scholarly journals Cyton2: A Model of Immune Cell Population Dynamics That Includes Familial Instructional Inheritance

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
HoChan Cheon ◽  
Andrey Kan ◽  
Giulio Prevedello ◽  
Simone C. Oostindie ◽  
Simon J. Dovedi ◽  
...  

Lymphocytes are the central actors in adaptive immune responses. When challenged with antigen, a small number of B and T cells have a cognate receptor capable of recognising and responding to the insult. These cells proliferate, building an exponentially growing, differentiating clone army to fight off the threat, before ceasing to divide and dying over a period of weeks, leaving in their wake memory cells that are primed to rapidly respond to any repeated infection. Due to the non-linearity of lymphocyte population dynamics, mathematical models are needed to interrogate data from experimental studies. Due to lack of evidence to the contrary and appealing to arguments based on Occam’s Razor, in these models newly born progeny are typically assumed to behave independently of their predecessors. Recent experimental studies, however, challenge that assumption, making clear that there is substantial inheritance of timed fate changes from each cell by its offspring, calling for a revision to the existing mathematical modelling paradigms used for information extraction. By assessing long-term live-cell imaging of stimulated murine B and T cells in vitro, we distilled the key phenomena of these within-family inheritances and used them to develop a new mathematical model, Cyton2, that encapsulates them. We establish the model’s consistency with these newly observed fine-grained features. Two natural concerns for any model that includes familial correlations would be that it is overparameterised or computationally inefficient in data fitting, but neither is the case for Cyton2. We demonstrate Cyton2’s utility by challenging it with high-throughput flow cytometry data, which confirms the robustness of its parameter estimation as well as its ability to extract biological meaning from complex mixed stimulation experiments. Cyton2, therefore, offers an alternate mathematical model, one that is, more aligned to experimental observation, for drawing inferences on lymphocyte population dynamics.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuan Liu ◽  
Sara J.C. Gosline ◽  
Lance T. Pflieger ◽  
Pierre Wallet ◽  
Archana Iyer ◽  
...  

AbstractSingle-cell RNA sequencing is an emerging strategy for characterizing the immune cell population in diverse environments including blood, tumor or healthy tissues. While this has traditionally been done with flow or mass cytometry targeting protein expression, scRNA-Seq has several established and potential advantages in that it can profile immune cells and non-immune cells (e.g. cancer cells) in the same sample, identify cell types that lack precise markers for flow cytometry, or identify a potentially larger number of immune cell types and activation states than is achievable in a single flow assay. However, scRNA-Seq is currently limited due to the need to identify the types of each immune cell from its transcriptional profile, which is not only time-consuming but also requires a significant knowledge of immunology. While recently developed algorithms accurately annotate coarse cell types (e.g. T cells vs macrophages), making fine distinctions has turned out to be a difficult challenge. To address this, we developed a machine learning classifier called ImmClassifier that leverages a hierarchical ontology of cell type. We demonstrate that ImmClassifier outperforms other tools (+20% recall, +14% precision) in distinguishing fine-grained cell types (e.g. CD8+ effector memory T cells) with comparable performance on coarse ones. Thus, ImmClassifier can be used to explore more deeply the heterogeneity of the immune system in scRNA-Seq experiments.


Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asad Ur Rehman Anjum ◽  
Qasim Ali Chaudhry ◽  
A. Othman Almatroud

In this paper, we considered a mathematical model concerned with the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) taking into account the effect of superficially infused T cells in this particular type of tumor. The model is described thoroughly by the system of non-linear differential equations explaining the interaction of naïve, infected, cancer and immune cell population. The detailed sensitivity analysis with the application is the major part of this paper. The basic objective is to provide insight to how parameters’ behavior varies model results by elaborating the results obtained from the application of sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity of the model was evaluated not only theoretically, but also with the help of a numerical approach, producing graphs providing better imminent of results. We argue that the application of the sensitivity analysis method endows an insight into how and which parameters are of primary significance in controlling the spread of leukemia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Merches ◽  
Alfonso Schiavi ◽  
Heike Weighardt ◽  
Swantje Steinwachs ◽  
Nadine Teichweyde ◽  
...  

Background Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-deficient mice do not support the expansion of dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC), a resident immune cell population in the murine epidermis, which immigrates from the fetal thymus to the skin around birth. Material and Methods In order to identify the gene expression changes underlying the DETC disappearance in AHR-deficient mice, we analyzed microarray RNA-profiles of DETC, sorted from the skin of two-week-old AHR-deficient mice and their heterozygous littermates. In vitro studies were done for verification, and IL-10, AHR repressor (AHRR), and c-Kit deficient mice analyzed for DETC frequency. Results We identified 434 annotated differentially expressed genes. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that the expression of genes related to proliferation, ion homeostasis and morphology differed between the two mouse genotypes. Importantly, with 1767 pathways the cluster-group “inflammation” contained the majority of AHR-dependently regulated pathways. The most abundant cluster of differentially expressed genes was “inflammation.” DETC of AHR-deficient mice were inflammatory active and had altered calcium and F-actin levels. Extending the study to the AHRR, an enigmatic modulator of AHR-activity, we found approximately 50% less DETC in AHRR-deficient mice than in wild-type-littermates. Conclusion AHR-signaling in DETC dampens their inflammatory default potential and supports their homeostasis in the skin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wang ◽  
Bryant Chau ◽  
Sean M. West ◽  
Christopher R. Kimberlin ◽  
Fei Cao ◽  
...  

AbstractGlucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR) and GITR ligand (GITRL) are members of the tumor necrosis superfamily that play a role in immune cell signaling, activation, and survival. GITR is a therapeutic target for directly activating effector CD4 and CD8 T cells, or depleting GITR-expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs), thereby promoting anti-tumor immune responses. GITR activation through its native ligand is important for understanding immune signaling, but GITR structure has not been reported. Here we present structures of human and mouse GITR receptors bound to their cognate ligands. Both species share a receptor–ligand interface and receptor–receptor interface; the unique C-terminal receptor–receptor enables higher order structures on the membrane. Human GITR–GITRL has potential to form a hexameric network of membrane complexes, while murine GITR–GITRL complex forms a linear chain due to dimeric interactions. Mutations at the receptor–receptor interface in human GITR reduce cell signaling with in vitro ligand binding assays and minimize higher order membrane structures when bound by fluorescently labeled ligand in cell imaging experiments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A126-A126
Author(s):  
John Goulding ◽  
Mochtar Pribadi ◽  
Robert Blum ◽  
Wen-I Yeh ◽  
Yijia Pan ◽  
...  

BackgroundMHC class I related proteins A (MICA) and B (MICB) are induced by cellular stress and transformation, and their expression has been reported for many cancer types. NKG2D, an activating receptor expressed on natural killer (NK) and T cells, targets the membrane-distal domains of MICA/B, activating a potent cytotoxic response. However, advanced cancer cells frequently evade immune cell recognition by proteolytic shedding of the α1 and α2 domains of MICA/B, which can significantly reduce NKG2D function and the cytolytic activity.MethodsRecent publications have shown that therapeutic antibodies targeting the membrane-proximal α3 domain inhibited MICA/B shedding, resulting in a substantial increase in the cell surface density of MICA/B and restoration of immune cell-mediated tumor immunity.1 We have developed a novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting the conserved α3 domain of MICA/B (CAR-MICA/B). Additionally, utilizing our proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform, we have developed multiplexed engineered, iPSC-derived CAR-MICA/B NK (iNK) cells for off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy.ResultsA screen of CAR spacer and ScFv orientations in primary T cells delineated MICA-specific in vitro activation and cytotoxicity as well as in vivo tumor control against MICA+ cancer cells. The novel CAR-MICA/B design was used to compare efficacy against NKG2D CAR T cells, an alternative MICA/B targeting strategy. CAR-MICA/B T cells showed superior cytotoxicity against melanoma, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and lung cancer lines in vitro compared to primary NKG2D CAR T cells (p<0.01). Additionally, using an in vivo xenograft metastasis model, CAR-MICA/B T cells eliminated A2058 human melanoma metastases in the majority of the mice treated. In contrast, NKG2D CAR T cells were unable to control tumor growth or metastases. To translate CAR-MICA/B functionality into an off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy, CAR-MICA/B was introduced into a clonal master engineered iPSC line to derive a multiplexed engineered, CAR-MICA/B iNK cell product candidate. Using a panel of tumor cell lines expressing MICA/B, CAR-MICA/B iNK cells displayed MICA specificity, resulting in enhanced cytokine production, degranulation, and cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in vivo NK cell cytotoxicity was evaluated using the B16-F10 melanoma cell line, engineered to express MICA. In this model, CAR-MICA/B iNK cells significantly reduced liver and lung metastases, compared to untreated controls, by 93% and 87% respectively.ConclusionsOngoing work is focused on extending these preclinical studies to further support the clinical translation of an off-the-shelf, CAR-MICA/B iNK cell cancer immunotherapy with the potential to overcome solid tumor escape from NKG2D-mediated mechanisms of recognition and killing.ReferenceFerrari de Andrade L, Tay RE, Pan D, Luoma AM, Ito Y, Badrinath S, Tsoucas D, Franz B, May KF Jr, Harvey CJ, Kobold S, Pyrdol JW, Yoon C, Yuan GC, Hodi FS, Dranoff G, Wucherpfennig KW. Antibody-mediated inhibition of MICA and MICB shedding promotes NK cell-driven tumor immunity. Science 2018 Mar 30;359(6383):1537–1542.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Gasch ◽  
Tina Goroll ◽  
Mario Bauer ◽  
Denise Hinz ◽  
Nicole Schütze ◽  
...  

