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Hagen RR, Xu C, Koay HF, Konstantinov IE, Berzins SP, Kedzierska K, van de Sandt CE. Methodological optimisation of thymocyte isolation and cryopreservation of human thymus samples. J Immunol Methods 2024; 528:113651. [PMID: 38417671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113651] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Premature lymphocytes develop into non-autoreactive, mature naïve CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in the thymus before entering the circulation. However, in-depth characterization of human thymocyte development remains challenging due to limited availability of human thymus samples and the fragile nature of thymocyte populations. Thymocytes often do not survive cryopreservation and thawing procedures, especially the fragile CD4+CD8+ double positive population. It is generally recommended to use fresh human thymus tissue on the day of excision to avoid any biases in thymocyte composition. This hampers the possibility to perform multiple experiments on the same thymus sample. To establish how the thymocyte viability and composition can be maintained, we compared two thymocyte isolation methods used for human and/or mice thymi, three cryopreservation methods in combination with our most gentle thawing technique. Based on our findings we established that fresh human thymi remain viable in cold storage for up to two days post-surgery without compromising thymocyte composition. Thymocytes can be cryopreserved if required, although the CD4+CD8+ double positive populations may be reduced. Our study provides thoroughly optimized methods to study human thymocyte development over a considerable time-frame post-surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth R Hagen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Calvin Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Hui-Fern Koay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Igor E Konstantinov
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Deparment of Paediatrics, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Melbourne Centre for Cardiovascular Genomics and Regenerative Medicine, Melbourne, Australia; Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stuart P Berzins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia
| | - Katherine Kedzierska
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Carolien E van de Sandt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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Benito-Villalvilla C, Angelina A, Martín-Cruz L. Deciphering the factors determining the differentiation of autoreactive thymocytes into regulatory T cells. Allergy 2024; 79:1068-1070. [PMID: 38130078 DOI: 10.1111/all.15993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Benito-Villalvilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Angelina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia Martín-Cruz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Naik AK, Dauphars DJ, Corbett E, Simpson L, Schatz DG, Krangel MS. RORγt up-regulates RAG gene expression in DP thymocytes to expand the Tcra repertoire. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadh5318. [PMID: 38489350 PMCID: PMC11005092 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adh5318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Recombination activating gene (RAG) expression increases as thymocytes transition from the CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) to the CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) stage, but the physiological importance and mechanism of transcriptional up-regulation are unknown. Here, we show that a DP-specific component of the recombination activating genes antisilencer (DPASE) provokes elevated RAG expression in DP thymocytes. Mouse DP thymocytes lacking the DPASE display RAG expression equivalent to that in DN thymocytes, but this supports only a partial Tcra repertoire due to inefficient secondary Vα-Jα rearrangement. These data indicate that RAG up-regulation is required for a replete Tcra repertoire and that RAG expression is fine-tuned during lymphocyte development to meet the requirements of distinct antigen receptor loci. We further show that transcription factor RORγt directs RAG up-regulation in DP thymocytes by binding to the DPASE and that RORγt influences the Tcra repertoire by binding to the Tcra enhancer. These data, together with prior work showing RORγt to control Tcra rearrangement by regulating DP thymocyte proliferation and survival, reveal RORγt to orchestrate multiple pathways that support formation of the Tcra repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abani Kanta Naik
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Danielle J Dauphars
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Corbett
- Department of Immunobiology and Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lunden Simpson
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David G Schatz
- Department of Immunobiology and Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael S Krangel
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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Matsumoto K, Okuyama K, Sidwell T, Yamashita M, Endo T, Satoh-Takayama N, Ohno H, Morio T, Rothenberg EV, Taniuchi I. A Bcl11b N797K variant isolated from an immunodeficient patient inhibits early thymocyte development in mice. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1363704. [PMID: 38495886 PMCID: PMC10940544 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1363704] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BCL11B is a transcription factor with six C2H2-type zinc-finger domains. Studies in mice have shown that Bcl11b plays essential roles in T cell development. Several germline heterozygous BCL11B variants have been identified in human patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) patients. Among these, two de novo mis-sense variants cause asparagine (N) to lysine (K) replacement in distinct zinc-finger domains, BCL11BN441K and BCL11BN807K. To elucidate the pathogenesis of the BCL11BN807K variant, we generated a mouse model of BCL11BN807K by inserting the corresponding mutation, Bcl11bN797K, into the mouse genome. In Bcl11b+/N797K mice, the proportion of immature CD4-CD8+ single-positive thymocytes was increased, and the development of invariant natural killer cells was severely inhibited in a T-cell-intrinsic manner. Under competitive conditions, γδT cell development was outcompeted by control cells. Bcl11bN797K/N797K mice died within one day of birth. Recipient mice reconstituted with Bcl11bN797K/N797K fetal liver cells nearly lacked CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes, which was consistent with the lack of their emergence in culture from Bcl11bN797K/N797K fetal liver progenitors. Interestingly, Bcl11bN797K/N797K progenitors gave rise to aberrant c-Kit+ and CD44+ cells both in vivo and in vitro. The increase in the proportion of immature CD8 single-positive thymocytes in the Bcl11bN797K mutants is caused, in part, by the inefficient activation of the Cd4 gene due to the attenuated function of the two Cd4 enhancers via distinct mechanisms. Therefore, we conclude that immunodeficient patient-derived Bcl11bN797K mutant mice elucidated a novel role for Bcl11b in driving the appropriate transition of CD4-CD8- into CD4+CD8+ thymocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Matsumoto
- Laboratory for Transcriptional Regulation, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuki Okuyama
- Laboratory for Transcriptional Regulation, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tom Sidwell
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Motoi Yamashita
- Laboratory for Transcriptional Regulation, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaho Endo
- Genome Platform, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Naoko Satoh-Takayama
- Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohno
- Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Morio
- Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ellen V. Rothenberg
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Ichiro Taniuchi
- Laboratory for Transcriptional Regulation, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan
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Culberson EJ, Shields KC, Glynn RA, Allyn BM, Hayer KE, Bassing CH. The Cyclin D3 Protein Enforces Monogenic TCRβ Expression by Mediating TCRβ Protein-Signaled Feedback Inhibition of Vβ Recombination. J Immunol 2024; 212:534-540. [PMID: 38117277 PMCID: PMC10872516 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
In jawed vertebrates, adaptive immunity depends on the process of V(D)J recombination creating vast numbers of T and B lymphocytes that each expresses unique Ag receptors of uniform specificity. The asynchronous initiation of V-to-(D)J rearrangement between alleles and the resulting protein from one allele signaling feedback inhibition of V recombination on the other allele ensures homogeneous receptor specificity of individual cells. Upon productive Vβ-to-DβJβ rearrangements in noncycling double-negative thymocytes, TCRβ protein signals induction of the cyclin D3 protein to accelerate cell cycle entry, thereby driving proliferative expansion of developing αβ T cells. Through undetermined mechanisms, the inactivation of cyclin D3 in mice causes an increased frequency of αβ T cells that express TCRβ proteins from both alleles, producing lymphocytes of heterogeneous specificities. To determine how cyclin D3 enforces monogenic TCRβ expression, we used our mouse lines with enhanced rearrangement of specific Vβ segments due to replacement of their poor-quality recombination signal sequence (RSS) DNA elements with a better RSS. We show that cyclin D3 inactivation in these mice elevates the frequencies of αβ T cells that display proteins from RSS-augmented Vβ segments on both alleles. By assaying mature αβ T cells, we find that cyclin D3 deficiency increases the levels of Vβ rearrangements that occur within developing thymocytes. Our data demonstrate that a component of the cell cycle machinery mediates TCRβ protein-signaled feedback inhibition in thymocytes to achieve monogenic TCRβ expression and resulting uniform specificity of individual αβ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica J. Culberson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Kymberle C. Shields
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Rebecca A. Glynn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Brittney M. Allyn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Immunology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Katharina E. Hayer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Degree Program, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Craig H. Bassing
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Immunology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Han P, Zhang W, Wang D, Wu Y, Li X, Zhao S, Zhu M. Comparative transcriptome analysis of T lymphocyte subpopulations and identification of critical regulators defining porcine thymocyte identity. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1339787. [PMID: 38384475 PMCID: PMC10879363 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339787] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The development and migration of T cells in the thymus and peripheral tissues are crucial for maintaining adaptive immunity in mammals. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying T cell development and thymocyte identity formation in pigs remain largely underexplored. Method Here, by integrating bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing data, we investigated regulatory signatures of porcine thymus and lymph node T cells. Results The comparison of T cell subpopulations derived from porcine thymus and lymph nodes revealed that their transcriptomic differences were influenced more by tissue origin than by T cell phenotypes, and that lymph node cells exhibited greater transcriptional diversity than thymocytes. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified the key modules and candidate hub genes regulating the heterogeneity of T cell subpopulations. Further, we integrated the porcine thymocyte dataset with peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) dataset to systematically compare transcriptomic differences between T cell types from different tissues. Based on single-cell datasets, we further identified the key transcription factors (TFs) responsible for maintaining porcine thymocyte identity and unveiled that these TFs coordinately regulated the entire T cell development process. Finally, we performed GWAS of cell type-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 30 complex traits, and found that the DEGs in thymus-related and peripheral blood-related cell types, especially CD4_SP cluster and CD8-related cluster, were significantly associated with pig productive and reproductive traits. Discussion Our findings provide an insight into T cell development and lay a foundation for further exploring the porcine immune system and genetic mechanisms underlying complex traits in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Han
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Daoyuan Wang
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yalan Wu
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyun Li
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuhong Zhao
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengjin Zhu
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Das D, Banerjee A, Mukherjee S, Maji BK. Quercetin inhibits NF-kB and JAK/STAT signaling via modulating TLR in thymocytes and splenocytes during MSG-induced immunotoxicity: an in vitro approach. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:277. [PMID: 38319443 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09245-7] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The most widely used food additive monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been linked to immunopathology. Conversely, quercetin (Q), a naturally occurring flavonoid has been demonstrated to have immunomodulatory functions. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to determine if quercetin can mitigate the deleterious effects of MSG on immune cells, and the possible involvement of TLR, if any. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was conducted on Q, to determine how it affects the inflammatory response triggered by MSG in primary cultured thymocytes and splenocytes from rats (n = 5). Q shielded cells by augmenting cell survival and decreasing lactate dehydrogenase leakage during MSG treatment. It decreased IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α expression and release by hindering NF-kB activation and by inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway. Moreover, Q prevented NLRP3 activation, lowered IL-1β production, and promoted an anti-inflammatory response by increasing IL-10 production. Q reduced MSG-induced cellular stress and inflammation by acting as an agonist for PPAR-γ and LXRα, preventing NF-kB activation, and lowering MMP-9 production via increasing TIMP-1. Additionally, Q neutralized free radicals, elevated intracellular antioxidants, and impeded RIPK3, which is involved in inflammation induced by oxidative stress, TNF-α, and TLR agonists in MSG-treated cells. Furthermore, it also modulated TYK2 and the JAK/STAT pathway, which exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect. CONCLUSIONS MSG exposure is associated with immune cell dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress, and Q modulates TLR to inhibit NF-kB and JAK/STAT pathways, providing therapeutic potential. Further research is warranted to understand Q's downstream effects and explore its potential clinical applications in inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasmita Das
- Department of Physiology (UG & PG), Serampore College, 9 William Carey Road, Serampore, Hooghly, West Bengal, 712201, India
| | - Arnab Banerjee
- Department of Physiology (UG & PG), Serampore College, 9 William Carey Road, Serampore, Hooghly, West Bengal, 712201, India.
| | - Sandip Mukherjee
- Department of Physiology (UG & PG), Serampore College, 9 William Carey Road, Serampore, Hooghly, West Bengal, 712201, India
| | - Bithin Kumar Maji
- Department of Physiology (UG & PG), Serampore College, 9 William Carey Road, Serampore, Hooghly, West Bengal, 712201, India.
