RESUMO
Protective immunity relies on the interplay of innate and adaptive immune cells with complementary and redundant functions. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently emerged as tissue-resident, innate mirror images of the T cell system, with which they share lineage-specifying transcription factors and effector machinery1. Located at barrier surfaces, ILCs are among the first responders against invading pathogens and thus could potentially determine the outcome of the immune response2. However, so far it has not been possible to dissect the unique contributions of ILCs to protective immunity owing to limitations in specific targeting of ILC subsets. Thus, all of the available data have been generated either in mice lacking the adaptive immune system or with tools that also affect other immune cell subsets. In addition, it has been proposed that ILCs might be dispensable for a proper immune response because other immune cells could compensate for their absence3-7. Here we report the generation of a mouse model based on the neuromedin U receptor 1 (Nmur1) promoter as a driver for simultaneous expression of Cre recombinase and green fluorescent protein, which enables gene targeting in group 2 ILCs (ILC2s) without affecting other innate and adaptive immune cells. Using Cre-mediated gene deletion of Id2 and Gata3 in Nmur1-expressing cells, we generated mice with a selective and specific deficiency in ILC2s. ILC2-deficient mice have decreased eosinophil counts at steady state and are unable to recruit eosinophils to the airways in models of allergic asthma. Further, ILC2-deficient mice do not mount an appropriate immune and epithelial type 2 response, resulting in a profound defect in worm expulsion and a non-protective type 3 immune response. In total, our data establish non-redundant functions for ILC2s in the presence of adaptive immune cells at steady state and during disease and argue for a multilayered organization of the immune system on the basis of a spatiotemporal division of labour.
Assuntos
Sistema Imunitário , Imunidade Inata , Linfócitos , Animais , Camundongos , Asma/genética , Asma/imunologia , Asma/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Eosinófilos/patologia , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Linfócitos/classificação , Linfócitos/imunologia , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde , Sistema Imunitário/citologia , Sistema Imunitário/imunologia , Sistema Imunitário/patologiaRESUMO
Regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing Foxp3 transcripton factor are essential for immune homeostasis. They arise in the thymus as a separate lineage from conventional CD4(+)Foxp3(-) T (Tconv) cells. Here, we show that the thymic development of Treg cells depends on the expression of their endogenous cognate self-antigen. The formation of these cells was impaired in mice lacking this self-antigen, while Tconv cell development was not negatively affected. Thymus-derived Treg cells were selected by self-antigens in a specific manner, while autoreactive Tconv cells were produced through degenerate recognition of distinct antigens. These distinct modes of development were associated with the expression of T cell receptor of higher functional avidity for self-antigen by Treg cells than Tconv cells, a difference subsequently essential for the control of autoimmunity. Our study documents how self-antigens define the repertoire of thymus-derived Treg cells to subsequently endow this cell type with the capacity to undermine autoimmune attack.
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Antígeno CTLA-4/metabolismo , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental/imunologia , Esclerose Múltipla/imunologia , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito/metabolismo , Subpopulações de Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/fisiologia , Timo/imunologia , Animais , Autoantígenos/imunologia , Antígeno CTLA-4/genética , Células Cultivadas , Seleção Clonal Mediada por Antígeno , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito/genética , Glicoproteína Mielina-Oligodendrócito/imunologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/genética , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/imunologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Especificidade do Receptor de Antígeno de Linfócitos T/genéticaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-20 in IBD and experimental colitis. DESIGN: Experimental colitis was induced in mice deficient in components of the IL-20 and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)2 signalling pathways. In vivo imaging, high-resolution mini-endoscopy and histology were used to assess intestinal inflammation. We further used RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq), RNAScope and Gene Ontology analysis, western blot analysis and co-immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy and intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-derived three-dimensional organoids to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results were validated using samples from patients with IBD and non-IBD control subjects by a combination of RNA-Seq, organoids and immunostainings. RESULTS: In IBD, IL20 levels were induced during remission and were significantly higher in antitumour necrosis factor responders versus non-responders. IL-20RA and IL-20RB were present on IECs from patients with IBD and IL-20-induced STAT3 and suppressed interferon (IFN)-STAT2 signalling in these cells. In IBD, experimental dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and mucosal healing, IECs were the main producers of IL-20. Compared with wildtype controls, Il20-/-, Il20ra-/- and Il20rb-/- mice were more susceptible to experimental DSS-induced colitis. IL-20 deficiency was associated with increased IFN/STAT2 activity in mice and IFN/STAT2-induced necroptotic cell death in IEC-derived organoids could be markedly blocked by IL-20. Moreover, newly generated Stat2ΔIEC mice, lacking STAT2 in IECs, were less susceptible to experimental colitis compared with wildtype controls and the administration of IL-20 suppressed colitis activity in wildtype animals. CONCLUSION: IL-20 controls colitis and mucosal healing by interfering with the IFN/STAT2 death signalling pathway in IECs. These results indicate new directions for suppressing gut inflammation by modulating IL-20-controlled STAT2 signals.
