The RAG1 Ubiquitin Ligase Domain Stimulates Recombination of TCRß and TCRα Genes and Influences Development of αß T Cell Lineages.

RAG1/RAG2 (RAG) endonuclease-mediated assembly of diverse lymphocyte Ag receptor genes by V(D)J recombination is critical for the development and immune function of T and B cells. The RAG1 protein contains a ubiquitin ligase domain that stabilizes RAG1 and stimulates RAG endonuclease activity in vitro. We report in this study that mice with a mutation that inactivates the Rag1 ubiquitin ligase in vitro exhibit decreased rearrangements and altered repertoires of TCRß and TCRα genes in thymocytes and impaired thymocyte developmental transitions that require the assembly and selection of functional TCRß and/or TCRα genes. These Rag1 mutant mice present diminished positive selection and superantigen-mediated negative selection of conventional αß T cells, decreased genesis of invariant NK T lineage αß T cells, and mature CD4+ αß T cells with elevated autoimmune potential. Our findings reveal that the Rag1 ubiquitin ligase domain functions in vivo to stimulate TCRß and TCRα gene recombination and influence differentiation of αß T lineage cells, thereby establishing replete diversity of αß TCRs and populations of αß T cells while restraining generation of potentially autoreactive conventional αß T cells.

Current Utilization of Electron Microscopy in the Pediatric Pathology Setting: A Survey by the SPP Practice Committee.

BACKGROUND: Electron microscopy (EM), once an important component in diagnosing pediatric diseases, has experienced a decline in its use. To assess the impact of this, pediatric pathology practices were surveyed regarding EM services. METHODS: The Society of Pediatric Pathology Practice Committee surveyed 113 society members from 74 hospitals. Settings included 36 academic tertiary, 32 free-standing children's, and 6 community hospitals. RESULTS: Over 60% maintained in-house EM services and had more than 2 pathologists interpreting EM while reporting a shortage of EM technologists. Freestanding children's hospitals had the most specimens (100-200 per year) and more diverse specimen types. Hospitals with fewer than 50 yearly specimens often used reference laboratories. Seventeen had terminated all in-house EM services. Challenges included decreasing caseloads due to alternative diagnostic methods, high operating costs, and shortages of EM technologists and EM-proficient pathologists. Kidney, liver, cilia, heart, and muscle biopsies most often required EM. Lung/bronchoalveolar lavage, tumor, skin, gastrointestinal, nerve, platelet, and autopsy samples less commonly needed EM. CONCLUSIONS: The survey revealed challenges in maintaining EM services but demonstrated its sustained value in pediatric pathology. Pediatric pathologists may need to address the centralization of services and training to preserve EM diagnostic proficiency among pathologists who perform ultrastructural interpretations.

Activated CD8 T-cell Hepatitis in Children With Indeterminate Acute Liver Failure: Results From a Multicenter Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: In many pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) cases, a diagnosis is not identified, and the etiology is indeterminate (IND-PALF). Our pilot study found dense CD8 T-cell infiltrates and increased T-cell clonality in liver specimens from IND-PALF patients. We aimed to validate these findings in a multicenter cohort with investigators blinded to diagnosis. METHODS: PALF Study Group registry subjects with IND-PALF (n = 37) and known diagnoses (DX-PALF) (n = 18), ages 1 to 17 years, with archived liver tissue were included. Liver tissue slides were stained for T cells (CD8 and CD4), B cells (CD20), macrophages (CD163), perforin, and tissue resident-memory T cells (Trm, CD103), and scored as minimal, moderate, or dense. Lymphocytes were isolated from frozen liver tissue for T-cell receptor beta (TCRß) sequencing. RESULTS: Dense hepatic CD8 staining was found in significantly more IND-PALF (n = 29, 78%) compared with DX-PALF subjects (n = 5, 28%) (P = 0.001). IND-PALF subjects were more likely to have dense or moderate perforin (88% vs 50%, P = 0.03) and CD103 (82% vs 40%, P = 0.02) staining compared with DX-PALF subjects. TCRß sequencing of 15 IND-PALF cases demonstrated increased clonal overlap compared with 6 DX-PALF cases (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Dense infiltration of effector Trm CD8 T cells characterizes liver tissue from IND-PALF subjects. Increased clonality suggests the T-cell expansion is antigen(s)-driven as opposed to a nonspecific inflammatory response. These findings support CD8 staining as a new biomarker of the activated CD8 T-cell PALF phenotype. Future studies are needed to characterize potential antigens, host risk factors, and inflammatory pathways with the goal of developing targeted therapies.

