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Rizvi ZA, Sadhu S, Dandotiya J, Sharma P, Binayke A, Singh V, Das V, Khatri R, Kumar R, Samal S, Kalia M, Awasthi A. SARS-CoV-2 infection induces thymic atrophy mediated by IFN-γ in hACE2 transgenic mice. Eur J Immunol 2024:e2350624. [PMID: 38655818 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic infections cause thymic atrophy, perturb thymic T-cell development, and alter immunological response. Previous studies reported dysregulated T-cell function and lymphopenia in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). However, immunopathological changes in the thymus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have not been elucidated. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 infects thymocytes, and induces CD4+CD8+ (double positive; DP) T-cell apoptosis leading to thymic atrophy and loss of peripheral TCR repertoire in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. Infected thymus led to increased CD44+CD25- T-cells, indicating an early arrest in the T-cell maturation pathway. Thymic atrophy was notably higher in male hACE2-Tg mice than in females and involved an upregulated de-novo synthesis pathway of thymic glucocorticoid. Further, IFN-γ was crucial for thymic atrophy, as anti-IFN-γ -antibody neutralization blunted thymic involution. Therapeutic use of Remdesivir also rescued thymic atrophy. While the Omicron variant and its sub-lineage BA.5 variant caused marginal thymic atrophy, the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 exhibited severe thymic atrophy characterized by severely depleted DP T-cells. Recently characterized broadly SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibody P4A2 was able to rescue thymic atrophy and restore the thymic maturation pathway of T-cells. Together, we report SARS-CoV-2-associated thymic atrophy resulting from impaired T-cell maturation pathway which may contribute to dyregulated T cell response during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaigham Abbas Rizvi
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Srikanth Sadhu
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Jyotsna Dandotiya
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Puja Sharma
- Regional Centre Biotechnology, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Akshay Binayke
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Virendra Singh
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Vinayaka Das
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Ritika Khatri
- Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Sweety Samal
- Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Manjula Kalia
- Regional Centre Biotechnology, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Amit Awasthi
- Immuno-biology Lab, Infection and Immunology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
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2
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Bremer SJ, Boxnick A, Glau L, Biermann D, Joosse SA, Thiele F, Billeb E, May J, Kolster M, Hackbusch R, Fortmann MI, Kozlik-Feldmann R, Hübler M, Tolosa E, Sachweh JS, Gieras A. Thymic Atrophy and Immune Dysregulation in Infants with Complex Congenital Heart Disease. J Clin Immunol 2024; 44:69. [PMID: 38393459 PMCID: PMC10891212 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, and up to 50% of infants with CHD require cardiovascular surgery early in life. Current clinical practice often involves thymus resection during cardiac surgery, detrimentally affecting T-cell immunity. However, epidemiological data indicate that CHD patients face an elevated risk for infections and immune-mediated diseases, independent of thymectomy. Hence, we examined whether the cardiac defect impacts thymus function in individuals with CHD. We investigated thymocyte development in 58 infants categorized by CHD complexity. To assess the relationship between CHD complexity and thymic function, we analyzed T-cell development, thymic output, and biomarkers linked to cardiac defects, stress, or inflammation. Patients with highly complex CHD exhibit thymic atrophy, resulting in low frequencies of recent thymic emigrants in peripheral blood, even prior to thymectomy. Elevated plasma cortisol levels were detected in all CHD patients, while high NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels were associated with thymic atrophy. Our findings reveal an association between complex CHD and thymic atrophy, resulting in reduced thymic output. Consequently, thymus preservation during cardiovascular surgery could significantly enhance immune function and the long-term health of CHD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah-Jolan Bremer
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- University Children's Research, UCR@Kinder-UKE, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annika Boxnick
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Laura Glau
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Biermann
- Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon A Joosse
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCS4, University, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friederike Thiele
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elena Billeb
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- University Children's Research, UCR@Kinder-UKE, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan May
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manuela Kolster
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Romy Hackbusch
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Rainer Kozlik-Feldmann
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hübler
- Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Tolosa
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Siegmar Sachweh
- Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery, Children's Heart Clinic, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Gieras
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, N27, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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3
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Rananaware SR, Pathak S, Majumdar S, Joseph JP, Ramteke NS, Adiga V, Nandi D. Dynamic changes in thymic sub-populations during acute and long-term infections with virulent and virulence-attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium strains in C57BL/6 and autoimmune-prone lpr mice. Microb Pathog 2023; 177:106034. [PMID: 36813006 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
