Distinct Lymphocyte Populations Research Articles

Clonal associations between lymphocyte subsets and functional states in rheumatoid arthritis synovium

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease involving antigen-specific T and B cells. Here, we perform single-cell RNA and repertoire sequencing on paired synovial tissue and blood samples from 12 seropositive RA patients. We identify clonally expanded CD4 + T cells, including CCL5+ cells and T peripheral helper (Tph) cells, which show a prominent transcriptomic signature of recent activation and effector function. CD8 + T cells show higher oligoclonality than CD4 + T cells, with the largest synovial clones enriched in GZMK+ cells. CD8 + T cells with possibly virus-reactive TCRs are distributed across transcriptomic clusters. In the B cell compartment, NR4A1+ activated B cells, and plasma cells are enriched in the synovium and demonstrate substantial clonal expansion. We identify synovial plasma cells that share BCRs with synovial ABC, memory, and activated B cells. Receptor-ligand analysis predicted IFNG and TNFRSF members as mediators of synovial Tph-B cell interactions. Together, these results reveal clonal relationships between functionally distinct lymphocyte populations that infiltrate the synovium of patients with RA.

Tissue-specific metabolic profile drives iNKT cell function during obesity and liver injury

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a distinct population of lymphocytes characterized by their reactivity to glycolipids presented by CD1d. iNKT cells are found throughout the body, and little is known about their tissue-specific metabolic regulation. Here, we show that splenic and hepatic iNKT cells are metabolically comparable and rely on glycolytic metabolism to support their activation. Deletion of the pyruvate kinase M2 (Pkm2) gene in splenic and hepatic iNKT cells impairs their response to specific stimulation and their ability to mitigate acute liver injury. In contrast, adipose tissue (AT) iNKT cells exhibit a distinctive immunometabolic profile, with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) being necessary for their function. AMPK deficiency impairs AT-iNKT physiology, blocking their capacity to maintain AT homeostasis and their ability to regulate AT inflammation during obesity. Our work deepens our understanding on the tissue-specific immunometabolic regulation of iNKT cells, which directly impacts the course of liver injury and obesity-induced inflammation.

Spatially Characterizing the Immune Contexture in Mouse Tissue Using Multiplex Immunohistochemistry.

Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) facilitates the simultaneous detection of various immune cell markers on a single tissue section. Here, we describe a protocol for an mIHC staining workflow using specific antibodies against CD4, CD8α, FOXP3, and B220 to identify distinct lymphocyte populations including T and B cells. This staining strategy can be adapted to include other cell markers to evaluate the immune contexture in murine tissues.

Potential utility of a non-invasive menstrual blood immunophenotype analysis in reproductive medicine.

Purpose Can a comprehensive flow cytometry panel be used to assess immunophenotype profiles in menstrual blood of patients experiencing reproductive failure and age matched controls of proven fertility? Methods 58 recurrent pregnancy loss and repeated implantation failure patients, along with 15 age matched controls of proven fertility, had menstrual blood samples obtained within the first 24 hours of the onset of menstruation to non-invasively assess the local immunophenotype. Using a comprehensive multi-parameter flow panel the lymphocyte sub-populations were described and compared. Results Relative to well established peripheral blood immunophenotyping values, distinct lymphocyte population differences were noted between the subgroups. The ratios of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were inverted relative to peripheral blood and uterine NK cells represented by CD56bright were distinctly visualised, emphasising the distinction of menstrual and peripheral blood. Relative to controls there were marked increases in CD3+ve T-cells (p=0.009), CD4:CD8 ratio (p=0.004), CD19 B-cells (p=0.026) and CD56dim NK's (p=0.002) in the reproductive failure cases. Conclusions Flow cytometric evaluation can provide a rapid and objective analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations in many forms of tissue and fluid. The findings show significant variations in cellular composition of immune cells indicating a distinct compartment, with differences between cases and controls. Immunological assessment of the menstrual blood immunophenotype, in clinically appropriate patients, may provide insight into the aetiology of adverse reproductive outcome, without the risks and inconveniences associated with a more invasive endometrial biopsy.

