Robyn E. Mills

The Junctional Adhesion Molecule JAML Is a Costimulatory Receptor for Epithelial γδ T Cell Activation

Skin Reaction Lymphocytes in the skin known as γδ T cells provide an important barrier against infection and injury. Unlike classical αβ T cells, less is known about the molecular requirements of γδ T cell activation. Two studies demonstrate that the junctional adhesion molecule–like protein (JAML) is a costimulatory molecule for mouse γδ T. Witherden et al. (p. 1205; see the Perspective by Shaw and Huang) showed that JAML, binding to its ligand Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR), leads to proliferation, as well as cytokine and growth factor production by γδ T cells. In vivo, JAML-CAR interactions contributed to the wound healing response in mice. Verdino et al. (p. 1210; see the Perspective by Shaw and Huang) present a crystal structure of CAR/JAML, which revealed an intracellular signaling motif similar to that known for the αβ T cell costimulatory receptor that signals through phosphoinositide 3-kinase. A costimulatory receptor for immune cells in the skin is identified. γδ T cells present in epithelial tissues provide a crucial first line of defense against environmental insults, including infection, trauma, and malignancy, yet the molecular events surrounding their activation remain poorly defined. Here we identify an epithelial γδ T cell–specific costimulatory molecule, junctional adhesion molecule–like protein (JAML). Binding of JAML to its ligand Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) provides costimulation leading to cellular proliferation and cytokine and growth factor production. Inhibition of JAML costimulation leads to diminished γδ T cell activation and delayed wound closure akin to that seen in the absence of γδ T cells. Our results identify JAML as a crucial component of epithelial γδ T cell biology and have broader implications for CAR and JAML in tissue homeostasis and repair.

The junctional adhesion molecule JAML is a costimulatory receptor for epithelial gammadelta T cell activation.

Skin Reaction Lymphocytes in the skin known as γδ T cells provide an important barrier against infection and injury. Unlike classical αβ T cells, less is known about the molecular requirements of γδ T cell activation. Two studies demonstrate that the junctional adhesion molecule–like protein (JAML) is a costimulatory molecule for mouse γδ T. Witherden et al. (p. 1205; see the Perspective by Shaw and Huang) showed that JAML, binding to its ligand Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR), leads to proliferation, as well as cytokine and growth factor production by γδ T cells. In vivo, JAML-CAR interactions contributed to the wound healing response in mice. Verdino et al. (p. 1210; see the Perspective by Shaw and Huang) present a crystal structure of CAR/JAML, which revealed an intracellular signaling motif similar to that known for the αβ T cell costimulatory receptor that signals through phosphoinositide 3-kinase. A costimulatory receptor for immune cells in the skin is identified. γδ T cells present in epithelial tissues provide a crucial first line of defense against environmental insults, including infection, trauma, and malignancy, yet the molecular events surrounding their activation remain poorly defined. Here we identify an epithelial γδ T cell–specific costimulatory molecule, junctional adhesion molecule–like protein (JAML). Binding of JAML to its ligand Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) provides costimulation leading to cellular proliferation and cytokine and growth factor production. Inhibition of JAML costimulation leads to diminished γδ T cell activation and delayed wound closure akin to that seen in the absence of γδ T cells. Our results identify JAML as a crucial component of epithelial γδ T cell biology and have broader implications for CAR and JAML in tissue homeostasis and repair.

Defects in Skin γδ T Cell Function Contribute to Delayed Wound Repair in Rapamycin-Treated Mice

Disruptions in the normal program of tissue repair can result in poor wound healing, which perturbs the integrity of barrier tissues such as the skin. Such defects in wound repair occur in transplant recipients treated with the immunosuppressant drug rapamycin (sirolimus). Intraepithelial lymphocytes, such as γδ T cells in the skin, mediate tissue repair through the production of cytokines and growth factors. The capacity of skin-resident T cells to function during rapamycin treatment was analyzed in a mouse model of wound repair. Rapamycin treatment renders skin γδ T cells unable to proliferate, migrate, and produce normal levels of growth factors. The observed impairment of skin γδ T cell function is directly related to the inhibitory action of rapamycin on mammalian target of rapamycin. Skin γδ T cells treated with rapamycin are refractory to IL-2 stimulation and attempt to survive in the absence of cytokine and growth factor signaling by undergoing autophagy. Normal wound closure can be restored in rapamycin-treated mice by addition of the skin γδ T cell-produced factor, insulin-like growth factor-1. These studies not only reveal that mammalian target of rapamycin is a master regulator of γδ T cell function but also provide a novel mechanism for the increased susceptibility to nonhealing wounds that occurs during rapamycin administration.

γδ T cells are reduced and rendered unresponsive by hyperglycemia and chronic TNFα in mouse models of obesity and metabolic disease.

Epithelial cells provide an initial line of defense against damage and pathogens in barrier tissues such as the skin; however this balance is disrupted in obesity and metabolic disease. Skin γδ T cells recognize epithelial damage, and release cytokines and growth factors that facilitate wound repair. We report here that hyperglycemia results in impaired skin γδ T cell proliferation due to altered STAT5 signaling, ultimately resulting in half the number of γδ T cells populating the epidermis. Skin γδ T cells that overcome this hyperglycemic state are unresponsive to epithelial cell damage due to chronic inflammatory mediators, including TNFα. Cytokine and growth factor production at the site of tissue damage was partially restored by administering neutralizing TNFα antibodies in vivo. Thus, metabolic disease negatively impacts homeostasis and functionality of skin γδ T cells, rendering host defense mechanisms vulnerable to injury and infection.

T cell dependence on mTOR signaling.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway integrates signals from the environment to the nucleus for the regulation of cellular growth, metabolism and survival. Lymphocytes frequently rely on this pathway, but it is carefully regulated through the reception of signals via cytokine, growth factor, and co-stimulatory receptors. Recent studies have begun to elucidate why T cell subsets rely on this pathway to varying degrees. Ultimately these findings will help distinguish the parameters that guide T cell homeostasis and activation-induced function between the different T cell populations. The mTOR pathway has been the focus of many immunosuppressive and cancer treatment regimens, therefore there is a great need to understand the impact of suppression not only on the T cell populations targeted, but on bystander T cells as well.