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BACKGROUND Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multiple-organ disease characterized by vascular damage,autoimmunity,and tissue fibrosis. Organ injuries such as interstitial lung diseases (ILD),resulting from inflammatory and fibrosis processes,lead to poor prognosis. Although autoantibodies are detected in the serum of patients with SSc,the mechanisms by which immune cells are involved in tissue inflammation and fibrosis is not fully understood. Recent studies have revealed carcinoembryonic antigen related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM)-positive monocytes are involved in murine bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. We investigated CEACAM-positive monocytes in patients with SSc to clarify the role of monocytes in the pathogenesis of SSc. METHODS The proportion of of CEACAM-positive classical monocytes in healthy controls (HCs) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and SSc was evaluated using flow cytometry. The correlation between the proportion of CEACAM-positive monocytes and clinical parameters was analyzed in patients with SSc. Gene expression microarrays were performed in CEACAM-positive and negative monocytes in patients with SSc. Infiltration of CEACAM-positive monocytes into scleroderma skin was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS The proportion of CEACAM-positive classical monocytes was increased in patients with early SSc within 2 years after diagnosis,which positively correlated with ESR,serum IgG,and serum KL-6 and negatively correlated with %forced vital capacity. The percentage of CEACAM-positive monocytes decreased after immunosuppressive therapy. CEACAM6-positive cells among classical monocytes were significantly increased in patients with SSc compared with HCs and patients with rheumatoid arthritis. SSc serum induced CEACAM6 expression on monocytes from HCs. Functionally,CEACAM-positive monocytes produced higher levels of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ compared to CEACAM-negative cells and showed activation of the NF-$\kappa$B pathway. Furthermore,CEACAM6-positive monocytes infiltrated the dermis of SSc. CONCLUSIONS CEACAM-positive monocytes showed inflammatory phenotypes and may be involved in the tissue inflammation and fibrosis in early SSc. CEACAM-positive monocytes may be one of biomarkers to detect patients with progressive ILD,requiring therapeutic intervention. View Publication

Cancer immunotherapy approaches target signaling pathways that are highly synonymous between CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets and,therefore,often stimulate nonspecific lymphocyte activation,resulting in cytotoxicity to otherwise healthy tissue. The goal of our study was to identify intrinsic modulators of basic T lymphocyte activation pathways that could discriminately bolster CD8 anti-tumor effector responses. Using a Tbc1d10c null mouse,we observed marked resistance to a range of tumor types conferred by Tbc1d10c deficiency. Moreover,tumor-bearing Tbc1d10c null mice receiving PD-1 or CTLA-4 monotherapy exhibited a 33% or 90% cure rate,respectively. While Tbc1d10c was not expressed in solid tumor cells,Tbc1d10c disruption selectively augmented CD8 T-cell activation and cytotoxic effector responses and adoptive transfer of CD8 T cells alone was sufficient to recapitulate Tbc1d10c null tumor resistance. Mechanistically,Tbc1d10c suppressed CD8 T-cell activation and anti-tumor function by intersecting canonical NF-$\kappa$B pathway activation via regulation of Map3k3-mediated IKK$\beta$ phosphorylation. Strikingly,none of these cellular or molecular perturbations in the NF-$\kappa$B pathway were featured in Tbc1d10c null CD4 T cells. Our findings identify a Tbc1d10c-Map3k3-NF-$\kappa$B signaling axis as a viable therapeutic target to promote CD8 T-cell anti-tumor immunity while circumventing CD4 T cell-associated cytotoxicity and NF-$\kappa$B activation in tumor cells. View Publication

INTRODUCTION Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that includes T and B lymphocytes. The total number of lymphocytes and their percentage in the blood can be a marker for the diagnosis of several human diseases. Currently,cytometric methods are widely used to distinguish subtypes of leukocytes and quantify their number. These techniques use cell immunophenotyping,which is limited by the number of fluorochrome-labeled antibodies that can be applied simultaneously. OBJECTIVE B and T lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood obtained from healthy human donors. METHODS The immunomagnetic negative selection was used for the enrichment of B and T cells fractions,and their purity was assessed by flow cytometry. Isolated cells were fixed with 0.5% glutaraldehyde and measured using confocal Raman imaging. K-means cluster analysis,principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant methods were applied for the identification of spectroscopic markers to distinguish B and T cells. HPLC was the reference method for identifying carotene in T cells. RESULTS Reliable discrimination between T and B lymphocytes based on their spectral profile has been demonstrated using label-free Raman imaging and chemometric analysis. The presence of carotene in T lymphocytes (in addition to the previously reported in plasma) was confirmed and for the first time unequivocally identified as $\beta$-carotene. In addition,the molecular features of the lymphocytes nuclei were found to support the discriminant analysis. It has been shown that although the presence of carotenoids in T cells depends on individual donor variability,the reliable differentiation between lymphocytes is possible based on Raman spectra collected from individual cells. CONCLUSIONS This proves the potential of Raman spectroscopy in clinical diagnostics to automatically differentiate between cells that are an important component of our immune system. View Publication

BACKGROUND Ageing is a complex phenomenon that leads to decreased proliferative activity,loss of function of the cells,and cellular senescence. Senescence of the immune system exacerbates individual's immune response,both humoral and cellular but increases the frequency of infections. We hypothesized that physiological ageing of adaptive immune system occurs in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cells transplant (allo-HCT) at faster rate when compared to their respective donors since the small number of donor cells undergo immense proliferative stress restoring recipients hematopoiesis. We compared molecular characterizations of ageing between recipients and donors of allo-HCT: telomeric length and immunophenotypic changes in main lymphocyte subsets - CD4+,CD8+,CD19+,CD56+. RESULTS Median telomeric length (TL) of CD8+ lymphocytes was significantly longer in donors compared to recipients (on average 2,1 kb and 1,7 kb respectively,p??=??0,02). Similar trends were observed for CD4+ and CD19+ although the results did not reach statistical significance. We have also found trends in the immunophenotype between recipients and donors in the subpopulations of CD4+ (na{\{i}}ve and effector memory) CD8+ Eomes+ and B-lymphocytes (B1 and B2). Lower infection risk recipients had also a significantly greater percentage of NK cells (22 3%) than high-risk patients (9 3%) p??=??0 04. CONCLUSION Our data do not support the initial hypothesis of accelerated aging in the long term all-HCT recipients with the exception of the recipients lymphocytes (mainly CD8+) which present some molecular features characteristic for physiological ageing (telomeric shortening immunophenotype) when compared to their respective donors. However a history of lower infection numbers in HCT recipients seems to be associated with increased percentage of NK cells. The history of GVHD seems not to affect the rate of ageing. Therefore it is safe to conclude that the observed subtle differences between recipients' and donors' cells result mainly from the proliferative stress in the early period after allo-HCT and the difference between hosts' and recipients' microenvironments." View Publication

BACKGROUND Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on multiple myeloma (MM) produces fast but not long-lasting responses. Reasons for treatment failure are poorly understood. CARs simultaneously targeting two antigens may represent an alternative. Here,we (1) designed and characterized novel A proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) based dual-antigen targeting CARs,and (2) investigated mechanisms of resistance to CAR T cells with three different BCMA-binding moieties (APRIL,single-chain-variable-fragment,heavy-chain-only). METHODS Three new APRIL-CARs were designed and characterized. Human APRIL-CAR T cells were evaluated for their cytotoxic function in vitro and in vivo,for their polyfunctionality,immune synapse formation,memory,exhaustion phenotype and tonic signaling activity. To investigate resistance mechanisms,we analyzed BCMA levels and cellular localization and quantified CAR T cell-target cell interactions by live microscopy. Impact on pathway activation and tumor cell proliferation was assessed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS APRIL-CAR T cells in a trimeric ligand binding conformation conferred fast but not sustained antitumor responses in vivo in mouse xenograft models. In vitro trimer-BB$\zeta$ CAR T cells were more polyfunctional and formed stronger immune synapses than monomer-BB$\zeta$ CAR T cells. After CAR T cell-myeloma cell contact,BCMA was rapidly downmodulated on target cells with all evaluated binding moieties. CAR T cells acquired BCMA by trogocytosis,and BCMA on MM cells was rapidly internalized. Since BCMA can be re-expressed during progression and persisting CAR T cells may not protect patients from relapse,we investigated whether non-functional CAR T cells play a role in tumor progression. While CAR T cell-MM cell interactions activated BCMA pathway,we did not find enhanced tumor growth in vitro or in vivo. CONCLUSION Antitumor responses with APRIL-CAR T cells were fast but not sustained. Rapid BCMA downmodulation occurred independently of whether an APRIL or antibody-based binding moiety was used. BCMA internalization mostly contributed to this effect,but trogocytosis by CAR T cells was also observed. Our study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying CAR T cell failure in MM when targeting BCMA and can inform the development of improved treatment strategies. View Publication

