Epithelia Use Butyrophilin-like Molecules to Shape Organ-Specific γδ T Cell Compartments.

Many body surfaces harbor organ-specific γδ T cell compartments that contribute to tissue integrity. Thus, murine dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) uniquely expressing T cell receptor (TCR)-Vγ5 chains protect from cutaneous carcinogens. The DETC repertoire is shaped by Skint1, a butyrophilin-like (Btnl) gene expressed specifically by thymic epithelial cells and suprabasal keratinocytes. However, the generality of this mechanism has remained opaque, since neither Skint1 nor DETCs are evolutionarily conserved. Here, Btnl1 expressed by murine enterocytes is shown to shape the local TCR-Vγ7(+) γδ compartment. Uninfluenced by microbial or food antigens, this activity evokes the developmental selection of TCRαß(+) repertoires. Indeed, Btnl1 and Btnl6 jointly induce TCR-dependent responses specifically in intestinal Vγ7(+) cells. Likewise, human gut epithelial cells express BTNL3 and BTNL8 that jointly induce selective TCR-dependent responses of human colonic Vγ4(+) cells. Hence, a conserved mechanism emerges whereby epithelia use organ-specific BTNL/Btnl genes to shape local T cell compartments.

The γδTCR combines innate immunity with adaptive immunity by utilizing spatially distinct regions for agonist selection and antigen responsiveness.

T lymphocytes expressing γδ T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) comprise evolutionarily conserved cells with paradoxical features. On the one hand, clonally expanded γδ T cells with unique specificities typify adaptive immunity. Conversely, large compartments of γδTCR+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (γδ IELs) exhibit limited TCR diversity and effect rapid, innate-like tissue surveillance. The development of several γδ IEL compartments depends on epithelial expression of genes encoding butyrophilin-like (Btnl (mouse) or BTNL (human)) members of the B7 superfamily of T cell co-stimulators. Here we found that responsiveness to Btnl or BTNL proteins was mediated by germline-encoded motifs within the cognate TCR variable γ-chains (Vγ chains) of mouse and human γδ IELs. This was in contrast to diverse antigen recognition by clonally restricted complementarity-determining regions CDR1-CDR3 of the same γδTCRs. Hence, the γδTCR intrinsically combines innate immunity and adaptive immunity by using spatially distinct regions to discriminate non-clonal agonist-selecting elements from clone-specific ligands. The broader implications for antigen-receptor biology are considered.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidance for management of inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting unprecedented pressures on healthcare systems globally. Early insights have been made possible by rapid sharing of data from China and Italy. In the UK, we have rapidly mobilised inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centres in order that preparations can be made to protect our patients and the clinical services they rely on. This is a novel coronavirus; much is unknown as to how it will affect people with IBD. We also lack information about the impact of different immunosuppressive medications. To address this uncertainty, the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) COVID-19 IBD Working Group has used the best available data and expert opinion to generate a risk grid that groups patients into highest, moderate and lowest risk categories. This grid allows patients to be instructed to follow the UK government's advice for shielding, stringent and standard advice regarding social distancing, respectively. Further considerations are given to service provision, medical and surgical therapy, endoscopy, imaging and clinical trials.

Adaptations to the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of acute severe UC in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a RAND appropriateness panel.

OBJECTIVE: Management of acute severe UC (ASUC) during the novel COVID-19 pandemic presents significant dilemmas. We aimed to provide COVID-19-specific guidance using current British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines as a reference point. DESIGN: We convened a RAND appropriateness panel comprising 14 gastroenterologists and an IBD nurse consultant supplemented by surgical and COVID-19 experts. Panellists rated the appropriateness of interventions for ASUC in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Median scores and disagreement index (DI) were calculated. Results were discussed at a moderated meeting prior to a second survey. RESULTS: Panellists recommended that patients with ASUC should be isolated throughout their hospital stay and should have a SARS-CoV-2 swab performed on admission. Patients with a positive swab should be discussed with COVID-19 specialists. As per BSG guidance, intravenous hydrocortisone was considered appropriate as initial management; only in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was its use deemed uncertain. In patients requiring rescue therapy, infliximab with continuing steroids was recommended. Delaying colectomy because of COVID-19 was deemed inappropriate. Steroid tapering as per BSG guidance was deemed appropriate for all patients apart from those with COVID-19 pneumonia in whom a 4-6 week taper was preferred. Post-ASUC maintenance therapy was dependent on SARS-CoV-2 status but, in general, biologics were more likely to be deemed appropriate than azathioprine or tofacitinib. Panellists deemed prophylactic anticoagulation postdischarge to be appropriate in patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 swab. CONCLUSION: We have suggested COVID-19-specific adaptations to the BSG ASUC guideline using a RAND panel.