PD-L1 AND FOXP3 EXPRESSION IN ORAL DYSPLASTIC TISSUES AND ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

<h3>Background</h3> Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive, highly immunosuppressive cancer with a high mortality rate. Interactions between programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1; on T cells) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1; on tumor cells) within the tumor microenvironment facilitates T-lymphocyte exhaustion. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a distinct lymphocyte population, expressing the transcription factor forkhead homeobox protein-3 (FoxP3), which downregulates immune responses in OSCC. PD-L1⁺ tumor cells and FoxP3⁺ Treg expression in OSCC has been associated with poor prognosis. This research investigates the expression of PD-L1⁺ cells and Tregs in control, dysplastic, and OSCC tissues. <h3>Objective</h3> To investigate and compare the expression of PD-L1⁺ tumor cells and FoxP3⁺ Tregs in nondysplastic tisssue, dysplastic tissue, and OSCC using immunohistochemistry. <h3>Methods</h3> Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, archival tissues. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of positively stained cells were undertaken and the dysplastic (n = 20) and OSCC groups (n = 20) were compared against the non-dysplastic control group (n = 20), using image analysis <h3>Results</h3> A higher proportion score and immunoreactive score for PD-L1⁺ and FoxP3⁺ Tregs was found in OSCC and dysplastic groups when compared to the nondysplastic control group (<i>P</i> < .05). There was no significant difference between the OSCC and dysplastic tissues. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Significantly more PD-L1⁺ cells and Tregs were detected in dysplastic and OSCC tissues. An increase in PD-L1 and FoxP3 expression may serve as an indicator of progression from normal to a potentially malignant lesion.

Image-Based Cell Profiling Enables Quantitative Tissue Microscopy in Gastroenterology.

Immunofluorescence microscopy is an essential tool for tissue-based research, yet data reporting is almost always qualitative. Quantification of images, at the per-cell level, enables "flow cytometry-type" analyses with intact locational data but achieving this is complex. Gastrointestinal tissue, for example, is highly diverse: from mixed-cell epithelial layers through to discrete lymphoid patches. Moreover, different species (e.g., rat, mouse, and humans) and tissue preparations (paraffin/frozen) are all commonly studied. Here, using field-relevant examples, we develop open, user-friendly methodology that can encompass these variables to provide quantitative tissue microscopy for the field. Antibody-independent cell labeling approaches, compatible across preparation types and species, were optimized. Per-cell data were extracted from routine confocal micrographs, with semantic machine learning employed to tackle densely packed lymphoid tissues. Data analysis was achieved by flow cytometry-type analyses alongside visualization and statistical definition of cell locations, interactions and established microenvironments. First, quantification of Escherichia coli passage into human small bowel tissue, following Ussing chamber incubations exemplified objective quantification of rare events in the context of lumen-tissue crosstalk. Second, in rat jejenum, precise histological context revealed distinct populations of intraepithelial lymphocytes between and directly below enterocytes enabling quantification in context of total epithelial cell numbers. Finally, mouse mononuclear phagocyte-T cell interactions, cell expression and significant spatial cell congregations were mapped to shed light on cell-cell communication in lymphoid Peyer's patch. Accessible, quantitative tissue microscopy provides a new window-of-insight to diverse questions in gastroenterology. It can also help combat some of the data reproducibility crisis associated with antibody technologies and over-reliance on qualitative microscopy. © 2020 The Authors. Cytometry Part A published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

NK Cell Impairment after Haploidentical Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant in Patients Receiving Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide (PTCy)

Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis is frequently used for patients who do not have HLA-identical donors. However, the effect of PTCy on immune reconstitution (IR) has not been studied extensively in large prospective cohorts, despite a high incidence of early viral infections. We quantified IR in 60 patients after haplo-HCT with PTCy, mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus (TAC) and compared results to 34 patients with 8/8 HLA matched related or unrelated donors (MD) receiving TAC and methotrexate for GVHD prophylaxis. Both groups received reduced intensity conditioning for hematologic malignancies. Samples were prospectively collected at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months after HCT and analyzed using multi-color flow cytometry to characterize distinct lymphocyte populations. Peripheral blood NK cells 1 month after PTCy were characterized using CyTOF and a panel of 35 metal-labeled monoclonal antibodies and compared to age-matched healthy donor NK cells. Recovery of all T cell subsets (CD4Tcon, CD4Treg, CD8) was significantly reduced in the PTCy cohort compared to MD early after HCT (Figure 1A, B, C). Despite delayed CD4Treg recovery, the Treg:Tcon ratio was significantly higher early after HCT in the PTCY cohort due to relatively deeper depression in CD4Tcon (0.18 vs 0.06, p<0.0001 at 1 month, 0.12 vs 0.06, p=0.0004 at 3 months, Figure 1D). Absolute NK cells were lower at 1 month after PTCy (Figure 1E), entirely due to reduced numbers of CD56^dimCD16⁺ NK cells (Figure 1G). Subsequently, CD56^dim NK cells remained significantly lower in the PTCy group until 3 months after HCT. In contrast, recovery of CD56^brightCD16⁻ NK cells was significantly increased in the PTCy cohort at 2, 3 and 6 months after HCT (p<0.01. Figure 1F). The distribution of NK subsets 1 month post-HCT was also significantly different between two cohorts due to a higher frequency of immature NK cells in the PTCY cohort (Figure 1H). CyTOF analysis performed 1 month after haplo-HCT showed that NK cells expressed higher level of activating receptor NKp46, CD95, granzyme-B and inhibitory receptor NKG2A and lower expression of CD57 compared to HD (Figure 2). Functional assays showed that PTCy NK cells displayed reduced degranulation and release of IFNγ after activation compared to HD. These functions were rescued after priming with low dose IL-15 in vitro. In summary, the effect of PTCy on IR was most pronounced at 1 month with significantly delayed recovery of CD3, CD4Tcon, CD4Treg, CD8 and CD56^dim NK cells. After PTCy, NK cells display an immature phenotype and functional impairment that is at least partly corrected by priming with low dose IL-15. Impairment of NK and T cell recovery early after PTCy-based HCT underscores the need to adopt novel strategies to overcome immune defects induced by this platform.

Neonatal T Cells: A Reinterpretation.

Neonatal CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have historically been characterized as immature or defective. However, recent studies prompt a reinterpretation of the functions of neonatal T cells. Rather than a population of cells always falling short of expectations set by their adult counterparts, neonatal T cells are gaining recognition as a distinct population of lymphocytes well suited for the rapidly changing environment in early life. In this review, I will highlight new evidence indicating that neonatal T cells are not inert or less potent versions of adult T cells but instead are a broadly reactive layer of T cells poised to quickly develop into regulatory or effector cells, depending on the needs of the host. In this way, neonatal T cells are well adapted to provide fast-acting immune protection against foreign pathogens, while also sustaining tolerance to self-antigens.

Composite lymphoma of concurrent T zone lymphoma and large cell B cell lymphoma in a dog

BackgroundEvolution of indolent to aggressive lymphoma has been described in dogs but is difficult to distinguish from the de novo development of a second, clonally distinct lymphoma. Differentiation of these scenarios can be aided by next generation sequencing (NGS)-based assessment of clonality of lymphocyte antigen receptor genes.Case presentationAn 8-year-old male intact Mastiff presented with generalized lymphadenomegaly was diagnosed with nodal T zone lymphoma (TZL) based on cytology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Thirteen months later, the dog re-presented with progressive lymphadenomegaly, and based on cytology and flow cytometry, a large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) was diagnosed. Sequencing-based clonality testing confirmed the de novo development of a LBCL and the persistence of a TZL.ConclusionsThe occurrence of two distinct lymphoid neoplasms should be considered if patient features and tumor cytomorphology or immunophenotype differ among sequential samples. Sequencing-based clonality testing may provide conclusive evidence of two concurrent and distinct clonal lymphocyte populations, termed most appropriately “composite lymphoma”.

