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Nguyen AA, Platt CD. Flow Cytometry-based Immune Phenotyping of T and B Lymphocytes in the Evaluation of Immunodeficiency and Immune Dysregulation. Clin Lab Med 2024; 44:479-493. [PMID: 39089753 DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2024.04.009] [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] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
There are approximately 500 congenital disorders that impair immune cell development and/or function. Patients with these disorders may present with a wide range of symptoms, including increased susceptibility to infection, autoimmunity, autoinflammation, lymphoproliferation, and/or atopy. Flow cytometry-based immune phenotyping of T and B lymphocytes plays an essential role in the evaluation of patients with these presentations. In this review, we describe the clinical utility of flow cytometry as part of a comprehensive evaluation of immune function and how this testing may be used as a diagnostic tool to identify underlying aberrant immune pathways, monitor disease activity, and assess infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan A Nguyen
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Fegan Building 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Craig D Platt
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1 Blackfan Circle, Karp Building 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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2
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Sepahi A, Ho HE, Vyas P, Umiker B, Kis-Toth K, Wiederschain D, Radigan L, Cunningham-Rundles C. ICOS agonist vopratelimab modulates follicular helper T cells and improves B cell function in common variable immunodeficiency. Clin Immunol 2024; 264:110217. [PMID: 38621471 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110217] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an immune defect characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and impaired development of B cells into plasma cells. As follicular helper T cells (TFH) play a central role in humoral immunity, we examined TFH cells in CVID, and investigated whether an inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) agonist, vopratelimab, could modulate TFH, B cell interactions and enhance immunoglobulin production. CVID subjects had decreased TFH17 and increased TFH1 subsets; this was associated with increased transitional B cells and decreased IgG+ B and IgD-IgM-CD27+ memory B cells. ICOS expression on CVID CD4+ T cells was also decreased. However, ICOS activation of CD4+ T cells by vopratelimab significantly increased total CVID TFH, TFH2, cell numbers, as well as IL-4, IL-10 and IL-21 secretion in vitro. Vopratelimab treatment also increased plasma cells, IgG+ B cells, reduced naïve & transitional B cells and significantly increased IgG1 secretion by CVID B cells. Interestingly, vopratelimab treatment also restored IgA secretion in PBMCs from several CVID patients who had a complete lack of endogenous serum IgA. Our data demonstrate the potential of TFH modulation in restoring TFH and enhancing B cell maturation in CVID. The effects of an ICOS agonist in antibody defects warrants further investigation. This biologic may also be of therapeutic interest in other clinical settings of antibody deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sepahi
- PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center, Bedford, MA, United States; Concentra Biosciences, LLC, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Hsi-En Ho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Prapti Vyas
- ReNAgade Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States; Concentra Biosciences, LLC, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Benjamin Umiker
- AstraZeneca, Cambridge, MA, United States; Concentra Biosciences, LLC, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Katalin Kis-Toth
- NextPoint Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States; Concentra Biosciences, LLC, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Dmitri Wiederschain
- Crossbow Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States; Concentra Biosciences, LLC, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lin Radigan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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3
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Caldirola MS, Daiana E, Gomez Raccio AC, García AL, Bernacchia A, Medín M, Gaillard MI, Di Giovanni D. Case Report: Common variable immunodeficiency phenotype and granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease with a novel SOCS1 variant. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1423858. [PMID: 39005503 PMCID: PMC11239428 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1423858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Common variable immunodeficiency is a heterogeneous symptomatic group of inborn errors of immunity that mainly affects antibodies production and/or function, predisposing patients to recurrent and severe infections. More than half of them usually develop autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, enteropathy, and malignancies. Among these conditions, chronic lung disease such as granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease is one of the leading causes of death in these patients. Recently, many genes that play a key role in B and T cells' development, maintenance, and/or cytokines signaling pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Here, we describe the first Argentinian patient presenting with common variable immunodeficiency and granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease, harboring two in cis heterozygous variants in the SOCS1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Soledad Caldirola