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Maas-Bauer K, Köhler N, Stell AV, Zwick M, Acharya S, Rensing-Ehl A, König C, Kroll J, Baker J, Koßmann S, Pradier A, Wang S, Docquier M, Lewis DB, Negrin RS, Simonetta F. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal different maturation stages and sublineage commitment of human thymic invariant natural killer T cells. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:401-409. [PMID: 37742056 PMCID: PMC10799303 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad113] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T cells are a rare, heterogeneous T-cell subset with cytotoxic and immunomodulatory properties. During thymic development, murine invariant natural killer T cells go through different maturation stages differentiating into distinct sublineages, namely, invariant natural killer T1, 2, and 17 cells. Recent reports indicate that invariant natural killer T2 cells display immature properties and give rise to other subsets, whereas invariant natural killer T1 cells seem to be terminally differentiated. Whether human invariant natural killer T cells follow a similar differentiation model is still unknown. To define the maturation stages and assess the sublineage commitment of human invariant natural killer T cells during thymic development, in this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on human Vα24+Vβ11+ invariant natural killer T cells isolated from thymocytes. We show that these invariant natural killer T cells displayed heterogeneity, and our unsupervised analysis identified 5 clusters representing different maturation stages, from an immature profile with high expression of genes important for invariant natural killer T cell development and proliferation to a mature, fully differentiated profile with high levels of cytotoxic effector molecules. Evaluation of expression of sublineage-defining gene sets revealed mainly cells with an invariant natural killer T2 signature in the most immature cluster, whereas the more differentiated ones displayed an invariant natural killer T1 signature. Combined analysis with a publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data set of human invariant natural killer T cells from peripheral blood suggested that the 2 main subsets exist both in thymus and in the periphery, while a third more immature one was restricted to the thymus. Our data point to the existence of different maturation stages of human thymic invariant natural killer T cells and provide evidence for sublineage commitment of invariant natural killer T cells in the human thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Maas-Bauer
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Stanford University, Center for Clinical Sciences Research Building, 269 W. Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Natalie Köhler
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg 79106, Germany
- CIBSS—Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 18, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - Anna-Verena Stell
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Melissa Zwick
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Swati Acharya
- Sean N. Parker Center for Asthma and Allergy Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Dr, Stanford, CA 94304, United States
| | - Anne Rensing-Ehl
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Breisacher Str. 115, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Christoph König
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Breisacher Str. 115, Freiburg 79106, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - Johannes Kroll
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center Freiburg University, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Stanford University, Center for Clinical Sciences Research Building, 269 W. Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Stefanie Koßmann
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Amandine Pradier
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, Geneva 1205, Switzerland
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Sisi Wang
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Mylène Docquier
- iGE3 Genomics Platform, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
- Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - David B Lewis
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 240 Pasteur Dr, Stanford, CA 94304, United States
| | - Robert S Negrin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Stanford University, Center for Clinical Sciences Research Building, 269 W. Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Stanford University, Center for Clinical Sciences Research Building, 269 W. Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, Geneva 1205, Switzerland
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
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Perez C, Plaza-Rojas L, Boucher JC, Nagy MZ, Kostenko E, Prajapati K, Burke B, Reyes MD, Austin AL, Zhang S, Le PT, Guevara-Patino JA. NKG2D receptor signaling shapes T cell thymic education. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:306-321. [PMID: 37949818 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad130] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) in peripheral T cells as a costimulatory receptor is well established. However, its contribution to T cell thymic education and functional imprint is unknown. Here, we report significant changes in development, receptor signaling, transcriptional program, and function in T cells from mice lacking NKG2D signaling. In C57BL/6 (B6) and OT-I mice, we found that NKG2D deficiency results in Vβ chain usage changes and stagnation of the double-positive stage in thymic T cell development. We found that the expression of CD5 and CD45 in thymocytes from NKG2D deficient mice were reduced, indicating a direct influence of NKG2D on the strength of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling during the developmental stage of T cells. Depicting the functional consequences of NKG2D, peripheral OT-I NKG2D-deficient cells were unresponsive to ovalbumin peptide stimulation. Paradoxically, while αCD3/CD28 agonist antibodies led to phenotypic T cell activation, their ability to produce cytokines remained severely compromised. We found that OT-I NKG2D-deficient cells activate STAT5 in response to interleukin-15 but were unable to phosphorylate ERK or S6 upon TCR engagement, underpinning a defect in TCR signaling. Finally, we showed that NKG2D is expressed in mouse and human thymic T cells at the double-negative stage, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved function during T cell development. The data presented in this study indicate that NKG2D impacts thymic T cell development at a fundamental level by reducing the TCR threshold and affecting the functional imprint of the thymic progeny. In summary, understanding the impact of NKG2D on thymic T cell development and TCR signaling contributes to our knowledge of immune system regulation, immune dysregulation, and the design of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Perez
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Lourdes Plaza-Rojas
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Justin C Boucher
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Mate Z Nagy
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Elena Kostenko
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Kushal Prajapati
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Brianna Burke
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Michael Delos Reyes
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Anna L Austin
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Shubin Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Phong T Le
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - José A Guevara-Patino
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
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10
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Ying Y, Tao N, Zhang F, Wen X, Zhou M, Gao J. Thymosin β4 Regulates the Differentiation of Thymocytes by Controlling the Cytoskeletal Rearrangement and Mitochondrial Transfer of Thymus Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1088. [PMID: 38256161 PMCID: PMC10816181 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021088] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The thymus is one of the most crucial immunological organs, undergoing visible age-related shrinkage. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a vital role in maintaining the normal function of the thymus, and their degeneration is the primary cause of age-induced thymic devolution. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) serves as a significant important G-actin sequestering peptide. The objective of this study was to explore whether Tβ4 influences thymocyte differentiation by regulating the cytoskeletal rearrangement and mitochondrial transfer of TECs. A combination of H&E staining, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, cytoskeletal immunolabeling, and mitochondrial immunolabeling were employed to observe the effects of Tβ4 on TECs' skeleton rearrangement, mitochondrial transfer, and thymocyte differentiation. The study revealed that the Tβ4 primarily regulates the formation of microfilaments and the mitochondrial transfer of TECs, along with the formation and maturation of double-negative cells (CD4-CD8-) and CD4 single-positive cells (CD3+TCRβ+CD4+CD8-) thymocytes. This study suggests that Tβ4 plays a crucial role in thymocyte differentiation by influencing the cytoskeletal rearrangement and mitochondrial transfer of TECs. These effects may be associated with Tβ4's impact on the aggregation of F-actin. This finding opens up new avenues for research in the field of immune aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jianli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China; (Y.Y.); (N.T.); (F.Z.); (X.W.); (M.Z.)
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11
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Lin L, Hu M, Li Q, Du L, Lin L, Xue Y, Zheng F, Wang F, Liu K, Wang Y, Ye J, Jiang X, Wang X, Wang J, Zhai J, Liu B, Xie H, You Y, Wang J, Kong X, Feng D, Green DR, Shi Y, Wang Y. Oleic acid availability impacts thymocyte preprogramming and subsequent peripheral T reg cell differentiation. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:54-65. [PMID: 38062135 PMCID: PMC10918613 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01672-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
The nature of activation signals is essential in determining T cell subset differentiation; however, the features that determine T cell subset preference acquired during intrathymic development remain elusive. Here we show that naive CD4+ T cells generated in the mouse thymic microenvironment lacking Scd1, encoding the enzyme catalyzing oleic acid (OA) production, exhibit enhanced regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation and attenuated development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Scd1 deletion in K14+ thymic epithelia recapitulated the enhanced Treg cell differentiation phenotype of Scd1-deficient mice. The dearth of OA permitted DOT1L to increase H3K79me2 levels at the Atp2a2 locus of thymocytes at the DN2-DN3 transition stage. Such epigenetic modification persisted in naive CD4+ T cells and facilitated Atp2a2 expression. Upon T cell receptor activation, ATP2A2 enhanced the activity of the calcium-NFAT1-Foxp3 axis to promote naive CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Treg cells. Therefore, OA availability is critical for preprogramming thymocytes with Treg cell differentiation propensities in the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangyu Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyuan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Liming Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yueqing Xue
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanjun Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Keli Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayin Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjie Zhai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Benming Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongzhen Xie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanqin You
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyong Wang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyin Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dechun Feng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Douglas R Green
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yufang Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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12
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Adachi Y. Culture of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells in Serum-Free Medium. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2749:1-6. [PMID: 38133769 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3609-1_1] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Primary cell culture systems are widely used as a valuable method for analyzing the biological functions of specific cells in vitro. Recently, various serum-free primary cell culture methods have been developed that do not involve the use of animal serums. Since the thymus is comprised of many cell types, such as thymocytes, thymic epithelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts, thymic epithelial cells must be isolated for their functional analysis in vitro. This chapter describes the detailed protocol for the selective primary culture of thymic epithelial cells using defined serum-free medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Adachi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan.
