Project description:Astrocytes are glial cells that are abundant in the central nervous system (CNS) and that have important homeostatic and disease-promoting functions1. However, little is known about the homeostatic anti-inflammatory activities of astrocytes and their regulation. Here, using high-throughput flow cytometry screening, single-cell RNA sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9-based cell-specific in vivo genetic perturbations in mice, we identify a subset of astrocytes that expresses the lysosomal protein LAMP12 and the death receptor ligand TRAIL3. LAMP1+TRAIL+ astrocytes limit inflammation in the CNS by inducing T cell apoptosis through TRAIL-DR5 signalling. In homeostatic conditions, the expression of TRAIL in astrocytes is driven by interferon-γ (IFNγ) produced by meningeal natural killer (NK) cells, in which IFNγ expression is modulated by the gut microbiome. TRAIL expression in astrocytes is repressed by molecules produced by T cells and microglia in the context of inflammation. Altogether, we show that LAMP1+TRAIL+ astrocytes limit CNS inflammation by inducing T cell apoptosis, and that this astrocyte subset is maintained by meningeal IFNγ+ NK cells that are licensed by the microbiome.
Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells play an irreplaceable role in the development of colon cancer, in which antitumor function of NK cells was impaired. Astragaloside III is a natural compound from Astragalus that has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects in various systems. However, few studies have evaluated the antitumor effects of Astragaloside III through stimulating systemic immunity and regulating NK cells. In this study, flow cytometry, immunohistochemical analysis, and immunofunctional assays were performed to elucidate the functions of Astragaloside III in restoring antitumor function of NK cells. We demonstrated that Astragaloside III significantly elevated the expression of natural killer group 2D (NKG2D), Fas, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in NK cells, leading to increased tumor-killing ability. Experiments in cell co-culture assays and CT26-bearing mice model further confirmed that Astragaloside III could effectively impede tumor growth by increasing infiltration of NK cells into tumor and upregulating the antitumor response of NK cells. We further revealed that Astragaloside III increased IFN-γ secretion of NK cells by enhancing the expression of transcription factor T-bet. In conclusion, the effective anti-tumor function of Astragaloside III was achieved through up-regulation of the immune response of NK cells and elevation of NKG2D, Fas, and IFN-γ production.
Project description:IFN-gamma (IFN-gamma) has been shown to activate astrocytes to acquire immune functions. In this study the effect of IFN-gamma on murine astrocytes was investigated via microarray analysis. The activating effect of IFN-gamma on the astrocyte transcriptome showed predominance toward pathways involved in adaptive immunity, initiation of the immune response and innate immunity. Previously unknown astrocytic genes expressed included members of the p47 GTPases and guanine nucleotide binding protein (GBP) families. Down-regulatory effects of IFN-gamma stimulation were confined to pathways involved in growth regulation, cell differentiation and cell adhesion. This data supports the notion that astrocytes are an important immunocompetant cell in the brain and indicate that astrocytes may have a significant role in various infectious diseases such as Toxoplasmic Encephalitis and neurological diseases with an immunological component such as Alzheimer's and autoimmune disorders.
Project description:Demyelination and axonal degeneration are determinants of progressive neurological disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Cells resident within the central nervous system (CNS) are active participants in development, progression and subsequent control of autoimmune disease; however, their individual contributions are not well understood. Astrocytes, the most abundant CNS cell type, are highly sensitive to environmental cues and are implicated in both detrimental and protective outcomes during autoimmune demyelination. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in transgenic mice expressing signaling defective dominant-negative interferon gamma (IFN-γ) receptors on astrocytes to determine the influence of inflammation on astrocyte activity. Inhibition of IFN-γ signaling to astrocytes did not influence disease incidence, onset, initial progression of symptoms, blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity or the composition of the acute CNS inflammatory response. Nevertheless, increased demyelination at peak acute disease in the absence of IFN-γ signaling to astrocytes correlated with sustained clinical symptoms. Following peak disease, diminished clinical remission, increased mortality and sustained astrocyte activation within the gray matter demonstrate a critical role of IFN-γ signaling to astrocytes in neuroprotection. Diminished disease remission was associated with escalating demyelination, axonal degeneration and sustained inflammation. The CNS infiltrating leukocyte composition was not altered; however, decreased IL-10 and IL-27 correlated with sustained disease. These data indicate that astrocytes play a critical role in limiting CNS autoimmune disease dependent upon a neuroprotective signaling pathway mediated by engagement of IFN-γ receptors.
Project description:Background and aimsThe co-infection of hepatitis B (HBV) patients with the hepatitis D virus (HDV) causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis and thus drastically worsens the course of the disease. Therapy options for HBV/HDV patients are still limited. Here, we investigated the potential of natural killer (NK) cells that are crucial drivers of the innate immune response against viruses to target HDV-infected hepatocytes.MethodsWe established in vitro co-culture models using HDV-infected hepatoma cell lines and human peripheral blood NK cells. We determined NK cell activation by flow cytometry, transcriptome analysis, bead-based cytokine immunoassays, and NK cell-mediated effects on T cells by flow cytometry. We validated the mechanisms using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletions. Moreover, we assessed the frequencies and phenotype of NK cells in peripheral blood of HBV and HDV superinfected patients.ResultsUpon co-culture with HDV-infected hepatic cell lines, NK cells upregulated activation markers, interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) including the death receptor ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), produced interferon (IFN)-γ and eliminated HDV-infected cells via the TRAIL-TRAIL-R2 axis. We identified IFN-β released by HDV-infected cells as an important enhancer of NK cell activity. In line with our in vitro data, we observed activation of peripheral blood NK cells from HBV/HDV co-infected, but not HBV mono-infected patients.ConclusionOur data demonstrate NK cell activation in HDV infection and their potential to eliminate HDV-infected hepatoma cells via the TRAIL/TRAIL-R2 axis which implies a high relevance of NK cells for the design of novel anti-viral therapies.
Project description:Toxoplasma gondii is a common central nervous system infection in individuals with immunocompromised immune systems, such as AIDS patients. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) is the main cytokine mediating protection against T. gondii. Our previous studies found that IFN-gamma significantly inhibits T. gondii in astrocytes via an IFN-gamma-inducible GTP-binding protein (IGTP)-dependent mechanism. The IGTP-dependent-, IFN-gamma-stimulated inhibition is not understood, but recent studies found that IGTP induces disruption of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in macrophages. In the current study, we have further investigated the mechanism of IFN-gamma inhibition and the role of IGTP in the vacuolar disruption in murine astrocytes. Vacuolar disruption was found to be dependent upon IGTP, as PV disruption was not observed in IGTP-deficient (IGTP(-/-)) astrocytes and PV disruption could be induced in IGTP(-/-) astrocytes transfected with IGTP. Live-cell imaging studies using green fluorescent protein-IGTP found that IGTP is delivered to the PV via the host cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) early after invasion and that IGTP condenses into vesicle-like structures on the vacuole just prior to PV disruption, suggesting that IGTP is involved in PV disruption. Intravacuolar movement of the parasite occurred just prior to PV disruption. In some instances, IFN-gamma induced parasite egression. Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence studies indicate that the host cell ER fuses with the PV prior to vacuolar disruption. On the basis of these results, we postulate a mechanism by which ER/PV fusion is a crucial event in PV disruption. Fusion of the ER with the PV, releasing calcium into the vacuole, may also be the mechanism by which intravacuolar parasite movement and IFN-gamma-induced parasite egression occur.