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Tu TH, Grunbaum A, Santinon F, Kazanova A, Rozza N, Kremer R, Mihalcioiu C, Rudd CE. Decreased progenitor TCF1 + T-cells correlate with COVID-19 disease severity. Commun Biol 2024; 7:526. [PMID: 38702425 PMCID: PMC11068881 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05922-2] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to a severe inflammatory disease characterized by significant lymphopenia. However, the underlying cause for the depletion of T-cells in COVID-19 patients remains incompletely understood. In this study, we assessed the presence of different T-cell subsets in the progression of COVID-19 from mild to severe disease, with a focus on TCF1 expressing progenitor T-cells that are needed to replenish peripheral T-cells during infection. Our results showed a preferential decline in TCF1+ progenitor CD4 and CD8+ T-cells with disease severity. This decline was seen in various TCF1+ subsets including naive, memory and effector-memory cells, and surprisingly, was accompanied by a loss in cell division as seen by a marked decline in Ki67 expression. In addition, TCF1+ T-cells showed a reduction in pro-survival regulator, BcL2, and the appearance of a new population of TCF1 negative caspase-3 expressing cells in peripheral blood from patients with severe disease. The decline in TCF1+ T-cells was also seen in a subgroup of severe patients with vitamin D deficiency. Lastly, we found that sera from severe patients inhibited TCF1 transcription ex vivo which was attenuated by a blocking antibody against the cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL12). Collectively, our findings underscore the potential significance of TCF1+ progenitor T-cells in accounting for the loss of immunity in severe COVID-19 and outline an array of markers that could be used to identify disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thai Hien Tu
- Départment of Medicine, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Division of Immunology-Oncology, Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Ami Grunbaum
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - François Santinon
- Départment of Medicine, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Division of Immunology-Oncology, Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Alexandra Kazanova
- Départment of Medicine, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Division of Immunology-Oncology, Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Nicholas Rozza
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Richard Kremer
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Catalin Mihalcioiu
- Department of Medical Oncology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christopher E Rudd
- Départment of Medicine, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Division of Immunology-Oncology, Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G4, Canada.
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Mackeh R, El Bsat Y, Elmi A, Bibawi H, Karim MY, Hassan A, Lo B. Novel Synonymous Variant in IL7R Causes Preferential Expression of the Soluble Isoform. J Clin Immunol 2024; 44:96. [PMID: 38587703 PMCID: PMC11001715 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01688-8] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) is primarily expressed on lymphoid cells and plays a crucial role in the development, proliferation, and survival of T cells. Autosomal recessive mutations that disrupt IL-7Rα chain expression give rise to a severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), which is characterized by lymphopenia and a T-B+NK+ phenotype. The objective here was to diagnose two siblings displaying the T-B+NK+ SCID phenotype as initial clinical genetic testing did not detect any variants in known SCID genes. METHODS Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was utilized to identify potential variants causing the SCID phenotype. Splicing prediction tools were employed to assess the deleterious impact of the mutation. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Sanger sequencing, flow cytometry, and ELISA were then used to validate the pathogenicity of the detected mutation. RESULTS We discovered a novel homozygous synonymous mutation in the IL7R gene. Our functional studies indicate that this variant is pathogenic, causing exon 6, which encodes the transmembrane domain, to be preferentially spliced out. CONCLUSION In this study, we identified a novel rare synonymous mutation causing a loss of IL-7Rα expression at the cellular membrane. This case demonstrates the value of reanalyzing genetic data based on the clinical phenotype and highlights the significance of functional studies in determining the pathogenicity of genetic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Asha Elmi
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hani Bibawi
- Division of Hematopathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammed Yousuf Karim
- Division of Hematopathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Amel Hassan
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Department, Sidra Medicine, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
| | - Bernice Lo
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
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Borysewicz-Sańczyk H, Wawrusiewicz-Kurylonek N, Gościk J, Sawicka B, Bossowski F, Corica D, Aversa T, Waśniewska M, Bossowski A. Prevalence of Selected Polymorphisms of Il7R, CD226, CAPSL, and CLEC16A Genes in Children and Adolescents with Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4028. [PMID: 38612837 PMCID: PMC11012896 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074028] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) are common autoimmune endocrine disorders in children. Studies indicate that apart from environmental factors, genetic background significantly contributes to the development of these diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Il7R, CD226, CAPSL, and CLEC16A genes in children with autoimmune thyroid diseases. We analyzed SNPs at the locus rs3194051, rs6897932 of IL7R, rs763361 of CD226, rs1010601 of CAPSL, and rs725613 of CLEC16A gene in 56 HT patients, 124 GD patients, and 156 healthy children. We observed significant differences in alleles IL7R (rs6897932) between HT males and the control group (C > T, p = 0.028) and between all GD patients and healthy children (C > T, p = 0.035) as well as GD females and controls (C > T, p = 0.018). Moreover, the C/T genotype was less frequent in GD patients at rs6897932 locus and in HT males at rs1010601 locus. The presence of the T allele in the IL7R (rs6897932) locus appears to have a protective effect against HT in males and GD in all children. Similarly, the presence of the T allele in the CAPSL locus (rs1010601) seems to reduce the risk of HT development in all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Borysewicz-Sańczyk
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Divisions, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Natalia Wawrusiewicz-Kurylonek
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 13, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Joanna Gościk
- Faculty of Computer Science, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Beata Sawicka
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Divisions, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Filip Bossowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Divisions, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Domenico Corica
- Unit of Pediatrics, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria Cap, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.C.); (T.A.); (M.W.)
| | - Tommaso Aversa
- Unit of Pediatrics, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria Cap, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.C.); (T.A.); (M.W.)
| | - Małgorzata Waśniewska
- Unit of Pediatrics, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria Cap, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.C.); (T.A.); (M.W.)
| | - Artur Bossowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Divisions, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (F.B.)
