Project description:In multiple sclerosis (MS), Th17 cells are critical drivers of autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination. Th17 cells exhibit functional heterogeneity fostering both pathogenic and non-pathogenic, tissue-protective functions. Still, the factors that control Th17 pathogenicity remain incompletely defined. Here, using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established mouse MS model, we report that therapeutic administration of activin-A ameliorates disease severity and alleviates CNS immunopathology and demyelination, associated with decreased activation of Th17 cells. In fact, activin-A signaling through activin-like kinase (ALK)4 receptor represses pathogenic transcriptional programs in Th17-polarized cells, while it enhances anti-inflammatory gene modules. Whole genome profiling and in vivo functional studies revealed that activation of the ATP-depleting CD39 and CD73 ectonucleotidases is essential for activin-A-induced suppression of the pathogenic signature and the encephalitogenic functions of Th17 cells. Mechanistically, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, along with STAT3 and c-Maf, are recruited to promoter elements on Entpd1 and Nt5e (encoding CD39 and CD73, respectively) and other anti-inflammatory genes, and control their expression in Th17 cells in response to activin-A. Notably, we show that activin-A negatively regulates the metabolic sensor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and key inflammatory proteins linked to pathogenic Th17 cell states. Of translational relevance, we demonstrate that activin-A is induced in the CNS of individuals with MS and restrains human Th17 cell responses. These findings uncover activin-A as a novel critical controller of Th17 cell pathogenicity that can be targeted for the suppression of autoimmune CNS inflammation.
Project description:In multiple sclerosis (MS), Th17 cells are critical drivers of autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination. Th17 cells exhibit functional heterogeneity fostering both pathogenic and nonpathogenic, tissue-protective functions. Still, the factors that control Th17 pathogenicity remain incompletely defined. Here, using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an established mouse MS model, we report that therapeutic administration of activin-A ameliorates disease severity and alleviates CNS immunopathology and demyelination, associated with decreased activation of Th17 cells. In fact, activin-A signaling through activin-like kinase-4 receptor represses pathogenic transcriptional programs in Th17-polarized cells, while it enhances antiinflammatory gene modules. Whole-genome profiling and in vivo functional studies revealed that activation of the ATP-depleting CD39 and CD73 ectonucleotidases is essential for activin-A-induced suppression of the pathogenic signature and the encephalitogenic functions of Th17 cells. Mechanistically, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, along with STAT3 and c-Maf, are recruited to promoter elements on Entpd1 and Nt5e (encoding CD39 and CD73, respectively) and other antiinflammatory genes, and control their expression in Th17 cells in response to activin-A. Notably, we show that activin-A negatively regulates the metabolic sensor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1?, and key inflammatory proteins linked to pathogenic Th17 cell states. Of translational relevance, we demonstrate that activin-A is induced in the CNS of individuals with MS and restrains human Th17 cell responses. These findings uncover activin-A as a critical controller of Th17 cell pathogenicity that can be targeted for the suppression of autoimmune CNS inflammation.
Project description:Uterine NK cells (uNK cells) form a distinct immune cell population in the endometrium and decidua. Here, we FACS-sorted KIR-CD39-,KIR+CD39- and KIR+CD39+ uNK cells from decidual samples.
Project description:CD39- and CD39+ human thymus-derived regulatory T-cells (tTreg) present as distinct subsets with specific functional and metabolic response patterns. Both cell types express equal levels of the canonical tTreg transcription factors FOXP3 and Helios and overexpression studies have shown that CD39 expression is independent of these two transcription factors. So far, no transcriptomic analyses to adress these differences have been performed. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression between CD39- and CD39+ human tTreg and identified distinct classes of up-regulated and down-regulated genes between these two subsets.
Project description:MSCs are a heterogeneous population and the specific population of MSCs may exhibit a selective ability for tissue repair. The aim of our research was to adapt the CD73+ subgroup of adipose derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) for the therapy of myocardial infarction (MI). Our results revealed that CD73+ AD-MSCs played more effective role in the acceleration function of cardiac recovery by promoting angiogenesis in a rat model of MI compared to mixed AD-MSCs and CD73- AD-MSCs. Microarray analysis shows differences between CD73+ and CD73- AD-MSCs when transcription profile of these two subgroups were compared, especially in VEGF pathway.
Project description:To explore the functional difference between CD90+CD39+ and CD90+CD39- fibroblasts in human hypertrophic scar and normal skin, the gene expresson microarray was performed on Live CD49f- E-Cadherin- Lin- CD45- CD31- CD90+ CD39+ and Live CD49f- E-Cadherin- Lin- CD45- CD31- CD90+ CD39- cells sorted from suspension disgested from three human hypertrophic scar samples; and Live CD49f- E-Cadherin- Lin- CD45- CD31- CD90+ CD39+ cells sorted from suspension disgested from three human normal skin samples
Project description:Th17 cells are known to exert pathogenic and non-pathogenic functions. Although the cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is instrumental for Th17 cell differentiation, it is dispensable for generation of pathogenic Th17 cells. Here, we examined the T cell-intrinsic role of Activin-A, a TGF-β superfamily member closely related to TGF-β1, in pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation. Activin-A expression was increased in individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Stimulation with interleukin-6 and Activin-A induced a molecular program that mirrored that of pathogenic Th17 cells and was inhibited by blocking Activin-A signaling. Genetic disruption of Activin-A and its receptor ALK4 in T cells impaired pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, which was essential for pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation, was suppressed by TGF-β1-ALK5 but not Activin-A-ALK4 signaling. Thus, Activin-A drives pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation, implicating the Activin-A-ALK4-ERK axis as a therapeutic target for Th17 cell-related diseases.
Project description:Recent studies have shown that non-enzymatic function of CD73 play a key role in tumor progression, but this function of CD73 in pancreatic cancer cells has not been studied. In the present study, PANC-1 cell lines were transfected with CD73 siRNA, and proliferation ability and cell cycle was significantly inhibited. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in CD73 regulation in tumors.