Dynamics of Immune Cell Reconstitution in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients Receiving Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide (PTCy)

In the setting of haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT), post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) selectively eliminates alloreactive T cells in-vivo, resulting in favorable graft versus host disease (GVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse outcomes. However, few studies have examined the impact of PTCy on immune reconstitution (IR). We quantified IR in 63 patients after haplo-HCT with PTCy, mofetil mycophenolate and tacrolimus (TAC) and compared results to 93 patients with 8/8 HLA matched related or unrelated donors (MD) receiving TAC, methotrexate and sirolimus for GVHD prophylaxis. Both groups received reduced intensity conditioning for hematologic malignancies. The median age of the Haplo-PTCy and MD cohorts was 55 and 57 years. Patient samples were analyzed using multi-color flow cytometry panels to characterize distinct lymphocyte populations. All IR values are expressed as median absolute cell count per μL. One month after HCT, recovery of all T cell subsets (CD3, CD4Tcon, Treg, CD8) was significantly reduced in the PTCy cohort compared to MD (Figure A, B, C). Recovery of CD4Tcon was also reduced at 2 and 3 months after PTCy (p NK cells were lower 1 month after PTCy (52.7 vs 91.1, p=0.08), but were significantly higher at 2, 3 and 6 months (153.4 vs 94.8, p=0.001, 153.7 vs 87.5, p=0.008, 180 vs 102, p=0.01, respectively, Figure D) compared to the MD cohort. Delayed NK cell recovery at 1 month after PTCy was due entirely to reduced numbers of CD56dim NK cells (Figure E). Subsequently recovery of CD56dim NK cells was similar in both cohorts. Recovery of CD56bright NK cells was significantly increased in the PTCy cohort (p Consistent with prior reports, 1 year cumulative incidence of extensive cGvHD was lower in the PTCy cohort compared to the MD cohort, 13% (5-26%, 95% CI) and 40% (30-50%, 95% CI) respectively, p=0.003, without increased NRM (p=0.28) or relapse (p=0.17). In summary, the effect of PTCy on IR was most pronounced 1 month after transplant with significantly delayed recovery of CD3, CD4Tcon, Treg, CD8 and CD56dim NK cells. Slow recovery of CD4Tcon persisted for 3 months and delayed recovery of Treg persisted for 1 year. Beginning 2 months after HCT, recovery of both CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells was more rapid in the PTCy cohort. Further studies will examine the effects of these differences in IR on clinical outcomes such as relapse, infections and GVHD.

A pilot study evaluating the utility of commercially available antibodies for flow cytometric analysis of Panthera species lymphocytes

BackgroundThe immune response against tuberculosis in lions is still poorly defined and our understanding is hampered by the lack of lion specific reagents. The process for producing antibodies against a specific antigen is laborious and not available to many research laboratories. As the search for antibody cross-reactivity is an important strategy for immunological studies in veterinary medicine, we have investigated the use of commercially available antibodies to characterize T cell subsets in African lions (Panthera leo).ResultsCommercially available antibodies were screened and investigated the influence of two different sample processing methods, as well as the effect of time delay on cell surface marker expression on lion lymphocytes. Using commercially available antibodies, we were able to identify CD4+, CD5+, CD8+, CD14+, CD25+, CD44+ and CD45+ T lymphocytes in samples obtained by density gradient centrifugation as well as red cell lysis of lion whole blood. Two distinct lymphocyte populations, which differed in size and phenotype, were observed in the samples processed by density gradient centrifugation.ConclusionCommercially available antibodies are able to differentiate between T lymphocyte subsets including immune effector cells in African lion whole blood, and possibly give insight into unique specie phenotypes.

