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AbstractObjectivesWe performed multiparameter phenotyping of peripheral B cells in anti-Jo-1 antibody positive idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) to delineate disease-associated immunological profiles and the influence of B cells on disease activity.MethodsPurified B cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with anti-Jo-1 antibody positive IIM (7 with untreated active IIM,4 with active and treated IIM and 5 with inactive IIM) were analysed by multiparameter spectral flow cytometry. Dimensionality reduction and clustering analysis were applied to pre-gated CD19+B cells. Serum levels of 21 cytokines and anti-Jo-1 IgG autoantibodies were determined. All patients with IIM in this study were positive for anti-Jo-1 antibody.ResultsAnti-Jo-1 antibody levels correlated positively to disease activity. Flow cytometry demonstrated B-cell dysregulation with significantly lower CD73 expression on naïve,switched memory and double negative B cells in patients with active IIM. Clustering analysis further revealed expansions of CD73− IgM+naïve B cells and CD73− CD95+ switched memory B cells in active IIM. In unswitched memory B cells,CD73+CD21+ cells were decreased in active IIM. Patients with active IIM had significantly higher serum levels of B-cell activating factor,inducible protein-10,interleukin-6 and sCD40L which correlated with changes in B-cell populations.ConclusionsSince CD73 has an immunoregulatory function by modulating the ATP/adenosine pathway,which is also targeted by methotrexate,the low CD73 B-cell expression in anti-Jo-1 antibody-positive IIM may lead to B-cell hyperactivation. These novel findings further highlight B cells as central in the pathogenesis of IIM and important therapeutic targets. View Publication

CD8 T cells can play both a protective and pathogenic role in inflammation and autoimmune development. Recent studies have highlighted the ability of CD8 T cells to function as T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in the germinal center in the context of infection. However,whether this phenomenon occurs in autoimmunity and contributes to autoimmune pathogenesis is largely unexplored. In this study,we show that CD8 T cells acquire a CD4 Tfh profile in the absence of functional regulatory T cells in both the IL-2-deficient and scurfy mouse models. Depletion of CD8 T cells mitigates autoimmune pathogenesis in IL-2-deficient mice. CD8 T cells express the B cell follicle-localizing chemokine receptor CXCR5,a principal Tfh transcription factor Bcl6,and the Tfh effector cytokine IL-21. CD8 T cells localize to the B cell follicle,express B cell costimulatory proteins,and promote B cell differentiation and Ab isotype class switching. These data reveal a novel contribution of autoreactive CD8 T cells to autoimmune disease,in part,through CD4 follicular-like differentiation and functionality. View Publication

Bone marrow (BM) failure syndrome encompasses a group of disorders characterized by BM stem cell dysfunction,resulting in varying degrees of hypoplasia and blood pancytopenia,and in many patients is autoimmune and inflammatory in nature. The important role of T helper 1 (Th1) polarized CD4+ T cells in driving BM failure has been clearly established in several models. However,animal model data demonstrating a functional role for CD8+ T cells in BM dysfunction is largely lacking and our objective was to test the hypothesis that CD8+ T cells play a non-redundant role in driving BM failure. Clinical evidence implicates a detrimental role for CD8+ T cells in BM failure and a beneficial role for Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maintaining immune tolerance in the BM. We demonstrate that IL-2-deficient mice,which have a deficit in functional Tregs,develop spontaneous BM failure. Furthermore,we demonstrate a critical role for CD8+ T cells in the development of BM failure,which is dependent on the cytokine,IFNgamma$. CD8+ T cells promote hematopoietic stem cell dysfunction and depletion of myeloid lineage progenitor cells,resulting in anemia. Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrate that CD8+ T cells dramatically expedite disease progression and promote CD4+ T cell accumulation in the BM. Thus,BM dysregulation in IL-2-deficient mice is mediated by a Th1 and IFNgamma$-producing CD8+ T cell (Tc1) response. View Publication

Cancer immunotherapy restores or enhances the effector function of CD8+ T cells in the tumour microenvironment1,2. CD8+ T cells activated by cancer immunotherapy clear tumours mainly by inducing cell death through perforin-granzyme and Fas-Fas ligand pathways3,4. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that differs from apoptosis and results from iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxide5,6. Although it has been investigated in vitro7,8,there is emerging evidence that ferroptosis might be implicated in a variety of pathological scenarios9,10. It is unclear whether,and how,ferroptosis is involved in T cell immunity and cancer immunotherapy. Here we show that immunotherapy-activated CD8+ T cells enhance ferroptosis-specific lipid peroxidation in tumour cells,and that increased ferroptosis contributes to the anti-tumour efficacy of immunotherapy. Mechanistically,interferon gamma (IFNgamma) released from CD8+ T cells downregulates the expression of SLC3A2 and SLC7A11,two subunits of the glutamate-cystine antiporter system xc-,impairs the uptake of cystine by tumour cells,and as a consequence,promotes tumour cell lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. In mouse models,depletion of cystine or cysteine by cyst(e)inase (an engineered enzyme that degrades both cystine and cysteine) in combination with checkpoint blockade synergistically enhanced T cell-mediated anti-tumour immunity and induced ferroptosis in tumour cells. Expression of system xc- was negatively associated,in cancer patients,with CD8+ T cell signature,IFNgamma expression,and patient outcome. Analyses of human transcriptomes before and during nivolumab therapy revealed that clinical benefits correlate with reduced expression of SLC3A2 and increased IFNgamma and CD8. Thus,T cell-promoted tumour ferroptosis is an anti-tumour mechanism,and targeting this pathway in combination with checkpoint blockade is a potential therapeutic approach. View Publication

Memory B cells (MBCs) are long-lived sources of rapid,isotype-switched secondary antibody-forming cell (AFC) responses. Whether MBCs homogeneously retain the ability to self-renew and terminally differentiate or if these functions are compartmentalized into MBC subsets has remained unclear. It has been suggested that antibody isotype controls MBC differentiation upon restimulation. Here we demonstrate that subcategorizing MBCs on the basis of their expression of CD80 and PD-L2,independently of isotype,identified MBC subsets with distinct functions upon rechallenge. CD80(+)PD-L2(+) MBCs differentiated rapidly into AFCs but did not generate germinal centers (GCs); conversely,CD80(-)PD-L2(-) MBCs generated few early AFCs but robustly seeded GCs. The gene-expression patterns of the subsets supported both the identity and function of these distinct MBC types. Hence,the differentiation and regeneration of MBCs are compartmentalized. View Publication

Both anti-tumoral and pro-tumoral effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in preclinical treatment of ovarian cancer have been controversially demonstrated. In this study,we profiled the phenotypes of mouse compact bone-derived MSCs (CB-MSCs) and bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) and found that CB-MSCs expressed lower CD90 compared to BM-MSCs. We examined gene expression of immune regulating cytokines of CB-MSCs in 2D and 3D culture and under stimulation with TLR4 agonist LPS or immune activator VIC-008. Our data showed that when CB-MSCs were cultured in simulated in vivo 3D condition,CD90 expression was further decreased. Moreover,gene expressions of immune activating cytokines IL-12,IL-21,IFNgamma and a pro-inflammatory cytokine CXCL10 in CB-MSCs were increased in 3D culture whereas gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and CCL5 were downregulated. Stimulation of CB-MSCs by LPS or VIC-008 presented similar profile of the cytokine gene expressions to that in 3D culture which might benefit the anti-tumor efficacy of CD90low MSCs. The anti-tumor effects of CD90low CB-MSCs alone or in combination with VIC-008 were evaluated in a syngeneic orthotopic mouse model of ovarian cancer. Treatment that combines CB-MSCs and VIC-008 significantly decreased tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival. This was associated with the increase of activated anti-tumoral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the decrease of Treg cells in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together,our study demonstrates the synergistic anti-tumoral efficacy by application of CB-MSCs combined with immune activator VIC-008 and provides new insight into CD90low MSCs as a new anti-tumor arsenal. View Publication

Human CD56(bright) natural killer (NK) cells possess little or no killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs),high interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production,but little cytotoxicity. CD56(dim) NK cells have high KIR expression,produce little IFN-gamma,yet display high cytotoxicity. We hypothesized that,if human NK maturation progresses from a CD56(bright) to a CD56(dim) phenotype,an intermediary NK cell must exist,which demonstrates more functional overlap than these 2 subsets,and we used CD94 expression to test our hypothesis. CD94(high)CD56(dim) NK cells express CD62L,CD2,and KIR at levels between CD56(bright) and CD94(low)CD56(dim) NK cells. CD94(high)CD56(dim) NK cells produce less monokine-induced IFN-gamma than CD56(bright) NK cells but much more than CD94(low)CD56(dim) NK cells because of differential interleukin-12-mediated STAT4 phosphorylation. CD94(high)CD56(dim) NK cells possess a higher level of granzyme B and perforin expression and CD94-mediated redirected killing than CD56(bright) NK cells but lower than CD94(low)CD56(dim) NK cells. Collectively,our data suggest that the density of CD94 surface expression on CD56(dim) NK cells identifies a functional and likely developmental intermediary between CD56(bright) and CD94(low)CD56(dim) NK cells. This supports the notion that,in vivo,human CD56(bright) NK cells progress through a continuum of differentiation that ends with a CD94(low)CD56(dim) phenotype. View Publication

Hematopoietic progenitor cell trafficking is an important phenomenon throughout life. It is thought to occur in sequential steps,similar to what has been described for mature leukocytes. Molecular actors have been identified for each step of leukocyte migration; recently,CD99 was shown to play a part during transendothelial migration. We explored the expression and role of CD99 on human hematopoietic progenitors. We demonstrate that (1) CD34+ cells express CD99,albeit with various intensities; (2) subsets of CD34+ cells with high or low levels of CD99 expression produce different numbers of erythroid,natural killer (NK),or dendritic cells in the in vitro differentiation assays; (3) the level of CD99 expression is related to the ability to differentiate toward B cells; (4) CD34+ cells that migrate through an endothelial monolayer in response to SDF-1alpha and SCF display the highest level of CD99 expression; (5) binding of a neutralizing antibody to CD99 partially inhibits transendothelial migration of CD34+ progenitors in an in vitro assay; and (6) binding of a neutralizing antibody to CD99 reduces homing of CD34+ progenitors xenotransplanted in NOD-SCID mice. We conclude that expression of CD99 on human CD34+ progenitors has functional significance and that CD99 may be involved in transendothelial migration of progenitors. View Publication

