Microglia Require CD4 T Cells to Complete the Fetal-to-Adult Transition

The brain is a site of relative immune privilege. Although CD4 T cells have been reported in the central nervous system, their presence in the healthy brain remains controversial, and their function remains largely unknown. We used a combination of imaging, single cell, and surgical approaches to identify a CD69⁺ CD4 T cell population in both the mouse and human brain, distinct from circulating CD4 T cells. The brain-resident population was derived through in situ differentiation from activated circulatory cells and was shaped by self-antigen and the peripheral microbiome. Single-cell sequencing revealed that in the absence of murine CD4 T cells, resident microglia remained suspended between the fetal and adult states. This maturation defect resulted in excess immature neuronal synapses and behavioral abnormalities. These results illuminate a role for CD4 T cells in brain development and a potential interconnected dynamic between the evolution of the immunological and neurological systems.

Video Abstract

•

Residential CD4 T cells are present in the healthy mouse and human brain

•

Brain residency is a transient program initiated in situ and lasting weeks

•

CD4 T cell entry around birth drives a transcriptional maturation step in microglia

•

Absence of CD4 T cells results in defective synaptic pruning and behavior

Astrocyte-targeted gene delivery of interleukin 2 specifically increases brain-resident regulatory T cell numbers and protects against pathological neuroinflammation

The ability of immune-modulating biologics to prevent and reverse pathology has transformed recent clinical practice. Full utility in the neuroinflammation space, however, requires identification of both effective targets for local immune modulation and a delivery system capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. The recent identification and characterization of a small population of regulatory T (Treg) cells resident in the brain presents one such potential therapeutic target. Here, we identified brain interleukin 2 (IL-2) levels as a limiting factor for brain-resident Treg cells. We developed a gene-delivery approach for astrocytes, with a small-molecule on-switch to allow temporal control, and enhanced production in reactive astrocytes to spatially direct delivery to inflammatory sites. Mice with brain-specific IL-2 delivery were protected in traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis models, without impacting the peripheral immune system. These results validate brain-specific IL-2 gene delivery as effective protection against neuroinflammation, and provide a versatile platform for delivery of diverse biologics to neuroinflammatory patients.

Nova1 is a master regulator of alternative splicing in pancreatic beta cells

Alternative splicing (AS) is a fundamental mechanism for the regulation of gene expression. It affects more than 90% of human genes but its role in the regulation of pancreatic beta cells, the producers of insulin, remains unknown. Our recently published data indicated that the ‘neuron-specific’ Nova1 splicing factor is expressed in pancreatic beta cells. We have presently coupled specific knockdown (KD) of Nova1 with RNA-sequencing to determine all splice variants and downstream pathways regulated by this protein in beta cells. Nova1 KD altered the splicing of nearly 5000 transcripts. Pathway analysis indicated that these genes are involved in exocytosis, apoptosis, insulin receptor signaling, splicing and transcription. In line with these findings, Nova1 silencing inhibited insulin secretion and induced apoptosis basally and after cytokine treatment in rodent and human beta cells. These observations identify a novel layer of regulation of beta cell function, namely AS controlled by key splicing regulators such as Nova1.

miR-296-3p, miR-298-5p and their downstream networks are causally involved in the higher resistance of mammalian pancreatic α cells to cytokine-induced apoptosis as compared to β cells

Background

The molecular bases of mammalian pancreatic α cells higher resistance than β to proinflammatory cytokines are very poorly defined. MicroRNAs are master regulators of cell networks, but only scanty data are available on their transcriptome in these cells and its alterations in diabetes mellitus.

Results

Through high-throughput real-time PCR, we analyzed the steady state microRNA transcriptome of murine pancreatic α (αTC1-6) and β (βTC1) cells: their comparison demonstrated significant differences. We also characterized the alterations of αTC1-6 cells microRNA transcriptome after treatment with proinflammatory cytokines. We focused our study on two microRNAs, miR-296-3p and miR-298-5p, which were: (1) specifically expressed at steady state in αTC1-6, but not in βTC1 or INS-1 cells; (2) significantly downregulated in αTC1-6 cells after treatment with cytokines in comparison to untreated controls. These microRNAs share more targets than expected by chance and were co-expressed in αTC1-6 during a 6–48 h time course treatment with cytokines. The genes encoding them are physically clustered in the murine and human genome. By exploiting specific microRNA mimics, we demonstrated that experimental upregulation of miR-296-3p and miR-298-5p raised the propensity to apoptosis of transfected and cytokine-treated αTC1-6 cells with respect to αTC1-6 cells, treated with cytokines after transfection with scramble molecules. Both microRNAs control the expression of IGF1Rβ, its downstream targets phospho-IRS-1 and phospho-ERK, and TNFα. Our computational analysis suggests that MAFB (a transcription factor exclusively expressed in pancreatic α cells within adult rodent islets of Langerhans) controls the expression of miR-296-3p and miR-298-5p.

