1
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Mitchell JS, Spanier JA, Dwyer AJ, Knutson TP, Alkhatib MH, Qian G, Weno ME, Chen Y, Shaheen ZR, Tucker CG, Kangas TO, Morales MS, Silva N, Kaisho T, Farrar MA, Fife BT. CD4 + T cells reactive to a hybrid peptide from insulin-chromogranin A adopt a distinct effector fate and are pathogenic in autoimmune diabetes. Immunity 2024:S1074-7613(24)00373-X. [PMID: 39214091 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
T cell-mediated islet destruction is a hallmark of autoimmune diabetes. Here, we examined the dynamics and pathogenicity of CD4+ T cell responses to four different insulin-derived epitopes during diabetes initiation in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing of tetramer-sorted CD4+ T cells from the pancreas revealed that islet-antigen-specific T cells adopted a wide variety of fates and required XCR1+ dendritic cells for their activation. Hybrid-insulin C-chromogranin A (InsC-ChgA)-specific CD4+ T cells skewed toward a distinct T helper type 1 (Th1) effector phenotype, whereas the majority of insulin B chain and hybrid-insulin C-islet amyloid polypeptide-specific CD4+ T cells exhibited a regulatory phenotype and early or weak Th1 phenotype, respectively. InsC-ChgA-specific CD4+ T cells were uniquely pathogenic upon transfer, and an anti-InsC-ChgA:IAg7 antibody prevented spontaneous diabetes. Our findings highlight the heterogeneity of T cell responses to insulin-derived epitopes in diabetes and argue for the feasibility of antigen-specific therapies that blunts the response of pathogenic CD4+ T cells causing autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Mitchell
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Justin A Spanier
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander J Dwyer
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Todd P Knutson
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mohannad H Alkhatib
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Gina Qian
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Matthew E Weno
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Yixin Chen
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zachary R Shaheen
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Allergy, & Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christopher G Tucker
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Takashi O Kangas
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Milagros Silva Morales
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nubia Silva
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tsuneyasu Kaisho
- Department of Immunology Institute for Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Michael A Farrar
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Brian T Fife
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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2
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Roetman JJ, Erwin MM, Rudloff MW, Favret NR, Detrés Román CR, Apostolova MKI, Murray KA, Lee TF, Lee YA, Philip M. Tumor-Reactive CD8+ T Cells Enter a TCF1+PD-1- Dysfunctional State. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1630-1641. [PMID: 37844197 PMCID: PMC10841346 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
T cells recognize several types of antigens in tumors, including aberrantly expressed, nonmutated proteins, which are therefore shared with normal tissue and referred to as self/shared-antigens (SSA), and mutated proteins or oncogenic viral proteins, which are referred to as tumor-specific antigens (TSA). Immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) can activate T-cell responses against TSA, leading to tumor control, and also against SSA, causing immune-related adverse events (irAE). To improve anti-TSA immunity while limiting anti-SSA autoreactivity, we need to understand how tumor-specific CD8+ T cells (TST) and SSA-specific CD8+ T (SST) cells differentiate in response to cognate antigens during tumorigenesis. Therefore, we developed a genetic cancer mouse model in which we can track TST and SST differentiation longitudinally as liver cancers develop. We found that both TST and SST lost effector function over time, but while TST persisted long term and had a dysfunctional/exhausted phenotype (including expression of PD1, CD39, and TOX), SST exited cell cycle prematurely and disappeared from liver lesions. However, SST persisted in spleens in a dysfunctional TCF1+PD-1- state: unable to produce effector cytokines or proliferate in response to ICB targeting PD-1 or PD-L1. Thus, our studies identify a dysfunctional T-cell state occupied by T cells reactive to SSA: a TCF1+PD-1- state lacking in effector function, demonstrating that the type/specificity of tumor antigen may determine tumor-reactive T-cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J. Roetman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Megan M. Erwin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael W. Rudloff
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Natalie R. Favret
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Carlos R. Detrés Román
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Minna K. I. Apostolova
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kristen A. Murray
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ting-Fang Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Youngmin A. Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mary Philip
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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3
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Raugh A, Jing Y, Bettini ML, Bettini M. The amphiregulin/EGFR axis has limited contribution in controlling autoimmune diabetes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18653. [PMID: 37903947 PMCID: PMC10616065 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45738-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional immunosuppressive functions of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis have been well described, but whether Tregs have additional non-immunological functions supporting tissue homeostasis in pancreatic islets is unknown. Within the last decade novel tissue repair functions have been ascribed to Tregs. One function is production of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand, amphiregulin, which promotes tissue repair in response to inflammatory or mechanical tissue injury. However, whether such pathways are engaged during autoimmune diabetes and promote tissue repair is undetermined. Previously, we observed that upregulation of amphiregulin at the transcriptional level was associated with functional Treg populations in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of T1D. From this we postulated that amphiregulin promoted islet tissue repair and slowed the progression of diabetes in NOD mice. Here, we report that islet-infiltrating Tregs have increased capacity to produce amphiregulin, and that both Tregs and beta cells express EGFR. Moreover, we show that amphiregulin can directly modulate mediators of endoplasmic reticulum stress in beta cells. Despite this, NOD amphiregulin deficient mice showed no acceleration of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes. Taken together, the data suggest that the ability for amphiregulin to affect the progression of autoimmune diabetes is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Raugh
- Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Yi Jing
- Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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4
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Raugh A, Jing Y, Bettini ML, Bettini M. The Amphiregulin/EGFR axis has limited contribution in controlling autoimmune diabetes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3204139. [PMID: 37577652 PMCID: PMC10418547 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3204139/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Conventional immunosuppressive functions of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis have been well described, but whether Tregs have additional non-immunological functions supporting tissue homeostasis in pancreatic islets is unknown. Within the last decade novel tissue repair functions have been ascribed to Tregs. One function is production of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand, amphiregulin, which promotes tissue repair in response to inflammatory or mechanical tissue injury. Whether such pathways are engaged during autoimmune diabetes and promote tissue repair is undetermined. Previously, we observed upregulation of amphiregulin at the transcriptional level was associated with functional Treg populations in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of T1D. We postulated that amphiregulin promoted islet tissue repair and slowed the progression of diabetes in NOD mice. Here, we report that islet-infiltrating Tregs have increased capacity to produce amphiregulin and both Tregs and beta cells express EGFR. Moreover, we show that amphiregulin can directly modulate mediators of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in beta cells. Despite this, NOD amphiregulin deficient mice showed no acceleration of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes. Taken together, the data suggest that the ability for amphiregulin to affect the progression of autoimmune diabetes is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Raugh
- Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
| | - Yi Jing
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
| | - Matthew L. Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
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5
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Jing Y, Kong Y, Allard D, Liu B, Kolawole E, Sprouse M, Evavold B, Bettini M, Bettini M. Increased TCR signaling in regulatory T cells is disengaged from TCR affinity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.523999. [PMID: 36711832 PMCID: PMC9882247 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.523999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are capable suppressors of aberrant self-reactivity. However, TCR affinity and specificities that support Treg function, and how these compare to autoimmune T cells remain unresolved. In this study, we used antigen agnostic and epitope-focused analyses to compare TCR repertoires of regulatory and effector T cells that spontaneously infiltrate pancreatic islets of non-obese diabetic mice. We show that effector and regulatory T cell-derived TCRs possess similar wide-ranging reactivity for self-antigen. Treg-derived TCRs varied in their capacity to confer optimal protective function, and Treg suppressive capacity was in part determined by effector TCR affinity. Interestingly, when expressing the same TCR, Tregs showed higher Nur77-GFP expression than Teffs, suggesting Treg-intrinsic ability to compete for antigen. Our findings provide a new insight into TCR-dependent and independent mechanisms that regulate Treg function and indicate a TCR-intrinsic insufficiency in tissue-specific Tregs that may contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.
