1
|
Keindl M, Davies R, Bergum B, Brun JG, Hammenfors D, Jonsson R, Lyssenko V, Appel S. Impaired activation of STAT5 upon IL-2 stimulation in Tregs and elevated sIL-2R in Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:101. [PMID: 35526080 PMCID: PMC9077945 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02769-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the high-affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) are essential for the survival of regulatory T cells (Tregs) which are the main players in immune tolerance and prevention of autoimmune diseases. Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease predominantly affecting women and is characterised by sicca symptoms including oral and ocular dryness. The aim of this study was to investigate an association between IL-2R and Treg function in patients with SS of different severity defined by the salivary flow rate. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we determined plasma soluble IL-2R (sIL-2R) levels in women with SS (n=97) and healthy females (n=50) using ELISA. A subset of those (n=51) was screened for Treg function measured by the STAT5 signalling response to IL-2 using phospho-flow cytometry. Results We found that elevated plasma levels of sIL-2R were positively associated with the severity of SS reflected by a pathologically low salivary flow. Phospho-flow analysis revealed that patients with SS have a significantly lower frequency of pSTAT5+ Tregs upon IL-2 stimulation compared with healthy individuals, while the frequency of Tregs and pSTAT5 in conventional T cells remained unchanged. In addition, we observed more pSTAT5+ Tregs at baseline in patients with SS, which is significantly associated with seropositivity and elevated sIL-2R. Conclusions Our data indicates that Tregs have a weakened immunosuppressive function in patients with SS due to impaired IL-2/IL-2R signalling capacity. This could mediate lymphocytic infiltration into salivary glands inducing sicca symptoms. We believe that sIL-2R could act as a useful indicator for SS and disease severity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-022-02769-y.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Keindl
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway. .,Center for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Richard Davies
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway.,NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Brith Bergum
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Johan G Brun
- Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Daniel Hammenfors
- Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Roland Jonsson
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Valeriya Lyssenko
- Center for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Silke Appel
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway. .,Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Samson LD, Engelfriet P, Verschuren WMM, Picavet HSJ, Ferreira JA, de Zeeuw-Brouwer ML, Buisman AM, Boots AMH. Impaired JAK-STAT pathway signaling in leukocytes of the frail elderly. Immun Ageing 2022; 19:5. [PMID: 35039055 PMCID: PMC8762193 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-021-00261-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Elderly often show reduced immune functioning and can develop chronic low-grade inflammation. Why some elderly are more prone to become frail is unknown. We investigated whether frailty is associated with altered cytokine signaling through the JAK-STAT pathway in leukocytes of 34 individuals aged 65–74 years. In addition, we investigated how this relation is affected by chronic low-grade inflammation during the previous 20 years. Cytokine signaling was quantified by measuring intracellular STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5 phosphorylation in monocytes, B cells, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells upon stimulation with IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFNα and IFNγ, using phospho-flow cytometry. Presence of chronic low-grade inflammation was investigated by evaluating 18 different plasma inflammatory markers that had been measured repeatedly in the same individuals over the previous 20 years. Frailty was assessed as a score on a frailty index. Results We found that lower cytokine-induced pSTAT responsiveness in the various cell subsets was seen with higher frailty scores in both men and women, indicative of dysfunctional pSTAT responses in frailer individuals. Associations differed between men and women, with frailer women showing lower pSTAT1 responses in monocytes and frailer men showing lower pSTAT5 responses in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Notably, lower IL-10-induced pSTAT3 responses in men were related to both higher frailty scores and higher CRP levels over the past 20 years. This might indicate poor resolution of low-grade inflammation due to defective regulatory pSTAT signaling in older men. Conclusions Our results emphasize the importance of preserved JAK-STAT pathway signaling in healthy aging and reveal cellular pSTAT levels as a candidate biomarker of frailty. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12979-021-00261-w.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Daniël Samson
