Immunology
Abstract
Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine antibody response under “real-world” conditions. This longitudinal study investigated the quantity and quality of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in 846 specimens from 350 subjects: comparing BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals (19 previously diagnosed with COVID-19 [RecoVax]; 49 never been diagnosed [NaïveVax]) to 122 hospitalized unvaccinated (HospNoVax) and 160 outpatient unvaccinated (OutPtNoVax) COVID-19 patients. NaïveVax experienced a delay in generating SARS-CoV-2 total antibody levels (TAb) and neutralizing antibodies (SNAb) after the 1st vaccine dose (D1), but a rapid increase in antibody levels was observed after the 2nd dose (D2). However, these never reached the robust levels observed in RecoVax. In fact, NaïveVax TAb and SNAb levels decreased 4-weeks post-D2 (p=0.003;p<0.001). For the most part, RecoVax TAb persisted throughout this study, after reaching maximal levels 2-weeks post-D2; but SNAb decreased significantly ~6-months post-D1 (p=0.002). Although NaïveVax avidity lagged behind that of RecoVax for most of the follow-up periods, NaïveVax did reach similar avidity by ~6-months post-D1. These data suggest that one vaccine dose elicits maximal antibody response in RecoVax and may be sufficient. Also, despite decreasing levels in TAb and SNAb overtime, long-term avidity maybe a measure worth evaluating and possibly correlating to vaccine efficacy.
Authors
Sabrina E. Racine-Brzostek, Jim K. Yee, Ashley Sukhu, Yuqing Qiu, Sophie Rand, Paul D. Barone, Ying Hao, He S. Yang, Qing H. Meng, Fred S. Apple, Yuanyuan Shi, Amy Chadburn, Encouse Golden, Silvia C. Formenti, Melissa M. Cushing, Zhen Zhao
Abstract
Altered epidermal differentiation along with increased keratinocyte proliferation, is a characteristic feature of psoriasis and pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP). However, despite this large degree of overlapping clinical and histologic features, the molecular signatures these skin disorders share are unknown. Using global transcriptomic profiling we demonstrate that plaque psoriasis and PRP skin lesions have high overlap, with all differentially expressed genes in PRP relative to normal skin having complete overlap with those in psoriasis. The major common pathway shared between psoriasis and PRP involves the phospholipases: PLA2G2F, PLA2G4D, and PLA2G4E, which were found to be primarily expressed in the epidermis. Gene silencing targeting each of the three PLA2s led to reduction of immune responses and epidermal thickness both in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of psoriasis, establishing their pro-inflammatory roles. Lipidomic analyses demonstrated that PLA2s affect mobilization of a phospholipid-eicosanoid pool, which is altered in psoriatic lesions and functions to promote immune responses in keratinocytes. Taken together, our results highlight the important role of PLA2 lipases as regulators of epidermal barrier homeostasis and inflammation, identify PLA2s as a shared pathogenic mechanism between PRP and psoriasis, and as potential novel therapeutic targets for both diseases.
Authors
Shuai Shao, Jiaoling Chen, William R. Swindell, Lam C. Tsoi, Xianying Xing, Feiyang Ma, Ranjitha Uppala, Mrinal K. Sarkar, Olesya Plazyo, Allison C. Billi, Rachael Wasikowski, Kathleen M. Smith, Prisca Honore, Victoria E. Scott, Emanual Maverakis, J. Michelle Kahlenberg, Gang Wang, Nicole L. Ward, Paul W. Harms, Johann E. Gudjonsson
Abstract
The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is a key immune checkpoint that regulates T cell activation. There is strong rationale to develop PD-1 agonists as therapeutics against autoimmunity, but progress in this area has been limited. Here, we generated T cell receptor (TCR) targeting, PD-1 agonist bispecifics called ImmTAAI molecules that mimic the ability of PD-L1 to facilitate the co-localization of PD-1 with the TCR complex at the target cell-T cell interface. PD-1 agonist ImmTAAI molecules specifically bound to target cells and were highly effective in activating the PD-1 receptor on interacting T cells to achieve immune suppression. Potent PD-1 antibody ImmTAAI molecules closely mimicked the mechanism of action of endogenously expressed PD-L1 in their localisation to the target cell-T cell interface, inhibition of proximal TCR signalling events and suppression of T cell function. At picomolar concentrations, these bispecifics suppressed cytokine production and inhibited CD8 T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Crucially, in soluble form the PD-1 ImmTAAI molecules were inactive and hence could avoid systemic immunosuppression. This study outlines a promising new route to generate more effective, potent, tissue-targeted PD-1 agonists that can inhibit T cell function locally with the potential to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases of high unmet need.
