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Lagou MK, Argyris DG, Vodopyanov S, Gunther-Cummins L, Hardas A, Poutahidis T, Panorias C, DesMarais S, Entenberg C, Carpenter RS, Guzik H, Nishku X, Churaman J, Maryanovich M, DesMarais V, Macaluso FP, Karagiannis GS. Morphometric Analysis of the Thymic Epithelial Cell (TEC) Network Using Integrated and Orthogonal Digital Pathology Approaches. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.11.584509. [PMID: 38559037 PMCID: PMC10979902 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.11.584509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The thymus, a central primary lymphoid organ of the immune system, plays a key role in T cell development. Surprisingly, the thymus is quite neglected with regards to standardized pathology approaches and practices for assessing structure and function. Most studies use multispectral flow cytometry to define the dynamic composition of the thymus at the cell population level, but they are limited by lack of contextual insight. This knowledge gap hinders our understanding of various thymic conditions and pathologies, particularly how they affect thymic architecture, and subsequently, immune competence. Here, we introduce a digital pathology pipeline to address these challenges. Our approach can be coupled to analytical algorithms and utilizes rationalized morphometric assessments of thymic tissue, ranging from tissue-wide down to microanatomical and ultrastructural levels. This pipeline enables the quantitative assessment of putative changes and adaptations of thymic structure to stimuli, offering valuable insights into the pathophysiology of thymic disorders. This versatile pipeline can be applied to a wide range of conditions that may directly or indirectly affect thymic structure, ranging from various cytotoxic stimuli inducing acute thymic involution to autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis. Here, we demonstrate applicability of the method in a mouse model of age-dependent thymic involution, both by confirming established knowledge, and by providing novel insights on intrathymic remodeling in the aged thymus. Our orthogonal pipeline, with its high versatility and depth of analysis, promises to be a valuable and practical toolset for both basic and translational immunology laboratories investigating thymic function and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Lagou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Dimitrios G Argyris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stepan Vodopyanov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Leslie Gunther-Cummins
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Alexandros Hardas
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Theofilos Poutahidis
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos Panorias
- Division of Statistics and Operational Research, Department of Mathematics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sophia DesMarais
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Conner Entenberg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Randall S Carpenter
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Hillary Guzik
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xheni Nishku
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Churaman
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Maria Maryanovich
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Vera DesMarais
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Frank P Macaluso
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Analytical Imaging Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George S Karagiannis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Montefiore-Einstein Comprehensive Cancer, Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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Xu X, Tao N, Sun C, Hoffman RD, Shi D, Ying Y, Dong S, Gao J. Ligustilide prevents thymic immune senescence by regulating Thymosin β15-dependent spatial distribution of thymic epithelial cells. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155216. [PMID: 38061285 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymus is the most crucial organ connecting immunity and aging. The progressive senescence of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) leads to the involution of thymus under aging, chronic stress and other factors. Ligustilide (LIG) is a major active component of the anti-aging Chinese herbal medicine Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, but its role in preventing TEC-based thymic aging remains elusive. PURPOSE This study explored the protective role of Ligustilide in alleviating ADM (adriamycin) -induced thymic immune senescence and its underlying molecular mechanisms. METHOD The protective effect of Ligustilide on ADM-induced thymic atrophy was examined by mouse and organotypic models, and conformed by SA-β-gal staining in TECs. The abnormal spatial distribution of TECs in the senescent thymus was analyzed using H&E, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The possible mechanisms of Ligustilide in ADM-induced thymic aging were elucidated by qPCR, fluorescence labeling and Western blot. The mechanism of Ligustilide was subsequently validated through actin polymerization inhibitor, genetic engineering to regulate Thymosin β15 (Tβ15) and Tβ4 expression, molecular docking and β Thymosin-G-actin cross-linking assay. RESULTS At a 5 mg/kg dose, Ligustilide markedly ameliorated ADM-induced weight loss and limb grip weakness in mice. It also reversed thymic damage and restored positive selection impaired by ADM. In vitro, ADM disrupted thymic structure, reduced TECs number and hindered double negative (DN) T cell differentiation. Ligustilide counteracted these effects, promoted TEC proliferation and reticular differentiation, leading to an increase in CD4+ single positive (CD4SP) T cell proportion. Mechanistically, ADM diminished the microfilament quantity in immortalized TECs (iTECs), and lowered the expression of cytoskeletal marker proteins. Molecular docking and cross-linking assay revealed that Ligustilide inhibited the protein binding between G-actin and Tβ15 by inhibiting the formation of the Tβ15-G-actin complex, thus enhancing the microfilament assembly capacity in TECs. CONCLUSION This study, for the first time, reveals that Ligustilide can attenuate actin depolymerization, protects TECs from ADM-induced acute aging by inhibiting the binding of Tβ15 to G-actin, thereby improving thymic immune function. Moreover, it underscores the interesting role of Ligustilide in maintaining cytoskeletal assembly and network structure of TECs, offering a novel perspective for deeper understanding of anti thymic aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xie Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Nana Tao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Caihua Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Robert D Hoffman
- Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA.
| | - Dongling Shi
- Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yuyuan Ying
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Shujie Dong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jianli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China.
