Aberrant expression of the Th2 cytokine IL-21 in Hodgkin lymphoma cells regulates STAT3 signaling and attracts Treg cells via regulation of MIP-3α

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (8) ◽  
pp. 3339-3347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Lamprecht ◽  
Stephan Kreher ◽  
Ioannis Anagnostopoulos ◽  
Korinna Jöhrens ◽  
Giovanni Monteleone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Gene Expression Pattern ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Treg Cells ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract The malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are derived from mature B cells, but have lost a considerable part of the B cell–specific gene expression pattern. Consequences of such a lineage infidelity for lymphoma pathogenesis are currently not defined. Here, we report that HRS cells aberrantly express the common cytokine-receptor γ-chain (γc) cytokine IL-21, which is usually restricted to a subset of CD4+ T cells, and the corresponding IL-21 receptor. We demonstrate that IL-21 activates STAT3 in HRS cells, up-regulates STAT3 target genes, and protects HRS cells from CD95 death receptor–induced apoptosis. Furthermore, IL-21 is involved in up-regulation of the CC chemokine macrophage-inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α) in HRS cells. MIP-3α in turn attracts CCR6+CD4+CD25+FoxP3+CD127lo regulatory T cells toward HRS cells, which might favor their immune escape. Together, these data support the concept that aberrant expression of B lineage–inappropriate genes plays an important role for the biology of HL tumor cells.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Regulation of miR-92a and TET2 and Their Association in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther K. Elliott ◽  
Lloyd N. Hopkins ◽  
Robert Hensen ◽  
Heidi G. Sutherland ◽  
Larisa M. Haupt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cpg Islands ◽  
Mature Mirnas ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Genes ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well known for their ability to regulate the expression of specific target genes through degradation or inhibition of translation of the target mRNA. In various cancers, miRNAs regulate gene expression by altering the epigenetic status of candidate genes that are implicated in various difficult to treat haematological malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma by acting as either oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes. Cellular and circulating miRNA biomarkers could also be directly utilised as disease markers for diagnosis and monitoring of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); however, the role of DNA methylation in miRNA expression regulation in NHL requires further scientific inquiry. In this study, we investigated the methylation levels of CpGs in CpG islands spanning the promoter regions of the miR-17–92 cluster host gene and the TET2 gene and correlated them with the expression levels of TET2 mRNA and miR-92a-3p and miR-92a-5p mature miRNAs in NHL cell lines, tumour samples, and the whole blood gDNA of an NHL case control cohort. Increased expression of both miR-92a-3p and miR-92a-5p and aberrant expression of TET2 was observed in NHL cell lines and tumour tissues, as well as disparate levels of dysfunctional promoter CGI methylation. Both miR-92a and TET2 may play a concerted role in NHL malignancy and disease pathogenesis.

Soluble IL2R (CD25), IL10 and PDL1 May Control T Cell Activation in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4252-4252
Author(s):  
Lisa Christiansson ◽  
Camilla Lindqvist ◽  
Thomas H Tötterman ◽  
Bengt Simonsson ◽  
Ulla Olsson-Strömberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
T Cell Proliferation ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Immune Escape Mechanisms

Abstract Abstract 4252 Cancer patients are known to have an impaired anti-tumor immune response because of various immune escape mechanisms exerted by the tumor cells. These mechanisms involve release of soluble molecules and expression of membrane-bound proteins inhibiting different arms of the anti-tumor immune responses. The immune escape mechanisms seen in cancer patients complicate the use of immunotherapy, such as tumor vaccines and adoptive T cell transfer. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of IL10, soluble IL2R (sIL2R; CD25) and programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PDL1) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and to study their role as T cell inhibitors. IL10, sIL2R and PDL1 are all known immune inhibitory molecules. IL10 is a secreted molecule that has various suppressive effects on many different immune cells. sIL2R binds IL2 efficiently and may thereby prevent the binding of IL2 to IL2R on T cells, an interaction that is necessary for proliferation and maintenance of tumor-specific T cells. PDL1-expressing tumor cells can bind programmed death receptor 1 (PD1) on T cells. This interaction can induce apoptosis in the T cells. In this study, we used cytometric bead array, ELISA and multicolor flow cytometry to screen CML patients and healthy controls for the presence of IL10, sIL2R and PDL1 in blood. Further, Alamar Blue TM assay and IFNγ detection by flow cytometry were used to investigate T cell proliferation and activation in the presence of the inhibitors. We found that the levels of IL10 and sIL2R were increased in CML patient plasma compared to the levels in healthy control subjects. The level of sIL2R in a subgroup of patients was four-fold higher than the mean level of healthy controls. Patient T cells stimulated with various strong T cell stimuli including CML-specific peptides failed to respond to stimuli as measured by flow cytometric detection of the cytotoxic T cell activation marker IFNγ, indicating that these T cells might be anergic. In vitro studies on T cells from healthy donors showed that both IL10 and sIL2R have the ability to inhibit T cell proliferation. Half of the CML patients had a PDL1 expression on the CD34 cell population raging from 1-36%. PDL1 may, hence, be involved in T cell control in CML. Taken together, our results show that T cells from CML patients fail to respond to stimuli and that these T cells may be controlled by the high levels of IL10, sIL2R and PDL1 seen in the patients. Screening for these inhibitors may aid selection of patients considered for immunotherapy. Disclosures: Simonsson: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Sponsor; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Sponsor; SCHERING-PLOUGH: Sponsor. Olsson-Strömberg:BMS: Honoraria.