Autophagy-independent increase of ATG5 expression in T cells of multiple sclerosis patients

Autophagy, a process of controlled self-digestion which regulates cell homeostasis, is involved in innate and adaptive immunity. We investigated the expression of autophagy genes and autophagic activity in distinct lymphocyte populations in treatment-naive MS patients. The mRNA and protein levels of autophagy-related (ATG)5, required for autophagosome formation, were increased in CD4+ and CD4− T cells, but not B cells of MS patients compared to control subjects. The expression of other investigated autophagy genes, as well as the autophagic activity, did not significantly differ between the two groups. ATG5 mRNA levels in CD4+ T cells from MS patients were positively correlated with those of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor. These data suggest that autophagy-independent increase in ATG5 expression might be associated with the proinflammatory capacity of T cells in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms in the first intron of the IL2RA gene affect transcription factor binding and enhancer activity

IL2RA gene encodes the alpha subunit of a high-affinity receptor for interleukin-2 which is expressed by several distinct populations of lymphocytes involved in autoimmune processes. A large number of polymorphic alleles of the IL2RA locus are associated with the development of various autoimmune diseases. With bioinformatics analysis we the dissected the first intron of the IL2RA gene and selected several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may influence the regulation of the IL2RA gene in cell types relevant to autoimmune pathology. We described five enhancers containing the selected SNPs that stimulated activity of the IL2RA promoter in a cell-type specific manner, and tested the effect of specific SNP alleles on activity of the respective enhancers (E1 to E5, labeled according to the distance to the promoter). The E4 enhancer with minor T variant of rs61839660 SNP demonstrated reduced activity due to disrupted binding of MEF2A/C transcription factors (TFs). Neither rs706778 nor rs706779 SNPs, both associated with a number of autoimmune diseases, had any effect on the activity of the enhancer E2. However, rare variants of several SNPs (rs139767239, rs115133228, rs12722502, rs12722635) genetically linked to either rs706778 and/or rs706779 significantly influenced the activity of E1, E3 and E5 enhancers, presumably by disrupting EBF1, GABPA and ELF1 binding sites.

Similar frequencies, phenotype and activation status of intrahepatic NK cells in chronic HBV patients after long-term treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)

BackgroundCurrently, much effort is directed at further improving treatment for chronic hepatitis B patients by assessing the effect of immunomodulatory agents during therapy with nucleotide analogues (NUC). Although there are some reports on the effect of NUC therapy on peripheral natural killer (NK) cells, no studies investigated the long-term effects of NUC treatment on intrahepatic NK cells of chronic HBV patients. We aimed to prospectively investigate cell frequencies, phenotype, and activation status of intrahepatic NK cells of CHB patients on prolonged treatment with TDF. MethodsFine needle aspiration biopsies were collected from 11 chronic HBV patients at baseline, and at 12, 24, and 48 weeks of treatment with a daily 245 mg dose of TDF. Four patients underwent an additional aspiration biopsy after appoximately 6 years of treatment. ResultsLongitudinal evaluation of these patients during tenofovir therapy showed that all patients achieved a viral load reduction with undetectable DNA load after 48 weeks of therapy. Repeated sampling of the liver during therapy showed that the frequency of distinct lymphocyte populations in the liver remained unchanged despite viral load reduction. During the course of therapy, no modulation of the expression levels and frequencies of CD69, HLA-DR, NKG2A and NKG2D on liver NK cells were detected. However, evaluation of intrahepatic NK cell activation after continuous TDF therapy for 6 years demonstrated a mild increase in 3 out of 4 patients. ConclusionsOur findings provide a unique insight in the intrahepatic NK cell compartment in chronic HBV patients during prolonged treatment. We observed that long-term NUC-induced viral suppression, accompanied by gradual decrease of HBsAg levels, had no or only a limited effect on the frequencies, phenotype, and activation status of intrahepatic NK cells.

