scholarly journals STAT1 Gain-of-Function Variants Drive Altered T Cell Prevalence, Metabolism, and Heightened IL-6 Sensitivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saara Kaviany ◽  
Todd Bartkowiak ◽  
Daniel E Dulek ◽  
Yasmin W Khan ◽  
Madeline J Hayes ◽  
...  

Patients with Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) gain-of-function (GOF) pathogenic variants exhibit susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity, and cancer due to enhanced or prolonged STAT1 phosphorylation following cytokine stimulation. While interferons (IFNs) are canonical STAT1 activators, other cytokines that may also contribute to pathology in STAT1 GOF patients have been less well defined. Here we analyzed the immune profiles and cytokine responses of two patients with heterozygous GOF mutations in the STAT1 coiled-coil domain. A systems immunology approach revealed major changes in the T cell compartment and minor changes in the B cells, NK cells, and myeloid cells. Both patients with STAT1 GOF differed from healthy individuals in the abundance and phenotype of effector memory, Th17, and Treg populations. STAT1 GOF T cells displayed a pattern of increased activation and had elevated markers of glycolysis and lipid oxidation. Hypersensitivity of T cells to IL-6 was observed with intense, sustained STAT1 phosphorylation in memory T cell populations that exceeded that induced by IFNs. Together, these results show a role for STAT1 in T cell metabolism and suggest that IL-6 may play a critical role to promote T cell memory formation and activation in patients with STAT1 GOF.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Bach ◽  
Diana Munoz Sandoval ◽  
Michalina Mazurczyk ◽  
Yrene Themistocleous ◽  
Thomas A Rawlinson ◽  
...  

Plasmodium vivax offers unique challenges for malaria control and may prove a more difficult species to eradicate than Plasmodium falciparum. Yet compared to P. falciparum we know very little about the innate and adaptive immune responses that need to be harnessed to reduce disease and transmission. In this study, we inoculated human volunteers with a clonal field isolate of P. vivax and used systems immunology tools to track their response through infection and convalescence. Our data reveal Plasmodium vivax triggers an acute phase response that shares remarkable overlap with that of P. falciparum, suggesting a hardwired innate response that does not differentiate between parasite species. This leads to the global recruitment of innate-like and adaptive T cells into lymphoid tissues where up to one quarter of the T cell compartment is activated. Heterogeneous effector memory-like CD4+ T cells dominate this response and their activation coincides with collateral tissue damage. Remarkably, comparative transcriptional analyses show that P. falciparum drives even higher levels of T cell activation; diverging T cell responses may therefore explain why falciparum malaria more frequently causes severe disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (23) ◽  
pp. e2103730118
Author(s):  
Yuka Nakajima ◽  
Kenji Chamoto ◽  
Takuma Oura ◽  
Tasuku Honjo

CD8+ T cells play a central role in antitumor immune responses that kill cancer cells directly. In aged individuals, CD8+ T cell immunity is strongly suppressed, which is associated with cancer and other age-related diseases. The mechanism underlying this age-related decrease in immune function remains largely unknown. This study investigated the role of T cell function in age-related unresponsiveness to PD-1 blockade cancer therapy. We found inefficient generation of CD44lowCD62Llow CD8+ T cell subset (P4) in draining lymph nodes of tumor-bearing aged mice. In vitro stimulation of naive CD8+ T cells first generated P4 cells, followed by effector/memory T cells. The P4 cells contained a unique set of genes related to enzymes involved in one-carbon (1C) metabolism, which is critical to antigen-specific T cell activation and mitochondrial function. Consistent with this finding, 1C-metabolism–related gene expression and mitochondrial respiration were down-regulated in aged CD8+ T cells compared with young CD8+ T cells. In aged OVA-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice, ZAP-70 was not activated, even after inoculation with OVA-expressing tumor cells. The attenuation of TCR signaling appeared to be due to elevated expression of CD45RB phosphatase in aged CD8+ T cells. Surprisingly, strong stimulation by nonself cell injection into aged PD-1–deficient mice restored normal levels of CD45RB and ameliorated the emergence of P4 cells and 1C metabolic enzyme expression in CD8+ T cells, and antitumor activity. These findings indicate that impaired induction of the P4 subset may be responsible for the age-related resistance to PD-1 blockade, which can be rescued by strong TCR stimulation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (593) ◽  
pp. eabb7495
Author(s):  
Yoshinori Yasuda ◽  
Shintaro Iwama ◽  
Daisuke Sugiyama ◽  
Takayuki Okuji ◽  
Tomoko Kobayashi ◽  
...  

Immune-related adverse events induced by anti–programmed cell death–1 antibodies (PD-1-Ab), including destructive thyroiditis (thyroid-irAE), are thought to be caused by activated T cells. However, the T cell subsets that are directly responsible for damaging self-organs remain unclear. To clarify which T cell subsets are involved in the development of thyroid-irAE, a mouse model of thyroid-irAE was analyzed. PD-1-Ab administration 2.5 months after immunization with thyroglobulin caused destructive thyroiditis. Thyroiditis was completely prevented by previous depletion of CD4+ T cells and partially prevented by depleting CD8+ T cells. The frequencies of central and effector memory CD4+ T cell subsets and the secretion of interferon-γ after stimulation with thyroglobulin were increased in the cervical lymph nodes of mice with thyroid-irAE compared with controls. Histopathological analysis revealed infiltration of CD4+ T cells expressing granzyme B in thyroid glands and major histocompatibility complex class II expression on thyrocytes in mice with thyroid-irAE. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells from cervical lymph nodes in mice with thyroid-irAE caused destruction of thyroid follicular architecture in the irradiated recipient mice. Flow cytometric analyses showed that the frequencies of central and effector memory CD4+ T cells expressing the cytotoxic marker CD27 were higher in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from patients with thyroid-irAE induced by PD-1-Ab versus those without. These data suggest a critical role for cytotoxic memory CD4+ T cells activated by PD-1-Ab in the pathogenesis of thyroid-irAE.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (13) ◽  
pp. 3591-3602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon P. Hilchey ◽  
Alexander F. Rosenberg ◽  
Ollivier Hyrien ◽  
Shelley Secor-Socha ◽  
Matthew R. Cochran ◽  
...  

Abstract The follicular lymphoma (FL) T-cell microenvironment plays a critical role in the biology of this disease. We therefore determined the lineage, differentiation state, and functional potential of FL-infiltrating CD4+ T-helper cells (TH) compared with reactive and normal lymph node (NLN) TH cells. Relative to NLNs, FL cells have decreased proportions of naive and central memory but increased proportions of effector memory TH cells. We further show differences in the distribution and anatomical localization of CXCR5+ TH populations that, on the basis of transcription factor analysis, include both regulatory and follicular helper T cells. On Staphylococcus enterotoxin-B stimulation, which stimulates T cells through the T-cell receptor, requires no processing by APCs, and can overcome regulator T cell-mediated suppression, the proportion of uncommitted primed precursor cells, as well as TH2 and TH17 cells is higher in FL cells than in reactive lymph nodes or NLNs. However, the proportion of TH1 and polyfunctional TH cells (producing multiple cytokines simultaneously) is similar in FL cells and NLNs. These data suggest that, although TH-cell differentiation in FL is skewed compared with NLNs, FL TH cells should have the same intrinsic ability to elicit antitumor effector responses as NLN TH cells when tumor suppressive mechanisms are attenuated.


Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 101 (7) ◽  
pp. 2686-2692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila E. Gamadia ◽  
Ester B. M. Remmerswaal ◽  
Jan F. Weel ◽  
Frederieke Bemelman ◽  
René A. W. van Lier ◽  
...  

