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Lim S, J F van Son G, Wisma Eka Yanti NL, Andersson-Rolf A, Willemsen S, Korving J, Lee HG, Begthel H, Clevers H. Derivation of functional thymic epithelial organoid lines from adult murine thymus. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114019. [PMID: 38551965 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114019] [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] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) orchestrate T cell development by imposing positive and negative selection on thymocytes. Current studies on TEC biology are hampered by the absence of long-term ex vivo culture platforms, while the cells driving TEC self-renewal remain to be identified. Here, we generate long-term (>2 years) expandable 3D TEC organoids from the adult mouse thymus. For further analysis, we generated single and double FoxN1-P2A-Clover, Aire-P2A-tdTomato, and Cldn4-P2A-tdTomato reporter lines by CRISPR knockin. Single-cell analyses of expanding clonal organoids reveal cells with bipotent stem/progenitor phenotypes. These clonal organoids can be induced to express Foxn1 and to generate functional cortical- and Aire-expressing medullary-like TECs upon RANK ligand + retinoic acid treatment. TEC organoids support T cell development from immature thymocytes in vitro as well as in vivo upon transplantation into athymic nude mice. This organoid-based platform allows in vitro study of TEC biology and offers a potential strategy for ex vivo T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangho Lim
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs J F van Son
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands; The Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht 3584 CS, the Netherlands
| | - Ni Luh Wisma Eka Yanti
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Amanda Andersson-Rolf
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sam Willemsen
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Korving
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Harry Begthel
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands; The Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht 3584 CS, the Netherlands.
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2
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Dinges SS, Amini K, Notarangelo LD, Delmonte OM. Primary and secondary defects of the thymus. Immunol Rev 2024; 322:178-211. [PMID: 38228406 PMCID: PMC10950553 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13306] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary site of T-cell development, enabling generation, and selection of a diverse repertoire of T cells that recognize non-self, whilst remaining tolerant to self- antigens. Severe congenital disorders of thymic development (athymia) can be fatal if left untreated due to infections, and thymic tissue implantation is the only cure. While newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency has allowed improved detection at birth of congenital athymia, thymic disorders acquired later in life are still underrecognized and assessing the quality of thymic function in such conditions remains a challenge. The thymus is sensitive to injury elicited from a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors, and its self-renewal capacity decreases with age. Secondary and age-related forms of thymic dysfunction may lead to an increased risk of infections, malignancy, and autoimmunity. Promising results have been obtained in preclinical models and clinical trials upon administration of soluble factors promoting thymic regeneration, but to date no therapy is approved for clinical use. In this review we provide a background on thymus development, function, and age-related involution. We discuss disease mechanisms, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for primary and secondary thymic defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S. Dinges
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kayla Amini
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luigi D. Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ottavia M. Delmonte
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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3
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Li J, Wachsmuth LP, Xiao S, Condie BG, Manley NR. Foxn1 overexpression promotes thymic epithelial progenitor cell proliferation and mTEC maintenance, but does not prevent thymic involution. Development 2023; 150:dev200995. [PMID: 36975725 PMCID: PMC10263147 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200995] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor FOXN1 is essential for fetal thymic epithelial cell (TEC) differentiation and proliferation. Postnatally, Foxn1 levels vary widely between TEC subsets, from low/undetectable in putative TEC progenitors to highest in differentiated TEC subsets. Correct Foxn1 expression is required to maintain the postnatal microenvironment; premature downregulation of Foxn1 causes a rapid involution-like phenotype, and transgenic overexpression can cause thymic hyperplasia and/or delayed involution. We investigated a K5.Foxn1 transgene that drives overexpression in mouse TECs, but causes neither hyperplasia nor delay or prevention of aging-related involution. Similarly, this transgene cannot rescue thymus size in Foxn1lacZ/lacZ mice, which undergo premature involution as a result of reduced Foxn1 levels. However, TEC differentiation and cortico-medullary organization are maintained with aging in both K5.Foxn1 and Foxn1lacZ/lacZ mice. Analysis of candidate TEC markers showed co-expression of progenitor and differentiation markers as well as increased proliferation in Plet1+ TECs associated with Foxn1 expression. These results demonstrate that the functions of FOXN1 in promoting TEC proliferation and differentiation are separable and context dependent, and suggest that modulating Foxn1 levels can regulate the balance of proliferation and differentiation in TEC progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Shiyun Xiao
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Brian G. Condie
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Nancy R. Manley
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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4
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Chiu H, Linsley PS, Ziegler SF. Investigating Thymic Epithelial Cell Diversity Using Systems Biology. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:888-894. [PMID: 36947816 PMCID: PMC10037528 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is an intricate organ consisting of a diverse population of thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Cortical and medullary TECs and their subpopulations have distinct roles in coordinating the development and selection of functionally competent and self-tolerant T cells. Recent advances made in technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing have made it possible to investigate and resolve the heterogeneity in TECs. These findings have provided further understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating TEC function and expression of tissue-restricted Ags. In this brief review, we focus on the newly characterized subsets of TECs and their diversity in relation to their functions in supporting T cell development. We also discuss recent discoveries in expression of self-antigens in the context of TEC development as well as the cellular and molecular changes occurring during embryonic development to thymic involution.
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5
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Ohigashi I, Matsuda-Lennikov M, Takahama Y. Large-Scale Isolation of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:189-197. [PMID: 36374458 PMCID: PMC10280300 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_11] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is compartmentalized into the cortex and the medulla. Cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs) characterize T cell-producing and T cell-selecting functions of cortical and medullary microenvironments in the thymus. Enzymatic digestion of the thymus and flow cytometric isolation of TECs and their subpopulations are useful for molecular and cellular characterization of TECs. However, the cellularity of cTECs and mTECs isolated from mouse thymus is limited. In this chapter, we describe the method for isolation of a large number of TECs using enlarged mouse thymus, which enables biochemical and proteomic analysis of TEC subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mami Matsuda-Lennikov
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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6
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The unilateral involution in the thymus of a 96-year-old male leads to the preservation of structural integrity in one thymic lobe, as assessed by the expression of medullar and cortical antigens and the presence of CD3+ cells. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11734. [PMID: 36411931 PMCID: PMC9674545 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of thymic involution begins soon after birth and continues through adult life. Although evolutionary conserved in all vertebrates, the thymic involution has no defined kinetics. Little is known about the pace of its regression in humans, except that there is a marked increase of thymic involution after puberty. This report describes the unusual structural findings in the thymus of a 96-year-old male. The morphological parameters of the organ were evaluated using H&E and immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques. The macroscopic examination showed a typical organ's weight and size, except that the right thymic lobe presented a well-preserved organ and the left lobe was significantly adiposed. The H&E staining of the thymic sections from the left and right lobes confirmed advanced thymic adiposity in the left lobe and preserved thymic epithelial space containing hematoxylin-stained cells in the right lobe. The multiplex immunostaining of the right lobe sections with antibodies specific to cytokeratins -14 and -8, CD3, and CD4 revealed the presence of medullar and cortical epithelium and mix population of CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD4- T cells. The T cells were associated with the medulla but not with the cortex of the thymus. The immunostaining with an antibody to FoxN1 showed that the protein was expressed in the thymic epithelium. Taken together, we provide evidence that the thymus of a 96-year-old man involuted different kinetics in each of the two thymic lobes. Furthermore, the presence of CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD4-cells gives a hand to the hypothesis that a pool of T-cells may associate with this primary lymphatic organ for as long as there is the available thymic epithelium and be a source of lymphocytes aiding adaptive immune responses to old age.
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7
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De novo construction of T cell compartment in humanized mice engrafted with iPSC-derived thymus organoids. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1306-1319. [PMID: 36064772 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01583-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic humanized (hu) mice are powerful tools for modeling the action of human immune system and are widely used for preclinical studies and drug discovery. However, generating a functional human T cell compartment in hu mice remains challenging, primarily due to the species-related differences between human and mouse thymus. While engrafting human fetal thymic tissues can support robust T cell development in hu mice, tissue scarcity and ethical concerns limit their wide use. Here, we describe the tissue engineering of human thymus organoids from inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-thymus) that can support the de novo generation of a diverse population of functional human T cells. T cells of iPSC-thymus-engrafted hu mice could mediate both cellular and humoral immune responses, including mounting robust proinflammatory responses on T cell receptor engagement, inhibiting allogeneic tumor graft growth and facilitating efficient Ig class switching. Our findings indicate that hu mice engrafted with iPSC-thymus can serve as a new animal model to study human T cell-mediated immunity and accelerate the translation of findings from animal studies into the clinic.
