Recapitulating the immune system of hemophilia A patients with inhibitors using immunodeficient mice

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Treating hemophilia A patients who develop inhibitors remains a clinical challenge. A mouse model of hemophilia A can be used to test the efficacy of strategies for inhibitor suppression, but the differences in the immune systems of mice and humans limit its utility. To address this shortcoming, we established a humanized NOD/SCID-IL2rγnull hemophilia A (hu-NSG-HA) mouse model with a severely deficient mouse immune system presenting a patient's adapted immune cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Through intrasplenic injection with patient inhibitor-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), utilizing an adeno-associated viral delivery system expressing human BLyS, and regular FVIII challenge, human C19+ B cells were expanded in vivo to secrete anti-FVIII antibodies. Both the inhibitor and the human anti-FVIII IgG, including the predominant subclasses (IgG1 and IgG4) present in the majority of inhibitor patients, were detected in the mouse model. We further segregated and expanded the different clones of human anti-FVIII-secreting cells through subsequent transplantation of splenocytes derived from hu-NSG-HA mice into another NSG-HA mouse. By transplanting a patient's PBMCs into the NSG-HA mouse model, we demonstrated the success of reintroducing a strong anti-FVIII immune response for a short period in mice with the immune systems of inhibitor-positive patients.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate a potential tool for directly obtaining functional human-derived antigen-specific antibodies and antibody-secreting cells, which may have therapeutic value for testing patient-specific immune responses to treatment options to assist in clinical decisions.

Mechanisms and functions of SUMOylation in health and disease: a review focusing on immune cells

SUMOylation, which is a type of post-translational modification that involves covalent conjugation of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins to target substrates, regulates various important molecular and cellular processes, including transcription, the cell cycle, cell signaling, and DNA synthesis and repair. Newly synthesized SUMO is immature and cleaved by the SUMO-specific protease family, resulting in exposure of the C-terminal Gly-Gly motif to become the mature form. In the presence of ATP, mature SUMO is conjugated with the activating enzyme E1 through the cysteine residue of E1, followed by transfer to the cysteine residue of E2-conjugating enzyme Ubc9 in humans that recognizes and modifies the lysine residue of a substrate protein. E3 SUMO ligases promote SUMOylation. SUMOylation is a reversible modification and mediated by SUMO-specific proteases. Cumulative studies have indicated that SUMOylation affects the functions of protein substrates in various manners, including cellular localization and protein stability. Gene knockout studies in mice have revealed that several SUMO cycling machinery proteins are crucial for the development and differentiation of various cell lineages, including immune cells. Aberrant SUMOylation has been implicated in several types of diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases. This review summarizes the biochemistry of SUMO modification and the general biological functions of proteins involved in SUMOylation. In particular, this review focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which SUMOylation regulates the development, maturation, and functions of immune cells, including T, B, dendritic, and myeloid cells. This review also discusses the underlying relevance of disruption of SUMO cycling and site-specific interruption of SUMOylation on target proteins in immune cells in diseases, including cancers and infectious diseases.

Single Site N-Glycosylation of B Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) Inhibits γ-Secretase-Mediated Shedding and Improves Surface Retention and Cell Survival

B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, on the cell surface plays a key role in maintaining the survival of plasma cells and malignant as well as inflammatory accessory cells. Therefore, targeting BCMA or disrupting its interaction with ligands has been a potential approach to cancer therapy. BCMA contains a single N-glycosylation site, but the function of N-glycan on BCMA is not understood. Here, we found that the N-glycosylation of BCMA promoted its cell-surface retention while removing the N-glycan increased BCMA secretion through γ-secretase-mediated shedding. Addition of γ-secretase inhibitor prevented nonglycosylated BCMA from shedding and protected cells from dexamethasone and TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Seryl-tRNA synthetase promotes translational readthrough by mRNA binding and involvement of the selenocysteine incorporation machinery

Translational readthrough of UGA stop codons by selenocysteine-specific tRNA (tRNASec) enables the synthesis of selenoproteins. Seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) charges tRNASec with serine, which is modified into selenocysteine and delivered to the ribosome by a designated elongation factor (eEFSec in eukaryotes). Here we found that components of the human selenocysteine incorporation machinery (SerRS, tRNASec, and eEFSec) also increased translational readthrough of non-selenocysteine genes, including VEGFA, to create C-terminally extended isoforms. SerRS recognizes target mRNAs through a stem-loop structure that resembles the variable loop of its cognate tRNAs. This function of SerRS depends on both its enzymatic activity and a vertebrate-specific domain. Through eCLIP-seq, we identified additional SerRS-interacting mRNAs as potential readthrough genes. Moreover, SerRS overexpression was sufficient to reverse premature termination caused by a pathogenic nonsense mutation. Our findings expand the repertoire of selenoprotein biosynthesis machinery and suggest an avenue for therapeutic targeting of nonsense mutations using endogenous factors.

SENP2 restrains the generation of pathogenic Th17 cells in mouse models of colitis

The molecular mechanisms contributing to the regulation of Th17-mediated inflammation remain underexplored. We here report a SUMO-specific protease (SENP)2-mediated pathway induced in pathogenic Th17 cells that restricts the pathogenesis of inflammatory colitis. SENP2 regulates the maturation of small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO) and recycles SUMO from the substrate proteins. We find higher levels of SENP2 in pathogenic Th17 cells. By deleting Senp2 in T-cell lineages in mice, we demonstrate that the lack of Senp2 exacerbates the severity of experimental colitis, which is linked to elevated levels of GM-CSF+IL-17A+ pathogenic Th17 cells and more severe dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome. Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrate the cell-autonomous effect of Senp2 in restraining Th17 differentiation and colitis. The enzymatic activity of SENP2 is important for deSUMOylation of Smad4, which reduces Smad4 nuclear entry and Rorc expression. Our findings reveal a SENP2-mediated regulatory axis in the pathogenicity of Th17 cells.

Mechanism of Antigen Presentation and Specificity of Antibody Cross-Reactivity Elicited by an Oligosaccharide-Conjugate Cancer Vaccine

Polysaccharides have been successfully used as immunogens for the development of vaccines against bacterial infection; however, there are no oligosaccharide-based vaccines available to date and no previous studies of their processing and presentation. We reported here the intracellular enzymatic processing and antigen presentation of an oligosaccharide-conjugate cancer vaccine prepared from the glycan of Globo-H (GH), a globo-series glycosphingolipid (GSL). This oligosaccharide-conjugate vaccine was shown to elicit antibodies against the glycan moieties of all three globo-series GSLs that are exclusively expressed on many types of cancer and their stem cells. To understand the specificity and origin of cross-reactivity of the antibodies elicited by the vaccine, we found that the vaccine is first processed by fucosidase 1 in the early endosome of dendritic cells to generate a common glycan antigen of the GSLs along with GH for MHC class II presentation. This work represents the first study of oligosaccharide processing and presentation and is expected to facilitate the design and development of glycoconjugate vaccines based on oligosaccharide antigens.

Molecular Basis and Role of Siglec-7 Ligand Expression on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells

Siglec-7 (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 7) is an immune checkpoint-like glycan recognition protein on natural killer (NK) cells. Cancer cells often upregulate Siglec ligands to subvert immunosurveillance, but the molecular basis of Siglec ligands has been elusive. In this study, we investigated Siglec-7 ligands on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells. CLL B cells express higher levels of Siglec-7 ligands compared with healthy donor B cells, and enzymatic removal of sialic acids or sialomucins makes them more sensitive to NK cell cytotoxicity. Gene knockout experiments have revealed that the sialyltransferase ST6GalNAc-IV is responsible for the biosynthesis of disialyl-T (Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-3[Neu5Acα2-6]GalNAcα1-), which is the glycotope recognized by Siglec-7, and that CD162 and CD45 are the major carriers of this glycotope on CLL B cells. Analysis of public transcriptomic datasets indicated that the low expression of GCNT1 (encoding core 2 GlcNAc transferase, an enzyme that competes against ST6GalNAc-IV) and high expression of ST6GALNAC4 (encoding ST6GalNAc-IV) in CLL B cells, together enhancing the expression of the disialyl-T glycotope, are associated with poor patient prognosis. Taken together, our results determined the molecular basis of Siglec-7 ligand overexpression that protects CLL B cells from NK cell cytotoxicity and identified disialyl-T as a potential prognostic marker of CLL.

