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Magni S, Sawlekar R, Capelle CM, Tslaf V, Baron A, Zeng N, Mombaerts L, Yue Z, Yuan Y, Hefeng FQ, Gonçalves J. Inferring upstream regulatory genes of FOXP3 in human regulatory T cells from time-series transcriptomic data. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:59. [PMID: 38811598 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00387-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of upstream regulatory genes of a gene of interest still remains challenging. Here we applied a scalable computational method to unbiasedly predict candidate regulatory genes of critical transcription factors by searching the whole genome. We illustrated our approach with a case study on the master regulator FOXP3 of human primary regulatory T cells (Tregs). While target genes of FOXP3 have been identified, its upstream regulatory machinery still remains elusive. Our methodology selected five top-ranked candidates that were tested via proof-of-concept experiments. Following knockdown, three out of five candidates showed significant effects on the mRNA expression of FOXP3 across multiple donors. This provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms modulating FOXP3 transcriptional expression in Tregs. Overall, at the genome level this represents a high level of accuracy in predicting upstream regulatory genes of key genes of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Magni
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Rucha Sawlekar
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Christophe M Capelle
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Vera Tslaf
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Alexandre Baron
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Ni Zeng
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Laurent Mombaerts
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Zuogong Yue
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Ye Yuan
- School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Q Hefeng
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Jorge Gonçalves
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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2
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Huang Y, Feng Q, Zhang Y, Zeng Y, Shi N, Chen Y, Tang X, Li Z. The effect of PDK1 in maintaining immune cell development and function. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 721:150106. [PMID: 38795634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) exhibits a substantial influence on immune cell development by establishing a vital connection between PI3K and downstream mTOR signaling cascades. However, it remains unclear whether PDK1 signaling affects the homeostasis and functionality of immune cells. To explore the impact of PDK1 on different immune cells within immune organs, transgenic mouse strains with lymphocyte-specific PDK1 knockout (PDK1fl/fl CD2-Cre) were generated. Unlike wild-type (WT) mice, lymphocyte-specific PDK1 knockout (KO) mice exhibited thymic atrophy, elevated percentages of CD8+ T cells and neutrophils, and reduced proportions of γδ T cells, B cells, and NK cells in the spleen. Functional analysis revealed elevated release of IFN-γ and IL-17A by T cells in PDK1 KO mice, contrasting with diminished levels observed in γδ T cells and Treg cells. Furthermore, the activation, cytotoxicity, and migratory potential of γδ T cells in PDK1 KO mice are heightened, indicating a potential association with the regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway. To conclude, the findings of this research demonstrated that specific knockout of PDK1 in lymphocytes hindered T cell development in the thymus and exhibited a substantial influence on immune cell homeostasis in the spleen and lymph nodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qiuyue Feng
- Department of Systems Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yawen Zhang
- Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yingying Zeng
- Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Nanxi Shi
- Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yiming Chen
- Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xin Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Systems Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Great Bay Area Geroscience Joint Laboratory, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Cochrane RW, Robino RA, Granger B, Allen E, Vaena S, Romeo MJ, de Cubas AA, Berto S, Ferreira LM. High affinity chimeric antigen receptor signaling induces an inflammatory program in human regulatory T cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.31.587467. [PMID: 38617240 PMCID: PMC11014479 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.31.587467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are promising cellular therapies to induce immune tolerance in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for cancer has sparked interest in using CARs to generate antigen-specific Tregs. Here, we compared CAR with endogenous T cell receptor (TCR)/CD28 activation in human Tregs. Strikingly, CAR Tregs displayed increased cytotoxicity and diminished suppression of antigen-presenting cells and effector T (Teff) cells compared with TCR/CD28 activated Tregs. RNA sequencing revealed that CAR Tregs activate Teff cell gene programs. Indeed, CAR Tregs secreted high levels of inflammatory cytokines, with a subset of FOXP3+ CAR Tregs uniquely acquiring CD40L surface expression and producing IFNγ. Interestingly, decreasing CAR antigen affinity reduced Teff cell gene expression and inflammatory cytokine production by CAR Tregs. Our findings showcase the impact of engineered receptor activation on Treg biology and support tailoring CAR constructs to Tregs for maximal therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell W. Cochrane
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Rob A. Robino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Bryan Granger
- Bioinformatics Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Eva Allen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Silvia Vaena
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Martin J. Romeo
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Aguirre A. de Cubas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Stefano Berto
- Bioinformatics Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Leonardo M.R. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Borna S, Meffre E, Bacchetta R. FOXP3 deficiency, from the mechanisms of the disease to curative strategies. Immunol Rev 2024; 322:244-258. [PMID: 37994657 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
FOXP3 gene is a key transcription factor driving immune tolerance and its deficiency causes immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy X-linked syndrome (IPEX), a prototypic primary immune regulatory disorder (PIRD) with defective regulatory T (Treg) cells. Although life-threatening, the increased awareness and early diagnosis have contributed to improved control of the disease. IPEX currently comprises a broad spectrum of clinical autoimmune manifestations from severe early onset organ involvement to moderate, recurrent manifestations. This review focuses on the mechanistic advancements that, since the IPEX discovery in early 2000, have informed the role of the human FOXP3+ Treg cells in controlling peripheral tolerance and shaping the overall immune landscape of IPEX patients and carrier mothers, contributing to defining new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Borna
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Eric Meffre
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Rosa Bacchetta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Mecca M, Picerno S, Cortellino S. The Killer's Web: Interconnection between Inflammation, Epigenetics and Nutrition in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2750. [PMID: 38473997 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a key contributor to both the initiation and progression of tumors, and it can be triggered by genetic instability within tumors, as well as by lifestyle and dietary factors. The inflammatory response plays a critical role in the genetic and epigenetic reprogramming of tumor cells, as well as in the cells that comprise the tumor microenvironment. Cells in the microenvironment acquire a phenotype that promotes immune evasion, progression, and metastasis. We will review the mechanisms and pathways involved in the interaction between tumors, inflammation, and nutrition, the limitations of current therapies, and discuss potential future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisabel Mecca
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy
| | - Simona Picerno
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cortellino
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, Responsible Research Hospital, 86100 Campobasso, CB, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM), Clinical and Translational Oncology, 80138 Naples, NA, Italy
- S.H.R.O. Italia Foundation ETS, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy
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Hopp SC, Rogers JG, Smith S, Campos G, Miller H, Barannikov S, Kuri EG, Wang H, Han X, Bieniek KF, Weintraub ST, Palavicini JP. Multi-omics analyses reveal novel effects of PLCγ2 deficiency in the mouse brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.06.570499. [PMID: 38106102 PMCID: PMC10723468 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipase C gamma-2 (PLCγ2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the membrane phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to form diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3), which subsequently feed into numerous downstream signaling pathways. PLCG2 polymorphisms are associated with both reduced and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and with longevity. In the brain, PLCG2 is highly expressed in microglia, where it is proposed to regulate phagocytosis, secretion of cytokines/chemokines, cell survival and proliferation. We analyzed the brains of three-month-old PLCγ2 knockout (KO), heterozygous (HET), and wild-type (WT) mice using multiomics approaches, including shotgun lipidomics, proteomics, and gene expression profiling, and immunofluorescence. Lipidomic analyses revealed sex-specific losses of total cerebrum PIP2 and decreasing trends of DAG content in KOs. In addition, PLCγ2 depletion led to significant losses of myelin-specific lipids and decreasing trends of myelin-enriched lipids. Consistent with our lipidomics results, RNA profiling revealed sex-specific changes in the expression levels of several myelin-related genes. Further, consistent with the available literature, gene expression profiling revealed subtle changes on microglia phenotype in mature adult KOs under baseline conditions, suggestive of reduced microglia reactivity. Immunohistochemistry confirmed subtle differences in density of microglia and oligodendrocytes in KOs. Exploratory proteomic pathway analyses revealed changes in KO and HET females compared to WTs, with over-abundant proteins pointing to mTOR signaling, and under-abundant proteins to oligodendrocytes. Overall, our data indicate that loss of PLCγ2 has subtle effects on brain homeostasis that may underlie enhanced vulnerability to AD pathology and aging via novel mechanisms in addition to regulation of microglia function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Hopp
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Juliet Garcia Rogers
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Sabrina Smith
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Gabriela Campos
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC)
| | - Henry Miller
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Savannah Barannikov
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Science, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | | | - Hu Wang
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Xianlin Han
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Kevin F. Bieniek
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Science, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Susan T. Weintraub
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Juan Pablo Palavicini
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
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7
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Wang Y, Sun P, Hao X, Cao D, Liu J, Zhang D. Decreased DIO3OS Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and is Associated with Immune Infiltration. Biochem Genet 2023; 61:1791-1806. [PMID: 36802306 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10345-5] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma has become one of the most shared cancers in the whole world because of its high morbidity, poor survival rate, and low recovery rate. LncRNA DIO3 opposite strand upstream RNA (DIO3OS) has been reported to be obviously important in several human cancers, while its biological function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Here, DIO3OS gene expression data and clinical information of HCC patients were extracted from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the university of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Xena database. In our study, the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare DIO3OS expression between healthy individuals and HCC patients. It was found that patients with HCC had significantly lower DIO3OS expression than healthy individuals. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis showed that high DIO3OS expression tended to predict better prognosis and higher survival rate in HCC patients. In addition, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) assay was used to annotate the biological function of DIO3OS. It was found that DIO3OS was significantly correlated with immune invasion in HCC. This was also aided by the subsequent ESTIMATE assay. Our study provides a novel biomarker and therapeutic strategy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhan Wang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ping Sun
- Department of Immunology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinping Hao
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Weifang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, 261041, Shandong Province, China
| | - Daihong Cao
- Dpartment of Pathology, Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Jiangyue Liu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Daijuan Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong Province, China.