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8
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Szwarc MM, Hai L, Maurya VK, Rajapakshe K, Perera D, Ittmann MM, Mo Q, Lin Y, Bettini ML, Coarfa C, Lydon JP. Histopathologic and transcriptomic phenotypes of a conditional RANKL transgenic mouse thymus. Cytokine 2022; 160:156022. [PMID: 36099756 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156022] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although conventional knockout and transgenic mouse models have significantly advanced our understanding of Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand (RANKL) signaling in intra-thymic crosstalk that establishes self-tolerance and later stages of lymphopoiesis, the unique advantages of conditional mouse transgenesis have yet to be explored. A main advantage of conditional transgenesis is the ability to express a transgene in a spatiotemporal restricted manner, enabling the induction (or de-induction) of transgene expression during predetermined stages of embryogenesis or during defined postnatal developmental or physiological states, such as puberty, adulthood, and pregnancy. Here, we describe the K5: RANKL bigenic mouse, in which transgene derived RANKL expression is induced by doxycycline and targeted to cytokeratin 5 positive medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). Short-term doxycycline induction reveals that RANKL transgene expression is significantly induced in the thymic medulla and only in response to doxycycline. Prolonged doxycycline induction in the K5: RANKL bigenic results in a significantly enlarged thymus in which mTECs are hyperproliferative. Flow cytometry showed that there is a marked enrichment of CD4+ and CD8+ single positive thymocytes with a concomitant depletion of CD4+ CD8+ double positives. Furthermore, there is an increase in the number of FOXP3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells and Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin 1+ (UEA1+) mTECs. Transcriptomics revealed that a remarkable array of signals-cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, transcription factors, and morphogens-are governed by RANKL and drive in part the K5: RANKL thymic phenotype. Extended doxycycline administration to 6-weeks results in a K5: RANKL thymus that begins to display distinct histopathological features, such as medullary epithelial hyperplasia, extensive immune cell infiltration, and central tissue necrosis. As there are intense efforts to develop clinical approaches to restore thymic medullary function in the adult to treat immunopathological conditions in which immune cell function is compromised following cancer therapy or toxin exposure, an improved molecular understanding of RANKL's involvement in thymic medulla enlargement will be required. We believe the versatility of the conditional K5: RANKL mouse represents a tractable model system to assist in addressing this requirement as well as many other questions related to RANKL's role in thymic normal physiology and disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Szwarc
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Lan Hai
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Vineet K Maurya
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | | | - Dimuthu Perera
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - Michael M Ittmann
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yong Lin
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, United States.
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9
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Guo L, Cao J, Cheng D, Dong H, You L, Sun Y, Ding Y, Chai Y. Gallic acid ameliorates thymic involution via activating Sox2 and Nanog. Scand J Immunol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/sji.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
- Department of Radiation Medical Protection, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment School of Military Preventive Medicine Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an,710000 China
| | - Jia‐hui Cao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
| | - Deng‐wei Cheng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
| | - Han Dong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
| | - Li You
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
| | - Yun Sun
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
| | - Yu‐rong Chai
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhengzhou University 450001 Zhengzhou Henan China
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10
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Charaix J, Borelli A, Santamaria JC, Chasson L, Giraud M, Sergé A, Irla M. Recirculating Foxp3 + regulatory T cells are restimulated in the thymus under Aire control. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:355. [PMID: 35678896 PMCID: PMC11071703 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04328-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Thymically-derived Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) critically control immunological tolerance. These cells are generated in the medulla through high affinity interactions with medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTEC) expressing the Autoimmune regulator (Aire). Recent advances have revealed that thymic Treg contain not only developing but also recirculating cells from the periphery. Although Aire is implicated in the generation of Foxp3+ Treg, its role in the biology of recirculating Treg remains elusive. Here, we show that Aire regulates the suppressive signature of recirculating Treg independently of the remodeling of the medullary 3D organization throughout life where Treg reside. Accordingly, the adoptive transfer of peripheral Foxp3+ Treg in AireKO recipients led to an impaired suppressive signature upon their entry into the thymus. Furthermore, recirculating Treg from AireKO mice failed to attenuate the severity of multiorgan autoimmunity, demonstrating that their suppressive function is altered. Using bone marrow chimeras, we reveal that mTEC-specific expression of Aire controls the suppressive signature of recirculating Treg. Finally, mature mTEC lacking Aire were inefficient in stimulating peripheral Treg both in polyclonal and antigen-specific co-culture assays. Overall, this study demonstrates that Aire confers to mTEC the ability to restimulate recirculating Treg, unravelling a novel function for this master regulator in Treg biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Charaix
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Alexia Borelli
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Jérémy C Santamaria
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Lionel Chasson
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, INSERM, Nantes Université, 44000, Nantes, France
| | - Arnauld Sergé
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Laboratoire adhésion inflammation (LAI), CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille University, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France.
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11
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Gulla S, Reddy MC, Reddy VC, Chitta S, Bhanoori M, Lomada D. Role of thymus in health and disease. Int Rev Immunol 2022; 42:347-363. [PMID: 35593192 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2022.2064461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, essential for the development of T-cells that will protect from invading pathogens, immune disorders, and cancer. The thymus decreases in size and cellularity with age referred to as thymus involution or atrophy. This involution causes decreased T-cell development and decreased naive T-cell emigration to the periphery, increased proportion of memory T cells, and a restricted, altered T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. The changes in composition and function of the circulating T cell pool as a result of thymic involution led to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases including the recent COVID and a higher risk for autoimmune disorders and cancers. Thymic involution consisting of both structural and functional loss of the thymus has a deleterious effect on T cell development, T cell selection, and tolerance. The mechanisms which act on the structural (cortex and medulla) matrix of the thymus, the gradual accumulation of genetic mutations, and altered gene expressions may lead to immunosenescence as a result of thymus involution. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind thymic involution is critical for identifying diagnostic biomarkers and targets for treatment help to develop strategies to mitigate thymic involution-associated complications. This review is focused on the consequences of thymic involution in infections, immune disorders, and diseases, identifying potential checkpoints and potential approaches to sustain or restore the function of the thymus particularly in elderly and immune-compromised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra Gulla
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Madhava C Reddy
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Vajra C Reddy
- Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Chinnakondrupadu, Guntur, India
| | | | - Manjula Bhanoori
- Department of Biochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India
| | - Dakshayani Lomada
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
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12
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Wakitani S, Kawabata R, Yasuda M. Insufficiency of CD205-positive cortical thymic epithelial cells in immature Japanese Black cattle with severe thymic abnormalities and poor prognosis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2022; 245:110379. [PMID: 35038635 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2021.110379] [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] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the involvement of thymic function in the development of diseases with poor prognosis in calves, this study conducted a survey for the assessment of thymus cell composition in immature Japanese Black cattle with poor prognosis. Histopathological evaluation of 47 cattle showed signs of acute thymic involution in most cases. Less than half of the cases had a cortex predominant over the medulla in the thymic parenchyma, and a quarter of the cases indicated severe histological condition with an unclear boundary between the cortex and medulla. Correlation analysis revealed a close relationship between the corresponding stages of acute involution, cortical occupancy, and the expression of CD4, CD8B, and CD205. When cases were grouped by cortical occupancy, the expression of CD4 and CD8B expression was lower in the severe group with less than 25 % cortical occupancy, and the expression of CD205 was lower in the group with an unclear cortical-medullary boundary. Meanwhile, there was no difference in the expressions of IL7, CD80, FEZF2, and FOXN1 according to cortical occupancy. Immunohistochemistry has shown that cytokeratin-positive thymic epithelial cells are more densely populated in the severe thymus. UEA-I-binding medullary thymic epithelial cells were also present, but CD205-positive cortical thymic epithelial cells were rare in severe thymus. Moreover, there were significantly fewer Ki-67-positive cells in cattle with severe thymus. Therefore, these results indicate that thymic histological abnormalities frequently occur in immature cattle with a poor prognosis, and the presence of CD205-positive cortical thymic epithelial cells is associated with the severity of the abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichi Wakitani
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
| | - Risako Kawabata
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yasuda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
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13
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Nagai-Okatani C, Zou X, Matsuda A, Itakura Y, Toyoda M, Zhang Y, Kuno A. Tissue Glycome Mapping: Lectin Microarray-Based Differential Glycomic Analysis of Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Sections. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2460:161-180. [PMID: 34972936 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2148-6_10] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lectin microarray (LMA) is a high-sensitive glycan analysis technology used to obtain global glycomic profiles of both N- and O-glycans attached not only to purified glycoproteins but also to crude glycoprotein samples. Through additional use of laser microdissection (LMD) for tissue collection, we developed an LMA-based glycomic profiling technique for a specific type of cells in a tiny area of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. This LMD-LMA method makes it possible to obtain reproducible tissue glycomic profiles that can be compared with each other, using a unified protocol for all procedures, including FFPE tissue preparation, tissue staining, protein extraction and labeling, and LMA analysis. Here, we describe the standardized LMD-LMA procedure for a "tissue glycome mapping" approach, which facilitates an in-depth understanding of region- and tissue-specific protein glycosylation. We also describe potential applications of the spatial tissue glycomic profiles, including histochemical analysis for evaluating distribution of lectin ligands and a fluorescence LMD-LMA method for cell type-selective glycomic profiling using a cell type-specific probe, composed of a lectin and an antibody. The protocols presented here will accelerate the effective utilization of FFPE tissue specimens by providing tissue glycome maps for the discovery of the biological roles and disease-related alterations of protein glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiaki Nagai-Okatani
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Xia Zou
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Atsushi Matsuda
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Itakura
