scholarly journals Adaptive and Innate Immune Cells in Fetal Human Cytomegalovirus-Infected Brains

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann Sellier ◽  
Florence Marliot ◽  
Bettina Bessières ◽  
Julien Stirnemann ◽  
Ferechte Encha-Razavi ◽  
...  

Background: The understanding of the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced fetal brain lesions is limited. We aimed to quantify adaptive and innate immune cells and CMV-infected cells in fetal brains with various degrees of brain damage. Methods: In total, 26 archived embedded fetal brains were studied, of which 21 were CMV-infected and classified in severely affected (n = 13) and moderately affected (n = 8), and 5 were uninfected controls. The respective magnitude of infected cells, immune cells (CD8+, B cells, plasma cells, NK cells, and macrophages), and expression of immune checkpoint receptors (PD-1/PD-L1 and LAG-3) were measured by immunochemistry and quantified by quantitative imaging analysis. Results: Quantities of CD8+, plasma cells, NK cells, macrophages, and HCMV+ cells and expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and LAG-3 were significantly higher in severely affected than in moderately affected brains (all p values < 0.05). A strong link between higher number of stained cells for HCMV/CD8 and PD-1 and severity of brain lesions was found by component analysis. Conclusions: The higher expression of CD8, PD-1, and LAG-3 in severely affected brains could reflect immune exhaustion of cerebral T cells. These exhausted T cells could be ineffective in controlling viral multiplication itself, leading to more severe brain lesions. The study of the functionality of brain leucocytes ex vivo is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierpaolo Ginefra ◽  
Girieca Lorusso ◽  
Nicola Vannini

In recent years, immunotherapy has become the most promising therapy for a variety of cancer types. The development of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, the adoptive transfer of tumor-specific T cells (adoptive cell therapy (ACT)) or the generation of T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) have been successfully applied to elicit durable immunological responses in cancer patients. However, not all the patients respond to these therapies, leaving a consistent gap of therapeutic improvement that still needs to be filled. The innate immune components of the tumor microenvironment play a pivotal role in the activation and modulation of the adaptive immune response against the tumor. Indeed, several efforts are made to develop strategies aimed to harness innate immune cells in the context of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we describe the contribution of innate immune cells in T-cell-based cancer immunotherapy and the therapeutic approaches implemented to broaden the efficacy of these therapies in cancer patients.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Won Lee ◽  
Hyun Jung Park ◽  
Nayoung Kim ◽  
Seokmann Hong

Natural killer dendritic cells (NKDCs) possess potent anti-tumor activity, but the cellular effect of NKDC interactions with other innate immune cells is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction of NKDCs and natural killer T (NKT) cells is required for the anti-tumor immune responses that are elicited byα-galactosylceramide (α-GC) in mice. The rapid and strong expression of interferon-γby NKDCs afterα-GC stimulation was dependent on NKT cells. Various NK and DC molecular markers and cytotoxic molecules were up-regulated followingα-GC administration. This up-regulation could improve NKDC presentation of tumor antigens and increase cytotoxicity against tumor cells. NKDCs were required for the stimulation of DCs, NK cells, and NKT cells. The strong anti-tumor immune responses elicited byα-GC may be due to the down-regulation of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, the depletion of NKDCs dampened the tumor clearance mediated byα-GC-stimulated NKT cellsin vivo. Taken together, these results indicate that complex interactions of innate immune cells might be required to achieve optimal anti-tumor immune responses during the early stages of tumorigenesis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-158
Author(s):  
L. Dold ◽  
L. Zimmer ◽  
C. Schwarze-Zander ◽  
C. Boesecke ◽  
R. Mohr ◽  
...  

Abstract HLA-B*57 affects the course of HIV infection. Under antiretroviral therapy, its effects cannot be explained by outstandingly efficient T cell responses alone but may also involve cells of innate immunity. Studying in vitro stimulation with Pam3CSK4, E. coli LPS-B5 and CpG-ODN-2216, we observed greater induction of IL-6/IL-1beta double-positive CD14+CD16++ monocytes as well as IFN-gamma-positive cytotoxic CD56highCD16neg NK cells in HLA-B*57- versus HLA-B*44-positive HIV patients, while TNF-alpha induction remained unchanged. Differences were not seen in the other monocyte and NK cell subsets or in HLA-matched healthy controls. Our findings show that, in virally suppressed HIV infection, HLA-B*57 is associated with enhanced responsiveness of inflammatory innate immune cells to TLR ligands, possibly contributing to increased vulnerability in sepsis. Key messages • HLA-B*57 is a host factor affecting clinical outcomes of HIV infection. • HLA-B*57 modifies inflammatory subsets of NK cells and monocytes in HIV infection. • In HLA-B*57-positive HIV patients TLR agonists induce enhanced IL-6/IL-1beta in monocytes. • NK cells from HLA-B*57 HIV patients release more IFN-gamma upon TLR costimulation. • HLA-B*57 is linked to enhanced inflammatory responsiveness to TLR ligands.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 996-996
Author(s):  
Xiufen Chen ◽  
Dominick Fosco ◽  
Douglas E. Kline ◽  
Justin Kline