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP—CONICET-GCBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Espantoso Daiana
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Ana Luz García
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustin Bernacchia
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Medín
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Isabel Gaillard
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Di Giovanni
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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4
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LaBere B, Nguyen AA, Habiballah SB, Elkins M, Imperial J, Li B, Devana S, Timilsina S, Stubbs SB, Joerger J, Chou J, Platt CD. Clinical utility of measuring CD4 + T follicular cells in patients with immune dysregulation. J Autoimmun 2023; 140:103088. [PMID: 37549449 PMCID: PMC10839119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103088] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic studies of autoimmune disorders have identified circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells as drivers of autoimmunity. However, the quantification of cTfh cells is not yet used in clinical practice due to the lack of age-stratified normal ranges and the unknown sensitivity and specificity of this test for autoimmunity. We enrolled 238 healthy participants and 130 patients with common and rare disorders of autoimmunity or autoinflammation. Patients with infections, active malignancy, or any history of transplantation were excluded. In 238 healthy controls, median cTfh percentages (range 4.8%-6.2%) were comparable among age groups, sexes, races, and ethnicities, apart from a significantly lower percentages in children less than 1 year of age (median 2.1%, CI: 0.4%-6.8, p < 0.0001). Among 130 patients with over 40 immune regulatory disorders, a cTfh percentage exceeding 12% had 88% sensitivity and 94% specificity for differentiating disorders with adaptive immune cell dysregulation from those with predominantly innate cell defects. This threshold had a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 100% for active autoimmunity and normalized with effective treatment. cTfh percentages exceeding 12% distinguish autoimmunity from autoinflammation, thereby differentiating two endotypes of immune dysregulation with overlapping symptoms and different therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna LaBere
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan A Nguyen
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Saddiq B Habiballah
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Megan Elkins
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juliet Imperial
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Betty Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Suraj Timilsina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Spencer B Stubbs
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jill Joerger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Janet Chou
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Craig D Platt
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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LaBere B, Nguyen AA, Habiballah SB, Elkins M, Imperial J, Li B, Devana S, Timilsina S, Stubbs SB, Joerger J, Chou J, Platt CD. Clinical utility of measuring CD4 + T follicular cells in patients with immune dysregulation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.06.06.23291032. [PMID: 37333344 PMCID: PMC10274986 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.06.23291032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic studies of autoimmune disorders have identified circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells as drivers of autoimmunity. However, the quantification of cTfh cells is not yet used in clinical practice due to the lack of age-stratified normal ranges and the unknown sensitivity and specificity of this test for autoimmunity. We enrolled 238 healthy participants and 130 patients with common and rare disorders of autoimmunity or autoinflammation. Patients with infections, active malignancy, or any history of transplantation were excluded. In 238 healthy controls, median cTfh percentages (range 4.8% - 6.2%) were comparable among age groups, sexes, races, and ethnicities, apart from a significantly lower percentages in children less than 1 year of age (median 2.1%, CI: 0.4% - 6.8, p< 0.0001). Among 130 patients with over 40 immune regulatory disorders, a cTfh percentage exceeding 12% had 88% sensitivity and 94% specificity for differentiating disorders with adaptive immune cell dysregulation from those with predominantly innate cell defects. This threshold had a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 100% for active autoimmunity and normalized with effective treatment. cTfh percentages exceeding 12% distinguish autoimmunity from autoinflammation, thereby differentiating two endotypes of immune dysregulation with overlapping symptoms and different therapies.