The T helper cell subsets Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg play an important role in immune cell homeostasis, in host defense, and in immunological disorders. Recently, much attention has been paid to Th17 cells which seem to play an important role in the early phase of the adoptive immune response and autoimmune disease. When generating Th17 cells underin vitroconditions the amount of IL-17A producing cells hardly exceeds 20% while the nature of the remaining T cells is poorly characterized. As engagement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has also been postulated to modulate the differentiation of T helper cells into Th17 cells with regard to the IL-17A expression we ask how far do Th17 polarizing conditions in combination with ligand induced AHR activation have an effect on the production of other T helper cell cytokines. We found that a high proportion of T helper cells cultured under Th17 polarizing conditions are IL-8 and IL-9 single producing cells and that AHR activation results in an upregulation of IL-8 and a downregulation of IL-9 production. Thus, we have identified IL-8 and IL-9 producing T helper cells which are subject to regulation by the engagement of the AHR.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junu A. George ◽  
Shaikha H. AlShamsi ◽  
Maryam H. Alhammadi ◽  
Ahmed R. Alsuwaidi

Influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are leading causes of childhood infections. RSV and influenza are competitive in vitro. In this study, the in vivo effects of RSV and IAV co-infection were investigated. Mice were intranasally inoculated with RSV, with IAV, or with both viruses (RSV+IAV and IAV+RSV) administered sequentially, 24 h apart. On days 3 and 7 post-infection, lung tissues were processed for viral loads and immune cell populations. Lung functions were also evaluated. Mortality was observed only in the IAV+RSV group (50% of mice did not survive beyond 7 days). On day 3, the viral loads in single-infected and co-infected mice were not significantly different. However, on day 7, the IAV titer was much higher in the IAV+RSV group, and the RSV viral load was reduced. CD4 T cells were reduced in all groups on day 7 except in single-infected mice. CD8 T cells were higher in all experimental groups except the RSV-alone group. Increased airway resistance and reduced thoracic compliance were demonstrated in both co-infected groups. This model indicates that, among all the infection types we studied, infection with IAV followed by RSV is associated with the highest IAV viral loads and the most morbidity and mortality.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Swan ◽  
Morgane Rolland ◽  
Joshua Herbeck ◽  
Joshua T Schiffer ◽  
Daniel B Reeves

AbstractModern HIV research depends crucially on both viral sequencing and population measurements. To directly link mechanistic biological processes and evolutionary dynamics during HIV infection, we developed multiple within-host phylodynamic (wi-phy) models of HIV primary infection for comparative validation against viral load and evolutionary dynamics data. The most parsimonious and accurate model required no positive selection, suggesting that the host adaptive immune system reduces viral load, but does not drive observed viral evolution. Rather, random genetic drift primarily dictates fitness changes. These results hold during early infection, and even during chronic infection when selection has been observed, viral fitness distributions are not largely different from in vitro distributions that emerge without adaptive immunity. These results highlight how phylogenetic inference must consider complex viral and immune-cell population dynamics to gain accurate mechanistic insights.One sentence summaryThrough the lens of a unified population and phylodynamic model, current data show the first wave of HIV mutations are not driven by selection by the adaptive immune system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 3074-3082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Hou ◽  
Xianyu Piao ◽  
Shuai Liu ◽  
Chuang Wu ◽  
Qijun Chen

T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) has been regarded as an important regulatory factor in both adaptive and innate immunity. Recently, Tim-3 was reported to be involved in Th2-biased immune responses in mice infected withSchistosoma japonicum, but the exact mechanism behind the involvement of Tim-3 remains unknown. The present study aims to understand the role of Tim-3 in the immune response againstS. japonicuminfection. Tim-3 expression was determined by flow cytometry, and increased Tim-3 expression was observed on CD4+and CD8+T cells, NK1.1+cells, and CD11b+cells from the livers ofS. japonicum-infected mice. However, the increased level of Tim-3 was lower in the spleen than in the liver, and no increase in Tim-3 expression was observed on splenic CD8+T cells or CD11b+cells. The schistosome-induced upregulation of Tim-3 on natural killer (NK) cells was accompanied by reduced NK cell numbersin vitroandin vivo. Tim-3 antibody blockade led to upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interleukin-12 (IL-12) mRNA in CD11b+cells cocultured with soluble egg antigen and downregulation of Arg1 and IL-10, which are markers of M2 macrophages. In summary, we observed schistosome-induced expression of Tim-3 on critical immune cell populations, which may be involved in the Th2-biased immune response and alternative activation of macrophages during infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueli Zhang ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Jian Song ◽  
Hanna Gerwien ◽  
Omar Chuquisana ◽  
...  

The endothelial cell basement membrane (BM) is a barrier to migrating leukocytes and a rich source of signaling molecules that can influence extravasating cells. Using mice lacking the major endothelial BM components, laminin 411 or 511, in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we show here that loss of endothelial laminin 511 results in enhanced disease severity due to increased T cell infiltration and altered polarization and pathogenicity of infiltrating T cells. In vitro adhesion and migration assays reveal higher binding to laminin 511 than laminin 411 but faster migration across laminin 411. In vivo and in vitro analyses suggest that integrin α6β1- and αvβ1-mediated binding to laminin 511–high sites not only holds T cells at such sites but also limits their differentiation to pathogenic Th17 cells. This highlights the importance of the interface between the endothelial monolayer and the underlying BM for modulation of immune cell phenotype.


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