Issue published January 2, 2025 Previous issue | Next issue
- Volume 135, Issue 1
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On the cover: APP lactylation ameliorates amyloid pathology
Tian et al. report that lactylation of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) at lysine 612 ameliorates amyloid pathology and memory decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The cover image features immunofluorescence staining of Pan-Kla (red) and CD11B (green), with DAPI counterstaining (blue), in the hippocampus of AD model mice. Image credit: Qiuyun Tian.
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Reviews
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Abstract
The pursuit of a vaccine against the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been ongoing for more than 50 years. HCMV is the leading infectious cause of birth defects, including damage to the brain, and is a common cause of complications in organ transplantation. The complex biology of HCMV has made vaccine development difficult, but a recent meeting sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in September of 2023 brought together experts from academia, industry, and federal agencies to discuss progress in the field. The meeting reviewed the status of candidate HCMV vaccines under study and the challenges in clinical trial design in demonstrating efficacy against congenital CMV infection or the reduction of HCMV disease following solid organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Discussion in the meeting revealed that, with the numerous candidate vaccines that are under study, it is clear that a safe and effective HCMV vaccine is within reach. Meeting attendees achieved a consensus opinion that even a partially effective vaccine would have a major effect on the global health consequences of HCMV infection.
Authors
Sallie R. Permar, Mark R. Schleiss, Stanley A. Plotkin
×Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is etiologically complex, with well-documented genetic and nongenetic origins. In this Review, we speculate that the development of IPF requires two hits: the first establishes a vulnerable bronchoalveolar epithelium, and the second triggers mechanisms that reprogram distal epithelia to initiate and perpetuate a profibrotic phenotype. While vulnerability of the bronchoalveolar epithelia is most often driven by common or rare genetic variants, subsequent injury of the bronchoalveolar epithelia results in persistent changes in cell biology that disrupt tissue homeostasis and activate fibroblasts. The dynamic biology of IPF can best be contextualized etiologically and temporally, including stages of vulnerability, early disease, and persistent and progressive lung fibrosis. These dimensions of IPF highlight critical mechanisms that adversely disrupt epithelial function, activate fibroblasts, and lead to lung remodeling. Together with better recognition of early disease, this conceptual approach should lead to the development of novel therapeutics directed at the etiologic and temporal drivers of lung fibrosis that will ultimately transform the care of patients with IPF from palliative to curative.
Authors
James P. Bridges, Eszter K. Vladar, Jonathan S. Kurche, Andrei Krivoi, Ian T. Stancil, Evgenia Dobrinskikh, Yan Hu, Sarah K. Sasse, Joyce S. Lee, Rachel Z. Blumhagen, Ivana V. Yang, Anthony N. Gerber, Anna L. Peljto, Christopher M. Evans, Elizabeth F. Redente, David W.H. Riches, David A. Schwartz
×Abstract
Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Although with current treatment, acute mortality from MI is low, the damage and remodeling associated with MI are responsible for subsequent heart failure. Reducing cell death associated with acute MI would decrease the mortality associated with heart failure. Despite considerable study, the precise mechanism by which ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) trigger cell death is still not fully understood. In this Review, we summarize the changes that occur during I/R injury, with emphasis on those that might initiate cell death, such as calcium overload and oxidative stress. We review cell-death pathways and pathway crosstalk and discuss cardioprotective approaches in order to provide insight into mechanisms that could be targeted with therapeutic interventions. Finally, we review cardioprotective clinical trials, with a focus on possible reasons why they were not successful. Cardioprotection has largely focused on inhibiting a single cell-death pathway or one death-trigger mechanism (calcium or ROS). In treatment of other diseases, such as cancer, the benefit of targeting multiple pathways with a “drug cocktail” approach has been demonstrated. Given the crosstalk between cell-death pathways, targeting multiple cardiac death mechanisms should be considered.
Authors
Yusuf Mastoor, Elizabeth Murphy, Barbara Roman
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Commentaries
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Abstract
Similarly to acute intestinal helminth infection, several conditions of chronic eosinophilic type 2 inflammation of mucosal surfaces, including asthma and eosinophilic esophagitis, feature robust expansions of intraepithelial mast cells (MCs). Also the hyperplastic mucosa of nasal polyposis in the context of chronic rhinosinusitis, with or without COX1 inhibitor intolerance, contains impressive numbers of intraepithelial MCs. In this issue of the JCI, Derakhshan et al. elucidate the heterogeneity of MCs in nasal polyposis and identify a transcriptional signature of TGF-β target genes expressed by the intraepithelial MC population. These MCs displayed effector functions that implicate them as pathogenetic contributors. TGF-β directed differentiation of similar MC populations also in vitro. These findings extend the emerging concept of TGF-β as a driver of type 2 inflammation at barrier surfaces.
