Diana Rohlman

Benzimidazoisoquinolines: A New Class of Rapidly Metabolized Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Ligands that Induce AhR-Dependent Tregs and Prevent Murine Graft-Versus-Host Disease

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays multiple roles in regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. The ability of certain AhR ligands to induce regulatory T cells (Tregs) has generated interest in developing AhR ligands for therapeutic treatment of immune-mediated diseases. To this end, we designed a screen for novel Treg-inducing compounds based on our understanding of the mechanisms of Treg induction by the well-characterized immunosuppressive AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). We screened a ChemBridge small molecule library and identified 10-chloro-7H-benzimidazo[2,1-a]benzo[de]Iso-quinolin-7-one (10-Cl-BBQ) as a potent AhR ligand that was rapidly metabolized and not cytotoxic to proliferating T cells. Like TCDD,10-Cl-BBQ altered donor CD4+ T cell differentiation during the early stages of a graft versus host (GVH) response resulting in expression of high levels of CD25, CTLA-4 and ICOS, as well as several genes associated with Treg function. The Treg phenotype required AhR expression in the donor CD4+ T cells. Foxp3 was not expressed in the AhR-induced Tregs implicating AhR as an independent transcription factor for Treg induction. Structure-activity studies showed that unsubstituted BBQ as well as 4, 11-dichloro-BBQ were capable of inducing AhR-Tregs. Other substitutions reduced activation of AhR. Daily treatment with 10-Cl-BBQ during the GVH response prevented development of GVH disease in an AhR-dependent manner with no overt toxicity. Together, our data provide strong support for development of select BBQs that activate the AhR to induce Tregs for treatment of immune-mediated diseases.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Perturbations in Gene Expression during Early Stages of CD4(+) T-cell Differentiation.

Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by its prototypic ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), mediates potent suppression of T-cell dependent immune responses. The suppressive effects of TCDD occur early during CD4+ T-cell differentiation in the absence of effects on proliferation and have recently been associated with the induction of AhR-dependent regulatory T-cells (Treg). Since AhR functions as a ligand-activated transcription factor, changes in gene expression induced by TCDD during the early stages of CD4+ T-cell differentiation are likely to reflect fundamental mechanisms of AhR action. A custom panel of genes associated with T-cell differentiation was used to query changes in gene expression induced by exposure to 1 nM TCDD. CD4+ T-cells from AhR+/+ and AhR−/− mice were cultured with cytokines known to polarize the differentiation of T-cells to various effector lineages. Treatment with TCDD induced the expression of Cyp1a1, Cyp1b1, and Ahrr in CD4+ T-cells from AhR+/+ mice under all culture conditions, validating the presence and activation of AhR in these cells. The highest levels of AhR activation occurred under Th17 conditions at 24 h and Tr1 conditions at 48 h. Unexpectedly, expression levels of most genes associated with early T-cell differentiation were unaltered by AhR activation, including lineage-specific genes that drive CD4+ T-cell polarization. The major exception was AhR-dependent up-regulation of Il22 that was seen under all culture conditions. Independent of TCDD, AhR down-regulated the expression of Il17a and Rorc based on increased expression of these genes in AhR-deficient cells across culture conditions. These findings are consistent with a role for AhR in down-regulation of inflammatory immune responses and implicate IL-22 as a potential contributor to the immunosuppressive effects of TCDD.

Metabolism and Excretion Rates of Parent and Hydroxy-PAHs in Urine Collected after Consumption of Traditionally Smoked Salmon for Native American Volunteers

Few studies have been published on the excretion rates of parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) following oral exposure. This study investigated the metabolism and excretion rates of 4 parent PAHs and 10 OH-PAHs after the consumption of smoked salmon. Nine members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation consumed 50 g of traditionally smoked salmon with breakfast and five urine samples were collected during the following 24 h. The concentrations of OH-PAHs increased from 43.9 μg/g creatinine for 2-OH-Nap to 349 ng/g creatinine for 1-OH-Pyr, 3 to 6 h post-consumption. Despite volunteers following a restricted diet, there appeared to be a secondary source of naphthalene and fluorene, which led to excretion efficiencies greater than 100%. For the parent PAHs that were detected in urine, the excretion efficiencies ranged from 13% for phenanthrene (and its metabolite) to 240% for naphthalene (and its metabolites). The half-lives for PAHs ranged from 1.4 h for retene to 3.3h for pyrene. The half-lives for OH-PAHs were higher and ranged from 1.7 h for 9-OH-fluorene to 7.0 h for 3-OH-fluorene. The concentrations of most parent PAHs, and their metabolites, returned to the background levels 24 h post-consumption.

Activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor by 10-Cl-BBQ Prevents Insulitis and Effector T Cell Development Independently of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation by high-affinity ligands mediates immunosuppression in association with increased regulatory T cells (Tregs), making this transcription factor an attractive therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. We recently discovered 10-chloro-7H-benzimidazo[2,1-a]benzo[de]iso-quinolin-7-one (10-Cl-BBQ), a nanomolar affinity AhR ligand with immunosuppressive activity and favorable pharmacologic properties. In this study, we tested the consequences of AhR activation in the NOD model. Oral 10-Cl-BBQ treatment prevented islet infiltration without clinical toxicity, whereas AhR-deficient NOD mice were not protected. Suppression of insulitis was associated with an increased frequency, but not total number, of Foxp3+ Tregs in the pancreas and pancreatic lymph nodes. The requirement for Foxp3+ cells in AhR-induced suppression of insulitis was tested using NOD.Foxp3DTR mice, which show extensive islet infiltration upon treatment with diphtheria toxin. AhR activation prevented the development of insulitis caused by the depletion of Foxp3+ cells, demonstrating that Foxp3+ cells are not required for AhR-mediated suppression and furthermore that the AhR pathway is able to compensate for the absence of Foxp3+ Tregs, countering current dogma. Concurrently, the development of disease-associated CD4+Nrp1+Foxp3−RORγt+ cells was inhibited by AhR activation. Taken together, 10-Cl-BBQ is an effective, nontoxic AhR ligand for the intervention of immune-mediated diseases that functions independently of Foxp3+ Tregs to suppress pathogenic T cell development.

Suppression of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Response by TCDD Is Independent of the CTLA-4-IFN-γ-IDO pathway

Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by its prototypic ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), induces potent suppression of an acute graft-versus-host (GVH) response and prevents GVH disease (GVHD). Suppression is associated with development of a regulatory population of donor CD4(+) CD25(+)T-cells that express high levels of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4). However, a direct link between these AhR-induced Tregs (AhR-Tregs) and suppression of GVHD remains to be shown. CTLA-4 is a negative regulator of T-cell responses and is associated with the induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) that produce indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). We hypothesized that AhR-Tregs mediate suppression via their enhanced expression of CTLA-4, which, in turn, induces IFN-γ and IDO in host DCs. Subsequent depletion of tryptophan by IDO leads to termination of the donor T-cell response prior to development of effector CTL. Here, we show that despite increased expression of Ifng, Irf3, Irf7, Ido1, and Ido2 in the lymph nodes of TCDD-treated host mice, inhibition of IDO enzyme activity by 1-methyl-tryptophan was unable to relieve TCDD-mediated suppression of the GVH response. Furthermore, treatment with an anti-CTLA-4 antibody that blocks CTLA-4 signaling was also unable to alleviate TCDD-mediated suppression. Alternatively, we investigated the possibility that donor-derived AhR-Tregs produce IFN-γ to suppress effector CTL development. However, suppression of GVHD by TCDD was not affected by the use of Ifng-deficient donor cells. Together, these results indicate that neither overexpression of CTLA-4 nor production of IFN-γ by AhR-Tregs plays a major role in the manifestation of their immunosuppressive function in vivo.

AhR activation increases IL‐2 production by alloreactive CD4+ T cells initiating the differentiation of mucosal‐homing Tim3+Lag3+ Tr1 cells

Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by immunosuppressive ligands promotes the development of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Although AhR‐induced Foxp3+ Treg cells have been well studied, much less is known about the development and fate of AhR‐induced Type 1 Treg (AhR‐Tr1) cells. In the current study, we identified the unique transcriptional and functional changes in murine CD4+ T cells that accompany the differentiation of AhR‐Tr1 cells during the CD4+ T‐cell‐dependent phase of an allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (allo‐CTL) response. AhR activation increased the expression of genes involved in T‐cell activation, immune regulation and chemotaxis, as well as a global downregulation of genes involved in cell cycling. Increased IL‐2 production was responsible for the early AhR‐Tr1 activation phenotype previously characterized as CD25+CTLA4+GITR+ on day 2. The AhR‐Tr1 phenotype was further defined by the coexpression of the immunoregulatory receptors Lag3 and Tim3 and non‐overlapping expression of CCR4 and CCR9. Consistent with the increased expression of CCR9, real‐time imaging showed enhanced migration of AhR‐Tr1 cells to the lamina propria of the small intestine and colon. The discovery of mucosal imprinting of AhR‐Tr1 cells provides an additional mechanism by which therapeutic AhR ligands can control immunopathology.

Linking the Physical with the Perceptual: Health and Exposure Monitoring with Cyber-physical Questionnaires

Health often depends as much on human choices as on physical phenomena: how people perceive their status and how they decide to respond affect their health and, more generally, their wellness. Supporting health and wellness with a cyber-physical system requires a holistic integration of components for remote monitoring of both physical and perceptual phenomena. This paper presents a system that meets this requirement through cyber-physical questionnaires, which trigger questions based on physical phenomena to record human perceptions. This prototype is a basis for future efforts aimed at evaluating the system in the field and expanding it not only to track human perceptions but also to affect choices and lifestyles.