Coming to the Rescue: Regulatory T Cells for Promoting Recovery After Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueman Zhang ◽  
Arthur Liesz ◽  
Peiying Li

Immune cell infiltration to the injured brain is a key component of the neuroinflammatory response after ischemic stroke. In contrast to the large amount of proinflammatory immune cells, regulatory T cells, are an important subgroup of T cells that are involved in maintaining immune homeostasis and suppress an overshooting immune reaction after stroke. Numerous previous reports have consistently demonstrated the beneficial role of this immunosuppressive immune cell population during the acute phase after experimental stroke by limiting inflammatory lesion progression. Two recent studies expanded now this concept and demonstrate that regulatory T cells-mediated effects also promote chronic recovery after stroke by promoting a proregenerative tissue environment. These recent findings suggest that boosting regulatory T cells could be beneficial beyond modulating the immediate neuroinflammatory response and improve chronic functional recovery.

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K Schuhmann ◽  
Peter Kraft ◽  
Guido Stoll ◽  
Kristina Lorenz ◽  
Sven G Meuth ◽  
...  

While the detrimental role of non-regulatory T cells in ischemic stroke is meanwhile unequivocally recognized, there are controversies about the properties of regulatory T cells (Treg). The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Treg by applying superagonistic anti-CD28 antibody expansion of Treg. Stroke outcome, thrombus formation, and brain-infiltrating cells were determined on day 1 after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Antibody-mediated expansion of Treg enhanced stroke size and worsened functional outcome. Mechanistically, Treg increased thrombus formation in the cerebral microvasculature. These findings confirm that Treg promote thrombo-inflammatory lesion growth during the acute stage of ischemic stroke.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1750-1758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot G Neal ◽  
Sandra A Acosta ◽  
Yuji Kaneko ◽  
Xunming Ji ◽  
Cesario V Borlongan

Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) may exert a neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke by inhibiting both inflammation and effector T-cell activation. Transplantation of human bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in ischemic stroke affords neuroprotection that results in part from the cells’ anti-inflammatory property. However, the relationship between Tregs and BMSCs in treatment of ischemic stroke has not been fully elucidated. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Tregs within the BMSCs represent active mediators of immunomodulation and neuroprotection in experimental stroke. Primary rat neuronal cells were subjected to an oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) condition. The cells were re-perfused and co-cultured with Tregs and/or BMSCs. We detected a minority population of Tregs within BMSCs with both immunocytochemistry (ICC) and flow cytometry identifying cells expressing phenotypic markers of CD4, CD25, and FoxP3 protein. BMSCs with the native population of Tregs conferred maximal neuroprotection compared to the treatment conditions containing 0%, 10%, and 100% relative ratio Tregs. Increasing the Treg population resulted in increased IL6 secretion and decreased FGF-β secretion by BMSCs. This study shows that a minority population of Tregs exists within the therapeutic BMSC population, which serves as robust mediators of the immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effect provided by BMSC transplantation.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyue Zhang ◽  
Peiying Li ◽  
Yanqin Gao ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Xiaoming Hu

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 2) ◽  
pp. A5.1-A5
Author(s):  
A Martinez-Usatorre ◽  
E Kadioglu ◽  
C Cianciaruso ◽  
B Torchia ◽  
J Faget ◽  
...  

BackgroundImmune checkpoint blockade (ICB) with antibodies against PD-1 or PD-L1 may provide therapeutic benefits in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, most tumours are resistant and cases of disease hyper-progression have also been reported.Materials and MethodsGenetically engineered mouse models of KrasG12Dp53null NSCLC were treated with cisplatin along with antibodies against angiopoietin-2/VEGFA, PD-1 and CSF1R. Tumour growth was monitored by micro-computed tomography and the tumour vasculature and immune cell infiltrates were assessed by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry.ResultsCombined angiopoietin-2/VEGFA blockade by a bispecific antibody (A2V) modulated the vasculature and abated immunosuppressive macrophages while increasing CD8+effector T cells in the tumours, achieving disease stabilization comparable or superior to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, these immunological responses were unexpectedly limited by the addition of a PD-1 antibody, which paradoxically enhanced progression of a fraction of the tumours through a mechanism involving regulatory T cells and macrophages. Elimination of tumour-associated macrophages with a CSF1R-blocking antibody induced NSCLC regression in combination with PD-1 blockade and cisplatin.ConclusionsThe immune cell composition of the tumour determines the outcome of PD-1 blockade. In NSCLC, high infiltration of regulatory T cells and immunosuppressive macrophages may account for tumour hyper-progression upon ICB.Disclosure InformationA. Martinez-Usatorre: None. E. Kadioglu: None. C. Cianciaruso: None. B. Torchia: None. J. Faget: None. E. Meylan: None. M. Schmittnaegel: None. I. Keklikoglou: None. M. De Palma: None.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-Young Na ◽  
Eva Mracsko ◽  
Arthur Liesz ◽  
Thomas Hünig ◽  
Roland Veltkamp

