bims-imseme Biomed News
on Immunosenescence and T cell metabolism
Issue of 2021‒05‒23
nine papers selected by
Pierpaolo Ginefra
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
  1. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase reveals the abundance of senescent CD8+ T cells in aging humans.
  2. Mitochondrial Functions Are Compromised in CD4 T Cells From ART-Controlled PLHIV.
  3. Emerging concepts in PD-1 checkpoint biology.
  4. LXR directly regulates glycosphingolipid synthesis and affects human CD4+ T cell function.
  5. Metabolism of Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment.
  6. Clonal analysis of immunodominance and cross-reactivity of the CD4 T cell response to SARS-CoV-2.
  7. Obesogenic Diets Cause Alterations on Proteins and Theirs Post-Translational Modifications in Mouse Brains.
  8. Importance of circadian timing for aging and longevity.
  9. Cellular senescence inhibits renal regeneration after injury in mice, with senolytic treatment promoting repair.
  1. Aging Cell. 2021 May;20(5): e13344
    Senescence-associated β-galactosidase reveals the abundance of senescent CD8+ T cells in aging humans.
    Ricardo I Martínez-Zamudio, Hannah K Dewald, Themistoklis Vasilopoulos, Lisa Gittens-Williams, Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly, Utz Herbig.
      Aging leads to a progressive functional decline of the immune system, rendering the elderly increasingly susceptible to disease and infection. The degree to which immune cell senescence contributes to this decline remains unclear, however, since markers that label immune cells with classical features of cellular senescence accurately and comprehensively have not been identified. Using a second-generation fluorogenic substrate for β-galactosidase and multi-parameter flow cytometry, we demonstrate here that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from healthy humans increasingly display cells with high senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-βGal) activity with advancing donor age. The greatest age-associated increases were observed in CD8+ T-cell populations, in which the fraction of cells with high SA-βGal activity reached average levels of 64% in donors in their 60s. CD8+ T cells with high SA-βGal activity, but not those with low SA-βGal activity, were found to exhibit features of telomere dysfunction-induced senescence and p16-mediated senescence, were impaired in their ability to proliferate, developed in various T-cell differentiation states, and had a gene expression signature consistent with the senescence state previously observed in human fibroblasts. Based on these results, we propose that senescent CD8+ T cells with classical features of cellular senescence accumulate to levels that are significantly higher than previously reported and additionally provide a simple yet robust method for the isolation and characterization of senescent CD8+ T cells with predictive potential for biological age.
    Keywords:  PBMC; T cells; aging; cellular senescence; immunosenescence; lymphocytes; p16; senescence-associated β-galactosidase; telomere
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13344
  2. Front Immunol. 2021 ;12 658420
    Mitochondrial Functions Are Compromised in CD4 T Cells From ART-Controlled PLHIV.
    Juan Zhao, Madison Schank, Ling Wang, Zhengke Li, Lam Nhat Nguyen, Xindi Dang, Dechao Cao, Sushant Khanal, Lam Ngoc Thao Nguyen, Bal Krishna Chand Thakuri, Stella C Ogbu, Zeyuan Lu, Xiao Y Wu, Zheng D Morrison, Mohamed El Gazzar, Ying Liu, Jinyu Zhang, Shunbin Ning, Jonathan P Moorman, Zhi Q Yao.