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment,but preclinical models are required to understand immunotherapy resistance mechanisms underlying patient relapse. This protocol describes how to generate an acquired resistance humanized in vivo model to immunotherapies in patient-derived xenografts (PDX). We detail steps to inject human CD34+ cells into NSG mice,followed by generation of immunoresistant PDX in humanized mice. This approach recapitulates the human immune system,allowing investigators to generate preclinical resistance models to different immunotherapies for identifying the resistant phenotype. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol,please refer to Mart{\'{i}}nez-Sabadell et al.,2022 and Arenas et al. (2021). View Publication

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus with the potential for significant economic and public health impact. Vaccination with an attenuated strain,DelNSsRVFV,provides protection from an otherwise lethal RVFV challenge,but mechanistic determinants of protection are undefined. In this study,a murine model was used to assess the contributions of humoral and cellular immunity to DelNSsRVFV-mediated protection. Vaccinated mice depleted of T cells were protected against subsequent challenge,and passive transfer of immune serum from vaccinated animals to na{\{i}}ve animals was also protective demonstrating that T cells were dispensable in the presence of humoral immunity and that humoral immunity alone was sufficient. Animals depleted of B cells and then vaccinated were protected against challenge. Total splenocytes but not T cells alone B cells alone or B??+??T cells harvested from vaccinated animals and then transferred to na{\"{i}}ve animals were sufficient to confer protection suggesting that multiple cellular interactions were required for effective cellular immunity. Together these data indicate that humoral immunity is sufficient to confer vaccine-mediated protection and suggests that cellular immunity plays a role in protection that requires the interaction of various cellular components." View Publication

B cells orchestrate autoimmune responses in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),but broad-based B cell-directed therapies show only modest efficacy while blunting humoral immune responses to vaccines and inducing immunosuppression. Development of more effective therapies targeting pathogenic clones is a currently unmet need. Here,we demonstrate enhanced activation of the ATR/Chk1 pathway of the DNA damage response (DDR) in B cells of patients with active SLE disease. Treatment of B cells with type I IFN,a key driver of immunity in SLE,induced expression of ATR via binding of interferon regulatory factor 1 to its gene promoter. Pharmacologic targeting of ATR in B cells,via a specific inhibitor (VE-822),attenuated their immunogenic profile,including proinflammatory cytokine secretion,plasmablast formation,and antibody production. Together,these findings identify the ATR-mediated DDR axis as the orchestrator of the type I IFN-mediated B cell responses in SLE and as a potential novel therapeutic target. View Publication

Capsular polysaccharides are common virulence factors of extracellular,but not intracellular bacterial pathogens,due to the antiphagocytic properties of these surface structures. It is therefore paradoxical that Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi,an intracellular pathogen,synthesizes a virulence-associated (Vi) capsule,which exhibits antiphagocytic properties. Here,we show that the Vi capsular polysaccharide has different functions when S. Typhi interacts with distinct subsets of host phagocytes. The Vi capsular polysaccharide allowed S. Typhi to selectively evade phagocytosis by human neutrophils while promoting human macrophage phagocytosis. A screen of C-type lectin receptors identified human DC-SIGN as the receptor involved in macrophage binding and phagocytosis of capsulated S. Typhi. Consistent with the anti-inflammatory activity of DC-SIGN,purified Vi capsular polysaccharide reduced inflammatory responses in macrophages. These data suggest that binding of the human C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN by the Vi capsular polysaccharide contributes to the pathogenesis of typhoid fever. IMPORTANCE Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi is the causative agent of typhoid fever. The recent emergence of S. Typhi strains which are resistant to antibiotic therapy highlights the importance of vaccination in managing typhoid fever. The virulence-associated (Vi) capsular polysaccharide is an effective vaccine against typhoid fever,but the role the capsule plays during pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Here,we identify the human C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN as the receptor for the Vi capsular polysaccharide. Binding of capsulated S. Typhi to DC-SIGN resulted in phagocytosis of the pathogen by macrophages and induction of an anti-inflammatory cytokine response. Thus,the interaction of the Vi capsular polysaccharide with human DC-SIGN contributes to the pathogenesis of typhoid fever and should be further investigated in the context of vaccine development. View Publication