Assuntos
Colite , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Colite/metabolismo , Interleucinas/metabolismo , Inflamação/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/genética , Sulfato de Dextrana/farmacologia , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Fator de Transcrição STAT2/metabolismoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Mutations in presenilin genes are the major cause of Alzheimer's disease. However, little is known about their expression and function in the gut. In this study, we identify the presenilins Psen1 and Psen2 as key molecules that maintain intestinal homoeostasis. DESIGN: Human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and control samples were analysed for Psen1 expression. Newly generated intestinal epithelium-specific Psen1-deficient, Psen2-deficient and inducible Psen1/Psen2 double-deficient mice were used to dissect the functional role of presenilins in intestinal homoeostasis. RESULTS: Psen1 expression was regulated in experimental gut inflammation and in patients with IBD. Induced deletion of Psen1 and Psen2 in mice caused rapid weight loss and spontaneous development of intestinal inflammation. Mice exhibited epithelial barrier disruption with bacterial translocation and deregulation of key pathways for nutrient uptake. Wasting disease was independent of gut inflammation and dysbiosis, as depletion of microbiota rescued Psen-deficient animals from spontaneous colitis development but not from weight loss. On a molecular level, intestinal epithelial cells lacking Psen showed impaired Notch signalling and dysregulated epithelial differentiation. CONCLUSION: Overall, our study provides evidence that Psen1 and Psen2 are important guardians of intestinal homoeostasis and future targets for barrier-promoting therapeutic strategies in IBD.
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Toll-like receptors (TLR) control the activation of dendritic cells that prime CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes, where these T cells then undergo massive clonal expansion. The mechanisms controlling this clonal T cell expansion are poorly defined. Using the CD4+ T cell-mediated disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we show here that this process is markedly suppressed when TLR9 signaling is increased, without noticeably affecting the transcriptome of primed T cells, indicating a purely quantitative effect on CD4+ T cell expansion. Addressing the underpinning mechanisms revealed that CD4+ T cell expansion was preceded and depended on the accumulation of neutrophils in lymph nodes a few days after immunization. Underlying the importance of this immune regulation pathway, blocking neutrophil accumulation in lymph nodes by treating mice with a TLR9 agonist inhibited EAE progression in mice with defects in regulatory T cells or regulatory B cells, which otherwise developed a severe chronic disease. Collectively, this study demonstrates the key role of neutrophils in the quantitative regulation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cell expansion in lymph nodes, and the counter-regulatory role of TLR signaling in this process.
