Resolving the cellular specificity of TSPO imaging in a rat model of peripherally-induced neuroinflammation
Brain, behavior, and immunity
Vicente-Rodríguez, M;Singh, N;Turkheimer, F;Peris-Yague, A;Randall, K;Veronese, M;Simmons, C;Karim Haji-Dheere, A;Bordoloi, J;Sander, K;Awais, RO;Årstad, E;Consortium, N;Cash, D;Parker, CA;
PMID: 34052363 | DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.025
the increased expression of 18kDa Translocator protein (TSPO) is one of the few available biomarkers of neuroinflammation that can be assessed in humans in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET). TSPO PET imaging of the central nervous system (CNS) has been widely undertaken, but to date no clear consensus has been reached about its utility in brain disorders. One reason for this could be because the interpretation of TSPO PET signal remains challenging, given the cellular heterogeneity and ubiquity of TSPO in the brain. the aim of the current study was to ascertain if TSPO PET imaging can be used to detect neuroinflammation induced by a peripheral treatment with endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a rat model (ip LPS), and investigate the origin of TSPO signal changes in terms of their cellular sources and regional distribution. An initial pilot study utilising both [18F]DPA-714 and [11C]PK11195 demonstrated [18F]DPA-714 to exhibit a significantly higher lesion-related signal in the intracerebral LPS rat model (ic LPS) than [11C]PK11195. Subsequently, [18F]DPA-714 was selected for use in the ip LPS study. twenty-four hours after ip LPS, there was an increased uptake of [18F]DPA-714 across the whole brain. Further analyses of regions of interest, using immunohistochemistry and RNAscope Multiplex fluorescence V2 in situ hybridization technology, showed TSPO expression in microglia, monocyte derived-macrophages, astrocytes, neurons and endothelial cells. The expression of TSPO was significantly increased after ip LPS in a region-dependent manner; with microglia, monocyte-derived macrophages and astrocytes in the substantia nigra, in contrast to the hippocampus where TSPO was mostly confined to microglia and astrocytes. in summary, our data demonstrate the robust detection of peripherally-induced neuroinflammation in the CNS utilizing the TSPO radioligand [18F]DPA-714, and importantly, confirm that the TSPO signal increase arises mostly from a combination of microglia, astrocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages.
Rigoni R, Fontana E, Dobbs K, Marrella V, Taverniti V, Maina V, Facoetti A, D'Amico G, Al-Herz W, Cruz-Munoz ME, Schuetz C, Gennery AR, Garabedian EK, Giliani S, Draper D, Dbaibo G, Geha RS, Meyts I1, Tousseyn T, Neven B, Moshous D, Fischer A, Schulz A, Finocchi A, Kuhns DB, Fink DL, Lionakis MS, Swamydas M, Guglielmetti S, Alejo J, Myles IA, Pittaluga S, Notarangelo LD, Villa A, Cassani B
PMID: 32311393 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.04.005
BACKGROUND:
Severe early-onset erythroderma and gut inflammation, with massive tissue infiltration of oligoclonal activated T cells are the hallmark of Omenn Syndrome (OS).
OBJECTIVE:
The impact of altered gut homeostasis in the cutaneous manifestations of OS remains to be clarified.
METHODS:
We analyzed a cohort of 15 patients with OS and the Rag2R229Q mouse model. Homing phenotype of circulating lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were examined in the sera by ELISA and in skin biopsies by immunohistochemistry and in situ RNA hybridization. Experimental colitis was induced in mice by dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS).