      The hallmark of HIV/AIDS is a gradual depletion of CD4 T cells. Despite effective control by antiretroviral therapy (ART), a significant subgroup of people living with HIV (PLHIV) fails to achieve complete immune reconstitution, deemed as immune non-responders (INRs). The mechanisms underlying incomplete CD4 T cell recovery in PLHIV remain unclear. In this study, CD4 T cells from PLHIV were phenotyped and functionally characterized, focusing on their mitochondrial functions. The results show that while total CD4 T cells are diminished, cycling cells are expanded in PLHIV, especially in INRs. HIV-INR CD4 T cells are more activated, displaying exhausted and senescent phenotypes with compromised mitochondrial functions. Transcriptional profiling and flow cytometry analysis showed remarkable repression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) in CD4 T cells from PLHIV, leading to abnormal mitochondrial and T cell homeostasis. These results demonstrate a sequential cellular paradigm of T cell over-activation, proliferation, exhaustion, senescence, apoptosis, and depletion, which correlates with compromised mitochondrial functions. Therefore, reconstituting the mtTFA pathway may provide an adjunctive immunological approach to revitalizing CD4 T cells in ART-treated PLHIV, especially in INRs.
    Keywords:  HIV; T cell exhaustion; immune non-responder; mitochondrial dysfunction; senescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.658420
  3. Semin Immunol. 2021 May 15. pii: S1044-5323(21)00011-7. [Epub ahead of print] 101480
    Emerging concepts in PD-1 checkpoint biology.
    Kristen E Pauken, James A Torchia, Apoorvi Chaudhri, Arlene H Sharpe, Gordon J Freeman.
      The PD-1 pathway is a cornerstone in immune regulation. While the PD-1 pathway has received considerable attention for its role in contributing to the maintenance of T cell exhaustion in chronic infection and cancer, the PD-1 pathway plays diverse roles in regulating host immunity beyond T cell exhaustion. Here, we discuss emerging concepts in the PD-1 pathway, including (1) the impact of PD-1 inhibitors on diverse T cell differentiation states including effector and memory T cell development during acute infection, as well as T cell exhaustion during chronic infection and cancer, (2) the role of PD-1 in regulating Treg cells, NK cells, and ILCs, and (3) the functions of PD-L1/B7-1 and PD-L2/RGMb/neogenin interactions. We then discuss the emerging use of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in the treatment of early-stage cancers and how the timing of PD-1 blockade may improve clinical outcomes. The diverse binding partners of PD-1 and its associated ligands, broad expression patterns of the receptors and ligands, differential impact of PD-1 modulation on cells depending on location and state of differentiation, and timing of PD-1 blockade add additional layers of complexity to the PD-1 pathway, and are important considerations for improving the efficacy and safety of PD-1 pathway therapeutics.
    Keywords:  Cancer immunotherapy; Immune regulation; Neoadjuvant; PD-1 pathway; T cell exhaustion
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smim.2021.101480
  4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 May 25. pii: e2017394118. [Epub ahead of print]118(21):
    LXR directly regulates glycosphingolipid synthesis and affects human CD4+ T cell function.
    Kirsty E Waddington, George A Robinson, Beatriz Rubio-Cuesta, Eden Chrifi-Alaoui, Sara Andreone, Kok-Siong Poon, Iveta Ivanova, Lucia Martin-Gutierrez, Dylan M Owen, Elizabeth C Jury, Inés Pineda-Torra.
      The liver X receptor (LXR) is a key transcriptional regulator of cholesterol, fatty acid, and phospholipid metabolism. Dynamic remodeling of immunometabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, is a crucial step in T cell activation. Here, we explored the role of LXR-regulated metabolic processes in primary human CD4+ T cells and their role in controlling plasma membrane lipids (glycosphingolipids and cholesterol), which strongly influence T cell immune signaling and function. Crucially, we identified the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis enzyme glucosylceramide synthase as a direct transcriptional LXR target. LXR activation by agonist GW3965 or endogenous oxysterol ligands significantly altered the glycosphingolipid:cholesterol balance in the plasma membrane by increasing glycosphingolipid levels and reducing cholesterol. Consequently, LXR activation lowered plasma membrane lipid order (stability), and an LXR antagonist could block this effect. LXR stimulation also reduced lipid order at the immune synapse and accelerated activation of proximal T cell signaling molecules. Ultimately, LXR activation dampened proinflammatory T cell function. Finally, compared with responder T cells, regulatory T cells had a distinct pattern of LXR target gene expression corresponding to reduced lipid order. This suggests LXR-driven lipid metabolism could contribute to functional specialization of these T cell subsets. Overall, we report a mode of action for LXR in T cells involving the regulation of glycosphingolipid and cholesterol metabolism and demonstrate its relevance in modulating T cell function.