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Li J, Chen Z, Kim G, Luo J, Hori S, Wu C. Cathepsin W restrains peripheral regulatory T cells for mucosal immune quiescence. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf3924. [PMID: 37436991 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral regulatory T (pTreg) cells are a key T cell lineage for mucosal immune tolerance and anti-inflammatory responses, and interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) signaling is critical for Treg cell generation, expansion, and maintenance. The expression of IL-2R on pTreg cells is tightly regulated to ensure proper induction and function of pTreg cells without a clear molecular mechanism. We here demonstrate that Cathepsin W (CTSW), a cysteine proteinase highly induced in pTreg cells under transforming growth factor-β stimulation is essential for the restraint of pTreg cell differentiation in an intrinsic manner. Loss of CTSW results in elevated pTreg cell generation, protecting the animals from intestinal inflammation. Mechanistically, CTSW inhibits IL-2R signaling in pTreg cells by cytosolic interaction with and process of CD25, repressing signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activation to restrain pTreg cell generation and maintenance. Hence, our data indicate that CTSW acts as a gatekeeper to calibrate pTreg cell differentiation and function for mucosal immune quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zuojia Chen
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Girak Kim
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jialie Luo
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shohei Hori
- Laboratory of Immunology and Microbiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Chuan Wu
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Feng L, Lu WH, Li QY, Zhang HY, Xu LR, Zang WQ, Guo WT, Li YF, Zheng WJ, Geng YX, Li Q, Liu YH. Curcuma Longa Induces the Transcription Factor FOXP3 to Downregulate Human Chemokine CCR5 Expression and Inhibit HIV-1 Infection. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2023; 51:1189-1209. [PMID: 37314412 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x23500544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
HIV mutations occur frequently despite the substantial success of combination antiretroviral therapy, which significantly impairs HIV progression. Failure to develop specific vaccines, the occurrence of drug-resistant strains, and the high incidence of adverse effects due to combination antiviral therapy regimens call for novel and safer antivirals. Natural products are an important source of new anti-infective agents. For instance, curcumin inhibits HIV and inflammation in cell culture assays. Curcumin, the principal constituent of the dried rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. (turmeric), is known as a strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with different pharmacological effects. This work aims to assess curcumin's inhibitory effects on HIV in vitro and to explore the underpinning mechanism, focusing on CCR5 and the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3). First, curcumin and the RT inhibitor zidovudine (AZT) were evaluated for their inhibitory properties. HIV-1 pseudovirus infectivity was determined by green fluorescence and luciferase activity measurements in HEK293T cells. AZT was used as a positive control that inhibited HIV-1 pseudoviruses dose-dependently, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Then, a molecular docking analysis was carried out to assess the binding affinities of curcumin for CCR5 and HIV-1 RNase H/RT. The anti-HIV activity assay showed that curcumin inhibited HIV-1 infection, and the molecular docking analysis revealed equilibrium dissociation constants of [Formula: see text]9.8[Formula: see text]kcal/mol and [Formula: see text]9.3[Formula: see text]kcal/mol between curcumin and CCR5 and HIV-1 RNase H/RT, respectively. To examine curcumin's anti-HIV effect and its mechanism in vitro, cell cytotoxicity, transcriptome sequencing, and CCR5 and FOXP3 amounts were assessed at different concentrations of curcumin. In addition, human CCR5 promoter deletion constructs and the FOXP3 expression plasmid pRP-FOXP3 (with an EGFP tag) were generated. Whether FOXP3 DNA binding to the CCR5 promoter was blunted by curcumin was examined using transfection assays employing truncated CCR5 gene promoter constructs, a luciferase reporter assay, and a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Furthermore, micromolar concentrations of curcumin inactivated the nuclear transcription factor FOXP3, which resulted in decreased expression of CCR5 in Jurkat cells. Moreover, curcumin inhibited PI3K-AKT activation and its downstream target FOXP3. These findings provide mechanistic evidence encouraging further assessment of curcumin as a dietary agent used to reduce the virulence of CCR5-tropic HIV-1. Curcumin-mediated FOXP3 degradation was also reflected in its functions, namely, CCR5 promoter transactivation and HIV-1 virion production. Furthermore, curcumin inhibition of CCR5 and HIV-1 might constitute a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing HIV progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Feng
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Wu-Hao Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450052, P. R. China
| | - Qing-Ya Li
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Hai-Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Li-Ran Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Qiao Zang
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450001, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Tao Guo
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong Province 523808, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Fang Li
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Jin Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Xuan Geng
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Han Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Organism Biology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450046, P. R. China
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Zhu X, Ma D, Yang B, An Q, Zhao J, Gao X, Zhang L. Research progress of engineered mesenchymal stem cells and their derived exosomes and their application in autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:71. [PMID: 37038221 PMCID: PMC10088151 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03295-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune/inflammatory diseases affect many people and are an important cause of global incidence and mortality. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have low immunogenicity, immune regulation, multidifferentiation and other biological characteristics, play an important role in tissue repair and immune regulation and are widely used in the research and treatment of autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. In addition, MSCs can secrete extracellular vesicles with lipid bilayer structures under resting or activated conditions, including exosomes, microparticles and apoptotic bodies. Among them, exosomes, as the most important component of extracellular vesicles, can function as parent MSCs. Although MSCs and their exosomes have the characteristics of immune regulation and homing, engineering these cells or vesicles through various technical means, such as genetic engineering, surface modification and tissue engineering, can further improve their homing and other congenital characteristics, make them specifically target specific tissues or organs, and improve their therapeutic effect. This article reviews the advanced technology of engineering MSCs or MSC-derived exosomes and its application in some autoimmune/inflammatory diseases by searching the literature published in recent years at home and abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqing Zhu
- School of Basic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Dan Ma
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Baoqi Yang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Qi An
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Jingwen Zhao
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Xinnan Gao
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
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Dolsten GA, Pritykin Y. Genomic Analysis of Foxp3 Function in Regulatory T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:880-887. [PMID: 36947819 PMCID: PMC10037560 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical for tolerance to self-antigens and for preventing autoimmunity. Foxp3 has been identified as a Treg cell lineage-defining transcription factor controlling Treg cell differentiation and function. In this article, we review the current mechanistic and systemic understanding of Foxp3 function enabled by experimental and computational advances in high-throughput genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Dolsten
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Quantitative and Computational Biology Graduate Program, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Yuri Pritykin
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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12
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Helm EY, Zhou L. Transcriptional regulation of innate lymphoid cells and T cells by aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1056267. [PMID: 37056785 PMCID: PMC10089284 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1056267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor and facilitates immune cell environmental sensing through its activation by cellular, dietary, and microbial metabolites, as well as environmental toxins. Although expressed in various cell types, Ahr in innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and their adaptive T cell counterparts regulates essential aspects of their development and function. As opposed to T cells, ILCs exclusively rely on germ-line encoded receptors for activation, but often share expression of core transcription factors and produce shared effector molecules with their T cell counterparts. As such, core modules of transcriptional regulation are both shared and diverge between ILCs and T cells. In this review, we highlight the most recent findings regarding Ahr’s transcriptional regulation of both ILCs and T cells. Furthermore, we focus on insights elucidating the shared and distinct mechanisms by which Ahr regulates both innate and adaptive lymphocytes.
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13
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Evaluation of the relationship between mesenchymal stem cells and immune system in vitro conditions. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:4347-4356. [PMID: 36935445 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08374-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are a novel therapeutic option as the most common cell source, play an important role in the immunomodulation. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of MSCs on cytokines secreted by the immune system cells. METHODS Intracellular cytokine levels (Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and Interleukin-17 (IL-17)) detected by flow cytometry before and after co-culture between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and MCSs. At the same time, supernatant cytokine levels were measured using the ELISA. RESULTS In our study, MSCs were isolated from cord blood (CB) and Wharton's Jelly (WJ), and their surface markers (CD44 (100%), CD73 (99.6%), CD90 (100%), CD105 (88%)) shown by flow cytometry method. Both CB-MSCs and WJ-MSCs were used in co-culture MSC/PBMC ratios of 1/5 and 1/10, incubation times of 24 h and 72 h. In the present study, when we compared co-cultures of CB-MSC or WJ-MSC with PBMCs, intracellular levels of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-17 (pro-inflamatory) and IL-4 (anti-inflamatory) were increased, and supernatant levels were decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The level of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) (anti-inflamatory) was significantly decreased for both CB-MSC and WJ-MSC in supernatant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS It was investigated pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects of CB-MSCs and WJ-MSCs on PBMCs with the obtained results. According to the results, MSCs demonstrated different immunologic effects after the incubation time and ratios. For further studies, it should be known between interaction of MSCs and immune system.
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14
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Acquired Aplastic Anemia: The Spectrum from Basic to Clinical Utility. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054464. [PMID: 36901900 PMCID: PMC10003043 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Aplastic anemia (AA), a rare but potentially life-threatening disease, is a paradigm of bone marrow failure syndromes characterized by pancytopenia in the peripheral blood and hypocellularity in the bone marrow. The pathophysiology of acquired idiopathic AA is quite complex. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), an important component of the bone marrow, are crucial in providing the specialized microenvironment for hematopoiesis. MSC dysfunction may result in an insufficient bone marrow and may be associated with the development of AA. In this comprehensive review, we summarized the current understanding about the involvement of MSCs in the pathogenesis of acquired idiopathic AA, along with the clinical application of MSCs for patients with the disease. The pathophysiology of AA, the major properties of MSCs, and results of MSC therapy in preclinical animal models of AA are also described. Several important issues regarding the clinical use of MSCs are discussed finally. With evolving knowledge from basic studies and clinical applications, we anticipate that more patients with the disease can benefit from the therapeutic effects of MSCs in the near future.
