1
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Ribeiro C, Ferreirinha P, Landry JJM, Macedo F, Sousa LG, Pinto R, Benes V, Alves NL. Foxo3 regulates cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cell homeostasis with implications in T cell development. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:352. [PMID: 38773063 PMCID: PMC11109193 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06728-0] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) create dedicated microenvironments for T cell development and selection. Considering that TECs are sensitive to distinct pathophysiological conditions, uncovering the molecular elements that coordinate their thymopoietic role has important fundamental and clinical implications. Particularly, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a crucial role in central tolerance. Our previous studies, along with others, suggest that mTECs depend on molecular factors linked to genome-protecting pathways, but the precise mechanisms underlying their function remain unknown. These observations led us to examine the role of Foxo3, as it is expressed in TECs and involved in DNA damage response. Our findings show that mice with TEC-specific deletion of Foxo3 (Foxo3cKO) displayed a disrupted mTEC compartment, with a more profound impact on the numbers of CCL21+ and thymic tuft mTEClo subsets. At the molecular level, Foxo3 controls distinct functional modules in the transcriptome of cTECs and mTECs under normal conditions, which includes the regulation of ribosomal biogenesis and DNA damage response, respectively. These changes in the TEC compartment resulted in a reduced total thymocyte cellularity and specific changes in regulatory T cell and iNKT cell development in the Foxo3cKO thymus. Lastly, the thymic defects observed in adulthood correlated with mild signs of altered peripheral immunotolerance in aged Foxo3cKO mice. Moreover, the deficiency in Foxo3 moderately aggravated the autoimmune predisposition observed in Aire-deficient mice. Our findings highlight the importance of Foxo3 in preserving the homeostasis of TECs and in supporting their role in T cell development and tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ribeiro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ferreirinha
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jonathan J M Landry
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fátima Macedo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Laura G Sousa
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rute Pinto
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vladimir Benes
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nuno L Alves
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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2
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Miccoli A, Pianese V, Bidoli C, Fausto AM, Scapigliati G, Picchietti S. Transcriptome profiling of microdissected cortex and medulla unravels functional regionalization in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax thymus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 145:109319. [PMID: 38145782 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a sophisticated primary lymphoid organ in jawed vertebrates, but knowledge on teleost thymus remains scarce. In this study, for the first time in the European sea bass, laser capture microdissection was leveraged to collect two thymic regions based on histological features, namely the cortex and the medulla. The two regions were then processed by RNAseq and in-depth functional transcriptome analyses with the aim of revealing differential gene expression patterns and gene sets enrichments, ultimately unraveling unique microenvironments imperative for the development of functional T cells. The sea bass cortex emerged as a hub of T cell commitment, somatic recombination, chromatin remodeling, cell cycle regulation, and presentation of self antigens from autophagy-, proteasome- or proteases-processed proteins. The cortex therefore accommodated extensive thymocyte proliferation and differentiation up to the checkpoint of positive selection. The medulla instead appeared as the center stage in autoimmune regulation by negative selection and deletion of autoreactive T cells, central tolerance mechanisms and extracellular matrix organization. Region-specific canonical markers of T and non-T lineage cells as well as signals for migration to/from, and trafficking within, the thymus were identified, shedding light on the highly coordinated and exquisitely complex bi-directional interactions among thymocytes and stromal components. Markers ascribable to thymic nurse cells and poorly characterized post-aire mTEC populations were found in the cortex and medulla, respectively. An in-depth data mining also exposed previously un-annotated genomic resources with differential signatures. Overall, our findings contribute to a broader understanding of the relationship between regional organization and function in the European sea bass thymus, and provide essential insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying T-cell mediated adaptive immune responses in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Miccoli
- National Research Council, Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - V Pianese
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - C Bidoli
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - A M Fausto
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - G Scapigliati
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - S Picchietti
- Dept. for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università Snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
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3
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Peterson P. Novel Insights into the Autoimmunity from the Genetic Approach of the Human Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1444:3-18. [PMID: 38467969 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9781-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a monogenic inborn error of autoimmunity that is caused by damaging germline variants in the AIRE gene and clinically manifests with multiple autoimmune diseases in patients. Studies on the function of the AIRE gene, discovered in 1997, have contributed to fundamental aspects of human immunology as they have been important in understanding the basic mechanism of immune balance between self and non-self. This chapter looks back to the discovery of the AIRE gene, reviews its main properties, and discusses the key findings of its function in the thymus. However, more recent autoantibody profilings in APECED patients have highlighted a gap in our knowledge of the disease pathology and point to the need to revisit the current paradigm of AIRE function. The chapter reviews these new findings in APECED patients, which potentially trigger new thoughts on the mechanism of immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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4
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Matsumoto M, Matsumoto M. Learning the Autoimmune Pathogenesis Through the Study of Aire. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1444:19-32. [PMID: 38467970 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9781-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
One of the difficulties in studying the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is that the disease is multifactorial involving sex, age, MHC, environment, and some genetic factors. Because deficiency of Aire, a transcriptional regulator, is an autoimmune disease caused by a single gene abnormality, Aire is an ideal research target for approaching the enigma of autoimmunity, e.g., the mechanisms underlying Aire deficiency can be studied using genetically modified animals. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of the breakdown of self-tolerance due to Aire's dysfunction have not yet been fully clarified. This is due, at least in part, to the lack of information on the exact target genes controlled by Aire. State-of-the-art research infrastructures such as single-cell analysis are now in place to elucidate the essential function of Aire. The knowledge gained through the study of Aire-mediated tolerance should help our understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Minoru Matsumoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
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5
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Matsumoto M, Yoshida H, Tsuneyama K, Oya T, Matsumoto M. Revisiting Aire and tissue-restricted antigens at single-cell resolution. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1176450. [PMID: 37207224 PMCID: PMC10191227 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176450] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a highly specialized organ that plays an indispensable role in the establishment of self-tolerance, a process characterized by the "education" of developing T-cells. To provide competent T-cells tolerant to self-antigens, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) orchestrate negative selection by ectopically expressing a wide range of genes, including various tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs). Notably, recent advancements in the high-throughput single-cell analysis have revealed remarkable heterogeneity in mTECs, giving us important clues for dissecting the mechanisms underlying TRA expression. We overview how recent single-cell studies have furthered our understanding of mTECs, with a focus on the role of Aire in inducing mTEC heterogeneity to encompass TRAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Matsumoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
- *Correspondence: Minoru Matsumoto,
| | - Hideyuki Yoshida
- YCI Laboratory for Immunological Transcriptomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Takeshi Oya
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
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6
