Project description:Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) are highly aggressive CNS-tumors of infancy and early childhood. Hallmark is the surprisingly simple genomics with a truncating mutation in the SMARCB1 gene as the oncogenic driver. Nevertheless, AT/RTs are infiltrated by immune cells and even clonally expanded T-cells. However, it is unclear, what T-cells might recognize on AT/RT cells. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of naturally presented HLA-class-I and class-II ligands on n=23 AT/RTs. MS-based analysis of the HLA-ligandome revealed 55 class-I and 139 class-II peptides from tumor-associated proteins.
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation plays a critical function. Recurring viral infections and loss of immune competence increase risk for developing AD, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these immune changes are unknown. Here we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detected an immunologic signature of AD characterized by increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition and single cell RNA sequencing revealed their cytotoxic effector function. Strikingly, we discovered identical, shared T cell receptors (TCRs) of clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three AD patients. Deep TCR sequencing, machine learning, and peptide screens identified the HLA-B*08:01-restricted Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1 as the cognate antigen of a novel AD CSF TCR . These results provide the first evidence of clonal, antigen-specific T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation plays a critical function. Recurring viral infections and loss of immune competence increase risk for developing AD, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these immune changes are unknown. Here we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detected an immunologic signature of AD characterized by increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition and single cell RNA sequencing revealed their cytotoxic effector function. Strikingly, we discovered identical, shared T cell receptors (TCRs) of clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three AD patients. Deep TCR sequencing, machine learning, and peptide screens identified the HLA-B*08:01-restricted Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1 as the cognate antigen of a novel AD CSF TCR . These results provide the first evidence of clonal, antigen-specific T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder in which neuroinflammation plays a critical function. Recurring viral infections and loss of immune competence increase risk for developing AD, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these immune changes are unknown. Here we performed mass cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and detected an immunologic signature of AD characterized by increased numbers of CD8+ T effector memory CD45RA+ (TEMRA) cells. CD8+ TEMRA cells were negatively associated with cognition and single cell RNA sequencing revealed their cytotoxic effector function. Strikingly, we discovered identical, shared T cell receptors (TCRs) of clonally expanded CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three AD patients. Deep TCR sequencing, machine learning, and peptide screens identified the HLA-B*08:01-restricted Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator protein BZLF1 as the cognate antigen of a novel AD CSF TCR . These results provide the first evidence of clonal, antigen-specific T cells patrolling the intrathecal space of brains affected by age-related neurodegeneration