Project description:Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a cornerstone of immune regulation. Recent evidence indicates that human Treg show plasticity in specific settings. A subpopulation of Treg expressing CD161, a marker associated with T helper (Th)17 cells, have T effector -like characteristics and are enriched at sites of autoimmune inflammation. Here we used RNAseq to confirm the effector-like signature of CD161+ Treg and demonstrated a shared transcriptional signature between CD161+ Treg and CD161+ conventional T cells (Tconv). Pathway analysis suggested that CD161+ T cells have a migratory phenotype, expressing high levels of CCR9 and integrin α4β7, markers associated with gut homing. In response to all-trans retinoic acid, CD161+ T cells expressed higher levels of CCR9 and integrin α4β7 than CD161- T cells. Our data suggest that blood CD161+ T cells may have adopted gut homing properties upon retinoic acid exposure. In contrast to their peripheral counterparts, CD161+ T cells from the site of autoimmune arthritis have a diminished gut homing phenotype and blunted response to retinoic acid. In health, the TCRβ repertoires of CD161+ and CD161- T cells showed limited overlap whereas there is clear overlap in T cell clones from synovial fluid of autoimmune arthritis patients. We therefore propose that CD161+ and CD161- T cells are largely distinct populations in the healthy immune system but that the inflamed site creates an environment where CD161 levels in T cells can be altered, potentially contributing to disease pathogenesis.
Project description:This series represents mature CD4+ lymphocytes with high and low expression of integrin α4β7 isolated from human subjects. Keywords = lymphocyte, integrin α4β7 , differential gene expression, microarray Keywords: parallel sample
Project description:Notch signaling promotes T-cell pathogenicity and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in mice, with a dominant role for the Delta-like ligand DLL4. To assess if Notch’s effects are evolutionarily conserved and identify key mechanisms, we studied antibody-mediated DLL4 blockade in a non-human primate (NHP) model similar to human allo-HCT. Short-term DLL4 blockade improved post-transplant survival with striking, durable protection from gastrointestinal GVHD, out of proportion to other disease sites. Unlike prior immunosuppressive strategies tested in the NHP GVHD model, anti-DLL4 interfered with a T-cell transcriptional program associated with intestinal infiltration. In cross-species investigations, Notch inhibition decreased surface abundance of the gut-homing integrin α4β7 in conventional T-cells while preserving α4β7 in regulatory T-cells, with findings suggesting increased 1 competition for 4 binding in conventional T-cells. Secondary lymphoid organ fibroblastic reticular cells emerged as the critical cellular source of Delta-like Notch ligands for Notch-mediated up-regulation of α4β7 integrin in T-cells after allo-HCT. Altogether, DLL4/Notch blockade decreased effector T-cell infiltration into the gut, with increased regulatory to conventional T-cell ratios early after allo-HCT. Our results identify a conserved, biologically unique and targetable role of DLL4/Notch signaling in GVHD.
Project description:Despite the high prognostic value of immune infiltrates in colorectal cancer (CRC), metastatic disease remains resistant to immunotherapy by immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Here we show in a metastatic CRC multi-tumor preclinical model that orthotopically-implanted primary colon tumors can spontaneously exert a colon-specific and immune-dependent antimetastatic effect on distant hepatic lesions. An immune signature, integrating antitumor CD8 T cells, dendritic cells and protumor macrophages, that we called MicroEnvironment (ME)-score, was predictive of the antimetastatic effect. ScRNA-Seq and phenotypic analyses revealed that enterotropic α4β7 integrin expressing tumor neoantigen-specific CD8 T cells were key components of the systemic immune response responsible for the antimetastatic effect. Accordingly, the presence of concomitant colon tumors improved the efficacy of proof-of-concept ICB on liver lesions and generated a protective memory immune response whereas antibody-mediated partial depletion of α4β7+ cells abrogated the control of metastatic disease by the primary tumor. Finally, in a metastatic CRC patients’ cohort, we show increased expression of genes encoding the α4β7 integrin and of the ME-score in ICB responsive metastases concomitant with increased proportions of circulating α4β7+ CD8 T cells. Our findings identify a systemic cancer immunosurveillance role for gut primed tumor-specific α4β7+ CD8 T cells.
Project description:Despite the high prognostic value of immune infiltrates in colorectal cancer (CRC), metastatic disease remains resistant to immunotherapy by immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Here we show in a metastatic CRC multi-tumor preclinical model that orthotopically-implanted primary colon tumors can spontaneously exert a colon-specific and immune-dependent antimetastatic effect on distant hepatic lesions. An immune signature, integrating antitumor CD8 T cells, dendritic cells and protumor macrophages, that we called MicroEnvironment (ME)-score, was predictive of the antimetastatic effect. ScRNA-Seq and phenotypic analyses revealed that enterotropic α4β7 integrin expressing tumor neoantigen-specific CD8 T cells were key components of the systemic immune response responsible for the antimetastatic effect. Accordingly, the presence of concomitant colon tumors improved the efficacy of proof-of-concept ICB on liver lesions and generated a protective memory immune response whereas antibody-mediated partial depletion of α4β7+ cells abrogated the control of metastatic disease by the primary tumor. Finally, in a metastatic CRC patients’ cohort, we show increased expression of genes encoding the α4β7 integrin and of the ME-score in ICB responsive metastases concomitant with increased proportions of circulating α4β7+ CD8 T cells. Our findings identify a systemic cancer immunosurveillance role for gut primed tumor-specific α4β7+ CD8 T cells.
