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Smith JA, Yuen BTK, Purtha W, Balolong JM, Phipps JD, Crawford F, Bluestone JA, Kappler JW, Anderson MS. Aire mediates tolerance to insulin through thymic trimming of high-affinity T cell clones. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320268121. [PMID: 38709934 PMCID: PMC11098115 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320268121] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a central autoantigen in the pathogenesis of T1D, and thymic epithelial cell expression of insulin under the control of the Autoimmune Regulator (Aire) is thought to be a key component of maintaining tolerance to insulin. In spite of this general working model, direct detection of this thymic selection on insulin-specific T cells has been somewhat elusive. Here, we used a combination of highly sensitive T cell receptor transgenic models for detecting thymic selection and sorting and sequencing of Insulin-specific CD4+ T cells from Aire-deficient mice as a strategy to further define their selection. This analysis revealed a number of unique t cell receptor (TCR) clones in Aire-deficient hosts with high affinity for insulin/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ligands. We then modeled the thymic selection of one of these clones in Aire-deficient versus wild-type hosts and found that this model clone could escape thymic negative selection in the absence of thymic Aire. Together, these results suggest that thymic expression of insulin plays a key role in trimming and removing high-affinity insulin-specific T cells from the repertoire to help promote tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Smith
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Benjamin T. K. Yuen
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Whitney Purtha
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jared M. Balolong
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jonah D. Phipps
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Frances Crawford
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO80206
| | - Jeffrey A. Bluestone
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - John W. Kappler
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO80206
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
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2
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Obarorakpor N, Patel D, Boyarov R, Amarsaikhan N, Cepeda JR, Eastes D, Robertson S, Johnson T, Yang K, Tang Q, Zhang L. Regulatory T cells targeting a pathogenic MHC class II: Insulin peptide epitope postpone spontaneous autoimmune diabetes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1207108. [PMID: 37593744 PMCID: PMC10428008 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1207108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In spontaneous type 1 diabetes (T1D) non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, the insulin B chain peptide 9-23 (B:9-23) can bind to the MHC class II molecule (IAg7) in register 3 (R3), creating a bimolecular IAg7/InsulinB:9-23 register 3 conformational epitope (InsB:R3). Previously, we showed that the InsB:R3-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), constructed using an InsB:R3-monoclonal antibody, could guide CAR-expressing CD8 T cells to migrate to the islets and pancreatic lymph nodes. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) specific for an islet antigen can broadly suppress various pathogenic immune cells in the islets and effectively halt the progression of islet destruction. Therefore, we hypothesized that InsB:R3 specific Tregs would suppress autoimmune reactivity in islets and efficiently protect against T1D. Methods To test our hypothesis, we produced InsB:R3-Tregs and tested their disease-protective effects in spontaneous T1D NOD.CD28-/- mice. Results InsB:R3-CAR expressing Tregs secrete IL-10 dominated cytokines upon engagement with InsB:R3 antigens. A single infusion of InsB:R3 Tregs delayed the onset of T1D in 95% of treated mice, with 35% maintaining euglycemia for two healthy lifespans, readily home to the relevant target whereas control Tregs did not. Our data demonstrate that Tregs specific for MHC class II: Insulin peptide epitope (MHCII/Insulin) protect mice against T1D more efficiently than polyclonal Tregs lacking islet antigen specificity, suggesting that the MHC II/insulin-specific Treg approach is a promising immune therapy for safely preventing T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyerhovwo Obarorakpor
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Deep Patel
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Reni Boyarov
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Nansalmaa Amarsaikhan
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Joseph Ray Cepeda
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Doreen Eastes
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Sylvia Robertson
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Travis Johnson
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Experimental and Developmental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Kai Yang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- School of Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Gladstone Institute of Genomic Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Li Zhang
- Diabetes Center, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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3
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Spanier JA, Fung V, Wardell CM, Alkhatib MH, Chen Y, Swanson LA, Dwyer AJ, Weno ME, Silva N, Mitchell JS, Orban PC, Mojibian M, Verchere CB, Fife BT, Levings MK. Insulin B peptide-MHC class II-specific chimeric antigen receptor-Tregs prevent autoimmune diabetes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.23.529737. [PMID: 36865264 PMCID: PMC9980092 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.23.529737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy with Tregs is a promising approach for prevention or treatment of type 1 diabetes. Islet antigen-specific Tregs have more potent therapeutic effects than polyclonal cells, but their low frequency is a barrier for clinical application. To generate Tregs that recognize islet antigens, we engineered a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) derived from a monoclonal antibody with specificity for the insulin B-chain 10-23 peptide presented in the context of the IA g7 MHC class II allele present in NOD mice. Peptide specificity of the resulting InsB-g7 CAR was confirmed by tetramer staining and T cell proliferation in response to recombinant or islet-derived peptide. The InsB-g7 CAR re-directed NOD Treg specificity such that insulin B 10-23-peptide stimulation enhanced suppressive function, measured via reduction of proliferation and IL-2 production by BDC2.5 T cells and CD80 and CD86 expression on dendritic cells. Co-transfer of InsB-g7 CAR Tregs prevented adoptive transfer diabetes by BDC2.5 T cells in immunodeficient NOD mice. In wild type NOD mice, InsB-g7 CAR Tregs stably expressed Foxp3 and prevented spontaneous diabetes. These results show that engineering Treg specificity for islet antigens using a T cell receptor-like CAR is a promising new therapeutic approach for the prevention of autoimmune diabetes. Brief Summary Chimeric antigen receptor Tregs specific for an insulin B-chain peptide presented by MHC class II prevent autoimmune diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A. Spanier
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Vivian Fung
- Dept of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christine M. Wardell
- Dept of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohannad H. Alkhatib
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Yixin Chen
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Linnea A. Swanson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander J. Dwyer
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Matthew E. Weno
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nubia Silva
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jason S. Mitchell
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Paul C. Orban
- Dept of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Majid Mojibian
- Dept of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - C. Bruce Verchere
- Dept of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brian T. Fife
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Megan K. Levings
- Dept of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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4
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Ishina IA, Zakharova MY, Kurbatskaia IN, Mamedov AE, Belogurov AA, Gabibov AG. MHC Class II Presentation in Autoimmunity. Cells 2023; 12:314. [PMID: 36672249 PMCID: PMC9856717 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules is crucial for eliciting an efficient immune response by CD4+ T cells and maintaining self-antigen tolerance. Some MHC-II alleles are known to be positively or negatively associated with the risk of the development of different autoimmune diseases (ADs), including those characterized by the emergence of autoreactive T cells. Apparently, the MHC-II presentation of self-antigens contributes to the autoimmune T cell response, initiated through a breakdown of central tolerance to self-antigens in the thymus. The appearance of autoreactive T cell might be the result of (i) the unusual interaction between T cell receptors (TCRs) and self-antigens presented on MHC-II; (ii) the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of self-antigens; (iii) direct loading of the self-antigen to classical MHC-II without additional nonclassical MHC assistance; (iv) the proinflammatory environment effect on MHC-II expression and antigen presentation; and (v) molecular mimicry between foreign and self-antigens. The peculiarities of the processes involved in the MHC-II-mediated presentation may have crucial importance in the elucidation of the mechanisms of triggering and developing ADs as well as for clarification on the protective effect of MHC-II alleles that are negatively associated with ADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina A. Ishina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Y. Zakharova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Inna N. Kurbatskaia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Azad E. Mamedov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A. Belogurov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, 127473 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander G. Gabibov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Life Sciences, Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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5
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Li W, Zhang Y, Li R, Wang Y, Chen L, Dai S. A Novel Tolerogenic Antibody Targeting Disulfide-Modified Autoantigen Effectively Prevents Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:877022. [PMID: 36032077 PMCID: PMC9406144 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.877022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggested that the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is an essential autoantigen in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in humans and non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. A unique disulfide containing IAPP-derived peptide KS20 is one of the highly diabetogenic peptides in NOD mice. The KS20-reactive T cells, including prototypic pathogenic BDC5.2.9, accumulate in the pancreas of prediabetic and diabetic mice and contribute to disease development. We generated a monoclonal antibody (LD96.24) that interacts with IAg7-KS20 complexes with high affinity and specificity. LD96.24 recognized the IAg7-KS20 disulfide loop and blocked the interaction between IAg7-KS20 tetramers and cognate T cells but not other autoantigen-reactive T cells. The in vivo LD96.24 studies, at either early or late stages, drastically induced tolerance and delayed the onset of T1D disease in NOD mice by reducing the infiltration of not only IAPP-specific T cells but also chromogranin A and insulin-specific T cells in the pancreas, together with B cells and dendritic cells. LD96.24 can also significantly increase the ratio of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with Interferon-gamma-secreting effector T cells. Our data suggested the important role of disulfide-modified peptides in the development of T1D. Targeting the complexes of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/disulfide modified antigens would influence the thiol redox balance and could be a novel immunotherapy for T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immune-Related Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Ronghui Li
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immune-Related Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Lan Chen
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Shaodong Dai
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- *Correspondence: Shaodong Dai,
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6
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Wenzlau JM, DiLisio JE, Barbour G, Dang M, Hohenstein AC, Nakayama M, Delong T, Baker RL, Haskins K. Insulin B-chain hybrid peptides are agonists for T cells reactive to insulin B:9-23 in autoimmune diabetes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926650. [PMID: 36032090 PMCID: PMC9399855 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin is considered to be a key antigenic target of T cells in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse with particular focus on the B-chain amino acid sequence B:9-23 as the primary epitope. Our lab previously discovered that hybrid insulin peptides (HIPs), comprised of insulin C-peptide fragments fused to other β-cell granule peptides, are ligands for several pathogenic CD4 T cell clones derived from NOD mice and for autoreactive CD4 T cells from T1D patients. A subset of CD4 T cell clones from our panel react to insulin and B:9-23 but only at high concentrations of antigen. We hypothesized that HIPs might also be formed from insulin B-chain sequences covalently bound to other endogenously cleaved ß-cell proteins. We report here on the identification of a B-chain HIP, termed the 6.3HIP, containing a fragment of B:9-23 joined to an endogenously processed peptide of ProSAAS, as a strong neo-epitope for the insulin-reactive CD4 T cell clone BDC-6.3. Using an I-Ag7 tetramer loaded with the 6.3HIP, we demonstrate that T cells reactive to this B-chain HIP can be readily detected in NOD mouse islet infiltrates. This work suggests that some portion of autoreactive T cells stimulated by insulin B:9-23 may be responding to B-chain HIPs as peptide ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M. Wenzlau
