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1.
Nat Methods ; 21(4): 673-679, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38438615

ABSTRACT

Spatial landmarks are crucial in describing histological features between samples or sites, tracking regions of interest in microscopy, and registering tissue samples within a common coordinate framework. Although other studies have explored unsupervised landmark detection, existing methods are not well-suited for histological image data as they often require a large number of images to converge, are unable to handle nonlinear deformations between tissue sections and are ineffective for z-stack alignment, other modalities beyond image data or multimodal data. We address these challenges by introducing effortless landmark detection, a new unsupervised landmark detection and registration method using neural-network-guided thin-plate splines. Our proposed method is evaluated on a diverse range of datasets including histology and spatially resolved transcriptomics, demonstrating superior performance in both accuracy and stability compared to existing approaches.


Subject(s)
Deep Learning , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods
2.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 1752, 2024 Feb 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38409190

ABSTRACT

Stromal cells support epithelial cell and immune cell homeostasis and play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Here, we quantify the stromal response to inflammation in pediatric IBD and reveal subset-specific inflammatory responses across colon segments and intestinal layers. Using data from a murine dynamic gut injury model and human ex vivo transcriptomic, protein and spatial analyses, we report that PDGFRA+CD142-/low fibroblasts and monocytes/macrophages co-localize in the intestine. In primary human fibroblast-monocyte co-cultures, intestinal PDGFRA+CD142-/low fibroblasts foster monocyte transition to CCR2+CD206+ macrophages through granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Monocyte-derived CCR2+CD206+ cells from co-cultures have a phenotype similar to intestinal CCR2+CD206+ macrophages from newly diagnosed pediatric IBD patients, with high levels of PD-L1 and low levels of GM-CSF receptor. The study describes subset-specific changes in stromal responses to inflammation and suggests that the intestinal stroma guides intestinal macrophage differentiation.


Subject(s)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Monocytes , Humans , Animals , Mice , Child , Monocytes/metabolism , Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , Inflammation/metabolism , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/metabolism , Cell Differentiation
3.
Mucosal Immunol ; 17(1): 81-93, 2024 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37952848

ABSTRACT

Commensal-specific clusters of differentiation (CD)4+ T cells are expanded in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to healthy individuals. How and where commensal-specific CD4+ T cells get activated is yet to be fully understood. We used CBir1 TCR-transgenic CD4+ T cells, specific to a commensal bacterial antigen, and different mouse models of IBD to characterize the dynamics of commensal-specific CD4+ T-cells activation. We found that CBir1 T cells proliferate following intestinal damage and cognate antigen presentation is mediated by CD11c+ cells in the colon-draining mesenteric lymph nodes. Using assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing and flow cytometry, we showed that activated CBir1 T cells preferentially acquire an effector rather than regulatory phenotype, which is plastic over time. Moreover, CBir1 T cells, while insufficient to initiate intestinal inflammation, contributed to worse disease outcomes in the presence of other CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that the commensal-specific T-cell responses observed in IBD exacerbate rather than initiate disease.


Subject(s)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , T-Lymphocytes , Mice , Animals , Humans , Intestines , Cell Differentiation , Flow Cytometry , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
4.
Arthritis Rheumatol ; 76(2): 255-267, 2024 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37610265