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15
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Dikiy S, Rudensky AY. Principles of regulatory T cell function. Immunity 2023; 56:240-255. [PMID: 36792571 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells represent a distinct lineage of cells of the adaptive immune system indispensable for forestalling fatal autoimmune and inflammatory pathologies. The role of Treg cells as principal guardians of the immune system can be attributed to their ability to restrain all currently recognized major types of inflammatory responses through modulating the activity of a wide range of cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. This broad purview over immunity and inflammation is afforded by the multiple modes of action Treg cells exert upon their diverse molecular and cellular targets. Beyond the suppression of autoimmunity for which they were originally recognized, Treg cells have been implicated in tissue maintenance, repair, and regeneration under physiologic and pathologic conditions. Herein, we discuss the current and emerging understanding of Treg cell effector mechanisms in the context of the basic properties of Treg cells that endow them with such functional versatility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Dikiy
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Ludwig Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Alexander Y Rudensky
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Ludwig Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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16
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Betzler AC, Ushmorov A, Brunner C. The transcriptional program during germinal center reaction - a close view at GC B cells, Tfh cells and Tfr cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1125503. [PMID: 36817488 PMCID: PMC9936310 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The germinal center (GC) reaction is a key process during an adaptive immune response to T cell specific antigens. GCs are specialized structures within secondary lymphoid organs, in which B cell proliferation, somatic hypermutation and antibody affinity maturation occur. As a result, high affinity antibody secreting plasma cells and memory B cells are generated. An effective GC response needs interaction between multiple cell types. Besides reticular cells and follicular dendritic cells, particularly B cells, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells as well as T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells are a key player during the GC reaction. Whereas Tfh cells provide help to GC B cells in selection processes, Tfr cells, a specialized subset of regulatory T cells (Tregs), are able to suppress the GC reaction maintaining the balance between immune activation and tolerance. The formation and function of GCs is regulated by a complex network of signals and molecules at multiple levels. In this review, we highlight recent developments in GC biology by focusing on the transcriptional program regulating the GC reaction. This review focuses on the transcriptional co-activator BOB.1/OBF.1, whose important role for GC B, Tfh and Tfr cell differentiation became increasingly clear in recent years. Moreover, we outline how deregulation of the GC transcriptional program can drive lymphomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika C. Betzler
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexey Ushmorov
- Ulm University, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Ulm, Germany
| | - Cornelia Brunner
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany,*Correspondence: Cornelia Brunner,
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17
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Targeting Epigenetic Mechanisms: A Boon for Cancer Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11010169. [PMID: 36672677 PMCID: PMC9855697 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is rapidly emerging as a promising approach against cancer. In the last decade, various immunological mechanisms have been targeted to induce an increase in the immune response against cancer cells. However, despite promising results, many patients show partial response, resistance, or serious toxicities. A promising way to overcome this is the use of immunotherapeutic approaches, in combination with other potential therapeutic approaches. Aberrant epigenetic modifications play an important role in carcinogenesis and its progression, as well as in the functioning of immune cells. Thus, therapeutic approaches targeting aberrant epigenetic mechanisms and the immune response might provide an effective antitumor effect. Further, the recent development of potent epigenetic drugs and immunomodulators gives hope to this combinatorial approach. In this review, we summarize the synergy mechanism between epigenetic therapies and immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer, and discuss recent advancements in the translation of this approach.
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18
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Nettersheim FS, Ghosheh Y, Winkels H, Kobiyama K, Durant C, Armstrong SS, Brunel S, Roy P, Dileepan T, Jenkins MK, Zajonc DM, Ley K. Single-cell transcriptomes and T cell receptors of vaccine-expanded apolipoprotein B-specific T cells. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1076808. [PMID: 36684560 PMCID: PMC9849899 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1076808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death worldwide. CD4 T cells responding to Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the core protein of most lipoproteins, have been identified as critical disease modulators. In healthy individuals, ApoB-reactive (ApoB+) CD4 T cells are mostly regulatory T cells (Tregs), which exert anti-inflammatory effects. Yet, they may obtain pro-inflammatory features and thus become proatherogenic. Evidence from animal studies suggests that vaccination against certain major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II-binding ApoB peptides induces an expansion of ApoB+ Tregs and thus confers atheroprotection. To date, in-depth phenotyping of vaccine-expanded ApoB+ T cells has not yet been performed. To this end, we vaccinated C57BL/6J mice with the ApoB-peptide P6 (ApoB978-993 TGAYSNASSTESASY) and performed single-cell RNA sequencing of tetramer-sorted P6+ T cells. P6+ cells were clonally expanded (one major, two minor clones) and formed a transcriptional cluster distinct from clusters mainly containing non-expanded P6+ and P6- cells. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that most expanded P6+ cells had a strong Treg signature and highly expressed genes mediating suppressive functions. Yet, some expanded P6+ cells only had a residual Treg signature and expressed genes related to T helper 1 (TH1) cells, which are proatherogenic. Modeling the T cell receptor (TCR) and P6:MHC-II interaction showed that only three amino acid residues in the α and β chain contact the P6 peptide in the MHC-II groove and thus determine the specificity of this TCR to P6. Our data begin to reveal the vaccination-induced response to an ApoB epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Sebastian Nettersheim
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yanal Ghosheh
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Holger Winkels
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kouji Kobiyama
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Simon Brunel
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Payel Roy
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Thamotharampillai Dileepan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Marc K. Jenkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Dirk M. Zajonc
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Klaus Ley
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Immunology Center of Georgia (IMMCG), Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
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Gao X, Yi L, Jiang C, Li S, Wang X, Yang B, Li W, Che N, Wang J, Zhang H, Zhang S. PCSK9 regulates the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy in lung cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1142428. [PMID: 37025995 PMCID: PMC10070680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1142428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) secreted by tumors was reported as a deleterious factor that led to the reduction of lymphocyte infiltration and the poorer efficacy of ICIs in vivo. This study aimed to explore whether PCSK9 expression in tumor tissue could predict the response of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and the synergistic antitumor effect of the combination of the PCSK9 inhibitor with the anti-CD137 agonist. One hundred fifteen advanced NSCLC patients who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy were retrospectively studied with PCSK9 expression in baseline NSCLC tissues detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The mPFS of the PCSK9lo group was significantly longer than that of the PCSK9hi group [8.1 vs. 3.6 months, hazard ratio (HR): 3.450; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.166-5.496]. A higher objective response rate (ORR) and a higher disease control rate (DCR) were observed in the PCSK9lo group than in the PCSK9hi group (54.4% vs. 34.5%, 94.7% vs. 65.5%). Reduction and marginal distribution of CD8+ T cells were observed in PCSK9hi NSCLC tissues. Tumor growth was retarded by the PCSK9 inhibitor and the anti-CD137 agonist alone in the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) mice model and further retarded by the PCSK9 inhibitor in combination with the CD137 agonist with long-term survival of the host mice with noticeable increases of CD8+ and GzmB+ CD8+ T cells and reduction of Tregs. Together, these results suggested that high PCSK9 expression in baseline tumor tissue was a deleterious factor for the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients. The PCSK9 inhibitor in combination with the anti-CD137 agonist could not only enhance the recruitment of CD8+ and GzmB+ CD8+ T cells but also deplete Tregs, which may be a novel therapeutic strategy for future research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Gao
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Yi
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Shuping Li
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojue Wang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiying Li
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Nanying Che
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtao Zhang, ; Shucai Zhang, ; Jinghui Wang, ; Nanying Che,
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtao Zhang, ; Shucai Zhang, ; Jinghui Wang, ; Nanying Che,
| | - Hongtao Zhang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtao Zhang, ; Shucai Zhang, ; Jinghui Wang, ; Nanying Che,
| | - Shucai Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute/Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtao Zhang, ; Shucai Zhang, ; Jinghui Wang, ; Nanying Che,
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Kalkusova K, Taborska P, Stakheev D, Smrz D. The Role of miR-155 in Antitumor Immunity. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5414. [PMID: 36358832 PMCID: PMC9659277 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs belong to a group of short non-coding RNA molecules that are involved in the regulation of gene expression at multiple levels. Their function was described two decades ago, and, since then, microRNAs have become a rapidly developing field of research. Their participation in the regulation of cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, cell growth, and migration, made microRNAs attractive for cancer research. Moreover, as a single microRNA can simultaneously target multiple molecules, microRNAs offer a unique advantage in regulating multiple cellular processes in different cell types. Many of these cell types are tumor cells and the cells of the immune system. One of the most studied microRNAs in the context of cancer and the immune system is miR-155. MiR-155 plays a role in modulating innate and adaptive immune mechanisms in distinct immune cell types. As such, miR-155 can be part of the communication between the tumor and immune cells and thus impact the process of tumor immunoediting. Several studies have already revealed its effect on antitumor immune responses, and the targeting of this molecule is increasingly implemented in cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of miR-155 in the regulation of antitumor immunity and the shaping of the tumor microenvironment, and the plausible implementation of miR-155 targeting in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Kalkusova
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Taborska
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dmitry Stakheev
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Smrz
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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Inhibition of FOXP3 by stapled alpha-helical peptides dampens regulatory T cell function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209044119. [PMID: 36227917 PMCID: PMC9586281 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209044119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapies and preclinical probes designed to drug and better understand the specific functions of intracellular protein–protein interactions (PPIs) remain an area of unmet need. This study describes the development of prototype therapeutics against the FOXP3 homodimer, a PPI essential for regulatory T cell suppressive capacity. We demonstrate that hydrocarbon stapled peptides designed to block this interaction can dampen regulatory T cell (Treg cell) suppressive function and lead to genetic signatures of immune reactivation. This work provides strong scientific justification for continued development of FOXP3-specific peptide-based inhibitors and provides mechanistic insights into the design and delivery of specific inhibitors of the coiled-coil region of FOXP3. These studies ultimately could lead to new immunotherapeutic strategies to amplify immune responsiveness in a number of settings. Despite continuing advances in the development of novel cellular-, antibody-, and chemotherapeutic-based strategies to enhance immune reactivity, the presence of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) remains a complicating factor for their clinical efficacy. To overcome dosing limitations and off-target effects from antibody-based Treg cell deletional strategies or small molecule drugging, we investigated the ability of hydrocarbon stapled alpha-helical (SAH) peptides to target FOXP3, the master transcription factor regulator of Treg cell development, maintenance, and suppressive function. Using the crystal structure of the FOXP3 homodimer as a guide, we developed SAHs in the likeness of a portion of the native FOXP3 antiparallel coiled-coil homodimerization domain (SAH-FOXP3) to block this key FOXP3 protein-protein interaction (PPI) through molecular mimicry. We describe the design, synthesis, and biochemical evaluation of single- and double-stapled SAHs covering the entire coiled-coil expanse. We show that lead SAH-FOXP3s bind FOXP3, are cell permeable and nontoxic to T cells, induce dose-dependent transcript and protein level alterations of FOXP3 target genes, impede Treg cell function, and lead to Treg cell gene expression changes in vivo consistent with FOXP3 dysfunction. These results demonstrate a proof of concept for rationally designed FOXP3-directed peptide therapeutics that could be used as approaches to amplify endogenous immune responsiveness.
