scholarly journals Targeting the ion channel TRPM7 promotes the thymic development of regulatory T cells by promoting IL-2 signaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (661) ◽  
pp. eabb0619
Author(s):  
Suresh K. Mendu ◽  
Marta E. Stremska ◽  
Michael S. Schappe ◽  
Emily K. Moser ◽  
Julia K. Krupa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Thymic Development ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Deficient Mice

The thymic development of regulatory T (Treg) cells, crucial suppressors of the responses of effector T (Teff) cells, is governed by the transcription factor FOXP3. Despite the clinical importance of Treg cells, there is a dearth of druggable molecular targets capable of increasing their numbers in vivo. We found that inhibiting the function of the TRPM7 chanzyme (ion channel and enzyme) potentiated the thymic development of Treg cells in mice and led to a substantially higher frequency of functional Treg cells in the periphery. In addition, TRPM7-deficient mice were resistant to T cell–driven hepatitis. Deletion of Trpm7 and inhibition of TRPM7 channel activity by the FDA-approved drug FTY720 increased the sensitivity of T cells to the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) through a positive feed-forward loop involving increased expression of the IL-2 receptor α-subunit and activation of the transcriptional regulator STAT5. Enhanced IL-2 signaling increased the expression of Foxp3 in thymocytes and promoted thymic Treg (tTreg) cell development. Thus, these data indicate that inhibiting TRPM7 activity increases Treg cell numbers, suggesting that it may be a therapeutic target to promote immune tolerance.

scholarly journals Targeting ion channel TRPM7 promotes thymic development of Regulatory T cells by increasing IL-2-dependent STAT5 activation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh K. Mendu ◽  
Michael S. Schappe ◽  
Emily K. Moser ◽  
Julia K. Krupa ◽  
Jason S. Rogers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Foxp3 Expression ◽  
List Type ◽  
Thymic Development ◽  
Genetic Deletion

In BriefGenetic deletion of Trpm7 in T-cells or pharmacological inhibition of TRPM7 channel promotes the development of fully functional Treg cells by increasing IL-2Rα and STAT5-dependent FOXP3 expression in the developing thymocytes. The study identifies the ion channel TRPM7 as a putative drug target to increase Treg numbers in vivo and induce immunotolerance.HIGHLIGHTSIon channel TRPM7 controls Treg developmentThe deletion of Trpm7 in the T-cell lineage increases fully functional Treg cells in the peripheryTRPM7 negatively regulates Foxp3 expression by restraining IL-2-dependent STAT5 activationInhibition of TRPM7 channel by FTY720 promotes the development of functional Treg cellsSUMMARYThe thymic development of regulatory T cells (Treg), the crucial suppressors of the effector T cells (Teff), is governed by the transcription factor FOXP3. Despite the clinical significance of Treg cells, there is a dearth of druggable molecular targets capable of increasing Treg numbers in vivo. We report a surprising discovery that TRPM7 restrains Treg development by negatively regulating STAT5-dependent Foxp3 expression. The deletion of Trpm7 potentiates the thymic development of Treg cells, leads to a significantly higher frequency of functional Treg cells in the periphery and renders the mice highly resistant to T cell-dependent hepatitis. The deletion of Trpm7 or the inhibition of TRPM7 channel activity by the FDA-approved prodrug FTY720, increases IL-2 sensitivity through a feed forward positive feedback loop involving high IL-2Rα expression and STAT5 activation. Enhanced IL-2 signaling increases the expression of Foxp3 in thymocytes and promotes the development of Treg cells. Thus, TRPM7 emerges as the first ion channel that can be drugged to increase Treg numbers, revealing a novel pharmacological path toward the induction of immune tolerance.

scholarly journals A bispecific antibody agonist of the IL-2 heterodimeric receptor preferentially promotes in vivo expansion of CD8 and NK cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Harris ◽  
Kyle J. Lorentsen ◽  
Harbani K. Malik-Chaudhry ◽  
Kaitlyn Loughlin ◽  
Harish Medlari Basappa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Bispecific Antibody ◽  
T Regulatory Cells ◽  
Tumor Regression ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Preferential Binding

