Project description:We found a unique subset of effector memory (EM) CD8+ T cells that expressed high levels of IL-6 receptor in human peripheral blood. These cells which also expressed high levels of IL-7Ra (referred to as IL-6R high IL-7Rahigh cells) had the a distinct gene expression profile and cellular characteristics compared to other EM CD8+ T cells. IL-6R high IL-7Ra high cells were early differentiated EM CD8+ T cells with decreased expression of T-bet, KLRG1, perforin and granzyme B. These cells had increased cell proliferation likely secondary to enhanced IL-2 production and high affinity IL-2R expression. IL-6R high IL-7Ra high EM CD8+ T cells exclusively produced high levels of IL-2, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13 although IFN-r was produced by this cell subset and other EM CD8+ T cells. Of interest, IL-6R high IL-7Ra high EM CD8+ T cells expanded in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma where CD8+ T cells, IL-13 and IFN-r are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis. Being the early-differentiated EM CD8+ T cells with a potent capacity to proliferate, survive and generate multiple cytokines, IL-6R high IL-7Ra high EM CD8+ T cells may serve as a primary reservoir for effector CD8+ T cells which potently expand and produce cytokines upon immune stimulation. Duplicate experiments were performed for each condition. In each condition, we independently prepared total RNA using the RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen) and assessed RNA integrity using Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent)- RINs were close to 10 for all samples. RNA was then amplified and hybridized to the Illumina HumanHT-12 v4.0 BeadChip, according to Illumina standard protocols.
Project description:The expansion, trafficking and functional effectiveness of adoptively transferred CD8+ T-cells play a critical role in mediating effective anti-tumor immunity. However, the mechanisms which program the highly proliferative and functional state of CD8+ T-cells are not completely understood. We hypothesized that IL-12, a cytokine commonly induced by TLR activation, could enhance T-cell priming by altering responsiveness to antigen and cytokines. Priming of tumor specific CD8+ T-cells in the presence of IL-12 induced the acquisition of a 'polyfunctional' effector response and increased the generation of memory cells. Moreover, IL-12 priming also promoted high levels of the IL-2 receptor alpha-chain (CD25) and robust IL-2 mediated activation of STAT5. This sensitivity to IL-2 translated into enhanced in vivo proliferation of adoptively transferred CD8+ T-cells. Furthermore, real-time, in vivo imaging of T-cell trafficking confirmed the ability of IL-12 priming to drive in vivo proliferation. IL-12 priming enhanced the anti-tumor function of adoptively transferred cells by reducing established subcutaneous tumor burden, and significantly increasing survival in an established intracranial tumor model. Finally, IL-12 priming of human PBMCs generates tumor specific T-cells phenotypically and functionally similar to IL-12 primed Pmel-1 T-cells. These results highlight IL-12 as an important mediator of CD8+ T-cell effector function and anti-tumor immunity. We primed Pmel-1 TCR transgenic CD8+ T-cells with cognate antigen and either IL-2 or IL-12 and compared their gene expression profiles. This was used to identify pathways or genes necessary for anti-tumor activity in vivo. RNA was isolated from Pmel-1 T-cells primed with antigen and cytokine for 6 days and hybridized to Affymetrix arrays.
Project description:CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a major role in defense against intracellular pathogens, and their functions are specified by antigen recognition and innate cytokines. While effector CTLs eliminate the infection, a small population of memory cells are retained that yields more rapid and robust response upon re-infection. Antigen presenting cells secrete an array of innate cytokines including IL-12 and IFN-α after recognition of pathogens. Both IL-12 and IFN-α have been shown to act as the third signal regulating the development of CTLs. We have shown that these two cytokines have a non-redundant effect in generation of human effector CTL. IL-12 alone is sufficient for effector CTL genesis marked by IFN-γ and TNF-α production, as well as increased cytolytic activity. Even in the presence of IFN-α, IL-12 programs CTLs that express the chemokine receptor CXCR3 and effector cytokines. Using microarray analysis we have investigated how IL-12 and IFN-α differentially regulate the genetic programming pathways that give rise to effector CTLs among multiple human donors. We have also analyzed the gene expression patterns of cells sorted from healthy human peripheral blood that display surface markers of effector memory CTL (designated as ex vivo) samples. 5 healthy human donor samples were used for the in vitro cultures. For each donor the CFSE labeled cells (CD8+CD45RA+) were cultured in the presence of neutralized, IL-12, IFN-a, and IL-12+IFN-a conditions and plate-bound anti-CD3+anti-CD28 for 3.5 days. Total RNA from CFSEhi (Undiv) and CFSElo (Div) sorted cells were used for Illumina Bead Array. 4 healthy human donor samples were used for the ex vivo samples. Total RNA was collected from FACS sorted CD8+CCR7hiCXCR3lo and CD8+CCR7loCXCR3hi cells without any stimulation.