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22
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Zhang Z, Tan X, Jiang Z, Wang H, Yuan H. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in osteosarcoma: A hopeful and challenging future. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1031527. [PMID: 36324681 PMCID: PMC9618820 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1031527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS), the most common malignant tumor in the musculoskeletal system, mainly occurs in adolescents. OS results in high mortality and disability rates due to a fatal metastatic tendency and subsequent iatrogenic damage caused by surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recently, immunotherapies have resulted in promising prognoses with reduced side effects compared with traditional therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which are a representative immunotherapy for OS, enhance the antitumor effects of immune cells. ICIs have shown satisfactory outcomes in other kinds of malignant tumors, especially hemopoietic tumors. However, there is still a high percentage of failures or severe side effects associated with the use of ICIs to treat OS, leading to far worse outcomes. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance and side effects, recent studies elucidated several possible reasons, including the activation of other inhibitory immune cells, low immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment, different immune properties of OS subtypes, and the involvement of osteogenesis and osteolysis. According to these mechanisms, researchers have developed new methods to overcome the shortcomings of ICIs. This review summarizes the recent breakthroughs in the use of ICIs to treat OS. Although numerous issues have not been solved yet, ICIs are still the most promising treatment options to cure OS in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeng Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Tan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zengxin Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Wang, ; Hengfeng Yuan,
| | - Hengfeng Yuan
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Wang, ; Hengfeng Yuan,
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23
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Durmo R, Donati B, Rebaud L, Cottereau AS, Ruffini A, Nizzoli ME, Ciavarella S, Vegliante MC, Nioche C, Meignan M, Merli F, Versari A, Ciarrocchi A, Buvat I, Luminari S. Prognostic value of lesion dissemination in doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine-treated, interimPET-negative classical Hodgkin Lymphoma patients: A radio-genomic study. Hematol Oncol 2022; 40:645-657. [PMID: 35606338 PMCID: PMC9796042 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the prognostic role of the largest distance between two lesions (Dmax), defined by positron emission tomography (PET) in a retrospective cohort of newly diagnosed classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) patients. We also explored the molecular bases underlying Dmax through a gene expression analysis of diagnostic biopsies. We included patients diagnosed with cHL from 2007 to 2020, initially treated with ABVD, with available baseline PET for review, and with at least two FDG avid lesions. Patients with available RNA from diagnostic biopsy were eligible for gene expression analysis. Dmax was deduced from the three-dimensional coordinates of the baseline metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and its effect on progression free survival (PFS) was evaluated. Gene expression profiles were correlated with Dmax and analyzed using CIBERSORTx algorithm to perform deconvolution. The study was conducted on 155 eligible cHL patients. Using its median value of 20 cm, Dmax was the only variable independently associated with PFS (HR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.1-6.63, pValue = 0.03) in multivariate analysis of PFS for all patients and for those with early complete metabolic response (iPET-). Among patients with iPET-low Dmax was associated with a 4-year PFS of 90% (95% CI 82.0-98.9) significantly better compared to high Dmax (4-year PFS 72.4%, 95% CI 61.9-84.6). From the analysis of gene expression profiles differences in Dmax were mostly associated with variations in the expression of microenvironmental components. In conclusion our results support tumor dissemination measured through Dmax as novel prognostic factor for cHL patients treated with ABVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rexhep Durmo
- Nuclear Medicine UnitAzienda USL‐IRCCSReggio EmiliaItaly,PhD Program in Clinical and Experimental Medicine (CEM)University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Benedetta Donati
- Translational Research LaboratoryAzienda USL‐IRCCSReggio EmiliaItaly
| | - Louis Rebaud
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Translationnelle en OncologieInstitut Curie, U1288 Inserm, PSLOrsayFrance,Siemens HealthineersSaint‐DenisFrance
| | | | | | | | - Sabino Ciavarella
- Hematology and Cell Therapy UnitIRCCS‐Istituto Tumori 'Giovanni Paolo II'BariItaly
| | | | - Christophe Nioche
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Translationnelle en OncologieInstitut Curie, U1288 Inserm, PSLOrsayFrance
| | - Michel Meignan
- Lysa ImagingHenri Mondor University Hospital, AP‐HP, University Paris EastCreteilFrance
| | | | | | | | - Irene Buvat
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Translationnelle en OncologieInstitut Curie, U1288 Inserm, PSLOrsayFrance
| | - Stefano Luminari
- Hematology UnitAzienda USL‐IRCCSReggio EmiliaItaly,Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative MedicineUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaReggio EmiliaItaly
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24
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Wei H, Qiu X, Lv M, Liu X. Expression analysis of grass carp Foxp3 and its biologic effects on CXCL-8 transcription in non-lymphoid cells. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 134:104447. [PMID: 35597302 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Teleost Forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) expression was discovered not only in regulatory T cells (Tregs) but also in other cells. Compared to the extensive study on its roles in lymphoid cells, the expression pattern and biological roles of Foxp3 in non-lymphoid cells have not been elucidated in both mammals and fish species. In the present study, grass carp Foxp3 (gcFoxp3) mRNA expression was detected in different cell types, showing that it has a moderate expression level in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), head kidney leukocytes (HKLs) and grass carp fibroblast-like kidney cells (CIK cells). Interestingly, gcFoxp3 mRNA and protein expression could be significantly stimulated by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) in CIK cells, indicating its participation in poly I:C-induced immune response in non-lymphoid cells. To further investigate the function of gcFoxp3, its overexpression plasmid was constructed and transfected into CIK cells. After 24 h of transfection, grass carp C-X-C chemokine ligand (CXCL) 8 (gcCXCL-8) mRNA expression was elevated, implying the modulatory role of gcFoxp3 in gcCXCL-8 mRNA expression. This notion was further supported by the features of gcCXCL-8 promoter which contained a putative Foxp3 binding site at -2196 to -2190 region. Poly I:C or overexpression of gcFoxp3 obviously stimulated gcCXCL-8 promoter activity and deletion of gcFoxp3 binding region on the promoter abolished this stimulation, revealing that Foxp3 is pivotal for transcription of CXCL-8 induced by poly I:C. In conclusion, our results collectively demonstrate expression pattern of teleost Foxp3, and illuminate novel immune function of fish Foxp3 in regulating chemokine transcription in non-lymphoid cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Wei
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China; Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xingyang Qiu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengyuan Lv
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuelian Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
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25
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Liang Z, Wang N, Shang L, Wang Y, Feng M, Liu G, Gao C, Luo J. Evaluation of the immune feature of ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis and the clinical value of matrix metalloproteinase-3. Front Immunol 2022; 13:939265. [PMID: 35967336 PMCID: PMC9363571 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.939265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are highly specific for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, about one-third of RA patients are negative for ACPAs, which presents a challenge to the early diagnosis of RA. The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in lymphocyte subsets and CD4+ T cell subsets between ACPA+ and ACPA- RA patients, and to evaluate the value of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) as a diagnostic and monitoring marker in ACA- RA patients. A total of 145 ACPA+ RA patients, 145 ACPA- RA patients, and 38 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Peripheral lymphocyte subsets were detected using flow cytometry, and serum MMP-3 was detected using chemiluminescence. Information about joint symptoms, other organ involvement, and related inflammatory markers was also collected. The results showed that, compared to ACPA- RA patients, ACPA+ cases had greater imbalances between peripheral CD4+ T cell subsets, mainly manifested as an increase in T-helper 1 (Th1) cells (p < 0.001) and decrease in regulatory T (Treg) cells (p = 0.029). This makes these patients more prone to inflammatory reactions and joint erosion. MMP-3 levels in ACPA+ and ACPA- RA patients were significantly higher than in HCs (p < 0.001), and MMP-3 could effectively distinguish between ACPA- RA patients and HCs (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.930, sensitivity 84.14%, specificity 92.11%). MMP-3 was also a serum marker for distinguishing between RA patients with low and high disease activities. Further analysis showed that MMP-3 was positively correlated with the levels of inflammatory markers and disease activity, and negatively correlated with the levels of lymphocyte subsets. In addition, with improvements in the disease, MMP-3 levels decreased, and further increased as the patients started to deteriorate. In summary, our research showed that there was a mild imbalance between peripheral CD4+ T cell subsets in ACPA- RA patients. MMP-3 may be used as a potential marker for early diagnosis of ACPA- RA. MMP-3 was an important index for RA disease evaluation, disease activity stratification, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaojun Liang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Immunomicroecology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Immunomicroecology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Lili Shang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Immunomicroecology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanlin Wang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Immunomicroecology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Min Feng
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Immunomicroecology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Guangying Liu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chong Gao
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jing Luo
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Immunomicroecology, Taiyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Luo,
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26