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - James E. DiLisio
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Gene Barbour
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Mylinh Dang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Anita C. Hohenstein
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Maki Nakayama
- Department of Pediatrics-Barbara Davis Center, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Thomas Delong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Rocky L. Baker
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kathryn Haskins
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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7
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Krovi SH, Kuchroo VK. Activation pathways that drive CD4 + T cells to break tolerance in autoimmune diseases . Immunol Rev 2022; 307:161-190. [PMID: 35142369 PMCID: PMC9255211 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by dysfunctional immune systems that misrecognize self as non-self and cause tissue destruction. Several cell types have been implicated in triggering and sustaining disease. Due to a strong association of major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) proteins with various autoimmune diseases, CD4+ T lymphocytes have been thoroughly investigated for their roles in dictating disease course. CD4+ T cell activation is a coordinated process that requires three distinct signals: Signal 1, which is mediated by antigen recognition on MHC-II molecules; Signal 2, which boosts signal 1 in a costimulatory manner; and Signal 3, which helps to differentiate the activated cells into functionally relevant subsets. These signals are disrupted during autoimmunity and prompt CD4+ T cells to break tolerance. Herein, we review our current understanding of how each of the three signals plays a role in three different autoimmune diseases and highlight the genetic polymorphisms that predispose individuals to autoimmunity. We also discuss the drawbacks of existing therapies and how they can be addressed to achieve lasting tolerance in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Harsha Krovi
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vijay K Kuchroo
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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8
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Nakayama M, Michels AW. Using the T Cell Receptor as a Biomarker in Type 1 Diabetes. Front Immunol 2021; 12:777788. [PMID: 34868047 PMCID: PMC8635517 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.777788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptors (TCRs) are unique markers that define antigen specificity for a given T cell. With the evolution of sequencing and computational analysis technologies, TCRs are now prime candidates for the development of next-generation non-cell based T cell biomarkers, which provide a surrogate measure to assess the presence of antigen-specific T cells. Type 1 diabetes (T1D), the immune-mediated form of diabetes, is a prototypical organ specific autoimmune disease in which T cells play a pivotal role in targeting pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells. While the disease is now predictable by measuring autoantibodies in the peripheral blood directed to beta cell proteins, there is an urgent need to develop T cell markers that recapitulate T cell activity in the pancreas and can be a measure of disease activity. This review focuses on the potential and challenges of developing TCR biomarkers for T1D. We summarize current knowledge about TCR repertoires and clonotypes specific for T1D and discuss challenges that are unique for autoimmune diabetes. Ultimately, the integration of large TCR datasets produced from individuals with and without T1D along with computational 'big data' analysis will facilitate the development of TCRs as potentially powerful biomarkers in the development of T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Nakayama
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Aaron W Michels
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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9
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Bell DR, Domeniconi G, Yang CC, Zhou R, Zhang L, Cong G. Dynamics-Based Peptide-MHC Binding Optimization by a Convolutional Variational Autoencoder: A Use-Case Model for CASTELO. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:7962-7971. [PMID: 34793168 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
An unsolved challenge in the development of antigen-specific immunotherapies is determining the optimal antigens to target. Comprehension of antigen-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding is paramount toward achieving this goal. Here, we apply CASTELO, a combined machine learning-molecular dynamics (ML-MD) approach, to identify per-residue antigen binding contributions and then design novel antigens of increased MHC-II binding affinity for a type 1 diabetes-implicated system. We build upon a small-molecule lead optimization algorithm by training a convolutional variational autoencoder (CVAE) on MD trajectories of 48 different systems across four antigens and four HLA serotypes. We develop several new machine learning metrics including a structure-based anchor residue classification model as well as cluster comparison scores. ML-MD predictions agree well with experimental binding results and free energy perturbation-predicted binding affinities. Moreover, ML-MD metrics are independent of traditional MD stability metrics such as contact area and root-mean-square fluctuations (RMSF), which do not reflect binding affinity data. Our work supports the role of structure-based deep learning techniques in antigen-specific immunotherapy design.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Bell
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States.,Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Giacomo Domeniconi
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - Chih-Chieh Yang
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - Ruhong Zhou
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States.,Zhejiang University, 688 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Leili Zhang
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - Guojing Cong
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States.,Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
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10
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Li M, Itoh A, Xi J, Yu C, Wu Y, Ridgway WM, Liu H. Enhancing Antigen Presentation and Inducing Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance with Amphiphilic Peptides. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2051-2059. [PMID: 34526376 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ag-specific immunotherapy to restore immune tolerance to self-antigens, without global immune suppression, is a long-standing goal in the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, vaccination with autoantigens such as insulin or glutamic acid decarboxylase have largely failed in human T1D trials. Induction and maintenance of peripheral tolerance by vaccination requires efficient autoantigen presentation by APCs. In this study, we show that a lipophilic modification at the N-terminal end of CD4+ epitopes (lipo-peptides) dramatically improves peptide Ag presentation. We designed amphiphilic lipo-peptides to efficiently target APCs in the lymph nodes by binding and trafficking with endogenous albumin. Additionally, we show that lipophilic modification anchors the peptide into the membranes of APCs, enabling a bivalent cell-surface Ag presentation. The s.c. injected lipo-peptide accumulates in the APCs in the lymph node, enhances the potency and duration of peptide Ag presentation by APCs, and induces Ag-specific immune tolerance that controls both T cell- and B cell-mediated immunity. Immunization with an amphiphilic insulin B chain 9-23 peptide, an immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitope in NOD mice, significantly suppresses the activation of T cells, increases inhibitory cytokine production, induces regulatory T cells, and delays the onset and lowers the incidence of T1D. Importantly, treatment with a lipophilic β-cell peptide mixture delays progression to end-stage diabetes in acutely diabetic NOD mice, whereas the same doses of standard soluble peptides were not effective. Amphiphilic modification effectively enhances Ag presentation for peptide-based immune regulation of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Arata Itoh
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Jingchao Xi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Chunsong Yu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Yuehong Wu
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - William M Ridgway
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Haipeng Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; .,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; and.,Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
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11
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Reed B, Crawford F, Hill RC, Jin N, White J, Krovi SH, Marrack P, Hansen K, Kappler JW. Lysosomal cathepsin creates chimeric epitopes for diabetogenic CD4 T cells via transpeptidation. J Exp Med 2021; 218:211485. [PMID: 33095259 PMCID: PMC7590512 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20192135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of the peptide epitopes presented by major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) molecules that drive the CD4 T cell component of autoimmune diseases has presented a formidable challenge over several decades. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), recent insight into this problem has come from the realization that several of the important epitopes are not directly processed from a protein source, but rather pieced together by fusion of different peptide fragments of secretory granule proteins to create new chimeric epitopes. We have proposed that this fusion is performed by a reverse proteolysis reaction called transpeptidation, occurring during the catabolic turnover of pancreatic proteins when secretory granules fuse with lysosomes (crinophagy). Here, we demonstrate several highly antigenic chimeric epitopes for diabetogenic CD4 T cells that are produced by digestion of the appropriate inactive fragments of the granule proteins with the lysosomal protease cathepsin L (Cat-L). This pathway has implications for how self-tolerance can be broken peripherally in T1D and other autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Reed
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.,Research Division, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Frances Crawford
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Ryan C Hill
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Niyun Jin
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.,Research Division, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Janice White
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - S Harsha Krovi
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Philippa Marrack
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.,Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Kirk Hansen
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - John W Kappler
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.,Research Division, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.,Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
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12
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T Cell Receptor Genotype and Ubash3a Determine Susceptibility to Rat Autoimmune Diabetes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12060852. [PMID: 34205929 PMCID: PMC8227067 DOI: 10.3390/genes12060852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic analyses of human type 1 diabetes (T1D) have yet to reveal a complete pathophysiologic mechanism. Inbred rats with a high-risk class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype (RT1B/Du) can illuminate such mechanisms. Using T1D-susceptible LEW.1WR1 rats that express RT1B/Du and a susceptible allele of the Ubd promoter, we demonstrate that germline knockout of Tcrb-V13S1A1, which encodes the Vβ13a T cell receptor β chain, completely prevents diabetes. Using the RT1B/Du-identical LEW.1W rat, which does not develop T1D despite also having the same Tcrb-V13S1A1 β chain gene but a different allele at the Ubd locus, we show that knockout of the Ubash3a regulatory gene renders these resistant rats relatively susceptible to diabetes. In silico structural modeling of the susceptible allele of the Vβ13a TCR and its class II RT1u ligand suggests a mechanism by which a germline TCR β chain gene could promote susceptibility to T1D in the absence of downstream immunoregulation like that provided by UBASH3A. Together these data demonstrate the critical contribution of the Vβ13a TCR to the autoimmune synapse in T1D and the regulation of the response by UBASH3A. These experiments dissect the mechanisms by which MHC class II heterodimers, TCR and regulatory element interact to induce autoimmunity.