Assuntos
Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental , Camundongos , Animais , Neutrófilos/patologia , Receptor Toll-Like 9/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos , Linfonodos , Receptores Toll-Like/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease that involves both white and gray matter. Although gray matter damage is a major contributor to disability in MS patients, conventional clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fails to accurately detect gray matter pathology and establish a clear correlation with clinical symptoms. Using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), we previously reported global brain softening in MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, it needs to be established if changes of the spatiotemporal patterns of brain tissue mechanics constitute a marker of neuroinflammation. Here, we use advanced multifrequency MRE with tomoelastography postprocessing to investigate longitudinal and regional inflammation-induced tissue changes in EAE and in a small group of MS patients. Surprisingly, we found reversible softening in synchrony with the EAE disease course predominantly in the cortex of the mouse brain. This cortical softening was associated neither with a shift of tissue water compartments as quantified by T2-mapping and diffusion-weighted MRI, nor with leukocyte infiltration as seen by histopathology. Instead, cortical softening correlated with transient structural remodeling of perineuronal nets (PNNs), which involved abnormal chondroitin sulfate expression and microgliosis. These mechanisms also appear to be critical in humans with MS, where tomoelastography for the first time demonstrated marked cortical softening. Taken together, our study shows that neuroinflammation (i) critically affects the integrity of PNNs in cortical brain tissue, in a reversible process that correlates with disease disability in EAE, (ii) reduces the mechanical integrity of brain tissue rather than leading to water accumulation, and (iii) shows similar spatial patterns in humans and mice. These results raise the prospect of leveraging MRE and quantitative MRI for MS staging and monitoring treatment in affected patients.
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Técnicas de Imagem por Elasticidade , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental , Esclerose Múltipla , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Doenças Neuroinflamatórias , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Imagem de Difusão por Ressonância Magnética , Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental/diagnóstico por imagem , ÁguaRESUMO
T helper 1 (Th1) cell-associated immunity exacerbates ileitis induced by oral Toxoplasma gondii infection. We show here that attenuated ileitis observed in interleukin-22 (IL-22)-deficient mice was associated with reduced production of Th1-cell-promoting IL-18. IL-22 not only augmented the expression of Il18 mRNA and inactive precursor protein (proIL-18) in intestinal epithelial cells after T. gondii or Citrobacter rodentium infection, but also maintained the homeostatic amount of proIL-18 in the ileum. IL-22, however, did not induce the processing to active IL-18, suggesting a two-step regulation of IL-18 in these cells. Although IL-18 exerted pathogenic functions during ileitis triggered by T. gondii, it was required for host defense against C. rodentium. Conversely, IL-18 was required for the expression of IL-22 in innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) upon T. gondii infection. Our results define IL-18 as an IL-22 target gene in epithelial cells and describe a complex mutual regulation of both cytokines during intestinal infection.
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Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/imunologia , Interleucina-18/imunologia , Interleucinas/imunologia , Mucosa Intestinal/imunologia , Toxoplasmose/imunologia , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Citrobacter rodentium/imunologia , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/microbiologia , Células Epiteliais/imunologia , Ileíte/imunologia , Ileíte/microbiologia , Ileíte/parasitologia , Íleo/imunologia , Íleo/microbiologia , Íleo/parasitologia , Inflamação/imunologia , Interferon gama/biossíntese , Interleucina-18/biossíntese , Interleucinas/genética , Mucosa Intestinal/microbiologia , Mucosa Intestinal/parasitologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Infiltração de Neutrófilos/imunologia , Neutrófilos/imunologia , Técnicas de Cultura de Órgãos , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , Células Th1/imunologia , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasmose/parasitologia , Regulação para Cima , Interleucina 22RESUMO
