Project description:After activation, CD4+ T helper (Th) cells differentiate into functionally specialized populations that coordinate distinct immune responses and protect against different types of pathogens. In humans, these effector and memory Th cell subsets can be readily identified in peripheral blood based on their differential expression of chemokine receptors that govern their homeostatic and inflammatory trafficking. Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells can also be divided into subsets that phenotypically mirror each of these effector populations, and share expression of key transcription factors and effector cytokines. In this study, we performed comprehensive transcriptional profiling of 11 phenotypically distinct Th and Treg cell subsets sorted from peripheral blood of healthy individuals. Despite their shared phenotypes, we found that mirror Th and Treg subsets were transcriptionally dissimilar, and that Treg cell populations showed limited transcriptional diversity compared to Th cells. We identified core transcriptional signatures shared across all Th and Treg cell populations, and unique signatures that define each of the Th or Treg populations. Finally, we applied these signatures to bulk Th and Treg RNA-seq data and found enrichment of specific Th and Treg cell populations in different human tissues. These results further define the molecular basis for the functional specialization and differentiation of Th and Treg cell populations, and provide a new resource for examining Th and Treg specialization in RNA-seq data.
Project description:After activation, CD4+ T helper (Th) cells differentiate into functionally specialized populations that coordinate distinct immune responses and protect against different types of pathogens. In humans, these effector and memory Th cell subsets can be readily identified in peripheral blood based on their differential expression of chemokine receptors that govern their homeostatic and inflammatory trafficking. Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells can also be divided into subsets that phenotypically mirror each of these effector populations, and share expression of key transcription factors and effector cytokines. In this study, we performed comprehensive transcriptional profiling of 11 phenotypically distinct Th and Treg cell subsets sorted from peripheral blood of healthy individuals. Despite their shared phenotypes, we found that mirror Th and Treg subsets were transcriptionally dissimilar, and that Treg cell populations showed limited transcriptional diversity compared to Th cells. We identified core transcriptional signatures shared across all Th and Treg cell populations, and unique signatures that define each of the Th or Treg populations. Finally, we applied these signatures to bulk Th and Treg RNA-seq data and found enrichment of specific Th and Treg cell populations in different human tissues. These results further define the molecular basis for the functional specialization and differentiation of Th and Treg cell populations, and provide a new resource for examining Th and Treg specialization in RNA-seq data.
Project description:Host defense against diverse pathogens involves the recruitment and differentiation of CD4+ T effector subsets including T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17 and induced regulatory T (Treg) cells. Surface phenotype studies have revealed subset-specific surface markers for the identification and purification of human primary CD4+ T effector subsets. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the mRNA and large intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) expression differences between human primary CD4+ T effector subsets and identify potential subset-specific genes. To achieve this goal, mRNA and lincRNA microarray profiling of flow cytometry-sorted human primary Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells was performed. Principal component and pathway analyses revealed subset-specific gene expression patterns. A Th2-specific lincRNA, GATA3-AS1, also termed FLJ45983, was identified in primary immune cells and tissues, as well as in in vitro polarized CD4+ T effector subsets. Further analysis showed that GATA3-AS1 was a potential diagnostic marker in allergy, a Th2-associated disease. This first systematic genome-wide analysis of gene expression differences between primary CD4+ T effector subsets may help to identify novel regulatory protein-coding genes and lincRNAs regulating CD4+ T cell subset differentiation, as well as potential diagnostic markers. As an example, we identified a GATA3-associated Th2-specific marker lincRNA GATA3-AS1. Gene expression microarray analysis of flow-cytometry sorted human primary naïve CD4+ T cells, CD4+ T central memory cells, Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells from buffy coat of four healthy controls Gene expression microarray analysis was performed using SurePrint G3 Human Gene Expression 8X60K microarray.
Project description:Understanding human Regulatory T cell (Treg) heterogeneity may identify markers of disease pathogenesis and facilitate the development of optimized cellular therapeutics. Previous analysis revealed that the co-inhibitory receptor T-cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) was highly expressed on tTreg. The negative regulator TIGIT and the co-stimulatory factor CD226 bind the common ligand CD155. Human regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+CD127-/lo) from adult peripheral blood were sub-fractionated based on the markers CD226 and TIGIT and were subsequently expanded in vitro according to clinical expansion protocols. The transcriptional profile of the final cell products uncovered considerable heterogeneity in terms of in vitro expansion and suppressive capacity. Most notably, the CD226+TIGIT- fraction adopted a transcriptional profile most similar to that of conventional T cells, including the capacity for effector cytokine production. Tregs and corresponding Tconv were expanded from peripheral blood of three normal healthy control male subjects.
Project description:Teff cells (CD4+CD25-CD127+CD45RO+) were co-cultured with and without sorted Treg subsets plus dendritic cells for 18h. All the sorted Teff cells are gated on CD4+CD25-CD127(hi), and further sorted for CD45RO- and CD45RO+ phenotype.
Project description:Regulatory T (Treg) cells can facilitate transplant tolerance and attenuate autoimmune- and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, it is clinically relevant to stimulate Treg cell expansion and function in vivo and to create therapeutic Treg cell products in vitro. We report that TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) is a unique costimulus for naïve, thymus-derived (t)Treg cells from human blood that promotes their differentiation into non-lymphoid tissue (NLT)-resident effector Treg cells, without Th-like polarization. In contrast, CD28 costimulation maintains a lymphoid tissue (LT)-resident Treg cell phenotype. We base this conclusion on transcriptome and proteome analysis of TNFR2- and CD28-costimulated CD4+ Treg cells and conventional T (Tconv) cells, followed by bioinformatic comparison with published transcriptomic Treg cell signatures from NLT and LT in health and disease, including autoimmunity and cancer. These analyses illuminate that TNFR2 costimulation promotes Treg cell capacity for survival, migration, immunosuppression and tissue regeneration. Functional studies confirmed improved migratory ability of TNFR2-costimulated tTreg cells. Flow cytometry validated the presence of the TNFR2-driven Treg cell signature in effector/memory Treg cells from the human placenta as opposed to blood. Thus, TNFR2 can be exploited as driver of NLT-resident Treg cell differentiation for adoptive cell therapy or antibody-based immunomodulation in human disease.
Project description:Host defense against diverse pathogens involves the recruitment and differentiation of CD4+ T effector subsets including T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17 and induced regulatory T (Treg) cells. Surface phenotype studies have revealed subset-specific surface markers for the identification and purification of human primary CD4+ T effector subsets. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the mRNA and large intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) expression differences between human primary CD4+ T effector subsets and identify potential subset-specific genes. To achieve this goal, mRNA and lincRNA microarray profiling of flow cytometry-sorted human primary Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells was performed. Principal component and pathway analyses revealed subset-specific gene expression patterns. A Th2-specific lincRNA, GATA3-AS1, also termed FLJ45983, was identified in primary immune cells and tissues, as well as in in vitro polarized CD4+ T effector subsets. Further analysis showed that GATA3-AS1 was a potential diagnostic marker in allergy, a Th2-associated disease. This first systematic genome-wide analysis of gene expression differences between primary CD4+ T effector subsets may help to identify novel regulatory protein-coding genes and lincRNAs regulating CD4+ T cell subset differentiation, as well as potential diagnostic markers. As an example, we identified a GATA3-associated Th2-specific marker lincRNA GATA3-AS1.
Project description:Single cell transcriptomic analysis of human CD25+ CD127- CD4+ Treg cells and CD25- CD127+ CD4+ Tconv cells isolated from peripheral blood from two different donors