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Sommer C, Jacob S, Bargmann T, Shoaib M, Alshaikhdeeb B, Satagopam VP, Dehmel S, Neuhaus V, Braun A, Sewald K. Bridging therapy-induced phenotypes and genetic immune dysregulation to study interleukin-2-induced immunotoxicology. Clin Immunol 2024:110288. [PMID: 38950723 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) holds promise for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, but its high-dose usage is associated with systemic immunotoxicity. Differential IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) regulation might impact function of cells upon IL-2 stimulation, possibly inducing cellular changes similar to patients with hypomorphic IL2RB mutations, presenting with multiorgan autoimmunity. Here, we show that sustained high-dose IL-2 stimulation of human lymphocytes drastically reduces IL-2Rβ surface expression especially on T cells, resulting in impaired IL-2R signaling which correlates with high IL-2Rα baseline expression. IL-2R signaling in NK cells is maintained. CD4+ T cells, especially regulatory T cells are more broadly affected than CD8+ T cells, consistent with lineage-specific differences in IL-2 responsiveness. Given the resemblance of cellular characteristics of high-dose IL-2-stimulated cells and cells from patients with IL-2Rβ defects, impact of continuous IL-2 stimulation on IL-2R signaling should be considered in the onset of clinical adverse events during IL-2 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charline Sommer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sophie Jacob
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tonia Bargmann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany
| | - Muhammad Shoaib
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Basel Alshaikhdeeb
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Venkata P Satagopam
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Susann Dehmel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vanessa Neuhaus
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany
| | - Armin Braun
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany; Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katherina Sewald
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hannover, Germany.
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2
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He S, Gubin MM, Rafei H, Basar R, Dede M, Jiang X, Liang Q, Tan Y, Kim K, Gillison ML, Rezvani K, Peng W, Haymaker C, Hernandez S, Solis LM, Mohanty V, Chen K. Elucidating immune-related gene transcriptional programs via factorization of large-scale RNA-profiles. iScience 2024; 27:110096. [PMID: 38957791 PMCID: PMC11217617 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT), have encountered challenges such as immune-related adverse events and resistance, especially in solid tumors. To advance the field, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind treatment responses and resistance is essential. However, the lack of functionally characterized immune-related gene sets has limited data-driven immunological research. To address this gap, we adopted non-negative matrix factorization on 83 human bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets and constructed 28 immune-specific gene sets. After rigorous immunologist-led manual annotations and orthogonal validations across immunological contexts and functional omics data, we demonstrated that these gene sets can be applied to refine pan-cancer immune subtypes, improve ICB response prediction and functionally annotate spatial transcriptomic data. These functional gene sets, informing diverse immune states, will advance our understanding of immunology and cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan He
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew M. Gubin
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hind Rafei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rafet Basar
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Merve Dede
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xianli Jiang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Qingnan Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yukun Tan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kunhee Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maura L. Gillison
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Weiyi Peng
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, The University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cara Haymaker
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sharia Hernandez
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Luisa M. Solis
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vakul Mohanty
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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3
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Xu X, Chen Y, Kong L, Li X, Chen D, Yang Z, Wang J. Potential biomarkers for immune monitoring after renal transplantation. Transpl Immunol 2024; 84:102046. [PMID: 38679337 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2024.102046] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Renal transplantation represents the foremost efficacious approach for ameliorating end-stage renal disease. Despite the current state of advanced renal transplantation techniques and the established postoperative immunosuppression strategy, a subset of patients continues to experience immune rejection during both the early and late postoperative phases, ultimately leading to graft loss. Consequently, the identification of immunobiomarkers capable of predicting the onset of immune rejection becomes imperative in order to facilitate early intervention strategies and enhance long-term prognoses. Upon reviewing the pertinent literature, we identified several indicators that could potentially serve as immune biomarkers to varying extents. These include the T1/T2 ratio, Treg/Th17 ratio, IL-10/TNF-α ratio, IL-33, IL-34, IL-6, IL-4, other cytokines, and NOX2/4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Xu
- Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Shandong Medical College, Jinan, China
| | | | - Xianduo Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Dongdong Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China.
| | - Jianning Wang
- Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China.
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4
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He S, Gubin MM, Rafei H, Basar R, Dede M, Jiang X, Liang Q, Tan Y, Kim K, Gillison ML, Rezvani K, Peng W, Haymaker C, Hernandez S, Solis LM, Mohanty V, Chen K. Elucidating immune-related gene transcriptional programs via factorization of large-scale RNA-profiles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.10.593433. [PMID: 38798470 PMCID: PMC11118452 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.10.593433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Recent developments in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive cell therapy, have encountered challenges such as immune-related adverse events and resistance, especially in solid tumors. To advance the field, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind treatment responses and resistance is essential. However, the lack of functionally characterized immune-related gene sets has limited data-driven immunological research. To address this gap, we adopted non-negative matrix factorization on 83 human bulk RNA-seq datasets and constructed 28 immune-specific gene sets. After rigorous immunologist-led manual annotations and orthogonal validations across immunological contexts and functional omics data, we demonstrated that these gene sets can be applied to refine pan-cancer immune subtypes, improve ICB response prediction and functionally annotate spatial transcriptomic data. These functional gene sets, informing diverse immune states, will advance our understanding of immunology and cancer research.
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5
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Zhang R, Zhao Y, Chen X, Zhuang Z, Li X, Shen E. Low-dose IL-2 therapy in autoimmune diseases: An update review. Int Rev Immunol 2024; 43:113-137. [PMID: 37882232 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2023.2274574] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining self-immune tolerance. Reduced numbers or functions of Treg cells have been involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. Therefore, the approaches that increase the pool or suppressive function of Treg cells in vivo could be a general strategy to treat different autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is essential for the development, survival, maintenance, and function of Treg cells, constitutively expressing the high-affinity receptor of IL-2 and sensitive response to IL-2 in vivo. And low-dose IL-2 therapy in vivo could restore the imbalance between autoimmune response and self-tolerance toward self-tolerance via promoting Treg cell expansion and inhibiting follicular helper T (Tfh) and IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cell differentiation. Currently, low-dose IL-2 treatment is receiving extensive attention in autoimmune disease and transplantation treatment. In this review, we summarize the biology of IL-2/IL-2 receptor, the mechanisms of low-dose IL-2 therapy in autoimmune diseases, the application in the progress of different autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), Alopecia Areata (AA), Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We also discuss the future directions to optimize low-dose IL-2 treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhi Zhang
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Zhao
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangming Chen
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoqing Zhuang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Erxia Shen
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Li QH, Zhao QY, Yang WJ, Jiang AF, Ren CE, Meng YH. Beyond Immune Balance: The Pivotal Role of Decidual Regulatory T Cells in Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:2697-2710. [PMID: 38707955 PMCID: PMC11070170 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s459263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy failures, which brings tremendous stress to women of childbearing age and seriously affects family well-being. However, the reason in about 50% of cases remains unknown and is defined as unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). The immunological perspective in URSA has attracted widespread attention in recent years. The embryo is regarded as a semi-allogeneic graft to the mother. A successful pregnancy requires transition to an immune environment conducive to embryo survival at the maternal-fetal interface. As an important member of regulatory immunity, regulatory T (Treg) cells play a key role in regulating immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface. This review will focus on the phenotypic plasticity and lineage stability of Treg cells to illustrate its relationship with URSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hui Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261021, People’s Republic of China
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yan Zhao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei-Jing Yang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ai-Fang Jiang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-E Ren
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Han Meng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China
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7
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Liu X, Xiao H, Luo M, Meng J, Zhong L, Wu T, Zhao Y, Wu F, Xie J. Anti-inflammatory and protective effects of Pimpinella candolleana on ulcerative colitis in rats: a comprehensive study of quality, chemical composition, and molecular mechanisms. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1328977. [PMID: 38645561 PMCID: PMC11026630 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1328977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: P. candolleana Wight et Arn. Is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used by the Gelao nationality in southwest China, has been historically applied to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite its traditional usage, scientific evidence elucidating its efficacy and mechanisms in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remains sparse. This study aimed to determine the quality and chemical composition of Pimpinella candolleana and to identify its potential therapeutic targets and mechanisms in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) rats through integrated approaches. Methods: Morphological and microscopic characteristics, thin layer chromatography (TLC) identification, and quantitative analysis of P. candolleana were performed. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, network pharmacology, and molecular docking were used to identify its chemical composition and predict its related targets in UC. Furthermore, a rat model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of P. candolleana on UC. Results: Microscopic identification revealed irregular and radial arrangement of the xylem in P. candolleana, with a light green cross-section and large medullary cells. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis detected and analyzed 570 metabolites, including flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenoids. Network pharmacology identified 12 effective components and 176 target genes, with 96 common targets for P. candolleana-UC, including quercetin, luteolin, and nobiletin as key anti-inflammatory components. GO and KEGG revealed the potential involvement of their targets in RELA, JUN, TNF, IKBKB, PTGS2, and CHUK, with action pathways such as PI3K-Akt, TNF, IL-17, and apoptosis. Molecular docking demonstrated strong affinity and binding between these key components (quercetin, luteolin, and nobiletin) and the key targets of the pathway, including JUN and TNF. Treatment with P. candolleana improved body weight loss, the disease activity index, and colonic histological damage in UC rats. Pimpinella candolleana also modulated the levels of IL-2 and IL-6 in UC rats, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, MAPK8, TNF-α, CHUK, and IKBKB mRNA, and decreased the expression of TNF, IKBKB, JUN, and CHUK proteins in the colon of UC rats, thereby reducing inflammation and alleviating UC symptoms. Conclusion: P. candolleana exerts its protective effect on UC by reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting inflammation, providing scientific evidence for its traditional use in treating gastrointestinal diseases. This study highlights the potential of P. candolleana as a natural therapeutic agent for UC and contributes to the development of novel medicines for UC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Liu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Hai Xiao