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Morales-Sanchez A, Shissler SC, Cowan JE, Bhandoola A. Revelations in Thymic Epithelial Cell Biology and Heterogeneity from Single-Cell RNA Sequencing and Lineage Tracing Methodologies. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:25-49. [PMID: 36374449 PMCID: PMC10802793 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_2] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) make up the thymic microenvironments that support the generation of a functionally competent and self-tolerant T-cell repertoire. Cortical (c)TECs, present in the cortex, are essential for early thymocyte development including selection of thymocytes expressing functional TCRs (positive selection). Medullary (m)TECs, located in the medulla, play a key role in late thymocyte development, including depletion of self-reactive T cells (negative selection) and selection of regulatory T cells. In recent years, transcriptomic analysis by single-cell (sc)RNA sequencing (Seq) has revealed TEC heterogeneity previously masked by population-level RNA-Seq or phenotypic studies. We summarize the discoveries made possible by scRNA-Seq, including the identification of novel mTEC subsets, advances in understanding mTEC promiscuous gene expression, and TEC alterations from embryonic to adult stages. Whereas pseudotime analyses of scRNA-Seq data can suggest relationships between TEC subsets, experimental methods such as lineage tracing and reaggregate thymic organ culture (RTOC) are required to test these hypotheses. Lineage tracing - namely, of β5t or Aire expressing cells - has exposed progenitor and parent-daughter cellular relationships within TEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Morales-Sanchez
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Children's Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Susannah C Shissler
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer E Cowan
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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7
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Zhang Q, Zhang J, Lei T, Liang Z, Dong X, Sun L, Zhao Y. Sirt6-mediated epigenetic modification of DNA accessibility is essential for Pou2f3-induced thymic tuft cell development. Commun Biol 2022; 5:544. [PMID: 35668088 PMCID: PMC9170729 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential for the production of self-tolerant T cells. The newly identified thymic tuft cells are regulated by Pou2f3 and represent important elements for host type 2 immunity. However, epigenetic involvement in thymic tuft cell development remains unclear. We performed single-cell ATAC-seq of medullary TEC (mTEC) and established single-cell chromatin accessibility profiling of mTECs. The results showed that mTEC III cells can be further divided into three groups (Late Aire 1, 2, and 3) and that thymic tuft cells may be derived from Late Aire 2 cells. Pou2f3 is expressed in both Late Aire 2 cells and thymic tuft cells, while Pou2f3-regulated genes are specifically expressed in thymic tuft cells with simultaneous opening of chromatin accessibility, indicating the involvement of epigenetic modification in this process. Using the epigenetic regulator Sirt6-defect mouse model, we found that Sirt6 deletion increased Late Aire 2 cells and decreased thymic tuft cells and Late Aire 3 cells without affecting Pou2f3 expression. However, Sirt6 deletion reduced the chromatin accessibility of Pou2f3-regulated genes in thymic tuft cells, which may be caused by Sirt6–mediated regulation of Hdac9 expression. These data indicate that epigenetic regulation is indispensable for Pou2f3-mediated thymic tuft cell development.
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8
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MIyao T, Miyauchi M, Kelly ST, Terooatea TW, Ishikawa T, Oh E, Hirai S, Horie K, Takakura Y, Ohki H, Hayama M, Maruyama Y, Seki T, Ishii H, Yabukami H, Yoshida M, Inoue A, Sakaue-Sawano A, Miyawaki A, Muratani M, Minoda A, Akiyama N, Akiyama T. Integrative analysis of scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq revealed transit-amplifying thymic epithelial cells expressing autoimmune regulator. eLife 2022; 11:73998. [PMID: 35578835 PMCID: PMC9113748 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are critical for self-tolerance induction in T cells via promiscuous expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs), which are controlled by the transcriptional regulator, AIRE. Whereas AIRE-expressing (Aire+) mTECs undergo constant turnover in the adult thymus, mechanisms underlying differentiation of postnatal mTECs remain to be discovered. Integrative analysis of single-cell assays for transposase-accessible chromatin (scATAC-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) suggested the presence of proliferating mTECs with a specific chromatin structure, which express high levels of Aire and co-stimulatory molecules, CD80 (Aire+CD80hi). Proliferating Aire+CD80hi mTECs detected using Fucci technology express a minimal number of Aire-dependent TSAs and are converted into quiescent Aire+CD80hi mTECs expressing high levels of TSAs after a transit amplification. These data provide evidence for the existence of transit-amplifying Aire+mTEC precursors during the Aire+mTEC differentiation process of the postnatal thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahisa MIyao
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - S Thomas Kelly
- Laboratory for Cellular Epigenomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tommy W Terooatea
- Laboratory for Cellular Epigenomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ishikawa
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Eugene Oh
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Sotaro Hirai
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kenta Horie
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuki Takakura
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Houko Ohki
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Mio Hayama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuya Maruyama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takao Seki
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hiroto Ishii
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Haruka Yabukami
- Laboratory for Cellular Epigenomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Masaki Yoshida
- YCI Laboratory for Immunological Transcriptomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Azusa Inoue
- YCI Laboratory for Metabolic Epigenetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Asako Sakaue-Sawano
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyawaki
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Transborder Medical Research Center, and Department of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Aki Minoda
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Laboratory for Cellular Epigenomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Laboratory for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.,Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
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9
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Morimoto J, Matsumoto M, Miyazawa R, Yoshida H, Tsuneyama K, Matsumoto M. Aire suppresses CTLA-4 expression from the thymic stroma to control autoimmunity. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110384. [PMID: 35172142 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired production of thymic regulatory T cells (Tregs) is implicated in the development of Aire-dependent autoimmunity. Because Tregs require agonistic T cell receptor stimuli by self-antigens to develop, reduced expression of self-antigens from medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) has been considered to play a major role in the reduced Treg production in Aire deficiency. Here, we show that mTECs abnormally express co-inhibitory receptor CTLA-4 if Aire is non-functional. Upon binding with CD80/CD86 ligands expressed on thymic dendritic cells (DCs), the ectopically expressed CTLA-4 from Aire-deficient mTECs removes the CD80/CD86 ligands from the DCs. This attenuates the ability of DCs to provide co-stimulatory signals and to present self-antigens transferred from mTECs, both of which are required for Treg production. Accordingly, impaired production of Tregs and organ-specific autoimmunity in Aire-deficient mice are rescued by the depletion of CTLA-4 expression from mTECs. Our studies illuminate the significance of mTEC-DC interaction coordinated by Aire for the establishment of thymic tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Minoru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Ryuichiro Miyazawa
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Yoshida
- YCI Laboratory for Immunological Transcriptomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
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10
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Peterson P, Kisand K, Kluger N, Ranki A. Loss of AIRE-Mediated Immune Tolerance and the Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:760-767. [PMID: 34535292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The core function of the immune response is to distinguish between self and foreign. The multiorgan human autoimmune disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED/autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) is an example of what happens in the body when central immune tolerance goes astray. APECED revealed the existence and function of the autoimmune regulator gene, which has a central role in the development of tolerance. The discovery of autoimmune regulator was the start of a new period in immunology and in understanding the role of central and peripheral tolerance, also very relevant to many skin diseases as we highlight in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nicolas Kluger
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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11
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Pinheiro RGR, Alves NL. The Early Postnatal Life: A Dynamic Period in Thymic Epithelial Cell Differentiation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:668528. [PMID: 34220815 PMCID: PMC8250140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.668528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The microenvironments formed by cortical (c) and medullary (m) thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a non-redundant role in the generation of functionally diverse and self-tolerant T cells. The role of TECs during the first weeks of the murine postnatal life is particularly challenging due to the significant augment in T cell production. Here, we critically review recent studies centered on the timely coordination between the expansion and maturation of TECs during this period and their specialized role in T cell development and selection. We further discuss how aging impacts on the pool of TEC progenitors and maintenance of functionally thymic epithelial microenvironments, and the implications of these chances in the capacity of the thymus to sustain regular thymopoiesis throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben G R Pinheiro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno L Alves
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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12
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Laan M, Salumets A, Klein A, Reintamm K, Bichele R, Peterson H, Peterson P. Post-Aire Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells and Hassall's Corpuscles as Inducers of Tonic Pro-Inflammatory Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:635569. [PMID: 33868260 PMCID: PMC8050345 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.635569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While there is convincing evidence on the role of Aire-positive medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) in the induction of central tolerance, the nature and function of post-Aire mTECs and Hassall's corpuscles have remained enigmatic. Here we summarize the existing data on these late stages of mTEC differentiation with special focus on their potential to contribute to central tolerance induction by triggering the unique pro-inflammatory microenvironment in the thymus. In order to complement the existing evidence that has been obtained from mouse models, we performed proteomic analysis on microdissected samples from human thymic medullary areas at different differentiation stages. The analysis confirms that at the post-Aire stages, the mTECs lose their nuclei but maintain machinery required for translation and exocytosis and also upregulate proteins specific to keratinocyte differentiation and cornification. In addition, at the late stages of differentiation, the human mTECs display a distinct pro-inflammatory signature, including upregulation of the potent endogenous TLR4 agonist S100A8/S100A9. Collectively, the study suggests a novel mechanism by which the post-Aire mTECs and Hassall's corpuscles contribute to the thymic microenvironment with potential cues on the induction of central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martti Laan
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ahto Salumets
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Annabel Klein
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kerli Reintamm
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Rudolf Bichele
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Hedi Peterson
- Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Ferreirinha P, Ribeiro C, Morimoto J, Landry JJM, Matsumoto M, Meireles C, White AJ, Ohigashi I, Araújo L, Benes V, Takahama Y, Anderson G, Matsumoto M, Alves NL. A novel method to identify Post-Aire stages of medullary thymic epithelial cell differentiation. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:311-318. [PMID: 32845012 PMCID: PMC7891440 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator+ (Aire) medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a critical role in tolerance induction. Several studies demonstrated that Aire+ mTECs differentiate further into Post-Aire cells. Yet, the identification of terminal stages of mTEC maturation depends on unique fate-mapping mouse models. Herein, we resolve this limitation by segmenting the mTEChi (MHCIIhi CD80hi ) compartment into mTECA/hi (CD24- Sca1- ), mTECB/hi (CD24+ Sca1- ), and mTECC/hi (CD24+ Sca1+ ). While mTECA/hi included mostly Aire-expressing cells, mTECB/hi contained Aire+ and Aire- cells and mTECC/hi were mainly composed of cells lacking Aire. The differential expression pattern of Aire led us to investigate the precursor-product relationship between these subsets. Strikingly, transcriptomic analysis of mTECA/hi , mTECB/hi , and mTECC/hi sequentially mirrored the specific genetic program of Early-, Late- and Post-Aire mTECs. Corroborating their Post-Aire nature, mTECC/hi downregulated the expression of tissue-restricted antigens, acquired traits of differentiated keratinocytes, and were absent in Aire-deficient mice. Collectively, our findings reveal a new and simple blueprint to survey late stages of mTEC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ferreirinha
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Camila Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular ImmunologyInstitute for Enzyme ResearchTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | | | - Minoru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular ImmunologyInstitute for Enzyme ResearchTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | - Catarina Meireles
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Andrea J. White
- Institute of Immunology and ImmunotherapyCollege of Medical and Dental SciencesMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental ImmunologyInstitute of Advanced Medical SciencesUniversity of TokushimaTokushimaJapan
| | - Leonor Araújo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Vladimir Benes
- Genomics Core FacilityEuropean Molecular Biology LaboratoryHeidelbergGermany
| | | | - Graham Anderson
- Institute of Immunology and ImmunotherapyCollege of Medical and Dental SciencesMedical SchoolUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular ImmunologyInstitute for Enzyme ResearchTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)Universidade do PortoPortoPortugal
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14
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García-Ceca J, Montero-Herradón S, Zapata AG. Intrathymic Selection and Defects in the Thymic Epithelial Cell Development. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102226. [PMID: 33023072 PMCID: PMC7601110 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intimate interactions between thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes (T) have been repeatedly reported as essential for performing intrathymic T-cell education. Nevertheless, it has been described that animals exhibiting defects in these interactions were capable of a proper positive and negative T-cell selection. In the current review, we first examined distinct types of TECs and their possible role in the immune surveillance. However, EphB-deficient thymi that exhibit profound thymic epithelial (TE) alterations do not exhibit important immunological defects. Eph and their ligands, the ephrins, are implicated in cell attachment/detachment and govern, therefore, TEC–T interactions. On this basis, we hypothesized that a few normal TE areas could be enough for a proper phenotypical and functional maturation of T lymphocytes. Then, we evaluated in vivo how many TECs would be necessary for supporting a normal T-cell differentiation, concluding that a significantly low number of TEC are still capable of supporting normal T lymphocyte maturation, whereas with fewer numbers, T-cell maturation is not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier García-Ceca
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Montero-Herradón
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín G. Zapata
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-91-394-4979
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15
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Dhalla F, Baran‐Gale J, Maio S, Chappell L, Holländer GA, Ponting CP. Biologically indeterminate yet ordered promiscuous gene expression in single medullary thymic epithelial cells. EMBO J 2020; 39:e101828. [PMID: 31657037 PMCID: PMC6939203 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019101828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To induce central T-cell tolerance, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) collectively express most protein-coding genes, thereby presenting an extensive library of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs). To resolve mTEC diversity and whether promiscuous gene expression (PGE) is stochastic or coordinated, we sequenced transcriptomes of 6,894 single mTEC, enriching for 1,795 rare cells expressing either of two TRAs, TSPAN8 or GP2. Transcriptional heterogeneity allowed partitioning of mTEC into 15 reproducible subpopulations representing distinct maturational trajectories, stages and subtypes, including novel mTEC subsets, such as chemokine-expressing and ciliated TEC, which warrant further characterisation. Unexpectedly, 50 modules of genes were robustly defined each showing patterns of co-expression within individual cells, which were mainly not explicable by chromosomal location, biological pathway or tissue specificity. Further, TSPAN8+ and GP2+ mTEC were randomly dispersed within thymic medullary islands. Consequently, these data support observations that PGE exhibits ordered co-expression, although mechanisms underlying this instruction remain biologically indeterminate. Ordered co-expression and random spatial distribution of a diverse range of TRAs likely enhance their presentation and encounter with passing thymocytes, while maintaining mTEC identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Dhalla
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Stefano Maio
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Georg A Holländer
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC IGMMThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Wellcome Sanger InstituteHinxtonUK
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16
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Abstract
The generation of a functional T cell repertoire in the thymus is mainly orchestrated by thymic epithelial cells (TECs), which provide developing T cells with cues for their navigation, proliferation, differentiation and survival. The TEC compartment has been segregated historically into two major populations of medullary TECs and cortical TECs, which differ in their anatomical localization, molecular characteristics and functional roles. However, recent studies have shown that TECs are highly heterogeneous and comprise multiple subpopulations with distinct molecular and functional characteristics, including tuft cell-like or corneocyte-like phenotypes. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of TEC heterogeneity from a molecular, functional and developmental perspective. In particular, we highlight the key insights that were recently provided by single-cell genomic technologies and in vivo fate mapping and discuss them in the context of previously published data.
