DOT1L maintains NK cell phenotype and function for optimal tumor control.

Histone methyltransferases (HMTs) are crucial in gene regulation and function, yet their role in natural killer (NK) cell biology within the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains largely unknown. We demonstrate that the HMT DOT1L limits NK cell conversion to CD49a+ CD49b+ intILC1, a subset that can be observed in the TME in response to stimulation with transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß and is correlated with impaired tumor control. Deleting Dot1l in NKp46-expressing cells reveals its pivotal role in maintaining NK cell phenotype and function. Loss of DOT1L skews NK cells toward intILC1s even in the absence of TGF-ß. Transcriptionally, DOT1L-null NK cells closely resemble intILC1s and ILC1s, correlating with altered NK cell responses and impaired solid tumor control. These findings deepen our understanding of NK cell biology and could inform approaches to prevent NK cell conversion to intILC1s in adoptive NK cell therapies for cancer.

Tissue-resident memory NK cells: Homing in on local effectors and regulators.

Natural killer (NK) cells are the prototype innate effector lymphocyte population that plays an important role in controlling viral infections and tumors. Studies demonstrating that NK cells form long-lived memory populations, akin to those generated by adaptive immune cells, prompted a revaluation of the potential functions of NK cells. Recent data demonstrating that NK cells are recruited from the circulation into tissues where they form long-lived memory-like populations further emphasize that NK cells have properties that mirror those of adaptive immune cells. NK cells that localize in non-lymphoid tissues are heterogeneous, and there is a growing appreciation that immune responses occurring within tissues are subject to tissue-specific regulation. Here we discuss both the immune effector and immunoregulatory functions of NK cells, with a particular emphasis on the role of NK cells within non-lymphoid tissues and how the tissue microenvironment shapes NK cell-dependent outcomes.

IL-6-mediated endothelial injury impairs antiviral humoral immunity after bone marrow transplantation.

Endothelial function and integrity are compromised after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but how this affects immune responses broadly remains unknown. Using a preclinical model of CMV reactivation after BMT, we found compromised antiviral humoral responses induced by IL-6 signaling. IL-6 signaling in T cells maintained Th1 cells, resulting in sustained IFN-γ secretion, which promoted endothelial cell (EC) injury, loss of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) responsible for IgG recycling, and rapid IgG loss. T cell-specific deletion of IL-6R led to persistence of recipient-derived, CMV-specific IgG and inhibited CMV reactivation. Deletion of IFN-γ in donor T cells also eliminated EC injury and FcRn loss. In a phase III clinical trial, blockade of IL-6R with tocilizumab promoted CMV-specific IgG persistence and significantly attenuated early HCMV reactivation. In sum, IL-6 invoked IFN-γ-dependent EC injury and consequent IgG loss, leading to CMV reactivation. Hence, cytokine inhibition represents a logical strategy to prevent endothelial injury, thereby preserving humoral immunity after immunotherapy.

IKAROS and AIOLOS directly regulate AP-1 transcriptional complexes and are essential for NK cell development.

Ikaros transcription factors are essential for adaptive lymphocyte function, yet their role in innate lymphopoiesis is unknown. Using conditional genetic inactivation, we show that Ikzf1/Ikaros is essential for normal natural killer (NK) cell lymphopoiesis and IKZF1 directly represses Cish, a negative regulator of interleukin-15 receptor resulting in impaired interleukin-15 receptor signaling. Both Bcl2l11 and BIM levels, and intrinsic apoptosis were increased in Ikzf1-null NK cells, which in part accounts for NK lymphopenia as both were restored to normal levels when Ikzf1 and Bcl2l11 were co-deleted. Ikzf1-null NK cells presented extensive transcriptional alterations with reduced AP-1 transcriptional complex expression and increased expression of Ikzf2/Helios and Ikzf3/Aiolos. IKZF1 and IKZF3 directly bound AP-1 family members and deletion of both Ikzf1 and Ikzf3 in NK cells resulted in further reductions in Jun/Fos expression and complete loss of peripheral NK cells. Collectively, we show that Ikaros family members are important regulators of apoptosis, cytokine responsiveness and AP-1 transcriptional activity.

