CCR10-mediated Enhancement of T Cell Trafficking for Improved Tumor Immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The effectiveness of adoptive T cell therapy for solid tumors remains suboptimal, partly attributed to insufficient T cell infiltration into the tumor site. A promising strategy involves directing T cells towards the tumor utilizing tumor-specific chemokine receptors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed chemokine receptor expression in activated T cells and chemokine expression in breast and lung cancer using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Subsequently, we generated 1G4 T cell receptor-engineered T (TCR-T) cells with CCR10 and performed in vitro and in vivo efficacy tests. RESULTS: CCR10 exhibited insufficient expression in various human T cells. Analysis of TCGA RNA sequencing data revealed elevated expression of the chemokine CCL28, the corresponding chemokine for CCR10, in breast and lung cancer. Consequently, we generated CCR10-1G4 TCR-T cells. CCR10-1G4 dual expressing TCR-T cells exhibited comparable cellular cytotoxicity but increased mobility compared to 1G4 TCR-T cells in vitro. Furthermore, injecting CCR10-1G4 dual expressing TCR-T cells into a xenograft tumor model demonstrated enhanced in vivo trafficking and a greater reduction of tumor burden. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential of CCR10 for developing efficient adoptive T-cell treatments targeting solid tumors.

Mucosal CCL28 Chemokine Improves Protection against Genital Herpes through Mobilization of Antiviral Effector Memory CCR10+CD44+ CD62L-CD8+ T Cells and Memory CCR10+B220+CD27+ B Cells into the Infected Vaginal Mucosa.

Four major mucosal-associated chemokines, CCL25, CCL28, CXCL14, and CXCL17, play an important role in protecting mucosal surfaces from infectious pathogens. However, their role in protection against genital herpes remains to be fully explored. The CCL28 is a chemoattractant for the CCR10 receptor-expressing immune cells and is produced homeostatically in the human vaginal mucosa (VM). In this study, we investigated the role of the CCL28/CCR10 chemokine axis in mobilizing protective antiviral B and T cell subsets into the VM site of herpes infection. We report a significant increase in the frequencies of HSV-specific memory CCR10+CD44+CD8+ T cells, expressing high levels of CCR10, in herpes-infected asymptomatic (ASYMP) women compared with symptomatic women. Similarly, a significant increase in the CCL28 chemokine (a ligand of CCR10), was detected in the VM of herpes-infected ASYMP C57BL/6 mice, associated with the mobilization of high frequencies of HSV-specific effector memory CCR10+CD44+CD62L-CD8+ TEM cells and memory CCR10+B220+CD27+ B cells in the VM of HSV-infected ASYMP mice. Inversely, compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice, the CCL28 knockout (CCL28-/-) mice (1) appeared to be more susceptible to intravaginal infection and reinfection with HSV type 2, and (2) exhibited a significant decrease in the frequencies of HSV-specific effector memory CCR10+CD44+CD62L-CD8+ TEM cells and of memory CD27+B220+ B cells in the infected VM. These findings suggest a critical role of the CCL28/CCR10 chemokine axis in the mobilization of antiviral memory B and T cells within the VM to protect against genital herpes infection and disease.

The CCL27-CCR10 axis contributes to promoting proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Lung cancer is characterized by its high mortality and morbidity. A deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer tumorigenesis helps to develop novel lung cancer diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, the picture of the associated molecular landscape is not yet complete. As understood, chemokine-receptor interactions contribute much to lung cancer tumorigenesis, in which CCR10 also plays an important role. This study aimed to expand the knowledge of CCR10 in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) in the manner of molecular mechanism and biological functions. Using GEPIA database, the survival analysis between LUSC patients with high and low CCR10 expressions was performed, showing that CCR10 could be regarded as a risk factor for LUSC patients. Subsequently, CCR10 protein and mRNA expressions in LUSC were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot respectively. The results indicated that CCR10 was highly expressed in LUSC cells. The results of CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays presented that CCL27, the ligand of CCR10, promoted proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of LUSC cells by activating CCR10. Also, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was verified as the involved pathway by western blot. Overall, it could be concluded that the CCL27-CCR10 regulatory axis can activate the PI3K/AKT pathway fostering the malignant features of LUSC cells.

