78-OR: LRH-1/NR5A2 Agonism Triggers an Anti-Inflammatory Phenotypic Switch of Immune Cells from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Improves Islet Engraftment/Function

Abstract

Administration of the LRH-1 agonist BL0refrains hyperglycemia in 3 mouse models of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) . This antidiabetes action correlated with beta cell mass preservation and the presence of anti, rather than pro, inflammatory immune cells, indicating tolerization. Herein, we sought to translate these data to human immune cells of T1DM patients to demonstrate BL0benefits to re-educate the immune system and to assess its therapeutic value on human islet engraftment/function. Blood mononuclear cells purified from blood samples (healthy and T1DM) were derived in culture into 1) pro-inflammatory macrophages (MDM1) , 2) mature dendritic cells (mDCs) , 3) T-cells and 4) B-cells. Cells were then treated with BL0 and processed for 1) cell surface marker profiling, 2) cytokine secretome profiling, 3) T-cell proliferation and 4) RNAseq. In T1DM samples, BL0reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers on MDM1 (CD80) and mDCs (CD54 and CXCR4) and the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, CXCL6 and CCL24 (MDM1) as well as IL7 (mDCs) . Moreover, in these samples, BL0also increased Tregs, but not B-cells. T-cell proliferation was blunted by BL001-treated mDCs and Tregs. RNAseq analysis of BL001-treated MDM1 revealed increased expression of genes encoding components of complex I, III, IV, and V of the respiratory chain consistent with a transition from a glycolytic driven MDM1 to an oxidative phosphorylation driven MDM2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. BL0administration to STZ-treated mice transplanted with human islet improved survival correlating with reduced hyperglycemia, increased circulating human C-peptide, preserved beta cell mass, and reduced CD4+ T-cell infiltration. Our results establish that BL0can induce a pro-to-anti-inflammatory phenotypic switch to human immune cells, and improve human islet engraftment/function, supporting the therapeutic benefits of BL0in human. Disclosure N. Cobo-Vuilleumier: None. S. Rodriguez-Fernandez: Employee; Ahead Therapeutics SL. P.I. Lorenzo: None. A. Dorronsoro: None. C.C. Lachaud: None. L. Almenara-Fuentes: Employee; Ahead Therapeutics SL. M. Ramos-Rodríguez: None. I. Merida: None. M. Aguilar-Diosdado: None. L. Piemonti: None. L. Pasquali: None. F. Martin: None. I. Garcia-Sanchez: None. M. Martinez-Brocca: None. M. Vives-Pi: Research Support; Ahead Therapeutics S.L. B.R. Gauthier: None. Funding JDRF (2-SRA-2019-837-S-B) Consejeria de Salud y Familia, junta de Andalucia (PI-0001-2020)