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Acheampong I, Minadzi D, Adankwah E, Aniagyei W, Vivekanandan MM, Yeboah A, Arthur JF, Lamptey M, Abass MK, Kumbel F, Osei-Yeboah F, Gawusu A, Laing EF, Batsa Debrah L, Owusu DO, Debrah A, Mayatepek E, Seyfarth J, Phillips RO, Jacobsen M. Diminished Interleukin-7 receptor expression on T-cell subsets in tuberculosis patients. Hum Immunol 2023; 84:543-550. [PMID: 37580215 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2023.08.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Immunopathology in human tuberculosis affects T-cell phenotype and functions. Previous studies identified impaired T-cell sensitivity to Interleukin (IL)-7 accompanied by lower IL-7 receptor α-chain (IL-7Rα) expression in patients with acute tuberculosis. In the present study, we characterized affected T-cell subsets and determined the influence of tuberculosis disease severity and treatment response. Tuberculosis patients (n = 89) as well as age- and gender-matched asymptomatic contacts (controls, n = 47) were recruited in Ghana. Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis sputum burden was monitored prior to and during treatment. Blood samples from all patients and controls were analyzed for IL-7Rα expression and T-cell markers by multi-colour flow cytometry. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of tuberculosis patients showed generally lower IL-7Rα expression as compared to controls. Concomitantly, tuberculosis patients had higher proportions of naïve and lower proportions of memory CD4+ T-cells. Notably, a subset of CD27 positive central memory T-cells (Tcm), which lacked IL-7Rα expression was enriched in tuberculosis patients as compared to controls. M. tuberculosis sputum burden was not associated with differences in IL-7Rα expression. Treatment duration and response showed no clear effects although IL-7Rα expression patterns were highly variable. These results suggested generally impaired generation of memory CD4+ T-cells and enrichment of a Tcm subset without IL-7Rα expression in patients with tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Acheampong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Difery Minadzi
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ernest Adankwah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Wilfred Aniagyei
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Augustine Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Joseph F Arthur
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Millicent Lamptey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | | | - Amidu Gawusu
- Sene West Health Directorate, Kwame Danso, Ghana
| | - Edwin F Laing
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Dorcas O Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alexander Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ertan Mayatepek
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia Seyfarth
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Richard O Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana; School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Marc Jacobsen
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
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Shin MS, Park HJ, Young J, Kang I. Implication of IL-7 receptor alpha chain expression by CD8 + T cells and its signature in defining biomarkers in aging. Immun Ageing 2022; 19:66. [PMID: 36544153 PMCID: PMC9768896 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-022-00324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells play an important role in host defense against infections and malignancies as well as contribute to the development of inflammatory disorders. Alterations in the frequency of naïve and memory CD8+ T cells are one of the most significant changes in the immune system with age. As the world population rapidly ages, a better understanding of aging immune function or immunosenescence could become a basis for discovering treatments of illnesses that commonly occur in older adults. In particular, biomarkers for immune aging could be utilized to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated conditions and help monitor the efficacy of therapeutic interventions targeting such conditions. This review details the possible role of CD8+ T cell subsets expressing different levels of the cytokine receptor IL-7 receptor alpha chain (IL-7Rα) and the gene signature associated with IL-7Rα as potential biomarkers for immune aging given the association of CD8+ T cells in host defense, inflammation, and immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Sun Shin
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, S525C TAC, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Hong-Jai Park
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, S525C TAC, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Juan Young
- Departments of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Insoo Kang
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, S525C TAC, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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6
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Galarza-Muñoz G, Kennedy-Boone D, Schott G, Bradrick SS, Garcia-Blanco MA. Antisense modulation of IL7R splicing to control sIL7R expression in human CD4 + T cells. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1058-1073. [PMID: 35613883 PMCID: PMC9297843 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079137.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The interleukin 7 receptor (IL7R) is strongly associated with increased risk to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, and this association is likely driven by up-regulation of the soluble isoform of IL7R (sIL7R). Expression of sIL7R is determined by exclusion of the alternative exon 6 from IL7R transcripts, and our previous work revealed that the MS risk allele of the SNP rs6897932 within this exon enhances the expression of sIL7R by promoting exclusion of exon 6. sIL7R potentiates the activity of IL7, leading to enhanced expansion of T cells and increased disability in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) murine model of MS. This role in modulating T cell-driven immunity positions sIL7R as an attractive therapeutic target whose expression could be reduced for treatment of MS or increased for treatment of cancers. In this study, we identified novel antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that effectively control the inclusion (anti-sIL7R ASOs) or exclusion (pro-sIL7R ASOs) of this exon in a dose-dependent fashion. These ASOs provided excellent control of exon 6 splicing and sIL7R secretion in human primary CD4+ T cells. Supporting their potential for therapeutic targeting, we showed that lead anti-sIL7R ASOs correct the enhanced exon 6 exclusion imposed by the MS risk allele of rs6897932, whereas lead pro-sIL7R ASOs phenocopy it. The data presented here form the foundation for future preclinical studies that will test the therapeutic potential of these ASOs in MS and immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaddiel Galarza-Muñoz
- Autoimmunity BioSolutions, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Debbie Kennedy-Boone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Geraldine Schott
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Shelton S Bradrick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
| | - Mariano A Garcia-Blanco
- Autoimmunity BioSolutions, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
- Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA
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