Indeterminate pediatric acute liver failure is uniquely characterized by a CD103+ CD8+ T-cell infiltrate.

The cause of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) is unknown in up to 40% of cases. Evidence suggests that aberrant immune system activation may play a role. We hypothesized that indeterminate PALF cases would exhibit a unique pattern of hepatic inflammation. This was a retrospective and prospective study of PALF cases due to indeterminate (iPALF), autoimmune hepatitis, or known diagnosis (dPALF) etiology. Liver tissue sections were stained with immunohistochemical markers for cytotoxic T-cells (cluster of differentiation 8 [CD8]), perforin, and tissue resident memory T-cells (CD103) and scored as minimal, moderate, or dense. Lymphocytes were isolated from liver tissue for T-cell receptor beta sequencing and flow-cytometric studies. Thirty-three iPALF, 9 autoimmune hepatitis, and 14 dPALF cases were included. Dense hepatic infiltrates of CD8+ T-cells were found in 27 (82%) iPALF cases compared to 1 (7%) dPALF case (P < 0.0001). Perforin staining was dense or moderate in 19 (73%) of 26 iPALF cases compared to minimal in all 7 dPALF cases (P = 0.004); 16 (62%) of 26 iPALF cases had dense CD103 staining compared to none of the 6 dPALF cases (P = 0.001). T-cell receptor beta sequencing of iPALF cases demonstrated increased clonality compared to dPALF and control cases. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry revealed that iPALF intrahepatic leukocytes were predominantly tissue resident memory CD8+ T-cells. CONCLUSION: Indeterminate PALF is characterized by a dense CD8+ T-cell hepatic infiltrate consistent with expansion of a tissue resident memory T-cell phenotype; CD8+ T-cells are a biomarker of immune dysregulation in iPALF and may be used to better identify and define this group. (Hepatology 2018).

Salivary-gland-protective regulatory T-cell dysfunction underlies female-specific sialadenitis in the non-obese diabetic mouse model of Sjögren syndrome.

Immune cell-mediated destruction of salivary glands is a hallmark feature of Sjögren syndrome. Similar to the female predominance in humans, female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice develop spontaneous salivary gland autoimmunity. However, in both humans and mice it is unclear what factors contribute to the initial immune infiltration of the salivary glands. Here, we used an adoptive transfer model of Sjögren syndrome to determine if female mice harbor a sex-specific defect in salivary-gland-protective regulatory T (Treg) cells. Transfer of cervical lymph node (LN) cells from female NOD mice into sex-matched NOD-severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) recipients resulted in sialadenitis, regardless of the presence or absence of Treg cells. In contrast, transfer of cervical LN cells from male NOD mice into sex-matched NOD-SCID recipients only resulted in sialadenitis when Treg cells were depleted before transfer, suggesting that male NOD mice have functional salivary-gland-protective Treg cells. Notably, the host environment affected the ability of Treg cells to prevent sialadenitis with testosterone promoting salivary gland protection. Treg cells from male mice did not protect against sialadenitis in female recipients. Testosterone treatment of female recipients of bulk cervical LN cells decreased sialadenitis, and Treg cells from female mice were capable of protecting against development of sialadenitis in male recipients. Hence, our data demonstrate that female NOD mice develop sialadenitis through a defect in salivary-gland-protective Treg cells that can be reversed in the presence of testosterone.

ST2 contributes to T-cell hyperactivation and fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in mice.