The correlates of protective immunity to disease-inducing viruses in humans remain to be elucidated. We determined the kinetics and characteristics of cytomegalovirus (CMV)–specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the course of primary CMV infection in asymptomatic and symptomatic recipients of renal transplants. Specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and antibody responses developed regardless of clinical signs. CD45RA−CD27+CCR7− CTLs, although classified as immature effector cells in HIV infection, were the predominant CD8 effector population in the acute phase of protective immune reactions to CMV and were functionally competent. Whereas in asymptomatic individuals the CMV-specific CD4+ T-cell response preceded CMV-specific CD8+T-cell responses, in symptomatic individuals the CMV-specific effector-memory CD4+ T-cell response was delayed and only detectable after antiviral therapy. The appearance of disease symptoms in these patients suggests that functional CD8+ T-cell and antibody responses are insufficient to control viral replication and that formation of effector-memory CD4+ T cells is necessary for recovery of infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Anjuman Ara ◽  
Aizhang Xu ◽  
Khawaja Ashfaque Ahmed ◽  
Scot C. Leary ◽  
Md. Fahmid Islam ◽  
...  

Energy sensors mTORC1 and AMPKα1 regulate T-cell metabolism and differentiation, while rapamycin (Rapa)-inhibition of mTORC1 (RIM) promotes T-cell memory. However, the underlying pathway and the role of AMPKα1 in Rapa-induced T-cell memory remain elusive. Using genetic and pharmaceutical tools, we demonstrate that Rapa promotes T-cell memory in mice in vivo post Listeria monocytogenesis rLmOVA infection and in vitro transition of effector T (TE) to memory T (TM) cells. IL-2- and IL-2+Rapa-stimulated T [IL-2/T and IL-2(Rapa+)/T] cells, when transferred into mice, differentiate into short-term IL-7R−CD62L−KLRG1+ TE and long-lived IL-7R+CD62L+KLRG1− TM cells, respectively. To assess the underlying pathways, we performed Western blotting, confocal microscopy and Seahorse-assay analyses using IL-2/T and IL-2(Rapa+)/T cells. We determined that IL-2(Rapa+)/T cells activate transcription FOXO1, TCF1 and Eomes and metabolic pAMPKα1(T172), pULK1(S555) and ATG7 molecules and promote mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty-acid oxidation (FAO). We found that rapamycin-treated AMPKα-deficient AMPKα1-KO IL-2(Rapa+)/TM cells up-regulate transcription factor HIF-1α and induce a metabolic switch from FAO to glycolysis. Interestingly, despite the rapamycin treatment, AMPKα-deficient TM cells lost their cell survival capacity. Taken together, our data indicate that rapamycin promotes T-cell memory via transcriptional FOXO1-TCF1-Eomes programs and AMPKα1-ULK1-ATG7 metabolic axis, and that AMPKα1 plays a critical role in RIM-induced T-cell memory.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Alice Bayiyana ◽  
Samuel Okurut ◽  
Rose Nabatanzi ◽  
Godfrey Zziwa ◽  
David R. Boulware ◽  
...  

Despite improvement in the prognosis of HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome) patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), cryptococcal meningitis (CM) still causes 10–15% mortality among HIV-infected patients. The immunological impact of ART on the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell repertoire during cryptococcal co-infection is unclear. We determined longitudinal phenotypic changes in T cell subsets among patients with CM after they initiated ART. We hypothesized that ART alters the clonotypic phenotype and structural composition of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during CM co-infection. For this substudy, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated at four time points from CM patients following ART initiation during the parent study (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01075152). Phenotypic characterization of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was done using T cell surface marker monoclonal antibodies by flow cytometry. There was variation in the expression of immunophenotypic markers defining central memory (CD27+CD45R0+), effector memory (CD45R0+CD27–), immune activation (CD38+ and Human Leucocyte Antigen DR (HLA-DR+), and exhaustion (Programmed cell death protein one (PD-1) in the CD4+ T cell subset. In comparison to the CD4+ T cell population, the CD8+ central memory subset declined gradually with minimal increase in the effector memory subset. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune exhaustion and activation markers remained elevated over 12 weeks. The relative surge and decline in the expression of T cell surface markers outlines a variation in the differentiation of CD4+ T cells during ART treatment during CM co-infection.


Immuno ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-131
Author(s):  
Jana Palmowski ◽  
Kristina Gebhardt ◽  
Thomas Reichel ◽  
Torsten Frech ◽  
Robert Ringseis ◽  
...  

