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Seyedsadr M, Bang MF, McCarthy EC, Zhang S, Chen HC, Mohebbi M, Hugo W, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Su MA. A pathologically expanded, clonal lineage of IL-21-producing CD4+ T cells drives inflammatory neuropathy. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e178602. [PMID: 39087473 PMCID: PMC11290969 DOI: 10.1172/jci178602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory neuropathies, which include chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS), result from autoimmune destruction of the PNS and are characterized by progressive weakness and sensory loss. CD4+ T cells play a key role in the autoimmune destruction of the PNS. Yet, key properties of pathogenic CD4+ T cells remain incompletely understood. Here, we used paired single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) and single-cell T cell receptor-sequencing (scTCR-Seq) of peripheral nerves from an inflammatory neuropathy mouse model to identify IL-21-expressing CD4+ T cells that were clonally expanded and multifunctional. These IL-21-expressing CD4+ T cells consisted of 2 transcriptionally distinct expanded cell populations, which expressed genes associated with T follicular helper (Tfh) and T peripheral helper (Tph) cell subsets. Remarkably, TCR clonotypes were shared between these 2 IL-21-expressing cell populations, suggesting a common lineage differentiation pathway. Finally, we demonstrated that IL-21 receptor-KO (IL-21R-KO) mice were protected from neuropathy development and had decreased immune infiltration into peripheral nerves. IL-21 signaling upregulated CXCR6, a chemokine receptor that promotes CD4+ T cell localization in peripheral nerves. Together, these findings point to IL-21 signaling, Tfh/Tph differentiation, and CXCR6-mediated cellular localization as potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madison F. Bang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and
| | | | - Shirley Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and
| | - Ho-Chung Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and
| | - Mahnia Mohebbi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and
| | - Willy Hugo
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jason K. Whitmire
- Department of Genetics, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melissa G. Lechner
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Seyedsadr M, Bang M, McCarthy E, Zhang S, Chen HC, Mohebbi M, Hugo W, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Su MA. A pathologically expanded, clonal lineage of IL-21 producing CD4+ T cells drives Inflammatory neuropathy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.07.574553. [PMID: 38260637 PMCID: PMC10802410 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.07.574553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory neuropathies, which include CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy) and GBS (Guillain Barre Syndrome), result from autoimmune destruction of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and are characterized by progressive weakness and sensory loss. CD4+ T cells play a key role in the autoimmune destruction of the PNS. Yet, key properties of pathogenic CD4+ T cells remain incompletely understood. Here, we use paired scRNAseq and scTCRseq of peripheral nerves from an inflammatory neuropathy mouse model to identify IL-21 expressing CD4+ T cells that are clonally expanded and multifunctional. These IL-21-expressing CD4+ T cells are comprised of two transcriptionally distinct expanded populations, which express genes associated with Tfh and Tph subsets. Remarkably, TCR clonotypes are shared between these two IL-21-expressing populations, suggesting a common lineage differentiation pathway. Finally, we demonstrate that IL-21 signaling is required for neuropathy development and pathogenic T cell infiltration into peripheral nerves. IL-21 signaling upregulates CXCR6, a chemokine receptor that promotes CD4+ T cell localization in peripheral nerves. Together, these findings point to IL-21 signaling, Tfh/Tph differentiation, and CXCR6-mediated cellular localization as potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryamsadat Seyedsadr
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Madison Bang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Ethan McCarthy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Shirley Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Ho-Chung Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Mahnia Mohebbi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Willy Hugo
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Melissa G. Lechner
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
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