Project description:CD8+ TRM are described in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, we still lack knowledge about mechanisms regulating TRM reactivation, in particular in autoimmune diseases. Here, we investigated in a model of TRM-driven central nervous system autoimmunity the transcriptional landscape of self-reactive brain TRM and the requirement of these cells for CD4+ T cell help.
Project description:Tissue resident memory (Trm) represent a newly described memory T cell population. We have previously characterized a population of Trm that persists within the brain following acute virus infection. Although capable of providing marked protection against a subsequent local challenge, brain Trm do not undergo recall expansion following dissociation from the tissue. Furthermore, these Trm do not depend on the same survival factors as the circulating memory T cell pool as assessed either in vivo or in vitro. To gain greater insight into this population of cells we compared the gene-expression profiles of Trm isolated from the brain to circulating memory T cells isolated from the spleen following an acute virus infection. Trm displayed altered expression of genes involved in chemotaxis, expressed a distinct set of transcription factors and overexpressed several inhibitory receptors. Cumulatively, these data indicates that Trm are a distinct memory T cell population disconnected from the circulating memory T cell pool and displaying a unique molecular signature which likely results in optimal survival and function within their local environment. 13 samples were analyzed: 5 replicates of memory OT-I CD8+.CD103- T cells isolated from the spleen of mice on day 20 p.i. with VSV-OVA. 5 replicates of memory OT-I CD8+CD103+ T cells isolated from the brain of mice on day 20 p.i. with VSV-OVA; and 3 replicates of memory OT-I.CD8+ CD103- T cells isolated from the brain of mice on day 20 p.i. with VSV-OVA
Project description:CD8+ T cells play a pivotal role in eliminating pathogens or tumors, but they equally exert tissue damage in autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases. While the mechanisms regulating the differentiation of CD8+ T cells in chronic infections and cancer are just beginning to be unraveled, we still lack knowledge about how this unfolds in autoimmune diseases. Here, we investigated in a model of chronic central nervous system autoimmunity, the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape of autoreactive brain infiltrating CD8+ T cells and how these cells diverge from classical long-lived memory CD8+ T emerging after virus infection.
Project description:Gene expression of WT and Tox -/- P14 CD8+ T cells adoptively transfered in WT and MOG-GP recipient mice following intracranial infection with LCMV-GP. CD8+ T cells play a pivotal role in eliminating pathogens or tumors, but they equally exert tissue damage in autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases. While the mechanisms regulating the differentiation of CD8+ T cells in chronic infections and cancer are just beginning to be unraveled, we still lack knowledge about how this unfolds in autoimmune diseases. Here, we investigated in a model of chronic central nervous system autoimmunity, the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape of autoreactive brain infiltrating CD8+ T cells and how these cells diverge from classical long-lived memory CD8+ T emerging after virus infection.
Project description:The human brain is populated by perivascular CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with a tissue-resident memory T (TRM)-cell phenotype. In multiple sclerosis (MS), these cells associate with white matter (WM) and, to a lesser extent, grey matter (GM) lesions. We here investigated the transcriptional and functional profile of brain-resident T cells. Of n=11 subsequent post-mortem brain donors, we isolated CD8+ and CD4+ effector memory and effector memory re-expressing CD45RA T cells from blood and CD8+ and CD4+ CD69+ T cells from corpus callosum WM and cortical GM. Additionally, brain CD69+ T cells were sorted from subcortical WM, corpus callosum WM, and medulla WM/GM of n=3–5 brain donors as well as from paired normal-appearing WM and GM and from WM and GM lesions of n=6 MS brain donors. In all donors, WM and GM T cells were overwhelmingly CD69+CD103+/-. Bulk RNA sequencing of CD8+ and CD4+ CD69+ T cells revealed TRM-cell signatures, as marked by differential expression of, among others, SELL (CD62L), ITGA1 (CD49a), and S1PR1. Notably, gene expression hardly differed between lesional and normal-appearing WM CD8+ and CD4+ CD69+ T cells in MS brains. Genes up-regulated in brain TRM cells were MS4A1 (CD20) and SPP1 (osteopontin, OPN). OPN is also abundantly expressed by microglia and has been shown to inhibit T-cell activity. In line with the increased presence of OPN in active MS lesions, we noticed a reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-2, TNF, and IFNγ by MS lesion-derived CD8+ and CD4+ T cells ex vivo. This study discloses essential characteristics of human brain CD8+ and CD4+ TRM cells in non-MS and MS post-mortem WM and GM, reports OPN as a generic product of brain-resident immune cells, and shows a tight control of the activation state of TRM cells in MS lesions.
Project description:In chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), immune cells persisting behind the blood-brain barrier are supposed to promulgate local tissue destruction. The drivers of such compartmentalized inflammation remain unclear, but tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) represent a potentially important cellular player in this process
Project description:The human brain is populated by perivascular CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with a tissue-resident memory T (TRM)-cell phenotype. In multiple sclerosis (MS), these cells associate with white matter (WM) and, to a lesser extent, grey matter (GM) lesions. We here investigated the transcriptional and functional profile of brain-resident T cells. Of n=11 subsequent post-mortem brain donors, we isolated CD8+ and CD4+ effector memory and effector memory re-expressing CD45RA T cells from blood and CD8+ and CD4+ CD69+ T cells from corpus callosum WM and cortical GM. Additionally, brain CD69+ T cells were sorted from subcortical WM, corpus callosum WM, and medulla WM/GM of n=3–5 brain donors as well as from paired normal-appearing WM and GM and from WM and GM lesions of n=6 MS brain donors. In all donors, WM and GM T cells were overwhelmingly CD69+CD103+/-. Bulk RNA sequencing of CD8+ and CD4+ CD69+ T cells revealed TRM-cell signatures, as marked by differential expression of, among others, SELL (CD62L), ITGA1 (CD49a), and S1PR1. Notably, gene expression hardly differed between lesional and normal-appearing WM CD8+ and CD4+ CD69+ T cells in MS brains. Genes up-regulated in brain TRM cells were MS4A1 (CD20) and SPP1 (osteopontin, OPN). OPN is also abundantly expressed by microglia and has been shown to inhibit T-cell activity. In line with the increased presence of OPN in active MS lesions, we noticed a reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-2, TNF, and IFNγ by MS lesion-derived CD8+ and CD4+ T cells ex vivo. This study discloses essential characteristics of human brain CD8+ and CD4+ TRM cells in non-MS and MS post-mortem WM and GM, reports OPN as a generic product of brain-resident immune cells, and shows a tight control of the activation state of TRM cells in MS lesions.