Controlled WASp activity regulates the proliferative response for Treg cell differentiation in the thymus.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) regulates actin cytoskeletal dynamics and function of hematopoietic cells. Mutations in the WAS gene lead to two different syndromes; Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) caused by loss-of-function mutations, and X-linked neutropenia (XLN) caused by gain-of-function mutations. We previously showed that WASp-deficient mice have a decreased number of regulatory T (Treg) cells in the thymus and the periphery. We here evaluated the impact of WASp mutations on Treg cells in the thymus of WAS and XLN mouse models. Using in vitro Treg differentiation assays, WAS CD4 single-positive thymocytes have decreased differentiation to Treg cells, despite normal early signaling upon IL-2 and TGF-ß stimulation. They failed to proliferate and express CD25 at high levels, leading to poor survival and a lower number of Foxp3+ Treg cells. Conversely, XLN CD4 single-positive thymocytes efficiently differentiate into Foxp3+ Treg cells following a high proliferative response to IL-2 and TGF-ß, associated with high CD25 expression when compared with WT cells. Altogether, these results show that specific mutations of WASp affect Treg cell development differently, demonstrating a critical role of WASp activity in supporting Treg cell development and expansion.

Interleukin-27 Promotes Divergent Effects on HIV-1 Infection in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells through BST-2/Tetherin.

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is able to inhibit HIV-1 replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), macrophages, and dendritic cells. Here, we identify that IL-27 can produce opposing effects on HIV-1 replication in PBMCs and that the HIV-1 restriction factor BST-2/Tetherin is involved in both inhibitory and enhancing effects on HIV-1 infection induced by IL-27. IL-27 inhibited HIV-1 replication when added to cells 2 h after infection, promoting the prototypical BST-2/Tetherin-induced virion accumulation at the cell membrane of HIV-1-infected PBMCs. BST-2/Tetherin gene expression was significantly upregulated in the IL-27-treated PBMCs, with a simultaneous increase in the number of BST-2/Tetherin+ cells. The silencing of BST-2/Tetherin diminished the anti-HIV-1 effect of IL-27. In contrast, IL-27 increased HIV-1 production when added to infected cells 4 days after infection. This enhancing effect was prevented by BST-2/Tetherin gene knockdown, which also permitted IL-27 to function again as an HIV-1 inhibitory factor. These contrasting roles of IL-27 were associated with the dynamic of viral production, since the IL-27-mediated enhancement of virus replication was prevented by antiretroviral treatment of infected cells, as well as by keeping cells under agitation to avoid cell-to-cell contact. Likewise, inhibition of CD11a, an integrin associated with HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission, abrogated the IL-27 enhancement of HIV-1 production. Our findings illustrate the complexity of the HIV-1-host interactions and may impact the potential therapeutic use of IL-27 and other soluble mediators that induce BST-2/Tetherin expression for HIV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE Here, we describe new findings related to the ability of the cytokine IL-27 to regulate the growth of HIV-1 in CD4+ T lymphocytes. IL-27 has long been considered a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 replication, a notion based on several reports showing that this cytokine controls HIV-1 infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocyte-derived macrophages, and dendritic cells. However, our present results are contrary to the current knowledge that IL-27 acts only as a powerful downregulator of HIV-1 replication. We observed that IL-27 can either prevent or enhance viral growth in PBMCs, an outcome dependent on when this cytokine is added to the infected cells. We detected that the increase of HIV-1 dissemination is due to enhanced cell-to-cell transmission with the involvement of the interferon-induced HIV-1 restriction factor BST-2/Tetherin and CD11a (LFA-1), an integrin that participates in formation of virological synapse.

Understanding immunoactinopathies: A decade of research on WAS gene defects.

Immunoactinopathies caused by mutations in actin-related proteins are a growing group of inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Immunoactinopathies are caused by a dysregulated actin cytoskeleton and affect hematopoietic cells especially because of their unique capacity to survey the body for invading pathogens and altered self, such as cancer cells. These cell motility and cell-to-cell interaction properties depend on the dynamic nature of the actin cytoskeleton. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is the archetypical immunoactinopathy and the first described. WAS is caused by loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations in the actin regulator WASp, uniquely expressed in hematopoietic cells. Mutations in WAS cause a profound disturbance of actin cytoskeleton regulation of hematopoietic cells. Studies during the last 10 years have shed light on the specific effects on different hematopoietic cells, revealing that they are not affected equally by mutations in the WAS gene. Moreover, the mechanistic understanding of how WASp controls nuclear and cytoplasmatic activities may help to find therapeutic alternatives according to the site of the mutation and clinical phenotypes. In this review, we summarize recent findings that have added to the complexity and increased our understanding of WAS-related diseases and immunoactinopathies.

Overactive WASp in X-linked neutropenia leads to aberrant B-cell division and accelerated plasma cell generation.

