Malin Flodström-Tullberg

Expression patterns of NKG2A, KIR, and CD57 define a process of CD56dim NK cell differentiation uncoupled from NK cell education

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that, following differentiation from CD56(bright) to CD56(dim) cells, have been thought to retain fixed functional and phenotypic properties throughout their lifespan. In contrast to this notion, we here show that CD56(dim) NK cells continue to differentiate. During this process, they lose expression of NKG2A, sequentially acquire inhibitory killer cell inhibitory immunoglobulin-like receptors and CD57, change their expression patterns of homing molecules, and display a gradual decline in proliferative capacity. All cellular intermediates of this process are represented in varying proportions at steady state and appear, over time, during the reconstitution of the immune system, as demonstrated in humanized mice and in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CD56(dim) NK-cell differentiation, and the associated functional imprint, occurs independently of NK-cell education by interactions with self-human leukocyte antigen class I ligands and is an essential part of the formation of human NK-cell repertoires.

The stromal cell–derived factor-1α/CXCR4 ligand–receptor axis is critical for progenitor survival and migration in the pancreas

The SDF-1α/CXCR4 ligand/chemokine receptor pair is required for appropriate patterning during ontogeny and stimulates the growth and differentiation of critical cell types. Here, we demonstrate SDF-1α and CXCR4 expression in fetal pancreas. We have found that SDF-1α and its receptor CXCR4 are expressed in islets, also CXCR4 is expressed in and around the proliferating duct epithelium of the regenerating pancreas of the interferon (IFN) γ–nonobese diabetic mouse. We show that SDF-1α stimulates the phosphorylation of Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Src in pancreatic duct cells. Furthermore, migration assays indicate a stimulatory effect of SDF-1α on ductal cell migration. Importantly, blocking the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis in IFNγ-nonobese diabetic mice resulted in diminished proliferation and increased apoptosis in the pancreatic ductal cells. Together, these data indicate that the SDF-1α–CXCR4 ligand receptor axis is an obligatory component in the maintenance of duct cell survival, proliferation, and migration during pancreatic regeneration.

Natural killer cells in human autoimmunity

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells. Although NK cells are best characterized for their ability to control tumors and infections, recent data have indicated that they also are important regulatory cells by virtue of interactions with many types of immune and nonimmune cells. Thereby, they can affect the outcome of adaptive immune responses and maintain immune homeostasis. Thus, NK cells can either exacerbate or limit immune responses, including those to autoantigens. Here, we discuss current insights into the role of NK cells in human autoimmunity.

RNase L and Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Exert Complementary Roles in Islet Cell Defense during Coxsackievirus Infection

Coxsackievirus (CV) is an important human pathogen that has been linked to the development of autoimmunity. An intact pancreatic β cell IFN response is critical for islet cell survival and protection from type 1 diabetes following CV infection. In this study, we show that IFNs trigger an antiviral state in β cells by inducing the expression of proteins involved in intracellular antiviral defense. Specifically, we demonstrate that 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetases (2-5AS), RNase L, and dsRNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) are expressed by pancreatic islet cells and that IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-γ) increase the expression of 2-5AS and PKR, but not RNase L. Moreover, our in vitro studies uncovered that these pathways play important roles in providing unique and complementary antiviral activities that critically regulate the outcome of CV infection. The 2-5AS/RNase L pathway was critical for IFN-α-mediated islet cell resistance from CV serotype B4 (CVB4) infection and replication, whereas an intact PKR pathway was required for efficient IFN-γ-mediated repression of CVB4 infection and replication. Finally, we show that the 2-5AS/RNase L and the PKR pathways play important roles for host survival during a challenge with CVB4. In conclusion, this study has dissected the pathways used by distinct antiviral signals and linked their expression to defense against CVB4.

Distinct Phenotype and Function of NK Cells in the Pancreas of Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Little is known about target organ-infiltrating NK cells in type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. In this study, we identified NK cells with a unique phenotype in the pancreas of NOD mice. Pancreatic NK cells, localized to the endocrine and exocrine parts, were present before T cells during disease development and did not require T cells for their infiltration. Furthermore, NK cells, or NK cell precursors, from the spleen could traffic to the pancreas, where they displayed the pancreatic phenotype. Pancreatic NK cells from other mouse strains shared phenotypic characteristics with pancreatic NK cells from NOD mice, but displayed less surface killer cell lectin-like receptor G1, a marker for mature NK cells that have undergone proliferation, and also did not proliferate to the same extent. A subset of NOD mouse pancreatic NK cells produced IFN-γ spontaneously, suggesting ongoing effector responses. However, most NOD mouse pancreatic NK cells were hyporesponsive compared with spleen NK cells, as reflected by diminished cytokine secretion and a lower capacity to degranulate. Interestingly, such hyporesponsiveness was not seen in pancreatic NK cells from the nonautoimmune strain C57BL/6, suggesting that this feature is not a general property of pancreatic NK cells. Based on our data, we propose that NK cells are sentinel cells in a normal pancreas. We further speculate that during inflammation, pancreatic NK cells initially mediate proinflammatory effector functions, potentially contributing to organ-specific autoimmunity, but later become hyporesponsive because of exhaustion or regulation.