Conserved γδ T cell selection by BTNL proteins limits progression of human inflammatory bowel disease.

Murine intraepithelial γδ T cells include distinct tissue-protective cells selected by epithelial butyrophilin-like (BTNL) heteromers. To determine whether this biology is conserved in humans, we characterized the colonic γδ T cell compartment, identifying a diverse repertoire that includes a phenotypically distinct subset coexpressing T cell receptor Vγ4 and the epithelium-binding integrin CD103. This subset was disproportionately diminished and dysregulated in inflammatory bowel disease, whereas on-treatment CD103+γδ T cell restoration was associated with sustained inflammatory bowel disease remission. Moreover, CD103+Vγ4+cell dysregulation and loss were also displayed by humans with germline BTNL3/BTNL8 hypomorphism, which we identified as a risk factor for penetrating Crohn's disease (CD). Thus, BTNL-dependent selection and/or maintenance of distinct tissue-intrinsic γδ T cells appears to be an evolutionarily conserved axis limiting the progression of a complex, multifactorial, tissue-damaging disease of increasing global incidence.

DECIDE: Delphi Expert Consensus Statement on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Dysplasia Shared Management Decision-Making.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease colitis-associated dysplasia is managed with either enhanced surveillance and endoscopic resection or prophylactic surgery. The rate of progression to cancer after a dysplasia diagnosis remains uncertain in many cases and patients have high thresholds for accepting proctocolectomy. Individualised discussion of management options is encouraged to take place between patients and their multidisciplinary teams for best outcomes. We aimed to develop a toolkit to support a structured, multidisciplinary and shared decision-making approach to discussions about dysplasia management options between clinicians and their patients. METHODS: Evidence from systematic literature reviews, mixed-methods studies conducted with key stakeholders, and decision-making expert recommendations were consolidated to draft consensus statements by the DECIDE steering group. These were then subjected to an international, multidisciplinary modified electronic Delphi process until an a priori threshold of 80% agreement was achieved to establish consensus for each statement. RESULTS: In all, 31 members [15 gastroenterologists, 14 colorectal surgeons and two nurse specialists] from nine countries formed the Delphi panel. We present the 18 consensus statements generated after two iterative rounds of anonymous voting. CONCLUSIONS: By consolidating evidence for best practice using literature review and key stakeholder and decision-making expert consultation, we have developed international consensus recommendations to support health care professionals counselling patients on the management of high cancer risk colitis-associated dysplasia. The final toolkit includes clinician and patient decision aids to facilitate shared decision-making.

Conjunctival interleukin-13 expression in mucous membrane pemphigoid and functional effects of interleukin-13 on conjunctival fibroblasts in vitro.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is the dominant effector cytokine of fibrosis in pulmonary and liver disease. Excessive conjunctival fibrosis in the immunobullous disease ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) causes blindness; the pathogenesis of scarring in this disease is incompletely understood. To determine whether IL-13 is involved in conjunctival fibrosis in MMP, we studied the expression of IL-13 in ocular MMP patients before and after systemic immunosuppression and examined the effects of IL-13 on normal human conjunctival fibroblasts. We found high stromal cell expression of IL-13 in active ocular MMP by immunohistochemistry; 80% of these cells were CD3-positive T cells. Following immunosuppression, in clinically uninflamed, treated, ocular MMP patients, the number of IL-13 positive cells was significantly reduced, but this was still fourfold greater than in normal conjunctiva. IL-13 stimulated collagen lattice contraction and migration, and decreased production of mmp-3 and mmp-10 by human conjunctival fibroblasts. The addition of T cell culture supernatant to IL-13 synergistically augmented fibroblast migration. IL-13 also up-regulated surface expression of HLA-DR, CD80, CD40, and CD154 by conjunctival fibroblasts, suggesting a potential mechanism for fibroblast-T cell cross talk, via which fibroblasts may actively engage in perpetuating chronic inflammation and continued fibrosis. Together, these findings suggest that IL-13 is involved in conjunctival fibrosis in MMP, and that IL-13 has both profibrotic and pro-inflammatory effects on human conjunctival fibroblasts.