Abstract Pre-apoptotic cancer cells release internalized calreticulin (CRT) to their surface prior to death, which acts as an ‘eat-me’ signal to local phagocytes. Chemotherapy and irradiation, which can induce immunogenic cell death through CRT translocation, can also result in local and/or systemic immune suppression in the host. To bypass the requirement of exposing the host to chemotherapy to induce translocation of CRT to the cell surface, murine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells (C1498), were engineered to constitutively express cell surface CRT (C1498.CRT). Vector control C1498 or C1498.CRT cells were inoculated intravenously (IV) into C57BL/6 mice. Significantly prolonged survival was observed in hosts harboring C1498.CRT versus vector control C1498 cells systemically. The survival benefit were abrogated in both Rag2-/- hosts or by depletion of T cells with anti-CD4 plus anti-CD8 antibodies, arguing that the immune-mediated effect of cell-surface CRT expression is dependent upon a functional adaptive immune system. More strikingly, systemic inoculation with C1498.CRT cells expressing the model SIYRYYGL (SIY) peptide antigen (C1498.SIY.CRT cells) resulted in almost complete protection from AML development (>90% long term survival vs. 10% of C1498.SIY vector control cells). All animals surviving a primary C1498.SIY.CRT challenge rejected a subsequent re-challenge with C1498.SIY cells, suggesting that CRT-expressing AML cells promote immunologic memory. Significantly enhanced expansion and unregulated IFNγ production were observed among SIY-specific T cell receptor transgenic CD8+ 2C T cells following their adoptive transfer into hosts bearing C1498.SIY.CRT AML cells versus vector control C1498.SIY cells. Interestingly, CRT expression on AML cells did not promote their in vivo phagocytosis by innate immune cells, specifically splenic CD8a+ dendritic cells known to engulf AML cells following their IV inoculation. IL-12 production by CD8α+CD11c+ dendritic cells which had engulfed C1498 and C1498.CRT cells in vivo was similarly induced, and cross-presentation of the SIY antigen to 2C T cells ex vivo by purified CD8a+DCs following in vivo exposure to C1498.SIY or C1498.SIY.CRT cells was also similar. In conclusion, it is clear that expression on CRT on the surface of AML cells leads to robust leukemia-specific T cell activation and expansion resulting in prolonged leukemia-specific survival in AML-bearing animals. Although a direct effect of CRT on innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells, is suspected, the molecular mechanism underlying the “CRT effect” remains unclear, and is being explored further through gene expression analysis in purified DCs which have engulfed CRT-expressing or control AML cells in vivo, as well as in animals genetically deficient in the putative CRT receptor, LRP, in dendritic cells. It will be of interest to analyze spontaneous CRT expression on AML cells from human samples and to correlate cell surface CRT expression with the presence or absence of spontaneous T cell responses to known AML antigens and with clinical outcomes. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Author(s):  
Lars Lunding ◽  
Christina Vock ◽  
Sina Webering ◽  
Jochen Behrends ◽  
Christoph Hölscher ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (21) ◽  
pp. 9608-9617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Schmiedel ◽  
Julie Tai ◽  
Francesca Levi-Schaffer ◽  
Sarah Dovrat ◽  
Ofer Mandelboim

ABSTRACT The Herpesviridae family consists of eight viruses, most of which infect a majority of the human population. One of the less-studied members is human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) ( Roseolovirus ), which causes a mild, well-characterized childhood disease. Primary HHV-6 infection is followed by lifelong latency. Reactivation frequently occurs in immunocompromised patients, such as those suffering from HIV infection or cancer or following transplantation, and causes potentially life-threatening complications. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms that HHV-6 utilizes to remain undetected by natural killer (NK) cells, which are key participants in the innate immune response to infections. We revealed viral mechanisms which downregulate ligands for two powerful activating NK cell receptors: ULBP1, ULBP3, and MICB, which trigger NKG2D, and B7-H6, which activates NKp30. Accordingly, this downregulation impaired the ability of NK cells to recognize HHV-6-infected cells. Thus, we describe for the first time immune evasion mechanisms of HHV-6 that protect lytically infected cells from NK elimination. IMPORTANCE Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) latently infects a large portion of the human population and can reactivate in humans lacking a functional immune system, such as cancer or AIDS patients. Under these conditions, it can cause life-threatening diseases. To date, the actions and interplay of immune cells, and particularly cells of the innate immune system, during HHV-6 infection are poorly defined. In this study, we aimed to understand how cells undergoing lytic HHV-6 infection interact with natural killer (NK) cells, innate lymphocytes constituting the first line of defense against viral intruders. We show that HHV-6 suppresses the expression of surface proteins that alert the immune cells by triggering two major receptors on NK cells, NKG2D and NKp30. As a consequence, HHV-6 can replicate undetected by the innate immune system and potentially spread infection throughout the body. This study advances the understanding of HHV-6 biology and the measures it uses to successfully escape immune elimination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dearbhla M. Murphy ◽  
Kingston H. G. Mills ◽  
Sharee A. Basdeo

