Cells of the synovium in rheumatoid arthritis. Dendritic cells

Dendritic cells are the major antigen-presenting and antigen-priming cells of the immune system. We review the antigen-presenting and proinflammatory roles played by dendritic cells in the initiation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and atherosclerosis, which complicates RA. Various signals that promote the activation of NF-κB and the secretion of TNF and IL-1 drive the maturation of dendritic cells to prime self-specific responses, and drive the perpetuation of synovial inflammation. These signals may include genetic factors, infection, cigarette smoking, immunostimulatory DNA and oxidized low-density lipoprotein, with major involvement of autoantibodies. We propose that the pathogenesis of RA and atherosclerosis is intimately linked, with the vascular disease of RA driven by similar and simultaneous triggers to NF-κB

SPARC Controls Melanoma Cell Plasticity through Rac1.

Cell transition to a more aggressive mesenchymal-like phenotype is a hallmark of cancer progression that involves different steps and requires tightly regulated cell plasticity. SPARC (Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine) is a matricellular protein that promotes this transition in various malignant cell types, including melanoma cells. We found that suppression of SPARC expression in human melanoma cells compromised cell migration, adhesion, cytoskeleton structure, and cell size. These changes involved the Akt/mTOR pathway. Re-expression of SPARC or protein addition restored all the cell features. Suppression of SPARC expression was associated with increased Rac1-GTP levels and its membrane localization. Expression of the dominant negative mutant of Rac1 counteracted almost all the changes observed in SPARC-deficient cells. Overall, these data suggest that most of the SPARC-mediated effects occurred mainly through the blockade of Rac1 activity.Fil: Salvatierra Colussi, Edgardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Mariano J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Leishman, Claudia C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Rivas Baquero, Elvia Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Lutzky, Viviana P.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. The Royal Brisbane Hospital; AustraliaFil: Chuluyan, Hector Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Podhajcer, Osvaldo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine produced by human melanoma cells modulates polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment and antitumor cytotoxic capacity

The expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been associated with the malignant progression of different types of human cancer. SPARC was associated with tumor cell capacity to migrate and invade, although its precise role in tumor progression is still elusive. In the present study, we show that SPARC produced by melanoma cells modulates the antitumor activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Administration to nude mice of human melanoma cells in which SPARC expression was transiently or stably knocked down by antisense RNA (SPARC-sup cells) promoted PMN recruitment and obliterated tumor growth even when SPARC-sup cells accounted for only 10% of injected malignant cells. In addition, SPARC-sup cells stimulated the in vitro migration and triggered the antimelanoma cytotoxic capacity of human PMN, an effect that was reverted in the presence of SPARC purified from melanoma cells or by reexpressing SPARC in SPARC-sup cells. Leukotrienes, interleukin 8, and growth-related oncogene, in combination with Fas ligand and interleukin 1, mediated SPARC effects. These data indicate that SPARC plays an essential role in tumor evasion from immune surveillance through the inhibition of the antitumor PMN activity.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine produced by human melanoma cells modulates polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment and antitumor cytotoxic capacity

The expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been associated with the malignant progression of different types of human cancer. SPARC was associated with tumor cell capacity to migrate and invade, although its precise role in tumor progression is still elusive. In the present study, we show that SPARC produced by melanoma cells modulates the antitumor activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Administration to nude mice of human melanoma cells in which SPARC expression was transiently or stably knocked down by antisense RNA (SPARC-sup cells) promoted PMN recruitment and obliterated tumor growth even when SPARC-sup cells accounted for only 10% of injected malignant cells. In addition, SPARC-sup cells stimulated the in vitro migration and triggered the antimelanoma cytotoxic capacity of human PMN, an effect that was reverted in the presence of SPARC purified from melanoma cells or by reexpressing SPARC in SPARC-sup cells. Leukotrienes, interleukin 8, and growth-related oncogene, in combination with Fas ligand and interleukin 1, mediated SPARC effects. These data indicate that SPARC plays an essential role in tumor evasion from immune surveillance through the inhibition of the antitumor PMN activity.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Anomalies in T cell function are associated with individuals at risk of mycobacterium abscessus complex infection

The increasing global incidence and prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is of growing concern. New evidence of person-to-person transmission of multidrug-resistant NTM adds to the global concern. The reason why certain individuals are at risk of NTM infections is unknown. Using high definition flow cytometry, we studied the immune profiles of two groups that are at risk of Mycobacterium abscessus complex infection and matched controls. The first group was cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and the second group was elderly individuals. CF individuals with active M. abscessus complex infection or a history of M. abscessus complex infection exhibited a unique surface T cell phenotype with a marked global deficiency in TNFa production during mitogen stimulation. Importantly, immune-based signatures were identified that appeared to predict at baseline the subset of CF individuals who were at risk of M. abscessus complex infection. In contrast, elderly individuals with M. abscessus complex infection exhibited a separate T cell phenotype underlined by the presence of exhaustion markers and dysregulation in type 1 cytokine release during mitogen stimulation. Collectively, these data suggest an association between T cell signatures and individuals at risk of M. abscessus complex infection, however, validation of these immune anomalies as robust biomarkers will require analysis on larger patient cohorts

