Human CD5+ Innate Lymphoid Cells Are Functionally Immature and Their Development from CD34+ Progenitor Cells Is Regulated by Id2

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have emerged as a key cell type involved in surveillance and maintenance of mucosal tissues. Mouse ILCs rely on the transcriptional regulator Inhibitor of DNA-binding protein 2 (Id2) for their development. Here, we show that Id2 also drives development of human ILC because forced expression of Id2 in human thymic progenitors blocked T cell commitment, upregulated CD161 and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF), and maintained CD127 expression, markers that are characteristic for human ILCs. Surprisingly CD5 was also expressed on these in vitro generated ILCs. This was not an in vitro artifact because CD5 was also found on ex vivo isolated ILCs from thymus and from umbilical cord blood. CD5 was also expressed on small proportions of ILC2 and ILC3. CD5+ ILCs were functionally immature, but could further differentiate into mature CD5− cytokine-secreting ILCs. Our data show that Id2 governs human ILC development from thymic progenitor cells toward immature CD5+ ILCs

Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs): Cytokine Hubs Regulating Immunity and Tissue Homeostasis

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have emerged as an expanding family of effector cells particularly enriched in the mucosal barriers. ILCs are promptly activated by stress signals and multiple epithelial- and myeloid-cell-derived cytokines. In response, ILCs rapidly secrete effector cytokines, which allow them to survey and maintain the mucosal integrity. Uncontrolled action of ILCs might contribute to tissue damage, chronic inflammation, metabolic diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer. Here we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the cytokine network that modulate ILC immune responses: stimulating cytokines, signature cytokines secreted by ILC subsets, autocrine cytokines, and cytokines that induce cell plasticit

Human CD5(+) Innate Lymphoid Cells Are Functionally Immature and Their Development from CD34(+) Progenitor Cells Is Regulated by Id2

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have emerged as a key cell type involved in surveillance and maintenance of mucosal tissues. Mouse ILCs rely on the transcriptional regulator Inhibitor of DNA-binding protein 2 (Id2) for their development. Here, we show that Id2 also drives development of human ILC because forced expression of Id2 in human thymic progenitors blocked T cell commitment, upregulated CD161 and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF), and maintained CD127 expression, markers that are characteristic for human ILCs. Surprisingly CD5 was also expressed on these in vitro generated ILCs. This was not an in vitro artifact because CD5 was also found on ex vivo isolated ILCs from thymus and from umbilical cord blood. CD5 was also expressed on small proportions of ILC2 and ILC3. CD5(+) ILCs were functionally immature, but could further differentiate into mature CD5(-) cytokine-secreting ILCs. Our data show that Id2 governs human ILC development from thymic progenitor cells toward immature CD5(+) ILC

Isolation of Human Innate Lymphoid Cells

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are innate immune cells of lymphoid origin that have important effector and regulatory functions in the first line of defense against pathogens, but also regulate tissue homeostasis, remodeling, and repair. Their function mirrors T helper cells and cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes, but they lack expression of rearranged antigen-specific receptors. Distinct ILC subsets are classified in group 1 ILCs (ILC1s), group 2 ILCs (ILC2s), and group 3 ILCs (ILC3s and lymphoid tissue-inducer cells), based on the expression of transcription factors and the cytokines they produce. As the frequency of ILCs is low, their isolation requires extensive depletion of other cell types. The lack of unique cell surface antigens further complicates the identification of these cells. Here, methods for ILC isolation and characterization from human peripheral blood and different tissues are described. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Development and activation of regulatory T cells in the human fetus

There is an increasing amount of knowledge on the functional properties of regulatory T cells (Treg) in the adult immune system, but data on the generation and function of these cells during human embryonic development are scarce. In this study, we show that in the fetal thymus, double-positive cells initiate expression of CD25, GITR, CTLA4 and CD122 during their transition from the CD27(-) to the CD27(+) stage. Moreover, CD4(+)CD25(+) fetal thymocytes already have the potential to suppress proliferation of CD25(-) cells. After leaving the thymus, FoxP3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg enter the fetal lymph nodes and spleen, where they acquire a primed/memory phenotype. A model is proposed for the development of human fetal Treg that encompasses two sequential maturation steps: initiation of a regulatory phenotype and suppressive activity in the thymus; and subsequent activation within the peripheral lymphoid organs. Upon activation, FoxP3+CD4+CD25+ Treg suppress potentially deleterious responses by autoreactive lymphocytes and maintain homeostasis within the developing fetu

Development of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells depends on the combined action of the basic helix-loop-helix factor E2-2 and the Ets factor Spi-B