Dietary Fiber and Microbiota Metabolite Receptors Enhance Cognition and Alleviate Disease in the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with poorly understood etiology. AD has several similarities with other "Western lifestyle" inflammatory diseases, where the gut microbiome and immune pathways have been associated. Previously, we and others have noted the involvement of metabolite-sensing GPCRs and their ligands, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in protection of numerous Western diseases in mouse models, such as Type I diabetes and hypertension. Depletion of GPR43, GPR41, or GPR109A accelerates disease, whereas high SCFA yielding diets protect in mouse models. Here, we extended the concept that metabolite-sensing receptors and SCFAs may be a more common protective mechanism against Western diseases by studying their role in AD pathogenesis in the 5xFAD mouse model. Both male and female mice were included. Depletion of GPR41 and GPR43 accelerated cognitive decline and impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis in 5xFAD and WT mice. Lack of fiber/SCFAs accelerated a memory deficit, whereas diets supplemented with high acetate and butyrate (HAMSAB) delayed cognitive decline in 5xFAD mice. Fiber intake impacted on microglial morphology in WT mice and microglial clustering phenotype in 5xFAD mice. Lack of fiber impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis in both W and AD mice. Finally, maternal dietary fiber intake significantly affects offspring's cognitive functions in 5xFAD mice and microglial transcriptome in both WT and 5xFAD mice, suggesting that SCFAs may exert their effect during pregnancy and lactation. Together, metabolite-sensing GPCRs and SCFAs are essential for protection against AD, and reveal a new strategy for disease prevention.Significance Statement Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases; currently, there is no cure for AD. In our study, short-chain fatty acids and metabolite receptors play an important role in cognitive function and pathology in AD mouse model as well as in WT mice. SCFAs also impact on microglia transcriptome, and immune cell recruitment. Out study indicates the potential of specialized diets (supplemented with high acetate and butyrate) releasing high amounts of SCFAs to protect against disease.

Intestinal microbiota controls graft-versus-host disease independent of donor-host genetic disparity.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) remains a major limitation of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), and severe intestinal manifestation is the major cause of early mortality. Intestinal microbiota control MHC class II (MHC-II) expression by ileal intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) that promote GVHD. Here, we demonstrated that genetically identical mice of differing vendor origins had markedly different intestinal microbiota and ileal MHC-II expression, resulting in discordant GVHD severity. We utilized cohousing and antibiotic treatment to characterize the bacterial taxa positively and negatively associated with MHC-II expression. A large proportion of bacterial MHC-II inducers were vancomycin sensitive, and peri-transplant oral vancomycin administration attenuated CD4+ T cell-mediated GVHD. We identified a similar relationship between pre-transplant microbes, HLA class II expression, and both GVHD and mortality in a large clinical SCT cohort. These data highlight therapeutically tractable mechanisms by which pre-transplant microbial taxa contribute to GVHD independently of genetic disparity.

Boosting Live Malaria Vaccine with Cytomegalovirus Vector Can Prolong Immunity through Innate and Adaptive Mechanisms.

Vaccines to persistent parasite infections have been challenging, and current iterations lack long-term protection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) chronic vaccine vectors drive protection against SIV, tuberculosis and liver-stage malaria correlated with antigen-specific CD8 T cells with a Tem phenotype. This phenotype is likely driven by a combination of antigen-specific and innate adjuvanting effects of the vector, though these mechanisms are less well understood. Sterilizing immunity from live Plasmodium chabaudi vaccination lasts less than 200 days. While P. chabaudi-specific antibody levels remain stable after vaccination, the decay of parasite-specific T cells correlates with loss of challenge protection. Therefore, we enlisted murine CMV as a booster strategy to prolong T cell responses against malaria. To study induced T cell responses, we included P. chabaudi MSP-1 epitope B5 (MCMV-B5). We found that MCMV vector alone significantly protected against a challenge P. chabaudi infection 40-60 days later, and that MCMV-B5 was able to make B5-specific Teff, in addition to previously-reported Tem, that survive to the challenge timepoint. Used as a booster, MCMV-B5 prolonged protection from heterologous infection beyond day 200, and increased B5 TCR Tg T cell numbers, including both a highly-differentiated Tem phenotype and Teff, both previously reported to protect. B5 epitope expression was responsible for maintenance of Th1 and Tfh B5 T cells. In addition, the MCMV vector had adjuvant properties, contributing non-specifically through prolonged stimulation of IFN-γ. In vivo neutralization of IFN-γ, but not IL-12 and IL-18, late in the course of MCMV, led to loss of the adjuvant effect. Mechanistically, sustained IFN-γ from MCMV increased CD8α+ dendritic cell numbers, and led to increased IL-12 production upon Plasmodium challenge. In addition, neutralization of IFN-γ before challenge reduced the polyclonal Teff response to challenge. Our findings suggest that, as protective epitopes are defined, an MCMV vectored booster can prolong protection through the innate effects of IFN-γ.