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13
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Chawda MM, Ross S, Lau C, Yánez DC, Rowell J, Kilbride P, Crompton T. Cryopreservation of mouse thymus depletes thymocytes but supports immune reconstitution on transplantation. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350546. [PMID: 37751619 PMCID: PMC10946610 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350546] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of mouse thymus depletes donor thymocytes but preserves thymus function when transplanted after thawing into athymic mice. No differences in immune reconstitution were observed between fresh and frozen/thawed transplants suggesting that donor thymocyte depletion does not affect outcome. Thus, cryopreservation of thymus may improve outcomes in thymus transplant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira M. Chawda
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Susan Ross
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Ching‐In Lau
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Diana C. Yánez
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Jasmine Rowell
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | | | - Tessa Crompton
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
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14
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Lee DY, Song WH, Lim YS, Lee C, Rajbongshi L, Hwang SY, Kim BS, Lee D, Song YJ, Kim HG, Yoon S. Fish Collagen Peptides Enhance Thymopoietic Gene Expression, Cell Proliferation, Thymocyte Adherence, and Cytoprotection in Thymic Epithelial Cells via Activation of the Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway, Leading to Thymus Regeneration after Cyclophosphamide-Induced Injury. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:531. [PMID: 37888466 PMCID: PMC10608061 DOI: 10.3390/md21100531] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged thymic involution results in decreased thymopoiesis and thymic output, leading to peripheral T-cell deficiency. Since the thymic-dependent pathway is the only means of generating fully mature T cells, the identification of strategies to enhance thymic regeneration is crucial in developing therapeutic interventions to revert immune suppression in immunocompromised patients. The present study clearly shows that fish collagen peptides (FCPs) stimulate activities of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), including cell proliferation, thymocyte adhesion, and the gene expression of thymopoietic factors such as FGF-7, IGF-1, BMP-4, VEGF-A, IL-7, IL-21, RANKL, LTβ, IL-22R, RANK, LTβR, SDF-1, CCL21, CCL25, CXCL5, Dll1, Dll4, Wnt4, CD40, CD80, CD86, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, FoxN1, leptin, cathepsin L, CK5, and CK8 through the NF-κB signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, our study also revealed the cytoprotective effects of FCPs on TECs against cyclophosphamide-induced cellular injury through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Importantly, FCPs exhibited a significant capability to facilitate thymic regeneration in mice after cyclophosphamide-induced damage via the NF-κB pathway. Taken together, this study sheds light on the role of FCPs in TEC function, thymopoiesis, and thymic regeneration, providing greater insight into the development of novel therapeutic strategies for effective thymus repopulation for numerous clinical conditions in which immune reconstitution is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Young Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Hoon Song
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Department of Urology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital and Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Seon Lim
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Changyong Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Lata Rajbongshi
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon Yeong Hwang
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung Soo Kim
- School of Biomedical Convergence Engineering, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongjun Lee
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Jung Song
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital and Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwi-Gon Kim
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital and Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
| | - Sik Yoon
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
- Immune Reconstitution Research Center of Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea
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15
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Xiao S, Zhang W, Li J, Manley NR. Lin28 regulates thymic growth and involution and correlates with MHCII expression in thymic epithelial cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1261081. [PMID: 37868985 PMCID: PMC10588642 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1261081] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential for T cell development in the thymus, yet the mechanisms governing their differentiation are not well understood. Lin28, known for its roles in embryonic development, stem cell pluripotency, and regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, is expressed in endodermal epithelial cells during embryogenesis and persists in adult epithelia, implying postnatal functions. However, the detailed expression and function of Lin28 in TECs remain unknown. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of Lin28 and its target Let-7g in fetal and postnatal TECs and discovered opposing expression patterns during postnatal thymic growth, which correlated with FOXN1 and MHCII expression. Specifically, Lin28b showed high expression in MHCIIhi TECs, whereas Let-7g was expressed in MHCIIlo TECs. Deletion of Lin28a and Lin28b specifically in TECs resulted in reduced MHCII expression and overall TEC numbers. Conversely, overexpression of Lin28a increased total TEC and thymocyte numbers by promoting the proliferation of MHCIIlo TECs. Additionally, our data strongly suggest that Lin28 and Let-7g expression is reliant on FOXN1 to some extent. These findings suggest a critical role for Lin28 in regulating the development and differentiation of TECs by modulating MHCII expression and TEC proliferation throughout thymic ontogeny and involution. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms underlying TEC differentiation and highlights the significance of Lin28 in orchestrating these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyun Xiao
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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16
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He H, Yao Y, Tang L, Li Y, Li Z, Liu B, Lan Y. Divergent molecular events underlying initial T-cell commitment in human prenatal and postnatal thymus. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1240859. [PMID: 37828991 PMCID: PMC10565475 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1240859] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intrathymic T-cell development is a coordinated process accompanied by dynamic changes in gene expression. Although the transcriptome characteristics of developing T cells in both human fetal and postnatal thymus at single-cell resolution have been revealed recently, the differences between human prenatal and postnatal thymocytes regarding the ontogeny and early events of T-cell development still remain obscure. Moreover, the transcriptional heterogeneity and posttranscriptional gene expression regulation such as alternative polyadenylation at different stages are also unknown. Method In this study, we performed integrative single-cell analyses of thymocytes at distinct developmental stages. Results The subsets of prenatal CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) cells, the most immature thymocytes responsible for T-cell lineage commitment, were characterized. By comprehensively comparing prenatal and postnatal DN cells, we revealed significant differences in some key gene expressions. Specifically, prenatal DN subpopulations exhibited distinct biological processes and markedly activated several metabolic programs that may be coordinated to meet the required bioenergetic demands. Although showing similar gene expression patterns along the developmental path, prenatal and postnatal thymocytes were remarkably varied regarding the expression dynamics of some pivotal genes for cell cycle, metabolism, signaling pathway, thymus homing, and T-cell commitment. Finally, we quantified the transcriptome-wide changes in alternative polyadenylation across T-cell development and found diverse preferences of polyadenylation site usage in divergent populations along the T-cell commitment trajectory. Discussion In summary, our results revealed transcriptional heterogeneity and a dynamic landscape of alternative polyadenylation during T-cell development in both human prenatal and postnatal thymus, providing a comprehensive resource for understanding T lymphopoiesis in human thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han He
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingpeng Yao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Basic Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lindong Tang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhui Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongcheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Lan
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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17
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Dai R, Zhu Y, Li Z, Qin L, Liu N, Liao S, Hao B. Three-way contact analysis characterizes the higher order organization of the Tcra locus. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:8987-9000. [PMID: 37534534 PMCID: PMC10516640 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of highly diverse antigen receptors in T and B lymphocytes relies on V(D)J recombination. The enhancer Eα has been implicated in regulating the accessibility of Vα and Jα genes through long-range interactions during rearrangements of the T-cell antigen receptor gene Tcra. However, direct evidence for Eα physically mediating the interaction of Vα and Jα genes is still lacking. In this study, we utilized the 3C-HTGTS assay, a chromatin interaction technique based on 3C, to analyze the higher order chromatin structure of the Tcra locus. Our analysis revealed the presence of sufficient information in the 3C-HTGTS data to detect multiway contacts. Three-way contact analysis of the Tcra locus demonstrated the co-occurrence of the proximal Jα genes, Vα genes and Eα in CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes. Notably, the INT2-TEAp loop emerged as a prominent structure likely to be responsible for bringing the proximal Jα genes and the Vα genes into proximity. Moreover, the enhancer Eα utilizes this loop to establish physical proximity with the proximal Vα gene region. This study provides insights into the higher order chromatin structure of the Tcra locus, shedding light on the spatial organization of chromatin and its impact on V(D)J recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Dai
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Yongchang Zhu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450003, China
| | - Zhaoqiang Li
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Litao Qin
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450003, China
| | - Nan Liu
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Shixiu Liao
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450003, China
| | - Bingtao Hao
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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18
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Oh S, Parikh D, Xiao J, Liu X, Gu K, Chong MMW. Mapping the two distinct proliferative bursts early in T-cell development. Immunol Cell Biol 2023; 101:766-774. [PMID: 37465975 PMCID: PMC10952215 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12670] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
T-cell development occurs in the thymus and is tightly regulated to produce a diverse enough repertoire of mature T cells that can recognize any potential pathogen. The development of T cells is dependent on small numbers of uncommitted precursors that continually seed the thymus from the bone marrow. As they progress along the developmental pathway, there is a massive expansion in cell number to generate the necessary diversity in T-cell receptor chain usage. It is recognized that there are two proliferative bursts that occur early in T-cell development, one prior to β-selection and one after, and these are responsible for the expansion. While the proliferation following β-selection is well-characterized, the earlier proliferative burst has yet to be precisely defined. In this study, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing coupled to trajectory inference methods to pinpoint when in T-cell development thymocytes are induced into cell cycle. We show that the first proliferative burst is initiated in the double-negative (DN) 2a stage before T lineage commitment occurs, with cell cycling downregulated by the DN3a stage. A second burst is then initiated at the DN3b stage, immediately after β-selection. We subsequently employ fluorescence-activated cell sorting-based analysis for DNA content to confirm these two proliferative bursts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungyoul Oh
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVICAustralia
- Department of Medicine (St Vincent's)University of MelbourneFitzroyVICAustralia
| | - Dhruti Parikh
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVICAustralia
- Department of Medicine (St Vincent's)University of MelbourneFitzroyVICAustralia
| | - Jiyao Xiao
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVICAustralia
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
| | - Xin Liu
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVICAustralia
| | - Karen Gu
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVICAustralia
| | - Mark MW Chong
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVICAustralia
- Department of Medicine (St Vincent's)University of MelbourneFitzroyVICAustralia
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19
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Steier Z, Aylard DA, McIntyre LL, Baldwin I, Kim EJY, Lutes LK, Ergen C, Huang TS, Robey EA, Yosef N, Streets A. Single-cell multiomic analysis of thymocyte development reveals drivers of CD4 + T cell and CD8 + T cell lineage commitment. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:1579-1590. [PMID: 37580604 PMCID: PMC10457207 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01584-0] [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: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
The development of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the thymus is critical to adaptive immunity and is widely studied as a model of lineage commitment. Recognition of self-peptide major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) determines the CD8+ or CD4+ T cell lineage choice, respectively, but how distinct TCR signals drive transcriptional programs of lineage commitment remains largely unknown. Here we applied CITE-seq to measure RNA and surface proteins in thymocytes from wild-type and T cell lineage-restricted mice to generate a comprehensive timeline of cell states for each T cell lineage. These analyses identified a sequential process whereby all thymocytes initiate CD4+ T cell lineage differentiation during a first wave of TCR signaling, followed by a second TCR signaling wave that coincides with CD8+ T cell lineage specification. CITE-seq and pharmaceutical inhibition experiments implicated a TCR-calcineurin-NFAT-GATA3 axis in driving the CD4+ T cell fate. Our data provide a resource for understanding cell fate decisions and implicate a sequential selection process in guiding lineage choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë Steier
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA, USA
- UC Berkeley - UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley and San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of California, Berkeley, Center for Computational Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dominik A Aylard
- University of California, Berkeley, Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Laura L McIntyre
- University of California, Berkeley, Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Isabel Baldwin
- University of California, Berkeley, Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Esther Jeong Yoon Kim
- University of California, Berkeley, Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lydia K Lutes
- University of California, Berkeley, Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Can Ergen
- University of California, Berkeley, Center for Computational Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Ellen A Robey
- University of California, Berkeley, Division of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Nir Yosef
- University of California, Berkeley, Center for Computational Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Systems Immunology, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Aaron Streets
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- UC Berkeley - UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley and San Francisco, CA, USA.
- University of California, Berkeley, Center for Computational Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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20
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Choi SM, Park HJ, Choi EA, Jung KC, Lee JI. CD1b glycoprotein, a crucial marker of thymocyte development during T cell maturation in cynomolgus monkeys. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14388. [PMID: 37658106 PMCID: PMC10474046 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41708-y] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic markers that denote different developmental stages of thymocytes are important for understanding T cell development in the thymus. Here, we show that CD1b is a critical discriminator of thymocyte maturation stage in cynomolgus monkeys. CD1b was expressed by immature thymocytes prior to β-selection, and its expression decreased as cells became fully mature in the thymus. MHC-I expression was lowest at the CD3loCD1b+ immature double-positive (DP) stage, while the ratio of CD1d:MHC-I expression was significantly higher at this stage than at other developmental stages. PLZF was expressed by < 0.2% of thymocytes; most PLZF+ thymocytes were CD3-/loCD1b+ immature DP thymocytes with the potential to produce IL-4. EOMES+ thymocytes, which accounted for > 2% of total thymocytes, were mostly CD3+CD1b- mature thymocytes and predominantly of the CD8 single-positive (SP) lineage. An unconventional CD8+ T cell subset expressing the NKG2AC+CXCR3+ innate-like T cell marker was identified within the EOMES+ CD8 SP lineage; these cells exhibited a memory phenotype. Taken together, these findings show that CD1b is a valuable discriminatory marker of thymocyte development. The data presented herein can be used to characterize the features of PLZF- and EOMES-associated unconventional T cells in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Min Choi
- Graduate Course of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hi Jung Park
- Graduate Course of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun A Choi
- Graduate Course of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Cheon Jung
- Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Integrated Major in Innovative Medical Science, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Il Lee
- Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
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21
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Dias A, Damaceno-Rodrigues N, Gimenez T, Oliveira P, Zerbini M, Carneiro-Sampaio M, Odone V, Jatene M, Vasconcelos D, Rocha V, Novak E. A model for preservation of thymocyte-depleted thymus. Braz J Med Biol Res 2023; 56:e12647. [PMID: 37585915 PMCID: PMC10427159 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x2023e12647] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
DiGeorge syndrome is a disorder caused by a microdeletion on the long arm of chromosome 22. Approximately 1% of patients diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome may have an absence of a functional thymus, which characterizes the complete form of the syndrome. These patients require urgent treatment to reconstitute T cell immunity. Thymus transplantation is a promising investigational procedure for reconstitution of thymic function in infants with congenital athymia. Here, we demonstrate a possible optimization of the preparation of thymus slices for transplantation through prior depletion of thymocytes and leukocyte cell lineages followed by cryopreservation with cryoprotective media (5% dextran FP 40, 5% Me2SO, and 5% FBS) while preserving tissue architecture. Thymus fragments were stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for 30 days or one year. The tissue architecture of the fragments was preserved, including the distinction between medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs), cortical TECs, and Hassall bodies. Moreover, depleted thymus fragments cryopreserved for one year were recolonized by intrathymic injections of 3×106 thymocytes per mL, demonstrating the capability of these fragments to support T cell development. Thus, this technique opens up the possibility of freezing and storing large volumes of thymus tissue for immediate transplantation into patients with DiGeorge syndrome or atypical (Omenn-like) phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.S. Dias
- Laboratório de Pediatria Clínica LIM36, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Instituto de Tratamento de Câncer Infantil, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - N.R. Damaceno-Rodrigues
- Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Biologia Celular (LIM 59), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - T.M. Gimenez
- Laboratório de Pediatria Clínica LIM36, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Instituto de Tratamento de Câncer Infantil, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - P.M. Oliveira
- Setor de Cirurgia Cardíaca Pediátrica, Hospital do Coração da Associação do Beneficente Síria, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M.C. Zerbini
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M. Carneiro-Sampaio
- Laboratório de Pediatria Clínica LIM36, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - V. Odone
- Laboratório de Pediatria Clínica LIM36, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Instituto de Tratamento de Câncer Infantil, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M.B. Jatene
- Setor de Cirurgia Cardíaca Pediátrica, Hospital do Coração da Associação do Beneficente Síria, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - D.M. Vasconcelos
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Dermatologia e Imunodeficiências (LIM 56), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Patogênese e Terapia dirigida em Onco-Imuno-Hematologia (LIM 31), Serviço de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - V. Rocha
- Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo, Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Patogênese e Terapia dirigida em Onco-Imuno-Hematologia (LIM 31), Serviço de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - E.M. Novak
- Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo, Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Patogênese e Terapia dirigida em Onco-Imuno-Hematologia (LIM 31), Serviço de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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22
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Takahama Y. The thymoproteasome in shaping the CD8 + T-cell repertoire. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 83:102336. [PMID: 37210932 PMCID: PMC10524569 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102336] [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: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The thymoproteasome is a type of proteasome expressed specifically in thymic cortical epithelial cells. Thymoproteasome affects antigen processing of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I-associated peptides and optimizes positive selection of CD8+ T cells. However, it remains unanswered whether and how thymoproteasome-dependent MHC-I-associated self-peptides contribute to positive selection of cortical thymocytes. This short piece discusses the potential mechanisms of thymoproteasome contribution to positive selection of MHC-I-restricted CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousuke Takahama
- Thymus Biology Section, Experimental Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892, United States.
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23
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Mihai A, Roy S, Krangel MS, Zhuang Y. E protein binding at the Tcra enhancer promotes Tcra repertoire diversity. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1188738. [PMID: 37483636 PMCID: PMC10358851 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1188738] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
V(D)J recombination of antigen receptor loci is a highly developmentally regulated process. During T lymphocyte development, recombination of the Tcra gene occurs in CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes and requires the Tcra enhancer (Eα). E proteins are known regulators of DP thymocyte development and have three identified binding sites in Eα. To understand the contribution of E proteins to Eα function, mutants lacking one or two of the respective binding sites were generated. The double-binding site mutant displayed a partial block at the positive selection stage of αβ T cell development. Further investigation revealed loss of germline transcription within the Tcra locus at the Jα array, along with dysregulated primary and impaired secondary Vα-Jα rearrangement. Eα E protein binding increases Tcra locus accessibility and regulates TCRα recombination, thus directly promoting Tcra repertoire diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael S. Krangel
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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24
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You M, Liu J, Li J, Ji C, Ni H, Guo W, Zhang J, Jia W, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Yao Y, Yu G, Ji H, Wang X, Han D, Du X, Xu MM, Yu S. Mettl3-m 6A-Creb1 forms an intrinsic regulatory axis in maintaining iNKT cell pool and functional differentiation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112584. [PMID: 37267102 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112584] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase Mettl3 is involved in conventional T cell immunity; however, its role in innate immune cells remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Mettl3 intrinsically regulates invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell development and function in an m6A-dependent manner. Conditional ablation of Mettl3 in CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes impairs iNKT cell proliferation, differentiation, and cytokine secretion, which synergistically causes defects in B16F10 melanoma resistance. Transcriptomic and epi-transcriptomic analyses reveal that Mettl3 deficiency disturbs the expression of iNKT cell-related genes with altered m6A modification. Strikingly, Mettl3 modulates the stability of the Creb1 transcript, which in turn controls the protein and phosphorylation levels of Creb1. Furthermore, conditional targeting of Creb1 in DP thymocytes results in similar phenotypes of iNKT cells lacking Mettl3. Importantly, ectopic expression of Creb1 largely rectifies such developmental defects in Mettl3-deficient iNKT cells. These findings reveal that the Mettl3-m6A-Creb1 axis plays critical roles in regulating iNKT cells at the post-transcriptional layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghao You
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jie Li
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ce Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Haochen Ni
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wenhui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiarui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weiwei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yajiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yingpeng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guotao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Huanyu Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- Institute for Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dali Han
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Meng Michelle Xu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Shuyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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25
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Li W, Yang Y, Liu S, Zhang D, Ren X, Tang M, Zhang W, Chen X, Huang C, Yu B. Paxbp1 is indispensable for the survival of CD4 and CD8 double-positive thymocytes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1183367. [PMID: 37404821 PMCID: PMC10315898 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1183367] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The lifespan of double-positive (DP) thymocytes is critical for intrathymic development and shaping the peripheral T cell repertoire. However, the molecular mechanisms that control DP thymocyte survival remain poorly understood. Paxbp1 is a conserved nuclear protein that has been reported to play important roles in cell growth and development. Its high expression in T cells suggests a possible role in T cell development. Here, we observed that deletion of Paxbp1 resulted in thymic atrophy in mice lacking Paxbp1 in the early stages of T cell development. Conditional loss of Paxbp1 resulted in fewer CD4+CD8+ DP T cells, CD4 and CD8 single positive (SP) T cells in the thymus, and fewer T cells in the periphery. Meanwhile, Paxbp1 deficiency had limited effects on the CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) or immature single-positive (ISP) cell populations. Instead, we observed a significant increase in the susceptibility of Paxbp1-deficient DP thymocytes to apoptosis. Consistent with this, RNA-Seq analysis revealed a significant enrichment of the apoptotic pathway within differentially expressed genes in Paxbp1-deficient DP cells compared to control DP cells. Together, our results suggest a new function for Paxbp1, which is an important mediator of DP thymocyte survival and critical for proper thymic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Li
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Shenglin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Research and Utilization of Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources of Hunan Province, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua, Hunan, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuanyao Ren
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mindan Tang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaofan Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Cong Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine of Dermatology, Shenzhen Peking University - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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26
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Choi S, Lee J, Hatzihristidis T, Gaud G, Dutta A, Arya A, Clubb LM, Stamos DB, Markovics A, Mikecz K, Love PE. THEMIS increases TCR signaling in CD4 +CD8 + thymocytes by inhibiting the activity of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP1. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eade1274. [PMID: 37159521 PMCID: PMC10410529 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade1274] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The T cell lineage-restricted protein THEMIS plays a critical role in T cell development at the positive selection stage. In the SHP1 activation model, THEMIS is proposed to enhance the activity of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP1 (encoded by Ptpn6), thereby dampening T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling and preventing the inappropriate negative selection of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by positively selecting ligands. In contrast, in the SHP1 inhibition model, THEMIS is proposed to suppress SHP1 activity, rendering CD4+CD8+ thymocytes more sensitive to TCR signaling initiated by low-affinity ligands to promote positive selection. We sought to resolve the controversy regarding the molecular function of THEMIS. We found that the defect in positive selection in Themis-/- thymocytes was ameliorated by pharmacologic inhibition of SHP1 or by deletion of Ptpn6 and was exacerbated by SHP1 overexpression. Moreover, overexpression of SHP1 phenocopied the Themis-/- developmental defect, whereas deletion of Ptpn6, Ptpn11 (encoding SHP2), or both did not result in a phenotype resembling that of Themis deficiency. Last, we found that thymocyte negative selection was not enhanced but was instead impaired in the absence of THEMIS. Together, these results provide evidence favoring the SHP1 inhibition model, supporting a mechanism whereby THEMIS functions to enhance the sensitivity of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes to TCR signaling, enabling positive selection by low-affinity, self-ligand-TCR interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seeyoung Choi
