Transcriptional signature of human pro-inflammatory TH17 cells identifies reduced IL10 gene expression in multiple sclerosis

We have previously reported the molecular signature of murine pathogenic TH17 cells that induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in animals. Here we show that human peripheral blood IFN-γ+IL-17+ (TH1/17) and IFN-γ−IL-17+ (TH17) CD4+ T cells display distinct transcriptional profiles in high-throughput transcription analyses. Compared to TH17 cells, TH1/17 cells have gene signatures with marked similarity to mouse pathogenic TH17 cells. Assessing 15 representative signature genes in patients with multiple sclerosis, we find that TH1/17 cells have elevated expression of CXCR3 and reduced expression of IFNG, CCL3, CLL4, GZMB, and IL10 compared to healthy controls. Moreover, higher expression of IL10 in TH17 cells is found in clinically stable vs. active patients. Our results define the molecular signature of human pro-inflammatory TH17 cells, which can be used to both identify pathogenic TH17 cells and to measure the effect of treatment on TH17 cells in human autoimmune diseases

Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (third edition)

The third edition of Flow Cytometry Guidelines provides the key aspects to consider when performing flow cytometry experiments and includes comprehensive sections describing phenotypes and functional assays of all major human and murine immune cell subsets. Notably, the Guidelines contain helpful tables highlighting phenotypes and key differences between human and murine cells. Another useful feature of this edition is the flow cytometry analysis of clinical samples with examples of flow cytometry applications in the context of autoimmune diseases, cancers as well as acute and chronic infectious diseases. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid. All sections are written and peer‐reviewed by leading flow cytometry experts and immunologists, making this edition an essential and state‐of‐the‐art handbook for basic and clinical researchers.DFG, 389687267, Kompartimentalisierung, Aufrechterhaltung und Reaktivierung humaner Gedächtnis-T-Lymphozyten aus Knochenmark und peripherem BlutDFG, 80750187, SFB 841: Leberentzündungen: Infektion, Immunregulation und KonsequenzenEC/H2020/800924/EU/International Cancer Research Fellowships - 2/iCARE-2DFG, 252623821, Die Rolle von follikulären T-Helferzellen in T-Helferzell-Differenzierung, Funktion und PlastizitätDFG, 390873048, EXC 2151: ImmunoSensation2 - the immune sensory syste

Protocol for the detection of defined T cell clones in a heterogeneous cell population

Summary: Identifying defined T cell clones within a polyclonal population is key to clarifying their phenotype and function. Here, we present a protocol for detecting specified T cell clones in a heterogeneous cell population. We describe steps for stimulating human CD4+ T cells isolated from blood with a protein antigen, sorting antigen-specific cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and detecting among these the presence of predefined T cell clones, based on their T cell receptor (TCR). TCR cDNA is amplified through 5′-RACE (TCR-SMART) and detected by qPCR.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Notarbartolo et al. (2021).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics

Clonal composition and persistence of antigen-specific circulating T follicular helper cells

T follicular helper (TFH) cells play an essential role in promoting B cell responses andantibody affinity maturation in germinal centers (GC). A subset of memory CD4+T cellsexpressing the chemokine receptor CXCR5 has been described in human blood as pheno-typically and clonally related to GC TFHcells. However, the antigen specificity and relation-ship of these circulating TFH(cTFH) cells with other memory CD4+T cells remain poorlydefined. Combining antigenic stimulation and T cell receptor (TCR) Vβsequencing, wefound T cells specific to tetanus toxoid (TT), influenza vaccine (Flu), orCandida albicans(C.alb) in both cTFHand non-cTFHsubsets, although with different frequencies and effec-tor functions. Interestingly, cTFHand non-cTFHcells specific forC.albor TT had a largelyoverlapping TCR Vβrepertoire while the repertoire of Flu-specific cTFHand non-cTFHcellswas distinct. Furthermore, Flu-specific but notC.alb-specific PD-1+cTFHcells had a “GCTFH-like” phenotype, with overexpression ofIL21, CXCL13,andBCL6. Longitudinal analy-sis of serial blood donations showed that Flu-specific cTFHand non-cTFHcells persisted asstable repertoires for years. Collectively, our study provides insights on the relationshipof cTFHwith non-cTFHcells and on the heterogeneity and persistence of antigen-specifichuman cTFHcells.ISSN:0014-2980ISSN:1521-414

Non-Cooperative Interactions Between Transcription Factors and Clustered DNA Binding Sites Enable Graded Transcriptional Responses To Environmental Inputs

A paradigm in transcriptional regulation is that graded increases in transcription factor (TF) concentration are translated into on/off transcriptional responses by cooperative TF binding to adjacent sites. Digital transcriptional responses underlie the definition of anatomical boundaries during development. Here we show that NF-κB, a TF controlling inflammation and immunity, is conversely an analog transcriptional regulator that uses clustered binding sites noncooperatively. We observed that increasing concentrations of NF-κB are translated into gradual increments in gene transcription. We provide a thermodynamic interpretation of the experimental observations by combining quantitative measurements and a minimal physical model of an NF-κB-dependent promoter. We demonstrate that NF-κB binds independently to adjacent sites to promote additive RNA Pol II recruitment and graded transcriptional outputs. These findings reveal an alternative mode of operation of clustered TF binding sites, which might function in biological conditions where the transcriptional output is proportional to the strength of an environmental input

Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (third edition)

Cossarizza A, Chang H‐D, Radbruch A, et al. Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (third edition). European Journal of Immunology. 2021;51(12):2708-3145.The third edition of Flow Cytometry Guidelines provides the key aspects to consider when performing flow cytometry experiments and includes comprehensive sections describing phenotypes and functional assays of all major human and murine immune cell subsets. Notably, the Guidelines contain helpful tables highlighting phenotypes and key differences between human and murine cells. Another useful feature of this edition is the flow cytometry analysis of clinical samples with examples of flow cytometry applications in the context of autoimmune diseases, cancers as well as acute and chronic infectious diseases. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid. All sections are written and peer-reviewed by leading flow cytometry experts and immunologists, making this edition an essential and state-of-the-art handbook for basic and clinical researchers

Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (third edition)

The third edition of Flow Cytometry Guidelines provides the key aspects to consider when performing flow cytometry experiments and includes comprehensive sections describing phenotypes and functional assays of all major human and murine immune cell subsets. Notably, the Guidelines contain helpful tables highlighting phenotypes and key differences between human and murine cells. Another useful feature of this edition is the flow cytometry analysis of clinical samples with examples of flow cytometry applications in the context of autoimmune diseases, cancers as well as acute and chronic infectious diseases. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid. All sections are written and peer-reviewed by leading flow cytometry experts and immunologists, making this edition an essential and state-of-the-art handbook for basic and clinical researchers.ISSN:0014-2980ISSN:1521-414