Project description:CD25, the high affinity interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor alpha-chain, is rapidly upregulated by antigen-specific CD8+ T cells after T cell receptor stimulation. We demonstrated that during an acute viral infection, CD25 expression was dynamic, and a subset of virus-specific CD8+ T cells sustained CD25 expression longer than the rest. Examination of the in vivo fate of effector CD8+ T cells exhibiting differential responsiveness to IL-2 revealed that CD25lo cells, which were relatively less sensitive to IL-2, preferentially upregulated CD127 and CD62L and gave rise to the functional long-lived memory pool. In contrast, CD25hi cells that accumulate enhanced IL-2 signals, proliferated more rapidly, were prone to apoptosis, exhibited a more pronounced effector phenotype, and appeared to be terminally differentiated. Sustained IL-2 receptor signaling resulted in increased CD8+ T cell proliferation, higher granzyme B expression and exaggerated contraction after antigen clearance. These data support the hypothesis that prolonged IL-2 signals during priming promote terminal effector differentiation of CD8+ T cells. Experiment Overall Design: An important question in memory development is understanding the differences between effector CD8 T cells that die versus effector cells that survive and give rise to memory cells. In this study we have performed genomic profiling of terminal effectors and memory precursors as defined by CD25 heterogeneity, towards better understanding the generation of these subsets. The two effector subsets were FACS purified based on the amount of cell surface CD25 expression into CD25lo and CD25hi subsets during the early expansion phase (Days 3-4 post-infection) and analyzed for their gene expression profiles (by genome-wide microarray analyses).
Project description:CD25, the high affinity interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor alpha-chain, is rapidly upregulated by antigen-specific CD8+ T cells after T cell receptor stimulation. We demonstrated that during an acute viral infection, CD25 expression was dynamic, and a subset of virus-specific CD8+ T cells sustained CD25 expression longer than the rest. Examination of the in vivo fate of effector CD8+ T cells exhibiting differential responsiveness to IL-2 revealed that CD25lo cells, which were relatively less sensitive to IL-2, preferentially upregulated CD127 and CD62L and gave rise to the functional long-lived memory pool. In contrast, CD25hi cells that accumulate enhanced IL-2 signals, proliferated more rapidly, were prone to apoptosis, exhibited a more pronounced effector phenotype, and appeared to be terminally differentiated. Sustained IL-2 receptor signaling resulted in increased CD8+ T cell proliferation, higher granzyme B expression and exaggerated contraction after antigen clearance. These data support the hypothesis that prolonged IL-2 signals during priming promote terminal effector differentiation of CD8+ T cells.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of human CD8+ CD161hi and CD161lo central and effector memory and naïve T cell subsets. The mechanisms by which IL-17 secreting cells are regulated have not been completely elucidated. We previously identified a population of rhodamine-effluxing memory CD8+ T cells with high expression of CD161 that contributes to immune reconstitution after lymphopenia-inducing chemotherapy. Here we find that CD161hi CD8+ T cells share transcriptional programming with Th17 cells, but most do not secrete IL-17 or proliferate to stimulation through the T cell receptor (TCR). Transcriptional analysis of subsets identified by expression of CD161 and CD62L revealed a novel mechanism of TCR signaling pathway regulation in CD161hi CD8+ T cells that is distinct from that described in anergic or tolerant cells and renders them functionally dependent on costimulation through innate cytokine receptors or CD28. CD161hi CD8+ T cells, induced to proliferate by a TCR signal delivered with costimulation, demonstrated plasticity that was dependent on the nature of costimulation and resulted in expansion of IL-17 secreting cells that could not proliferate to a TCR signal alone or differentiation to Tc1-like cells that proliferated to TCR stimulation in the absence of costimulation. The data show an association between TCR signaling pathway downregulation and type 17 programming in CD161hi CD8+ T cells, whose dysregulation could mediate IL-17 dependent inflammatory diseases.
Project description:The origin and function of human double negative (DN) TCR-alpha/beta T cells is unknown. They are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus because they expand and accumulate in inflamed organs. Here we provide evidence that human TCR-alpha/beta CD4- CD8- DN T cells derive exclusively from activated CD8+ T cells. Freshly isolated TCR-alpha/beta DN T cells display a distinct gene expression and cytokine production profile. DN cells isolated from peripheral blood as well as DN cells derived in vitro from CD8+ T cells, produce a defined array of pro-inflammatory mediators that includes IL-1, IL-17, IFN-gama, CXCL3, and CXCL2. These results indicate that, upon activation, CD8+ T cells have the capacity to acquire a distinct phenotype that grants them inflammatory capacity. TCR-alpha-beta+ CD25- T cells from healthy human individuals were sorted into CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-CD8- T cells. Cell lysis and RNA extraction was performed immediately. RNA from each cell subset was pooled.
Project description:The expansion, trafficking and functional effectiveness of adoptively transferred CD8+ T-cells play a critical role in mediating effective anti-tumor immunity. However, the mechanisms which program the highly proliferative and functional state of CD8+ T-cells are not completely understood. We hypothesized that IL-12, a cytokine commonly induced by TLR activation, could enhance T-cell priming by altering responsiveness to antigen and cytokines. Priming of tumor specific CD8+ T-cells in the presence of IL-12 induced the acquisition of a 'polyfunctional' effector response and increased the generation of memory cells. Moreover, IL-12 priming also promoted high levels of the IL-2 receptor alpha-chain (CD25) and robust IL-2 mediated activation of STAT5. This sensitivity to IL-2 translated into enhanced in vivo proliferation of adoptively transferred CD8+ T-cells. Furthermore, real-time, in vivo imaging of T-cell trafficking confirmed the ability of IL-12 priming to drive in vivo proliferation. IL-12 priming enhanced the anti-tumor function of adoptively transferred cells by reducing established subcutaneous tumor burden, and significantly increasing survival in an established intracranial tumor model. Finally, IL-12 priming of human PBMCs generates tumor specific T-cells phenotypically and functionally similar to IL-12 primed Pmel-1 T-cells. These results highlight IL-12 as an important mediator of CD8+ T-cell effector function and anti-tumor immunity.