Differential expression of interleukin-17A and -17F is coupled to T cell receptor signaling via inducible T cell kinase.

T helper 17 (Th17) cells play major roles in autoimmunity and bacterial infections, yet how T cell receptor (TCR) signaling affects Th17 cell differentiation is relatively unknown. We demonstrate that CD4(+) T cells lacking Itk, a tyrosine kinase required for full TCR-induced phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma1) activation, exhibit decreased interleukin-17A (IL-17A) expression in vitro and in vivo, despite relatively normal expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-gammaT (ROR-gammaT) and IL-17F. IL-17A expression was rescued by pharmacologically induced Ca(2+) influx or constitutively activated nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Conversely, decreased TCR stimulation or calcineurin inhibition preferentially reduced IL-17A expression. We further found that the promoter of Il17a but not Il17f has a conserved NFAT binding site that bound NFATc1 in wild-type but not Itk-deficient cells, even though both exhibited open chromatin conformations. Finally, Itk(-/-) mice also showed differential regulation of IL-17A and IL-17F in vivo. Our results suggest that Itk specifically couples TCR signaling to Il17a expression and the differential regulation of Th17 cell cytokines through NFATc1.

A somatic cell defect is associated with the onset of neurological symptoms in a lysosomal storage disease.

Mutations in individuals with the lysosomal storage disorder Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) are heterogeneous, not localized to specific protein domains, and not correlated to time of onset or disease severity. We demonstrate direct correlation of the time of neurological symptom onset with the severity of lysosomal defects in NPC1 patient-derived fibroblasts. This is a novel assay for NPC1 individuals that may be predictive of NPC1 disease progression and broadly applicable to other lysosomal disorders.

Defective inhibition of B-cell proliferation by Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein-deficient regulatory T cells.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an inherited immunodeficiency characterized by high incidence of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune complications. Such a feature has been associated with defective suppressor activity of WAS protein-deficient, naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells on responder T cells. However, it remains to be established whether the altered B-cell tolerance reported in WAS patients and Was knockout (WKO) mice is secondary to abnormalities in the direct suppression of B-cell function by nTreg cells or to impaired regulation of T-helper function. Because activated nTreg cells are known to induce granzyme B-mediated B-cell killing, we decided to evaluate the regulatory capabilities of WKO nTregs on B lymphocytes. We found that preactivated WKO nTreg cells failed to effectively suppress B-cell proliferation and that such a defect was associated with reduced killing of B cells and significantly decreased degranulation of granzyme B. Altogether, these results provide additional mechanistic insights into the loss of immune tolerance in WAS.

A novel perivascular cell population in the zebrafish brain.

The blood-brain barrier is essential for the proper homeostasis and function of the CNS, but its mechanism of function is poorly understood. Perivascular cells surrounding brain blood vessels are thought to be important for blood-brain barrier establishment, but their roles are not well defined. Here, we describe a novel perivascular cell population closely associated with blood vessels on the zebrafish brain. Based on similarities in their morphology, location, and scavenger behavior, these cells appear to be the zebrafish equivalent of cells variably characterized as Fluorescent Granular Perithelial cells (FGPs), perivascular macrophages, or 'Mato Cells' in mammals. Despite their macrophage-like morphology and perivascular location, zebrafish FGPs appear molecularly most similar to lymphatic endothelium, and our imaging studies suggest that these cells emerge by differentiation from endothelium of the optic choroidal vascular plexus. Our findings provide the first report of a perivascular cell population in the brain derived from vascular endothelium.

Itk is required for Th9 differentiation via TCR-mediated induction of IL-2 and IRF4.

Th9 cells produce interleukin (IL)-9, a cytokine implicated in allergic asthma and autoimmunity. Here we show that Itk, a mediator of T cell receptor signalling required for Th2 immune responses and the development of asthma, is a positive regulator of Th9 differentiation. In a model of allergic lung disease, Itk-deficient mice show reduced pulmonary inflammation and IL-9 production by T cells and innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILC2), despite normal early induction of ILC2s. In vitro, Itk(-/-) CD4(+) T cells do not produce IL-9 and have reduced levels of IRF4 (Interferon Regulator Factor 4), a critical transcription factor for effector T cell function. Both IL-9 and IRF4 expression are rescued by either IL-2 or constitutively active STAT5, but not NFATc1. STAT5 binds the Irf4 promoter, demonstrating one mechanism by which IL-2 rescues weakly activated T cells. Itk inhibition also reduces IL-9 expression by human T cells, implicating ITK as a key regulator of Th9 induction.