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13
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Reed BK, Kappler JW. Hidden in Plain View: Discovery of Chimeric Diabetogenic CD4 T Cell Neo-Epitopes. Front Immunol 2021; 12:669986. [PMID: 33986758 PMCID: PMC8111216 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.669986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The T cell antigens driving autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) have been pursued for more than three decades. When diabetogenic CD4 T cell clones and their relevant MHCII antigen presenting alleles were first identified in rodents and humans, the path to discovering the peptide epitopes within pancreatic beta cell proteins seemed straightforward. However, as experimental results accumulated, definitive data were often absent or controversial. Work within the last decade has helped to clear up some of the controversy by demonstrating that a number of the important MHCII presented epitopes are not encoded in the natural beta cell proteins, but in fact are fusions between peptide fragments derived from the same or different proteins. Recently, the mechanism for generating these MHCII diabetogenic chimeric epitopes has been attributed to a form of reverse proteolysis, called transpeptidation, a process that has been well-documented in the production of MHCI presented epitopes. In this mini-review we summarize these data and their implications for T1D and other autoimmune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan K Reed
- Research Division, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - John W Kappler
- Research Division, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.,Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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14
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Felton JL, Conway H, Bonami RH. B Quiet: Autoantigen-Specific Strategies to Silence Raucous B Lymphocytes and Halt Cross-Talk with T Cells in Type 1 Diabetes. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9010042. [PMID: 33418839 PMCID: PMC7824835 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Islet autoantibodies are the primary biomarkers used to predict type 1 diabetes (T1D) disease risk. They signal immune tolerance breach by islet autoantigen-specific B lymphocytes. T-B lymphocyte interactions that lead to expansion of pathogenic T cells underlie T1D development. Promising strategies to broadly prevent this T-B crosstalk include T cell elimination (anti-CD3, teplizumab), B cell elimination (anti-CD20, rituximab), and disruption of T cell costimulation/activation (CTLA-4/Fc fusion, abatacept). However, global disruption or depletion of immune cell subsets is associated with significant risk, particularly in children. Therefore, antigen-specific therapy is an area of active investigation for T1D prevention. We provide an overview of strategies to eliminate antigen-specific B lymphocytes as a means to limit pathogenic T cell expansion to prevent beta cell attack in T1D. Such approaches could be used to prevent T1D in at-risk individuals. Patients with established T1D would also benefit from such targeted therapies if endogenous beta cell function can be recovered or islet transplant becomes clinically feasible for T1D treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Felton
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (J.L.F.); (H.C.)
| | - Holly Conway
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (J.L.F.); (H.C.)
| | - Rachel H. Bonami
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Correspondence:
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15
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Cepeda JR, Sekhar NS, Han J, Xiong W, Zhang N, Yu L, Dai S, Davidson HW, Kappler JW, An Z, Zhang L. A monoclonal antibody with broad specificity for the ligands of insulin B:9-23 reactive T cells prevents spontaneous type 1 diabetes in mice. MAbs 2020; 12:1836714. [PMID: 33151102 PMCID: PMC7668530 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2020.1836714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of T cells specific for insulin B chain amino acids 9 to 23 (B:9–23) is essential for the initiation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in non-obese diabetic mice. We previously reported that peptide/MHC complexes containing optimized B:9–23 mimotopes can activate most insulin-reactive pathogenic T cells. A monoclonal antibody (mAb287) targeting these complexes prevented disease in 30–50% of treated animals (compared to 10% of animals given an isotype control). The incomplete protection is likely due to the relatively low affinity of the antibody for its ligand and limited specificity. Here, we report an enhanced reagent, mAb757, with improved specificity, affinity, and efficacy in modulating T1D. Importantly, mAb757 bound with nanomolar affinity to agonists of both “type A” and “type B” cells and suppressed “type B” cells more efficiently than mAb287. When given weekly starting at 4 weeks of age, mAb757 protected ~70% of treated mice from developing T1D for at least 35 weeks, while mAb287 only delayed disease in 25% of animals under the same conditions. Consistent with its higher affinity, mAb757 was also able to stain antigen-presenting cells loaded with B:9–23 mimotopes in vivo. We conclude that monoclonal antibodies that can block the presentation of pathogenic T cell receptor epitopes are viable candidates for antigen-specific immunotherapy for T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ray Cepeda
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nitin S Sekhar
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Junying Han
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wei Xiong
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ningyan Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Liping Yu
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver , Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Shaodong Dai
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver , Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Howard W Davidson
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver , Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - John W Kappler
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health , Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA
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16
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Ihantola EL, Ilmonen H, Kailaanmäki A, Rytkönen-Nissinen M, Azam A, Maillère B, Lindestam Arlehamn CS, Sette A, Motwani K, Seay HR, Brusko TM, Knip M, Veijola R, Toppari J, Ilonen J, Kinnunen T. Characterization of Proinsulin T Cell Epitopes Restricted by Type 1 Diabetes-Associated HLA Class II Molecules. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:2349-2359. [PMID: 32229538 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing β cells within the pancreas are destroyed. Identification of target Ags and epitopes of the β cell-reactive T cells is important both for understanding T1D pathogenesis and for the rational development of Ag-specific immunotherapies for the disease. Several studies suggest that proinsulin is an early and integral target autoantigen in T1D. However, proinsulin epitopes recognized by human CD4+ T cells have not been comprehensively characterized. Using a dye dilution-based T cell cloning method, we generated and characterized 24 unique proinsulin-specific CD4+ T cell clones from the peripheral blood of 17 individuals who carry the high-risk DR3-DQ2 and/or DR4-DQ8 HLA class II haplotypes. Some of the clones recognized previously reported DR4-restricted epitopes within the C-peptide (C25-35) or A-chain (A1-15) of proinsulin. However, we also characterized DR3-restricted epitopes within both the B-chain (B16-27 and B22-C3) and C-peptide (C25-35). Moreover, we identified DQ2-restricted epitopes within the B-chain and several DQ2- or DQ8-restricted epitopes within the C-terminal region of C-peptide that partially overlap with previously reported DQ-restricted epitopes. Two of the DQ2-restricted epitopes, B18-26 and C22-33, were shown to be naturally processed from whole human proinsulin. Finally, we observed a higher frequency of CDR3 sequences matching the TCR sequences of the proinsulin-specific T cell clones in pancreatic lymph node samples compared with spleen samples. In conclusion, we confirmed several previously reported epitopes but also identified novel (to our knowledge) epitopes within proinsulin, which are presented by HLA class II molecules associated with T1D risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmi-Leena Ihantola
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Henna Ilmonen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anssi Kailaanmäki
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marja Rytkönen-Nissinen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Aurélien Azam
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Bernard Maillère
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | | | - Alessandro Sette
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Keshav Motwani
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida Diabetes Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Howard R Seay
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida Diabetes Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Todd M Brusko
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida Diabetes Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, College of Medicine Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Mikael Knip
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University Hospital, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.,Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.,Folkhälsan Research Center, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riitta Veijola
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, FI-20521 Turku, Finland.,Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Jorma Ilonen
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.,Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, FI-20521 Turku, Finland; and
| | - Tuure Kinnunen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland; .,Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre (ISLAB), FI-70210 Kuopio, Finland
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17
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Abdelsamed HA, Zebley CC, Nguyen H, Rutishauser RL, Fan Y, Ghoneim HE, Crawford JC, Alfei F, Alli S, Ribeiro SP, Castellaw AH, McGargill MA, Jin H, Boi SK, Speake C, Serti E, Turka LA, Busch ME, Stone M, Deeks SG, Sekaly RP, Zehn D, James EA, Nepom GT, Youngblood B. Beta cell-specific CD8 + T cells maintain stem cell memory-associated epigenetic programs during type 1 diabetes. Nat Immunol 2020; 21:578-587. [PMID: 32231298 PMCID: PMC7183435 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0633-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The pool of beta cell-specific CD8+ T-cells in type 1 diabetes (T1D) sustains an autoreactive potential despite having access to a constant source of antigen. To investigate the long-lived nature of these cells, we established a DNA methylation-based T cell “multipotency index” and found that beta cell-specific CD8+ T-cells retained a stem-like epigenetic multipotency score. Single cell ATAC-seq analysis confirmed the co-existence of naive and effector-associated epigenetic programs in individual beta cell-specific CD8+ T-cells. Assessment of beta cell-specific CD8+ T-cell anatomical distribution and the establishment of stem-associated epigenetic programs revealed that self-reactive CD8+ T-cells isolated from murine lymphoid tissue retained developmentally plastic phenotypic and epigenetic profiles relative to the same cells isolated from the pancreas. Collectively, these data provide new insight into the longevity of beta cell-specific CD8+ T cell responses, and document the utility of this novel methylation-based multipotency index for investigating human and mouse CD8+ T-cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam A Abdelsamed
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Caitlin C Zebley
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hai Nguyen
- Translational Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel L Rutishauser
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hazem E Ghoneim
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Francesca Alfei
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Shanta Alli
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Ashley H Castellaw
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Maureen A McGargill
