSA expression in the thymus to create a window of defective negative selection. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RANKL blockade can rescue melanoma-specific T cells from thymic deletion and that persistence of these tumor-specific effector T cells promoted increased host survival in response to tumor challenge. These results indicate that modulating central tolerance through RANKL can alter thymic output and potentially provide therapeutic benefit by enhancing anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran S. Khan
- Diabetes Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Maria L. Mouchess
- Diabetes Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Meng-Lei Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Bridget Conley
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Kayla J. Fasano
- Diabetes Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Yafei Hou
- Diabetes Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Diabetes Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
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35
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Abstract
Vitiligo is a disease of pigment loss. Most investigators currently consider vitiligo to be a disorder that occurs as a result of autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, supported by identification of antimelanocyte antibodies in many patients, and the presence of comorbid autoimmune disease in patients with and family members of individuals with vitiligo. One-half of vitiligo cases are of childhood onset. This article presents a current overview of pediatric vitiligo including comorbidities of general health, psychological factors, therapeutic options, and long-term health considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanette B Silverberg
- Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1090 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 11D, New York, NY 10025, USA.
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36
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Akiyama T, Shinzawa M, Qin J, Akiyama N. Regulations of gene expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells required for preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol 2013; 4:249. [PMID: 23986760 PMCID: PMC3752772 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elimination of potential self-reactive T cells in the thymus is crucial for preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases. Epithelial cell subsets localized in thymic medulla [medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs)] contribute to this process by supplying a wide range of self-antigens that are otherwise expressed in a tissue-specific manner (TSAs). Expression of some TSAs in mTECs is controlled by the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein, of which dysfunctional mutations are the causative factor of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). In addition to the elimination of self-reactive T cells, recent studies indicated roles of mTECs in the development of Foxp3-positive regulatory T cells, which suppress autoimmunity and excess immune reactions in peripheral tissues. The TNF family cytokines, RANK ligand, CD40 ligand, and lymphotoxin were found to promote the differentiation of AIRE- and TSA-expressing mTECs. Furthermore, activation of NF-κB is essential for mTEC differentiation. In this mini-review, we focus on molecular mechanisms that regulate induction of AIRE and TSA expression and discuss possible contributions of these mechanisms to prevent the onset of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishin Akiyama
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
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37
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Connolly K, Manders P, Earls P, Epstein RJ. Papillomavirus-associated squamous skin cancers following transplant immunosuppression: one Notch closer to control. Cancer Treat Rev 2013; 40:205-14. [PMID: 24051018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 07/06/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The frequent occurrence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) containing weakly tumorigenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) following iatrogenic immunosuppression for organ transplantation remains incompletely understood. Here we address this problem in the light of recent insights into (1) the association of low-risk β-HPVs with skin SCCs in the rare genetic syndromes of epidermodysplasia verruciformis and xeroderma pigmentosum, (2) the frequent recovery of post-transplant tumor control on substituting calcineurin-inhibitory with mTOR-inhibitory immunosuppression, (3) the unexpectedly favorable prognosis of node-positive SCCs containing high-risk α-HPVs originating in the activated immune niche of the oropharynx, (4) the rapid occurrence of HPV-negative SCCs in ultraviolet (UV)-damaged skin of melanoma patients receiving Raf-inhibitory drugs, and (5) the selective ability of β-HPV E6 oncoproteins to inhibit Notch tumor-suppressive signaling in cutaneous and mesenchymal tissues. The crosstalk so implied between oncogenic UV-induced mutations, defective host immunity, and β-HPV-dependent stromal-epithelial signaling suggests that immunosuppressants such as calcineurin inhibitors intensify mitogenic signalling in TP53-mutant keratinocytes while also abrogating immune-dependent Notch-mediated tumor repression. This emerging interplay between solar damage, viral homeostasis and immune control makes it timely to reappraise strategies for managing skin SCCs in transplant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Connolly
- Department of Oncology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, UNSW Clinical School, Sydney, Australia
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38
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Abstract
The thymic transcription factor autoimmune regulator (Aire) prevents autoimmunity in part by promoting expression of tissue-specific self-antigens, which include many cancer antigens. For example, AIRE-deficient patients are predisposed to vitiligo, an autoimmune disease of melanocytes that is often triggered by efficacious immunotherapies against melanoma. Therefore, we hypothesized that Aire deficiency in mice may elevate immune responses to cancer and provide insights into how such responses might be triggered. In this study, we show that Aire deficiency decreases thymic expression of TRP-1 (TYRP1), which is a self-antigen in melanocytes and a cancer antigen in melanomas. Aire deficiency resulted in defective negative selection of TRP-1-specific T cells without affecting thymic numbers of regulatory T cells. Aire-deficient mice displayed elevated T-cell immune responses that were associated with suppression of melanoma outgrowth. Furthermore, transplantation of Aire-deficient thymic stroma was sufficient to confer more effective immune rejection of melanoma in an otherwise Aire wild-type host. Together, our work showed how Aire deficiency can enhance immune responses against melanoma and how manipulating TRP-1-specific T-cell negative selection may offer a logical strategy to enhance immune rejection of melanoma.
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MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Autoantigens/immunology
- Autoimmunity
- Blotting, Western
- Bone Marrow/metabolism
- Bone Marrow/pathology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Immune Tolerance
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Male
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/prevention & control
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Nude
- Oxidoreductases/genetics
- Oxidoreductases/immunology
- Oxidoreductases/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- Thymus Gland/metabolism
- Thymus Gland/transplantation
- Transcription Factors/physiology
- AIRE Protein
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Lei Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Anil Nagavalli
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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39
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Auphan-Anezin N, Verdeil G, Grange M, Soudja SM, Wehbe M, Buferne M, Mas A, Schmitt-Verhulst AM. Immunosuppression in inflammatory melanoma: can it be resisted by adoptively transferred T cells? Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2012; 26:167-75. [PMID: 23217139 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Discovery of tumor antigen (TA) recognized by autologous T cells (TCs) in patients with melanoma has led to clinical protocols using either vaccination or adoptive transfer of TA-specific TCs. However, efficacy of these treatments has been hampered by inhibitory effects exerted on tumor-infiltrating TCs by tumor-intrinsic mediators or by recruitment of immunosuppressive cells. A mouse model of autochthonous melanoma recapitulates some aspects of inflammatory melanoma development in patients. These include a systemic Th2-/Th17-oriented chronic inflammation, recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and acquisition by tumor-infiltrating TCs of an 'exhausted' phenotype characterized by expression of multiple inhibitory receptors including programmed death-1, also expressed on patients' melanoma-infiltrating TCs. Rather than using extracellular blocking reagents to inhibitory surface molecules on TCs, we sought to dampen negative signaling exerted on them. Adoptively transferred TCs presenting increased cytokine receptor signaling due to expression of an active Stat5 transcription factor were efficient at inducing melanoma regression in the preclinical melanoma model. These transferred TCs thrived and retained expression of effector molecules in the melanoma microenvironment, defining a protocol endowing TCs with the ability to resist melanoma-induced immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Auphan-Anezin
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix-Marseille Université UM2, Marseille, France.
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