[Role of the CCL28-CCR10 pathway in monocyte migration in rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of chemokine receptor CCR10 on monocytes/macrophages in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate the role of chemokine CCL28 and its receptor CCR10 in the migration of RA monocytes and its mechanism. METHODS: The expression of CCR10 in synovial tissues from 8 RA patients, 4 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and 4 normal controls was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and cell staining was scored on a 0-5 scales. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of CCR10 positive cells in CD14+ monocytes from peripheral blood of 26 RA patients and 20 healthy controls, as well as from synovial fluid of 15 RA patients. The chemotactic migration of monocytes from RA patients and healthy controls in response to CCL28 was evaluated using an in vitro Transwell system. Western blotting was conducted to assess phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt) pathways in RA monocytes upon CCL28 treatment. RESULTS: CCR10 was predominantly expressed in RA synovial lining cells and sublining macrophages, endothelial cells, and lymphocytes. CCR10 expression was significantly increased on lining cells and sublining macrophages in RA synovial tissue compared with OA and normal synovial tissue (both P < 0.01). The patients with RA had markedly elevated expression of CCR10 on peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes compared with the healthy controls [(15.6±3.0)% vs. (7.7±3.8)%, P < 0.01]. CCR10 expression on synovial fluid monocytes from the RA patients was (32.0±15.0)%, which was significantly higher than that on RA peripheral blood monocytes (P < 0.01). In vitro, CCL28 caused significant migration of CD14+ monocytes from peripheral blood of the RA patients and the healthy controls at concentrations ranging from 10-100 µg/L (all P < 0.01). The presence of neutralizing antibody to CCR10 greatly suppressed CCL28-driven chemotaxis of RA monocytes (P < 0.01). Stimulation of RA monocytes with CCL28 induced a remarkable increase in phosphorylation of ERK and Akt (both P < 0.05). ERK inhibitor (U0126) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) strongly reduced the migration of RA monocytes in response to CCL28 (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: RA patients had increased CCR10 expression on peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and synovial tissue monocytes/macrophages. CCL28 ligation to CCR10 promoted RA monocyte migration through activation of the ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. The CCL28-CCR10 pathway could participate in monocyte recruitment into RA joints, thereby contributing to synovial inflammation and bone destruction.

Knockdown of CCL28 inhibits endometriosis stromal cell proliferation and invasion via ERK signaling pathway inactivation.

Endometriosis (EM), the presence of functional endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity, is a common gynecological disorder. At present, the pathogenesis of EM has not been fully elucidated, so there is still a lack of effective therapy. The present study aimed to explore the role of C­C motif chemokine ligand 28 (CCL28) and its underlying mechanism in endometrial stromal cells to propose a novel therapy for EM treatment. The expression of CCL28 and CC chemokine receptor 10 (CCR10) were examined. After CCL28 knockdown or overexpression by lentivirus infection, cell proliferation and invasion were measured. It was revealed that compared with normal, the expression levels of CCL28 and CCR10 were significantly elevated in endometrial tissues of patients with EM. Knockdown of CCL28 in endometrial stromal cells significantly suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, and this was accompanied by significantly reduced expression levels of CCR10, MMP2, MMP9, integrin ß1 (ITGB1) and phosphorylated (p)­ERK/ERK ratio. The addition of the CCL28 recombinant protein had an opposite effect to CCL28 downregulation. Furthermore, the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, reduced CCL28­induced cell proliferation and invasion, as well as the expression levels of MMP2, MMP9, ITGB1 and p­ERK. Therefore, the present study indicated that CCL28 may contribute to the progression of EM by regulating MMP2, MMP9 and ITGB1 expression and function via the activation of the ERK signaling pathway.

SARS-CoV2 pneumonia recovery is linked to expansion of innate lymphoid cells type 2 expressing CCR10.

Accelerate lung repair in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is essential for pandemic handling. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are likely players, given their role in mucosal protection and tissue homeostasis. We studied ILC subpopulations at two time points in a cohort of patients admitted in the hospital due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 patients with moderate/severe respiratory failure featured profound depletion of circulating ILCs at hospital admission, in agreement with overall lymphocyte depletion. However, ILCs recovered in direct correlation with lung function improvement as measured by oxygenation index and in negative association with inflammatory and lung/endothelial damage markers like RAGE. While both ILC1 and ILC2 expanded, ILC2 showed the most striking phenotype changes, with CCR10 upregulation in strong correlation with these parameters. Overall, CCR10+ ILC2 emerge as relevant contributors to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia recovery.

Antibody-mediated depletion of CCR10+EphA3+ cells ameliorates fibrosis in IPF.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by aberrant repair that diminishes lung function via mechanisms that remain poorly understood. CC chemokine receptor (CCR10) and its ligand CCL28 were both elevated in IPF compared with normal donors. CCR10 was highly expressed by various cells from IPF lungs, most notably stage-specific embryonic antigen-4-positive mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs). In vitro, CCL28 promoted the proliferation of CCR10+ MPCs while CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting of CCR10 resulted in the death of MPCs. Following the intravenous injection of various cells from IPF lungs into immunodeficient (NOD/SCID-γ, NSG) mice, human CCR10+ cells initiated and maintained fibrosis in NSG mice. Eph receptor A3 (EphA3) was among the highest expressed receptor tyrosine kinases detected on IPF CCR10+ cells. Ifabotuzumab-targeted killing of EphA3+ cells significantly reduced the numbers of CCR10+ cells and ameliorated pulmonary fibrosis in humanized NSG mice. Thus, human CCR10+ cells promote pulmonary fibrosis, and EphA3 mAb-directed elimination of these cells inhibits lung fibrosis.

Single-cell transcriptomics applied to emigrating cells from psoriasis elucidate pathogenic versus regulatory immune cell subsets.

BACKGROUND: In previous human skin single-cell data, inflammatory cells constituted only a small fraction of the overall cell population, such that functional subsets were difficult to ascertain. OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to overcome the aforesaid limitation by applying single-cell transcriptomics to emigrating cells from skin and elucidate ex vivo gene expression profiles of pathogenic versus regulatory immune cell subsets in the skin of individuals with psoriasis. METHODS: We harvested emigrating cells from human psoriasis skin after incubation in culture medium without enzyme digestion or cell sorting and analyzed cells with single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry simultaneously. RESULTS: Unsupervised clustering of harvested cells from psoriasis skin and control skin identified natural killer cells, T-cell subsets, dendritic cell subsets, melanocytes, and keratinocytes in different layers. Comparison between psoriasis cells and control cells within each cluster revealed that (1) cutaneous type 17 T cells display highly differing transcriptome profiles depending on IL-17A versus IL-17F expression and IFN-γ versus IL-10 expression; (2) semimature dendritic cells are regulatory dendritic cells with high IL-10 expression, but a subset of semimature dendritic cells expresses IL-23A and IL-36G in psoriasis; and (3) CCL27-CCR10 interaction is potentially impaired in psoriasis because of decreased CCL27 expression in basal keratinocytes. CONCLUSION: We propose that single-cell transcriptomics applied to emigrating cells from human skin provides an innovative study platform to compare gene expression profiles of heterogenous immune cells in various inflammatory skin diseases.

Systematic Assessment of Chemokine Signaling at Chemokine Receptors CCR4, CCR7 and CCR10.

Chemokines interact with chemokine receptors in a promiscuous network, such that each receptor can be activated by multiple chemokines. Moreover, different chemokines have been reported to preferentially activate different signalling pathways via the same receptor, a phenomenon known as biased agonism. The human CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) CCR4, CCR7 and CCR10 play important roles in T cell trafficking and have been reported to display biased agonism. To systematically characterize these effects, we analysed G protein- and ß-arrestin-mediated signal transduction resulting from stimulation of these receptors by each of their cognate chemokine ligands within the same cellular background. Although the chemokines did not elicit ligand-biased agonism, the three receptors exhibited different arrays of signaling outcomes. Stimulation of CCR4 by either CC chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) or CCL22 induced ß-arrestin recruitment but not G protein-mediated signaling, suggesting that CCR4 has the potential to act as a scavenger receptor. At CCR7, both CCL19 and CCL21 stimulated G protein signaling and ß-arrestin recruitment, with CCL19 consistently displaying higher potency. At CCR10, CCL27 and CCL28(4-108) stimulated both G protein signaling and ß-arrestin recruitment, whereas CCL28(1-108) was inactive, suggesting that CCL28(4-108) is the biologically relevant form of this chemokine. These comparisons emphasize the intrinsic abilities of different receptors to couple with different downstream signaling pathways. Comparison of these results with previous studies indicates that differential agonism at these receptors may be highly dependent on the cellular context.

