搜索结果: 'gmp t cell activator'

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are small,endogenous noncoding RNAs that are important post-transcriptional regulators with clear roles in the development of the immune system and immune responses. Using miRNA microarray profiling,we characterized the expression profile of naive and in vivo generated murine effector antiviral CD8+ T cells. We observed that out of 362 measurable mature miRNAs,120 were differentially expressed by at least 2-fold in influenza-specific effector CD8+ CTLs compared with naive CD8+ T cells. One miRNA found to be highly downregulated on both strands in effector CTLs was miR-139. Because previous studies have indicated a role for miR-139-mediated regulation of CTL effector responses,we hypothesized that deletion of miR-139 would enhance antiviral CTL responses during influenza virus infection. We generated miR-139-/- mice or overexpressed miR-139 in T cells to assess the functional contribution of miR-139 expression in CD8+ T cell responses. Our study demonstrates that the development of naive T cells and generation or differentiation of effector or memory CD8+ T cell responses to influenza virus infection are not impacted by miR-139 deficiency or overexpression; yet,miR-139-/- CD8+ T cells are outcompeted by wild-type CD8+ T cells in a competition setting and demonstrate reduced responses to Listeria monocytogenes Using an in vitro model of T cell exhaustion,we confirmed that miR-139 expression similarly does not impact the development of T cell exhaustion. We conclude that despite significant downregulation of miR-139 following in vivo and in vitro activation,miR-139 expression is dispensable for influenza-specific CTL responses. View Publication

RAG2 severe combined immune deficiency (RAG2-SCID) is a lethal disorder caused by the absence of functional T and B cells due to a differentiation block. Here,we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a RAG2-SCID patient to study the nature of the T cell developmental blockade. We observed a strongly reduced capacity to differentiate at every investigated stage of T cell development,from early CD7-CD5- to CD4+CD8+. The impaired differentiation was accompanied by an increase in CD7-CD56+CD33+ natural killer (NK) cell-like cells. T cell receptor D rearrangements were completely absent in RAG2SCID cells,whereas the rare T cell receptor B rearrangements were likely the result of illegitimate rearrangements. Repair of RAG2 restored the capacity to induce T cell receptor rearrangements,normalized T cell development,and corrected the NK cell-like phenotype. In conclusion,we succeeded in generating an iPSC-based RAG2-SCID model,which enabled the identification of previously unrecognized disorder-related T cell developmental roadblocks. View Publication

Efficient generation of antibodies by B cells is one of the prerequisites of protective immunity. B cell activation by cognate antigens via B cell receptors (BCRs),or pathogen-associated molecules through pattern-recognition receptors,such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs),leads to transcriptional and metabolic changes that ultimately transform B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells or memory cells. BCR signaling and a number of steps downstream of it rely on coordinated action of cellular membranes and the actin cytoskeleton,tightly controlled by concerted action of multiple regulatory proteins,some of them exclusive to B cells. Here,we dissect the role of Missing-In-Metastasis (MIM),or Metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1),a cancer-associated membrane and actin cytoskeleton regulating protein,in B cell-mediated immunity by taking advantage of MIM knockout mouse strain. We show undisturbed B cell development and largely normal composition of B cell compartments in the periphery. Interestingly,we found that MIM-/- B cells are defected in BCR signaling in response to surface-bound antigens but,on the other hand,show increased metabolic activity after stimulation with LPS or CpG. In vivo,MIM knockout animals exhibit impaired IgM antibody responses to immunization with T cell-independent antigen. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of MIM in B cells,demonstrates its regulatory role for B cell-mediated immunity,as well as proposes new functions for MIM in tuning receptor signaling and cellular metabolism,processes,which may also contribute to the poorly understood functions of MIM in cancer. View Publication

While it is now acknowledged that CD4+ T cells expressing CD25 and Foxp3 (Treg cells) regulate immune responses and,consequently,influence the pathogenesis of infectious diseases,the regulatory response mediated by Treg cells upon infection by Trypanosoma cruzi was still poorly characterized. In order to understand the role of Treg cells during infection by this protozoan parasite,we determined in time and space the magnitude of the regulatory response and the phenotypic,functional and transcriptional features of the Treg cell population in infected mice. Contrary to the accumulation of Treg cells reported in most chronic infections in mice and humans,experimental T. cruzi infection was characterized by sustained numbers but decreased relative frequency of Treg cells. The reduction in Treg cell frequency resulted from a massive accumulation of effector immune cells,and inversely correlated with the magnitude of the effector immune response as well as with emergence of acute immunopathology. In order to understand the causes underlying the marked reduction in Treg cell frequency,we evaluated the dynamics of the Treg cell population and found a low proliferation rate and limited accrual of peripheral Treg cells during infection. We also observed that Treg cells became activated and acquired a phenotypic and transcriptional profile consistent with suppression of type 1 inflammatory responses. To assess the biological relevance of the relative reduction in Treg cells frequency observed during T. cruzi infection,we transferred in vitro differentiated Treg cells at early moments,when the deregulation of the ratio between regulatory and conventional T cells becomes significant. Intravenous injection of Treg cells dampened parasite-specific CD8+ T cell immunity and affected parasite control in blood and tissues. Altogether,our results show that limited Treg cell response during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection enables the emergence of protective anti-parasite CD8+ T cell immunity and critically influences host resistance. View Publication

