Effect of organophosphorus pesticide exposure on the immune cell phenotypes among farm women and their children

Abstract Background Knowledge of immune cell phenotypes, function, and developmental trajectory in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) microenvironment is essential for understanding mechanisms of evading immune surveillance and immunotherapy response of targeting special microenvironment components. Methods Using a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset, we analyzed the immune cell phenotypes, function, and developmental trajectory of bone marrow (BM) samples from 16 AML patients and 4 healthy donors, but not AML blasts. Results We observed a significant difference between normal and AML BM immune cells. Here, we defined the diversity of dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages in different AML patients. We also identified several unique immune cell types including T helper cell 17 (TH17)-like intermediate population, cytotoxic CD4+ T subset, T cell: erythrocyte complexes, activated regulatory T cells (Treg), and CD8+ memory-like subset. Emerging AML cells remodels the BM immune microenvironment powerfully, leads to immunosuppression by accumulating exhausted/dysfunctional immune effectors, expending immune-activated types, and promoting the formation of suppressive subsets. Conclusion Our results provide a comprehensive AML BM immune cell census, which can help to select pinpoint targeted drug and predict efficacy of immunotherapy.

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Shared associations identify causal relationships between gene expression and immune cell phenotypes

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-01823-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Christiane Gasperi ◽

Sung Chun ◽

Shamil R. Sunyaev ◽

Chris Cotsapas

Keyword(s):

Complex Traits ◽

Direct Evidence ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Genetic Locus ◽

Causal Variant ◽

Causal Relationships ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Two Factors ◽

Gene Regulatory ◽

Cell Phenotypes

AbstractGenetic mapping studies have identified thousands of associations between common variants and hundreds of human traits. Translating these associations into mechanisms is complicated by two factors: they fall into gene regulatory regions; and they are rarely mapped to one causal variant. One way around these limitations is to find groups of traits that share associations, using this genetic link to infer a biological connection. Here, we assess how many trait associations in the same locus are due to the same genetic variant, and thus shared; and if these shared associations are due to causal relationships between traits. We find that only a subset of traits share associations, with many due to causal relationships rather than pleiotropy. We therefore suggest that simply observing overlapping associations at a genetic locus is insufficient to infer causality; direct evidence of shared associations is required to support mechanistic hypotheses in genetic studies of complex traits.

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Combination-Feeding Causes Differences in Aspects of Systemic and Mucosal Immune Cell Phenotypes and Functions Compared to Exclusive Sow-Rearing or Formula-Feeding in Piglets

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041097 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1097

Author(s):

Emily C. Radlowski ◽

Mei Wang ◽

Marcia H. Monaco ◽

Sarah S. Comstock ◽

Sharon M. Donovan

Keyword(s):

Immune Cell ◽

Arginase Activity ◽

T Helper ◽

Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽

Immune Development ◽

Mesenteric Lymph ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Activation Pathways ◽

Cell Phenotypes ◽

Oxide Synthase

Combination feeding (human milk and formula) is common and influences immune development compared to exclusive breastfeeding. Infant formulas contain prebiotics, which influence immune development. Herein, immune development of combination-fed (CF), sow-reared (SR) and formula-fed (FF) piglets, and the effect of prebiotics was tested. Piglets (n = 47) were randomized to: SR, FF, CF, FF+prebiotic (FP), and CF+prebiotic (CP). FP and CP received formula with galactooligosaccharides and inulin (4 g/L in a 4:1 ratio). CF and CP piglets were sow-reared for until d5 and then rotated between a sow and formula every 12 h. On day 21, piglets received an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide 2 h prior to necropsy. Immune cells from blood, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and spleen were phenotyped. Classical (nitric oxide synthase) and alternative (arginase activity) activation pathways were measured in isolated macrophages. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. SR piglets had lower (p < 0.0001) CD4+ T-helper cells and higher (p < 0.0001) B-cells in PBMC than all other groups. CP piglets had higher (p < 0.0001) arginase activity compared to all other groups. FF piglets had higher (p < 0.05) IL-6 compared to both CF and SR, but were similar to FP and CP. Thus, CF, with or without prebiotics, differentially affected immunity compared to exclusively fed groups.

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Sex- and age‐dependent alterations of splenic immune cell profile and NK cell phenotypes and function in C57BL/6J mice

Immunity & Ageing ◽

10.1186/s12979-021-00214-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kelly B. Menees ◽

Rachael H. Earls ◽

Jaegwon Chung ◽

Janna Jernigan ◽

Nikolay M. Filipov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Spleen Weight ◽

Age Related ◽

And Function ◽

Cell Phenotypes

Abstract Background Physiological homeostasis decline, immunosenescence, and increased risk for multiple diseases, including neurodegeneration, are all hallmarks of ageing. Importantly, it is known that the ageing process is sex-biased. For example, there are sex differences in predisposition for multiple age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. However, sex differences in age-associated immune phenotypes are not clearly understood. Results Here, we examined the effects of age on immune cell phenotypes in both sexes of C57BL/6J mice with a particular focus on NK cells. We found female-specific spleen weight increases with age and concordant reduction in the number of splenocytes per gram of spleen weight compared to young females. To evaluate sex- and age-associated changes in splenic immune cell composition, we performed flow cytometry analysis. In male mice, we observed an age-associated reduction in the frequencies of monocytes and NK cells; female mice displayed a reduction in B cells, NK cells, and CD8 + T cells and increased frequency of monocytes and neutrophils with age. We then performed a whole blood stimulation assay and multiplex analyses of plasma cytokines and observed age- and sex-specific differences in immune cell reactivity and basal circulating cytokine concentrations. As we have previously illustrated a potential role of NK cells in Parkinson’s disease, an age-related neurodegenerative disease, we further analyzed age-associated changes in NK cell phenotypes and function. There were distinct differences between the sexes in age-associated changes in the expression of NK cell receptors, IFN-γ production, and impairment of α-synuclein endocytosis. Conclusions This study demonstrates sex- and age-specific alterations in splenic lymphocyte composition, circulating cytokine/chemokine profiles, and NK cell phenotype and effector functions. Our data provide evidence that age-related physiological perturbations differ between the sexes which may help elucidate sex differences in age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease, where immune dysfunction is implicated in their etiology.

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