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Mittermüller D, Otto L, Kilian AL, Schnormeier AK, Littwitz-Salomon E, Hasenberg A, Dittmer U, Gunzer M. PD-1 knockout on cytotoxic primary murine CD8 + T cells improves their motility in retrovirus infected mice. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1338218. [PMID: 38742109 PMCID: PMC11089113 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1338218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) motility is an important feature of effective CTL responses and is impaired when CTLs become exhausted, e.g. during chronic retroviral infections. A prominent T cell exhaustion marker is programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and antibodies against the interaction of PD-1 and PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) are known to improve CTL functions. However, antibody blockade affects all PD-1/PD-L1-expressing cell types, thus, the observed effects cannot be attributed selectively to CTLs. To overcome this problem, we performed CRISPR/Cas9 based knockout of the PD-1 coding gene PDCD1 in naïve Friend Retrovirus (FV)-specific CTLs. We transferred 1,000 of these cells into mice where they proliferated upon FV-infection. Using intravital two-photon microscopy we visualized CTL motility in the bone marrow and evaluated cytotoxic molecule expression by flow cytometry. Knockout of PDCD1 improved the CTL motility at 14 days post infection and enhanced the expression of cytotoxicity markers. Our data show the potential of genetic tuning of naive antiviral CTLs and might be relevant for future designs of improved T cell-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Mittermüller
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lucas Otto
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Annika Loredana Kilian
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Schnormeier
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Littwitz-Salomon
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-Associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anja Hasenberg
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-Associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Gunzer
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany
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Joeckel LT, Bird PI. Blessing or curse? Proteomics in granzyme research. Proteomics Clin Appl 2014; 8:351-81. [DOI: 10.1002/prca.201300096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Gibbert K, Schlaak JF, Yang D, Dittmer U. IFN-α subtypes: distinct biological activities in anti-viral therapy. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 168:1048-58. [PMID: 23072338 PMCID: PMC3594665 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 08/15/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During most viral infections, the immediate host response is characterized by an induction of type I IFN. These cytokines have various biological activities, including anti-viral, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory effects. After induction, they bind to their IFN-α/β receptor, which leads to downstream signalling resulting in the expression of numerous different IFN-stimulated genes. These genes encode anti-viral proteins that directly inhibit viral replication as well as modulate immune function. Thus, the induction of type I IFN is a very powerful tool for the host to fight virus infections. Many viruses evade this response by various strategies like the direct suppression of IFN induction or inhibition of the IFN signalling pathway. Therefore, the therapeutic application of exogenous type I IFN or molecules that induce strong IFN responses should be of great potential for future immunotherapies against viral infections. Type I IFN is currently used as a treatment in chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection, but as yet is not widely utilized for other viral infections. One reason for this restricted clinical use is that type I IFN belongs to a multigene family that includes 13 different IFN-α subtypes and IFN-β, whose individual anti-viral and immunomodulatory properties have so far not been investigated in detail to improve IFN therapy against viral infections in humans. In this review, we summarize the recent achievements in defining the distinct biological functions of type I IFN subtypes in cell culture and in animal models of viral infection as well as their clinical usage in chronic hepatitis virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Gibbert
- Department of Virology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Zhang X, Kraft A, Broering R, Schlaak JF, Dittmer U, Lu M. Preclinical development of TLR ligands as drugs for the treatment of chronic viral infections. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2012; 7:597-611. [PMID: 22607384 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2012.689281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as key regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses in viral infection. Recent progress in this field revealed that there are significant interactions between the TLR system and pathogens in chronic viral infections. Therefore, TLR ligands have great potential for the treatment of chronic viral infections. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of the methodology for preclinical testing of TLR ligands for three major viral infections: hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). TLR ligands have shown potent antiviral activity in different cell culture systems as well as animal models for these infections and induce the production of antiviral cytokines, modulated cellular immunological functions and antiviral effects in vivo. EXPERT OPINION The recent progress in this field demonstrated that activation of a large number of TLR ligands is effective against viral infections in cell culture systems and animal models. Exploring these models, further in-depth elucidation of the molecular and immunological mechanisms of the antiviral activity of TLR ligands will be necessary to develop them into clinical useful drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyong Zhang