Optimising use of thiopurines in inflammatory bowel disease.

INTRODUCTION: Thiopurines are central to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapeutics, either as monotherapy or in combination with newer biologic therapies, however it is only recently that focus has increased on improving effectiveness and tolerability through optimisation. Areas covered: We review the role of thiopurines in IBD and the importance of the timing of initiation of therapy. Drug metabolism and pharmacogenetics have increasingly played a role in determining dosing and dose optimisation and we review the rationale for this in both thiopurine monotherapy and in combination with biologic agents. We also discuss allopurinol co-therapy as a strategy for enhancing both efficacy and tolerability of thiopurine therapy. Although immunomodulators carry safety considerations, we discuss methods of optimisation to minimise side-effects and maximise safety to ensure the broadest number of patients can benefit. Expert commentary: We provide a practical guide to drug initiation and dose optimisation in a clinical setting, and address potential treatment duration. The forward view considers the place for thiopurines in the treatment of IBD, and how the application of the plethora of genetic data may help inform thopurine therapy in the future.

Vedolizumab: toward a personalized therapy paradigm for people with ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel disease, with a characteristic leukocytic infiltration of the mucosa. Immunosuppression including anti-TNF-α therapy is a mainstay of treatment for many; however, systemic immunosuppression is not universally effective and is associated with potential side effects. The gut-tropic integrin α4ß7, which is expressed on leukocytes, mediates migration from the circulation to the intestinal mucosa. Vedolizumab is a monoclonal antibody which blocks the egress of leukocytes via α4ß7, preventing accumulation in the mucosa, and attenuating inflammation without systemic immunosuppression. Vedolizumab has been evaluated in UC in a phase III trial, demonstrating efficacy as both an induction and a maintenance agent. In this article, we review the clinical trial data and also explore the growing body of "real-world" effectiveness data, investigating response and remission rates of vedolizumab in clinical practice. In addition, we review the increasing volume of data supporting the reassuring safety profile associated with vedolizumab.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid and its effect on conjunctival fibroblasts.

PURPOSE: First, to determine whether tumor necrosis factor-(TNF)-alpha is expressed in the conjunctiva of ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) and the consequences of systemic immunosuppressive treatment on this expression. Second, to investigate the in vitro effects of TNFalpha on human conjunctival fibroblasts. METHODS: The expression of TNFalpha in conjunctival tissues of patients with actively inflamed ocular MMP (n = 10), patients with clinically noninflamed ocular MMP after systemic immunosuppressive treatment (n = 10), and normal subjects (n = 10) was studied by immunohistochemistry. The effect of TNFalpha on functional assays of human conjunctival fibroblast activity were investigated, including migration, collagen lattice contraction, matrix metalloproteinase (mmp), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (timp) secretion, proliferation, and surface expression of HLA-DR, ICAM, CD80, CD86, CD40, CD40-ligand. RESULTS: In active ocular MMP, TNFalpha is expressed by a large number of stromal infiltrating cells (234 cells/mm(2)), and although the level of stromal TNFalpha expression is significantly reduced after immunosuppressive treatment (90 cells/mm(2)), these levels are still significantly elevated compared with normal conjunctiva (10 cells/mm(2), P < 0.05). TNFalpha stimulates increased migration by conjunctival fibroblasts (P < 0.001), increased production of mmp-9 (P = 0.01), decreased production of timp-2 (P = 0.01) and timp-4 (P = 0.04), and upregulated expression of CD40 and ICAM (P = 0.04). No significant effects of TNFalpha on fibroblast proliferation or collagen lattice contraction were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Increased conjunctival expression of TNFalpha in ocular MMP suggests that systemic TNFalpha antagonists are likely to be effective in controlling severe disease unresponsive to conventional systemic immunosuppression. Residual TNFalpha expression persists in clinically noninflamed disease. TNFalpha appears to have profibrotic and proinflammatory effects on human conjunctival fibroblasts.