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: B cells are important in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Patients positive for Sjögren's syndrome antigen A/Sjögren syndrome antigen B (SSA/SSB) autoantibodies are more prone to systemic disease manifestations and adverse outcomes. We aimed to determine the role of B cell composition, gene expression, and B cell receptor usage in pSS subgroups stratified for SSA/SSB antibodies. METHODS: Over 230,000 B cells were isolated from peripheral blood of patients with pSS (n = 6 SSA-, n = 8 SSA+ single positive and n = 10 SSA/SSB+ double positive) and four healthy controls and processed for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell variable, diversity, and joining (VDJ) gene sequencing (scVDJ-seq). RESULTS: We show that SSA/SSB+ patients present the highest and lowest proportion of naïve and memory B cells, respectively, and the highest up-regulation of interferon-induced genes across all B cell subtypes. Differential usage of IGHV showed that IGHV1-69 and IGHV4-30-4 were more often used in all pSS subgroups compared with controls. Memory B cells from SSA/SSB+ patients displayed a higher proportion of cells with unmutated VDJ transcripts compared with other pSS patient groups and controls, indicating altered somatic hypermutation processes. Comparison with previous studies revealed heterogeneous clonotype pools, with little overlap in CDR3 sequences. Joint analysis using scRNA-seq and scVDJ-seq data allowed unsupervised stratification of patients with pSS and identified novel parameters that correlated to disease manifestations and antibody status. CONCLUSION: We describe heterogeneity and molecular characteristics in B cells from patients with pSS, providing clues to intrinsic differences in B cells that affect the phenotype and outcome and allowing stratification of patients with pSS at improved resolution.


Subject(s)
Sjogren's Syndrome , Humans , B-Lymphocytes , Autoantibodies , Phenotype
5.
Front Immunol ; 14: 1240597, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37753073

ABSTRACT

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of preventable deaths in hospitals, and its incidence is not decreasing despite extensive efforts in clinical and laboratory research. Venous thrombi are primarily formed in the valve pockets of deep veins, where activated monocytes play a crucial role in bridging innate immune activation and hemostatic pathways through the production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and tissue factor (TF) - a principal initiator of coagulation. In the valve pocket inflammation and hypoxia (sustained/intermittent) coexist, however their combined effects on immunothrombotic processes are poorly understood. Inflammation is strongly associated with VTE, while the additional contribution of hypoxia remains largely unexplored. To investigate this, we modelled the intricate conditions of the venous valve pocket using a state-of-the-art hypoxia chamber with software-controlled oxygen cycling. We comprehensively studied the effects of sustained and intermittent hypoxia alone, and in combination with VTE-associated inflammatory stimuli on primary monocytes. TF expression and activity was measured in monocytes subjected to sustained and intermittent hypoxia alone, or in combination with IL-1ß. Monocyte responses were further analyzed in detailed by RNA sequencing and validated by ELISA. Stimulation with IL-1ß alone promoted both transcription and activity of TF. Interestingly, the stimulatory effect of IL-1ß on TF was attenuated by sustained hypoxia, but not by intermittent hypoxia. Our transcriptome analysis further confirmed that sustained hypoxia limited the pro-inflammatory response induced by IL-1ß, and triggered a metabolic shift in monocytes. Intermittent hypoxia alone had a modest effect on monocyte transcript. However, in combination with IL-1ß intermittent hypoxia significantly altered the expression of 2207 genes and enhanced the IL-1ß-stimulatory effects on several chemokine and interleukin genes (e.g., IL-19, IL-24, IL-32, MIF), as well as genes involved in coagulation (thrombomodulin) and fibrinolysis (VEGFA, MMP9, MMP14 and PAI-1). Increased production of CCL2, IL-6 and TNF following stimulation with intermittent hypoxia and IL-1ß was confirmed by ELISA. Our findings provide valuable insights into how the different hypoxic profiles shape the immunothrombotic response of monocytes and shed new light on the early events in the pathogenesis of venous thrombosis.


Subject(s)
Monocytes , Venous Thromboembolism , Humans , Venous Thromboembolism/metabolism , Cytokines/metabolism , Hypoxia/metabolism , Inflammation/metabolism , Thromboplastin/metabolism
6.
Acta Trop ; 248: 107022, 2023 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37716667

