Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are RAG-independent lymphocytes with important roles in innate immunity, and include group-1 (natural killer (NK) cell, ILC1), group-2 (ILC2), and group-3 (lymphoid tissue ...inducer (LTi), NCR(+) ILC3) subsets. Group-3 ILC express Rorγt, produce interleukin (IL)-22, and are critically important in the normal function of mucosal tissues. Here, we describe a novel model cell line for the study of ILC function and differentiation. The parental MNK cell line, derived from NKR-P1B(+) fetal thymocytes, shows a capacity to differentiate in γc cytokines. One IL-7-responsive subline, designated MNK-3, expresses Rorγt and produces high levels of IL-22 in response to IL-23 and IL-1β stimulation. MNK-3 cells display surface markers and transcript expression characteristic of group-3 ILC, including IL-7Rα (CD127), c-kit (CD117), CCR6, Thy1 (CD90), RANK, RANKL, and lymphotoxin (LTα1β2). Using an in vitro assay of LTi cell activity, MNK-3 cells induce ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression on stromal cells in a manner dependent upon LTα1β2 expression. A second IL-2-responsive subline, MNK-1, expresses several NK cell receptors, perforin and granzymes, and shows some cytotoxic activity. Thus, MNK-1 cells serve as a model of ILC1/NK development and differentiation, whereas MNK-3 cells provide an attractive in vitro system to study the function of ILC3/LTi cells.
Epithelial cells of mucosal tissues provide a barrier against environmental stress, and keratinocytes are key decision makers for immune cell function in the skin. Currently, epithelial signaling ...networks that instruct barrier immunity remain uncharacterized. Here we have shown that keratinocyte-specific deletion of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (Adam17) triggers T helper 2 and/or T helper 17 (Th2 and/or Th17) cell-driven atopic dermatitis and myeloproliferative disease. In vivo and in vitro deficiency of ADAM17 dampened Notch signaling, increasing production of the Th2 cell-polarizing cytokine TSLP and myeloid growth factor G-CSF. Ligand-independent Notch activation was identified as a regulator of AP-1 transcriptional activity, with Notch antagonizing c-Fos recruitment to the promoters of Tslp and Csf3 (G-CSF). Further, skin inflammation was rescued and myeloproliferation ameliorated by delivery of active Notch to Adam17−/− epidermis. Our findings uncover an essential role of ADAM17 in the adult epidermis, demonstrating a gatekeeper function of the ADAM17-Notch-c-Fos triad in barrier immunity.
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► ADAM17 activates Notch in adult epidermis ► Tonic Notch activation suppresses AP-1 activity at cytokine promoters ► ADAM17 activates Notch to regulate c-Fos-driven synthesis of TSLP and G-CSF ► ADAM17-Notch-c-Fos triad is a gatekeeper of the epimmunome at barrier tissues
The Notch signaling pathway plays a key role at several stages of T-lymphocyte differentiation. However, it remained unclear whether signals induced by the Notch ligand Delta-like 1 could support ...full T-cell differentiation from a defined source of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro. Here, we show that human cord blood–derived HSCs cultured on Delta-like 1–expressing OP9 stromal cells undergo efficient T-cell lineage commitment and sustained T-cell differentiation. A normal stage-specific program of T-cell development was observed, including the generation of CD4 and CD8 αβ–T-cell receptor (TCR)–bearing cells. Induction of T-cell differentiation was dependent on the expression of Delta-like 1 by the OP9 cells. Stimulation of the in vitro–differentiated T cells by TCR engagement induced the expression of T-cell activation markers and costimulatory receptors. These results establish an efficient in vitro coculture system for the generation of T cells from human HSCs, providing a new avenue for the study of early T-cell differentiation and function.
The molecular interactions provided by the thymic microenvironment that predicate T cell development remain obscure. Here, we show that a bone marrow stromal cell line ectopically expressing the ...Notch ligand Delta-like-1 loses its ability to support B cell lymphopoiesis, but acquires the capacity to induce the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors into CD4 CD8 double- and single-positive T cells. Both γδ-TCR
+ and αβ-TCR
+ T cells are generated, and CD8
+ TCR
hi cells produce γ-interferon following CD3/TCR stimulation. These results establish that expression of Delta-like-1 on stromal cells provides key signals for the induction of T cell lineage commitment, stage-specific progenitor expansion, TCR gene rearrangement, and T cell differentiation in the absence of a thymus. Thus, it is likely that Delta-like-1/Notch interactions by the thymus underpin its unique ability to promote lineage commitment and differentiation of T cells.