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (47) ◽  
pp. 10168-10179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyue Zhang ◽  
Yuguo Xia ◽  
Qing Ye ◽  
Fang Yu ◽  
Wen Zhu ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Katoh ◽  
Masahiko Watanabe

Development of solid cancer depends on escape from host immunosurveillance. Various types of immune cells contribute to tumor-induced immune suppression, including tumor associated macrophages, regulatory T cells, type 2 NKT cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Growing body of evidences shows that MDSCs play pivotal roles among these immunosuppressive cells in multiple steps of cancer progression. MDSCs are immature myeloid cells that arise from myeloid progenitor cells and comprise a heterogeneous immune cell population. MDSCs are characterized by the ability to suppress both adaptive and innate immunities mainly through direct inhibition of the cytotoxic functions of T cells and NK cells. In clinical settings, the number of circulating MDSCs is associated with clinical stages and response to treatment in several cancers. Moreover, MDSCs are reported to contribute to chemoresistant phenotype. Collectively, targeting MDSCs could potentially provide a rationale for novel treatment strategies in cancer. This review summarizes recent understandings of MDSCs in cancer and discusses promissing clinical approaches in cancer patients.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Liesz ◽  
Elisabeth Suri-Payer ◽  
Claudia Veltkamp ◽  
Henrike Doerr ◽  
Clemens Sommer ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitre R. Simeonov ◽  
Harikesh S. Wong ◽  
Jessica T. Cortez ◽  
Arabella Young ◽  
Zhongmei Li ◽  
...  

The majority of genetic variants associated with complex human autoimmune diseases reside in enhancers1–3, non-coding regulatory elements that control gene expression. In contrast with variants that directly alter protein-coding sequences, enhancer variants are predicted to tune gene expression modestly and function in specific cellular contexts4, suggesting that small alterations in the functions of key immune cell populations are sufficient to shape disease risk. Here we tested this concept by experimentally perturbing distinct enhancers governing the high affinity IL-2 receptor alpha chain (IL2RA; also known as CD25). IL2RA is an immune regulator that promotes the pro- and anti-inflammatory functions of conventional T cells (Tconvs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), respectively, and non-coding genetic variants in IL2RA have been linked to multiple autoimmune disorders4. We previously tiled across the IL2RA locus using CRISPR-activation and identified a stimulation-responsive element (CaRE4) with an enhancer that modestly affects the kinetics of IL2RA expression in Tconvs5. This enhancer is conserved across species and harbors a common human SNP associated with protection from Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)5,6. We now identified an additional conserved enhancer, termed CaRE3 enhancer, which modestly affected steady state IL2RA expression in regulatory T cells (Tregs). Despite their seemingly subtle impact on gene expression, the CaRE3 and CaRE4 enhancers had pronounced yet divergent effects on the incidence of diabetes in autoimmune prone animals. Deletion of the conserved CaRE4 enhancer completely protected against autoimmune diabetes even in animals treated with an immunostimulating anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor, whereas deletion of the CaRE3 enhancer accelerated spontaneous disease progression. Quantitative multiplexed imaging of the pancreatic lymph nodes (panLNs) revealed that each enhancer deletion preferentially affected the protein expression levels of IL2RA in activated Tconvs or Tregs, reciprocally tuning local competition for IL-2 input signals. In animals lacking the CaRE4 enhancer, skewed IL-2 signaling favored Tregs, increasing their local density around activated Tconvs to strongly suppress emergence of autoimmune effectors. By contrast, in animals lacking the CaRE3 enhancer, IL-2 signals were skewed towards activated Tconvs, promoting their escape from Treg control. Collectively, this work illustrates how subtle changes in gene regulation due to non-coding variation can significantly alter disease progression and how distinct enhancers controlling the same gene can have opposing effects on disease outcomes through cell type-selective activity.


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