Cytokine storm syndromes, such as familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), are lethal disorders caused by uncontrolled, systemic immune activation. In the murine model of FHL, in which perforin-deficient (Prf1(-/-)) mice are infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), disease is driven by overabundant interferon (IFN)γ-producing LCMV-specific CD8(+) T cells thought to arise from excessive antigen stimulation through the T-cell receptor. However, this paradigm is insufficient to explain several fundamental aspects of FHL, namely, the inability of many pathogenic antigens to induce hyperinflammation, and the previously identified role of MyD88 in the disease. We now show a novel role for the MyD88-dependent interleukin-33 (IL-33) receptor, ST2, in FHL. Expression of IL-33 and ST2 is upregulated in LCMV-infected Prf1(-/-) mice. Blockade of ST2 markedly improves survival of LCMV-infected Prf1(-/-) mice and reduces the severity of multiple disease parameters, including serum levels of IFNγ. This decrease in IFNγ corresponds to a reduction in both the frequency of IFNγ(+) LCMV-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells and the magnitude of IFNγ expression in these cells. These findings demonstrate that disruption of ST2 signaling in the murine model of FHL reduces T cell-mediated production of IFNγ and suggest a revised paradigm in which danger signals such as IL-33 are crucial amplifiers of immune dysregulation in FHL. Furthermore, this study provides evidence to support blockade of ST2 as a novel therapeutic strategy for FHL.

Remission of seizures with immunosuppressive therapy in Parry-Romberg syndrome and en coup de sabre linear scleroderma: Case report and brief review of the literature.

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is characterized by progressive atrophy of facial skin, soft tissues, muscle, and bone. En coup de sabre syndrome is a form of linear scleroderma (LS) involving the skin of the frontoparietal forehead and scalp. Both conditions can be associated with neurologic findings, including seizures. We explore a case in which skin findings and seizure burden improved with methotrexate therapy.

The rare solid fetal lung lesion with T2-hypointense components: prenatal imaging findings with postnatal pathological correlation.

BACKGROUND: At fetal MR, congenital lung lesions are usually T2 hyperintense with respect to normal lung parenchyma. Some lesions, however, demonstrate unusual patterns of T2 hypointensity, sometimes in a rosette-like pattern. These lesions usually present a diagnostic conundrum. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the imaging findings and pathological characterization of fetal solid lung lesions with elements showing T2-hypointense signal with respect to lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of lung lesions with elements showing T2 hypointensity treated prenatally and postnatally at our center and with available pathological evaluation. Prenatal imaging evaluation included US and MR; postnatal evaluation consisted of pathological examination of the lesion. We also performed prenatal and postnatal chart review. RESULTS: Six cases met study criteria. Areas of decreased echogenicity/T2-hypointense signal were more conspicuous at MR than US. At pathology, these areas correlated with immature parenchymal development and increased mesenchymal tissue. Five of these lesions were congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM); one was a congenital peribronchial myofibroblastic tumor (CPMT). The lesions did not significantly change in size after steroid administration. They were all large in volume and were associated with increased amniotic fluid. All cases of CPAM underwent premature delivery (one of them weeks after fetal surgical resection of the lesion for worsening hydrops); the fetus with CPMT was delivered at term. The neonate with CPMT succumbed shortly after birth secondary to lung hypoplasia; the remaining five neonates survived. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnoses of prenatal lung lesions that contain unusual T2-hypointense elements include CPAM and CPMT. The T2-hypointense areas appear to correlate with increasing degree of immaturity at histology. None of the lesions significantly changed in size after prenatal administration of steroids. All cases with CPAM lesions did well despite persistent polyhydramnios and premature birth. The single case of CPMT, however, resulted in neonatal demise shortly after birth secondary to pulmonary hypoplasia. It is important that fetal radiologists, obstetricians and fetal surgeons alike are aware of these lesions so that appropriate diagnosing and parental counseling can be reached.

Management of Congenital Heart Disease Associated with Ellis-van Creveld Short-rib Thoracic Dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcome of patients with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EVC) in whom congenital heart disease (CHD) repair was delayed intentionally to reduce the risk of postoperative respiratory morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective review of 51 EVC c.1886+5G>T homozygotes born between 2005 and 2014 focused on 18 subjects who underwent surgery for CHD, subdivided into early (mean, 1.3 months) vs delayed (mean, 50.1 months) repair. RESULTS: Growth trajectories differed between control subjects and patients with EVC, and CHD was associated with slower weight gain. Relative to controls, infants with EVC had a 40%-75% higher respiratory rates (independent of CHD) accompanied by signs of compensated respiratory acidosis. Blood gases and respiratory rates approached normal values by age 4 years. Hemodynamically significant CHD was present in 23 children, 18 (78%) of whom underwent surgical repair. Surgery was performed at 1.3 ± 1.3 months for children born between 2005 and 2009 (n = 9) and 50.1 ± 40.2 months (P = .009) for children born between 2010 and 2014 (n = 9). The latter had shorter postoperative mechanical ventilation (1.1 ± 2.4 days vs 49.6 ± 57.1 days; P = .075), shorter intensive care duration of stay (16 ± 24 days vs 48.6 ± 44.2 days; P = .155), and no postoperative tracheostomies (vs 60%; P = .028) or deaths (vs 44%; P = .082). CONCLUSION: Among children with EVC and possibly other short-rib thoracic dysplasias, delayed surgical repair of CHD reduces postoperative morbidity and improves survival. Respiratory rate serves as a simple indicator for optimal timing of surgical repair.