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6
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Tangye SG, Pathmanandavel K, Ma CS. Cytokine-mediated STAT-dependent pathways underpinning human B-cell differentiation and function. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 81:102286. [PMID: 36764056 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
B cells are fundamental to host defence against infectious diseases; indeed, the ability of humans to elicit robust antibody responses following exposure to foreign antigens underpins long-lived humoral immunity and serological memory, as well as the success of most currently administered vaccines. However, B cells also have a dark side - they can cause myriad diseases, including autoimmunity, atopy, allergy and malignancy. Thus, it is critical to understand the molecular requirements for generating effective, high-affinity, specific immune responses following natural infection or vaccination, as well as for constraining B-cell function to mitigate B-cell-mediated immune dyscrasias. In this review, we discuss recent developments that have been derived from the identification and detailed analysis of individuals with inborn errors of immunity that disrupt cytokine signalling, resulting in immune dysregulatory conditions. These studies have defined fundamental cytokine/cytokine receptor/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling pathways that are critical for the generation and maintenance of human memory B-cell and plasma cell subsets during host defence, as well as revealed mechanisms of disease pathogenesis causing immune deficiency, autoimmunity and atopy. More importantly, these studies have identified molecules that could be targeted to either enhance humoral immunity in the settings of infection or vaccination, or attenuate humoral immunity that contributes to antibody-mediated autoimmunity or allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Tangye
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; CIRCA (Clinical Immunogenomics Research Consortium of Australasia), Australia.
| | - Karrnan Pathmanandavel
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; CIRCA (Clinical Immunogenomics Research Consortium of Australasia), Australia
| | - Cindy S Ma
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; CIRCA (Clinical Immunogenomics Research Consortium of Australasia), Australia
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7
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Pelham SJ, Caldirola MS, Avery DT, Mackie J, Rao G, Gothe F, Peters TJ, Guerin A, Neumann D, Vokurkova D, Hwa V, Zhang W, Lyu SC, Chang I, Manohar M, Nadeau KC, Gaillard MI, Bezrodnik L, Iotova V, Zwirner NW, Gutierrez M, Al-Herz W, Goodnow CC, Vargas-Hernández A, Forbes Satter LR, Hambleton S, Deenick EK, Ma CS, Tangye SG. STAT5B restrains human B-cell differentiation to maintain humoral immune homeostasis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 150:931-946. [PMID: 35469842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphocyte differentiation is regulated by coordinated actions of cytokines and signaling pathways. IL-21 activates STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5 and is fundamental for the differentiation of human B cells into memory cells and antibody-secreting cells. While STAT1 is largely nonessential and STAT3 is critical for this process, the role of STAT5 is unknown. OBJECTIVES This study sought to delineate unique roles of STAT5 in activation and differentiation of human naive and memory B cells. METHODS STAT activation was assessed by phospho-flow cytometry cell sorting. Differential gene expression was determined by RNA-sequencing and quantitative PCR. The requirement for STAT5B in B-cell and CD4+ T-cell differentiation was assessed using CRISPR-mediated STAT5B deletion from B-cell lines and investigating primary lymphocytes from individuals with germline STAT5B mutations. RESULTS IL-21 activated STAT5 and strongly induced SOCS3 in human naive, but not memory, B cells. Deletion of STAT5B in B-cell lines diminished IL-21-mediated SOCS3 induction. PBMCs from STAT5B-null individuals contained expanded populations of immunoglobulin class-switched B cells, CD21loTbet+ B cells, and follicular T helper cells. IL-21 induced greater differentiation of STAT5B-deficient B cells into plasmablasts in vitro than B cells from healthy donors, correlating with higher expression levels of transcription factors promoting plasma cell formation. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal novel roles for STAT5B in regulating IL-21-induced human B-cell differentiation. This is achieved by inducing SOCS3 to attenuate IL-21 signaling, and BCL6 to repress class switching and plasma cell generation. Thus, STAT5B is critical for restraining IL-21-mediated B-cell differentiation. These findings provide insights into mechanisms underpinning B-cell responses during primary and subsequent antigen encounter and explain autoimmunity and dysfunctional humoral immunity in STAT5B deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Pelham
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Maria Soledad Caldirola
- Grupo de Inmunología, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas, Hospital de Niños "Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez," Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Joseph Mackie
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Geetha Rao
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Florian Gothe
- Immunity and Inflammation Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Pediatrics, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Timothy J Peters
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Antoine Guerin
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - David Neumann
- Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Doris Vokurkova
- Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vivian Hwa