AbstractThe use of recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) as a therapeutic protein has been limited by significant toxicities despite its demonstrated ability to induce durable tumor-regression in cancer patients. The adverse events and limited efficacy of IL-2 treatment are due to the preferential binding of IL-2 to cells that express the high-affinity, trimeric receptor, IL-2Rαβγ such as endothelial cells and T-regulatory cells, respectively. Here, we describe a novel bispecific heavy-chain only antibody which binds to and activates signaling through the heterodimeric IL-2Rβγ receptor complex that is expressed on resting T-cells and NK cells. By avoiding binding to IL-2Rα, this molecule circumvents the preferential T-reg activation of native IL-2, while maintaining the robust stimulatory effects on T-cells and NK-cells in vitro. In vivo studies in both mice and cynomolgus monkeys confirm the molecule’s in vivo biological activity, extended pharmacodynamics due to the Fc portion of the molecule, and enhanced safety profile. Together, these results demonstrate that the bispecific antibody is a safe and effective IL-2R agonist that harnesses the benefits of the IL-2 signaling pathway as a potential anti-cancer therapy.

scholarly journals In Vivo Role of Dendritic Cells in a Murine Model of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 3817-3824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Wozniak ◽  
Jatin M. Vyas ◽  
Stuart M. Levitz
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Mouse Lung

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells (DC) have been shown to phagocytose and kill Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro and are believed to be important for inducing protective immunity against this organism. Exposure to C. neoformans occurs mainly by inhalation, and in this study we examined the in vivo interactions of C. neoformans with DC in the lung. Fluorescently labeled live C. neoformans and heat-killed C. neoformans were administered intranasally to C57BL/6 mice. At specific times postinoculation, mice were sacrificed, and lungs were removed. Single-cell suspensions of lung cells were prepared, stained, and analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry. Within 2 h postinoculation, fluorescently labeled C. neoformans had been internalized by DC, macrophages, and neutrophils in the mouse lung. Additionally, lung DC from mice infected for 7 days showed increased expression of the maturation markers CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II. Finally, ex vivo incubation of lung DC from infected mice with Cryptococcus-specific T cells resulted in increased interleukin-2 production compared to the production by DC from naïve mice, suggesting that there was antigen-specific T-cell activation. This study demonstrated that DC in the lung are capable of phagocytosing Cryptococcus in vivo and presenting antigen to C. neoformans-specific T cells ex vivo, suggesting that these cells have roles in innate and adaptive pulmonary defenses against cryptococcosis.

scholarly journals PD-1 expression on NK cells can be related to cytokine stimulation and tissue residency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnika K Wagner ◽  
Nadir Kadri ◽  
Chris Tibbitt ◽  
Koen van de Ven ◽  
Sunitha Bagawath-Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Single Cell Rna Sequencing ◽  
Cytokine Stimulation ◽  
Deficient Mice

ABSTRACTAlthough PD-1 was shown to be a hallmark of T cells exhaustion, controversial studies have been reported on the role of PD-1 on NK cells. Here, we found by flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing analysis that PD-1 can be expressed on MHC class I-deficient tumor-infiltrating NK cells in vivo. We also demonstrate distinct alterations in the phenotype of PD-1-deficient NK cells which in part could be attributed to a decrease in tumor-infiltrating NK cells in PD-1-deficient mice. NK cells from PD-1-deficient mice exhibited a more mature phenotype which might reduce their capacity to migrate and kill in vivo. Finally, our results demonstrate that PD-L1 molecules in membranes of PD-1-deficient NK cells migrate faster than in NK cells from wildtype mice, suggesting that PD-1 and PD-L1 form cis interactions with each other on NK cells.

scholarly journals IL-2 coordinates IL-2–producing and regulatory T cell interplay