Age-Dependent Defects of Regulatory B Cells in Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Gene Knockout Mice.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections, thrombocytopenia, eczema, and high incidence of malignancy and autoimmunity. The cellular mechanisms underlying autoimmune complications in WAS have been extensively studied; however, they remain incompletely defined. We investigated the characteristics of IL-10-producing CD19+CD1dhighCD5+ B cells (CD1dhighCD5+ Breg) obtained from Was gene knockout (WKO) mice and found that their numbers were significantly lower in these mice compared to wild type (WT) controls. Moreover, we found a significant age-dependent reduction of the percentage of IL-10-expressing cells in WKO CD1dhighCD5+ Breg cells as compared to age-matched WT control mice. CD1dhighCD5+ Breg cells from older WKO mice did not suppress the in vitro production of inflammatory cytokines from activated CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, CD1dhighCD5+ Breg cells from older WKO mice displayed a basal activated phenotype which may prevent normal cellular responses, among which is the expression of IL-10. These defects may contribute to the susceptibility to autoimmunity with age in patients with WAS.

Itk-mediated integration of T cell receptor and cytokine signaling regulates the balance between Th17 and regulatory T cells.

A proper balance between Th17 and T regulatory cells (Treg cells) is critical for generating protective immune responses while minimizing autoimmunity. We show that the Tec family kinase Itk (IL2-inducible T cell kinase), a component of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathways, influences this balance by regulating cross talk between TCR and cytokine signaling. Under both Th17 and Treg cell differentiation conditions, Itk(-/-) CD4(+) T cells develop higher percentages of functional FoxP3(+) cells, associated with increased sensitivity to IL-2. Itk(-/-) CD4(+) T cells also preferentially develop into Treg cells in vivo. We find that Itk-deficient T cells exhibit reduced TCR-induced phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) targets, accompanied by downstream metabolic alterations. Surprisingly, Itk(-/-) cells also exhibit reduced IL-2-induced mTOR activation, despite increased STAT5 phosphorylation. We demonstrate that in wild-type CD4(+) T cells, TCR stimulation leads to a dose-dependent repression of Pten. However, at low TCR stimulation or in the absence of Itk, Pten is not effectively repressed, thereby uncoupling STAT5 phosphorylation and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. Moreover, Itk-deficient CD4(+) T cells show impaired TCR-mediated induction of Myc and miR-19b, known repressors of Pten. Our results demonstrate that Itk helps orchestrate positive feedback loops integrating multiple T cell signaling pathways, suggesting Itk as a potential target for altering the balance between Th17 and Treg cells.

Reversion mutations in patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency type-1 (LAD-1).

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type-1 (LAD-1) is an autosomal recessive immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the beta2 integrin, CD18, that impair CD11/CD18 heterodimer surface expression and/or function. Absence of functional CD11/CD18 integrins on leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, leads to their incapacity to adhere to the endothelium and migrate to sites of infection. We studied 3 LAD-1 patients with markedly diminished neutrophil CD18 expression, each of whom had a small population of lymphocytes with normal CD18 expression (CD18(+)). These CD18(+) lymphocytes were predominantly cytotoxic T cells, with a memory/effector phenotype. Microsatellite analyses proved patient origin of these cells. Sequencing of T-cell subsets showed that in each patient one CD18 allele had undergone further mutation. Interestingly, all 3 patients were young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Somatic reversions of inherited mutations in primary T-cell immunodeficiencies are typically associated with milder clinical phenotypes. We hypothesize that these somatic revertant CD18(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) may have altered immune regulation. The discovery of 3 cases of reversion mutations in LAD-1 at one center suggests that this may be a relatively common event in this rare disease.

Requirements for selection of conventional and innate T lymphocyte lineages.

Mice deficient in the Tec kinase Itk develop a large population of CD8(+) T cells with properties, including expression of memory markers, rapid production of cytokines, and dependence on Interleukin-15, resembling NKT and other innate T cell lineages. Like NKT cells, these CD8(+) T cells can be selected on hematopoietic cells. We demonstrate that these CD8(+) T cell phenotypes resulted from selection on hematopoietic cells-forcing selection on the thymic stroma reduced the number and innate phenotypes of mature Itk-deficient CD8(+) T cells. We further show that, similar to NKT cells, selection of innate-type CD8(+) T cells in Itk(-/-) mice required the adaptor SAP. Acquisition of their innate characteristics, however, required CD28. Our results suggest that SAP and Itk reciprocally regulate selection of innate and conventional CD8(+) T cells on hematopoietic cells and thymic epithelium, respectively, whereas CD28 regulates development of innate phenotypes resulting from selection on hematopoietic cells.

Hmgb3 regulates the balance between hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.

Hmgb3 is an X-linked member of a family of sequence-independent chromatin-binding proteins that is preferentially expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Hmgb3-deficient mice (Hmgb3(-/Y)) contain normal numbers of HSCs, capable of self-renewal and hematopoietic repopulation, but fewer common lymphoid (CLP) and common myeloid progenitors (CMP). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Hmgb3(-/Y) HSCs are biased toward self-renewal at the expense of progenitor production. Wild-type and Hmgb3(-/Y) CLPs and CMPs proliferate and differentiate equally in vitro, indicating that CLP and CMP function normally in Hmgb3(-/Y) mice. Hmgb3(-/Y) HSCs exhibit constitutive activation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which regulates stem cell self-renewal. Increased Wnt signaling in Hmgb3(-/Y) HSCs corresponds to increased expression of Dvl1, a positive regulator of the canonical Wnt pathway. To induce hematopoietic stress and a subsequent response from HSCs, we treated Hmgb3(-/Y) mice with 5-fluorouracil. Hmgb3(-/Y) mice exhibit a faster recovery of functional HSCs after administration of 5-fluorouracil compared with wild-type mice, which may be due to the increased Wnt signaling. Furthermore, the recovery of HSC number in Hmgb3(-/Y) mice occurs more rapidly than CLP and CMP recovery. From these data, we propose a model in which Hmgb3 is required for the proper balance between HSC self-renewal and differentiation.

Side population cells derived from adult human liver generate hepatocyte-like cells in vitro.

We sought to determine whether hepatic side population (SP) cells derived from adult human liver possess the potential of a novel candidate hepatic stem cell. Human cadaveric donor liver was subjected to collagenase perfusion and hepatocytes were separated from nonparenchymal cells by differential centrifugation. SP cells were isolated from the nonparenchymal portion after Hoechst 33342 staining. Since CD45 is a panleukocyte antigen, CD45-negative SP cells were separated from the vast majority of CD45-positive SP cells (90%), and hepatic growth medium was used to culture both groups. Both CD45-negative and CD45-positive hepatic SP cells generated colonies in the hepatic growth medium in 2-3 weeks. The colonies yielded large cells morphologically consistent with human hepatocytes, demonstrating granule-rich cytoplasm, dense, often double nuclei, and intracellular lipofuscin pigment. The cultured cells from both sources were positive for markers of human hepatocytes: HepPar, cytokeratin 8 (CK8), and human albumin. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) performed on both groups demonstrated positivity for additional liver markers including human albumin, CK18, alpha-1 anti-trypsin, and the human cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2B6. Double immunostaining (CD45 and HepPar) and RT-PCR confirmed that the hepatocyte-like cells derived from the CD45-negative SP cells acquired HepPar positivity but had no detectable CD45 antigen expression. In contrast, the cultured cells derived from the CD45-positive SP cells also acquired HepPar positivity, but only a minimal fraction expressed the CD45 antigen. We conclude that hepatic SP cells derived from the nonparenchymal portion of human liver are a potential source of human hepatocytes irrespective of their CD45 status, and further animal studies will be required to assess their regenerative potential.

Hmgb3: an HMG-box family member expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells that inhibits myeloid and B-cell differentiation.

Hmgb3 is a member of a family of chromatin-binding proteins that can alter DNA structure to facilitate transcription factor binding. We identified the Hmgb3 cDNA in a subtractive hybridization screen for transcripts that are preferentially expressed in hematopoietic stem cells. We inserted an internal ribosomal entry site-green fluorescence protein cassette into the 3' untranslated region of the X-linked Hmgb3 locus to identify Hmgb3-expressing cells. In adult mice, Hmgb3 mRNA is detected in bone marrow cells, primitive Lin-, c-kit+, Sca-1+, IL-7Ralpha- cells, and Ter119+ erythroid cells. We observed that long-term repopulating ability is entirely contained in the subpopulation of Lin-, c-kitHI cells that express Hmgb3. Most common lymphoid and myeloid progenitors express Hmgb3. Introduction of a retrovirus containing the Hmgb3 cDNA into mouse bone marrow stem cells demonstrated that enforced expression of Hmgb3 inhibited B-cell and myeloid differentiation. We conclude that down-regulation of Hmgb3 protein levels is an important step for myeloid and B-cell differentiation.

Retroviral transduction of IL2RG into CD34(+) cells from X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients permits human T- and B-cell development in sheep chimeras.

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) is caused by mutations of the common gamma chain of cytokine receptors, gamma(c). Because bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for XSCID does not provide complete immune reconstitution for many patients and because of the natural selective advantage conferred on lymphoid progenitors by the expression of normal gamma(c), XSCID is a good candidate disease for therapeutic retroviral gene transfer to hematopoietic stem cells. We studied XSCID patients who have persistent defects in B-cell and/or combined B- and T-cell function despite having received T cell-depleted haploidentical BMT. We compared transduction of autologous B-cell lines and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral CD34(+) cells from these patients using an MFGS retrovirus vector containing the gamma(c) gene IL2RG pseudotyped with amphotropic, gibbon ape leukemia virus, or RD114 envelopes. Transduced B-cell lines and peripheral CD34(+) cells demonstrated provirus integration and new cell-surface gamma(c) expression. The chimeric sheep model was exploited to test development of XSCID CD34(+) cells into mature myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Transduced and untransduced XSCID CD34(+) cells injected into developing sheep fetuses gave rise to myeloid cells. However, only transduced gamma progenitors from XSCID patients developed into T and B cells. These results suggest that gene transfer to autologous peripheral CD34(+) cells using MFGS-gc retrovirus may benefit XSCID patients with persistent T- and B-cell deficits despite prior BMT.