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jan Lee
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Teri Hatzihristidis
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Guillaume Gaud
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Avik Dutta
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Awadhesh Arya
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Shock, Trauma & Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Center, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Lauren M. Clubb
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel B. Stamos
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Adrienn Markovics
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Katalin Mikecz
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Paul E. Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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27
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Kimura Y, Sumiyoshi M, Taniguchi M. Geniposide prevents tumor growth by inhibiting colonic interleukin-1β and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 via down-regulated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and thymocyte selection-associated high mobility box proteins TOX/TOX2 in azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110077. [PMID: 37011499 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Colon cancer was the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Japan in 2019. The effects of geniposide isolated from Gardenia jasminoides fructus (Rubiaceae) on the azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced growth of colon tumors and changes in interleukin (IL)-1 β, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, IL-10, and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) levels in the colon were investigated. The intraperitoneal administration of AOM (10 mg/kg) on days 0 and 27 induced colorectal carcinogenesis. Free access to 1% (w/v) DSS drinking water was given to mice on days 7-15, 32-33, and 35-38. Geniposide (30 and 100 mg/kg) was orally administered on days 1-16, discontinued for 11 days (days 16 to 26), and then administered again on days 27-41. Colonic levels of cytokines, chemokine, and PD-1 were measured using by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Increases in colorectal tumor numbers and areas were significantly inhibited by geniposide. In addition, geniposide (100 mg/kg) reduced colonic levels of IL-1 β, MCP-1, PD-1 and IL-10 by 67.4, 57.2, 100%, and 100% respectively. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2- and thymocyte selection high mobility group box proteins (TOX/TOX2)-positive cell numbers were significantly reduced by geniposide. Geniposide (30 and 100 mg/kg) decreased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expressions in immunohistochemical analysis by 64.2 and 98.2%, respectively. Thus, the inhibitory effects of geniposide on colon tumor growth may be associated with reductions in the colonic levels of IL-1 β, MCP-1, IL-10, and PD-1 via the down-regulated expression of COX-2 and TOX/TOX2 through the inhibition of Phospho-STAT3 expression (in vivo and in vitro).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Kimura
- Department of Functional Biomedicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan; Department of Natural Product Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka Medical and Pharmacology University, Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan.
| | - Maho Sumiyoshi
- Division of Functional Histology, Department of Functional Biomedicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Masahiko Taniguchi
- Department of Natural Product Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka Medical and Pharmacology University, Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
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MacNabb BW, Rothenberg EV. Speed and navigation control of thymocyte development by the fetal T-cell gene regulatory network. Immunol Rev 2023; 315:171-196. [PMID: 36722494 PMCID: PMC10771342 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13190] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
T-cell differentiation is a tightly regulated developmental program governed by interactions between transcription factors (TFs) and chromatin landscapes and affected by signals received from the thymic stroma. This process is marked by a series of checkpoints: T-lineage commitment, T-cell receptor (TCR)β selection, and positive and negative selection. Dynamically changing combinations of TFs drive differentiation along the T-lineage trajectory, through mechanisms that have been most extensively dissected in adult mouse T-lineage cells. However, fetal T-cell development differs from adult in ways that suggest that these TF mechanisms are not fully deterministic. The first wave of fetal T-cell differentiation occurs during a unique developmental window during thymic morphogenesis, shows more rapid kinetics of differentiation with fewer rounds of cell division, and gives rise to unique populations of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and invariant γδT cells that are not generated in the adult thymus. As the characteristic kinetics and progeny biases are cell-intrinsic properties of thymic progenitors, the differences could be based on distinct TF network circuitry within the progenitors themselves. Here, we review recent single-cell transcriptome data that illuminate the TF networks involved in T-cell differentiation in the fetal and adult mouse thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan W MacNabb
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ellen V Rothenberg
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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29
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Oh S, Liu X, Tomei S, Luo M, Skinner JP, Berzins SP, Naik SH, Gray DHD, Chong MMW. Distinct subpopulations of DN1 thymocytes exhibit preferential γδ T lineage potential. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1106652. [PMID: 37077921 PMCID: PMC10106834 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1106652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The αβ and γδ T cell lineages both differentiate in the thymus from common uncommitted progenitors. The earliest stage of T cell development is known as CD4-CD8- double negative 1 (DN1), which has previously been shown to be a heterogenous mixture of cells. Of these, only the CD117+ fraction has been proposed to be true T cell progenitors that progress to the DN2 and DN3 thymocyte stages, at which point the development of the αβ and γδ T cell lineages diverge. However, recently, it has been shown that at least some γδ T cells may be derived from a subset of CD117- DN thymocytes. Along with other ambiguities, this suggests that T cell development may not be as straightforward as previously thought. To better understand early T cell development, particularly the heterogeneity of DN1 thymocytes, we performed a single cell RNA sequence (scRNAseq) of mouse DN and γδ thymocytes and show that the various DN stages indeed comprise a transcriptionally diverse subpopulations of cells. We also show that multiple subpopulations of DN1 thymocytes exhibit preferential development towards the γδ lineage. Furthermore, specific γδ-primed DN1 subpopulations preferentially develop into IL-17 or IFNγ-producing γδ T cells. We show that DN1 subpopulations that only give rise to IL-17-producing γδ T cells already express many of the transcription factors associated with type 17 immune cell responses, while the DN1 subpopulations that can give rise to IFNγ-producing γδ T cell already express transcription factors associated with type 1 immune cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungyoul Oh
- St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine (St Vincent’s), University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Xin Liu
- St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Sara Tomei
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mengxiao Luo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Stuart P. Berzins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC, Australia
| | - Shalin H. Naik
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel H. D. Gray
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark M. W. Chong
- St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine (St Vincent’s), University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Mark M. W. Chong,
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Borna S, Dejene B, Lakshmanan U, Schulze J, Weinberg K, Bacchetta R. Analyses of thymocyte commitment to regulatory T cell lineage in thymus of healthy subjects and patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1088059. [PMID: 37006241 PMCID: PMC10062184 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1088059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) results in an inborn error of immunity due to defective thymic organogenesis. Immunological abnormalities in 22q11.2DS patients are thymic hypoplasia, reduced output of T lymphocytes by the thymus, immunodeficiency and increased incidence of autoimmunity. While the precise mechanism responsible for increased incidence of autoimmunity is not completely understood, a previous study suggested a defect in regulatory T cells (Treg) cell lineage commitment during T cell development in thymus. Here, we aimed to analyze this defect in more detail. Since Treg development in human is still ill-defined, we first analyzed where Treg lineage commitment occurs. We performed systematic epigenetic analyses of the Treg specific demethylation region (TSDR) of the FOXP3 gene in sorted thymocytes at different developmental stages. We defined CD3+CD4+CD8+ FOXP3+CD25+ as the T cell developmental stage in human where TSDR demethylation first occurs. Using this knowledge, we analyzed the intrathymic defect in Treg development in 22q11.2DS patients by combination of TSDR, CD3, CD4, CD8 locus epigenetics and multicolor flow cytometry. Our data showed no significant differences in Treg cell frequencies nor in their basic phenotype. Collectively, these data suggest that although 22q11.2DS patients present with reduced thymic size and T cell output, the frequencies and the phenotype of Treg cell at each developmental stage are surprisingly well preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Borna
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Beruh Dejene
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Uma Lakshmanan
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Kenneth Weinberg
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Rosa Bacchetta
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Rosa Bacchetta,
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Martinez RJ, Breed ER, Worota Y, Ashby KM, Vobořil M, Mathes T, Salgado OC, O’Connor CH, Kotenko SV, Hogquist KA. Type III interferon drives thymic B cell activation and regulatory T cell generation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220120120. [PMID: 36802427 PMCID: PMC9992806 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220120120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The activation of thymic B cells is critical for their licensing as antigen presenting cells and resulting ability to mediate T cell central tolerance. The processes leading to licensing are still not fully understood. By comparing thymic B cells to activated Peyer's patch B cells at steady state, we found that thymic B cell activation starts during the neonatal period and is characterized by TCR/CD40-dependent activation, followed by immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR) without forming germinal centers. Transcriptional analysis also demonstrated a strong interferon signature, which was not apparent in the periphery. Thymic B cell activation and CSR were primarily dependent on type III IFN signaling, and loss of type III IFN receptor in thymic B cells resulted in reduced thymocyte regulatory T cell (Treg) development. Finally, from TCR deep sequencing, we estimate that licensed B cells induce development of a substantial fraction of the Treg cell repertoire. Together, these findings reveal the importance of steady-state type III IFN in generating licensed thymic B cells that induce T cell tolerance to activated B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Martinez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Elise R. Breed
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Yosan Worota
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Katherine M. Ashby
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Matouš Vobořil
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Tailor Mathes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Oscar C. Salgado
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Christine H. O’Connor
- Research Informatics Solutions, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Group, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Sergei V. Kotenko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ07103
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ07103
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ07103
| | - Kristin A. Hogquist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
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32
