T-cells interact with B cells, dendritic cells, and fibroblast-like synoviocytes as hub-like key cells in rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundUnmethylated CpG-DNA is a potent ligand for the endosomal Toll-like-receptor-9, important for the immune activation to pathogen-associated molecules.1 CpG and other TLR-ligands show effective immunotherapeutic capacities in cancer treatment by inducing an antitumorigenic immunity.2 They are able to reduce tumor progression by reduction of intratumoral secretion of the immunoregulating chemokine CCL223 and subsequent recruitment of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Treg), which express CCR4 the only so far known receptor for CCL22.4 Our recent work has shown that CCL22 secretion by dendritic cells (DC) in the lymph node, mediates tolerance by inducing DC-Treg contacts.5 Indeed, in the absence of CCL22, immune responses to vaccination were stronger and resulted in tumor rejection.6 Therefore, we are aiming to investigate the effects of TLR-ligands on systemic CCL22 levels, elucidating all involved mechanisms to identify new targets for cancer immunotherapy.Materials and MethodsT, B and CD11c+ DCs of wildtype (wt) and RAG1-/- mice were isolated from splenocytes by magnetic-activated cell sorting for in vitro assays. Different co-cultures were incubated with CpG and GM-CSF, known as an CCL22 inducer.5 For in vivo experiments, wt mice were treated with CpG, R484 or poly(I:C) alone and in combination with GM-CSF. CCL22-levels in a number of organs were analyzed.ResultsAnalyzing the different immune cell compartments in vitro, we found that DCs in whole splenocytes secrete CCL22 during culture while DC cultured alone showed no CCL22 secretion. When treated with CpG, CCL22-levels were reduced in splenocytes, while it was induced in DC culture alone. The same results were seen when RAG splenocytes, that lack functional B and T cells, were cultured with CpG. CpG treated B cells were able to suppress CCL22 secretion by DC unlike T cells alone. Co-cultures of T and B cells treated with CpG, however, induced the strongest CCL22 suppression in DC. In vivo, we could show that all TLR ligands tested reduced CCL22 in a number of organs significantly. Furthermore, CpG showed the strongest suppression of CCL22 even in the presence of the CCL22 inducer GM-CSF.5ConclusionsWe could show that B cells with T cells mediate CCL22 suppression by TLR ligands. The fact that CpG was able to reduce CCL22 levels even in the presence of the inducer GM-CSF demonstrates the potent CCL22 suppressive capacity of TLR ligands.ReferencesO’Neill LA, et al. The history of toll-like receptors – redefining innate immunity. Nat Rev Immunol 2013;13(6):453–60.Rothenfusser S, et al. Recent advances in immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotides. Curr Opin Mol Ther 2003;5(2):98–106.Wang S, et al. Intratumoral injection of a CpG oligonucleotide reverts resistance to PD-1 blockade by expanding multifunctional CD8+ T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016;113(46): E7240–E7249.Rapp M, et al. CCL22 controls immunity by promoting regulatory T cell communication with dendritic cells in lymph nodes. J Exp Med 2019;216(5):1170–1181.Piseddu I, et al. Constitutive expression of CCL22 is mediated by T cell-derived GM-CSF. J Immunol 2020;205(8):2056–2065.Anz D, et al. Suppression of intratumoral CCL22 by type i interferon inhibits migration of regulatory T cells and blocks cancer progression. Cancer Res 2015;75(21):4483–93.Disclosure InformationJ. Grün: None. I. Piseddu: None. C. Perleberg: None. N. Röhrle: None. S. Endres: None. D. Anz: None.

Download Full-text

Expanded circulating follicular dendritic cells facilitate immune responses in chronic HBV infection

10.21203/rs.3.rs-52170/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoyi Li ◽

Qifan Zhang ◽

Wanyue Zhang ◽

Guofu Ye ◽

Yanchen Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Follicular Dendritic Cells ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv

Abstract Background: The restoration of host hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific antiviral immunity is an effective strategy for hepatitis B recovery. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play a crucial role in immune regulation. The goal of the present study was to investigate the characteristics and functions of FDCs in chronic HBV infection. Methods: The frequencies of FDCs in peripheral blood, liver, and spleen were measured in patients with chronic HBV infection. Isolated FDCs from splenic tissues of HBV-related liver cirrhosis-induced hypersplenism patients were cultured with autologous intrasplenic CD4 + T cells and CD19 + B cells.Results: We found that patients with chronic HBV infection had a significantly increased frequency of circulating FDCs compared with that of healthy controls. Additionally, the frequency of circulating FDCs was positively correlated with that of intrahepatic and intrasplenic counterparts. Moreover, a positive correlation between the frequency of circulating FDCs and plasmablast and memory B cells, as well as C-X-C motif chemokine receptor type 5 (CXCR5) + CD4 + T cells and CXCR5 + CD8 + T cells was also observed. Notably, in vitro experiments demonstrated that FDCs derived from splenic tissues of chronic HBV patients facilitated interferon-γ and interleukin-21 production from autologous intrasplenic CD4 + T cells and promoted the proliferation of autologous intrasplenic CD19 + B cells. Conclusions: Expanded FDCs in patients with chronic HBV infection may favor the host immune responses against HBV. The identification of this unique population may contribute to a better understanding of the immune regulatory mechanisms and provide a potential immunotherapeutic target in chronic HBV infection.

Download Full-text

Dendritic cells, T cells and their interaction in rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical & Experimental Immunology ◽

10.1111/cei.13256 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 196 (1) ◽

pp. 12-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

P. Wehr ◽

H. Purvis ◽

S.‐C. Law ◽

R. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells

Download Full-text

Distribution of regulatory T cells and interaction with dendritic cells in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis

Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3109/03009742.2012.696135 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 413-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

XQ E ◽

HX Meng ◽

Y Cao ◽

SQ Zhang ◽

ZG Bi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

Regulatory T Cells

Download Full-text

T Cell Accumulation in B Cell Follicles Is Regulated by Dendritic Cells and Is Independent of B Cell Activation

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20021750 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 197 (2) ◽

pp. 195-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Simon Fillatreau ◽

David Gray

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Cell Activation ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Cell Accumulation ◽

Antigen Presenting ◽

Deficient Mice

We investigated the mechanism of CD4 T cell accumulation in B cell follicles after immunization. Follicular T cell numbers were correlated with the number of B cells, indicating B cell control of the niche that T cells occupy. Despite this, we found no role for B cells in the follicular migration of T cells. Instead, T cells are induced to migrate into B cell follicles entirely as a result of interaction with dendritic cells (DCs). Migration relies on CD40-dependent maturation of DCs, as it did not occur in CD40-deficient mice but was reconstituted with CD40+ DCs. Restoration was not achieved by the activation of DCs with bacterial activators (e.g., lipopolysaccharide, CpG), but was by the injection of OX40L–huIgG1 fusion protein. Crucially, the up-regulation of OX40L (on antigen-presenting cells) and CXCR-5 (on T cells) are CD40-dependent events and we show that T cells do not migrate to follicles in immunized OX40-deficient mice.

Download Full-text

Specifically modified osteopontin in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes supports interaction with B cells and enhances production of interleukin-6

Arthritis & Rheumatism ◽

10.1002/art.25020 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 60 (12) ◽

pp. 3591-3601 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Yasuhiro Take ◽

Ken Nakata ◽

Jun Hashimoto ◽

Hideki Tsuboi ◽

Norihiro Nishimoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

B Cells ◽

Interleukin 6 ◽

Fibroblast Like Synoviocytes

Download Full-text

Resting B Cells Suppress CD8+ T Cell Function and Prevent the Induction of Graft Versus Host Disease.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v106.11.3111.3111 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 106 (11) ◽

pp. 3111-3111

Author(s):

David S. Ritchie ◽

Victoria Watt

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cells ◽

Graft Versus Host Disease ◽

Cd8 T Cell ◽

Regulatory Function ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Host Disease ◽

Graft Versus Host

Abstract B cells have been variously shown to induce direct tolerance of antigen specific CD8+ T cells, induce T cell anergy via TGF-b production, down regulate IL-12 production by dendritic cells (DC) and influence Th1/Th2 differentiation via the production of regulatory cytokines. Through these mechanisms, B cells can exert a regulatory function in in vivo models of T cell immunity including, experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, B cells have been shown to be essential in the prevention of effector T cell differentiation in a model of autoimmunity. We have previously shown that resting B cells inhibited tumor protection induced by dendritic cells vaccination. Inhibition of DC immunity by B cells was independent of presentation of major histocompatibility molecule (MHC) class-I bound tumor antigen but dependent on the expression of class-II MHC. Furthermore the inhibitory effect of B cells was lost if the B cells were activated by CD40L or if CD4+/CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) were depleted. These studies have been further extended to examine the role of resting B cells on the induction and severity of graft versus host disease (GVHD) induced in a major MHC mismatch model. We have found that mice transplanted with B cell depleted marrow revealed more rapid CD8+ T cell engraftment, higher IL-2 and IFN-γ production, more severe GVHD and shorter survival. Conversely, those who received additional resting B cells at the time of marrow infusion were substantially protected from GVHD. These findings indicate that resting B cells may regulate T cell activation, in part via the suppressive effects of Treg, but also through their important role in T cell homeostasis. Resting B cells may therefore limit the efficacy of DC based immunotherapy or alternatively be used therapeutically to limit CD8+ T cell autoimmunity including GVHD.

