scholarly journals 4D electron microscopy of T cell activation

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (44) ◽  
pp. 22014-22019
Author(s):  
Yue Lu ◽  
Byung-Kuk Yoo ◽  
Alphonsus H. C. Ng ◽  
Jungwoo Kim ◽  
Sinchul Yeom ◽  
...  

T cells can be controllably stimulated through antigen-specific or nonspecific protocols. Accompanying functional hallmarks of T cell activation can include cytoskeletal reorganization, cell size increase, and cytokine secretion. Photon-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM) is used to image and quantify evanescent electric fields at the surface of T cells as a function of various stimulation conditions. While PINEM signal strength scales with multiple of the biophysical changes associated with T cell functional activation, it mostly strongly correlates with antigen-engagement of the T cell receptors, even under conditions that do not lead to functional T cell activation. PINEM image analysis suggests that a stimulation-induced reorganization of T cell surface structure, especially over length scales of a few hundred nanometers, is the dominant contributor to these PINEM signal changes. These experiments reveal that PINEM can provide a sensitive label-free probe of nanoscale cellular surface structures.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina E. Arnold ◽  
Ann M. Rajnicek ◽  
Joseph I. Hoare ◽  
Swechha Mainali Pokharel ◽  
Colin D. Mccaig ◽  
...  

AbstractThe factors and signals driving T cell activation and polarisation during immune responses have been studied mainly at the level of cells and chemical mediators. Here we describe a physical driver of these processes in the form of physiological-strength electric fields (EFs). EFs are generated at sites where epithelium is disrupted (e.g. wounded skin/bronchial epithelia) and where T cells frequently are present. Using live-cell imaging, we show human primary T cells migrate directionally to the cathode in low strength (50/150 mV/mm) EFs. Strikingly, we show for the first time that EFs significantly downregulate T cell activation following stimulation with antigen-activated APCs or anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, as demonstrated by decreased IL-2 secretion and proliferation. These EF-induced functional changes were accompanied by a significant dampening of CD4+ T cell polarisation. Expression of critical markers of the Th17 lineage, RORγt and IL-17, and the Th17 polarisation mediator phospho-STAT3 were reduced significantly, while STAT1, ERK and c-Jun phosphorylation were comparatively unaffected suggesting STAT3 modulation by EFs as one mechanism driving effects. Overall, we identify electrical signals as important contributors to the co-ordination and regulation of human T cell functions, paving the way for a new research area into effects of naturally occurring and clinically-applied EFs in conditions where control of T cell activity is paramount.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyun Zhong ◽  
Zhun Zhang ◽  
Xiaoxu Lu ◽  
Shengde Liu ◽  
Crystal Y. Chen ◽  
...  

Direct molecular imaging of nanoscale relationship between T-cell receptor complexes (TCR/CD3) and gangliosidosis GM1 before and after T-cell activation has not been reported. In this study, we made use of our expertise of near-field scanning optical microscopy(NSOM)/immune-labeling quantum dots- (QD-)based dual-color imaging system to visualize nanoscale profiles for distribution and organization of TCR/CD3, GM1, as well as their nanospatial relationship and their correlation with PKCθsignaling cascade during T-cell activation. Interestingly, after anti-CD3/anti-CD28 Ab co-stimulation, both TCR/CD3 and GM1 were clustered to form nanodomains; moreover, all of TCR/CD3 nanodomains were colocalized with GM1 nanodomains, indicating that the formation of GM1 nanodomains was greatly correlated with TCR/CD3 mediated signaling. Specially, while T-cells were pretreated with PKCθsignaling inhibitor rottlerin to suppress IL-2 cytokine production, no visible TCR/CD3 nanodomains appeared while a lot of GM1 nanodomains were still observed. However, while T-cells are pretreated with PKCαβsignaling inhibitor GÖ6976 to suppress calcium-dependent manner, all of TCR/CD3 nanodomains were still colocalized with GM1 nanodomains. These findings possibly support the notion that the formation of GM1 nanodomains indeed serves as platforms for the recruitment of TCR/CD3 nanodomains, and TCR/CD3 nanodomains are required for PKCθsignaling cascades and T-cell activation


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashwanth Subbannayya ◽  
Markus Haug ◽  
Sneha M. Pinto ◽  
Varshasnata Mohanty ◽  
Hany Zakaria Meås ◽  
...  