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Xu L, Wang C, Zhou Y, Ren T, Wen Z. CpG oligonucleotides induce the differentiation of CD4(+)Th17 cells by triggering plasmacytoid dendritic cells in adoptively cell transfer immunotherapy. Immunol Lett 2012; 142:55-63. [PMID: 22249078 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2011.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Revised: 12/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Our previous data showed that CpG-ODNs could significantly enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of adoptively cell transfer (ACT), which was closely correlated to accumulation of Th17 cells in tumor mass. Here we further investigated that CpG-ODNs had no significant effect on the migration and proliferation capacity of Th17 cells in tumor mass. Instead, we showed that CpG-ODNs could induce the differentiation of Th17 cells via dendritic cells (DCs) in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Notably, we found that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), but not myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), were responsible for the Th17 differentiation induced by CpG-ODNs via IL-6, TGF-β and IFN-α in vitro. Finally, we revealed that CpG-ODNs could stimulate pDCs to induce the differentiation of Th17 cells in vivo, which subsequently reduced the tumor size and prolonged the survival of tumor bearing nude mice. These data provided a novel insight into the mechanism of anti-tumor efficacy of CpG-ODNs based therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xu
- Department of Immunology, Zunyi Medical College, Guizhou, China
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Gibbert K, Dietze KK, Zelinskyy G, Lang KS, Barchet W, Kirschning CJ, Dittmer U. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid treatment of Friend retrovirus-infected mice improves functional properties of virus-specific T cells and prevents virus-induced disease. J Immunol 2010; 185:6179-89. [PMID: 20943997 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The induction of type I IFN is the most immediate host response to viral infections. Type I IFN has a direct antiviral activity mediated by antiviral enzymes, but it also modulates the function of cells of the adaptive immune system. Many viruses can suppress type I IFN production, and in retroviral infections, the initial type I IFN is weak. Thus, one strategy of immunotherapy in viral infection is the exogenous induction of type I IFN during acute viral infection by TLR ligands. Along these lines, the TLR3/MDA5 ligand polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] has already been used to treat viral infections. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying this successful therapy have not been defined until now. In this study, the Friend retrovirus (FV) mouse model was used to investigate the mode of action of poly(I:C) in antiretroviral immunotherapy. Postexposure, poly(I:C) treatment of FV-infected mice resulted in a significant reduction in viral loads and protection from virus-induced leukemia. This effect was IFN dependent because type I IFN receptor-deficient mice could not be protected by poly(I:C). The poly(I:C)-induced IFN response resulted in the expression of antiviral enzymes, which suppressed FV replication. Also, the virus-specific T cell response was augmented. Interestingly, it did not enhance the number of virus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, but rather the functional properties of these cells, such as cytokine production and cytotoxic activity. The results demonstrate a direct antiviral and immunomodulatory effect of poly(I:C) and, therefore, suggests its potential for clinical treatment of retroviral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Gibbert
- Institute for Virology, University Clinics in Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Ren T, Xu L, Jiao S, Wang Y, Cai Y, Liang Y, Zhou Y, Zhou H, Wen Z. TLR9 signaling promotes tumor progression of human lung cancer cell in vivo. Pathol Oncol Res 2009; 15:623-30. [PMID: 19319670 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-009-9162-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2008] [Accepted: 03/13/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) was identified mainly in cells of the immune system, and CpG oligonucleotides (CpG ODN), which induces signaling through TLR9, are currently under investigation as adjuvants in clinical therapies against cancer. However, accumulating data suggested that functional TLR9 was also expressed in tumor cells and the effects of TLR9 signaling on the progression of tumor cells remain undefined. Our previous study demonstrated that the TLR9 signaling could significantly enhance the metastatic potential of human lung cancer cells in vitro. Here we carefully evaluated the direct effect of TLR9 signaling on tumor progression of human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We observed that TLR9 agonist CpG ODN could robustly enhance the tumor progression of 95D cells which expressed high level of TLR9 in nude mice. Furthermore, the CpG ODN could effectively induce the proliferation and IL-10 secretion of 95D cells in vitro. Finally, we demonstrated that CpG ODN could significantly elevate the tumor progression of TLR9 modifying 95C cells in vitro and in vivo, which could be dramatically abrogated by the inhibitory CpG ODN. Our findings indicated that the TLR9 signaling could promote the tumor progression of human tumor cells, which might provide novel insight into the implications for CpG based anti-tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ren
