Tracking proliferative history in lymphocyte development with cre-mediated sister chromatid recombination

Lineage Tracking the Generation of T Regulatory Cells From Microbial Activated T Effector Cells in Naïve Mice

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the maintenance of gut homeostasis by suppressing conventional CD4⁺ helper T cells (Tconvs) that are activated by microbial antigens. Although thymus is the major source of the peripheral Tregs, peripheral conversion from Tconvs to Tregs have also been shown to occur under various experimental conditions. It remains less clear about the frequency of lineage conversion from Tconvs to Tregs in naïve animals. Here we used a newly established reporter system to track a group of post expansion Tregs (eTregs), which exhibited a stronger suppressive ability than the non-lineage marked Tregs. Notably, microbial antigens are the primary driver for the formation of eTregs. TCR repertoire analysis of Peyer's patch T cells revealed that eTregs are clonally related to Tconvs, but not to the non-lineage tracked Tregs. Adoptive transfer of Tconvs into lymphopenic hosts demonstrated a conversion from Tconvs to eTregs. Thus, our lineage tracking method was able to capture the lineage conversion from microbial activated effector T cells to Tregs in naïve animals. This study suggests that a fraction of clonally activated T cells from the natural T cell repertoire exhibits lineage conversion to Tregs in response to commensal microbes under homeostatic conditions.

Sample path properties of the average generation of a Bellman-Harris process

Motivated by a recently proposed design for a DNA coded randomised algorithm that enables inference of the average generation of a collection of cells descendent from a common progenitor, here we establish strong convergence properties for the average generation of a super-critical Bellman-Harris process. We further extend those results to a two-type Bellman-Harris process where one type can give rise to the other, but not vice versa. These results further affirm the estimation method's potential utility by establishing its long run accuracy on individual sample-paths, and significantly expanding its remit to encompass cellular development that gives rise to differentiated offspring with distinct population dynamics.

Id3 Restricts γδ NKT Cell Expansion by Controlling Egr2 and c-Myc Activity

γδ NKT cells are neonatal-derived γδ T lymphocytes that are grouped together with invariant NKT cells based on their shared innate-like developmental program characterized by the transcription factor PLZF (promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger). Previous studies have demonstrated that the population size of γδ NKT cells is tightly controlled by Id3-mediated inhibition of E-protein activity in mice. However, how E proteins promote γδ NKT cell development and expansion remains to be determined. In this study, we report that the transcription factor Egr2, which also activates PLZF expression in invariant NKT cells, is essential for regulating γδ NKT cell expansion. We observed a higher expression of Egr family genes in γδ NKT cells compared with the conventional γδ T cell population. Loss of function of Id3 caused an expansion of γδ NKT cells, which is accompanied by further upregulation of Egr family genes as well as PLZF. Deletion of Egr2 in Id3-deficient γδ NKT cells prevented cell expansion and blocked PLZF upregulation. We further show that this Egr2-mediated γδ NKT cell expansion is dependent on c-Myc. c-Myc knockdown attenuated the proliferation of Id3-deficient γδ NKT cells, whereas c-Myc overexpression enhanced the proliferation of Id3/Egr2-double-deficient γδ NKT cells. Therefore, our data reveal a regulatory circuit involving Egr2-Id3-E2A, which normally restricts the population size of γδ NKT cells by adjusting Egr2 dosage and c-Myc expression.

Inferring average generation via division-linked labeling

For proliferating cells subject to both division and death, how can one estimate the average generation number of the living population without continuous observation or a division-diluting dye? In this paper we provide a method for cell systems such that at each division there is an unlikely, heritable one-way label change that has no impact other than to serve as a distinguishing marker. If the probability of label change per cell generation can be determined and the proportion of labeled cells at a given time point can be measured, we establish that the average generation number of living cells can be estimated. Crucially, the estimator does not depend on knowledge of the statistics of cell cycle, death rates or total cell numbers. We explore the estimator's features through comparison with physiologically parameterized stochastic simulations and extrapolations from published data, using it to suggest new experimental designs.

Aberrant production of IL-13 by T cells promotes exocrinopathy in Id3 knockout mice

Elevated levels of the cytokine IL-13 has been found to be associated with autoimmune diseases, including Sjögren's Syndrome. However, whether IL-13 plays a causative role in disease development is not known and cannot be easily studied in humans. Our previous work has shown that levels of IL-13 are elevated in Id3 knockout mice, which has been established as a model for primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Here, we utilized an IL-13 reporter to determine the source of the elevated IL-13 levels observed in Id3 knockout mice and assess its contribution to SS pathology. Our results indicate that T cells, notably CD4 and γδ T cells, in Id3 knockout mice acquire IL-13 competency at an elevated rate well before disease symptoms become apparent. We also show that T cells developing early in life are more predisposed to produce IL-13. Finally, analysis of Id3 and IL-13 double deficient mice demonstrated that IL-13 plays an essential role in the deterioration of gland function. Our study provides crucial genetic evidence that enhanced IL-13 production by T cells can play a causative role in the exocrinopathy observed in Id3 knockout mice.

E proteins in lymphocyte development and lymphoid diseases

As members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors, E proteins function in the immune system by directing and maintaining a vast transcriptional network that regulates cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and function. Proper activity of this network is essential to the functionality of the immune system. Aberrations in E protein expression or function can cause numerous defects, ranging from impaired lymphocyte development and immunodeficiency to aberrant function, cancer, and autoimmunity. Additionally, disruption of inhibitor of DNA-binding (Id) proteins, natural inhibitors of E proteins, can induce additional defects in development and function. Although E proteins have been investigated for several decades, their study continues to yield novel and exciting insights into the workings of the immune system. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the various classical roles of E proteins in lymphocyte development and highlight new and ongoing research into how these roles, if compromised, can lead to disease.