RESULTS:
We show that memory/activated T cells from OS patients and from the Rag2R229Q mouse model of OS abundantly express the skin homing receptors Cutaneous Lymphocyte Associated Antigen (CLA) and CCR4, associated with high levels of CCL17 and CCL22 chemokines. Serum levels of LPS are also elevated. A broad Th1/Th2/Th17 inflammatory signature is detected in the periphery and in the skin. Increased Tlr4 expression in the skin of Rag2R229Q mice is associated with enhanced cutaneous inflammation upon local and systemic administration of LPS. Likewise, boosting colitis in Rag2R229Q mice results in increased frequency of CCR4+ splenic T cells and worsening of skin inflammation, as indicated by epidermal thickening, enhanced epithelial cell activation and dermal infiltration by Th1 effector T cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results support the existence of an interplay between gut and skin that can sustain skin inflammation in O
Cytokine RNA In Situ Hybridization Permits Individualized Molecular Phenotyping in Biopsies of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis
Wang, A;Fogel, A;Murphy, M;Panse, G;McGeary, M;McNiff, J;Bosenberg, M;Vesely, M;Cohen, J;Ko, C;King, B;Damsky, W;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2021.100021
Detection of individual cytokines in routine biopsies from patients with inflammatory skin diseases has the potential to personalize diagnosis and treatment selection, but this approach has been limited by technical feasibility. We evaluate whether a chromogen-based RNA in situ hybridization approach can be used to detect druggable cytokines in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. A series of psoriasis (n = 20) and atopic dermatitis (n = 26) biopsies were stained using RNA in situ hybridization for IL4, IL12B (IL-12/23 p40), IL13, IL17A, IL17F, IL22, IL23A (IL-23 p19), IL31, and TNF (TNF-α). NOS2 and IFNG, canonical psoriasis biomarkers, were also included. All 20 of the psoriasis cases were positive for IL17A, which tended to be the predominant cytokine, although some cases had relatively higher levels of IL12B, IL17F, or IL23A. The majority of cytokine expression in psoriasis was epidermal. A total of 22 of 26 atopic dermatitis cases were positive for IL13, also at varying levels; a subset of cases had significant IL4, IL22, or IL31 expression. Patterns were validated in independent bulk RNA-sequencing and single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets. Overall, RNA in situ hybridization for cytokines appears highly specific with virtually no background staining and may allow for individualized evaluation of treatment-relevant cytokine targets in biopsies from patients with inflammatory skin disorders.
Rodríguez, JMM;Fonfara, S;Hetzel, U;Kipar, A;
PMID: 34955067 | DOI: 10.1177/03009858211062631
The sequence of pathological events in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (fHCM) is still largely unknown, although we know that fHCM is characterized by interstitial remodeling in a macrophage-driven pro-inflammatory environment and that myocardial ischemia might contribute to its progression. This study aimed to gain further insights into the structural changes associated with interstitial remodeling in fHCM with special focus on the myocardial microvasculature and the phenotype of the interstitial cells. Twenty-eight hearts (16 hearts with fHCM and 12 without cardiac disease) were evaluated in the current study, with immunohistochemistry, RNA-in situ hybridization, and transmission electron microscopy. Morphometrical evaluations revealed a statistically significant lower microvascular density in fHCM. This was associated with structural alterations in capillaries that go along with a widening of the interstitium due to the accumulation of edema fluid, collagen fibers, and mononuclear cells that also proliferated locally. The interstitial cells were mainly of fibroblastic or vascular phenotype, with a substantial contribution of predominantly resident macrophages. A large proportion expressed CD34 mRNA, which suggests a progenitor cell potential. Our results indicate that microvascular alterations are key events in the pathogenesis of fHCM and that myocardial interstitial cell populations with CD34+ phenotype play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Influence of the microenvironment on modulation of the host response by typhoid toxin
Martin, OCB;Bergonzini, A;Lopez Chiloeches, M;Paparouna, E;Butter, D;Theodorou, SDP;Haykal, MM;Boutet-Robinet, E;Tebaldi, T;Wakeham, A;Rhen, M;Gorgoulis, VG;Mak, T;Pateras, IS;Frisan, T;
PMID: 33826883 | DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108931
Bacterial genotoxins cause DNA damage in eukaryotic cells, resulting in activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) in vitro. These toxins are produced by Gram-negative bacteria, enriched in the microbiota of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, their role in infection remains poorly characterized. We address the role of typhoid toxin in modulation of the host-microbial interaction in health and disease. Infection with a genotoxigenic Salmonella protects mice from intestinal inflammation. We show that the presence of an active genotoxin promotes DNA fragmentation and senescence in vivo, which is uncoupled from an inflammatory response and unexpectedly associated with induction of an anti-inflammatory environment. The anti-inflammatory response is lost when infection occurs in mice with acute colitis. These data highlight a complex context-dependent crosstalk between bacterial-genotoxin-induced DDR and the host immune response, underlining an unexpected role for bacterial genotoxins.
Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2017 Nov;23(11):1950-1961.
Shouval DS, Konnikova L, Griffith AE, Wall SM, Biswas A, Werner L, Nunberg M, Kammermeier J, Goettel JA, Anand R, Chen H, Weiss B, Li J, Loizides A, Yerushalmi B, Yanagi T, Beier R, Conklin LS, Ebens CL, Santos FGMS, Sherlock M, Goldsmith JD, Kotlarz D, Glover SC, Shah N, Bousvaros A, Uhlig HH, Muise AM, Klein C, Snapper SB.