CD161 expression defines new human γδ T cell subsets

γδ T cells are a highly versatile immune lineage involved in host defense and homeostasis, but questions remain around their heterogeneity, precise function and role during health and disease. We used multi−parametric flow cytometry, dimensionality reduction, unsupervised clustering, and self-organizing maps (SOM) to identify novel γδ T cell naïve/memory subsets chiefly defined by CD161 expression levels, a surface membrane receptor that can be activating or suppressive. We used middle-to-old age individuals given immune blockade is commonly used in this population. Whilst most Vδ1+subset cells exhibited a terminal differentiation phenotype, Vδ1− subset cells showed an early memory phenotype. Dimensionality reduction revealed eight γδ T cell clusters chiefly diverging through CD161 expression with CD4 and CD8 expression limited to specific subpopulations. Comparison of matched healthy elderly individuals to bronchiectasis patients revealed elevated Vδ1+ terminally differentiated effector memory cells in patients potentially linking this population with chronic proinflammatory disease

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine produced by human melanoma cells modulates polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment and antitumor cytotoxic capacity

The expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been associated with the malignant progression of different types of human cancer. SPARC was associated with tumor cell capacity to migrate and invade, although its precise role in tumor progression is still elusive. In the present study, we show that SPARC produced by melanoma cells modulates the antitumor activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Administration to nude mice of human melanoma cells in which SPARC expression was transiently or stably knocked down by antisense RNA (SPARC-sup cells) promoted PMN recruitment and obliterated tumor growth even when SPARC-sup cells accounted for only 10% of injected malignant cells. In addition, SPARC-sup cells stimulated the in vitro migration and triggered the antimelanoma cytotoxic capacity of human PMN, an effect that was reverted in the presence of SPARC purified from melanoma cells or by reexpressing SPARC in SPARC-sup cells. Leukotrienes, interleukin 8, and growth-related oncogene, in combination with Fas ligand and interleukin 1, mediated SPARC effects. These data indicate that SPARC plays an essential role in tumor evasion from immune surveillance through the inhibition of the antitumor PMN activity.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a chronic, progressive, and growing worldwide health burden associated with mounting morbidity, mortality, and economic costs. Improvements in NTM-PD management are urgently needed, which requires a better understanding of fundamental immunopathology. Here, we examine temporal dynamics of the immune compartment during NTM-PD caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobactereoides abscessus complex (MABS). We show that active MAC infection is characterized by elevated T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 expression across multiple T cell subsets. In contrast, active MABS infection was characterized by increased expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4. Patients who failed therapy closely mirrored the healthy individual immune phenotype, with circulating immune network appearing to ‘ignore’ infection in the lung. Interestingly, immune biosignatures were identified that could inform disease stage and infecting species with high accuracy. Additionally, programmed cell death protein 1 blockade rescued antigen-specific IFN-γ secretion in all disease stages except persistent infection, suggesting the potential to redeploy checkpoint blockade inhibitors for NTM-PD. Collectively, our results provide new insight into species-specific ‘immune chatter’ occurring during NTM-PD and provide new targets, processes and pathways for diagnostics, prognostics, and treatments needed for this emerging and difficult to treat disease

The immune checkpoint CD96 defines a distinct lymphocyte phenotype and is highly expressed on tumor-infiltrating T cells

CD96 has recently been shown to be a potent immune checkpoint molecule in mice, but a similar role in humans is not known. In this study, we provide a detailed map of CD96 expression across human lymphocyte lineages, the kinetics of CD96 regulation on T-cell activation and co-expression with other conventional and emerging immune checkpoint molecules. We show that CD96 is predominantly expressed by T cells and has a unique lymphocyte expression profile. CD96 high T cells exhibited distinct effector functions on activation. Of note, CD96 expression was highly correlated with T-cell markers in primary and metastatic human tumors and was elevated on antigen- experienced T cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Collectively, these data demonstrate that CD96 may be a promising immune checkpoint to enhance T-cell function against human cancer and infectious diseas

PECAM-1/CD31 en células tumorales : Un nuevo blanco para la terapia antiotumoral?