Phosphoproteomics Reveals the Role of Constitutive KAP1 Phosphorylation by B-Cell Receptor Signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Application of B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway inhibitor ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a major breakthrough, yet the downstream effects following inhibition of BCR signaling and during relapse await further clarification. By comparative phosphoproteomic profiling of B cells from patients with CLL and healthy donors, as well as CLL B cells collected at multiple time points during the course of ibrutinib treatment, we provided the landscape of dysregulated phosphoproteome in CLL and its dynamic alterations associated with ibrutinib treatment. Particularly, differential phosphorylation events associated with several signaling pathways, including BCR pathway, were enriched in patient CLL cells. A constitutively elevated phosphorylation level of KAP1 at serine 473 (S473) was found in the majority of CLL samples prior to treatment. Further verification showed that BCR activation promoted KAP1 S473 phosphorylation, whereas ibrutinib treatment abolished it. Depletion of KAP1 in primary CLL cells decelerated cell cycle progression and ectopic expression of a KAP1 S473 phospho-mimicking mutant accelerated G2/M cell cycle transition of CLL cells. Moreover, temporal phosphoproteomic profiles using a series of CLL cells isolated from one patient during the ibrutinib treatment revealed the dynamic changes of several molecules associated with BCR signaling in the ibrutinib responsive and recurrent stages. Implications: This phosphoproteomic analysis and functional validation illuminated the phosphorylation of KAP1 at S473 as an important downstream BCR signaling event and a potential indicator for the success of ibrutinib treatment in CLL.

Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein lacking glycan shields elicits enhanced protective responses in animal models

A major challenge to end the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is to develop a broadly protective vaccine that elicits long-term immunity. As the key immunogen, the viral surface spike (S) protein is frequently mutated, and conserved epitopes are shielded by glycans. Here, we revealed that S protein glycosylation has site-differential effects on viral infectivity. We found that S protein generated by lung epithelial cells has glycoforms associated with increased infectivity. Compared to the fully glycosylated S protein, immunization of S protein with N-glycans trimmed to the mono-GlcNAc-decorated state (S_MG) elicited stronger immune responses and better protection for human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) transgenic mice against variants of concern (VOCs). In addition, a broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody was identified from S_MG-immunized mice that could neutralize wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and VOCs with subpicomolar potency. Together, these results demonstrate that removal of glycan shields to better expose the conserved sequences has the potential to be an effective and simple approach for developing a broadly protective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Streamlined single-cell proteomics by an integrated microfluidic chip and data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry

Single-cell proteomics can reveal cellular phenotypic heterogeneity and cell-specific functional networks underlying biological processes. Here, we present a streamlined workflow combining microfluidic chips for all-in-one proteomic sample preparation and data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry (MS) for proteomic analysis down to the single-cell level. The proteomics chips enable multiplexed and automated cell isolation/counting/imaging and sample processing in a single device. Combining chip-based sample handling with DIA-MS using project-specific mass spectral libraries, we profile on average ~1,500 protein groups across 20 single mammalian cells. Applying the chip-DIA workflow to profile the proteomes of adherent and non-adherent malignant cells, we cover a dynamic range of 5 orders of magnitude with good reproducibility and <16% missing values between runs. Taken together, the chip-DIA workflow offers all-in-one cell characterization, analytical sensitivity and robustness, and the option to add additional functionalities in the future, thus providing a basis for advanced single-cell proteomics applications.

NK cell receptor and ligand composition influences the clearance of SARS-CoV-2

To explore how the immune system controls clearance of SARS-CoV-2, we used a single-cell, mass cytometry-based proteomics platform to profile the immune systems of 21 patients who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection without need for admission to an intensive care unit or for mechanical ventilation. We focused on receptors involved in interactions between immune cells and virus-infected cells. We found that the diversity of receptor repertoires on natural killer (NK) cells was negatively correlated with the viral clearance rate. In addition, NK subsets expressing the receptor DNAM1 were increased in patients who more rapidly recovered from infection. Ex vivo functional studies revealed that NK subpopulations with high DNAM1 expression had cytolytic activities in response to target cell stimulation. We also found that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced the expression of CD155 and nectin-4, ligands of DNAM1 and its paired coinhibitory receptor TIGIT, which counterbalanced the cytolytic activities of NK cells. Collectively, our results link the cytolytic immune responses of NK cells to the clearance of SARS-CoV-2 and show that the DNAM1 pathway modulates host-pathogen interactions during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Marginal Zone B Cells Assist With Neutrophil Accumulation to Fight Against Systemic Staphylococcus aureus Infection

In addition to regulating immune responses by producing antibodies that confer humoral immunity, B cells can also affect these responses by producing cytokines. How B cells participate in the clearance of pathogenic infections via functions other than the production of pathogen-specific antibodies is still largely unknown. Marginal zone (MZ) B cells can quickly respond to bacterial invasion by providing the initial round of antibodies. After a bloodborne bacterial infection, neutrophils promptly migrate to the MZ. However, the mechanisms regulating neutrophil accumulation in the MZ during the initial phase of infection also remain obscure. Here, we found that MZ B cell-deficient mice are more susceptible to systemic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection compared with wildtype mice. The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and CXCL1/CXCL2 in MZ B cells increased significantly in mice at 3–4 h after infection with S. aureus, then decreased at 24 h post-infection. After systemic S. aureus infection, splenic neutrophils express increased CXCR2 levels. Our results from confocal microscopy imaging of thick-section staining demonstrate that neutrophils in wildtype mice form cell clusters and are in close contact with MZ B cells at 3 h post-infection. This neutrophil cluster formation shortly after infection was diminished in both MZ B cell-deficient mice and IL-6-deficient mice. Blocking the action of CXCL1/CXCL2 by injecting anti-CXCL1 and anti-CXCL2 antibodies 1 h before S. aureus infection significantly suppressed the recruitment of neutrophils to the MZ at 3 h post-infection. Compared with peptidoglycan stimulation alone, peptidoglycan stimulation with neutrophil co-culture further enhanced MZ B-cell activation and differentiation. Using a Förster resonance energy transfer by fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM-FRET) analysis, we observed evidence of a direct interaction between neutrophils and MZ B cells after peptidoglycan stimulation. Furthermore, neutrophil depletion in mice resulted in a reduced production of S. aureus-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)M at 24 h post-infection. Together, our results demonstrate that MZ B cells regulate the rapid neutrophil swarming into the spleen during the early phase of systemic S. aureus infection. Interaction with neutrophils assists MZ B cells with their differentiation into IgM-secreting cells and contributes to the clearance of systemic bacterial infections.