Infection induces tissue-resident memory NK cells that safeguard tissue health.

Tissue health is dictated by the capacity to respond to perturbations and then return to homeostasis. Mechanisms that initiate, maintain, and regulate immune responses in tissues are therefore essential. Adaptive immunity plays a key role in these responses, with memory and tissue residency being cardinal features. A corresponding role for innate cells is unknown. Here, we have identified a population of innate lymphocytes that we term tissue-resident memory-like natural killer (NKRM) cells. In response to murine cytomegalovirus infection, we show that circulating NK cells were recruited in a CX3CR1-dependent manner to the salivary glands where they formed NKRM cells, a long-lived, tissue-resident population that prevented autoimmunity via TRAIL-dependent elimination of CD4+ T cells. Thus, NK cells develop adaptive-like features, including long-term residency in non-lymphoid tissues, to modulate inflammation, restore immune equilibrium, and preserve tissue health. Modulating the functions of NKRM cells may provide additional strategies to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Mouse Mx1 Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Genomic Replication and Late Gene Expression In Vitro and Prevents Lesion Formation in the Mouse Zosteriform Model.

Myxovirus resistance (Mx) proteins are dynamin-like GTPases that are inducible by interferons (IFNs) following virus infections. Most studies investigating Mx proteins have focused on their activity against influenza A viruses (IAV), although emerging evidence suggests that some Mx proteins may exhibit broader antiviral activity. Herein, we demonstrate that in addition to IAV, overexpression of mouse Mx1 (mMx1), but not mMx2, resulted in potent inhibition of growth of the human alphaherpesviruses herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, whereas neither inhibited the mouse betaherpesvirus murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) in vitro. IFN induction of a functional endogenous mMx1 in primary mouse fibroblasts ex vivo was also associated with inhibition of HSV-1 growth. Using an in vitro overexpression approach, we demonstrate that mutations that result in redistribution of mMx1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm or in loss of its combined GTP binding and GTPase activity also abrogated its ability to inhibit HSV-1 growth. Overexpressed mMx1 did not inhibit early HSV-1 gene expression but was shown to inhibit both replication of the HSV-1 genome as well as subsequent late gene expression. In a mouse model of cutaneous HSV-1 infection, mice expressing a functional endogenous mMx1 showed significant reductions in the severity of skin lesions as well as reduced HSV-1 titers in both the skin and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Together, these data demonstrate that mMx1 mediates potent antiviral activity against human alphaherpesviruses by blocking replication of the viral genome and subsequent steps in virus replication. Moreover, endogenous mMx1 potently inhibited pathogenesis in the zosteriform mouse model of HSV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE While a number of studies have demonstrated that human Mx proteins can inhibit particular herpesviruses in vitro, we are the first to report the antiviral activity of mouse Mx1 (mMx1) against alphaherpesviruses both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that both overexpressed mMx1 and endogenous mMx1 potently restrict HSV-1 growth in vitro. mMx1-mediated inhibition of HSV-1 was not associated with inhibition of virus entry and/or import of the viral genome into the nucleus, but rather with inhibition of HSV-1 genomic replication as well as subsequent late gene expression. Therefore, inhibition of human alphaherpesviruses by mMx1 occurs by a mechanism that is distinct from that reported for human Mx proteins against herpesviruses. Importantly, we also provide evidence that expression of a functional endogenous mMx1 can limit HSV-1 pathogenesis in a mouse model of infection.

Immune control of cytomegalovirus reactivation in stem cell transplantation.