Las moléculas de adhesión han sido implicadas en la metástasis y la progresión tumoral. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar la expresión y el rol de las moléculas de adhesión, en particular PECAM-l/CD31 en las células tumorales humanas. PECAM-l/CD31 es una glicoproteína de 130kDa perteneciente a la superfamilia de Inmunoglobulinas. Se encuentra presente en células endoteliales, plaquetas y en la mayoría de los leucocitos. Sin embargo, en este trabajo se demostró, por inmunofluorescencia y Western blot, la presencia de la molécula en líneas de células de melanoma y de adenocarcinoma. La expresión cuantitativa y cualitativa de PECAM-l/CD31 sobre las células tumorales es diferente a la de los leucocitos y células endoteliales, ya que en las células tumorales la expresión es menor, y además, los anticuerpos monoclonales dirigidos contra los dominios-2 y —6 no reaccionan con la molécula. La expresión de PECAM-l/CD31 sobre la superficie de las células tumorales fue modulada por interacciones célula-célula, siendo mayor en las células provenientes de cultivos sub-confluentes y en las células desprendidas espontáneamente de monocapas de células tumorales confluentes. La fijación y la permeabilización de las células tumorales reveló la presencia de reservorios intracelulares de PECAM-l/CD31. Por otro lado, la expresión de PECAM-l/CD31 aumentó y disminuyó en presencia de citocalasina B y brefeldina A, respectivamente. Las células de melanoma se adhirieron a células endoteliales y a proteínas de matriz extracelular. En el primer caso, la adhesión fue parcialmente mediada por PECAM-l/CD31, ya que la transfección de las células de melanoma con un oligonucleótido antisentido para PECAM-l/CD31, disminuyó la expresión de esta molécula y su adhesión. Lo mismo sucedió al tratar las células tumorales con anticuerpos dirigidos contra los dominios-1, —3 y —4/—5. En cambio la adhesión a las distintas proteínas de matriz extracelular fue mediada por las integrinas α1 (para colágeno IV); α3 (para matrigel, laminina, colágeno IV y colágeno I); α4 y α5 (para fibronectina); α6 (para matrigel) y β1 (para matrigel, colágeno IV, colágeno I y fibronectina). Finalmente, la coligación de PECAM-l/CD31 con anticuerpos dirigidos contra el dominio 3 en las células de melanoma y adenocarcinoma, tiene un efecto inhibitorio sobre la proliferación celular. Los resultados obtenidos en el presente trabajo, indican que existe un reservorio intracelular de PECAM-l/CD31 en células tumorales que probablemente module la expresión de CD31 en la superficie celular. Además sugieren un rol de esta molécula en el crecimiento tumoral y en la metástasis.Tumor progression and metastasis have been related to the adhesion molecules expression. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression and the role of adhesion molecules on tumor cells, in particular PECAM-l/CD31. PECAM-l/CD31 is a 130-kDa member of the Immunoglobulin gene superfamily that is highly expressed on endothelial cells, platelets and most leukocytes. However, herein it is demonstrated by Western Blot and immunofluorescence that some melanoma cells and adenocarcinoma cells express PECAM-l/CD31 on the cell surface. The expression of PECAM-l/CD31 on tumor cells seems to be different from normal cells, since the expression was low compared to endothelial cells and leukocytes, and based on the absence of reactivity of monoclonal antibodies directed to domains 2 and 6. Furthermore, the tumor cells surface expression of PECAM-l/CD31 can be regulated by cell-cell contact, being higher on sparse and spontaneously detached cells. Fixing and permeabilizing tumor cells revealed a cytoplasmic pool of the molecule. Indeed, cell surface CD31 was internalized following mAb binding and the expression was enhanced and decreased by cytochalasin B and brefeldin A, respectively. Melanoma cells were able to adhere to endothelial cells and to extracellular matrix proteins, using different adhesion molecules. The interaction of melanoma cells with endothelial cells was partially mediated by PECAM-l, since decreasing the expression of CD31 on tumor cells by CD31-specific antisense oligonucleotide or by treatment with mAbs to domains -1, -3, -4/—5 decreased the adhesion to endothelium. Melanoma cells adhesion to ECM proteins was mediated by α1 (for collagen type IV); α3 (for matrigel, laminin, collagen type IV and collagen type I); α4 and α5 (for fibronectin); α6 (for matrigel) and β1 (for matrigel, collagen type IV, collagen type I and fibronectin). Furthermore, ligation of CD31 via domain —3 but not β1 integrin inhibited proliferation of melanoma and adenocarcinoma cells. Overall, these results indicate that there is an intracellular pool of CD31 on tumor cells which might modulate CD31 surface expression and its role in cancer cell growth and metastasis.Fil:Lutzky, Viviana Paula. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina