技术资料

AbstractT cells in the human female genital tract (FGT) are key mediators of susceptibility to and protection from infection,including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There is a critical need for increased understanding of the distribution and activation of T cell populations in the FGT,but current sampling methods require a healthcare provider and are expensive,limiting the ability to study these populations longitudinally. To address these challenges,we have developed a method to sample immune cells from the FGT utilizing disposable menstrual discs which are noninvasive,self-applied,and low in cost. To demonstrate reproducibility,we sampled the cervicovaginal fluid of healthy,reproductive-aged individuals using menstrual discs across 3 sequential days. Cervicovaginal fluid was processed for cervicovaginal cells,and high-parameter flow cytometry was used to characterize immune populations. We identified large numbers of live,CD45+ leukocytes,as well as distinct populations of T cells and B cells. Within the T cell compartment,activation and suppression status of T cell subsets were consistent with previous studies of the FGT utilizing current approaches,including identification of both tissue-resident and migratory populations. In addition,the T cell population structure was highly conserved across days within individuals but divergent across individuals. Our approach to sample immune cells in the FGT with menstrual discs will decrease barriers to participation and empower longitudinal sampling in future research studies. View Publication

In sub-Saharan Africa,multidrug-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars are a common cause of fatal bloodstream infection. Malnutrition is a predisposing factor,but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here we show that vitamin A deficiency,one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficits afflicting African children,increases susceptibility to disseminated non-typhoidal Salmonella disease in mice and impairs terminal neutrophil maturation. Immature neutrophils had reduced expression of Slc11a1,a gene that encodes a metal ion transporter generally thought to restrict pathogen growth in macrophages. Adoptive transfer of SLC11A1-proficient neutrophils,but not SLC11A1-deficient neutrophils,reduced systemic Salmonella burden in Slc11a1−/− mice or mice with vitamin A deficiency. Loss of terminal granulopoiesis regulator CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ϵ (C/EBPϵ) also decreased neutrophil-mediated control of Salmonella,but not that mediated by peritoneal macrophages. Susceptibility to infection increased in Cebpe−/− Slc11a1+/+ mice compared with wild-type controls,in an Slc11a1-expression-dependent manner. These data suggest that SLC11A1 deficiency impairs Salmonella control in part by blunting neutrophil-mediated defence. Vitamin A deficiency exacerbates invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella infection in mice,revealing a restrictive role for SLC11A1 in neutrophils. View Publication

Ex vivo cellular system that accurately replicates sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia characteristics is a highly sought-after goal in the field of erythroid biology. In this study,we present the generation of erythroid progenitor lines with sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia mutation using CRISPR/Cas9. The disease cellular models exhibit similar differentiation profiles,globin expression and proteome dynamics as patient-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Additionally,these cellular models recapitulate pathological conditions associated with both the diseases. Hydroxyurea and pomalidomide treatment enhanced fetal hemoglobin levels. Notably,we introduce a therapeutic strategy for the above diseases by recapitulating the HPFH3 genotype,which reactivates fetal hemoglobin levels and rescues the disease phenotypes,thus making these lines a valuable platform for studying and developing new therapeutic strategies. Altogether,we demonstrate our disease cellular systems are physiologically relevant and could prove to be indispensable tools for disease modeling,drug screenings and cell and gene therapy-based applications. Sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia (BT) are globally prevalent inherited blood disorders but,despite extensive research,no ex vivo system exists for SCD and BT. Here,the authors generate pathophysiologically relevant erythroid progenitor models of SCD and BT. View Publication

BackgroundStreptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus,GAS) causes a variety of diseases ranging from mild superficial infections of the throat and skin to severe invasive infections,such as necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs). Tissue passage of GAS often results in mutations within the genes encoding for control of virulence (Cov)R/S two component system leading to a hyper-virulent phenotype. Dendritic cells (DCs) are innate immune sentinels specialized in antigen uptake and subsequent T cell priming. This study aimed to analyze cytokine release by DCs and other cells of monocytic origin in response to wild-type and natural covR/S mutant infections.MethodsHuman primary monocyte-derived (mo)DCs were used. DC maturation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to infections with wild-type and covR/S mutants were assessed via flow cytometry. Global proteome changes were assessed via mass spectrometry. As a proof-of-principle,cytokine release by human primary monocytes and macrophages was determined.ResultsIn vitro infections of moDCs and other monocytic cells with natural GAS covR/S mutants resulted in reduced secretion of IL-8 and IL-18 as compared to wild-type infections. In contrast,moDC maturation remained unaffected. Inhibition of caspase-8 restored secretion of both molecules. Knock-out of streptolysin O in GAS strain with unaffected CovR/S even further elevated the IL-18 secretion by moDCs. Of 67 fully sequenced NSTI GAS isolates,28 harbored mutations resulting in dysfunctional CovR/S. However,analyses of plasma IL-8 and IL-18 levels did not correlate with presence or absence of such mutations.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that strains,which harbor covR/S mutations,interfere with IL-18 and IL-8 responses in monocytic cells by utilizing the caspase-8 axis. Future experiments aim to identify the underlying mechanism and consequences for NSTI patients.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-024-01014-9. View Publication

SummaryEnergy metabolism in the context of erythropoiesis and related diseases remains largely unexplored. Here,we developed a primary cell model by differentiating hematopoietic stem progenitor cells toward the erythroid lineage and suppressing the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. OXPHOS suppression led to differentiation failure of erythroid progenitors and defects in ribosome biogenesis. Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 (RanGAP1) was identified as a target of mitochondrial OXPHOS for ribosomal defects during erythropoiesis. Overexpression of RanGAP1 largely alleviated erythroid defects resulting from OXPHOS suppression. Coenzyme Q10,an activator of OXPHOS,largely rescued erythroid defects and increased RanGAP1 expression. Patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) exhibited OXPHOS suppression and a concomitant suppression of ribosome biogenesis. RNA-seq analysis implied that the substantial mutation (approximately 10%) in OXPHOS genes accounts for OXPHOS suppression in these patients. Conclusively,OXPHOS disruption and the associated disruptive mitochondrial energy metabolism are linked to the pathogenesis of DBA. Graphical abstract Highlights•Disruptive energy metabolism associates with the pathology of DBA•Suppression of OXPHOS leads to differentiation failure of erythroid progenitors•Energy metabolism disruption decreases overall ribosome levels in erythropoiesis•RanGAP1 is a target of OXPHOS pathway for ribosome biogenesis during erythropoiesis Cellular physiology; Cell biology; Developmental biology View Publication

SummaryHIV-1 latency results from tightly regulated molecular processes that act at distinct steps of HIV-1 gene expression. Here,we characterize PCI domain-containing 2 (PCID2) protein,a subunit of the transcription and export complex 2 (TREX2) complex,to enforce transcriptional repression and post-transcriptional blocks to HIV-1 gene expression during latency. PCID2 bound the latent HIV-1 LTR (long terminal repeat) and repressed transcription initiation during latency. Depletion of PCID2 remodeled the chromatin landscape at the HIV-1 promoter and resulted in transcriptional activation and latency reversal. Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry identified PCID2-interacting proteins to include negative viral RNA (vRNA) splicing regulators,and PCID2 depletion resulted in over-splicing of intron-containing vRNA in cell lines and primary cells obtained from PWH. MCM3AP and DSS1,two other RNA-binding TREX2 complex subunits,also inhibit transcription initiation and vRNA alternative splicing during latency. Thus,PCID2 is a novel HIV-1 latency-promoting factor,which in context of the TREX2 sub-complex PCID2-DSS1-MCM3AP blocks transcription and dysregulates vRNA processing. Graphical abstract Highlights•PCID2 is bound to the latent HIV-1 LTR as a transcriptional repressor•PCID2 enforces latency by acting on transcription initiation•PCID2 establishes blocks to alternative splicing during HIV-1 latency•PCID2 misregulates alternative splicing in cells obtained from people with HIV-1 Virology; Cell biology View Publication

Although FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) depend on IL-2 produced by other cells for their survival and function,the levels of IL-2 in inflamed tissue are low,making it unclear how Treg access this critical resource. Here,we show that Treg use heparanase (HPSE) to access IL-2 sequestered by heparan sulfate (HS) within the extracellular matrix (ECM) of inflamed central nervous system tissue. HPSE expression distinguishes human and murine Treg from conventional T cells and is regulated by the availability of IL-2. HPSE-/- Treg have impaired stability and function in vivo,including in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Conversely,endowing monoclonal antibody-directed chimeric antigen receptor (mAbCAR) Treg with HPSE enhances their ability to access HS-sequestered IL-2 and their ability to suppress neuroinflammation in vivo. Together,these data identify a role for HPSE and the ECM in immune tolerance,providing new avenues for improving Treg-based therapy of autoimmunity. Regulatory T cell (Treg) maintenance and function require IL-2,yet this cytokine is only present in low levels in vivo. In this study,the authors demonstrate that that Treg use heparanase to access IL-2 bound to heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of inflamed brain tissue in mice. View Publication

