scholarly journals Natural killer cell immunosuppressive function requires CXCR3-dependent redistribution within lymphoid tissues

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayad Ali ◽  
Laura M Canaday ◽  
H Alex Feldman ◽  
Hilal Cevik ◽  
MIchael T Moran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type I Ifn ◽  
Cell Suppression

Natural killer (NK) cell suppression of T cells is a key determinant of viral pathogenesis and vaccine efficacy. This process involves perforin-dependent elimination of activated CD4 T cells during the first three days of infection. Although this mechanism requires cell-cell contact, NK cells and T cells typically reside in different compartments of lymphoid tissues at steady state. Here, we show that NK-cell suppression of T cells is associated with a transient accumulation of NK cells within T cell-rich sites of the spleen during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is required for relocation to T-cell zones and suppression of antiviral T cells. Accordingly, this NK-cell migration is mediated by type I interferon (IFN)-dependent promotion of CXCR3 ligand expression. In contrast, adenoviral vectors that weakly induce type I IFN and do not stimulate NK-cell inhibition of T cells also do not promote measurable redistribution of NK cells to T-cell zones. Provision of supplemental IFN could rescue NK-cell migration during adenoviral vector immunization. Thus, type I IFN and CXCR3 are critical for properly positioning NK cells to constrain antiviral T-cell responses. Development of strategies to curtail migration of NK cells between lymphoid compartments may enhance vaccine-elicited immune responses.

scholarly journals CD94 1A transcripts characterize lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia of immature natural killer cell origin with distinct clinical features

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (10) ◽  
pp. 3567-3574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Wu Lin ◽  
Ting-Yun Liu ◽  
Shee-Uan Chen ◽  
Kun-Teng Wang ◽  
L. Jeffrey Medeiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Killer Cell ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Lymphoid Cells ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Gene Rearrangements

AbstractMost lymphoblastic lymphomas (LBLs) are regarded as neoplasms of immature T cells because they express cytoplasmic CD3 and frequently carry T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements. Immature natural killer (NK) and T cells, however, have a common bipotent T/NK-cell precursor in the thymus, and NK cells also express cytoplasmic CD3. Thus, some LBLs could arise from immature NK cells. Mature NK cells express 2 CD94 transcripts: 1A, induced by interleukin 15 (IL-15), and 1B constitutively. Because immature NK cells require IL-15 for development, CD94 1A transcripts could be a marker of NK-LBL. To test this hypothesis, we used laser capture microdissection to isolate IL-15 receptor α+ lymphoid cells from the thymus and showed that these cells contained CD94 1A transcripts. We then assessed for CD94 transcripts in 21 cases of LBL that were cytoplasmic CD3+, nuclear terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase positive (TdT+), and CD56-, consistent with either the T-cell or NK-cell lineage. We found that 7 LBLs expressed CD94 1A transcripts without TCR gene rearrangements, suggesting NK-cell lineage. Patients with NK-LBL were younger than patients with T-LBL (15 years versus 33 years; P = .11) and had a better 2-year survival (100% versus 27%; P < .01). These results improve the current classification of LBL and contribute to our understanding of NK-cell differentiation.

scholarly journals Human natural killer cell committed thymocytes and their relation to the T cell lineage.

1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (6) ◽  
pp. 1857-1866 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Sánchez ◽  
H Spits ◽  
L L Lanier ◽  
J H Phillips
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
Clonogenic Potential ◽  
Antigenic Phenotype

Recent studies have demonstrated that mature natural killer (NK) cells can be grown from human triple negative (TN; CD3-, CD4-, CD8-) thymocytes, suggesting that a common NK/T cell precursor exists within the thymus that can give rise to both NK cells and T cells under appropriate conditions. In the present study, we have investigated human fetal and postnatal thymus to determine whether NK cells and their precursors exist within this tissue and whether NK cells can be distinguished from T cell progenitors. Based on the surface expression of CD56 (an NK cell-associated antigen) and CD5 (a T cell-associated antigen), three phenotypically distinctive populations of TN thymocytes were identified. CD56+, CD5-; CD56-, CD5-, and CD56-, CD5+. The CD56+, CD5- population of TN thymocytes, although displaying a low cytolytic function against NK sensitive tumor cell targets, were similar in antigenic phenotype to fetal liver NK cells, gave rise to NK cell clones, and were unable to generate T cells in mouse fetal thymic organ cultures (mFTOC). This population of thymocytes represents a relatively mature population of lineage-committed NK cells. The CD56-, CD5- population of TN thymocytes were similar to thymic NK cells in antigenic phenotype and NK cell clonogenic potential. Clones derived from this population of TN thymocytes acquired CD56 surface expression and NK cell cytolytic function. CD56-, CD5- TN thymocytes thus contain a novel population of NK cell-committed precursors. The CD56-, CD5- population of TN thymocytes also contains a small percentage of CD34+ cells, which demonstrate no in vitro clonogenic potential, but possess T cell reconstituting capabilities in mFTOC. The majority of TN thymocytes do not express CD56, but coexpress CD34 and CD5. These CD56-, CD5+, CD34+ cells demonstrate no NK or T cell clonogenic potential, but are extremely efficient in repopulating mFTOC and differentiating into CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells. The results of this investigation have identified NK cells and NK cell precursors in the human thymus and have shown that these cell types are unable to differentiate along the T cell lineage pathway. Thus, while a common NK/T cell progenitor likely exists, once committed to the NK cell lineage these cells no longer have the capacity to develop along the T cell developmental pathway.

scholarly journals Signal transduction by the CD2 antigen in T cells and natural killer cells: requirement for expression of a functional T cell receptor or binding of antibody Fc to the Fc receptor, Fc gamma RIIIA (CD16).

1991 ◽  
Vol 174 (6) ◽  
pp. 1407-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
L L Spruyt ◽  
M J Glennie ◽  
A D Beyers ◽  
A F Williams
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
T Cell Receptor ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Fc Receptor ◽  
Jurkat Cells

Crosslinking of CD2 antigen on T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells leads to a rise in cytoplasmic-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, CD2 seems unlikely to interact directly with the second messenger pathways since signaling via CD2 is poor in T cells that lack the T cell receptor (TCR) and is absent in L cells or insect cells that express CD2. In contrast, NK cells that are also TCR- can be triggered via CD2, but it is unclear as to whether the CD16 Fc receptor (FcR) may facilitate this effect. The CD16 transmembrane molecule is expressed in a complex with the zeta homodimer or the zeta/gamma heterodimer and these dimers are also associated with the TCR complex. Thus, it seemed that zeta chains may provide the link between signaling on NK cells and T cells. This could be tested on TCR- cells since when CD16 is transfected into T cells it is expressed in a complex with TCR zeta homodimer or the zeta/gamma heterodimer. At first, potentiation of CD2 signaling was seen on TCR- Jurkat cells expressing CD16, but this was found to be dependent on trace levels (1%) of IgG in F(ab')2 antibody preparations. With pure F(ab')2, the effect was lost. Signaling on a rat NK cell line was also re-examined with F(ab')2 antibodies that had no IgG contamination, and again no signal transduction via CD2 was seen. We thus conclude that there is no clear evidence for potent signaling via CD2 on cells that lack a TCR complex and that TCR zeta chain expressed at the cell surface is not sufficient to potentiate signaling via CD2 as measured by an increase in [Ca2+]i.

scholarly journals Natural Killer Cell–Mediated Eradication of Neuroblastoma Metastases to Bone Marrow by Targeted Interleukin-2 Therapy

Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1706-1715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger N. Lode ◽  
Rong Xiang ◽  
Torsten Dreier ◽  
Nissi M. Varki ◽  
Stephen D. Gillies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Therapeutic Effect ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Interleukin 2

Targeted interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy with a genetically engineered antidisialoganglioside GD2 antibody–IL-2 fusion protein induced a cell-mediated antitumor response that effectively eradicated established bone marrow and liver metastases in a syngeneic model of neuroblastoma. The mechanism involved is exclusively natural killer (NK) cell–dependent, because NK-cell deficiency abrogated the antitumor effect. In contrast, the fusion protein remained completely effective in the T-cell–deficient mice or immunocompetent mice depleted of CD8+ T cells in vivo. A strong stimulation of NK-cell activity was also shown in vitro. Immunohistology of the leukocytic infiltrate of livers from treated mice revealed a strong staining for NK cells but not for CD8+ T cells. The therapeutic effect of the fusion protein was increased when combined with NK-cell–stimulating agents, such as poly I:C or recombinant mouse interferon-γ. In conclusion, these data show that targeted delivery of cytokines to the tumor microenvironment offers a new strategy to elicit an effective cellular immune response mediated by NK cells against metastatic neuroblastoma. This therapeutic effect may have general clinical implications for the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease who suffer from T-cell suppression after high-dose chemotherapy but are not deficient in NK cells.