scholarly journals Evolution of immune escape mechanisms in the progression from preinvasive to invasive human lung adenocarcinoma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasser K. Altorki ◽  
Alain C. Borczuk ◽  
Vivek Mittal ◽  
Olivier Elemento ◽  
Timothy E. McGraw
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Lung Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
Treg Cells ◽  
Normal Lung ◽  
Ct Density ◽  
Immune Escape Mechanisms

SummaryThe tumor microenvironment (TME) of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) precursor lesions has not been described. We interrogated by multiplex immunofluorescence the TME of preinvasive and invasive Stage 1A LUADs selected by computer tomography (CT) scan-density. Pure non-solid (p-NS) CT density nodules are preinvasive/minimally invasive, whereas solid CT density nodules are frankly invasive cancers. Our data reveal an intensely immune-suppressive immune TME in p-NS tumors characterized by an increase in Treg cells and a decrease in cytotoxic T cells relative to normal lung. The TME of the solid tumor group, more advanced lesions than the p-NS yet still early in disease development, were increasingly more immune-suppressive. Provocatively, there was a further increase in both Treg cells and cytotoxic T cells, establishing a nascent albeit ineffective anti-tumor immune response in transition from preinvasive p-NS to invasive solid tumors. Regulatory T cells play a dominant role throughout progression, while additional immune evasive mechanisms are employed at different stages of disease progression, including T cell exclusion from cancer cell nests early and activation of immune checkpoints later. Our study establishes that different immune-targeted strategies are required to intercept disease progression at these two distinct early points of lung cancer development.Statement of SignificanceUsing multiplexed IF, we compared the cellular composition and activation state of the tumor immune microenvironment between pre/minimally invasive and frankly invasive adenocarcinoma. We found a progressive increase in immunosuppressive mechanisms in association with disease progression suggesting that Interception strategies should be specifically tailored based on underlying immune escape mechanisms

Local and systemic induction of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cell population by non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (11) ◽  
pp. 5359-5370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajjan Mittal ◽  
Neil A. Marshall ◽  
Linda Duncan ◽  
Dominic J. Culligan ◽  
Robert N. Barker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Treg Cells ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma

Abstract Regulatory T (Treg) cells contribute to immune evasion by malignancies. To investigate their importance in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), we enumerated Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and involved tissues from 30 patients. CD25+FoxP3+CD127lowCD4+ Treg cells were increased markedly in PBMCs (median = 20.4% CD4 T cells, n = 20) versus healthy controls (median = 3.2%, n = 13, P < .001) regardless of lymphoma subtype, and correlated with disease stage and serum lactate dehydrogenase (Rs = 0.79, P < .001). T-cell hyporesponsiveness was reversed by depleting CD25+ cells, or by adding anti–CTLA-4, supporting the view that Treg cells explain the systemic immunosuppression seen in NHL. A high proportion of Treg cells was also present in involved tissues (median = 38.8% CD4 T cells, n = 15) versus reactive nodes (median = 11.6%, n = 2, P = .02). When autologous CD25− PBMC fractions were incubated with tumor cells from patients (n = 6) in vitro, there was consistent strong induction and then expansion of cells with the CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ phenotype of classic “natural” Treg cells. This population was confirmed to be suppressive in function. Direct cell-cell interaction of tumor cells with CD25− PBMCs was important in Treg induction, although there was heterogeneity in the mechanisms responsible. We conclude that NHL cells are powerful inducers of Treg cells, which may represent a new therapeutic target.