The reactivation of viruses from latency after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) continues to represent a major clinical challenge requiring sophisticated monitoring strategies in the context of prophylactic and/or preemptive antiviral drugs that are associated with significant expense, toxicity and rates of failure. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the association of polyfunctional virus-specific T cells with protection from viral reactivation, affirmed by the ability of adoptively transferred virus-specific T cells to prevent and treat reactivation and disease. The roles of natural killer cells in early viral surveillance and of dendritic cells in priming of T cells have also been delineated. Most recently, a role for strain-specific humoral responses in preventing early cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation has been demonstrated in preclinical models. Despite these advances, many unknowns remain: what are the critical innate and adaptive responses over time; are the origin (eg, recipient vs donor) and localization (eg, in parenchymal tissue vs lymphoid organs) of these responses important; how does graft-versus-host disease and the prevention and treatment thereof (eg, high-dose steroids) affect the functionality and relevance of a particular immune axis; do the immune parameters that control latency, reactivation, and dissemination differ; and what is the impact of new antiviral drugs on the development of enduring antiviral immunity. Thus, although antiviral drugs have provided major improvements over the past two decades, understanding the immunological paradigms underpinning protective antiviral immunity after SCT offers the potential to generate nontoxic, immune-based therapeutic approaches for lasting protection from viral reactivation.

IFN-λ therapy prevents severe gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease.

Immunopathology and intestinal stem cell (ISC) loss in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the prima facie manifestation of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and is responsible for significant mortality after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Approaches to prevent GVHD to date focus on immune suppression. Here, we identify interferon-λ (IFN-λ; interleukin-28 [IL-28]/IL-29) as a key protector of GI GVHD immunopathology, notably within the ISC compartment. Ifnlr1-/- mice displayed exaggerated GI GVHD and mortality independent of Paneth cells and alterations to the microbiome. Ifnlr1-/- intestinal organoid growth was significantly impaired, and targeted Ifnlr1 deficiency exhibited effects intrinsic to recipient Lgr5+ ISCs and natural killer cells. PEGylated recombinant IL-29 (PEG-rIL-29) treatment of naive mice enhanced Lgr5+ ISC numbers and organoid growth independent of both IL-22 and type I IFN and modulated proliferative and apoptosis gene sets in Lgr5+ ISCs. PEG-rIL-29 treatment improved survival, reduced GVHD severity, and enhanced epithelial proliferation and ISC-derived organoid growth after BMT. The preservation of ISC numbers in response to PEG-rIL-29 after BMT occurred both in the presence and absence of IFN-λ-signaling in recipient natural killer cells. IFN-λ is therefore an attractive and rapidly testable approach to prevent ISC loss and immunopathology during GVHD.

CMV exposure drives long-term CD57+ CD4 memory T-cell inflation following allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus correlate with transplant-related mortality that is associated with reduced survival following allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT). Prior epidemiologic studies have suggested that CMV seronegative recipients (R-) receiving a CMV-seropositive graft (D+) experience inferior outcomes compared with other serostatus combinations, an observation that appears independent of viral reactivation. We therefore investigated the hypothesis that prior donor CMV exposure irreversibly modifies immunologic function after SCT. We identified a CD4+/CD57+/CD27- T-cell subset that was differentially expressed between D+ and D- transplants and validated results with 120 patient samples. This T-cell subset represents an average of 2.9% (D-/R-), 18% (D-/R+), 12% (D+/R-), and 19.6% (D+/R+) (P < .0001) of the total CD4+ T-cell compartment and stably persists for at least several years post-SCT. Even in the absence of CMV reactivation post-SCT, D+/R- transplants displayed a significant enrichment of these cells compared with D-/R- transplants (P = .0078). These are effector memory cells (CCR7-/CD45RA+/-) that express T-bet, Eomesodermin, granzyme B, secrete Th1 cytokines, and are enriched in CMV-specific T cells. These cells are associated with decreased T-cell receptor diversity (P < .0001) and reduced proportions of major histocompatibility class (MHC) II expressing classical monocytes (P < .0001), myeloid (P = .024), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (P = .0014). These data describe a highly expanded CD4+ T-cell population and putative mechanisms by which prior donor or recipient CMV exposure may create a lasting immunologic imprint following SCT, providing a rationale for using D- grafts for R- transplant recipients.