2013 ◽  
Vol 210 (12) ◽  
pp. 2707-2720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês F. Amado ◽  
Julien Berges ◽  
Rita J. Luther ◽  
Marie-Pierre Mailhé ◽  
Sylvie Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Regulatory Circuit ◽  
Reporter Mice ◽  
Lymphocyte Homeostasis

Many species of bacteria use quorum sensing to sense the amount of secreted metabolites and to adapt their growth according to their population density. We asked whether similar mechanisms would operate in lymphocyte homeostasis. We investigated the regulation of the size of interleukin-2 (IL-2)–producing CD4+ T cell (IL-2p) pool using different IL-2 reporter mice. We found that in the absence of either IL-2 or regulatory CD4+ T (T reg) cells, the number of IL-2p cells increases. Administration of IL-2 decreases the number of cells of the IL-2p cell subset and, pertinently, abrogates their ability to produce IL-2 upon in vivo cognate stimulation, while increasing T reg cell numbers. We propose that control of the IL-2p cell numbers occurs via a quorum sensing–like feedback loop where the produced IL-2 is sensed by both the activated CD4+ T cell pool and by T reg cells, which reciprocally regulate cells of the IL-2p cell subset. In conclusion, IL-2 acts as a self-regulatory circuit integrating the homeostasis of activated and T reg cells as CD4+ T cells restrain their growth by monitoring IL-2 levels, thereby preventing uncontrolled responses and autoimmunity.

scholarly journals Antigen-independent activation of naive and memory resting T cells by a cytokine combination.

1994 ◽  
Vol 180 (3) ◽  
pp. 1159-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Unutmaz ◽  
P Pileri ◽  
S Abrignani
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Effector Function ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Naive T Cells ◽  
Naïve T Cells

We investigated whether human resting T cells could be activated to proliferate and display effector function in the absence of T cell receptor occupancy. We report that combination of interleukin 2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6 activated highly purified naive (CD45RA+) and memory (CD45RO+) resting CD4+ T cells to proliferate. Under this condition, memory resting T cells could also display effector function as measured by lymphokine synthesis and help for immunoglobulin production by B cells. This novel Ag-independent pathway of T cell activation may play an important role in vivo in recruiting effector T cells at the site of immune response and in maintaining the clonal size of memory T cells in the absence of antigenic stimulation. Moreover, cytokines can induce proliferation of naive T cells without switch to memory phenotype and this may help the maintenance of the peripheral pool of naive T cells.

Abstract T MP18: In Vivo Expansion of Regulatory T cells with Interleukin-2/Interleukin-2-antibody Complex Protects against Transient Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyue Zhang ◽  
Peiying Li ◽  
Yanqin Gao ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Xiaoming Hu
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Ischemic Brain Injury ◽  
Ischemic Brain ◽  
Treg Population ◽  
Antibody Complex

Background and Purpose: Our previous work documents the transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in rodent models of ischemic stroke protects acute ischemic brain injury by regulating poststroke inflammatory response and thereby ameliorating BBB disruption. However, the low number of Tregs restricts the clinical feasibility of Treg transfer. Recently, in vivo expansion of Tregs with IL-2/IL-2-antibody complex (IL-2/IL-2Ab) was validated protective in autoimmune diseases model,renal ischemia reperfusion model and atherosclerosis. Here we investigate the beneficial effect of IL-2/IL-2Ab on ischemic stroke and decipher the underlying mechanisms. Methods: IL-2/IL-2Ab or isotype IgG was ip injected into C57/BL6 mice for 3 consecutive days. The mice are then subjected to 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or sham operation. Brain infarction, inflammation and neurological performance was assessed up to 7 days after reperfusion. Results: Flow cytometry analysis reveals a marked increase of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in the blood, lymph nodes and spleens collected from IL-2/IL-2Ab-treated mice as compared to those from isotype-treated controls. Such Treg elevation could be observed since 3 days after IL-2/IL-2Ab injection and lasts until 7 days after MCAO. Immunochemistry staining confirms the increased number of Foxp3+ cells in the spleen at 3 days after MCAO in IL-2/IL-2Ab-treated mice. IL-2/IL-2Ab promotes function recovery up to 7 days after stroke, as revealed by significantly improved performance in corner test (n=6-9, ***p<0.001), rotarod test (n=8, **p<0.01), cylinder test (n=8, **p<0.01) and adhesive removal test (n=3, *p<0.05). Quantification of TTC staining and microtubule-associated protein (MAP2) staining shows reductions in brain infarct volume at 3 days (n=5-9,*p<0.05) and 7 days (n=7-9,*p<0.01), respectively, after MCAO. Meanwhile, we observed reduced infiltration of peripheral immune cells (CD3+ T cells, MPO+ neutrophils and F4/80+ macrophages) into the ischemic brain. Conclusions: Our finding suggests that IL-2/IL-2Ab treatment is a novel and clinical feasible immune therapy to expand Treg population in vivo, reduce post-stroke inflammatory responses and protect against ischemic brain injury.