ABSTRACT

Congenital toxoplasmosis may cause abortion, neonatal death, or foetal abnormalities. Despite little information from human studies, a genetic influence over congenital disease was demonstrated and, host genome have been implicated to resistance/susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii infection in both human and mice. It was previously shown that BALB/c mice (H2d) were more resistant to congenital toxoplasmosis than C57BL/6 mice (H2b). However, it is unclear whether these differences are attributable to the MHC haplotype or to other components of the mouse's genetic background. Therefore, in this work, we intend to address this question by investigating the pregnancy outcome in H2d -congenic C57BL/6 mice (C57BL/KsJ-H2d) and H2b-congenic BALB/c mice (CB10-H2-H2b). For this, animals were infected by intragastric route on the first day of pregnancy and examined on days 8 (8dP/8dI) or 18 (18dP/18dI) of gestation and infection. The pregnancy outcome, parasite burden, systemic cytokine profile and antibody response to infection were evaluated. Infected mice showed adverse pregnancy outcomes, in parallel low parasite detection in the uterus/placenta, being that the C57BL/KsJ showed the worst results in relation to CB10-H2 mice. Both mouse lineages showed an increase in IFN-γ and TNF levels systemically on 8dP/8dI and on 18dP/18dI, and C57BL/KsJ showed an increase in IL-6 levels in both gestation/infection periods. Additionally, C57BL/KsJ showed 7- and 7-fold increase in IL-6, 4- and 2.5-fold increase in IFN-γ and, 6- and 4-fold increase in TNF production on 8dP/8dI and 18dP/18dI, respectively in association with 1.5-fold decrease in TGF-ß levels on 8dP/8dI compared to CB10-H2 mice. In conclusion, the high IFN-γ and TNF serum levels observed in C57BL/KsJ (H2d) and CB10-H2 (H2b) mice were involved in the poor pregnancy outcomes in congenital toxoplasmosis. In addition, the higher IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF levels detected in C57BL/KsJ in relation to CB10-H2 mice on 8dP/8dI seem to be related to the genetic background of C57BL/6J mice that may have contributed to the worse pregnancy outcome in this mouse lineage.


Subject(s)
Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmosis, Animal , Toxoplasmosis, Congenital , Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Pregnancy , Disease Susceptibility , Haplotypes , Interleukin-6/genetics , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Toxoplasma/genetics , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology , Toxoplasmosis, Congenital/genetics , Histocompatibility
7.
Nat Biotechnol ; 2023 Sep 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37667091

ABSTRACT

We present a spatial omics approach that combines histology, mass spectrometry imaging and spatial transcriptomics to facilitate precise measurements of mRNA transcripts and low-molecular-weight metabolites across tissue regions. The workflow is compatible with commercially available Visium glass slides. We demonstrate the potential of our method using mouse and human brain samples in the context of dopamine and Parkinson's disease.

8.
Dev Cell ; 58(20): 2140-2162.e5, 2023 10 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37591247

ABSTRACT

A wealth of specialized cell populations within the skin facilitates its hair-producing, protective, sensory, and thermoregulatory functions. How the vast cell-type diversity and tissue architecture develops is largely unexplored. Here, with single-cell transcriptomics, spatial cell-type assignment, and cell-lineage tracing, we deconstruct early embryonic mouse skin during the key transitions from seemingly uniform developmental precursor states to a multilayered, multilineage epithelium, and complex dermal identity. We identify the spatiotemporal emergence of hair-follicle-inducing, muscle-supportive, and fascia-forming fibroblasts. We also demonstrate the formation of the panniculus carnosus muscle (PCM), sprouting blood vessels without pericyte coverage, and the earliest residence of mast and dendritic immune cells in skin. Finally, we identify an unexpected epithelial heterogeneity within the early single-layered epidermis and a signaling-rich periderm layer. Overall, this cellular and molecular blueprint of early skin development-which can be explored at https://kasperlab.org/tools-establishes histological landmarks and highlights unprecedented dynamic interactions among skin cells.