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. .,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter Engelfriet
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - W M Monique Verschuren
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.,Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H Susan J Picavet
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - José A Ferreira
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Anne-Marie Buisman
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - A Mieke H Boots
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kasner MT, Mick R, Jeschke GR, Carabasi M, Filicko-O'Hara J, Flomenberg N, Frey NV, Hexner EO, Luger SM, Loren AW, Mangan JK, Wagner JL, Weiss M, Carroll M, Perl AE. Sirolimus enhances remission induction in patients with high risk acute myeloid leukemia and mTORC1 target inhibition. Invest New Drugs 2018; 36:657-66. [PMID: 29607465 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-018-0585-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors enhance chemotherapy response in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells in vitro. However whether inhibiting mTORC1 enhances clinical response to AML chemotherapy remains controversial. We previously optimized measurement of mTORC1's kinase activity in AML blasts during clinical trials using serial phospho-specific flow cytometry of formaldehyde-fixed whole blood or marrow specimens. To validate mTORC1 as a therapeutic target in AML, we performed two clinical trials combining an mTORC1 inhibitor (sirolimus) and MEC (mitoxantrone, etoposide, cytarabine) in patients with relapsed, refractory, or untreated high-risk AML. Methods Flow cytometric measurements of ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation (pS6) were performed before and during sirolimus treatment to determine whether mTORC1 inhibition enriched for chemotherapy response. Results In 51 evaluable subjects, the overall response rate (ORR) to the combination regimen was 47% (95% confidence interval 33-61%, 33% CR, 2% CRi, 12% PR) and similar toxicity to historic experience with MEC alone. 37 subjects had baseline pS6 measured pre-sirolimus, of whom 27 (73%) exhibited mTORC1 activity. ORR was not significantly different between subjects with and without baseline mTORC1 activity (52% vs 40%, respectively, p = 0.20). The ORR among subjects with baseline target activation and mTORC1 inhibition during therapy was 71% (12/17) compared to 20% (2/10) in subjects without target inhibition. Conclusions Fixed, whole blood pS6 by flow cytometry may be a predictive biomarker for clinical response to mTORC1 inhibitor-based regimens. These data provide clinical confirmation that mTORC1 activation mediates chemotherapy resistance in patients with AML.
Collapse
|
4
|
Taraldsrud E, Fevang B, Jørgensen SF, Moltu K, Hilden V, Taskén K, Aukrust P, Myklebust JH, Olweus J. Defective IL-4 signaling in T cells defines severe common variable immunodeficiency. J Autoimmun 2017; 81:110-119. [PMID: 28476239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is defined by hypogammaglobulinemia and B-cell dysfunction, with significant clinical and immunological heterogeneity. Severe non-infectious complications, such as autoimmunity, granulomatous disease and splenomegaly, constitute a major cause of morbidity in CVID patients. T cells are generally regarded important for development of these clinical features. However, while T-cell abnormalities have been found in CVID patients, functional characteristics of T cells corresponding to well-defined clinical subtypes have not been identified. As common γ-chain cytokines play important roles in survival and differentiation of T cells, characterization of their signaling pathways could reveal functional differences of clinical relevance. We characterized CVID T cells functionally by studies of cytokine-induced signaling, and correlated the findings to defined clinical subtypes. Peripheral blood T cells from 29 CVID patients and 19 healthy donors were analyzed for i) phenotype, ii) cytokine-induced (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7 and IL-21) phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, STAT5 and STAT6, and iii) T-helper (Th)1/Th2 polarization. Expression of IL-4 receptor and downstream signaling molecules was measured. A subgroup of CVID patients (n = 7) was identified by impaired IL-4-induced p-STAT6 in naive and memory CD4 and CD8 T cells. This corresponded to patients with the largest accumulation of severe (non-infectious) complications. The signaling defect persisted over years and was not due to constitutively activated p-STAT6. The CD4 T cells were strongly Th1-skewed, but IL-4 signaling was impaired independently of Th status. However, IL-4Rα and Janus kinase (JAK) 1 mRNA levels were significantly lower than in normal donors, providing a likely mechanism for the defective IL-4-induced p-STAT6 and Th1-bias. In conclusion, we identified a subgroup of CVID patients with defective IL-4 signaling in T cells, with severe clinical features of inflammation and autoimmunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eli Taraldsrud
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Børre Fevang
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Silje F Jørgensen
