Clonal selection in the human Vδ1 T cell repertoire indicates γδ TCR-dependent adaptive immune surveillance

γδ T cells are considered to be innate-like lymphocytes that respond rapidly to stress without clonal selection and differentiation. Here we use next-generation sequencing to probe how this paradigm relates to human Vδ2neg T cells, implicated in responses to viral infection and cancer. The prevalent Vδ1 T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is private and initially unfocused in cord blood, typically becoming strongly focused on a few high-frequency clonotypes by adulthood. Clonal expansions have differentiated from a naive to effector phenotype associated with CD27 downregulation, retaining proliferative capacity and TCR sensitivity, displaying increased cytotoxic markers and altered homing capabilities, and remaining relatively stable over time. Contrastingly, Vδ2+ T cells express semi-invariant TCRs, which are present at birth and shared between individuals. Human Vδ1+ T cells have therefore evolved a distinct biology from the Vδ2+ subset, involving a central, personalized role for the γδ TCR in directing a highly adaptive yet unconventional form of immune surveillance

Drugs and drug-like molecules can modulate the function of mucosal-associated invariant T cells

The major-histocompatibility-complex-(MHC)-class-I-related molecule MR1 can present activating and non-activating vitamin-B-based ligands to mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells). Whether MR1 binds other ligands is unknown. Here we identified a range of small organic molecules, drugs, drug metabolites and drug-like molecules, including salicylates and diclofenac, as MR1-binding ligands. Some of these ligands inhibited MAIT cells ex vivo and in vivo, while others, including diclofenac metabolites, were agonists. Crystal structures of a T cell antigen receptor (TCR) from a MAIT cell in complex with MR1 bound to the non-stimulatory and stimulatory compounds showed distinct ligand orientations and contacts within MR1, which highlighted the versatility of the MR1 binding pocket. The findings demonstrated that MR1 was able to capture chemically diverse structures, spanning mono- and bicyclic compounds, that either inhibited or activated MAIT cells. This indicated that drugs and drug-like molecules can modulate MAIT cell function in mammals

«Synthèses de résines thermoplastiques par modifications chimiques de matières premières amylacées»

National audienc

Behavior of α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins and their derivatives on an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier

International audienceCyclodextrins (CDs) can be envisaged to cure some diseases related to the brain, but the behavior of these compounds toward the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains largely unexplored to envisage such clinical applications. To fulfill this gap, the toxicity and endothelial permeability for native, methylated, and hydroxypropylated α-, β-, and γ-CDs have been studied on an in vitro model of BBB. As shown by the endothelial permeability for sucrose and immunofluorescence stainings, the native CDs are the most toxic CDs (α- > β- > γ-CD). Whereas the chemical modification of β-CD did not affect the toxicity of this CD, differences are observed for the α- and γ-CD. To determine the origin of toxicity, lipid effluxes on the brain capillary endothelial cells were performed in the presence of native CDs. It was found that α-CD removed phospholipids and that β-CD extracted phospholipids and cholesterol. γ-CD was less lipid-selective than the other CDs. Finally, the endothelial permeability of each CD has been determined. Surprisingly, no structure/ permeability relationship has been observed according to the nature and chemical modifications of CDs

«Diamine derivatives of isohexide through direct Ru-catalyzed amination in presence of ammonia»

International audienc

«Bio-based monomers synthesis via rhodium-catalyzed poly-allyl ether hydroformylation»

International audienc