scholarly journals Lamin A/C and the Immune System: One Intermediate Filament, Many Faces

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 6109
Author(s):  
Angela Saez ◽  
Beatriz Herrero-Fernandez ◽  
Raquel Gomez-Bris ◽  
Beatriz Somovilla-Crespo ◽  
Cristina Rius ◽  
...  

Nuclear envelope lamin A/C proteins are a major component of the mammalian nuclear lamina, a dense fibrous protein meshwork located in the nuclear interior. Lamin A/C proteins regulate nuclear mechanics and structure and control cellular signaling, gene transcription, epigenetic regulation, cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, and cell migration. The immune system is composed of the innate and adaptive branches. Innate immunity is mediated by myeloid cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. These cells produce a rapid and nonspecific response through phagocytosis, cytokine production, and complement activation, as well as activating adaptive immunity. Specific adaptive immunity is activated by antigen presentation by antigen presenting cells (APCs) and the cytokine microenvironment, and is mainly mediated by the cellular functions of T cells and the production of antibodies by B cells. Unlike most cell types, immune cells regulate their lamin A/C protein expression relatively rapidly to exert their functions, with expression increasing in macrophages, reducing in neutrophils, and increasing transiently in T cells. In this review, we discuss and summarize studies that have addressed the role played by lamin A/C in the functions of innate and adaptive immune cells in the context of human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, pathogen infections, and cancer.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Pangrazzi ◽  
Erin Naismith ◽  
Carina Miggitsch ◽  
Jose’ Antonio Carmona Arana ◽  
Michael Keller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Obesity has been associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Both conditions play a determinant role in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases, such as immunosenescence. Adipose tissue can modulate the function of the immune system with the secretion of molecules influencing the phenotype of immune cells. The importance of the bone marrow (BM) in the maintenance of antigen-experienced adaptive immune cells has been documented in mice. Recently, some groups have investigated the survival of effector/memory T cells in the human BM. Despite this, whether high body mass index (BMI) may affect immune cells in the BM and the production of molecules supporting the maintenance of these cells it is unknown.Methods. Using flow cytometry, the frequency and the phenotype of immune cell populations were measured in paired BM and PB samples obtained from persons with different BMI. Furthermore, the expression of BM cytokines was assessed. The influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) on T cell subsets was additionally considered, dividing the donors into the CMV- and CMV+ groups.Results. Our study suggests that increased BMI may affect both the maintenance and the phenotype of adaptive immune cells in the BM. While the BM levels of IL-15 and IL-6, supporting the survival of highly differentiated T cells, and oxygen radicals increased in overweight persons, the production of IFNγ and TNF by CD8+ T cells was reduced. In addition, the frequency of B cells and CD4+ T cells positively correlated with BMI in the BM of CMV- persons. Finally, the frequency of several T cell subsets, and the expression of senescence/exhaustion markers within these subpopulations, were affected by BMI. In particular, the levels of bona fide memory T cells may be reduced in overweight persons.Conclusion. Our work suggests that, in addition to aging and CMV, obesity may represent an additional risk factor for immunosenescence in adaptive immune cells. Metabolic interventions may help in improving the fitness of the immune system in the elderly.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Pangrazzi ◽  
Erin Naismith ◽  
Carina Miggitsch ◽  
Jose’ Antonio Carmona Arana ◽  
Michael Keller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Obesity has been associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Both conditions play a determinant role in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases, such as immunosenescence. Adipose tissue can modulate the function of the immune system with the secretion of molecules influencing the phenotype of immune cells. Recently, the importance of the bone marrow (BM) in the maintenance of antigen-experienced adaptive immune cells has been documented. Despite this, whether high body mass index (BMI) may affect immune cells in the BM and the production of molecules supporting the maintenance of these cells it is unknown. Methods. Using flow cytometry, the frequency and the phenotype of immune cell populations were measured in paired BM and PB samples obtained from persons with different BMI. Furthermore, the expression of BM cytokines was assessed. The influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) on T cell subsets was additionally considered, dividing the donors into the CMV - and CMV + groups. Results. Our study suggests that increased BMI may affect both the maintenance and the phenotype of adaptive immune cells in the BM. While the BM levels of IL-15 and IL-6, supporting the survival of highly differentiated T cells, and oxygen radicals increased in overweight persons, the production of IFNγ and TNF by CD8 + T cells was reduced. In addition, the frequency of B cells and CD4 + T cells positively correlated with BMI in the BM of CMV - persons. Finally, the frequency of several T cell subsets, and the expression of senescence/exhaustion markers within these subpopulations, were affected by BMI. In particular, the levels of bona fide memory T cells may be reduced in overweight persons. Conclusion. Our work suggests that obesity may represent an independent risk factor supporting immunosenescence, in addition to aging and CMV. Metabolic interventions may help in improving the fitness of the immune system in the elderly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 101-101
Author(s):  
Barry J Bradford