Subject(s)
Epidermis , Skin , Mice , Animals , Hair Follicle/pathology , Hair , Epithelium
9.
Cell Rep Med ; 4(5): 101038, 2023 05 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37160121

ABSTRACT

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are considered innate counterparts of adaptive T cells; however, their common and unique transcriptional signatures in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) are largely unknown. Here, we report a dysregulated colonic ILC composition in pIBD colitis that correlates with inflammatory activity, including accumulation of naive-like CD45RA+CD62L- ILCs. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) reveals modules of genes that are shared or unique across innate and adaptive lymphocytes. Shared modules include genes associated with activation/tissue residency, naivety/quiescence, and antigen presentation. Lastly, nearest-neighbor-based analysis facilitates the identification of "most inflamed" and "least inflamed" lymphocytes in pIBD colon with unique transcriptional signatures. Our study reveals shared and unique transcriptional signatures of colonic ILCs and T cells in pIBD. We also provide insight into the transcriptional regulation of colonic inflammation, deepening our understanding of the potential mechanisms involved in pIBD.


Subject(s)
Colitis , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Humans , Child , Lymphocytes , Immunity, Innate/genetics , Colitis/genetics , T-Lymphocytes
10.
Nat Commun ; 14(1): 2164, 2023 04 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37061513

ABSTRACT

Effective humoral immune responses require well-orchestrated B and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell interactions. Whether these interactions are impaired and associated with COVID-19 disease severity is unclear. Here, longitudinal blood samples across COVID-19 disease severity are analysed. We find that during acute infection SARS-CoV-2-specific circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells expand with disease severity. SARS-CoV-2-specific cTfh cell frequencies correlate with plasmablast frequencies and SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers, avidity and neutralization. Furthermore, cTfh cells but not other memory CD4 T cells, from severe patients better induce plasmablast differentiation and antibody production compared to cTfh cells from mild patients. However, virus-specific cTfh cell development is delayed in patients that display or later develop severe disease compared to those with mild disease, which correlates with delayed induction of high-avidity neutralizing antibodies. Our study suggests that impaired generation of functional virus-specific cTfh cells delays high-quality antibody production at an early stage, potentially enabling progression to severe disease.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer , Humans , T Follicular Helper Cells , SARS-CoV-2 , Plasma Cells
11.
Nat Neurosci ; 26(5): 891-901, 2023 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37095395

ABSTRACT

The spatiotemporal regulation of cell fate specification in the human developing spinal cord remains largely unknown. In this study, by performing integrated analysis of single-cell and spatial multi-omics data, we used 16 prenatal human samples to create a comprehensive developmental cell atlas of the spinal cord during post-conceptional weeks 5-12. This revealed how the cell fate commitment of neural progenitor cells and their spatial positioning are spatiotemporally regulated by specific gene sets. We identified unique events in human spinal cord development relative to rodents, including earlier quiescence of active neural stem cells, differential regulation of cell differentiation and distinct spatiotemporal genetic regulation of cell fate choices. In addition, by integrating our atlas with pediatric ependymomas data, we identified specific molecular signatures and lineage-specific genes of cancer stem cells during progression. Thus, we delineate spatiotemporal genetic regulation of human spinal cord development and leverage these data to gain disease insight.


Subject(s)
Ependymoma , Neural Stem Cells , Child , Female , Pregnancy , Humans , Spinal Cord , Ependymoma/genetics , Ependymoma/metabolism , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Neural Stem Cells/physiology , Gene Expression , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics
12.
Microbiome ; 11(1): 67, 2023 03 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37004130