The mechanisms of how signaling pathways are coordinated and integrated for the maintenance of the self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and the acquisition of pluripotency in reprogramming are still only partly understood. CDK1 is a key regulator of mitosis. Recently,CDK1 has been shown to be involved in regulating self-renewal of stem cells,even though the mechanistic role of how CDK1 regulates pluripotency is unknown. In this report,we aim to understand how CDK1 can control pluripotency by reducing CDK1 activity to a level that has no effect on cell cycle progression. We demonstrated that high levels of CDK1 is associated with the pluripotency stage of hESCs; and decreased CDK1 activity to a level without perturbing the cell cycle is sufficient to induce differentiation. CDK1 specifically targets the phosphorylation of PDK1 and consequently the activity of PI3K/Akt and its effectors ERK and GSK3β. Evidence of the reversion of inactive CDK1-mediated differentiation by the inhibition of Akt signaling effectors suggests that the CDK1-PDK1-PI3K/Akt kinase cascade is a functional signaling pathway for the pluripotency of hESCs. Moreover,cyclin B1-CDK1 complexes promote somatic reprogramming efficiency,probably by regulating the maturation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs),as cyclin B1 stimulates a higher cellular level of LIN28A,suggesting that monitoring iPSC factors could be a new path for the enhancement of reprogramming efficiency. Together,we demonstrate an essential role for the CDK1-PDK1-PI3K/Akt kinase signaling pathway in the regulation of self-renewal,differentiation,and somatic reprogramming,which provides a novel kinase cascade mechanism for pluripotency control and acquisition.Cell Death and Differentiation advance online publication,16 September 2016; doi:10.1038/cdd.2016.84. View Publication

A 4-kilobase and a 2-kilobase cDNA clone encoding a murine macrophage colony-stimulating factor have been isolated. Except for 2 amino acid residue differences,these two clones encode the same 520 amino acid residue protein,which is preceded by a 32-amino acid residue signal peptide. The two clones,whose molecular masses correspond to the two transcripts observed in murine L929 fibroblasts,contain 3' untranslated regions that are markedly different in sequence and length. Both clones can be expressed in COS cells and the recombinant protein is active in a mouse bone marrow colony assay. View Publication

We report the systematic use of large-scale cDNA microarrays to study the gene expression profiles of primary human peripheral blood monocytes (MONO) in comparison with in vitro-differentiated,M-CSF-induced MONO-derived macrophages (MAC) and primary human alveolar MAC (AM),obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from the lungs of normal volunteers. These studies revealed large-scale differences in the gene expression profile between both MAC types (MAC and AM) and MONO. In addition,large differences were observed in the gene expression profiles of the two MAC types. Specifically,21% of genes on the array (2904 out of 13,582) were differentially expressed between AM and MONO,and 2229 out of 13,583 probes were differentially expressed between MAC and AM. Our expression data show remarkable differences in gene expression between different MAC subpopulations and emphasize the heterogeneity of different MAC populations. This study underscores the need to scrutinize models of MAC biology for relevance to specific disease processes. View Publication

ABSTRACTLoss of Cdx2 in vivo leads to stunted development of the allantois,an extraembryonic mesoderm-derived structure critical for nutrient delivery and waste removal in the early embryo. Here,we investigate how CDX2 dose-dependently influences the gene regulatory network underlying extraembryonic mesoderm development. By engineering human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) consisting of wild-type (WT),heterozygous (CDX2-Het),and homozygous null CDX2 (CDX2-KO) genotypes,differentiating these cells in a 2D gastruloid model,and subjecting these cells to single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing,we identify several pathways that are dose-dependently regulated by CDX2 including VEGF and non-canonical WNT. snATAC-seq reveals that CDX2-Het cells retain a WT-like chromatin accessibility profile,suggesting accessibility alone is not sufficient to drive this variability in gene expression. Because the loss of CDX2 or TBXT phenocopy one another in vivo,we compared differentially expressed genes in our CDX2-KO to those from TBXT-KO hiPSCs differentiated in an analogous experiment. This comparison identifies several communally misregulated genes that are critical for cytoskeletal integrity and tissue permeability. Together,these results clarify how CDX2 dose-dependently regulates gene expression in the extraembryonic mesoderm and reveal pathways that may underlie the defects in vascular development and allantoic elongation seen in vivo. Summary: Using 2D human gastruloids,CDX2 is shown to dose-dependently influence genes related to tissue permeability,cell-cell adhesions,and cytoskeletal architecture during extraembryonic mesoderm development. View Publication