A Retinoid X Receptor Agonist Directed to the Large Intestine Ameliorates T-Cell-Mediated Colitis in Mice.

Retinoid X receptor (RXR) is a nuclear receptor that heterodimerizes with several nuclear receptors, integrating ligand-mediated signals across the heterodimers. Synthetic RXR agonists have been developed to cure certain inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, pre-existing RXR agonists, which are lipophilic and readily absorbed in the upper intestine, cause considerable adverse effects such as hepatomegaly, hyperlipidemia, and hypothyroidism. To minimize these adverse effects, we have developed an RXR agonist, NEt-3IB, which has lipophilic and thus poorly absorptive properties. In this study, we evaluated the effects of NEt-3IB in an experimental murine colitis model induced through the adoptive transfer of CD45RBhighCD4+ T cells. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the major portion of NEt-3IB was successfully delivered to the large intestine after oral administration. Notably, NEt-3IB treatment suppressed the development of T cell-mediated chronic colitis, as indicated by improvement of wasting symptoms, inflammatory infiltration, and mucosal hyperplasia. The protective effect of NEt-3IB was mediated by the suppression of IFN-γ-producing Th1 cell expansion in the colon. In conclusion, NEt-3IB, a large intestine-directed RXR agonist, is a promising drug candidate for IBDs.

Microbiota-derived butyrate limits the autoimmune response by promoting the differentiation of follicular regulatory T cells.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic debilitating autoimmune disorder with a high prevalence, especially in industrialized countries. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota has been observed in RA patients. For instance, new-onset untreated RA (NORA) is associated with the underrepresentation of the Clostridium cluster XIVa, including Lachnospiraceae, which are major butyrate producers, although the pathological relevance has remained obscure. Follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells play critical regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including RA. Reduced number of circulating TFR cells has been associated with the elevation of autoantibodies and disease severity in RA. However, the contribution of commensal microbe-derived butyrate in controlling TFR cell differentiation remains unknown. METHODS: We examined the contribution of microbe-derived butyrate in controlling autoimmune arthritis using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and SKG arthritis models. We phenotyped autoimmune responses in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) in the colon and joint-draining lymph nodes in the CIA model. We developed an in vitro CXCR5+Bcl-6+Foxp3+ TFR (iTFR) cell culture system and examined whether butyrate promotes the differentiation of iTFR cells. FINDINGS: Microbe-derived butyrate suppressed the development of autoimmune arthritis. The immunization of type II collagen (CII) caused hypertrophy of the GALT in the colon by amplifying the GC reaction prior to the onset of the CIA. Butyrate mitigated these pathological events by promoting TFR cell differentiation. Butyrate directly induced the differentiation of functional TFR cells in vitro by enhancing histone acetylation in TFR cell marker genes. This effect was attributed to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition by butyrate, leading to histone hyperacetylation in the promoter region of the TFR-cell marker genes. The adoptive transfer of the butyrate-treated iTFR cells reduced CII-specific autoantibody production and thus ameliorated the symptoms of arthritis. INTERPRETATION: Accordingly, microbiota-derived butyrate serves as an environmental cue to enhance TFR cells, which suppress autoantibody production in the systemic lymphoid tissue, eventually ameliorating RA. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the link between the gut environment and RA risk. FUNDING: This work was supported by AMED-Crest (16gm1010004h0101, 17gm1010004h0102, 18gm1010004h0103, and 19gm1010004s0104 to KH), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP17KT0055, JP16H01369, and JP18H04680 to KH; JP17K15734 to DT), Keio University Special Grant-in-Aid for Innovative Collaborative Research Projects (KH), Keio Gijuku Fukuzawa Memorial Fund for the Advancement of Education and Research (DT), the SECOM Science and Technology Foundation (KH), the Cell Science Research Foundation (KH), the Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical and Pharmaceutical Research (DT), the Suzuken Memorial Foundation (KH and DT), the Takeda Science Foundation (KH and DT), The Science Research Promotion Fund, and The Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan (KH).

Fasting-Refeeding Impacts Immune Cell Dynamics and Mucosal Immune Responses.

Nutritional status potentially influences immune responses; however, how nutritional signals regulate cellular dynamics and functionality remains obscure. Herein, we report that temporary fasting drastically reduces the number of lymphocytes by ∼50% in Peyer's patches (PPs), the inductive site of the gut immune response. Subsequent refeeding seemingly restored the number of lymphocytes, but whose cellular composition was conspicuously altered. A large portion of germinal center and IgA+ B cells were lost via apoptosis during fasting. Meanwhile, naive B cells migrated from PPs to the bone marrow during fasting and then back to PPs during refeeding when stromal cells sensed nutritional signals and upregulated CXCL13 expression to recruit naive B cells. Furthermore, temporal fasting before oral immunization with ovalbumin abolished the induction of antigen-specific IgA, failed to induce oral tolerance, and eventually exacerbated food antigen-induced diarrhea. Thus, nutritional signals are critical in maintaining gut immune homeostasis.

MZB1 promotes the secretion of J-chain-containing dimeric IgA and is critical for the suppression of gut inflammation.

IgA is the most abundantly produced antibody in the body and plays a crucial role in gut homeostasis and mucosal immunity. IgA forms a dimer that covalently associates with the joining (J) chain, which is essential for IgA transport into the mucosa. Here, we demonstrate that the marginal zone B and B-1 cell-specific protein (MZB1) interacts with IgA through the α-heavy-chain tailpiece dependent on the penultimate cysteine residue and prevents the intracellular degradation of α-light-chain complexes. Moreover, MZB1 promotes J-chain binding to IgA and the secretion of dimeric IgA. MZB1-deficient mice are impaired in secreting large amounts of IgA into the gut in response to acute inflammation and develop severe colitis. Oral administration of a monoclonal IgA significantly ameliorated the colitis, accompanied by normalization of the gut microbiota composition. The present study identifies a molecular chaperone that promotes J-chain binding to IgA and reveals an important mechanism that controls the quantity, quality, and function of IgA.