- Maternal and Child Health Carelhospita, Zunyi, China
| | - Mingxia Luo
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Junpeng Meng
- Department of Medical Genetics, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Lin Zhong
- Department of Medical Genetics, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Yongxia Zhao
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Faming Wu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- Guizhou Medical and Health Industry Research Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jian Xie
- Department of Medical Genetics, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- Guizhou Medical and Health Industry Research Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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8
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Sakellariou C, Roser LA, Schiffmann S, Lindstedt M. Fine tuning of the innate and adaptive immune responses by Interleukin-2. J Immunotoxicol 2024; 21:2332175. [PMID: 38526995 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2024.2332175] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases aim to trigger the immune system to produce durable responses, while overcoming the immunosuppression that may contribute to disease severity, and in parallel considering immunosafety aspects. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was one of the first cytokines that the FDA approved as a cancer-targeting immunotherapy. However, in the past years, IL-2 immunotherapy is not actively offered to patients, due to limited efficacy, when compared to other novel immunotherapies, and the associated severe adverse events. In order to design improved in vitro and in vivo models, able to predict the efficacy and safety of novel IL-2 alternatives, it is important to delineate the mechanistic immunological events triggered by IL-2. Particularly, in this review we will discuss the effects IL-2 has with the bridging cell type of the innate and adaptive immune responses, dendritic cells. The pathways involved in the regulation of IL-2 by dendritic cells and T-cells in cancer and autoimmune disease will also be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luise A Roser
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanne Schiffmann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Malin Lindstedt
- Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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9
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Tomasovic LM, Liu K, VanDyke D, Fabilane CS, Spangler JB. Molecular Engineering of Interleukin-2 for Enhanced Therapeutic Activity in Autoimmune Diseases. BioDrugs 2024; 38:227-248. [PMID: 37999893 PMCID: PMC10947368 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00635-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The interleukin-2 (IL-2) cytokine plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses and maintaining immune homeostasis. Its immunosuppressive effects have been harnessed therapeutically via administration of low cytokine doses. Low-dose IL-2 has shown promise in the treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases; however, the clinical use of IL-2 is complicated by its toxicity, its pleiotropic effects on both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive cell subsets, and its short serum half-life, which collectively limit the therapeutic window. As a result, there remains a considerable need for IL-2-based autoimmune disease therapies that can selectively target regulatory T cells with minimal off-target binding to immune effector cells in order to prevent cytokine-mediated toxicities and optimize therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we discuss exciting advances in IL-2 engineering that are empowering the development of novel therapies to treat autoimmune conditions. We describe the structural mechanisms of IL-2 signaling, explore current applications of IL-2-based compounds as immunoregulatory interventions, and detail the progress and challenges associated with clinical adoption of IL-2 therapies. In particular, we focus on protein engineering approaches that have been employed to optimize the regulatory T-cell bias of IL-2, including structure-guided or computational design of cytokine mutants, conjugation to polyethylene glycol, and the development of IL-2 fusion proteins. We also consider future research directions for enhancing the translational potential of engineered IL-2-based therapies. Overall, this review highlights the immense potential to leverage the immunoregulatory properties of IL-2 for targeted treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke M Tomasovic
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathy Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Derek VanDyke
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charina S Fabilane
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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10
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Luo Z, Mejia-Cordova M, Hamze N, Berggren E, Chopra S, Safi B, Blixt M, Sandler S, Singh K. Assessing the effectiveness of Interleukin-2 therapy in experimental type 1 diabetes. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03753-z. [PMID: 38424350 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03753-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
AIM Much focus of immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been devoted on selectively boosting regulatory T (Treg) cells using low dose IL-2 due to their constitutive expression of IL-2Rα, CD25. However, several clinical trials using a low dose of IL-2 only showed a limited improvement of metabolic control. It can therefore be hypothesized that further decreasing IL-2 dosage may increase the selective responsiveness of Treg cells. METHODS We induced experimental T1D using multiple low dose streptozotocin (STZ) injections and treated the mice with an ultra-low dose IL-2 (uIL-2, approximately 7-fold lower than low dose). Immune response was studied using multicolor flow cytometry. RESULTS We found that uIL-2 did not protect STZ mice from developing hyperglycemia. It did neither increase Treg cell proportions, nor did it correct the phenotypic shift of Treg cells seen in T1D. It only partially decreased the proportion of IFN-γ+ T cells. Likewise, uIL-2 also did not protect the dysfunction of regulatory B (Breg) cells. Strikingly, when administered in combination with an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-35, uIL-2 abrogated IL-35's protective effect. Low dose IL-2, on the other hand, protected half of the STZ mice from developing hyperglycemia. No difference was found in the Treg and Breg response, and it only tended to decrease CD80 expression in macrophages and dendritic cells. CONCLUSION In conclusion, further decreasing IL-2 dosage may not be a suitable approach for T1D therapy, and the limited success suggests that an alternative low dose IL-2 therapy strategy or other immunotherapies should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkang Luo
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | - Nour Hamze
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elin Berggren
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Saloni Chopra
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bilal Safi
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Blixt
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stellan Sandler
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kailash Singh
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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11
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Terada Y, Li W, Shepherd HM, Takahashi T, Yokoyama Y, Bery AI, Mineura K, Bai YZ, Ritter JH, Hachem RR, Bharat A, Lavine KJ, Nava RG, Puri V, Krupnick AS, Gelman AE, Reed HO, Wong BW, Kreisel D. Smoking exposure-induced bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in donor lungs does not prevent tolerance induction after transplantation. Am J Transplant 2024; 24:280-292. [PMID: 37619922 PMCID: PMC11088405 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.08.010] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The presence of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in donor lungs has been suggested to accelerate graft rejection after lung transplantation. Although chronic smoke exposure can induce BALT formation, the impact of donor cigarette use on alloimmune responses after lung transplantation is not well understood. Here, we show that smoking-induced BALT in mouse donor lungs contains Foxp3+ T cells and undergoes dynamic restructuring after transplantation, including recruitment of recipient-derived leukocytes to areas of pre-existing lymphoid follicles and replacement of graft-resident donor cells. Our findings from mouse and human lung transplant data support the notion that a donor's smoking history does not predispose to acute cellular rejection or prevent the establishment of allograft acceptance with comparable outcomes to nonsmoking donors. Thus, our work indicates that BALT in donor lungs is plastic in nature and may have important implications for modulating proinflammatory or tolerogenic immune responses following transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriko Terada
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Wenjun Li
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Hailey M Shepherd
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Takahashi
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yuhei Yokoyama
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Amit I Bery
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Katsutaka Mineura
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yun Zhu Bai
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jon H Ritter
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ramsey R Hachem
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ankit Bharat
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kory J Lavine
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ruben G Nava
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Varun Puri
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Andrew E Gelman
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Brian W Wong
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
| | - Daniel Kreisel
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
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12
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Georgiev P, Benamar M, Han S, Haigis MC, Sharpe AH, Chatila TA. Regulatory T cells in dominant immunologic tolerance. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:28-41. [PMID: 37778472 PMCID: PMC10842646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.09.025] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells expressing the transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 mediate peripheral immune tolerance both to self-antigens and to the commensal flora. Their defective function due to inborn errors of immunity or acquired insults is associated with a broad range of autoimmune and immune dysregulatory diseases. Although their function in suppressing autoimmunity and enforcing commensalism is established, a broader role for regulatory T cells in tissue repair and metabolic regulation has emerged, enabled by unique programs of tissue adaptability and specialization. In this review, we focus on the myriad roles played by regulatory T cells in immunologic tolerance and host homeostasis and the potential to harness these cells in novel therapeutic approaches to human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Georgiev
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Mehdi Benamar
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - SeongJun Han
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Marcia C Haigis
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Talal A Chatila
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
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13