Tissue-Resident Memory CD8+ T Cells From Skin Differentiate Psoriatic Arthritis From Psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare immune cell phenotype and function in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) versus psoriasis in order to better understand the pathogenesis of PsA. METHODS: In-depth immunophenotyping of different T cell and dendritic cell subsets was performed in patients with PsA, psoriasis, or axial spondyloarthritis and healthy controls. Subsequently, we analyzed cells from peripheral blood, synovial fluid (SF), and skin biopsy specimens using flow cytometry, along with high-throughput transcriptome analyses and functional assays on the specific cell populations that appeared to differentiate PsA from psoriasis. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, the peripheral blood of patients with PsA was characterized by an increase in regulatory CD4+ T cells and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and IL-22 coproducing CD8+ T cells. One population specifically differentiated PsA from psoriasis: i.e., CD8+CCR10+ T cells were enriched in PsA. CD8+CCR10+ T cells expressed high levels of DNAX accessory molecule 1 and were effector memory cells that coexpressed skin-homing receptors CCR4 and cutaneous lymphocyte antigen. CD8+CCR10+ T cells were detected under inflammatory and homeostatic conditions in skin, but were not enriched in SF. Gene profiling further revealed that CD8+CCR10+ T cells expressed GATA3, FOXP3, and core transcriptional signature of tissue-resident memory T cells, including CD103. Specific genes, including RORC, IFNAR1, and ERAP1, were up-regulated in PsA compared to psoriasis. CD8+CCR10+ T cells were endowed with a Tc2/22-like cytokine profile, lacked cytotoxic potential, and displayed overall regulatory function. CONCLUSION: Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells derived from the skin are enhanced in the circulation of patients with PsA compared to patients with psoriasis alone. This may indicate that aberrances in cutaneous tissue homeostasis contribute to arthritis development.

Coordinated co-migration of CCR10+ antibody-producing B cells with helper T cells for colonic homeostatic regulation.

In the intestine, IgA antibody-secreting B cells (IgA-ASCs) and helper T cells coordinate to maintain local homeostasis while their dysregulation could lead to development of intestinal inflammatory diseases. However, mechanisms underlying the coordinated localization and function of the B and T cells into the intestine, particularly the colon, are poorly understood. We herein report the first evidence that the gut-homing chemokine receptor CCR10+ IgA-ASCs form conjugates with helper T cells, preferentially regulatory T cells, at their differentiation sites of gut-associated lymphoid organs for their coordinated co-localization into the colon to promote local homeostasis. In CCR10-knockout mice, defective migration of IgA-ASCs also resulted in defective T-cell migration and homeostasis, and development of inflammatory symptoms in the colon. Antigen-specific interaction of CCR10+ IgA-ASCs and T cells is crucial for their homeostatic establishment in the colon. On the other hand, in IgA-knockout mice, preferential expansion of CCR10+ IgG1-ASCs with regulatory functions compensated for CCR10+ IgA-ASCs to help maintain colonic homeostasis. The preferential expansion of specific subclasses of CCR10+ IgG-ASCs with regulatory functions was also found in asymptomatic IgA-deficient patients. These findings suggest coordinated cell migration as a novel mechanism underlying localization and function of B and T cells in colonic homeostatic regulation.

Innate lymphoid cells regulate radiation-induced skin damage via CCR10 signaling.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of CCR10 in innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) response in radiation-induced skin damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CCR10+/- and CCR10-/- mice were treated with either a single dose of 5 Gy or 5 Gy everyday for 6 days with a total dose of 30 Gy with X-ray. ILCs from the skin were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry 3 and 10 days after irradiation. A mouse model of radio-dermatitis was used to assess the skin damage 10 days after 6 × 5 Gy irradiation. RESULTS: Skin ILCs were decreased in both CCR10+/- and CCR10-/- mice 3 days after single irradiation (p < .05). However, the skin inflammation disappeared and ILCs returned to normal levels 10 days after single irradiation. ILCs of both genotypes were also decreased after 6 × 5 Gy irradiation, but the percentage of skin ILCs in CCR10-/- mice was lower than that in CCR10+/- mice 10 days after irradiation. The immunohistochemistry results showed that CCR10-/- mice had more severe skin inflammation than CCR10+/- mice. CONCLUSION: CCR10-/- mice had lower percentages of ILCs and more skin damage than CCR10+/- mice after irradiation. These findings indicate that skin ILCs are regulated by CCR10, which might be a potential target for reducing the radio-dermatitis.