- Department of Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Toyoda
- Department of Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yan Zhang
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Atsushi Kuno
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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14
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Hashimoto D, Colet JGR, Murashima A, Fujimoto K, Ueda Y, Suzuki K, Hyuga T, Hemmi H, Kaisho T, Takahashi S, Takahama Y, Yamada G. Radiation inducible MafB gene is required for thymic regeneration. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10439. [PMID: 34001954 PMCID: PMC8129107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89836-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus facilitates mature T cell production by providing a suitable stromal microenvironment. This microenvironment is impaired by radiation and aging which lead to immune system disturbances known as thymic involution. Young adult thymus shows thymic recovery after such involution. Although various genes have been reported for thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells in such processes, the roles of stromal transcription factors in these remain incompletely understood. MafB (v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B) is a transcription factor expressed in thymic stroma and its expression was induced a day after radiation exposure. Hence, the roles of mesenchymal MafB in the process of thymic regeneration offers an intriguing research topic also for radiation biology. The current study investigated whether MafB plays roles in the adult thymus. MafB/green fluorescent protein knock-in mutant (MafB+/GFP) mice showed impaired thymic regeneration after the sublethal irradiation, judged by reduced thymus size, total thymocyte number and medullary complexity. Furthermore, IL4 was induced after irradiation and such induction was reduced in mutant mice. The mutants also displayed signs of accelerated age-related thymic involution. Altogether, these results suggest possible functions of MafB in the processes of thymic recovery after irradiation, and maintenance during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Hashimoto
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Jose Gabriel R Colet
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.,Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Aki Murashima
- Department of Anatomy, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan.
| | - Kota Fujimoto
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Yuko Ueda
- Department of Urology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Kentaro Suzuki
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Taiju Hyuga
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hemmi
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Ehime, Japan
| | - Tsuneyasu Kaisho
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Gen Yamada
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
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15
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Irla M. RANK Signaling in the Differentiation and Regeneration of Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 11:623265. [PMID: 33552088 PMCID: PMC7862717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.623265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide essential clues for the proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of thymocytes. Recent advances in mouse and human have revealed that TECs constitute a highly heterogeneous cell population with distinct functional properties. Importantly, TECs are sensitive to thymic damages engendered by myeloablative conditioning regimen used for bone marrow transplantation. These detrimental effects on TECs delay de novo T-cell production, which can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in many patients. Alike that TECs guide the development of thymocytes, reciprocally thymocytes control the differentiation and organization of TECs. These bidirectional interactions are referred to as thymic crosstalk. The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) member, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK) and its cognate ligand RANKL have emerged as key players of the crosstalk between TECs and thymocytes. RANKL, mainly provided by positively selected CD4+ thymocytes and a subset of group 3 innate lymphoid cells, controls mTEC proliferation/differentiation and TEC regeneration. In this review, I discuss recent advances that have unraveled the high heterogeneity of TECs and the implication of the RANK-RANKL signaling axis in TEC differentiation and regeneration. Targeting this cell-signaling pathway opens novel therapeutic perspectives to recover TEC function and T-cell production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Irla
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
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16
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Yamazaki Y, Urrutia R, Franco LM, Giliani S, Zhang K, Alazami AM, Dobbs AK, Masneri S, Joshi A, Otaizo-Carrasquero F, Myers TG, Ganesan S, Bondioni MP, Ho ML, Marks C, Alajlan H, Mohammed RW, Zou F, Valencia CA, Filipovich AH, Facchetti F, Boisson B, Azzari C, Al-Saud BK, Al-Mousa H, Casanova JL, Abraham RS, Notarangelo LD. PAX1 is essential for development and function of the human thymus. Sci Immunol 2020; 5:5/44/eaax1036. [PMID: 32111619 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aax1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the molecular and cellular basis of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in six patients with otofaciocervical syndrome type 2 who failed to attain T cell reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, despite successful engraftment in three of them. We identified rare biallelic PAX1 rare variants in all patients. We demonstrated that these mutant PAX1 proteins have an altered conformation and flexibility of the paired box domain and reduced transcriptional activity. We generated patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated them into thymic epithelial progenitor cells and found that they have an altered transcriptional profile, including for genes involved in the development of the thymus and other tissues derived from pharyngeal pouches. These results identify biallelic, loss-of-function PAX1 mutations as the cause of a syndromic form of SCID due to altered thymus development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Yamazaki
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Raul Urrutia
- Human and Molecular Genetics Center, Medical College Wisconsin, Milwaukee, MI, USA
| | - Luis M Franco
- Systemic Autoimmunity Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Silvia Giliani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Cytogenetic and Medical Genetics Unit, "A. Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Kejian Zhang
- Coyote Bioscience USA Inc., San Jose, CA 95138, USA.,Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Anas M Alazami
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia.,Saudi Human Genome Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - A Kerry Dobbs
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stefania Masneri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Cytogenetic and Medical Genetics Unit, "A. Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Avni Joshi
- Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Timothy G Myers
- Genomic Technologies Section, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sundar Ganesan
- Research Technologies Branch, DIR, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Maria Pia Bondioni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mai Lan Ho
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Huda Alajlan
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Fanggeng Zou
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.,GeneDx Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA
| | - C Alexander Valencia
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.,PerkinElmer Genomics, Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA.,Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Aperiomics Inc., Sterling, VA 20166, USA
| | - Alexandra H Filipovich
- Cancer and Blood Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Fabio Facchetti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Bertrand Boisson
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch INSERM, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes University, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Chiara Azzari
- Pediatric Immunology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Meyer Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Bander K Al-Saud
- Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamoud Al-Mousa
- Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jean Laurent Casanova
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch INSERM, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes University, Imagine Institute, Paris, France.,Pediatrics Hematology-Immunology Unit, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Roshini S Abraham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Luigi D Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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17
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Ohigashi I, Tanaka Y, Kondo K, Fujimori S, Kondo H, Palin AC, Hoffmann V, Kozai M, Matsushita Y, Uda S, Motosugi R, Hamazaki J, Kubota H, Murata S, Tanaka K, Katagiri T, Kosako H, Takahama Y. Trans-omics Impact of Thymoproteasome in Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells. Cell Rep 2020; 29:2901-2916.e6. [PMID: 31775054 PMCID: PMC6897492 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymic function to produce self-protective and self-tolerant T cells is chiefly mediated by cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs). Recent studies including single-cell transcriptomic analyses have highlighted a rich diversity in functional mTEC subpopulations. Because of their limited cellularity, however, the biochemical characterization of TECs, including the proteomic profiling of cTECs and mTECs, has remained unestablished. Utilizing genetically modified mice that carry enlarged but functional thymuses, here we show a combination of proteomic and transcriptomic profiles for cTECs and mTECs, which identified signature molecules that characterize a developmental and functional contrast between cTECs and mTECs. Our results reveal a highly specific impact of the thymoproteasome on proteasome subunit composition in cTECs and provide an integrated trans-omics platform for further exploration of thymus biology. Ohigashi et al. show that the use of cyclin D1-transgenic mice allows quantitative proteomic analysis of cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Results provide a trans-omics platform for further exploration of TEC biology and reveal the specific impact of the thymoproteasome on proteasome subunit composition in cortical TECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yu Tanaka
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kenta Kondo
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sayumi Fujimori
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kondo
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Amy C Palin
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Victoria Hoffmann
- Division of Veterinary Resources, Office of Research Services, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mina Kozai
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yosuke Matsushita
- Division of Genome Medicine, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Uda
- Division of Integrated Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Ryo Motosugi
- Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Jun Hamazaki
- Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kubota
- Division of Integrated Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murata
- Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Keiji Tanaka
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Toyomasa Katagiri
- Division of Genome Medicine, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Kosako
- Division of Cell Signaling, Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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18
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Almaghrabi S, Azzouz M, Tazi Ahnini R. AAV9-mediated AIRE gene delivery clears circulating antibodies and tissue T-cell infiltration in a mouse model of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type-1. Clin Transl Immunology 2020; 9:e1166. [PMID: 32994995 PMCID: PMC7507015 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type-1 (APS-1) is a monogenic recessive disorder characterised by multiple endocrine abnormalities, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and high titres of serum autoantibodies. To date, no curative treatment is available; current therapies manage the symptoms rather than treating the cause and have major side effects. APS-1 is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE mediates central tolerance by directing the ectopic expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells, causing the deletion of self-reactive thymocytes. Therefore, loss-of-function mutations in AIRE result in a multisystem autoimmune disease. Because of the monogenic aetiology of APS-1 and availability of an APS-1 mouse model, we have explored the option of restoring functional AIRE using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9). METHODS The efficacy of AAV9-AIRE (AAV9 carrying AIRE cDNA) gene therapy was assessed in an APS-1 mouse model. We performed intrathymic injection of AAV9-AIRE into APS-1 mouse model using ultrasound imaging technique to accurately locating the thymus. We evaluated the efficiency of this approach alongside measures of autoimmunity and histology of target tissues. RESULTS Intrathymic injection of AAV9-AIRE demonstrated high transduction efficiency and restored AIRE expression in the thymus. AIRE gene delivery led to a significant increase in TSA expression, and importantly a significant reduction of serum autoantibodies in treated versus control mice, which fell to near-undetectable levels by 4 weeks post-treatment. Furthermore, histological analysis of treated animals showed near-normal tissue morphology with no lymphocytic infiltrations, a hallmark of untreated Aire-deficient mice. CONCLUSION This study has demonstrated the feasibility of AAV9-AIRE as a vehicle for gene therapy for APS-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Almaghrabi