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Wenming Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif
| | - Shu-Chen Lyu
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif; Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford, Calif
| | - Iris Chang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif; Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford, Calif
| | - Monali Manohar
- Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford, Calif; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif
| | - Kari C Nadeau
- Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford, Calif; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif
| | - Maria Isabel Gaillard
- Grupo de Inmunología, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas, Hospital de Niños "Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez," Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liliana Bezrodnik
- Grupo de Inmunología, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas, Hospital de Niños "Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez," Buenos Aires, Argentina; Center for Clinical Immunology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Violeta Iotova
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University-Varna, Varna, Bulgaria; Pediatric Endocrinology, University Hospital "St Marina," Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Norberto Walter Zwirner
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Inmunidad Innata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mavel Gutierrez
- Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children/Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Center, Denver, Colo
| | - Waleed Al-Herz
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Christopher C Goodnow
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alexander Vargas-Hernández
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex; Department of Allergy, Immunology, and Retrovirology, William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - Lisa R Forbes Satter
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex; Department of Allergy, Immunology, and Retrovirology, William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - Sophie Hambleton
- Immunity and Inflammation Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Elissa K Deenick
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cindy S Ma
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stuart G Tangye
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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8
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Rosenberg JM, Peters JM, Hughes T, Lareau CA, Ludwig LS, Massoth LR, Austin-Tse C, Rehm HL, Bryson B, Chen YB, Regev A, Shalek AK, Fortune SM, Sykes DB. JAK inhibition in a patient with a STAT1 gain-of-function variant reveals STAT1 dysregulation as a common feature of aplastic anemia. MED (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 3:42-57.e5. [PMID: 35590143 PMCID: PMC9123284 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic aplastic anemia is a potentially lethal disease, characterized by T cell-mediated autoimmune attack of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. Standard of care therapies (stem cell transplantation or immunosuppression) are effective but associated with a risk of serious toxicities. METHODS An 18-year-old man presented with aplastic anemia in the context of a germline gain-of-function variant in STAT1. Treatment with the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib resulted in a rapid resolution of aplastic anemia and a sustained recovery of hematopoiesis. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were compared before and after JAK1 inhibitor therapy. FINDINGS Following therapy, samples showed a decrease in the plasma concentration of interferon-γ, a decrease in PD1-positive exhausted CD8+ T cell population, and a decrease in an interferon responsive myeloid population. Single-cell analysis of chromatin accessibility showed decreased accessibility of STAT1 across CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as CD14+ monocytes. To query whether other cases of aplastic anemia share a similar STAT1-mediated pathophysiology, we examined a cohort of 9 patients with idiopathic aplastic anemia. Bone marrow from six of nine patients also displayed abnormal STAT1 hyper-activation. CONCLUSIONS These findings raise the possibility that STAT1 hyperactivition defines a subset of idiopathic aplastic anemia patients for whom JAK inhibition may be an efficacious therapy. FUNDING Funding was provided by the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Medicine Pathways Program and NIH T32 AI007387. A trial registration is at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03906318.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. Rosenberg
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA, 02114,Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Boston, MA,Corresponding Author and Lead Contact: Jacob M. Rosenberg, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA, , 860-930-5744
| | - Joshua M. Peters
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA
| | - Travis Hughes
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA
| | - Caleb A. Lareau
- Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA
| | - Leif S. Ludwig
- Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA
| | - Lucas R. Massoth
- Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Christina Austin-Tse
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA, 02114,Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA,Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Partners Personalized Medicine; Cambridge, MA,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Heidi L. Rehm
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA, 02114,Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA
| | - Bryan Bryson
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA
| | - Yi-Bin Chen
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA, 02114,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center; Boston, MA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alex K. Shalek
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA
| | - Sarah M. Fortune
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; Cambridge, MA,Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Boston, MA
| | - David B. Sykes
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA, 02114,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA,Harvard Stem Cell Institute; Cambridge, MA,Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center; Boston, MA
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9
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Tangye SG, Ma CS. Molecular regulation and dysregulation of T follicular helper cells - learning from inborn errors of immunity. Curr Opin Immunol 2021; 72:249-261. [PMID: 34284230 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The production of high-affinity antibodies is a key feature of the vertebrate immune system. Antibodies neutralize and clear pathogens, thereby protecting against infectious diseases. However, dysregulated production of antibodies can cause immune pathologies, such as autoimmunity and immune deficiency. Long-lived humoral immunity depends on B-cell help provided by T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which support the differentiation of antigen (Ag)-specific B cells into memory and plasma cells. Tfh cells are generated from naïve CD4+ T cells following the receipt of inputs from various cell surface receptors, and can undergo further differentiation into subsets with specialised effector functions to induce and maintain serological memory. While genetically modified mice have provided great understanding of the requirements for generating Tfh cells, it is critical that requirements for human Tfh cell generation and function are also established. Key insights into the molecular requirements for human Tfh cells have been elucidated from the systematic analysis of humans with monogenic germline variants that cause inborn errors of immunity characterised by impaired humoral immunity following infection or vaccination or immune dysregulation and autoimmunity. In this review we will discuss how studying rare 'experiments of nature' has enabled discovery of non-redundant molecules and pathways necessary for Tfh cell generation, differentiation, regulation and function in humans, and how these findings inform us about basic and clinical immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Tangye
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia; CIRCA (Clinical Immunogenomics Consortium of Australasia), Australia.
| | - Cindy S Ma
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia; CIRCA (Clinical Immunogenomics Consortium of Australasia), Australia
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Matson EM, Abyazi ML, Bell KA, Hayes KM, Maglione PJ. B Cell Dysregulation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Interstitial Lung Disease. Front Immunol 2021; 11:622114. [PMID: 33613556 PMCID: PMC7892472 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.622114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequently diagnosed primary antibody deficiency. About half of CVID patients develop chronic non-infectious complications thought to be due to intrinsic immune dysregulation, including autoimmunity, gastrointestinal disease, and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Multiple studies have found ILD to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in CVID. Yet, the precise mechanisms underlying this complication in CVID are poorly understood. CVID ILD is marked by profound pulmonary infiltration of both T and B cells as well as granulomatous inflammation in many cases. B cell depletive therapy, whether done as a monotherapy or in combination with another immunosuppressive agent, has become a standard of therapy for CVID ILD. However, CVID is a heterogeneous disorder, as is its lung pathology, and the precise patients that would benefit from B cell depletive therapy, when it should administered, and how long it should be repeated all remain gaps in our knowledge. Moreover, some have ILD recurrence after B cell depletive therapy and the relative importance of B cell biology remains incompletely defined. Developmental and functional abnormalities of B cell compartments observed in CVID ILD and related conditions suggest that imbalance of B cell signaling networks may promote lung disease. Included within these potential mechanisms of disease is B cell activating factor (BAFF), a cytokine that is upregulated by the interferon gamma (IFN-γ):STAT1 signaling axis to potently influence B cell activation and survival. B cell responses to BAFF are shaped by the divergent effects and expression patterns of its three receptors: BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Moreover, soluble forms of BAFF-R, TACI, and BCMA exist and may further influence the pathogenesis of ILD. Continued efforts to understand how dysregulated B cell biology promotes ILD development and progression will help close the gap in our understanding of how to best diagnose, define, and manage ILD in CVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik M Matson
- Pulmonary Center, Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Miranda L Abyazi
- Pulmonary Center, Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kayla A Bell
- Pulmonary Center, Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kevin M Hayes
- Pulmonary Center, Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paul J Maglione
- Pulmonary Center, Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
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