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Pala F, Notarangelo LD, Bosticardo M. Rediscovering the human thymus through cutting-edge technologies. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230892. [PMID: 39167072 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent technological advances have transformed our understanding of the human thymus. Innovations such as high-resolution imaging, single-cell omics, and organoid cultures, including thymic epithelial cell (TEC) differentiation and culture, and improvements in biomaterials, have further elucidated the thymus architecture, cellular dynamics, and molecular mechanisms underlying T cell development, and have unraveled previously unrecognized levels of stromal cell heterogeneity. These advancements offer unprecedented insights into thymic biology and hold promise for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for immune-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pala
- Immune Deficiency Genetics Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luigi D Notarangelo
- Immune Deficiency Genetics Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marita Bosticardo
- Immune Deficiency Genetics Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA
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Bin Y, Ren J, Zhang H, Zhang T, Liu P, Xin Z, Yang H, Feng Z, Chen Z, Zhang H. Against all odds: The road to success in the development of human immune reconstitution mice. Animal Model Exp Med 2024; 7:460-470. [PMID: 38591343 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12407] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The mouse genome has a high degree of homology with the human genome, and its physiological, biochemical, and developmental regulation mechanisms are similar to those of humans; therefore, mice are widely used as experimental animals. However, it is undeniable that interspecies differences between humans and mice can lead to experimental errors. The differences in the immune system have become an important factor limiting current immunological research. The application of immunodeficient mice provides a possible solution to these problems. By transplanting human immune cells or tissues, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells or hematopoietic stem cells, into immunodeficient mice, a human immune system can be reconstituted in the mouse body, and the engrafted immune cells can elicit human-specific immune responses. Researchers have been actively exploring the development and differentiation conditions of host recipient animals and grafts in order to achieve better immune reconstitution. Through genetic engineering methods, immunodeficient mice can be further modified to provide a favorable developmental and differentiation microenvironment for the grafts. From initially only being able to reconstruct single T lymphocyte lineages, it is now possible to reconstruct lymphoid and myeloid cells, providing important research tools for immunology-related studies. In this review, we compare the differences in immune systems of humans and mice, describe the development history of human immune reconstitution from the perspectives of immunodeficient mice and grafts, and discuss the latest advances in enhancing the efficiency of human immune cell reconstitution, aiming to provide important references for immunological related researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Bin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Ren
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haowei Zhang
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianjiao Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peijuan Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhiqian Xin
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haijiao Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhuan Feng
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhinan Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hai Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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Kologrivova IV, Naryzhnaya NV, Suslova TE. Thymus in Cardiometabolic Impairments and Atherosclerosis: Not a Silent Player? Biomedicines 2024; 12:1408. [PMID: 39061983 PMCID: PMC11273826 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The thymus represents a primary organ of the immune system, harboring the generation and maturation of T lymphocytes. Starting from childhood, the thymus undergoes involution, being replaced with adipose tissue, and by an advanced age nearly all the thymus parenchyma is represented by adipocytes. This decline of thymic function is associated with compromised maturation and selection of T lymphocytes, which may directly impact the development of inflammation and induce various autoinflammatory disorders, including atherosclerosis. For a long time, thymus health in adults has been ignored. The process of adipogenesis in thymus and impact of thymic fat on cardiometabolism remains a mysterious process, with many issues being still unresolved. Meanwhile, thymus functional activity has a potential to be regulated, since islets of thymopoeisis remain in adults even at an advanced age. The present review describes the intricate process of thymic adipose involution, focusing on the issues of the thymus' role in the development of atherosclerosis and metabolic health, tightly interconnected with the state of vessels. We also review the recent information on the key molecular pathways and biologically active substances that may be targeted to manipulate both thymic function and atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina V. Kologrivova
- Cardiology Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 111A Kievskaya, Tomsk 634012, Russia; (N.V.N.); (T.E.S.)
