RESUMO
Natural killer (NK) cells have vital functions in human immunity and reproduction. In the innate and adaptive immune responses to infection, particularly by viruses, NK cells respond by secreting inflammatory cytokines and killing infected cells. In reproduction, NK cells are critical for genesis of the placenta, the organ that controls the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus. Controlling NK cell functions are interactions of HLA class I with inhibitory NK cell receptors. First evolved was the conserved interaction of HLA-E with CD94:NKG2A; later established were diverse interactions of HLA-A, -B, and -C with killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors. Characterizing the latter interactions is rapid evolution, which distinguishes human populations and all species of higher primate. Driving this evolution are the different and competing selections imposed by pathogens on NK cell-mediated immunity and by the constraints of human reproduction on NK cell-mediated placentation. Promoting rapid evolution is independent segregation of polymorphic receptors and ligands throughout human populations.
Assuntos
Predisposição Genética para Doença , Imunidade , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Animais , Evolução Biológica , Loci Gênicos , Genômica/métodos , Haplótipos , Humanos , Complexo Principal de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Receptores KIR/genética , Receptores KIR/metabolismoRESUMO
FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), encoded by FLT3LG, is a hematopoietic factor essential for the development of natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) in mice. We describe three humans homozygous for a loss-of-function FLT3LG variant with a history of various recurrent infections, including severe cutaneous warts. The patients' bone marrow (BM) was hypoplastic, with low levels of hematopoietic progenitors, particularly myeloid and B cell precursors. Counts of B cells, monocytes, and DCs were low in the patients' blood, whereas the other blood subsets, including NK cells, were affected only moderately, if at all. The patients had normal counts of Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal macrophages in the skin but lacked dermal DCs. Thus, FLT3L is required for B cell and DC development in mice and humans. However, unlike its murine counterpart, human FLT3L is required for the development of monocytes but not NK cells.
Assuntos
Células Matadoras Naturais , Proteínas de Membrana , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Linfócitos B/metabolismo , Linfócitos B/citologia , Medula Óssea/metabolismo , Linhagem da Célula , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Hematopoese , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/citologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células de Langerhans/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Monócitos/metabolismo , Pele/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
SARS-CoV-2 and other sarbecoviruses continue to threaten humanity, highlighting the need to characterize common mechanisms of viral immune evasion for pandemic preparedness. Cytotoxic lymphocytes are vital for antiviral immunity and express NKG2D, an activating receptor conserved among mammals that recognizes infection-induced stress ligands (e.g., MIC-A/B). We found that SARS-CoV-2 evades NKG2D recognition by surface downregulation of MIC-A/B via shedding, observed in human lung tissue and COVID-19 patient serum. Systematic testing of SARS-CoV-2 proteins revealed that ORF6, an accessory protein uniquely conserved among sarbecoviruses, was responsible for MIC-A/B downregulation via shedding. Further investigation demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells efficiently killed SARS-CoV-2-infected cells and limited viral spread. However, inhibition of MIC-A/B shedding with a monoclonal antibody, 7C6, further enhanced NK-cell activity toward SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Our findings unveil a strategy employed by SARS-CoV-2 to evade cytotoxic immunity, identify the culprit immunevasin shared among sarbecoviruses, and suggest a potential novel antiviral immunotherapy.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Evasão da Resposta Imune , Células Matadoras Naturais , Subfamília K de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Subfamília K de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/metabolismo , COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/virologia , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/imunologia , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/metabolismo , Animais , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Regulação para Baixo , Pulmão/imunologia , Pulmão/virologia , Pulmão/patologiaRESUMO
For many solid malignancies, lymph node (LN) involvement represents a harbinger of distant metastatic disease and, therefore, an important prognostic factor. Beyond its utility as a biomarker, whether and how LN metastasis plays an active role in shaping distant metastasis remains an open question. Here, we develop a syngeneic melanoma mouse model of LN metastasis to investigate how tumors spread to LNs and whether LN colonization influences metastasis to distant tissues. We show that an epigenetically instilled tumor-intrinsic interferon response program confers enhanced LN metastatic potential by enabling the evasion of NK cells and promoting LN colonization. LN metastases resist T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells, and generate tumor-specific immune tolerance that subsequently facilitates distant tumor colonization. These effects extend to human cancers and other murine cancer models, implicating a conserved systemic mechanism by which malignancies spread to distant organs.
Assuntos
Linfonodos , Melanoma , Animais , Tolerância Imunológica , Imunoterapia , Metástase Linfática/patologia , Melanoma/patologia , CamundongosRESUMO
Maternal decidual NK (dNK) cells promote placentation, but how they protect against placental infection while maintaining fetal tolerance is unclear. Here we show that human dNK cells highly express the antimicrobial peptide granulysin (GNLY) and selectively transfer it via nanotubes to extravillous trophoblasts to kill intracellular Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) without killing the trophoblast. Transfer of GNLY, but not other cell death-inducing cytotoxic granule proteins, strongly inhibits Lm in human placental cultures and in mouse and human trophoblast cell lines. Placental and fetal Lm loads are lower and pregnancy success is greatly improved in pregnant Lm-infected GNLY-transgenic mice than in wild-type mice that lack GNLY. This immune defense is not restricted to pregnancy; peripheral NK (pNK) cells also transfer GNLY to kill bacteria in macrophages and dendritic cells without killing the host cell. Nanotube transfer of GNLY allows dNK to protect against infection while leaving the maternal-fetal barrier intact.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos T/imunologia , Bactérias/imunologia , Movimento Celular/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Trofoblastos/imunologia , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Feminino , Células HeLa , Humanos , Macrófagos/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Placenta/imunologia , Placenta/microbiologia , Gravidez , Ratos , Células THP-1 , Trofoblastos/microbiologiaRESUMO
Immune responses in diverse tissue sites are critical for protective immunity and homeostasis. Here, we investigate how tissue localization regulates the development and function of human natural killer (NK) cells, innate lymphocytes important for anti-viral and tumor immunity. Integrating high-dimensional analysis of NK cells from blood, lymphoid organs, and mucosal tissue sites from 60 individuals, we identify tissue-specific patterns of NK cell subset distribution, maturation, and function maintained across age and between individuals. Mature and terminally differentiated NK cells with enhanced effector function predominate in blood, bone marrow, spleen, and lungs and exhibit shared transcriptional programs across sites. By contrast, precursor and immature NK cells with reduced effector capacity populate lymph nodes and intestines and exhibit tissue-resident signatures and site-specific adaptations. Together, our results reveal anatomic control of NK cell development and maintenance as tissue-resident populations, whereas mature, terminally differentiated subsets mediate immunosurveillance through diverse peripheral sites. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/citologia , Linfopoese , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antígenos CD/genética , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Imunidade Inata , Mucosa Intestinal/citologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/fisiologia , Pulmão/citologia , Linfonodos/citologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Baço/citologiaRESUMO
Interferon-gamma (IFNG) augments immune function yet promotes T cell exhaustion through PDL1. How these opposing effects are integrated to impact immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is unclear. We show that while inhibiting tumor IFNG signaling decreases interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in cancer cells, it increases ISGs in immune cells by enhancing IFNG produced by exhausted T cells (TEX). In tumors with favorable antigenicity, these TEX mediate rejection. In tumors with neoantigen or MHC-I loss, TEX instead utilize IFNG to drive maturation of innate immune cells, including a PD1+TRAIL+ ILC1 population. By disabling an inhibitory circuit impacting PD1 and TRAIL, blocking tumor IFNG signaling promotes innate immune killing. Thus, interferon signaling in cancer cells and immune cells oppose each other to establish a regulatory relationship that limits both adaptive and innate immune killing. In melanoma and lung cancer patients, perturbation of this relationship is associated with ICB response independent of tumor mutational burden.