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Lagou MK, Karagiannis GS. Obesity-induced thymic involution and cancer risk. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 93:3-19. [PMID: 37088128 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Declining thymic functions associated either with old age (i.e., age-related thymic involution), or with acute involution as a result of stress, infectious disease, or cytoreductive therapies (e.g., chemotherapy/radiotherapy), have been associated with cancer development. A key mechanism underlying such increased cancer risk is the thymus-dependent debilitation of adaptive immunity, which is responsible for orchestrating immunoediting mechanisms and tumor immune surveillance. In the past few years, a blooming set of evidence has intriguingly linked obesity with cancer development and progression. The majority of such studies has focused on obesity-driven chronic inflammation, steroid/sex hormone and adipokine production, and hyperinsulinemia, as principal factors affecting the tumor microenvironment and driving the development of primary malignancy. However, experimental observations about the negative impact of obesity on T cell development and maturation have existed for more than half a century. Here, we critically discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of obesity-driven thymic involution as a previously underrepresented intermediary pathology leading to cancer development and progression. This knowledge could be especially relevant in the context of childhood obesity, because impaired thymic function in young individuals leads to immune system abnormalities, and predisposes to various pediatric cancers. A thorough understanding behind the molecular and cellular circuitries governing obesity-induced thymic involution could therefore help towards the rationalized development of targeted thymic regeneration strategies for obese individuals at high risk of cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Lagou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Program, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George S Karagiannis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Program, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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Baba K, Matsubara Y, Hirata Y, Ota Y, Takahashi S, Boku N. Case report: Irinotecan-induced interstitial lung disease in an advanced colorectal cancer patient resurfacing decades after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anemia; a case report and narrative review of literature. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1215789. [PMID: 37397386 PMCID: PMC10313190 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1215789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Two mechanisms of drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DILD) have been reported: 1) direct injury of lung epithelial cells and/or endothelial cells in lung capillaries by the drug and/or its metabolites and 2) hypersensitivity reactions. In both mechanisms, immune reactions such as cytokine and T cell activation are involved in DILD. While past and present lung diseases and accumulative lung damage due to smoking and radiation are risk factors for DILD, the association between the immune status of the host and DILD is not well known. Herein, we report a case of advanced colorectal cancer with a history of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anemia more than 30 years prior, in which DILD occurred early after irinotecan-containing chemotherapy. Bone marrow transplantation might be a potential risk factor for DILD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Baba
- Department of Oncology and General Medicine, IMSUT Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Matsubara
- Department of Oncology and General Medicine, IMSUT Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hirata
- Department of Oncology and General Medicine, IMSUT Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunori Ota
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, IMSUT Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takahashi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IMSUT Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Narikazu Boku
- Department of Oncology and General Medicine, IMSUT Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Chen X, Xu Z, Lu M, Ding W, Zhong J, Deng S, Li S, Miao J, Liu X, Wen Q, Ye S, Li C, Li H. Paeonol inhibits melanoma growth by targeting PD1 through upregulation of miR-139-5p. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 656:86-96. [PMID: 36958259 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The abnormal immune response mediated by malignant melanoma is related to PD1. Paeonol has pharmacological antitumor activity. Previous studies have indicated that paeonol induces tumor cell apoptosis, but its underlying mechanism in tumor immunity remains unknown. In this study, malignant melanoma was established in normal and thymectomized mice to determine the important role of the thymus in the antitumor effects of paeonol. Paeonol-treated thymocytes were cocultured with melanoma cell spheres to further evaluate the regulatory role of thymocytes in tumor immune dysfunction. Studies have shown that PD1 may be targeted by miR-139-5p. Our results revealed that tumor-induced thymic atrophy was significantly accompanied by high PD1 expression and low miR-139-5p expression. Interestingly, paeonol significantly reversed thymic atrophy and largely protected thymocytes against low PD1 expression and high miR-139-5p expression. Dual-luciferase assays indicated that miR-139-5p interacted with the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of PD1. These results showed that paeonol alleviates PD1-mediated antitumor immunity by reducing miR-139-5p expression and demonstrated a novel mechanism for melanoma immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjie Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhenyuan Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Meng Lu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Wenjun Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Jun Zhong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Suihui Deng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Siyan Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Jifei Miao
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Quan Wen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China
| | - Sen Ye
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China.
| | - Chun Li
- School of Nursing Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China.
| | - Hui Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, PR China.
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