Project description:Regulatory T cells (Tregs) use a distinct TCR repertoire and are more self-reactive compared with conventional T cells. However, the extent to which TCR affinity regulates the function of self-reactive Tregs is largely unknown. In this study, we used a two-TCR model to assess the role of TCR affinity in Treg function during autoimmunity. We observed that high- and low-affinity Tregs were recruited to the pancreas and contributed to protection from autoimmune diabetes. Interestingly, high-affinity cells preferentially upregulated the TCR-dependent Treg functional mediators IL-10, TIGIT, GITR, and CTLA4, whereas low-affinity cells displayed increased transcripts for Areg and Ebi3, suggesting distinct functional profiles. The results of this study suggest mechanistically distinct and potentially nonredundant roles for high- and low-affinity Tregs in controlling autoimmunity.
Project description:Recent findings suggest that undifferentiated, stem-like, antigen specific T cells serve as an important long-term reservoir for autoimmune CD8 T cell responses. However, it is still unclear whether CD4 T cells exhibit a similar differentiation trajectory culminating in terminal differentiation, acquisition of an exhausted phenotype, and loss of stemness and function. We analyzed islet infiltrating T cells by scRNAseq and flow cytometry and found that while CD4 T cells in autoimmune diabetes share many features of exhaustion with CD8 T cells, expression patterns of inhibitory receptors are distinct in autoimmune T cells compared to T cells in chronic LCMV infection.
Project description:Recent findings suggest that undifferentiated, stem-like, antigen specific T cells serve as an important long-term reservoir for autoimmune CD8 T cell responses. However, it is still unclear whether CD4 T cells exhibit a similar differentiation trajectory culminating in terminal differentiation, acquisition of an exhausted phenotype, and loss of stemness and function. We analyzed islet infiltrating T cells in 8- and 16-week old NOD mice by scRNAseq and flow cytometry and found that while CD4 T cells in autoimmune diabetes share many features of exhaustion with CD8 T cells, expression patterns of inhibitory receptors are distinct in autoimmune T cells compared to T cells in chronic LCMV infection.
Project description:Seropositivity for autoantibodies against islet autoantigens is associated with the development of autoimmune type 1 diabetes and B cell targeted therapies are effective in both mouse models and in patients who are affected by or at risk for autoimmune type 1 diabetes. The role of B cell receptor affinity in autoimmune type 1 diabetes is unclear. Here, we employed single cell RNA sequencing to define the relationship between B cell receptor affinity for insulin and B cell phenotype during disease development using immunoglobulin heavy chain (VH125) transgenic mouse model (VH125.NOD) in which insulin binding B cells lose self-tolerance, becoming activated during development of autoimmmun type 1 diabetes.
Project description:Fluorochrome-conjugated peptide-MHC (pMHC) multimers are commonly used in combination with flow cytometry for direct ex vivo visualization and characterization of Ag-specific T cells, but these reagents can fail to stain cells when TCR affinity and/or TCR cell-surface density are low. pMHC multimer staining of tumor-specific, autoimmune, or MHC class II-restricted T cells can be particularly challenging, as these T cells tend to express relatively low-affinity TCRs. In this study, we attempted to improve staining using anti-fluorochrome unconjugated primary Abs followed by secondary staining with anti-Ab fluorochrome-conjugated Abs to amplify fluorescence intensity. Unexpectedly, we found that the simple addition of an anti-fluorochrome unconjugated Ab during staining resulted in considerably improved fluorescence intensity with both pMHC tetramers and dextramers and with PE-, allophycocyanin-, or FITC-based reagents. Importantly, when combined with protein kinase inhibitor treatment, Ab stabilization allowed pMHC tetramer staining of T cells even when the cognate TCR-pMHC affinity was extremely low (KD >1 mM) and produced the best results that we have observed to date. We find that this inexpensive addition to pMHC multimer staining protocols also allows improved recovery of cells that have recently been exposed to Ag, improvements in the recovery of self-specific T cells from PBMCs or whole-blood samples, and the use of less reagent during staining. In summary, Ab stabilization of pMHC multimers during T cell staining extends the range of TCR affinities that can be detected, yields considerably enhanced staining intensities, and is compatible with using reduced amounts of these expensive reagents.
Project description:Strategies targeting Treg insufficiency are vital for treating autoimmune diseases like T1D. Our findings highlight the critical role of Neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) in stabilizing Tregs within pancreatic islets. Boosting Nrp1 levels delays diabetes onset by enhancing Treg function. This underscores Nrp1 as a potential target for bolstering Treg activity and combating autoimmune diseases.
Project description:We have generated, via somatic cell nuclear transfer, two independent lines of transnuclear (TN) mice, using as nuclear donors CD8 T cells, sorted by tetramer staining, that recognize the endogenous melanoma antigen TRP1. These two lines of nominally identical specificity differ greatly in their affinity for antigen (TRP1(high) or TRP1(low)) as inferred from tetramer dissociation and peptide responsiveness. Ex vivo-activated CD8 T cells from either TRP1(high) or TRP1(low) mice show cytolytic activity in 3D tissue culture and in vivo, and slow the progression of subcutaneous B16 melanoma. Although naïve TRP1(low) CD8 T cells do not affect tumor growth, upon activation these cells function indistinguishably from TRP1(high) cells in vivo, limiting tumor cell growth and increasing mouse survival. The anti-tumor effect of both TRP1(high) and TRP1(low) CD8 T cells is enhanced in RAG-deficient hosts. However, tumor outgrowth eventually occurs, likely due to T cell exhaustion. The TRP1 TN mice are an excellent model for examining the functional attributes of T cells conferred by TCR affinity, and they may serve as a platform for screening immunomodulatory cancer therapies.
Project description:Antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress pathogenic autoreactivity and are potential therapeutic candidates for autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus nephritis is associated with autoreactivity to the Smith (Sm) autoantigen and the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR15 haplotype; hence, we investigated the potential of Sm-specific Tregs (Sm-Tregs) to suppress disease. We identified a novel HLA-DR15 restricted immunodominant Sm T cell epitope using biophysical affinity binding assays, then identified high-affinity Sm-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) using high-throughput single-cell sequencing. Using lentiviral vectors, we transduced our lead Sm-specific TCR onto Tregs derived from patients with SLE who were anti-Sm and HLA-DR15 positive. Compared with polyclonal mock-transduced Tregs, Sm-Tregs potently suppressed Sm-specific pro-inflammatory responses in vitro and suppressed disease progression in a humanized mouse model of lupus nephritis. These results show that Sm-Tregs are a promising therapy for SLE.