PMID: 29023267 | DOI: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000001270
Abstract BACKGROUND: IL10 receptor (IL10R) deficiency causes severe infantile-onset inflammatory bowel disease. Intact IL10R-dependent signals have been shown to be important for innate and adaptive immune cell functions in mice. We have previously reported a key role of IL10 in the generation and function of human anti-inflammatory macrophages. Independent of innate immune cell defects, the aim of the current study was to determine the role of IL10R signaling in regulating human CD4 T-cell function. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and intestinal biopsies cells were collected from IL10/IL10R-deficient patients and controls. Frequencies of CD4 T-cell subsets, naive T-cell proliferation, regulatory T cell (Treg)-mediated suppression, and Treg and TH17 generation were determined by flow cytometry. Transcriptional profiling was performed by NanoString and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RNA in situ hybridization was used to determine the quantities of various transcripts in intestinal mucosa. RESULTS: Analysis of 16 IL10- and IL10R-deficient patients demonstrated similar frequencies of peripheral blood and intestinal Tregs, compared with control subjects. In addition, in vitro Treg suppression of CD4 T-cell proliferation and generation of Treg were not dependent on IL10R signaling. However, IL10R-deficient T naive cells exhibited higher proliferative capacity, a strong TH17 signature, and an increase in polarization toward TH17 cells, compared with controls. Moreover, the frequency of TH17 cells was increased in the colon and ileum of IL10R-deficient patients. Finally, we show that stimulation of IL10R-deficient Tregs in the presence of IL1β leads to enhanced production of IL17A. CONCLUSIONS: IL10R signaling regulates TH17 polarization and T-cell proliferation in humans but is not required for the generation and in vitro suppression of Tregs. Therapies targeting the TH17 axis might be beneficial for IL10- and IL10R-deficient patients as a bridge to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Sasaki, K;Hayamizu, Y;Murakami, R;Toi, M;Iwai, K;
PMID: 37060248 | DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14623
Tumor-elicited inflammation confers tumorigenic properties, including cell death resistance, proliferation, or immune evasion. To focus on inflammatory signaling in tumors, we investigated linear ubiquitination, which enhances the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and prevents extrinsic programmed cell death under inflammatory environments. Here, we showed that linear ubiquitination was augmented especially in tumor cells around a necrotic core. Linear ubiquitination allowed melanomas to tolerate the hostile tumor microenvironment and to extend a necrosis-containing morphology. Loss of linear ubiquitination resulted in few necrotic lesions and growth regression, further leading to repression of innate anti-PD-1 therapy resistance signatures in melanoma as well as activation of interferon responses and antigen presentation that promote immune-mediated tumor eradication. Collectively, linear ubiquitination promotes tumor-specific tissue remodeling and the ensuing immune evasion.
Damsky, W;Wang, A;Kim, DJ;Young, BD;Singh, K;Murphy, MJ;Daccache, J;Clark, A;Ayasun, R;Ryu, C;McGeary, MK;Odell, ID;Fazzone-Chettiar, R;Pucar, D;Homer, R;Gulati, M;Miller, EJ;Bosenberg, M;Flavell, RA;King, B;
PMID: 35668129 | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30615-x
Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder that is commonly treated with glucocorticoids. An imprecise understanding of the immunologic changes underlying sarcoidosis has limited therapeutic progress. Here in this open-label trial (NCT03910543), 10 patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis are treated with tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor. The primary outcome is the change in the cutaneous sarcoidosis activity and morphology instrument (CSAMI) activity score after 6 months of treatment. Secondary outcomes included change in internal organ involvement, molecular parameters, and safety. All patients experience improvement in their skin with 6 patients showing a complete response. Improvement in internal organ involvement is also observed. CD4+ T cell-derived IFN-γ is identified as a central cytokine mediator of macrophage activation in sarcoidosis. Additional type 1 cytokines produced by distinct cell types, including IL-6, IL-12, IL-15 and GM-CSF, also associate with pathogenesis. Suppression of the activity of these cytokines, especially IFN-γ, correlates with clinical improvement. Our results thus show that tofacitinib treatment is associated with improved sarcoidosis symptoms, and predominantly acts by inhibiting type 1 immunity.