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17
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Lancaster JN, Thyagarajan HM, Srinivasan J, Li Y, Hu Z, Ehrlich LIR. Live-cell imaging reveals the relative contributions of antigen-presenting cell subsets to thymic central tolerance. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2220. [PMID: 31101805 PMCID: PMC6525199 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09727-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Both medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) and dendritic cells (DC) present tissue-restricted antigens (TRA) to thymocytes to induce central tolerance, but the relative contributions of these antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets remain unresolved. Here we developed a two-photon microscopy approach to observe thymocytes interacting with intact APCs presenting TRAs. We find that mTECs and DCs cooperate extensively to induce tolerance, with their relative contributions regulated by the cellular form of the TRA and the class of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on which antigen is presented. Even when TRA expression is restricted to mTECs, DCs still present self-antigens at least as frequently as mTECs. Notably, the DC subset cDC2 efficiently acquires secreted mTEC-derived TRAs for cross-presentation on MHC-I. By directly imaging interactions between thymocytes and APCs, while monitoring intracellular signaling, this study reveals that distinct DC subsets and AIRE+ mTECs contribute substantially to presentation of diverse self-antigens for establishing central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - H M Thyagarajan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - J Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Y Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Z Hu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - L I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 E. 24th Street A5000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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18
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Ribeiro C, Alves NL, Ferreirinha P. Medullary thymic epithelial cells: Deciphering the functional diversity beyond promiscuous gene expression. Immunol Lett 2019; 215:24-27. [PMID: 30853502 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Within the thymus, cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (cTECs and mTECs, respectively) provide unique microenvironments for the development of T cells that are responsive to diverse foreign antigens while self-tolerant. Essential for tolerance induction, mTECs play a critical role in negative selection and T regulatory cell differentiation. In this article, we review the current knowledge on the functional diversity within mTECs and discuss how these novel subsets contribute to tolerance induction and are integrated in the complex blueprint of mTEC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ribeiro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno L Alves
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ferreirinha
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
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19
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Wang J, Sekai M, Matsui T, Fujii Y, Matsumoto M, Takeuchi O, Minato N, Hamazaki Y. Hassall’s corpuscles with cellular-senescence features maintain IFNα production through neutrophils and pDC activation in the thymus. Int Immunol 2018; 31:127-139. [PMID: 30534943 PMCID: PMC9271218 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxy073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hassall’s corpuscles (HCs) are composed of cornifying, terminally differentiated medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) that are developed under the control of Aire. Here, we demonstrated that HC-mTECs show features of cellular senescence and produce inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including CXCL5, thereby recruiting and activating neutrophils to produce IL-23 in the thymic medulla. We further indicated that thymic plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) expressing IL-23 receptors constitutively produced Ifna, which plays a role in single positive (SP) cell maturation, in an Il23a-dependent manner. Neutrophil depletion with anti-Ly6G antibody injection resulted in a significant decrease of Ifna expression in the thymic pDCs, suggesting that thymic neutrophil activation underlies the Ifna expression in thymic pDCs in steady state conditions. A New Zealand White mouse strain showing HC hyperplasia exhibited greater numbers and activation of thymic neutrophils and pDCs than B6 mice, whereas Aire-deficient B6 mice with defective HC development and SP thymocyte maturation showed significantly compromised numbers and activation of these cells. These results collectively suggested that HC-mTECs with cell-senescence features initiate a unique cell activation cascade including neutrophils and pDCs leading to the constitutive IFNα expression required for SP T-cell maturation in the thymic medulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Wang
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miho Sekai
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeshi Matsui
- Laboratory for Skin Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yosuke Fujii
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Osamu Takeuchi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nagahiro Minato
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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20
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Morimoto J, Nishikawa Y, Kakimoto T, Furutani K, Kihara N, Matsumoto M, Tsuneyama K, Kozono Y, Kozono H, Hozumi K, Hosomichi K, Nishijima H, Matsumoto M. Aire Controls in Trans the Production of Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells Expressing Ly-6C/Ly-6G. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2018; 201:3244-3257. [PMID: 30389776 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), which express a wide range of tissue-restricted Ags (TRAs), contribute to the establishment of self-tolerance by eliminating autoreactive T cells and/or inducing regulatory T cells. Aire controls a diverse set of TRAs within Aire-expressing cells by employing various transcriptional pathways. As Aire has a profound effect on transcriptomes of mTECs, including TRAs not only at the single-cell but also the population level, we suspected that Aire (Aire+ mTECs) might control the cellular composition of the thymic microenvironment. In this study, we confirmed that this is indeed the case by identifying a novel mTEC subset expressing Ly-6 family protein whose production was defective in Aire-deficient thymi. Reaggregated thymic organ culture experiments demonstrated that Aire did not induce the expression of Ly-6C/Ly-6G molecules from mTECs as Aire-dependent TRAs in a cell-intrinsic manner. Instead, Aire+ mTECs functioned in trans to maintain Ly-6C/Ly-6G+ mTECs. Thus, Aire not only controls TRA expression transcriptionally within the cell but also controls the overall composition of mTECs in a cell-extrinsic manner, thereby regulating the transcriptome from mTECs on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yumiko Nishikawa
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Takumi Kakimoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Student Lab, Tokushima University Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Kohei Furutani
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Student Lab, Tokushima University Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Naoki Kihara
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Student Lab, Tokushima University Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Minoru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yuko Kozono
- Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-0022, Japan
| | - Haruo Kozono
- Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-0022, Japan
| | - Katsuto Hozumi
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Hosomichi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa 920-0934, Japan; and
| | - Hitoshi Nishijima
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan;
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
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Abstract
About two decades ago, cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene materialized one of the most important actors on the scene of self-tolerance. Thymic transcription of genes encoding tissue-specific antigens (ts-ags) is activated by AIRE protein and embodies the essence of thymic self-representation. Pathogenic AIRE variants cause the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, which is a rare and complex disease that is gaining attention in research on autoimmunity. The animal models of disease, although not identically reproducing the human picture, supply fundamental information on mechanisms and extent of AIRE action: thanks to its multidomain structure, AIRE localizes to chromatin enclosing the target genes, binds to histones, and offers an anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription. In addition, AIRE enhances mRNA diversity by favoring alternative mRNA splicing. Once synthesized, ts-ags are presented to, and cause deletion of the self-reactive thymocyte clones. However, AIRE function is not restricted to the activation of gene transcription. AIRE would control presentation and transfer of self-antigens for thymic cellular interplay: such mechanism is aimed at increasing the likelihood of engagement of the thymocytes that carry the corresponding T-cell receptors. Another fundamental role of AIRE in promoting self-tolerance is related to the development of thymocyte anergy, as thymic self-representation shapes at the same time the repertoire of regulatory T cells. Finally, AIRE seems to replicate its action in the secondary lymphoid organs, albeit the cell lineage detaining such property has not been fully characterized. Delineation of AIRE functions adds interesting data to the knowledge of the mechanisms of self-tolerance and introduces exciting perspectives of therapeutic interventions against the related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Vito Fazzi Regional Hospital, Lecce, Italy
