Adaptive immune changes associate with clinical progression of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. Recent evidence suggests the involvement of peripheral immune cells in the disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: We comprehensively mapped peripheral immune changes in AD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia compared to controls, using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF). RESULTS: We found an adaptive immune signature in AD, and specifically highlight the accumulation of PD1+ CD57+ CD8+ T effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA in the MCI stage of AD. In addition, several innate and adaptive immune cell subsets correlated to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD neuropathology and measures for cognitive decline. Intriguingly, subsets of memory T and B cells were negatively associated with CSF biomarkers for tau pathology, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in AD patients. Lastly, we established the influence of the APOE ε4 allele on peripheral immunity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate significant peripheral immune alterations associated with both early and late clinical stages of AD, emphasizing the necessity for further investigation into how these changes influence underlying brain pathology.

Targeting the ACOD1-itaconate axis stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques.

Inflammatory macrophages are key drivers of atherosclerosis that can induce rupture-prone vulnerable plaques. Skewing the plaque macrophage population towards a more protective phenotype and reducing the occurrence of clinical events is thought to be a promising method of treating atherosclerotic patients. In the current study, we investigate the immunomodulatory properties of itaconate, an immunometabolite derived from the TCA cycle intermediate cis-aconitate and synthesised by the enzyme Aconitate Decarboxylase 1 (ACOD1, also known as IRG1), in the context of atherosclerosis. Ldlr-/- atherogenic mice transplanted with Acod1-/- bone marrow displayed a more stable plaque phenotype with smaller necrotic cores and showed increased recruitment of monocytes to the vessel intima. Macrophages from Acod1-/- mice contained more lipids whilst also displaying reduced induction of apoptosis. Using multi-omics approaches, we identify a metabolic shift towards purine metabolism, in addition to an altered glycolytic flux towards production of glycerol for triglyceride synthesis. Overall, our data highlight the potential of therapeutically blocking ACOD1 with the aim of stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques.

Adenine is an anti-inflammatory metabolite found to be more abundant in M-CSF over GM-CSF-differentiated human macrophages.

Immunometabolism has been unveiled in the last decade to play a major role in controlling macrophage metabolism and inflammation. There has been a constant effort to understand the immunomodulating properties of regulated metabolites during inflammation with the aim of controlling and re-wiring aberrant macrophages in inflammatory diseases. M-CSF and GM-CSF-differentiated macrophages play a key role in mounting successful innate immune responses. When a resolution phase is not achieved however, GM-CSF macrophages contribute substantially more towards an adverse inflammatory milieu than M-CSF macrophages, consequently driving disease progression. Whether there are specific immunometabolites that determine the homoeostatic or inflammatory nature of M-CSF and GM-CSF-differentiated macrophages is still unknown. As such, we performed metabolomics analysis on LPS and IL-4-stimulated M-CSF and GM-CSF-differentiated human macrophages to identify differentially accumulating metabolites. Adenine was distinguished as a metabolite significantly higher in M-CSF-differentiated macrophages after both LPS or IL-4 stimulation. Human macrophages treated with adenine before LPS stimulation showed a reduction in inflammatory gene expression, cytokine secretion and surface marker expression. Adenine caused macrophages to become more quiescent by lowering glycolysis and OXPHOS which resulted in reduced ATP production. Moreover, typical metabolite changes seen during LPS-induced macrophage metabolic reprogramming were absent in the presence of adenine. Phosphorylation of metabolic signalling proteins AMPK, p38 MAPK and AKT were not responsible for the suppressed metabolic activity of adenine-treated macrophages. Altogether, in this study we highlight the immunomodulating capacity of adenine in human macrophages and its function in driving cellular quiescence.

Colonic macrophages eat and feed.

Macrophages not only secure host defense via phagocytosis but also play a key role in tissue homeostasis. A comprehensive study by Fritsch et al. reveals a novel mechanism by which macrophages in the colon deliver polyamines to epithelial cells to support self-renewal of the epithelium during periods of high proliferation.

Pancreatic acinar cell fate relies on system xC- to prevent ferroptosis during stress.