    Keywords:  CD4+ T cells; LXR; cholesterol; glycosphingolipids; lipid metabolism
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2017394118
  5. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021 ;1311 173-185
    Metabolism of Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment.
    Jin G Jung, Anne Le.
      The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex biological structure surrounding tumor cells and includes blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, adipocytes, and extracellular matrix (ECM) [1, 2]. These heterogeneous surrounding structures provide nutrients, metabolites, and signaling molecules to provide a cancer-friendly environment. The metabolic interplay between immune cells and cancer cells in the TME is a key feature not only for understanding tumor biology but also for discovering cancer cells' vulnerability. As cancer immunotherapy to treat cancer patients and the use of metabolomics technologies become more and more common [3], the importance of the interplay between cancer cells and immune cells in the TME is emerging with respect to not only cell-to-cell interactions but also metabolic pathways. This interaction between immune cells and cancer cells is a complex and dynamic process in which immune cells act as a determinant factor of cancer cells' fate and vice versa. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the metabolic interplay between immune cells and cancer cells and discuss the therapeutic opportunities as a result of this interplay in order to define targets for cancer treatment. It is important to understand and identify therapeutic targets that interrupt this cancerpromoting relationship between cancer cells and the surrounding immune cells, allowing for maximum efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors as well as other genetic and cellular therapies.
    Keywords:  CAR T lymphocytes; Immunometabolism; Metabolic barrier; Metabolic competition; Tumor immunity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65768-0_13
  6. Science. 2021 May 18. pii: eabg8985. [Epub ahead of print]
    Clonal analysis of immunodominance and cross-reactivity of the CD4 T cell response to SARS-CoV-2.
    Jun Siong Low, Daniela Vaqueirinho, Federico Mele, Mathilde Foglierini, Josipa Jerak, Michela Perotti, David Jarrossay, Sandra Jovic, Laurent Perez, Rosalia Cacciatore, Tatiana Terrot, Alessandra Franzetti Pellanda, Maira Biggiogero, Christian Garzoni, Paolo Ferrari, Alessandro Ceschi, Antonio Lanzavecchia, Federica Sallusto, Antonino Cassotta.
      The identification of CD4+ T cell epitopes is instrumental for the design of subunit vaccines for broad protection against coronaviruses. Here we demonstrate in COVID-19-recovered individuals a robust CD4+ T cell response to naturally processed SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleoprotein (N), including effector, helper, and memory T cells. By characterizing 2943 S-reactive T cell clones from 34 individuals, we found that 34% of clones and 93% of individuals recognized a conserved immunodominant S346-365 region within the RBD comprising nested HLA-DR- and HLA-DP-restricted epitopes. Using pre- and post-COVID-19 samples and S proteins from endemic coronaviruses, we identify cross-reactive T cells targeting multiple S protein sites. The immunodominant and cross-reactive epitopes identified can inform vaccination strategies to counteract emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg8985
  7. Nutr Metab Insights. 2021 ;14 11786388211012405
    Obesogenic Diets Cause Alterations on Proteins and Theirs Post-Translational Modifications in Mouse Brains.
    Valentina Siino, Pia Jensen, Peter James, Sonya Vasto, Antonella Amato, Flavia Mulè, Giulia Accardi, Martin Røssel Larsen.