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Rojas M, Heuer LS, Zhang W, Chen YG, Ridgway WM. The long and winding road: From mouse linkage studies to a novel human therapeutic pathway in type 1 diabetes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:918837. [PMID: 35935980 PMCID: PMC9353112 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.918837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmunity involves a loss of immune tolerance to self-proteins due to a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental provocation, which generates autoreactive T and B cells. Genetic susceptibility affects lymphocyte autoreactivity at the level of central tolerance (e.g., defective, or incomplete MHC-mediated negative selection of self-reactive T cells) and peripheral tolerance (e.g., failure of mechanisms to control circulating self-reactive T cells). T regulatory cell (Treg) mediated suppression is essential for controlling peripheral autoreactive T cells. Understanding the genetic control of Treg development and function and Treg interaction with T effector and other immune cells is thus a key goal of autoimmunity research. Herein, we will review immunogenetic control of tolerance in one of the classic models of autoimmunity, the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes (T1D). We review the long (and still evolving) elucidation of how one susceptibility gene, Cd137, (identified originally via linkage studies) affects both the immune response and its regulation in a highly complex fashion. The CD137 (present in both membrane and soluble forms) and the CD137 ligand (CD137L) both signal into a variety of immune cells (bi-directional signaling). The overall outcome of these multitudinous effects (either tolerance or autoimmunity) depends upon the balance between the regulatory signals (predominantly mediated by soluble CD137 via the CD137L pathway) and the effector signals (mediated by both membrane-bound CD137 and CD137L). This immune balance/homeostasis can be decisively affected by genetic (susceptibility vs. resistant alleles) and environmental factors (stimulation of soluble CD137 production). The discovery of the homeostatic immune effect of soluble CD137 on the CD137-CD137L system makes it a promising candidate for immunotherapy to restore tolerance in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Rojas
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Doctoral Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Luke S. Heuer
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Weici Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Yi-Guang Chen
- The Max McGee Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes, Children’s Research Institute of Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - William M. Ridgway
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: William M. Ridgway,
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27
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Hövelmeyer N, Schmidt-Supprian M, Ohnmacht C. NF-κB in control of regulatory T cell development, identity, and function. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:985-995. [PMID: 35672519 PMCID: PMC9213371 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02215-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) act as a major rheostat regulating the strength of immune responses, enabling tolerance of harmless foreign antigens, and preventing the development of pathogenic immune responses in various disease settings such as cancer and autoimmunity. Treg cells are present in all lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, and the latter often fulfill important tasks required for the physiology of their host organ. The activation of NF-κB transcription factors is a central pathway for the reprogramming of gene expression in response to inflammatory but also homeostatic cues. Genetic mouse models have revealed essential functions for NF-κB transcription factors in modulating Treg development and function, with some of these mechanistic insights confirmed by recent studies analyzing Treg cells from patients harboring point mutations in the genes encoding NF-κB proteins. Molecular insights into the NF-κB pathway in Treg cells hold substantial promise for novel therapeutic strategies to manipulate dysfunctional or inadequate cell numbers of immunosuppressive Treg cells in autoimmunity or cancer. Here, we provide an overview of the manifold roles that NF-κB factors exert in Treg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Hövelmeyer
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
- Germany Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Marc Schmidt-Supprian
- Institute for Experimental Hematology, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Caspar Ohnmacht
- Center for Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
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28
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Tan L, An Y, Yang Q, Yang H, Zhang G, Li Q, Wang M. A novel FOXP3 mutation in a Chinese child with IPEX-associated membranous nephropathy. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e1945. [PMID: 35434975 PMCID: PMC9184667 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is a monogenic immunodeficiency disease caused by forkhead box protein3 (FOXP3) mutation. The kidney is commonly involved in IPEX syndrome, but there were few studies focusing on renal involvement. METHODS Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify the novel FOXP3 mutation. We collected clinical manifestations, kidney pathology, and gene function of the proband. All the previously published studies with IPEX-associated renal involvement were reviewed. RESULTS We report a late-onset Chinese child with IPEX-associated membranous nephropathy (MN). Type 1 diabetes mellitus and nephrotic-range proteinuria are the main clinical manifestations. Whole-exome sequencing shows a novel c.766A > G mutation in the FOXP3 gene. The literature review indicates that renal manifestations include proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, and renal insufficiency. MN is the most common pathological type in children with IPEX, followed by tubulointerstitial nephritis, interstitial nephritis, minimal change nephrotic syndrome, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. CONCLUSION In summary, we report a novel FOXP3 mutation (c.766A > G) with MN stage II in IPEX. In a literature review, MN is the most common pathological type in children with IPEX and proteinuria is the most prevalent clinical feature. IPEX should be considered in the differential diagnosis of MN patients with related endocrine diseases and immune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Tan
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunfei An
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiping Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Gaofu Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiu Li
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Mo Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
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29
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Betzler AC, Ezić J, Abou Kors T, Hoffmann TK, Wirth T, Brunner C. T Cell Specific BOB.1/OBF.1 Expression Promotes Germinal Center Response and T Helper Cell Differentiation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:889564. [PMID: 35603192 PMCID: PMC9114770 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.889564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional co-activator BOB.1/OBF.1 is expressed in both B and T cells. The main characteristic of conventional BOB.1/OBF.1 deficient mice is the complete absence of germinal centers (GCs). This defect was mainly attributed to the defective B cell compartment. However, it is unknown whether and how BOB.1/OBF.1 expression in T cells contributes to the GC reaction. To finally clarify this question, we studied the in vivo function of BOB.1/OBF.1 in CD4+ T and follicular T helper (TFH) cell subpopulations by conditional mutagenesis, in the presence of immunocompetent B lymphocytes. BOB.1/OBF.1 deletion in CD4+ T as well as TFH cells resulted in impaired GC formation demonstrating that the impaired GC reaction described for conventional BOB.1/OBF.1-deficient mice cannot exclusively be traced back to the B cell compartment. Furthermore, we show a requirement of BOB.1/OBF.1 for T helper (TH) cell subsets, particularly for TFH cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika C Betzler
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Ezić
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tsima Abou Kors
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas K Hoffmann
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Wirth
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Cornelia Brunner
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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30
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Nair VS, Heredia M, Samsom J, Huehn J. Impact of gut microenvironment on epigenetic signatures of intestinal T helper cell subsets. Immunol Lett 2022; 246:27-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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31
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Bossini-Castillo L, Glinos DA, Kunowska N, Golda G, Lamikanra AA, Spitzer M, Soskic B, Cano-Gamez E, Smyth DJ, Cattermole C, Alasoo K, Mann A, Kundu K, Lorenc A, Soranzo N, Dunham I, Roberts DJ, Trynka G. Immune disease variants modulate gene expression in regulatory CD4 + T cells. CELL GENOMICS 2022; 2:None. [PMID: 35591976 PMCID: PMC9010307 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Identifying cellular functions dysregulated by disease-associated variants could implicate novel pathways for drug targeting or modulation in cell therapies. However, follow-up studies can be challenging if disease-relevant cell types are difficult to sample. Variants associated with immune diseases point toward the role of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells). We mapped genetic regulation (quantitative trait loci [QTL]) of gene expression and chromatin activity in Treg cells, and we identified 133 colocalizing loci with immune disease variants. Colocalizations of immune disease genome-wide association study (GWAS) variants with expression QTLs (eQTLs) controlling the expression of CD28 and STAT5A, involved in Treg cell activation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) signaling, support the contribution of Treg cells to the pathobiology of immune diseases. Finally, we identified seven known drug targets suitable for drug repurposing and suggested 63 targets with drug tractability evidence among the GWAS signals that colocalized with Treg cell QTLs. Our study is the first in-depth characterization of immune disease variant effects on Treg cell gene expression modulation and dysregulation of Treg cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dafni A. Glinos
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalia Kunowska
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gosia Golda
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Abigail A. Lamikanra
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford, UK
- BRC Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michaela Spitzer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Blagoje Soskic
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eddie Cano-Gamez
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Deborah J. Smyth
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Kaur Alasoo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Alice Mann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kousik Kundu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna Lorenc
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicole Soranzo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ian Dunham
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - David J. Roberts
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford, UK
- BRC Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gosia Trynka
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
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32