Notch signals are necessary for the functional outcomes of T cell receptor beta-selection, including differentiation, proliferation and rescue from apoptosis. The mechanism underlying this ...requirement for T cell development is unknown. Here we show that Notch receptor and Delta-like 1 ligand interactions promoted the survival of CD4(-)CD8(-) pre-T cells through the maintenance of cell size, glucose uptake and metabolism. Furthermore, the trophic effects of Notch signaling were mediated by the pathway of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase and the kinase Akt, such that expression of active Atk overcame the requirement for Notch in beta-selection. Collectively, our results demonstrate involvement of Notch receptor-ligand interactions in the regulation of cellular metabolism, thus enabling the autonomous signaling capacity of the pre-T cell receptor complex.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The first checkpoint during T cell development, known as beta selection, requires the successful rearrangement of the TCR-beta gene locus. Notch signaling has been implicated in various stages during ...T lymphopoiesis. However, it is unclear whether Notch receptor-ligand interactions are necessary during beta selection. Here, we show that pre-TCR signaling concurrent with Notch receptor and Delta-like-1 ligand interactions are required for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of mouse CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes to the CD4(+)CD8(+) stage. Furthermore, we address the minimal signaling requirements underlying beta selection and show a hierarchical positioning of key proximal signaling molecules. Collectively, our results demonstrate an essential role for Notch receptor-ligand interactions in enabling the autonomous signaling capacity of the pre-TCR complex.
Notch signaling has been shown to play a pivotal role in inducing T lineage commitment. However, T cell progenitors are known to retain other lineage potential long after the first point at which ...Notch signaling is required. Thus, additional requirements for Notch signals and the timing of these events relative to intrathymic differentiation remain unknown. Here, we address this issue by culturing subsets of CD4 CD8 double negative (DN) thymocytes on control stromal cells or stromal cells expressing Delta-like 1 (Dll1). All DN subsets were found to require Notch signals to differentiate into CD4+ CD8+ T cells. Using clonal analyses, we show that CD44+ CD25+ (DN2) cells, which appeared committed to the T cell lineage when cultured on Dll1-expressing stromal cells, nonetheless gave rise to natural killer cells with a progenitor frequency similar to that of CD44+ CD25- (DN1) thymocytes when Notch signaling was absent. These data, together with the observation that Dll1 is expressed on stromal cells throughout the thymic cortex, indicates that Notch receptor-ligand interactions are necessary for induction and maintenance of T cell lineage specification at both the DN1 and DN2 stages of T cell development, suggesting that the Notch-induced repression of the B cell fate is temporally separate from Notch-induced commitment to the T lineage.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to serve as a renewable source of transplantable tissue-specific stem cells. However, the molecular cues necessary to direct the differentiation of ESCs ...toward specific cell lineages remain obscure. Here we report the successful induction of ESC differentiation into mature functional T lymphocytes with a simple in vitro coculture system. The directed differentiation of ESCs into T cells required the engagement of Notch receptors by Delta-like 1 ligand (DL1) expressed on the OP9-DL1 stromal cell line. We found a normal program of T cell differentiation in ESC-OP9-DL1 cell cocultures. ESC-derived T cell progenitors effectively reconstituted the T cell compartment of immunodeficient mice, enabling an effective response to a viral infection. These findings provide a powerful tool for the molecular analysis of T cell development and open new avenues for the development of immunotherapeutic approaches using defined sources of stem cells.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
During thymocyte development, high-affinity/avidity TCR engagement leads to the induction of negative selection and apoptosis, while lower TCR affinity-avidity interactions lead to positive selection ...and survival. To elucidate how these extracellular interactions are translated into intracellular signals that distinguish between positive and negative selection, we developed a culture system in which naive double-positive thymocytes were either induced to differentiate along the CD8(+) lineage pathway or were triggered for clonal deletion. Using this system, we show that sustained low level activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) promotes positive selection, whereas strong but transient ERK activation is coupled with negatively selecting stimuli. Importantly, similar ERK activation profiles were demonstrated during positive selection for strong agonist ligands presented at low concentrations or weak agonist ligands. This is consistent with the affinity/avidity model and a role for strong or weak agonists during positive selection. Surprisingly, the addition of a pharmacological inhibitor which blocks ERK activation prevented the induction of negative selection. These data suggest that the duration and strength of the TCR signal is involved in discriminating between positive and negative selection.