SALMONELLA Typhimurium infection in mice results in drastic loss of immature CD4- CD8- double negative (DN) and CD4+ CD8+ double positive (DP) thymic subsets compared to mature single positive (SP) subsets. We investigated changes in thymocyte sub-populations post infection with a wild type (WT) virulent strain and ΔrpoS, a virulence-attenuated strain, of Salmonella Typhimurium in C57BL/6 (B6) and Fas-deficient autoimmune-prone lpr mice. The WT strain caused acute thymic atrophy with greater loss of thymocytes in lpr mice compared to B6 mice. Infection with ΔrpoS caused progressive thymic atrophy in B6 and lpr mice. Analysis of thymocyte subsets revealed that immature thymocytes including the DN, immature single positive (ISP), and DP thymocytes underwent extensive loss. SP thymocytes were more resistant to loss in WT-infected B6 mice, whereas WT-infected lpr and ΔrpoS-infected mice exhibited depletion of SP thymocytes. Overall, thymocyte sub-populations exhibited differential susceptibilities depending on bacterial virulence and the host background.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sanmoy Pathak
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Shamik Majumdar
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Joel P Joseph
- Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Nikita S Ramteke
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Vasista Adiga
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Dipankar Nandi
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
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4
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Petrušić M, Stojić-Vukanić Z, Pilipović I, Kosec D, Prijić I, Leposavić G. Thymic changes as a contributing factor in the increased susceptibility of old Albino Oxford rats to EAE development. Exp Gerontol 2023; 171:112009. [PMID: 36334894 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.112009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The study was aimed to examine putative contribution of thymic involution to ageing-associated increase in susceptibility of Albino Oxford (AO) rats to the development of clinical EAE, and vice versa influence of the disease on the progression of thymic involution. To this end we examined (i) the parameters of thymocyte negative selection efficacy, the thymic generation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) and thymic capacity to instruct/predetermine IL-17-producing T-cell differentiation, and thymopietic efficacy-associated accumulation of "inflammescent" cytotoxic CD28- T cells in the periphery, and (ii) the key underlying mechanisms in young and old non-immunised AO rats and their counterparts immunised for EAE (on the 16th day post-immunisation when the disease in old rats reached the plateau) using flow cytometry analysis and/or RT-qPCR. It was found that thymic involution impairs: (i) the efficacy of negative selection (by affecting thymocyte expression of CD90, negative regulator of selection threshold and the expression of thymic stromal cell integrity factors) and (ii) Treg generation (by diminishing expression of cytokines supporting their differentiation/maturation). Additionally, the results suggest that thymic involution facilitates CD8+ T-cell differentiation into IL-17-producing cells (previously linked to the development of clinical EAE in old AO rats). Furthermore, they confirmed that ageing-related decrease in thymic T-cell output (as indicated by diminished frequency of recent thymic emigrants in peripheral blood) resulted in the accumulation of CD28- T cells in peripheral blood and, upon immunisation, in the target organ. On the other hand, the development of EAE (most likely by increasing circulatory levels of proinflammatory cytokines) contributed to the decline in thymic output of T cells, including Tregs, and thereby to the progression/maintenance of clinical EAE. Thus, in AO rats thymic involution via multi-layered mechanisms may favour the development of clinically manifested autoimmunity, which, in turn, precipitates the thymus atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Petrušić
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Stojić-Vukanić
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Pilipović
- Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Duško Kosec
- Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Prijić
- Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gordana Leposavić
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
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5
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Démoulins T, Baron ML, Gauchat D, Kettaf N, Reed SJ, Charpentier T, Kalinke U, Lamarre A, Ahmed R, Sékaly RP, Sarkar S, Kalia V. Induction of thymic atrophy and loss of thymic output by type-I interferons during chronic viral infection. Virology 2022; 567:77-86. [PMID: 35032866 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Type-I interferon (IFN-I) signals exert a critical role in disease progression during viral infections. However, the immunomodulatory mechanisms by which IFN-I dictates disease outcomes remain to be fully defined. Here we report that IFN-I signals mediate thymic atrophy in viral infections, with more severe and prolonged loss of thymic output and unique kinetics and subtypes of IFN-α/β expression in chronic infection compared to acute infection. Loss of thymic output was linked to inhibition of early stages of thymopoiesis (DN1-DN2 transition, and DN3 proliferation) and pronounced apoptosis during the late DP stage. Notably, infection-associated thymic defects were largely abrogated upon ablation of IFNαβR and partially mitigated in the absence of CD8 T cells, thus implicating direct as well as indirect effects of IFN-I on thymocytes. These findings provide mechanistic underpinnings for immunotherapeutic strategies targeting IFN-1 signals to manipulate disease outcomes during chronic infections and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Démoulins
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Dominique Gauchat
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), 1000, rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec, H2X 0C1, Canada
| | - Nadia Kettaf
- Laboratoire d'immunologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Saint-Luc, Montréal, QC, H2X 1P1, Canada