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Bolivar-Wagers S, Larson JH, Jin S, Blazar BR. Cytolytic CD4 + and CD8 + Regulatory T-Cells and Implications for Developing Immunotherapies to Combat Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:864748. [PMID: 35493508 PMCID: PMC9040077 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.864748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T-cells (Treg) are critical for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and tolerance induction. While the immunosuppressive mechanisms of Treg have been extensively investigated for decades, the mechanisms responsible for Treg cytotoxicity and their therapeutic potential in regulating immune responses have been incompletely explored and exploited. Conventional cytotoxic T effector cells (Teffs) are known to be important for adaptive immune responses, particularly in the settings of viral infections and cancer. CD4+ and CD8+ Treg subsets may also share similar cytotoxic properties with conventional Teffs. Cytotoxic effector Treg (cyTreg) are a heterogeneous population in the periphery that retain the capacity to suppress T-cell proliferation and activation, induce cellular apoptosis, and migrate to tissues to ensure immune homeostasis. The latter can occur through several cytolytic mechanisms, including the Granzyme/Perforin and Fas/FasL signaling pathways. This review focuses on the current knowledge and recent advances in our understanding of cyTreg and their potential application in the treatment of human disease, particularly Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bruce R. Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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33
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Sarkar T, Dhar S, Chakraborty D, Pati S, Bose S, Panda AK, Basak U, Chakraborty S, Mukherjee S, Guin A, Jana K, Sarkar DK, Sa G. FOXP3/HAT1 Axis Controls Treg Infiltration in the Tumor Microenvironment by Inducing CCR4 Expression in Breast Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:740588. [PMID: 35222362 PMCID: PMC8863663 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.740588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Infiltrating T-regulatory cells in the tumor microenvironment is a key impediment to immunotherapy and is linked to a poor prognosis. We found that tumor-infiltrating Tregs express a higher expression of the chemokine receptor CCR4 than peripheral Tregs in breast cancer patients. CCL22 and CCL17 are released by tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages, attracting CCR4+ Tregs to the tumor site. The Treg lineage-specific transcription factor FOXP3 changes the CCR4 promoter epigenetically in conjunction with HAT1 to provide a space for FOXP3 binding and activation of the CCR4 gene. To increase CCR4 expression in Tregs, the FOXP3/HAT1 axis is required for permissive (K23 and K27) or repressive (K14 and K18) acetylation of histone-3. In murine breast and melanoma tumor models, genetic ablation of FOXP3 reduced CCR4+ Treg infiltration and tumor size while also restoring anti-tumor immunity. Overexpression of FOXP3, on the other hand, increased CCR4+ Treg infiltration, resulting in a decreased anti-tumor immune response and tumor progression. These findings point to FOXP3 playing a new role in the tumor microenvironment as a transcriptional activator of CCR4 and a regulator of Treg infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Sarkar
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Subhanki Dhar
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Subhadip Pati
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Sayantan Bose
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Abir K Panda
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Udit Basak
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Sumon Mukherjee
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Aharna Guin
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Kuladip Jana
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Diptendra K Sarkar
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research-Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital (IPGMER-SSKM) Hospital, Kolkata, India
| | - Gaurisankar Sa
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
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Revenko A, Carnevalli LS, Sinclair C, Johnson B, Peter A, Taylor M, Hettrick L, Chapman M, Klein S, Solanki A, Gattis D, Watt A, Hughes AM, Magiera L, Kar G, Ireland L, Mele DA, Sah V, Singh M, Walton J, Mairesse M, King M, Edbrooke M, Lyne P, Barry ST, Fawell S, Goldberg FW, MacLeod AR. Direct targeting of FOXP3 in Tregs with AZD8701, a novel antisense oligonucleotide to relieve immunosuppression in cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003892. [PMID: 35387780 PMCID: PMC8987763 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Regulatory T cell (Treg) lineage is defined by the transcription factor FOXP3, which controls immune-suppressive gene expression profiles. Tregs are often recruited in high frequencies to the tumor microenvironment where they can suppress antitumor immunity. We hypothesized that pharmacological inhibition of FOXP3 by systemically delivered, unformulated constrained ethyl-modified antisense oligonucleotides could modulate the activity of Tregs and augment antitumor immunity providing therapeutic benefit in cancer models and potentially in man. METHODS We have identified murine Foxp3 antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and clinical candidate human FOXP3 ASO AZD8701. Pharmacology and biological effects of FOXP3 inhibitors on Treg function and antitumor immunity were tested in cultured Tregs and mouse syngeneic tumor models. Experiments were controlled by vehicle and non-targeting control ASO groups as well as by use of multiple independent FOXP3 ASOs. Statistical significance of biological effects was evaluated by one or two-way analysis of variance with multiple comparisons. RESULTS AZD8701 demonstrated a dose-dependent knockdown of FOXP3 in primary Tregs, reduction of suppressive function and efficient target downregulation in humanized mice at clinically relevant doses. Surrogate murine FOXP3 ASO, which efficiently downregulated Foxp3 messenger RNA and protein levels in primary Tregs, reduced Treg suppressive function in immune suppression assays in vitro. FOXP3 ASO promoted more than 70% reduction in FOXP3 levels in Tregs in vitro and in vivo, strongly modulated Treg effector molecules (eg, ICOS, CTLA-4, CD25 and 4-1BB), and augmented CD8+ T cell activation and produced antitumor activity in syngeneic tumor models. The combination of FOXP3 ASOs with immune checkpoint blockade further enhanced antitumor efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Antisense inhibitors of FOXP3 offer a promising novel cancer immunotherapy approach. AZD8701 is being developed clinically as a first-in-class FOXP3 inhibitor for the treatment of cancer currently in Ph1a/b clinical trial (NCT04504669).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ben Johnson
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Melissa Chapman
- Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Watt
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | | | - Gozde Kar
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Vasu Sah
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul Lyne
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
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Dohnke S, Moehser S, Surnov A, Kurth T, Jessberger R, Kretschmer K, Garbe AI. Role of Dynamic Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling in Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cell Development and Function: Implications for Osteoclastogenesis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:836646. [PMID: 35359955 PMCID: PMC8963504 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.836646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In T cells, processes such as migration and immunological synapse formation are accompanied by the dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which has been suggested to be mediated by regulators of RhoGTPases and by F-actin bundlers. SWAP-70 controls F-actin dynamics in various immune cells, but its role in T cell development and function has remained incompletely understood. CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing the transcription factor Foxp3 employ diverse mechanisms to suppress innate and adaptive immunity, which is critical for maintaining immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. Here, we propose Swap-70 as a novel member of the Foxp3-dependent canonical Treg cell signature. We show that Swap-70-/- mice have increased numbers of Foxp3+ Treg cells with an effector/memory-like phenotype that exhibit impaired suppressor function in vitro, but maintain overall immune homeostasis in vivo. Upon formation of an immunological synapse with antigen presenting cells in vitro, cytosolic SWAP-70 protein is selectively recruited to the interface in Treg cells. In this context, Swap-70-/- Treg cells fail to downregulate CD80/CD86 on osteoclast precursor cells by trans-endocytosis and to efficiently suppress osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function. These data provide first evidence for a crucial role of SWAP-70 in Treg cell biology and further highlight the important non-immune function of Foxp3+ Treg cells in bone homeostasis mediated through direct SWAP-70-dependent mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Dohnke
- Osteoimmunology, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephanie Moehser
- Osteoimmunology, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexey Surnov
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technology Platform, Electron Microscopy and Histology Facility, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rolf Jessberger
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Karsten Kretschmer
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Immune Regulation, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Annette I. Garbe
- Osteoimmunology, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- *Correspondence: Annette I. Garbe,
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36
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Fueyo-González F, McGinty M, Ningoo M, Anderson L, Cantarelli C, Andrea Angeletti, Demir M, Llaudó I, Purroy C, Marjanovic N, Heja D, Sealfon SC, Heeger PS, Cravedi P, Fribourg M. Interferon-β acts directly on T cells to prolong allograft survival by enhancing regulatory T cell induction through Foxp3 acetylation. Immunity 2022; 55:459-474.e7. [PMID: 35148827 PMCID: PMC8917088 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic cytokines with potent antiviral properties that also promote protective T cell and humoral immunity. Paradoxically, type I IFNs, including the widely expressed IFNβ, also have immunosuppressive properties, including promoting persistent viral infections and treating T-cell-driven, remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis. Although associative evidence suggests that IFNβ mediates these immunosuppressive effects by impacting regulatory T (Treg) cells, mechanistic links remain elusive. Here, we found that IFNβ enhanced graft survival in a Treg-cell-dependent murine transplant model. Genetic conditional deletion models revealed that the extended allograft survival was Treg cell-mediated and required IFNβ signaling on T cells. Using an in silico computational model and analysis of human immune cells, we found that IFNβ directly promoted Treg cell induction via STAT1- and P300-dependent Foxp3 acetylation. These findings identify a mechanistic connection between the immunosuppressive effects of IFNβ and Treg cells, with therapeutic implications for transplantation, autoimmunity, and malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Fueyo-González
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Mitchell McGinty
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Mehek Ningoo
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Lisa Anderson
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Chiara Cantarelli
- UO Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeletti
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Markus Demir
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Inés Llaudó
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Carolina Purroy
- Department of Nephrology, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Navarra, Spain
| | - Nada Marjanovic
- Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - David Heja
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Stuart C Sealfon
- Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Peter S Heeger
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Miguel Fribourg
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA; Immunology Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA.
