Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Modulator ONO-4641 Regulates Trafficking of T Lymphocytes and Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Alleviates Immune-Mediated Aplastic Anemia in a Mouse Model.

ONO-4641 is a second-generation sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator that exhibits selectivity for S1P receptors 1 and 5. Treatment with ONO-4641 leads to a reduction in magnetic resonance imaging disease measures in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The objective of this study was to explore the potential impact of ONO-4641 treatment based on its immunomodulatory effects. Severe aplastic anemia is a bone marrow (BM) failure disease typically caused by aberrant immune destruction of blood progenitors. Although the T helper type 1-mediated pathology is well described for aplastic anemia, the molecular mechanisms driving disease progression remain undefined. We evaluated the efficacy of ONO-4641 in a mouse model of aplastic anemia. ONO-4641 reduced the severity of BM failure in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in higher blood and BM cell counts. By evaluating the mode of action, we found that ONO-4641 inhibited the infiltration of donor-derived T lymphocytes to the BM. ONO-4641 also induced the accumulation of hematopoietic stem cells in the BM of model mice. These observations indicate, for the first time, that S1P receptor modulators demonstrate efficacy in the mouse model of aplastic anemia and suggest that treatment with ONO-4641 might delay the progression of aplastic anemia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: ONO-4641 is a second-generation sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator selective for S1P receptors 1 and 5. In this study, we demonstrated that ONO-4641 regulates the trafficking of T lymphocytes along with hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, leading to alleviation of pancytopenia and destruction of bone marrow in a bone marrow failure-induced mouse model mimicking human aplastic anemia.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate dependence in the regulation of lymphocyte trafficking to the gut epithelium.

It is well established that intraepithelial T lymphocytes (IELs) are derived from conventional single-positive (SP) thymocytes, as well as unconventional double-negative (DN) thymocytes and CD103+CD8alphabeta recent thymic emigrants (RTEs). We show that IELs can be divided into two groups according to their dependency on sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) for trafficking into the intestines. CD4 or CD8alphabeta naive lymphocytes originating from SP thymocytes express high levels of type 1 S1P receptor (S1P(1)), and their preferential migration into the large intestine is regulated by S1P. In contrast, RTEs migrate exclusively into the small intestine, whereas DN thymic IEL precursors expressing either TCRalphabeta or TCRgammadelta migrate into both the small and large intestines. S1P does not play a role in the migration pathways of these unconventional thymic IEL precursors. Thus, down-regulation of S1P(1) expression or disruption of the S1P gradient halted conventional CD4 or CD8alphabeta IEL trafficking into the intestines, but did not affect the trafficking of unconventional thymic IEL precursors. These data are the first to demonstrate that a lipid-mediated system discriminates IELs originating from conventional and unconventional thymic precursors.

Indigenous opportunistic bacteria inhabit mammalian gut-associated lymphoid tissues and share a mucosal antibody-mediated symbiosis.

The indigenous bacteria create natural cohabitation niches together with mucosal Abs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Here we report that opportunistic bacteria, largely Alcaligenes species, specifically inhabit host Peyer's patches (PPs) and isolated lymphoid follicles, with the associated preferential induction of antigen-specific mucosal IgA Abs in the GI tract. Alcaligenes were identified as the dominant bacteria on the interior of PPs from naïve, specific-pathogen-free but not from germ-free mice. Oral transfer of intratissue uncultured Alcaligenes into germ-free mice resulted in the presence of Alcaligenes inside the PPs of recipients. This result was further supported by the induction of antigen-specific Ab-producing cells in the mucosal (e.g., PPs) but not systemic compartment (e.g., spleen). The preferential presence of Alcaligenes inside PPs and the associated induction of intestinal secretory IgA Abs were also observed in both monkeys and humans. Localized mucosal Ab-mediated symbiotic immune responses were supported by Alcaligenes-stimulated CD11c(+) dendritic cells (DCs) producing the Ab-enhancing cytokines TGF-beta, B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family, and IL-6 in PPs. These CD11c(+) DCs did not migrate beyond the draining mesenteric lymph nodes. In the absence of antigen-specific mucosal Abs, the presence of Alcaligenes in PPs was greatly diminished. Thus, indigenous opportunistic bacteria uniquely inhabit PPs, leading to PP-DCs-initiated, local antigen-specific Ab production; this may involve the creation of an optimal symbiotic environment on the interior of the PPs.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate-dependent trafficking of peritoneal B cells requires functional NFkappaB-inducing kinase in stromal cells.

We previously reported that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) regulates peritoneal B-cell trafficking and subsequent intestinal IgA production, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We demonstrate here that nuclear factor kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK) is involved in the regulation of S1P-mediated trafficking of peritoneal B cells. Although peritoneal B cells from NIK-mutated alymphoplasia (aly) mice expressed type 1 S1P receptor (S1P(1)) at comparable levels and demonstrated normal migration toward S1P, aly peritoneal B cells showed decreased sensitivity to FTY720, an S1P(1) modulator. NIK-mutated stromal cells showed decreased levels of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) and increased CXCL13 expressions, leading to impaired ability to support S1P-mediated emigration, but not immigration, of peritoneal B cells. Therefore, aly peritoneal B cells exhibited normal S1P-mediated peritoneal B-cell trafficking from peritoneum to intestine for IgA production when they were transferred into severe combined immunodeficient or wild-type mice. However, S1P-mediated emigration of wild-type B cells from the aly peritoneal cavity was impaired without affecting their immigration from the blood. Further, transfer of wild-type stromal cells into the peritoneum restored S1P-mediated trafficking of aly peritoneal B cells. These findings suggest that NIK in stromal cells has a specific role in the regulation of S1P-mediated trafficking of peritoneal B cells.