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The majority of studies characterizing female genital tract microbiota have focused on luminal organisms, while the presence and impact of tissue-adherent ectocervical microbiota remain incompletely understood. Studies of luminal and tissue-associated bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract suggest that these communities may have distinct roles in health and disease. Here, we performed a multi-omics characterization of paired luminal and tissue samples collected from a cohort of Kenyan female sex workers. RESULTS: We identified a tissue-adherent bacterial microbiome, with a higher alpha diversity than the luminal microbiome, in which dominant genera overall included Gardnerella and Lactobacillus, followed by Prevotella, Atopobium, and Sneathia. About half of the L. iners-dominated luminal samples had a corresponding Gardnerella-dominated tissue microbiome. Broadly, the tissue-adherent microbiome was associated with fewer differentially expressed host genes than the luminal microbiome. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that L. crispatus-dominated tissue-adherent communities were associated with protein translation and antimicrobial activity, whereas a highly diverse microbial community was associated with epithelial remodeling and pro-inflammatory pathways. Tissue-adherent communities dominated by L. iners and Gardnerella were associated with lower host transcriptional activity. Tissue-adherent microbiomes dominated by Lactobacillus and Gardnerella correlated with host protein profiles associated with epithelial barrier stability, although with a more pro-inflammatory profile for the Gardnerella-dominated microbiome group. Tissue samples with a highly diverse composition had a protein profile representing cell proliferation and pro-inflammatory activity. CONCLUSION: We identified ectocervical tissue-adherent bacterial communities in all study participants of a female sex worker cohort. These communities were distinct from cervicovaginal luminal microbiota in a significant proportion of individuals. We further revealed that bacterial communities at both sites correlated with distinct host gene expression and protein levels. The tissue-adherent bacterial community could possibly act as a reservoir that seed the lumen with less optimal, non-Lactobacillus, bacteria. Video Abstract.


Subject(s)
Microbiota , Sex Workers , Female , Humans , Vagina/microbiology , Kenya , Microbiota/genetics , Bacteria/genetics , Lactobacillus/genetics , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Gene Expression
13.
Nat Cell Biol ; 25(2): 351-365, 2023 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36646791

ABSTRACT

The lung contains numerous specialized cell types with distinct roles in tissue function and integrity. To clarify the origins and mechanisms generating cell heterogeneity, we created a comprehensive topographic atlas of early human lung development. Here we report 83 cell states and several spatially resolved developmental trajectories and predict cell interactions within defined tissue niches. We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and spatially resolved transcriptomics into a web-based, open platform for interactive exploration. We show distinct gene expression programmes, accompanying sequential events of cell differentiation and maturation of the secretory and neuroendocrine cell types in proximal epithelium. We define the origin of airway fibroblasts associated with airway smooth muscle in bronchovascular bundles and describe a trajectory of Schwann cell progenitors to intrinsic parasympathetic neurons controlling bronchoconstriction. Our atlas provides a rich resource for further research and a reference for defining deviations from homeostatic and repair mechanisms leading to pulmonary diseases.


Subject(s)
Embryo, Mammalian , Gene Expression Profiling , Humans , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Lung , Stem Cells
14.
bioRxiv ; 2023 Sep 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38529510

ABSTRACT

Cardiac fibrosis, a common pathophysiology associated with various heart diseases, occurs from the excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) 1 . Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the primary cells that produce, degrade, and remodel ECM during homeostasis and tissue repair 2 . Upon injury, CFs gain plasticity to differentiate into myofibroblasts 3 and adipocyte-like 4,5 and osteoblast-like 6 cells, promoting fibrosis and impairing heart function 7 . How CFs maintain their cell state during homeostasis and adapt plasticity upon injury are not well defined. Recent studies have shown that Hippo signalling in CFs regulates cardiac fibrosis and inflammation 8-11 . Here, we used single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and spatially resolved transcriptomic profiling (ST) to investigate how the cell state was altered in the absence of Hippo signaling and how Hippo-deficient CFs interact with macrophages during cardiac fibrosis. We found that Hippo-deficient CFs differentiate into osteochondroprogenitors (OCPs), suggesting that Hippo restricts CF plasticity. Furthermore, Hippo-deficient CFs colocalized with macrophages, suggesting their intercellular communications. Indeed, we identified several ligand-receptor pairs between the Hippo-deficient CFs and macrophages. Blocking the Hippo-deficient CF-induced CSF1 signaling abolished macrophage expansion. Interestingly, blocking macrophage expansion also reduced OCP differentiation of Hippo-deficient CFs, indicating that macrophages promote CF plasticity.