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease patients are at increased risk of mortality with cardiovascular diseases and infections as the two leading causes of death for end-stage kidney disease treated with hemodialysis (HD). Mortality from bacterial infections in HD patients is estimated to be 100-1000 times higher than in the healthy population. METHODS We comprehensively characterized highly pure circulating neutrophils from HD and healthy donors. RESULTS Protein levels and transcriptome of HD patients' neutrophils indicated massive neutrophil degranulation with a dramatic reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during an oxidative burst and defective oxidative cellular signaling. Moreover,HD neutrophils exhibit severely impaired ability to generate extracellular NET formation (NETosis) in NADPH oxidase-dependent or independent pathways,reflecting their loss of capacity to kill extracellular bacteria. Ectopic hydrogen peroxidase (H2O2) or recombinant human SOD-1 (rSOD-1) partly restores and improves the extent of HD dysfunctional neutrophil NET formation. CONCLUSIONS Our report is one of the first singular examples of severe and chronic impairment of NET formation leading to substantial clinical susceptibility to bacteremia that most likely results from the metabolic and environmental milieu typical to HD patients and not by common human genetic deficiencies. In this manner,aberrant gene expression and differential exocytosis of distinct granule populations could reflect the chronic defect in neutrophil functionality and their diminished ability to induce NETosis. Therefore,our findings suggest that targeting NETosis in HD patients may reduce infections,minimize their severity,and decrease the mortality rate from infections in this patient population. View Publication

The role of NK cells against HIV-1 infections remains to be elucidated in vivo. While humanized mouse models potentially could be used to directly evaluate human NK cell responses during HIV-1 infection,improved functional development of human NK cells in these hosts is needed. Here,we report the humanized MISTRG-6-15 mouse model,in which NK cells were quick to expand and exhibit degranulation,cytotoxicity,and proinflammatory cytokine production in nonlymphoid organs upon HIV-1 infection but had reduced functionality in lymphoid organs. Although HIV-1 infection induced functional impairment of NK cells,antiretroviral therapy reinvigorated NK cells in response to HIV-1 rebound after analytic treatment interruption. Moreover,a broadly neutralizing antibody,PGT121,enhanced NK cell function in vivo,consistent with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Monoclonal antibody depletion of NK cells resulted in higher viral loads in multiple nonlymphoid organs. Overall,our results in humanized MISTRG-6-15 mice demonstrated that NK cells provided direct anti-HIV-1 responses in vivo but were limited in their responses in lymphoid organs. View Publication

OBJECTIVE Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component. However,most of the genes associated with the disease are still unknown because associated variants affect mostly noncoding intergenic elements of the genome. We used functional genomics to translate the genetic findings into a better understanding of the disease. METHODS Promoter capture Hi-C and RNA-sequencing experiments were performed in CD4+ T cells and CD14+ monocytes from 10 SSc patients and 5 healthy controls to link SSc-associated variants with their target genes,followed by differential expression and differential interaction analyses between cell types. RESULTS We linked SSc-associated loci to 39 new potential target genes and confirmed 7 previously known SSc-associated genes. We highlight novel causal genes,such as CXCR5,as the most probable candidate gene for the DDX6 locus. Some previously known SSc-associated genes,such as IRF8,STAT4,and CD247,showed cell type-specific interactions. We also identified 15 potential drug targets already in use in other similar immune-mediated diseases that could be repurposed for SSc treatment. Furthermore,we observed that interactions were directly correlated with the expression of important genes implicated in cell type-specific pathways and found evidence that chromatin conformation is associated with genotype. CONCLUSION Our study revealed potential causal genes for SSc-associated loci,some of them acting in a cell type-specific manner,suggesting novel biologic mechanisms that might mediate SSc pathogenesis. View Publication