AbstractCD4+ T cells (T helper cells) are cytokine-producing adaptive immune cells that activate or regulate the responses of various immune cells. The activation and functional status of CD4+ T cells is important for adequate responses to pathogen infections but has also been associated with auto-immune disorders and survival in several cancers. In the current study, we carried out a label-free high-resolution FTMS-based proteomic profiling of resting and T cell receptor-activated (72h) primary human CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors as well as SUP-T1 cells. We identified 5,237 proteins, of which significant alterations in the levels of 1,119 proteins were observed between resting and activated CD4+ T cells. We confirmed several known T-cell activation-related processes such as IL-2 response, metabolic and signaling changes, cell cycle induction, differentiation into effector cells among others. Several stimulatory/inhibitory immune checkpoint markers were altered considerably between resting and activated CD4+ T cells. Network analysis identified several known regulatory hubs of CD4+ T cell activation, including IFNG, IRF1, FOXP3, AURKA, and novel hubs such as RIOK2. Comparison of primary CD4+ T cell proteomic profiles with human lymphoblastic cell lines revealed a substantial overlap, while comparison with mouse CD+ T cell data suggested interspecies proteomic differences.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex J. Walsh ◽  
Katie Mueller ◽  
Isabel Jones ◽  
Christine M. Walsh ◽  
Nicole Piscopo ◽  
...  

AbstractT cells have a range of cytotoxic and immune-modulating functions, depending on activation state and subtype. However, current methods to assess T cell function use exogenous labels that often require cell permeabilization, which is limiting for time-course studies of T cell activation and non-destructive quality control of immunotherapies. Label-free optical imaging is an attractive solution. Here, we use autofluorescence imaging of NAD(P)H and FAD, co-enzymes of metabolism, to quantify optical imaging endpoints in quiescent and activated T cells. Machine learning classification models were developed for label-free, non-destructive determination of T cell activation state. T cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of human donors, and a subset were activated with a tetrameric antibody against CD2/CD3/CD28 surface ligands. NAD(P)H and FAD autofluorescence intensity and lifetime of the T cells were imaged using a multiphoton fluorescence lifetime microscope. Significant differences in autofluorescence imaging end-points were observed between quiescent and activated T cells. Feature selection methods revealed that the contribution of the short NAD(P)H lifetime (α1) is the most important feature for classification of activation state, across multiple donors and T cell subsets. Logistic regression models achieved 97-99% accuracy for classification of T cell activation from the autofluorescence imaging endpoints. Additionally, autofluorescence imaging revealed NAD(P)H and FAD autofluorescence differences between CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD4+ T cells, and random forest models of the autofluorescence imaging endpoints achieved 97+% accuracy for four-group classification of quiescent and activated CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD4+ T cells. Altogether these results indicate that autofluorescence imaging of NAD(P)H and FAD is a powerful method for label-free, non-destructive determination of T cell activation and subtype, which could have important applications for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, infectious, and other diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhianna Jones ◽  
Kyle Kroll ◽  
Courtney Broedlow ◽  
Luca Schifanella ◽  
Scott Smith ◽  
...  

AbstractHIV/SIV infections lead to massive loss of mucosal CD4 + T cells and breakdown of the epithelial mucosa resulting in severe microbial dysbiosis and chronic immune activation that ultimately drive disease progression. Moreover, disruption of one of the most understudied mucosal environments, the oral cavity, during HIV-induced immunosuppression results in significant microbial and neoplastic co-morbidities and contributes to and predicts distal disease complications. In this study we evaluated the effects of oral probiotic supplementation (PBX), which can stimulate and augment inflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways, on early SIV infection of rhesus macaques. Our study revealed that similar to the GI mucosae, oral CD4 + T cells were rapidly depleted, and as one of the first comprehensive analyses of the oral microflora in SIV infection, we also observed significant modulation among two genera, Porphyromonas and Actinobacillus, early after infection. Interestingly, although PBX therapy did not substantially protect against oral dysbiosis or ameliorate cell loss, it did somewhat dampen inflammation and T cell activation. Collectively, these data provide one of the most comprehensive evaluations of SIV-induced changes in oral microbiome and CD4 + T cell populations, and also suggest that oral PBX may have some anti-inflammatory properties in lentivirus infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Sadoun ◽  
Martine Biarnes-Pelicot ◽  
Laura Ghesquiere-Dierickx ◽  
Ambroise Wu ◽  
Olivier Théodoly ◽  
...  

AbstractWe designed a strategy, based on a careful examination of the activation capabilities of proteins and antibodies used as substrates for adhering T cells, coupled to protein microstamping to control at the same time the position, shape, spreading, mechanics and activation state of T cells. Once adhered on patterns, we examined the capacities of T cells to be activated with soluble anti CD3, in comparison to T cells adhered to a continuously decorated substrate with the same density of ligands. We show that, in our hand, adhering onto an anti CD45 antibody decorated surface was not affecting T cell calcium fluxes, even adhered on variable size micro-patterns. Aside, we analyzed the T cell mechanics, when spread on pattern or not, using Atomic Force Microscopy indentation. By expressing MEGF10 as a non immune adhesion receptor in T cells we measured the very same spreading area on PLL substrates and Young modulus than non modified cells, immobilized on anti CD45 antibodies, while retaining similar activation capabilities using soluble anti CD3 antibodies or through model APC contacts. We propose that our system is a way to test activation or anergy of T cells with defined adhesion and mechanical characteristics, and may allow to dissect fine details of these mechanisms since it allows to observe homogenized populations in standardized T cell activation assays.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (57) ◽  
pp. eabf7570
Author(s):  
Laura A. Vella ◽  
Josephine R. Giles ◽  
Amy E. Baxter ◽  
Derek A. Oldridge ◽  
Caroline Diorio ◽  
...  

