技术资料

CD8+ memory T (TM) cells play a critical role in immune defense against infection. Two common $\gamma$-chain family cytokines,IL-2 and IL-7,although triggering the same mTORC1-S6K pathway,distinctly induce effector T (TE) cells and TM cells,respectively,but the underlying mechanism(s) remains elusive. In this study,we generated IL-7R-/and AMPK$\alpha$1-knockout (KO)/OTI mice. By using genetic and pharmaceutical tools,we demonstrate that IL-7 deficiency represses expression of FOXO1,TCF1,p-AMPK$\alpha$1 (T172),and p-ULK1 (S555) and abolishes T cell memory differentiation in IL-7R KO T cells after Listeria monocytogenesis rLmOVA infection. IL-2- and IL-7-stimulated strong and weak S6K (IL-2/S6Kstrong and IL-7/S6Kweak) signals control short-lived IL-7R-CD62L-KLRG1+ TE and long-term IL-7R+CD62L+KLRG1- TM cell formations,respectively. To assess underlying molecular pathway(s),we performed flow cytometry,Western blotting,confocal microscopy,and Seahorse assay analyses by using the IL-7/S6Kweak-stimulated TM (IL-7/TM) and the control IL-2/S6Kstrong-stimulated TE (IL-2/TE) cells. We determine that the IL-7/S6Kweak signal activates transcriptional FOXO1,TCF1,and Id3 and metabolic p-AMPK$\alpha$1,p-ULK1,and ATG7 molecules in IL-7/TM cells. IL-7/TM cells upregulate IL-7R and CD62L,promote mitochondria biogenesis and fatty acid oxidation metabolism,and show long-term cell survival and functional recall responses. Interestingly,AMPK$\alpha$1 deficiency abolishes the AMPK$\alpha$1 but maintains the FOXO1 pathway and induces a metabolic switch from fatty acid oxidation to glycolysis in AMPK$\alpha$1 KO IL-7/TM cells,leading to loss of cell survival and recall responses. Taken together,our data demonstrate that IL-7-stimulated weak strength of mTORC1-S6K signaling controls T cell memory via activation of transcriptional FOXO1-TCF1-Id3 and metabolic AMPK$\alpha$1-ULK1-ATG7 pathways. This (to our knowledge) novel finding provides a new mechanism for a distinct IL-2/IL-7 stimulation model in T cell memory and greatly impacts vaccine development. View Publication

The integrated stress response (ISR) facilitates cellular adaptation to unfavorable conditions by reprogramming the cellular response. ISR activation was reported in neurological disorders and solid tumors; however,the function of ISR and its role as a possible therapeutic target in hematological malignancies still remain largely unexplored. Previously,we showed that the ISR is activated in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and correlates with blastic transformation and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. Moreover,the ISR was additionally activated in response to imatinib as a type of protective internal signaling. Here,we show that ISR inhibition combined with imatinib treatment sensitized and more effectively eradicated leukemic cells both in vitro and in vivo compared to treatment with single agents. The combined treatment specifically inhibited the STAT5 and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathways,which are recognized as drivers of resistance. Mechanistically,this drug combination attenuated both interacting signaling networks,leading to BCR-ABL1- and ISR-dependent STAT5 activation. Consequently,leukemia engraftment in patient-derived xenograft mice bearing CD34+ TKI-resistant CML blasts carrying PTPN11 mutation responsible for hyperactivation of the RAS/RAF/MAPK and JAK/STAT5 pathways was decreased upon double treatment. This correlated with the downregulation of genes related to the RAS/RAF/MAPK,JAK/STAT5 and stress response pathways and was associated with lower expression of STAT5-target genes regulating proliferation,viability and the stress response. Collectively,these findings highlight the effect of imatinib plus ISRIB in the eradication of leukemic cells resistant to TKIs and suggest potential clinical benefits for leukemia patients with TKI resistance related to RAS/RAF/MAPK or STAT5 signaling. We propose that personalized treatment based on the genetic selection of patients carrying mutations that cause overactivation of the targeted pathways and therefore make their sensitivity to such treatment probable should be considered as a possible future direction in leukemia treatment. View Publication