[Uniqueness of the mucosal immune system for the development of prospective mucosal vaccine].

The mucosal immune system acts as the first line of defense against microbial infection through a dynamic immune network based on innate and acquired mucosal immunity. To prevent infectious diseases, it is pivotal to develop effective mucosal vaccines that can induce both mucosal and systemic immune responses, especially secretory IgA (S-IgA) and plasma IgG, against pathogens. Recent advances in medical and biomolecular engineering technology and progress in cellular and molecular immunology and infectious diseases have made it possible to develop versatile mucosal vaccine systems. In particular, mucosal vaccines have become more attractive due to recent development and adaptation of new types of drug delivery systems not only for the protection of antigens from the harsh conditions of the mucosal environment but also for effective antigen delivery to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues such as Peyer's patches and nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue, the initiation site for the induction of the antigen-specific immune response. In this review, we shed light on the dynamics of the mucosal immune system and recent advances toward the development of prospective mucosal antigen delivery systems for vaccines.

Microbe-dependent CD11b+ IgA+ plasma cells mediate robust early-phase intestinal IgA responses in mice.

Intestinal plasma cells predominantly produce immunoglobulin (Ig) A, however, their functional diversity remains poorly characterized. Here we show that murine intestinal IgA plasma cells can be newly classified into two populations on the basis of CD11b expression, which cannot be discriminated by currently known criteria such as general plasma cell markers, B cell origin and T cell dependence. CD11b(+) IgA(+) plasma cells require the lymphoid structure of Peyer's patches, produce more IgA than CD11b(-) IgA(+) plasma cells, proliferate vigorously, and require microbial stimulation and IL-10 for their development and maintenance. These features allow CD11b(+) IgA(+) plasma cells to mediate early-phase antigen-specific intestinal IgA responses induced by oral immunization with protein antigen. These findings reveal the functional diversity of IgA(+) plasma cells in the murine intestine.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate regulates the egress of IgA plasmablasts from Peyer's patches for intestinal IgA responses.

It is well established that Peyer's patches (PPs) are sites for the differentiation of IgA plasma cell precursors, but molecular and cellular mechanisms in their trafficking remain to be elucidated. In this study, we show that alterations in type 1 sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor expression during B cell differentiation in the PPs control the emigration of IgA plasma cell precursors. Type 1 S1P receptor expression decreased during the differentiation of IgM(+)B220(+) B cells to IgA(+)B220(+) B cells, but recovered on IgA(+)B220(-) plasmablasts for their emigration from the PPs. Thus, IgA(+)B220(-) plasmablasts migrated in response to S1P in vitro. Additionally, IgA(+) plasmablasts selectively accumulated in lymphatic regions of PPs when S1P-mediated signaling was disrupted by FTY720 treatment. This accumulation of IgA(+) plasmablasts in the PPs led to their reduction in the intestinal lamina propria and simultaneous impairment of Ag-specific intestinal IgA production against orally administered Ag. These findings suggest that S1P regulates the retention and emigration of PP B cells and plays key roles in the induction of intestinal IgA production.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate regulates peritoneal B-cell trafficking for subsequent intestinal IgA production.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is known to play a pivotal role in the regulation of lymphocyte emigration from organized lymphoid tissues such as the peripheral lymph nodes and thymus, but its immunologic role in unorganized and diffused tissues remains to be elucidated. Here we show that the trafficking of peritoneal B cells is principally regulated by S1P. All peritoneal B cells including B1a, B1b, and B2 B cells express comparable levels of the type 1 S1P receptor. Thus, treatment with FTY720, an S1P receptor modulator, caused the rapid disappearance of peritoneal B cells by inhibiting both their emigration from parathymic lymph nodes and their recirculation from the blood into the peritoneal cavity without affecting their progenitor populations. These changes did not affect natural plasma antibody production or phosphorylcholine (PC)-specific antibody production in serum after peritoneal immunization with heat-killed Streptococcal pneumoniae (R36A). However, FTY720 dramatically reduced peritoneal B cell-derived natural intestinal secretory IgA production without affecting the expression of J-chain and polyimmunoglobulin receptors. Additionally, FTY720 impaired the generation of PC-specific fecal IgA responses after oral immunization with R36A. These findings point to a pivotal role for S1P in connecting peritoneal B cells with intestinal B-cell immunity.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate-mediated trafficking of pathogenic Th2 and mast cells for the control of food allergy.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been proposed as a regulator of lymphocyte trafficking, but its role in mucosa-associated diseases, such as in food allergies, remains to be elucidated. To examine the role of S1P in allergic diseases in the intestine, we used a Th2 cell-mediated Ag-specific allergic diarrhea model and demonstrated that type 1 S1P receptor (S1P(1)) expression was preferentially associated with pathogenic CD4(+) T cells for the development of allergic reactions. Consistent with this demonstration, treatment with FTY720, a modulator of the S1P(1), prevented allergic diarrhea by inhibiting the migration of systemically primed pathogenic CD4(+) T cells induced by oral challenge with allergen into the large intestine. In addition, FTY720 hampered mast cell infiltration into the large intestine, whereas eosinophil infiltration into the large intestine and total and allergen-specific serum IgE production were comparable between mock- and FTY720-treated groups. These results suggest that modulation of the S1P-mediated pathway to inhibit the migration of pathogenic CD4(+) T cells and mast cells into the large intestine could be a novel strategy for preventing allergic diarrhea.