Download Full-text

Host Plasmacytoid or Conventional Dendritic Cells Alone Are Sufficient To Initiate Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.2164.2164 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 2164-2164

Author(s):

Motoko Koyama ◽

Daigo Hashimoto ◽

Kazutoshi Aoyama ◽

Ken-ichi Matsuoka ◽

Kennosuke Karube ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Mhc Class Ii ◽

Graft Versus Host Disease ◽

Class Ii ◽

Wild Type ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Host Disease ◽

Graft Versus Host

Abstract Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Alloantigen expression on host dendritic cells (DCs) is critical to initiate GVHD. DCs can be divided into two main subpopulations; conventional DCs (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), however, the contribution of each DC subset to elicit GVHD remains unclear. We examined the ability of cDCs and pDCs to initiate GVHD. pDCs, cDCs and B cells were isolated from C57BL/6 (B6: H–2b) mice treated with Flt3 ligand in order to expand DCs. pDCs were enriched from bone marrow by depleting CD3+, CD19+, CD11b+, and CD49b+ cells, followed by a FACS sorting of CD11cint B220+ cells. cDCs and B cells were sorted from splenocytes as CD11chi B220− cells and CD11c− B220+ cells, respectively. Isolated pDCs showed plasmacytoid morphology, produced IFN-α in response to CpG oligonucleotide. Although pDCs stimulated allogeneic T cells far less potently than cDCs, stimulation with CpG enhanced their allostimulatory capacity as potent as cDCs. We compared the ability of each DC subset to initiate GVHD by an add-back study of MHC class II-expressing DCs into MHC class II-deficient (II−/−) mice that were resistant to CD4-dependent GVHD. Lethally irradiated II−/− B6 mice were injected with 2 × 106 pDCs, cDCs or B cells from wild-type (II+/+) B6 mice on day -1 and injected with 2 × 106 CD4+ T cell from BALB/c (H–2d) mice on day 0. A flow cytometric analysis of the mesenteric lymph nodes on day +5 demonstrated significantly greater expansion of donor CD4+ T cells in recipients of pDCs or cDCs than those of B cells (Table). While injection of B cells did not cause any sign of GVHD, injection of pDCs or cDCs alone was sufficient to produce clinical and pathological GVHD (Table), thus breaking GVHD resistance of II−/− mice. We next examined the ability of pDCs to induce CD8-dependent GVHD in MHC-matched transplant using mice deficient in functional MHC class I expression (β2m−/−). Again, injection of pDCs or cDCs alone was sufficient to cause expansion of donor CD8+ T cells (p<0.05). We next asked whether signaling through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) could be required for pDCs to initiate GVHD. However, injection of pDCs isolated from MyD88/TRIF-double deficient mice was able to initiate GVHD as potent as wild-type pDCs, thus demonstrating that pDCs initiate GVHD in a TLR signaling independent manner. These results provide important information for developing strategies aimed at inactivating host DCs to prevent GVHD. Impact of each APC subpopulation on GVHD APC Donor CD4 expansion (×103±SE) Clinical GVHD score (mean±SE) Pathological GVHD score (mean±SE) *p<0.05 compared with B cells B cell 0.1 ± 0.0 2.1 ± 0.2 2.1 ± 0.2 pDC 5.3 ± 2.4* 4.3 ± 0.3* 7.4 ± 0.5* cDC 9.7 ± 3.8 * 3.8 ± 0.5 * 7.2 ± 0.7*

Download Full-text

Anti-GvHD Effect of Antithymocyte Globulin Is Mediated by Antibodies Binding to T Cells and Regulatory NK Cells, and Less So or Not at All by Antibodies Binding to Other Mononuclear Cell Subsets

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.2346.2346 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 2346-2346

Author(s):

Mette Hoegh-Petersen ◽

Minaa Amin ◽

Yiping Liu ◽

Alejandra Ugarte-Torres ◽

Tyler S Williamson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Antithymocyte Globulin ◽

