技术资料

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a potentially dangerous end organ pathology that affects upwards of 60% of lupus patients. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is important for B cell development,Fc receptor signaling,and macrophage polarization. In this study,we investigated the effects of a novel,highly selective and potent BTK inhibitor,BI-BTK-1,in an inducible model of LN in which mice receive nephrotoxic serum (NTS) containing anti-glomerular antibodies. Mice were treated once daily with vehicle alone or BI-BTK-1,either prophylactically or therapeutically. When compared with control treated mice,NTS-challenged mice treated prophylactically with BI-BTK-1 exhibited significantly attenuated kidney disease,which was dose dependent. BI-BTK-1 treatment resulted in decreased infiltrating IBA-1+ cells,as well as C3 deposition within the kidney. RT-PCR on whole kidney RNA and serum profiling indicated that BTK inhibition significantly decreased levels of LN-relevant inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Renal RNA expression profiling by RNA-seq revealed that BI-BTK-1 dramatically modulated pathways related to inflammation and glomerular injury. Importantly,when administered therapeutically,BI-BTK-1 reversed established proteinuria and improved renal histopathology. Our results highlight the important role for BTK in the pathogenesis of immune complex-mediated nephritis,and BTK inhibition as a promising therapeutic target for LN. View Publication

Suppression of the cytotoxic T cell (CTL) immune response has been proposed as one mechanism for immune evasion in cancer. In this study,we have explored the underlying basis for CTL suppression in the context of B cell malignancies. We document that human B cells have an intrinsic ability to resist killing by freshly isolated cytotoxic T cells (CTLs),but are susceptible to lysis by IL-2 activated CTL blasts and CTLs isolated from immunotherapy-treated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Impaired killing was associated with the formation of dysfunctional non-lytic immune synapses characterized by the presence of defective linker for activation of T cells (LAT) signaling and non-polarized release of the lytic granules transported by ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 8 (Arl8). We propose that non-lytic degranulation of CTLs are a key regulatory mechanism of evasion through which B cells may interfere with the formation of functional immune synapses by CTLs. View Publication

Monoclonal antibody isolation directly from circulating human B cells is a powerful tool to delineate humoral responses to pathological conditions and discover antibody therapeutics. We have developed a platform aimed at improving the efficiencies of B cell selection and V gene recovery. Here,memory B cells are activated and amplified using Epstein-Barr virus infection,co-cultured with CHO-muCD40L cells,and then assessed by functional screenings. An in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) approach was used to analyze variable (V) genes recovered from each B cell sample and identify the relevant heavy/light chain pair(s). We achieved efficient amplification and activation of memory B cells,and eliminated the need to: 1) seed B cells at clonal level (≤1 cell/well) or perform limited dilution cloning; 2) immortalize B cells; or 3) assemble V genes into an IgG expression vector to confirm the relevant heavy/light chain pairing. Cross-reactive antibodies targeting a conserved epitope on influenza A hemagglutinin were successfully isolated from a healthy donor. In-depth analysis of the isolated antibodies suggested their potential uses as anti-influenza A antibody therapeutics and uncovered a distinct affinity maturation pathway. Importantly,our results showed that cognate heavy/light chain pairings contributed to both the expression level and binding abilities of our newly isolated VH1-69 family,influenza A neutralizing antibodies,contrasting with previous observations that light chains do not significantly contribute to the function of this group of antibodies. Our results further suggest the potential use of the IVTT as a powerful antibody developability assessment tool. View Publication