Reversible lacrimal gland-protective regulatory T-cell dysfunction underlies male-specific autoimmune dacryoadenitis in the non-obese diabetic mouse model of Sjögren syndrome.

CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are required to maintain immunological tolerance; however, defects in specific organ-protective Treg cell functions have not been demonstrated in organ-specific autoimmunity. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop lacrimal and salivary gland autoimmunity and are a well-characterized model of Sjögren syndrome. Lacrimal gland disease in NOD mice is male-specific, but the role of Treg cells in this sex-specificity is not known. This study aimed to determine if male-specific autoimmune dacryoadenitis in the NOD mouse model of Sjögren syndrome is the result of lacrimal gland-protective Treg cell dysfunction. An adoptive transfer model of Sjögren syndrome was developed by transferring cells from the lacrimal gland-draining cervical lymph nodes of NOD mice to lymphocyte-deficient NOD-SCID mice. Transfer of bulk cervical lymph node cells modelled the male-specific dacryoadenitis that spontaneously develops in NOD mice. Female to female transfers resulted in dacryoadenitis if the CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg-enriched population was depleted before transfer; however, male to male transfers resulted in comparable dacryoadenitis regardless of the presence or absence of Treg cells within the donor cell population. Hormone manipulation studies suggested that this Treg cell dysfunction was mediated at least in part by androgens. Surprisingly, male Treg cells were capable of preventing the transfer of dacryoadenitis to female recipients. These data suggest that male-specific factors promote reversible dysfunction of lacrimal gland-protective Treg cells and, to our knowledge, form the first evidence for reversible organ-protective Treg cell dysfunction in organ-specific autoimmunity.

Plp1 gene duplication inhibits airway responsiveness and induces lung inflammation.

Mice with Plp1 gene duplication model the most common form of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), a CNS disease in which patients may suffer respiratory complications. We hypothesized that affected mice would lack airway responsiveness compared to wild-type and carrier mice during methacholine challenge. Wild-type (n = 10), carrier female (n = 6) and affected male (n = 8) mice were anesthetized-paralyzed, tracheostomized and ventilated. Respiratory mechanics were recorded at baseline and during escalating doses of nebulized methacholine followed by albuterol. Lung resistance (RL) was the primary endpoint. Lung tissues were assayed for inflammatory and histological differences. At baseline, phase angles were higher in carrier and affected mice than wild-type. Dose-response RL curves in affected and carrier mice indicated a lack of methacholine response. Albuterol reduced RL in wild-type and carrier, but not affected mice. Affected mice exhibited lower interleukin (IL)-6 tissue levels and alveolar inflammatory infiltrates. Affected and carrier mice, compared to wild-type, lacked airway reactivity during methacholine challenge, but only affected mice exhibited decreased lung tissue levels of IL-6 and inflammation.

The orl rat is more responsive to methacholine challenge than wild type.

