scholarly journals Multi-omic analyses reveal antibody-dependent natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in autoimmune thyroid diseases

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiphaine C. Martin ◽  
Kristina M. Illieva ◽  
Alessia Visconti ◽  
Michelle Beaumont ◽  
Steven J. Kiddle ◽  
...  

AbstractThe pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) is poorly understood. We previously observed systemic depletion of IgG core fucosylation and antennary α1,2 fucosylation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in AITD, correlated with thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels. We hypothesized that deficiency in IgG core fucose enhances antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of thyrocytes by TPOAb, contributing to thyroid autoimmunity. Multi-omic evaluations in 622 individuals (172 with AITD) from the TwinsUK cohort showed decreased IgG core fucosylation levels associated with a subpopulation of natural killer (NK) cells featuring CD335, CD314, and CD158b immunoreceptors, and increased levels of apoptosis-associated Caspase-2 and Interleukin-1α, positively associated with AITD. AITD-associated genetic variants rs1521 and rs3094228 alter expression of thyrocyte ligands of the CD314 and CD158b immunoreceptors on NK cells. The combination of low-core fucose IgG associated with an NK cell subpopulation and genetic variant-promoted ligand activation in thyrocytes may promote antibody-dependent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity of thyrocytes in AITD.

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiphaine C. Martin ◽  
Kristina M. Ilieva ◽  
Alessia Visconti ◽  
Michelle Beaumont ◽  
Steven J. Kiddle ◽  
...  

The pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) is poorly understood and the association between different immune features and the germline variants involved in AITD are yet unclear. We previously observed systemic depletion of IgG core fucosylation and antennary α1,2 fucosylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in AITD, correlated with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels. Fucose depletion is known to potentiate strong antibody-mediated NK cell activation and enhanced target antigen-expressing cell killing. In autoimmunity, this may translate to autoantibody-mediated immune cell recruitment and attack of self-antigen expressing normal tissues. Hence, we investigated the crosstalk between immune cell traits, secreted proteins, genetic variants and the glycosylation patterns of serum IgG, in a multi-omic and cross-sectional study of 622 individuals from the TwinsUK cohort, 172 of whom were diagnosed with AITD. We observed associations between two genetic variants (rs505922 and rs687621), AITD status, the secretion of Desmoglein-2 protein, and the profile of two IgG N-glycan traits in AITD, but further studies need to be performed to better understand their crosstalk in AITD. On the other side, enhanced afucosylated IgG was positively associated with activatory CD335- CD314+ CD158b+ NK cell subsets. Increased levels of the apoptosis and inflammation markers Caspase-2 and Interleukin-1α positively associated with AITD. Two genetic variants associated with AITD, rs1521 and rs3094228, were also associated with altered expression of the thyrocyte-expressed ligands known to recognize the NK cell immunoreceptors CD314 and CD158b. Our analyses reveal a combination of heightened Fc-active IgG antibodies, effector cells, cytokines and apoptotic signals in AITD, and AITD genetic variants associated with altered expression of thyrocyte-expressed ligands to NK cell immunoreceptors. Together, TPOAb responses, dysregulated immune features, germline variants associated with immunoactivity profiles, are consistent with a positive autoreactive antibody-dependent NK cell-mediated immune response likely drawn to the thyroid gland in AITD.


2005 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiano Bruno Solerte ◽  
Sara Precerutti ◽  
Carmine Gazzaruso ◽  
Eleonora Locatelli ◽  
Mauro Zamboni ◽  
...  

Background: The study of the natural killer (NK) immune compartment could provide important findings to help in the understanding of some of the pathogenetic mechanisms related to autoimmune thyroid diseases (Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT)). Within this context, it was suggested that alterations in NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and NK production of cytokines might occur in subjects with GD and HT, whereas the normalization of NK functions could potentially contribute to the prevention of the onset or the progression of both diseases. Objective: Due to the hypothesis of alterations in NK in autoimmune thyroid diseases, we were interested to evaluate NKCC in GD and HT patients and to modulate NK function and secretory activity with cytokines and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in an attempt to normalize NK cell defect. Design: We studied 13 patients with recent onset Graves’ disease, 11 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis at first diagnosis and 15 age-matched healthy subjects. Methods: NK cells were concentrated at a density of 7.75 × 106 cells/ml by negative immunomagnetic cell separation and validated by FACScan as CD16 + /CD56 + cells. NK cells were incubated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-β (IFN-β) and co-incubated with DHEAS at different molar concentrations for measuring NKCC and the secretory pattern of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from NK cells. Results: Lower spontaneous, IL-2- and IFN-β-modulated NKCC was demonstrated in GD and HT patients compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.001). A decrease in spontaneous and IL-2-modulated TNF-α release from NK cells was also found in both groups of patients (P < 0.001). The co-incubation of NK cells with IL-2/IFN-β + DHEAS at different molar concentrations (from 10−8 to 10−5 M/ml/NK cells) promptly normalized NKCC and TNF-α secretion in GD and HT patients. Conclusions: A functional defect of a subpopulation of NK immune cells, involving both NKCC and the secretory activity, was demonstrated in newly-diagnosed GD and HT patients. This defect can be reversed by a dose-dependent treatment with DHEAS. The impairment of NK cell activity in autoimmune thyroid diseases could potentially determine a critical expansion of T/B-cell immune compartments leading to the generation of autoantibodies and to the pathogenesis of thyroid autoimmunity.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiphaine C. Martin ◽  
Mirna Šimurina ◽  
Marta Ząbczyńska ◽  
Marina Martinić Kavur ◽  
Magdalena Rydlewska ◽  
...  

AbstractAutoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are the most common group of autoimmune diseases, associated with lymphocyte infiltration and the production of thyroid autoantibodies, like thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), in the thyroid gland. Immunoglobulins (Igs) and cell-surface receptors are glycoproteins with distinctive glycosylation patterns that play a structural role in maintaining and modulating their functions. We investigated associations of total circulating IgG and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) glycosylation with AITD and the influence of genetic background. The study revealed an inverse association of IgG core fucosylation with TPOAb and PBMCs antennary α1,2 fucosylation with AITD, but no shared genetic variance between AITD and glycosylation. These data suggest that the decreased level of IgG core fucosylation is a risk factor for AITD that promotes antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) associated with TPOAb levels.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 1530-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongbo Wang ◽  
Bartosz Grzywacz ◽  
David Sukovich ◽  
Valarie McCullar ◽  
Qing Cao ◽  
...  

Abstract Cyclosporin A (CSA) is commonly used to prevent graft-versus-host disease. The influence of CSA on T-cell function has been extensively investigated; however, the effect of CSA on natural killer (NK) cells is less understood. NK cells were cultured with IL-2 and IL-15 with and without CSA for 1 week. Compared with controls, CSA-treated cultures showed fewer CD56+CD16+KIR+ NK cells and a reciprocal increase in CD56+CD16−KIR− cells. These changes were due mainly to a reduced proliferation of the CD56dim NK-cell subpopulation and a relative resistance of CD56bright NK cells to CSA. Following coculture with K562 targets, CSA-exposed NK cells differed from controls and lacked Ca2+ oscillations, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) dephosphorylation, and NFAT nuclear translocation. NK cells cultured in CSA retained cytotoxicity against K562, Raji, and KIR ligand-expressing lymphoblastoid cells. NK cells cultured in CSA showed increases in NKp30 and reductions in NKp44 and NKG2D. Following IL-12 and IL-18 stimulation, CSA-treated NK cells showed more IFN-γ–producing cells. Using in vitro NK-cell differentiation, progenitor cells gave rise to more CD56+KIR− NK cells in the presence of CSA than controls. Collectively, these studies show that CSA influences NK-cell function and phenotype, which may have important implications for graft-versus-leukemia effects.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 866
Author(s):  
Baca Chan ◽  
Maja Arapović ◽  
Laura Masters ◽  
Francois Rwandamuiye ◽  
Stipan Jonjić ◽  
...  

As the largest herpesviruses, the 230 kb genomes of cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) have increased our understanding of host immunity and viral escape mechanisms, although many of the annotated genes remain as yet uncharacterised. Here we identify the m15 locus of murine CMV (MCMV) as a viral modulator of natural killer (NK) cell immunity. We show that, rather than discrete transcripts from the m14, m15 and m16 genes as annotated, there are five 3′-coterminal transcripts expressed over this region, all utilising a consensus polyA tail at the end of the m16 gene. Functional inactivation of any one of these genes had no measurable impact on viral replication. However, disruption of all five transcripts led to significantly attenuated dissemination to, and replication in, the salivary glands of multiple strains of mice, but normal growth during acute infection. Disruption of the m15 locus was associated with heightened NK cell responses, including enhanced proliferation and IFNγ production. Depletion of NK cells, but not T cells, rescued salivary gland replication and viral shedding. These data demonstrate the identification of multiple transcripts expressed by a single locus which modulate, perhaps in a concerted fashion, the function of anti-viral NK cells.