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular DiseaseUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Faculty of Applied Medical SciencesKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Mimoun Azzouz
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITRaN)Department of NeuroscienceThe Medical SchoolUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Rachid Tazi Ahnini
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular DiseaseUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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19
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Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165765. [PMID: 32796710 PMCID: PMC7460828 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus generates central immune tolerance by producing self-restricted and self-tolerant T-cells as a result of interactions between the developing thymocytes and the stromal microenvironment, mainly formed by the thymic epithelial cells. The thymic epithelium derives from the endoderm of the pharyngeal pouches, embryonic structures that rely on environmental cues from the surrounding mesenchyme for its development. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in early thymic organogenesis at stages preceding the expression of the transcription factor Foxn1, the early marker of thymic epithelial cells identity. Foxn1-independent developmental stages, such as the specification of the pharyngeal endoderm, patterning of the pouches, and thymus fate commitment are discussed, with a special focus on epithelial–mesenchymal interactions.
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20
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Li J, Gordon J, Chen ELY, Xiao S, Wu L, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC, Manley NR. NOTCH1 signaling establishes the medullary thymic epithelial cell progenitor pool during mouse fetal development. Development 2020; 147:dev.178988. [PMID: 32467240 DOI: 10.1242/dev.178988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cell (cTEC and mTEC) lineages are essential for inducing T cell lineage commitment, T cell positive selection and the establishment of self-tolerance, but the mechanisms controlling their fetal specification and differentiation are poorly understood. Here, we show that notch signaling is required to specify and expand the mTEC lineage. Notch1 is expressed by and active in TEC progenitors. Deletion of Notch1 in TECs resulted in depletion of mTEC progenitors and dramatic reductions in mTECs during fetal stages, consistent with defects in mTEC specification and progenitor expansion. Conversely, forced notch signaling in all TECs resulted in widespread expression of mTEC progenitor markers and profound defects in TEC differentiation. In addition, lineage-tracing analysis indicated that all mTECs have a history of receiving a notch signal, consistent with notch signaling occurring in mTEC progenitors. These data provide strong evidence for a requirement for notch signaling in specification of the mTEC lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Julie Gordon
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Edward L Y Chen
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Shiyun Xiao
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Luying Wu
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Nancy R Manley
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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21
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Liu D, Kousa AI, O'Neill KE, Rouse P, Popis M, Farley AM, Tomlinson SR, Ulyanchenko S, Guillemot F, Seymour PA, Jørgensen MC, Serup P, Koch U, Radtke F, Blackburn CC. Canonical Notch signaling controls the early thymic epithelial progenitor cell state and emergence of the medullary epithelial lineage in fetal thymus development. Development 2020; 147:dev.178582. [PMID: 32467237 PMCID: PMC7328009 DOI: 10.1242/dev.178582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Thymus function depends on the epithelial compartment of the thymic stroma. Cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) regulate T cell lineage commitment and positive selection, while medullary (m) TECs impose central tolerance on the T cell repertoire. During thymus organogenesis, these functionally distinct sub-lineages are thought to arise from a common thymic epithelial progenitor cell (TEPC). However, the mechanisms controlling cTEC and mTEC production from the common TEPC are not understood. Here, we show that emergence of the earliest mTEC lineage-restricted progenitors requires active NOTCH signaling in progenitor TEC and that, once specified, further mTEC development is NOTCH independent. In addition, we demonstrate that persistent NOTCH activity favors maintenance of undifferentiated TEPCs at the expense of cTEC differentiation. Finally, we uncover a cross-regulatory relationship between NOTCH and FOXN1, a master regulator of TEC differentiation. These data establish NOTCH as a potent regulator of TEPC and mTEC fate during fetal thymus development, and are thus of high relevance to strategies aimed at generating/regenerating functional thymic tissue in vitro and in vivo. Summary: Notch signaling regulates the initial emergence of medullary thymic epithelial sublineage, implicating Notch in the maintenance of primitive thymic epithelial progenitors and uncovering its cross-interaction with Foxn1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Anastasia I Kousa
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Kathy E O'Neill
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Paul Rouse
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Martyna Popis
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Alison M Farley
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Simon R Tomlinson
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Svetlana Ulyanchenko
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Philip A Seymour
- NNF Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Alle 14, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Mette C Jørgensen
- NNF Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Alle 14, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Palle Serup
- NNF Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Alle 14, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Ute Koch
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Freddy Radtke
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Clare Blackburn
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, 5, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
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22
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Cowan JE, Takahama Y, Bhandoola A, Ohigashi I. Postnatal Involution and Counter-Involution of the Thymus. Front Immunol 2020; 11:897. [PMID: 32477366 PMCID: PMC7235445 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymus involution occurs in all vertebrates. It is thought to impact on immune responses in the aged, and in other clinical circumstances such as bone marrow transplantation. Determinants of thymus growth and size are beginning to be identified. Ectopic expression of factors like cyclin D1 and Myc in thymic epithelial cells (TEC)s results in considerable increase in thymus size. These models provide useful experimental tools that allow thymus function to be understood. In future, understanding TEC-specific controllers of growth will provide new approaches to thymus regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Cowan
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
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23
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Multipotent RAG1+ progenitors emerge directly from haemogenic endothelium in human pluripotent stem cell-derived haematopoietic organoids. Nat Cell Biol 2020; 22:60-73. [DOI: 10.1038/s41556-019-0445-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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24
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Cowan JE, Malin J, Zhao Y, Seedhom MO, Harly C, Ohigashi I, Kelly M, Takahama Y, Yewdell JW, Cam M, Bhandoola A. Myc controls a distinct transcriptional program in fetal thymic epithelial cells that determines thymus growth. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5498. [PMID: 31792212 PMCID: PMC6889275 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13465-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and developing thymocytes are essential for T cell development, but molecular insights on TEC and thymus homeostasis are still lacking. Here we identify distinct transcriptional programs of TEC that account for their age-specific properties, including proliferation rates, engraftability and function. Further analyses identify Myc as a regulator of fetal thymus development to support the rapid increase of thymus size during fetal life. Enforced Myc expression in TEC induces the prolonged maintenance of a fetal-specific transcriptional program, which in turn extends the growth phase of the thymus and enhances thymic output; meanwhile, inducible expression of Myc in adult TEC similarly promotes thymic growth. Mechanistically, this Myc function is associated with enhanced ribosomal biogenesis in TEC. Our study thus identifies age-specific transcriptional programs in TEC, and establishes that Myc controls thymus size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Cowan
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Justin Malin
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Yongge Zhao
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Mina O Seedhom
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Christelle Harly
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Michael Kelly
- Single Cell Analysis Facility, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jonathan W Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maggie Cam
- Office of Science and Technology Resources, Office of the Director, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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25
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Kaneko KB, Tateishi R, Miyao T, Takakura Y, Akiyama N, Yokota R, Akiyama T, Kobayashi TJ. Quantitative analysis reveals reciprocal regulations underlying recovery dynamics of thymocytes and thymic environment in mice. Commun Biol 2019; 2:444. [PMID: 31815199 PMCID: PMC6884561 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0688-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic crosstalk, a set of reciprocal regulations between thymocytes and the thymic environment, is relevant for orchestrating appropriate thymocyte development as well as thymic recovery from various exogenous insults. In this work, interactions shaping thymic crosstalk and the resultant dynamics of thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells are inferred based on quantitative analysis and modeling of the recovery dynamics induced by irradiation. The analysis identifies regulatory interactions consistent with known molecular evidence and reveals their dynamic roles in the recovery process. Moreover, the analysis also predicts, and a subsequent experiment verifies, a previously unrecognized regulation of CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocytes which temporarily increases their proliferation rate upon the decrease in their population size. Our model establishes a pivotal step towards the dynamic understanding of thymic crosstalk as a regulatory network system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa B. Kaneko
- Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tateishi
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyao
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Yuki Takakura
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Nobuko Akiyama
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Ryo Yokota
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
| | - Tetsuya J. Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan
- PREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012 Japan
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26
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Dynamic changes in epithelial cell morphology control thymic organ size during atrophy and regeneration. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4402. [PMID: 31562306 PMCID: PMC6765001 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11879-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes must be produced throughout life, yet the thymus, where T lymphocytes are made, exhibits accelerated atrophy with age. Even in advanced atrophy, however, the thymus remains plastic, and can be regenerated by appropriate stimuli. Logically, thymic atrophy is thought to reflect senescent cell death, while regeneration requires proliferation of stem or progenitor cells, although evidence is scarce. Here we use conditional reporters to show that accelerated thymic atrophy reflects contraction of complex cell projections unique to cortical epithelial cells, while regeneration requires their regrowth. Both atrophy and regeneration are independent of changes in epithelial cell number, suggesting that the size of the thymus is regulated primarily by rate-limiting morphological changes in cortical stroma, rather than by their cell death or proliferation. Our data also suggest that cortical epithelial morphology is under the control of medullary stromal signals, revealing a previously unrecognized endocrine-paracrine signaling axis in the thymus.