Project description:Despite the high prognostic value of immune infiltrates in colorectal cancer (CRC), metastatic disease remains resistant to immunotherapy by immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Here we show in a metastatic CRC multi-tumor preclinical model that orthotopically-implanted primary colon tumors can spontaneously exert a colon-specific and immune-dependent antimetastatic effect on distant hepatic lesions. An immune signature, integrating antitumor CD8 T cells, dendritic cells and protumor macrophages, that we called MicroEnvironment (ME)-score, was predictive of the antimetastatic effect. ScRNA-Seq and phenotypic analyses revealed that enterotropic α4β7 integrin expressing tumor neoantigen-specific CD8 T cells were key components of the systemic immune response responsible for the antimetastatic effect. Accordingly, the presence of concomitant colon tumors improved the efficacy of proof-of-concept ICB on liver lesions and generated a protective memory immune response whereas antibody-mediated partial depletion of α4β7+ cells abrogated the control of metastatic disease by the primary tumor. Finally, in a metastatic CRC patients’ cohort, we show increased expression of genes encoding the α4β7 integrin and of the ME-score in ICB responsive metastases concomitant with increased proportions of circulating α4β7+ CD8 T cells. Our findings identify a systemic cancer immunosurveillance role for gut primed tumor-specific α4β7+ CD8 T cells.
Project description:Memory CD4 T cells facilitate HIV establishment following transmission and contribute to HIV persistence during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of memory CD4 T cells expressing the surface integrin heterodimer, α4β7 in HIV infection. Here, we focused on delineating the molecular characteristics of α4β7+ CD4 T cells and determining how transcriptional profiles of circulating α4β7hi CD4 T cells corresponded to that within the lower GI tract.
Project description:Using an experimental model of graft versus host disease (GVHD) to examine T cell-mediated inflammation within the colon, we identified a unique CD4+ T cell population that constitutively expresses the β2 integrin, CD11c, has a biased central memory phenotype and memory T cell transcriptional profile, possesses innate-like properties by gene expression analysis, and has increased expression of the gut-homing molecules, α4β7 and CCR9. Using a number of complementary GVHD mouse models, we show that adoptive transfer of these cells results in TH1-mediated proinflammatory cytokine production, augmented pathological damage in the colon, and increased mortality due to early accumulation of these cells in the GI tract. The pathogenic effects of this CD4+ T cell population was critically dependent upon co-expression of the IL-23 receptor which was required for maximal inflammatory effects. Colonic inflammation was regulated by IL-10 that was produced by non-Foxp3-expressing CD4+ T cells which attenuated lethality in the absence of functional CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells. Thus, coordinate expression of CD11c and the IL-23R defines a novel IL-10 regulated, colitogenic memory CD4+ T cell subset that is poised to initiate inflammation when there is loss of tolerance and breakdown of mucosal barriers as occurs in GVHD as well as other immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disorders.
Project description:It is unclear to what extent T helper cells with a different phenotype (chemokine receptor and cytokine production profile) are generated in response to pathogen challenge or vaccination, and whether such heterogeneity can arise among the progeny of a single precursor. We combined cellular methods to isolate antigen specific T cells from different T helper memory subsets of human donors, and next generation sequencing of their TCR. This approach revealed a high level of heterogeneity in the phenotype of human T cells responding to different pathogens/vaccines also at a clonal level, as we could characterize cells bearing an identical T cell receptor with divergent effector properties. NGS-based analysis of T cell receptor repertoire of T helper memory cells identical gross specificity (i.e. responding to a given pathogen or vaccine antigen) belonging to different heper subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17)
Project description:Interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) is an important component of the IL-1R and TLR signaling pathways, which influence Th cell differentiation. Here, we show that IRAK1 promotes Th17 development by mediating IL-1β induced upregulation of IL-23R and subsequent STAT3 phosphorylation, thus enabling sustained IL-17 production. Moreover, we show that IRAK1 signaling fosters Th1 differentiation by mediating T-bet induction and counteracts Treg generation. Cotransfer experiments revealed that Irak1-deficient CD4+ T cells have a cell-intrinsic defect in generating Th1 and Th17 cells under inflammatory conditions in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and colon tissue. Furthermore, IRAK1 expression in T cells was shown to be essential for T cell accumulation in the inflamed intestine and mLNs. Transcriptome analysis ex vivo revealed that IRAK1 promotes T cell activation and induction of gut-homing molecules in a cell-intrinsic manner. Accordingly, Irak1-deficient T cells failed to upregulate surface expression of α4β7 integrin after transfer into Rag1-/- mice and their ability to induce colitis was greatly impaired. Lack of IRAK1 in recipient mice provided additional protection from colitis. Therefore, IRAK1 plays an important role in intestinal inflammation by mediating T cell activation, differentiation and their accumulation in the gut. Thus, IRAK1 is a promising novel target for therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases.