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Verron Q, Forslund E, Brandt L, Leino M, Frisk TW, Olofsson PE, Önfelt B. NK cells integrate signals over large areas when building immune synapses but require local stimuli for degranulation. Sci Signal 2021; 14:14/684/eabe2740. [PMID: 34035142 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abe2740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Immune synapses are large-scale, transient molecular assemblies that serve as platforms for antigen presentation to B and T cells and for target recognition by cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. The formation of an immune synapse is a tightly regulated, stepwise process in which the cytoskeleton, cell surface receptors, and intracellular signaling proteins rearrange into supramolecular activation clusters (SMACs). We generated artificial immune synapses (AIS) consisting of synthetic and natural ligands for the NK cell-activating receptors LFA-1 and CD16 by microcontact printing the ligands into circular-shaped SMAC structures. Live-cell imaging and analysis of fixed human NK cells in this reductionist system showed that the spatial distribution of activating ligands influenced the formation, stability, and outcome of NK cell synapses. Whereas engagement of LFA-1 alone promoted synapse initiation, combined engagement of LFA-1 and CD16 was required for the formation of mature synapses and degranulation. Organizing LFA-1 and CD16 ligands into donut-shaped AIS resulted in fewer long-lasting, symmetrical synapses compared to dot-shaped AIS. NK cells spreading evenly over either AIS shape exhibited similar arrangements of the lytic machinery. However, degranulation only occurred in regions containing ligands that therefore induced local signaling, suggesting the existence of a late checkpoint for degranulation. Our results demonstrate that the spatial organization of ligands in the synapse can affect its outcome, which could be exploited by target cells as an escape mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Verron
- Biophysics, Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elin Forslund
- Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ludwig Brandt
- Biophysics, Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Leino
- Biophysics, Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas W Frisk
- Biophysics, Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per E Olofsson
- Biophysics, Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Önfelt
- Biophysics, Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Guldevall K, Brandt L, Forslund E, Olofsson K, Frisk TW, Olofsson PE, Gustafsson K, Manneberg O, Vanherberghen B, Brismar H, Kärre K, Uhlin M, Önfelt B. Microchip Screening Platform for Single Cell Assessment of NK Cell Cytotoxicity. Front Immunol 2016; 7:119. [PMID: 27092139 PMCID: PMC4820656 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we report a screening platform for assessment of the cytotoxic potential of individual natural killer (NK) cells within larger populations. Human primary NK cells were distributed across a silicon-glass microchip containing 32,400 individual microwells loaded with target cells. Through fluorescence screening and automated image analysis, the numbers of NK and live or dead target cells in each well could be assessed at different time points after initial mixing. Cytotoxicity was also studied by time-lapse live-cell imaging in microwells quantifying the killing potential of individual NK cells. Although most resting NK cells (≈75%) were non-cytotoxic against the leukemia cell line K562, some NK cells were able to kill several (≥3) target cells within the 12-h long experiment. In addition, the screening approach was adapted to increase the chance to find and evaluate serial killing NK cells. Even if the cytotoxic potential varied between donors, it was evident that a small fraction of highly cytotoxic NK cells were responsible for a substantial portion of the killing. We demonstrate multiple assays where our platform can be used to enumerate and characterize cytotoxic cells, such as NK or T cells. This approach could find use in clinical applications, e.g., in the selection of donors for stem cell transplantation or generation of highly specific and cytotoxic cells for adoptive immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolin Guldevall
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Ludwig Brandt
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Elin Forslund
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl Olofsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Thomas W Frisk
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Per E Olofsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Karin Gustafsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Otto Manneberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Bruno Vanherberghen
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Hjalmar Brismar
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna , Sweden
| | - Klas Kärre
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Michael Uhlin
- Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Önfelt
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Tauriainen J, Gustafsson K, Göthlin M, Gertow J, Buggert M, Frisk TW, Karlsson AC, Uhlin M, Önfelt B. Single-Cell Characterization of in vitro Migration and Interaction Dynamics of T Cells Expanded with IL-2 and IL-7. Front Immunol 2015; 6:196. [PMID: 25972868 PMCID: PMC4412128 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are pivotal in the immune defense against cancers and infectious agents. To mount an effector response against cancer cells, T cells need to migrate to the cancer-site, engage in contacts with cancer cells, and perform their effector functions. Adoptive T cell therapy is an effective strategy as treatment of complications such as relapse or opportunistic infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. This requires a sufficient amount of cells that are able to expand and respond to tumor or viral antigens. The cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-7 drive T cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival and are commonly used to expand T cells ex vivo. Here, we have used microchip-based live-cell imaging to follow the migration of individual T cells, their interactions with allogeneic monocytes, cell division, and apoptosis for extended periods of time; something that cannot be achieved by commonly used methods. Our data indicate that cells grown in IL-7 + IL-2 had similar migration and contact dynamics as cells grown in IL-2 alone. However, the addition of IL-7 decreased cell death creating a more viable cell population, which should be beneficial when preparing cells for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Tauriainen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Karin Gustafsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Mårten Göthlin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Jens Gertow
- Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm , Sweden ; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Marcus Buggert
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Thomas W Frisk
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Annika C Karlsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Michael Uhlin
- Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm , Sweden ; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Björn Önfelt
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm , Sweden ; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
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