Acinar cell dedifferentiation is one of the most notable features of acute and chronic pancreatitis. It can also be the initial step that facilitates pancreatic cancer development. In the present study, we further decipher the precise mechanisms and regulation using primary human cells and murine experimental models. Our RNAseq analysis indicates that, in both species, early acinar cell dedifferentiation is accompanied by multiple pathways related to cell survival that are highly enriched, and where SLC7A11 (xCT) is transiently upregulated. xCT is the specific subunit of the cystine/glutamate antiporter system xC-. To decipher its role, gene silencing, pharmacological inhibition and a knock-out mouse model were used. Acinar cells with depleted or reduced xCT function show an increase in ferroptosis relating to lipid peroxidation. Lower glutathione levels and more lipid ROS accumulation could be rescued by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine or the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1. In caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice, xCT also prevents lipid peroxidation in acinar cells. In conclusion, during stress, acinar cell fate seems to be poised for avoiding several forms of cell death. xCT specifically prevents acinar cell ferroptosis by fueling the glutathione pool and maintaining ROS balance. The data suggest that xCT offers a druggable tipping point to steer the acinar cell fate in stress conditions.

2-hydroxyglutarate rides the cancer-immunity cycle.

2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) is a biproduct of the Krebs cycle, which exists in a D- and L- enantiomer and is structurally similar to α-ketoglutarate. Both 2HG enantiomers have been described to accumulate in diverse cancer and immune cells and can influence cell fate and function. While D-2HG was originally considered as an 'oncometabolite' that aberrantly builds up in certain cancers, it is becoming clear that it also physiologically accumulates in immune cells and regulates immune function. Conversely, L-2HG is considered as an 'immunometabolite' due to its induction and regulatory function in T cells, but it can also be induced in certain cancers. Here, the authors review the effects of both 2HG enantiomers on immune cells within the tumor microenvironment.

Itaconate promotes a wound resolving phenotype in pro-inflammatory macrophages.

Pathological conditions associated with dysfunctional wound healing are characterized by impaired remodelling of extracellular matrix (ECM), increased macrophage infiltration, and chronic inflammation. Macrophages also play an important role in wound healing as they drive wound closure by secretion of molecules like transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß). As the functions of macrophages are regulated by their metabolism, local administration of small molecules that alter this might be a novel approach for treatment of wound-healing disorders. Itaconate is a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle-derived metabolite that has been associated with resolution of macrophage-mediated inflammation. However, its effects on macrophage wound healing functions are unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of the membrane-permeable 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) derivative on ECM scavenging by cultured human blood monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDM). We found that 4-OI reduced signalling of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) induced by the canonical immune stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Likely as a consequence of this, the production of the inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were also reduced. On the transcriptional level, 4-OI increased expression of the gene coding for TGF-ß (TGFB1), whereas expression of the collagenase matrix metalloprotease-8 (MMP8) was reduced. Furthermore, surface levels of the anti-inflammatory marker CD36, but not CD206 and CD11c, were increased in these cells. To directly investigate the effect of 4-OI on scavenging of ECM by macrophages, we developed an assay to measure uptake of fibrous collagen. We observed that LPS promoted collagen uptake and that this was reversed by 4-OI-induced signaling of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a regulator of cellular resistance to oxidative stress and the reduced glycolytic capacity of the macrophage. These results indicate that 4-OI lowers macrophage inflammation, likely promoting a more wound-resolving phenotype.

An integrated toolbox to profile macrophage immunometabolism.

Macrophages are dynamic immune cells that can adopt several activation states. Fundamental to these functional activation states is the regulation of cellular metabolic processes. Especially in mice, metabolic alterations underlying pro-inflammatory or homeostatic phenotypes have been assessed using various techniques. However, researchers new to the field may encounter ambiguity in choosing which combination of techniques is best suited to profile immunometabolism. To address this need, we have developed a toolbox to assess cellular metabolism in a semi-high-throughput 96-well-plate-based format. Application of the toolbox to activated mouse and human macrophages enables fast metabolic pre-screening and robust measurement of extracellular fluxes, mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, and glucose and lipid uptake. Moreover, we propose an application of SCENITH technology for ex vivo metabolic profiling. We validate established activation-induced metabolic rewiring in mouse macrophages and report new insights into human macrophage metabolism. By thoroughly discussing each technique, we hope to guide readers with practical workflows for investigating immunometabolism.

d-2-Hydroxyglutarate is an anti-inflammatory immunometabolite that accumulates in macrophages after TLR4 activation.

