Yoshitake Kanazawa

Immunopathology of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a complex series of interactions between susceptibility genes, the environment, and the immune system. The host microbiome, as well as viruses and fungi, play important roles in the development of IBD either by causing inflammation directly or indirectly through an altered immune system. New technologies have allowed researchers to be able to quantify the various components of the microbiome, which will allow for future developments in the etiology of IBD. Various components of the mucosal immune system are implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD and include intestinal epithelial cells, innate lymphoid cells, cells of the innate (macrophages/monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) and adaptive (T-cells and B-cells) immune system, and their secreted mediators (cytokines and chemokines). Either a mucosal susceptibility or defect in sampling of gut luminal antigen, possibly through the process of autophagy, leads to activation of innate immune response that may be mediated by enhanced toll-like receptor activity. The antigen presenting cells then mediate the differentiation of naïve T-cells into effector T helper (Th) cells, including Th1, Th2, and Th17, which alter gut homeostasis and lead to IBD. In this review, the effects of these components in the immunopathogenesis of IBD will be discussed.

Regulation by SIRPα of dendritic cell homeostasis in lymphoid tissues

The molecular basis for regulation of dendritic cell (DC) development and homeostasis remains unclear. Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), an immunoglobulin superfamily protein that is predominantly expressed in DCs, mediates cell-cell signaling by interacting with CD47, another immunoglobulin superfamily protein. We now show that the number of CD11c(high) DCs (conventional DCs, or cDCs), in particular, that of CD8-CD4+ (CD4+) cDCs, is selectively reduced in secondary lymphoid tissues of mice expressing a mutant form of SIRPα that lacks the cytoplasmic region. We also found that SIRPα is required intrinsically within cDCs or DC precursors for the homeostasis of splenic CD4+ cDCs. Differentiation of bone marrow cells from SIRPα mutant mice into DCs induced by either macrophage-granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or Flt3 ligand in vitro was not impaired. Although the accumulation of the immediate precursors of cDCs in the spleen was also not impaired, the half-life of newly generated splenic CD4+ cDCs was markedly reduced in SIRPα mutant mice. Both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic CD47 was found to be required for the homeostasis of CD4+ cDCs and CD8-CD4- (double negative) cDCs in the spleen. SIRPα as well as its ligand, CD47, are thus important for the homeostasis of CD4+ cDCs or double negative cDCs in lymphoid tissues.

Dendritic Cell-Specific Ablation of the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Shp1 Promotes Th1 Cell Differentiation and Induces Autoimmunity

Dendritic cells (DCs) promote immune responses to foreign Ags and immune tolerance to self-Ags. Deregulation of DCs is implicated in autoimmunity, but the molecules that regulate DCs to protect against autoimmunity have remained unknown. In this study, we show that mice lacking the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp1 specifically in DCs develop splenomegaly associated with more CD11c+ DCs. Splenic DCs from the mutant mice showed upregulation of CD86 and CCR7 expression and of LPS-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines. The mice manifested more splenic Th1 cells, consistent with the increased ability of their DCs to induce production of IFN-γ by Ag-specific T cells in vitro. The number of splenic CD5+CD19+ B-1a cells and the serum concentrations of Igs M and G2a were also increased in the mutant mice. Moreover, aged mutant mice developed glomerulonephritis and interstitial pneumonitis together with increased serum concentrations of autoantibodies. Shp1 is thus a key regulator of DC functions that protects against autoimmunity.

Erratum to: FCGR3A-158 polymorphism influences the biological response to infliximab in Crohn’s disease through affecting the ADCC activity

An association between FCGR3A-158 V/F polymorphism and biological responses to infliximab has been reported in Crohn’s disease (CD) in Western countries. However, little is known about the mechanism by which gene polymorphism affects the responses to infliximab. The aims of this study were to confirm the association in Japanese CD patients and to reveal the effect of gene polymorphism on biological responses to infliximab. Japanese CD patients were examined retrospectively at weeks 8 and 30. Clinical and biological responses were assessed by the Crohn’s disease activity index and C-reactive protein levels, respectively. The infliximab-binding affinity of natural killer (NK) cells from FCGR3A-158 V/V, V/F and F/F donors was examined. Infliximab-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities were also determined using transmembrane TNF-α-expressing Jurkat T cells as target cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from V/V, V/F and F/F donors as effector cells. Biological responses at week 8 were statistically higher in V/V patients, whereas no significant differences were observed in either clinical responses at weeks 8 and 30 or biological responses at week 30 among the three genotypes. NK cells and PBMCs from V/V patients also showed higher infliximab-binding affinity and infliximab-mediated ADCC activity, respectively. Our results suggest that FCGR3A-158 polymorphism is a predicting factor of biological responses to infliximab in the early phases. FCGR3A-158 polymorphism was also found to affect the infliximab-binding affinity of NK cells and infliximab-mediated ADCC activity in vitro, suggesting that an effect on ADCC activity influences biological responses to infliximab in CD patients.