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Rollins MR, Raynor JF, Miller EA, Butler JZ, Spartz EJ, Lahr WS, You Y, Burrack AL, Moriarity BS, Webber BR, Stromnes IM. Germline T cell receptor exchange results in physiological T cell development and function. Nat Commun 2023; 14:528. [PMID: 36726009 PMCID: PMC9892040 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36180-1] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice represent an invaluable tool to study antigen-specific immune responses. In the pre-existing models, a monoclonal TCR is driven by a non-physiologic promoter and randomly integrated into the genome. Here, we create a highly efficient methodology to develop T cell receptor exchange (TRex) mice, in which TCRs, specific to the self/tumor antigen mesothelin (Msln), are integrated into the Trac locus, with concomitant Msln disruption to circumvent T cell tolerance. We show that high affinity TRex thymocytes undergo all sequential stages of maturation, express the exogenous TCR at DN4, require MHC class I for positive selection and undergo negative selection only when both Msln alleles are present. By comparison of TCRs with the same specificity but varying affinity, we show that Trac targeting improves functional sensitivity of a lower affinity TCR and confers resistance to T cell functional loss. By generating P14 TRex mice with the same specificity as the widely used LCMV-P14 TCR transgenic mouse, we demonstrate increased avidity of Trac-targeted TCRs over transgenic TCRs, while preserving physiologic T cell development. Together, our results support that the TRex methodology is an advanced tool to study physiological antigen-specific T cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan R Rollins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jackson F Raynor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ebony A Miller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jonah Z Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ellen J Spartz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Walker S Lahr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Yun You
- Mouse Genetics Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Adam L Burrack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Beau R Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ingunn M Stromnes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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33
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Carpenter AC, Chopp LB, Kim JK, Bosselut R. Purification of Thymocyte and T Cell Subsets. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:151-163. [PMID: 36374455 PMCID: PMC10802931 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_8] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many analytical or cell culture procedures require homogeneous starting cell populations that cannot be obtained directly from organ dissection. Here, we describe two enrichment procedures to achieve this goal and discuss their respective advantages in specific experimental contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Carpenter
- Inflammation and Innate Immunity Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Laura B Chopp
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jong Kyong Kim
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rémy Bosselut
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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34
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Abstract
T cell development is a complex multistep process that requires the coordinated activation of distinct signaling responses and the regulated progression of developing cells (thymocytes) through key stages of maturation. Although sophisticated techniques such as fetal thymus organ culture, in vitro thymocyte culture, and multiparameter flow cytometry-based cell sorting are now widely employed to evaluate thymocyte maturation by experienced laboratories, defects in T cell development can usually be identified with relatively simple flow cytometry screening methods. Here, we provide a basic protocol for assessment of T cell development that will enable laboratories with access to a multi-laser flow cytometer to screen mouse strains, including those generated from embryonic stem cells with targeted gene mutations, for thymocyte maturation defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Y M Lee
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul E Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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35
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Prykhodko O, Avilova O, Dmytruk S, Ponyrko A, Gordienko O, Prykhodko E. HISTOULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THYMOCYTES DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GENERAL DEHYDRATION OF A MILD DEGREE. Wiad Lek 2023; 76:1709-1716. [PMID: 37740960 DOI: 10.36740/wlek202308101] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim: The objective of the current study was to reveal ultrastructural changes in rats' thymocytes in experimental data in conditions of mild general dehydration. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 20 non-linear adult male laboratory rats weighing 150-170 g. Histological and semi-thin slides of the thymus were prepared according to the required guidelines. RESULTS Results: On average, in the cortical zone of the thymus, there was decreased cellularity by 13.4% (p<0.001), while in the medulla zone this indicator turned out to be unreliable - 5.5% (р=0.19), compared to the indicators in animals of the control group. The study showed that a slight degree of general dehydration of the body causes ultrastructural changes in the thymus and is accompanied by a cell-mediated response of the central link of immunogenesis and results in morphological changes in the thymus, which are atrophic in nature with a typical pattern of remodeling of the organ's microstructure, which corresponds to cellular aging and the associated sign of accelerated involution. CONCLUSION Conclusions: General dehydration of a mild degree in the experiment is accompanied by a cell-mediated response of the central link of immunogenesis and results in morphological changes in the thymus, which are atrophic in nature with a typical pattern of remodeling of the organ's microstructure, which corresponds to cellular aging and the associated sign of accelerated involution.
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36
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Van de Walle I, Lambrechts N, Derveeuw A, Lavaert M, Roels J, Taghon T. Identification and Purification of Human T Cell Precursors. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2580:315-333. [PMID: 36374467 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2740-2_20] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
During their development, human T cells undergo similar genomic changes and pass through the same developmental checkpoints as developing thymocytes in the mouse. The difference between both species, however, is that some of these developmental stages are characterized by different phenotypic markers, and as a result, evidence emerges that the molecular regulation of human T cell development subtly differs from the mouse (Taghon et al., Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 360:75-97, 2021; Haddad et al., Immunity 24:217-230, 2006; Hao et al., Blood 111:1318-1326, 2008; Taghon and Rothenberg, Semin Immunopathol 30:383-398, 2008). In this chapter, we describe in detail how the different stages of human T cell development can be characterized and isolated using specific surface markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Van de Walle
- The Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nina Lambrechts
- The Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anaïs Derveeuw
- The Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marieke Lavaert
- The Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juliette Roels
- The Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Taghon
- The Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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37
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Xu X, He K, Hoffman RD, Ying Y, Tao N, Guo W, Shen J, Liu X, Li M, Yan M, Lv G, Gao J. Thymosin Beta 15 Alters the Spatial Development of Thymic Epithelial Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223679. [PMID: 36429107 PMCID: PMC9688846 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the most sensitive organ under various pathophysiological conditions, such as aging, starvation, and infection. As a key stromal cell for T cell development, it is well-known that thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play an important role in the thymus response to the external environment. Thymosin beta 15 (Tβ15) is a G-actin binding protein secreted by TECs, it plays an important role in maintaining the dynamic balance of actin, angiogenesis, axonal formation, and wound healing, but the relationship between Tβ15 and TECs is not clear yet. Here, we show the impact of Tβ15 on the TEC's spatial development, as well as the T-cell differentiation and thymic output. As a result, TEC is the main effector cell of Tβ15 in the thymus. Tβ15 OX inhibits the chemotaxis of TECs to the medulla and subsequently blocks the positive selection of thymocytes from CD3+TCRβ+CD4+CD8+ double positive cells to CD3+TCRβ+CD4+CD8- single-positive (CD4SP) cells. Tβ15-knockdown accelerates the reticular differentiation of astral TECs and medullary TECs. Importantly, mice implanted with Tβ15-knockdown iTECs show high thymic output but low peripheral T cell maturity and activity. In a word, our results explain the role of Tβ15 on the differentiation and function of TECs and provide a new perspective for understanding the process of thymus development and degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xie Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Kai He
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Robert D. Hoffman
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA
| | - Yuyuan Ying
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Nana Tao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Wenqin Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jiaman Shen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Meiya Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Meiqiu Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Guiyuan Lv
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (J.G.); Tel.: +86-571-86613601 (G.L.); +86-571-6613504 (J.G.)
| | - Jianli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (J.G.); Tel.: +86-571-86613601 (G.L.); +86-571-6613504 (J.G.)
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Kim CY, Parrish HL, Kuhns MS. The TCR Cα Domain Regulates Responses to Self-pMHC Class II. J Immunol 2022; 209:2033-2041. [PMID: 36426940 PMCID: PMC9643626 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
T cells play a central role in adaptive immunity by recognizing peptide Ags presented by MHC molecules (pMHC) via their clonotypic TCRs. αβTCRs are heterodimers, consisting of TCRα and TCRβ subunits that are composed of variable (Vα, Vβ) and constant (Cα, Cβ) domains. Whereas the Vα, Vβ, and Cβ domains adopt typical Ig folds in the extracellular space, the Cα domain lacks a top β sheet and instead has two loosely associated top strands (C- and F-strands) on its surface. Previous results suggest that this unique Ig-like fold mediates homotypic TCR interactions and influences signaling in vitro. To better understand why evolution has selected this unique structure, we asked, what is the fitness cost for development and function of mouse CD4+ T cells bearing a mutation in the Cα C-strand? In both TCR retrogenic and transgenic mice we observed increased single-positive thymocytes bearing mutant TCRs compared with those expressing wild-type TCRs. Furthermore, our analysis of mutant TCR transgenic mice revealed an increase in naive CD4+ T cells experiencing strong tonic TCR signals, increased homeostatic survival, and increased recruitment of responders to cognate pMHC class II upon immunization compared with the wild-type. The mutation did not, however, overtly impact CD4+ T cell proliferation or differentiation after immunization. We interpret these data as evidence that the unique Cα domain has evolved to fine-tune TCR signaling, particularly in response to weak interactions with self-pMHC class II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Y. Kim
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
| | - Heather L. Parrish
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
| | - Michael S. Kuhns
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
- Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- The BIO-5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ
- The Arizona Center on Aging, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
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Abstract
CD11c, also named integrin αX, has been deemed solely as a dendritic cell marker for decades while the delineation of its biological function was limited. In the current study, we observed in mice that CD11c deficiency led to a defect in T cell development, demonstrated by the loss of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) T cells, CD4+CD8-, and CD4-CD8+ single positive (SP) T cells in the thymus and less mature T cells in the periphery. By using bone marrow chimera, we confirmed that CD11c regulated T cell development in the thymus. We further showed that CD11c deficiency led to an accelerated apoptosis of CD3 positive thymocytes, but not CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) T cells. Overall, this study added one more layer of knowledge on the regulatory mechanism of late-stage T cell development that the presence of CD11c in the thymus is critical for maintaining T cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifei Hou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Cardiac Anesthesia Division, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Departments of Anaesthesia and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Koichi Yuki
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Cardiac Anesthesia Division, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Departments of Anaesthesia and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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40
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Abstract
Sex steroid hormones have major effects on the thymus. Age-related increases in androgens and estrogens and pregnancy-induced increases in progestins all cause dramatic thymic atrophy. Atrophy can also be induced by treatment with exogenous sex steroids and reversed by ablation of endogenous sex steroids. Although these observations are frequently touted as evidence of steroid lymphotoxicity, they are often driven by steroid signaling in thymic epithelial cells (TEC), which are highly steroid responsive. Here, we outline the effects of sex steroids on the thymus and T cell development. We focus on studies that have examined steroid signaling in vivo, aiming to emphasize the actions of endogenous steroids which, via TEC, have remarkable programming effects on the TCR repertoire. Due to the dramatic effects of steroids on TEC, especially thymic involution, the direct effects of sex steroid signaling in thymocytes are less well understood. We outline studies that could be important in addressing these possibilities, and highlight suggestive findings of sex steroid generation within the thymus itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Taves
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Jonathan D. Ashwell, ; Matthew D. Taves,
| | - Jonathan D. Ashwell
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Jonathan D. Ashwell, ; Matthew D. Taves,
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41
