1
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Lagou MK, Karagiannis GS. Obesity-induced thymic involution and cancer risk. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 93:3-19. [PMID: 37088128 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Declining thymic functions associated either with old age (i.e., age-related thymic involution), or with acute involution as a result of stress, infectious disease, or cytoreductive therapies (e.g., chemotherapy/radiotherapy), have been associated with cancer development. A key mechanism underlying such increased cancer risk is the thymus-dependent debilitation of adaptive immunity, which is responsible for orchestrating immunoediting mechanisms and tumor immune surveillance. In the past few years, a blooming set of evidence has intriguingly linked obesity with cancer development and progression. The majority of such studies has focused on obesity-driven chronic inflammation, steroid/sex hormone and adipokine production, and hyperinsulinemia, as principal factors affecting the tumor microenvironment and driving the development of primary malignancy. However, experimental observations about the negative impact of obesity on T cell development and maturation have existed for more than half a century. Here, we critically discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of obesity-driven thymic involution as a previously underrepresented intermediary pathology leading to cancer development and progression. This knowledge could be especially relevant in the context of childhood obesity, because impaired thymic function in young individuals leads to immune system abnormalities, and predisposes to various pediatric cancers. A thorough understanding behind the molecular and cellular circuitries governing obesity-induced thymic involution could therefore help towards the rationalized development of targeted thymic regeneration strategies for obese individuals at high risk of cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Lagou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Program, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George S Karagiannis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Program, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Integrated Imaging Program for Cancer Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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2
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Klein F, Veiga-Villauriz C, Börsch A, Maio S, Palmer S, Dhalla F, Handel AE, Zuklys S, Calvo-Asensio I, Musette L, Deadman ME, White AJ, Lucas B, Anderson G, Holländer GA. Combined multidimensional single-cell protein and RNA profiling dissects the cellular and functional heterogeneity of thymic epithelial cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4071. [PMID: 37429879 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39722-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The network of thymic stromal cells provides essential niches with unique molecular cues controlling T cell development and selection. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing studies have uncovered previously unappreciated transcriptional heterogeneity among thymic epithelial cells (TEC). However, there are only very few cell markers that allow a comparable phenotypic identification of TEC. Here, using massively parallel flow cytometry and machine learning, we deconvoluted known TEC phenotypes into novel subpopulations. Using CITEseq, these phenotypes were related to corresponding TEC subtypes defined by the cells' RNA profiles. This approach allowed the phenotypic identification of perinatal cTEC and their physical localisation within the cortical stromal scaffold. In addition, we demonstrate the dynamic change in the frequency of perinatal cTEC in response to developing thymocytes and reveal their exceptional efficiency in positive selection. Collectively, our study identifies markers that allow for an unprecedented dissection of the thymus stromal complexity, as well as physical isolation of TEC populations and assignment of specific functions to individual TEC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Klein
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Clara Veiga-Villauriz
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Stefano Maio
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sam Palmer
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fatima Dhalla
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adam E Handel
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Saulius Zuklys
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Irene Calvo-Asensio
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Musette
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mary E Deadman
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea J White
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Beth Lucas
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Georg A Holländer
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Paediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland.
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3
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Kadouri N, Givony T, Nevo S, Hey J, Ben Dor S, Damari G, Dassa B, Dobes J, Weichenhan D, Bähr M, Paulsen M, Haffner-Krausz R, Mall MA, Plass C, Goldfarb Y, Abramson J. Transcriptional regulation of the thymus master regulator Foxn1. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabn8144. [PMID: 36026441 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abn8144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
FOXN1 is a transcription factor critical for the development of both thymic epithelial cell (TEC) and hair follicle cell (HFC) compartments. However, mechanisms controlling its expression remain poorly understood. To address this question, we performed thorough analyses of the evolutionary conservation and chromatin status of the Foxn1 locus in different tissues and states and identified several putative cis-regulatory regions unique to TECs versus HFCs. Furthermore, experiments using genetically modified mice with specific deletions in the Foxn1 locus and additional bioinformatic analyses helped us identify key regions and transcription factors involved in either positive or negative regulation of Foxn1 in both TECs and HFCs. Specifically, we identified SIX1 and FOXN1 itself as key factors inducing Foxn1 expression in embryonic and neonatal TECs. Together, our data provide important mechanistic insights into the transcriptional regulation of the Foxn1 gene in TEC versus HFC and highlight the role of FOXN1 in its autoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Kadouri
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Givony
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shir Nevo
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Joschka Hey
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shifra Ben Dor
- Bioinformatics Unit, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Golda Damari
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bareket Dassa