Authors
Adam P. Curnock, Giovanna Bossi, Jyothi Kumaran, Lindsay J. Bawden, Rita Figueiredo, Rajeevkumar Tawar, Katherine Wiseman, Emma Henderson, Sec Julie Hoong, Veronica Gonzalez, Hemza Ghadbane, David E. O. Knight, Ronan O'Dwyer, David X. Overton, Christina M. Lucato, Nicola M. G. Smith, Carlos R. Reis, Keith Page, Lorraine M. Whaley, Michelle L. McCully, Stephen Hearty, Tara M. Mahon, Peter Weber
Abstract
A role for hereditary influences in the susceptibility for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is widely recognized. Cytotoxic lymphocytes are implicated in COPD pathogenesis, and functions of these leukocytes are modulated by interactions between their killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Class I molecules on target cells. We hypothesized HLA-Class I and KIR inheritance affect risks for COPD. HLA-Class I alleles and KIR genotypes were defined by candidate gene analyses in multiple cohorts of COPD patients (total n=392) and control smokers with normal spirometry (total n=342). Compared to controls, COPD patients had over-representations of HLA-C*07 and activating KIR2DS1, with under-representations of HLA-C*12. Particular HLA-KIR permutations were synergistic; e.g. the presence of HLA-C*07 + KIR2DS1 + HLA-C12null vs. HLAC*07null + KIR2DS1null + HLA-C12 was associated with COPD, especially among HLA-C1 allotype homozygotes (OR=18.5, 95%CI=3.7-90.9, p<0.0001). Cytotoxicity of COPD lymphocytes was more enhanced by KIR stimulation than those of controls (p=0.005) and was correlated with lung function (r=0.44, p=0.004). These data show HLA-C and KIR polymorphisms strongly influence COPD susceptibility and highlight the importance of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in COPD pathogenesis. Findings here also indicate HLA-KIR typing could stratify at-risk patients and raise possibilities HLA-KIR axis modulation may have therapeutic potential.
Authors
Takudzwa Mkorombindo, Thi Tran-Nguyen, Kaiyu Yuan, Yingze Zhang, Jianmin Xue, Gerard J. Criner, Young-il Kim, Joseph M. Pilewski, Amit Gaggar, Michael H. Cho, Frank C. Sciurba, Steven R. Duncan
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) disrupt central nervous system (CNS) barriers, the erosion of which has been linked to long-term neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. Although much attention has been devoted to CNS vasculature following mTBI, little is known about the glia limitans superficialis - a barrier of surface-associated astrocytes that helps protect the CNS parenchyma and maintain homeostasis. Here, we identify the glia limitans superficialis as a crucial barrier surface whose breakdown after acute repeat mTBI facilitates increased cell death and recruitment of peripheral myelomonocytic cells. Using intravital microscopy, we show that brain resident microglia fortify this structure after a single mTBI yet fail to do so following secondary injury, which triggers massive recruitment of myelomonocytic cells from the periphery that contribute to further destruction of the glia limitans superficialis but not cortical cell death. We demonstrate instead that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in response to repeat head injury are largely responsible for enhanced cortical cell death, and therapeutic administration of the antioxidant, glutathione, markedly reduces this cell death, preserves the glia limitans, and prevents myelomonocytic cells from entering the brain parenchyma. Collectively, our findings underscore the importance of preserving the glia limitans superficialis after brain injury and offer a therapeutic means to protect this structure and the underlying cortex.
Authors
Hannah D. Mason, Alexis M. Johnson, Nicole A. Mihelson, Panagiotis Mastorakos, Dorian B. McGavern
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease usually presenting after infection. Emerging evidence supports that energy metabolism is affected in ME/CFS, but a unifying metabolic phenotype has not been firmly established. We performed global metabolomics, lipidomics, and hormone measurements, and we used exploratory data analyses to compare serum from 83 patients with ME/CFS and 35 healthy controls. Some changes were common in the patient group, and these were compatible with effects of elevated energy strain and altered utilization of fatty acids and amino acids as catabolic fuels. In addition, a set of heterogeneous effects reflected specific changes in 3 subsets of patients, and 2 of these expressed characteristic contexts of deregulated energy metabolism. The biological relevance of these metabolic phenotypes (metabotypes) was supported by clinical data and independent blood analyses. In summary, we report a map of common and context-dependent metabolic changes in ME/CFS, and some of them presented possible associations with clinical patient profiles. We suggest that elevated energy strain may result from exertion-triggered tissue hypoxia and lead to systemic metabolic adaptation and compensation. Through various mechanisms, such metabolic dysfunction represents a likely mediator of key symptoms in ME/CFS and possibly a target for supportive intervention.
Authors
Fredrik Hoel, August Hoel, Ina K.N. Pettersen, Ingrid G. Rekeland, Kristin Risa, Kine Alme, Kari Sørland, Alexander Fosså, Katarina Lien, Ingrid Herder, Hanne L. Thürmer, Merete E. Gotaas, Christoph Schäfer, Rolf K. Berge, Kristian Sommerfelt, Hans-Peter Marti, Olav Dahl, Olav Mella, Øystein Fluge, Karl J. Tronstad
Abstract
Targeting T cell malignancies with universal CD7-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T cells (UCART7) can lead to profound immune deficiency due to loss of normal T and NK cells. While a small population of endogenous CD7– T cells exists, these cells are unlikely to be able to repopulate the entire immune repertoire after UCART7 treatment, as they are limited in number and proliferative capacity. To rescue T and NK cells after UCART7, we created hematopoietic stem cells genetically deleted for CD7 (CD7-KO HSCs). CD7-KO HSCs were able to engraft immunodeficient mice and differentiate into T and NK cells lacking CD7 expression. CD7-KO T and NK cells could perform effector functions as robustly as control T and NK cells. Furthermore, CD7-KO T cells were phenotypically and functionally distinct from endogenous CD7– T cells, indicating that CD7-KO T cells can supplement immune functions lacking in CD7– T cells. Mice engrafted with CD7-KO HSCs maintained T and NK cell numbers after UCART7 treatment, while these were significantly decreased in control mice. These studies support the development of CD7-KO HSCs to augment host immunity in patients with T cell malignancies after UCART7 treatment.
Authors
Miriam Y. Kim, Matthew L. Cooper, Miriam T. Jacobs, Julie K. Ritchey, Julia Hollaway, Todd A. Fehniger, John F. DiPersio
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a highly malignant brain tumor with no curative treatment options, and immune checkpoint blockade has not yet shown major impact. We hypothesized that drugs targeting mitosis might impact the tumor microenvironment and sensitize cancer cells to immunotherapy. We used two glioblastoma mouse models with different immunogenicity profiles, GL261 and SB28, to test the efficacy of antineoplastic and immunotherapy combinations. The spindle assembly checkpoint activator BAL101553 (lisavanbulin), agonistic anti-CD40 antibody, and double immune checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4) were evaluated individually or in combination for treating orthotopic GL261 and SB28 tumors. Genomic and immunological analyses were used to predict and interpret therapy responsiveness. BAL101553 monotherapy increased survival in immune checkpoint blockade resistant SB28 glioblastoma tumors and synergized with anti-CD40 antibody, in a T-cell independent manner. In contrast, the more immunogenic and highly mutated GL261 model responded best to anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapy and more modestly to BAL101553 and anti-CD40 combination. Our results show that BAL101553 is a promising therapeutic agent for glioblastoma and could synergize with innate immune stimulation. Overall, these data strongly support immune profiling of glioblastoma patients and preclinical testing of combination therapies with appropriate models for particular patient groups.