Chronic Gvhd ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Effector Memory

Abstract Abstract 2346 Introduction: Polyclonal rabbit-anti-human T cell globulin may decrease the likelihood of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) without increasing the likelihood of relapse. We have recently shown that high levels of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) capable of binding to total lymphocytes are associated with a low likelihood of acute GVHD grade 2–4 (aGVHD) as well as chronic GVHD needing systemic therapy (cGVHD) but not increased likelihood of relapse (Podgorny PJ et al, BBMT 16:915, 2010). ATG is polyclonal, composed of antibodies for antigens expressed on multiple cell subsets, including T cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes and dendritic cells. These cell subsets may play a role in the pathogenesis of GVHD. The anti-GVHD effect of ATG may be mediated through killing/inhibition of one or several of these cell subsets (eg, T cells) or their subsets (eg, naïve T cells as based on mouse experiments naïve T cells are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of GVHD). To better understand the mechanism of action of ATG on GVHD, we set out to determine levels of which ATG fraction (capable of binding to which cell subset) are associated with subsequent development of GVHD. Patients and Methods: A total of 121 patients were studied, whose myeloablative conditioning included 4.5 mg/kg ATG (Thymoglobulin). Serum was collected on day 7. Using flow cytometry, levels of the following ATG fractions were determined: capable of binding to 1. naïve B cells, 2. memory B cells, 3. naïve CD4 T cells, 4. central memory (CM) CD4 T cells, 5. effector memory (EM) CD4 T cells, 6. naïve CD8 T cells, 7. CM CD8 T cells, 8. EM CD8 T cells not expressing CD45RA (EMRA-), 9. EM CD8 T cells expressing CD45RA (EMRA+), 10. cytolytic (CD16+CD56+) NK cells, 11. regulatory (CD16-CD56high) NK cells, 12. CD16+CD56− NK cells, 13. monocytes and 14. dendritic cells/dendritic cell precursors (DCs). For each ATG fraction, levels in patients with versus without aGVHD or cGVHD were compared using Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. For each fraction for which the levels appeared to be significantly different (p<0.05), we determined whether patients with high fraction level had a significantly lower likelihood of aGVHD or cGVHD than patients with low fraction level (high/low cutoff level was determined from ROC curve, using the point with maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity). This was done using log-binomial regression models, ie, multivariate analysis adjusting for recipient age (continuous), stem cell source (marrow or cord blood versus blood stem cells), donor type (HLA-matched sibling versus other), donor/recipient sex (M/M versus other) and days of follow up (continuous). Results: In univariate analyses, patients developing aGVHD had significantly lower levels of the following ATG fractions: binding to naïve CD4 T cells, EM CD4 T cells, naïve CD8 T cells and regulatory NK cells. Patients developing cGVHD had significantly lower levels of the following ATG fractions: capable of binding to naïve CD4 T cells, CM CD4 T cells, EM CD4 T cells, naïve CD8 T cells and regulatory NK cells. Patients who did vs did not develop relapse had similar levels of all ATG fractions. In multivariate analyses, high levels of the following ATG fractions were significantly associated with a low likelihood of aGVHD: capable of binding to naïve CD4 T cells (relative risk=.33, p=.001), EM CD4 T cells (RR=.30, p<.001), naïve CD8 T cells (RR=.33, p=.002) and regulatory NK cells (RR=.36, p=.001). High levels of the following ATG fractions were significantly associated with a low likelihood of cGVHD: capable of binding to naïve CD4 T cells (RR=.59, p=.028), CM CD4 T cells (RR=.49, p=.009), EM CD4 T cells (RR=.51, p=.006), naïve CD8 T cells (RR=.46, p=.005) and regulatory NK cells (RR=.55, p=.036). Conclusion: For both aGVHD and cGVHD, the anti-GVHD effect with relapse-neutral effect of ATG appears to be mediated by antibodies to antigens expressed on naïve T cells (both CD4 and CD8), EM CD4 T cells and regulatory NK cells, and to a lesser degree or not at all by antibodies binding to antigens expressed on B cells, cytolytic NK cells, monocytes or DCs. This is the first step towards identifying the antibody(ies) within ATG important for the anti-GVHD effect without impacting relapse. If such antibody(ies) is (are) found in the future, it should be explored whether such antibody(ies) alone or ATG enriched for such antibody(ies) could further decrease GVHD without impacting relapse. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text