TCF-1 Is Required for CD4 T Cell Persistence Functions during AlloImmunityMahinbanu Mammadli - 2023
AbstractThe transcription factor T cell factor-1 (TCF-1) is encoded by Tcf7 and plays a significant
role in regulating immune responses to cancer and pathogens. TCF-1 plays a central role in CD4
T cell development; however, the biological function of TCF-1 on mature peripheral CD4 T cellmediated alloimmunity is currently unknown. This report reveals that TCF-1 is critical for mature
CD4 T cell stemness and their persistence functions. Our data show that mature CD4 T cells from
TCF-1 cKO mice did not cause graft versus host disease (GvHD) during allogeneic CD4 T cell
transplantation, and donor CD4 T cells did not cause GvHD damage to target organs. For the first
time, we showed that TCF-1 regulates CD4 T cell stemness by regulating CD28 expression, which is
required for CD4 stemness. Our data showed that TCF-1 regulates CD4 effector and central memory
formation. For the first time, we provide evidence that TCF-1 differentially regulates key chemokine
and cytokine receptors critical for CD4 T cell migration and inflammation during alloimmunity.
Our transcriptomic data uncovered that TCF-1 regulates critical pathways during normal state and
alloimmunity. Knowledge acquired from these discoveries will enable us to develop a target-specific
approach for treating CD4 T cell-mediated diseases
NUDT7 regulates total hepatic CoA levels and the composition of the intestinal bile acid pool in male mice fed a Western dietSchuyler D. Vickers - 2022
AbstractNudix hydrolase 7 (NUDT7) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes CoA species, is highly expressed in the liver, and resides in the peroxisomes. Peroxisomes are organelles where the preferential oxidation of dicarboxylic fatty acids occurs and where the hepatic synthesis of the primary bile acids cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid is completed. We previously showed that liver-specific overexpression of NUDT7 affects peroxisomal lipid metabolism, but does not prevent the increase in total liver CoA levels that occurs during fasting. We generated Nudt7-/- mice to further characterize the role that peroxisomal (acyl-)CoA degradation plays in the modulation of the size and composition of the acyl-CoA pool and in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. Here we show that deletion of Nudt7 alters the composition of the hepatic acyl-CoA pool in mice fed a low-fat diet, but only in males fed a Western diet does the lack of NUDT7 activity increase total liver CoA levels. This effect is driven by the male-specific accumulation of medium-chain dicarboxylic acyl-CoAs, which are produced from the β-oxidation of dicarboxylic fatty acids. We also show that, under conditions of elevated synthesis of chenodeoxycholic acid derivatives, Nudt7 deletion promotes the production of tauromuricholic acid, decreasing the hydrophobicity index of the intestinal bile acid pool and increasing fecal cholesterol excretion in male mice. These findings reveal that NUDT7-mediated hydrolysis of acyl-CoA pathway intermediates in liver peroxisomes contributes to the regulation of dicarboxylic fatty acid metabolism and the composition of the bile acid pool.
Inflammation and CB2 signaling drive novel changes in the ocular lipidome and regulate immune cell activity in the eyeJT Toguri - 2018
AbstractUveitis is inflammation of the uvea which consists of the iris, ciliary body and the choroid of the eye. Uveitis can lead to impaired vision and is responsible for 10% of all cases of blindness globally. Using an endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rodent model, our previous data implicated the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) in the amelioration of many of the components of the inflammatory response. Here, we test the hypothesis that the reduction in inflammatory mediators in the EIU model by the CB2 agonist, HU308, is associated with changes in ECS endogenous ligands as well as related lipids, prostaglandins (PGs), 2-acyl glycerols, and lipoamines. Analysis of leukocytes and neutrophils, CB2 mRNA, and 26 lipids in the eye of WT mice after EIU induction and HU308 treatment were compared to the same analyses in the CB2 knock-out (CB2 KO) mouse. Endothelial leukocyte adhesion and neutrophil migration were significantly increased in both WT and CB2 KO after EIU. HU308 significantly reduced the leukocyte adhesion and neutrophil recruitment in the WT animals. HU308 also significantly reduced leukocyte adhesion in the CB2 KO mouse, yet, had no effect on neutrophil infiltration suggesting an important off-target effect of HU308. Lipidomics profiles revealed significant increases in 6 non-ECS lipids after EIU in the WT and that HU308 effectively reduced these back to control levels; in addition, HU308 increased levels of 2-acyl glycerols and decreased all N-acyl glycines. CB2 KOs with saline-injection compared to WT had significantly elevated levels of 2-acyl glycerols, whereas levels of N-oleoyl ethanolamine (OEA), N-stearoyl ethanolamine (SEA), and PGE2 were reduced. CB2 KOs with EIU had 13 lipids that were significantly lower than WT with EIU including 4 N-acyl glycines. HU308 had no effect on lipid concentrations in the CB2 KOs with EIU, however, it did cause further reductions on 3 additional lipids compared to saline controls. HU308 appears to be acting at a non-CB2 target for the reduction of leukocyte infiltration in the EIU model; however, our data suggest that HU308 is working through CB2 to reduce neutrophil migration and for the regulation of multiple lipid signaling pathways including PGs, lipoamines, and 2-acyl glycerols. These data implicate ocular CB2 as a key component of lipid signaling in the eye and part of the regulatory processes of inflammation.