Characterizing the anti-tumor response of T cell receptor gene-modified invariant natural killer T cells

Abstract Human invariant NKT cells represent a distinct lymphocyte population that co-express an invariant antigen receptor and NK surface markers. Classic NKT cells express a restricted T cell receptor that recognizes lipids, such as α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), in the context of CD1d. Activated iNKT cells produce a high level of cytokines, such as IFN- γ, thereby bridging innate and acquired immunity through the activation of other effector cells including dendritic cells (DCs), CD8 T cells, and NK cells. One major hurdle to studying the anti-tumor activity of iNKT cells is that they do not recognize antigens presented by classical MHC molecules and they have unknown tumor antigen specificity. Therefore, we expressed the MHC class I-restricted TIL 1383I TCR in human NKT cells to characterize their biology and tumor antigen-specific response. The 1383I TCR is a CD8 independent, high affinity TCR that recognizes the melanoma antigen, tyrosinase, presented by HLA-A2. Here, we report the expression and function of TIL 1383I TCR transduced human iNKT cells. iNKT cells stimulated with α-GalCer- pulsed DCs are transduced with the retroviral vector encoding the TIL1383I TCR. After confirming TIL 1383I TCR expression in iNKT cells by flow cytometry, we assess their anti-tumor activity and polyfunctionality by intracellular cytokine staining. TIL 1383I TCR transduced iNKT cells produced IFN-γ in response to tyrosinase loaded T2 cells and HLA-A2+/tyrosinase+ melanoma. These findings indicate that genetically engineered iNKT cells are useful to study their biology in the context of antigen specificity, as well as to generate new effector populations for the treatment of cancer patients.

High-resolution determination of human immune cell signatures from fine-needle liver aspirates.

High-resolution determination of human immune cell signatures from fine-needle liver aspirates.

Functional subsets of intestinal NKT cells (MUC3P.942)

Abstract NKT cells constitute a distinct population of lymphocytes characterized by their reactivity to glycolipids presented by CD1d. Although they are found at a relatively low frequency, because of their clonal specificity and rapid cytokine production, they have been reported to influence many types of immune responses. Recently NKT cells have been divided into functional subsets analogous to T helper (Th) Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell subsets, called NKT1, NKT2 and NKT17. We have examined if similar functional subsets are found in the mouse intestine. NKT cells are found at a low frequency in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) of the small and large intestine and a higher prevalence in lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL). We analyzed intestinal NKT cells using flow cytometry to explore the transcription factors and surface markers expressed by these cells. We found out that all the functional subsets are represented in intestinal NKT cells, however, the percentages of each subset in the intestine are different from those found in spleen. We also evaluated the response of intestinal iNKT cells to the agonist α-Galactosylceramide. We observed that, in response to in vivo exposure to the potent antigen α-Galactosylceramide, intestinal NKT cells produced IFN-γ, TNF-α and GM-CSF and increased expression of activation markers, as CD69 and CD40L, suggesting that cells with an NKT1 function are most prevalent. We are now exploring how the microbiota affects the functions of intestinal NKT cells.

The In Vivo Granulopoietic Response to Dexamethasone Injection Is Abolished in Perforin-Deficient Mutant Mice and Corrected by Lymphocyte Transfer from Nonsensitized Wild-Type Donors.