We examined the role of NFκB1 in the homeostasis and function of peripheral follicular (Fo) B cells. Aging mice lacking NFκB1 (Nfκb1(-/-)) develop lymphoproliferative and multiorgan autoimmune disease attributed in large part to the deregulated activity ofNfκb1(-/-)Fo B cells that produce excessive levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6). Despite enhanced germinal center (GC) B cell differentiation,the formation of GC structures was severely disrupted in theNfκb1(-/-)mice. Bone marrow chimeric mice revealed that the Fo B cell-intrinsic loss of NFκB1 led to the spontaneous generation of GC B cells. This was primarily the result of an increase in IL-6 levels,which promotes the differentiation of Fo helper CD4(+)T cells and acts in an autocrine manner to reduce antigen receptor and toll-like receptor activation thresholds in a population of proliferating IgM(+)Nfκb1(-/-)Fo B cells. We demonstrate that p50-NFκB1 repressesIl-6transcription in Fo B cells,with the loss of NFκB1 also resulting in the uncontrolled RELA-driven transcription ofIl-6.Collectively,our findings identify a previously unrecognized role for NFκB1 in preventing multiorgan autoimmunity through its negative regulation ofIl-6gene expression in Fo B cells. View Publication

The neutralization of integrin α4 (Itga4) is currently used as treatment in multiple sclerosis. Although most studies have focused on its function on lymphocyte migration to the CNS,we have uncovered the importance of Itga4 for the generation of regulatory B cells in peripheral immune organs and their control of pathogenic T cell response and CNS pathology. Our study underscores the importance of looking at the dual role of B cells in CNS autoimmunity and provides important perspectives regarding the efficacy and side effects associated with Itga4 neutralization and other B cell-targeting therapies. View Publication

B cell dysregulation in aging is thought to mostly occur in conventional B2 cells without affecting innate B1 cells. Elderly humans and mice also accumulate 4-1BBL(+)MHC class-I(Hi)CD86(Hi)B cells of unknown origin. In this article,we report that these cells,termed 4BL cells,are activated murine and possibly human B1a cells. The activation is mediated by aging human monocytes and murine peritoneal macrophages. They induce expression and activation of 4-1BBL and IFN-γR1 on B1a cells to subsequently upregulate membrane TNF-α and CD86. As a result,activated B1a/4BL cells induce expression of granzyme B in CD8(+)T cells by targeting TNFR2 via membrane TNF-α and providing costimulation with CD86. Thus,for the first time,to our knowledge,these results indicate that aging affects the function of B1a cells. Upon aging,these cells lose their tumor-supporting activity and become inducers of potentially antitumor and autoimmune CD8(+)T cells. View Publication

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is caused by T cells that are reactive for brain antigens. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,the animal model for MS,myelin-reactive T cells initiate the autoimmune process when entering the nervous tissue and become reactivated upon local encounter of their cognate CNS antigen. Thereby,the strength of the T-cellular reactivation process within the CNS tissue is crucial for the manifestation and the severity of the clinical disease. Recently,B cells were found to participate in the pathogenesis of CNS autoimmunity,with several diverse underlying mechanisms being under discussion. We here report that B cells play an important role in promoting the initiation process of CNS autoimmunity. Myelin-specific antibodies produced by autoreactive B cells after activation in the periphery diffused into the CNS together with the first invading pathogenic T cells. The antibodies accumulated in resident antigen-presenting phagocytes and significantly enhanced the activation of the incoming effector T cells. The ensuing strong blood-brain barrier disruption and immune cell recruitment resulted in rapid manifestation of clinical disease. Therefore,myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific autoantibodies can initiate disease bouts by cooperating with the autoreactive T cells in helping them to recognize their autoantigen and become efficiently reactivated within the immune-deprived nervous tissue. View Publication

Developing vaccine strategies to generate high numbers of Ag-specific CD8 T cells may be necessary for protection against recalcitrant pathogens. Heterologous prime-boost-boost immunization has been shown to result in large quantities of functional memory CD8 T cells with protective capacities and long-term stability. Completing the serial immunization steps for heterologous prime-boost-boost can be lengthy,leaving the host vulnerable for an extensive period of time during the vaccination process. We show in this study that shortening the intervals between boosting events to 2 wk results in high numbers of functional and protective Ag-specific CD8 T cells. This protection is comparable to that achieved with long-term boosting intervals. Short-boosted Ag-specific CD8 T cells display a canonical memory T cell signature associated with long-lived memory and have identical proliferative potential to long-boosted T cells Both populations robustly respond to antigenic re-exposure. Despite this,short-boosted Ag-specific CD8 T cells continue to contract gradually over time,which correlates to metabolic differences between short- and long-boosted CD8 T cells at early memory time points. Our studies indicate that shortening the interval between boosts can yield abundant,functional Ag-specific CD8 T cells that are poised for immediate protection; however,this is at the expense of forming stable long-term memory. View Publication