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Chen Z, Zhang Y, Kwak-Kim J, Wang W. Memory regulatory T cells in pregnancy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1209706. [PMID: 37954599 PMCID: PMC10637476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1209706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy requires the process of maternal immune tolerance to semi-allogeneic embryos. In contrast, an overreactive maternal immune system to embryo-specific antigens is likely to result in the rejection of embryos while damaging the invading placenta, such that the likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes can be increased. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are capable of suppressing excessive immune responses and regulating immune homeostasis. When stimulating Tregs, specific antigens will differentiate into memory Tregs with long-term survival and rapid and powerful immune regulatory ability. Immunomodulatory effects mediated by memory Tregs at the maternal-fetal interface take on critical significance in a successful pregnancy. The impaired function of memory Tregs shows a correlation with various pregnancy complications (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and recurrent pregnancy losses). However, the differentiation process and characteristics of memory Tregs, especially their role in pregnancy, remain unclear. In this study, a review is presented in terms of memory Tregs differentiation and activation, the characteristics of memory Tregs and their role in pregnancy, and the correlation between memory Tregs and pregnancy complications. Furthermore, several potential therapeutic methods are investigated to restore the function of memory Tregs in accordance with immunopathologies arising from memory Tregs abnormalities and provide novel targets for diagnosing and treating pregnancy-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyang Chen
- School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Reproduction Medical Center, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Joanne Kwak-Kim
- Reproductive Medicine and Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Sciences Department, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, United States
- Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Reproduction Medical Center, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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14
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Riaz F, Huang Z, Pan F. Targeting post-translational modifications of Foxp3: a new paradigm for regulatory T cell-specific therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1280741. [PMID: 37936703 PMCID: PMC10626496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1280741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A healthy immune system is pivotal for the hosts to resist external pathogens and maintain homeostasis; however, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) damages the anti-tumor immunity and promotes tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Recently, many studies have found that Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are the major immunosuppressive cells that facilitate the formation of TME by promoting the development of various tumor-associated cells and suppressing the activity of effector immune cells. Considering the role of Tregs in tumor progression, it is pivotal to identify new therapeutic drugs to target and deplete Tregs in tumors. Although several studies have developed strategies for targeted deletion of Treg to reduce the TME and support the accumulation of effector T cells in tumors, Treg-targeted therapy systematically affects the Treg population and may lead to the progression of autoimmune diseases. It has been understood that, nevertheless, in disease conditions, Foxp3 undergoes several definite post-translational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and methylation. These PTMs not only elevate or mitigate the transcriptional activity of Foxp3 but also affect the stability and immunosuppressive function of Tregs. Various studies have shown that pharmacological targeting of enzymes involved in PTMs can significantly influence the PTMs of Foxp3; thus, it may influence the progression of cancers and/or autoimmune diseases. Overall, this review will help researchers to understand the advances in the immune-suppressive mechanisms of Tregs, the post-translational regulations of Foxp3, and the potential therapeutic targets and strategies to target the Tregs in TME to improve anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fan Pan
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China
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15
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Trujillo-Cirilo L, Weiss-Steider B, Vargas-Angeles CA, Corona-Ortega MT, Rangel-Corona R. Immune microenvironment of cervical cancer and the role of IL-2 in tumor promotion. Cytokine 2023; 170:156334. [PMID: 37598478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156334] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a heterogeneous mixture of resident and tumor cells that maintain close communication through their secretion products. The composition of the TME is dynamic and complex among the different types of cancer, where the immune cells play a relevant role in the elimination of tumor cells, however, under certain circumstances they contribute to tumor development. In cervical cancer (CC) the human papilloma virus (HPV) shapes the microenvironment in order to mediate persistent infections that favors transformation and tumor development. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important TME cytokine that induces CD8+ effector T cells and NKs to eliminate tumor cells, however, IL-2 can also suppress the immune response through Treg cells. Recent studies have shown that CC cells express the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), that are induced to proliferate at low concentrations of exogenous IL-2 through alterations in the JAK/STAT pathway. This review provides an overview of the main immune cells that make up the TME in CC, as well as the participation of IL-2 in the tumor promotion. Finally, it is proposed that the low density of IL-2 produced by immunocompetent cells is used by tumor cells through its IL-2R as a mechanism to proliferate simultaneously depleting this molecule in order to evade immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Trujillo-Cirilo
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Benny Weiss-Steider
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Adrian Vargas-Angeles
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria Teresa Corona-Ortega
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalva Rangel-Corona
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
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16
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Lykhopiy V, Malviya V, Humblet-Baron S, Schlenner SM. "IL-2 immunotherapy for targeting regulatory T cells in autoimmunity". Genes Immun 2023; 24:248-262. [PMID: 37741949 PMCID: PMC10575774 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-023-00221-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are indispensable for immune homoeostasis and for the prevention of autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) signalling is critical in all aspects of Treg biology. Consequences of defective IL-2 signalling are insufficient numbers or dysfunction of Treg and hence autoimmune disorders in human and mouse. The restoration and maintenance of immune homoeostasis remain central therapeutic aims in the field of autoimmunity. Historically, broadly immunosuppressive drugs with serious side-effects have been used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or prevention of organ-transplant rejection. More recently, ex vivo expanded or in vivo stimulated Treg have been shown to induce effective tolerance in clinical trials supporting the clinical benefit of targeting natural immunosuppressive mechanisms. Given the central role of exogenous IL-2 in Treg homoeostasis, a new and promising focus in drug development are IL-2-based approaches for in vivo targeted expansion of Treg or for enhancement of their suppressive activity. In this review, we summarise the role of IL-2 in Treg biology and consequences of dysfunctional IL-2 signalling pathways. We then examine evidence of efficacy of IL-2-based biological drugs targeting Treg with specific focus on therapeutic candidates in clinical trials and discuss their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Lykhopiy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- argenx BV, Industriepark Zwijnaarde 7, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vanshika Malviya
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephanie Humblet-Baron
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Susan M Schlenner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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17
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Roškar Z, Dreisinger M, Tič P, Homšak E, Bevc S, Goropevšek A. New Flow Cytometric Methods for Monitoring STAT5 Signaling Reveal Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Antigen-Specific Stimulation in FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells also in Patients with Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13050539. [PMID: 37232900 DOI: 10.3390/bios13050539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Increased frequency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cells (Treg) has been associated with disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Flow cytometric methods, which allow for the simultaneous analysis of their specific transcription factor Foxp3 and activated STAT proteins, together with proliferation can help to elucidate the signaling mechanisms driving Treg expansion and suppression of FOXP3- conventional CD4+T-cells (Tcon). Herein, we first report a novel approach in which STAT5 phosphorylation (pSTAT5) and proliferation (BrdU-FITC incorporation) could be analyzed specifically in FOXP3+ and FOXP3- responding cells after CD3/CD28 stimulation. The addition of magnetically purified CD4+CD25+ T-cells from healthy donors to cocultured autologous CD4+CD25- T-cells resulted in suppression of Tcon cell cycle progression accompanied by a decrease in pSTAT5. Next, a method using imaging flow cytometry is presented for the detection of cytokine-dependent pSTAT5 nuclear translocation in FOXP3-expressing cells. Finally, we discuss our experimental data obtained by combining Treg pSTAT5 analysis and antigen-specific stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Applying these methods on samples from patients revealed Treg responses to antigen-specific stimulation and significantly higher basal pSTAT5 in CLL patients treated with immunochemotherapy. Thus, we speculate that through the use of this pharmacodynamic tool, the efficacy of immunosuppressive drugs and their possible off-target effects can be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zlatko Roškar
- Department of Haematology, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Mojca Dreisinger
- Department of Haematology, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Primož Tič
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Evgenija Homšak
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Sebastjan Bevc
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Nephrology, University Medical Center Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Aleš Goropevšek
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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18
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Uresti-Rivera EE, Méndez-Frausto G, Medina-Rosales MN, Ventura-Juárez J, García-Hernández MH. Sodium Selenite Diminished the Regulatory T Cell Differentiation In Vitro. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:1559-1566. [PMID: 35486317 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03263-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Sodium selenite modulates the activity of lymphocytes. It negatively regulates the suppressive activity of cells and increases the immune response. In this study, we evaluated whether the regulatory T cell differentiation was modulated by sodium selenite. The percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+, and CD4+CTLA-4+ cells in CD4+ T cells cultures stimulated with IL-2 and TGF-β in the presence or absence of selenium, in the form of sodium selenite (2.0×10-6M), were evaluated by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of TET2/3 enzymes and IL-10 was analyzed by RT-qPCR and the levels of IL-10 were measured by an ELISA. We observed a decrease in CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CTLA-4+ cells in presence of selenium. However, normal percentages were reached again after selenium removal. An increase in CD4+CTL4-4+ cells was detected in selenium-primed cell cultures in absence of IL-2 and TGF-β. In addition, we observed a decrease in TET3 in presence of selenium. Finally, we observed an augment in IL-10 transcription and protein levels and relative expression of TET2 in cultures exposed to selenium. We suggest that selenium reversibly affects the regulatory T cell differentiation in vitro. Likewise, selenium may modulate Treg percentages promoting optimal immune responses and, at the same time, the expression of specific suppressor molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- E E Uresti-Rivera
- Laboratory of Immunology and Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, UASLP, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - G Méndez-Frausto
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica, Delegación Zacatecas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS, Interior de la Alameda No.45, 98000, Zacatecas, Zac, México
| | - M N Medina-Rosales
- Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - J Ventura-Juárez
- Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - M H García-Hernández
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica, Delegación Zacatecas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS, Interior de la Alameda No.45, 98000, Zacatecas, Zac, México.