Tissue damage caused by viral hepatitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Using a mouse model of viral hepatitis, we identified virus-induced early transcriptional changes in the redox pathways in the liver, including downregulation of superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1). Sod1(-/-) mice exhibited increased inflammation and aggravated liver damage upon viral infection, which was independent of T and NK cells and could be ameliorated by antioxidant treatment. Type I interferon (IFN-I) led to a downregulation of Sod1 and caused oxidative liver damage in Sod1(-/-) and wild-type mice. Genetic and pharmacological ablation of the IFN-I signaling pathway protected against virus-induced liver damage. These results delineate IFN-I mediated oxidative stress as a key mediator of virus-induced liver damage and describe a mechanism of innate-immunity-driven pathology, linking IFN-I signaling with antioxidant host defense and infection-associated tissue damage. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Assuntos
Hepatócitos/imunologia , Interferon Tipo I/imunologia , Estresse Oxidativo/imunologia , Superóxido Dismutase/imunologia , Animais , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Hepatite Viral Animal/imunologia , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Inflamação/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Fígado/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Oxirredução , Transdução de Sinais/imunologia , Superóxido Dismutase-1 , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Transcrição Gênica/imunologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that treatment of NSCLC brain metastases with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is associated with response rates similar to those of extracranial disease. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) serves as a predictive biomarker for ICI response. However, the predictive value of brain metastasis-specific (intracranial) PD-L1 TPS is not established. We investigated the role of intra- and extracranial PD-L1 TPS in NSCLC patients treated with ICI following brain metastasis resection. METHODS: Clinical data from NSCLC patients treated with ICI following brain metastasis resection (n = 64) were analyzed. PD-L1 TPS of brain metastases (n = 64) and available matched extracranial tumor tissue (n = 44) were assessed via immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses included cut point estimation via maximally selected rank statistics, Kaplan-Meier estimates, and multivariable Cox regression analysis for intracranial progression-free survival (icPFS), extracranial progression-free survival (ecPFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: PD-L1 expression was found in 54.7% of brain metastases and 68.2% of extracranial tumor tissues, with a median intra- and extracranial PD-L1 TPS of 7.5% (0 - 50%, IQR) and 15.0% (0 - 80%, IQR), respectively. In matched tissue samples, extracranial PD-L1 TPS was significantly higher than intracranial PD-L1 TPS (p = 0.013). Optimal cut points for intracranial and extracranial PD-L1 TPS varied according to outcome parameter assessed. Notably, patients with a high intracranial PD-L1 TPS (> 40%) exhibited significantly longer icPFS as compared to patients with a low intracranial PD-L1 TPS (≤ 40%). The cut point of 40% for intracranial PD-L1 TPS was independently associated with OS, icPFS and ecPFS in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the potential role of intracranial PD-L1 TPS in NSCLC, which could be used to predict ICI response in cases where extracranial tissue is not available for PD-L1 assessment as well as to specifically predict intracranial response.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Encefálicas , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/cirurgia , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/cirurgia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/cirurgia , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
The paracaspase MALT1 is a crucial regulator of immune responses in various cellular contexts. Recently, there is increasing evidence suggesting that MALT1 might represent a novel key player in mucosal inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and the targeted cell population remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of MALT1 proteolytic activity in the context of mucosal inflammation. We demonstrate a significant enrichment of MALT1 gene and protein expression in colonic epithelial cells of UC patients, as well as in the context of experimental colitis. Mechanistically we demonstrate that MALT1 protease function inhibits ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death, upstream of NF-κB signaling, which can promote inflammation and tissue damage in IBD. We further show that MALT1 activity contributes to STAT3 signaling, which is essential for the regeneration of the intestinal epithelium after injury. In summary, our data strongly suggests that the protease function of MALT1 plays a critical role in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, as well as mucosal healing. Understanding the mechanisms by which MALT1 protease function regulates these processes may offer novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of IBD and other inflammatory diseases.