Conclusions

Altogether, high-throughput microRNA profiling, functional analysis with synthetic mimics and molecular characterization of modulated pathways strongly suggest that specific downregulation of miR-296-3p and miR-298-5p, coupled to upregulation of their targets as IGF1Rβ and TNFα, is a major determinant of mammalian pancreatic α cells resistance to apoptosis induction by cytokines.

Palmitate affects insulin receptor phosphorylation and intracellular insulin signal in a pancreatic alpha-cell line

This study investigated in a pancreatic alpha-cell line the effects of chronic exposure to palmitate on the insulin and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and intracellular insulin pathways. alpha-TC1-6 cells were cultured in the presence or absence of palmitate (0.5 mmol/liter) up to 48 h. Glucagon secretion, insulin and IGF-IR autophosphorylation, and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, IRS-2, phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K) (p85 alpha), and serine-threonine protein kinase (Akt) phosphorylated (active) forms were measured. Erk 44/42 and p38 phosphorylation (P) (MAPK pathway markers) were also measured. Because MAPK can regulate Pax6, a transcription factor that controls glucagon expression, paired box gene 6 (Pax6) and glucagon gene and protein expression were also measured. Basal glucagon secretion was increased and the inhibitory effect of acute insulin exposure reduced in alpha-TC1 cells cultured with palmitate. Insulin-stimulated insulin receptor phosphorylation was greatly reduced by exposure to palmitate. Similar results were observed with IRS-1-P, PI3K (p85 alpha), and Akt-P. In contrast, with IGF-IR and IRS-2-P, the basal levels (i.e. in the absence of insulin stimulation) were higher in cells cultured with palmitate. Similar data were obtained with Erk 44/42-P and p-38-P. Pax6 and glucagon gene and protein expression were higher in cells cultured with palmitate. In these cells cultured, specifics MAPKs inhibitors were able to reduce both Pax6 and glucagon gene and protein expression. These results indicate that alpha-cells exposed to palmitate show insulin resistance of the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway that likely controls glucagon secretion. In contrast, the IRS-2/MAPKs pathway is stimulated, through an activation of the IGF-IR, leading to increased Pax6 and glucagon expression. Our data support the hypothesis that the chronic elevation of fatty acids contribute to alpha-cell dysregulation frequently observed in type 2 diabetes.

Chronic exposure to GLP-1 increases GLP-1 synthesis and release in a pancreatic alpha cell line (α-TC1): evidence of a direct effect of GLP-1 on pancreatic alpha cells

Aims/Hypothesis

Incretin therapies, which are used to treat diabetic patients, cause a chronic supra-physiological increase in GLP-1 circulating levels. It is still unclear how the resulting high hormone concentrations may affect pancreatic alpha cells. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to high GLP-1 levels on a cultured pancreatic alpha cell line.

Methods

α-TC1-6 cell line was cultured in the presence or absence of GLP-1 (100 nmol/l) for up to 72 h. In our model GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) was measured. After the cells were exposed to GLP-1 the levels of glucagon secretion were measured. Because GLP-1 acts on intracellular cAMP production, the function of GLP-1R was studied. We also investigated the effects of chronic GLP-1 exposure on the cAMP/MAPK pathway, Pax6 levels, the expression of prohormone convertases (PCs), glucagon gene (Gcg) and protein expression, glucagon and GLP-1 production.

Results

In our model, we were able to detect GLP-1R. After GLP-1 exposure we found a reduction in glucagon secretion. During further investigation of the function of GLP-1R, we found an activation of the cAMP/MAPK/Pax6 pathway and an increase of Gcg gene and protein expression. Furthermore we observed a significant increase in PC1/3 protein expression, GLP-1 intracellular content and GLP-1 secretion.

Conclusions/Interpretation

Our data indicate that the chronic exposure of pancreatic alpha cells to GLP-1 increases the ability of these cells to produce and release GLP-1. This phenomenon occurs through the stimulation of the transcription factor Pax6 and the increased expression of the protein convertase PC1/3.

Molecular and cognitive signatures of ageing partially restored through synthetic delivery of IL2 to the brain

Cognitive decline is a common pathological outcome during aging, with an ill-defined molecular and cellular basis. In recent years, the concept of inflammaging, defined as a low-grade inflammation increasing with age, has emerged. Infiltrating T cells accumulate in the brain with age and may contribute to the amplification of inflammatory cascades and disruptions to the neurogenic niche observed with age. Recently, a small resident population of regulatory T cells has been identified in the brain, and the capacity of IL2-mediated expansion of this population to counter neuroinflammatory disease has been demonstrated. Here, we test a brain-specific IL2 delivery system for the prevention of neurological decline in aging mice. We identify the molecular hallmarks of aging in the brain glial compartments and identify partial restoration of this signature through IL2 treatment. At a behavioral level, brain IL2 delivery prevented the age-induced defect in spatial learning, without improving the general decline in motor skill or arousal. These results identify immune modulation as a potential path to preserving cognitive function for healthy aging.