Abstract Our understanding of the immune system emerged from the study of disease processes and the communication networks used by various cell types to respond to pathogens. As with many aspects of physiology, this initial view was colored by the techniques available at the time. With technical advances beginning in the 1990, research in sepsis and obesity began to identify critical interactions between the immune system and metabolism. Our current understanding of these interactions is informed by two active but largely distinct research communities. Many in the field of immunology are utilizing cellular metabolism tools to understand mitochondrial function and fuel use in response to activation of innate and adaptive immune cells, especially as these relate to cancer. From another vantage point, many metabolic physiologists are now seeking to understand the importance of tissue-resident immune cells and immune signaling molecules in metabolic homeostasis and pathologies. Beyond human health implications of recent findings, a number of immunometabolism insights have informed our understanding of livestock health. In inflammatory events, phagocytic cells are activated, and the dramatic increase in oxidative metabolism is driven primarily by glucose use. Metabolism of healthy animals is also influenced by secretions from immune cells. Studies in mice indicate that appropriate host/microbe interactions (balancing protection and tolerance) are mediated by a network of immune cell types in the gut, which is critical to both absorptive and barrier functions of the gut. Adipose tissue immune cells regulate lipolytic rate, insulin sensitivity, and perhaps whole-body inflammatory tone. Local immune cell impacts on metabolism of other organs, including the liver and pancreas, are also emerging. Immunity and metabolism are tightly interwoven, and the evolving understanding of these links may enable nutritional or pharmacological strategies to enhance resilience to disease and alter nutrient partitioning in livestock.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Vanden Driessche ◽  
Alexander Persson ◽  
Ben J. Marais ◽  
Pamela J. Fink ◽  
Kevin B. Urdahl