CCL28-induced CCR10/eNOS interaction in angiogenesis and skin wound healing.

Chemokines and their receptors play important roles in vascular homeostasis, development, and angiogenesis. Little is known regarding the molecular signaling mechanisms activated by CCL28 chemokine via its primary receptor CCR10 in endothelial cells (ECs). Here, we test the hypothesis that CCL28/CCR10 signaling plays an important role in regulating skin wound angiogenesis through endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-dependent Src, PI3K, and MAPK signaling. We observed nitric oxide (NO) production in human primary ECs stimulated with exogenous CCL28, which also induced direct binding of CCR10 and eNOS resulting in inhibition of eNOS activity. Knockdown of CCR10 with siRNA lead to reduced eNOS expression and tube formation suggesting the involvement of CCR10 in EC angiogenesis. Based on this interaction, we engineered a myristoylated 7 amino acid CCR10-binding domain (Myr-CBD7) peptide and showed that this can block eNOS interaction with CCR10, but not with calmodulin, resulting in upregulation of eNOS activity. Importantly, topical administration of Myr-CBD7 peptide on mouse dermal wounds not only blocked CCR10-eNOS interaction, but also enhanced expression of eNOS, CD31, and IL-4 with reduction of CCL28 and IL-6 levels associated with improved wound healing. These results point to a potential therapeutic strategy to upregulate NO bioavailability, enhance angiogenesis, and improve wound healing by disrupting CCL28-activated CCR10-eNOS interaction.

CCL28 promotes locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury via recruiting regulatory T cells.

BACKGROUND: Chemokines play a key role in post-traumatic inflammation and secondary injury after spinal cord injury (SCI). CCL28, the chemokine CC-chemokine ligand 28, is involved in the epithelial and mucosal immunity. However, whether CCL28 participates in the physiopathologic processes after SCI remains unclear. RESULTS: CCL28 is upregulated in the spinal cord after SCI. In addition, neutralizing antibodies against IL-1ß or TNF-α, or treatment of ML120B, a selective inhibitor of IKK-ß, remarkably decrease CCL28 upregulation, suggesting that CCL28 upregulation relies on NF-κB pathway activated by IL-1ß and TNF-α after SCI. Moreover, CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells that express CCR10, a receptor of CCL28, are enriched in the spinal cord after SCI. We further demonstrate that the spinal cord recruits Treg cells through CCL28-CCR10 axis, which in turn function to suppress immune response and promote locomotor recovery after SCI. In contrast, neutralizing CCL28 or CCR10 reduces Treg cell recruitment and delays locomotor recovery. METHODS: The neutralizing antibodies and recombinant CCL28 were injected intraspinally into the mice prior to SCI, which was established via hemitransection. RT-qPCR analysis was performed to determine transcript level, and Western blot analysis and ELISA assay were used to detect protein expression. Immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and visualized by immunofluorescence. The chemotaxis was assessed by in vitro transwell migration assay. The mouse locomotor activity was assessed via the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) system. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that NF-κB pathway-regulated CCL28 production plays a protective role after SCI through recruiting CCR10-expressing and immunosuppressive Treg cells, and suggest that interfering CCL28-CCR10 axis might be of potential clinical benefit in improving SCI recovery.

Chemokine Receptor Expression Pattern Correlates to Progression of Conjunctival Melanocytic Lesions.