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL23R-IL12RB2 (rs1495965) Are Highly Prevalent in Patients with Behcet’s Uveitis, and Vary between PopulationsMichal Kramer - 2018
AbstractPurpose: To test the frequency of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL-10, IL23R-IL12RB2 genes in patients with Behcet’s uveitis.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 89 Israeli and Turkish patients, and from healthy control subjects of different origins. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and genotyped.Results: The risk allele, A, in rs1800871, of IL-10 gene was highly prevalent in Behcet’s uveitis and healthy control samples alike; highest among the Turkish groups. Prevalence of G allele, in rs1495965, in the IL23R-IL12RB2 gene was high in Behcet’s uveitis patients, and among healthy Turkish and Israelis of Middle Eastern origin, while lower among the other Israeli control group (77.9%, 78.9%, 27.8%, respectively, P < 0.001).Conclusion: Our findings highlight the differences between populations and may account for the increased prevalence of the disease among Turkish and Israelis of Middle Eastern origin. Further studies are required to map other healthy and affected populations.
Core Binding Factor β Expression in Ovarian Granulosa Cells Is Essential for Female FertilitySomang Lee-Thacker - 2018
AbstractCore binding factor β (CBFβ) is a non–DNA-binding partner of all RUNX proteins and critical for transcription activity of CBF transcription factors (RUNXs/CBFβ). In the ovary, the expression of Runx1 and Runx2 is highly induced by the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in ovulatory follicles, whereas Cbfb is constitutively expressed. To investigate the physiological significance of CBFs in the ovary, the current study generated two different conditional mutant mouse models in which granulosa cell expression of Cbfb and Runx2 was reduced by Cre recombinase driven by an Esr2 promoter. Cbfbgc−/− and Cbfbgc−/− × Runx2gc+/− mice exhibited severe subfertility and infertility, respectively. In the ovaries of both mutant mice, follicles develop normally, but the majority of preovulatory follicles failed to ovulate either in response to human chorionic gonadotropin administration in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin–primed immature animals or after the LH surge at 5 months of age. Morphological and physiological changes in the corpus luteum of these mutant mice revealed the reduced size, progesterone production, and vascularization, as well as excessive lipid accumulation. In granulosa cells of periovulatory follicles and corpora lutea of these mice, the expression of Edn2, Ptgs1, Lhcgr, Sfrp4, Wnt4, Ccrl2, Lipg, Saa3, and Ptgfr was also drastically reduced. In conclusion, the current study provided in vivo evidence that CBFβ plays an essential role in female fertility by acting as a critical cofactor of CBF transcription factor complexes, which regulate the expression of specific key ovulatory and luteal genes, thus coordinating the ovulatory process and luteal development/function in mice.
The Adhesion G-Protein-Coupled Receptor, GPR56/ADGRG1, Inhibits Cell–Extracellular Matrix Signaling to Prevent Metastatic Melanoma GrowthMichelle W. Millar - 2018
AbstractMetastatic growth is considered a rate-limiting step in cancer progression, and upregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and cell–ECM signaling are major drivers of this process. Mechanisms to reverse ECM upregulation in cancer could potentially facilitate its prevention and treatment but they are poorly understood. We previously reported that the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor GPR56/ADGRG1 is downregulated in melanoma metastases. Its re-expression inhibited melanoma growth and metastasis and reduced the deposition of fibronectin, a major ECM component. We hypothesize that its effect on fibronectin deposition contributes to its inhibitory role on metastatic growth. To test this, we investigated the function of GPR56 on cell–fibronectin adhesion and its relationship with metastatic growth in melanoma. Our results reveal that GPR56 inhibits melanoma metastatic growth by impeding the expansion of micrometastases to macrometastases. Meanwhile, we present evidence that GPR56 inhibits fibronectin deposition and its downstream signaling, such as phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), during this process. Administration of the FAK inhibitor Y15 perturbed the proliferation of melanoma metastases, supporting a causative link between the cell adhesion defect induced by GPR56 and its inhibition of metastatic growth. Taken together, our results suggest that GPR56 in melanoma metastases inhibits ECM accumulation and adhesion, which contributes to its negative effects on metastatic growth.