Signal Regulatory Protein α Regulates the Homeostasis of T Lymphocytes in the Spleen

The molecular basis for formation of lymphoid follicle and its homeostasis in the secondary lymphoid organs remains unclear. Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), an Ig superfamily protein that is predominantly expressed in dendritic cells or macrophages, mediates cell–cell signaling by interacting with CD47, another Ig superfamily protein. In this study, we show that the size of the T cell zone as well as the number of CD4+ T cells were markedly reduced in the spleen of mice bearing a mutant (MT) SIRPα that lacks the cytoplasmic region compared with those of wild-type mice. In addition, the expression of CCL19 and CCL21, as well as of IL-7, which are thought to be important for development or homeostasis of the T cell zone, was markedly decreased in the spleen of SIRPα MT mice. By the use of bone marrow chimera, we found that hematopoietic SIRPα is important for development of the T cell zone as well as the expression of CCL19 and CCL21 in the spleen. The expression of lymphotoxin and its receptor, lymphotoxin β receptor, as well as the in vivo response to lymphotoxin β receptor stimulation were also decreased in the spleen of SIRPα MT mice. CD47-deficient mice also manifested phenotypes similar to SIRPα MT mice. These data suggest that SIRPα as well as its ligand CD47 are thus essential for steady-state homeostasis of T cells in the spleen.

Essential roles of SHPS-1 in induction of contact hypersensitivity of skin.

SHPS-1 is a transmembrane protein that binds the protein tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2 and is abundant on the surface of CD11c(+) dendritic cells (DCs). We recently showed that SHPS-1 is essential for priming by DCs of CD4(+) T cells and for development of Th17 cell-mediated experimental autoimmunity. We have now further evaluated the importance of SHPS-1 and that of its ligand CD47 in contact hypersensitivity (CHS) to 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB). Whereas the DNFB-induced CHS response was impaired in mice that express a mutant form of SHPS-1 lacking most of the cytoplasmic region, it was unaffected in CD47-deficient mice. Moreover, treatment of wild-type mice with mAbs to SHPS-1 that either block or do not block the binding of SHPS-1 to CD47 inhibited the CHS response. A mAb to CD47 had no such effect. The 2,4-dinitro-benzenesulfonic acid-induced proliferation of, and production of IFN-gamma or IL-17 by, T cells from DNFB-sensitized wild-type mice were inhibited by either mAb to SHPS-1 but not by that to CD47. In contrast, the blocking mAbs to SHPS-1, but not that to CD47, inhibited an allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction. Both mAbs to SHPS-1, but not that to CD47, also inhibited the lipopolysaccharide- or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced production of TNF-alpha by DCs. These results suggest that SHPS-1 is essential for development of CHS, likely as a result of its positive regulation of the priming by DCs of CD4(+) T cells. However, such regulation by SHPS-1 does not appear to require its interaction with CD47.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SAP-1 protects against colitis through regulation of CEACAM20 in the intestinal epithelium

