Publications by Year: 2013

2013
Henrickson SE, Perro M, Loughhead SM, Senman B, Stutte S, Quigley M, Alexe G, Iannacone M, Flynn MP, Omid S, et al. Antigen availability determines CD8⁺ T cell-dendritic cell interaction kinetics and memory fate decisions. Immunity. 2013;39 (3) :496-507.Abstract
T cells are activated by antigen (Ag)-bearing dendritic cells (DCs) in lymph nodes in three phases. The duration of the initial phase of transient, serial DC-T cell interactions is inversely correlated with Ag dose. The second phase, characterized by stable DC-T cell contacts, is believed to be necessary for full-fledged T cell activation. Here we have shown that this is not the case. CD8⁺ T cells interacting with DCs presenting low-dose, short-lived Ag did not transition to phase 2, whereas higher Ag dose yielded phase 2 transition. Both antigenic constellations promoted T cell proliferation and effector differentiation but yielded different transcriptome signatures at 12 hr and 24 hr. T cells that experienced phase 2 developed long-lived memory, whereas conditions without stable contacts yielded immunological amnesia. Thus, T cells make fate decisions within hours after Ag exposure, resulting in long-term memory or abortive effector responses, correlating with T cell-DCs interaction kinetics.
Antigen availability determines CD8⁺ T cell-dendritic cell interaction kinetics and memory fate decisions.pdf 1-s2.0-s1074761313003865-mmc2.mp4 1-s2.0-s1074761313003865-mmc3.mp4 1-s2.0-s1074761313003865-mmc4.mp4 1-s2.0-s1074761313003865-mmc5.mp4 1-s2.0-s1074761313003865-mmc6.mp4 1-s2.0-s1074761313003865-mmc7.mp4
Yamaguchi T, Turhan A, Harris DL, Hu K, Prüss H, von Andrian U, Hamrah P. Bilateral nerve alterations in a unilateral experimental neurotrophic keratopathy model: a lateral conjunctival approach for trigeminal axotomy. PLoS One. 2013;8 (8) :e70908.Abstract
To study bilateral nerve changes in a newly developed novel mouse model for neurotrophic keratopathy by approaching the trigeminal nerve from the lateral fornix. Surgical axotomy of the ciliary nerve of the trigeminal nerve was performed in adult BALB/c mice at the posterior sclera. Axotomized, contralateral, and sham-treated corneas were excised on post-operative days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 and immunofluorescence histochemistry was performed with anti-β-tubulin antibody to evaluate corneal nerve density. Blink reflex was evaluated using a nylon thread. The survival rate was 100% with minimal bleeding during axotomy and a surgical time of 8±0.5 minutes. The blink reflex was diminished at day 1 after axotomy, but remained intact in the contralateral eyes in all mice. The central and peripheral subbasal nerves were not detectable in the axotomized cornea at day 1 (p<0.001), compared to normal eyes (101.3±14.8 and 69.7±12.0 mm/mm² centrally and peripherally). Interestingly, the subbasal nerve density in the contralateral non-surgical eyes also decreased significantly to 62.4±2.8 mm/mm² in the center from day 1 (p<0.001), but did not change in the periphery (77.3±11.7 mm/mm², P = 0.819). Our novel trigeminal axotomy mouse model is highly effective, less invasive, rapid, and has a high survival rate, demonstrating immediate loss of subbasal nerves in axotomized eyes and decreased subbasal nerves in contralateral eyes after unilateral axotomy. This model will allow investigating the effects of corneal nerve damage and serves as a new model for neurotrophic keratopathy.
bilateral_nerve_alterations_in_a_unilateral_experimental_neurotrophic_keratopathy_model-_a_lateral_conjunctival_approach_for_trigeminal_axotomy.pdf
Tonti E, Jiménez de Oya N, Galliverti G, Moseman AE, Di Lucia P, Amabile A, Sammicheli S, De Giovanni M, Sironi L, Chevrier N, et al. Bisphosphonates target B cells to enhance humoral immune responses. Cell Rep. 2013;5 (2) :323-30.Abstract
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that are widely used to inhibit loss of bone mass in patients. We show here that the administration of clinically relevant doses of bisphosphonates in mice increases antibody responses to live and inactive viruses, proteins, haptens, and existing commercial vaccine formulations. Bisphosphonates exert this adjuvant-like activity in the absence of CD4(+) and γδ T cells, neutrophils, or dendritic cells, and their effect does not rely on local macrophage depletion, Toll-like receptor signaling, or the inflammasome. Rather, bisphosphonates target directly B cells and enhance B cell expansion and antibody production upon antigen encounter. These data establish bisphosphonates as an additional class of adjuvants that boost humoral immune responses.