Purpose: Chemokines play a role in the progression and metastatic spread of both cutaneous and uveal melanomas. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of expression of chemokine receptors CCR7, CXCR4, and CCR10 in conjunctival melanocytic lesions. Methods: In total, 44 conjunctival nevi, 21 cases of primary acquired melanosis (PAM) with atypia and 35 conjunctival melanomas, were included. After immunohistochemical staining for CCR7, CXCR4, and CCR10 the immunoreactive score (IRS) was determined. The findings were correlated for association with melanoma and development of metastasis. For mechanistic evaluation, we used a mouse melanoma metastasis model using two human conjunctival melanoma cell lines, CM2005.1 and CRMM1. Results: All tested chemokines showed a significantly higher expression in conjunctival melanoma than conjunctival nevi. There was a statistically significant difference between the IRS in nevi and PAM with atypia for nuclear IRS in CCR10 (P = 0.03) and both nuclear and cytoplasmic IRS in CXCR4 (P < 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively); this was also true evaluating the groups PAM with atypia and melanoma all together (P < 0.01). Furthermore, a trend for lower IRS was seen in cases of melanoma without metastasis, with a suggestive pattern of a higher IRS in cases that did develop metastases, supported for CXCR4 using the mouse melanoma metastasis model. Conclusions: Expression of specific chemokines changes during the progression and metastatic spread of conjunctival melanocytic lesions. Differential chemokine profiles may hold prognostic value for patients with conjunctival melanomas and might be considered as a therapeutic target.

c-Kit-positive ILC2s exhibit an ILC3-like signature that may contribute to IL-17-mediated pathologies.

Here we identify a group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) subpopulation that can convert into interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing NKp44- ILC3-like cells. c-Kit and CCR6 define this ILC2 subpopulation that exhibits ILC3 features, including RORγt, enabling the conversion into IL-17-producing cells in response to IL-1ß and IL-23. We also report a role for transforming growth factor-ß in promoting the conversion of c-Kit- ILC2s into RORγt-expressing cells by inducing the upregulation of IL23R, CCR6 and KIT messenger RNA in these cells. This switch was dependent on RORγt and the downregulation of GATA-3. IL-4 was able to reverse this event, supporting a role for this cytokine in maintaining ILC2 identity. Notably, this plasticity has physiological relevance because a subset of RORγt+ ILC2s express the skin-homing receptor CCR10, and the frequencies of IL-17-producing ILC3s are increased at the expense of ILC2s within the lesional skin of patients with psoriasis.

Stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine inhibits LPS-induced extracellular release of HMGB1 through the G2A/calcium/CaMKKß/AMPK pathway.

Stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine (sLPC) has protective effects against several lethal sepsis models, even after induction of sepsis, which is associated with sLPC-mediated inhibition of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) release. This study investigated the mechanism by which sLPC inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced extracellular secretion of HMGB1 after the onset of sepsis. sLPC increased AMPK phosphorylation and the binding of AMPK to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase ß (CaMKKß), one of the upstream signals of AMPK. Inhibition of CaMKKß activity decreased sLPC-mediated inhibition of HMGB1 release, and sLPC increased the concentration of intracellular calcium. Blocking of the macrophage G protein-coupled receptor G2A (G2A) suppressed AMPK phosphorylation, suppressed increases in the intracellular levels of calcium, and prevented the inhibition of HMGB1 release by sLPC. In particular, when macrophages were incubated with sLPC even after LPS treatment, sLPC increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and the binding of CaMKKß and AMPK, and suppressed the secretion of HMGB1. In addition, sLPC administered 1 h before or 4 h after establishment of sepsis significantly diminished circulating HMGB1 levels in mice. sLPC inhibited LPS-induced extracellular release of HMGB1 through the activation of the G2A/calcium/CaMKKß/AMPK pathway. These findings suggest that sLPC may be a potential anti-inflammatory agent for acute inflammatory conditions such as sepsis.