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19
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Ramos TL, Bolivar-Wagers S, Jin S, Thangavelu G, Simonetta F, Lin PY, Hirai T, Saha A, Koehn B, Su LL, Picton LK, Baker J, Lohmeyer JK, Riddle M, Eide C, Tolar J, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Wagner JE, Garcia KC, Negrin RS, Blazar BR. Prevention of acute GVHD using an orthogonal IL-2/IL-2Rβ system to selectively expand regulatory T cells in vivo. Blood 2023; 141:1337-1352. [PMID: 36564052 PMCID: PMC10082364 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022018440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative option for patients with hematological disorders and bone marrow (BM) failure syndromes. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity posttransplant. Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies are efficacious in ameliorating GVHD but limited by variable suppressive capacities and the need for a high therapeutic dose. Here, we sought to expand Treg in vivo by expressing an orthogonal interleukin 2 receptor β (oIL-2Rβ) that would selectively interact with oIL-2 cytokine and not wild-type (WT) IL-2. To test whether the orthogonal system would preferentially drive donor Treg expansion, we used a murine major histocompatibility complex-disparate GVHD model of lethally irradiated BALB/c mice given T cell-depleted BM from C57BL/6 (B6) mice alone or together with B6Foxp3+GFP+ Treg or oIL-2Rβ-transduced Treg at low cell numbers that typically do not control GVHD with WT Treg. On day 2, B6 activated T cells (Tcons) were injected to induce GVHD. Recipients were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or oIL-2 daily for 14 days, then 3 times weekly for an additional 14 days. Mice treated with oIL-2Rβ Treg and oIL-2 compared with those treated with PBS had enhanced GVHD survival, in vivo selective expansion of Tregs, and greater suppression of Tcon expansion in secondary lymphoid organs and intestines. Importantly, oIL-2Rβ Treg maintained graft-versus-tumor (GVT) responses in 2 distinct tumor models (A20 and MLL-AF9). These data demonstrate a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of Treg therapy in allo-HSCT using an oIL-2/oIL-2Rβ system that allows for selective in vivo expansion of Treg leading to GVHD protection and GVT maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa L. Ramos
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Sara Bolivar-Wagers
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Sujeong Jin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Govindarajan Thangavelu
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Po-Yu Lin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Toshihito Hirai
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Department of Urology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asim Saha
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Brent Koehn
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Leon L. Su
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Lora K. Picton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Juliane K. Lohmeyer
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Megan Riddle
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Cindy Eide
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - John E. Wagner
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - K. Christopher Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Robert S. Negrin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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20
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Steiner R, Pilat N. The potential for Treg-enhancing therapies in transplantation. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 211:122-137. [PMID: 36562079 PMCID: PMC10019131 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as crucial regulators of immune tolerance against self-antigens, these cells have become a promising tool for the induction of donor-specific tolerance in transplantation medicine. The therapeutic potential of increasing in vivoTreg numbers for a favorable Treg to Teff cell ratio has already been demonstrated in several sophisticated pre-clinical models and clinical pilot trials. In addition to improving cell quantity, enhancing Treg function utilizing engineering techniques led to encouraging results in models of autoimmunity and transplantation. Here we aim to discuss the most promising approaches for Treg-enhancing therapies, starting with adoptive transfer approaches and ex vivoexpansion cultures (polyclonal vs. antigen specific), followed by selective in vivostimulation methods. Furthermore, we address next generation concepts for Treg function enhancement (CARs, TRUCKs, BARs) as well as the advantages and caveats inherit to each approach. Finally, this review will discuss the clinical experience with Treg therapy in ongoing and already published clinical trials; however, data on long-term results and efficacy are still very limited and many questions that might complicate clinical translation remain open. Here, we discuss the hurdles for clinical translation and elaborate on current Treg-based therapeutic options as well as their potencies for improving long-term graft survival in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy Steiner
- Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Pilat
- Correspondence: Nina Pilat, PhD, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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21
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Biased IL-2 signals induce Foxp3-rich pulmonary lymphoid structures and facilitate long-term lung allograft acceptance in mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1383. [PMID: 36914624 PMCID: PMC10011523 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36924-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of solid organs can be life-saving in patients with end-stage organ failure, however, graft rejection remains a major challenge. In this study, by pre-conditioning with interleukin-2 (IL-2)/anti-IL-2 antibody complex treatment biased toward IL-2 receptor α, we achieved acceptance of fully mismatched orthotopic lung allografts that remained morphologically and functionally intact for more than 90 days in immunocompetent mice. These allografts are tolerated by the actions of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3)+ regulatory T (Treg) cells that home to the lung allografts. Although counts of circulating Treg cells rapidly return to baseline following cessation of IL-2 treatment, Foxp3+ Treg cells persist in peribronchial and peribronchiolar areas of the grafted lungs, forming organized clusters reminiscent of inducible tertiary lymphoid structures (iTLS). These iTLS in lung allografts are made of Foxp3+ Treg cells, conventional T cells, and B cells, as evidenced by using microscopy-based distribution and neighborhood analyses. Foxp3-transgenic mice with inducible and selective deletion of Foxp3+ cells are unable to form iTLS in lung allografts, and these mice acutely reject lung allografts. Collectively, we report that short-term, high-intensity and biased IL-2 pre-conditioning facilitates acceptance of vascularized and ventilated lung allografts without the need of immunosuppression, by inducing Foxp3-controlled iTLS formation within allografts.
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22
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Nickle RA, DeOca KB, Garcia BL, Mannie MD. Soluble CD25 imposes a low-zone IL-2 signaling environment that favors competitive outgrowth of antigen-experienced CD25 high regulatory and memory T cells. Cell Immunol 2023; 384:104664. [PMID: 36642016 PMCID: PMC10257407 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2023.104664] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study focused on soluble (s)CD25-mediated regulation of IL-2 signaling in murine and human CD4+ T cells. Recombinant sCD25 reversibly sequestered IL-2 to limit acute maximal proliferative responses while preserving IL-2 bioavailability to subsequently maintain low-zone IL-2 signaling during prolonged culture. By inhibiting IL-2 signaling during acute activation, sCD25 suppressed T-cell growth and inhibited IL-2-evoked transmembrane CD25 expression, thereby resulting in lower prevalence of CD25high T cells. By inhibiting IL-2 signaling during quiescent IL-2-mediated growth, sCD25 competed with transmembrane CD25, IL2Rβγ, and IL2Rαβγ receptors for limited pools of IL-2 such that sCD25 exhibited strong or weak inhibitory efficacy in IL-2-stimulated cultures of CD25low or CD25high T cells, respectively. Preferential blocking of IL-2 signaling in CD25low but not CD25high T cells caused competitive enrichment of CD25high memory/effector and regulatory FOXP3+ subsets. In conclusion, sCD25 modulates IL-2 bioavailability to limit CD25 expression during acute activation while enhancing CD25highT-cell dominance during low-zone homeostatic IL-2-mediated expansion, thereby 'flattening' the inflammatory curve over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Nickle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
| | - Kayla B DeOca
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
| | - Brandon L Garcia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
| | - Mark D Mannie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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Human Regulatory T Cells: Understanding the Role of Tregs in Select Autoimmune Skin Diseases and Post-Transplant Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021527. [PMID: 36675037 PMCID: PMC9864298 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021527] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in maintaining immune tolerance and homeostasis by modulating how the immune system is activated. Several studies have documented the critical role of Tregs in suppressing the functions of effector T cells and antigen-presenting cells. Under certain conditions, Tregs can lose their suppressive capability, leading to a compromised immune system. For example, mutations in the Treg transcription factor, Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), can drive the development of autoimmune diseases in multiple organs within the body. Furthermore, mutations leading to a reduction in the numbers of Tregs or a change in their function facilitate autoimmunity, whereas an overabundance can inhibit anti-tumor and anti-pathogen immunity. This review discusses the characteristics of Tregs and their mechanism of action in select autoimmune skin diseases, transplantation, and skin cancer. We also examine the potential of Tregs-based cellular therapies in autoimmunity.
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24
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Regulatory T cell homeostasis: Requisite signals and implications for clinical development of biologics. Clin Immunol 2023; 246:109201. [PMID: 36470337 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.109201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Novel biologics are currently being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the prevention of transplant allograft rejection. Their premise is to deliver highly efficient immunosuppression while minimizing side-effects, as they specifically target inflammatory mediators involved in the dysregulation of the immune system. However, the pleiotropism of soluble mediators and cell-to-cell interactions with potential to exert both proinflammatory and regulatory influences on the outcome of the immune response can lead to unpredictable results. Predicting responses to biologic drugs requires mechanistic understanding of the cell type-specific effect of immune mediators. Elucidation of the central role of regulatory T cells (Treg), a small subset of T cells dedicated to immune homeostasis, in preventing the development of auto- and allo-immunity has provided a deeper understanding of the signaling pathways that govern immune tolerance. This review focuses on the requisite signals that promote Treg homeostasis and discusses the anticipated outcomes of biologics targeting these signals. Our goal is to inform and facilitate the design of cell-specific biologics that thwart T effector cells (Teff) while promoting Treg function for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the prevention of transplant rejection.
