Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is an energy store and endocrine organ critical for metabolic homeostasis. Regulatory T (T
) cells restrain inflammation to preserve VAT homeostasis and glucose ...tolerance. Here, we show that the VAT harbors two distinct T
cell populations: prototypical serum stimulation 2-positive (ST2
) T
cells that are enriched in males and a previously uncharacterized population of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3-positive (CXCR3
) T
cells that are enriched in females. We show that the transcription factors GATA-binding protein 3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, together with the cytokine interleukin-33, promote the differentiation of ST2
VAT T
cells but repress CXCR3
T
cells. Conversely, the differentiation of CXCR3
T
cells is mediated by the cytokine interferon-γ and the transcription factor T-bet, which also antagonize ST2
T
cells. Finally, we demonstrate that ST2
T
cells preserve glucose homeostasis, whereas CXCR3
T
cells restrain inflammation in lean VAT and prevent glucose intolerance under high-fat diet conditions. Overall, this study defines two molecularly and developmentally distinct VAT T
cell types with unique context- and sex-specific functions.
Display omitted
Type I regulatory (Tr1) cells are defined as FOXP3−IL-10-secreting clusters of differentiation (CD4+) T cells that contribute to immune suppression and typically express the markers ...LAG-3 and CD49b and other co-inhibitory receptors. These cells have not been studied in detail in the context of the resolution of acute infection in the lung. Here, we identify FOXP3- interleukin (IL)-10+ CD4+ T cells transiently accumulating in the lung parenchyma during resolution of the response to sublethal influenza A virus (IAV) infection in mice. These cells were dependent on IL-27Rα, which was required for timely recovery from IAV-induced weight loss. LAG-3 and CD49b were not generally co-expressed by FOXP3- IL-10+ CD4+ T cells in this model and four populations of these cells based on LAG-3 and CD49b co-expression were apparent LAG-3−CD49b− (double negative), LAG-3+CD49b+ (double positive), LAG-3+CD49b− (LAG-3+), LAG-3−CD49b+ (CD49b+). However, each population exhibited suppressive potential consistent with the definition of Tr1 cells. Notably, differences between these populations of Tr1 cells were apparent including differential dependence on IL-10 to mediate suppression and expression of markers indicative of different activation states and terminal differentiation. Sort-transfer experiments indicated that LAG-3+ Tr1 cells exhibited the capacity to convert to double negative and double positive Tr1 cells, indicative of plasticity between these populations. Together, these data determine the features and suppressive potential of Tr1 cells in the resolution of IAV infection and identify four populations delineated by LAG-3 and CD49b, which likely correspond to different Tr1 cell activation states.
Black college-aged men are less likely than their peers to use formal, therapeutic in-person services for mental health concerns. As the use of mobile technologies and social media platforms is ...steadily increasing, it is important to conduct work that examines the future utility of digital tools and technologies to improve access to and uptake of mental health services for Black men and Black men in college.
The aim of this study was to identify and understand college-attending Black men's needs and preferences for using digital health technologies and social media for stress and mental health symptom management.
Interviews were conducted with Black male students (N=11) from 2 racially diverse universities in the Midwestern United States. Participants were asked questions related to their current mental health needs and interest in using social media platforms and mobile-based apps for their mental health concerns. A thematic analysis was conducted.
Four themes emerged from the data: current stress relief strategies, technology-based support needs and preferences (subthemes: mobile-based support and social media-based support), resource information dissemination considerations (subthemes: information-learning expectations and preferences and information-sharing preferences and behaviors), and technology-based mental health support design considerations (subtheme: relatability and representation). Participants were interested in using social media and digital technologies for their mental health concerns and needs, for example, phone notifications and visual-based mental health advertisements that promote awareness. Relatability in the context of representation was emphasized as a key factor for participants interested in using digital mental health tools. Examples of methods for increasing relatability included having tools disseminated by minority-serving organizations and including components explicitly portraying Black men engaging in mental health support strategies. The men also discussed wanting to receive recommendations for stress relief that have been proven successful, particularly for Black men.
The findings from this study provide insights into design and dissemination considerations for future work geared toward developing mental health messaging and digital interventions for young Black men.
Organisms resist bacterial infection at many levels. One of the least understood is the collective action of cells to limit pathogen spread. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Bastounis et al. ...(2021) describe the extrusion of Listeria monocytogenes from an epithelial monolayer by surrounding bystander cells.
Organisms resist bacterial infection at many levels. One of the least understood is the collective action of cells to limit pathogen spread. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Bastounis et al. (2021) describe the extrusion of Listeria monocytogenes from an epithelial monolayer by surrounding bystander cells.
In Australia, food poisoning affects over 4.1 million people annually, with most cases occurring in domestic (i.e., household) environments. Strategies aimed at improving safe food-handling among the ...community have begun being implemented across Australia. Recently, the ‘Play it Food Safe’ mass media campaign by the Western Australian Department of Health was piloted and shown to have some effectiveness in improving safe food-handling behaviour among consumers following the campaign. However, little is known about whether these changes in safe food-handling behaviours can be maintained in the long-term. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to determine if the Western Australian ‘Play it Food Safe’ campaign could lead to long-term change of safe food-handling knowledge, behaviour, and related psychological constructs (i.e., habit, perceived risk, self-efficacy, and subjective norms) among consumers. Participants (N = 689) completed measures assessing their safe food-handling knowledge, behaviour, and psychological constructs, derived from psychological theories, following the conclusion of the ‘Play it Food Safe’ campaign that was re-run in Perth, Western Australia. Participants completed these measures again approximately eight-weeks later. Data were analysed to determine if there were any changes in these measures over time, or whether scores on these measures were maintained long-term. Results indicated that some psychological constructs improved over time, and knowledge was higher among participants who saw the campaign, however, behaviour remained the same. These findings show that the ‘Play it Food Safe’ campaign may be effective for increasing knowledge, and effective for improving some psychological constructs long-term, though further development of the campaign is needed for further impact on behaviour.