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27
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Yue S, Zheng X, Zheng Y. Cell-type-specific role of lamin-B1 in thymus development and its inflammation-driven reduction in thymus aging. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12952. [PMID: 30968547 PMCID: PMC6612680 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular architectural proteins often participate in organ development and maintenance. Although functional decay of some of these proteins during aging is known, the cell-type-specific developmental role and the cause and consequence of their subsequent decay remain to be established especially in mammals. By studying lamins, the nuclear structural proteins, we demonstrate that lamin-B1 functions specifically in the thymic epithelial cells (TECs) for proper thymus organogenesis. An up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines in the intra-thymic myeloid immune cells during aging accompanies a gradual reduction of lamin-B1 in adult TECs. We show that these cytokines can cause senescence and lamin-B1 reduction of the young adult TECs. Lamin-B1 supports the expression of TEC genes that can help maintain the adult TEC subtypes we identified by single-cell RNA-sequencing, thymic architecture, and function. Thus, structural proteins involved in organ building and maintenance can undergo inflammation-driven decay which can in turn contribute to age-associated organ degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibiao Yue
- Department of EmbryologyCarnegie Institution for ScienceBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of BiologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Xiaobin Zheng
- Department of BiologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Yixian Zheng
- Department of EmbryologyCarnegie Institution for ScienceBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of BiologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
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28
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Daley SR, Koay HF, Dobbs K, Bosticardo M, Wirasinha RC, Pala F, Castagnoli R, Rowe JH, Ott de Bruin LM, Keles S, Lee YN, Somech R, Holland SM, Delmonte OM, Draper D, Maxwell S, Niemela J, Stoddard J, Rosenzweig SD, Poliani PL, Capo V, Villa A, Godfrey DI, Notarangelo LD. Cysteine and hydrophobic residues in CDR3 serve as distinct T-cell self-reactivity indices. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 144:333-336. [PMID: 31053347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Daley
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Hui-Fern Koay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kerry Dobbs
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Marita Bosticardo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Rushika C Wirasinha
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Francesca Pala
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Riccardo Castagnoli
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Jared H Rowe
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Lisa M Ott de Bruin
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Sevgi Keles
- Division of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy, Meram Medical Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Yu Nee Lee
- Immunology Service, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Raz Somech
- Immunology Service, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Steven M Holland
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Ottavia M Delmonte
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Debbie Draper
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Sandra Maxwell
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Julie Niemela
- Immunology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Jennifer Stoddard
- Immunology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Sergio D Rosenzweig
- Immunology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Pietro Luigi Poliani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Pathology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Capo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milan Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Dale I Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Luigi D Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
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29
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Sekai M, Wang J, Minato N, Hamazaki Y. An improved clonogenic culture method for thymic epithelial cells. J Immunol Methods 2019; 467:29-36. [PMID: 30738040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A clonogenic assay system for thymic epithelial cells (TECs) is of crucial importance for identifying thymic epithelial stem and/or progenitor cells, evaluating their activities, and understanding the mechanisms of thymic involution. However, current systems are not sufficiently sensitive at detecting and quantifying TEC colonies from the adult thymus. Here, we optimized the culture condition to detect visible colonies from adult TECs by modifying our previous culture methods. Epidermal growth factor and leukemia inhibitory factor significantly enhanced the colony-forming efficiency of total TECs from embryo as well as adult mice when added 3 days after plating. Importantly, characteristics of the TEC colonies formed by the improved condition were almost equivalent to those by the original culture condition with respect to self-renewal and the expression of cell surface markers and intracellular keratins. Furthermore, the colonies derived from total TECs showed immature phenotypes and generated both mature cortical TECs and medullary TECs upon implantation in vivo. These data indicate a more sensitive clonogenic assay system for TECs was established and suggest the improved culture condition supports the colony formation of stem/progenitor cells for cTECs, mTECs and/or bipotent TECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Sekai
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Nagahiro Minato
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Laboratory of Immunobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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30
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Nagai-Okatani C, Nagai M, Sato T, Kuno A. An Improved Method for Cell Type-Selective Glycomic Analysis of Tissue Sections Assisted by Fluorescence Laser Microdissection. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030700. [PMID: 30736315 PMCID: PMC6387264 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lectin microarray (LMA) is a highly sensitive technology used to obtain the global glycomic profiles of endogenous glycoproteins in biological samples including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Here, we describe an effective method for cell type-selective glycomic profiling of tissue fragments collected by laser microdissection (LMD) under fluorescent histochemical visualization. We optimized each step of histochemical staining and confirmed the reliability and validity of glycomic profiling. Using the optimized procedure, glycomic profiles were obtained with 0.5 mm² of stained thymic sections (5-μm-thick) from 8-week-old C57BL/6J male mice. The glycomic profiles of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I)-stained medullary regions showed higher UEA-I signals than those of the morphologically determined medulla regions, indicating the utility of this method for UEA-I(+) cell-selective analysis. To further evaluate this method, tissue fragments was serially collected from stained and unstained areas of medullary epithelial cell probes (UEA-I and anti-cytokeratin 5 antibody) and a cortex-staining probe (peanut agglutinin). The medullary regions assigned by the three probes showed significantly different glycomic profiles, highlighting the difference in subpopulation recognition among the three probes, which was consistent with previous reports. In conclusion, our fluorescence LMD-LMA method enabled cell type-selective tissue glycomic analysis of pathological specimens and animal models, especially for glyco-biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiaki Nagai-Okatani
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.
| | - Misugi Nagai
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.
| | - Takashi Sato
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Kuno
- Glycoscience and Glycotechnology Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.