- Bioinformatics Unit, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jan Dobes
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dieter Weichenhan
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marion Bähr
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michelle Paulsen
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Marcus A Mall
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Pulmonology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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4
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Carter JA, Strömich L, Peacey M, Chapin SR, Velten L, Steinmetz LM, Brors B, Pinto S, Meyer HV. Transcriptomic diversity in human medullary thymic epithelial cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4296. [PMID: 35918316 PMCID: PMC9345899 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31750-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The induction of central T cell tolerance in the thymus depends on the presentation of peripheral self-epitopes by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). This promiscuous gene expression (pGE) drives mTEC transcriptomic diversity, with non-canonical transcript initiation, alternative splicing, and expression of endogenous retroelements (EREs) representing important but incompletely understood contributors. Here we map the expression of genome-wide transcripts in immature and mature human mTECs using high-throughput 5' cap and RNA sequencing. Both mTEC populations show high splicing entropy, potentially driven by the expression of peripheral splicing factors. During mTEC maturation, rates of global transcript mis-initiation increase and EREs enriched in long terminal repeat retrotransposons are up-regulated, the latter often found in proximity to differentially expressed genes. As a resource, we provide an interactive public interface for exploring mTEC transcriptomic diversity. Our findings therefore help construct a map of transcriptomic diversity in the healthy human thymus and may ultimately facilitate the identification of those epitopes which contribute to autoimmunity and immune recognition of tumor antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A. Carter
- grid.225279.90000 0004 0387 3667Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Medical Scientist Training Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Léonie Strömich
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Present Address: Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew Peacey
- grid.225279.90000 0004 0387 3667School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY USA
| | - Sarah R. Chapin
- grid.225279.90000 0004 0387 3667Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY USA
| | - Lars Velten
- grid.473715.30000 0004 6475 7299Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.5612.00000 0001 2172 2676Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lars M. Steinmetz
- grid.4709.a0000 0004 0495 846XEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Stanford Genome Technology Center, Palo Alto, CA USA
| | - Benedikt Brors
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sheena Pinto
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hannah V. Meyer
- grid.225279.90000 0004 0387 3667Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY USA
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5
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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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6
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Bao X, Qin Y, Lu L, Zheng M. Transcriptional Regulation of Early T-Lymphocyte Development in Thymus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:884569. [PMID: 35432347 PMCID: PMC9008359 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.884569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
T-lymphocytes play crucial roles for maintaining immune homeostasis by fighting against various pathogenic microorganisms and establishing self-antigen tolerance. They will go through several stages and checkpoints in the thymus from progenitors to mature T cells, from CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) cells to CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) cells, finally become CD4+ or CD8+ single positive (SP) cells. The mature SP cells then emigrate out of the thymus and further differentiate into distinct subsets under different environment signals to perform specific functions. Each step is regulated by various transcriptional regulators downstream of T cell receptors (TCRs) that have been extensively studied both in vivo and vitro via multiple mouse models and advanced techniques, such as single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq). This review will summarize the transcriptional regulators participating in the early stage of T cell development reported in the past decade, trying to figure out cascade networks in each process and provide possible research directions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Bao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingyu Qin
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Linrong Lu
- Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, Renji Hospital, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mingzhu Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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7
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Lopes N, Boucherit N, Santamaria JC, Provin N, Charaix J, Ferrier P, Giraud M, Irla M. Thymocytes trigger self-antigen-controlling pathways in immature medullary thymic epithelial stages. eLife 2022; 11:69982. [PMID: 35188458 PMCID: PMC8860447 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions of developing T cells with Aire+ medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing high levels of MHCII molecules (mTEChi) are critical for the induction of central tolerance in the thymus. In turn, thymocytes regulate the cellularity of Aire+ mTEChi. However, it remains unknown whether thymocytes control the precursors of Aire+ mTEChi that are contained in mTEClo cells or other mTEClo subsets that have recently been delineated by single-cell transcriptomic analyses. Here, using three distinct transgenic mouse models, in which antigen presentation between mTECs and CD4+ thymocytes is perturbed, we show by high-throughput RNA-seq that self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes induce key transcriptional regulators in mTEClo and control the composition of mTEClo subsets, including Aire+ mTEChi precursors, post-Aire and tuft-like mTECs. Furthermore, these interactions upregulate the expression of tissue-restricted self-antigens, cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules important for T-cell development. This gene activation program induced in mTEClo is combined with a global increase of the active H3K4me3 histone mark. Finally, we demonstrate that these self-reactive interactions between CD4+ thymocytes and mTECs critically prevent multiorgan autoimmunity. Our genome-wide study thus reveals that self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes control multiple unsuspected facets from immature stages of mTECs, which determines their heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noella Lopes