Authors
Vassilis Genoud, Felipe I. Espinoza, Eliana Marinari, Viviane Rochemont, Pierre-Yves Dietrich, Paul McSheehy, Felix Bachmann, Heidi A. Lane, Paul R. Walker
Abstract
Oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oligo JIA) is the most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis in children; yet, the cause of this disease remains unknown. To understand immune responses in oligo JIA, we immunophenotyped synovial fluid T cells with flow cytometry, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, DNA methylation studies, and Treg suppression assays. In synovial fluid, CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T cells expressed Th1-related markers, while Th17 cells were not enriched. Th1 skewing was prominent in CD4+ T cells, including Tregs, and was associated with severe disease. Transcriptomic studies confirmed a Th1 signature in CD4+ T cells from synovial fluid. The regulatory gene expression signature was preserved in Tregs, even those exhibiting Th1 polarization. These Th1-like Tregs maintained Treg specific methylation patterns and suppressive function, supporting the stability of this Treg population in the joint. While synovial fluid CD4+ T cells displayed an overall Th1 phenotype, scRNA-seq uncovered heterogeneous effector and regulatory sub-populations, including interferon-induced Tregs, peripheral helper T cells, and cytotoxic CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, oligo JIA is characterized by Th1 polarization that encompasses Tregs but does not compromise their regulatory identity. Targeting Th1-driven inflammation and augmenting Treg function may represent important therapeutic approaches in oligo JIA.
Authors
Amélie M. Julé, Kacie J. Hoyt, Kevin Wei, Maria Gutierrez-Arcelus, Maria L. Taylor, Julie Ng, James A. Lederer, Siobhan M. Case, Margaret H. Chang, Ezra M. Cohen, Fatma Dedeoglu, Melissa M. Hazen, Jonathan S. Hausmann, Olha Halyabar, Erin Janssen, Jeffrey Lo, Mindy S. Lo, Esra Meidan, Jordan E. Roberts, Mary Beth F. Son, Robert P. Sundel, Pui Y. Lee, Talal Chatila, Peter A. Nigrovic, Lauren A. Henderson
Abstract
Nox2 is a ROS-generating enzyme, deficiency of which increases suppression by Tregs in vitro and in an in vivo model of cardiac remodelling. Since Tregs have emerged as a candidate therapy in autoimmunity and transplantation, we hypothesised that Nox2 deficiency in Tregs in recipient mice may improve outcomes in a heart transplant model. A novel B6129 mouse model with Treg-targeted Nox2 deletion (Nox2fl/flFoxP3Cre+) was generated and transplanted with hearts from CB6F1 donors. As compared to littermate controls, Nox2fl/flFoxP3Cre+ mice had lower plasma levels of alloantibodies and troponin-I, reduced levels of IFN-γ in heart allograft homogenates and diminished cardiomyocyte necrosis and allograft fibrosis. Single cell analyses of allografts revealed higher absolute numbers of Tregs and lower CD8+ T cell infiltration in Nox2-deficient recipients compared to Nox2-replete mice. Mechanistically, in addition to a greater suppression of CD8+CD25- T effector cell proliferation and IFN-γ production, Nox2-deficient Tregs expressed higher levels of CCR4 and CCR8, driving cell migration to allografts; this was associated with increased expression of miR214-3p. These data indicate that Nox2 deletion in Tregs enhances their suppressive ability and migration to heart allografts. Therefore, Nox2 inhibition in Tregs may be a useful approach to improve their therapeutic efficacy.
Authors
Silvia C. Trevelin, Anna Zampetaki, Greta Sawyer, Aleksandar Ivetic, Alison C. Brewer, Lesley Ann Smyth, Federica Marelli-Berg, Robert Köchl, Robert I. Lechler, Ajay M. Shah, Giovanna Lombardi
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