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31
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Spidale NA, Sylvia K, Narayan K, Miu B, Frascoli M, Melichar HJ, Zhihao W, Kisielow J, Palin A, Serwold T, Love P, Kobayashi M, Yoshimoto M, Jain N, Kang J. Interleukin-17-Producing γδ T Cells Originate from SOX13 + Progenitors that Are Independent of γδTCR Signaling. Immunity 2018; 49:857-872.e5. [PMID: 30413363 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Lineage-committed αβ and γδ T cells are thought to originate from common intrathymic multipotent progenitors following instructive T cell receptor (TCR) signals. A subset of lymph node and mucosal Vγ2+ γδ T cells is programmed intrathymically to produce IL-17 (Tγδ17 cells), however the role of the γδTCR in development of these cells remains controversial. Here we generated reporter mice for the Tγδ17 lineage-defining transcription factor SOX13 and identified fetal-origin, intrathymic Sox13+ progenitors. In organ culture developmental assays, Tγδ17 cells derived primarily from Sox13+ progenitors, and not from other known lymphoid progenitors. Single cell transcriptome assays of the progenitors found in TCR-deficient mice demonstrated that Tγδ17 lineage programming was independent of γδTCR. Instead, generation of the lineage committed progenitors and Tγδ17 cells was controlled by TCF1 and SOX13. Thus, T lymphocyte lineage fate can be prewired cell-intrinsically and is not necessarily specified by clonal antigen receptor signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Spidale
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Katelyn Sylvia
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Kavitha Narayan
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Bing Miu
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Michela Frascoli
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Heather J Melichar
- Immuno-Oncology Research Axis, Centre de recherche de Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Wu Zhihao
- School of Biological Sciences, Division of Genomics and Genetics, Nanyang Technological University, SBS-04n-23, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
| | - Jan Kisielow
- Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Inst. f. Molecular Health Sciences, Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Amy Palin
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Thomas Serwold
- Section on Immunobiology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Paul Love
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michihiro Kobayashi
- Institute for Molecular Medicine - Stem Cell Research, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Momoko Yoshimoto
- Institute for Molecular Medicine - Stem Cell Research, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Nitya Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA; Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Joonsoo Kang
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 02135, USA.
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32
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Singarapu N, Ma K, Reeh KAG, Shen J, Lancaster JN, Yi S, Xie H, Orkin SH, Manley NR, Ehrlich LIR, Jiang N, Richie ER. Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 is essential for development and maintenance of a functional TEC compartment. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14335. [PMID: 30254371 PMCID: PMC6156232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32729-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) are essential for thymocyte differentiation and repertoire selection. Despite their indispensable role in generating functional T cells, the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate TEC development from endodermal progenitors in the third pharyngeal pouch (3rd PP) are not fully understood. We recently reported that the T-box transcription factor TBX1 negatively regulates TEC development. Although initially expressed throughout the 3rd PP, Tbx1 becomes downregulated in thymus-fated progenitors and when ectopically expressed impairs TEC progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Here we show that ectopic Tbx1 expression in thymus fated endoderm increases expression of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) target genes in TEC. PRC2 is an epigenetic modifier that represses gene expression by catalyzing trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3. The increased expression of PRC2 target genes suggests that ectopic Tbx1 interferes with PRC2 activity and implicates PRC2 as an important regulator of TEC development. To test this hypothesis, we used Foxn1Cre to delete Eed, a PRC2 component required for complex stability and function in thymus fated 3rd PP endoderm. Proliferation and differentiation of fetal and newborn TEC were disrupted in the conditional knockout (EedCKO) mutants leading to severely dysplastic adult thymi. Consistent with PRC2-mediated transcriptional silencing, the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEG) were upregulated in EedCKO TEC. Moreover, a high frequency of EedCKO DEG overlapped with DEG in TEC that ectopically expressed Tbx1. These findings demonstrate that PRC2 plays a critical role in TEC development and suggest that Tbx1 expression must be downregulated in thymus fated 3rd PP endoderm to ensure optimal PRC2 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Singarapu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA
| | - Keyue Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Kaitlin A G Reeh
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA
| | - Jianjun Shen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA
| | - Jessica N Lancaster
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Song Yi
- Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Huafeng Xie
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nancy R Manley
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, 500 DW Brooks Drive, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lauren I R Ehrlich
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.,Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ellen R Richie
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, 78957, USA.
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Xu M, Gan T, Ning H, Wang L. MicroRNA Functions in Thymic Biology: Thymic Development and Involution. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2063. [PMID: 30254640 PMCID: PMC6141719 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During the entire processes of thymus organogenesis, maturation, and involution, gene regulation occurs post-transcriptionally via recently discovered microRNA (miRNA) transcripts. Numerous reports indicate that miRNAs may be involved in the construction of a normal thymic microenvironment, which constitutes a critical component to support T lymphocyte development. MiRNAs are also expressed in thymic stromal cells including thymic epithelial cells (TECs) during maturation and senescence. This review focuses on the function of miRNAs in thymic development and involution. A better understanding of these processes will provide new insights into the regulatory network of TECs and further comprehension of how genes control TECs to maintain the thymic microenvironment during thymus development and aging, thus supporting a normal cellular immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwen Xu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Tao Gan
- Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Huiting Ning
- Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Liefeng Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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Despite high levels of expression in thymic epithelial cells, miR-181a1 and miR-181b1 are not required for thymic development. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198871. [PMID: 29949604 PMCID: PMC6021062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be key modulators of post-transcriptional gene silencing in many cellular processes. In previous studies designed to understand the role of miRNAs in thymic development, we globally deleted miRNA exclusively in thymic epithelial cells (TECs), which are critical in thymic selection. This resulted in the loss of stromal cells that instruct T cell lineage commitment and affect thymocyte positive selection, required for mature T cell development. Since murine miR-181 is expressed in the thymus and miR-181 deficiency disrupts thymocyte development, we first quantified and thereby demonstrated that miR181a1 and miR181b1 are expressed in purified TECs. By generating mice with TEC targeted loss of miR-181a1 and miR-181b1 expression, we observed that neither TEC cellularity nor thymocyte number nor differentiation was adversely affected. Thus, disrupted thymopoiesis in miR-181 deficient mice was not due to miR-181 loss of expression in TECs. Importantly, in mice with restricted TEC deficiency of miR-181a1 and miR-181b1, there were similar numbers of mature T cells in the periphery in regards to frequencies, differentiation, and function as compared to controls. Moreover miR-181a1 and miR-181b1 were not required for maintenance of thymus integrity over time, as thymic involution was not accelerated in gene-targeted mice. Taken together our data indicate that miR-181a1 and miR-181b1 are dispensable for TEC differentiation, their control of thymocyte development and mature T cell export to and homeostasis within the periphery.
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35
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Cepeda S, Griffith AV. Thymic stromal cells: Roles in atrophy and age-associated dysfunction of the thymus. Exp Gerontol 2018; 105:113-117. [PMID: 29278750 PMCID: PMC5869099 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Atrophy of the thymus, the primary site of T lymphocyte generation, is a hallmark of the aging immune system. Age-associated thymic atrophy results in diminished output of new, naïve T cells, with immune sequelae that include diminished responses to novel pathogenic challenge and vaccines, as well as diminished tumor surveillance. Although a variety of stimuli are known to regulate transient thymic atrophy, mechanisms governing progressive age-associated atrophy have been difficult to resolve. This has been due in part to the fact that one of the primary targets of age-associated thymic atrophy is a relatively rare population, thymic stromal cells. This review focuses on changes in thymic stromal cells during aging and on the contributions of periodic, stochastic, and progressive causes of thymic atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Cepeda
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Ann V Griffith
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.
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36
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Abstract
About two decades ago, cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene materialized one of the most important actors on the scene of self-tolerance. Thymic transcription of genes encoding tissue-specific antigens (ts-ags) is activated by AIRE protein and embodies the essence of thymic self-representation. Pathogenic AIRE variants cause the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, which is a rare and complex disease that is gaining attention in research on autoimmunity. The animal models of disease, although not identically reproducing the human picture, supply fundamental information on mechanisms and extent of AIRE action: thanks to its multidomain structure, AIRE localizes to chromatin enclosing the target genes, binds to histones, and offers an anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription. In addition, AIRE enhances mRNA diversity by favoring alternative mRNA splicing. Once synthesized, ts-ags are presented to, and cause deletion of the self-reactive thymocyte clones. However, AIRE function is not restricted to the activation of gene transcription. AIRE would control presentation and transfer of self-antigens for thymic cellular interplay: such mechanism is aimed at increasing the likelihood of engagement of the thymocytes that carry the corresponding T-cell receptors. Another fundamental role of AIRE in promoting self-tolerance is related to the development of thymocyte anergy, as thymic self-representation shapes at the same time the repertoire of regulatory T cells. Finally, AIRE seems to replicate its action in the secondary lymphoid organs, albeit the cell lineage detaining such property has not been fully characterized. Delineation of AIRE functions adds interesting data to the knowledge of the mechanisms of self-tolerance and introduces exciting perspectives of therapeutic interventions against the related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Vito Fazzi Regional Hospital, Lecce, Italy
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37
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Su M, Lin Y, Cui C, Tian X, Lu X, He Z, Lai L. ESC-derived thymic epithelial cells expressing MOG prevents EAE by central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms. Cell Immunol 2017; 322:84-91. [PMID: 29074250 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS), and is induced by immunization with disease-causative self-antigens such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). We have previously reported that transplantation of MOG expressing thymic epithelial progenitors (TEPs) derived from 129S6SvEv Tac mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) prevented the development of EAE. In this study, we expand our previous studies to show that transplantation of MOG expressing mESC-TEPs derived from C57BL/6 mice also prevents EAE development. Furthermore, by using a MOG-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse model, we demonstrate that both central and peripheral tolerances are involved in the prevention of EAE induced by MOG expressing mESC-TEPs. Our results suggest that transplantation of human ESC-TEPs expressing MOG may provide an effective approach for the induction of MOG-specific immune tolerance, thereby the prevention and treatment of MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Su
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China
| | - Yujun Lin
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Cheng Cui
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Xiaohong Tian
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Xiuling Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Zhixu He
- Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China; Pediatric Department of the Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China.