Emerin Represses STAT3 Signaling through Nuclear Membrane-Based Spatial Control

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byongsun Lee ◽  
Seungjae Lee ◽  
Younggwang Lee ◽  
Yongjin Park ◽  
Jaekyung Shim
Keyword(s):  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Nuclear Membrane ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Janus Kinase ◽  
C2c12 Cells ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Lamin A ◽  
Stat3 Signaling ◽  
Exact Function ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Emerin is the inner nuclear membrane protein involved in maintaining the mechanical integrity of the nuclear membrane. Mutations in EMD encoding emerin cause Emery&ndash;Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). There has been accumulating evidence that emerin regulation of specific gene expression is associated with this disease, but the exact function of emerin has still less revealing. Here, we have shown that emerin downregulates Signal transducer and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling, activated exclusively by Janus-kinase (JAK). Deletion mutation experiments showed that the lamin-binding domain of emerin is essential for the inhibition of STAT3 signaling. Emerin interacted directly and co-localized with STAT3 in the nuclear membrane. Emerin knockdown induced STAT3 target genes Bcl2 and Survivin to increase cell survival signals and suppress hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Specifically, downregulation of BAF or lamin A/C increases STAT3 signaling, suggesting that correct-localized emerin by assembling with BAF and lamin A/C acts as an intrinsic inhibitor against STAT3 signaling. In C2C12 cells, emerin knockdown induced STAT3 target gene, Pax7, and activated abnormal myoblast proliferation associated with muscle wasting in skeletal muscle homeostasis. Our results indicate that emerin downregulates STAT3 signaling by inducing retention of STAT3 and delaying STAT3 signaling in the nuclear membrane. This mechanism provides clues to the etiology of emerin-related muscular dystrophy and could be a new therapeutic target for treatment.

scholarly journals HLA-G Expression on Blasts and Tolerogenic Cells in Patients Affected by Acute Myeloid Leukemia

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grazia Locafaro ◽  
Giada Amodio ◽  
Daniela Tomasoni ◽  
Cristina Tresoldi ◽  
Fabio Ciceri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Treg Cells ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Human Leukocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G) contributes to cancer cell immune escape from host antitumor responses. The clinical relevance of HLA-G in several malignancies has been reported. However, the role of HLA-G expression and functions in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is still controversial. Our group identified a subset of tolerogenic dendritic cells, DC-10 that express HLA-G and secrete IL-10. DC-10 are present in the peripheral blood and are essential in promoting and maintaining tolerance via the induction of adaptive T regulatory (Treg) cells. We investigated HLA-G expression on blasts and the presence of HLA-G-expressing DC-10 and CD4+T cells in the peripheral blood of AML patients at diagnosis. Moreover, we explored the possible influence of the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) ofHLA-G, which has been associated with HLA-G expression, on AML susceptibility. Results showed that HLA-G-expressing DC-10 and CD4+T cells are highly represented in AML patients with HLA-G positive blasts. None of the HLA-G variation sites evaluated was associated with AML susceptibility. This is the first report describing HLA-G-expressing DC-10 and CD4+T cells in AML patients, suggesting that they may represent a strategy by which leukemic cells escape the host’s immune system. Further studies on larger populations are required to verify our findings.

scholarly journals Regulatory T cells are less sensitive to glucocorticoid hormone induced apoptosis than CD4+ T cells

APOPTOSIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 715-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla Prenek ◽  
Tímea Litvai ◽  
Noémi Balázs ◽  
Réka Kugyelka ◽  
Ferenc Boldizsár ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Treg Cells ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Apoptosis Resistance ◽  
Apoptotic Pathway ◽  
Glucocorticoid Hormone ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Earlier we have reported that thymic regulatory T cells (Treg) are resistant to in vivo glucocorticoid hormone (GC)-induced apoptosis, while the most GC-sensitive DP thymocytes died through the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Here we analyzed the apoptosis-inducing effect of high dose (10–6 M) in vitro dexamethasone (DX) treatment in mouse thymic- and splenic Tregs and CD4+ T cells. Activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways started after 2 h of DX treatment in CD4 SP thymocytes and was 3 × higher than in CD4+ splenocytes, while in Treg cells, weak activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway started only after 3 h. We also investigated the expression of 21 apoptosis-related molecules using a protein array and found higher level of both pro-and anti-apoptotic molecules in Tregs compared to CD4+ T cells. 4 h in vitro DX treatment induced upregulation of most apoptosis-related molecules both in Tregs and CD4+ T cells, except for the decrease of Bcl-2 expression in CD4+ T cells. We found high basal cytosolic Ca2+ levels in untreated Treg cells, which further increased after DX treatment, while the specific TCR-induced Ca2+ signal was lower in Tregs than in CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that in the background of the relative apoptosis resistance of Treg cells to GCs might be their high basal cytosolic Ca2+ level and upregulated Bcl-2 expression. In contrast, downregulation of Bcl-2 expression in CD4+ T cells can explain their higher, DX-induced apoptosis sensitivity.