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6
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Yang SJ, Singh AK, Drow T, Tappen T, Honaker Y, Barahmand-Pour-Whitman F, Linsley PS, Cerosaletti K, Mauk K, Xiang Y, Smith J, Mortensen E, Cook PJ, Sommer K, Khan I, Liggitt D, Rawlings DJ, Buckner JH. Pancreatic islet-specific engineered T regs exhibit robust antigen-specific and bystander immune suppression in type 1 diabetes models. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabn1716. [PMID: 36197963 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn1716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is therapeutic in type 1 diabetes (T1D) mouse models. Tregs that are specific for pancreatic islets are more potent than polyclonal Tregs in preventing disease. However, the frequency of antigen-specific natural Tregs is extremely low, and ex vivo expansion may destabilize Tregs, leading to an effector phenotype. Here, we generated durable, antigen-specific engineered Tregs (EngTregs) from primary human CD4+ T cells by combining FOXP3 homology-directed repair editing and lentiviral T cell receptor (TCR) delivery. Using TCRs derived from clonally expanded CD4+ T cells isolated from patients with T1D, we generated islet-specific EngTregs that suppressed effector T cell (Teff) proliferation and cytokine production. EngTregs suppressed Teffs recognizing the same islet antigen in addition to bystander Teffs recognizing other islet antigens through production of soluble mediators and both direct and indirect mechanisms. Adoptively transferred murine islet-specific EngTregs homed to the pancreas and blocked diabetes triggered by islet-specific Teffs or diabetogenic polyclonal Teffs in recipient mice. These data demonstrate the potential of antigen-specific EngTregs as a targeted therapy for preventing T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Jung Yang
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Akhilesh K Singh
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Travis Drow
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Tori Tappen
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Yuchi Honaker
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Fariba Barahmand-Pour-Whitman
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Peter S Linsley
- Center for Systems Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Karen Cerosaletti
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Kelsey Mauk
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Yufei Xiang
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Jessica Smith
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Emma Mortensen
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Peter J Cook
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Karen Sommer
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Iram Khan
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Denny Liggitt
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - David J Rawlings
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and the Program for Cell and Gene Therapy, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Jane H Buckner
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
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7
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Samassa F, Mallone R. Self-antigens, benign autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes: a beta-cell and T-cell perspective. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2022; 29:370-378. [PMID: 35777965 DOI: 10.1097/med.0000000000000735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent work using immunopeptidomics and deconvolution of the antigenic reactivity of islet-infiltrating CD8+ T cells has expanded our knowledge about the autoimmune target epitopes of type 1 diabetes. The stem-like properties of autoimmune CD8+ T cells have also been described. We here propose a possible link between these findings. RECENT FINDINGS Weak major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-binding epitopes list among the major targets of human islet-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, likely resulting in low peptide-MHC presentation that delivers weak T-cell receptor (TCR) signals, especially in the face of low-affinity autoimmune TCRs. These weak TCR signals may favor the maintenance of the partially differentiated stem-like phenotype recently described for islet-reactive CD8+ T cells in the blood and pancreatic lymph nodes. These weak TCR signals may also be physiological, reflecting the need for self-peptide-MHC contacts to maintain homeostatic T-cell survival and proliferation. These features may underlie the universal state of benign autoimmunity that we recently described, which is characterized by islet-reactive, naïve-like CD8+ T cells circulating in all individuals. SUMMARY These observations provide novel challenges and opportunities to develop circulating T-cell biomarkers for autoimmune staging. Therapeutic halting of islet autoimmunity may require targeting of stem-like T cells to blunt their self-regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Mallone
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
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8
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Alampi G, Vignali D, Centorame I, Canu A, Cosorich I, Filoni J, Di Dedda C, Monti P. Asymmetric T cell division of GAD65 specific naive T cells contribute to an early divergence in the differentiation fate into memory T cell subsets. Immunology 2022; 167:303-313. [PMID: 35752961 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoreactive T cells with the phenotype and function of different memory subsets are present in patients who developed type 1 diabetes. According to the progressive differentiation model, memory subsets generate from naïve precursors in a linear and unidirectional path depending on the strength and quality of stimulatory signals. By observing human naïve T cells in contact with GAD65 loaded autologous dendritic cells, we observed that approximately 10% of cells divided with the plane of cell division parallel to the one of the immune synapse, causing phenotypic asymmetries in the proximal and distal daughter T cells. After the first T cell division, proximal and distal daughter T cells showed different phenotype, metabolic signature and commitment to differentiate toward long-lived memory T cells or T cells with effector function. Subjects with or without T1D showed a similar frequency of asymmetric T cell division (ATCD) for autoantigens and recall antigens specific T cells, however the frequency of ATCD is significantly increased in autoreactive T cells in patients with T1D when IL-7 was added to the culture. An increased up-regulation of GLUT1 in response to IL-7 in patients with T1D was related to the rate of ATCD Our results showed that ATCD is associated with an early divergence in the differentiation fate of naïve T cells specific for GAD65 during first antigen encounter. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Alampi
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Debora Vignali
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilenia Centorame
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Canu
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cosorich
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Filoni
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Di Dedda
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Monti
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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9
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Yue C, Gao S, Li S, Xing Z, Qian H, Hu Y, Wang W, Hua C. TIGIT as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Autoimmune Diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:911919. [PMID: 35720417 PMCID: PMC9203892 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.911919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-inhibitory receptors (IRs) are molecules that protect host against autoimmune reactions and maintain peripheral self-tolerance, playing an essential role in maintaining immune homeostasis. In view of the substantial clinical progresses of negative immune checkpoint blockade in cancer treatment, the role of IRs in autoimmune diseases is also obvious. Several advances highlighted the substantial impacts of T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), a novel IR, in autoimmunity. Blockade of TIGIT pathway exacerbates multiple autoimmune diseases, whereas enhancement of TIGIT function has been shown to alleviate autoimmune settings in mice. These data suggested that TIGIT pathway can be manipulated to achieve durable tolerance to treat autoimmune disorders. In this review, we provide an overview of characteristics of TIGIT and its role in autoimmunity. We then discuss recent approaches and future directions to leverage our knowledge of TIGIT as therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenran Yue
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Sheng Gao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shuting Li
- School of the Second Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhouhang Xing
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hengrong Qian
- School of the Second Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ying Hu
- School of the Second Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenqian Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chunyan Hua
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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10
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Akama-Garren EH, Carroll MC. T Cell Help in the Autoreactive Germinal Center. Scand J Immunol 2022; 95:e13192. [PMID: 35587582 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The germinal center serves as a site of B cell selection and affinity maturation, critical processes for productive adaptive immunity. In autoimmune disease tolerance is broken in the germinal center reaction, leading to production of autoreactive B cells that may propagate disease. Follicular T cells are crucial regulators of this process, providing signals necessary for B cell survival in the germinal center. Here we review the emerging roles of follicular T cells in the autoreactive germinal center. Recent advances in immunological techniques have allowed study of the gene expression profiles and repertoire of follicular T cells at unprecedented resolution. These studies provide insight into the potential role follicular T cells play in preventing or facilitating germinal center loss of tolerance. Improved understanding of the mechanisms of T cell help in autoreactive germinal centers provides novel therapeutic targets for diseases of germinal center dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot H Akama-Garren