Resident vs nonresident multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell interactions with B lymphocytes result in disparate outcomes

Multipotent human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from multiple organs including the bone marrow (BM) and placenta harbor clinically relevant immunomodulation best demonstrated toward T lymphocytes. Surprisingly, there is limited knowledge on interactions with B lymphocytes, which originate from the BM where there is a resident MSC. With increasing data demonstrating MSC tissue‐specific propensities impacting therapeutic outcome, we therefore investigated the interactions of BM‐MSCs—its resident and “niche” MSC—and placental MSCs (P‐MSCs), another source of MSCs with well‐characterized immunomodulatory properties, on the global functional outcomes of pan‐peripheral B cell populations. We found that P‐MSCs but not BM‐MSCs significantly inhibit proliferation and further differentiation of stimulated human peripheral B populations in vitro. Moreover, although BM‐MSCs preserve multiple IL‐10‐producing regulatory B cell (Breg) subsets, P‐MSCs significantly increase all subsets. To corroborate these in vitro findings in vivo, we used a mouse model of B‐cell activation and found that adoptive transfer of P‐MSCs but not BM‐MSCs significantly decreased activated B220⁺ B cells. Moreover, adoptive transfer of P‐MSCs but not BM‐MSCs significantly decreased the overall B220⁺ B‐cell proliferation and further differentiation, similar to the in vitro findings. P‐MSCs also increased two populations of IL‐10‐producing murine Bregs more strongly than BM‐MSCs. Transcriptome analyses demonstrated multifactorial differences between BM‐ and P‐MSCs in the profile of relevant factors involved in B lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation. Our results highlight the divergent outcomes of tissue‐specific MSCs interactions with peripheral B cells, and demonstrate the importance of understanding tissue‐specific differences to achieve more efficacious outcome with MSC therapy.

HLA-B27-mediated activation of TNAP phosphatase promotes pathogenic syndesmophyte formation in ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of axial inflammation. Over time, some patients develop spinal ankylosis and permanent disability; however, current treatment strategies cannot arrest syndesmophyte formation completely. Here, we used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from AS patients (AS MSCs) within the enthesis involved in spinal ankylosis to delineate that the HLA-B27-mediated spliced X-box-binding protein 1 (sXBP1)/retinoic acid receptor-β (RARB)/tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) axis accelerated the mineralization of AS MSCs, which was independent of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). An animal model mimicking AS pathological bony appositions was established by implantation of AS MSCs into the lumbar spine of NOD-SCID mice. We found that TNAP inhibitors, including levamisole and pamidronate, inhibited AS MSC mineralization in vitro and blocked bony appositions in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the serum bone-specific TNAP (BAP) level was a potential prognostic biomarker to predict AS patients with a high risk for radiographic progression. Our study highlights the importance of the HLA-B27-mediated activation of the sXBP1/RARB/TNAP axis in AS syndesmophyte pathogenesis and provides a new strategy for the diagnosis and prevention of radiographic progression of AS.

SUMO-specific protease 2 restrains the differentiation of Th17 cells

Accumulating evidence suggests that posttranslational modifications (PTMs) play a critical role in the regulation of cellular functions and disease progression. Several reports indicated that SUMOylation, a type of PTMs, contributes to diseases through modulation of cell signaling and functions. The process of SUMOylation is dynamic and can be reversibly removed by the sentrin-specific protease (SENP) family. Smad4 has been shown to suppress the differentiation of pathogenic Th17 cells and can be deSUMOylated by SENP2. Here, we would like to study whether SUMOylation may affect T cell development and differentiation, and T cell-mediated diseases.

To study the roles of Senp2 in T cell lineage, we generated Senp2f/f×Lck-cre (CKO) mice. We found that there were more Th1 and Th17 cells in CKO mice in the steady state, as compared with those in littermate controls (wild type, WT) mice. Besides, Senp2-deficiency in T cells also promotes the progression of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The levels of IFNg and IL-17 produced by in vitro differentiated Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively, were higher when Senp2 is deleted. The enzymatic activity of Senp2 is required for the inhibition of Th17 differentiation; as compared with the effects of lentiviral vector expressing wild type Senp2, transduction of differentiating CKO Th17 cells with a lentiviral vector expressing a catalytic domain mutant Senp2 failed to suppress the frequency of Th17 cells. We are examining if SUMOylation affects the function of Smad4 in Th17 cells. Results from this study may provide insights into the new therapeutic strategy for the control of Th17-mediated diseases.

O-GlcNAcylation and its role in the immune system

O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) is a type of glycosylation that occurs when a monosaccharide, O-GlcNAc, is added onto serine or threonine residues of nuclear or cytoplasmic proteins by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and which can be reversibly removed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation couples the processes of nutrient sensing, metabolism, signal transduction and transcription, and plays important roles in development, normal physiology and physiopathology. Cumulative studies have indicated that O-GlcNAcylation affects the functions of protein substrates in a number of ways, including protein cellular localization, protein stability and protein/protein interaction. Particularly, O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to have intricate crosstalk with phosphorylation as they both modify serine or threonine residues. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation on various protein substrates has been implicated in many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cancers. However, the role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in immune cell lineages has been less explored. This review summarizes the current understanding of the fundamental biochemistry of O-GlcNAcylation, and discusses the molecular mechanisms by which O-GlcNAcylation regulates the development, maturation and functions of immune cells. In brief, O-GlcNAcylation promotes the development, proliferation, and activation of T and B cells. O-GlcNAcylation regulates inflammatory and antiviral responses of macrophages. O-GlcNAcylation promotes the function of activated neutrophils, but inhibits the activity of nature killer cells.

Intracellular Galectin-9 Enhances Proximal TCR Signaling and Potentiates Autoimmune Diseases

Galectin-9 is a risk gene in inflammatory bowel disease. By transcriptomic analyses of ileal biopsies and PBMCs from inflammatory bowel disease patients, we identified a positive correlation between galectin-9 expression and colitis severity. We observed that galectin-9-deficient T cells were less able to induce T cell-mediated colitis. However, several mouse-based studies reported that galectin-9 treatment induces T cell apoptosis and ameliorates autoimmune diseases in an exogenously modulated manner, indicating a complicated regulation of galectin-9 in T cells. We found that galectin-9 is expressed mainly inside T cells, and its secreted form is barely detected under physiological conditions. Endogenous galectin-9 was recruited to immune synapses upon T cell activation. Moreover, proximal TCR signaling was impaired in galectin-9-deficient T cells, and proliferation of these cells was decreased through an intracellularly modulated manner. Th17 cell differentiation was downregulated in galectin-9-deficient T cells, and this impairment can be rescued by strong TCR signaling. Taken together, these findings suggest that intracellular galectin-9 is a positive regulator of T cell activation and modulates the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Aberrant distribution and function of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with ankylosing spondylitis are associated with unfolded protein response

Although human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the association of unfolded protein response (UPR) induced by HLA-B27 misfolding in AS remains controversial. Since dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial in induction of AS in HLA-B27-transgenic rats, and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) belong to one type of DCs, we here aim to study the relevance of pDCs and UPR in AS. Peripheral pDCs were isolated from 27 HLA-B27(+) AS patients and 37 controls. The bone marrow (BM) and synovium of inflamed hips from AS patients and controls were obtained. We found a significantly higher frequency of pDCs in the peripheral blood, BM, or inflamed synovium of hips, which is associated with the enhanced expression of pDC trafficking molecules, CCR6 and CCL20 in the synovium of AS patients. Functional analysis further revealed that several inflammatory cytokines, including TNFα, IL-6, and IL-23, secreted by pDCs were significantly increased in AS patients as compared with those in controls. Remarkably, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) pathway in UPR was up-regulated in pDCs of AS patients. Notably, PERK inhibitor treatment significantly inhibited the enhanced cytokine production by pDCs of AS patients. Further, the extent of PERK activation was significantly associated with the increased disease severity of AS patients. Our data uncover the aberrant distribution and function of pDCs in AS patients. The up-regulated PERK pathway in UPR of pDCs not only contributes to enhanced cytokine production of pDCs, but also is associated with increased disease activity of AS patients.