scholarly journals The c-kit ligand potentiates the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (10) ◽  
pp. 3887-3893 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Bluman ◽  
GS Schnier ◽  
BR Avalos ◽  
MP Strout ◽  
H Sultan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Receptor ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Kit Ligand ◽  
Allogeneic Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction

The allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) is a complex in vitro assay of T-cell recognition and responsiveness in which interleukin-2 (IL-2) plays a central role. We have previously demonstrated that c-kit ligand (KL) can enhance IL-2-induced proliferation in a subset of human natural killer cells expressing the c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor. In the present study, we asked whether KL could enhance IL-2-mediated T-cell proliferation in the allogeneic MLR. We demonstrate that the vast majority of activated human T-cell clones express the c-kit mRNA transcript. Binding studies performed on activated T cells with radioiodinated KL were consistent with the expression of a single class of c-kit receptors. The addition of exogenous KL to the MLR led to an increase in tritiated thymidine (3[H]-TdR) incorporation in the absence of other exogenous cytokines, and did so in a dose-dependent fashion. A reproducible increase in 3[H]-TdR incorporation was noted at concentrations of KL, which approximate those normally found in vivo. Antibody blocking of KL binding to c-kit, T-cell depletion and sorting experiments suggest that the action of KL is mediated at least in part by a direct effect on both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. KL's enhancement of the MLR also requires the binding of IL-2 to its high-affinity IL-2 receptor. Given the abundance of KL normally found in human serum, these data suggest that this cytokine may have a role during T-cell activation in vivo.

scholarly journals TRAF6 inhibits Th17 differentiation and TGF-β–mediated suppression of IL-2

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (23) ◽  
pp. 4750-4757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro J. Cejas ◽  
Matthew C. Walsh ◽  
Erika L. Pearce ◽  
Daehee Han ◽  
Gretchen M. Harms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Normal Numbers ◽  
T Helper 17 ◽  
Th17 Differentiation

Abstract Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has an essential role in the generation of inducible regulatory T (iTreg) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells. However, little is known about the TGF-β–triggered pathways that drive the early differentiation of these cell populations. Here, we report that CD4+ T cells lacking the molecular adaptor tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) exhibit a specific increase in Th17 differentiation in vivo and in vitro. We show that TRAF6 deficiency renders T cells more sensitive to TGF-β–induced Smad2/3 activation and proliferation arrest. Consistent with this, in TRAF6-deficient T cells, TGF-β more effectively down-regulates interleukin-2 (IL-2), a known inhibitor of Th17 differentiation. Remarkably, TRAF6-deficient cells generate normal numbers of Foxp3-expressing cells in iTreg differentiation conditions where exogenous IL-2 is supplied. These findings show an unexpected role for the adaptor molecule TRAF6 in Smad-mediated TGF-β signaling and Th17 differentiation. Importantly, the data also suggest that a main function of TGF-β in early Th17 differentiation may be the inhibition of autocrine and paracrine IL-2–mediated suppression of Th17 cell generation.

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