AbstractBackgroundAcute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) arises from the imbalance of host T cells. Galectin‐9 negatively regulates CD4 effector T cell (Th1 and Th17) function by binding to Tim‐3. However,the relationship between Galectin‐9/Tim‐3 and CD4+ T subsets in patients with aGVHD after Haplo‐HSCT (haploidentical peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) has not been fully elucidated. Here,we investigated the role of Galectin‐9 and CD4+T subsets in aGVHD after haplo‐HSCT.MethodsForty‐two patients underwent Haplo‐HSCT (26 without aGVHD and 16 with aGVHD),and 20 healthy controls were included. The concentrations of Galectin‐9,interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ),interleukin (IL)‐4,transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β,and IL‐17 in the serum and culture supernatant were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay or cytometric bead array. The expression levels of Galectin‐9,PI3K,p‐PI3K,and p‐mTOR protein were detected by western blot analysis. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportions of CD4+ T cell subsets. Bioinformatics analysis was performed.ResultsIn patients with aGVHD,regulatory T (Treg) cells and Galectin‐9 decreased,and the Th1,Th17,and Treg cells were significantly imbalanced. Moreover,Treg and Galectin‐9 were rapidly reconstituted in the early stage of patients without aGVHD after Haplo‐HSCT,but Th17 cells were reconstituted slowly. Furthermore,Tim‐3 upregulation on Th17 and Th1 cells was associated with excessive activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in patients with aGVHD. Specifically,in vitro treatment with Galectin‐9 reduced IFN‐γ and IL‐17 production while augmenting TGF‐β secretion. Bioinformatics analysis suggested the potential involvement of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in aGVHD. Mechanistically,exogenous Galectin‐9 was found to mitigate aGVHD by restoring the Treg/Teffs (effector T cells) balance and suppressing PI3K.ConclusionGalectin‐9 may ameliorate aGVHD after haplo‐HSCT by modulating Treg/Teffs balance and regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Targeting Galectin‐9 may hold potential value for the treatment of aGVHD. In patients with acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD),the expression of Tim‐3 is significantly increased. Galectin‐9 binding to Tim‐3 may inhibit the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and enhance the function of Treg cells. On the other hand,transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β promotes the differentiation of Treg cells through autocrine secretion,while TGF‐β induces the expression of Galectin‐9 in a paracrine manner. The increased Treg cells can inhibit the activation of Th1 and Th17 cells by secreting TGF‐β,thus alleviating aGVHD and inducing immune tolerance View Publication

BackgroundSevere peripheral nerve damage always requires surgical treatment. Autologous nerve transplantation is a standard treatment,but it is not sufficient due to length limitations and extended surgical time. Even with the available artificial nerves,there is still large room for improvement in their therapeutic effects. Novel treatments for peripheral nerve injury are greatly expected.MethodsUsing a specialized microfluidic device,we generated artificial neurite bundles from human iPSC-derived motor and sensory nerve organoids. We developed a new technology to isolate cell-free neurite bundles from spheroids. Transplantation therapy was carried out for large nerve defects in rat sciatic nerve with novel artificial nerve conduit filled with lineally assembled sets of human neurite bundles. Quantitative comparisons were performed over time to search for the artificial nerve with the therapeutic effect,evaluating the recovery of motor and sensory functions and histological regeneration. In addition,a multidimensional unbiased gene expression profiling was carried out by using next-generation sequencing.ResultAfter transplantation,the neurite bundle-derived artificial nerves exerted significant therapeutic effects,both functionally and histologically. Remarkably,therapeutic efficacy was achieved without immunosuppression,even in xenotransplantation. Transplanted neurite bundles fully dissolved after several weeks,with no tumor formation or cell proliferation,confirming their biosafety. Posttransplant gene expression analysis highlighted the immune system’s role in recovery.ConclusionThe combination of newly developed microfluidic devices and iPSC technology enables the preparation of artificial nerves from organoid-derived neurite bundles in advance for future treatment of peripheral nerve injury patients. A promising,safe,and effective peripheral nerve treatment is now ready for clinical application.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41232-024-00319-4. View Publication

The maturation process of natural killer (NK) cells,which is regulated by multiple transcription factors,determines their functionality,but few checkpoints specifically targeting this process have been thoroughly studied. Here we show that NK-specific deficiency of glucose-regulated protein 94 (gp96) leads to decreased maturation of NK cells in mice. These gp96-deficient NK cells exhibit undermined activation,cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production upon stimulation,as well as weakened responses to IL-15 for NK cell maturation,in vitro. In vivo,NK-specific gp96-deficient mice show increased tumor growth. Mechanistically,we identify Eomes as the downstream transcription factor,with gp96 binding to Trim28 to prevent Trim28-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of Eomes. Our study thus suggests the gp96-Trim28-Eomes axis to be an important regulator for NK cell maturation and cancer surveillance in mice. Natural killer (NK) cell maturation and function are regulated by multiple transcription factors (TF),but detailed molecular insights are scarce. Here the authors show that a TF,Eomes,is important for NK cell responses and cancer surveillance,in which Eomes expression is regulated by gp96 and Trim28 via the ubiquitination and degradation pathways. View Publication

Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious human pathogen that thrives in macrophages. It resides in mature phagolysosomes,where a subset of the bacteria eventually begin to proliferate. How S. aureus acquires essential nutrients,such as amino acids,for growth in this niche is poorly understood. Using a long-term primary human macrophage infection model,we show that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) uptake mediated by the major transporter BrnQ1 is required by S. aureus for intracellular replication in macrophages and we provide mechanistic insight into the role of BCAAs in the success of intracellular S. aureus. Loss of BrnQ1 function renders intracellular S. aureus non-replicative and non-cytotoxic. The defective intracellular growth of S. aureus brnQ1 mutants can be rescued by supplementation with BCAAs or by overexpression of the BCAA transporters BrnQ1 or BcaP. Inactivation of the CodY repressor rescues the ability of S. aureus brnQ1 mutants to proliferate intracellularly independent of endogenous BCAA synthesis but dependent on BcaP expression. Non-replicating brnQ1 mutants in primary human macrophages become metabolically quiescent and display aberrant gene expression marked by failure to respond to intraphagosomal iron starvation. The bacteria remain,however,viable for an inordinate length of time. This dormant,yet viable bacterial state is distinct from classical persisters and small colony variants. Author summaryStaphylococcus aureus is a prominent human pathogen causing acute and chronic disease. It is facultatively intracellular and can reside within many host cell types,including professional phagocytes such as macrophages. The intracellular state contributes to dissemination,recurrence and infection chronicity. Chronic and relapsing infections are often associated with so-called persister phenotypes. Growth arrest and metabolic quiescence,accompanied by antibiotic tolerance,are hallmarks of persistence in bacteria. Antibiotic pressure is a major factor in triggering intracellular persistence. The small colony variant (SCV),an extensively studied form of S. aureus persister,can arise in the absence of antibiotic pressure and exhibits very distinctive phenotypic characteristics.Here,we describe a different growth-arrested state of S. aureus,which conforms to the definition of a non-antibiotic-driven form of intracellular dormancy,triggered by branched-chain amino acid starvation in macrophages. We show that loss of function of the major branched-chain amino acid transporter BrnQ1 renders intracellular S. aureus non-replicative and metabolically quiescent for an inordinate period of time. Upon stochastic exit from infected macrophages,brnQ1 mutants retain full virulence. This dormancy differs from classical persistence or SCVs and uncovers an underestimated role for BCAA uptake in the success of intracellular S. aureus. View Publication

AbstractBackgroundPatients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC),particularly the human papillomavirus negative (HPV−) subset,have a dismal prognosis. Furthermore,patients with Fanconi anemia (FA) have a genetic predisposition with a 500-fold to 700-fold higher incidence of HNSCC. Thus,novel and more efficacious therapies are needed. As current immunotherapies often fail due to suppressive elements in the tumor microenvironment (TME),we developed a trispecific killer engager (TriKE) to direct multiple signals to natural killer (NK) cells to overcome the hypoxic TME. This TriKE is comprised of a camelid nanobody that binds to CD16 on NK cells,an interleukin (IL)-15 moiety,and another novel camelid nanobody that binds to the B7-H3 antigen,which is highly and specifically expressed on the tumor cell surface.MethodsThe B7H3 TriKE was generated using a mammalian expression system. Its functionality was evaluated using flow cytometry-based NK cell degranulation,cytokine production,proliferation and live cell imaging cytotoxicity assays. Models of acute and prolonged hypoxia (1% oxygen) were carried out to assess tumor killing. Tumor progression,NK cell persistence,and survival differences between IL-15-treated and TriKE-treated mice were studied using NOD-scidIL2Rgnull (NSG) mice engrafted with human HNSCC.ResultsHigh B7-H3 expression was found in HPV− HNSCC cell lines,even when the FA gene was knocked out,and The Cancer Genome Atlas patient data showed that high B7-H3 expression predicted poor survival in patients with HPV− HNSCC. Similar to the NK cell activity seen with healthy donors,the B7H3 TriKE enhanced activation,expansion and cytotoxicity of NK cells from patients with HPV− HNSCC,a target population for this therapeutic. Additionally,the B7H3 TriKE improved NK cell cytotoxicity in a three-dimensional spheroid model of HNSCC. In both acute and prolonged hypoxia (1% oxygen),the B7H3 TriKE mediated enhanced tumor killing,mitigating impairment of NK cell cytotoxicity in hypoxia. In vivo,the B7H3 TriKE-treated mice demonstrated substantial antitumor activity and prolonged survival.ConclusionsThe B7H3 TriKE is a novel immunotherapeutic approach that can overcome hypoxic suppression of NK cells in the HNSCC TME. These highly translational studies present an innovative therapy for patients with HNSCC and will be developed further for clinical application. View Publication