Cytotoxic cells induced during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection of mice: natural killer cell activity in cultured spleen leukocytes concomitant with T-cell-dependent immune interferon production

1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-483
Author(s):  
R M Welsh ◽  
W F Doe
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Spleen Cells

The characteristics and specificities of spleen and peritoneal cytotoxic cells generated during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of C3H/St mice were examined. Activated natural killer (NK) cell activity was identified in fresh leukocyte populations from the 2nd to 8th days postinfection, whereas virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell activity was detected from the 6th to 14th days. When leukocytes were cultured overnight at 37 degrees C before assay, T-cell activity was still observed, but nonspecific activated NK cell-like cytotoxicity was only detected on the 6th and to a lesser degree the 8th day postinfection. Overnight culture of leukocytes taken earlier in the infection eliminated their NK cell activity. Similar activities were seen with spleen cell, plastic-adherent peritoneal cell, and nonadherent peritoneal cell populations. The virus-specific cytotoxicity observed with adherent peritoneal cells was due to contamination with cytotoxic T cells, as shown by H-2-restricted cytotoxicity and sensitivity to anti-theta antibody and complement. The nonspecific cultured day 6 effector cell from either the spleen or peritoneum displayed killing specificities and other physical properties identical to those of activated NK cells, but had sensitivities to anti-theta antibody and complement intermediate between activated day 3 NK cells and cytotoxic T cells. Culture stable NK-like cells were not found in athymic nude mice, suggesting a T-cell-dependent mechanism. Whereas LCMV spleen homogenates contained 10-fold-higher levels of interferon at day 2 than at day 6 postinfection, substantially more (nearly 20-fold) interferon was made in cultures of day 6 cells than day 2 cells. Spleen interferon was predominantly type I, whereas the culture interferon was predominantly type II, as shown by acid lability studies. Significant levels of interferon were produced by nylon-wool-passed day 6 spleen cells, and virtually all interferon production was eliminated by treatment of either day 2 or day 6 cells with antibody to theta antigen and complement, suggesting that T cells produced the interferon in vitro. Furthermore, athymic nude mice had no culture-stable NK cells 6 days postinfection, and spleen cells from them failed to produce significant levels of interferon in vitro. Addition of interferon (type I, fibroblast) to cultured C3H spleen cells affect the already elevated levels of cytotoxicity in day 6 cultures, suggesting that the NK cells in the day 6 culture were already activated. Our results suggest that T cells responding to LCMV infection secrete interferon type II which causes the continued activation of NK cells in culture. The resulting population of activated NK cells therefore appears to be relatively stable in culture and to express more theta antigen because of this T-cell dependence. Although one could mistakenly or allospecific cytotoxic T cells or cytotoxic macrophages, more careful examination shows that they are most likely activated NK cells...

scholarly journals Tim-3 marks human natural killer cell maturation and suppresses cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 119 (16) ◽  
pp. 3734-3743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu ◽  
Sandra Lopez-Vergès ◽  
Jason D. Barbour ◽  
R. Brad Jones ◽  
Aashish R. Jha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Killer Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Human Natural Killer Cell ◽  
Cell Responses

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play an important role against viral infections and cancer. This effect is achieved through a complex mosaic of inhibitory and activating receptors expressed by NK cells that ultimately determine the magnitude of the NK-cell response. The T-cell immunoglobulin– and mucin domain–containing (Tim)–3 receptor was initially identified as a T-helper 1–specific type I membrane protein involved in regulating T-cell responses. Human NK cells transcribe the highest amounts of Tim-3 among lymphocytes. Tim-3 protein is expressed on essentially all mature CD56dimCD16+ NK cells and is expressed heterogeneously in the immature CD56brightCD16– NK-cell subset in blood from healthy adults and in cord blood. Tim-3 expression was induced on CD56brightCD16− NK cells after stimulation with IL-15 or IL-12 and IL-18 in vitro, suggesting that Tim-3 is a maturation marker on NK cells. Whereas Tim-3 has been used to identify dysfunctional T cells, NK cells expressing high amounts of Tim-3 are fully responsive with respect to cytokine production and cytotoxicity. However, when Tim-3 was cross-linked with antibodies it suppressed NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that NK-cell responses may be negatively regulated when NK cells encounter target cells expressing cognate ligands of Tim-3.

scholarly journals Natural Killer Cell–Mediated Eradication of Neuroblastoma Metastases to Bone Marrow by Targeted Interleukin-2 Therapy

Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1706-1715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger N. Lode ◽  
Rong Xiang ◽  
Torsten Dreier ◽  
Nissi M. Varki ◽  
Stephen D. Gillies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Therapeutic Effect ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Interleukin 2