CD4+ T cells have been well-regarded as “helper” cells in activating the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells for effective tumor eradication,while few studies have focused on whether CD8+ T cells regulate CD4+ T cells. Our previous studies provided evidence for an interaction between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after cryo-thermal therapy,but the mechanism remains unclear,especially pertaining to how CD8+ T cells promote the Th1 differentiation of CD4+ T cells. This study revealed that activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are critical for CTT-induced antitumor immunity,and the interaction between activated T cells is enhanced. The reciprocal regulation of activated CD8+ and CD4+ T cells was through LFA-1/ICAM-1 interactions,in which CD8+ T cells facilitate Notch1-dependent CD4+ Th1-dominant differentiation and promote IL-2 secretion of CD4+ T cells. Meanwhile,IL-2 derived from CD4+ T cells enhances the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and establishes a positive feedback loop via increasing the expression of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 on T cells. Clinical analyses further validated that LFA-1/ICAM interactions between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are correlated with clinical outcomes. Our study extends the functions of the LFA-1/ICAM-1 adhesion pathway,indicating its novel role in the interaction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. View Publication

T lymphocytes require signals from self-peptides and cytokines,most notably interleukins 7 and 15 (IL-7,IL-15),for survival. While mouse T cells die rapidly if IL-7 or IL-15 is withdrawn,human T cells can survive prolonged withdrawal of IL-7 and IL-15. Here we show that IL-7 and IL-15 are required to maintain human T cell proliferative capacity through the STAT5 signaling pathway. T cells from humanized mice proliferate better if stimulated in the presence of human IL-7 or IL-15 or if T cells are exposed to human IL-7 or IL-15 in mice. Freshly isolated T cells from human peripheral blood lose proliferative capacity if cultured for 24 hours in the absence of IL-7 or IL-15. We further show that phosphorylation of STAT5 correlates with proliferation and inhibition of STAT5 reduces proliferation. These results reveal a novel role of IL-7 and IL-15 in maintaining human T cell function,provide an explanation for T cell dysfunction in humanized mice,and have significant implications for in vitro studies with human T cells. View Publication

Protein kinase CK2 is a serine/threonine kinase composed of two catalytic subunits (CK2$\alpha$ and/or CK2$\alpha$') and two regulatory subunits (CK2$\beta$). CK2 promotes cancer progression by activating the NF-$\kappa$B,PI3K/AKT/mTOR,and JAK/STAT pathways,and also is critical for immune cell development and function. The potential involvement of CK2 in CD8+ T cell function has not been explored. We demonstrate that CK2 protein levels and kinase activity are enhanced upon mouse CD8+ T cell activation. CK2$\alpha$ deficiency results in impaired CD8+ T cell activation and proliferation upon TCR stimulation. Furthermore,CK2$\alpha$ is involved in CD8+ T cell metabolic reprogramming through regulating the AKT/mTOR pathway. Lastly,using a mouse Listeria monocytogenes infection model,we demonstrate that CK2$\alpha$ is required for CD8+ T cell expansion,maintenance,and effector function in both primary and memory immune responses. Collectively,our study implicates CK2$\alpha$ as an important regulator of mouse CD8+ T cell activation,metabolic reprogramming,and differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. View Publication

Cellular immunotherapeutics targeting the human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 E6 and E7 proteins have achieved limited success in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Here we have conducted proteome-wide profiling of HPV-16-specific T cell responses in a cohort of 66 patients with HPV-associated OPC and 22 healthy individuals. Unexpectedly,HPV-specific T cell responses from OPC patients were not constrained to the E6 and E7 antigens; they also recognized E1,E2,E4,E5,and L1 proteins as dominant targets for virus-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Multivariate analysis incorporating tumor staging,treatment status,and smoking history revealed that treatment status had the most significant impact on HPV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell immunity. Specifically,the breadth and overall strength of HPV-specific T cell responses were significantly higher before the commencement of curative therapy than after therapy. These data provide the first glimpse of the overall human T cell response to HPV in a clinical setting and offer groundbreaking insight into future development of cellular immunotherapies for HPV-associated OPC patients. View Publication