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22
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Berrih-Aknin S, Panse RL, Dragin N. AIRE: a missing link to explain female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1412:21-32. [PMID: 29291257 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than men. Autoimmunity results from tolerance breakdown toward self-components. Recently, three transcription modulators were identified in medullary thymic epithelial cells that orchestrate immune central tolerance processes: the autoimmune regulator (AIRE), FEZ family zinc finger 2 (FEZF2 or FEZ1), and PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1). Interestingly, these three transcription modulators regulate nonredundant tissue-specific antigen subsets and thus cover broad antigen diversity. Recent data from different groups demonstrated that sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) are involved in the regulation of thymic AIRE expression in humans and mice through direct transcriptional modulation and epigenetic changes. As a consequence, AIRE displays gender-biased thymic expression, with females showing a lower expression compared with males, a finding that could explain the female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. So far, FEZF2 has not been related to an increased gender bias in autoimmune disease. PRDM1 expression has not been shown to display gender-differential thymic expression, but its expression level and its gene polymorphisms are associated with female-dependent autoimmune disease risk. Altogether, various studies have demonstrated that increased female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is in part a consequence of hormone-driven reduced thymic AIRE expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Dragin
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
- Inovarion, Paris, France
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23
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Passos GA, Speck‐Hernandez CA, Assis AF, Mendes‐da‐Cruz DA. Update on Aire and thymic negative selection. Immunology 2018; 153:10-20. [PMID: 28871661 PMCID: PMC5721245 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty years ago, the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene was associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy, and was cloned and sequenced. Its importance goes beyond its abstract link with human autoimmune disease. Aire identification opened new perspectives to better understand the molecular basis of central tolerance and self-non-self distinction, the main properties of the immune system. Since 1997, a growing number of immunologists and molecular geneticists have made important discoveries about the function of Aire, which is essentially a pleiotropic gene. Aire is one of the functional markers in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), controlling their differentiation and expression of peripheral tissue antigens (PTAs), mTEC-thymocyte adhesion and the expression of microRNAs, among other functions. With Aire, the immunological tolerance became even more apparent from the molecular genetics point of view. Currently, mTECs represent the most unusual cells because they express almost the entire functional genome but still maintain their identity. Due to the enormous diversity of PTAs, this uncommon gene expression pattern was termed promiscuous gene expression, the interpretation of which is essentially immunological - i.e. it is related to self-representation in the thymus. Therefore, this knowledge is strongly linked to the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes. In this update, we focus on the most relevant results of Aire as a transcriptional and post-transcriptional controller of PTAs in mTECs, its mechanism of action, and its influence on the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes as the bases of the induction of central tolerance and prevention of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo A. Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics GroupDepartment of GeneticsRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
- Discipline of Genetics and Molecular BiologyDepartment of Morphology, Physiology and Basic PathologySchool of Dentistry of Ribeirão PretoUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Cesar A. Speck‐Hernandez
- Graduate Programme in Basic and Applied ImmunologyRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Amanda F. Assis
- Molecular Immunogenetics GroupDepartment of GeneticsRibeirão Preto Medical SchoolUniversity of São PauloRibeirão PretoSPBrazil
| | - Daniella A. Mendes‐da‐Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus ResearchOswaldo Cruz InstituteOswaldo Cruz FoundationRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on NeuroimmunomodulationRio de JaneiroRJBrazil
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24
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Michel C, Miller CN, Küchler R, Brors B, Anderson MS, Kyewski B, Pinto S. Revisiting the Road Map of Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cell Differentiation. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2017; 199:3488-3503. [PMID: 28993517 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The basic two-step terminal differentiation model of the medullary thymic epithelial cell (mTEC) lineage from immature MHC class II (MHCII)lo to mature MHCIIhi mTECs has recently been extended to include a third stage, namely the post-Aire MHCIIlo subset as identified by lineage-tracing models. However, a suitable surface marker distinguishing the phenotypically overlapping pre- from the post-Aire MHCIIlo stage has been lacking. In this study, we introduce the lectin Tetragonolobus purpureas agglutinin (TPA) as a novel cell surface marker that allows for such delineation. Based on our data, we derived the following sequence of mTEC differentiation: TPAloMHCIIlo → TPAloMHCIIhi → TPAhiMHCIIhi → TPAhiMHCIIlo Surprisingly, in the steady-state postnatal thymus TPAloMHCIIlo pre-Aire rather than terminally differentiated post-Aire TPAhiMHCIIlo mTECs were marked for apoptosis at an exceptionally high rate of ∼70%. Hence, only the minor cycling fraction of the MHCIIlo subset (<20%) potentially qualified as mTEC precursors. FoxN1 expression inversely correlated with the fraction of slow cycling and apoptotic cells within the four TPA subsets. TPA also further subdivided human mTECs, although with different subset distribution. Our revised road map emphazises close parallels of terminal mTEC development with that of skin, undergoing an alternative route of cell death, namely cornification rather than apoptosis. The high rate of apoptosis in pre-Aire MHCIIlo mTECs points to a "quality control" step during early mTEC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Michel
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Rita Küchler
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Benedikt Brors
- Division of Applied Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; and
- German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Bruno Kyewski
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany;
| | - Sheena Pinto
- Division of Developmental Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg 69120, Germany;
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25
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Takaba H, Takayanagi H. The Mechanisms of T Cell Selection in the Thymus. Trends Immunol 2017; 38:805-816. [PMID: 28830733 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2017.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
T cells undergo positive and negative selection in the thymic cortex and medulla, respectively. A promiscuous expression of a wide array of self-antigens in the thymus is essential for the negative selection of self-reactive T cells and the establishment of central tolerance. Aire was originally thought to be the exclusive factor regulating the expression of tissue-restricted antigens, but Fezf2 recently emerged as a critical transcription factor in this regulatory activity. Fezf2 is selectively expressed in thymic medullary epithelial cells, regulates a large number of tissue-restricted antigens and suppresses the onset of autoimmune responses. Here, we discuss novel findings on the transcriptional mechanisms of tissue restricted-antigen expression in the medullary thymic epithelial cells and its effects on T cell selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takaba
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takayanagi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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26
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A critical epithelial survival axis regulated by MCL-1 maintains thymic function in mice. Blood 2017; 130:2504-2515. [PMID: 28972012 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-03-771576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell differentiation is governed by interactions with thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and defects in this process undermine immune function and tolerance. To uncover new strategies to restore thymic function and adaptive immunity in immunodeficiency, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms that control life and death decisions in TECs. Guided by gene expression profiling, we created mouse models that specifically deleted prosurvival genes in TECs. We found that although BCL-2 and BCL-XL were dispensable for TEC homeostasis, MCL-1 deficiency impacted on TECs as early as embryonic day 15.5, resulting in early thymic atrophy and T-cell lymphopenia, with near complete loss of thymic tissue by 2 months of age. MCL-1 was not necessary for TEC differentiation but was continually required for the survival of mature cortical and medullary TECs and the maintenance of thymic architecture. A screen of TEC trophic factors in organ cultures showed that epidermal growth factor upregulated MCL-1 via MAPK/ERK kinase activity, providing a molecular mechanism for the support of TEC survival. This signaling axis governing TEC survival and thymic function represents a new target for strategies for thymic protection and regeneration.