CD4+ T cells are sensitive to peripheral changes of cytokine levels and metabolic substrates such as glucose and lactate. This study aimed to analyze whether factors released after exercise alter parameters of human T cell metabolism, specifically glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. We used primary human CD4+ T cells activated in the presence of autologous serum, which was collected before (CO) and after a 30-min exercise intervention (EX). In the course of activation, cells and supernatants were analyzed for cell viability and diameter, real-time oxygen consumption by using PreSens Technology, mRNA expression of glycolytic enzymes and complexes of the electron transport chain by real-time PCR, glucose, and lactate levels in supernatants, and in vitro differentiation by flow cytometry. EX did not alter T cell phenotype, viability, or on-blast formation. Similarly, no difference between CO and EX were found for CD4+ T cell activation and cellular oxygen consumption. In contrast, higher levels of glucose were found after 48 h activation in EX conditions. T cells activated in autologous exercise serum expressed lower HK1 mRNA and higher IFN-γ receptor 1. We suggest that the exercise protocol used was not sufficient to destabilize the immune metabolism of T cells. Therefore, more intense and prolonged exercise should be used in future studies.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1490
Author(s):  
Victoria Matyushenko ◽  
Irina Isakova-Sivak ◽  
Igor Kudryavtsev ◽  
Arina Goshina ◽  
Anna Chistyakova ◽  
...  

Background: New coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been circulating among humans since November 2019. Multiple studies have assessed the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of virus-specific immunity in COVID-19 convalescents, however, some aspects of the development of memory T-cell responses after natural SARS-CoV-2 infection remain uncovered. Methods: In most of published studies T-cell immunity to the new coronavirus is assessed using peptides corresponding to SARS-CoV-1 or SARS-CoV-2 T-cell epitopes, or with peptide pools covering various parts of the viral proteins. Here, we determined the level of CD4+ and CD8+ memory T-cell responses in COVID-19 convalescents by stimulating PBMCs collected 1 to 6 months after recovery with sucrose gradient-purified live SARS-CoV-2. IFNγ production by the central and effector memory helper and cytotoxic T cells was assessed by intracellular cytokine staining assay and flow cytometry. Results: Stimulation of PBMCs with live SARS-CoV-2 revealed IFNγ-producing T-helper effector memory cells with CD4+CD45RA−CCR7− phenotype, which persisted in circulation for up to 6 month after COVID-19. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2-specific IFNγ-secreting cytotoxic effector memory T cells were found at significant levels only shortly after the disease, but rapidly decreased over time. Conclusion: The stimulation of immune cells with live SARS-CoV-2 revealed a rapid decline in the pool of effector memory CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells after recovery from COVID-19. These data provide additional information on the development and persistence of cellular immune responses after natural infection, and can inform further development of T cell-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cui-lin Shi ◽  
Jian-ping Zhang ◽  
Ping Xu ◽  
Jin Li ◽  
Jie Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for occupationally acquired Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis (TB) disease due to repeated exposure to workplace tubercle bacilli. To determine whether continual mycobacterial stimulation correlates with increased expression of inhibitory T cell receptors, here we compared PD-1 receptor expression on surfaces of circulating T cells between naïve (uninfected) HCWs and HCWs with latent TB infection (LTBI). Result Data collected from 133 medical workers who met study selection criteria were included in the final analysis. QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-​Tube (QFT-GIT) testing yielded positive results for 32 HCWs, for an overall LTBI rate of 24.1%. Multivariate analysis identified HCW length of service > 15 years as an independent risk factor for a positive QFT-GIT result. In addition, comparisons of blood T cell subgroup profiles between QFT- and QFT+ groups indicated QFT+ subjects possessed greater proportions of mature (TM), transitional memory (TTM) and effector memory (TEM) CD4+ T cell subgroups and lower proportions of naïve T cells (TN). Moreover, the QFT+ group percentage of CD8+ T cells with detectable surface PD-1 was significantly higher than the corresponding percentage for the QFT- group. Meanwhile, no statistical intergroup difference was observed in percentages of CD4+ T cells with detectible surface PD-1. Conclusions Our data demonstrated that upregulated PD-1 expression on circulating CD8+, but not CD4+ T cells, was associated with latent TB infection of HCWs. As compared to other hospitals, occupational TB infection risk in our hospital was substantially mitigated by implementation of multitiered infection control measures.


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