Pediatric COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with fewer hospitalizations and often milder disease than in adults. A subset of children, however, present with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) that can lead to vascular complications and shock, but rarely death. The immune features of MIS-C compared to pediatric COVID-19 or adult disease remain poorly understood. We analyzed peripheral blood immune responses in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected pediatric patients (pediatric COVID-19) and patients with MIS-C. MIS-C patients had patterns of T cell-biased lymphopenia and T cell activation similar to severely ill adults, and all patients with MIS-C had SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies at admission. A distinct feature of MIS-C patients was robust activation of vascular patrolling CX3CR1+ CD8+ T cells that correlated with the use of vasoactive medication. Finally, whereas pediatric COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) had sustained immune activation, MIS-C patients displayed clinical improvement over time, concomitant with decreasing immune activation. Thus, non-MIS-C versus MIS-C SARS-CoV-2 associated illnesses are characterized by divergent immune signatures that are temporally distinct from one another and implicate CD8+ T cells in the clinical presentation and trajectory of MIS-C.


Author(s):  
Yan Yan ◽  
Wei Zhao ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Xu Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 19 (CCL19) is a leukocyte chemoattractant that plays a crucial role in cell trafficking and leukocyte activation. Dysfunctional CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in persistent HBV infection. However, whether HBV can be cleared by CCL19-activated immunity remains unclear. Methods We assessed the effects of CCL19 on the activation of PBMCs in patients with HBV infection. We also examined how CCL19 influences HBV clearance and modulates HBV-responsive T cells in a mouse model of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In addition, C–C chemokine-receptor type 7 (CCR7) knockdown mice were used to elucidate the underlying mechanism of CCL19/CCR7 axis-induced immune activation. Results From in vitro experiments, we found that CCL19 enhanced the frequencies of Ag-responsive IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells from patients by approximately twofold, while CCR7 knockdown (LV-shCCR7) and LY294002 partially suppressed IFN-γ secretion. In mice, CCL19 overexpression led to rapid clearance of intrahepatic HBV likely through increased intrahepatic CD8+ T-cell proportion, decreased frequency of PD-1+ CD8+ T cells in blood and compromised suppression of hepatic APCs, with lymphocytes producing a significantly high level of Ag-responsive TNF-α and IFN-γ from CD8+ T cells. In both CCL19 over expressing and CCR7 knockdown (AAV-shCCR7) CHB mice, the frequency of CD8+ T-cell activation-induced cell death (AICD) increased, and a high level of Ag-responsive TNF-α and low levels of CD8+ regulatory T (Treg) cells were observed. Conclusions Findings in this study provide insights into how CCL19/CCR7 axis modulates the host immune system, which may promote the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for HBV treatment by overcoming T-cell tolerance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Colado ◽  
Esteban Enrique Elías ◽  
Valeria Judith Sarapura Martínez ◽  
Gregorio Cordini ◽  
Pablo Morande ◽  
...  

AbstractHypogammaglobulinemia is the most frequently observed immune defect in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Although CLL patients usually have low serum levels of all isotypes (IgG, IgM and IgA), standard immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations for replacement therapy administrated to these patients contain more than 95% of IgG. Pentaglobin is an Ig preparation of intravenous application (IVIg) enriched with IgM and IgA (IVIgGMA), with the potential benefit to restore the Ig levels of all isotypes. Because IVIg preparations at high doses have well-documented anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, we aimed to evaluate the capacity of Pentaglobin and a standard IVIg preparation to affect leukemic and T cells from CLL patients. In contrast to standard IVIg, we found that IVIgGMA did not modify T cell activation and had a lower inhibitory effect on T cell proliferation. Regarding the activation of leukemic B cells through BCR, it was similarly reduced by both IVIgGMA and IVIgG. None of these IVIg preparations modified spontaneous apoptosis of T or leukemic B cells. However, the addition of IVIgGMA on in vitro cultures decreased the apoptosis of T cells induced by the BCL-2 inhibitor, venetoclax. Importantly, IVIgGMA did not impair venetoclax-induced apoptosis of leukemic B cells. Overall, our results add new data on the effects of different preparations of IVIg in CLL, and show that the IgM/IgA enriched preparation not only affects relevant mechanisms involved in CLL pathogenesis but also has a particular profile of immunomodulatory effects on T cells that deserves further investigation.


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