Authors
Axel Roers
×Abstract
Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a condition in which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) acquire mutations seen in leukemia. While individuals with CH generally do not show signs of hematologic disease, the condition becomes more common with age and correlates with age-related diseases, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). JAK2 mutations in HSCs can lead to CH and correlate with atherosclerosis, but the condition has been difficult to study because of challenges modeling the mutant cells at very low frequency. In this issue of the JCI, Liu et al. developed a low-allele-burden (LAB) mouse model in which a small number of bone marrow cells carrying the Jak2VF mutation were transplanted into mice predisposed to hyperlipidemia. Along with recapitulating features of plaque development, the authors identified the phagocytic receptors MERTK and TREM2 in WT cells as downstream of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1. These findings provide potential targets for preventing or treating patients at risk for CH-associated CVD.
Authors
Koral Campbell, Qing Li
×Abstract
Approximately 1 in 200 newborns worldwide are affected by congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). Most of these cases are asymptomatic due to successful control of the infection by the newborn’s immune system. In this issue of the JCI, Semmes et al. characterized the cellular immune response in cord blood of neonates with CMV infection. The authors found that conventional T cells with NK-like features expanded during congenital CMV infection. To exert their antiviral function, these cells relied on Fc receptors, recognizing virus-infected cells bound by IgG. Thereby, the fetal and maternal immune system can optimally cooperate to control CMV infection: maternal IgG crossing the placenta opsonizes virus-infected cells subsequently lysed by neonatal NK-like T cells. This finding suggests that innate-like programming of conventional T cells may have evolved to combat congenital CMV infection, offering insights that could inform the development of future therapies.
Authors
Simon Grassmann
×Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) incidence and deaths continue to rise, underscoring the need for improved cSCC prevention. Elimination of actinic keratosis (AK) precursor lesions is a major strategy to prevent cSCC. Topical calcipotriol and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been shown to eliminate AKs and reduce the risk of cSCC development, but the mechanism was undefined. In this issue of the JCI, Oka et al. demonstrate that type 2 immunity is necessary and sufficient for the elimination of premalignant keratinocytes and cSCC prevention. Paired biopsies from AK lesions and unaffected skin revealed that only keratinocytes from AKs produced thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and damage-associated molecular patterns, resulting in selective recruitment of Th2 cells to the AK lesion. In mouse models of skin carcinogenesis, TSLP was necessary to recruit Th2 cells and trigger IL-24–mediated keratinocyte cell death. These findings suggest that the TSLP/Th2/IL-24 axis is a potential therapeutic target for SCC prevention.
Authors
Matthew D. Vesely, Sean R. Christensen
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Research Letters
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Abstract
Authors
Andrés R. Muñoz-Rojas, Adam C. Wang, Lisa E. Pomeranz, Elizabeth L. Reizis, Heather W. Stout-Delgado, Ileana C. Miranda, Krishnan Rajagopalan, Tadiwanashe Gwatiringa, Roger R. Fan, Ahmad A. Huda, Neha Maskey, Roseline P. Olumuyide, Aryan S. Patel, Jeffrey M. Friedman, Diane Mathis, Kartik N. Rajagopalan
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Authors
Giang Pham, Raymond E. Diep, Lucien H. Turner, David B. Haslam, Sing Sing Way
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Research Articles
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Abstract
Impaired fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and the therapeutic benefits of FAO restoration have been revealed in sepsis. However, the regulatory factors contributing to FAO dysfunction during sepsis remain inadequately clarified. In this study, we identified a subset of lipid-associated macrophages characterized by high expression of trigger receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and demonstrated that TREM2 acted as a suppressor of FAO to increase the susceptibility to sepsis. TREM2 expression was markedly upregulated in sepsis patients and correlated with the severity of sepsis. Knockout of TREM2 in macrophages improved the survival rate and reduced inflammation and organ injuries of sepsis mice. Notably, TREM2-deficient mice exhibited decreased triglyceride accumulation and an enhanced FAO rate. Further observations showed that the blockade of FAO substantially abolished the alleviated symptoms observed in TREM2-knockout mice. Mechanically, we demonstrated that TREM2 interacted with the phosphatase SHP1 to inhibit bruton tyrosine kinase–mediated (BTK-mediated) FAO in sepsis. Our findings expand the understanding of FAO dysfunction in sepsis and reveal TREM2 as a critical regulator of FAO that may provide a promising target for the clinical treatment of sepsis.
Authors
Siqi Ming, Xingyu Li, Qiang Xiao, Siying Qu, Qiaohua Wang, Qiongyan Fang, Pingping Liang, Yating Xu, Jingwen Yang, Yongqiang Yang, Xi Huang, Yongjian Wu
×Abstract
ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling protein ATRX is an essential regulator involved in maintenance of DNA structure and chromatin state and regulation of gene expression during development. ATRX was originally identified as the monogenic cause of X-linked α-thalassemia mental retardation (ATR-X) syndrome. Affected individuals display a variety of developmental abnormalities and skeletal deformities. Studies from others investigated the role of ATRX in skeletal development by tissue-specific Atrx knockout. However, the impact of ATRX during early skeletal development has not been examined. Using preosteoblast-specific Atrx conditional knockout mice, we observed increased trabecular bone mass and decreased osteoclast number in bone. In vitro coculture of Atrx conditional knockout bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) with WT splenocytes showed impaired osteoclast differentiation. Additionally, Atrx deletion was associated with decreased receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (Rankl)/ osteoprotegerin (Opg) expression ratio in BMSCs. Notably, Atrx-deficient osteolineage cells expressed high levels of the neuropeptide cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript prepropeptide (Cartpt). Mechanistically, ATRX suppresses Cartpt transcription by binding to the promoter, which is otherwise poised for Cartpt expression by RUNX2 binding to the distal enhancer. Finally, Cartpt silencing in Atrx conditional knockout BMSCs rescued the molecular phenotype by increasing the Rankl/Opg expression ratio. Together, our data show a potent repressor function of ATRX in restricting Cartpt expression during skeletal development.
Authors
Yi-Ting Chen, Ming-Ming Jiang, Carolina Leynes, Mary Adeyeye, Camilla F. Majano, Barakat Ibrahim, Urszula Polak, George Hung, Zixue Jin, Denise G. Lanza, Lan Liao, Brian Dawson, Yuqing Chen-Evenson, Oscar E. Ruiz, Richard J. Gibbons, Jason D. Heaney, Yangjin Bae, Brendan Lee
×Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) expressing a distinctive protease phenotype (MCTs) selectively expand within the epithelium of human mucosal tissues during type 2 (T2) inflammation. While MCTs are phenotypically distinct from subepithelial MCs (MCTCs), signals driving human MCT differentiation and this subset’s contribution to inflammation remain unexplored. Here, we have identified TGF-β as a key driver of the MCT transcriptome in nasal polyps. We found that short-term TGF-β signaling alters MC cell surface receptor expression and partially recapitulated the in vivo MCT transcriptome, while TGF-β signaling during MC differentiation upregulated a larger number of MCT-associated transcripts. TGF-β inhibited the hallmark MCTC proteases chymase and cathepsin G at both the transcript and protein level, allowing selective in vitro differentiation of MCTs for functional study. We identified discrete differences in effector phenotype between in vitro–derived MCTs and MCTCs, with MCTs exhibiting enhanced proinflammatory lipid mediator generation and a distinct cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor production profile in response to both innate and adaptive stimuli, recapitulating functional features of their tissue-associated counterpart MC subsets. Thus, our findings support a role for TGF-β in promoting human MCT differentiation and identified a discrete contribution of this cell type to T2 inflammation.
Authors
Tahereh Derakhshan, Eleanor Hollers, Alex Perniss, Tessa Ryan, Alanna McGill, Jonathan Hacker, Regan W. Bergmark, Neil Bhattacharyya, Stella E. Lee, Alice Z. Maxfield, Rachel E. Roditi, Lora Bankova, Kathleen M. Buchheit, Tanya M. Laidlaw, Joshua A. Boyce, Daniel F. Dwyer
×Abstract
Single-cell transcriptomics applied to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for elucidating the pathophysiology of neurologic diseases has produced only a preliminary characterization of CSF immune cells. CSF derives from and borders central nervous system (CNS) tissue, allowing for comprehensive accounting of cell types along with their relative abundance and immunologic profiles relevant to CNS diseases. Using integration techniques applied to publicly available datasets in combination with our own studies, we generated a compendium with 139 subjects encompassing 135 CSF and 58 blood samples. Healthy subjects and individuals across a wide range of diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, COVID-19, and autoimmune encephalitis, were included. We found differences in lymphocyte and myeloid subset frequencies across different diseases as well as in their distribution between blood and CSF. We identified what we believe to be a new subset of AREG+ dendritic cells exclusive to the CSF that was more abundant in subjects with MS compared with healthy controls. Finally, transcriptional cell states in CSF microglia-like cells and lymphoid subsets were elucidated. Altogether, we have created a reference compendium for single-cell transcriptional profiling encompassing CSF immune cells useful to the scientific community for future studies on neurologic diseases.