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Zhang M, Lin X, Yang Z, Li X, Zhou Z, Love PE, Huang J, Zhao B. Metabolic regulation of T cell development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:946119. [PMID: 35958585 PMCID: PMC9357944 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.946119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell development in the thymus is tightly controlled by complex regulatory mechanisms at multiple checkpoints. Currently, many studies have focused on the transcriptional and posttranslational control of the intrathymic journey of T-cell precursors. However, over the last few years, compelling evidence has highlighted cell metabolism as a critical regulator in this process. Different thymocyte subsets are directed by distinct metabolic pathways and signaling networks to match the specific functional requirements of the stage. Here, we epitomize these metabolic alterations during the development of a T cell and review several recent works that provide insights into equilibrating metabolic quiescence and activation programs. Ultimately, understanding the interplay between cellular metabolism and T cell developmental programs may offer an opportunity to selectively regulate T cell subset functions and to provide potential novel therapeutic approaches to modulate autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoxi Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhou Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xia Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiguang Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Paul E. Love
- Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ; ; Jiaqi Huang, ;;
| | - Bin Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhao, ; ; Jiaqi Huang, ;;
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42
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Gu W, Madrid DMC, Joyce S, Driver JP. A single-cell analysis of thymopoiesis and thymic iNKT cell development in pigs. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111050. [PMID: 35793622 PMCID: PMC9704770 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many aspects of the porcine immune system remain poorly characterized, which poses a barrier to improving swine health and utilizing pigs as preclinical models. Here, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to create a cell atlas of the early-adolescent pig thymus. Our data show conserved features as well as species-specific differences in cell states and cell types compared with human thymocytes. We also describe several unconventional T cell types with gene expression profiles associated with innate effector functions. This includes a cell census of more than 11,000 differentiating invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, which reveals that the functional diversity of pig iNKT cells differs substantially from the iNKT0/1/2/17 subset differentiation paradigm established in mice. Our data characterize key differentiation events in porcine thymopoiesis and iNKT cell maturation and provide important insights into pig T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Gu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Sebastian Joyce
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Institution for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John P Driver
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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43
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Joannou K, Golec DP, Wang H, Henao-Caviedes LM, May JF, Kelly RG, Chan R, Jameson SC, Baldwin TA. γδ Thymocyte Maturation and Emigration in Adult Mice. J Immunol 2022; 208:2131-2140. [PMID: 35396221 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100360] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Several unique waves of γδ T cells are generated solely in the fetal/neonatal thymus, whereas additional γδ T cell subsets are generated in adults. One intriguing feature of γδ T cell development is the coordination of differentiation and acquisition of effector function within the fetal thymus; however, it is less clear whether this paradigm holds true in adult animals. In this study, we investigated the relationship between maturation and thymic export of adult-derived γδ thymocytes in mice. In the Rag2pGFP model, immature (CD24+) γδ thymocytes expressed high levels of GFP whereas only a minority of mature (CD24-) γδ thymocytes were GFP+ Similarly, most peripheral GFP+ γδ T cells were immature. Analysis of γδ recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) indicated that most γδ T cell RTEs were CD24+ and GFP+, and adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated that immature γδ thymocytes can mature outside the thymus. Mature γδ T cells largely did not recirculate to the thymus from the periphery; rather, a population of mature γδ thymocytes that produced IFN-γ or IL-17 remained resident in the thymus for at least 60 d. These data support the existence of two populations of γδ T cell RTEs in adult mice: a majority subset that is immature and matures in the periphery after thymic emigration, and a minority subset that completes maturation within the thymus prior to emigration. Additionally, we identified a heterogeneous population of resident γδ thymocytes of unknown functional importance. Collectively, these data shed light on the generation of the γδ T cell compartment in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Joannou
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dominic P Golec
- Cell Signaling and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Haiguang Wang
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; and
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Laura M Henao-Caviedes
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julia F May
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rees G Kelly
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rigel Chan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephen C Jameson
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; and
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Troy A Baldwin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;
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44
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Wang H, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. Thymic Microenvironment: Interactions Between Innate Immune Cells and Developing Thymocytes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:885280. [PMID: 35464404 PMCID: PMC9024034 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.885280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a crucial organ for the development of T cells. T cell progenitors first migrate from the bone marrow into the thymus. During the journey to become a mature T cell, progenitors require interactions with many different cell types within the thymic microenvironment, such as stromal cells, which include epithelial, mesenchymal and other non-T-lineage immune cells. There are two crucial decision steps that are required for generating mature T cells: positive and negative selection. Each of these two processes needs to be performed efficiently to produce functional MHC-restricted T cells, while simultaneously restricting the production of auto-reactive T cells. In each step, there are various cell types that are required for the process to be carried out suitably, such as scavengers to clean up apoptotic thymocytes that fail positive or negative selection, and antigen presenting cells to display self-antigens during positive and negative selection. In this review, we will focus on thymic non-T-lineage immune cells, particularly dendritic cells and macrophages, and the role they play in positive and negative selection. We will also examine recent advances in the understanding of their participation in thymus homeostasis and T cell development. This review will provide a perspective on how the thymic microenvironment contributes to thymocyte differentiation and T cell maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Wang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker,
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45
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Wilhelm-Benartzi CS, Miller SE, Bruggraber S, Picton D, Wilson M, Gatley K, Chhabra A, Marcovecchio ML, Hendriks AEJ, Morobé H, Chmura PJ, Bond S, Aschemeier-Fuchs B, Knip M, Tree T, Overbergh L, Pall J, Arnaud O, Haller MJ, Nitsche A, Schulte AM, Mathieu C, Mander A, Dunger D. Study protocol: Minimum effective low dose: anti-human thymocyte globulin (MELD-ATG): phase II, dose ranging, efficacy study of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) within 6 weeks of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e053669. [PMID: 34876434 PMCID: PMC8655536 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterised by progressive destruction of the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas. One immunosuppressive agent that has recently shown promise in the treatment of new-onset T1D subjects aged 12-45 years is antithymocyte globulin (ATG), Thymoglobuline, encouraging further exploration in lower age groups. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Minimal effective low dose (MELD)-ATG is a phase 2, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiarm parallel-group trial in participants 5-25 years diagnosed with T1D within 3-9 weeks of planned treatment day 1. A total of 114 participants will be recruited sequentially into seven different cohorts with the first cohort of 30 participants being randomised to placebo, 2.5 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg ATG total dose in a 1:1:1:1:1 allocation ratio. The next six cohorts of 12-15 participants will be randomised to placebo, 2.5 mg/kg, and one or two selected middle ATG total doses in a 1:1:1:1 or 1:1:1 allocation ratio, as dependent on the number of middle doses, given intravenously over two consecutive days. The primary objective will be to determine the changes in stimulated C-peptide response over the first 2 hours of a mixed meal tolerance test at 12 months for 2.5 mg/kg ATG arm vs the placebo. Conditional on finding a significant difference at 2.5 mg/kg, a minimally effective dose will be sought. Secondary objectives include the determination of the effects of a particular ATG treatment dose on (1) stimulated C-peptide, (2) glycated haemoglobin, (3) daily insulin dose, (4) time in range by intermittent continuous glucose monitoring measures, (5) fasting and stimulated dry blood spot (DBS) C-peptide measurements. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION MELD-ATG received first regulatory and ethical approvals in Belgium in September 2020 and from the German and UK regulators as of February 2021. The publication policy is set in the INNODIA (An innovative approach towards understanding and arresting Type 1 diabetes consortium) grant agreement (www.innodia.eu). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03936634; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah E Miller
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Diane Picton
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark Wilson
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Katrina Gatley
- Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anita Chhabra
- Pharmacy, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Hilde Morobé
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven/ Universitaire Ziekenhuizen, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piotr Jaroslaw Chmura
- Center for Protein Research, Kobenhavns Universitet Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet, Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Simon Bond
- Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bärbel Aschemeier-Fuchs
- Diabetes Centre for Children and Adolescents, Children's Hospital Auf der Bult, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mikael Knip
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
- Pediatric Research Centre, University of Helsinki Children's Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timothy Tree
- Department of Immunobiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lut Overbergh
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven/ Universitaire Ziekenhuizen, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jaivier Pall
- INNODIA Patient Advisory Committee, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Michael J Haller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Chantal Mathieu
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven/ Universitaire Ziekenhuizen, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Mander
- Centre for Trials Research, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - David Dunger
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
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Gras-Peña R, Danzl NM, Khosravi-Maharlooei M, Campbell SR, Ruiz AE, Parks CA, Suen Savage WM, Holzl MA, Chatterjee D, Sykes M. Human stem cell-derived thymic epithelial cells enhance human T-cell development in a xenogeneic thymus. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 149:1755-1771. [PMID: 34695489 PMCID: PMC9023620 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Generation of thymic tissue from pluripotent stem cells would provide therapies for acquired and congenital thymic insufficiency states. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to generate human thymic epithelial progenitors from human embryonic stem cells (hES-TEPs) and to assess their thymopoietic function in vivo. METHODS This study differentiated hES-TEPs by mimicking developmental queues with FGF8, retinoic acid, SHH, Noggin, and BMP4. Their function was assessed in reaggregate cellular grafts under the kidney capsule and in hybrid thymi by incorporating them into swine thymus (SwTHY) grafts implanted under the kidney capsules of immunodeficient mice that received human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (hHSPCs) intravenously. RESULTS Cultured hES-TEPs expressed FOXN1 and formed colonies expressing EPCAM and both cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cell markers. In thymectomized immunodeficient mice receiving hHSPCs, hES-TEPs mixed with human thymic mesenchymal cells supported human T-cell development. Hypothesizing that support from non-epithelial thymic cells might allow long-term function of hES-TEPs, the investigators injected them into SwTHY tissue, which supports human thymopoiesis in NOD severe combined immunodeficiency IL2Rγnull mice receiving hHSPCs. hES-TEPs integrated into SwTHY grafts, enhanced human thymopoiesis, and increased peripheral CD4+ naive T-cell reconstitution. CONCLUSIONS This study has developed and demonstrated in vivo thymopoietic function of hES-TEPs generated with a novel differentiation protocol. The SwTHY hybrid thymus model demonstrates beneficial effects on human thymocyte development of hES-TEPs maturing in the context of a supportive thymic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Gras-Peña
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY; Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
| | - Nichole M Danzl
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Mohsen Khosravi-Maharlooei
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Sean R Campbell
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Amanda E Ruiz
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Christopher A Parks
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - William Meng Suen Savage
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Markus A Holzl
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Debanjana Chatterjee
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Megan Sykes
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY; Department of Surgery and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY.