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Nicolas Boucherit
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Jérémy C Santamaria
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Nathan Provin
- Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Jonathan Charaix
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Ferrier
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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8
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Fujimori S, Ohigashi I, Abe H, Matsushita Y, Katagiri T, Taketo MM, Takahama Y, Takada S. Fine-tuning of β-catenin in mouse thymic epithelial cells is required for postnatal T-cell development. eLife 2022; 11:69088. [PMID: 35042581 PMCID: PMC8769649 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In the thymus, the thymic epithelium provides a microenvironment essential for the development of functionally competent and self-tolerant T cells. Previous findings showed that modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in mouse thymic epithelial cells (TECs) disrupts embryonic thymus organogenesis. However, the role of β-catenin in TECs for postnatal T-cell development remains to be elucidated. Here, we analyzed gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) of β-catenin highly specific in mouse TECs. We found that GOF of β-catenin in TECs results in severe thymic dysplasia and T-cell deficiency beginning from the embryonic period. By contrast, LOF of β-catenin in TECs reduces the number of cortical TECs and thymocytes modestly and only postnatally. These results indicate that fine-tuning of β-catenin expression within a permissive range is required for TECs to generate an optimal microenvironment to support postnatal T-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayumi Fujimori
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
| | - Hayato Abe
- Student Laboratory, School of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yosuke Matsushita
- Division of Genome Medicine, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
| | - Toyomasa Katagiri
- Division of Genome Medicine, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University
| | - Makoto M Taketo
- Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science, Kyoto University Hospital
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Shinji Takada
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
- Department of Basic Biology in the School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)
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9
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Perniola R, Fierabracci A, Falorni A. Autoimmune Addison's Disease as Part of the Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1: Historical Overview and Current Evidence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:606860. [PMID: 33717087 PMCID: PMC7953157 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.606860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1) is caused by pathogenic variants of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, located in the chromosomal region 21q22.3. The related protein, AIRE, enhances thymic self-representation and immune self-tolerance by localization to chromatin and anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in the initiation and post-initiation events of tissue-specific antigen-encoding gene transcription. Once synthesized, the self-antigens are presented to, and cause deletion of, the self-reactive thymocyte clones. The clinical diagnosis of APS1 is based on the classic triad idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (HPT)—chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis—autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD), though new criteria based on early non-endocrine manifestations have been proposed. HPT is in most cases the first endocrine component of the syndrome; however, APS1-associated AAD has received the most accurate biochemical, clinical, and immunological characterization. Here is a comprehensive review of the studies on APS1-associated AAD from initial case reports to the most recent scientific findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics-Neonatal Intensive Care, V. Fazzi Hospital, ASL LE, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fierabracci
- Infectivology and Clinical Trials Research Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Falorni
- Section of Internal Medicine and Endocrinological and Metabolic Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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10
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Bautista JL, Cramer NT, Miller CN, Chavez J, Berrios DI, Byrnes LE, Germino J, Ntranos V, Sneddon JB, Burt TD, Gardner JM, Ye CJ, Anderson MS, Parent AV. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of human thymic stroma uncovers novel cellular heterogeneity in the thymic medulla. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1096. [PMID: 33597545 PMCID: PMC7889611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21346-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus' key function in the immune system is to provide the necessary environment for the development of diverse and self-tolerant T lymphocytes. While recent evidence suggests that the thymic stroma is comprised of more functionally distinct subpopulations than previously appreciated, the extent of this cellular heterogeneity in the human thymus is not well understood. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively profile the human thymic stroma across multiple stages of life. Mesenchyme, pericytes and endothelial cells are identified as potential key regulators of thymic epithelial cell differentiation and thymocyte migration. In-depth analyses of epithelial cells reveal the presence of ionocytes as a medullary population, while the expression of tissue-specific antigens is mapped to different subsets of epithelial cells. This work thus provides important insight on how the diversity of thymic cells is established, and how this heterogeneity contributes to the induction of immune tolerance in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhoanne L Bautista
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nathan T Cramer
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Chavez
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David I Berrios
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lauren E Byrnes
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joe Germino
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vasilis Ntranos
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Julie B Sneddon
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Trevor D Burt
- Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology and the Children's Health & Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James M Gardner
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chun J Ye
- Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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11
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Marx A, Yamada Y, Simon-Keller K, Schalke B, Willcox N, Ströbel P, Weis CA. Thymus and autoimmunity. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:45-64. [PMID: 33537838 PMCID: PMC7925479 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00842-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The thymus prevents autoimmune diseases through mechanisms that operate in the cortex and medulla, comprising positive and negative selection and the generation of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Egress from the thymus through the perivascular space (PVS) to the blood is another possible checkpoint, as shown by some autoimmune/immunodeficiency syndromes. In polygenic autoimmune diseases, subtle thymic dysfunctions may compound genetic, hormonal and environmental cues. Here, we cover (a) tolerance-inducing cell types, whether thymic epithelial or tuft cells, or dendritic, B- or thymic myoid cells; (b) tolerance-inducing mechanisms and their failure in relation to thymic anatomic compartments, and with special emphasis on human monogenic and polygenic autoimmune diseases and the related thymic pathologies, if known; (c) polymorphisms and mutations of tolerance-related genes with an impact on positive selection (e.g. the gene encoding the thymoproteasome-specific subunit, PSMB11), promiscuous gene expression (e.g. AIRE, PRKDC, FEZF2, CHD4), Treg development (e.g. SATB1, FOXP3), T-cell migration (e.g. TAGAP) and egress from the thymus (e.g. MTS1, CORO1A); (d) myasthenia gravis as the prototypic outcome of an inflamed or disordered neoplastic ‘sick thymus’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Yosuke Yamada
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Katja Simon-Keller
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Berthold Schalke
- Department of Neurology, Bezirkskrankenhaus, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nick Willcox
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttigen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cleo-Aron Weis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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12
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Irla M. RANK Signaling in the Differentiation and Regeneration of Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 11:623265. [PMID: 33552088 PMCID: PMC7862717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.623265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide essential clues for the proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of thymocytes. Recent advances in mouse and human have revealed that TECs constitute a highly heterogeneous cell population with distinct functional properties. Importantly, TECs are sensitive to thymic damages engendered by myeloablative conditioning regimen used for bone marrow transplantation. These detrimental effects on TECs delay de novo T-cell production, which can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in many patients. Alike that TECs guide the development of thymocytes, reciprocally thymocytes control the differentiation and organization of TECs. These bidirectional interactions are referred to as thymic crosstalk. The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) member, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK) and its cognate ligand RANKL have emerged as key players of the crosstalk between TECs and thymocytes. RANKL, mainly provided by positively selected CD4+ thymocytes and a subset of group 3 innate lymphoid cells, controls mTEC proliferation/differentiation and TEC regeneration. In this review, I discuss recent advances that have unraveled the high heterogeneity of TECs and the implication of the RANK-RANKL signaling axis in TEC differentiation and regeneration. Targeting this cell-signaling pathway opens novel therapeutic perspectives to recover TEC function and T-cell production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Irla
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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13
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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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14
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Baran-Gale J, Morgan MD, Maio S, Dhalla F, Calvo-Asensio I, Deadman ME, Handel AE, Maynard A, Chen S, Green F, Sit RV, Neff NF, Darmanis S, Tan W, May AP, Marioni JC, Ponting CP, Holländer GA. Ageing compromises mouse thymus function and remodels epithelial cell differentiation. eLife 2020; 9:e56221. [PMID: 32840480 PMCID: PMC7490013 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing is characterised by cellular senescence, leading to imbalanced tissue maintenance, cell death and compromised organ function. This is first observed in the thymus, the primary lymphoid organ that generates and selects T cells. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning these ageing processes remain unclear. Here, we show that mouse ageing leads to less efficient T cell selection, decreased self-antigen representation and increased T cell receptor repertoire diversity. Using a combination of single-cell RNA-seq and lineage-tracing, we find that progenitor cells are the principal targets of ageing, whereas the function of individual mature thymic epithelial cells is compromised only modestly. Specifically, an early-life precursor cell population, retained in the mouse cortex postnatally, is virtually extinguished at puberty. Concomitantly, a medullary precursor cell quiesces, thereby impairing maintenance of the medullary epithelium. Thus, ageing disrupts thymic progenitor differentiation and impairs the core immunological functions of the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael D Morgan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- Cancer Research United Kingdom - Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Stefano Maio
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Cancer ResearchOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Fatima Dhalla
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Cancer ResearchOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Irene Calvo-Asensio
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, and University Children’s HospitalBaselSwitzerland
| | - Mary E Deadman
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Cancer ResearchOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Adam E Handel
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Steven Chen
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Foad Green
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Rene V Sit
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Norma F Neff
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Weilun Tan
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Andy P May
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - John C Marioni
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- Cancer Research United Kingdom - Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Georg A Holländer