Germinal centers (GCs) are microanatomical structures critical for the development of high-affinity Abs and B cell memory. They are organized into two zones,light and dark,with coordinated roles,controlled by local signaling. The innate lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1) is known to be expressed on B cells,but its functional role in the GC reaction has not been explored. In this study,we report high expression of LLT1 on GC-associated B cells,early plasmablasts,and GC-derived lymphomas. LLT1 expression was readily induced via BCR,CD40,and CpG stimulation on B cells. Unexpectedly,we found high expression of the LLT1 ligand,CD161,on follicular dendritic cells. Triggering of LLT1 supported B cell activation,CD83 upregulation,and CXCR4 downregulation. Overall,these data suggest that LLT1-CD161 interactions play a novel and important role in B cell maturation within the GC in humans. View Publication

Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) regulate a wide array of adaptive responses to hypoxia and are often activated in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies due to intratumoral hypoxia and emerging new layers of regulation. We found that in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),HIF-1α is a novel regulator of the interaction of CLL cells with protective leukemia microenvironments and,in turn,is regulated by this interaction in a positive feedback loop that promotes leukemia survival and propagation. Through unbiased microarray analysis,we found that in CLL cells,HIF-1α regulates the expression of important chemokine receptors and cell adhesion molecules that control the interaction of leukemic cells with bone marrow and spleen microenvironments. Inactivation of HIF-1α impairs chemotaxis and cell adhesion to stroma,reduces bone marrow and spleen colonization in xenograft and allograft CLL mouse models,and prolongs survival in mice. Of interest,we found that in CLL cells,HIF-1α is transcriptionally regulated after coculture with stromal cells. Furthermore,HIF-1α messenger RNA levels vary significantly within CLL patients and correlate with the expression of HIF-1α target genes,including CXCR4,thus further emphasizing the relevance of HIF-1α expression to CLL pathogenesis. View Publication

A novel subset of human regulatory B-cells has recently been described. They arise from within the transitional B-cell subpopulation and are characterised by the production of IL-10. They appear to be of significant importance in regulating T-cell immunity in vivo. Despite this important function,the molecular mechanisms by which they control T-cell activation are incompletely defined. Here we show that transitional B-cells produced more IL-10 and expressed higher levels of IL-10 receptor after CD40 engagement compared to other B-cell subsets. Furthermore,under this stimulatory condition,CD86 expressed by transitional B-cells was down regulated and T-cell proliferation was reduced. We provide evidence to demonstrate that the down-regulation of CD86 expression by transitional B-cells was due to the autocrine effect of IL-10,which in turn leads to decreased T-cell proliferation and TNF-α production. This analysis was further extended to peripheral B-cells in kidney transplant recipients. We observed that B-cells from patients tolerant to the graft maintained higher IL-10 production after CD40 ligation,which correlates with lower CD86 expression compared to patients with chronic rejection. Hence,the results obtained in this study shed light on a new alternative mechanism by which transitional B-cells inhibit T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. View Publication

There is little insight into or agreement about the signals that control differentiation of memory B cells (MBCs) and long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). By performing BrdU pulse-labeling studies,we found that MBC formation preceded the formation of LLPCs in an adoptive transfer immunization system,which allowed for a synchronized Ag-specific response with homogeneous Ag-receptor,yet at natural precursor frequencies. We confirmed these observations in wild-type (WT) mice and extended them with germinal center (GC) disruption experiments and variable region gene sequencing. We thus show that the GC response undergoes a temporal switch in its output as it matures,revealing that the reaction engenders both MBC subsets with different immune effector function and,ultimately,LLPCs at largely separate points in time. These data demonstrate the kinetics of the formation of the cells that provide stable humoral immunity and therefore have implications for autoimmunity,for vaccine development,and for understanding long-term pathogen resistance. View Publication