Regulatory mechanisms of B cell responses and the implication in B cell-related diseases

Terminally differentiated B cell, the plasma cell, is the sole cell type capable of producing antibodies in our body. Over the past 30 years, the identification of many key molecules controlling B cell activation and differentiation has elucidated the molecular pathways for generating antibody-producing plasma cells. Several types of regulation modulating the functions of the important key molecules in B cell activation and differentiation add other layers of complexity in shaping B cell responses following antigen exposure in the absence or presence of T cell help. Further understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the proper activation and differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells may enable us to develop new strategies for managing antibody humoral responses during health and disease. Herein, we reviewed the effect of different types of regulation, including transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation and epigenetic regulation, on B cell activation, and on mounting memory B cell and antibody responses. We also discussed the link between the dysregulation of the abovementioned regulatory mechanisms and B cell-related disorders.

Blimp-1 Contributes to the Development and Function of Regulatory B Cells

Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a B cell subset that plays a suppressive role in immune responses. The CD19⁺CD1d^hiCD5⁺ Bregs that can execute regulatory functions via secreting IL-10 are defined as B10 cells. Bregs suppress autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, whereas they exacerbate infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Notably, the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and functions of Bregs are still largely unknown. Furthermore, the biological impact of Bregs in fungal infection has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we compared the gene expression profiles of IL-10-producing and -non-producing mouse splenic B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or anti-CD40 antibody. Blimp-1, a transcription factor known to be critical for plasma cell differentiation, was found to be enriched in the IL-10-producing B cells. The frequency of Blimp-1⁺ B10 cells was increased in LPS-treated mice and in isolated B10 cells that were stimulated with LPS. Surprisingly, B cell-specific Blimp-1 knockout (Cko) mice, generated by CD19 promoter driven Cre recombinase-dependent deletion of Prdm1 (gene encoding Blimp-1), showed higher frequencies of B10 cells both in the steady state and following injection with LPS, as compared with control littermates. However, B10 cells lacking Blimp-1 failed to efficiently suppress the proliferation of naïve CD4⁺ T cells primed with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. B10 cells can be stimulated for further differentiation into plasmablasts, and a subset of plasmablasts express IL-10. We found that B10 cells from Cko mice failed to generate both IL-10-non-producing and IL-10-producing plasmablasts. Mechanistically, we found that Blimp-1 can directly suppress Il-10, whereas, in the presence of activated STAT3, Blimp-1 works together with activated STAT3 to upregulate Il-10. Moreover, we also found that B10 cells improve the clearance of Candida albicans infection but worsen the infection mortality. Notably, a lack of Blimp-1 in B10 cells did not change these effects of adoptively transferred B10 cells on fungal infections. Together, our data show that Blimp-1 regulates the generation, differentiation, and IL-10 production of Bregs.

The KDM4A/KDM4C/NF-κB and WDR5 epigenetic cascade regulates the activation of B cells

T follicular helper (Tfh) cell-derived signals promote activation and proliferation of antigen-primed B cells. It remains unclear whether epigenetic regulation is involved in the B cell responses to Tfh cell-derived signals. Here, we demonstrate that Tfh cell-mimicking signals induce the expression of histone demethylases KDM4A and KDM4C, and the concomitant global down-regulation of their substrates, H3K9me3/me2, in B cells. Depletion of KDM4A and KDM4C potentiates B cell activation and proliferation in response to Tfh cell-derived signals. ChIP-seq and de novo motif analysis reveals NF-κB p65 as a binding partner of KDM4A and KDM4C. Their co-targeting to Wdr5, a MLL complex member promoting H3K4 methylation, up-regulates cell cycle inhibitors Cdkn2c and Cdkn3. Thus, Tfh cell-derived signals trigger KDM4A/KDM4C - WDR5 - Cdkn2c/Cdkn3 cascade in vitro, an epigenetic mechanism regulating proper proliferation of activated B cells. This pathway is dysregulated in B cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients and may represent a pathological link.

Transcription factor Blimp-1 regulates sebocyte homeostasis and cytokine production

Blimp-1, encoded by Prdm1, is a master transcriptional factor that governs the differentiation fate of many cell types, including epidermal keratinocytes. Previous results from our laboratory showed that inducible deletion of Prdm1 in mouse epidermis spontaneously induces skin inflammation. Epidermis composes of not only epidermal keratinocytes, but also epidermal appendages, including hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat glands. Sebaceous glands release the “oil” contents that lubricate the skin. Our previous results also showed that Blimp-1 is required for the maintenance of the homeostasis of terminally differentiated sebocytes. Here, we aim to investigate the potential function of Blimp-1 in inflammation and lipid metabolism in sebocytes. We depleted Blimp-1 by siRNA in SZ95, the immortalized human sebocyte cells. We found accumulated and enlarged lipid droplets in Blimp-1 depleted cells. Consistently, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses showed that the levels of several long-chain fatty acids, including 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2oleoylglycerol, 1-palmitoyl-2oleoyl-3-lineoleoyl-rac-glycerol, and triolein, were accumulated in Blimp-1-depleted SZ95 cells, linking with the significant increases in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18. Thus, Blimp-1 served as a pivotal mediator in the regulation of the inflammatory responses in epidermis, likely also through affecting the lipid metabolism and cytokine production in sebocytes.

Blimp-1-Mediated Pathway Promotes Type I IFN Production in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells by Targeting to Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase M

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a specialized subset of DCs capable of rapidly producing copious amounts of type I IFN (IFN-I) in response to viral infections. The mechanism regulating rapid production of IFN-I after pDCs are exposed to viral nucleic acids remains elusive. Here, we show that the transcription factor Blimp-1 is promptly induced in pDCs after exposure to TLR7 and TLR9 ligands via a unique Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac)-mediated pathway. Deletion of the Prdm1 gene encoding Blimp-1 impaired production of IFN-I, but not other cytokines, upon viral infection or treatment with CpG DNA in pDCs. Accordingly, mice lacking Blimp-1 in DCs failed to produce IFN-I after CpG stimulation and did not mount proper antiviral responses following flavivirus infection. The development of pDCs in bone marrow as well as the induction of several activation markers, such as CD86, CD69, and MHCII, by CpG stimulation was generally not affected by the absence of Blimp-1. Mechanistically, we found that Blimp-1 controls the activation of IKKα and IRF7 by directly suppressing interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 3 (Irak3), a negative regulator of TLR signaling, in pDCs. Together, we identify a Blimp-1-dependent pathway that rapidly facilitates IFN-I production by relieving interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase M, encoded by Irak3, in pDCs.

Galectin-1 Restricts Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Motility Via Modulating Adhesion Force and Focal Adhesion Dynamics

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration play a key role in the development of intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a redox-sensitive β-galactoside-binding lectin expressed in VSMCs with intracellular and extracellular localizations. Here we show that VSMCs deficient in Gal-1 (Gal-1-KO) exhibited greater motility than wild type (WT) cells. Likewise, Gal-1-KO-VSMC migration was inhibited by a redox-insensitive but activity-preserved Gal-1 (CSGal-1) in a glycan-dependent manner. Gal-1-KO-VSMCs adhered slower than WT cells on fibronectin. Cell spreading and focal adhesion (FA) formation examined by phalloidin and vinculin staining were less in Gal-1-KO-VSMCs. Concomitantly, FA kinase (FAK) phosphorylation was induced to a lower extent in Gal-1-KO cells. Analysis of FA dynamics by nocodazole washout assay demonstrated that FA disassembly, correlated with FAK de-phosphorylation, was faster in Gal-1-KO-VSMCs. Surface plasmon resonance assay demonstrated that CSGal-1 interacted with α5β1integrin and fibronectin in a glycan-dependent manner. Chemical crosslinking experiment and atomic force microscopy further revealed the involvement of extracellular Gal-1 in strengthening VSMC-fibronectin interaction. In vivo experiment showed that carotid ligation-induced neointimal hyperplasia was more severe in Gal-1-KO mice than WT counterparts. Collectively, these data disclose that Gal-1 restricts VSMC migration by modulating cell-matrix interaction and focal adhesion turnover, which limits neointimal formation post vascular injury.

