scholarly journals Stimulation of regulatory T cells with Lactococcus lactis expressing enterotoxigenic E. coli colonization factor antigen 1 retains salivary flow in a genetic model of Sjögren’s syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Akgul ◽  
Massimo Maddaloni ◽  
Sang Mu Jun ◽  
Andrew S. Nelson ◽  
Vanessa Aguilera Odreman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽  
Salivary Flow ◽  
Sjogren's Syndrome ◽  
Lacrimal Glands ◽  
Colonization Factor ◽  
Factor Antigen

Abstract Background Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS), one of the most common autoimmune diseases, impacts millions of people annually. SjS results from autoimmune attack on exocrine (salivary and lacrimal) glands, and women are nine times more likely to be affected than men. To date, no vaccine or therapeutic exists to treat SjS, and patients must rely on lifelong therapies to alleviate symptoms. Methods Oral treatment with the adhesin from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) fimbriae protects against several autoimmune diseases in an antigen (Ag)-independent manner. Lactococcus lactis, which was recently adapted to express CFA/I fimbriae (LL-CFA/I), effectively suppresses inflammation by the induction of infectious tolerance via Ag-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs), that produce IL-10 and TGF-β. To test the hypothesis that CFA/I fimbriae can offset the development of inflammatory T cells via Treg induction, oral treatments with LL-CFA/I were performed on the spontaneous, genetically defined model for SjS, C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice to maintain salivary flow. Results Six-week (wk)-old C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice were orally dosed with LL-CFA/I and treated every 3 wks; control groups were given L. lactis vector or PBS. LL-CFA/I-treated mice retained salivary flow up to 28 wks of age and showed significantly reduced incidence of inflammatory infiltration into the submandibular and lacrimal glands relative to PBS-treated mice. A significant increase in Foxp3+ and IL-10- and TGF-β-producing Tregs was observed. Moreover, LL-CFA/I significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-17, GM-CSF, and IFN-γ. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells from LL-CFA/I-treated, not LL vector-treated mice, restored salivary flow in diseased SjS mice. Conclusion These data demonstrate that oral LL-CFA/I reduce or halts SjS progression, and these studies will provide the basis for future testing in SjS patients.

scholarly journals T Cells Subsets in the Immunopathology and Treatment of Sjogren’s Syndrome

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1539
Author(s):  
William de Jesús Ríos-Ríos ◽  
Sorely Adelina Sosa-Luis ◽  
Honorio Torres-Aguilar
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Sjögren's Syndrome ◽  
Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽  
Sjogren's Syndrome ◽  
Sjögren‘S Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease whose pathogenesis is characterized by an exacerbated T cell infiltration in exocrine glands, markedly associated to the inflammatory and detrimental features as well as the disease progression. Several helper T cell subsets sequentially converge at different stages of the ailment, becoming involved in specific pathologic roles. Initially, their activated phenotype endows them with high migratory properties and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in target tissues. Later, the accumulation of immunomodulatory T cells-derived factors, such as IL-17, IFN-γ, or IL-21, preserve the inflammatory environment. These effects favor strong B cell activation, instigating an extrafollicular antibody response in ectopic lymphoid structures mediated by T follicular helper cells (Tfh) and leading to disease progression. Additionally, the memory effector phenotype of CD8+ T cells present in SS patients suggests that the presence of auto-antigen restricted CD8+ T cells might trigger time-dependent and specific immune responses. Regarding the protective roles of traditional regulatory T cells (Treg), uncertain evidence shows decrease or invariable numbers of circulating and infiltrating cells. Nevertheless, an emerging Treg subset named follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) seems to play a critical protective role owing to their deficiency that enhances SS development. In this review, the authors summarize the current knowledge of T cells subsets contribution to the SS immunopathology, focusing on the cellular and biomolecular properties allowing them to infiltrate and to harm target tissues, and that simultaneously make them key therapeutic targets for SS treatment.

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