Assuntos
Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais , Transdução de Sinais , Humanos , Inflamação , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/genética , Proteína de Translocação 1 do Linfoma de Tecido Linfoide Associado à Mucosa/genética , Proteína de Translocação 1 do Linfoma de Tecido Linfoide Associado à Mucosa/metabolismo , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Proteólise , Células EpiteliaisRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Bleeding ulcers and erosions are hallmarks of active ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the mechanisms controlling bleeding and mucosal haemostasis remain elusive. DESIGN: We used high-resolution endoscopy and colon tissue samples of active UC (n = 36) as well as experimental models of physical and chemical mucosal damage in mice deficient for peptidyl-arginine deiminase-4 (PAD4), gnotobiotic mice and controls. We employed endoscopy, histochemistry, live-cell microscopy and flow cytometry to study eroded mucosal surfaces during mucosal haemostasis. RESULTS: Erosions and ulcerations in UC were covered by fresh blood, haematin or fibrin visible by endoscopy. Fibrin layers rather than fresh blood or haematin on erosions were inversely correlated with rectal bleeding in UC. Fibrin layers contained ample amounts of neutrophils coaggregated with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) with detectable activity of PAD. Transcriptome analyses showed significantly elevated PAD4 expression in active UC. In experimentally inflicted wounds, we found that neutrophils underwent NET formation in a PAD4-dependent manner hours after formation of primary blood clots, and remodelled clots to immunothrombi containing citrullinated histones, even in the absence of microbiota. PAD4-deficient mice experienced an exacerbated course of dextrane sodium sulfate-induced colitis with markedly increased rectal bleeding (96 % vs 10 %) as compared with controls. PAD4-deficient mice failed to remodel blood clots on mucosal wounds eliciting impaired healing. Thus, NET-associated immunothrombi are protective in acute colitis, while insufficient immunothrombosis is associated with rectal bleeding. CONCLUSION: Our findings uncover that neutrophils induce secondary immunothrombosis by PAD4-dependent mechanisms. Insufficient immunothrombosis may favour rectal bleeding in UC.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Neutrófilos , Camundongos , Animais , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Proteína-Arginina Desiminase do Tipo 4 , Colite Ulcerativa/metabolismo , Tromboinflamação , Fibrina/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Molecular evidence of cellular heterogeneity in the human exocrine pancreas has not been yet established because of the local concentration and cascade of hydrolytic enzymes that can rapidly degrade cells and RNA upon pancreatic resection. We sought to better understand the heterogeneity and cellular composition of the pancreas in neonates and adults in healthy and diseased conditions using single-cell sequencing approaches. METHODS: We innovated single-nucleus RNA-sequencing protocols and profiled more than 120,000 cells from pancreata of adult and neonatal human donors. We validated the single-nucleus findings using RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, in situ sequencing, and computational approaches. RESULTS: We created the first comprehensive atlas of human pancreas cells including epithelial and nonepithelial constituents, and uncovered 3 distinct acinar cell types, with possible implications for homeostatic and inflammatory processes of the pancreas. The comparison with neonatal single-nucleus sequencing data showed a different cellular composition of the endocrine tissue, highlighting the tissue dynamics occurring during development. By applying spatial cartography, involving cell proximity mapping through in situ sequencing, we found evidence of specific cell type neighborhoods, dynamic topographies in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas, and principles of morphologic organization of the organ. Furthermore, similar analyses in chronic pancreatitis biopsy samples showed the presence of acinar-REG+ cells, a reciprocal association between macrophages and activated stellate cells, and a new potential role of tuft cells in this disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our human pancreas cell atlas can be interrogated to understand pancreatic cell biology and provides a crucial reference set for comparisons with diseased tissue samples to map the cellular foundations of pancreatic diseases.
Assuntos
Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Pâncreas Exócrino/citologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Animais , Fracionamento Celular , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Hibridização in Situ Fluorescente , Lactente , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos Animais , Pâncreas Exócrino/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Pâncreas Exócrino/metabolismo , RNA-Seq , Análise de Célula Única/métodos , Suínos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
After being activated by antigen, helper T lymphocytes switch from a resting state to clonal expansion. This switch requires inactivation of the transcription factor Foxo1, a suppressor of proliferation expressed in resting helper T lymphocytes. In the early antigen-dependent phase of expansion, Foxo1 is inactivated by antigen receptor-mediated post-translational modifications. Here we show that in the late phase of expansion, Foxo1 was no longer post-translationally regulated but was inhibited post-transcriptionally by the interleukin 2 (IL-2)-induced microRNA miR-182. Specific inhibition of miR-182 in helper T lymphocytes limited their population expansion in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate a central role for miR-182 in the physiological regulation of IL-2-driven helper T cell-mediated immune responses and open new therapeutic possibilities.