      Obesity constitutes a major global health threat and is associated with a variety of diseases ranging from metabolic and cardiovascular disease, cancer to neurodegeneration. The hallmarks of neurodegeneration include oxidative stress, proteasome impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates as well as metabolic alterations. As an example, in post-mortem brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), several studies have reported reduction of insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin receptor and an increase in tau protein and glycogen-synthase kinase-3β compared to healthy controls suggesting an impairment of metabolism in the AD patient's brain. Given these lines of evidence, in the present study we investigated brains of mice treated with 2 obesogenic diets, high-fat diet (HFD) and high-glycaemic diet (HGD), compared to mice fed with a standard diet (SD) employing a quantitative mass spectrometry-based approach. Moreover, post-translational modified proteins (phosphorylated and N-linked glycosylated) were studied. The aim of the study was to identify proteins present in the brain that are changing their expression based on the diet given to the mice. We believed that some of these changes would highlight pathways and molecular mechanisms that could link obesity to brain impairment. The results showed in this study suggest that, together with cytoskeletal proteins, mitochondria and metabolic proteins are changing their post-translational status in brains of obese mice. Specifically, proteins involved in metabolic pathways and in mitochondrial functions are mainly downregulated in mice fed with obesogenic diets compared to SD. These changes suggest a reduced metabolism and a lower activity of mitochondria in obese mice. Some of these proteins, such as PGM1 and MCT1 have been shown to be involved in brain impairment as well. These results might shed light on the well-studied correlation between obesity and brain damage. The results presented here are in agreement with previous findings and aim to open new perspectives on the connection between diet-induced obesity and brain impairment.
    Keywords:  Obesity; brain impairment; nutrition; post-translational modifications; proteomics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/11786388211012405
  8. Nat Commun. 2021 05 17. 12(1): 2862
    Importance of circadian timing for aging and longevity.
    Victoria A Acosta-Rodríguez, Filipa Rijo-Ferreira, Carla B Green, Joseph S Takahashi.
      Dietary restriction (DR) decreases body weight, improves health, and extends lifespan. DR can be achieved by controlling how much and/or when food is provided, as well as by adjusting nutritional composition. Because these factors are often combined during DR, it is unclear which are necessary for beneficial effects. Several drugs have been utilized that target nutrient-sensing gene pathways, many of which change expression throughout the day, suggesting that the timing of drug administration is critical. Here, we discuss how dietary and pharmacological interventions promote a healthy lifespan by influencing energy intake and circadian rhythms.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22922-6
  9. Sci Transl Med. 2021 May 19. pii: eabb0203. [Epub ahead of print]13(594):
    Cellular senescence inhibits renal regeneration after injury in mice, with senolytic treatment promoting repair.
    Katie J Mylonas, Eoin D O'Sullivan, Duncan Humphries, David P Baird, Marie-Helena Docherty, Sarah A Neely, Paul J Krimpenfort, Anette Melk, Roland Schmitt, Sofia Ferreira-Gonzalez, Stuart J Forbes, Jeremy Hughes, David A Ferenbach.
      The ability of the kidney to regenerate successfully after injury is lost with advancing age, chronic kidney disease, and after irradiation. The factors responsible for this reduced regenerative capacity remain incompletely understood, with increasing interest in a potential role for cellular senescence in determining outcomes after injury. Here, we demonstrated correlations between senescent cell load and functional loss in human aging and chronic kidney diseases including radiation nephropathy. We dissected the causative role of senescence in the augmented fibrosis occurring after injury in aged and irradiated murine kidneys. In vitro studies on human proximal tubular epithelial cells and in vivo mouse studies demonstrated that senescent renal epithelial cells produced multiple components of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype including transforming growth factor β1, induced fibrosis, and inhibited tubular proliferative capacity after injury. Treatment of aged and irradiated mice with the B cell lymphoma 2/w/xL inhibitor ABT-263 reduced senescent cell numbers and restored a regenerative phenotype in the kidneys with increased tubular proliferation, improved function, and reduced fibrosis after subsequent ischemia-reperfusion injury. Senescent cells are key determinants of renal regenerative capacity in mice and represent emerging treatment targets to protect aging and vulnerable kidneys in man.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abb0203
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