1
|
James EA, Joglekar AV, Linnemann AK, Russ HA, Kent SC. The beta cell-immune cell interface in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Mol Metab 2023; 78:101809. [PMID: 37734713 PMCID: PMC10622886 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T1D is an autoimmune disease in which pancreatic islets of Langerhans are infiltrated by immune cells resulting in the specific destruction of insulin-producing islet beta cells. Our understanding of the factors leading to islet infiltration and the interplay of the immune cells with target beta cells is incomplete, especially in human disease. While murine models of T1D have provided crucial information for both beta cell and autoimmune cell function, the translation of successful therapies in the murine model to human disease has been a challenge. SCOPE OF REVIEW Here, we discuss current state of the art and consider knowledge gaps concerning the interface of the islet beta cell with immune infiltrates, with a focus on T cells. We discuss pancreatic and immune cell phenotypes and their impact on cell function in health and disease, which we deem important to investigate further to attain a more comprehensive understanding of human T1D disease etiology. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The last years have seen accelerated development of approaches that allow comprehensive study of human T1D. Critically, recent studies have contributed to our revised understanding that the pancreatic beta cell assumes an active role, rather than a passive position, during autoimmune disease progression. The T cell-beta cell interface is a critical axis that dictates beta cell fate and shapes autoimmune responses. This includes the state of the beta cell after processing internal and external cues (e.g., stress, inflammation, genetic risk) that that contributes to the breaking of tolerance by hyperexpression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I with presentation of native and neoepitopes and secretion of chemotactic factors to attract immune cells. We anticipate that emerging insights about the molecular and cellular aspects of disease initiation and progression processes will catalyze the development of novel and innovative intervention points to provide additional therapies to individuals affected by T1D.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eddie A James
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alok V Joglekar
- Center for Systems Immunology and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amelia K Linnemann
- Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Holger A Russ
- Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sally C Kent
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kong Y, Jing Y, Allard D, Scavuzzo MA, Sprouse ML, Borowiak M, Bettini ML, Bettini M. A dormant T cell population with autoimmune potential exhibits low self-reactivity and infiltrates islets in type 1 diabetes. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1158-1170. [PMID: 35389516 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The contribution of low affinity T cells to autoimmunity in the context of polyclonal T cell responses is understudied due to the limitations in their capture by tetrameric reagents and low level of activation in response to antigenic stimulation. As a result, low affinity T cells are often disregarded as non-antigen specific cells irrelevant to the immune response. Our study aimed to assess how the level of self-antigen reactivity shapes T cell lineage and effector responses in the context of spontaneous tissue specific autoimmunity observed in NOD mice. Using multi-color flow cytometry in combination with Nur77GFP reporter of TCR signaling we identified a dormant population of T cells that infiltrated the pancreatic islets of pre-diabetic NOD mice, which exhibited reduced level of self-tissue reactivity based on expression of CD5 and Nur77GFP . We showed that these CD5low T cells had a unique TCR repertoire, exhibited low activation and minimal effector function; however, induced rapid diabetes upon transfer. The CD4+ CD5low T cell population displayed transcriptional signature of central memory T cells, consistent with the ability to acquire effector function post-transfer. Transcriptional profile of CD5low T cells was similar to T cells expressing a low affinity TCR, indicating TCR affinity to be the important factor in shaping CD5low T cell phenotype and function at the tissue site. Overall, our study suggests that autoimmune tissue can maintain a reservoir of undifferentiated central memory-like autoreactive T cells with pathogenic effector potential that might be an important source for effector T cells during long-term chronic autoimmunity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuelin Kong
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Yi Jing
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112
| | - Denise Allard
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112
| | - Marissa A Scavuzzo
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Maran L Sprouse
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Maria Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bettini M, Bettini ML. Function, Failure, and the Future Potential of Tregs in Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes 2021; 70:1211-1219. [PMID: 34016597 PMCID: PMC8275894 DOI: 10.2337/dbi18-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Critical insights into the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D) came from genome-wide association studies that unequivocally connected genetic susceptibility to immune cell function. At the top of the susceptibility are genes involved in regulatory T-cell (Treg) function and development. The advances in epigenetic and transcriptional analyses have provided increasing evidence for Treg dysfunction in T1D. These are well supported by functional studies in mouse models and analysis of peripheral blood during T1D. For these reasons, Treg-based therapies are at the forefront of research and development and have a tangible probability to deliver a long-sought-after successful immune-targeted treatment for T1D. The current challenge in the field is whether we can directly assess Treg function at the tissue site or make informative interpretations based on peripheral data. Future studies focused on Treg function in pancreatic lymph nodes and pancreas could provide key insight into the ultimate mechanisms underlying Treg failure in T1D. In this Perspective we will provide an overview of current literature regarding Treg development and function in T1D and how this knowledge has been applied to Treg therapies.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Autoimmunity/physiology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/pathology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/therapy