15.
Immunity ; 55(12): 2336-2351.e12, 2022 12 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36462502

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic promotion of intestinal regeneration holds great promise, but defining the cellular mechanisms that influence tissue regeneration remains an unmet challenge. To gain insight into the process of mucosal healing, we longitudinally examined the immune cell composition during intestinal damage and regeneration. B cells were the dominant cell type in the healing colon, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed expansion of an IFN-induced B cell subset during experimental mucosal healing that predominantly located in damaged areas and associated with colitis severity. B cell depletion accelerated recovery upon injury, decreased epithelial ulceration, and enhanced gene expression programs associated with tissue remodeling. scRNA-seq from the epithelial and stromal compartments combined with spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunostaining showed that B cells decreased interactions between stromal and epithelial cells during mucosal healing. Activated B cells disrupted the epithelial-stromal cross talk required for organoid survival. Thus, B cell expansion during injury impairs epithelial-stromal cell interactions required for mucosal healing, with implications for the treatment of IBD.


Subject(s)
Colitis , Intestinal Mucosa , Animals , Wound Healing , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Epithelium , Disease Models, Animal
17.
PLoS Pathog ; 18(5): e1010494, 2022 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35533147

ABSTRACT

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is an injectable hormonal contraceptive used by millions of women worldwide. However, experimental studies have associated DMPA use with genital epithelial barrier disruption and mucosal influx of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) target cells. We explored the underlying molecular mechanisms of these findings. Ectocervical biopsies and cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) specimens were collected from HIV-seronegative Kenyan sex workers using DMPA (n = 32) or regularly cycling controls (n = 64). Tissue samples were assessed by RNA-sequencing and quantitative imaging analysis, whereas protein levels were measured in CVL samples. The results suggested a DMPA-associated upregulation of genes involved in immune regulation, including genes associated with cytokine-mediated signaling and neutrophil-mediated immunity. A transcription factor analysis further revealed DMPA-associated upregulation of RELA and NFKB1 which are involved in several immune activation pathways. Several genes significantly downregulated in the DMPA versus the control group were involved in epithelial structure and function, including genes encoding keratins, small proline-rich proteins, and cell-cell adhesion proteins. Pathway analyses indicated DMPA use was associated with immune activation and suppression of epithelium development, including keratinization and cornification processes. The cervicovaginal microbiome composition (Lactobacillus dominant and non-Lactobacillus dominant) had no overall interactional impact on the DMPA associated tissue gene expression. Imaging analysis verified that DMPA use was associated with an impaired epithelial layer as illustrated by staining for the selected epithelial junction proteins E-cadherin, desmoglein-1 and claudin-1. Additional staining for CD4+ cells revealed a more superficial location of these cells in the ectocervical epithelium of DMPA users versus controls. Altered protein levels of SERPINB1 and ITIH2 were further observed in the DMPA group. Identification of specific impaired epithelial barrier structures at the gene expression level, which were verified at the functional level by tissue imaging analysis, illustrates mechanisms by which DMPA adversely may affect the integrity of the genital mucosa.


Subject(s)
Contraceptive Agents, Female , HIV Infections , Serpins , Cervix Uteri , Contraceptive Agents, Female/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Kenya , Medroxyprogesterone Acetate/adverse effects
18.
Mucosal Immunol ; 15(4): 717-729, 2022 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35260804

ABSTRACT

The fate of tissue-resident memory CD4 T cells (Trm) has been incompletely investigated. Here we show that intranasal, but not parenteral, immunization with CTA1-3M2e-DD stimulated M2e-specific Th17 Trm cells, which conferred strong protection against influenza virus infection in the lung. These cells rapidly expanded upon infection and effectively restricted virus replication as determined by CD4 T cell depletion studies. Single-cell RNAseq transcriptomic and TCR VDJ-analysis of M2e-tetramer-sorted CD4 T cells on day 3 and 8 post infection revealed complete Th17-lineage dominance (no Th1 or Tregs) with extensive functional diversity and expression of gene markers signifying mature resident Trm cells (Cd69, Nfkbid, Brd2, FosB). Unexpectedly, the same TCR clonotype hosted cells with different Th17 subcluster functions (IL-17, IL-22), regulatory and cytotoxic cells, suggesting a tissue and context-dependent differentiation of reactivated Th17 Trm cells. A gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated up-regulation of regulatory genes (Lag3, Tigit, Ctla4, Pdcd1) in M2e-specific Trm cells on day 8, indicating a tissue damage preventing function. Thus, contrary to current thinking, lung M2e-specific Th17 Trm cells are sufficient for controlling infection and for protecting against tissue injury. These findings will have strong implications for vaccine development against respiratory virus infections and influenza virus infections, in particular.