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael C Carroll
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Jing Y, Kong Y, McGinty J, Blahnik-Fagan G, Lee T, Orozco-Figueroa S, Bettini ML, James EA, Bettini M. T-Cell Receptor/HLA Humanized Mice Reveal Reduced Tolerance and Increased Immunogenicity of Posttranslationally Modified GAD65 Epitope. Diabetes 2022; 71:1012-1022. [PMID: 35179565 PMCID: PMC9044133 DOI: 10.2337/db21-0993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence supports a critical role for posttranslationally modified (PTM) islet neoantigens in type 1 diabetes. However, our understanding regarding thymic development and peripheral activation of PTM autoantigen-reactive T cells is still limited. Using HLA-DR4 humanized mice, we observed that deamidation of GAD65115-127 generates a more immunogenic epitope that recruits T cells with promiscuous recognition of both the deamidated and native epitopes and reduced frequency of regulatory T cells. Using humanized HLA/T-cell receptor (TCR) mice, we observed that TCRs reactive to the native or deamidated GAD65115-127 led to efficient development of CD4+ effector T cells; however, regulatory T-cell development was reduced in mice expressing the PTM-reactive TCR, which was partially restored with exogenous PTM peptide. Upon priming, both the native-specific and the deamidated-specific T cells accumulated in pancreatic islets, suggesting that both specificities can recognize endogenous GAD65 and contribute to anti-β-cell responses. Collectively, our observations in polyclonal and single TCR systems suggest that while effector T-cell responses can exhibit cross-reactivity between native and deamidated GAD65 epitopes, regulatory T-cell development is reduced in response to the deamidated epitope, pointing to regulatory T-cell development as a key mechanism for loss of tolerance to PTM antigenic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jing
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Yuelin Kong
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - John McGinty
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Thomas Lee
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Stephanie Orozco-Figueroa
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Matthew L. Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Eddie A. James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
- Corresponding author: Maria Bettini,
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12
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Kong Y, Jing Y, Allard D, Scavuzzo MA, Sprouse ML, Borowiak M, Bettini ML, Bettini M. A dormant T cell population with autoimmune potential exhibits low self-reactivity and infiltrates islets in type 1 diabetes. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1158-1170. [PMID: 35389516 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The contribution of low affinity T cells to autoimmunity in the context of polyclonal T cell responses is understudied due to the limitations in their capture by tetrameric reagents and low level of activation in response to antigenic stimulation. As a result, low affinity T cells are often disregarded as non-antigen specific cells irrelevant to the immune response. Our study aimed to assess how the level of self-antigen reactivity shapes T cell lineage and effector responses in the context of spontaneous tissue specific autoimmunity observed in NOD mice. Using multi-color flow cytometry in combination with Nur77GFP reporter of TCR signaling we identified a dormant population of T cells that infiltrated the pancreatic islets of pre-diabetic NOD mice, which exhibited reduced level of self-tissue reactivity based on expression of CD5 and Nur77GFP . We showed that these CD5low T cells had a unique TCR repertoire, exhibited low activation and minimal effector function; however, induced rapid diabetes upon transfer. The CD4+ CD5low T cell population displayed transcriptional signature of central memory T cells, consistent with the ability to acquire effector function post-transfer. Transcriptional profile of CD5low T cells was similar to T cells expressing a low affinity TCR, indicating TCR affinity to be the important factor in shaping CD5low T cell phenotype and function at the tissue site. Overall, our study suggests that autoimmune tissue can maintain a reservoir of undifferentiated central memory-like autoreactive T cells with pathogenic effector potential that might be an important source for effector T cells during long-term chronic autoimmunity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelin Kong
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Yi Jing
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112
| | - Denise Allard
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112
| | - Marissa A Scavuzzo
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Maran L Sprouse
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Maria Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
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13
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Gao S, Zhou M, Li Y, Xiao D, Wang Y, Yao Y, Gao Y, Cai X, Lin Y. Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acids Reverse New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:50802-50811. [PMID: 34665600 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c16151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by breakdowns of central and peripheral immune tolerance and destructions of insulin-producing β-cells. Conventional insulin injection cannot cure the disease. Regulatory immune cells, including regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and regulatory B-cells (Bregs), play critical roles in immune tolerance. Inducing regulatory immune cells to halt the progress of T1D and restore immune tolerance is the promising approach in T1D immunotherapy. Here, tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) were utilized to treat T1D in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. 250 nM tFNA treatment was adopted in the experiment to reverse hyperglycemia and protect insulin-secreting β-cells in diabetic NOD mice. In addition, 250 nM tFNA treatment could induce Tregs and Bregs and suppress helper T (Th)-cells in the pancreas. In the pancreas, cytokines, as a significant signal during CD4+ T-cell differentiation, directly direct the differentiation programs. Apart from cytokines directing the differentiation of T-cells, the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signal is strongly associated with T-cell differentiation and T1D progression. We demonstrated tFNA treatment inducing regulatory immune cells probably by increasing TGF-β levels and the STAT signal. To sum up, 250 nM tFNA treatment could protect the diabetic NOD mice from hyperglycemia and preserve the functions of β-cells by restoring peripheral immune tolerance. The possible mechanism of inducing immune tolerance was related to the STAT signal and cytokine changes in the pancreas. Moreover, immunoregulation capabilities of tFNAs were demonstrated in the experiment, which set the foundation of tFNAs participating in further antigen-specific immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojingya Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yanjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dexuan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yangxue Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.,College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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14
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This S, Valbon SF, Lebel MÈ, Melichar HJ. Strength and Numbers: The Role of Affinity and Avidity in the 'Quality' of T Cell Tolerance. Cells 2021; 10:1530. [PMID: 34204485 PMCID: PMC8234061 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of T cells to identify foreign antigens and mount an efficient immune response while limiting activation upon recognition of self and self-associated peptides is critical. Multiple tolerance mechanisms work in concert to prevent the generation and activation of self-reactive T cells. T cell tolerance is tightly regulated, as defects in these processes can lead to devastating disease; a wide variety of autoimmune diseases and, more recently, adverse immune-related events associated with checkpoint blockade immunotherapy have been linked to a breakdown in T cell tolerance. The quantity and quality of antigen receptor signaling depend on a variety of parameters that include T cell receptor affinity and avidity for peptide. Autoreactive T cell fate choices (e.g., deletion, anergy, regulatory T cell development) are highly dependent on the strength of T cell receptor interactions with self-peptide. However, less is known about how differences in the strength of T cell receptor signaling during differentiation influences the 'function' and persistence of anergic and regulatory T cell populations. Here, we review the literature on this subject and discuss the clinical implications of how T cell receptor signal strength influences the 'quality' of anergic and regulatory T cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien This
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Immunologie et Infectiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Stefanie F. Valbon
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Immunologie et Infectiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Lebel
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
| | - Heather J. Melichar
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada; (S.T.); (S.F.V.); (M.-È.L.)
- Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
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15
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Kolawole EM, Lamb TJ, Evavold BD. Relationship of 2D Affinity to T Cell Functional Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7969. [PMID: 33120989 PMCID: PMC7662510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are critical for a functioning adaptive immune response and a strong correlation exists between T cell responses and T cell receptor (TCR): peptide-loaded MHC (pMHC) binding. Studies that utilize pMHC tetramer, multimers, and assays of three-dimensional (3D) affinity have provided advancements in our understanding of T cell responses across different diseases. However, these technologies focus on higher affinity and avidity T cells while missing the lower affinity responders. Lower affinity TCRs in expanded polyclonal populations almost always constitute a significant proportion of the response with cells mediating different effector functions associated with variation in the proportion of high and low affinity T cells. Since lower affinity T cells expand and are functional, a fully inclusive view of T cell responses is required to accurately interpret the role of affinity for adaptive T cell immunity. For example, low affinity T cells are capable of inducing autoimmune disease and T cells with an intermediate affinity have been shown to exhibit an optimal anti-tumor response. Here, we focus on how affinity of the TCR may relate to T cell phenotype and provide examples where 2D affinity influences functional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brian D. Evavold
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, 15 N Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (E.M.K.); (T.J.L.)
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16
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Bettini M, Scavuzzo MA, Liu B, Kolawole E, Guo L, Evavold BD, Borowiak M, Bettini ML. A Critical Insulin TCR Contact Residue Selects High-Affinity and Pathogenic Insulin-Specific T Cells. Diabetes 2020; 69:392-400. [PMID: 31836691 PMCID: PMC7034183 DOI: 10.2337/db19-0821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune-mediated disease that culminates in the targeted destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. CD4 responses in NOD mice are dominated by insulin epitope B:9-23 (InsB9-23) specificity, and mutation of the key T-cell receptor (TCR) contact residue within the epitope prevents diabetes development. However, it is not clear how insulin self-antigen controls the selection of autoimmune and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Here we demonstrate that mutation of insulin epitope results in escape of highly pathogenic T cells. We observe an increase in antigen reactivity, clonality, and pathogenicity of insulin-specific T cells that develop in the absence of cognate antigen. Using a single TCR system, we demonstrate that Treg development is greatly diminished in mice with the Y16A mutant epitope. Collectively, these results suggest that the tyrosine residue at position 16 is necessary to constrain TCR reactivity for InsB9-23 by both limiting the development of pathogenic T cells and supporting the selection of Tregs.
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MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/genetics
- Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/immunology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Insulin/genetics
- Insulin/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mutation
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Marissa A Scavuzzo
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Baoyu Liu
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Elizabeth Kolawole
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Lin Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Brian D Evavold
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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17
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Liu B, Hood JD, Kolawole EM, Woodruff DM, Vignali DA, Bettini M, Evavold BD. A Hybrid Insulin Epitope Maintains High 2D Affinity for Diabetogenic T Cells in the Periphery. Diabetes 2020; 69:381-391. [PMID: 31806623 PMCID: PMC7034185 DOI: 10.2337/db19-0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
β-Cell antigen recognition by autoreactive T cells is essential in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. Recently, insulin hybrid peptides (HIPs) were identified as strong agonists for CD4 diabetogenic T cells. Here, using BDC2.5 transgenic and NOD mice, we investigated T-cell recognition of the HIP2.5 epitope, which is a fusion of insulin C-peptide and chromogranin A (ChgA) fragments, and compared it with the WE14 and ChgA29 -42 epitopes. We measured in situ two-dimensional affinity on individual live T cells from thymus, spleen, pancreatic lymph nodes, and islets before and after diabetes. Although preselection BDC2.5 thymocytes possess higher affinity than splenic BDC2.5 T cells for all three epitopes, peripheral splenic T cells maintained high affinity only to the HIP2.5 epitope. In polyclonal NOD mice, a high frequency (∼40%) of HIP2.5-specific islet T cells were identified at both prediabetic and diabetic stages comprising two distinct high- and low-affinity populations that differed in affinity by 100-fold. This high frequency of high- and low-affinity HIP2.5 T cells in the islets potentially represents a major risk factor in diabetes pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyu Liu
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Jennifer D Hood
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Elizabeth M Kolawole
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | - Dario A Vignali
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Brian D Evavold
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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18
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Martinov T, Fife BT. Type 1 diabetes pathogenesis and the role of inhibitory receptors in islet tolerance. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1461:73-103. [PMID: 31025378 PMCID: PMC6994200 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects over a million Americans, and disease incidence is on the rise. Despite decades of research, there is still no cure for this disease. Exciting beta cell replacement strategies are being developed, but in order for such approaches to work, targeted immunotherapies must be designed. To selectively halt the autoimmune response, researchers must first understand how this response is regulated and which tolerance checkpoints fail during T1D development. Herein, we discuss the current understanding of T1D pathogenesis in humans, genetic and environmental risk factors, presumed roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as B cells, and implicated autoantigens. We also highlight studies in non-obese diabetic mice that have demonstrated the requirement for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and B cells in driving T1D pathology. We present an overview of central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms and comment on existing controversies in the field regarding central tolerance. Finally, we discuss T cell- and B cell-intrinsic tolerance mechanisms, with an emphasis on the roles of inhibitory receptors in maintaining islet tolerance in humans and in diabetes-prone mice, and strategies employed to date to harness inhibitory receptor signaling to prevent or reverse T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Martinov
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Brian T Fife
- Department of Medicine, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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19
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Gu BH, Sprouse ML, Madison MC, Hong MJ, Yuan X, Tung HY, Landers CT, Song LZ, Corry DB, Bettini M, Kheradmand F. A Novel Animal Model of Emphysema Induced by Anti-Elastin Autoimmunity. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2019; 203:349-359. [PMID: 31182478 PMCID: PMC6688643 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Loss of immune tolerance to self-antigens can promote chronic inflammation and disrupt the normal function of multiple organs, including the lungs. Degradation of elastin, a highly insoluble protein and a significant component of the lung structural matrix, generates proinflammatory molecules. Elastin fragments (EFs) have been detected in the serum of smokers with emphysema, and elastin-specific T cells have also been detected in the peripheral blood of smokers with emphysema. However, an animal model that could recapitulate T cell-specific autoimmune responses by initiating and sustaining inflammation in the lungs is lacking. In this study, we report an animal model of autoimmune emphysema mediated by the loss of tolerance to elastin. Mice immunized with a combination of human EFs plus rat EFs but not mouse EFs showed increased infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells to the lungs and developed emphysema. We cloned and expanded mouse elastin-specific CD4+ T cells from the lung and spleen of immunized mice. Finally, we identified TCR sequences from the autoreactive T cell clones, suggesting possible pathogenic TCRs that can cause loss of immune tolerance against elastin. This new autoimmune model of emphysema provides a useful tool to examine the immunological factors that promote loss of immune tolerance to self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bon-Hee Gu