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongjian Jin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shannon K Boi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Cate Speake
- Diabetes Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Laurence A Turka
- Immune Tolerance Network, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Center for Translational Sciences, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Mars Stone
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven G Deeks
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Dietmar Zehn
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Eddie A James
- Translational Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gerald T Nepom
- Translational Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Immune Tolerance Network, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ben Youngblood
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA. .,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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18
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Davidson HW, Zhang L. Immune therapies for autoimmune diabetes targeting pathogenic peptide-MHC complexes. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 12:759-763. [PMID: 32663282 PMCID: PMC7816664 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Howard W Davidson
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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19
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Gioia L, Holt M, Costanzo A, Sharma S, Abe B, Kain L, Nakayama M, Wan X, Su A, Mathews C, Chen YG, Unanue E, Teyton L. Position β57 of I-A g7 controls early anti-insulin responses in NOD mice, linking an MHC susceptibility allele to type 1 diabetes onset. Sci Immunol 2019; 4:eaaw6329. [PMID: 31471352 PMCID: PMC6816460 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aaw6329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The class II region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus is the main contributor to the genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D). The loss of an aspartic acid at position 57 of diabetogenic HLA-DQβ chains supports this association; this single amino acid change influences how TCRs recognize peptides in the context of HLA-DQ8 and I-Ag7 using a mechanism termed the P9 switch. Here, we built register-specific insulin peptide MHC tetramers to examine CD4+ T cell responses to Ins12-20 and Ins13-21 peptides during the early prediabetic phase of disease in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. A single-cell analysis of anti-insulin CD4+ T cells performed in 6- and 12-week-old NOD mice revealed tissue-specific gene expression signatures. TCR signaling and clonal expansion were found only in the islets of Langerhans and produced either classical TH1 differentiation or an unusual Treg phenotype, independent of TCR usage. The early phase of the anti-insulin response was dominated by T cells specific for Ins12-20, the register that supports a P9 switch mode of recognition. The presence of the P9 switch was demonstrated by TCR sequencing, reexpression, mutagenesis, and functional testing of TCRαβ pairs in vitro. Genetic correction of the I-Aβ57 mutation in NOD mice resulted in the disappearance of D/E residues in the CDR3β of anti-Ins12-20 T cells. These results provide a mechanistic molecular explanation that links the characteristic MHC class II polymorphism of T1D with the recognition of islet autoantigens and disease onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Gioia
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Marie Holt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Anne Costanzo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Siddhartha Sharma
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Brian Abe
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lisa Kain
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Maki Nakayama
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80045, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Wan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Andrew Su
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Clayton Mathews
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Yi-Guang Chen
- University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Emil Unanue
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Luc Teyton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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20
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Cheloha RW, Woodham AW, Bousbaine D, Wang T, Liu S, Sidney J, Sette A, Gellman SH, Ploegh HL. Recognition of Class II MHC Peptide Ligands That Contain β-Amino Acids. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:1619-1628. [PMID: 31391235 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Proteins are composed of α-amino acid residues. This consistency in backbone structure likely serves an important role in the display of an enormous diversity of peptides by class II MHC (MHC-II) products, which make contacts with main chain atoms of their peptide cargo. Peptides that contain residues with an extra carbon in the backbone (derived from β-amino acids) have biological properties that differ starkly from those of their conventional counterparts. How changes in the structure of the peptide backbone affect the loading of peptides onto MHC-II or recognition of the resulting complexes by TCRs has not been widely explored. We prepared a library of analogues of MHC-II-binding peptides derived from OVA, in which at least one α-amino acid residue was replaced with a homologous β-amino acid residue. The latter contain an extra methylene unit in the peptide backbone but retain the original side chain. We show that several of these α/β-peptides retain the ability to bind tightly to MHC-II, activate TCR signaling, and induce responses from T cells in mice. One α/β-peptide exhibited enhanced stability in the presence of an endosomal protease relative to the index peptide. Conjugation of this backbone-modified peptide to a camelid single-domain Ab fragment specific for MHC-II enhanced its biological activity. Our results suggest that backbone modification offers a method to modulate MHC binding and selectivity, T cell stimulatory capacity, and susceptibility to processing by proteases such as those found within endosomes where Ag processing occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Andrew W Woodham
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Djenet Bousbaine
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Shi Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - John Sidney
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037; and
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037; and.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161
| | - Samuel H Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706;
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115;
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21
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Unanue ER, Wan X. The Immunoreactive Platform of the Pancreatic Islets Influences the Development of Autoreactivity. Diabetes 2019; 68:1544-1551. [PMID: 31331989 PMCID: PMC6692819 DOI: 10.2337/dbi18-0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Tissue homeostasis is maintained through a finely tuned balance between the immune system and the organ-resident cells. Disruption of this process not only results in organ dysfunction but also may trigger detrimental autoimmune responses. The islet of Langerhans consists of the insulin-producing β-cells essential for proper control of body metabolism, but less appreciated is that these cells naturally interact with the immune system, forming a platform by which the β-cell products are sensed, processed, and responded to by the local immune cells, particularly the islet-resident macrophages. Although its physiological outcomes are not completely understood, this immunoreactive platform is crucial for precipitating islet autoreactivity in individuals carrying genetic risks, leading to the development of type 1 diabetes. In this Perspective, we summarize recent studies that examine the cross talk between the β-cells and various immune components, with a primary focus on discussing how antigenic information generated during normal β-cell catabolism can be delivered to the resident macrophage and further recognized by the adaptive CD4 T-cell system, a critical step to initiate autoimmune diabetes. The core nature of the islet immune platform can be extrapolated to other endocrine tissues and may represent a common mechanism underlying the development of autoimmune syndromes influencing multiple endocrine organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil R Unanue
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Xiaoxiao Wan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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22
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Martinov T, Swanson LA, Breed ER, Tucker CG, Dwyer AJ, Johnson JK, Mitchell JS, Sahli NL, Wilson JC, Singh LM, Hogquist KA, Spanier JA, Fife BT. Programmed Death-1 Restrains the Germinal Center in Type 1 Diabetes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:844-852. [PMID: 31324724 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibits T and B cell function upon ligand binding. PD-1 blockade revolutionized cancer treatment, and although numerous patients respond, some develop autoimmune-like symptoms or overt autoimmunity characterized by autoantibody production. PD-1 inhibition accelerates autoimmunity in mice, but its role in regulating germinal centers (GC) is controversial. To address the role of PD-1 in the GC reaction in type 1 diabetes, we used tetramers to phenotype insulin-specific CD4+ T and B cells in NOD mice. PD-1 or PD-L1 deficiency, and PD-1 but not PD-L2 blockade, unleashed insulin-specific T follicular helper CD4+ T cells and enhanced their survival. This was concomitant with an increase in GC B cells and augmented insulin autoantibody production. The effect of PD-1 blockade on the GC was reduced when mice were treated with a mAb targeting the insulin peptide:MHC class II complex. This work provides an explanation for autoimmune side effects following PD-1 pathway inhibition and suggests that targeting the self-peptide:MHC class II complex might limit autoimmunity arising from checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Martinov
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Linnea A Swanson
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Elise R Breed
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Christopher G Tucker
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Alexander J Dwyer
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Jenna K Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Jason S Mitchell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Nathanael L Sahli
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Joseph C Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Lovejot M Singh
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Justin A Spanier
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Brian T Fife
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
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23
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Chaperones may cause the focus of diabetes autoimmunity on distinct (pro)insulin peptides. J Autoimmun 2019; 105:102304. [PMID: 31327552 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2019.102304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
It is still an enigma why T cell autoreactivity in type 1 diabetes targets few beta cell antigens only. Among these, one primary autoantigen is pro(insulin). Autoimmune T cells preferentially recognise three epitopes on the proinsulin molecule, of which the peptide region B:11-23 is the dominant one. Interestingly, the three regions superimpose with binding sites of the chaperone hsp70, the region B:11-23 being the strongest binding one. Absence of an intact core region B:15-17 prevents autoimmune diabetes in NOD as well as binding of hsp70. A role of hsp70 in selecting autoimmune epitopes is supported by the ability of this and other chaperones to deliver bound peptides to MHC class I and II molecules for efficient antigen presentation. Binding of hsp70 to receptors on antigen presenting cells such as TLR4 results in costimulatory signals for T cell activation. Strongest effects are seen for the mixture of hsp70 with the peptide B:11-23. Thus, hsp70 may assist in proinsulin epitope selection and efficient presentation to autoreactive T cells. The concept of chaperone guided immune reactivity may also apply to other autoimmune diseases.