Assuntos
Imunidade Adaptativa/imunologia , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Melanoma/imunologia , Transferência Adotiva , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Antígeno CTLA-4/antagonistas & inibidores , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Técnicas de Inativação de Genes , Humanos , Interferon gama/antagonistas & inibidores , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inibidores , Intervalo Livre de Progressão , RNA-Seq , TransfecçãoRESUMO
Fasting is associated with improved outcomes in cancer. Here, we investigated the impact of fasting on natural killer (NK) cell anti-tumor immunity. Cyclic fasting improved immunity against solid and metastatic tumors in an NK cell-dependent manner. During fasting, NK cells underwent redistribution from peripheral tissues to the bone marrow (BM). In humans, fasting also reduced circulating NK cell numbers. NK cells in the spleen of fasted mice were metabolically rewired by elevated concentrations of fatty acids and glucocorticoids, augmenting fatty acid metabolism via increased expression of the enzyme CPT1A, and Cpt1a deletion impaired NK cell survival and function in this setting. In parallel, redistribution of NK cells to the BM during fasting required the trafficking mediators S1PR5 and CXCR4. These cells were primed by an increased pool of interleukin (IL)-12-expressing BM myeloid cells, which improved IFN-γ production. Our findings identify a link between dietary restriction and optimized innate immune responses, with the potential to enhance immunotherapy strategies.
Assuntos
Jejum , Células Matadoras Naturais , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Animais , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Camundongos , Humanos , Neoplasias/imunologia , Medula Óssea/imunologia , Medula Óssea/metabolismo , Camundongos Knockout , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Interferon gama/imunologia , Baço/imunologia , Baço/metabolismo , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Interleucina-12/metabolismo , Interleucina-12/imunologia , Receptores CXCR4/metabolismoRESUMO
Limited infiltration and activity of natural killer (NK) and T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) correlate with poor immunotherapy responses. Here, we examined the role of the endonuclease Regnase-1 on NK cell anti-tumor activity. NK cell-specific deletion of Regnase-1 (Reg1ΔNK) augmented cytolytic activity and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production in vitro and increased intra-tumoral accumulation of Reg1ΔNK-NK cells in vivo, reducing tumor growth dependent on IFN-γ. Transcriptional changes in Reg1ΔNK-NK cells included elevated IFN-γ expression, cytolytic effectors, and the chemokine receptor CXCR6. IFN-γ induced expression of the CXCR6 ligand CXCL16 on myeloid cells, promoting further recruitment of Reg1ΔNK-NK cells. Mechanistically, Regnase-1 deletion increased its targets, the transcriptional regulators OCT2 and IκBζ, following interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 stimulation, and the resulting OCT2-IκBζ-NF-κB complex induced Ifng transcription. Silencing Regnase-1 in human NK cells increased the expression of IFNG and POU2F2. Our findings highlight NK cell dysfunction in the TME and propose that targeting Regnase-1 could augment active NK cell persistence for cancer immunotherapy.
Assuntos
Interferon gama , Células Matadoras Naturais , Microambiente Tumoral , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Animais , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologia , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Ribonucleases/metabolismo , Ribonucleases/genética , Camundongos Knockout , Transcrição Gênica , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , NF-kappa B/metabolismoRESUMO
Although T cells can exert potent anti-tumor immunity, a subset of T helper (Th) cells producing interleukin-22 (IL-22) in breast and lung tumors is linked to dismal patient outcome. Here, we examined the mechanisms whereby these T cells contribute to disease. In murine models of lung and breast cancer, constitutional and T cell-specific deletion of Il22 reduced metastases without affecting primary tumor growth. Deletion of the IL-22 receptor on cancer cells decreases metastasis to a degree similar to that seen in IL-22-deficient mice. IL-22 induced high expression of CD155, which bound to the activating receptor CD226 on NK cells. Excessive activation led to decreased amounts of CD226 and functionally impaired NK cells, which elevated the metastatic burden. IL-22 signaling was also associated with CD155 expression in human datasets and with poor patient outcomes. Taken together, our findings reveal an immunosuppressive circuit activated by T cell-derived IL-22 that promotes lung metastasis.
Assuntos
Interleucinas , Neoplasias , Receptores Virais , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Interleucinas/genética , Interleucinas/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Ligação Proteica , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/metabolismo , Interleucina 22RESUMO
The two oncogenes KRas and Myc cooperate to drive tumorigenesis, but the mechanism underlying this remains unclear. In a mouse lung model of KRasG12D-driven adenomas, we find that co-activation of Myc drives the immediate transition to highly proliferative and invasive adenocarcinomas marked by highly inflammatory, angiogenic, and immune-suppressed stroma. We identify epithelial-derived signaling molecules CCL9 and IL-23 as the principal instructing signals for stromal reprogramming. CCL9 mediates recruitment of macrophages, angiogenesis, and PD-L1-dependent expulsion of T and B cells. IL-23 orchestrates exclusion of adaptive T and B cells and innate immune NK cells. Co-blockade of both CCL9 and IL-23 abrogates Myc-induced tumor progression. Subsequent deactivation of Myc in established adenocarcinomas triggers immediate reversal of all stromal changes and tumor regression, which are independent of CD4+CD8+ T cells but substantially dependent on returning NK cells. We show that Myc extensively programs an immune suppressive stroma that is obligatory for tumor progression.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/imunologia , Adenoma/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-myc/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras)/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma/patologia , Adenoma/genética , Adenoma/patologia , Animais , Carcinogênese , Quimiocinas CC/imunologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Inflamação/imunologia , Inflamação/metabolismo , Interleucina-23/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Proteínas Inflamatórias de Macrófagos/imunologia , Macrófagos/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Upon viral infection, natural killer (NK) cells expressing certain germline-encoded receptors are selected, expanded, and maintained in an adaptive-like manner. Currently, these are thought to differentiate along a common pathway. However, by fate mapping of single NK cells upon murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection, we identified two distinct NK cell lineages that contributed to adaptive-like responses. One was equivalent to conventional NK (cNK) cells while the other was transcriptionally similar to type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s). ILC1-like NK cells showed splenic residency and strong cytokine production but also recognized and killed MCMV-infected cells, guided by activating receptor Ly49H. Moreover, they induced clustering of conventional type 1 dendritic cells and facilitated antigen-specific T cell priming early during MCMV infection, which depended on Ly49H and the NK cell-intrinsic expression of transcription factor Batf3. Thereby, ILC1-like NK cells bridge innate and adaptive viral recognition and unite critical features of cNK cells and ILC1s.
Assuntos
Imunidade Adaptativa/imunologia , Linhagem da Célula/imunologia , Infecções por Herpesviridae/imunologia , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , MuromegalovirusRESUMO
Viral infections during pregnancy are a considerable cause of adverse outcomes and birth defects, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Among those, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection stands out as the most common intrauterine infection in humans, putatively causing early pregnancy loss. We employed murine CMV as a model to study the consequences of viral infection on pregnancy outcome and fertility maintenance. Even though pregnant mice successfully controlled CMV infection, we observed highly selective, strong infection of corpus luteum (CL) cells in their ovaries. High infection densities indicated complete failure of immune control in CL cells, resulting in progesterone insufficiency and pregnancy loss. An abundance of gap junctions, absence of vasculature, strong type I interferon (IFN) responses, and interaction of innate immune cells fully protected the ovarian follicles from viral infection. Our work provides fundamental insights into the effect of CMV infection on pregnancy loss and mechanisms protecting fertility.
Assuntos
Corpo Lúteo/imunologia , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Fertilidade/imunologia , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Animais , Corpo Lúteo/virologia , Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/virologia , Feminino , Junções Comunicantes/imunologia , Interferon Tipo I/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Gravidez , Progesterona/imunologiaRESUMO
Longitudinal analyses of the innate immune system, including the earliest time points, are essential to understand the immunopathogenesis and clinical course of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Here, we performed a detailed characterization of natural killer (NK) cells in 205 patients (403 samples; days 2 to 41 after symptom onset) from four independent cohorts using single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics together with functional studies. We found elevated interferon (IFN)-α plasma levels in early severe COVD-19 alongside increased NK cell expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) and genes involved in IFN-α signaling, while upregulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced genes was observed in moderate diseases. NK cells exert anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) activity but are functionally impaired in severe COVID-19. Further, NK cell dysfunction may be relevant for the development of fibrotic lung disease in severe COVID-19, as NK cells exhibited impaired anti-fibrotic activity. Our study indicates preferential IFN-α and TNF responses in severe and moderate COVID-19, respectively, and associates a prolonged IFN-α-induced NK cell response with poorer disease outcome.