•Eight-weeks following the campaign, safe food-handling knowledge improved.•Similarly, some psychological constructs changed.•Safe food-handling behaviour did not change, eight-weeks following the campaign.
Pro-inflammatory CD4
T helper (Th) cells drive the pathogenesis of many autoimmune conditions. Recent advances have modified views of the phenotype of pro-inflammatory Th cells in autoimmunity, ...extending the breadth of known Th cell subsets that operate as drivers of these responses. Heterogeneity and plasticity within Th1 and Th17 cells, and the discovery of subsets of Th cells dedicated to production of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as GM-CSF have led to these advances. Here, we review recent progress in this area and focus specifically upon evidence for chemokine receptors that drive recruitment of these various pro-inflammatory Th cell subsets to sites of autoimmune inflammation in the CNS. We discuss expression of specific chemokine receptors by subsets of pro-inflammatory Th cells and highlight which receptors may be tractable targets of therapeutic interventions to limit pathogenic Th cell recruitment in autoimmunity.
In light of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, millions of people with uteruses have been forced to navigate precarious access to reproductive care. Although health service ...psychologists have an ethical responsibility to engage in reproductive justice advocacy, training programs often do not adequately address sexual and reproductive health. Therefore, we sought to better understand how health service psychologists’ personal and professional experiences influence each other and explore the ways in which we as reproductive beings and advocates sustain ourselves amidst tremendous sociopolitical uncertainty. In order to do so, we employed a feminist collaborative autoethnography approach grounded in critical theory. Attending to intersectional identities that help shape diverse expectations and experiences, two early career psychologists and four trainees uncovered 12 domains: barriers in academia; reproductive (dis)empowerment; relational connection; power(lessness) associated with social locations; internalization of sex-negative messages; the influence of sociopolitical climate; burdens related to reproductive rights; evaluations of reproductive justice efforts; component of professional identity; expectations from family and community; overwhelming and exhausting advocacy; and fears of inadequacy. We conclude with limitations and implications for the continued promotion of advocacy through practice and training within and beyond the field of psychology.
The induction of Smad signalling by the extracellular ligand TGF‐β promotes tissue plasticity and cell migration in developmental and pathological contexts. Here, we show that vaccinia virus (VACV) ...stimulates the activity of Smad transcription factors and expression of TGF‐β/Smad‐responsive genes at the transcript and protein levels. Accordingly, infected cells share characteristics to those undergoing TGF‐β/Smad‐mediated epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Depletion of the Smad4 protein, a common mediator of TGF‐β signalling, results in an attenuation of viral cell‐to‐cell spread and reduced motility of infected cells. VACV induction of TGF‐β/Smad‐responsive gene expression does not require the TGF‐β ligand or type I and type II TGF‐β receptors, suggesting a novel, non‐canonical Smad signalling pathway. Additionally, the spread of ectromelia virus, a related orthopoxvirus that does not activate a TGF‐β/Smad response, is enhanced by the addition of exogenous TGF‐β. Together, our results indicate that VACV orchestrates a TGF‐β‐like response via a unique activation mechanism to enhance cell migration and promote virus spread.
Insulin is known to act in the central nervous system to regulate several physiological and behavioural outcomes, including energy balance, glucose homeostasis and cognitive functioning. However, the ...neuronal populations through which insulin enhances cognitive performance remain unidentified. Insulin receptors are found in neuropeptide-Y (NPY) expressing neurons, which are abundant in the hypothalamus and hippocampus; regions involved in feeding behaviour and spatial memory, respectively. Here we show that mice with a tissue specific knockout of insulin receptors in NPY expressing neurons (IRlox/lox; NPYCre/+) display an impaired performance in the probe trial of the Morris Water Maze compared with control mice at both the 6 and the 12, but not at the 24 months time point, consistent with a crucial role of insulin and NPY in cognitive functioning. By 24 months of age all groups demonstrated similar reductions in spatial memory performance. Together, these data suggest that the mechanisms through which insulin influences cognitive functioning are, at least in part, via insulin receptor signaling in NPY expressing neurons. These results also highlight that cognitive impairments observed in aging may be due to impaired insulin signaling.
Using a critical race theory framework and a convergent mixed-method design, this study examined the relationship between coping with stress and psychological distress among Black U.S. Americans (N = ...155) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of race-based stressors (e.g., anti-Black racism). Path analysis revealed mixed support for hypotheses; avoidant coping was positively related to all measured facets of psychological distress, whereas socially supported coping was associated with none. Self-sufficient coping was negatively associated with only depressive symptoms. Qualitative analysis revealed four salient themes: (a) Race and the COVID-19 Pandemic, (b) Complex Pandemic Related Changes to Life, (c) Emotional Responses to the Pandemic, and (d) Coping with the COVID Pandemic. These themes suggested the pandemic disrupted participants’ ability to engage in, or effectively use, typically adaptive coping strategies and distress was exacerbated by fears for the safety of other Black U.S. Americans. Implications for training, practice, research, and advocacy are discussed.
PDF