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine Moltu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vera Hilden
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kjetil Taskén
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Aukrust
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - June H Myklebust
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johanna Olweus
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Taraldsrud E, Aukrust P, Jørgensen S, Lingjærde OC, Olweus J, Myklebust JH, Fevang B. Patterns of constitutively phosphorylated kinases in B cells are associated with disease severity in common variable immunodeficiency. Clin Immunol 2016; 175:69-74. [PMID: 27919819 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) constitute a clinically and immunologically heterogeneous group characterized by B-cell dysfunction with hypogammaglobulinemia and defective immunoglobulin class switch of unknown etiology. Current classification systems are insufficient to achieve precise disease management. Characterization of signaling pathways essential for B-cell differentiation and class switch could provide new means to stratify patients. We evaluated constitutive and induced signaling by phospho-specific flow cytometry in 26 CVID patients and 18 healthy blood donors. Strong responses were induced both in CVID and healthy donor B cells upon activation. In contrast, constitutive phosphorylation levels of STAT3,-5,-6, Erk, PLC-γ and Syk were significantly increased in CVID B cells only. Hierarchical clustering revealed a subgroup of CVID patients with elevated constitutive phosphorylation of Syk and PLC-γ. All these patients had non-infectious complications, indicating that a distinct phosphorylation pattern of kinases in B cells identifies a clinically important subgroup of CVID patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eli Taraldsrud
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Aukrust
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Silje Jørgensen
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole Christian Lingjærde
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johanna Olweus
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - June H Myklebust
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Børre Fevang
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Everson RG, Jin RM, Wang X, Safaee M, Scharnweber R, Lisiero DN, Soto H, Liau LM, Prins RM. Cytokine responsiveness of CD8(+) T cells is a reproducible biomarker for the clinical efficacy of dendritic cell vaccination in glioblastoma patients. J Immunother Cancer 2014; 2:10. [PMID: 24883189 PMCID: PMC4039989 DOI: 10.1186/2051-1426-2-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immunotherapeutic approaches, such as dendritic cell (DC) vaccination, have emerged as promising strategies in the treatment of glioblastoma. Despite their promise, however, the absence of objective biomarkers and/or immunological monitoring techniques to assess the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy still remains a primary limitation. To address this, we sought to identify a functional biomarker for anti-tumor immune responsiveness associated with extended survival in glioblastoma patients undergoing DC vaccination. Methods 28 patients were enrolled and treated in two different Phase 1 DC vaccination clinical trials at UCLA. To assess the anti-tumor immune response elicited by therapy, we studied the functional responsiveness of pre- and post-vaccination peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) to the immunostimulatory cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 21 of these patients for whom we had adequate material. Immune responsiveness was quantified by measuring downstream phosphorylation events of the transcription factors, STAT-1 and STAT-5, via phospho-specific flow cytometry. Results DC vaccination induced a significant decrease in the half-maximal concentration (EC-50) of IL-2 required to upregulate pSTAT-5 specifically in CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes (p < 0.045). Extended survival was also associated with an increased per cell phosphorylation of STAT-5 in cytotoxic T-cells following IL-2 stimulation when the median post/pre pSTAT-5 ratio was used to dichotomize the patients (p = 0.0015, log-rank survival; hazard ratio = 0.1834, p = 0.018). Patients whose survival was longer than two years had a significantly greater pSTAT-5 ratio (p = 0.015), but, contrary to our expectations, a significantly lower pSTAT-1 ratio (p = 0.038). Conclusions Our results suggest that monitoring the pSTAT signaling changes in PBL may provide a functional immune monitoring measure predictive of clinical efficacy in DC-vaccinated patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Everson
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Richard M Jin
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael Safaee
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rudi Scharnweber
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dominique N Lisiero
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Horacio Soto
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Linda M Liau
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Robert M Prins
- Departments of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|