Assuntos
Interleucina-2/imunologia , MicroRNAs/imunologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/citologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/imunologia , Animais , Artrite/imunologia , Proliferação de Células , Células Cultivadas , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
BACKGROUND: While MR enterography allows detection of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the findings continue to be of limited use in guiding treatment-medication vs. surgery. PURPOSE: To test the feasibility of MR elastography of the gut in healthy volunteers and IBD patients. STUDY TYPE: Prospective pilot. POPULATION: Forty subjects (healthy volunteers: n = 20, 37 ± 14 years, 10 women; IBD patients: n = 20 (ulcerative colitis n = 9, Crohn's disease n = 11), 41 ± 15 years, 11 women). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Multifrequency MR elastography using a single-shot spin-echo echo planar imaging sequence at 1.5 T with drive frequencies of 40, 50, 60, and 70 Hz. ASSESSMENT: Maps of shear-wave speed (SWS, in m/s) and loss angle (φ, in rad), representing stiffness and solid-fluid behavior, respectively, were generated using tomoelastography data processing. Histopathological analysis of surgical specimens was used as reference standard in patients. STATISTICAL TESTS: Unpaired t-test, one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey post hoc analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95%-confidence interval (CI). Significance level of 5%. RESULTS: MR elastography was feasible in all 40 subjects (100% technical success rate). SWS and φ were significantly increased in IBD by 21% and 20% (IBD: 1.45 ± 0.14 m/s and 0.78 ± 0.12 rad; healthy volunteers: 1.20 ± 0.14 m/s and 0.65 ± 0.06 rad), whereas no significant differences were found between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (P = 0.74 and 0.90, respectively). In a preliminary assessment, a high diagnostic accuracy in detecting IBD was suggested by an AUC of 0.90 (CI: 0.81-0.96) for SWS and 0.84 (CI: 0.71-0.95) for φ. DATA CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, our results demonstrated the feasibility of MR elastography of the gut and showed an excellent diagnostic performance in predicting IBD. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Doença de Crohn , Técnicas de Imagem por Elasticidade , Doença de Crohn/diagnóstico por imagem , Técnicas de Imagem por Elasticidade/métodos , Estudos de Viabilidade , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Projetos Piloto , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are known to be important for the first line of defense in mucosa-associated tissues. However, the composition, localization, effector function, and specificity of TRM cells in the human kidney and their relevance for renal pathology have not been investigated. METHODS: Lymphocytes derived from blood, renal peritumor samples, and tumor samples were phenotypically and functionally assessed by applying flow cytometry and highly advanced histology (multi-epitope ligand cartography) methods. RESULTS: CD69+CD103+CD8+ TRM cells in kidneys display an inflammatory profile reflected by enhanced IL-2, IL-17, and TNFα production, and their frequencies correlate with increasing age and kidney function. We further identified mucosa-associated invariant T and CD56dim and CD56bright natural killer cells likewise expressing CD69 and CD103, the latter significantly enriched in renal tumor tissues. CD8+ TRM cell frequencies were not elevated in kidney tumor tissue, but they coexpressed PD-1 and TOX and produced granzyme B. Tumor-derived CD8+ TRM cells from patients with metastases were functionally impaired. Both CD69+CD103-CD4+ and CD69+CD103-CD8+ TRM cells form distinct clusters in tumor tissues in proximity to antigen-presenting cells. Finally, EBV, CMV, BKV, and influenza antigen-specific CD8+ T cells were enriched in the effector memory T cell population in the kidney. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide an extensive overview of TRM cells' phenotypes and functions in the human kidney for the first time, pointing toward their potential relevance in kidney transplantation and kidney disease.