Exogenously administered glucocorticoids enhance eosinophil and neutrophil granulocyte production from murine bone-marrow. A hematological response dependent on endogenous glucocorticoids underlies bone-marrow eosinophilia induced by trauma or allergic sensitization/challenge. We detected a defect in granulopoiesis in nonsensitized, perforin-deficient mice. In steady-state conditions, perforin- (Pfp-) deficient mice showed significantly decreased bone-marrow and blood eosinophil and neutrophil counts, and colony formation in response to GM-CSF, relative to wild-type controls of comparable age and/or weight. By contrast, peripheral blood or spleen total cell and lymphocyte numbers were not affected by perforin deficiency. Dexamethasone enhanced colony formation by GM-CSF-stimulated progenitors from wild-type controls, but not Pfp mice. Dexamethasone injection increased bone-marrow eosinophil and neutrophil counts in wild-type controls, but not Pfp mice. Because perforin is expressed in effector lymphocytes, we examined whether this defect would be corrected by transferring wild-type lymphocytes into perforin-deficient recipients. Short-term reconstitution of the response to dexamethasone was separately achieved for eosinophils and neutrophils by transfer of distinct populations of splenic lymphocytes from nonsensitized wild-type donors. Transfer of the same amount of splenic lymphocytes from perforin-deficient donors was ineffective. This demonstrates that the perforin-dependent, granulopoietic response to dexamethasone can be restored by transfer of innate lymphocyte subpopulations.

Immune mechanisms in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure.

An overdose of acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, APAP), also termed paracetamol, can cause severe liver damage, ultimately leading to acute liver failure (ALF) with the need of liver transplantation. APAP is rapidly taken up from the intestine and metabolized in hepatocytes. A small fraction of the metabolized APAP forms cytotoxic mitochondrial protein adducts, leading to hepatocyte necrosis. The course of disease is not only critically influenced by dose of APAP and the initial hepatocyte damage, but also by the inflammatory response following acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI). As revealed by mouse models of AILI and corresponding translational studies in ALF patients, necrotic hepatocytes release danger-associated-molecular patterns (DAMPs), which are recognized by resident hepatic macrophages, Kupffer cell (KC), and neutrophils, leading to the activation of these cells. Activated hepatic macrophages release various proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α or IL-1β, as well as chemokines (e.g., CCL2) thereby further enhancing inflammation and increasing the influx of immune cells, like bone-marrow derived monocytes and neutrophils. Monocytes are mainly recruited via their receptor CCR2 and aggravate inflammation. Infiltrating monocytes, however, can mature into monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMF), which are, in cooperation with neutrophils, also involved in the resolution of inflammation. Besides macrophages and neutrophils, distinct lymphocyte populations, especially γδ T cells, are also linked to the inflammatory response following an APAP overdose. Natural killer (NK), natural killer T (NKT) and T cells possibly further perpetuate inflammation in AILI. Understanding the complex interplay of immune cell subsets in experimental models and defining their functional involvement in disease progression is essential to identify novel therapeutic targets for human disease.

Cellular and molecular characterization of hagfish VLR-based adaptive immune system (VET2P.1043)

Abstract Jawless vertebrates have an alternative adaptive immune system in which variable lymphocyte receptors (VLR) are somatically diversified through recombinatorial assembly of leucine-rich repeat cassettes during lymphocyte development. Three VLR loci (VLRA, VLRB, and VLRC) have been defined in lampreys and each is expressed by a distinct lymphocyte population. Lamprey VLRA and VLRC are expressed by T-like lineages of lymphocytes, whereas VLRB is expressed by a B-like lineage of lymphocytes, much like αβ T, γδ T and B cells in jawed vertebrates. Recently we have revised the nomenclature for the hagfish VLRs by defining a third VLR gene. Here, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were generated against invariant residues of hagfish VLRA, VLRB and VLRC and these were used to identify VLR-bearing lymphocytes and their products. We found that hagfish VLRA, VLRB and VLRC are expressed by three separate lymphocyte populations. Size-exclusion chromatography and western blot analysis indicated that multivalent VLRB proteins are released into the circulation, which suggests that hagfish VLRB+ cells are B-cell like. In contrast, neither VLRA nor VLRC was detectable in the plasma, supporting the hypothesis that these two lymphocyte populations are T-cell like. The demonstration of three lymphocyte populations in both lampreys and hagfish suggests that this tripartite lymphocytic differentiation program already existed in a common ancestor of the two cyclostome lineages around 480 Mya.