Authors
Claudia Cantoni, Roman A. Smirnov, Maria Firulyova, Prabhakar S. Andhey, Tara R. Bradstreet, Ekaterina Esaulova, Marina Terekhova, Elizabeth A. Schwarzkopf, Nada M. Abdalla, Maksim Kleverov, Joseph J. Sabatino Jr., Kang Liu, Nicholas Schwab, Gerd Meyer zu Hörste, Anne H. Cross, Maxim N. Artyomov, Brian T. Edelson, Gregory F. Wu
×Abstract
Cardiac endothelial cells are essential for heart development, and disruption of this process can lead to congenital heart disease (CHD). However, how microRNAs influence cardiac endothelial cells in CHD remains unclear. This study identified elevated microRNA-187 (miR-187) expression in embryonic heart endothelial cells from CHD fetuses. Using a conditional knockin model, we showed that increased miR-187 levels in embryonic endothelial cells induce CHD in homozygous fetal mice, closely mirroring human CHD. Mechanistically, miR-187 targets NIPBL, which is responsible for recruiting the cohesin complex and facilitating chromatin accessibility. Consequently, the endothelial cell–specific upregulation of miR-187 inhibited NIPBL, leading to reduced chromatin accessibility and impaired gene expression, which hindered endothelial cell development and ultimately caused heart septal defects and reduced heart size both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, exogenous miR-187 expression in human cardiac organoids mimicked developmental defects in the cardiac endothelial cells, and this was reversible by NIPBL replenishment. Our findings establish the miR-187/NIPBL axis as a potent regulator that inhibits cardiac endothelial cell development by attenuating the transcription of numerous endothelial genes, with our mouse and human cardiac organoid models effectively replicating severe defects from minor perturbations. This discovery suggests that targeting the miR-187/NIPBL pathway could offer a promising therapeutic approach for CHD.
Authors
Chao Li, Zizheng Tan, Hongdou Li, Xiaoying Yao, Chuyue Peng, Yue Qi, Bo Wu, Tongjin Zhao, Chentao Li, Jianfeng Shen, Hongyan Wang
×Abstract
The risk of severe outcomes of influenza increases during pregnancy. Whether vaccine-induced T cell memory–primed prepregnancy retains the ability to mediate protection during pregnancy, when systemic levels of several hormones with putative immunomodulatory functions are increased, is unknown. Here, using murine adoptive transfer systems and a translationally relevant model of cold-adapted live-attenuated influenza A virus vaccination, we show that preexisting virus-specific memory T cell responses are largely unaltered and highly protective against heterotypic viral challenges during pregnancy. Expression of the transcription factor T-bet, which is upregulated in antiviral T cells responding in pregnant mice, is critical in preventing hormone-associated gain of detrimental T helper type 2 (TH2) attributes reported in other settings. Beyond antiviral effects, preexisting vaccine-primed T cell immunity prevents metabolic dysfunction in gravid dams and adverse neonatal outcomes often associated with maternal influenza infection. These results demonstrate robust protection of the maternal-fetal unit from severe consequences of respiratory virus infection by preexisting T cell immunity.
Authors
Valeria Flores Malavet, Kunal Dhume, Ali Satchmei, Andrea C. Arvelo, Aaron J. Beaird, Siva N. Annamalai, Lauren A. Kimball, K. Kai McKinstry, Tara M. Strutt
×Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays crucial roles in maintaining Treg stability and function, yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that (Tmed4ΔTreg) mice with Treg-specific KO of ERS-related protein transmembrane p24 trafficking protein 4 (TMED4) had more Tregs with impaired Foxp3 stability, Treg signatures, and suppressive activity, which led to T cell hyperactivation and an exacerbated inflammatory phenotype and boosted antitumor immunity in mice. Mechanistically, loss of Tmed4 caused defects in ERS and a nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2–related (NRF2-related) antioxidant response, which resulted in excessive ROS that reduced the Foxp3 stability and suppressive function of Tregs in an IRE1α/XBP1 axis–dependent manner. The abnormalities could be effectively rescued by the ROS scavenger, NRF2 inducer, or by forcible expression of IRE1α. Moreover, TMED4 suppressed IRE1α proteosome degradation via the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) system including the ER chaperone binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP). Our study reveals that TMED4 maintained the stability of Tregs and their suppressive function through IRE1α-dependent ROS and the NRF2-related antioxidant response.