Abstract Targeted interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy with a genetically engineered antidisialoganglioside GD2 antibody–IL-2 fusion protein induced a cell-mediated antitumor response that effectively eradicated established bone marrow and liver metastases in a syngeneic model of neuroblastoma. The mechanism involved is exclusively natural killer (NK) cell–dependent, because NK-cell deficiency abrogated the antitumor effect. In contrast, the fusion protein remained completely effective in the T-cell–deficient mice or immunocompetent mice depleted of CD8+ T cells in vivo. A strong stimulation of NK-cell activity was also shown in vitro. Immunohistology of the leukocytic infiltrate of livers from treated mice revealed a strong staining for NK cells but not for CD8+ T cells. The therapeutic effect of the fusion protein was increased when combined with NK-cell–stimulating agents, such as poly I:C or recombinant mouse interferon-γ. In conclusion, these data show that targeted delivery of cytokines to the tumor microenvironment offers a new strategy to elicit an effective cellular immune response mediated by NK cells against metastatic neuroblastoma. This therapeutic effect may have general clinical implications for the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease who suffer from T-cell suppression after high-dose chemotherapy but are not deficient in NK cells.

scholarly journals The Good and the Bad of Natural Killer Cells in Virus Control: Perspective for Anti-HBV Therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Fisicaro ◽  
Marzia Rossi ◽  
Andrea Vecchi ◽  
Greta Acerbi ◽  
Valeria Barili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Viral Control ◽  
Cell Functions

Immune modulatory therapies are widely believed to represent potential therapeutic strategies for chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). Among the cellular targets for immune interventions, Natural Killer (NK) cells represent possible candidates because they have a key role in anti-viral control by producing cytokines and by exerting cytotoxic functions against virus-infected cells. However, in patients with chronic hepatitis B, NK cells have been described to be more pathogenic than protective with preserved cytolytic activity but with a poor capacity to produce anti-viral cytokines. In addition, NK cells can exert a regulatory activity and possibly suppress adaptive immune responses in the setting of persistent viral infections. Consequently, a potential drawback of NK-cell targeted modulatory interventions is that they can potentiate the suppressive NK cell effect on virus-specific T cells, which further causes impairment of exhausted anti-viral T cell functions. Thus, clinically useful NK-cell modulatory strategies should be not only suited to improve positive anti-viral NK cell functions but also to abrogate T cell suppression by NK cell-mediated T cell killing. This review outlines the main NK cell features with a particular focus on CHB infection. It describes different mechanisms involved in NK-T cell interplay as well as how NK cells can have positive anti-viral effector functions and negative suppressive effects on T cells activity. This review discusses how modulation of their balance can have potential therapeutic implications.

scholarly journals MYC Oncogene Abrogates Natural Killer (NK) Cell-Mediated Immune Surveillance of B- and T- Lymphoid Malignancies By Suppressing STAT1/2-Type I IFN Signaling

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 730-730
Author(s):  
Srividya Swaminathan ◽  
Line Dam Heftdal ◽  
Daniel Liefwalker ◽  
Renumathy Dhanasekaran ◽  
Anja Deutzmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Immune Surveillance ◽  
Cell Maturation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type I Ifn ◽  
Myc Oncogene ◽  
Lymphoid Malignancies ◽  
Type I Ifns