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Maran L Sprouse
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Matthew C Madison
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Monica J Hong
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Xiaoyi Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Hui-Ying Tung
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Cameron T Landers
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Li-Zhen Song
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - David B Corry
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Maria Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030;
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Farrah Kheradmand
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030;
- Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
- Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
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20
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Abraham TS, Flickinger JC, Waldman SA, Snook AE. TCR Retrogenic Mice as a Model To Map Self-Tolerance Mechanisms to the Cancer Mucosa Antigen GUCY2C. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2019; 202:1301-1310. [PMID: 30642983 PMCID: PMC6363846 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing self-tolerance mechanisms and their failure is critical to understand immune homeostasis, cancer immunity, and autoimmunity. However, examination of self-tolerance mechanisms has relied primarily on transgenic mice expressing TCRs targeting well-characterized, but nonphysiologic, model Ags, such as OVA and hemagglutinin. Identifying TCRs directed against bona fide self-antigens is made difficult by the extraordinary diversity of TCRs and the low prevalence of Ag-specific clones (<10-100 naive cells per organism), limiting dissection of tolerance mechanisms restricting immunity to self-proteins. In this study, we isolated and characterized TCRs recognizing the intestinal epithelial cell receptor and colorectal cancer Ag GUCY2C to establish a model to study self-antigen-specific tolerance mechanisms. GUCY2C-specific CD4+ effector T cells were isolated from immunized, nontolerant Gucy2c -/- mice. Next-generation sequencing identified GUCY2C-specific TCRs, which were engineered into CD4+ T cells in vitro to confirm TCR recognition of GUCY2C. Further, the generation of "retrogenic" mice by reconstitution with TCR-transduced hematopoietic stem cells resulted in normal CD4+ T cell development, responsiveness to immunization, and GUCY2C-induced tolerance in recipient mice, recapitulating observations in conventional models. This retrogenic model can be employed to define self-tolerance mechanisms restricting T and B cell responses to GUCY2C to optimize colorectal cancer immunotherapy without autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara S Abraham
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - John C Flickinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Scott A Waldman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Adam E Snook
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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21
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Baker RL, Jamison BL, Wiles TA, Lindsay RS, Barbour G, Bradley B, Delong T, Friedman RS, Nakayama M, Haskins K. CD4 T Cells Reactive to Hybrid Insulin Peptides Are Indicators of Disease Activity in the NOD Mouse. Diabetes 2018; 67:1836-1846. [PMID: 29976617 PMCID: PMC6110316 DOI: 10.2337/db18-0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We recently established that hybrid insulin peptides (HIPs), formed in islet β-cells by fusion of insulin C-peptide fragments to peptides of chromogranin A or islet amyloid polypeptide, are ligands for diabetogenic CD4 T-cell clones. The goal of this study was to investigate whether HIP-reactive T cells were indicative of ongoing autoimmunity. MHC class II tetramers were used to investigate the presence, phenotype, and function of HIP-reactive and insulin-reactive T cells in NOD mice. Insulin-reactive T cells encounter their antigen early in disease, but they express FoxP3 and therefore may contribute to immune regulation. In contrast, HIP-reactive T cells are proinflammatory and highly diabetogenic in an adoptive transfer model. Because the frequency of antigen-experienced HIP-reactive T cells increases over progression of disease, they may serve as biomarkers of autoimmune diabetes.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Autoantigens/chemistry
- Autoantigens/genetics
- Autoantigens/metabolism
- Autoimmune Diseases/immunology
- Autoimmune Diseases/metabolism
- Autoimmune Diseases/pathology
- Autoimmune Diseases/physiopathology
- Autoimmunity
- Biomarkers/blood
- C-Peptide/chemistry
- C-Peptide/genetics
- C-Peptide/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/pathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Chromogranin A/chemistry
- Chromogranin A/genetics
- Chromogranin A/metabolism
- Clone Cells
- Crosses, Genetic
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/pathology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/physiopathology
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Islet Amyloid Polypeptide/chemistry
- Islet Amyloid Polypeptide/genetics
- Islet Amyloid Polypeptide/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, SCID
- Peptide Fragments/chemistry
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Recombination, Genetic
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocky L Baker
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Braxton L Jamison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Timothy A Wiles
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Robin S Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Gene Barbour
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Brenda Bradley
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Thomas Delong
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Rachel S Friedman
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Maki Nakayama
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Kathryn Haskins
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver, Aurora, CO
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22
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Sprouse ML, Scavuzzo MA, Blum S, Shevchenko I, Lee T, Makedonas G, Borowiak M, Bettini ML, Bettini M. High self-reactivity drives T-bet and potentiates Treg function in tissue-specific autoimmunity. JCI Insight 2018; 3:97322. [PMID: 29367462 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.97322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) affinity is a critical factor of Treg lineage commitment, but whether self-reactivity is a determining factor in peripheral Treg function remains unknown. Here, we report that a high degree of self-reactivity is crucial for tissue-specific Treg function in autoimmunity. Based on high expression of CD5, we identified a subset of self-reactive Tregs expressing elevated levels of T-bet, GITR, CTLA-4, and ICOS, which imparted significant protection from autoimmune diabetes. We observed that T-bet expression in Tregs, necessary for control of Th1 autoimmunity, could be induced in an IFNγ-independent fashion and, unlike in conventional T cells (Tconv), was strongly correlated with the strength of TCR signaling. The level of CD5 similarly identified human Tregs with an increased functional profile, suggesting that CD5hi Tregs may constitute an efficacious subpopulation appropriate for use in adoptive Treg therapies for treatment of inflammatory conditions. Overall, this work establishes an instrumental role of high TCR self-reactivity in driving Treg function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maran L Sprouse
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | | | - Samuel Blum
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | - Ivan Shevchenko
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | - Thomas Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology
| | | | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, and.,McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology.,McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology.,McNair Medical Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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23
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Sprouse ML, Shevchenko I, Scavuzzo MA, Joseph F, Lee T, Blum S, Borowiak M, Bettini ML, Bettini M. Cutting Edge: Low-Affinity TCRs Support Regulatory T Cell Function in Autoimmunity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 200:909-914. [PMID: 29282307 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) use a distinct TCR repertoire and are more self-reactive compared with conventional T cells. However, the extent to which TCR affinity regulates the function of self-reactive Tregs is largely unknown. In this study, we used a two-TCR model to assess the role of TCR affinity in Treg function during autoimmunity. We observed that high- and low-affinity Tregs were recruited to the pancreas and contributed to protection from autoimmune diabetes. Interestingly, high-affinity cells preferentially upregulated the TCR-dependent Treg functional mediators IL-10, TIGIT, GITR, and CTLA4, whereas low-affinity cells displayed increased transcripts for Areg and Ebi3, suggesting distinct functional profiles. The results of this study suggest mechanistically distinct and potentially nonredundant roles for high- and low-affinity Tregs in controlling autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maran L Sprouse
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Ivan Shevchenko
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Marissa A Scavuzzo
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Faith Joseph
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Thomas Lee
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Samuel Blum
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; and.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030.,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Maria Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; .,McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX 77030
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24
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Evolving Approaches in the Identification of Allograft-Reactive T and B Cells in Mice and Humans. Transplantation 2017; 101:2671-2681. [PMID: 28604446 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000001847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Whether a transplanted allograft is stably accepted, rejected, or achieves immunological tolerance is dependent on the frequency and function of alloreactive lymphocytes, making the identification and analysis of alloreactive T and B cells in transplant recipients critical for understanding mechanisms, and the prediction of allograft outcome. In animal models, tracking the fate of graft-reactive T and B cells allows investigators to uncover their biology and develop new therapeutic strategies to protect the graft. In the clinic, identification and quantification of graft-reactive T and B cells allows for the early diagnosis of immune reactivity and therapeutic intervention to prevent graft loss. In addition to rejection, probing of T and B cell fate in vivo provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of alloimmunity or tolerance that may lead to biomarkers predicting graft fate. In this review, we discuss existing and developing approaches to track and analyze alloreactive T and B cells in mice and humans and provide examples of discoveries made utilizing these techniques. These approaches include mixed lymphocyte reactions, trans-vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity, enzyme-linked immunospot assays, the use of antigen receptor transgenic lymphocytes, and utilization of peptide-major histocompatibility multimers, along with imaging techniques for static multiparameter analysis or dynamic in vivo tracking. Such approaches have already refined our understanding of the alloimmune response and are pointing to new ways to improve allograft outcomes in the clinic.
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25
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Lee T, Sprouse ML, Banerjee P, Bettini M, Bettini ML. Ectopic Expression of Self-Antigen Drives Regulatory T Cell Development and Not Deletion of Autoimmune T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 199:2270-2278. [PMID: 28835461 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that is characterized by Ag-specific targeting and destruction of insulin-producing β cells. Although multiple studies have characterized the pathogenic potential of β cell-specific T cells, we have limited mechanistic insight into self-reactive autoimmune T cell development and their escape from negative selection in the thymus. In this study, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of insulin epitope B:9-23 (InsB9-23) by thymic APCs is insufficient to induce deletion of high- or low-affinity InsB9-23-reactive CD4+ T cells; however, we observe an increase in the proportion and number of thymic and peripheral Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. In contrast, the MHC stable insulin mimetope (InsB9-23 R22E) efficiently deletes insulin-specific T cells and prevents escape of high-affinity thymocytes. Collectively, these results suggest that Ag dose and peptide-MHC complex stability can lead to multiple fates of insulin-reactive CD4+ T cell development and autoimmune disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lee
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Maran L Sprouse
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Pinaki Banerjee
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Maria Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; and
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26
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Schuldt NJ, Auger JL, Spanier JA, Martinov T, Breed ER, Fife BT, Hogquist KA, Binstadt BA. Cutting Edge: Dual TCRα Expression Poses an Autoimmune Hazard by Limiting Regulatory T Cell Generation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 199:33-38. [PMID: 28539428 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite accounting for 10-30% of the T cell population in mice and humans, the role of dual TCR-expressing T cells in immunity remains poorly understood. It has been hypothesized that dual TCR T cells pose an autoimmune hazard by allowing self-reactive TCRs to escape thymic selection. We revisited this hypothesis using the NOD murine model of type 1 diabetes. We bred NOD mice hemizygous at both TCRα and β (TCRα+/- β+/-) loci, rendering them incapable of producing dual TCR T cells. We found that the lack of dual TCRα expression skewed the insulin-specific thymocyte population toward greater regulatory T (Treg) cell commitment, resulting in a more tolerogenic Treg to conventional T cell ratio and protection from diabetes. These data support a novel hypothesis by which dual TCR expression can promote autoimmunity by limiting agonist selection of self-reactive thymocytes into the Treg cell lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Schuldt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Jennifer L Auger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Justin A Spanier
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Tijana Martinov
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Elise R Breed
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Brian T Fife
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and
| | - Kristin A Hogquist
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Bryce A Binstadt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; .,Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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27
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Bettini ML, Bettini M. Understanding Autoimmune Diabetes through the Prism of the Tri-Molecular Complex. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:351. [PMID: 29312143 PMCID: PMC5735072 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The strongest susceptibility allele for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is human leukocyte antigen (HLA), which supports a central role for T cells as the drivers of autoimmunity. However, the precise mechanisms that allow thymic escape and peripheral activation of beta cell antigen-specific T cells are still largely unknown. Studies performed with the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse have challenged several immunological dogmas, and have made the NOD mouse a key experimental system to study the steps of immunodysregulation that lead to autoimmune diabetes. The structural similarities between the NOD I-Ag7 and HLA-DQ8 have revealed the stability of the T cell receptor (TCR)/HLA/peptide tri-molecular complex as an important parameter in the development of autoimmune T cells, as well as afforded insights into the key antigens targeted in T1D. In this review, we will provide a summary of the current understanding with regard to autoimmune T cell development, the significance of the antigens targeted in T1D, and the relationship between TCR affinity and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Bettini
- Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew L. Bettini, ; Maria Bettini,
| | - Maria Bettini
- Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew L. Bettini, ; Maria Bettini,
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28
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Martinez RJ, Andargachew R, Martinez HA, Evavold BD. Low-affinity CD4+ T cells are major responders in the primary immune response. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13848. [PMID: 27976744 PMCID: PMC5234832 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A robust primary immune response has been correlated with the precursor number of antigen-specific T cells, as identified using peptide MHCII tetramers. However, these tetramers identify only the highest-affinity T cells. Here we show the entire CD4+ T-cell repertoire, inclusive of low-affinity T cells missed by tetramers, using a T-cell receptor (TCR) signalling reporter and micropipette assay to quantify naive precursors and expanded populations. In vivo limiting dilution assays reveal hundreds more precursor T cells than previously thought, with higher-affinity tetramer-positive T cells, comprising only 5-30% of the total antigen-specific naive repertoire. Lower-affinity T cells maintain their predominance as the primary immune response progresses, with no enhancement of survival of T cells with high-affinity TCRs. These findings demonstrate that affinity for antigen does not control CD4+ T-cell entry into the primary immune response, as a diverse range in affinity is maintained from precursor through peak of T-cell expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Martinez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Rakieb Andargachew
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Hunter A. Martinez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Brian D. Evavold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta Georgia, 30322, USA
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29
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Jiang TT, Martinov T, Xin L, Kinder JM, Spanier JA, Fife BT, Way SS. Programmed Death-1 Culls Peripheral Accumulation of High-Affinity Autoreactive CD4 T Cells to Protect against Autoimmunity. Cell Rep 2016; 17:1783-1794. [PMID: 27829150 PMCID: PMC5108556 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-reactive CD4 T cells are incompletely deleted during thymic development, and their peripheral seeding highlights the need for additional safeguards to avert autoimmunity. Here, we show an essential role for the coinhibitory molecule programmed death-1 (PD-1) in silencing the activation of high-affinity autoreactive CD4 T cells. Each wave of self-reactive CD4 T cells that escapes thymic deletion autonomously upregulates PD-1 to maintain self-tolerance. By tracking the progeny derived from individual autoreactive CD4 T cell clones, we demonstrate that self-reactive cells with the greatest autoimmune threat and highest self-antigen affinity express the most PD-1. Reciprocally, PD-1 deprivation unleashes high-affinity self-reactive CD4 T cells in target tissues to exacerbate neuronal inflammation and autoimmune diabetes. Reliance on PD-1 to actively maintain self-tolerance may explain why exploiting this pathway by cancerous cells and invasive microbes efficiently subverts protective immunity, and why autoimmune side effects can develop after PD-1-neutralizing checkpoint therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony T Jiang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Tijana Martinov
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lijun Xin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jeremy M Kinder
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Justin A Spanier
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brian T Fife
- Center for Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Sing Sing Way
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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30
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Sprouse ML, Blahnik G, Lee T, Tully N, Banerjee P, James EA, Redondo MJ, Bettini ML, Bettini M. Rapid identification and expression of human TCRs in retrogenic mice. J Immunol Methods 2016; 439:29-36. [PMID: 27589924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell paired TCR identification is a powerful tool, but has been limited in its previous incompatibility with further functional analysis. The current protocol describes a method to clone and functionally evaluate in vivo TCRs derived from single antigen-responsive human T cells and monoclonal T cell lines. We have improved upon current PCR-based TCR sequencing protocols by developing primers that allow amplification of human TCRα and TCRβ variable regions, while incorporating specific restriction cut sites for direct subcloning into the template retroviral vector. This streamlined approach for generating human:mouse chimeric TCR vectors allows for rapid TCR expression in humanized-retrogenic (hu-Rg) mice through retroviral mediated stem cell gene transfer. Using widely available techniques and equipment, this method is easily adaptable by most laboratories. This is the first TCR identification protocol that is efficiently combined with subsequent in vivo TCR expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maran L Sprouse
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Thomas Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Natalie Tully
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pinaki Banerjee
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eddie A James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria J Redondo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew L Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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31
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Lee T, Shevchenko I, Sprouse ML, Bettini M, Bettini ML. Retroviral Transduction of Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells to Generate T-cell Receptor Retrogenic Mice. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27500835 DOI: 10.3791/54196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) signaling is essential in the development and differentiation of T cells in the thymus and periphery, respectively. The vast array of TCRs proves studying a specific antigenic response difficult. Therefore, TCR transgenic mice were made to study positive and negative selection in the thymus as well as peripheral T cell activation, proliferation and tolerance. However, relatively few TCR transgenic mice have been generated specific to any given antigen. Thus, studies involving TCRs of varying affinities for the same antigenic peptide have been lacking. The generation of a new TCR transgenic line can take six or more months. Additionally, any specific backcrosses can take an additional six months. In order to allow faster generation and screening of multiple TCRs, a protocol for retroviral transduction of bone marrow was established with stoichiometric expression of the TCRα and TCRβ chains and the generation of retrogenic mice. Each retrogenic mouse is essentially a founder, virtually negating a founder effect, while the length of time to generate a TCR retrogenic is cut from six months to approximately six weeks. Here we present a rapid and flexible alternative to TCR transgenic mice that can be expressed on any chosen background with any particular TCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
| | | | | | - Maria Bettini
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
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32
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Wolf KJ, Emerson RO, Pingel J, Buller RM, DiPaolo RJ. Conventional and Regulatory CD4+ T Cells That Share Identical TCRs Are Derived from Common Clones. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153705. [PMID: 27100298 PMCID: PMC4839724 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Results from studies comparing the diversity and specificity of the TCR repertoires expressed by conventional (Tconv) and regulatory (Treg) CD4+ T cell have varied depending on the experimental system employed. We developed a new model in which T cells express a single fixed TCRα chain, randomly rearranged endogenous TCRβ chains, and a Foxp3-GFP reporter. We purified CD4+Foxp3- and CD4+Foxp3+ cells, then performed biased controlled multiplex PCR and high throughput sequencing of endogenous TCRβ chains. We identified >7,000 different TCRβ sequences in the periphery of 5 individual mice. On average, ~12% of TCR sequences were expressed by both conventional and regulatory populations within individual mice. The CD4+ T cells that expressed shared TCR sequences were present at higher frequencies compared to T cells expressing non-shared TCRs. Furthermore, nearly all (>90%) of the TCR sequences that were shared within mice were identical at the DNA sequence level, indicating that conventional and regulatory T cells that express shared TCRs are derived from common clones. Analysis of TCR repertoire overlap in the thymus reveals that a large proportion of Tconv and Treg sharing observed in the periphery is due to clonal expansion in the thymus. Together these data show that there are a limited number of TCR sequences shared between Tconv and Tregs. Also, Tconv and Tregs sharing identical TCRs are found at relatively high frequencies and are derived from common progenitors, of which a large portion are generated in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J. Wolf
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Ryan O. Emerson
- Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jeanette Pingel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - R. Mark Buller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Richard J. DiPaolo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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33