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Cancer ResearchOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, and University Children’s HospitalBaselSwitzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZurichBaselSwitzerland
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15
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Lebel MÈ, Coutelier M, Galipeau M, Kleinman CL, Moon JJ, Melichar HJ. Differential expression of tissue-restricted antigens among mTEC is associated with distinct autoreactive T cell fates. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3734. [PMID: 32709894 PMCID: PMC7381629 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17544-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) contribute to the development of T cell tolerance by expressing and presenting tissue-restricted antigens (TRA), so that developing T cells can assess the self-reactivity of their antigen receptors prior to leaving the thymus. mTEC are a heterogeneous population of cells that differentially express TRA. Whether mTEC subsets induce distinct autoreactive T cell fates remains unclear. Here, we establish bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-transgenic mouse lines with biased mTEClo or mTEChi expression of model antigens. The transgenic lines support negative selection of antigen-specific thymocytes depending on antigen dose. However, model antigen expression predominantly by mTEClo supports TCRαβ+ CD8αα intraepithelial lymphocyte development; meanwhile, mTEChi-restricted expression preferentially induces Treg differentiation of antigen-specific cells in these models to impact control of infectious agents and tumor growth. In summary, our data suggest that mTEC subsets may have a function in directing distinct mechanisms of T cell tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Ève Lebel
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, 5415 Boulevard de l'Assomption, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Marie Coutelier
- The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 3999 Côte Ste-Catherine Road Room E-542, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Rm W-315, Strathcona Anatomy & Dentistry Building 3640 rue University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Maria Galipeau
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, 5415 Boulevard de l'Assomption, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Claudia L Kleinman
- The Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 3999 Côte Ste-Catherine Road Room E-542, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Rm W-315, Strathcona Anatomy & Dentistry Building 3640 rue University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - James J Moon
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, 5415 Boulevard de l'Assomption, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada.
- Département de médecine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
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16
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Gong B, Wang X, Li B, Li Y, Lu R, Zhang K, Li B, Ma Y, Li Y. miR-205-5p inhibits thymic epithelial cell proliferation via FA2H-TFAP2A feedback regulation in age-associated thymus involution. Mol Immunol 2020; 122:173-185. [PMID: 32371259 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential regulators of T cell development and selection. microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating TECs proliferation during thymus involution. miR-205-5p is highly expressed in TECs and increases with age. However, the function and potential mechanism of miR-205-5p in TECs are not clear. miRNA expression was profiled using TECs from male and female mice at 1 and 3 months old. A total of 325 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were detected at different ages in two sexes. 24 of the DEMs had the same trend between males and females. Among them, miR-205-5p had the highest fold change. Our results showed that the expression of miR-205-5p was dramatically increased in TECs from 1 to 9 months old mice. miR-205-5p mimic inhibited TECs proliferation. Moreover, we confirmed that Fa2h was the direct target gene of miR-205-5p and FA2H was significantly decreased in TECs with increased expression of miR-205-5p. Silencing of Fa2h inhibited TECs proliferation. Furthermore, we found that the expression of Tfap2a could be promoted by FA2H and that TFAP2A could interact with miR-205-5p in TECs. Overall, miR-205-5p is an important regulator of TECs proliferation and regulates age-associated thymus involution via the miR-205-5p-FA2H-TFAP2A feedback regulatory circuit. miR-205-5p might act as a potential biomarker in TECs for age-related thymus involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishuang Gong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Xintong Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Boning Li
- the Department of Cardiology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Rui Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Kaizhao Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Bingxin Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Yongjiang Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China.
| | - Yugu Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China.
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17
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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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18
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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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19
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Dynamic changes in epithelial cell morphology control thymic organ size during atrophy and regeneration. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4402. [PMID: 31562306 PMCID: PMC6765001 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11879-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes must be produced throughout life, yet the thymus, where T lymphocytes are made, exhibits accelerated atrophy with age. Even in advanced atrophy, however, the thymus remains plastic, and can be regenerated by appropriate stimuli. Logically, thymic atrophy is thought to reflect senescent cell death, while regeneration requires proliferation of stem or progenitor cells, although evidence is scarce. Here we use conditional reporters to show that accelerated thymic atrophy reflects contraction of complex cell projections unique to cortical epithelial cells, while regeneration requires their regrowth. Both atrophy and regeneration are independent of changes in epithelial cell number, suggesting that the size of the thymus is regulated primarily by rate-limiting morphological changes in cortical stroma, rather than by their cell death or proliferation. Our data also suggest that cortical epithelial morphology is under the control of medullary stromal signals, revealing a previously unrecognized endocrine-paracrine signaling axis in the thymus.