| | - Laijun Lai
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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Zhang C, Li Y, Zhang XY, Liu L, Tong HZ, Han TL, Li WD, Jin XL, Yin NB, Song T, Li HD, Zhi J, Zhao ZM, Lu L. Therapeutic potential of human minor salivary gland epithelial progenitor cells in liver regeneration. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12707. [PMID: 28983091 PMCID: PMC5629247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11880-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is a serious problem affecting millions of people with continually increasing prevalence. Stem cell therapy has become a promising treatment for liver dysfunction. We previously reported on human minor salivary gland mesenchymal stem cells (hMSGMSCs), which are highly self-renewable with multi-potent differentiation capability. In this study, keratinocyte-like cells with self-regeneration and hepatic differentiation potential were isolated and characterized, and named human minor salivary gland epithelial progenitor cells (hMSG-EpiPCs). hMSG-EpiPCs were easily obtained via minor intraoral incision; they expressed epithelial progenitor/stem cell and other tissue stem cell markers such as CD29, CD49f, cytokeratins, ABCG2, PLET-1, salivary epithelial cell markers CD44 and CD166, and the Wnt target related gene LGR5 and LGR6. The cells were induced into functional hepatocytes in vitro which expressed liver-associated markers ALB, CYP3A4, AAT, and CK18. Upon transplantation in vivo, they ameliorated severe acute liver damage in SCID mice caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injection. In a two-thirds partial hepatectomy mouse model, the transplanted cells survived at least 4 weeks and exhibited hepatic potential. These findings demonstrate that hMSG-EpiPCs have potential as a cellular therapy basis for hepatic diseases, physiological and toxicology studies and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Department No.16, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Yan Li
- International Medical Plastic and Cosmetic Centre, China Meitan General Hospital, 29 Xi Ba He Nan Li Road, Beijing, 100028, P.R. China
| | - Xiang-Yu Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 Jian She East Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450003, P.R. China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Zhou Tong
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Ting-Lu Han
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Wan-di Li
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Lei Jin
- Department No.16, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Ning-Bei Yin
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Tao Song
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Dong Li
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Juan Zhi
- Department of Anesthesia, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China
| | - Zhen-Min Zhao
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Ba Da Chu Road, Beijing, 100144, P.R. China. .,Department of Stomatology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan-Li-Shi Road, Beijing, 100045, P.R. China.
| | - Lin Lu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, P.R. China.
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39
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A critical epithelial survival axis regulated by MCL-1 maintains thymic function in mice. Blood 2017; 130:2504-2515. [PMID: 28972012 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-03-771576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell differentiation is governed by interactions with thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and defects in this process undermine immune function and tolerance. To uncover new strategies to restore thymic function and adaptive immunity in immunodeficiency, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms that control life and death decisions in TECs. Guided by gene expression profiling, we created mouse models that specifically deleted prosurvival genes in TECs. We found that although BCL-2 and BCL-XL were dispensable for TEC homeostasis, MCL-1 deficiency impacted on TECs as early as embryonic day 15.5, resulting in early thymic atrophy and T-cell lymphopenia, with near complete loss of thymic tissue by 2 months of age. MCL-1 was not necessary for TEC differentiation but was continually required for the survival of mature cortical and medullary TECs and the maintenance of thymic architecture. A screen of TEC trophic factors in organ cultures showed that epidermal growth factor upregulated MCL-1 via MAPK/ERK kinase activity, providing a molecular mechanism for the support of TEC survival. This signaling axis governing TEC survival and thymic function represents a new target for strategies for thymic protection and regeneration.
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40
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Moore AJ, In TS, Trotman-Grant A, Yoganathan K, Montpellier B, Guidos CJ, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC, Anderson MK. A key role for IL-7R in the generation of microenvironments required for thymic dendritic cells. Immunol Cell Biol 2017; 95:933-942. [PMID: 28890536 PMCID: PMC5698111 DOI: 10.1038/icb.2017.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) signaling is critical for multiple stages of T-cell development, but a role in the establishment of the mature thymic architecture needed for T-cell development and thymocyte selection has not been established. Crosstalk signals between developing thymocytes and thymic epithelial cell (TEC) precursors are critical for their differentiation into cortical TECs (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs). In addition, mTEC-derived factors have been implicated in the recruitment of thymic dendritic cells (DCs) and intrathymic DC development. We therefore examined corticomedullary structure and DC populations in the thymus of Il7r−/− mice. Analysis of TEC phenotype and spatial organization revealed a striking shift in the mTEC to cTEC ratio, accompanied by disorganized corticomedullary structure. Several of the thymic subsets known to have DC potential were nearly absent, accompanied by reductions in DC cell numbers. We also examined chemokine expression in the Il7r−/− thymus, and found a significant decrease in mTEC-derived CCR7 ligand expression, and high levels of cTEC-derived chemokines, including CCL25 and CXCL12. Although splenic DCs were similarly affected, bone marrow (BM) precursors capable of giving rise to DCs were unperturbed. Finally, BM chimeras showed that there was no intrinsic need for IL-7R signaling in the development or recruitment of thymic DCs, but that the provision of wild-type progenitors enhanced reconstitution of thymic DCs from Il7r−/− progenitors. Our results are therefore supportive of a model in which Il7r-dependent cells are required to set up the microenvironments that allow accumulation of thymic DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Moore
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tracy Sh In
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ashton Trotman-Grant
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kogulan Yoganathan
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bertrand Montpellier
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cynthia J Guidos
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michele K Anderson
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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41
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MicroRNAs Regulate Thymic Epithelium in Age-Related Thymic Involution via Down- or Upregulation of Transcription Factors. J Immunol Res 2017; 2017:2528957. [PMID: 29226156 PMCID: PMC5684555 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2528957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related thymic involution is primarily induced by defects in nonhematopoietic thymic epithelial cells (TECs). It is characterized by dysfunction of multiple transcription factors (TFs), such as p63 and FoxN1, and also involves other TEC-associated regulators, such as Aire. These TFs and regulators are controlled by complicated regulatory networks, in which microRNAs (miRNAs) act as a key player. miRNAs can either directly target the 3'-UTRs (untranslated regions) of the TFs to suppress TF expression or target TF inhibitors to reduce or increase TF inhibitor expression and thereby indirectly enhance or inhibit TF expression. Here, we review the current understanding and recent studies about how miRNAs are involved in age-related thymic involution via regulation of TEC-autonomous TFs. We also discuss potential strategies for targeting miRNAs to rejuvenate age-related declined thymic function.
