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Sympathetic neural signaling via the ?2-adrenergic receptor suppresses T-cell receptor-mediated human and mouse CD8(+) T-cell effector function.

ABSTRACT: Postganglionic sympathetic neurons innervate secondary lymphoid organs and secrete norepinephrine (NE) as the primary neurotransmitter. NE binds and signals through five distinct members of the adrenergic receptor family. In this study, we show elevated expression of the ?2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) on primary human CD8(+) effector memory T cells. Treatment of both human and murine CD8(+) T cells with NE decreased IFN-? and TNF-? secretion and suppressed their cytolytic capacity in response to T-cell receptor (TCR) activation. The effects of NE were specifically reversed by ?2-specific antagonists. Adrb2(-/-) CD8(+) T cells were completely resistant to the effects of NE. Further, the ADRB2-specific pharmacological ligand, albuterol, significantly suppressed effector functions in both human and mouse CD8(+) T cells. While both TCR activation and stimulation with IL-12 + IL-18 were able to induce inflammatory cytokine secretion, NE failed to suppress IFN-? secretion in response to IL-12 + IL18. Finally, the long-acting ADRB2-specific agonist, salmeterol, markedly reduced the cytokine secretion capacity of CD8(+) T cells in response to infection with vesicular stomatitis virus. This study reveals a novel intrinsic role for ADRB2 signaling in CD8(+) T-cell function and underscores the novel role this pathway plays in adaptive T-cell responses to infection.

SUBMITTER: Estrada LD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5241047 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sympathetic neural signaling via the β2-adrenergic receptor suppresses T-cell receptor-mediated human and mouse CD8(+) T-cell effector function.

Estrada Leonardo D LD Ağaç Didem D Farrar J David JD

European journal of immunology 20160608 8

Postganglionic sympathetic neurons innervate secondary lymphoid organs and secrete norepinephrine (NE) as the primary neurotransmitter. NE binds and signals through five distinct members of the adrenergic receptor family. In this study, we show elevated expression of the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) on primary human CD8(+) effector memory T cells. Treatment of both human and murine CD8(+) T cells with NE decreased IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion and suppressed their cytolytic capacity in response to ...[more]

PMID: 27222010

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Project description:CD8+ T cells are essential components of the body’s immune reaction against viral infections and tumors, capable of eliminating infected and cancerous cells. However, when the antigen cannot be cleared, T cells enter a state known as exhaustion. Exhausted CD8+ T cells are characterized by expression of multiple inhibitory receptors, like PD-1 and TIM3 and reduced capacity to secrete cytokines, and are commonly found in chronic viral infections, like HIV and HBV, as well as in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME). Cancer and chronic infection also place considerable stress on tissue architecture and function, and while it is clear that chronic antigen contributes to CD8+ T cell exhaustion, less is known about how stress responses in tissues regulate T cell function. Here we show a previously undescribed link between the stress-associated catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline and the development of T cell exhaustion through the β1-adrenergic receptor, ADRB1. We identify that exhausted CD8+ T cells express higher levels of ADRB1, and exposure of ADRB1-expressing T cells to catecholamines suppresses cytokine production and impairs T cell proliferation. Genetic or pharmacological ablation of β-adrenergic signaling via ADRB1 reduces development of T cell exhaustion in a chronic infection model and improves cytotoxic functions in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) when combined with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in a melanoma model. Extending these findings to an ICB-resistant tumor model of murine pancreatic cancer, we show that beta-blockers and ICB synergize to enhance and reprogram T cell responses. Given that malignant disease is associated with increased systemic catecholamine levels in patients and therapeutic stress reduction improves survival in cancer patients, our results demonstrate a potential link between systemic stress, tumor innervation and immune responses. Our findings show that β-adrenergic signaling constitutes a novel targetable immune checkpoint in CD8+ T cells to rejuvenate antitumor functions. More broadly, our results support further clinical investigation into the application of beta-blockers, which are clinically safe and widely prescribed, as an immunomodulating agent for cancer immunotherapy.

Dataset Information

Sympathetic neural signaling via the ?2-adrenergic receptor suppresses T-cell receptor-mediated human and mouse CD8(+) T-cell effector function.

Publications

Sympathetic neural signaling via the β2-adrenergic receptor suppresses T-cell receptor-mediated human and mouse CD8(+) T-cell effector function.

Similar Datasets

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