bisphosphonates_target_b_cells_to_enhance_humoral_immune_responses.pdf
Moseman AP, Moseman AE, Schworer S, Smirnova I, Volkova T, von Andrian U, Poltorak A. Mannose receptor 1 mediates cellular uptake and endosomal delivery of CpG-motif containing oligodeoxynucleotides. J Immunol. 2013;191 (11) :5615-24.Abstract
Recognition of microbial components is critical for activation of TLRs, subsequent innate immune signaling, and directing adaptive immune responses. The DNA sensor TLR9 traffics from the endoplasmic reticulum to endolysosomal compartments where it is cleaved by resident proteases to generate a competent receptor. Activation of TLR9 by CpG-motif containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) is preceded by agonist endocytosis and delivery into the endolysosomes. The events that dictate this process remain largely unknown; furthermore, it is unclear whether the receptors involved in mediating uptake of exogenous DNA are conserved for both naturally derived pathogenic DNA and synthetic ODNs. In this study, we report that peritoneal macrophages from a wild-derived inbred mouse strain, MOLF/Ei, are hyporesponsive to CpG ODN but are fully responsive to bacterial DNA, thus implying that microbial recognition is not fully recapitulated by a synthetic analog. To identify the gene responsible for the CpG ODN defect, we have performed genome-wide linkage analysis. Using N2 backcross mice, we mapped the trait with high resolution to a single locus containing Mrc1 as the gene conferring the trait. We show that mannose receptor 1 (MRC1; CD206) is involved in CpG ODN uptake and trafficking in wild-derived MOLF/Ei peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, we show that other strains of wild-derived mice also require MRC1 for CpG-induced cytokine responses. These findings reveal novel functions for MRC1 and demonstrate that wild-derived mice are important and indispensable model for understanding naturally occurring regulators of inflammatory responses in innate immune pathways.
supplementary_data.pdf mannose_receptor_1_mediates_cellular_uptake_and_endosomal_delivery_of_cpg-motif_containing_oligodeoxynucleotides.pdf
Majewska-Szczepanik M, Paust S, von Andrian UH, Askenase PW, Szczepanik M. Natural killer cell-mediated contact sensitivity develops rapidly and depends on interferon-α, interferon-γ and interleukin-12. Immunology. 2013;140 (1) :98-110.Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated contact sensitivity was recently described in mice. Here, we confirm NK cell-mediated contact sensitivity (CS) in SCID and RAG1(-/-) mice but not in SCIDbeige mice, which have non-functional NK cells that lack NK cell granules. NK cell-mediated CS was transferred by liver mononuclear cells and the DX5(+) fraction of liver cells, confirming that NK cells mediate CS in the absence of T and B cells. Participation of NKT cells and B-1 cells was ruled out using Jα18(-/-) and JH(-/-) mice, respectively. Remarkably, NK cell-mediated CS was observed just 1 hr after immunization and was detectable as early as 30 min after challenge. Further, we examined cytokine requirements for NK cell-mediated CS, and found that liver mononuclear cells from interleukin-12(-/-) , interferon-γ(-/-) and interferon-α receptor(-/-) donors fail to transfer NK cell-mediated CS to naive hosts. Our studies clearly show that dinitrofluorobenzene sensitized NK cells mediate very rapid, antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity, with features of both innate and acquired immune responses.
immunology_-_2013_-_majewska-szczepanik_-_natural_killer_cell-mediated_contact_sensitivity_develops_rapidly_and_depends_on.pdf
Nussbaum C, Gloning A, Pruenster M, Frommhold D, Bierschenk S, Genzel-Boroviczény O, von Andrian UH, Quackenbush E, Sperandio M. Neutrophil and endothelial adhesive function during human fetal ontogeny. J Leukoc Biol. 2013;93 (2) :175-84.Abstract
Attenuation of the immune response contributes to the high rate of neonatal infections, particularly in premature infants. Whereas our knowledge of innate immune functions in mature neonates is growing, little is known about the ontogeny of neutrophil recruitment. We investigated neutrophils and ECs in the course of gestation with respect to rolling and adhesive functions. With the use of microflow chambers, we demonstrate that the neutrophil's ability to roll and adhere directly correlates with gestational age. These adhesion-related abilities are very rare in extremely premature infants (<30 weeks of gestation), which may correlate with our observation of markedly reduced expression of PSGL-1 and Mac-1 on neutrophils in preterm infants. In parallel, the capacity of HUVECs to mediate neutrophil adhesion under flow increases with gestational age. In addition, HUVECs from extremely premature infants exerting the lowest ability to recruit adult neutrophils show a diminished up-regulation of E-selectin and ICAM-1. Finally, by following neutrophil function postnatally, we show that maturation of PMN recruitment proceeds equivalently during extra- and intrauterine development. Thus, PMN recruitment and EC adhesion-related functions are ontogenetically regulated in the fetus, which might contribute significantly to the high risk of life-threatening infections in premature infants.