Hhex Directly Represses BIM-Dependent Apoptosis to Promote NK Cell Development and Maintenance.

Hhex encodes a homeobox transcriptional regulator important for embryonic development and hematopoiesis. Hhex is highly expressed in NK cells, and its germline deletion results in significant defects in lymphoid development, including NK cells. To determine if Hhex is intrinsically required throughout NK cell development or for NK cell function, we generate mice that specifically lack Hhex in NK cells. NK cell frequency is dramatically reduced, while NK cell differentiation, IL-15 responsiveness, and function at the cellular level remain largely normal in the absence of Hhex. Increased IL-15 availability fails to fully reverse NK lymphopenia following conditional Hhex deletion, suggesting that Hhex regulates developmental pathways extrinsic to those dependent on IL-15. Gene expression and functional genetic approaches reveal that Hhex regulates NK cell survival by directly binding Bcl2l11 (Bim) and repressing expression of this key apoptotic mediator. These data implicate Hhex as a transcriptional regulator of NK cell homeostasis and immunity.

The NK cell granule protein NKG7 regulates cytotoxic granule exocytosis and inflammation.

Immune-modulating therapies have revolutionized the treatment of chronic diseases, particularly cancer. However, their success is restricted and there is a need to identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we show that natural killer cell granule protein 7 (NKG7) is a regulator of lymphocyte granule exocytosis and downstream inflammation in a broad range of diseases. NKG7 expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells played key roles in promoting inflammation during visceral leishmaniasis and malaria-two important parasitic diseases. Additionally, NKG7 expressed by natural killer cells was critical for controlling cancer initiation, growth and metastasis. NKG7 function in natural killer and CD8+ T cells was linked with their ability to regulate the translocation of CD107a to the cell surface and kill cellular targets, while NKG7 also had a major impact on CD4+ T cell activation following infection. Thus, we report a novel therapeutic target expressed on a range of immune cells with functions in different immune responses.

ASC Modulates CTL Cytotoxicity and Transplant Outcome Independent of the Inflammasome.

The adaptor protein ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) is known to facilitate caspase-1 activation, which is essential for innate host immunity via the formation of the inflammasome complex, a multiprotein structure responsible for processing IL1ß and IL18 into their active moieties. Here, we demonstrated that ASC-deficient CD8+ T cells failed to induce severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and had impaired capacity for graft rejection and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity. These effects were inflammasome independent because GVHD lethality was not altered in recipients of caspase-1/11-deficient T cells. We also demonstrated that ASC deficiency resulted in a decrease in cytolytic function, with a reduction in granzyme B secretion and CD107a expression by CD8+ T cells. Altogether, our findings highlight that ASC represents an attractive therapeutic target for improving outcomes of clinical transplantation.

Murine cytomegalovirus infection exacerbates complex IV deficiency in a model of mitochondrial disease.

The influence of environmental insults on the onset and progression of mitochondrial diseases is unknown. To evaluate the effects of infection on mitochondrial disease we used a mouse model of Leigh Syndrome, where a missense mutation in the Taco1 gene results in the loss of the translation activator of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (TACO1) protein. The mutation leads to an isolated complex IV deficiency that mimics the disease pathology observed in human patients with TACO1 mutations. We infected Taco1 mutant and wild-type mice with a murine cytomegalovirus and show that a common viral infection exacerbates the complex IV deficiency in a tissue-specific manner. We identified changes in neuromuscular morphology and tissue-specific regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in response to viral infection. Taken together, we report for the first time that a common stress condition, such as viral infection, can exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction in a genetic model of mitochondrial disease.

Modulation of innate and adaptive immunity by cytomegaloviruses.

The coordinated activities of innate and adaptive immunity are critical for effective protection against viruses. To counter this, some viruses have evolved sophisticated strategies to circumvent immune cell recognition. In particular, cytomegaloviruses encode large arsenals of molecules that seek to subvert T cell and natural killer cell function via a remarkable array of mechanisms. Consequently, these 'immunoevasins' play a fundamental role in shaping the nature of the immune system by driving the evolution of new immune receptors and recognition mechanisms. Here, we review the diverse strategies adopted by cytomegaloviruses to target immune pathways and outline the host's response.