Project description:We report the application of single-molecule-based RNA sequencing technology for comparing the transcriptome profile in splenic NK and hepatic ILC1 sorted from mice treated or not via oral gavage for 1 week with tofacitinib
Project description:Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of multiple autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Immunologic and transcriptomic profiling have revealed major alterations on natural killer (NK) cell homeostasis associated with JAK inhibitions, while information on other innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) is still lacking. Herein, we observed that, in mice, the homeostatic pool of liver ILC1 was less affected by JAK inhibitors compared to the pool of NK cells present in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. JAK inhibition had overlapping effects on the transcriptome of both subsets, mainly affecting genes regulating cell cycle and apoptosis. However, the differential impact of JAK inhibition was linked to the high levels of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2 expressed by ILC1. Our findings provide mechanistic explanations for the effects of JAK inhibitors on NK cells and ILC1 which could be of major clinically relevance.
Project description:The development of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) transcription factor reporter mice has shown a previously unexpected complexity in ILC haematopoiesis. Using novel polychromic mice to achieve higher phenotypic resolution we have characterised bone marrow progenitors that are committed to the group 1 ILC lineage. These common ILC1/NK progenitors, which we call ‘aceNKPs’, are defined as lineage–Id2+IL-7Ra+CD25–a4b7–NKG2A/C/E+Bcl11b–. In vitro, aceNKPs differentiate into group 1 ILCs, including NK-like cells that express Eomes without the requirement for IL-15, and produce IFN-g and perforin upon IL-15 stimulation. Following reconstitution of Rag2–/–Il2rg–/– hosts, aceNKPs give rise to a spectrum of mature ILC1/NK cells (regardless of their tissue location) that cannot be clearly segregated into the traditional ILC1 and NK subsets, suggesting that group 1 ILCs constitute a dynamic continuum of ILCs that can develop from a common progenitor. In addition, aceNKP-derived ILC1/NK cells effectively ameliorate tumour burden in a model of lung metastasis where they acquired a cytotoxic NK cell phenotype. Our results identify the primary ILC1/NK progenitor that lacks ILC2 or ILC3 potential and is strictly committed to ILC1/NK cell production irrespective of tissue homing.
Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) require the transcription factor STAT4 to elicit rapid effector responses and protect against pathogens. Herein, by combining genetic and transcriptomic approaches, we revealed that STAT4 played an unexpected divergent role in regulating effector differentiation of murine ILC1 and NK cells, during intestinal inflammation. Stat4 deletion in Ncr1-expressing cells led to an increased generation of cytotoxic ILC1 in the inflamed large intestine. By contrast, Stat4-deficient NK cells showed impaired terminal differentiation, characterized by lower levels of IRF-8 and KLRG1. STAT4 expression in NCR+ innate lymphocytes restrained gut inflammation and controlled both systemic IFN-g levels and the number of type 2 adaptive T cells in the large intestine. Collectively our data shed light on shared and distinctive mechanisms of transcriptional regulation driven by STAT4 in NK cells and ILC1 required for protection during intestinal inflammation.
Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) require the transcription factor STAT4 to elicit rapid effector responses and protect against pathogens. Herein, by combining genetic and transcriptomic approaches, we revealed that STAT4 played an unexpected divergent role in regulating effector differentiation of murine ILC1 and NK cells, during intestinal inflammation. Stat4 deletion in Ncr1-expressing cells led to an increased generation of cytotoxic ILC1 in the inflamed large intestine. By contrast, Stat4-deficient NK cells showed impaired terminal differentiation, characterized by lower levels of IRF-8 and KLRG1. STAT4 expression in NCR+ innate lymphocytes restrained gut inflammation and controlled both systemic IFN-g levels and the number of type 2 adaptive T cells in the large intestine. Collectively our data shed light on shared and distinctive mechanisms of transcriptional regulation driven by STAT4 in NK cells and ILC1 required for protection during intestinal inflammation.
Project description:Among the features that distinguish type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) from NK cells is a gene signature indicative of TGFb-family cytokine imprinting. To assess the impact of TGFb family cytokines on ILC1 differentation, we examined SMAD4- a transcription factor that facilitates the signaling pathway common to all TGFb family cytokines-was specifically ablated in ILCs and NK cells. While SMAD4 deficiency did not affect ILC1 differentation, NK cells paradoxically aquired an ILC1-like gene signature and were incapable of controlling tumor metastasis and viral infection. We used microarray to compare the transcriptional differences between human blood NK cells. NK cells from a patient with a deleterious SMAD4 mutation or control NK cells were cultured overnight with either IL-2 alone or TGFb1 and IL-2.
Project description:Among the features that distinguish type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) from NK cells is a gene signature indicative of TGFb-family cytokine imprinting. To assess the impact of TGFb family cytokines on ILC1 differentation, we examined SMAD4- a transcription factor that facilitates the signaling pathway common to all TGFb family cytokines-was specifically ablated in ILCs and NK cells. While SMAD4 deficiency did not affect ILC1 differentation, NK cells paradoxically aquired an ILC1-like gene signature and were incapable of controlling tumor metastasis and viral infection. We used microarray to define the transcriptional differences between splenic NK cells from WT and SMAD4F/F x Ncr1-Cre mice.
Project description:Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets that mirror helper T cells in their effector cytokine profiles have recently emerged as central players in both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Like their Th1, Th2 and Th17/Th22 helper T cell counterparts, ILC subsets are categorized based on their expression of specific transcription factors and effector cytokines: group 1 ILC (ILC1) express T-bet and IFN-γ; group 2 ILC (ILC2) express GATA-3 and type 2 effector cytokines such as IL-13 and IL-5; and group 3 ILC (ILC3) express RORgt and the cytokines IL-22 and/or IL-17. Under this nomenclature, natural killer (NK) cells and lymphoid tissue inducers (LTi) are considered ILC1 and ILC3, respectively. ILC1 contain both CD4+ and CD4- populations, but whether this phenotypic characteristic reflects functional differences between these two populations is unknown. These studies examine the gene expression profiles of CD4+ vs CD4- ILC1 in a cohort of healthy control subjects. ILC subsets were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy control subjects. cDNA was isolated and amplified from sorted populations, and gene expression was analyzed by RNAseq
Project description:Mice were weaned onto standard RM1 diet or onto a highly palatable obesogenic diet (824018 – ‘45% AFE fat) supplemented with condensed milk. After 12 weeks, mice were killed, and liver NK cells (Lin- NK1.1+ CD49a- CD49b+) or ILC1 (Lin- NK1.1+ CD49a+ CD49b-) were sorted. Total RNA was extracted from sorted cells, cDNA generated and RNASeq performed.
Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) are a heterogenous group of T-bet+ innate cells that produce IFN-γ and are broadly defined as lineage–NK1.1+NKp46+ cells in mice. ILC1s definition primarily stems from studies on liver-resident and small intestinal populations. However, ILC1s in many anatomical sites, including visceral adipose tissue, salivary glands, and uterus, exhibit non-uniform programs that do not adequately overlap with those of liver or gut ILC1s or NK cells. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on murine NK1.1+NKp46+ cells from blood, spleen, lymph nodes, liver, salivary gland, uterus, visceral adipose tissue, small intestines, and several solid tumors. By including cells from an array of niches we defined tissue-specific ILC1 subsets. Moreover, we found a significant heterogeneity of circulating NK cells, due to a spectrum of proliferating, effector and migration programs, which was reduced in tumor-bearing mice, demonstrating repertoire reshaping in response to diseased conditions.