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27
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Breed ER, Lee ST, Hogquist KA. Directing T cell fate: How thymic antigen presenting cells coordinate thymocyte selection. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 84:2-10. [PMID: 28800929 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The development of a self-tolerant and effective T cell receptor repertoire is dependent on interactions coordinated by various antigen presenting cells (APC) within the thymus. T cell receptor-self-peptide-MHC interactions are essential for determining T cell fate, however different cytokine and co-stimulatory signals provided by the diverse APCs within the thymus are also critical. Here, we outline the different localization and functional capabilities of thymic APCs. We also discuss how these distinct APCs work collectively to facilitate the establishment of a diverse T cell receptor repertoire that is tolerant to an array of different self-antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise R Breed
- The Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - S Thera Lee
- The Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- The Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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28
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Thymic homing of activated CD4 + T cells induces degeneration of the thymic epithelium through excessive RANK signaling. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2421. [PMID: 28546567 PMCID: PMC5445095 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02653-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Activated T cells have been shown to be able to recirculate into the thymus from the periphery. The present study was aimed to elucidate the functional consequences of thymic homing of activated T cells upon developing thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells (TEC). In the presence of activated T cells, especially CD4+ T cells, T cell development was found to be inhibited in thymic organ cultures with markedly reduced cellularity. Thymic transplantation demonstrated that the inhibitory effect was most likely due to a defective microenvironment. As the major component of the thymic stroma, the TEC compartment was severely disturbed after prolonged exposure to the activated T cells. In addition to reduced cell proliferation, TEC differentiation was heavily skewed to the mTEC lineage. Furthermore, we demonstrated that RANKL highly expressed by activated CD4+ T cells was primarily responsible for the detrimental effects. Presumably, excessive RANK signaling drove overproduction of mTECs and possibly exhaustion of epithelial progenitors, thereby facilitating the deterioration of the epithelial structures. These findings not only reveal a novel activity of activated T cells re-entering the thymus, but also provide a new perspective for understanding the mechanism underlying thymic involution.
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29
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Takahama Y, Ohigashi I, Baik S, Anderson G. Generation of diversity in thymic epithelial cells. Nat Rev Immunol 2017; 17:295-305. [PMID: 28317923 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the thymus, diverse populations of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), including cortical and medullary TECs and their subpopulations, have distinct roles in coordinating the development and repertoire selection of functionally competent and self-tolerant T cells. Here, we review the expanding diversity in TEC subpopulations in relation to their functions in T cell development and selection as well as their origins and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousuke Takahama
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Song Baik
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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30
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Meireles C, Ribeiro AR, Pinto RD, Leitão C, Rodrigues PM, Alves NL. Thymic crosstalk restrains the pool of cortical thymic epithelial cells with progenitor properties. Eur J Immunol 2017; 47:958-969. [DOI: 10.1002/eji.201746922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Meireles
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
- Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Ana R. Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
| | - Rute D. Pinto
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
| | - Catarina Leitão
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Pedro M. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
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31
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Hamazaki Y, Sekai M, Minato N. Medullary thymic epithelial stem cells: role in thymic epithelial cell maintenance and thymic involution. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:38-55. [PMID: 27088906 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The thymus consists of two distinct anatomical regions, the cortex and the medulla; medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a crucial role in establishing central T-cell tolerance for self-antigens. Although the understanding of mTEC development in thymic organogenesis as well as the regulation of their differentiation and maturation has improved, the mechanisms of postnatal maintenance remain poorly understood. This issue has a central importance in immune homeostasis and physiological thymic involution as well as autoimmune disorders in various clinicopathological settings. Recently, several reports have demonstrated the existence of TEC stem or progenitor cells in the postnatal thymus, which are either bipotent or unipotent. We identified stem cells specified for mTEC-lineage that are generated in the thymic ontogeny and may sustain mTEC regeneration and lifelong central T-cell self-tolerance. This finding suggested that the thymic medulla is maintained autonomously by its own stem cells. Although several issues, including the relationship with other putative TEC stem/progenitors, remain unclear, further examination of mTEC stem cells (mTECSCs) and their regulatory mechanisms may contribute to the understanding of postnatal immune homeostasis. Possible relationships between decline of mTECSC activity and early thymic involution as well as various autoimmune disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miho Sekai
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nagahiro Minato
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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32
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Perry JSA, Hsieh CS. Development of T-cell tolerance utilizes both cell-autonomous and cooperative presentation of self-antigen. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:141-55. [PMID: 27088912 PMCID: PMC4837647 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of T-cell self-tolerance in the thymus is important for establishing immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity. Here, we review the components of T-cell tolerance, which includes T-cell receptor (TCR) self-reactivity, costimulation, cytokines, and antigen presentation by a variety of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) subsets. We discuss the current evidence on the process of regulatory T (Treg) cell and negative selection and the importance of TCR signaling. We then examine recent evidence showing unique roles for bone marrow (BM)-derived APCs and medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) on the conventional and Treg TCR repertoire, as well as emerging data on the role of B cells in tolerance. Finally, we review the accumulating data that suggest that cooperative antigen presentation is a prominent component of T -ell tolerance. With the development of tools to interrogate the function of individual APC subsets in the medulla, we have gained greater understanding of the complex cellular and molecular events that determine T-cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S A Perry
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Chyi-Song Hsieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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33
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Abstract
More than 15 years ago, mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene were identified as the cause of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1). It is now clear that this transcription factor has a crucial role in promoting self-tolerance in the thymus by regulating the expression of a wide array of self-antigens that have the commonality of being tissue-restricted in their expression pattern in the periphery. In this Review, we highlight many of the recent advances in our understanding of the complex biology that is related to AIRE, with a particular focus on advances in genetics, molecular interactions and the effect of AIRE on thymic selection of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, we highlight new areas of biology that are potentially affected by this key regulator of immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
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34
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Alves NL, Ribeiro AR. Thymus medulla under construction: Time and space oddities. Eur J Immunol 2016; 46:829-33. [PMID: 26947141 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201646329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The development of effective T-cell-based immunotherapies to treat infection, cancer, and autoimmunity should incorporate the ground rules that control differentiation of T cells in the thymus. Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide microenvironments supportive of the generation and selection of T cells that are responsive to pathogen-derived antigens, and yet tolerant to self-determinants. Defects in TEC differentiation cause syndromes that range from immunodeficiency to autoimmunity, which makes the study of TECs of fundamental and clinical importance to comprehend how immunity and tolerance are balanced. Critical to tolerance induction are medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), which purge autoreactive T cells, or redirect them to a regulatory T-cell lineage. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, studies by Baik et al. and Mayer et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2016. 46: XXXX-XXXX and 46: XXXX-XXXX]) document novel spatial-temporal singularities in the lineage specification and maintenance of mTECs. While Baik et al. define a developmental checkpoint during mTEC specification in the embryo, Mayer et al. reveal that the generation and maintenance of the adult mTEC compartment is temporally controlled in vivo. The two reports described new developmentally related, but temporally distinct principles that underlie the homeostasis of the thymic medulla across life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno L Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porot, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana R Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porot, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Portugal
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35
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Nitta T, Suzuki H. Thymic stromal cell subsets for T cell development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1021-37. [PMID: 26825337 PMCID: PMC11108406 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The thymus provides a specialized microenvironment in which a variety of stromal cells of both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic origin regulate development and repertoire selection of T cells. Recent studies have been unraveling the inter- and intracellular signals and transcriptional networks for spatiotemporal regulation of development of thymic stromal cells, mainly thymic epithelial cells (TECs), and the molecular mechanisms of how different TEC subsets control T cell development and selection. TECs are classified into two functionally different subsets: cortical TECs (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs). cTECs induce positive selection of diverse and functionally distinct T cells by virtue of unique antigen-processing systems, while mTECs are essential for establishing T cell tolerance via ectopic expression of peripheral tissue-restricted antigens and cooperation with dendritic cells. In addition to reviewing the role of the thymic stroma in conventional T cell development, we will discuss recently discovered novel functions of TECs in the development of unconventional T cells, such as natural killer T cells and γδT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, 272-8516, Japan.
| | - Harumi Suzuki
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, 272-8516, Japan.
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36
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Evolutionary conserved gene co-expression drives generation of self-antigen diversity in medullary thymic epithelial cells. J Autoimmun 2016; 67:65-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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37
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Mayer CE, Žuklys S, Zhanybekova S, Ohigashi I, Teh HY, Sansom SN, Shikama-Dorn N, Hafen K, Macaulay IC, Deadman ME, Ponting CP, Takahama Y, Holländer GA. Dynamic spatio-temporal contribution of single β5t+ cortical epithelial precursors to the thymus medulla. Eur J Immunol 2016; 46:846-56. [PMID: 26694097 PMCID: PMC4832341 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Intrathymic T‐cell development is critically dependent on cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Both epithelial subsets originate during early thymus organogenesis from progenitor cells that express the thymoproteasome subunit β5t, a typical feature of cortical TECs. Using in vivo lineage fate mapping, we demonstrate in mice that β5t+ TEC progenitors give rise to the medullary TEC compartment early in life but significantly limit their contribution once the medulla has completely formed. Lineage‐tracing studies at single cell resolution demonstrate for young mice that the postnatal medulla is expanded from individual β5t+ cortical progenitors located at the cortico‐medullary junction. These results therefore not only define a developmental window during which the expansion of medulla is efficiently enabled by progenitors resident in the thymic cortex, but also reveal the spatio‐temporal dynamics that control the growth of the thymic medulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E Mayer
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Saulius Žuklys
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute for Genome Research, University of Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hong-Ying Teh
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephen N Sansom
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Katrin Hafen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iain C Macaulay
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute-EBI Single Cell Genomics Centre, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mary E Deadman
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chris P Ponting
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute-EBI Single Cell Genomics Centre, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.,MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute for Genome Research, University of Tokushima, Japan
| | - Georg A Holländer
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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38
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De Martino L, Capalbo D, Improda N, Lorello P, Ungaro C, Di Mase R, Cirillo E, Pignata C, Salerno M. Novel Findings into AIRE Genetics and Functioning: Clinical Implications. Front Pediatr 2016; 4:86. [PMID: 27597936 PMCID: PMC4992815 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2016.00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), formerly known as autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1, is a paradigm of a monogenic autoimmune disease caused by mutations of a gene, named autoimmune regulator (AIRE). AIRE acts as a transcription regulator that promotes immunological central tolerance by inducing the ectopic thymic expression of many tissue-specific antigens. Although the syndrome is a monogenic disease, it is characterized by a wide variability of the clinical expression with no significant correlation between genotype and phenotype. Indeed, many aspects regarding the exact role of AIRE and APECED pathogenesis still remain unraveled. In the last decades, several studies in APECED and in its mouse experimental counterpart have revealed new insights on how immune system learns self-tolerance. Moreover, novel interesting findings have extended our understanding of AIRE's function and regulation thus improving our knowledge on the pathogenesis of APECED. In this review, we will summarize recent novelties on molecular mechanisms underlying the development of APECED and their clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia De Martino
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
| | | | - Nicola Improda
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
| | - Paola Lorello
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
| | - Carla Ungaro
- Department of Pediatrics, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
| | | | - Emilia Cirillo
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
| | - Claudio Pignata
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
| | - Mariacarolina Salerno
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University , Naples , Italy
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Kawano H, Nishijima H, Morimoto J, Hirota F, Morita R, Mouri Y, Nishioka Y, Matsumoto M. Aire Expression Is Inherent to Most Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells during Their Differentiation Program. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 195:5149-58. [PMID: 26503950 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aire in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) plays an important role in the establishment of self-tolerance. Because Aire(+) mTECs appear to be a limited subset, they may constitute a unique lineage(s) among mTECs. An alternative possibility is that all mTECs are committed to express Aire in principle, but Aire expression by individual mTECs is conditional. To investigate this issue, we established a novel Aire reporter strain in which endogenous Aire is replaced by the human AIRE-GFP-Flag tag (Aire/hAGF-knockin) fusion gene. The hAGF reporter protein was produced and retained very efficiently within mTECs as authentic Aire nuclear dot protein. Remarkably, snapshot analysis revealed that mTECs expressing hAGF accounted for >95% of mature mTECs, suggesting that Aire expression does not represent a particular mTEC lineage(s). We confirmed this by generating Aire/diphtheria toxin receptor-knockin mice in which long-term ablation of Aire(+) mTECs by diphtheria toxin treatment resulted in the loss of most mature mTECs beyond the proportion of those apparently expressing Aire. These results suggest that Aire expression is inherent to all mTECs but may occur at particular stage(s) and/or cellular states during their differentiation, thus accounting for the broad impact of Aire on the promiscuous gene expression of mTECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kawano
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; and
| | - Hitoshi Nishijima
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Fumiko Hirota
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Ryoko Morita
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Mouri
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Nishioka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; and
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
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Nishijima H, Kitano S, Miyachi H, Morimoto J, Kawano H, Hirota F, Morita R, Mouri Y, Masuda K, Imoto I, Ikuta K, Matsumoto M. Ectopic Aire Expression in the Thymic Cortex Reveals Inherent Properties of Aire as a Tolerogenic Factor within the Medulla. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 195:4641-9. [PMID: 26453754 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) and medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play essential roles in the positive and negative selection of developing thymocytes, respectively. Aire in mTECs plays an essential role in the latter process through expression of broad arrays of tissue-restricted Ags. To determine whether the location of Aire within the medulla is absolutely essential or whether Aire could also function within the cortex for establishment of self-tolerance, we used bacterial artificial chromosome technology to establish a semiknockin strain of NOD-background (β5t/Aire-transgenic) mice expressing Aire under control of the promoter of β5t, a thymoproteasome expressed exclusively in the cortex. Although Aire was expressed in cTECs as typical nuclear dot protein in β5t/Aire-Tg mice, cTECs expressing Aire ectopically did not confer transcriptional expression of either Aire-dependent or Aire-independent tissue-restricted Ag genes. We then crossed β5t/Aire-Tg mice with Aire-deficient NOD mice, generating a strain in which Aire expression was confined to cTECs. Despite the presence of Aire(+) cTECs, these mice succumbed to autoimmunity, as did Aire-deficient NOD mice. The thymic microenvironment harboring Aire(+) cTECs, within which many Aire-activated genes were present, also showed no obvious alteration of positive selection, suggesting that Aire's unique property of generating a self-tolerant T cell repertoire is functional only in mTECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Nishijima
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Satsuki Kitano
- Reproductive Engineering Team, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyachi
- Reproductive Engineering Team, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Junko Morimoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawano
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Fumiko Hirota
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Ryoko Morita
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Mouri
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Masuda
- Department of Human Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; and
| | - Issei Imoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; and
| | - Koichi Ikuta
- Laboratory of Biological Protection, Department of Biological Responses, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Matsumoto
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan;
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Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (Aire) was initially identified as the gene causing multiorgan system autoimmunity in humans, and deletion of this gene in mice also resulted in organ-specific autoimmunity. Aire regulates the expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), which play a critical role in the negative selection of autoreactive T cells and the generation of regulatory T cells. More recently, the role of Aire in the development of mTECs has helped elucidate its ability to present the spectrum of TSAs needed to prevent autoimmunity. Molecular characterization of the functional domains of Aire has revealed multiple binding partners that assist Aire's function in altering gene transcription and chromatin remodeling. These recent advances have further highlighted the importance of Aire in central tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Chan
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Hamazaki Y. Adult thymic epithelial cell (TEC) progenitors and TEC stem cells: Models and mechanisms for TEC development and maintenance. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:2985-93. [PMID: 26362014 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary lymphoid organ for generating self-restricted and self-tolerant functional T cells. Its two distinct anatomical regions, the cortex and the medulla, are involved in positive and negative selection, respectively. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) constitute the framework of this tissue and function as major stromal components. Extensive studies for more than a decade have revealed how TECs are generated during organogenesis; progenitors specific for medullary TECs (mTECs) and cortical TECs (cTECs) as well as bipotent progenitors for both lineages have been identified, and the signaling pathways required for the development and maturation of mTECs have been elucidated. However, little is known about the initial commitment of mTECs and cTECs during ontogeny, and how regeneration of both lineages is sustained in the postnatal/adult thymus. Recently, stem cell activities in TECs have been demonstrated, and TEC progenitors have been identified in the postnatal thymus. In this review, recent advances in studying the development and maintenance of TECs are summarized, and the possible mechanisms of thymic regeneration and involution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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Khan IS, Park CY, Mavropoulos A, Shariat N, Pollack JL, Barczak AJ, Erle DJ, McManus MT, Anderson MS, Jeker LT. Identification of MiR-205 As a MicroRNA That Is Highly Expressed in Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135440. [PMID: 26270036 PMCID: PMC4535774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) support T cell development in the thymus. Cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) facilitate positive selection of developing thymocytes whereas medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) facilitate the deletion of self-reactive thymocytes in order to prevent autoimmunity. The mTEC compartment is highly dynamic with continuous maturation and turnover, but the genetic regulation of these processes remains poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of TEC genetic programs since miRNA-deficient TECs are severely defective. However, the individual miRNAs important for TEC maintenance and function and their mechanisms of action remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that miR-205 is highly and preferentially expressed in mTECs during both thymic ontogeny and in the postnatal thymus. This distinct expression is suggestive of functional importance for TEC biology. Genetic ablation of miR-205 in TECs, however, neither revealed a role for miR-205 in TEC function during homeostatic conditions nor during recovery from thymic stress conditions. Thus, despite its distinct expression, miR-205 on its own is largely dispensable for mTEC biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran S. Khan
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Chong Y. Park
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- WM Keck Center for Noncoding RNAs, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Anastasia Mavropoulos
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Nikki Shariat
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- WM Keck Center for Noncoding RNAs, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua L. Pollack
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Andrea J. Barczak
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - David J. Erle
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michael T. McManus
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- WM Keck Center for Noncoding RNAs, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MSA); (LTJ)
| | - Lukas T. Jeker
- UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MSA); (LTJ)
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Kisand K, Peterson P. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy. J Clin Immunol 2015; 35:463-78. [PMID: 26141571 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-015-0176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. This review focuses on the clinical and immunological features of APECED, summarizes the current knowledge on the function of AIRE and discusses the importance of autoantibodies in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Additionally, we review the outcome of recent immunomodulatory treatments in APECED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Str., Tartu, EE50411, Estonia,
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Rattay K, Claude J, Rezavandy E, Matt S, Hofmann TG, Kyewski B, Derbinski J. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2, a novel autoimmune regulator interaction partner, modulates promiscuous gene expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 194:921-8. [PMID: 25552543 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Promiscuous expression of a plethora of tissue-restricted Ags (TRAs) by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) plays an essential role in T cell tolerance. Although the cellular mechanisms by which promiscuous gene expression (pGE) imposes T cell tolerance have been well characterized, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is to date the only validated molecule known to regulate pGE. AIRE is part of higher-order multiprotein complexes, which promote transcription, elongation, and splicing of a wide range of target genes. How AIRE and its partners mediate these various effects at the molecular level is still largely unclear. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we searched for novel AIRE-interacting proteins and identified the homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) as a novel partner. HIPK2 partially colocalized with AIRE in nuclear bodies upon cotransfection and in human mTECs in situ. Moreover, HIPK2 phosphorylated AIRE in vitro and suppressed the coactivator activity of AIRE in a kinase-dependent manner. To evaluate the role of Hipk2 in modulating the function of AIRE in vivo, we compared whole-genome gene signatures of purified mTEC subsets from TEC-specific Hipk2 knockout mice with control mice and identified a small set of differentially expressed genes. Unexpectedly, most differentially expressed genes were confined to the CD80(lo) mTEC subset and preferentially included AIRE-independent TRAs. Thus, although it modulates gene expression in mTECs and in addition affects the size of the medullary compartment, TEC-specific HIPK2 deletion only mildly affects AIRE-directed pGE in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Rattay
- Division of Developmental Immunobiology, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Janine Claude
- Division of Developmental Immunobiology, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Esmail Rezavandy
- Division of Developmental Immunobiology, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Sonja Matt
- Zelluläre Seneszenz-Gruppe, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum-Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie Allianz, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas G Hofmann
- Zelluläre Seneszenz-Gruppe, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum-Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie Allianz, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bruno Kyewski
- Division of Developmental Immunobiology, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Jens Derbinski
- Division of Developmental Immunobiology, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; and
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