Subject(s)
Influenza Vaccines , Influenza, Human , Orthomyxoviridae Infections , Humans , Immunologic Memory , Lung , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell , Th17 Cells
19.
J Leukoc Biol ; 111(4): 857-866, 2022 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34431542

ABSTRACT

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the lungs. The hallmark of sarcoidosis are granulomas that are surrounded by activated T cells, likely targeting the disease-inducing antigen. IFNγ-producing Th1 and Th17.1 T cells are elevated in sarcoidosis and associate with disease progression. Monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and required for T cell activation. Several subsets of monocytes and DCs with different functions were identified in sarcoidosis. However, to what extent different monocyte and DC subsets can support activation and skewing of T cells in sarcoidosis is still unclear. In this study, we performed a transcriptional and functional side-by-side comparison of sorted monocytes and DCs from matched blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of sarcoidosis patients. Transcriptomic analysis of all subsets showed upregulation of genes related to T cell activation and antigen presentation in DCs compared with monocytes. Allogeneic T cell proliferation was higher after coculture with monocytes and DCs from blood compared with BAL and DCs induced more T cell proliferation compared with monocytes. After coculture, proliferating T cells showed high expression of the transcription factor Tbet and IFNγ production. We also identified Tbet and RORγt coexpressing T cells that mainly produced IFNγ. Our data show that DCs rather than monocytes from sarcoidosis patients have the ability to activate and polarize T cells towards Th1 and Th17.1 cells. This study provides a useful in vitro tool to better understand the contribution of monocytes and DCs to T cell activation and immunopathology in sarcoidosis.


Subject(s)
Sarcoidosis , Th1 Cells , Dendritic Cells , Humans , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Lung/pathology , Monocytes , Sarcoidosis/pathology , Th17 Cells
20.
J Extracell Vesicles ; 10(9): e12128, 2021 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34322205

ABSTRACT

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly tested as therapeutic vehicles and biomarkers, but still EV subtypes are not fully characterised. To isolate EVs with few co-isolated entities, a combination of methods is needed. However, this is time-consuming and requires large sample volumes, often not feasible in most clinical studies or in studies where small sample volumes are available. Therefore, we compared EVs rendered by five commonly used methods based on different principles from conditioned cell medium and 250 µl or 3 ml plasma, that is, precipitation (ExoQuick ULTRA), membrane affinity (exoEasy Maxi Kit), size-exclusion chromatography (qEVoriginal), iodixanol gradient (OptiPrep), and phosphatidylserine affinity (MagCapture). EVs were characterised by electron microscopy, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Bioanalyzer, flow cytometry, and LC-MS/MS. The different methods yielded samples of different morphology, particle size, and proteomic profile. For the conditioned medium, Izon 35 isolated the highest number of EV proteins followed by exoEasy, which also isolated fewer non-EV proteins. For the plasma samples, exoEasy isolated a high number of EV proteins and few non-EV proteins, while Izon 70 isolated the most EV proteins. We conclude that no method is perfect for all studies, rather, different methods are suited depending on sample type and interest in EV subtype, in addition to sample volume and budget.


Subject(s)
Cell Fractionation/methods , Chemistry Techniques, Analytical/methods , Extracellular Vesicles , Flow Cytometry , Adult , Cell Line , Centrifugation, Density Gradient , Chromatography, Gel , Culture Media, Conditioned , Extracellular Vesicles/ultrastructure , Female , Fractional Precipitation , Humans , Male , Mass Spectrometry , Middle Aged , Proteomics , Triiodobenzoic Acids
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