Authors
Zhenyan Jiang, Huizi Wang, Xiaoxia Wang, Hongrui Duo, Yuexiao Tao, Jia Li, Xin Li, Jiamin Liu, Jun Ni, Emily Jiatong Wu, Hongrui Xiang, Chenyang Guan, Xinyu Wang, Kun Zhang, Peng Zhang, Zhaoyuan Hou, Yong Liu, Zhengting Wang, Bing Su, Bo Li, Youjin Hao, Bin Li, Xuefeng Wu
×Abstract
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience anorexia and weight loss that substantially deteriorates overall health, reduces treatment tolerance and quality of life, and worsens oncologic outcomes. There are currently few effective therapeutic options to mitigate these side effects. The central melanocortin system, which plays a pivotal role in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis, presents a logical target for treating anorexia and weight loss. In this preclinical study, we evaluated the efficacy of TCMCB07, a synthetic antagonist of the melanocortin-4 receptor, in mitigating anorexia and weight loss in several rat models of chemotherapy: cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and a combination of irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil. Our results indicate that peripheral administration of TCMCB07 improved appetite, stabilized body weight, preserved fat and heart mass, and slightly protected lean mass after multiple cycles of chemotherapy. Furthermore, combining TCMCB07 with a growth differentiation factor 15 antibody enhanced treatment effectiveness. Similar effects from TCMCB07 treatment were observed in a rat tumor model following combination chemotherapy. No notable adverse effects nor increased chemotherapy-related toxicities were observed with TCMCB07 treatment. These findings suggest that peripheral administration of TCMCB07 holds promise as a therapeutic approach for alleviating chemotherapy-induced anorexia and weight loss, potentially benefiting numerous patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Authors
Xinxia Zhu, Russell Potterfield, Kenneth A. Gruber, Emma Zhang, Samuel D. Newton, Mason A. Norgard, Peter R. Levasseur, Peng Bai, Xu Chen, Qingyang Gu, Aaron J. Grossberg, Daniel L. Marks
×Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) profoundly impacts host T and NK cells across the lifespan, yet how this common congenital infection modulates developing fetal immune cell compartments remains underexplored. Using cord blood from neonates with and without congenital HCMV (cCMV) infection, we identify an expansion of Fcγ receptor III–expressing (FcγRIII-expressing) CD8+ T cells following HCMV exposure in utero. Most FcγRIII+CD8+ T cells express the canonical αβ T cell receptor (TCR), but a proportion express noncanonical γδ TCR. FcγRIII+CD8+ T cells are highly differentiated and have increased expression of NK cell markers and cytolytic molecules. Transcriptional analysis reveals FcγRIII+CD8+ T cells upregulate T-bet and downregulate BCL11B, known transcription factors that govern T/NK cell fate. We show that FcγRIII+CD8+ T cells mediate antibody-dependent IFN-γ production and degranulation against IgG-opsonized target cells, similar to NK cell antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). FcγRIII+CD8+ T cell Fc effector functions were further enhanced by IL-15, as has been observed in neonatal NK cells. Our study reveals that FcγRIII+CD8+ T cells elicited in utero by HCMV infection can execute Fc-mediated effector functions bridging cellular and humoral immunity and may be a promising target for antibody-based therapeutics and vaccination in early life.
Authors
Eleanor C. Semmes, Danielle R. Nettere, Ashley N. Nelson, Jillian H. Hurst, Derek W. Cain, Trevor D. Burt, Joanne Kurtzberg, R. Keith Reeves, Carolyn B. Coyne, Genevieve G. Fouda, Justin Pollara, Sallie R. Permar, Kyle M. Walsh
×Abstract
Loss of Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). BAG3 regulates sarcomere protein turnover in cardiomyocytes; however, the function of BAG3 in other cardiac cell types is understudied. In this study, we used an isogenic pair of BAG3-knockout and wild-type human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to interrogate the role of BAG3 in hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Analysis of cell type–specific conditional knockout engineered heart tissues revealed an essential contribution of CF BAG3 to contractility and cardiac fibrosis, recapitulating the phenotype of DCM. In BAG3–/– CFs, we observed an increased sensitivity to TGF-β signaling and activation of a fibrogenic response when cultured at physiological stiffness (8 kPa). Mechanistically, we showed that loss of BAG3 increased transforming growth factor-β receptor 2 (TGFBR2) levels by directly binding TGFBR2 and mediating its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. To further validate these results, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing of cardiac tissue from DCM patients carrying pathogenic BAG3 variants. BAG3 pathogenic variants increased fibrotic gene expression in CFs. Together, these results extend our understanding of the roles of BAG3 in heart disease beyond the cardiomyocyte-centric view and highlight the ability of tissue-engineered hiPSC models to elucidate cell type–specific aspects of cardiac disease.