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Mercurio AC, Maniar AB, Wei AZ, Carvajal RD. Targeting the IL-2 pathway for the treatment of mucosal melanoma. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2022.2134776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ann C. Mercurio
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, 10032, New York, NY, USA
- New York Medical College, School of Medicine, 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, 10595, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Ashray B. Maniar
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, 10032, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Z. Wei
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, 10032, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard D. Carvajal
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, 10032, New York, NY, USA
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Park HJ, Lee SW, Park YH, Kim TC, Van Kaer L, Hong S. CD1d-independent NK1.1+ Treg cells are IL2-inducible Foxp3+ T cells co-expressing immunosuppressive and cytotoxic molecules. Front Immunol 2022; 13:951592. [PMID: 36177042 PMCID: PMC9513232 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.951592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg) play pivotal roles in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing immunological diseases such as allergy and autoimmunity through their immunosuppressive properties. Although Treg cells are heterogeneous populations with distinct suppressive functions, expression of natural killer (NK) cell receptors (NKR) by these cells remains incompletely explored. Here we identified that a small population of Foxp3+CD4+ Treg cells in mice expresses the NK1.1 NKR. Furthermore, we found that rare NK1.1+ subpopulations among CD4+ Treg cells develop normally in the spleen but not the thymus through CD1d-independent pathways. Compared with NK1.1- conventional Treg cells, these NK1.1+ Treg cells express elevated Treg cell phenotypic hallmarks, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and NK cell-related cytolytic mediators. Our results suggest that NK1.1+ Treg cells are phenotypically hybrid cells sharing functional properties of both NK and Treg cells. Interestingly, NK1.1+ Treg cells preferentially expanded in response to recombinant IL2 stimulation in vitro, consistent with their increased IL2Rαβ expression. Moreover, DO11.10 T cell receptor transgenic NK1.1+ Treg cells were expanded in an ovalbumin antigen-specific manner. In the context of lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation, NK1.1+ Treg cells downregulated immunosuppressive molecules but upregulated TNFα production, indicating their plastic adaptation towards a more pro-inflammatory rather than regulatory phenotype. Collectively, we propose that NK1.1+ Treg cells might play a unique role in controlling inflammatory immune responses such as infection and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jung Park
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Anticancer Medicine Development, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Won Lee
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Anticancer Medicine Development, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yun Hoo Park
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Anticancer Medicine Development, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae-Cheol Kim
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Anticancer Medicine Development, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Luc Van Kaer
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Seokmann Hong
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Anticancer Medicine Development, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Seokmann Hong,
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27
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Sato T, Ogawa Y, Yokoi K, Nagasaka Y, Ishikawa A, Shiokawa I, Kinoshita M, Watanabe R, Shimada S, Tanaka A, Momosawa A, Kawamura T. Characterization of human epithelial resident memory regulatory T cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:962167. [PMID: 36059538 PMCID: PMC9437974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.962167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human resident memory regulatory T cells (Tregs) exist in the normal, noninflamed skin. Except one, all previous studies analyzed skin Tregs using full-thickness human skin. Considering that thick dermis contains more Tregs than thin epidermis, the current understanding of skin Tregs might be biased toward dermal Tregs. Therefore, we sought to determine the phenotype and function of human epidermal and epithelial Tregs. Human epidermis and epithelium were allowed to float on a medium without adding any exogenous cytokines and stimulations for two days and then emigrants from the explants were analyzed. Foxp3 was selectively expressed in CD4+CD103− T cells in the various human epithelia, as it is highly demethylated. CD4+CD103−Foxp3+ cells suppressed proliferation of other resident memory T cells. The generation and maintenance of epithelial Tregs were independent of hair density and Langerhans cells. Collectively, immune-suppressive CD4+CD103−Foxp3+ Tregs are present in the normal, noninflamed human epidermis and mucosal epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Sato
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Youichi Ogawa
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- *Correspondence: Youichi Ogawa,
| | - Kazunori Yokoi
- Department of Dermatology, Course of Integrated Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuka Nagasaka
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Aoha Ishikawa
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Ichiro Shiokawa
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Manao Kinoshita
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Rei Watanabe
- Department of Dermatology, Course of Integrated Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shinji Shimada
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tanaka
- Experimental Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Momosawa
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Tatsuyoshi Kawamura
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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28
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Barsukov AV, Korovin AE, Churilov LP, Borisova EV, Tovpeko DV. Heart Dysfunction in Essential Hypertension Depends on Systemic Proinflammatory Influences: A Retrospective Clinical Pathophysiological Study. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2022; 29:453-468. [PMID: 35997392 PMCID: PMC9396991 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology29030036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity systemic inflammation is an important element of heart failure pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to assess proinflammatory status serum indicators (C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6)) in middle-aged males (M) and females (F) with essential hypertension (HTN) depending on left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). The main group comprised 55 M and 49 F with the first- to second-severity grade HTN with mild heart failure and a preserved LV ejection fraction ≥50%. Patients had sinus rhythm, first or second-severity degree LVDD, LV hypertrophy, left atrium dilatation, and NT-proBNP > 125 pg/mL. Comparison group: 30 hypertensives without cardiac dysfunction; control group: 31 normotensives. Quantitative features were compared using the Mann−Whitney test, median χ2, ANOVA module. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were determined to identify the relationship between the proinflammatory pattern and exercise tolerance. Hypertensive M had markedly higher CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels compared to F. All mean values corresponded to reference range. In patients with second-degree LVDD, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were significantly greater than in subjects with first-degree LVDD (both within M and within F samples). Significant negative associations between CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels and the 6 min walk test existed in hypertensive M and F. The study demonstrated a close relationship between the proinflammatory pattern and LVDD and exercise tolerance indicators, regardless of the hypertensive patient’s sex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander E. Korovin
- Laboratory of the Microangiopathic Mechanisms of Atherogenesis, Department of Pathology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, 194044 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Leonid P. Churilov
- Laboratory of the Microangiopathic Mechanisms of Atherogenesis, Department of Pathology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
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29
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Shive C, Pandiyan P. Inflammation, Immune Senescence, and Dysregulated Immune Regulation in the Elderly. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:840827. [PMID: 35821823 PMCID: PMC9261323 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.840827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
An optimal immune response requires the appropriate interaction between the innate and the adaptive arms of the immune system as well as a proper balance of activation and regulation. After decades of life, the aging immune system is continuously exposed to immune stressors and inflammatory assaults that lead to immune senescence. In this review, we will discuss inflammaging in the elderly, specifically concentrating on IL-6 and IL-1b in the context of T lymphocytes, and how inflammation is related to mortality and morbidities, specifically cardiovascular disease and cancer. Although a number of studies suggests that the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-b is elevated in the elderly, heightened inflammation persists. Thus, the regulation of the immune response and the ability to return the immune system to homeostasis is also important. Therefore, we will discuss cellular alterations in aging, concentrating on senescent T cells and CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in aging
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Affiliation(s)
- Carey Shive
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Pushpa Pandiyan
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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30
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Li Y, Li X, Geng X, Zhao H. The IL-2A receptor pathway and its role in lymphocyte differentiation and function. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2022; 67:66-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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31
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Yuan Y, Kolios AGA, Liu Y, Zhang B, Li H, Tsokos GC, Zhang X. Therapeutic potential of interleukin-2 in autoimmune diseases. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:596-612. [PMID: 35624009 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by dysregulation and aberrant activation of cells in the immune system. Therefore, restoration of the immune balance represents a promising therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) can promote the expansion and differentiation of different immune cell subsets dose-dependently. At high doses, IL-2 can promote the differentiation and expansion of effector and memory T cells, whereas at low doses, IL-2 can promote the differentiation, survival, and function of regulatory T (Treg) cells, a CD4+ T cell subset that is essential for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and immune tolerance. Therefore, IL-2 exerts immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects in autoimmune diseases. The immunoregulatory role of low-dose IL-2 has sparked excitement for the therapeutic exploration of modulating the IL-2-Treg axis in the context of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the therapeutic potential of IL-2 or IL-2-derived molecules in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeshuang Yuan
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Antonios G A Kolios
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yudong Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George C Tsokos
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
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32
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Noncoding RNAs as novel immunotherapeutic tools against cancer. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 129:135-161. [PMID: 35305717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is implemented as an important treatment strategy in various malignancies. In cancer, immunotherapy is employed for successful killing of tumor cells with high specificity and greater efficacy, with minimum side effects. Despite various available strategies, cellular immunotherapy including innate (NK cells, macrophages, dendritic cells) and adaptive (B cells and T cells) immune cells plays a critical role in tumor microenvironment. Since past few years, many drugs targeting immune checkpoint proteins including CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 have been investigated as immunotherapy approach against cancer but complete effectiveness still remains a question, as diverse mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis may result in the development of cancer cell resistance. Number of evidences have highlighted the significant role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in regulating multiple stages of cancer initiation, progression & immunity. ncRNAs comprises 98% human transcriptome and are basically considered as dark genome. Among ncRNAs, miRNAs and lncRNAs have been extensively studied in regulating diverse processes of cancer tumorigenesis. Upregulation of oncogenic and downregulation of tumor suppressive miRNAs/lncRNAs has been reported to facilitate the cancer progression and invasiveness. This chapter summarizes how an interplay between ncRNAs and immune cells in cancer pathogenesis can be therapeutically targeted to improve current treatment regimen. Strategies should be employed to improve the efficacy and reduce off-target effects of ncRNA based immunotherapy. Henceforth, combination of ncRNAs and available immunotherapy can be argued to enhance the efficacy of existing immunotherapeutic approaches against cancer to improve patient's survival.