BACKGROUND Adiponectin is a key mediator of the metabolic syndrome that is caused by visceral fat accumulation. Adiponectin and its receptors are known to be expressed in osteoblasts,but their actions with regard to bone metabolism are still unclear. In this study,we investigated the effects of adiponectin on the proliferation,differentiation,and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. RESULTS Adiponectin receptor type 1 (AdipoR1) mRNA was detected in the cells by RT-PCR. The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMP kinase) was phosphorylated by both adiponectin and a pharmacological AMP kinase activator,5-amino-imidazole-4-carboxamide-riboside (AICAR),in the cells. AdipoR1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection potently knocked down the receptor mRNA,and the effect of this knockdown persisted for as long as 10 days after the transfection. The transfected cells showed decreased expressions of type I collagen and osteocalcin mRNA,as determined by real-time PCR,and reduced ALP activity and mineralization,as determined by von Kossa and Alizarin red stainings. In contrast,AMP kinase activation by AICAR (0.01-0.5 mM) in wild-type MC3T3-E1 cells augmented their proliferation,differentiation,and mineralization. BrdU assay showed that the addition of adiponectin (0.01-1.0 mug/ml) also promoted their proliferation. Osterix,but not Runx-2,appeared to be involved in these processes because AdipoR1 siRNA transfection and AICAR treatments suppressed and enhanced osterix mRNA expression,respectively. CONCLUSION Taken together,this study suggests that adiponectin stimulates the proliferation,differentiation,and mineralization of osteoblasts via the AdipoR1 and AMP kinase signaling pathways in autocrine and/or paracrine fashions. View Publication

Aurora kinases are essential for chromosomal segregation and cell division and thereby important for maintaining the proper genomic integrity. There are three classes of aurora kinases in humans: A,B,and C. Aurora kinase A is frequently overexpressed in various cancers. The link of the overexpression and tumorigenesis is yet to be understood. By employing virtual screening,we have found that anacardic acid,a pentadecane aliphatic chain containing hydroxylcarboxylic acid,from cashew nut shell liquid could be docked in Aurora kinases A and B. Remarkably,we found that anacardic acid could potently activate the Aurora kinase A mediated phosphorylation of histone H3,but at a similar concentration the activity of aurora kinase B remained unaffected in vitro. Mechanistically,anacardic acid induces the structural changes and also the autophosphorylation of the aurora kinase A to enhance the enzyme activity. This data thus indicate anacardic acid as the first small-molecule activator of Aurora kinase,which could be highly useful for probing the function of hyperactive (overexpressed) Aurora kinase A. View Publication

Re-activation and clonal expansion of tumor-specific antigen (TSA)-reactive T cells are critical to the success of checkpoint blockade and adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-based therapies. There are no reliable markers to specifically identify the repertoire of TSA-reactive T cells due to their heterogeneous composition. We introduce FucoID as a general platform to detect endogenous antigen-specific T cells for studying their biology. Through this interaction-dependent labeling approach,intratumoral TSA-reactive CD4+,CD8+ T cells,and TSA-suppressive CD4+ T cells can be detected and separated from bystander T cells based on their cell-surface enzymatic fucosyl-biotinylation. Compared to bystander TILs,TSA-reactive TILs possess a distinct T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and unique gene features. Although exhibiting a dysfunctional phenotype,TSA-reactive CD8+ TILs possess substantial capabilities of proliferation and tumor-specific killing. Featuring genetic manipulation-free procedures and a quick turnover cycle,FucoID should have the potential of accelerating the pace of personalized cancer treatment. View Publication

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a suppressive subset of CD4(+) T lymphocytes implicated in the prevention of acute GVHD (aGVHD) after allo-SCT (ASCT). To determine whether increased frequency of Tregs with a skin-homing (cutaneous lymphocyte Ag,CLA(+)) or a gut-homing (α(4)β(7)(+)) phenotype is associated with reduced risk of skin or gut aGVHD,respectively,we quantified circulating CLA(+) or α(4)β(7)(+) on Tregs at the time of neutrophil engraftment in 43 patients undergoing ASCT. Increased CLA(+) Tregs at engraftment was associated with the prevention of skin aGVHD (2.6 vs 1.7%; P=0.038 (no skin aGVHD vs skin aGVHD)),and increased frequencies of CLA(+) and α(4)β(7)(+) Tregs were negatively correlated with severity of skin aGVHD (odds ratio (OR),0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI),0.46-0.98; P=0.041) or gut aGVHD (OR,0.93; 95% CI,0.88-0.99; P=0.031),respectively. This initial report suggests that Treg tissue-homing subsets help to regulate organ-specific risk and severity of aGVHD after human ASCT. These results need to be validated in a larger,multicenter cohort. View Publication