BACKGROUND: This study presents an animal model of native airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). AHR is a fundamental aspect of asthma and reflects an abnormal response characterized by airway narrowing following exposure to a wide variety of non-immunological stimuli. Undescended testis (UDT) is one of the most common male congenital anomalies. The orl rat is a Long Evans substrain with inherited UDT. Since boys born with congenital UDT are more likely to manifest asthma symptoms, the main aim of this study was to investigate the alternative hypothesis that orl rats have greater AHR to a methacholine aerosol challenge than wild type rats. METHODS: Long Evans wild type (n = 9) and orl (n = 13) rats were anesthetized, tracheostomized, and mechanically ventilated at 4 weeks of age. Escalating concentrations of inhaled methacholine were delivered. The methacholine potency and efficacy in the strains were measured. Respiratory resistance was the primary endpoint. After the final methacholine aerosol challenge, the short-acting ß2-adrenoceptor agonist albuterol was administered as an aerosol and lung/diaphragm tissues were assayed for interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Histological and histomorphometrical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The methacholine concentration-response curve in the orl group indicated increased sensitivity, hyperreactivity, and exaggerated maximal response in comparison with the wild type group, indicating that orl rats had abnormally greater AHR responses to methacholine. Histological findings in orl rats showed the presence of eosinophils, unlike wild type rats. ß2-Adrenoceptor agonist intervention resulted in up-regulation of IL-4 diaphragmatic levels and down-regulation of IL-4 and IL-6 in the lungs of orl rats. CONCLUSION: orl rats had greater AHR than wild type rats during methacholine challenge, with higher IL-4 levels in diaphragmatic tissue homogenates. Positive immunostaining for IL-4 was detected in lung and diaphragmatic tissue in both strains. This model offers advantages over other pre-clinical murine models for studying potential mechanistic links between cryptorchidism and asthma. This animal model may be useful for further testing of compounds/therapeutics options for treating AHR.

Interferon-γ mediates anemia but is dispensable for fulminant toll-like receptor 9-induced macrophage activation syndrome and hemophagocytosis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a devastating cytokine storm syndrome complicating many inflammatory diseases and characterized by fever, pancytopenia, and systemic inflammation. It is clinically similar to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which is caused by viral infection of a host with impaired cellular cytotoxicity. Murine models of MAS and HLH illustrate that interferon-γ (IFNγ) is the driving stimulus for hemophagocytosis and immunopathology. This study was undertaken to investigate the inflammatory contributors to a murine model of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9)-induced fulminant MAS. METHODS: Wild-type, transgenic, and cytokine-inhibited mice were treated with an IL-10 receptor blocking antibody and a TLR-9 agonist, and parameters of MAS were evaluated. RESULTS: Fulminant MAS was characterized by dramatic elevations in IFNγ, IL-12, and IL-6 levels. Increased serum IFNγ levels were associated with enhanced IFNγ production within some hepatic cell populations but also with decreased numbers of IFNγ-positive cells. Surprisingly, IFNγ-knockout mice developed immunopathology and hemophagocytosis comparable to that seen in wild-type mice. However, IFNγ-knockout mice did not become anemic and had greater numbers of splenic erythroid precursors. IL-12 neutralization phenocopied disease in IFNγ-knockout mice. Interestingly, type I IFNs contributed to the severity of hypercytokinemia and weight loss, but their absence did not otherwise affect MAS manifestations. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that both fulminant MAS and hemophagocytosis can arise independently of IFNγ, IL-12, or type I IFNs. They also suggest that IFNγ-mediated dyserythropoiesis, not hemophagocytosis, is the dominant cause of anemia in fulminant TLR-9-induced MAS. Thus, our data establish a novel mechanism for the acute anemia of inflammation, but suggest that a variety of triggers can result in hemophagocytic disease.

Identification of pediatric activated T-cell hepatitis using clinical immune studies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The majority of indeterminate pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) cases are secondary to immune dysregulation, labeled activated T-cell hepatitis (TCHep). We aimed to describe a cohort of children with acute severe hepatitis and PALF and define how clinical immune labs may help identify the TCHep group. METHODS: Retrospective review of children with acute hepatitis and PALF between March 2020 and August 2022. Patients were classified as known diagnosis, indeterminate hepatitis (IND-Hep), or TCHep (defined by liver biopsy with predominant CD8 T-cell inflammation or development of aplastic anemia). RESULTS: 124 patients were identified: 83 with known diagnoses, 16 with TCHep, and 25 with IND-Hep. Patients with TCHep had significantly increased median total bilirubin levels (7.5 mg/dL (IQR 6.8-8.9) vs 1.5 mg/dL (IQR 1.0-3.6), p < 0.0001), soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels (4512 IU/mL (IQR 4073-5771) vs 2997 IU/mL (IQR 1957-3237), p = 0.02), and percent of CD8+ T-cells expressing perforin (14.5 % (IQR 8.0-20.0) vs 1.0 % (IQR 0.8-1.0), p = 0.004) and granzyme (37.5 % (IQR 15.8-54.8) vs 4.0 % (IQR 2.5-5.5), p = 0.004) compared to IND-Hep patients. Clinical flow cytometry showed that TCHep patients had significantly increased percent CD8+ T cells (29.0 % (IQR 24.5-33.5) vs 23.6 % (IQR 19.8-25.8), p = 0.04) and HLA-DR+ (16.0 % (IQR 14.5-24.5) vs 2.7 (1.8-5.3), p < 0.001) compared to IND-Hep patients indicative of increase in CD8+ T cells that are activated. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral blood clinical immune studies demonstrate increased markers of CD8 T-cell activation, proliferation, and cytotoxic function for TCHep patients. These readily available immune function labs can be used to help distinguish patients with TCHep from those with other causes. This provides a non-invasive tool for early detection of potential TCHep before progression to liver failure.