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20
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Villegas JA, Gradolatto A, Truffault F, Roussin R, Berrih-Aknin S, Le Panse R, Dragin N. Cultured Human Thymic-Derived Cells Display Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cell Phenotype and Functionality. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1663. [PMID: 30083154 PMCID: PMC6064927 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells are one of the main components of the thymic microenvironment required for T-cell development. In this work, we describe an efficient method free of enzymatic and Facs-sorted methods to culture human medullary thymic epithelial cells without affecting the cell phenotypic, physiologic and functional features. Human medulla thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are obtained by culturing thymic biopsies explants. After 7 days of primo-culture, mTECs keep their ability to express key molecules involved in immune tolerance processes such as autoimmune regulator, tissue-specific antigens, chemokines, and cytokines. In addition, the cells sensor their cultured environment and consequently adjust their gene expression network. Therefore, we describe and provide a human mTEC model that may be used to test the effect of various molecules on thymic epithelial cell homeostasis and physiology. This method should allow the investigations of the specificities and the knowledge of human mTECs in normal or pathological conditions and therefore discontinue the extrapolations done on the murine models.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Villegas
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Angeline Gradolatto
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Truffault
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | | | - Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Dragin
- INSERM, AIM, Center of Research in Myology, UMRS974, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,Inovarion, Paris, France
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21
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Kernfeld EM, Genga RMJ, Neherin K, Magaletta ME, Xu P, Maehr R. A Single-Cell Transcriptomic Atlas of Thymus Organogenesis Resolves Cell Types and Developmental Maturation. Immunity 2018; 48:1258-1270.e6. [PMID: 29884461 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Thymus development is critical to the adaptive immune system, yet a comprehensive transcriptional framework capturing thymus organogenesis at single-cell resolution is still needed. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to capture 8 days of thymus development, perturbations of T cell receptor rearrangement, and in vitro organ cultures, producing profiles of 24,279 cells. We resolved transcriptional heterogeneity of developing lymphocytes, and genetic perturbation confirmed T cell identity of conventional and non-conventional lymphocytes. We characterized maturation dynamics of thymic epithelial cells in vivo, classified cell maturation state in a thymic organ culture, and revealed the intrinsic capacity of thymic epithelium to preserve transcriptional regularity despite exposure to exogenous retinoic acid. Finally, by integrating the cell atlas with human genome-wide association study (GWAS) data and autoimmune-disease-related genes, we implicated embryonic thymus-resident cells as possible participants in autoimmune disease etiologies. This resource provides a single-cell transcriptional framework for biological discovery and molecular analysis of thymus organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Kernfeld
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ryan M J Genga
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kashfia Neherin
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Margaret E Magaletta
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ping Xu
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - René Maehr
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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An efficient protocol for in vivo labeling of proliferating epithelial cells. J Immunol Methods 2018; 457:82-86. [PMID: 29605230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The study of organogenesis, tissue-homeostasis and regeneration requires the precise assessment of in vivo cell proliferation. To this end a host of methods have been developed to detect and quantify DNA synthesis in proliferating cells. These include cell labeling with various nucleotide analogues and fluorescence reporter-based animal models with each method presenting its idiosyncratic shortcomings. Quantitative assessment of epithelial cell turnover has been partly hampered due to their variable and limited in vivo accessibility and the requirement for harsher isolation procedures to procure single cells for FACS analysis. Here, we report a reliable protocol to study in vivo cell proliferation of epithelial cells in mice by repeatedly injecting EdU intravenously for an extended 12-day period. EdU incorporation was quantitated ex vivo by FACS after tissue dissociation in order to obtain single epithelial cell suspensions. As a lead population, we analyzed thymic epithelial cells (TECs), where we were able to label compartmentalized TEC subsets to saturation without apparent toxic effects on the thymus architecture or stress-sensitive TEC lineage differentiation. The data is in concordance with the prevailing model of medullary TEC terminal differentiation that includes the post-Aire stage. The same protocol was successfully applied to epithelial cells of various other organs - skin, lymph node, kidney and small intestine - tissues with widely varying frequencies and rates of proliferating epithelial cells.
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