Distinct populations of antigen specific tissue resident CD8 T cells in human cervix mucosa
Peng, T;Phasouk, K;Bossard, E;Klock, A;Jin, L;Laing, KJ;Johnston, C;Williams, NA;Czartoski, JL;Varon, D;Long, AN;Bielas, JH;Snyder, TM;Robins, H;Koelle, DM;McElrath, MJ;Wald, A;Corey, L;Zhu, J;
PMID: 34156975 | DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.149950
The ectocervix is part of the lower female reproductive tract (FRT), which is susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (STI). Comprehensive knowledge of the phenotypes and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) in human FRT is lacking. We have taken single-cell RNA sequencing approaches to simultaneously define gene expression and TCR clonotypes of the human ectocervix. There are significantly more CD8 than CD4 T cells. Unsupervised clustering and trajectory analysis identify distinct populations of CD8 T cells with IFNGhiGZMBlowCD69hiCD103low or IFNGlowGZMBhiCD69medCD103hi phenotypes. Little overlap was seen between their TCR repertoires. Immunofluorescent staining shows that CD103+ CD8 TRM cells preferentially localize in epithelium while CD69+ CD8 TRM distribute evenly in epithelium and stroma. Ex vivo assays indicate up to 14% of cervical CD8 TRM clonotypes are HSV-2 reactive in HSV-2-seropositive persons, reflecting physiologically relevant localization. Our studies identify subgroups of CD8 TRM in the human ectocervix that exhibit distinct expression of antiviral defense and tissue residency markers, anatomic locations, and TCR repertoires that target anatomically relevant viral antigens. Optimization of the location, number, and function of FRT TRM is an important approach for improving host defenses to STI.
Chen, J;Murphy, M;Singh, K;Wang, A;Chow, R;Kim, S;Cohen, J;Ko, C;Damsky, W;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2023.100189
Acral dermatoses, including hyperkeratotic palmoplantar eczema (HPE), palmoplantar psoriasis (PP), and mycosis fungoides palmaris et plantaris (MFPP), can be challenging to diagnose clinically and histopathologically. In this setting, cytokine biomarkers may be able to help provide diagnostic clarity. We therefore evaluated interleukin (IL)-17A, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and IL-13 expression in PP, HPE, and MFPP and compared their expression profiles to non-acral sites. We utilized biopsy specimens from the Yale Dermatopathology database, selecting cases of HPE (n=12), PP (n=8), MFPP (n=8), normal acral skin (n=9), non-acral eczema (n=10), and non-acral psoriasis (n=10) with classic clinical and histopathologic features. IL17A mRNA expression by RNA in situ hybridization differentiated PP (median score 63.1 [IQR 9.4-104.1]) from HPE (0.8 [0-6.0]; P = .003), MFPP (0.6 [0-2.6]; P = .003), and normal acral skin (0 [0-0]; P < .001). Unexpectedly, both PP and HPE demonstrated co-expression of IFNG and IL13 mRNA. In contrast, non-acral psoriasis and eczema demonstrated divergent patterns of IFNG and IL13 mRNA expression. Taken together, we show that IL17A mRNA expression may be a useful biomarker of PP, and we further demonstrate that acral dermatoses exhibit unique immunology compared to non-acral sites, with implications for clinical management.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Oikawa, K;Kiland, J;Mathu, V;Torne, O;
METHODS : Retinal, optic nerve head (ONH) and distal optic nerve (ON) tissues from 8 juvenile 10-12 week-old cats (4 males and 4 females) with feline congenital glaucoma (FCG) and 5 age-matched normal control cats (3 males and 2 females) were used. Data for weekly intraocular pressure (IOP) and optic nerve axon counts were available for all subjects. Protein and gene expression in tissue cryosections were examined by immunofluorescence labeling (IF) and RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH), respectively. Retinal tissue was IF labeled for myeloid cell marker, IBA-1 and flat-mounted. ISH for markers of infiltrating monocytes/macrophages (_CCR2_) and proinflammatory cytokines (_IL1A_, _C1QA_, _TNF_) was performed. Microglia were identified by IF of homeostatic microglial marker, P2RY12. Microscopy images wereanalyzed using Image J, QuPath and Imaris. Two-tailed unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney test or ANOVA were used for between-group comparisons (p
Su, Q;Kim, S;Adewale, F;Zhou, Y;Aldler, C;Ni, M;Wei, Y;Burczynski, M;Atwal, G;Sleeman, M;Murphy, A;Xin, Y;Cheng, X;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103233
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health-care problem with limited therapeutic options. To obtain a cellular resolution of pathogenesis, 82,168 single-cell transcriptomes (scRNA-seq) across different NAFLD stages were profiled, identifying hepatocytes and 12 other non-parenchymal cell (NPC) types. scRNA-seq revealed insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease. We discovered a dual role for hepatic stellate cells in gene expression regulation and in the potential to trans-differentiate into myofibroblasts. We uncovered distinct expression profiles of Kupffer cells versus monocyte-derived macrophages during NAFLD progression. Kupffer cells showed stronger immune responses, while monocyte-derived macrophages demonstrated a capability for differentiation. Three chimeric NPCs were identified including endothelial-chimeric stellate cells, hepatocyte-chimeric endothelial cells, and endothelial-chimeric Kupffer cells. Our work identified unanticipated aspects of mouse with NAFLD at the single-cell level and advanced the understanding of cellular heterogeneity in NAFLD livers.