Endocrines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
Erik D. Hanson ◽  
Lauren C. Bates ◽  
Kaileigh Moertl ◽  
Elizabeth S. Evans

Natural killer (NK) cells from the innate immune system are integral to overall immunity and also in managing the tumor burden during cancer. Breast (BCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) are the most common tumors in U.S. adults. Both BCa and PCa are frequently treated with hormone suppression therapies that are associated with numerous adverse effects including direct effects on the immune system. Regular exercise is recommended for cancer survivors to reduce side effects and improve quality of life. Acute exercise is a potent stimulus for NK cells in healthy individuals with current evidence indicating that NK mobilization in individuals with BCa and PCa is comparable. NK cell mobilization results from elevations in shear stress and catecholamine levels. Despite a normal NK cell response to exercise, increases in epinephrine are attenuated in BCa and PCa. The significance of this potential discrepancy still needs to be determined. However, alterations in adrenal hormone signaling are hypothesized to be due to chronic stress during cancer treatment. Additional compensatory factors induced by exercise are reviewed along with recommendations on standardized approaches to be used in exercise immunology studies involving oncology populations.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2796
Author(s):  
Aicha E. Quamine ◽  
Mallery R. Olsen ◽  
Monica M. Cho ◽  
Christian M. Capitini

Treatment of metastatic pediatric solid tumors remain a significant challenge, particularly in relapsed and refractory settings. Standard treatment has included surgical resection, radiation, chemotherapy, and, in the case of neuroblastoma, immunotherapy. Despite such intensive therapy, cancer recurrence is common, and most tumors become refractory to prior therapy, leaving patients with few conventional treatment options. Natural killer (NK) cells are non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted lymphocytes that boast several complex killing mechanisms but at an added advantage of not causing graft-versus-host disease, making use of allogeneic NK cells a potential therapeutic option. On top of their killing capacity, NK cells also produce several cytokines and growth factors that act as key regulators of the adaptive immune system, positioning themselves as ideal effector cells for stimulating heavily pretreated immune systems. Despite this promise, clinical efficacy of adoptive NK cell therapy to date has been inconsistent, prompting a detailed understanding of the biological pathways within NK cells that can be leveraged to develop “next generation” NK cell therapies. Here, we review advances in current approaches to optimizing the NK cell antitumor response including combination with other immunotherapies, cytokines, checkpoint inhibition, and engineering NK cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) for the treatment of pediatric solid tumors.


Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Market ◽  
Katherine Baxter ◽  
Leonard Angka ◽  
Michael Kennedy ◽  
Rebecca Auer

Natural Killer (NK) cells are granular lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are able to recognize and kill tumor cells without undergoing clonal selection. Discovered over 40 years ago, they have since been recognized to possess both cytotoxic and cytokine-producing effector functions. Following trauma, NK cells are suppressed and their effector functions are impaired. This is especially important for cancer patients undergoing the removal of solid tumors, as surgery has shown to contribute to the development of metastasis and cancer recurrence postoperatively. We have recently shown that NK cells are critical mediators in the formation of metastasis after surgery. While research into the mechanism(s) responsible for NK cell dysfunction is ongoing, knowledge of these mechanisms will pave the way for perioperative therapeutics with the potential to improve cancer outcomes by reversing NK cell dysfunction. This review will discuss mechanisms of suppression in the postoperative environment, including hypercoagulability, suppressive soluble factors, the expansion of suppressive cell populations, and how this affects NK cell biology, including modulation of cell surface receptors, the potential for anergy, and immunosuppressive NK cell functions. This review will also outline potential immunotherapies to reverse postoperative NK dysfunction, with the goal of preventing surgery-induced metastasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Young Na ◽  
Yujun Park ◽  
Soo Kyung Nam ◽  
Jiwon Koh ◽  
Yoonjin Kwak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Natural killer (NK) cells mediate the anti-tumoral immune response as an important component of innate immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance and functional implication of NK cell-associated surface receptors in gastric cancer (GC) by using multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC). Methods We performed an mIHC on tissue microarray slides, including 55 GC tissue samples. A total of 11 antibodies including CD57, NKG2A, CD16, HLA-E, CD3, CD20, CD45, CD68, CK, SMA, and ki-67 were used. CD45 + CD3-CD57 + cells were considered as CD57 + NK cells. Results Among CD45 + immune cells, the proportion of CD57 + NK cell was the lowest (3.8%), whereas that of CD57 + and CD57- T cells (65.5%) was the highest, followed by macrophages (25.4%), and B cells (5.3%). CD57 + NK cells constituted 20% of CD45 + CD57 + immune cells while the remaining 80% were CD57 + T cells. The expression of HLA-E in tumor cells correlated with that in tumoral T cells, B cells, and macrophages, but not CD57 + NK cells. The higher density of tumoral CD57 + NK cells and tumoral CD57 + NKG2A + NK cells was associated with inferior survival. Conclusions Although the number of CD57 + NK cells was lower than that of other immune cells, CD57 + NK cells and CD57 + NKG2A + NK cells were significantly associated with poor outcomes, suggesting that NK cell subsets play a critical role in GC progression. NK cells and their inhibitory receptor, NKG2A, may be potential targets in GC.


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