neutrophil_and_endothelial_adhesive_function_during_human_fetal_ontogeny.pdf
Gerlach C, Thiriot A, von Andrian UH. Of origins and pedigrees: lineage tracing of dendritic cells. Cell. 2013;154 (4) :720-2.Abstract
Understanding the ontogeny of distinct hematopoietic cell types remains a challenge. In this issue, Schraml et al. contribute to unraveling the complexity of a central component of the mononuclear phagocyte system by using a new in vivo approach to trace the progeny of common dendritic cell precursors.
1-s2.0-s0092867413009537-main.pdf figure.jpg
Sperandio M, Quackenbush EJ, Sushkova N, Altstätter J, Nussbaum C, Schmid S, Pruenster M, Kurz A, Margraf A, Steppner A, et al. Ontogenetic regulation of leukocyte recruitment in mouse yolk sac vessels. Blood. 2013;121 (21) :e118-28.Abstract
In adult mammals, leukocyte recruitment follows a well-defined cascade of adhesion events enabling leukocytes to leave the circulatory system and transmigrate into tissue. Currently, it is unclear whether leukocyte recruitment proceeds in a similar fashion during fetal development. Considering the fact that the incidence of neonatal sepsis increases dramatically with decreasing gestational age in humans, we hypothesized that leukocyte recruitment may be acquired only late during fetal ontogeny. To test this, we developed a fetal intravital microscopy model in pregnant mice and, using LysEGFP (neutrophil reporter) mice, investigated leukocyte recruitment during fetal development. We show that fetal blood neutrophils acquire the ability to roll and adhere on inflamed yolk sac vessels during late fetal development, whereas at earlier embryonic stages (before day E15), rolling and adhesion were essentially absent. Accordingly, flow chamber experiments showed that fetal EGFP(+) blood cells underwent efficient adhesion only when they were harvested on or after E15. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis on EGFP(+) fetal blood cells revealed that surface expression of CXCR2 and less pronounced P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) begin to increase only late in fetal life. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that inflammation-induced leukocyte recruitment is ontogenetically regulated and enables efficient neutrophil trafficking only during late fetal life.
e118-sup-document1.pdf ontogenetic_regulation_of_leukocyte_recruitment_in_mouse_yolk_sac_vessels.pdf
Wang C, Yi T, Qin L, Maldonado RA, von Andrian UH, Kulkarni S, Tellides G, Pober JS. Rapamycin-treated human endothelial cells preferentially activate allogeneic regulatory T cells. J Clin Invest. 2013;123 (4) :1677-93.Abstract
Human graft endothelial cells (ECs) can act as antigen-presenting cells to initiate allograft rejection by host memory T cells. Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor used clinically to suppress T cell responses, also acts on DCs, rendering them tolerogenic. Here, we report the effects of rapamycin on EC alloimmunogenicity. Compared with mock-treated cells, rapamycin-pretreated human ECs (rapa-ECs) stimulated less proliferation and cytokine secretion from allogeneic CD4+ memory cells, an effect mimicked by shRNA knockdown of mTOR or raptor in ECs. The effects of rapamycin persisted for several days and were linked to upregulation of the inhibitory molecules PD-L1 and PD-L2 on rapa-ECs. Additionally, rapa-ECs produced lower levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. CD4+ memory cells activated by allogeneic rapa-ECs became hyporesponsive to restimulation in an alloantigen-specific manner and contained higher percentages of suppressive CD4+CD25(hi)CD127(lo)FoxP3+ cells that did not produce effector cytokines. In a human-mouse chimeric model of allograft rejection, rapamycin pretreatment of human arterial allografts increased graft EC expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 and reduced subsequent infiltration of allogeneic effector T cells into the artery intima and intimal expansion. Preoperative conditioning of allograft ECs with rapamycin could potentially reduce immune-mediated rejection.
rapamycin-treated_human_endothelial_cells_preferentially_activate_allogeneic_regulatory_t_cells.pdf