- Endocrinology/methods
- Endocrinology/trends
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance/physiology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/trends
- Mice
- Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods
- Molecular Targeted Therapy/trends
- Pancreas/immunology
- Pancreas/metabolism
- Pancreas/pathology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/physiology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/transplantation
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jaberi-Douraki M, Liu SW(S, Pietropaolo M, Khadra A. Autoimmune responses in T1DM: quantitative methods to understand onset, progression, and prevention of disease. Pediatr Diabetes 2014; 15:162-74. [PMID: 24827702 PMCID: PMC4050373 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the physiological processes that underlie autoimmune disorders and identifying biomarkers to predict their onset are two pressing issues that need to be thoroughly sorted out by careful thought when analyzing these diseases. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a typical example of such diseases. It is mediated by autoreactive cytotoxic CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells that infiltrate the pancreatic islets of Langerhans and destroy insulin-secreting β-cells, leading to abnormal levels of glucose in affected individuals. The disease is also associated with a series of islet-specific autoantibodies that appear in high-risk subjects (HRS) several years prior to the onset of diabetes-related symptoms. It has been suggested that T1D is relapsing-remitting in nature and that islet-specific autoantibodies released by lymphocytic B-cells are detectable at different stages of the disease, depending on their binding affinity (the higher, the earlier they appear). The multifaceted nature of this disease and its intrinsic complexity make this disease very difficult to analyze experimentally as a whole. The use of quantitative methods, in the form of mathematical models and computational tools, to examine the disease has been a very powerful tool in providing predictions and insights about the underlying mechanism(s) regulating its onset and development. Furthermore, the models developed may have prognostic implications by aiding in the enrollment of HRS into trials for T1D prevention. In this review, we summarize recent advances made in determining T- and B-cell involvement in T1D using these quantitative approaches and delineate areas where mathematical modeling can make further contributions in unraveling certain aspect of this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Majid Jaberi-Douraki
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6
| | - Shang Wan (Shalon) Liu
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6
| | - Massimo Pietropaolo
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 48105-5714
| | - Anmar Khadra
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
de Jong VM, Abreu JRF, Verrijn Stuart AA, van der Slik AR, Verhaeghen K, Engelse MA, Blom B, Staal FJT, Gorus FK, Roep BO. Alternative splicing and differential expression of the islet autoantigen IGRP between pancreas and thymus contributes to immunogenicity of pancreatic islets but not diabetogenicity in humans. Diabetologia 2013; 56:2651-8. [PMID: 24030068 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-013-3034-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Thymic expression of self-antigens during T-lymphocyte development is believed to be crucial for preventing autoimmunity. It has been suggested that G6PC2, the gene encoding islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP), is differentially spliced between pancreatic beta cells and the thymus. This may contribute to incomplete elimination of IGRP-specific T lymphocytes in the thymus, predisposing individuals to type 1 diabetes. We tested whether specific splice variation in islets vs thymus correlates with loss of tolerance to IGRP in type 1 diabetes. METHODS Expression of G6PC2 splice variants was compared among thymus, purified medullary thymic epithelial cells and pancreatic islets by RT-PCR. Differential immunogenicity of IGRP splice variants was tested in patients and healthy individuals for autoantibodies and specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes using radiobinding assays and HLA class I multimers, respectively. RESULTS Previously reported G6PC2 splice variants, including full-length G6PC2, were confirmed, albeit that they occurred in both pancreas and thymus, rather than islets alone. Yet, their expression levels were profoundly greater in islets than in thymus. Moreover, three novel G6PC2 variants were discovered that occur in islets only, leading to protein truncations, frame shifts and neo-sequences prone to immunogenicity. However, autoantibodies to novel or known IGRP splice variants did not differ between patients and healthy individuals, and similar frequencies of IGRP-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes could be detected in both patients with type 1 diabetes and healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION We propose that post-transcriptional variation of tissue-specific self-proteins may affect negative thymic selection, although this need not necessarily lead to disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Martijn de Jong
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, E3-Q, P.O. Box 9600, NL2300RC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|