Assuntos
COVID-19/imunologia , Interferon-alfa/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismo , Sequência de Bases , Humanos , Imunidade Inata/imunologia , Inflamação/imunologia , Interferon-alfa/sangue , Fibrose Pulmonar/patologia , RNA-Seq , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Transcriptoma/genética , Reino Unido , Estados UnidosRESUMO
The conserved CD94/NKG2A inhibitory receptor is expressed by nearly all human and â¼50% of mouse uterine natural killer (uNK) cells. Binding human HLA-E and mouse Qa-1, NKG2A drives NK cell education, a process of unknown physiological importance influenced by HLA-B alleles. Here, we show that NKG2A genetic ablation in dams mated with wild-type males caused suboptimal maternal vascular responses in pregnancy, accompanied by perturbed placental gene expression, reduced fetal weight, greater rates of smaller fetuses with asymmetric growth, and abnormal brain development. These are features of the human syndrome pre-eclampsia. In a genome-wide association study of 7,219 pre-eclampsia cases, we found a 7% greater relative risk associated with the maternal HLA-B allele that does not favor NKG2A education. These results show that the maternal HLA-BâHLA-EâNKG2A pathway contributes to healthy pregnancy and may have repercussions on offspring health, thus establishing the physiological relevance for NK cell education. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Assuntos
Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Subfamília C de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/imunologia , Subfamília D de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/imunologia , Útero/imunologia , Animais , Feminino , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla/métodos , Antígenos HLA/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Placenta/imunologia , Gravidez , Resultado da GravidezRESUMO
Inflammation can support or restrain cancer progression and the response to therapy. Here, we searched for primary regulators of cancer-inhibitory inflammation through deep profiling of inflammatory tumor microenvironments (TMEs) linked to immune-dependent control in mice. We found that early intratumoral accumulation of interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-producing natural killer (NK) cells induced a profound remodeling of the TME and unleashed cytotoxic T cell (CTL)-mediated tumor eradication. Mechanistically, tumor-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) acted selectively on EP2 and EP4 receptors on NK cells, hampered the TME switch, and enabled immune evasion. Analysis of patient datasets across human cancers revealed distinct inflammatory TME phenotypes resembling those associated with cancer immune control versus escape in mice. This allowed us to generate a gene-expression signature that integrated opposing inflammatory factors and predicted patient survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Our findings identify features of the tumor inflammatory milieu associated with immune control of cancer and establish a strategy to predict immunotherapy outcomes.
Assuntos
Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/uso terapêutico , Inflamação/imunologia , Neoplasias/imunologia , Evasão Tumoral/imunologia , Animais , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Humanos , Imunoterapia , Inflamação/genética , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Camundongos , Neoplasias/terapia , Fenótipo , Prognóstico , Prostaglandina-Endoperóxido Sintases/genética , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP2/metabolismo , Receptores de Prostaglandina E Subtipo EP4/metabolismo , Linfócitos T Citotóxicos/imunologia , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologiaRESUMO
Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and cells adapt by upregulating the transcription factor HIF-1α. Here, we defined the transcriptional landscape of mouse tumor-infiltrating natural killer (NK) cells by using single-cell RNA sequencing. Conditional deletion of Hif1a in NK cells resulted in reduced tumor growth, elevated expression of activation markers, effector molecules, and an enriched NF-κB pathway in tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) from myeloid cells was required for NF-κB activation and the enhanced anti-tumor activity of Hif1a-/- NK cells. Extended culture with an HIF-1α inhibitor increased human NK cell responses. Low HIF1A expression was associated with high expression of IFNG in human tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and an enriched NK-IL18-IFNG signature in solid tumors correlated with increased overall patient survival. Thus, inhibition of HIF-1α unleashes NK cell anti-tumor activity and could be exploited for cancer therapy.