Background: Many high-risk B- and T- lymphoid malignancies including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and lymphomas exhibit hyperactivation of the MYC oncogene and MYC-associated pathways. Experimentally, direct targeting of MYC in mouse models of MYCHigh lymphoid cancers sustains tumor regression. However, the requirement of MYC in normal lymphocyte physiology has impeded the development of MYC inhibitors. Hence, the development of targeted therapies against MYCHigh lymphoid cancers requires the identification of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic (immune microenvironment) processes uniquely regulated by 'oncogenic' MYC (MYCHigh B/T-lymphoblasts) but not by 'normal' MYC (MYCLow B/T-lymphocytes). Approach: We employed an inducible transgenic mouse model of MYC-driven T-ALL (SRα-tTA/Tet-O-hMYC mice; Felsher and Bishop, Molecular Cell, 1999) to study leukemia-intrinsic, and leukemia-extrinsic immune surveillance mechanisms upon MYC activation (MYCHigh/ON, overt T-ALL), and MYC inactivation (MYCLow/OFF, regressed T-ALL). Inducible regulation of the human MYC (hMYC) transgene specifically in T-lymphoblasts enables us to elucidate how T-ALL-intrinsic MYC impacts normal immune cells during leukemogenesis in vivo. Using mass cytometry (CyTOF), and CIBERSORT to profile the immune microenvironment of MYCHigh/ON and MYCLow/OFF T-ALLs in SRα-tTA/Tet-O-hMYC mice, we identified specific anti- and pro-tumorigenic immune subsets that can be modulated to develop targeted immunotherapies against MYC-driven lymphoid cancers. Results: By conducting CyTOF-based immune profiling of lymphoid organs in healthy mice, and mice bearing MYCON or MYCOFF T-ALL, we demonstrated a significant reduction in numbers of Natural Killer (NK) cells, and an increase in the absolute counts of neutrophils and dendritic cells (DCs) in MYCON mice, in comparison to healthy controls and MYCOFF mice. The reduction in NK cell numbers in MYCON mice led us to hypothesize that the NK subset may play an anti-tumorigenic role in MYC-driven T-ALLs. Since anti-tumor immune subsets can be developed as therapies against MYC-driven lymphoid cancers, we decided to focus on how MYC impacts NK cell-mediated immune surveillance. We demonstrated that mature CD3-NKp46+ Natural Killer (NK) cells are specifically 'excluded' from the T-ALL microenvironment, in a MYC-dependent fashion. Residual NK cells in MYCON T-ALL-bearing mice exhibited suppression of the NK cell maturation/cytotoxicity marker, NKp46. Concordant with the suppression of NKp46 on NK cells in MYCON mice, we observed a blockade in early NK cell development from the NK precursor (NKP) to the immature NK (iNK) stage which is marked by the expression of NKp46. Next, we showed that adoptive transfer of mature CD3- NKp46+ syngeneic NK cells alone is sufficient to delay the initiation of MYCON T-ALL, and the recurrence of MYCOFF T-ALL. Further investigation into the molecular mechanism behind blockade of NK cell maturation in MYC-driven B/T-lymphoid cancers revealed that cancer-intrinsic MYC transcriptionally represses STAT1/2-Type I IFN signaling required for early NK cell maturation from NKP to iNK stage. We observed that treating T-ALL-bearing SRα-tTA/Tet-O-hMYC mice (MYCON)with Type I IFN improves survival by rescuing NK cell maturation. We showed that that low expression of both STAT1 and STAT2 in patients with MYCHigh B- and T-lymphoid neoplasms correlates significantly with the absence of activated NK cells, and predicts unfavorable clinical outcomes. Of note, aggressive MYCHigh B/T-lymphoid cancers are often treated with Type I IFNs, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of Type I IFNs are not completely understood. We demonstrate for the first time that MYC-mediated suppression of NK surveillance may in part be responsible for the sensitivity of B/T-lymphoid cancers to Type I IFN therapy. Conclusion: We conclude that subversion of NK cell-mediated immune surveillance is critical for MYC-induced leukemogenesis. Our studies thus provide a rationale for developing targeted NK cell-based therapies as alternatives to direct MYC inhibition for treating refractory MYCHigh B- and T- lymphoid malignancies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Single-cell multi-omics analysis reveals IFN-driven alterations in T lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells in systemic lupus erythematosus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Trzupek ◽  
Mercede Lee ◽  
Fiona Hamey ◽  
Linda S. Wicker ◽  
John A. Todd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Immune Activation ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Type I ◽  
Systemic Lupus

AbstractBackgroundThe characterisation of the peripheral immune system in the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the single-cell level has been hampered by the reduced sensitivity of current whole-transcriptomic technologies. Here we employ a targeted single-cell multi-omics approach, combining protein and mRNA quantification, to generate a high-resolution map of the T lymphocyte and Natural Killer (NK) cell populations in blood from SLE patients.MethodsWe designed a custom panel to quantify the transcription of 534 genes in parallel with the expression of 51 surface protein targets using the BD Rhapsody single-cell system. We applied this technology to profile 20,656 T and NK cells isolated from peripheral blood from an SLE patient with a type I interferon (IFN) signature (IFNhi), and an age- and sex-matched IFNlow SLE patient and healthy donor.ResultsWe confirmed the presence of a rare cytotoxic CD4+ T cell (CTL) subset, which was exclusively present in the IFNhi patient. Furthermore, we identified additional alterations consistent with increased immune activation in this patient, most notably a shift towards terminally differentiated CD57+ CD8+ T cell and CD16+ NKdim phenotypes, and the presence of a subset of naïve CD4+ T cells recently activated by cytokines.ConclusionsOur results identify IFN-driven changes in the composition and phenotype of T and NK cells that are consistent with a systemic immune activation within the IFNhi patient, and underscore the power of this multi-omics approach to identify rare immune subsets, which could be missed using lower parametric or less sensitive single-cell technologies. Consequently, we were able to find evidence for novel cellular peripheral biomarkers of SLE disease activity, including a subset of CD57+ CD4+ CTLs.

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