1
|
Wiggins BG, Pallett LJ, Li X, Davies SP, Amin OE, Gill US, Kucykowicz S, Patel AM, Aliazis K, Liu YS, Reynolds GM, Davidson BR, Gander A, Luong TV, Hirschfield GM, Kennedy PTF, Huang Y, Maini MK, Stamataki Z. The human liver microenvironment shapes the homing and function of CD4 + T-cell populations. Gut 2022; 71:1399-1411. [PMID: 34548339 PMCID: PMC9185819 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are vital immune sentinels that provide protective immunity. While hepatic CD8+ TRM have been well described, little is known about the location, phenotype and function of CD4+ TRM. DESIGN We used multiparametric flow cytometry, histological assessment and novel human tissue coculture systems to interrogate the ex vivo phenotype, function and generation of the intrahepatic CD4+ T-cell compartment. We also used leukocytes isolated from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-disparate liver allografts to assess long-term retention. RESULTS Hepatic CD4+ T cells were delineated into three distinct populations based on CD69 expression: CD69-, CD69INT and CD69HI. CD69HICD4+ cells were identified as tissue-resident CD4+ T cells on the basis of their exclusion from the circulation, phenotypical profile (CXCR6+CD49a+S1PR1-PD-1+) and long-term persistence within the pool of donor-derived leukcoocytes in HLA-disparate liver allografts. CD69HICD4+ T cells produced robust type 1 polyfunctional cytokine responses on stimulation. Conversely, CD69INTCD4+ T cells represented a more heterogenous population containing cells with a more activated phenotype, a distinct chemokine receptor profile (CX3CR1+CXCR3+CXCR1+) and a bias towards interleukin-4 production. While CD69INTCD4+ T cells could be found in the circulation and lymph nodes, these cells also formed part of the long-term resident pool, persisting in HLA-mismatched allografts. Notably, frequencies of CD69INTCD4+ T cells correlated with necroinflammatory scores in chronic hepatitis B infection. Finally, we demonstrated that interaction with hepatic epithelia was sufficient to generate CD69INTCD4+ T cells, while additional signals from the liver microenvironment were required to generate liver-resident CD69HICD4+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS High and intermediate CD69 expressions mark human hepatic CD4+ TRM and a novel functionally distinct recirculating population, respectively, both shaped by the liver microenvironment to achieve diverse immunosurveillance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin G Wiggins
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Laura J Pallett
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Scott P Davies
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Oliver E Amin
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Stephanie Kucykowicz
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Arzoo M Patel
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Konstantinos Aliazis
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yuxin S Liu
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Gary M Reynolds
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Amir Gander
- Tissue Access for Patient Benefit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tu Vinh Luong
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver Research, National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Yuehua Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mala K Maini
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Rayne Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Zania Stamataki
- Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|