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Albert ML, Decalf J, Pol S. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells move down on the list of suspects: in search of the immune pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C. J Hepatol 2008; 49:1069-78. [PMID: 18929418 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2008.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C is a major public health problem. Despite numerous clinical studies in humans and experimental observations made in chimpanzees, hepatitis C pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we review the clinical features of acute and chronic disease, and discuss the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of disease. Many are aware of the dual role of T cells: responsibility for clearance of the virus during acute phase; and liver injury during chronic phase. Nonetheless, there is an emerging belief that failure to prime HCV-specific T cells is responsible for the failure to spontaneously clear the virus, and possibly, for the lack of response to pegylated-IFNalpha(2a)/ribavirin therapy. We have focused on the latest suspects, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), considered to be the professional type I IFNs producing cells. We review the somewhat contradictory data regarding the functional capacity of pDCs in chronic HCV patients and argue that, while lower in relative concentration as compared to healthy individuals, they are not defective in their ability to initiate an innate inflammatory response. Thus, instead of being the culprit, pDCs may in fact represent a novel therapeutic target in order to improve upon existing therapies for treating HCV patients.
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Ren T, Wen ZK, Liu ZM, Qian C, Liang YJ, Jin ML, Cai YY, Xu L. Targeting toll-like receptor 9 with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides enhances anti-tumor responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from human lung cancer patients. Cancer Invest 2008; 26:448-55. [PMID: 18568766 DOI: 10.1080/07357900701681608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CpG-oligonucleotides (CpG-ODN), which induce signaling through Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), are currently under investigation as adjuvants in therapy against infections and cancer. However, whether the CpG-ODN alone could enhance the anti-tumor immunity and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. Here, we investigated that stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human lung cancer patients with CpG-ODN induced proliferation responses of the PBMCs, accompanied by the elevated cytokine secretion, including IFN-alpha, IL-12 and TNF-alpha. In addition, after treatment with CpG-ODN, the cytotoxic activity of the PBMCs and the production of IFN-gamma in CD8(+) T cells were dramatically enhanced. Furthermore, we found that adoptive transfer of CpG-ODN treated PBMCs significantly inhibited the tumor progression in nude mice, which were challenged with the autologuous tumor cells from human lung cancer patients. Finally, we demonstrated that the inhibitory CpG ODN or chloroquine could dramatically abrogate the enhanced anti-tumor responses of the CpG ODN treated PBMCs. Our findings suggest that the CpG-ODN is promising as a preventive and therapeutic anti-tumor measure against pulmonary carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ren
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Balkow S, Krux F, Loser K, Becker JU, Grabbe S, Dittmer U. Friend retrovirus infection of myeloid dendritic cells impairs maturation, prolongs contact to naïve T cells, and favors expansion of regulatory T cells. Blood 2007; 110:3949-58. [PMID: 17699743 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-092189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Retroviruses have developed immunmodulatory mechanisms to avoid being attacked by the immune system. The mechanisms of this retrovirus-associated immune suppression are far from clarified. Dendritic cells (DCs) have been attributed a decisive role in these pathogenic processes. We have used the Friend retrovirus (FV) mouse model in order to acquire further knowledge about the role of infection of DCs in virus-induced immunosuppression. About 20% of the myeloid DCs that were generated from the bone marrow of FV-infected mice carried FV proteins. The infection was productive, and infected DCs transmitted the virus in cell culture and in vivo. FV infection of DCs led to a defect in DC maturation, as infected cells expressed very little costimulatory molecules. Live imaging analysis of the cell contact between DCs and T cells revealed prolonged contacts of T cells with infected DCs compared with uninfected DCs. Although naive T cells were still activated by FV-infected DCs, this activation did not result in antigen-specific T-cell proliferation. Interestingly, infected DCs expanded a population of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with immunosuppressive potential, suggesting that the contact between naive T cells and retrovirus-infected DCs results in tolerance rather than immunity. Thus, retroviral infection of DCs leads to an expansion of regulatory T cells, which might serve as an immune escape mechanism of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Balkow
- Department of Dermatology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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