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Martinez RJ, Evavold BD. Lower Affinity T Cells are Critical Components and Active Participants of the Immune Response. Front Immunol 2015; 6:468. [PMID: 26441973 PMCID: PMC4564719 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetic and biophysical parameters of T cell receptor (TCR) and peptide:MHC (pMHC) interaction define intrinsic factors required for T cell activation and differentiation. Although receptor ligand kinetics are somewhat cumbersome to assess experimentally, TCR:pMHC affinity has been shown to predict peripheral T cell functionality and potential for forming memory. Multimeric forms of pMHC monomers have often been used to provide an indirect readout of higher affinity T cells due to their availability and ease of use while allowing simultaneous definition of other functional and phenotypic characteristics. However, multimeric pMHC reagents have introduced a bias that underestimates the lower affinity components contained in the highly diverse TCR repertoires of all polyclonal T cell responses. Advances in the identification of lower affinity cells have led to the examination of these cells and their contribution to the immune response. In this review, we discuss the identification of high- vs. low-affinity T cells as well as their attributed signaling and functional differences. Lastly, mechanisms are discussed that maintain a diverse range of low- and high-affinity T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Martinez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brian D. Evavold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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34
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Gannon PO, Wieckowski S, Baumgaertner P, Hebeisen M, Allard M, Speiser DE, Rufer N. Quantitative TCR:pMHC Dissociation Rate Assessment by NTAmers Reveals Antimelanoma T Cell Repertoires Enriched for High Functional Competence. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:356-66. [PMID: 26002978 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Experimental models demonstrated that therapeutic induction of CD8 T cell responses may offer protection against tumors or infectious diseases providing that T cells have sufficiently high TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity for efficient Ag recognition and consequently strong immune functions. However, comprehensive characterization of TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity in clinically relevant situations has remained elusive. In this study, using the novel NTA-His tag-containing multimer technology, we quantified the TCR:pMHC dissociation rates (koff) of tumor-specific vaccine-induced CD8 T cell clones (n = 139) derived from seven melanoma patients vaccinated with IFA, CpG, and the native/EAA or analog/ELA Melan-A(MART-1)(26-35) peptide, binding with low or high affinity to MHC, respectively. We observed substantial correlations between koff and Ca(2+) mobilization (p = 0.016) and target cell recognition (p < 0.0001), with the latter independently of the T cell differentiation state. Our strategy was successful in demonstrating that the type of peptide impacted on TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity, as tumor-reactive T cell clones derived from patients vaccinated with the low-affinity (native) peptide expressed slower koff rates than those derived from patients vaccinated with the high-affinity (analog) peptide (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, we observed that the low-affinity peptide promoted the selective differentiation of tumor-specific T cells bearing TCRs with high TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity (p < 0.0001). Altogether, TCR:pMHC interaction kinetics correlated strongly with T cell functions. Our study demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of TCR/CD8:pMHC avidity assessment by NTA-His tag-containing multimers of naturally occurring polyclonal T cell responses, which represents a strong asset for the development of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe O Gannon
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Sébastien Wieckowski
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Petra Baumgaertner
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michaël Hebeisen
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Mathilde Allard
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and
| | - Daniel E Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Rufer
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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35
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Serre L, Fazilleau N, Guerder S. Central tolerance spares the private high-avidity CD4(+) T-cell repertoire specific for an islet antigen in NOD mice. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:1946-56. [PMID: 25884569 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201445290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Although central tolerance induces the deletion of most autoreactive T cells, some autoreactive T cells escape thymic censorship. Whether potentially harmful autoreactive T cells present distinct TCRαβ features remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the TCRαβ repertoire of CD4(+) T cells specific for the S100β protein, an islet antigen associated with type 1 diabetes. We found that diabetes-resistant NOD mice deficient for thymus specific serine protease (TSSP), a protease that impairs class II antigen presentation by thymic stromal cells, were hyporesponsive to the immunodominant S100β1-15 epitope, as compared to wild-type NOD mice, due to intrathymic negative selection. In both TSSP-deficient and wild-type NOD mice, the TCRαβ repertoire of S100β-specific CD4(+) T cells though diverse showed a specific bias for dominant TCRα rearrangements with limited CDR3α diversity. These dominant TCRα chains were public since they were found in all mice. They were of intermediate- to low-avidity. In contrast, high-avidity T cells expressed unique TCRs specific to each individual (private TCRs) and were only found in wild-type NOD mice. Hence, in NOD mice, the autoreactive CD4(+) T-cell compartment has two major components, a dominant and public low-avidity TCRα repertoire and a private high-avidity CD4(+) T-cell repertoire; the latter is deleted by re-enforced negative selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Serre
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Toulouse, France.,INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France.,CNRS, UMR5282, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Fazilleau
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Toulouse, France.,INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France.,CNRS, UMR5282, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Sylvie Guerder
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Toulouse, France.,INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France.,CNRS, UMR5282, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
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36
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Kersh AE, Edwards LJ, Evavold BD. Progression of relapsing-remitting demyelinating disease does not require increased TCR affinity or epitope spread. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:4429-38. [PMID: 25267971 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the basis of T cell recognition of myelin that governs the progression from acute symptoms into disease remission, relapse, and chronic progression in a secondary progressive model of demyelinating disease. Until now, the frequency and affinity of myelin-reactive CD4 T cells that elicit relapsing-remitting disease have not been quantified. The micropipette adhesion frequency assay was used to obtain a sensitive and physiologically relevant two-dimensional measurement of frequency and TCR affinity for myelin, as the inherent low affinity does not allow the use of specific peptide:MHC-II tetramers for this purpose. We found the highest affinity and frequency of polyclonal myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-reactive cells infiltrate the CNS during acute disease, whereas affinities during remission, relapse, and chronic disease are not significantly different from each other. Frequency analysis revealed that the vast majority of CNS-infiltrating CD4 T cells are myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein reactive at all time points, demonstrating epitope spread is not a predominant factor for disease progression. Furthermore, time points at which mice were symptomatic were characterized by an infiltration of Th17 cells in the CNS, whereas symptom remission showed an enrichment of cells producing IFN-γ. Also, the ratio of regulatory T cells to Foxp3(-) CD4 T cells was significantly higher in the CNS at remission than during acute disease. The results of this study indicate that a high frequency of T cells specific for a single myelin Ag, rather than increased TCR affinity or epitope spread, governs the transition from acute symptoms through remission, relapse, and chronic disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Kersh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322; and
| | - Lindsay J Edwards
- Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Brian D Evavold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322; and
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