BACKGROUND: B-cell affinity maturation in germinal center relies on regulated actin dynamics for cell migration and cell-to-cell communication. Activating mutations in the cytoskeletal regulator Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) cause X-linked neutropenia (XLN) with reduced serum level of IgA. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of B cells in XLN pathogenesis. METHODS: We examined B cells from 6 XLN patients, 2 of whom had novel R268W and S271F mutations in WASp. By using immunized XLN mouse models that carry the corresponding patient mutations, WASp L272P or WASp I296T, we examined the B-cell response. RESULTS: XLN patients had normal naive B cells and plasmablasts, but reduced IgA+ B cells and memory B cells, and poor B-cell proliferation. On immunization, XLN mice had a 2-fold reduction in germinal center B cells in spleen, but with increased generation of plasmablasts and plasma cells. In vitro, XLN B cells showed reduced immunoglobulin class switching and aberrant cell division as well as increased production of immunoglobulin-switched plasma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overactive WASp predisposes B cells for premature differentiation into plasma cells at the expense of cell proliferation and immunoglobulin class switching.

The Neuropeptides Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Control HIV-1 Infection in Macrophages Through Activation of Protein Kinases A and C.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are highly similar neuropeptides present in several tissues, endowed with immunoregulatory functions and other systemic effects. We previously reported that both neuropeptides reduce viral production in HIV-1-infected primary macrophages, with the participation of ß-chemokines and IL-10, and now we describe molecular mechanisms engaged in this activity. Macrophages exposed to VIP or PACAP before HIV-1 infection showed resistance to viral replication, comparable to that observed when the cells were treated after infection. Also, multiple treatments with a suboptimal dose of VIP or PACAP after macrophage infection resulted in a decline of virus production similar to the inhibition promoted by a single exposure to the optimal inhibitory concentration. Cellular signaling pathways involving cAMP production and activation of protein kinases A and C were critical components of the VIP and PACAP anti-HIV-1 effects. Analysis of the transcription factors and the transcriptional/cell cycle regulators showed that VIP and PACAP induced cAMP response element-binding protein activation, inhibited NF-kB, and reduced Cyclin D1 levels in HIV-1-infected cells. Remarkably, VIP and PACAP promoted G-to-A mutations in the HIV-1 provirus, matching those derived from the activity of the APOBEC family of viral restriction factors, and reduced viral infectivity. In conclusion, our findings strengthen the antiretroviral potential of VIP and PACAP and point to new therapeutic approaches to control the progression of HIV-1 infection.

Avaliação da interação entre Burkholderia cenocepacia e macrófagos alveolares in vitro e da infecção de modelos murinos

Burkholderia cenocepacia é uma bactéria gram-negativa associada a infecções pulmonares oportunistas acometendo portadores de fibrose cística, doença granulomatosa crônica ou que apresentem algum tipo de imunodeficiência, podendo resultar em declínio da função pulmonar e no quadro séptico conhecido como síndrome cepacia. Por mecanismos de escape B. cenocepacia promove atraso na maturação do fagolisossomo, enquanto fatores envolvidos na resistência a ROS desempenham papel na sobrevivência intracelular. Dados de nosso laboratório mostram que cultivos in vitro de macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos e da linhagem RAW 264.7 estimulados com IFN\03B3 e LPS, quando desafiados com B. cenocepacia, apresentam reduzidos níveis de NOx nos sobrenadantes. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a resposta efetora de macrófagos alveolares de camundongo da linhagem AMJ2-C11 na infecção por B. cenocepacia. Além disso, avaliamos a infecção de camundongos imunocompetentes C57BL/6 ou geneticamente deficientes para a enzima óxido nítrico sintase induzível (iNOS/NOS2). Nossos resultados indicam que B. cenocepacia é capaz de desativar mecanismos efetores da resposta clássica de macrófagos, redirecionando para o perfil alternativo de ativação. Observamos em cultivos de macrófagos AMJ2-C11 expostos à B. cenocepacia (i) concentrações reduzidas de NOx e concentrações aumentadas de ureia em sobrenadantes, (ii) aumento da expressão da enzima arginase e baixa expressão de iNOS/NOS2 nestas células, (iii) menor frequência de células expressando MHC-I e moléculas coestimuladoras (CD80, CD86 e CD40), e por fim (iv) baixas concentrações de TNF nos sobrenadantes Semelhante ao encontrado nos sobrenadantes dos cultivos na presença de B. cenocepacia, os lavados pleurais de animais infectados pela bactéria apresentam aumento na produção de ureia em detrimento da produção de NOx. Em 72 horas de infecção, contagem de CFU encontra-se aumentada nos animais deficientes em iNOS/NOS2, enquanto é controlada em animais C57BL/6 imunocompetentes. Todos os camundongos infectados apresentaram perda de peso nas primeiras 72 horas de infecção. Animais C57BL/6 recuperaram peso corporal, apresentando ao término da análise ganho ponderal semelhante aos não infectados. Por outro lado, animais inos-/- infectados acumularam perda ponderal no decorrer do tempo analisado, apresentando em torno de 40% de perda de massa corpórea e apresentaram 100% de mortalidade em 13 dias pós-infecção, ao passo que não houveram mortalidade em animais controles (NI). Os pulmões dos animais inos-/- infectados apresentam alterações histológicas agudas, comparados tanto aos controles não infectados, e mais intensas que os animais C57BL/6 infectados. Em conjunto nossos dados sugerem que a infecção por B. cenocepacia interfere no balanço das vias óxido nítrico sintase induzível e arginase, favorecendo esta última, o que poderia promover a atenuação da resposta inflamatória e a persistência da infecção