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Burkhardt NB, Elleder D, Schusser B, Krchlíková V, Göbel TW, Härtle S, Kaspers B. The Discovery of Chicken Foxp3 Demands Redefinition of Avian Regulatory T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:1128-1138. [PMID: 35173035 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Since the publication of the first chicken genome sequence, we have encountered genes playing key roles in mammalian immunology, but being seemingly absent in birds. One of those was, until recently, Foxp3, the master transcription factor of regulatory T cells in mammals. Therefore, avian regulatory T cell research is still poorly standardized. In this study we identify a chicken ortholog of Foxp3 We prove sequence homology with known mammalian and sauropsid sequences, but also reveal differences in major domains. Expression profiling shows an association of Foxp3 and CD25 expression levels in CD4+CD25+ peripheral T cells and identifies a CD4-CD25+Foxp3high subset of thymic lymphocytes that likely represents yet undescribed avian regulatory T precursor cells. We conclude that Foxp3 is existent in chickens and that it shares certain functional characteristics with its mammalian ortholog. Nevertheless, pathways for regulatory T cell development and Foxp3 function are likely to differ between mammals and birds. The identification and characterization of chicken Foxp3 will help to define avian regulatory T cells and to analyze their functional properties and thereby advance the field of avian immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina B Burkhardt
- Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Elleder
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; and
| | - Benjamin Schusser
- Reproductive Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Veronika Krchlíková
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; and
| | - Thomas W Göbel
- Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Härtle
- Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernd Kaspers
- Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany;
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38
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Jin K, Parreau S, Warrington KJ, Koster MJ, Berry GJ, Goronzy JJ, Weyand CM. Regulatory T Cells in Autoimmune Vasculitis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844300. [PMID: 35296082 PMCID: PMC8918523 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844300] [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: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessels are indispensable for host survival and are protected from inappropriate inflammation by immune privilege. This protection is lost in patients with autoimmune vasculitides, a heterogeneous group of diseases causing damage to arteries, arterioles, and capillaries. Vasculitis leads to vascular wall destruction and/or luminal occlusion, resulting in hemorrhage and tissue ischemia. Failure in the quantity and quality of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) has been implicated in the breakdown of the vascular immune privilege. Emerging data suggest that Treg deficiencies are disease-specific, affecting distinct pathways in distinct vasculitides. Mechanistic studies have identified faulty CD8+ Tregs in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), a vasculitis of the aorta and the large aortic branch vessels. Specifically, aberrant signaling through the NOTCH4 receptor expressed on CD8+ Treg cells leads to rerouting of intracellular vesicle trafficking and failure in the release of immunosuppressive exosomes, ultimately boosting inflammatory attack to medium and large arteries. In Kawasaki’s disease, a medium vessel vasculitis targeting the coronary arteries, aberrant expression of miR-155 and dysregulated STAT5 signaling have been implicated in undermining CD4+ Treg function. Explorations of mechanisms leading to insufficient immunosuppression and uncontrolled vascular inflammation hold the promise to discover novel therapeutic interventions that could potentially restore the immune privilege of blood vessels and pave the way for urgently needed innovations in vasculitis management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Jin
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Simon Parreau
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Kenneth J. Warrington
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Matthew J. Koster
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Gerald J. Berry
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jörg J. Goronzy
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Cornelia M. Weyand
- Department of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Cornelia M. Weyand,
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39
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Yi L, Jin X, Wang J, Yan Z, Cheng X, Wen T, Yang B, Wang X, Che N, Liu Z, Zhang H. CD137 Agonists Targeting CD137-Mediated Negative Regulation Show Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy in Lung Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:771809. [PMID: 35197968 PMCID: PMC8859117 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.771809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Negative immune regulation plays a notable role in tumor immunity. This study aimed to confirm that CD137 mediates negative immunoregulation as well as agonist activity in tumor immunity. Soluble CD137 (sCD137), a prominent splice variant of membrane-bound CD137 (mCD137), was identified, and its concentration in the blood of lung cancer patients was increased. The baseline concentration of sCD137 in the blood was negatively correlated with the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy in a pilot study. The percentage of CD137+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the blood of lung cancer patients was also increased, and further enriched at the tumor site; Foxp3, CTLA-4, IL-10, IL-35-Ebi3, sCD137 and costimulatory molecules expression were also higher, indicating increased immunosuppressive activity. A high percentage of CD137+ Tregs in the tumor was associated with worse OS outcomes among patients with high CD137+CD8+ T cell infiltration levels. Notably, targeting CD137+ Tregs using an engineered CD137 agonist with wild-type mouse IgG2a Fc clearly decreased the total Treg numbers and eliminated the tumor in the CT26 model and prolonged the survival rate of a Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model. These results indicated it may be possible to empower CD137 agonist with ability to abolish CD137-mediated negative regulation to enhance its antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yi
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuohong Yan
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Cheng
- No. 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Wen
- No. 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojue Wang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Nanying Che
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhidong Liu
- No. 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtao Zhang, ; Zhidong Liu,
| | - Hongtao Zhang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtao Zhang, ; Zhidong Liu,
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40
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Ramirez RN, Chowdhary K, Leon J, Mathis D, Benoist C. FoxP3 associates with enhancer-promoter loops to regulate T reg-specific gene expression. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabj9836. [PMID: 35030035 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abj9836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression programs are specified by higher-order chromatin structure and enhancer-promoter loops (EPLs). T regulatory cell (Treg) identity is dominantly specified by the transcription factor (TF) FoxP3, whose mechanism of action is unclear. We applied chromatin conformation capture with immunoprecipitation (HiChIP) in Treg and closely related conventional CD4+ T cells (Tconv). EPLs identified by H3K27Ac HiChIP showed a range of connection intensity, with some superconnected genes. TF-specific HiChIP showed that FoxP3 interacts with EPLs at a large number of genes, including some not differentially expressed in Treg versus Tconv, but enriched at the core Treg signature loci that it up-regulates. FoxP3 association correlated with heightened H3K27Ac looping, as ascertained by analysis of FoxP3-deficient Treg-like cells. There was marked asymmetry in the loci where FoxP3 associated at the enhancer- or the promoter-side of EPLs, with enrichment for different transcriptional cofactors. FoxP3 EPL intensity distinguished gene clusters identified by single-cell ATAC-seq as covarying between individual Tregs, supporting a direct transactivation model for FoxP3 in determining Treg identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo N Ramirez
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Juliette Leon
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Diane Mathis
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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41
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Younes SA. Mitochondrial Exhaustion of Memory CD4 T-Cells in Treated HIV-1 Infection. IMMUNOMETABOLISM 2022; 4:e220013. [PMID: 35633761 PMCID: PMC9140223 DOI: 10.20900/immunometab20220013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) who are immune non-responders (INR) to therapy are unable to restore their CD4 T-cell count and remain at great risk of morbidity and mortality. Here the mitochondrial defects that characterize memory CD4 T-cells in INR and causes of this mitochondrial exhaustion are reviewed. This review also describes the various reagents used to induce the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α), the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, which can restore mitochondria fitness and CD4 T-cell proliferation in INR. Due to sustained heightened inflammation in INR, the mitochondrial network is unable to be rejuvenated and requires attenuation of mediators of inflammation to rescue mitochondria and CD4 T-cell counts in INR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souheil-Antoine Younes
- Department of Pathology, Pathology Advanced Translational Research (PATRU), School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta 30322, USA
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42
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Cho S, Dong J, Lu LF. Cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic roles of miRNAs in regulating T cell immunity. Immunol Rev 2021; 304:126-140. [PMID: 34549446 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
T cells are crucial to generate an effective response against numerous invading microbial pathogens and play a pivotal role in tumor surveillance and elimination. However, unwanted T cell activation can also lead to deleterious immune-mediated inflammation and tissue damage. To ensure that an optimal T cell response can be established, each step, beginning from T cell development in the thymus to their activation and function in the periphery, is tightly regulated by many transcription factors and epigenetic regulators including microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we first summarize recent progress in identifying major immune regulatory miRNAs in controlling the differentiation and function of distinct T cell subsets. Moreover, as emerging evidence has demonstrated that miRNAs can impact T cell immunity through targeting both immune- and non-immune cell populations that T cells closely interact with, the T cell-extrinsic role of miRNAs in regulating different aspects of T cell biology is also addressed. Finally, we discuss the complex nature of miRNA-mediated control of T cell immunity and highlight important questions that remain to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunglim Cho
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jiayi Dong
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Li-Fan Lu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA.,Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
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43
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Chuckran CA, Liu C, Bruno TC, Workman CJ, Vignali DA. Neuropilin-1: a checkpoint target with unique implications for cancer immunology and immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000967. [PMID: 32675311 PMCID: PMC7368550 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy established a new paradigm in cancer treatment: for certain patients curative treatment requires immune reinvigoration. Despite this monumental advance, only 20%–30% of patients achieve an objective response to standard of care immunotherapy, necessitating the consideration of alternative targets. Optimal strategies will not only stimulate CD8+ T cells, but concomitantly modulate immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), most notably regulatory T cells (Treg cells). In this context, the immunoregulatory receptor Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is garnering renewed attention as it reinforces intratumoral Treg cell function amidst inflammation in the TME. Loss of NRP1 on Treg cells in mouse models restores antitumor immunity without sacrificing peripheral tolerance. Enrichment of NRP1+ Treg cells is observed in patients across multiple malignancies with cancer, both intratumorally and in peripheral sites. Thus, targeting NRP1 may safely undermine intratumoral Treg cell fitness, permitting enhanced inflammatory responses with existing immunotherapies. Furthermore, NRP1 has been recently found to modulate tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Emerging data suggest that NRP1 restricts CD8+ T cell reinvigoration in response to checkpoint inhibitors, and more importantly, acts as a barrier to the long-term durability of CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor immunosurveillance. These novel and distinct regulatory mechanisms present an exciting therapeutic opportunity. This review will discuss the growing literature on NRP1-mediated immune modulation which provides a strong rationale for categorizing NRP1 as both a key checkpoint in the TME as well as an immunotherapeutic target with promise either alone or in combination with current standard of care therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Chuckran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Tumor Microenvironment Center and the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate Program of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Tumor Microenvironment Center and the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tullia C Bruno
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Tumor Microenvironment Center and the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Creg J Workman
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Tumor Microenvironment Center and the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dario Aa Vignali
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA .,Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Aptamer-mediated transcriptional gene silencing of Fox p 3 inhibits regulatory T cells and potentiates antitumor response. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 25:143-151. [PMID: 34457999 PMCID: PMC8365334 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The inhibition of immunosuppressive mechanisms may switch the balance between tolerance and surveillance, leading to an increase in antitumor activity. Regulatory T cells play an important role in the control of immunosuppression, exhibiting the unique property of inhibiting T cell proliferation. These cells migrate to tumor sites or may be generated at the tumor site itself from the conversion of lymphocytes exposed to tumor microenvironment signaling. Because of the high similarity between regulatory T cells and other lymphocytes, the available approaches to inhibit this population are nonspecific and may antagonize antitumor response. In this work we explore a new strategy for inhibition of regulatory T cells based on the use of a chimeric aptamer targeting a marker of immune activation harboring a small antisense RNA molecule for transcriptional gene silencing of Foxp3, which is essential for the control of the immunosuppressive phenotype. The silencing of Foxp3 inhibits the immunosuppressive phenotype of regulatory T cells and potentiates the effect of the GVAX antitumor vaccine in immunocompetent animals challenged with syngeneic tumors. This novel approach highlights an alternative method to antagonize regulatory T cell function to augment antitumor immune responses.