One of the challenges faced by the infant immune system is learning to distinguish the myriad of foreign but nonthreatening antigens encountered from those expressed by true pathogens. This balance is reflected in the diminished production of proinflammatory cytokines by both innate and adaptive immune cells in the infant. A downside of this bias is that several factors critical for controllingMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection are significantly restricted in infants, including TNF, IL-1, and IL-12. Furthermore, infant T cells are inherently less capable of differentiating into IFN-γ-producing T cells. As a result, infected infants are 5–10 times more likely than adults to develop active tuberculosis (TB) and have higher rates of severe disseminated disease, including miliary TB and meningitis. Infant TB is a fundamentally different disease than TB in immune competent adults. Immunotherapeutics, therefore, should be specifically evaluated in infants before they are routinely employed to treat TB in this age group. Modalities aimed at reducing inflammation, which may be beneficial for adjunctive therapy of some forms of TB in older children and adults, may be of no benefit or even harmful in infants who manifest much less inflammatory disease.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiyo Iba ◽  
Changyoun Kim ◽  
Michelle Sallin ◽  
Somin Kwon ◽  
Anjali Verma ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: ɑ-synuclein (ɑ-syn) is a presynaptic protein which progressively accumulates in neuronal and non-neuronal cells in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy. Recent evidence suggests that aberrant immune activation may be involved in neurodegeneration in PD/DLB. While previous studies have often focused on the microglial responses, less is known about the role of the peripheral immune system in these disorders.Methods: To understand the involvement of the peripheral immune system in PD/DLB, we evaluated T cell populations in the brains of ɑ-syn transgenic (tg) mice (eg: Thy1 promoter line 61) and DLB patients.Results: Immunohistochemical analysis showed perivascular and parenchymal infiltration by CD3+/CD4+ helper T cells, but not cytotoxic T cells (CD3+/CD8+) or B cells (CD20+), in the neocortex, hippocampus, and striatum of ɑ-syn tg mice. CD3+ cells were found in close proximity to the processes of activated astroglia, particularly in areas of the brain with significant astrogliosis, microgliosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, a subset of CD3+ cells co-expressed interferon γ. Flow cytometric analysis of immune cells revealed that CD1d+ T cells were also increased in the brains of ɑ-syn tg mice and matched an expression profile consistent with natural killer T cells. In post-mortem DLB brains, we similarly detected CD3+ T cells that expressed CD4+ or CD1d+ in close proximity with blood vessels.Conclusion: These results suggest that infiltrating adaptive immune cells play an important role in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in synucleinopathies and that modulating peripheral T cells may be a viable therapeutic strategy for PD/DLB.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Pangrazzi ◽  
Erin Naismith ◽  
Carina Miggitsch ◽  
Jose’ Antonio Carmona Arana ◽  
Michael Keller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Obesity has been associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Both conditions play a determinant role in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases, such as immunosenescence. Adipose tissue can modulate the function of the immune system with the secretion of molecules influencing the phenotype of immune cells. The importance of the bone marrow (BM) in the maintenance of antigen-experienced adaptive immune cells has been documented in mice. Recently, some groups have investigated the survival of effector/memory T cells in the human BM. Despite this, whether high body mass index (BMI) may affect immune cells in the BM and the production of molecules supporting the maintenance of these cells it is unknown.Methods. Using flow cytometry, the frequency and the phenotype of immune cell populations were measured in paired BM and PB samples obtained from persons with different BMI. Furthermore, the expression of BM cytokines was assessed. The influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) on T cell subsets was additionally considered, dividing the donors into the CMV- and CMV+ groups.Results. Our study suggests that increased BMI may affect both the maintenance and the phenotype of adaptive immune cells in the BM. While the BM levels of IL-15 and IL-6, supporting the survival of highly differentiated T cells, and oxygen radicals increased in overweight persons, the production of IFNγ and TNF by CD8+ T cells was reduced. In addition, the frequency of B cells and CD4+ T cells positively correlated with BMI in the BM of CMV- persons. Finally, the frequency of several T cell subsets, and the expression of senescence/exhaustion markers within these subpopulations, were affected by BMI. In particular, the levels of bona fide memory T cells may be reduced in overweight persons.Conclusion. Our work suggests that, in addition to aging and CMV, obesity may represent an additional risk factor for immunosenescence in adaptive immune cells. Metabolic interventions may help in improving the fitness of the immune system in the elderly.


Author(s):  
Bing Liu ◽  
Junyan Han ◽  
Xiaohuan Cheng ◽  
Long Yu ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundCOVID-19 has been widely spreading. We aim to examine adaptive immune cells in non-severe patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 shedding.Methods37 non-severe patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence transferred to Zhongnan hospital of Wuhan University were retrospectively recruited to PP (persistently positive) group, which was further allocated to PPP group (n=19) and PPN group (n=18), according to their testing results after 7 days (N=negative). Epidemiological, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Data from age- and sex-matched non-severe patients at disease onset (PA [positive on admission] patients, n=37), and lymphocyte subpopulation measurements from matched 54 healthy subjects were extracted for comparison.ResultsCompared with PA patients, PP patients had much improved laboratory findings, including WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, albumin, AST, CRP, SAA, and IL-6. The absolute numbers of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and NK cells were significantly higher in PP group than that in PA group, and were comparable to that in healthy controls. PPP subgroup had markedly reduced B cells and T cells compared to PPN group and healthy subjects. Finally, paired results of these lymphocyte subpopulations from 10 PPN patients demonstrated that the number of T cells and B cells significantly increased when the SARS-CoV-2 tests turned negative.ConclusionPersistent SARS-CoV-2 presence in non-severe COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced numbers of adaptive immune cells. Monitoring lymphocyte subpopulations could be clinically meaningful in identifying fully recovered COVID-19 patients.SummaryDefects in adaptive immune system, including reduced T cells and B cells, were frequently observed in non-severe COVID-19 patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 shedding. Assessment of immune system could be clinically relevant for discharge management.


Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 358 (6359) ◽  
pp. 58-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. T. Stubbington ◽  
Orit Rozenblatt-Rosen ◽  
Aviv Regev ◽  
Sarah A. Teichmann

The immune system varies in cell types, states, and locations. The complex networks, interactions, and responses of immune cells produce diverse cellular ecosystems composed of multiple cell types, accompanied by genetic diversity in antigen receptors. Within this ecosystem, innate and adaptive immune cells maintain and protect tissue function, integrity, and homeostasis upon changes in functional demands and diverse insults. Characterizing this inherent complexity requires studies at single-cell resolution. Recent advances such as massively parallel single-cell RNA sequencing and sophisticated computational methods are catalyzing a revolution in our understanding of immunology. Here we provide an overview of the state of single-cell genomics methods and an outlook on the use of single-cell techniques to decipher the adaptive and innate components of immunity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 155 (03) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Limmer ◽  
Dieter Wirtz

Abstract Background Stimulating bone regeneration is a central aim in orthopaedic and trauma surgery. Although the replacement of bone with artificial materials like cement or apatite helps to keep up bone stability, new bone often cannot be regenerated. Increasing research efforts have led to the clinical application of growth factors stimulating bone growth (e.g. bone morphogenic protein, BMP) and inhibitors preventing bone consumption (e.g. RANKL blocking antibodies). These factors mostly concentrate on stimulating osteoblast or preventing osteoclast activity. Current Situation It is widely accepted that osteoblasts and osteoclasts are central players in bone regeneration. This concept assumes that osteoblasts are responsible for bone growth while osteoclasts cause bone consumption by secreting matrix-degrading enzymes such as cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). However, according to new research results, bone growth or consumption are not regulated by single cell types. It is rather the interaction of various cell types that regulates bone metabolism. While factors secreted by osteoblasts are essential for osteoclast differentiation and activation, factors secreted by activated osteoclasts are essential for osteoblast activity. In addition, recent research results imply that the influence of the immune system on bone metabolism has long been neglected. Factors secreted by macrophages or T cells strongly influence bone growth or degradation, depending on the bone microenvironment. Infections, sterile inflammation or tumour metastases not only affect bone cells directly, but also influence immune cells such as T cells indirectly. Furthermore, immune cells and bone are mechanistically regulated by similar factors such as cytokines, chemokines and transcription factors, suggesting that the definition of bone and immune cells has to be thought over. Outlook Bone and the immune system are regulated by similar mechanisms. These newly identified similarities between bone and the immune system imply that medication developed for tumour and autoimmune patients could also be applied in bone diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Dievernich ◽  
Pascal Achenbach ◽  
Luke Davies ◽  
Uwe Klinge

Abstract Aim Polypropylene (PP) mesh is widely used to reinforce tissues. The foreign body reaction (FBR) to the implant is dominated by innate immune cells, especially macrophages. However, considerable numbers of adaptive immune cells have also been regularly observed, which appear to play a crucial role in the long-term host response. This study investigated the FBR to seven human PP meshes, which were removed from the abdomen for recurrence after a median of one year. Material and Methods Using immunofluorescence microscopy and distance maps, the FBR was spatially analyzed for various innate (e.g., CD68+ macrophages, CD56+ NK) and adaptive immune cells (CD3+ T, CD4+ T-helper, CD8+ cytotoxic, FoxP3+ T-regulatory, CD20+ B) as well as “conventional” immune cells (defined as cells expressing their specific immune cell marker without co-expressing CD68). Results T-helper cells (19%) and regulatory T-cells (25%) were present at comparable rates to macrophages, and clustered significantly toward the mesh fibers. For all cell types the lowest proportions of “conventional” cells (< 60%) were observed at the mesh–tissue interface, but increased considerably at about 50–100 µm, indicating reduced stimulation with rising distance to the mesh fibers. Conclusions Both innate and adaptive immune cells participate in the chronic FBR to PP meshes with T cells and macrophages being the predominant cell types, respectively. Furthermore, many cells present a “hybrid” pattern near the mesh fibers. The complexity of the local immune reaction may explain why approaches focusing on specific cell types have not been very successful in reducing the chronic FBR.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document