Macrophages undergo extensive metabolic rewiring upon activation which assist the cell in roles beyond energy production and synthesis of anabolic building blocks. So-called immunometabolites that accumulate upon immune activation can serve as co-factors for enzymes and can act as signaling molecules to modulate cellular processes. As such, the Krebs-cycle-associated metabolites succinate, itaconate and alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) have emerged as key regulators of macrophage function. Here, we describe that 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), which is structurally similar to αKG and exists as two enantiomers, accumulates during later stages of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in mouse and human macrophages. D-2HG was the most abundant enantiomer in macrophages and its LPS-induced accumulation followed the induction of Hydroxyacid-Oxoacid Transhydrogenase (HOT). HOT interconverts αKG and gamma-hydroxybutyrate into D-2HG and succinic semialdehyde, and we here identified this enzyme as being immune-responsive and regulated during the course of macrophage activation. The buildup of D-2HG may be further explained by reduced expression of D-2HG Dehydrogenase (D2HGDH), which converts D-2HG back into αKG, and showed inverse kinetics with HOT and D-2HG levels. We tested the immunomodulatory effects of D-2HG during LPS-induced inflammatory responses by transcriptomic analyses and functional profiling of D-2HG-pre-treated macrophages in vitro and mice in vivo. Together, these data suggest a role for D-2HG in the negative feedback regulation of inflammatory signaling during late-stage LPS-responses in vitro and as a regulator of local and systemic inflammatory responses in vivo. Finally, we show that D-2HG likely exerts distinct anti-inflammatory effects, which are in part independent of αKG-dependent dioxygenase inhibition. Together, this study reveals an immunometabolic circuit resulting in the accumulation of the immunomodulatory metabolite D-2HG that can inhibit inflammatory macrophage responses.

The glucose transporter GLUT3 controls T helper 17 cell responses through glycolytic-epigenetic reprogramming.

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of activated T cells. The switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis provides energy and intermediary metabolites for the biosynthesis of macromolecules to support clonal expansion and effector function. Here, we show that glycolytic reprogramming additionally controls inflammatory gene expression via epigenetic remodeling. We found that the glucose transporter GLUT3 is essential for the effector functions of Th17 cells in models of autoimmune colitis and encephalomyelitis. At the molecular level, we show that GLUT3-dependent glucose uptake controls a metabolic-transcriptional circuit that regulates the pathogenicity of Th17 cells. Metabolomic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic analyses linked GLUT3 to mitochondrial glucose oxidation and ACLY-dependent acetyl-CoA generation as a rate-limiting step in the epigenetic regulation of inflammatory gene expression. Our findings are also important from a translational perspective because inhibiting GLUT3-dependent acetyl-CoA generation is a promising metabolic checkpoint to mitigate Th17-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.

On the Origin of Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular Tumor Subtypes in Perspective of Exocrine Cell Plasticity.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating type of cancer. While many studies have shed light into the pathobiology of PDAC, the nature of PDAC's cell of origin remains under debate. Studies in adult pancreatic tissue have unveiled a remarkable exocrine cell plasticity including transitional states, mostly exemplified by acinar to ductal cell metaplasia, but also with recent evidence hinting at duct to basal cell transitions. Single-cell RNA sequencing has further revealed intrapopulation heterogeneity among acinar and duct cells. Transcriptomic and epigenomic relationships between these exocrine cell differentiation states and PDAC molecular subtypes have started to emerge, suggesting different ontogenies for different tumor subtypes. This review sheds light on these diverse aspects with particular focus on studies with human cells. Understanding the "masked ball" of exocrine cells at origin of PDAC and leaving behind the binary acinar vs duct cell classification may significantly advance our insights in PDAC biology.

Macrophages are metabolically heterogeneous within the tumor microenvironment.