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Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Neoplasias Renais/metabolismo , Neoplasias Renais/patologia , Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Alemanha , Humanos , Neoplasias Renais/cirurgia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nefrectomia , FenótipoRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: A substantial proportion patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a primary non-response to infliximab; markers are needed to identify patients most likely to respond to treatment. We investigated whether production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can be used as a marker to predict response. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 41 adults with IBD (mean age, 38 years; 21 male; 21 with Crohn's disease and 20 with ulcerative colitis) not treated with a biologic agent within the past 6 months; patients were given their first infusion of infliximab at a hospital or clinic in Berlin, Germany. We collected data on clinical scores, levels of C-reactive protein, and ultrasound results (Limberg scores) at baseline (before the first infusion) and after 6 weeks (3rd infliximab infusion). PMBCs were obtained from patients at baseline and 10 healthy individuals (controls) and incubated with lipopolysaccharide. We measured production of cytokines (TNF, interleukin 1 [IL1], IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12p70, and IL22) by ELISA and performed cytometric bead array and flow cytometry analyses. The primary endpoint was clinical response (decrease in Harvey Bradshaw Index scores of 2 or more or decrease in partial Mayo scores of 3 or more at week 6) in patients with PBMCs that produced high vs low levels of TNF. RESULTS: Responders had a shorter median disease duration (P = .018) and higher median Limberg score (P = .021), than nonresponders. Baseline PBMCs from responders produced significantly more TNF (P = .049) and IL6 (P = .028) than from nonresponders; a level of 500 pg/ml TNF identified responders with 82% sensitivity and 78% specificity. In patients with Crohn's disease, this cutoff value (500 pg/ml TNF) identified responders with 100% sensitivity and 82% specificity; TNF levels above this level were independently associated with response to infliximab in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 16.2; 95% CI, 1.8-148.7; P = .014). The percentage of TNF-positive cells was higher among CD14+ monocytes than lymphocytes after stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Production of a high level of TNF by PBMCs (specifically CD14+ cells) from patients with IBD can identify those most likely to have a clinical response to infliximab therapy. In patients with Crohn's disease, a cutoff value of 500 pg/ml TNF identified responders with 100% sensitivity and 82% specificity.
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Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais , Leucócitos Mononucleares , Adulto , Humanos , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/tratamento farmacológico , Infliximab/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Necrose TumoralRESUMO
Pulmonary mucosal immune response is critical for preventing opportunistic Aspergillus fumigatus infections. Although fungus-specific CD4+ T cells in blood are described to reflect the actual host-pathogen interaction status, little is known about Aspergillus-specific pulmonary T-cell responses. Here, we exploit the domestic pig as human-relevant large animal model and introduce antigen-specific T-cell enrichment in pigs to address Aspergillus-specific T cells in the lung compared to peripheral blood. In healthy, environmentally Aspergillus-exposed pigs, the fungus-specific T cells are detectable in blood in similar frequencies as observed in healthy humans and exhibit a Th1 phenotype. Exposing pigs to 106 cfu/m3 conidia induces a long-lasting accumulation of Aspergillus-specific Th1 cells locally in the lung and also systemically. Temporary immunosuppression during Aspergillus-exposure showed a drastic reduction in the lung-infiltrating antifungal T-cell responses more than 2 weeks after abrogation of the suppressive treatment. This was reflected in blood, but to a much lesser extent. In conclusion, by using the human-relevant large animal model the pig, this study highlights that the blood clearly reflects the mucosal fungal-specific T-cell reactivity in environmentally exposed as well as experimentally exposed healthy pigs. But, immunosuppression significantly impacts the mucosal site in contrast to the initial systemic immune response.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/imunologia , Aspergillus fumigatus/imunologia , Aspergillus/imunologia , Sus scrofa/imunologia , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/imunologia , Humanos , Pulmão/imunologia , Esporos Fúngicos/imunologia , Suínos , Células Th1/imunologiaRESUMO