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24
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Wang Y, Sosinowski T, Novikov A, Crawford F, White J, Jin N, Liu Z, Zou J, Neau D, Davidson HW, Nakayama M, Kwok WW, Gapin L, Marrack P, Kappler JW, Dai S. How C-terminal additions to insulin B-chain fragments create superagonists for T cells in mouse and human type 1 diabetes. Sci Immunol 2019; 4:eaav7517. [PMID: 30952805 PMCID: PMC6929690 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aav7517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In type 1 diabetes (T1D), proinsulin is a major autoantigen and the insulin B:9-23 peptide contains epitopes for CD4+ T cells in both mice and humans. This peptide requires carboxyl-terminal mutations for uniform binding in the proper position within the mouse IAg7 or human DQ8 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (MHCII) peptide grooves and for strong CD4+ T cell stimulation. Here, we present crystal structures showing how these mutations control CD4+ T cell receptor (TCR) binding to these MHCII-peptide complexes. Our data reveal stricking similarities between mouse and human CD4+ TCRs in their interactions with these ligands. We also show how fusions between fragments of B:9-23 and of proinsulin C-peptide create chimeric peptides with activities as strong or stronger than the mutated insulin peptides. We propose transpeptidation in the lysosome as a mechanism that could accomplish these fusions in vivo, similar to the creation of fused peptide epitopes for MHCI presentation shown to occur by transpeptidation in the proteasome. Were this mechanism limited to the pancreas and absent in the thymus, it could provide an explanation for how diabetogenic T cells escape negative selection during development but find their modified target antigens in the pancreas to cause T1D.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence/genetics
- Animals
- Autoantigens/genetics
- Autoantigens/immunology
- Autoantigens/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/blood
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- HLA-DQ Antigens/immunology
- HLA-DQ Antigens/metabolism
- Humans
- Hybridomas
- Immune Tolerance
- Insulin/genetics
- Insulin/immunology
- Insulin/metabolism
- Lysosomes/immunology
- Lysosomes/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Mutation
- Pancreas/cytology
- Pancreas/immunology
- Pancreas/metabolism
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Thymus Gland/cytology
- Thymus Gland/immunology
- Thymus Gland/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Tomasz Sosinowski
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Andrey Novikov
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Frances Crawford
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Janice White
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Niyun Jin
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Zikou Liu
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Jinhao Zou
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - David Neau
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, NE-CAT, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Howard W Davidson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Maki Nakayama
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | | | - Laurent Gapin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Philippa Marrack
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - John W Kappler
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Structural Biology and Biochemistry program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Shaodong Dai
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Structural Biology and Biochemistry program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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25
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Wan X, Unanue ER. Antigen recognition in autoimmune diabetes: a novel pathway underlying disease initiation. PRECISION CLINICAL MEDICINE 2018; 1:102-110. [PMID: 30687564 PMCID: PMC6333048 DOI: 10.1093/pcmedi/pby015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of human autoimmune disorders results from complex interplay among genetic, environmental, and immunological risk factors. Despite much heterogeneity in environmental triggers, the leading genes that give the propensity for tissue-specific autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, are those associated with particular class II major histocompatibility complex alleles. Such genetic predisposition precipitates presentation of tissue antigens to MHC-II-restricted CD4 T cells. When properly activated, these self-reactive CD4 T cells migrate to the target tissue and trigger the initial immune attack. Using the non-obese diabetic mouse model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes, much insight has been gained in understanding how presentation of physiological levels of self-antigens translates into pathological outcomes. In this review, we summarize recent advances illustrating the features of the antigen presenting cells, the sites of the antigen recognition, and the nature of the consequent T cell responses. We emphasize emerging evidence that highlights the importance of systemic presentation of catabolized tissue antigens in mobilization of pathogenic T cells. The implication of these studies in therapeutic perspectives is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Wan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emil R Unanue
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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26
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Maruhashi T, Okazaki IM, Sugiura D, Takahashi S, Maeda TK, Shimizu K, Okazaki T. LAG-3 inhibits the activation of CD4 + T cells that recognize stable pMHCII through its conformation-dependent recognition of pMHCII. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:1415-1426. [PMID: 30349037 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0217-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The success of tumor immunotherapy targeting the inhibitory co-receptors PD-1 and CTLA-4 has indicated that many other co-receptors might be potential druggable targets, despite limited information about their functional differences. Here we identified a unique target selectivity for the inhibitory co-receptor LAG-3 that was intrinsic to its immunoregulatory roles. Although LAG-3 has been reported to recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, it did not recognize MHC class II universally; instead, we found that it selectively recognized stable complexes of peptide and MHC class II (pMHCII). LAG-3 did not directly interfere with interactions between the co-receptor CD4 and MHC class II or between the T cell antigen receptor and MHC class II. Instead, LAG-3 preferentially suppressed T cells responsive to stable pMHCII by transducing inhibitory signals via its intracellular region. Thus, LAG-3 might function more selectively than previously thought and thereby maintain tolerance to dominant autoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Maruhashi
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Il-Mi Okazaki
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sugiura
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Suzuka Takahashi
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Takeo K Maeda
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kenji Shimizu
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Taku Okazaki
- Division of Immune Regulation, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.
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27
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Common ground: shared risk factors for type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:685-695. [DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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28
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Sprouse ML, Scavuzzo MA, Blum S, Shevchenko I, Lee T, Makedonas G, Borowiak M, Bettini ML, Bettini M. High self-reactivity drives T-bet and potentiates Treg function in tissue-specific autoimmunity. JCI Insight 2018; 3:97322. [PMID: 29367462 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.97322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) affinity is a critical factor of Treg lineage commitment, but whether self-reactivity is a determining factor in peripheral Treg function remains unknown. Here, we report that a high degree of self-reactivity is crucial for tissue-specific Treg function in autoimmunity. Based on high expression of CD5, we identified a subset of self-reactive Tregs expressing elevated levels of T-bet, GITR, CTLA-4, and ICOS, which imparted significant protection from autoimmune diabetes. We observed that T-bet expression in Tregs, necessary for control of Th1 autoimmunity, could be induced in an IFNγ-independent fashion and, unlike in conventional T cells (Tconv), was strongly correlated with the strength of TCR signaling. The level of CD5 similarly identified human Tregs with an increased functional profile, suggesting that CD5hi Tregs may constitute an efficacious subpopulation appropriate for use in adoptive Treg therapies for treatment of inflammatory conditions. Overall, this work establishes an instrumental role of high TCR self-reactivity in driving Treg function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maran L Sprouse
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | | | - Samuel Blum
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | - Ivan Shevchenko
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | - Thomas Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | | | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, and.,McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology.,McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology.,McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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29
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C-terminal modification of the insulin B:11-23 peptide creates superagonists in mouse and human type 1 diabetes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 115:162-167. [PMID: 29255035 PMCID: PMC5776820 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1716527115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a target of CD4 T cells in type 1 diabetes in mice and humans. Why the major epitope in the insulin B chain is presented poorly to the diabetogenic CD4 T cells by the disease-associated major histocompatibility class II (MHCII) alleles has been highly debated. Here we present high-resolution mouse and human MHCII structures and T-cell functional data to show that C-terminal modifications of this epitope are required for binding and presentation in the appropriate position in the MHCII binding groove. These results suggest that pancreas-specific posttranslational modifications of this peptide may play a role in the induction of diabetes and explain how the pathogenic T cells escape deletion in the thymus. A polymorphism at β57 in some major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) alleles of rodents and humans is associated with a high risk for developing type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, a highly diabetogenic insulin B chain epitope within the B:9–23 peptide is presented poorly by these alleles to a variety of mouse and human CD4 T cells isolated from either nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice or humans with T1D. We have shown for both species that mutations at the C-terminal end of this epitope dramatically improve presentation to these T cells. Here we present the crystal structures of these mutated peptides bound to mouse IAg7 and human HLA-DQ8 that show how the mutations function to improve T-cell activation. In both peptide binding grooves, the mutation of B:22R to E in the peptide changes a highly unfavorable side chain for the p9 pocket to an optimal one that is dependent on the β57 polymorphism, accounting for why these peptides bind much better to these MHCIIs. Furthermore, a second mutation of the adjacent B:21 (E to G) removes a side chain from the surface of the complex that is highly unfavorable for a subset of NOD mouse CD4 cells, thereby greatly enhancing their response to the complex. These results point out the similarities between the mouse and human responses to this B chain epitope in T1D and suggest there may be common posttranslational modifications at the C terminus of the peptide in vivo to create the pathogenic epitopes in both species.
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30
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Grönholm J, Pagni PP, Pham MN, Gibson CB, Macomber PF, Vela JL, von Herrath M, Lenardo MJ. Metabolically inactive insulin analogue does not prevent autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. Diabetologia 2017; 60:1475-1482. [PMID: 28455654 PMCID: PMC5661969 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-017-4276-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Insulin is widely considered to be a driver antigen in type 1 diabetes in humans and in mouse models of the disease. Therefore, insulin or insulin analogues are candidates for tolerogenic drugs to prevent disease onset in individuals with risk of diabetes. Previous experiments have shown that autoimmune diabetes can be prevented in NOD mice by repeated doses of insulin administered via an oral, nasal or parenteral route, but clinical trials in humans have not succeeded. The hypoglycaemic activity of insulin is dose-limiting in clinical studies attempting tolerance and disease prevention. Here, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of metabolically inactive insulin analogue (MII) in NOD mice. METHODS The tolerogenic potential of MII to prevent autoimmune diabetes was studied by administering multiple i.v. or s.c. injections of MII to non-diabetic 7-12-week-old female NOD mice in three geographical colony locations. The incidence of diabetes was assessed from daily or weekly blood glucose measurements. The effect of MII on insulin autoantibody levels was studied using an electrochemiluminescence-based insulin autoantibody assay. The effect on the number of insulin-reactive CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral lymphoid tissue was studied with MHC class I and MHC class II tetramers, respectively. RESULTS We found that twice-weekly s.c. administration of MII accelerates rather than prevents diabetes. High-dose i.v. treatment did not prevent disease or affect insulin autoantibody levels, but it increased the amount of insulin-reactive CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral lymphoid tissue. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our data suggest that parenteral MII, even when used in high doses, has little or no therapeutic potential in NOD mice and may exacerbate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Grönholm
- Molecular Development of the Immune System Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Clinical Genomics Program, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 11D14, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Philippe P Pagni
- Novo Nordisk Type 1 Diabetes Center, Novo Nordisk Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Minh N Pham
- Novo Nordisk Type 1 Diabetes Center, Novo Nordisk Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claire B Gibson
- Novo Nordisk Type 1 Diabetes Center, Novo Nordisk Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - José Luis Vela
- Novo Nordisk Type 1 Diabetes Center, Novo Nordisk Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthias von Herrath
- Novo Nordisk Type 1 Diabetes Center, Novo Nordisk Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael J Lenardo
- Molecular Development of the Immune System Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Clinical Genomics Program, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 11D14, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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Unique features in the presentation of insulin epitopes in autoimmune diabetes: an update. Curr Opin Immunol 2017; 46:30-37. [PMID: 28456018 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Although an autoimmune disease involves diverse self-antigens, the initiation stage may require recognition of a limited number. This concept is verified in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of autoimmune diabetes, in which strong evidence points to insulin as the prime antigen. The NOD mouse bears the I-Ag7 class II-MHC molecules (MHCII) that share common biochemical features and peptidome selection with the human diabetes-susceptible HLA-DQ8. Furthermore, both NOD mice and patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) display an early appearance of insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) and subsequent insulin-reactive T cell infiltration into the islets. Therefore, a better understanding of insulin presentation is crucial for assessing disease pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize recent advances in insulin presentation events that underlie the essential role of this autoantigen in driving autoimmune diabetes.