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are central players in the innate and adaptive immune response against viral infections. The molecular mechanism that underlies pDC development from progenitor cells is only beginning to be elucidated. Previously, we reported that the Ets factor Spi-B and the inhibitors of DNA binding protein 2 (Id2) or Id3, which antagonize E-protein activity, are crucially involved in promoting or impairing pDC development, respectively. Here we show that the basic helix-loop-helix protein E2-2 is predominantly expressed in pDC, but not in their progenitor cells or conventional DC. Forced expression of E2-2 in progenitor cells stimulated pDC development. Conversely, inhibition of E2-2 expression by RNA interference impaired the generation of pDC suggesting a key role of E2-2 in development of these cells. Notably, Spi-B was unable to overcome the Id2 enforced block in pDC development and moreover Spi-B transduced pDC expressed reduced Id2 levels. This might indicate that Spi-B contributes to pDC development by promoting E2-2 activity. Consistent with notion, simultaneous overexpression of E2-2 and Spi-B in progenitor cells further stimulated pDC development. Together our results provide additional insight into the transcriptional network controlling pDC development as evidenced by the joint venture of E2-2 and Spi-

IL-6 Triggers IL-21 production by human CD4(+) T cells to drive STAT3-dependent plasma cell differentiation in B cells

Interleukin (IL)-21-producing CD4(+) T cells are central to humoral immunity. Deciphering the signals that induce IL-21 production in CD4(+) T cells and those triggered by IL-21 in B cells are, therefore, of importance for understanding the generation of antibody (Ab) responses. Here, we show that IL-6 increased IL-21 production by human CD4(+) T cells, particularly in those that express the transcriptional regulator B cell lymphoma (BCL) 6, which is required in mice for the development of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CXCR5(+)) IL-21-producing T follicular helper (T-FH) cells. However, retroviral overexpression of BCL6 in total human CD4(+) T cells only transiently increased CXCR5, the canonical T-FH-defining surface marker. We show here that IL-21 was required for the induction of Ab production by IL-6. In IL-21-treated B cells, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 was required for optimal immunoglobulin production and upregulation of PR domain containing 1 (PRDM1(+)), the master plasma cell factor. These results, therefore, demonstrate the critical importance of STAT3 activation in B cells during IL-21-driven humoral immunity and suggest that BCL6 expression, although not sufficient, may serve as a platform for the acquisition of a T-FH-like phenotype by human CD4(+) T cells. Immunology and Cell Biology (2012) 90, 802-811; doi:10.1038/icb.2012.17; published online 10 April 201

T cell-independent development and induction of somatic hypermutation in human IgM+ IgD+ CD27+ B cells

IgM(+)IgD(+)CD27(+) B cells from peripheral blood have been described as circulating marginal zone B cells. It is still unknown when and where these cells develop. These IgM(+)IgD(+)CD27(+) B cells exhibit somatic hypermutations (SHMs) in their B cell receptors, but the exact nature of the signals leading to induction of these SHMs remains elusive. Here, we show that IgM(+)IgD(+)CD27(+) B cells carrying SHMs are observed during human fetal development. To examine the role of T cells in human IgM(+)IgD(+)CD27(+) B cell development we used an in vivo model in which Rag2(-/-)gamma(C)(-/-) mice were repopulated with human hematopoietic stem cells. Using Rag2(-/-)gamma(C)(-/-) mice on a Nude background, we demonstrated that development and induction of SHMs of human IgM(+)IgD(+)CD27(+) B cells can occur in a T cell-independent manne

A Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase with a Novel Domain Organization Is Essential for Siderophore Biosynthesis in Vibrio anguillarum

Anguibactin, a siderophore produced by Vibrio anguillarum, is synthesized via a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) mechanism. We have identified a gene from the V. anguillarum plasmid pJM1 that encodes a 78-kDa NRPS protein termed AngM, which is essential in the biosynthesis of anguibactin. The predicted AngM amino acid sequence shows regions of homology to the consensus sequence for the peptidyl carrier protein (PCP) and the condensation (C) domains of NRPSs, and curiously, these two domains are not associated with an adenylation (A) domain. Substitution by alanine of the serine 215 in the PCP domain and of histidine 406 in the C domain of AngM results in an anguibactin-deficient phenotype, underscoring the importance of these two domains in the function of this protein. The mutations in angM that affected anguibactin production also resulted in a dramatic attenuation of the virulence of V. anguillarum 775, highlighting the importance of this gene in the establishment of a septicemic infection in the vertebrate host. Transcription of the angM gene is initiated at an upstream transposase gene promoter that is repressed by the Fur protein in the presence of iron. Analysis of the sequence at this promoter showed that it overlaps the iron transport-biosynthesis promoter and operates in the opposite direction