Assuntos
Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/imunologia , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/metabolismo , Animais , Biomarcadores , Biologia Computacional , Citocinas/metabolismo , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Humanos , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia/genética , Ativação Linfocitária/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Células Mieloides/imunologia , Células Mieloides/metabolismo , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Neoplasias/mortalidade , Prognóstico , Análise de Célula Única , Transcriptoma , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologiaRESUMO
The process of affinity maturation, whereby T and B cells bearing antigen receptors with optimal affinity to the relevant antigen undergo preferential expansion, is a key feature of adaptive immunity. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes capable of "adaptive" responses after cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. However, whether NK cells are similarly selected on the basis of their avidity for cognate ligand is unknown. Here, we showed that NK cells with the highest avidity for the mouse CMV glycoprotein m157 were preferentially selected to expand and comprise the memory NK cell pool, whereas low-avidity NK cells possessed greater capacity for interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. Moreover, we provide evidence for avidity selection occurring in human NK cells during human CMV infection. These results delineate how heterogeneity in NK cell avidity diversifies NK cell effector function during antiviral immunity, and how avidity selection might serve to produce the most potent memory NK cells.
Assuntos
Infecções por Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/virologia , Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Animais , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/metabolismo , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Infecções por Herpesviridae/imunologia , Infecções por Herpesviridae/metabolismo , Infecções por Herpesviridae/virologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/genética , Humanos , Memória Imunológica , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Muromegalovirus/imunologia , Subfamília A de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/genética , Subfamília A de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/metabolismo , Especificidade do Receptor de Antígeno de Linfócitos TRESUMO
The tolerogenic microenvironment of the liver is associated with impaired hepatic T cell function. Here, we examined the contribution of liver-resident natural killer (LrNK) cells, a prominent hepatic NK cell compartment, to T cell antiviral responses in the liver. The number of virus-specific T cells increased in LrNK-cell-deficient mice during both acute and chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Upon infection with adenovirus, hepatic T cells from these mice produced more cytokines, which was accompanied by reduced viral loads. Transfer of LrNK cells into LrNK-cell-deficient or wild-type mice inhibited hepatic T cell function, resulting in impaired viral clearance, whereas transfer of conventional NK cells promoted T cell antiviral responses. LrNK-cell-mediated inhibition of T cell function was dependent on the PD-1-PD-L1 axis. Our findings reveal a role for LrNK cells in the regulation of T cell immunity and provide insight into the mechanisms of immune tolerance in the liver.
Assuntos
Antígeno B7-H1/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Fígado/imunologia , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Antígeno B7-H1/genética , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Hepatócitos/imunologia , Hepatócitos/metabolismo , Hepatócitos/virologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Fígado/virologia , Coriomeningite Linfocítica/imunologia , Coriomeningite Linfocítica/metabolismo , Coriomeningite Linfocítica/virologia , Vírus da Coriomeningite Linfocítica/imunologia , Vírus da Coriomeningite Linfocítica/fisiologia , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos Transgênicos , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/genética , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/virologia , Transcriptoma/genética , Transcriptoma/imunologiaRESUMO
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) that defend against viruses and mediate anti-tumor responses, yet mechanisms controlling their development and function remain incompletely understood. We hypothesized that the abundantly expressed microRNA-142 (miR-142) is a critical regulator of type 1 ILC biology. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) signaling induced miR-142 expression, whereas global and ILC-specific miR-142-deficient mice exhibited a cell-intrinsic loss of NK cells. Death of NK cells resulted from diminished IL-15 receptor signaling within miR-142-deficient mice, likely via reduced suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (Socs1) regulation by miR-142-5p. ILCs persisting in Mir142-/- mice demonstrated increased expression of the miR-142-3p target αV integrin, which supported their survival. Global miR-142-deficient mice exhibited an expansion of ILC1-like cells concurrent with increased transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling. Further, miR-142-deficient mice had reduced NK-cell-dependent function and increased susceptibility to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. Thus, miR-142 critically integrates environmental cues for proper type 1 ILC homeostasis and defense against viral infection.