The burgeoning field of innate immune training, also called trained immunity, has given immunologists new insights into the role of innate responses in protection against infection and in modulating inflammation. Moreover, it has led to a paradigm shift in the way we think about immune memory and the interplay between innate and adaptive immune systems in conferring immunity against pathogens. Trained immunity is the term used to describe the medium-term epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of innate immune cells in peripheral tissues or in the bone marrow stem cell niche. It is elicited by an initial challenge, followed by a significant period of rest that results in an altered response to a subsequent, unrelated challenge. Trained immunity can be associated with increased production of proinflammatory mediators, such as IL-1β, TNF and IL-6, and increased expression of markers on innate immune cells associated with antigen presentation to T cells. The microenvironment created by trained innate immune cells during the secondary challenge may have profound effects on T cell responses, such as altering the differentiation, polarisation and function of T cell subtypes, including Th17 cells. In addition, the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ plays a critical role in establishing trained immunity. In this review, we discuss the evidence that trained immunity impacts on or can be impacted by T cells. Understanding the interplay between innate immune training and how it effects adaptive immunity will give insights into how this phenomenon may affect the development or progression of disease and how it could be exploited for therapeutic interventions or to enhance vaccine efficacy.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2226
Author(s):  
Israa Shihab ◽  
Bariaa A. Khalil ◽  
Noha Mousaad Elemam ◽  
Ibrahim Y. Hachim ◽  
Mahmood Yaseen Hachim ◽  
...  

The innate immune system is the first line of defense against invading pathogens and has a major role in clearing transformed cells, besides its essential role in activating the adaptive immune system. Macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, and granulocytes are part of the innate immune system that accumulate in the tumor microenvironment such as breast cancer. These cells induce inflammation in situ by secreting cytokines and chemokines that promote tumor growth and progression, in addition to orchestrating the activities of other immune cells. In breast cancer microenvironment, innate immune cells are skewed towards immunosuppression that may lead to tumor evasion. However, the mechanisms by which immune cells could interact with breast cancer cells are complex and not fully understood. Therefore, the importance of the mammary tumor microenvironment in the development, growth, and progression of cancer is widely recognized. With the advances of using bioinformatics and analyzing data from gene banks, several genes involved in NK cells of breast cancer individuals have been identified. In this review, we discuss the activities of certain genes involved in the cross-talk among NK cells and breast cancer. Consequently, altering tumor immune microenvironment can make breast tumors more responsive to immunotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 1424-1424
Author(s):  
François-René Bertin ◽  
Sandrine Laurance ◽  
Catherine Lemarie ◽  
Mark Blostein

Abstract Thrombosis is considered to be a pathological deviation of physiologic hemostasis involving similar mechanisms. Interestingly, recent work demonstrates that innate immune cells promote venous thrombosis. Innate immune cells were shown to collaborate to induce the activation of the coagulation cascade and platelets. In particular, neutrophils contribute to venous thrombosis through the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). However, the mechanism triggering the formation of NETs during venous thrombosis remain unknown. Of interest, a study showed that IFNγ induced the formation of NETs. Thus, we investigated the role of IFNγ-producing cells in the development of thrombosis. We used mice lacking IFNγ, Tbet (the transcription factor regulating the expression of IFNγ) or wild type mice. Venous thrombosis was induced using the flow restriction model in the inferior vena cava , as has been previously published. In Tbet-/-, IFNγ-/- and WT mice, we show that the absence of Tbet or IFNγ decreases the formation of thrombi after venous thrombosis induction, suggesting that the Tbet+/IFNγ producing cells are required for the early development of venous thrombosis. Comparing the composition of the thrombi from Tbet-/-, IFNγ-/- and WT mice, we show that, in all mice, neutrophils are the main cellular component of thrombi followed by monocytes; however, the number of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formed during thrombosis is significantly lower in Tbet-/- and IFNγ-/- mice. Furthermore, NET formation is also decreased in WT mice specifically depleted of IFNγ and increases in Tbet-/- and IFNγ-/- mice injected with recombinant IFNγ. In vitro, we show that stimulation of WT murine neutrophils with recombinant IFNγ triggers the formation of NETs demonstrating that Tbet and IFNγ are crucial for NET formation by neutrophils. Natural killer (NK) cells are the main producers of IFNγ . Thus, we investigated the role of NK cells in venous thrombosis induced by flow restriction. NK cells were specifically depleted with an antibody during the development of venous thrombosis. The absence of NK cells results in smaller thrombi suggesting that NK cells are required for early thrombus development. Additionally, depletion in NK cells results in decreased in-situ IFNγ production and decreased NET formation. To directly link NK cells to the formation of NETs, WT neutrophils were co-cultured with Tbet-/- and IFNγ-/- NK cells. We show that WT neutrophils release less NETs when cultured with Tbet-/- and IFNγ-/- NK cells as compared to WT NK cells. These data suggest that NK cells trigger the formation of NETs by neutrophils through the production of IFNγ. Hence, we demonstrate that, in a partial flow restriction model of venous thrombosis, Tbet and IFNγ are crucial for thrombus development by promoting the formation of NETs by neutrophils and that NK cells are key effector cells in this process. Disclosures Blostein: boehringer-ingelheim: Research Funding.


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