| | - Steven James Reed
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Tania Charpentier
- Centre INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531, Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Ulrich Kalinke
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alain Lamarre
- Centre INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531, Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Rafi Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rafick-Pierre Sékaly
- Department of Pathology, Emory University Winship Cancer Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Surojit Sarkar
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Vandana Kalia
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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6
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Yadav S, Pandey SK, Goel Y, Kujur PK, Maurya BN, Verma A, Kumar A, Singh RP, Singh SM. Protective and recuperative effects of 3-bromopyruvate on immunological, hepatic and renal homeostasis in a murine host bearing ascitic lymphoma: Implication of niche dependent differential roles of macrophages. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 99:970-85. [PMID: 29689702 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) possesses promising antineoplastic potential, however, its effects on immunological homeostasis vis a vis hepatic and renal functions in a tumor bearing host remain unclear. Therefore, the effect of 3-BP administration to a murine host bearing a progressively growing tumor of thymoma origin, designated as Dalton's lymphoma (DL), on immunological, renal and hepatic homeostasis was investigated. Administration of 3-BP (4 mg/kg) to the tumor bearing host reversed tumor growth associated thymic atrophy and splenomegaly, accompanied by altered cell survival and repertoire of splenic, bone marrow and tumor associated macrophages (TAM). TAM displayed augmented phagocytic, tumoricidal activities and production of IL-1 and TNF-α. 3-BP-induced activation of TAM was of indirect nature, mediated by IFN-γ. Blood count of T lymphocytes (CD4+ & CD8+) and NK cells showed a rise in 3-BP administered tumor bearing mice. Moreover, 3-BP administration triggered modulation of immunomodulatory cytokines in serum along with refurbished hepatic and renal functions. The study indicates the role of altered cytokines balance, site specific differential macrophage functions and myelopoiesis in restoration of lymphoid organ homeostasis in 3-BP administered tumor bearing host. These observations will have long lasting impact in understanding of alternate mechanisms underlying the antitumor action of 3-BP accompanying appraisal of safety issues for optimizing its antineoplastic actions.
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7
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Lee JH, Kim TJ, Kim JW, Yoon JS, Kim HS, Lee KM. The Anti-apoptotic Effect of Ghrelin on Restraint Stress-Induced Thymus Atrophy in Mice. Immune Netw 2016; 16:242-8. [PMID: 27574503 PMCID: PMC5002450 DOI: 10.4110/in.2016.16.4.242] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic atrophy is a complication that results from exposure to many environmental stressors, disease treatments, and microbial challenges. Such acute stress-associated thymic loss can have a dramatic impact on the host's ability to replenish the necessary naïve T cell output to reconstitute the peripheral T cell numbers and repertoire to respond to new antigenic challenges. We have previously reported that treatment with the orexigenic hormone ghrelin results in an increase in the number and proliferation of thymocytes after dexamethasone challenge, suggesting a role for ghrelin in restraint stress-induced thymic involution and cell apoptosis and its potential use as a thymostimulatory agent. In an effort to understand how ghrelin suppresses thymic T cell apoptosis, we have examined the various signaling pathways induced by receptor-specific ghrelin stimulation using a restraint stress mouse model. In this model, stress-induced apoptosis in thymocytes was effectively blocked by ghrelin. Western blot analysis demonstrated that ghrelin prevents the cleavage of pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bim, Caspase-3, and PARP. In addition, ghrelin stimulation activates the Akt and Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways in a time/dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we also revealed the involvement of the FoxO3a pathway in the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. Together, these findings suggest that ghrelin inhibits apoptosis by modulating the stress-induced apoptotic signal pathway in the restraint-induced thymic apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Lee
- Global Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Tae-Jin Kim
- Global Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jie Wan Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam 13524, Korea
| | - Jeong Seon Yoon
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Hyuk Soon Kim
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
| | - Kyung-Mi Lee
- Global Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
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8
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Kong Y, Li Y, Zhang W, Yuan S, Winkler R, Kröhnert U, Han J, Lin T, Zhou Y, Miao P, Wang B, Zhang J, Yu Z, Zhang Y, Kosan C, Zeng H. Sepsis-Induced Thymic Atrophy Is Associated with Defects in Early Lymphopoiesis. Stem Cells 2016; 34:2902-2915. [PMID: 27422171 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Impaired T lymphopoiesis is associated with immunosuppression of the adaptive immune response and plays a role in the morbidity and mortality of patients and animal models of sepsis. Although previous studies examined several intrathymic mechanisms that negatively affect T lymphopoiesis, the extrathymic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report a dramatic decrease in the percentage of early T lineage progenitors (ETPs) in three models of sepsis in mice (cecal ligation and puncture, lipopolysaccharide continuous injection, and poly I:C continuous injection). However, septic mice did not show a decrease in the number of bone marrow (BM) precursor cells. Instead, the BM progenitors for ETPs expressed reduced mRNA levels of CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 7, CCR9 and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1, and exhibited impaired homing capacity in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis and real-time PCR showed a marked downregulation of several lymphoid-related genes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells differentiated into myeloid cells but failed to generate T lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that the depletion of ETPs in septic mice might be a consequence of an impaired migration of BM progenitors to the thymus, as well as a defect in lymphoid lineage commitment. Stem Cells 2016;34:2902-2915.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxian Kong