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Venkatadri R, Sabapathy V, Dogan M, Sharma R. Targeting Regulatory T Cells for Therapy of Lupus Nephritis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:806612. [PMID: 35069220 PMCID: PMC8775001 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.806612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lupus glomerulonephritis (LN) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by circulating autoantibodies, immune-complex deposition, immune dysregulation and defects in regulatory T cell (Tregs). Treatment options rely on general immunosuppressants and steroids that have serious side effects. Approaches to target immune cells, such as B cells in particular, has had limited success and new approaches are being investigated. Defects in Tregs in the setting of autoimmunity is well known and Treg-replacement strategies are currently being explored. The aim of this minireview is to rekindle interest on Treg-targeting strategies. We discuss the existing evidences for Treg-enhancement strategies using key cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-33 and IL-6 that have shown to provide remission in LN. We also discuss strategies for indirect Treg-modulation for protection from LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajkumar Venkatadri
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR), Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Vikram Sabapathy
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR), Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Murat Dogan
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR), Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR), Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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34
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Abstract
Failure of regulatory T (Treg) cells to properly control immune responses leads invariably to autoimmunity and organ damage. Decreased numbers or impaired function of Treg cells, especially in the context of inflammation, has been documented in many human autoimmune diseases. Restoration of Treg cell fitness and/or expansion of their numbers using low-dose natural IL-2, the main cytokine driving Treg cell survival and function, has demonstrated clinical efficacy in early clinical trials. Genetically modified IL-2 with an extended half-life and increased selectivity for Treg cells is now in clinical development. Administration of IL-2 combined with therapies targeting other pathways involved in the expression of autoimmune diseases should further enhance its therapeutic potential. Ongoing clinical efforts that capitalize on the early clinical success of IL-2 treatment should bring the use of this cytokine to the forefront of biological treatments for autoimmune diseases.
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35
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Ren A, Yin W, Miller H, Westerberg LS, Candotti F, Park CS, Lee P, Gong Q, Chen Y, Liu C. Novel Discoveries in Immune Dysregulation in Inborn Errors of Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:725587. [PMID: 34512655 PMCID: PMC8429820 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.725587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
With the expansion of our knowledge on inborn errors of immunity (IEI), it gradually becomes clear that immune dysregulation plays an important part. In some cases, autoimmunity, hyperinflammation and lymphoproliferation are far more serious than infections. Thus, immune dysregulation has become significant in disease monitoring and treatment. In recent years, the wide application of whole-exome sequencing/whole-genome sequencing has tremendously promoted the discovery and further studies of new IEI. The number of discovered IEI is growing rapidly, followed by numerous studies of their pathogenesis and therapy. In this review, we focus on novel discovered primary immune dysregulation diseases, including deficiency of SLC7A7, CD122, DEF6, FERMT1, TGFB1, RIPK1, CD137, TET2 and SOCS1. We discuss their genetic mutation, symptoms and current therapeutic methods, and point out the gaps in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwen Ren
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Yin
- Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Heather Miller
- The Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Lisa S Westerberg
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fabio Candotti
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chan-Sik Park
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Pamela Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Quan Gong
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China.,Clinical Molecular Immunology Center, School of Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Yan Chen
- The Second Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Chaohong Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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36
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Dong S, Hiam-Galvez KJ, Mowery CT, Herold KC, Gitelman SE, Esensten JH, Liu W, Lares AP, Leinbach AS, Lee M, Nguyen V, Tamaki SJ, Tamaki W, Tamaki CM, Mehdizadeh M, Putnam AL, Spitzer MH, Ye CJ, Tang Q, Bluestone JA. The effects of low-dose IL-2 on Treg adoptive cell therapy in patients with Type 1 diabetes. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e147474. [PMID: 34324441 PMCID: PMC8492314 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.147474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A previous phase I study showed that the infusion of autologous Tregs expanded ex vivo into patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) had an excellent safety profile. However, the majority of the infused Tregs were undetectable in the peripheral blood 3 months postinfusion (Treg-T1D trial). Therefore, we conducted a phase I study (TILT trial) combining polyclonal Tregs and low-dose IL-2, shown to enhance Treg survival and expansion, and assessed the impact over time on Treg populations and other immune cells. METHODS Patients with T1D were treated with a single infusion of autologous polyclonal Tregs followed by one or two 5-day courses of recombinant human low-dose IL-2 (ld-IL-2). Flow cytometry, cytometry by time of flight, and 10x Genomics single-cell RNA-Seq were used to follow the distinct immune cell populations’ phenotypes over time. RESULTS Multiparametric analysis revealed that the combination therapy led to an increase in the number of infused and endogenous Tregs but also resulted in a substantial increase from baseline in a subset of activated NK, mucosal associated invariant T, and clonal CD8+ T cell populations. CONCLUSION These data support the hypothesis that ld-IL-2 expands exogenously administered Tregs but also can expand cytotoxic cells. These results have important implications for the use of a combination of ld-IL-2 and Tregs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases with preexisting active immunity. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01210664 (Treg-T1D trial), NCT02772679 (TILT trial). FUNDING Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory Fund, National Center for Research Resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Dong
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Kamir J Hiam-Galvez
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Cody T Mowery
- Institute for Human Genetics, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Kevan C Herold
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Stephen E Gitelman
- Division Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Jonathan H Esensten
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Weihong Liu
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Angela P Lares
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | | | - Michael Lee
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Stanley J Tamaki
- Flow Cytometry Core Parnassus, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Whitney Tamaki
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | | | | | - Amy L Putnam
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Matthew H Spitzer
- Department of Otolaryngology, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - C Jimmie Ye
- Institute for Human Genetics, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Division of Transplant Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
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37
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Bhaskaran N, Jayaraman S, Quigley C, Mamileti P, Ghannoum M, Weinberg A, Thuener J, Pan Q, Pandiyan P. The Role of Dectin-1 Signaling in Altering Tumor Immune Microenvironment in the Context of Aging. Front Oncol 2021; 11:669066. [PMID: 33968777 PMCID: PMC8100664 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.669066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
An increased accumulation of immune-dysfunction-associated CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) is observed in aging oral mucosa during infection. Here we studied the function of Tregs during oral cancer development in aging mucosa. First, we found heightened proportions of Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) accumulating in mouse and human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues. Using the mouse 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide(4-NQO) oral carcinogenesis model, we found that tongues of aged mice displayed increased propensity for epithelial cell dysplasia, hyperplasia, and accelerated OSCC development, which coincided with significantly increased abundance of IL-1β, Tregs, and MDSC in tongues. Partial depletion of Tregs reduced tumor burden. Moreover, fungal abundance and dectin-1 signaling were elevated in aged mice suggesting a potential role for dectin-1 in modulating immune environment and tumor development. Confirming this tenet, dectin-1 deficient mice showed diminished IL-1β, reduced infiltration of Tregs and MDSC in the tongues, as well as slower progression and reduced severity of tumor burden. Taken together, these data identify an important role of dectin-1 signaling in establishing the intra-tumoral immunosuppressive milieu and promoting OSCC tumorigenesis in the context of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natarajan Bhaskaran
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Sangeetha Jayaraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Cheriese Quigley
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Prerna Mamileti
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Mahmoud Ghannoum
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Dermatology, School of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jason Thuener
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Quintin Pan
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Pushpa Pandiyan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
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38
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Hirai T, Ramos TL, Lin PY, Simonetta F, Su LL, Picton LK, Baker J, Lin JX, Li P, Seo K, Lohmeyer JK, Bolivar-Wagers S, Mavers M, Leonard WJ, Blazar BR, Garcia KC, Negrin RS. Selective expansion of regulatory T cells using an orthogonal IL-2/IL-2 receptor system facilitates transplantation tolerance. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:139991. [PMID: 33855972 DOI: 10.1172/jci139991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of Tregs has been shown to improve alloengraftment in animal models. However, it is technically challenging to expand Tregs ex vivo for the purpose of infusing large numbers of cells in the clinic. We demonstrate an innovative approach to engineering an orthogonal IL-2/IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) pair, the parts of which selectively interact with each other, transmitting native IL-2 signals, but do not interact with the natural IL-2 or IL-2R counterparts, thereby enabling selective stimulation of target cells in vivo. Here, we introduced this orthogonal IL-2R into Tregs. Upon adoptive transfer in a murine mixed hematopoietic chimerism model, orthogonal IL-2 injection significantly promoted orthogonal IL-2R+Foxp3GFP+CD4+ cell proliferation without increasing other T cell subsets and facilitated donor hematopoietic cell engraftment followed by acceptance of heart allografts. Our data indicate that selective target cell stimulation enabled by the engineered orthogonal cytokine receptor improves Treg potential for the induction of organ transplantation tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihito Hirai
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Teresa L Ramos
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Po-Yu Lin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Leon L Su
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lora K Picton
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jian-Xin Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peng Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kinya Seo
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Juliane K Lohmeyer
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sara Bolivar-Wagers
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Melissa Mavers
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Warren J Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - K Christopher Garcia
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Robert S Negrin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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39
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Dai Z, Wang EHC, Petukhova L, Chang Y, Lee EY, Christiano AM. Blockade of IL-7 signaling suppresses inflammatory responses and reverses alopecia areata in C3H/HeJ mice. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabd1866. [PMID: 33811067 PMCID: PMC11060042 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd1866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The interleukin-7 (IL-7) signaling pathway plays an important role in regulation of T cell function and survival. We detected overexpression of IL-7 in lesional skin from both humans and C3H/HeJ mice with alopecia areata (AA), a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the hair follicle. We found that exogenous IL-7 accelerated the onset of AA by augmenting the expansion of alopecic T cells. Conversely, blockade of IL-7 stopped the progression of AA and reversed early AA in C3H/HeJ mice. Mechanistically, we observed that IL-7Rα blockade substantially reduced the total number of most T cell subsets, but relative sparing of regulatory T cells (Tregs). We postulated that short-term anti-IL-7Rα treatment in combination with a low dose of Treg-tropic cytokines might improve therapeutic efficacy in AA. We demonstrated that short-term IL-7Rα blockade in combination with low doses of Treg-tropic cytokines enhanced therapeutic effects in the treatment of AA, and invite further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenpeng Dai
- Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Eddy Hsi Chun Wang
- Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lynn Petukhova
- Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yuqian Chang
- Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Eunice Yoojin Lee
- Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Angela M Christiano
- Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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40
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Mullins GN, Valentine KM, Al-Kuhlani M, Davini D, Jensen KDC, Hoyer KK. T cell signaling and Treg dysfunction correlate to disease kinetics in IL-2Rα-KO autoimmune mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21994. [PMID: 33319815 PMCID: PMC7738527 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78975-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IL-2Rα, in part, comprises the high affinity receptor for IL-2, a cytokine important in immune proliferation, activation, and regulation. IL-2Rα deficient mice (IL-2Rα-KO) develop systemic autoimmune disease and die from severe anemia between 18 and 80 days of age. These mice develop kinetically distinct autoimmune progression, with approximately a quarter dying by 21 days of age and half dying after 30 days. This research aims to define immune parameters and cytokine signaling that distinguish cohorts of IL-2Rα-KO mice that develop early- versus late-stage autoimmune disease. To investigate these differences, we evaluated complete blood counts (CBC), antibody binding of RBCs, T cell numbers and activation, hematopoietic progenitor changes, and signaling kinetics, during autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and bone marrow failure. We identified several alterations that, when combined, correlate to disease kinetics. Early onset disease correlates with anti-RBC antibodies, lower hematocrit, and reduced IL-7 signaling. CD8 regulatory T cells (Tregs) have enhanced apoptosis in early disease. Further, early and late end stage disease, while largely similar, had several differences suggesting distinct mechanisms drive autoimmune disease kinetics. Therefore, IL-2Rα-KO disease pathology rates, driven by T cell signaling, promote effector T cell activation and expansion and Treg dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve N Mullins
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.,Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Kristen M Valentine
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.,Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Mufadhal Al-Kuhlani
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Dan Davini
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Kirk D C Jensen
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.,Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Katrina K Hoyer
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA. .,Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
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41
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An Adaptive Control Scheme for Interleukin-2 Therapy. iScience 2020; 23:101663. [PMID: 33134893 PMCID: PMC7588844 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are suppressor cells that control self-reactive and excessive effector conventional T helper cell (Tconv) responses. Breakdown of the balance between Tregs and Tconvs is a hallmark of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a growth factor for both populations and subtle leverage to restore the healthy immune balance in IL-2 therapy. By using a mechanistic mathematical model, we introduced an adaptive control strategy to design the minimal therapeutic IL-2 dosage required to increase and stabilize Treg population and restrict inflammatory response. This adaptive protocol allows for dose adjustments based on the feedback of the immune kinetics of the patient. Our simulation results showed that a minimal Treg population was required to restrict the transient side effect of IL-2 injections on the effector Tconv response. In silico results suggested that a combination of IL-2 and adoptive Treg transfer therapies can limit this side effect. An adaptive dosing strategy for IL-2 therapy is introduced and analyzed in silico IL-2 injections can be tuned to increase and stabilize regulatory T-cell numbers Immunosuppressive IL-2 therapy may transiently exacerbate effector T-cell responses Combined IL-2 and adoptive regulatory T-cell therapy can safely limit inflammation
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42
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Hayes ET, Hagan CE, Khoryati L, Gavin MA, Campbell DJ. Regulatory T Cells Maintain Selective Access to IL-2 and Immune Homeostasis despite Substantially Reduced CD25 Function. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2020; 205:2667-2678. [PMID: 33055282 PMCID: PMC7657993 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
IL-2 is a critical regulator of immune homeostasis through its impact on both regulatory T (Treg) and effector T cells. However, the precise role of IL-2 in the maintenance and function of Treg cells in the adult peripheral immune system remains unclear. In this study, we report that neutralization of IL-2 in mice abrogated all IL-2R signaling in Treg cells, but was well tolerated and only gradually impacted Treg cell function and immune homeostasis. By contrast, despite substantially reduced IL-2 sensitivity, Treg cells maintained selective IL-2 signaling and prevented immune dysregulation following treatment with the inhibitory anti-CD25 Ab PC61. Reduction of Treg cells with a depleting version of the same CD25 Ab permitted CD8+ effector T cell proliferation before progressing to more widespread immune dysregulation. Thus, despite severely curtailed CD25 expression and function, Treg cells retain selective access to IL-2 that supports their anti-inflammatory functions in vivo. Ab-mediated targeting of CD25 is being actively pursued for treatment of autoimmune disease and prevention of allograft rejection, and our findings help inform therapeutic manipulation and design for optimal patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika T Hayes
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101; and
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Cassidy E Hagan
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101; and
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Liliane Khoryati
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101; and
| | - Marc A Gavin
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101; and
| | - Daniel J Campbell
- Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101; and
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195
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43
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Stefanović M, Životić I, Stojković L, Dinčić E, Stanković A, Živković M. The association of genetic variants IL2RA rs2104286, IFI30 rs11554159 and IKZF3 rs12946510 with multiple sclerosis onset and severity in patients from Serbia. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 347:577346. [PMID: 32738499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An algorithm Probabilistic Identification of Causal SNPs, identified 434 causal variants for multiple sclerosis (MS) including IL2RA rs2104286, IFI30 rs11554159 and IKZF3 rs12946510. Analysis of individual and combined effects of these variants in the Serbian population identified that Il2RA rs2104286 G allele carriers had a lower risk for developing MS (gender adjusted OR = 0.63, p = .003). With regard to the IFI30 rs11554159 recessive genetic model, among HLA-DRB1*15:01 positive patients, the AA homozygote had a significantly higher MSSS compared to the G allele carriers (p = .003). This study confirms role of IL2RA rs2104286 in MS and suggest the role of IFI30 rs11554159 in disease severity, which needs validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Stefanović
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Životić
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ljiljana Stojković
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Evica Dinčić
- Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Neurology, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Stanković
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Maja Živković
- VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
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44
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Pinheiro DF, Szenes-Nagy AB, Maurano MM, Lietzenmayer M, Klicznik MM, Holly R, Kirchmeier D, Kitzmueller S, Achatz-Straussberger G, Rosenblum MD, Thalhamer J, Abbas AK, Gratz IK. Cutting Edge: Tissue Antigen Expression Levels Fine-Tune T Cell Differentiation Decisions In Vivo. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:2577-2582. [PMID: 33037141 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Immune homeostasis in peripheral tissues is, to a large degree, maintained by the differentiation and action of regulatory T cells (Treg) specific for tissue Ags. Using a novel mouse model, we have studied the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Foxp3+ Treg in response to a cutaneous Ag (OVA). We found that expression of OVA resulted in fatal autoimmunity and in prevention of peripheral Treg generation. Inhibiting mTOR activity with rapamycin rescued the generation of Foxp3+ T cells. When we varied the level of Ag expression to modulate TCR signaling, we found that low Ag concentrations promoted the generation of Foxp3+ T cells, whereas high levels expanded effector T cells and caused severe autoimmunity. Our findings indicate that the expression level of tissue Ag is a key determinant of the balance between tissue-reactive effector and peripheral Foxp3+ T cells, which determines the choice between tolerance and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas F Pinheiro
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Megan M Maurano
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | | | - Maria M Klicznik
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Raimund Holly
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Daniel Kirchmeier
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sophie Kitzmueller
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,EB House Austria, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Michael D Rosenblum
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143; and
| | - Josef Thalhamer
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Abul K Abbas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Iris K Gratz
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; .,EB House Austria, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101
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45
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Abbas AK. The Surprising Story of IL-2: From Experimental Models to Clinical Application. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2020; 190:1776-1781. [PMID: 32828360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Equilibrium in the immune system is maintained by a balance between activation, which generates effector and memory cells, and suppression, which is mediated mainly by regulatory T cells. Understanding this balance and how to exploit it therapeutically is one of the dominant themes of modern immunology. The cytokine IL-2 was discovered as a growth factor for T cells and thus a key component of immune activation. It was initially used to boost immune responses in patients with cancer. Studies in experimental models and humans showed that the major function of IL-2 is to maintain functional regulatory T cells, and thus its essential function is in immune suppression. How the same cytokine can serve two opposing roles is a subject of current investigation. Because of these advances, IL-2 is now being tested as a cytokine for suppressing pathologic immune responses in autoimmune diseases and graft rejection. Fully understanding the biology of IL-2 may enable us to custom-design this cytokine for different applications in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abul K Abbas
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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46
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Functional analysis of clinical response to low-dose IL-2 in patients with refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood Adv 2020; 3:984-994. [PMID: 30936059 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018027474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) have a paucity of regulatory CD4 T cells (CD4Tregs) that mediate peripheral tolerance. In clinical trials, daily low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been administered safely for prolonged periods in patients with steroid-refractory cGVHD. Peripheral CD4Tregs expand dramatically in all patients during IL-2 therapy but clinical improvement was observed in ∼50% of patients. Here, we examined the impact of low-dose IL-2 therapy on functional T-cell markers and the T-cell repertoire within CD4Tregs, conventional CD4 T cells (CD4Tcons), and CD8+ T cells. IL-2 had profound effects on CD4Tregs homeostasis in both response groups including selective expansion of the naive subset, improved thymic output, and increased expression of Ki67, FOXP3, and B-cell lymphoma 2 within CD4Tregs. Similar changes were not seen in CD4Tcons or CD8 T cells. Functionally, low-dose IL-2 enhanced, in vitro, CD4Treg-suppressive activity in both response groups, and all patient CD4Tcons were similarly suppressed by healthy donor CD4Tregs. High-throughput sequencing of the T-cell receptor β (TCRβ) locus demonstrated that low-dose IL-2 therapy increased TCR repertoire diversity and decreased evenness within CD4Tregs without affecting CD4Tcons or CD8 T cells. Using clone-tracking analysis, we observed rapid turnover of highly prevalent clones in CD4Tregs as well as the conversion of CD4Tcons to CD4Tregs. After 12 weeks of daily IL-2, clinical responders had a greater influx of novel clones within the CD4Treg compartment compared with nonresponders. Further studies to define the function and specificity of these novel CD4Treg clones may help establish the mechanisms whereby low-dose IL-2 therapy promotes immune tolerance.