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Stankiewicz LN, Rossi FMV, Zandstra PW. Rebuilding and rebooting immunity with stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:597-616. [PMID: 38593798 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.012] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Advances in modern medicine have enabled a rapid increase in lifespan and, consequently, have highlighted the immune system as a key driver of age-related disease. Immune regeneration therapies present exciting strategies to address age-related diseases by rebooting the host's primary lymphoid tissues or rebuilding the immune system directly via biomaterials or artificial tissue. Here, we identify important, unanswered questions regarding the safety and feasibility of these therapies. Further, we identify key design parameters that should be primary considerations guiding technology design, including timing of application, interaction with the host immune system, and functional characterization of the target patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Stankiewicz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Acenas DV, Dudakov JA. Feeling at home: Identifying a human thymic epithelial progenitor cell niche. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2411-2412. [PMID: 37989079 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
T cell development relies on a supportive epithelial microenvironment. Embryonic and postnatal epithelial progenitors have been identified in mice, but not humans. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Raggazzini et al. use scRNAseq, spatial sequencing, and clonogenic assays to identify a putative bipotent TEPC in pediatric human thymic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante V Acenas
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Dudakov
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Wu Y, Chao H, Chiang C, Luo Y, Chiu C, Yen S, Liu C, Chiou J, Burnouf T, Chen Y, Wang P, Chao T, Hsu S, Lu L. Personalized cancer avatars for patients with thymic malignancies: A pilot study with circulating tumor cell-derived organoids. Thorac Cancer 2023; 14:2591-2600. [PMID: 37474689 PMCID: PMC10481139 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic therapy is the primary treatment for advanced thymic malignancies. However, there is an urgent need to improve clinical outcome. Personalized treatment based on predictive biomarkers is a potential approach to address this requirement. In this study, we aimed to show the correlation between drug sensitivity tests on CTCs-derived organoids and clinical response in patients with thymic malignancies. This approach carries the potential to create personalized cancer avatars and improve treatment outcome for patients. METHODS We previously reported potential treatment outcome prediction with patient-derived organoids (cancer avatars) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. To further investigate the feasibility of this approach in advanced thymic malignancies, we conducted a study in which 12 patients were enrolled and 21 liquid biopsies were performed. RESULTS Cancer avatars were successfully derived in 16 out of 21 samples (success rate 76.2%). We found a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.6 for drug sensitivity tests on the cancer avatars, and a two-tailed Fisher's exact test revealed a significant correlation between drug sensitivity tests and clinical responses (p = 0.0275). CONCLUSION This study supports the potential of circulating tumor cell-derived organoids to inform personalized treatment for advanced thymic malignancies. Further validation of this proof of concept finding is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan‐Hung Wu
- Department of OncologyTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- School of MedicineNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological SciencesNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Heng‐sheng Chao
- School of MedicineNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Chest MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chi‐Lu Chiang
- School of MedicineNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Chest MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yung‐Hung Luo
- School of MedicineNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Chest MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chao‐Hua Chiu
- Department of Chest MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Taipei Cancer Center and Taipei Medical University HospitalTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Sang‐Hue Yen
- Department of OncologyTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological SciencesNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Radiation OncologyTaipei Municipal Wan‐Fang HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chun‐Yu Liu
- Department of OncologyTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- School of MedicineNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Jeng‐Fong Chiou
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Radiation OncologyTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Thierry Burnouf
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical EngineeringTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- International Ph.D. Program for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, College of MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yin‐Ju Chen
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical EngineeringTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- International Ph.D. Program for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, College of MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Radiation OncologyTaipei Medical University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Medical ResearchTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Peng‐Yuan Wang
- Oujiang LaboratoryWenzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of AgingWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Tsu‐Yi Chao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tri‐service General HospitalNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal MedicineTaipei Medical University‐Shuang Ho HospitalNew Taipei CityTaiwan
- Taipei Cancer CenterTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Shih‐Ming Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological SciencesNational Yang‐Ming Chiao‐Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Long‐Sheng Lu
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical EngineeringTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- International Ph.D. Program for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, College of MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Radiation OncologyTaipei Medical University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
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Bosticardo M, Notarangelo LD. Human thymus in health and disease: Recent advances in diagnosis and biology. Semin Immunol 2023; 66:101732. [PMID: 36863139 PMCID: PMC10134747 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is the crucial tissue where thymocytes develop from hematopoietic precursors that originate from the bone marrow and differentiate to generate a repertoire of mature T cells able to respond to foreign antigens while remaining tolerant to self-antigens. Until recently, most of the knowledge on thymus biology and its cellular and molecular complexity have been obtained through studies in animal models, because of the difficulty to gain access to thymic tissue in humans and the lack of in vitro models able to faithfully recapitulate the thymic microenvironment. This review focuses on recent advances in the understanding of human thymus biology in health and disease obtained through the use of innovative experimental techniques (eg. single cell RNA sequencing, scRNAseq), diagnostic tools (eg. next generation sequencing), and in vitro models of T-cell differentiation (artificial thymic organoids) and thymus development (eg. thymic epithelial cell differentiation from embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marita Bosticardo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Luigi D Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Leavens KF, Alvarez-Dominguez JR, Vo LT, Russ HA, Parent AV. Stem cell-based multi-tissue platforms to model human autoimmune diabetes. Mol Metab 2022; 66:101610. [PMID: 36209784 PMCID: PMC9587366 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which pancreatic insulin-producing β cells are specifically destroyed by the immune system. Understanding the initiation and progression of human T1D has been hampered by the lack of appropriate models that can reproduce the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease. The development of platforms combining multiple human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derived tissues to model distinct aspects of T1D has the potential to provide critical novel insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of the human disease. SCOPE OF REVIEW In this review, we summarize the state of hPSC differentiation approaches to generate cell types and tissues relevant to T1D, with a particular focus on pancreatic islet cells, T cells, and thymic epithelium. We present current applications as well as limitations of using these hPSC-derived cells for disease modeling and discuss efforts to optimize platforms combining multiple cell types to model human T1D. Finally, we outline remaining challenges and emphasize future improvements needed to accelerate progress in this emerging field of research. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Recent advances in reprogramming approaches to create patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSCs), genome engineering technologies to efficiently modify DNA of hPSCs, and protocols to direct their differentiation into mature cell types have empowered the use of stem cell derivatives to accurately model human disease. While challenges remain before complex interactions occurring in human T1D can be modeled with these derivatives, experiments combining hPSC-derived β cells and immune cells are already providing exciting insight into how these cells interact in the context of T1D, supporting the viability of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla F Leavens
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juan R Alvarez-Dominguez
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Linda T Vo
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Holger A Russ
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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