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Sprouse ML, Blahnik G, Lee T, Tully N, Banerjee P, James EA, Redondo MJ, Bettini ML, Bettini M. Rapid identification and expression of human TCRs in retrogenic mice. J Immunol Methods 2016; 439:29-36. [PMID: 27589924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell paired TCR identification is a powerful tool, but has been limited in its previous incompatibility with further functional analysis. The current protocol describes a method to clone and functionally evaluate in vivo TCRs derived from single antigen-responsive human T cells and monoclonal T cell lines. We have improved upon current PCR-based TCR sequencing protocols by developing primers that allow amplification of human TCRα and TCRβ variable regions, while incorporating specific restriction cut sites for direct subcloning into the template retroviral vector. This streamlined approach for generating human:mouse chimeric TCR vectors allows for rapid TCR expression in humanized-retrogenic (hu-Rg) mice through retroviral mediated stem cell gene transfer. Using widely available techniques and equipment, this method is easily adaptable by most laboratories. This is the first TCR identification protocol that is efficiently combined with subsequent in vivo TCR expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maran L Sprouse
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Thomas Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Natalie Tully
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pinaki Banerjee
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eddie A James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria J Redondo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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Unanue ER, Ferris ST, Carrero JA. The role of islet antigen presenting cells and the presentation of insulin in the initiation of autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse. Immunol Rev 2016; 272:183-201. [PMID: 27319351 PMCID: PMC4938008 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We have been examining antigen presentation and the antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the islets of Langerhans of the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. The purpose is to identify the earliest events that initiate autoimmunity in this confined tissue. Islets normally have a population of macrophages that is distinct from those that inhabit the exocrine pancreas. Also found in NOD islets is a minor population of dendritic cells (DCs) that bear the CD103 integrin. We find close interactions between beta cells and the two APCs that result in the initiation of the autoimmunity. Even under non-inflammatory conditions, beta cells transfer insulin-containing vesicles to the APCs of the islet. This reaction requires live cells and intimate contact. The autoimmune process starts in islets with the entrance of CD4(+) T cells and an increase in the CD103(+) DCs. Mice deficient in the Batf3 transcription factor never develop diabetes due to the absence of the CD103/CD8α lineage of DCs. We hypothesize that the 12-20 peptide of the beta chain of insulin is responsible for activation of the initial CD4(+) T-cell response during diabetogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil R. Unanue
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Immunobiology, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8118, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri USA 63110
| | - Stephen T. Ferris
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Immunobiology, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8118, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri USA 63110
| | - Javier A. Carrero
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Division of Immunobiology, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8118, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri USA 63110
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Krishnamurthy B, Selck C, Chee J, Jhala G, Kay TWH. Analysis of antigen specific T cells in diabetes - Lessons from pre-clinical studies and early clinical trials. J Autoimmun 2016; 71:35-43. [PMID: 27083395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Antigen-specific immune tolerance promises to provide safe and effective therapies to prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D). Antigen-specific therapy requires two components: well-defined, clinically relevant autoantigens; and safe approaches to inducing tolerance in T cells specific for these antigens. Proinsulin is a critical autoantigen in both NOD mice, based on knockout mouse studies and induction of immune tolerance to proinsulin preventing disease whereas most antigens cannot, and also in human T1D based on proinsulin-specific T cells being found in the islets of affected individuals and the early appearance of insulin autoantibodies. Effective antigen-specific therapies that prevent T1D in humans have not yet been developed although doubt remains about the best molecular form of the antigen, the dose and the route of administration. Preclinical studies suggest that antigen specific therapy is most useful when administered before onset of autoimmunity but this time-window has not been tested in humans until the recent "pre-point" study. There may be a 'window of opportunity' during the neonatal period when 'vaccine' like administration of proinsulin for a short period may be sufficient to prevent diabetes. After the onset of autoimmunity, naive antigen-specific T cells have differentiated into antigen-experienced memory cells and the immune responses have spread to multiple antigens. Induction of tolerance at this stage becomes more difficult although recent studies have suggested generation of antigen-specific TR1 cells can inhibit memory T cells. Preclinical studies are required to identify additional 'help' that is required to induce tolerance to memory T cells and develop protocols for effective therapy in individuals with established autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasubramanian Krishnamurthy
- St. Vincent's Institute, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claudia Selck
- St. Vincent's Institute, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan Chee
- St. Vincent's Institute, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guarang Jhala
- St. Vincent's Institute, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thomas W H Kay
- St. Vincent's Institute, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, 3065, Victoria, Australia.
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Martinov T, Spanier JA, Pauken KE, Fife BT. PD-1 pathway-mediated regulation of islet-specific CD4 + T cell subsets in autoimmune diabetes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 3. [PMID: 27656680 PMCID: PMC5027981 DOI: 10.14800/ie.1164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a CD4+ T cell-driven autoimmune disease resulting from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Clinical evidence and studies in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice suggest that insulin is a major autoantigen. With this in mind, we developed insulin B10-23:IAg7 tetramer reagents to track insulin-specific CD4+ T cells in mice and interrogated the role of Programmed death-1 (PD-1) for peripheral tolerance. PD-1 is a T cell inhibitory receptor necessary to maintain tolerance and prevent T1D in NOD mice. PD-1 pathway inhibitors are increasingly used in the clinic for treating malignancies, and while many patients benefit, some develop adverse autoimmune events, including T1D. We therefore sought to understand the role of PD-1 in maintaining islet-specific tolerance in diabetes-resistant strains. B6.g7 mice express the same MHC Class II allele as NOD mice, have predominantly naïve insulin-specific CD4+ T cells in the periphery, and remain diabetes-free even after PD-1 pathway blockade. Here, we examined the trafficking potential of insulin-specific CD4+ T cells in NOD and B6.g7 mice with or without anti-PD-L1 treatment, and found that PD-L1 blockade preferentially increased the number of CD44highCXCR3+ insulin-specific cells in NOD but not B6.g7 mice. Additionally, we investigated whether pancreatic islets in NOD and B6.g7 mice expressed CXCL10, a lymphocyte homing chemokine and ligand for CXCR3. Anti-PD-L1 treated and control NOD mice had detectable CXCL10 expression in the islets, while B6.g7 islets did not. These data suggest that islet tolerance may be in part attributed to the pancreatic environment and in the absence of pancreas inflammation, chemotactic cytokines may be missing. This, together with our previous data showing that PD-1 pathway blockade preferentially affects effector but not anergic self-specific T cells has implications for the use of checkpoint blockade in treating tumor patients. Our work suggests that determining tumor- and self-specific CD4+ T cell activation status (naïve, effector or anergic) prior to initiation of immunotherapy would likely help to stratify individuals who would benefit from this therapy versus those who might have adverse effects or incomplete tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Martinov
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Justin A Spanier
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Kristen E Pauken
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Brian T Fife
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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Askenasy N. Mechanisms of autoimmunity in the non-obese diabetic mouse: effector/regulatory cell equilibrium during peak inflammation. Immunology 2016; 147:377-88. [PMID: 26749404 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12581] [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: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune imbalance in autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes may originate from aberrant activities of effector cells or dysfunction of suppressor cells. All possible defective mechanisms have been proposed for diabetes-prone species: (i) quantitative dominance of diabetogenic cells and decreased numbers of regulatory T cells, (ii) excessive aggression of effectors and defective function of suppressors, (iii) perturbed interaction between effector and suppressor cells, and (iv) variations in sensitivity to negative regulation. The experimental evidence available to date presents conflicting information on these mechanisms, with identification of perturbed equilibrium on the one hand and negation of critical role of each mechanism in propagation of diabetic autoimmunity on the other hand. In our analysis, there is no evidence that inherent abnormalities in numbers and function of effector and suppressor T cells are responsible for the immune imbalance responsible for propagation of type 1 diabetes as a chronic inflammatory process. Possibly, the experimental tools for investigation of these features of immune activity are still underdeveloped and lack sufficient resolution, in the presence of the extensive biological viability and functional versatility of effector and suppressor elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadir Askenasy
- The Leah and Edward M. Frankel Laboratory of Experimental Bone Marrow Transplantation, Petach Tikva, Israel
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Falconer J, Mahida R, Venkatesh D, Pearson J, Robinson JH. Unconventional T-cell recognition of an arthritogenic epitope of proteoglycan aggrecan released from degrading cartilage. Immunology 2015; 147:389-98. [PMID: 26581676 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been proposed that peptide epitopes bind to MHC class II molecules to form distinct structural conformers of the same MHC II-peptide complex termed type A and type B, and that the two conformers of the same peptide-MHC II complex are recognized by distinct CD4 T cells, termed type A and type B T cells. Both types recognize short synthetic peptides but only type A recognize endosomally processed intact antigen. Type B T cells that recognize self peptides from exogenously degraded proteins have been shown to escape negative selection during thymic development and so have the potential to contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. We generated and characterized mouse CD4 T cells specific for an arthritogenic epitope of the candidate joint autoantigen proteoglycan aggrecan. Cloned T-cell hybridomas specific for a synthetic peptide containing the aggrecan epitope showed two distinct response patterns based on whether they could recognize processed intact aggrecan. Fine mapping demonstrated that both types of T-cell recognized the same core epitope. The results are consistent with the generation of aggrecan-specific type A and type B T cells. Type B T cells were activated by supernatants released from degrading cartilage, indicating the presence of antigenic extracellular peptides or fragments of aggrecan. Type B T cells could play a role in the pathogenesis of proteoglycan-induced arthritis in mice, a model for rheumatoid arthritis, by recognizing extracellular peptides or protein fragments of joint autoantigens released by inflamed cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Falconer
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rahul Mahida
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Divya Venkatesh
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jeffrey Pearson
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John H Robinson
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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38
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Associations of human leukocyte antigens with autoimmune diseases: challenges in identifying the mechanism. J Hum Genet 2015; 60:697-702. [PMID: 26290149 DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2015.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of genetic associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and susceptibility to autoimmune disorders has remained elusive for most of the diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), for which both the genetic associations and pathogenic mechanisms have been extensively analyzed. In this review, we summarize what are currently known about the mechanisms of HLA associations with RA and T1D, and elucidate the potential mechanistic basis of the HLA-autoimmunity associations. In RA, the established association between the shared epitope (SE) and RA risk has been explained, at least in part, by the involvement of SE in the presentation of citrullinated peptides, as confirmed by the structural analysis of DR4-citrullinated peptide complex. Self-peptide(s) that might explain the predispositions of variants at 11β and 13β in DRB1 to RA risk have not currently been identified. Regarding the mechanism of T1D, pancreatic self-peptides that are presented weakly on the susceptible HLA allele products are recognized by self-reactive T cells. Other studies have revealed that DQ proteins encoded by the T1D susceptible DQ haplotypes are intrinsically unstable. These findings indicate that the T1D susceptible DQ haplotypes might confer risk for T1D by facilitating the formation of unstable HLA-self-peptide complex. The studies of RA and T1D reveal the two distinct mechanistic basis that might operate in the HLA-autoimmunity associations. Combination of these mechanisms, together with other functional variations among the DR and DQ alleles, may generate the complex patterns of DR-DQ haplotype associations with autoimmunity.
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Babad J, Mukherjee G, Follenzi A, Ali R, Roep BO, Shultz LD, Santamaria P, Yang OO, Goldstein H, Greiner DL, DiLorenzo TP. Generation of β cell-specific human cytotoxic T cells by lentiviral transduction and their survival in immunodeficient human leucocyte antigen-transgenic mice. Clin Exp Immunol 2015; 179:398-413. [PMID: 25302633 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Several β cell antigens recognized by T cells in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes (T1D) are also T cell targets in the human disease. While numerous antigen-specific therapies prevent diabetes in NOD mice, successful translation of rodent findings to patients has been difficult. A human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-transgenic mouse model incorporating human β cell-specific T cells might provide a better platform for evaluating antigen-specific therapies. The ability to study such T cells is limited by their low frequency in peripheral blood and the difficulty in obtaining islet-infiltrating T cells from patients. We have worked to overcome this limitation by using lentiviral transduction to 'reprogram' primary human CD8 T cells to express three T cell receptors (TCRs) specific for a peptide derived from the β cell antigen islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP265-273 ) and recognized in the context of the human class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule HLA-A2. The TCRs bound peptide/MHC multimers with a range of avidities, but all bound with at least 10-fold lower avidity than the anti-viral TCR used for comparison. One exhibited antigenic recognition promiscuity. The β cell-specific human CD8 T cells generated by lentiviral transduction with one of the TCRs released interferon (IFN)-γ in response to antigen and exhibited cytotoxic activity against peptide-pulsed target cells. The cells engrafted in HLA-A2-transgenic NOD-scid IL2rγ(null) mice and could be detected in the blood, spleen and pancreas up to 5 weeks post-transfer, suggesting the utility of this approach for the evaluation of T cell-modulatory therapies for T1D and other T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Babad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Miyadera H, Ohashi J, Lernmark Å, Kitamura T, Tokunaga K. Cell-surface MHC density profiling reveals instability of autoimmunity-associated HLA. J Clin Invest 2014; 125:275-91. [PMID: 25485681 DOI: 10.1172/jci74961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymorphisms within HLA gene loci are strongly associated with susceptibility to autoimmune disorders; however, it is not clear how genetic variations in these loci confer a disease risk. Here, we devised a cell-surface MHC expression assay to detect allelic differences in the intrinsic stability of HLA-DQ proteins. We found extreme variation in cell-surface MHC density among HLA-DQ alleles, indicating a dynamic allelic hierarchy in the intrinsic stability of HLA-DQ proteins. Using the case-control data for type 1 diabetes (T1D) for the Swedish and Japanese populations, we determined that T1D risk-associated HLA-DQ haplotypes, which also increase risk for autoimmune endocrinopathies and other autoimmune disorders, encode unstable proteins, whereas the T1D-protective haplotypes encode the most stable HLA-DQ proteins. Among the amino acid variants of HLA-DQ, alterations in 47α, the residue that is located on the outside of the peptide-binding groove and acts as a key stability regulator, showed strong association with T1D. Evolutionary analysis suggested that 47α variants have been the target of positive diversifying selection. Our study demonstrates a steep allelic hierarchy in the intrinsic stability of HLA-DQ that is associated with T1D risk and protection, suggesting that HLA instability mediates the development of autoimmune disorders.
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Racine JJ, Zhang M, Wang M, Morales W, Shen C, Zeng D. MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism mediates thymic deletion of cross-reactive autoreactive T cells and prevents insulitis in nonobese diabetic mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 194:407-17. [PMID: 25429069 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetic NOD mice have defects in both thymic negative selection and peripheral regulation of autoreactive T cells, and induction of mixed chimerism can effectively reverse these defects. Our recent studies suggest that MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism mediates negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes in wild-type NOD and TCR-transgenic NOD.Rag1(+/+).BDC2.5 mice. However, it remains unknown how mismatched I-A(b) MHC class II can mediate deletion of autoreactive T cells positively selected by I-A(g7). In the present study, we directly tested the hypothesis that mismatched MHC class II in mixed chimeras mediates deletion of cross-reactive autoreactive thymocytes. We first identify that transgenic BDC2.5 T cells from NOD.Rag1(+/+).BDC2.5 but not NOD.Rag1(-/-).BDC2.5 mice possess cross-reactive TCRs with endogenous TCRα-chains; MHC-mismatched H-2(b) but not matched H-2(g7) mixed chimerism mediates thymic deletion of the cross-reactive transgenic T cells in NOD.Rag1(+/+).BDC2.5 mice. Second, by transplanting T cell-depleted (TCD) bone marrow (BM) cells from NOD.Rag1(+/+).BDC2.5 or NOD.Rag1(-/-).BDC2.5 mice into lethally irradiated MHC-mismatched H-2(b) C57BL/6 or MHC-matched congenic B6.H-2(g7) recipients, we demonstrate that NOD.Rag1(+/+).BDC2.5 BM-derived cross-reactive transgenic T cells, but not NOD.Rag1(-/-).BDC2.5 BM-derived non-cross-reactive transgenic T cells, can be positively selected in MHC-mismatched H-2(b) thymus. Third, by cotransplanting NOD.Rag1(+/+).BDC2.5 TCD BM cells with BM cells from MHC-mismatched T cell-deficient C57BL/6 mice into lethally irradiated MHC-matched B6.H-2(g7) recipients, we demonstrate that thymic deletion of the cross-reactive transgenic T cells is dependent on MHC-mismatched donor BM-derived APCs but not on donor BM-derived T cells. Taken together, our studies indicate that MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism can mediate thymic deletion of cross-reactive autoreactive T cells that express more than one TCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Racine
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; Department of Diabetes Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; and
| | - Mingfeng Zhang
- Department of Diabetes Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; and
| | - Miao Wang
- Department of Diabetes Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; and
| | - William Morales
- Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Christine Shen
- Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Defu Zeng
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; Department of Diabetes Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010; and
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Abstract
Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical contributors to the establishment and maintenance of immunological self-tolerance. Autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the loss of self-tolerance to the insulin-producing β cells in the pancreas and the destruction of β cells, resulting in the development of chronic hyperglycemia at diagnosis. The application of strong agonistic T-cell receptor ligands provided under subimmunogenic conditions functions as a critical means for the efficient de novo conversion of naive CD4⁺ T cells into Foxp3⁺ Treg cells. The specific induction of Treg cells upon supply of strong-agonistic variants of certain self-antigens could therefore function as a critical instrument in order to achieve safe and specific prevention of autoimmunity such as T1D via the restoration of self-tolerance. Such immunotherapeutic strategies are being developed, and in the case of T1D aim to restrict autoimmunity and β-cell destruction. In this review, we discuss the requirements and opportunities for Treg-based tolerance approaches with the goal of interfering with autoimmune T1D.
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Autoreactive T cells specific for insulin B:11-23 recognize a low-affinity peptide register in human subjects with autoimmune diabetes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:14840-5. [PMID: 25267644 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1416864111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies in type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the nonobese diabetic mouse demonstrated that a crucial insulin epitope (B:9-23) is presented to diabetogenic CD4 T cells by IA(g7) in a weakly bound register. The importance of antigenic peptides with low-affinity HLA binding in human autoimmune disease remains less clear. The objective of this study was to investigate T-cell responses to a low-affinity self-epitope in subjects with T1D. HLA-DQ8 tetramers loaded with a modified insulin peptide designed to improve binding the low-affinity register were used to visualize T-cell responses following in vitro stimulation. Positive responses were only detectable in T1D patients. Because the immunogenic register of B:9-23 presented by DQ8 has not been conclusively demonstrated, T-cell assays using substituted peptides and DQ8 constructs engineered to express and present B:9-23 in fixed binding registers were used to determine the immunogenic register of this peptide. Tetramer-positive T-cell clones isolated from T1D subjects that responded to stimulation by B:11-23 peptide and denatured insulin protein were conclusively shown to recognize B:11-23 bound to HLA-DQ8 in the low-affinity register 3. These T cells also responded to homologous peptides derived from microbial antigens, suggesting that their initial priming could occur via molecular mimicry. These results are in accord with prior observations from the nonobese diabetic mouse model, suggesting a mechanism shared by mouse and man through which T cells that recognize a weakly bound peptide can circumvent tolerance mechanisms and play a role in the initiation of autoimmune diseases, such as T1D.
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44
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Aydintug MK, Zhang L, Wang C, Liang D, Wands JM, Michels AW, Hirsch B, Day BJ, Zhang G, Sun D, Eisenbarth GS, O'Brien RL, Born WK. γδ T cells recognize the insulin B:9-23 peptide antigen when it is dimerized through thiol oxidation. Mol Immunol 2014; 60:116-28. [PMID: 24853397 PMCID: PMC4091716 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The insulin peptide B:9-23 is a natural antigen in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes (T1D). In addition to αβ T cells and B cells, γδ T cells recognize the peptide and infiltrate the pancreatic islets where the peptide is produced within β cells. The peptide contains a cysteine in position 19 (Cys19), which is required for the γδ but not the αβ T cell response, and a tyrosine in position 16 (Tyr16), which is required for both. A peptide-specific mAb, tested along with the T cells, required neither of the two amino acids to bind the B:9-23 peptide. We found that γδ T cells require Cys19 because they recognize the peptide antigen in an oxidized state, in which the Cys19 thiols of two peptide molecules form a disulfide bond, creating a soluble homo-dimer. In contrast, αβ T cells recognize the peptide antigen as a reduced monomer, in complex with the MHCII molecule I-A(g7). Unlike the unstructured monomeric B:9-23 peptide, the γδ-stimulatory homo-dimer adopts a distinct secondary structure in solution, which differs from the secondary structure of the corresponding portion of the native insulin molecule. Tyr16 is required for this adopted structure of the dimerized insulin peptide as well as for the γδ response to it. This observation is consistent with the notion that γδ T cell recognition depends on the secondary structure of the dimerized insulin B:9-23 antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kemal Aydintug
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Denver, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Chao Wang
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Denver, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Dongchun Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - J M Wands
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Denver, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Aaron W Michels
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Brooke Hirsch
- Department of Biomolecular Structure, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO 80045, USA
| | - Brian J Day
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, CO 80206, USA
| | - Gongyi Zhang
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Denver, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Deming Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - George S Eisenbarth
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Rebecca L O'Brien
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Denver, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Willi K Born
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Denver, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
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Abstract
This paper reviews the presentation of peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules in the autoimmune diabetes of the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Islets of Langerhans contain antigen-presenting cells that capture the proteins and peptides of the beta cells' secretory granules. Peptides bound to I-A(g7), the unique MHC class II molecule of NOD mice, are presented in islets and in pancreatic lymph nodes. The various beta cell-derived peptides interact with selected CD4 T cells to cause inflammation and beta cell demise. Many autoreactive T cells are found in NOD mice, but not all have a major role in the initiation of the autoimmune process. I emphasize here the evidence pointing to insulin autoreactivity as a seminal component in the diabetogenic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil R Unanue
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110;
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46
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Monoclonal antibody blocking the recognition of an insulin peptide-MHC complex modulates type 1 diabetes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:2656-61. [PMID: 24550292 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1323436111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary autoantigen triggering spontaneous type 1 diabetes mellitus in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice is insulin. The major T-cell insulin epitope lies within the amino acid 9-23 peptide of the β-chain (B:9-23). This peptide can bind within the peptide binding groove of the NOD MHC class II molecule (MHCII), IA(g7), in multiple positions or "registers." However, the majority of pathogenic CD4 T cells recognize this complex only when the insulin peptide is bound in register 3 (R3). We hypothesized that antibodies reacting specifically with R3 insulin-IA(g7) complexes would inhibit autoimmune diabetes specifically without interfering with recognition of other IA(g7)-presented antigens. To test this hypothesis, we generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb287), which selectively binds to B:9-23 and related variants when presented by IA(g7) in R3, but not other registers. The monoclonal antibody blocks binding of IA(g7)-B:10-23 R3 tetramers to cognate T cells and inhibits T-cell responses to soluble B:9-23 peptides and NOD islets. However, mAb287 has no effect on recognition of other peptides bound to IA(g7) or other MHCII molecules. Intervention with mAb287, but not irrelevant isotype matched antibody, at either early or late stages of disease development, significantly delayed diabetes onset by inhibiting infiltration by not only insulin-specific CD4 T cells, but also by CD4 and CD8 T cells of other specificities. We propose that peptide-MHC-specific monoclonal antibodies can modulate autoimmune disease without the pleiotropic effects of nonselective reagents and, thus, could be applicable to the treatment of multiple T-cell mediated autoimmune disorders.
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47
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Eberwine RA, Cort L, Habib M, Mordes JP, Blankenhorn EP. Autoantigen-induced focusing of Vβ13+ T cells precedes onset of autoimmune diabetes in the LEW.1WR1 rat. Diabetes 2014; 63:596-604. [PMID: 24150607 PMCID: PMC3900547 DOI: 10.2337/db13-0462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The earliest events leading to autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) are not known in any species. A T-cell receptor (TCR)-variable region, TCR-Vβ13, is required for susceptibility to autoimmune diabetes in rats, and selective depletion of Vβ13(+) T cells with an allele-specific monoclonal antibody prevents disease in multiple rat strains. To investigate the role of Vβ13 early in diabetes, we examined islet T-cell transcripts in susceptible (LEW.1WR1) and resistant (LEW.1W and Wistar Furth) strains induced with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid. Vβ13(+) T cells displayed antigenic focusing in LEW.1WR1 islets 5 days postinduction and were characterized by a substantial decrease in complementarity determining region 3 diversity. This occurred prior to significant islet T-cell accumulation (day 7) or frank diabetes (days 10-14). Vβ13(+) transcripts increased in LEW.1WR1 islets during diabetes progression, but not in resistant rats. We also analyzed transcript clonality of rat TCR-Vα5, an ortholog of the dominant TCR-Vα chain found on insulin B:9-23-reactive T cells in nonobese diabetic rat islets. We observed clonal expansion of Vα5(+) transcripts in prediabetic LEW.1WR1 islets, suggesting that rat Vα5 is also an important component of islet autoantigen recognition. These data provide additional evidence that genome-encoded TCR sequences are important determinants of genetic susceptibility to T1D.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Autoantigens
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation/immunology
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Islets of Langerhans/cytology
- Poly I-C
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred Strains
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/metabolism
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/physiology
- Up-Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Eberwine
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Laura Cort
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Michael Habib
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - John P. Mordes
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Elizabeth P. Blankenhorn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Corresponding author: Elizabeth P. Blankenhorn,
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48
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Mohan JF, Calderon B, Anderson MS, Unanue ER. Pathogenic CD4⁺ T cells recognizing an unstable peptide of insulin are directly recruited into islets bypassing local lymph nodes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 210:2403-14. [PMID: 24127484 PMCID: PMC3804950 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20130582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the nonobese diabetic mouse, a predominant component of the autoreactive CD4(+) T cell repertoire is directed against the B:9-23 segment of the insulin B chain. Previous studies established that the majority of insulin-reactive T cells specifically recognize a weak peptide-MHC binding register within the B:9-23 segment, that to the 12-20 register. These T cells are uniquely stimulated when the B:9-23 peptide, but not the insulin protein, is offered to antigen presenting cells (APCs). Here, we report on a T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse (8F10) that offers important new insights into the biology of these unconventional T cells. Many of the 8F10 CD4(+) T cells escaped negative selection and were highly pathogenic. The T cells were directly recruited into islets of Langerhans, where they established contact with resident intra-islet APCs. Immunogenic insulin had to be presented in order for the T cells to localize and cause disease. These T cells bypassed an initial priming stage in the pancreatic lymph node thought to precede islet T cell entry. 8F10 T cells induced the production of antiinsulin antibodies and islets contained immunoglobulin (IgG) deposited on β cells and along the vessel walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Mohan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
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49
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Pauken KE, Linehan JL, Spanier JA, Sahli NL, Kalekar LA, Binstadt BA, Moon JJ, Mueller DL, Jenkins MK, Fife BT. Cutting edge: type 1 diabetes occurs despite robust anergy among endogenous insulin-specific CD4 T cells in NOD mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 191:4913-7. [PMID: 24123682 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-specific CD4(+) T cells are required for type 1 diabetes. How these cells are regulated and how tolerance breaks down are poorly understood because of a lack of reagents. Therefore, we used an enrichment method and tetramer reagents to track insulin-specific CD4(+) T cells in diabetes-susceptible NOD and resistant B6 mice expressing I-A(g7). Insulin-specific cells were detected in both strains, but they only became activated, produced IFN-γ, and infiltrated the pancreas in NOD mice. Unexpectedly, the majority of Ag-experienced cells in NOD mice displayed an anergic phenotype, but this population decreased with age as tolerance was lost. B6 mice expressing I-A(g7) were protected because insulin-specific cells did not become effector or anergic T cells but remained naive. These data suggest that NOD mice promote tolerance through anergy induction, but a small proportion of autoreactive T cells escape anergy to provoke type 1 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Pauken
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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50
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Yadav M, Stephan S, Bluestone JA. Peripherally induced tregs - role in immune homeostasis and autoimmunity. Front Immunol 2013; 4:232. [PMID: 23966994 PMCID: PMC3736167 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymically derived Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (tTregs) constitute a unique T cell lineage that is essential for maintaining immune tolerance to self and immune homeostasis. However, Foxp3 can also be turned on in conventional T cells as a consequence of antigen exposure in the periphery, under both non-inflammatory and inflammatory conditions. These so-called peripheral Tregs (pTregs) participate in the control of immunity at sites of inflammation, especially at the mucosal surfaces. Although numerous studies have assessed in vitro generated Tregs (termed induced or iTregs), these cells most often do not recapitulate the functional or phenotypic characteristics of in vivo generated pTregs. Thus, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and function of pTregs as well as conditions under which they are generated in vivo, and the degree to which these characteristics identify specialized features of pTregs versus features that are shared with tTregs. In this review, we summarize the current state of our understanding of pTregs and their relationship to the tTreg subset. We describe the recent discovery of unique cell surface markers and transcription factors (including Neuropilin-1 and Helios) that can be used to distinguish tTreg and pTreg subsets in vivo. Additionally, we discuss how the improved ability to distinguish these subsets provided new insights into the biology of tTregs versus pTregs and suggested differences in their function and TCR repertoire, consistent with a unique role of pTregs in certain inflammatory settings. Finally, these recent advances will be used to speculate on the role of individual Treg subsets in both tolerance and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Yadav
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco , San Francisco, CA , USA
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