Loss of parity between IL-2 and IL-21 in the NOD Idd3 locus

IL-2 and IL-21 are two cytokines with great potential to affect autoimmune infiltration of nonlymphoid tissue, and are contained within the strongest non-MHC-linked locus for type 1 diabetes (T1D) susceptibility on the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse (Idd3). IL-21 is necessary for the development of diabetes in the NOD mouse, but a number of important studies argue that decreased expression of IL-2 explains Idd3. In this study, we demonstrate that the amount of IL-21, but not IL-2, correlated with T1D incidence. During our analyses of the IL-2/IL-21 interval, we found that mice segregate into one of two distinct expression profiles. In the first group, which includes the C57BL/6 strain, both Il2 and Il21 were expressed at low levels. In the other group, which includes the NOD strain, Il2 and Il21 were both highly expressed. However, because NOD IL-2 mRNA was relatively unstable, IL-2 production was remarkably similar between strains. The increased production of IL-21 in NOD mice was found to result from two single nucleotide polymorphisms within the distal promoter region that conferred increased binding affinity for the transcription factor Sp1. Our findings indicate that a loss of locus parity after decreased IL-2 mRNA stability ensures that the high-expressing IL-21 allele persists in nature and provides a basis for autoimmunity.

The TheraCyte™ Device Protects against Islet Allograft Rejection in Immunized Hosts:

Clinically, many candidates for islet transplantation are already immunized, which increases their risk of graft rejection. Encapsulation of pancreatic islets using the TheraCyte™ device has been shown to protect against allograft rejection in nonimmunized recipients. However, the capacity of the TheraCyte™ device to prevent rejection in immunized recipients has not yet been studied. In this study, the protective capacity of the TheraCyte™ device was evaluated in an allogeneic rat model. Lewis rats were used as islet donors, and nonimmunized (control) and alloimmunized, diabetic Wistar–Furth (WF) rats were used as recipients. Graft survival was shorter in immunized recipients than in nonimmunized recipients (mean survival, 5.3 ± 2.7 and 9.3 ± 1.6 days, respectively, p < 0.01) when nonencapsulated islets were transplanted under the kidney capsule. When islets were transplanted into the TheraCyte™ device, graft function was maintained during the 6-month study period in both immunized and nonimmunized rats. In oral glucose tolerance tests performed at 1 month after transplantation, both groups had similar insulin and blood glucose levels indicating similar metabolic functions. Volume densities and absolute volumes of tissue inside the devices 6 months after transplantation were also comparable between the two groups, indicating that both groups maintained similar amounts of endocrine tissue. A higher number of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T-cells were detected in immunized WF rats compared to control WF rats transplanted with encapsulated islets. This suggests that donor-specific alloreactivity in recipient rats was sustained throughout the study period. This study suggests that the TheraCyte™ device protects islet allografts also in immunized recipients. Our results further highlight the potential for using macroencapsulation to avoid immunosuppressive therapy in clinical islet transplantation.

Melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5 (MDA-5) limits early viral replication but is not essential for the induction of type 1 interferons after Coxsackievirus infection.

Coxsackievirus infections are associated with severe diseases such as myocarditis, meningitis and pancreatitis. To study the contribution of the intracellular viral sensor melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5 (MDA-5) in the host immune response to Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) we infected C57BL/6 and 129/SvJ mice lacking mda-5. Mice deficient in MDA-5 showed a dramatically increased susceptibility to CVB3 infection. The loss of MDA-5 allowed the virus to replicate faster, resulting in increased liver and pancreas damage and heightened mortality. MDA-5 was not absolutely required for the induction of type 1 interferons (IFNs), but essential for the production of maximal levels of systemic IFN-alpha early after infection. Taken together, our findings indicate that MDA-5 plays an important role in the host immune response to CVB3 by preventing early virus replication and limiting tissue pathology.

SOCS2 deletion protects against hepatic steatosis but worsens insulin resistance in high-fat-diet-fed mice

Hepatic steatosis is a prominent feature in patients with growth hormone (GH) deficiency. The ubiquitin ligase SOCS2 attenuates hepatic GH signaling by inhibiting the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) axis. Here, we investigated the role of SOCS2 in the development of diet‐induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. SOCS2‐knockout (SOCS2−/−) mice and wild‐type littermates were fed for 4 mo with control or high‐fat diet, followed by assessment of insulin sensitivity, hepatic lipid content, and expression of inflammatory cytokines. SOCS2−/− mice exhibited increased hepatic TG secretion by 77.6% (P< 0.001) as compared with wild‐type control mice and were protected from high‐fat‐diet (HFD)‐induced hepatic steatosis, showing 49.3% (P<0.01) reduction in liver TG levels compared to HFD‐fed wild‐type littermates. In contrast, we found that HFD‐triggered attenuation of systemic insulin sensitivity was more marked in SOCS2−/− mice. Livers from the HFD‐fed SOCS2−/− mice showed increased NF‐κB activity as well as elevated expression of genes for the inflammatory cytokines IFN‐γ and IL‐6. An inhibitory role of SOCS2 on Toll‐like receptor 4 signaling was demonstrated in macrophages obtained from the SOCS2−/− and wild‐type mice. This study identified SOCS2 as an important regulator of hepatic homeostasis under conditions of high‐fat dietary stress.—Zadjali, F., Santana‐Farre, R., Vesterlund, M., Carow, B., Mirecki‐Garrido, M., Hernandez‐Hernandez, I., Flodström‐Tullberg, M., Parini, P., Rottenberg, M., Norstedt, G., Fernandez‐Perez, L., Flores‐Morales, A. SOCS2 deletion protects against hepatic steatosis but worsens insulin resistance in high‐fat‐diet‐fed mice. FASEB J. 26, 3282–3291 (2012). www.fasebj.org

Immunology in the clinic review series; focus on type 1 diabetes and viruses: the innate immune response to enteroviruses and its possible role in regulating type 1 diabetes

OTHER THEMES PUBLISHED IN THIS IMMUNOLOGY IN THE CLINIC REVIEW SERIES