Macrophages are often prominently present in the tumor microenvironment, where distinct macrophage populations can differentially affect tumor progression. Although metabolism influences macrophage function, studies on the metabolic characteristics of ex vivo tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) subsets are rather limited. Using transcriptomic and metabolic analyses, we now reveal that pro-inflammatory major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-IIhi TAMs display a hampered tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, while reparative MHC-IIlo TAMs show higher oxidative and glycolytic metabolism. Although both TAM subsets rapidly exchange lactate in high-lactate conditions, only MHC-IIlo TAMs use lactate as an additional carbon source. Accordingly, lactate supports the oxidative metabolism in MHC-IIlo TAMs, while it decreases the metabolic activity of MHC-IIhi TAMs. Lactate subtly affects the transcriptome of MHC-IIlo TAMs, increases L-arginine metabolism, and enhances the T cell suppressive capacity of these TAMs. Overall, our data uncover the metabolic intricacies of distinct TAM subsets and identify lactate as a carbon source and metabolic and functional regulator of TAMs.

The multifaceted therapeutic value of targeting ATP-citrate lyase in atherosclerosis.

ATP-citrate lyase (Acly) is the target of the new class low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering drug bempedoic acid (BA). Acly is a key metabolic enzyme synthesizing acetyl-CoA as the building block of cholesterol and fatty acids. Treatment with BA lowers circulating lipid levels and reduces systemic inflammation, suggesting a dual benefit of this drug for atherosclerosis therapy. Recent studies have shown that targeting Acly in macrophages can attenuate inflammatory responses and decrease atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Therefore, it could be beneficial to extend the application of Acly inhibition from solely lipid-lowering by liver-specific inhibition to also targeting macrophages in atherosclerosis. Here, we outline the possibilities of targeting Acly and describe the future needs to translate these findings to the clinic.

Myeloid-Specific Acly Deletion Alters Macrophage Phenotype In Vitro and In Vivo without Affecting Tumor Growth.

Cancer cells rely on ATP-citrate lyase (Acly)-derived acetyl-CoA for lipid biogenesis and proliferation, marking Acly as a promising therapeutic target. However, inhibitors may have side effects on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs are innate immune cells abundant in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play central roles in tumorigenesis, progression and therapy response. Since macrophage Acly deletion was previously shown to elicit macrophages with increased pro- and decreased anti-inflammatory responses in vitro, we hypothesized that Acly targeting may elicit anti-tumor responses in macrophages, whilst inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Here, we used a myeloid-specific knockout model to validate that absence of Acly decreases IL-4-induced macrophage activation. Using two distinct tumor models, we demonstrate that Acly deletion slightly alters tumor immune composition and TAM phenotype in a tumor type-dependent manner without affecting tumor growth. Together, our results indicate that targeting Acly in macrophages does not have detrimental effects on myeloid cells.

IFN-γ Drives Human Monocyte Differentiation into Highly Proinflammatory Macrophages That Resemble a Phenotype Relevant to Psoriasis.

As key cells of the immune system, macrophages coordinate the activation and regulation of the immune response. Macrophages present a complex phenotype that can vary from homeostatic, proinflammatory, and profibrotic to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. The factors that drive the differentiation from monocyte to macrophage largely define the resultant phenotype, as has been shown by the differences found in M-CSF- and GM-CSF-derived macrophages. We explored alternative inflammatory mediators that could be used for in vitro differentiation of human monocytes into macrophages. IFN-γ is a potent inflammatory mediator produced by lymphocytes in disease and infections. We used IFN-γ to differentiate human monocytes into macrophages and characterized the cells at a functional and proteomic level. IFN-γ alone was sufficient to generate macrophages (IFN-γ Mϕ) that were phagocytic and responsive to polarization. We demonstrate that IFN-γ Mϕ are potent activators of T lymphocytes that produce IL-17 and IFN-γ. We identified potential markers (GBP-1, IP-10, IL-12p70, and IL-23) of IFN-γ Mϕ and demonstrate that these markers are enriched in the skin of patients with inflamed psoriasis. Collectively, we show that IFN-γ can drive human monocyte to macrophage differentiation, leading to bona fide macrophages with inflammatory characteristics.

IDH-Mutant Brain Tumors Hit the Achilles' Heel of Macrophages with R-2-Hydroxyglutarate.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations produce high levels of the 'oncometabolite' R-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2-HG) and play a key role in the initiation and progression of glioma tumors in the brain. A recent study in Nature Cancer by Friedrich et al. describes how IDH-mutant-derived R-2-HG elicits an immunosuppressive phenotype in glioma-associated macrophages. As such, the authors uncovered a new vulnerability that can be exploited for therapy.