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47
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Ferrua F, Bortolomai I, Fontana E, Di Silvestre D, Rigoni R, Marcovecchio GE, Draghici E, Brambilla F, Castiello MC, Delfanti G, Moshous D, Picard C, Taghon T, Bordon V, Schulz AS, Schuetz C, Giliani S, Soresina A, Gennery AR, Signa S, Dávila Saldaña BJ, Delmonte OM, Notarangelo LD, Roifman CM, Poliani PL, Uva P, Mauri PL, Villa A, Bosticardo M. Thymic Epithelial Cell Alterations and Defective Thymopoiesis Lead to Central and Peripheral Tolerance Perturbation in MHCII Deficiency. Front Immunol 2021; 12:669943. [PMID: 34211466 PMCID: PMC8239840 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.669943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II (MHCII) deficiency (MHCII-D), also known as Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome (BLS), is a rare combined immunodeficiency due to mutations in genes regulating expression of MHCII molecules. MHCII deficiency results in impaired cellular and humoral immune responses, leading to severe infections and autoimmunity. Abnormal cross-talk with developing T cells due to the absence of MHCII expression likely leads to defects in thymic epithelial cells (TEC). However, the contribution of TEC alterations to the pathogenesis of this primary immunodeficiency has not been well characterized to date, in particular in regard to immune dysregulation. To this aim, we have performed an in-depth cellular and molecular characterization of TEC in this disease. We observed an overall perturbation of thymic structure and function in both MHCII-/- mice and patients. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of murine TEC revealed several alterations. In particular, we demonstrated that impairment of lymphostromal cross-talk in the thymus of MHCII-/- mice affects mTEC maturation and promiscuous gene expression and causes defects of central tolerance. Furthermore, we observed peripheral tolerance impairment, likely due to defective Treg cell generation and/or function and B cell tolerance breakdown. Overall, our findings reveal disease-specific TEC defects resulting in perturbation of central tolerance and limiting the potential benefits of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in MHCII deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferrua
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Pediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Ileana Bortolomai
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Fontana
- Human Genome Department, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Milan Unit, Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Di Silvestre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Rosita Rigoni
- Human Genome Department, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Milan Unit, Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Genni Enza Marcovecchio
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Draghici
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Brambilla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Carmina Castiello
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Milan Unit, Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Gloria Delfanti
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Despina Moshous
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker Children’s Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Laboratory “Genome Dynamics in the Immune System”, INSERM UMR1163, Université de Paris, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Capucine Picard
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker Children’s Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Centre d’Etude des Déficits Immunitaires, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Activation and Susceptibility to EBV infection, Inserm UMR 1163, University Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Tom Taghon
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Victoria Bordon
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ansgar S. Schulz
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Catharina Schuetz
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Silvia Giliani
- Cytogenetics and Medical Genetics Unit and “A. Nocivelli” Institute for Molecular Medicine, Spedali Civili Hospital, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Annarosa Soresina
- Unit of Pediatric Immunology, Pediatrics Clinic, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrew R. Gennery
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatric Immunology and HSCT, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Signa
- Department of Pediatric Immunology and HSCT, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Autoinflammatory Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Center, IRCCS Istituto G. Gaslini, and Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Children's Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Blachy J. Dávila Saldaña
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ottavia M. Delmonte
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Luigi D. Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Chaim M. Roifman
- Division of Immunology & Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, the Canadian Centre for Primary Immunodeficiency and the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pietro Luigi Poliani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Pathology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Uva
- CRS4, Science and Technology Park Polaris, Pula, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Mauri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Milan Unit, Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Marita Bosticardo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
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48
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Martínez-García PM, García-Torres M, Divina F, Terrón-Bautista J, Delgado-Sainz I, Gómez-Vela F, Cortés-Ledesma F. Genome-wide prediction of topoisomerase IIβ binding by architectural factors and chromatin accessibility. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1007814. [PMID: 33465072 PMCID: PMC7845959 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase II-β (TOP2B) is fundamental to remove topological problems linked to DNA metabolism and 3D chromatin architecture, but its cut-and-reseal catalytic mechanism can accidentally cause DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that can seriously compromise genome integrity. Understanding the factors that determine the genome-wide distribution of TOP2B is therefore not only essential for a complete knowledge of genome dynamics and organization, but also for the implications of TOP2-induced DSBs in the origin of oncogenic translocations and other types of chromosomal rearrangements. Here, we conduct a machine-learning approach for the prediction of TOP2B binding using publicly available sequencing data. We achieve highly accurate predictions, with accessible chromatin and architectural factors being the most informative features. Strikingly, TOP2B is sufficiently explained by only three features: DNase I hypersensitivity, CTCF and cohesin binding, for which genome-wide data are widely available. Based on this, we develop a predictive model for TOP2B genome-wide binding that can be used across cell lines and species, and generate virtual probability tracks that accurately mirror experimental ChIP-seq data. Our results deepen our knowledge on how the accessibility and 3D organization of chromatin determine TOP2B function, and constitute a proof of principle regarding the in silico prediction of sequence-independent chromatin-binding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Manuel Martínez-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (PMMG); (FCL)
| | | | - Federico Divina
- Division of Computer Science, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - José Terrón-Bautista
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Irene Delgado-Sainz
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Felipe Cortés-Ledesma
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Topology and DNA breaks Group, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (PMMG); (FCL)
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49
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Campinoti S, Gjinovci A, Ragazzini R, Zanieri L, Ariza-McNaughton L, Catucci M, Boeing S, Park JE, Hutchinson JC, Muñoz-Ruiz M, Manti PG, Vozza G, Villa CE, Phylactopoulos DE, Maurer C, Testa G, Stauss HJ, Teichmann SA, Sebire NJ, Hayday AC, Bonnet D, Bonfanti P. Reconstitution of a functional human thymus by postnatal stromal progenitor cells and natural whole-organ scaffolds. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6372. [PMID: 33311516 PMCID: PMC7732825 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20082-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, essential for T cell maturation and selection. There has been long-standing interest in processes underpinning thymus generation and the potential to manipulate it clinically, because alterations of thymus development or function can result in severe immunodeficiency and autoimmunity. Here, we identify epithelial-mesenchymal hybrid cells, capable of long-term expansion in vitro, and able to reconstitute an anatomic phenocopy of the native thymus, when combined with thymic interstitial cells and a natural decellularised extracellular matrix (ECM) obtained by whole thymus perfusion. This anatomical human thymus reconstruction is functional, as judged by its capacity to support mature T cell development in vivo after transplantation into humanised immunodeficient mice. These findings establish a basis for dissecting the cellular and molecular crosstalk between stroma, ECM and thymocytes, and offer practical prospects for treating congenital and acquired immunological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Campinoti
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Asllan Gjinovci
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Roberta Ragazzini
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Luca Zanieri
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Linda Ariza-McNaughton
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Marco Catucci
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefan Boeing
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jong-Eun Park
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - John C Hutchinson
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Miguel Muñoz-Ruiz
- Immunosurveillance laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Pierluigi G Manti
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Vozza
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo E Villa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Demetra-Ellie Phylactopoulos
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Constance Maurer
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Hans J Stauss
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Neil J Sebire
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Adrian C Hayday
- Immunosurveillance laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dominique Bonnet
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Paola Bonfanti
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Division of Infection & Immunity, UCL, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2PF, UK.
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50
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Yang R, Wang G, Li L, He H, Zheng M, Lu L, Wu S. Tespa1 plays a role in the modulation of airway hyperreactivity through the IL-4/STAT6 pathway. J Transl Med 2020; 18:444. [PMID: 33228696 PMCID: PMC7685668 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02621-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymocyte-expressed, positive selection-associated 1 (Tespa1) is a critical signaling molecule in thymocyte development. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effect of Tespa1 on mast cells in the pathogenesis of asthma and its relationship with the interleukin (IL)-4/signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 (STAT6) signaling pathway. METHODS Tespa1 mRNA expression analysis and IgE levels were carried out using the induced sputum of 33 adults with stable asthma and 36 healthy controls. Tespa1-knockout mice (Tespa1-/-, KO) and C57BL/6 background (wild-type, WT) mice were sensitized and treated with ovalbumin (OVA) to establish an asthma model. Pathological changes, number and activity of mast cells, and changes in activation of the IL-4/STAT6 pathway in lung tissue were detected. The changes of tryptase expression and STAT6 activation after mast cell gene knockout were analyzed in vitro. The changes of enzyme expression and STAT6 activation after mast cell gene knockout were analyzed in vitro. The association between the Tespa1 and p-STAT6 was analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation method. RESULTS Compared with the healthy controls, Tespa1 expression was decreased, and IgE levels were elevated in the sputum of asthmatic patients. Animal experiments showed that Tespa1-/- mice exhibited more severe inflammation, higher quantity of goblet cells and mast cells in the bronchium, and greater expression of mast cell tryptase, which is induced by ovalbumin, than WT mice. And IL-4, IL-13, phospho-Janus kinase 1, and p-STAT6 expressions presented a higher increase in the Tespa1-/- mouse model than in the WT mouse model. Further in vitro studies confirmed that IL-4 could more significantly promote tryptase and p-STAT6 activities in Tespa1-/- mast cells than their WT counterparts. Correlation analysis results showed a negative correlation between Tespa1 and p-STAT6. Co-immunoprecipitation results demonstrated an association between Tespa1 and p-STAT6. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results indicate that Tespa1 can negatively regulate mast cell activity, and this event is related to the mast cell IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway and could be therapeutically exploited to treat asthma attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhui Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health, Lishui University, No. 1 Xueyuan Road, Liandu District, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Guangli Wang
- College of Medicine and Health, Lishui University, No. 1 Xueyuan Road, Liandu District, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Lingyun Li
- Clinical Laboratory, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Hanjiang He
- College of Medicine and Health, Lishui University, No. 1 Xueyuan Road, Liandu District, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Mingzhu Zheng
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Linrong Lu
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Songquan Wu
- College of Medicine and Health, Lishui University, No. 1 Xueyuan Road, Liandu District, Lishui, 323000, China.
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