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yajie Li
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Weimei Zhang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoxin Yuan
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - René Winkler
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kröhnert
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Junyan Han
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Lin
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Miao
- Department of Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Zhang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengya Yu
- Department of Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Christian Kosan
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Hui Zeng
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
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9
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Di Gangi R, Alves da Costa T, Thomé R, Peron G, Burger E, Verinaud L. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection promotes thymic disarrangement and premature egress of mature lymphocytes expressing prohibitive TCRs. BMC Infect Dis 2016; 16:209. [PMID: 27189089 PMCID: PMC4869377 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1561-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paracoccidioidomycosis, a chronic granulomatous fungal disease caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells affects mainly rural workers, albeit recently cases in immunosuppressed individuals has been reported. Protective immune response against P. brasiliensis is dependent on the activity of helper T cells especially IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells. It has been proposed that Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is able to modulate the immune response towards a permissive state and that the thymus plays a major role in it. METHODS In this paper, we show that acute infection of BALB/c mice with P. brasiliensis virulent isolate (Pb18) might cause alterations in the thymic environment as well as the prohibitive TCR-expressing T cells in the spleens. RESULTS After seven days of infection, we found yeast cells on the thymic stroma, the thymic epithelial cells (TEC) were altered regarding their spatial-orientation and inflammatory mediators gene expression was increased. Likewise, thymocytes (differentiating T cells) presented higher migratory ability in ex vivo experiments. Notwithstanding, P. brasiliensis-infected mice showed an increased frequency of prohibitive TCR-expressing T cells in the spleens, suggesting that the selection processes that occur in the thymus may be compromised during the acute infection. CONCLUSION In this paper, for the first time, we show that acute infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells promotes thymic alterations leading to a defective repertoire of peripheral T cells. The data presented here may represent new mechanisms by which P. brasiliensis subverts the immune response towards the chronic infection observed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Di Gangi
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Cidade Universitária, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago Alves da Costa
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Cidade Universitária, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Thomé
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Cidade Universitária, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Peron
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Cidade Universitária, SP, Brazil
| | - Eva Burger
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Liana Verinaud
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Cidade Universitária, SP, Brazil.
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Deobagkar-Lele M, Victor ES, Nandi D. c-Jun NH2 -terminal kinase is a critical node in the death of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes during Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Eur J Immunol 2013; 44:137-49. [PMID: 24105651 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201343506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 08/15/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thymic atrophy, due to the depletion of CD4(+) CD8(+) thymocytes, is observed during infections with numerous pathogens. Several mechanisms, such as glucocorticoids and inflammatory cytokines, are known to be involved in this process; however, the roles of intracellular signaling molecules have not been investigated. In this study, the functional role of c-Jun NH2 -terminal kinase (JNK) during infection-induced thymic atrophy was addressed. The levels of phosphorylated JNK in immature CD4(+) CD8(+) thymocytes from C57BL/6 (Nramp-deficient) and 129/SvJ (Nramp-sufficient) mice were increased upon oral infection of mice with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium). Furthermore, inhibition of JNK signaling, but not ERK or p38 MAPK, prevented the in vitro death of infected thymocytes. Importantly, the in vivo inhibition of JNK signaling with SP600125 protected C57BL/6 CD4(+) CD8(+) thymocytes from depletion via multiple mechanisms as follows: lower intracellular ROS, inflammatory cytokines, Bax and caspase 3 activity, increase in Bcl-xL amounts, and prevention of the loss in mitochondrial membrane potential. Notably, thymic architecture was preserved in infected mice treated with SP600125. Overall, this study identifies a novel role for JNK as a crucial regulator of the death of CD4(+) CD8(+) thymocytes during S. typhimurium infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukta Deobagkar-Lele
- Department of Biochemistry and Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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