O-GlcNAcylation is required for B cell homeostasis and antibody responses

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (Ogt) catalyzes O-GlcNAc modification. O-GlcNAcylation is increased after cross-linking of the B-cell receptor (BCR), but the physiological function of this reaction is unknown. Here we show that lack of Ogt in B-cell development not only causes severe defects in the activation of BCR signaling, but also perturbs B-cell homeostasis by enhancing apoptosis of mature B cells, partly as a result of impaired response to B-cell activating factor. O-GlcNAcylation of Lyn at serine 19 is crucial for efficient Lyn activation and Syk interaction in BCR-mediated B-cell activation and expansion. Ogt deficiency in germinal center (GC) B cells also results in enhanced apoptosis of GC B cells and memory B cells in an immune response, consequently causing a reduction of antibody levels. Together, these results demonstrate that B cells rely on O-GlcNAcylation to maintain homeostasis, transduce BCR-mediated activation signals and activate humoral immunity.

Post-translational modification has a variety of regulatory functions for important immune molecules. Here the authors use B-cell specific knockout mice to show how O-GlcNAcylation is required for functional B cell responses and humoral immunity.

STAT1 regulates marginal zone B cell differentiation in response to inflammation and infection with blood-borne bacteria

Chen et al. show that STAT1 positively regulates TLR- and S. pneumoniae–induced IgM responses of MZ B cells through up-regulation of Prdm1 expression, and STAT1 is crucial for MZ B cell–mediated clearance of blood-borne S. pneumoniae infection.

Marginal zone B (MZ B) cells can rapidly produce antibody in response to infection with blood-borne encapsulated pathogens. Although TLR-mediated activation of MZ B is known to trigger humoral immune response, the signal cascade directing this response remains undefined. Here, we demonstrate that STAT1 plays an essential role in TLR-mediated antibody response of MZ B cells. Further, the TLR-induced IgM response is impaired in a type I and type II IFN-independent manner. Although activation, proliferation, and apoptosis are not affected, both differentiation into plasma cells and IgM production are impaired in Stat1^−/− MZ B cells. Interestingly, STAT1 directly regulates the expression of Prdm1 (encodes BLIMP-1) by binding to its promoter, and Prdm1 expression is reduced in Stat1^−/− MZ B cells. Restoration of BLIMP-1 to cells rescues TLR-induced IgM response. Moreover, Stat1^−/− mice are more susceptible to S. pneumoniae infection, which can be rescued by the serum of bacteria-primed WT mice. The increased susceptibility to S. pneumoniae infection in Stat1^−/− mice is also intrinsic to STAT1 requirement in MZ B cells. Collectively, these results define a differential regulation of TLR-mediated activation and differentiation of MZ B cells by STAT1 and reveal a STAT1-dependent, but IFN-independent, antibody response during infection and inflammation.

Temporal regulation of Lsp1 O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation during apoptosis of activated B cells

Crosslinking of B-cell receptor (BCR) sets off an apoptosis programme, but the underlying pathways remain obscure. Here we decipher the molecular mechanisms bridging B-cell activation and apoptosis mediated by post-translational modification (PTM). We find that O-GlcNAcase inhibition enhances B-cell activation and apoptosis induced by BCR crosslinking. This proteome-scale analysis of the functional interplay between protein O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation in stimulated mouse primary B cells identifies 313 O-GlcNAcylation-dependent phosphosites on 224 phosphoproteins. Among these phosphoproteins, temporal regulation of the O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of lymphocyte-specific protein-1 (Lsp1) is a key switch that triggers apoptosis in activated B cells. O-GlcNAcylation at S209 of Lsp1 is a prerequisite for the recruitment of its kinase, PKC-β1, to induce S243 phosphorylation, leading to ERK activation and downregulation of BCL-2 and BCL-xL. Thus, we demonstrate the critical PTM interplay of Lsp1 that transmits signals for initiating apoptosis after BCR ligation.

B cell receptor (BCR) activation can trigger signalling causing apoptosis in order to eliminate auto-reactive B cells. Here the authors show that the O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of lymphocyte-specific protein-1 are involved in a switch that regulates the initiation of apoptosis induced by BCR cross-linking.

Uncovering MicroRNA Regulatory Hubs that Modulate Plasma Cell Differentiation

Using genome-wide approaches, we studied the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile during human plasma cell (PC) differentiation induced by stimulation of human blood B cells with T follicular helper cell–dependent signals. Combining the profiles of differentially expressed genes in PC differentiation with gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that a significant group of genes involved in the transcription factor (TF) activity was preferentially changed. We thus focused on studying the effects of differentially expressed miRNAs on several key TFs in PC differentiation. Cohorts of differentially expressed miRNAs cooperating as miRNA hubs were predicted and validated to modulate key TFs, including a down-regulated miRNA hub containing miR-101-3p, -125b-5p, and -223-3p contributing to induction of PRDM1 as well as an up-regulated miRNA hub containing miR-34a-5p, -148a-3p, and -183-5p suppressing BCL6, BACH2, and FOXP1. Induced expression of NF-κB and PRDM1 during PC differentiation controlled the expression of up- and down-regulated miRNA hubs, respectively. Co-expression of miR-101-3p, -125b-5p, and -223-3p in stimulated B cells showed synergistic effects on inhibition of PC formation, which can be rescued by re-introduction of PRDM1. Together, we catalogue the complex roadmap of miRNAs and their functional interplay in collaboratively directing PC differentiation.

Examination of the role of galectins in plasma cell differentiation

Plasma cells are terminally differentiated B cells that develop via the stimulation of mature B cells with various agents such as antigens and mitogens. Recently, we found that plasma cell differentiation can be modulated by galectin-1 and galectin-8; these galectins appear to play additive and redundant roles in promoting the production of antibody. Here, we describe the protocols for how to investigate the roles of galectins in plasma cell differentiation. These methods include the preparation of recombinant galectins from Escherichia coli for exogenously treating primary B cells, generation of galectin_Fc(m) fusion proteins for determining their binding to B cells, introduction of ectopic galectins in primary B cells using retroviral vectors, and inhibition of the binding of galectins to B cells by synthetic disaccharides.

Transcription factor ABF-1 suppresses plasma cell differentiation but facilitates memory B cell formation

Ag-primed B cells that result from an immune response can form either memory B cells or Ab-secreting plasma cells; however, the molecular machinery that controls this cellular fate is poorly understood. In this study, we show that activated B cell factor-1 (ABF-1), which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcriptional repressor, participates in this regulation. ABF-1 was prevalently expressed in purified memory B cells and induced by T follicular helper cell-mediated signals. ABF-1 expression declined by the direct repression of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 during differentiation. Ectopic expression of ABF-1 reduced the formation of Ab-secreting cells in an in vitro differentiation system of human memory B cells. Accordingly, knockdown of ABF-1 potentiates the formation of Ab-secreting cells. A transgenic mouse that expresses inducible ABF-1 in a B cell-specific manner was generated to demonstrate that the formation of germinal center and memory B cells was augmented by induced ABF-1 in an immune response, whereas the Ag-specific plasma cell response was dampened. This effect was associated with the ability of ABF-1 to limit cell proliferation. Together, our results demonstrate that ABF-1 facilitates formation of memory B cells but prevents plasma cell differentiation.

RegPhos 2.0: an updated resource to explore protein kinase-substrate phosphorylation networks in mammals

Protein phosphorylation catalyzed by kinases plays crucial roles in regulating a variety of intracellular processes. Owing to an increasing number of in vivo phosphorylation sites that have been identified by mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics, the RegPhos, available online at http://csb.cse.yzu.edu.tw/RegPhos2/, was developed to explore protein phosphorylation networks in human. In this update, we not only enhance the data content in human but also investigate kinase-substrate phosphorylation networks in mouse and rat. The experimentally validated phosphorylation sites as well as their catalytic kinases were extracted from public resources, and MS/MS phosphopeptides were manually curated from research articles. RegPhos 2.0 aims to provide a more comprehensive view of intracellular signaling networks by integrating the information of metabolic pathways and protein-protein interactions. A case study shows that analyzing the phosphoproteome profile of time-dependent cell activation obtained from Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, the RegPhos deciphered not only the consistent scheme in B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway but also novel regulatory molecules that may involve in it. With an attempt to help users efficiently identify the candidate biomarkers in cancers, 30 microarray experiments, including 39 cancerous versus normal cells, were analyzed for detecting cancer-specific expressed genes coding for kinases and their substrates. Furthermore, this update features an improved web interface to facilitate convenient access to the exploration of phosphorylation networks for a group of genes/proteins. Database URL: http://csb.cse.yzu.edu.tw/RegPhos2/

Phosphoproteomic analyses reveal that galectin-1 augments the dynamics of B-cell receptor signaling

B-cell activation is important for mounting humoral immune responses and antibody production. Galectin-1 has multiple regulatory functions in immune cells. However, the effects of galectin-1 modulation and the mechanisms underlying the coordination of B-cell activation are unclear. To address this issue, we applied label-free quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis to investigate the dynamics of galectin-1-induced signaling in comparison with that following anti-IgM treatment. A total of 3247 phosphorylation sites on 1245 proteins were quantified, and 70-80% of the 856 responsive phosphoproteins were commonly activated during various biological functions. The similarity between galectin-1- and anti-IgM-elicited B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathways was also revealed. Additionally, the mapping of the 149 BCR-responsive phosphorylation sites provided complementary knowledge of BCR signaling. Compared to anti-IgM induction, the phosphoproteomic profiling of BCR signaling, along with validation by western blot analysis and pharmacological inhibitors, revealed that the activation of Syk, Btk, and PI3K may be dominant in galectin-1-mediated activation. We further demonstrated that the proliferation of antigen-primed B cells was diminished in the absence of galectin-1 in an animal model. Together, these findings provided evidence for a new role and insight into the mechanism of how galectin-1 augments the strength of the immunological synapse by modulating BCR signaling.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The current study revealed the first systematic phosphorylation-mediated signaling network and its dynamics in B cell activation. The comparative phosphoproteomic analysis on the dynamics of galectin-1 induced activation profiles not only showed that exogenously added galectin-1 augmented B-cell activation but also revealed its relatively enhanced activation in PI3K pathway. Together with proliferation assay, we further delineated that galectin-1 is important for B-cell proliferation in response to antigen challenge. Our phosphoproteomic study reveals a new role for galectin-1 in augmenting the strength of immunological synapse by modulating BCR signaling.

T cell-specific BLIMP-1 deficiency exacerbates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in nonobese diabetic mice by increasing Th1 and Th17 cells

Recently, we demonstrated that B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (BLIMP-1) has a role in regulating the differentiation and effector function of Th1 and Th17 cells. As these cells play critical roles in the induction and pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we investigated the potential role of T cell BLIMP-1 in modulating MOG35-55-induced EAE. We established T cell-specific BLIMP-1 conditional knockout (CKO) NOD mice to dissect the role of BLIMP-1 in EAE using loss-of-function model. Our results indicate that EAE severity is dramatically exacerbated in CKO mice. The numbers of CNS-infiltrating Th1, Th17, IFN-γ(+)IL-17A(+), and IL-21(+)IL-17A(+) CD4(+) T cells are remarkably increased in brain and spinal cord of CKO mice. Moreover, the ratio of Tregs/effectors and IL-10 production of Tregs are significantly downregulated in CNS of CKO mice. We conclude that BLIMP-1 suppresses autoimmune encephalomyelitis via downregulating Th1 and Th17 cells and impairing Treg cells.

Suppression of the SOX2 neural effector gene by PRDM1 promotes human germ cell fate in embryonic stem cells

The mechanisms of transcriptional regulation underlying human primordial germ cell (PGC) differentiation are largely unknown. The transcriptional repressor Prdm1/Blimp-1 is known to play a critical role in controlling germ cell specification in mice. Here, we show that PRDM1 is expressed in developing human gonads and contributes to the determination of germline versus neural fate in early development. We show that knockdown of PRDM1 in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) impairs germline potential and upregulates neural genes. Conversely, ectopic expression of PRDM1 in hESCs promotes the generation of cells that exhibit phenotypic and transcriptomic features of early PGCs. Furthermore, PRDM1 suppresses transcription of SOX2. Overexpression of SOX2 in hESCs under conditions favoring germline differentiation skews cell fate from the germline to the neural lineage. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PRDM1 serves as a molecular switch to modulate the divergence of neural or germline fates through repression of SOX2 during human development.

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PRDM1 serves as a molecular switch that determines neural or germline fate in human

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PRDM1 is expressed in early germ cells of developing human fetal gonads

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PRDM1 is expressed in hESC-derived germ cells and directs germline differentiation

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Germline differentiation in hESC requires PRDM1-mediated suppression of SOX2

B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) maintains plasma cell survival by directly suppressing apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) (P1463)

Terminally differentiated, antibody-secreting plasma cells are the end-stage effectors of humoral immune responses. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that maintain the longevity of plasma cells provides a rational basis for designing strategies to enhance the levels of vaccine-induced antibodies. Blimp-1 orchestrates plasma cell differentiation by silencing the gene expression program of mature B cells. We showed that long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow require the continuous presence of Blimp-1. Inhibition of Blimp-1 in plasma cells caused apoptosis. We performed microarray study examining the differential gene expression following depletion of Blimp-1 in plasma cells and uncovered that Blimp-1 suppresses apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1). Blimp-1 directly suppresses ASK1 transcription. Knocking down ASK1 and Blimp-1 together in plasma cells blocked Blimp-1 knockdown-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, ASK1 plays a negative role in survival of long-lived and short-lived plasma cells. ASK1 activity was induced during differentiation of short-lived plasma cells, and when produced by ASK1-deficient mice these cells survived better than those of control mice. Similarly, antigen-specific long-lived plasma cells generated by immunization accumulated in ASK1-deficient mice. Given that ASK1 induces apoptosis in response to stress, we rationalized that long-lived plasma cells may require sustained suppression of ASK1 by Blimp-1 to maintain survival.

Advanced mass spectrometry and chemical analyses reveal the presence of terminal disialyl motif on mouse B-cell glycoproteins

The occurrence of a terminal disialyl motif on mammalian O-glycans is increasingly being identified through recent mass spectrometry (MS)-based glycomic profiling. In most cases, it is carried on simple core 1 structures in which both the galactose and N-acetyl galactosamine can be disialylated. In contrast, a disialyl motif on N-glycans is less readily revealed by MS mapping, since additional MS/MS analysis is required to determine the distribution of the various sialic acids on typically multisialylated complex type N-glycans. In our MS-based glycomic screening, we found that a mouse B lymphoma cell line, BCL1, ranks among those that have the highest amount of disialyl motif on its O-glycans, including those carried on CD45. More intriguingly, detailed chemical and MS/MS analyses unambiguously showed that the Neu5Gcα2-8Neu5Gc disialyl motif is also present on the N-glycans and that it can be carried on the termini of polylactosaminoglycan chains, which can be further sulfated on the proximal GlcNAc, occurring alongside other monosialylated sulfated LacNAc termini. Upon silencing the expression of mouse α2,8-sialyltransferase VI (ST8Sia VI), the overall disialyl content decreases significantly, but more so for that on the N-glycans than the O-glycans. ST8Sia VI was further shown to be the most significantly upregulated ST8Sia during plasma cell differentiation, which coincides with increasing content of the disialyl motif. Increasing terminal disialylation without leading to polysialylation may thus have important biological consequences awaiting further investigation. Likewise, the expression of mono- and disialylated sulfated LacNAc may constitute novel recognition codes modulating B-cell activation and differentiation.