Significance Much attention has been recently paid to the role of intestinal epithelial cells in the homeostatic regulation of intestinal immunity. Here we show that ablation of stomach-cancer–associated protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SAP-1) markedly increased the severity of colitis in interleukin (IL)-10–deficient mice, suggesting that SAP-1 protects against colitis in a cooperative manner with IL-10. We also identify carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) 20, an intestinal microvilli-specific membrane protein, as a dephosphorylation target for SAP-1. Indeed, tyrosine phosphorylation of CEACAM20 promotes the binding of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), thereby inducing production of chemokines such as IL-8. Thus, we propose a mechanism by SAP-1 and CEACAM20 in the intestinal epithelium for regulation of the intestinal immunity. Intestinal epithelial cells contribute to regulation of intestinal immunity in mammals, but the detailed molecular mechanisms of such regulation have remained largely unknown. Stomach-cancer–associated protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SAP-1, also known as PTPRH) is a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase that is localized specifically at microvilli of the brush border in gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Here we show that SAP-1 ablation in interleukin (IL)-10–deficient mice, a model of inflammatory bowel disease, resulted in a marked increase in the severity of colitis in association with up-regulation of mRNAs for various cytokines and chemokines in the colon. Tyrosine phosphorylation of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) 20, an intestinal microvillus-specific transmembrane protein of the Ig superfamily, was greatly increased in the intestinal epithelium of the SAP-1–deficient animals, suggesting that this protein is a substrate for SAP-1. Tyrosine phosphorylation of CEACAM20 by the protein tyrosine kinase c-Src and the consequent association of CEACAM20 with spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) promoted the production of IL-8 in cultured cells through the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). In addition, SAP-1 and CEACAM20 were found to form a complex through interaction of their ectodomains. SAP-1 and CEACAM20 thus constitute a regulatory system through which the intestinal epithelium contributes to intestinal immunity.

Essential roles of SIRPα in homeostatic regulation of skin dendritic cells

Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) is an immunoglobulin superfamily protein that is predominantly expressed in dendritic cells (DCs). Its cytoplasmic region binds SHP-1 or SHP-2 protein tyrosine phosphatases, while its extracellular region interacts with CD47, another immunoglobulin superfamily protein, constituting cell-cell signaling. SIRPα was previously shown to be important for development of contact hypersensitivity, likely as a result of its positive regulation of the priming by DCs of CD4(+) T cells. However, the mechanism by which SIRPα regulates DC functions remains unknown. Here we found that the number of I-A(+) cells, which represent migratory DCs such as Langerhans cells (LCs) or dermal DCs from the skin, in the peripheral lymph nodes (LNs) was markedly decreased in mice expressing a mutant form of SIRPα that lacks the cytoplasmic region compared with that of wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, an increase of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-bearing I-A(+) cells in the draining lymph nodes (LNs) after skin-painting with FITC was markedly blunted in SIRPα mutant mice. However, migratory ability, as well as expression of CCR7, of bone marrow-derived DCs prepared from SIRPα mutant mice were not impaired. By contrast, the number of I-A(+) LCs in the epidermis of SIRPα mutant mice was markedly decreased compared with that of WT mice. In addition, the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β receptor II in LCs of SIRPα mutant mice was markedly decreased compared with that of WT mice. These results suggest that SIRPα is important for homeostasis of LCs in the skin, as well as of migratory DCs in the LNs, but unlikely for migration of these cells from the skin to draining LNs.

Role of SIRPα in regulation of mucosal immunity in the intestine.

Mononuclear phagocytes such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages in the lamina propria (LP) are thought to be important for both induction of inflammatory responses and maintenance of immunologic tolerance in the mammalian intestine. The molecular mechanisms by which these cells regulate intestinal immunity have remained poorly understood, however. Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) is a transmembrane protein that is specifically expressed in DCs, macrophages and neutrophils. Here, we show that SIRPα is abundant in CD11c+ CD11b+ LP cells of the mouse intestine. Whereas SIRPα did not appear to be important for the steady‐state homeostasis of mucosal immunity in the intestine, the flagellin‐stimulated production of IL‐17 or interferon (IFN)‐γ by LP cells of SIRPα mutant (MT) mice that lack the cytoplasmic region of the protein was markedly decreased compared with that observed with wild‐type cells. Moreover, the flagellin‐induced production of IL‐6 by LP cells from SIRPα MT mice was also greatly reduced. SIRPα MT mice were also resistant to the development of colitis induced by IL‐10 deficiency. Our data thus suggest that SIRPα expressed on CD11c+ LP cells is important for the production of IL‐17 or IFN‐γ in the LP as well as for the development of colitis induced by IL‐10 deficiency.

ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 1236C/T polymorphism significantly affects the therapeutic outcome of tacrolimus in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis

Tacrolimus is now considered to be one of the main therapeutic options for refractory ulcerative colitis. Both cytochrome P‐450 3A5 (CYP3A5) and ATP‐binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) associated with tacrolimus metabolism are known to have several genetic polymorphisms. However, it remains controversial whether these polymorphisms affect the therapeutic efficacy for ulcerative colitis. We aimed to investigate the influence of both CYP3A5 and ABCB1 polymorphisms on the efficacy of tacrolimus in ulcerative colitis treatment under the tight dose‐adjusting strategy.