Authors
Bryan Z. Wang, Margaretha A.J. Morsink, Seong Won Kim, Lori J. Luo, Xiaokan Zhang, Rajesh Kumar Soni, Roberta I. Lock, Jenny Rao, Youngbin Kim, Anran Zhang, Meraj Neyazi, Joshua M. Gorham, Yuri Kim, Kemar Brown, Daniel M. DeLaughter, Qi Zhang, Barbara McDonough, Josephine M. Watkins, Katherine M. Cunningham, Gavin Y. Oudit, Barry M. Fine, Christine E. Seidman, Jonathan G. Seidman, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
×Abstract
The T cell antigen presentation platform MR1 consists of 6 allomorphs in humans that differ by no more than 5 amino acids. The principal function of this highly conserved molecule involves presenting microbial metabolites to the abundant mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell subset. Recent developments suggest that the role of MR1 extends to presenting antigens from cancer cells, a function dependent on the K43 residue in the MR1 antigen binding cleft. Here, we successfully cultured cancer-activated, MR1-restricted T cells from multiple donors and confirmed that they recognized a wide range of cancer types expressing the most common MR1*01 and/or MR1*02 allomorphs (over 95% of the population), while remaining inert to healthy cells including healthy B cells and monocytes. Curiously, in all but one donor these T cells were found to incorporate a conserved TCR-α chain motif, CAXYGGSQGNLIF (where X represents 3–5 amino acids), because of pairing between 10 different TRAV genes and the TRAJ42 gene segment. This semi-invariance in the TCR-α chain is reminiscent of MAIT cells and suggests recognition of a conserved antigen bound to K43.
Authors
Garry Dolton, Hannah Thomas, Li Rong Tan, Cristina Rius Rafael, Stephanie Doetsch, Giulia-Andreea Ionescu, Lucia F. Cardo, Michael D. Crowther, Enas Behiry, Théo Morin, Marine E. Caillaud, Devinder Srai, Lucia Parolini, Md Samiul Hasan, Anna Fuller, Katie Topley, Aaron Wall, Jade R. Hopkins, Nader Omidvar, Caroline Alvares, Joanna Zabkiewicz, John Frater, Barbara Szomolay, Andrew K. Sewell
×Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) presents a substantial clinical challenge due to the limited understanding of its genetic underpinnings. Here we conduct the largest scale whole-exome sequencing association study of NPC to date, encompassing 6,969 NPC cases and 7,100 controls. We unveil 3 germline genetic variants linked to NPC susceptibility: a common rs2276868 in RPL14, a rare rs5361 in SELE, and a common rs1050462 in HLA-B. We also underscore the critical impact of rare genetic variants on NPC heritability and introduce a refined composite polygenic risk score (rcPRS), which outperforms existing models in predicting NPC risk. Importantly, we reveal that the polygenic risk for NPC is mediated by EBV infection status. Utilizing a comprehensive multiomics approach that integrates both bulk-transcriptomic (n = 356) and single-cell RNA sequencing (n = 56) data with experimental validations, we demonstrate that the RPL14 variant modulates the EBV life cycle and NPC pathogenesis. Furthermore, our data indicate that the SELE variant contributes to modifying endothelial cell function, thereby facilitating NPC progression. Collectively, our study provides crucial insights into the intricate genetic architecture of NPC, spotlighting the vital interplay between genetic variations and tumor microenvironment components, including EBV and endothelial cells, in predisposing to NPC. This study opens new avenues for advancements in personalized risk assessments, early diagnosis, and targeted therapies for NPC.
Authors
Yanni Zeng, Chun-Ling Luo, Guo-Wang Lin, Fugui Li, Xiaomeng Bai, Josephine Mun-Yee Ko, Lei Xiong, Yang Liu, Shuai He, Jia-Xin Jiang, Wen-Xin Yan, Enya Hui Wen Ong, Zheng Li, Ya-Qing Zhou, Yun-He Zhou, An-Yi Xu, Shu-Qiang Liu, Yun-Miao Guo, Jie-Rong Chen, Xi-Xi Cheng, Yu-Lu Cao, Xia Yu, Biaohua Wu, Pan-Pan Wei, Zhao-Hui Ruan, Qiu-Yan Chen, Lin-Quan Tang, James D. McKay, Wei-Hua Jia, Hai-Qiang Mai, Soon Thye Lim, Jian-Jun Liu, Dong-Xin Lin, Chiea Chuen Khor, Melvin Lee Kiang Chua, Mingfang Ji, Maria Li Lung, Yi-Xin Zeng, Jin-Xin Bei
×Abstract
Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) increases inflammasome-linked atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms by which CH mutant cells transmit inflammatory signals to nonmutant cells are largely unknown. To address this question, we transplanted 1.5% Jak2V617F (Jak2VF) bone marrow (BM) cells with 98.5% WT BM cells into hyperlipidemic Ldlr–/– mice. Low-allele-burden (LAB) mice showed accelerated atherosclerosis with increased features of plaque instability, decreased levels of the macrophage phagocytic receptors c-Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK) and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), and increased neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). These changes were reversed when Jak2VF BM was transplanted with Il1r1–/– BM. LAB mice with noncleavable MERTK in WT BM showed improvements in necrotic core and fibrous cap formation and reduced NETs. An agonistic TREM2 antibody (4D9) markedly increased fibrous caps in both control and LAB mice, eliminating the difference between the groups. Mechanistically, 4D9 increased TREM2+PDGFB+ macrophages and PDGF receptor-α+ fibroblast–like cells in the cap region. TREM2 and PDGFB mRNA levels were positively correlated in human carotid plaques and coexpressed in macrophages. In summary, low frequencies of Jak2VF mutations promoted atherosclerosis via IL-1 signaling from Jak2VF to WT macrophages and neutrophils, promoting cleavage of phagocytic receptors and features of plaque instability. Therapeutic approaches that stabilize MERTK or TREM2 could promote plaque stabilization, especially in CH- and inflammasome-driven atherosclerosis.
Authors
Wenli Liu, Brian D. Hardaway, Eunyoung Kim, Jessica Pauli, Justus Leonard Wettich, Mustafa Yalcinkaya, Cheng-Chieh Hsu, Tong Xiao, Muredach P. Reilly, Ira Tabas, Lars Maegdefessel, Kai Schlepckow, Christian Haass, Nan Wang, Alan R. Tall
×Abstract
The continuous rise in skin cancer incidence highlights an imperative for improved skin cancer prevention. Topical calcipotriol-plus–5-fluorouracil (calcipotriol-plus–5-FU) immunotherapy effectively eliminates precancerous skin lesions and prevents squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that calcipotriol-plus–5-FU immunotherapy induces T helper type 2 (Th2) immunity, eliminating premalignant keratinocytes in humans. CD4+ Th2 cells were required and were sufficient downstream of thymic stromal lymphopoietin cytokine induction by calcipotriol to suppress skin cancer development. Th2-associated cytokines induced IL-24 expression in cancer cells, resulting in toxic autophagy and anoikis followed by apoptosis. Calcipotriol-plus–5-FU immunotherapy was dependent on IL-24 to suppress skin carcinogenesis in vivo. Collectively, our findings establish a critical role for Th2 immunity in cancer immunoprevention and highlight the Th2/IL-24 axis as an innovative target for skin cancer prevention and therapy.
Authors
Tomonori Oka, Sabrina S. Smith, Heehwa G. Son, Truelian Lee, Valeria S. Oliver-Garcia, Mahsa Mortaja, Kathryn E. Trerice, Lily S. Isakoff, Danielle N. Conrad, Marjan Azin, Neel S. Raval, Mary Tabacchi, Luni Emdad, Swadesh K. Das, Paul B. Fisher, Lynn A. Cornelius, Shadmehr Demehri
×Abstract
Posttranslational modification (PTM) of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) plays a critical role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent evidence reveals that lactylation modification, as a novel PTM, is implicated in the occurrence and development of AD. However, whether and how APP lactylation contributes to both the pathogenesis and cognitive function in AD remains unknown. Here, we observed a reduction in APP lactylation in AD patients and AD model mice and cells. Proteomic mass spectrometry analysis further identified lysine 612 (APP-K612la) as a crucial site for APP lactylation, influencing APP amyloidogenic processing. A lactyl-mimicking mutant (APPK612T) reduced amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) generation and slowed down cognitive deficits in vivo. Mechanistically, APPK612T appeared to facilitate APP trafficking and metabolism. However, lactylated APP entering the endosome inhibited its binding to BACE1, suppressing subsequent cleavage. Instead, it promoted protein interaction between APP and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP), thereby accelerating the endosomal-lysosomal degradation pathway of APP. In the APP23/PS45 double-transgenic mouse model of AD, APP-Kla was susceptible to L-lactate regulation, which reduced Aβ pathology and repaired spatial learning and memory deficits. Thus, these findings suggest that targeting APP lactylation may be a promising therapeutic strategy for AD in humans.