SUMOylation of Blimp-1 is critical for plasma cell differentiation

Transcriptional repressor B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) is a master regulator of plasma cell differentiation. Here we show that Blimp-1 is covalently modified by SUMO1 at lysine 816, a modification mediated by SUMO E3 ligase PIAS1. Mutation of Blimp-1 lysine 816 reduces transcriptional repression--correlating with a reduced interaction with a histone deacetylase, HDAC2--and impairs differentiation of antibody-secreting cells. Thus, the SUMO pathway critically regulates Blimp-1 function during plasma cell differentiation.

Role of syndecan-1 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis in myeloma cells (127.18)

Syndecan-1 is a transmembrane heparin sulfate proteoglycan which functions as co-receptor for cell signaling and extracellular matrix in many types of malignancies. TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an antitumor agent which initiates apoptosis through the assembly of death receptor-inducing signaling complex (DISC) after ligand binding. However, role of syndecan-1 in TRAIL -mediated cell death is unknown. Here, we elucidated the pro-survival role of syndecan-1 in multiple myeloma cell lines. Knockdown of syndecan-1 in H929 and RPMI8226 cells increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The expression level of signaling molecules downstream of TRAIL was normal in knockdown cells. Although the binding and internalization ability of TRAIL were still normal, an enhanced formation of DISC and caspase-8 activation were detected in knockdown cells. In addition, TRAIL-induced oligomerization of DR4 was enhanced in syndecan-1-knockdwon cells. Thus, syndecan-1 may regulate TRAIL-mediated cell death in the clustering of death receptors in multiple myeloma cells

Meiotic competent human germ cell-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells induced by BMP4/WNT3A signaling and OCT4/EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) selection

The establishment of an effective germ cell selection/enrichment platform from in vitro differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is crucial for studying the molecular and signaling processes governing human germ cell specification and development. In this study, we developed a germ cell-enriching system that enables us to identify signaling factors involved in germ cell-fate induction from differentiating hESCs in vitro. First, we demonstrated that selection through an OCT4-EGFP reporter system can successfully increase the percentage of meiotic-competent, germ cell-like cells from spontaneously differentiating hESCs. Furthermore, we showed that the pluripotency associated surface marker, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), is also expressed in human fetal gonads and can be used as an effective selection marker for germ cell enrichment from differentiating hESCs. Combining OCT4 and EpCAM selection can further enrich the meiotic-competent germ cell-like cell population. Also, with the percentage of OCT4(+)/EpCAM(+) cells as readout, we demonstrated the synergistic effect of BMP4/pSMAD1/5/8 and WNT3A/β-CATENIN in promoting hESCs toward the germline fate. Combining BMP4/WNT3A induction and OCT4/EpCAM selection can significantly increase the putative germ cell population with meiotic competency. Co-transplantation of these cells with dissociated mouse neonatal ovary cells into SCID mice resulted in a homogenous germ cell cluster formation in vivo. The stepwise platform established in this study provides a useful tool to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of human germ cell development, which has implications not only for human fertility research but regenerative medicine in general.

Removal of syndecan-1 promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis in myeloma cells

Syndecan is the major transmembrane proteoglycan in cells. Of the four syndecans, syndecan-1 is the dominant form expressed in multiple myeloma and is an indicator of poor prognosis. In the current study, we observed that early TRAIL-induced apoptotic processes were accompanied by cleavage of syndecan-1 intracellular region, and explored the possibility whether removal of syndecan-1 promotes apoptotic processes. We found that syndecan-1 knockdown by specific small interfering RNA in multiple myeloma enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis, even though the expression of TRAIL receptors and several apoptosis-associated molecules was unaffected. The enhanced TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in syndecan-1-deficient cells was not due to a decrease in surface heparan sulfate or a reduction in TRAIL receptor endocytosis. The increase in TRAIL-induced cell death was accompanied by an elevated caspase-8 activation and an enhanced formation of death-inducing signaling complexes, which could be attributed to an increased expression of TRAIL receptor O-glycosylation enzyme in syndecan-1-deficient cells. We also found that in H9 lymphoma and Jurkat cells, knockdown of the predominant syndecan member also led to an increase in Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that syndecan plays a negative role in death receptor-mediated cell death, suggesting potential application of syndecan downregulation in the treatment of myeloma in combination with TRAIL.

Galectin-1 and galectin-8 have redundant roles in promoting plasma cell formation

Galectin (Gal) family members are a type of soluble lectin, and they play important roles in immunomodulation. Their redundant roles have been proposed. We previously found that Gal-1 promotes the formation of Ab-secreting plasma cells, but B cells from Gal-1-deficient and control animals produce comparable amounts of Abs. In the current study, we used synthetic sulfomodified N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) analogs and short hairpin RNAs for Gal-8 to demonstrate a redundancy in the effects of Gal-1 and Gal-8 on plasma cell formation. Gal-1 and Gal-8 were both expressed during plasma cell differentiation, and both Gals promoted the formation of plasma cells. Gal-1 and Gal-8 bound better to mature B cells than to plasma cells, and the expression of glycosyltransferase enzymes changed during differentiation, with a decrease in mannosyl (α-1,6-)-glycoprotein β-1,6-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-1 mRNAs in plasma cells. Synthetic sulfomodified Galβ1-3GlcNAc disaccharides (type 1 LacNAcs) selectively prevented Gal-8 binding, leading to a blockade of Ab production in Gal-1-deficient B cells. Furthermore, synthetic type 1 LacNAcs that were able to block the binding of both Gals greatly reduced the effect of exogenously added recombinant Gal-1 and Gal-8 on promoting Ab production. These results reveal a novel role for Gal-8 in collaboration with Gal-1 in plasma cell formation, and suggest the possibility of using distinct LacNAc ligands to modulate the function of Gals.

Abstract 316: Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-like transcript 2 (TLT-2) and TLR-4 contribute to activation of human dendritic cells via ERK signaling pathway

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell (TREM) proteins are a family of receptors that regulate many different cell processes. TREM-like transcript 2 (TLT-2) is one of these TREM proteins. It have been reported that TLT-2 plays important roles in inflammation and T cell activation, but it is still elusive in its signal transduction in the cell. In an attempt to identify the active ingredient of Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) for potential drug development, we isolated a high molecular weight polysaccharide fraction, F3, and performed a comprehensive analysis of its immunomodulatory and adjuvant activities. It was found that this polysaccharide extract had potent immunomodulatory and adjuvant activities in vivo and in vitro. F3-treated mice showed an increase in the number of dendritic cells as well as CD4, CD8, regulatory T, B, plasma, NK, and NKT cells in the spleen. F3 also elevated the levels of twelve cytokines and chemokines in the blood of mice. F3 displayed potent adjuvant activity for tetanus toxoid in the absence of alum and potentiated antibody responses to alum-containing tetanus toxoid in mice. In addition, F3 also boosted Th1 and Th2 response in vivo. In vitro, F3 induced the maturation of dendritic cells derived from human monocytes by upregulating CD40, CD54, CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR, enhanced mixed lymphocyte reaction and increased the production of sixteen cytokines and chemokines. In microarray analysis, expressions of 7,688 genes were modulated in dendritic cells after treatment with F3, including cytokine and chemokine genes. To ascertain the possible receptors of F3 on human DCs, neutralizing antibodies against TLR-4 and TREM-like transcript 2 (TLT-2), but not TLR-2 and DC-SIGN, partially blocked F3-induced cytokine and chemokine release. TLT-2 and TLR-4 neutralizing antibodies or siRNA of TLT-2 also suppressed F3-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in DCs. Moreover, inhibitors of NF-κB, p38 MAPK and Akt, but not JNK, suppressed F3-induced upregulation of surface markers and reduced F3-induced cytokine production in DCs. F3 and LPS also enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and TNF-α expression through Raf-MEK signaling cascade and involvement of signaling pathway was validated through the use of specific inhibitors for Raf-MEK- ERK pathway in TLT-2 transfected U937, confirming our observations in DCs. We further demonstrated the expression of Blimp-1 in dendritic cells and its upregulation by F3. The latter could be blocked by TLT-2 antibody. These results provide insight into the TLT-2 mediated signal transduction and immunomodulatory mechanisms of F3 polysaccharide.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 316.

