Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation plays a critical function. Recurring viral infections and loss of immune competence increase risk for developing AD, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these immune changes are unknown. Here we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detected an immunologic signature of AD characterized by increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition and single cell RNA sequencing revealed their cytotoxic effector function. Strikingly, we discovered identical, shared T cell receptors (TCRs) of clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three AD patients. Deep TCR sequencing, machine learning, and peptide screens identified the HLA-B*08:01-restricted Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1 as the cognate antigen of a novel AD CSF TCR . These results provide the first evidence of clonal, antigen-specific T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation plays a critical function. Recurring viral infections and loss of immune competence increase risk for developing AD, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these immune changes are unknown. Here we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detected an immunologic signature of AD characterized by increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition and single cell RNA sequencing revealed their cytotoxic effector function. Strikingly, we discovered identical, shared T cell receptors (TCRs) of clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three AD patients. Deep TCR sequencing, machine learning, and peptide screens identified the HLA-B*08:01-restricted Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1 as the cognate antigen of a novel AD CSF TCR . These results provide the first evidence of clonal, antigen-specific T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration
Project description:Alzheimer's disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation has a critical function1. However, little is known about the contribution of the adaptive immune response in Alzheimer's disease2. Here, using integrated analyses of multiple cohorts, we identify peripheral and central adaptive immune changes in Alzheimer's disease. First, we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and discovered an immune signature of Alzheimer's disease that consists of increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. In a second cohort, we found that CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that T cell receptor (TCR) signalling was enhanced in these cells. Notably, by using several strategies of single-cell TCR sequencing in a third cohort, we discovered clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we used machine learning, cloning and peptide screens to demonstrate the specificity of clonally expanded TCRs in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease to two separate Epstein-Barr virus antigens. These results reveal an adaptive immune response in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid in Alzheimer's disease and provide evidence of clonal, antigen-experienced T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration.
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation plays a critical function. Recurring viral infections and loss of immune competence increase risk for developing AD, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these immune changes are unknown. Here we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detected an immunologic signature of AD characterized by increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition and single cell RNA sequencing revealed their cytotoxic effector function. Strikingly, we discovered identical, shared T cell receptors (TCRs) of clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three AD patients. Deep TCR sequencing, machine learning, and peptide screens identified the HLA-B*08:01-restricted Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1 as the cognate antigen of a novel AD CSF TCR . These results provide the first evidence of clonal, antigen-specific T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration