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47
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Liu L, Wang Q, Qiu Z, Kang Y, Liu J, Ning S, Yin Y, Pang D, Xu S. Noncoding RNAs: the shot callers in tumor immune escape. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:102. [PMID: 32561709 PMCID: PMC7305134 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0194-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy, designed to exploit the functions of the host immune system against tumors, has shown considerable potential against several malignancies. However, the utility of immunotherapy is heavily limited due to the low response rate and various side effects in the clinical setting. Immune escape of tumor cells may be a critical reason for such low response rates. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified as key regulatory factors in tumors and the immune system. Consequently, ncRNAs show promise as targets to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy in tumors. However, the relationship between ncRNAs and tumor immune escape (TIE) has not yet been comprehensively summarized. In this review, we provide a detailed account of the current knowledge on ncRNAs associated with TIE and their potential roles in tumor growth and survival mechanisms. This review bridges the gap between ncRNAs and TIE and broadens our understanding of their relationship, providing new insights and strategies to improve immunotherapy response rates by specifically targeting the ncRNAs involved in TIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Zhilin Qiu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yujuan Kang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jiena Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Shipeng Ning
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yanling Yin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Da Pang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China. .,Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Shouping Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
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48
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Rojas C, Campos-Mora M, Cárcamo I, Villalón N, Elhusseiny A, Contreras-Kallens P, Refisch A, Gálvez-Jirón F, Emparán I, Montoya-Riveros A, Vernal R, Pino-Lagos K. T regulatory cells-derived extracellular vesicles and their contribution to the generation of immune tolerance. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 108:813-824. [PMID: 32531824 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.3mr0420-533rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
T regulatory (Treg) cells have a major role in the maintenance of immune tolerance against self and foreign antigens through the control of harmful inflammation. Treg cells exert immunosuppressive function by several mechanisms, which can be distinguished as contact dependent or independent. Recently, the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by Treg cells has been reported as a novel suppressive mechanism capable of modulating immunity in a cell-contact independent and targeted manner, which has been identified in different pathologic scenarios. EVs are cell-derived membranous structures involved in physiologic and pathologic processes through protein, lipid, and genetic material exchange, which allow intercellular communication. In this review, we revise and discuss current knowledge on Treg cells-mediated immune tolerance giving special attention to the production and release of EVs. Multiple studies support that Treg cells-derived EVs represent a refined intercellular exchange device with the capacity of modulating immune responses, thus creating a tolerogenic microenvironment in a cell-free manner. The mechanisms proposed encompass miRNAs-induced gene silencing, the action of surface proteins and the transmission of enzymes. These observations gain relevance by the fact that Treg cells are susceptible to converting into effector T cells after exposition to inflammatory environments. Yet, in contrast to their cells of origin, EVs are unlikely to be modified under inflammatory conditions, highlighting the advantage of their use. Moreover, we speculate in the possibility that Treg cells may contribute to infectious tolerance via vesicle secretion, intervening with CD4+ T cells differentiation and/or stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rojas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.,Periodontal Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Campos-Mora
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ignacio Cárcamo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia Villalón
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ahmed Elhusseiny
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pamina Contreras-Kallens
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Aarón Refisch
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Gálvez-Jirón
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ivana Emparán
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andro Montoya-Riveros
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rolando Vernal
- Periodontal Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karina Pino-Lagos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
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49
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Raffin C, Vo LT, Bluestone JA. T reg cell-based therapies: challenges and perspectives. Nat Rev Immunol 2020; 20:158-172. [PMID: 31811270 PMCID: PMC7814338 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0232-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 381] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cellular therapies using regulatory T (Treg) cells are currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection and graft-versus-host disease. In this Review, we discuss the biology of Treg cells and describe new efforts in Treg cell engineering to enhance specificity, stability, functional activity and delivery. Finally, we envision that the success of Treg cell therapy in autoimmunity and transplantation will encourage the clinical use of adoptive Treg cell therapy for non-immune diseases, such as neurological disorders and tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Raffin
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Linda T Vo
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Bluestone
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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50
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Bergmann B, Fei Y, Jirholt P, Hu Z, Bergquist M, Ali A, Lindholm C, Ekwall O, Churlaud G, Klatzmann D, Jin T, Gjertsson I. Pre-treatment with IL2 gene therapy alleviates Staphylococcus aureus arthritis in mice. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:185. [PMID: 32111171 PMCID: PMC7048135 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-4880-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) arthritis is one of the most detrimental joint diseases known and leads to severe joint destruction within days. We hypothesized that the provision of auxiliary immunoregulation via an expanded compartment of T regulatory cells (Tregs) could dampen detrimental aspects of the host immune response whilst preserving its protective nature. Administration of low-dose interleukin 2 (IL2) preferentially expands Tregs, and is being studied as a treatment choice in several autoimmune conditions. We aimed to evaluate the role of IL2 and Tregs in septic arthritis using a well-established mouse model of haematogenously spred S. aureus arthritis. METHODS C57BL/6 or NMRI mice we intravenously (iv) injected with a defined dose of S. aureus LS-1 or Newman and the role of IL2 and Tregs were assessed by the following approaches: IL2 was endogenously delivered by intraperitoneal injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (rAAV) before iv S. aureus inoculation; Tregs were depleted before and during S. aureus arthritis using antiCD25 antibodies; Tregs were adoptively transferred before induction of S. aureus arthritis and finally, recombinant IL2 was used as a treatment starting day 3 after S. aureus injection. Studied outcomes included survival, weight change, bacterial clearance, and joint damage. RESULTS Expansion of Tregs induced by IL2 gene therapy prior to disease onset does not compromise host resistance to S. aureus infection, as the increased proportions of Tregs reduced the arthritis severity as well as the systemic inflammatory response, while simultaneously preserving the host's ability to clear the infection. CONCLUSIONS Pre-treatment with IL2 gene therapy dampens detrimental immune responses but preserves appropriate host defense, which alleviates S. aureus septic arthritis in a mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berglind Bergmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ying Fei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, GuiZhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Pernilla Jirholt
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Zhicheng Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, GuiZhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Maria Bergquist
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Present address: Clinical Sample Scientist at Astrazeneca, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Abukar Ali
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Catharina Lindholm
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Present address: Research Physician at Astrazeneca, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Olov Ekwall
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Churlaud
- AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Biotherapy (CIC-BTi) and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (i2B), Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France
| | - David Klatzmann
- AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Biotherapy (CIC-BTi) and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (i2B), Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France
| | - Tao Jin
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Inger Gjertsson
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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