Forkhead box P3 positive (Foxp3(+)) regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress immune responses and regulate peripheral tolerance. Here we show that the atypical inhibitor of NFκB (IκB) IκB(NS) drives Foxp3 expression via association with the promoter and the conserved noncoding sequence 3 (CNS3) of the Foxp3 locus. Consequently, IκB(NS) deficiency leads to a substantial reduction of Foxp3(+) Treg cells in vivo and impaired Foxp3 induction upon transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) treatment in vitro. Moreover, fewer Foxp3(+) Treg cells developed from IκB(NS)-deficient CD25(-)CD4(+) T cells adoptively transferred into immunodeficient recipients. Importantly, IκB(NS) was required for the transition of immature GITR(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(-) thymic Treg cell precursors into Foxp3(+) cells. In contrast to mice lacking c-Rel or Carma1, IκB(NS)-deficient mice do not show reduced Treg precursor cells. Our results demonstrate that IκB(NS) critically regulates Treg cell development in the thymus and during gut inflammation, indicating that strategies targeting IκB(NS) could modulate the Treg cell compartment.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Proteínas I-kappa B/metabolismo , Proteínas/metabolismo , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/metabolismo , Transferência Adotiva , Animais , Apoptose , Diferenciação Celular/imunologia , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Proteínas I-kappa B/deficiência , Proteínas I-kappa B/genética , Imunomodulação , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Subunidade p50 de NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Ligação Proteica , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-rel/metabolismo , Linfócitos T Reguladores/efeitos dos fármacos , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/farmacologiaRESUMO
Immunological control of infections or tumors depends on the release of effector cytokines and polarized secretion of cytotoxic granules from T cells and natural killer cells. Here we show that the sorting receptor Sortilin controlled both processes. In murine Sortilin-deficient cytotoxic T lymphocytes, regulated secretion of granzyme A and cytotoxic killing was enhanced and correlated with increased vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 availability. In contrast, loss of Sortilin reduced the release of interferon-γ upon infections and in autoimmune colitis. Exit of interferon-γ from the Golgi apparatus required the presence of Sortilin. Furthermore, we tracked the transport route of interferon-γ beyond this Sortilin-dependent Golgi to early endosome step. In wild-type T cells, trafficking of interferon-γ from the endosomal sorting platform to the plasma membrane proceeded independently of recycling endosomes, and interferon-γ remained excluded from late endosomes. Our results suggest that Sortilin modulates systemic immune responses through exocytic sorting of immunological effector molecules.
Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/metabolismo , Granzimas/metabolismo , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/imunologia , Animais , Doenças Autoimunes/imunologia , Doenças Autoimunes/metabolismo , Antígenos CD4/imunologia , Antígenos CD4/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/imunologia , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Colite/imunologia , Colite/metabolismo , Endossomos/imunologia , Endossomos/metabolismo , Exocitose/imunologia , Complexo de Golgi/imunologia , Complexo de Golgi/metabolismo , Granzimas/imunologia , Interferon gama/imunologia , Subunidade alfa de Receptor de Interleucina-2/imunologia , Subunidade alfa de Receptor de Interleucina-2/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Transporte Proteico , Proteínas R-SNARE/imunologia , Proteínas R-SNARE/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Vesículas Transportadoras/imunologia , Vesículas Transportadoras/metabolismoRESUMO
AIMS: IgA and Th17 responses are pivotal for the control of Giardia infections. Eosinophils support IgA class switching, the survival of intestinal IgA+ plasma cells at steady state and can control Th17 activity in the small intestine. To see whether eosinophils regulate adaptive immune responses during giardiasis, we investigated Giardia muris infections in wild-type BALB/c and eosinophil-deficient ∆dblGATA-1 mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Infected ∆dblGATA-1 mice did not differ markedly in parasite control from wild-type mice. Confirming previous studies, naive ∆dblGATA-1 mice displayed diminished IgA+ B cell frequencies in Peyer's patches. However, IgA class switching and intestinal IgA secretion in response to G muris infection were comparable in wild-type BALB/c and ∆dblGATA-1 mice. Both strains displayed similarly low intestinal Th17 responses, accompanied by a mild expansion of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3). CONCLUSIONS: Contrasting previous reports on overt small intestinal Th17 activity in eosinophil-deficient mice, IL-17A production is kept in check in the absence of eosinophils during Giardia infection. Suboptimal homeostatic IgA responses in the absence of eosinophils are transiently fostered in infected mice and the maintenance of IgA+ plasma cells appears to be restored during persisting Giardia infection.