Keratin-Positive Giant Cell Tumor of Bone and Soft Tissue With HMGA2::NCOR2 Fusion in Children Under 10 With Response to Imatinib Therapy: A Case Series.

HMGA2::NCOR2 keratin-positive giant cell tumors in children with response to imatinib in an infant.

Congenital urethral polyps in the pediatric population.

Congenital urethral polyps are a rare entity. Most commonly, they present as benign posterior urethral growths in the pediatric male patient. However, reports of urethral polyps in female patients or even those with an anterior urethral location can also be found in the literature. Patients can present with a spectrum of symptoms including dysuria, hematuria, and obstructive type urinary complaints. Diagnosis in these cases includes a combination of medical imaging (e.g. ultrasound, fluoroscopic, CT or MRI), direct endoscopic visualization, and final surgical pathology. Treatment involves surgical removal either via an endoscopic or open approach.

IL-13-induced changes in endogenous glucocorticoid metabolism in the lung regulate the proasthmatic response.

Endogenous glucocorticoid (GC) activation is regulated by the intracellular GC-activating and -inactivating enzymes 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11ß-HSD)1 and 11ß-HSD2, respectively, that catalyze interconversion of inert cortisone and its bioactive metabolite cortisol. Because endogenous GCs are critically implicated in suppressing the asthmatic state, this study examined the roles of the 11ß-HSD enzymes in regulating GC activation and bronchoprotection during proasthmatic stimulation. Airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and inflammation were assessed in rabbits following inhalation of the proasthmatic/proinflammatory cytokine IL-13 with and without pretreatment with the 11ß-HSD inhibitor carbenoxolone (CBX). Additionally, IL-13-induced changes in 11ß-HSD isozyme expression and GC metabolism were examined in epithelium-intact and -denuded tracheal segments and peripheral lung tissues. Finally, the effects of pretreatment with CBX or 11ß-HSD2-targeted siRNAs were investigated with respect to cortisol prevention of IL-13-induced airway constrictor hyperresponsiveness and eotaxin-3 production by airway epithelial cells. IL-13-exposed rabbits exhibited airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, and elevated bronchoalveolar lung fluid levels of eotaxin-3. These responses were inhibited by pretreatment with CBX, suggesting a permissive proasthmatic role for 11ß-HSD2. Supporting this concept, extended studies demonstrated that 1) IL-13-treated tracheal epithelium and peripheral lung tissues exhibit upregulated 11ß-HSD2 activity, 2) the latter impairs cortisone-induced cortisol accumulation and the ability of administered cortisol to prevent both IL-13-induced heightened airway contractility and eotaxin-3 release from epithelial cells, and 3) these proasthmatic responses are prevented by cortisol administration in the presence of 11ß-HSD2 inhibition. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the proasthmatic effects of IL-13 are enabled by impaired endogenous GC activation in the lung that is attributed to upregulation of 11ß-HSD2 in the pulmonary epithelium.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis hepatitis is mediated by IFN-γ in a predominantly hepatic-intrinsic manner.

Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is the main cytokine driving organ dysfunction in Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). Blockade of IFN-γ pathway ameliorates FHL hepatitis, both in animal models and in humans with FHL. Hepatocytes are known to express IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γ-R). However, whether IFN-γ induced hepatitis in FHL is a lymphocyte or liver intrinsic response to the cytokine has yet to be elucidated. Using a IFNgR-/- bone marrow chimeric model, this study showed that non-hematopoietic IFN-γ response is critical for development of FHL hepatitis in LCMV-infected Prf1-/- mice. Lack of hepatic IFN-γ responsiveness results in reduced hepatitis as measured by hepatomegaly, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and abrogated histologic endothelial inflammation. In addition, IFN-γ non-hematopoietic response was critical in activation of lymphocytes by soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2r) and recruitment of CD8+ effector T lymphocytes (CD8+ CD44hi CD62Llo) (Teff) and inflammatory monocytes. Lastly, non-hematopoietic IFN-γ response results in increased hepatic transcription of type 1 immune response and oxidative stress response pathways, while decreasing transcription of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) production. In summary, these findings demonstrate that there is a hepatic transcriptional response to IFN-γ, likely critical in the pathogenesis of FHL hepatitis and hepatic specific responses could be a therapeutic target in this disorder.

Novel ATXN1/ATXN1L::NUTM2A fusions identified in aggressive infant sarcomas with gene expression and methylation patterns similar to CIC-rearranged sarcoma.

CIC-rearranged sarcomas are newly defined undifferentiated soft tissue tumors with CIC-associated fusions, and dismal prognosis. CIC fusions activate PEA3 family genes, ETV1/4/5, leading to tumorigenesis and progression. We report two high-grade CNS sarcomas of unclear histological diagnosis and one disseminated tumor of unknown origin with novel fusions and similar gene-expression/methylation patterns without CIC rearrangement. All three patients were infants with aggressive diseases, and two experienced rapid disease deterioration and death. Whole-transcriptome sequencing identified an ATXN1-NUTM2A fusion in the two CNS tumors and an ATXN1L-NUTM2A fusion in case 3. ETV1/4/5 and WT1 overexpression were observed in all three cases. Methylation analyses predicted CIC-rearranged sarcoma for all cases. Retrospective IHC staining on case 2 demonstrated ETV4 and WT1 overexpression. ATXN1 and ATXN1L interact with CIC forming a transcription repressor complex. We propose that ATXN1/ATXN1L-associated fusions disrupt their interaction with CIC and decrease the transcription repressor complex, leading to downstream PEA3 family gene overexpression. These three cases with novel ATXN1/ATXN1L-associated fusions and features of CIC-rearranged sarcomas may further expand the scope of "CIC-rearranged" sarcomas to include non-CIC rearrangements. Additional cases are needed to demonstrate if ATXN1/ATXN1L-NUTM2A fusions are associated with younger age and more aggressive diseases.

Amelioration of Murine Macrophage Activation Syndrome by Monomethyl Fumarate in Both a Heme Oxygenase 1-Dependent and Heme Oxygenase 1-Independent Manner.

OBJECTIVE: Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is characterized by increased serum levels of ferritin and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and yet no known function is ascribed to these molecules in MAS. Because HO-1 is antiinflammatory, we hypothesized that pharmacologic activation of HO-1 could ameliorate MAS disease activity. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for multiple sclerosis, activates HO-1. Monomethyl fumarate (MMF) is the active metabolite of DMF. We therefore evaluated whether MMF could elicit HO-1-dependent therapeutic improvements in a murine model of MAS. METHODS: We induced MAS by repeated activation of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) in wild-type and myeloid-specific HO-1-deficient mice. MMF was administered twice daily to test its efficacy. We assessed organ weights, serum cytokine levels, histologic features of the spleen and liver tissue, and complete blood cell counts to evaluate disease activity. Statistical testing was performed using Student's t-test or by 2-way analysis of variance as appropriate. RESULTS: The presence of HO-1 was required for the majority of TLR-9-induced interleukin-10 (IL-10). IL-10 production in TLR-9-induced MAS was found to correlate with the myeloid-HO-1 gene dose in myeloid cells (P < 0.001). MMF treatment increased the levels of HO-1 in splenic macrophages by ~2-fold (P < 0.01), increased serum levels of IL-10 in an HO-1-dependent manner in mice with TLR-9-induced MAS (P < 0.005), and improved multiple disease parameters in both an HO-1-dependent and HO-1-independent manner. CONCLUSION: TLR-9-induced production of IL-10 is regulated by HO-1 activity both in vitro and in vivo. Therapeutic enhancement of the HO-1/IL-10 axis in a murine model was able to significantly ameliorate MAS disease activity. These results suggest that HO-1 may be viable as a MAS therapeutic target, and treatment with DMF and MMF should be considered in future investigations of MAS therapy.