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42
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Tan SH, Nusse R. In vivo lineage tracing reveals Axin2-expressing, long-lived cortical thymic epithelial progenitors in the postnatal thymus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184582. [PMID: 28886197 PMCID: PMC5591003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the thymus, cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are instrumental for generating a repertoire of functional T cells. Hence, there has been much interest in the ontogeny of TECs. While medullary TEC (mTEC) and bipotent progenitors have been identified, the existence of a cortical TEC (cTEC) progenitor remains ambiguous. In this study, we used lineage tracing based on a target gene of the Wnt pathway, Axin2. We found that Axin2 initially labels cells in both the cortical and medullary compartments. Using Axin2-CreERT2 mice to track the fate of labelled cells, we identified long-lived cortical TEC progenitors that give rise to expanding clones and contribute to homeostasis in postnatal thymus. In contrast, no clonal expansion was found in the medullary or in the K5K8-double positive compartments. The identification of cTEC progenitors and their regulation by Wnt signaling have important implications for our understanding of thymus physiology during homeostasis and TEC-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Hui Tan
- Program in Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Roel Nusse
- Department of Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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43
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Inhibition of TGF-β signaling supports high proliferative potential of diverse p63 + mouse epithelial progenitor cells in vitro. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6089. [PMID: 28729719 PMCID: PMC5519764 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06470-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models have been used to provide primary cells to study physiology and pathogenesis of epithelia. However, highly efficient simple approaches to propagate mouse primary epithelial cells remain challenging. Here, we show that pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β signaling enables long-term expansion of p63+ epithelial progenitor cells in low Ca2+ media without the need of progenitor cell-purification steps or support by a feeder cell layer. We find that TGF-β signaling is operative in mouse primary keratinocytes in conventional cultures as determined by the nuclear Smad2/3 localization. Accordingly, TGF-β signaling inhibition in crude preparations of mouse epidermis robustly increases proliferative capacity of p63+ epidermal progenitor cells, while preserving their ability of differentiation in response to Ca2+ stimulation. Notably, inhibition of TGF-β signaling also enriches and expands other p63+ epithelial progenitor cells in primary crude cultures of multiple epithelia, including the cornea, oral and lingual epithelia, salivary gland, esophagus, thymus, and bladder. We anticipate that this simple and efficient approach will facilitate the use of mouse models for studying a wide range of epithelia by providing highly enriched populations of diverse p63+ epithelial progenitor cells in quantity.
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44
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Yanagihara T, Tomino T, Uruno T, Fukui Y. Thymic epithelial cell-specific deletion of Jmjd6 reduces Aire protein expression and exacerbates disease development in a mouse model of autoimmune diabetes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 489:8-13. [PMID: 28546003 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.05.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) establish spatially distinct microenvironments in which developing T cells are selected to mature or die. A unique property of medullary TECs is their expression of thousands of tissue-restricted self-antigens that is largely under the control of the transcriptional regulator Aire. We previously showed that Jmjd6, a lysyl hydroxylase for splicing regulatory proteins, is important for Aire protein expression and that transplantation of Jmjd6-deficient thymic stroma into athymic nude mice resulted in multiorgan autoimmunity. Here we report that TEC-specific deletion of Jmjd6 exacerbates development of autoimmune diabetes in a mouse model, which express both ovalbumin (OVA) under the control of the rat insulin gene promoter and OT-I T cell receptor specific for OVA peptide bound to major histocompatibility complex class I Kb molecules. We found that Aire protein expression in mTECs was reduced in the absence of Jmjd6, with retention of intron 2 in Aire transcripts. Our results thus demonstrate the importance of Jmjd6 in establishment of immunological tolerance in a more physiological setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyoshi Yanagihara
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Tomino
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takehito Uruno
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Research Center for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Fukui
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Research Center for Advanced Immunology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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45
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Takahama Y, Ohigashi I, Baik S, Anderson G. Generation of diversity in thymic epithelial cells. Nat Rev Immunol 2017; 17:295-305. [PMID: 28317923 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the thymus, diverse populations of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), including cortical and medullary TECs and their subpopulations, have distinct roles in coordinating the development and repertoire selection of functionally competent and self-tolerant T cells. Here, we review the expanding diversity in TEC subpopulations in relation to their functions in T cell development and selection as well as their origins and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousuke Takahama
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Song Baik
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Graham Anderson
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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Meireles C, Ribeiro AR, Pinto RD, Leitão C, Rodrigues PM, Alves NL. Thymic crosstalk restrains the pool of cortical thymic epithelial cells with progenitor properties. Eur J Immunol 2017; 47:958-969. [DOI: 10.1002/eji.201746922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Meireles
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
- Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Ana R. Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
| | - Rute D. Pinto
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
| | - Catarina Leitão
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Pedro M. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- Thymus Development and Function Laboratory; Infection and Immunity Unit; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Porto Portugal
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Hansen VL, Miller RD. On the prenatal initiation of T cell development in the opossum Monodelphis domestica. J Anat 2017; 230:596-600. [PMID: 28052333 PMCID: PMC5345628 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymus-dependent lymphocytes (T cells) are a critical cell lineage in the adaptive immune system of all jawed vertebrates. In eutherian mammals the initiation of T cell development takes place prenatally and the offspring of many species are born relatively immuno-competent. Marsupials, in contrast, are born in a comparatively altricial state and with a less well developed immune system. As such, marsupials are valuable models for studying the peri- and postnatal initiation of immune system development in mammals. Previous results supported a lack of prenatal T cell development in a variety of marsupial species. In the gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, however, there was evidence that αβT cells were present on postnatal day 1 and likely initiated development prenatally. Demonstrated here is the presence of CD3ε+ lymphocytes in late-stage embryos at a site in the upper thoracic cavity, the site of an early developing thymus. CD3ε+ cells were evident as early as 48 h prior to parturition. In day 14 embryos, where there is clear organogenesis, CD3ε+ cells were only found at the site of the early thymus, consistent with no extra-thymic sites of T cell development in the opossum. These observations are the first evidence of prenatal T cell lineage commitment in any marsupial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L. Hansen
- Department of BiologyCenter for Evolutionary and Theoretical ImmunologyUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerqueNMUSA
| | - Robert D. Miller
- Department of BiologyCenter for Evolutionary and Theoretical ImmunologyUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerqueNMUSA
- National Science FoundationArlingtonVAUSA
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Song Y, Sullivan T, Klarmann K, Gilbert D, O’Sullivan TN, Lu L, Wang S, Haines DC, Van Dyke T, Keller JR. RB inactivation in keratin 18 positive thymic epithelial cells promotes non-cell autonomous T cell hyperproliferation in genetically engineered mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171510. [PMID: 28158249 PMCID: PMC5291521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TEC), as part of thymic stroma, provide essential growth factors/cytokines and self-antigens to support T cell development and selection. Deletion of Rb family proteins in adult thymic stroma leads to T cell hyperplasia in vivo. To determine whether deletion of Rb specifically in keratin (K) 18 positive TEC was sufficient for thymocyte hyperplasia, we conditionally inactivated Rb and its family members p107 and p130 in K18+ TEC in genetically engineered mice (TgK18GT121; K18 mice). We found that thymocyte hyperproliferation was induced in mice with Rb inactivation in K18+ TEC, while normal T cell development was maintained; suggesting that inactivation of Rb specifically in K18+ TEC was sufficient and responsible for the phenotype. Transplantation of wild type bone marrow cells into mice with Rb inactivation in K18+ TEC resulted in donor T lymphocyte hyperplasia confirming the non-cell autonomous requirement for Rb proteins in K18+ TEC in regulating T cell proliferation. Our data suggests that thymic epithelial cells play an important role in regulating lymphoid proliferation and thymus size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurong Song
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Teresa Sullivan
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kimberly Klarmann
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Debra Gilbert
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - T. Norene O’Sullivan
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lucy Lu
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sophie Wang
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Diana C. Haines
- Pathology/ Histotechnology Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Terry Van Dyke
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jonathan R. Keller
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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49
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Ustarroz-Cano M, Garcia-Pelaez I, Cervantes-Yepez S, Lopez-Valdez N, Fortoul TI. Thymic cytoarchitecture changes in mice exposed to vanadium. J Immunotoxicol 2017; 14:9-14. [DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2016.1250848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Ustarroz-Cano
- Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Isabel Garcia-Pelaez
- Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Silvana Cervantes-Yepez
- Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Nelly Lopez-Valdez
- Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Teresa I. Fortoul
- Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
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Hamazaki Y, Sekai M, Minato N. Medullary thymic epithelial stem cells: role in thymic epithelial cell maintenance and thymic involution. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:38-55. [PMID: 27088906 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The thymus consists of two distinct anatomical regions, the cortex and the medulla; medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play a crucial role in establishing central T-cell tolerance for self-antigens. Although the understanding of mTEC development in thymic organogenesis as well as the regulation of their differentiation and maturation has improved, the mechanisms of postnatal maintenance remain poorly understood. This issue has a central importance in immune homeostasis and physiological thymic involution as well as autoimmune disorders in various clinicopathological settings. Recently, several reports have demonstrated the existence of TEC stem or progenitor cells in the postnatal thymus, which are either bipotent or unipotent. We identified stem cells specified for mTEC-lineage that are generated in the thymic ontogeny and may sustain mTEC regeneration and lifelong central T-cell self-tolerance. This finding suggested that the thymic medulla is maintained autonomously by its own stem cells. Although several issues, including the relationship with other putative TEC stem/progenitors, remain unclear, further examination of mTEC stem cells (mTECSCs) and their regulatory mechanisms may contribute to the understanding of postnatal immune homeostasis. Possible relationships between decline of mTECSC activity and early thymic involution as well as various autoimmune disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miho Sekai
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nagahiro Minato
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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