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45
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Islam SMS, Ryu HM, Sayeed HM, Byun HO, Jung JY, Kim HA, Suh CH, Sohn S. Eubacterium rectale Attenuates HSV-1 Induced Systemic Inflammation in Mice by Inhibiting CD83. Front Immunol 2021; 12:712312. [PMID: 34531862 PMCID: PMC8438521 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.712312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether administration of the microorganism Eubacterium rectale (E. rectale) could regulate dendritic cell (DC) activation and systemic inflammation in herpes simplex virus type 1-induced Behçet's disease (BD). E. rectale, butyrate-producing bacteria, was administered to BD mice. Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and lymph node cells were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis was performed in the feces of mice to determine the differences in the composition of the microbial population between normal and BD mice. Serum cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The frequency of DC activation marker CD83 positive cells was significantly increased in PBL of BD mice. Frequencies of CD83+ cells were also significantly increased in patients with active BD. 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis revealed different gut microbiota composition between normal and BD mice. The administration of E. rectale to BD mice reduced the frequency of CD83+ cells and significantly increased the frequency of NK1.1+ cells with the improvement of symptoms. The co-administration of colchicine and E. rectale also significantly reduced the frequency of CD83+ cells. Differences in gut microbiota were observed between normal mice and BD mice, and the administration of E. rectale downregulated the frequency of CD83, which was associated with BD deterioration. These data indicate that E. rectale could be a new therapeutic adjuvant for BD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. M. Shamsul Islam
- Department of Biomedical Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hye-Myung Ryu
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hasan M. Sayeed
- Department of Biomedical Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hae-Ok Byun
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Ju-Yang Jung
- Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hyoun-Ah Kim
- Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Chang-Hee Suh
- Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Seonghyang Sohn
- Department of Biomedical Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
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46
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Arnett A, Moo KG, Flynn KJ, Sundberg TB, Johannessen L, Shamji AF, Gray NS, Decker T, Zheng Y, Gersuk VH, Rahman ZS, Levy DE, Marié IJ, Linsley PS, Xavier RJ, Khor B. The Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 (CDK8) Inhibitor DCA Promotes a Tolerogenic Chemical Immunophenotype in CD4 + T Cells via a Novel CDK8-GATA3-FOXP3 Pathway. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 41:e0008521. [PMID: 34124936 PMCID: PMC8384069 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00085-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune health requires innate and adaptive immune cells to engage precisely balanced pro- and anti-inflammatory forces. We employ the concept of chemical immunophenotypes to classify small molecules functionally or mechanistically according to their patterns of effects on primary innate and adaptive immune cells. The high-specificity, low-toxicity cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) inhibitor 16-didehydro-cortistatin A (DCA) exerts a distinct tolerogenic profile in both innate and adaptive immune cells. DCA promotes regulatory T cells (Treg) and Th2 differentiation while inhibiting Th1 and Th17 differentiation in both murine and human cells. This unique chemical immunophenotype led to mechanistic studies showing that DCA promotes Treg differentiation in part by regulating a previously undescribed CDK8-GATA3-FOXP3 pathway that regulates early pathways of Foxp3 expression. These results highlight previously unappreciated links between Treg and Th2 differentiation and extend our understanding of the transcription factors that regulate Treg differentiation and their temporal sequencing. These findings have significant implications for future mechanistic and translational studies of CDK8 and CDK8 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azlann Arnett
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Keagan G. Moo
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Thomas B. Sundberg
- Center for the Science of Therapeutics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liv Johannessen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alykhan F. Shamji
- Center for the Science of Therapeutics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas Decker
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ye Zheng
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Ziaur S. Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David E. Levy
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Isabelle J. Marié
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Ramnik J. Xavier
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bernard Khor
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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47
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Eissa AH, Selim HM, Zahran AM, Tawfik MS, El-Fishawy HS, Naguib KK. Assessment of T Regulatory cells in Egyptian patients with Behcet’s disease as a prognostic marker of Uveitis. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/16878507.2021.1909223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amal H. Eissa
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Heba M. Selim
- Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo,EGYPT
| | - Abeer M. Zahran
- Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University., Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S. Tawfik
- Health Radiation Research Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority. Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Karam K. Naguib
- Ophthalmology Department, Nasser Institute Hospital., Giza, Egypt
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48
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Dixon ML, Leavenworth JD, Leavenworth JW. Lineage Reprogramming of Effector Regulatory T Cells in Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:717421. [PMID: 34394124 PMCID: PMC8355732 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.717421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are important for maintaining self-tolerance and tissue homeostasis. The functional plasticity of Tregs is a key feature of this lineage, as it allows them to adapt to different microenvironments, adopt transcriptional programs reflective of their environments and tailor their suppressive capacity in a context-dependent fashion. Tregs, particularly effector Tregs (eTregs), are abundant in many types of tumors. However, the functional and transcriptional plasticity of eTregs in tumors remain largely to be explored. Although depletion or inhibition of systemic Tregs can enhance anti-tumor responses, autoimmune sequelae have diminished the enthusiasm for such approaches. A more effective approach should specifically target intratumoral Tregs or subvert local Treg-mediated suppression. This mini-review will discuss the reported mechanisms by which the stability and suppressive function of tumoral Tregs are modulated, with the focus on eTregs and a subset of eTregs, follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells, and how to harness this knowledge for the future development of new effective cancer immunotherapies that selectively target the tumor local response while sparing the systemic side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Dixon
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jonathan D Leavenworth
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jianmei W Leavenworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,The O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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49
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Singh RP, Hahn BH, Bischoff DS. Effects of Peptide-Induced Immune Tolerance on Murine Lupus. Front Immunol 2021; 12:662901. [PMID: 34093553 PMCID: PMC8171184 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.662901] [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: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of autoimmunity and the molecular mechanisms by which different immune cells, including T cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN-granulocytes), and B cells suppress autoimmune diseases is complex. We have shown previously that BWF1 lupus mice are protected from autoimmunity after i.v. injection or oral administration of tolerogenic doses of pCons, an artificial synthetic peptide based on sequences containing MHC class I and MHC class II determinants in the VH region of a J558-encoded BWF1 anti-DNA Ab. Several T cell subsets can transfer this tolerance. In this study, we determined the potential roles of granulocytes, B cells and regulatory T cells altered by pCons treatment in the BWF1 (NZB/NZW) mouse model of lupus. Immunophenotyping studies indicated that pCons treatment of BWF1 mice significantly increased CD4+FoxP3+ T cells, reduced the percent of B cells expressing CD19+CD5+ but increased the percent of CD19+CD1d+ regulatory B cells and increased the ability of the whole B cell population to suppress IgG anti-DNA production in vitro. pCons treatment significantly decreased the expression of CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4) in CD8+ T cells. In addition, peptide administration modified granulocytes so they became suppressive. We co-cultured sorted naïve B cells from mice making anti-DNA Ab (supported by addition of sorted naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from young auto-antibody-negative BWF1 mice) with sorted B cells or granulocytes from tolerized mice. Both tolerized granulocytes and tolerized B cells significantly suppressed the production of anti-DNA in vitro. In granulocytes from tolerized mice compared to saline-treated littermate controls, real-time PCR analysis indicated that expression of interferon-induced TNFAIP2 increased more than 2-fold while Ptdss2 and GATA1 mRNA were up-regulated more than 10-fold. In contrast, expression of these genes was significantly down-regulated in tolerized B cells. Further, another IFN-induced protein, Bcl2, was reduced in tolerized B cells as determined by Western blot analyses. In contrast, expression of FoxP3 was significantly increased in tolerized B cells. Together, these data suggest that B cells and granulocytes are altered toward suppressive functions by in vivo tolerization of BWF1 mice with pCons and it is possible these cell types participate in the clinical benefits seen in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram P Singh
- Research Service, Veteran Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bevra H Hahn
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David S Bischoff
- Research Service, Veteran Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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50
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Hippen KL, Furlan SN, Roychoudhuri R, Wang E, Zhang Y, Osborn MJ, Merkel SC, Hani S, MacMillan ML, Cichocki F, Miller JS, Wagner JE, Restifo NP, Kean LS, Blazar BR. Multiply restimulated human thymic regulatory T cells express distinct signature regulatory T-cell transcription factors without evidence of exhaustion. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:704-714. [PMID: 33893050 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.02.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Adoptive transfer of suppressive CD4+CD25+ thymic regulatory T cells (tTregs) can control auto- and alloimmune responses but typically requires in vitro expansion to reach the target cell number for efficacy. Although the adoptive transfer of expanded tTregs purified from umbilical cord blood ameliorates graft-versus-host disease in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for lymphohematopoietic malignancy, individual Treg products of 100 × 106 cells/kg are manufactured over an extended 19-day time period using a process that yields variable products and is both laborious and costly. These limitations could be overcome with the availability of 'off the shelf' Treg. RESULTS Previously, the authors reported a repetitive restimulation expansion protocol that maintains Treg phenotype (CD4+25++127-Foxp3+), potentially providing hundreds to thousands of patient infusions. However, repetitive stimulation of effector T cells induces a well-defined program of exhaustion that leads to reduced T-cell survival and function. Unexpectedly, the authors found that multiply stimulated human tTregs do not develop an exhaustion signature and instead maintain their Treg gene expression pattern. The authors also found that tTregs expanded with one or two rounds of stimulation and tTregs expanded with three or five rounds of stimulation preferentially express distinct subsets of a group of five transcription factors that lock in Treg Foxp3expression, Treg stability and suppressor function. Multiply restimulated Tregs also had increased transcripts characteristic of T follicular regulatory cells, a Treg subset. DISCUSSION These data demonstrate that repetitively expanded human tTregs have a Treg-locking transcription factor with stable FoxP3 and without the classical T-cell exhaustion gene expression profile-desirable properties that support the possibility of off-the-shelf Treg therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keli L Hippen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
| | - Scott N Furlan
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signaling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ena Wang
- Translational Oncology, Allogene Therapeutics, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yigang Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mark J Osborn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah C Merkel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sophia Hani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Margaret L MacMillan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Frank Cichocki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Miller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - John E Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nicholas P Restifo
- Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Leslie S Kean
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
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