scholarly journals Central role of defective apoptosis in autoimmunity

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Kuhtreiber ◽  
T Hayashi ◽  
EA Dale ◽  
DL Faustman
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Lymphocyte Development ◽  
Nf Kappab ◽  
Autoreactive Cells

Lymphocyte development, selection and education represent tightly controlled immune processes that normally prevent autoimmunity. Lymphocyte development likely induces cellular selection through apoptosis to remove potentially autoreactive cells. Dysregulated apoptosis, both interrupted as well as accelerated apoptosis, are now demonstrated as central defects in diverse murine autoimmune disease. In murine models of autoimmune lupus, mutations in cell death receptor Fas (CD95) and its ligand, FasL (CD95 L), have been identified. These errors create a lymphoid system resistant to apoptosis. In contrast, select lymphoid subpopulations of maturing autoimmune prone non-obese diabetic mice have identifiable and pathogenic T cells with both in vivo and in vitro heightened apoptosis after drug interventions. In part, these defects are due to faulty activation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) that normally protect against apoptotic death. The genetic basis of interrupted NF-kappaB in pathogenic memory T cells in diabetes is attributable to a developmentally controlled gene defect in an essential subunit of the proteasome. No specific gene in most common forms of human autoimmune disease has yet been identified. Functional assays from diverse laboratories repeatedly demonstrate heightened apoptosis in multiple cellular signaling pathways for cell death, suggesting a common theme in disease causality.

scholarly journals Establishment of the TBX-code reveals aberrantly activated T-box gene TBX3 in Hodgkin lymphoma

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259674
Author(s):  
Stefan Nagel ◽  
Corinna Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Lymphoid Cells ◽  
B Cell Differentiation ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
T Box ◽  
Lymphoid Malignancies

T-box genes encode transcription factors which control basic processes in development of several tissues including cell differentiation in the hematopoietic system. Here, we analyzed the physiological activities of all 17 human T-box genes in early hematopoiesis and in lymphopoiesis including developing and mature B-cells, T-cells, natural killer (NK)-cells and innate lymphoid cells. The resultant expression pattern comprised six genes, namely EOMES, MGA, TBX1, TBX10, TBX19 and TBX21. We termed this gene signature TBX-code which enables discrimination of normal and aberrant activities of T-box genes in lymphoid malignancies. Accordingly, expression analysis of T-box genes in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients using a public profiling dataset revealed overexpression of EOMES, TBX1, TBX2, TBX3, TBX10, TBX19, TBX21 and TBXT while MGA showed aberrant downregulation. Analysis of T-cell acute lymphoid leukemia patients indicated aberrant overexpression of six T-box genes while no deregulated T-box genes were detected in anaplastic large cell lymphoma patients. As a paradigm we focused on TBX3 which was ectopically activated in about 6% of HL patients analyzed. Normally, TBX3 is expressed in tissues like lung, adrenal gland and retina but not in hematopoiesis. HL cell line KM-H2 expressed enhanced TBX3 levels and was used as an in vitro model to identify upstream regulators and downstream targets in this malignancy. Genomic studies of this cell line showed focal amplification of the TBX3 locus at 12q24 which may underlie its aberrant expression. In addition, promoter analysis and comparative expression profiling of HL cell lines followed by knockdown experiments revealed overexpressed transcription factors E2F4 and FOXC1 and chromatin modulator KDM2B as functional activators. Furthermore, we identified repressed target genes of TBX3 in HL including CDKN2A, NFKBIB and CD19, indicating its respective oncogenic function in proliferation, NFkB-signaling and B-cell differentiation. Taken together, we have revealed a lymphoid TBX-code and used it to identify an aberrant network around deregulated T-box gene TBX3 in HL which promotes hallmark aberrations of this disease. These findings provide a framework for future studies to evaluate deregulated T-box genes in lymphoid malignancies.

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