Absence of the transcriptional repressor Blimp-1 in hematopoietic lineages reveals its role in dendritic cell homeostatic development and function

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important for the initiation and regulation of immune responses. In this study, we demonstrate that DC homeostatic development in peripheral lymphoid organs is negatively regulated by the transcriptional repressor, Blimp-1, which is critical for regulation of plasma cell differentiation and T cell homeostasis and function. Deletion of Prdm1, the gene encoding Blimp-1, in mouse hematopoietic lineages resulted in an increase in the steady-state number of conventional DCs (cDCs). Specifically, Prdm1 deletion increased immediate CD8(-) cDC precursors in peripheral lymphoid organs, causing selective expansion of the CD8(-) cDC population. Upon stimulus-induced maturation, Blimp-1 was up-regulated in bone marrow-derived DCs via the p38 MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways. Notably, Blimp-1-deficient DCs matured poorly upon stimulation in vitro and in vivo. Blimp-1 binds to the proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine genes, Il-6 and Ccl2, and negatively regulates their expression. Collectively, our findings reveal two new roles for Blimp-1: negative regulation of a select subset of cDCs during homeostatic development, and enhancement of DC maturation.

Galectin-1 promotes immunoglobulin production during plasma cell differentiation

Galectin-1, a beta-galactoside-binding soluble lectin, has been implicated in regulating immune system homeostasis. We investigated the function of galectin-1 in plasma cell differentiation and found that it is induced in primary murine and human differentiating B cells. B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1), a master regulator for plasma cell differentiation, was necessary and sufficient to induce galectin-1 expression. Notably, ectopic expression of galectin-1 in mature B cells increased Ig mu-chain transcript levels as well as the overall level of Ig production. This function of galectin-1 was dependent on binding to cell surface glycosylated counter receptors, as a galectin-1 mutant deficient in beta-galactoside binding showed diminished ability to promote Ig production. Extracellular galectin-1 bound more significantly to mature B cells than to plasma cells. Lastly, we found that the sugar compound N-acetyllactosamine blocked the binding of galectin-1 to murine splenic B cells and inhibited their differentiation. Taken together, these data are the first to demonstrate a role for galectin-1 in promoting Ig production during plasma cell differentiation.

Induction of apoptosis in plasma cells by B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 knockdown

B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) is a transcriptional repressor that plays an important role during plasmacytic differentiation and is expressed in normal and transformed plasma cells. We here investigated the importance of continuous Blimp-1 expression. We found that knockdown of Blimp-1 expression by lentiviral vector-delivered short hairpin RNA causes apoptosis in multiple myeloma cell lines and plasmacytoma cells, indicating that continued expression of Blimp-1 is required for cell survival. We examined the mechanism underlying Blimp-1 knockdown-mediated apoptosis and found that the Blimp-1 knockdown neither reversed the phenotypic markers of plasma cells nor caused cell cycle arrest. Instead, our results show that knockdown of Blimp-1 induced the proapoptotic protein Bim, reduced the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1, and activated caspase-9 and caspase-3. We further link apoptosis in transformed plasma cells mediated by proteasome inhibitors, the effective therapeutic agent for multiple myeloma patients, with reduced expression of Blimp-1. Lastly, we show that Blimp-1-dependent cell survival may act downstream of IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) because IRF4 knockdown leads to down-regulation of Blimp-1 and apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells and plasmacytoma cells. Together, our data suggest that Blimp-1 ensures the survival of transformed plasma cells.

Reishi polysaccharides induce immunoglobulin production through the TLR4/TLR2-mediated induction of transcription factor Blimp-1

The polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) possess immunomodulation activities; however, their mode of molecular action in regulating each cellular subset in the immune system is still not clear. Here, we investigate the function of the main polysaccharide fraction of Reishi (Reishi-F3) in B lymphocyte activation/differentiation. We find that Reishi-F3 causes mouse splenic B cell activation and differentiation to IgM-secreting plasma cells, and the process depends on Reishi-F3-mediated induction of Blimp-1, a master regulator capable of triggering the changes of a cascade of gene expression during plasmacytic differentiation. In human peripheral B lymphocytes, although Reishi-F3 fails to induce their activation, it is able to enhance antibody secretion, which is associated with Blimp-1 mRNA induction. The function of Reishi-F3 depends on the Toll-like receptors TLR4/TLR2 as neutralizing antibodies against TLR4/TLR2 block Reishi-F3-mediated induction of Blimp-1 mRNA and Ig secretion. We have shown that interaction of Reishi-F3 with TLR4/TLR2 followed by signaling through p38 MAPK is involved in the induction of Blimp-1 mRNA, whereas signaling through ERK, p38 MAPK, JNK, and IKK complex is involved in Reishi-F3-mediated Ig secretion. Furthermore, the differential mechanism of Reishi-F3 in mouse and human B cell activation is probably due to the presence of Blimp-1 regulatory site in human CD86 promoter. These results establish the signaling and molecular mechanisms of Reishi-F3 on promoting antibody secretion.

Blimp-1 is required for maintenance of long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow

Long-lived plasma cells, residing primarily in the bone marrow, continuously secrete antibody and provide an important component of humoral memory. However, when such cells secrete autoantibodies or become transformed, they can be pathogenic. We have shown recently that the transcriptional repressor B lymphocyte–induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) is required for the formation of plasma cells. To determine what role Blimp-1 might play in maintenance of plasma cells, we generated mice in which the gene encoding Blimp-1 could be deleted in an inducible manner. Deletion of Blimp-1 either in vitro or in vivo leads to loss of previously formed B220^LOCD138^HI plasma cells. Using BrdU incorporation, we confirmed that Blimp-1 is required for the maintenance of nondividing, long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow. Blimp-1 is also required for long-term maintenance of antigen-specific immunoglobulin in serum. Thus Blimp-1 is required not only for the formation but also for the maintenance of long-lived plasma cells. This finding provides the possibility of new drug design strategies for autoimmunity and multiple myeloma focused on blocking Blimp-1 expression or activity.

B cell-specific loss of histone 3 lysine 9 methylation in the V(H) locus depends on Pax5

Immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement (V(H)-to-DJ(H)) occurs only in B cells, suggesting it is inhibited in other lineages. Here we found that in the mouse V(H) locus, methylation of lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3-K9), a mark of inactive chromatin, was present in non-B lineage cells but was absent in B cells. As others have shown that H3-K9 methylation can inhibit V(D)J recombination on engineered substrates, our data support the idea that H3-K9 methylation inhibits endogenous V(H)-to-DJ(H) recombination. We also show that Pax5, a transcription factor required for B cell commitment, is necessary and sufficient for the removal of H3-K9 methylation in the V(H) locus and provide evidence that one function of Pax5 is to remove this inhibitory modification by a mechanism of histone exchange, thus allowing B cell-specific V(H)-to-DJ(H) recombination.