Authors
Qiuyun Tian, Junjie Li, Bin Wu, Yayan Pang, Wenting He, Qian Xiao, Jiaojiao Wang, Lilin Yi, Na Tian, Xiuyu Shi, Lei Xia, Xin Tian, Mulan Chen, Yepeng Fan, Boqing Xu, Yuhan Tao, Weihong Song, Yehong Du, Zhifang Dong
×Abstract
BACKGROUND While most hypertriglyceridemia is asymptomatic, hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) can be more severe than AP of other etiologies. The reasons underlying this are unclear. We thus examined whether lipolytic generation of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) from circulating triglycerides (TGs) could worsen clinical outcomes.METHODS Admission serum TGs, NEFA composition, and concentrations were analyzed prospectively for 269 patients with AP. These parameters, demographics, and clinical outcomes were compared between HTG-AP (TGs >500 mg/dL; American Heart Association [AHA] 2018 guidelines) and AP of other etiologies. Serum NEFAs were correlated with serum TG fatty acids (TGFAs) alone and with the product of TGFA serum lipase (NEFAs – TGFAs × lipase). Studies in mice and rats were conducted to understand the role of HTG lipolysis in organ failure and to interpret the NEFA-TGFA correlations.RESULTS Patients with HTG-AP had higher serum NEFA and TG levels and more severe AP (19% vs. 7%; P < 0.03) than did individuals with AP of other etiologies. Correlations of long-chain unsaturated NEFAs with corresponding TGFAs increased with TG concentrations up to 500 mg/dL and declined thereafter. However, NEFA – TGFA × lipase correlations became stronger with TGs above 500 mg/dL. AP and intravenous lipase infusion in rodents caused lipolysis of circulating TGs to NEFAs. This led to multisystem organ failure, which was prevented by pancreatic TG lipase deletion or lipase inhibition.CONCLUSIONS HTG-AP is made severe by the NEFAs generated from intravascular lipolysis of circulating TGs. Strategies that prevent TG lipolysis may be effective in improving clinical outcomes for patients with HTG-AP.FUNDING National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, NIH) (RO1DK092460 and R01DK119646); Department of Defense (PR191945 under W81XWH-20-1-0400); National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), NIH (R01AA031257).
Authors
Prasad Rajalingamgari, Biswajit Khatua, Megan J. Summers, Sergiy Kostenko, Yu-Hui H. Chang, Mohamed Elmallahy, Arti Anand, Anoop Narayana Pillai, Mahmoud Morsy, Shubham Trivedi, Bryce McFayden, Sarah Jahangir, Christine L.H. Snozek, Vijay P. Singh
×Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering that trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is overexpressed in a wide range of human epithelial cancers, it presents an attractive target for diagnosis and treatment of multiple types of cancer. Herein, we have developed a Trop2-specific radiotracer, 68Ga-MY6349, and present a prospective, investigator-initiated trial to explore the clinical value of 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT.METHODS In this translational study, 90 patients with 15 types of cancer who underwent 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT were enrolled prospectively. Among them, 78 patients underwent paired 68Ga-MY6349 and 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 12 patients with prostate cancer underwent paired 68Ga-MY6349 and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT.RESULTS Among the 90 patients across 15 types of cancer, 68Ga-MY6349 uptake in tumors was generally high but heterogeneous, varying among lesions, patients, and cancer types. Trop2 expression level determined by immunohistochemistry was highly correlated with 68Ga-MY6349 uptake at primary and metastatic tumor sites. 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT showed higher tumor uptake (quantified by maximum standardized uptake value) than 18F-FDG PET/CT in certain types of cancer, including breast (7.2 vs. 5.4, P < 0.001), prostate (9.2 vs. 3.0, P < 0.001), and thyroid cancers (8.5 vs. 3.7, P < 0.001). Compared with 68Ga-PSMA-11, 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT exhibited comparable lesion uptake (12.2 vs. 12.5, P = 0.223) but a better tumor-to-background contrast (15.8 vs. 12.2, P < 0.001) for primary and metastatic prostate cancer, allowing visualization of more metastatic lesions.CONCLUSION 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT is a noninvasive method for comprehensively assessing Trop2 expression in tumors, which can improve diagnosis and staging for cancer patients and aid in decision making for Trop2-targeted therapies and advancing of personalized treatment.TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06188468.FUNDING National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key R&D Program of China, Nuclear Energy R&D project, Fujian Research and Training Grants for Young and Middle-aged Leaders in Healthcare, Key Scientific Research Program for Young Scholars in Fujian, and Fujian Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars.
Authors
Haojun Chen, Liang Zhao, Yizhen Pang, Jiyun Shi, Hannan Gao, Yining Sun, Jianhao Chen, Hao Fu, Jiayu Cai, Lingyu Yu, Ru Zeng, Long Sun, Hua Wu, Zhanxiang Wang, Fan Wang
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