CCR10+ ILC2s with ILC1-like properties exhibit a protective function in severe allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that patients with severe allergic asthma have high numbers of circulating ILC2s expressing CCR10. METHOD: Herein, CCR10+ ILC2s were further analyzed in the blood of healthy individuals or patients with allergic and non-allergic asthma. Characteristics of human CCR10+ and CCR10- ILC2s were assessed by flow cytometry as well as single-cell multiplex RT-qPCR. The role of CCR10+ ILC2s in asthma pathophysiology was studied in allergen-treated mice. RESULTS: When compared to healthy controls, CCR10+ ILC2s are enriched in the blood of both allergic and non-allergic severe asthmatic patients, and these cells are recruited to the lungs. Plasma concentrations of the CCR10 ligand CCL27 are significantly increased in severe asthmatics when compared to non-asthmatic patients. CCR10+ ILC2s secrete little TH 2 cytokines, but exhibit ILC1-like properties, including a capacity to produce IFN-γ. Also, single-cell analysis reveals that the CCR10+ ILC2 subset is enriched in cells expressing amphiregulin. CCR10+ ILC2 depletion, as well as blocking of IFN-γ activity, exacerbates airway hyperreactivity in allergen-challenged mice, providing evidence for a protective role of these cells in allergic inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Frequencies of circulating CCR10+ ILC2s and CCL27 plasma concentrations represent candidate markers of asthma severity. The characterization of CCR10+ ILC2s in human samples and in mouse asthma models suggests that these cells downregulate allergic inflammation through IFN-γ production.

CCR10+ epithelial cells from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lungs drive remodeling.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating fibrotic lung disease of unknown etiology and limited therapeutic options. In this report, we characterize what we believe is a novel CCR10+ epithelial cell population in IPF lungs. There was a significant increase in the percentage of CCR10+ epithelial cells in IPF relative to normal lung explants and their numbers significantly correlated to lung remodeling in humanized NSG mice. Cultured CCR10-enriched IPF epithelial cells promoted IPF lung fibroblast invasion and collagen 1 secretion. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis showed distinct CCR10+ epithelial cell populations enriched for inflammatory and profibrotic transcripts. Consistently, cultured IPF but not normal epithelial cells induced lung remodeling in humanized NSG mice, where the number of CCR10+ IPF, but not normal, epithelial cells correlated with hydroxyproline concentration in the remodeled NSG lungs. A subset of IPF CCR10hi epithelial cells coexpress EphA3 and ephrin A signaling induces the expression of CCR10 by these cells. Finally, EphA3+CCR10hi epithelial cells induce more consistent lung remodeling in NSG mice relative to EphA3-CCR10lo epithelial cells. Our results suggest that targeting epithelial cells, highly expressing CCR10, may be beneficial in IPF.

The chemokine receptor CCR10 promotes inflammation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis via PI3K/Akt pathway activation.

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-related proteins are dysregulated and the GPCR CC-chemokine receptor 10 (CCR10) is significantly upregulated in inflammation-driven HCC. However, CCR10's role in inflammation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of CCR10 in inflammation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. Via a targeted gene expression microarray screening alterations in GPCR family gene expression, we found CCR10 to be significantly upregulated in hepatocytes isolated from inflammation-driven human HCC tumors and matching paracancerous tissues. Tetrachloromethane (CCl4)-induced and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced murine models of inflammatory hepatocarcinogenesis displayed significant hepatocellular TNF and CCR10 upregulation. Exogenous TNF applied to HepG2 and LO2 cell lines as well as wild-type (WT) mice significantly upregulated hepatocellular CCR10 expression, Akt phosphorylation, PCNA expression, and hepatocellular proliferation. Additionally, exogenous TNF significantly upregulated secretion of the natural CCR10 ligand-agonist CCL28 from both cell lines. Transgenic CCR10-knockout (CCR10 KO) in DEN-treated mice significantly increased hepatocellular apoptosis levels and significantly lowered compensatory hepatocellular proliferation but did not affect upstream TNF expression. In addition, DEN-treated CCR10 KO mice showed a significantly lower liver weight/body weight ratio, significantly lower liver tumor incidence, and significantly smaller tumors. Moreover, exogenous CCR10 expression significantly raised xenograft tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice. In vitro, CCR10 transfection or CCL28 treatment in HepG2 and LO2 cell lines significantly increased Akt phosphorylation, PCNA expression, and cell proliferation, while CCR10 silencing or Akt inhibition produced the opposite effects. In vivo, hepatocytes isolated from HCC tumor tissue and matching paracancerous tissue in DEN-treated CCR10 KO mice showed significantly lower Akt phosphorylation and PCNA expression relative to WT hepatocytes. In conclusion, inflammation-induced TNF promotes hepatocellular CCR10 expression and downstream PI3K/Akt-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis. CCR10 appears to function as a linkage between TNF stimulation and downstream PI3K/Akt pathway activation and shows promise as a potential therapeutic target for inflammation-driven HCC.