Spatial microniches of IL-2 synergize with IL-10 to drive lung migratory Th2 cells in response to inhaled allergen [Spatial transcriptomics]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The mechanisms that guide Th2 cell differentiation in barrier tissues are unclear but important for the development of allergic asthma. Using temporal, spatial and single cell transcriptomic tracking of house dust mite (HDM) specific T cells, we describe the molecular pathways driving allergen-specific Th2 cells. Early Blimp-1 expression occurs in a subset of CD4 T cells in the lymph node prior to lung migration driven by IL-10 from allergen-specific T cells, but was not required for GATA3 upregulation. Instead, IL-2 via STAT5 was required to directly repress Bcl6 and Bach2 to support GATA3 and Blimp-1 upregulation. Loss of Blimp-1 during priming in the lymph node ablated the formation of Th2 cells that migrate to the lung, indicating early Blimp-1 promotes the population of Th2 cells with migratory capability. Spatial microniches of IL-2 in the lymph node discriminate and support these earliest Blimp-1+ migratory Th2 cells, demonstrating that lymph node localization is a primary driver of differentiation. Our findings illuminate the molecular pathways for inhaled allergens to promote Th2 cells and identify an early requirement for IL-2 mediated spatial microniches and allergen-driven IL-10 from responding T cells that drive allergic asthma.
Project description:The mechanisms that guide Th2 cell differentiation in barrier tissues are unclear but important for the development of allergic asthma. Using temporal, spatial and single cell transcriptomic tracking of house dust mite (HDM) specific T cells, we describe the molecular pathways driving allergen-specific Th2 cells. Early Blimp-1 expression occurs in a subset of CD4 T cells in the lymph node prior to lung migration driven by IL-10 from allergen-specific T cells, but was not required for GATA3 upregulation. Instead, IL-2 via STAT5 was required to directly repress Bcl6 and Bach2 to support GATA3 and Blimp-1 upregulation. Loss of Blimp-1 during priming in the lymph node ablated the formation of Th2 cells that migrate to the lung, indicating early Blimp-1 promotes the population of Th2 cells with migratory capability. Spatial microniches of IL-2 in the lymph node discriminate and support these earliest Blimp-1+ migratory Th2 cells, demonstrating that lymph node localization is a primary driver of differentiation. Our findings illuminate the molecular pathways for inhaled allergens to promote Th2 cells and identify an early requirement for IL-2 mediated spatial microniches and allergen-driven IL-10 from responding T cells that drive allergic asthma.
Project description:The mechanisms that guide Th2 cell differentiation in barrier tissues are unclear but important for the development of allergic asthma. Using temporal, spatial and single cell transcriptomic tracking of house dust mite (HDM) specific T cells, we describe the molecular pathways driving allergen-specific Th2 cells. Early Blimp-1 expression occurs in a subset of CD4 T cells in the lymph node prior to lung migration driven by IL-10 from allergen-specific T cells, but was not required for GATA3 upregulation. Instead, IL-2 via STAT5 was required to directly repress Bcl6 and Bach2 to support GATA3 and Blimp-1 upregulation. Loss of Blimp-1 during priming in the lymph node ablated the formation of Th2 cells that migrate to the lung, indicating early Blimp-1 promotes the population of Th2 cells with migratory capability. Spatial microniches of IL-2 in the lymph node discriminate and support these earliest Blimp-1+ migratory Th2 cells, demonstrating that lymph node localization is a primary driver of differentiation. Our findings illuminate the molecular pathways for inhaled allergens to promote Th2 cells and identify an early requirement for IL-2 mediated spatial microniches and allergen-driven IL-10 from responding T cells that drive allergic asthma.
Project description:Spatial microniches of IL-2 synergize with IL-10 to drive lung migratory Th2 cells in response to inhaled allergen [Spatial transcriptomics]
Project description:T helper type 2 (Th2) responses are induced by protease allergens and helminthes. However the molecular mechanisms that initiate Th2 responses are poorly understood. To obtain insight into this mechanism, we performed a microarray analysis of lymph node DCs stimulated in vitro with the protease allergen papain, or with LPS, a Th1 inducing stimulus. Key words: Th2 response, LPS, dendritic cells, Papain
Project description:Blimp-1 expression in T cells extinguishes the T follicular helper cell fate and drives terminal differentiation, but also limits autoimmunity. Although various factors have been described to control Blimp-1 expression in T cells, little is known about what regulates Blimp-1 expression in Th2 cells and the molecular basis of its actions. Herein, we report that STAT3 unexpectedly played a critical role in regulating Blimp-1 in Th2 cells. Furthermore, we found that the cytokine IL-10 acted directly on Th2 cells and was necessary and sufficient to induce optimal Blimp-1 expression through STAT3. Together, Blimp-1 and STAT3 amplified IL-10 production in Th2 cells, creating a strong autoregulatory loop that enhanced Blimp-1 expression. Increased Blimp-1 in T cells antagonized STAT5-regulated cell cycle and anti-apoptotic genes to limit cell expansion. These data elucidate the signals required for Blimp-1 expression in Th2 cells and reveal an unexpected mechanism of action of IL-10 in T cells, providing insights into the molecular underpinning by which Blimp-1 constrains T cell expansion to limit autoimmunity.
Project description:Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) play critical roles during innate immune responses to pathogens and lymphoid organ development. IL-7Ra+ ILC subsets, similar to T helper (Th) cell subsets, produce distinctive effector cytokines. The molecular control of IL-7Ra+ ILC development and maintenance has yet to be dissected. Here we report that GATA3 is indispensable for the development of all IL-7Ra+ ILC subsets and T cells. Gata3 conditional deficient mice have no lymph nodes and are susceptible to Citrobactor rodentium infection. Genome-wide gene analyses indicate that GATA3 regulates similar set of cytokines and receptors in ILC2s and Th2 cells and is critical for the maintenance of ILC2s. Thus, GATA3 plays parallel roles in establishing and regulating both adaptive and innate lymphocytes. To identify GATA3 regulated genes in type 2 innate lymphoid cells by tamoxifen-mediated acute deletion of Gata3 gene.
Project description:GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) acts as the master transcription factor for type 2 T helper (Th2) cell differentiation and function. However, it is still elusive how GATA3 function is precisely regulated in Th2 cells. Here, we report that the transcription factor B cell lymphoma 11b (Bcl11b), a previously unknown component of GATA3 transcriptional complex, is involved in GATA3-mediated gene regulation. Bcl11b binds to GATA3 through protein-protein interaction, and they co-localize at many important cis-regulatory elements in Th2 cells. The expression of type 2 cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, is up-regulated in Bcl11b-deficient Th2 cells both in vitro and in vivo; such up-regulation is completely GATA3-dependent. Genome-wide analyses of Bcl11b- and GATA3-regulated gene (from RNA-Seq), co-binding pattern (from ChIP-Seq), and Bcl11b-mediated epigenetic changes (in H3K27ac and DHSs) suggest that GATA3/Bcl11b complex is involved in limiting Th2 gene expression, as well as in inhibiting non-Th2 gene expression. Thus, Bcl11b controls both GATA3-mediated gene activation and repression in Th2 cells.