2024
Deleting the mitochondrial respiration negative regulator MCJ enhances the efficacy of CD8+ T cell adoptive therapies in pre-clinical studies
Wu M, Valenca-Pereira F, Cendali F, Giddings E, Pham-Danis C, Yarnell M, Novak A, Brunetti T, Thompson S, Henao-Mejia J, Flavell R, D’Alessandro A, Kohler M, Rincon M. Deleting the mitochondrial respiration negative regulator MCJ enhances the efficacy of CD8+ T cell adoptive therapies in pre-clinical studies. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 4444. PMID: 38789421, PMCID: PMC11126743, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48653-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethylation-controlled J proteinCAR-T cellsEfficacy of adoptive T cell therapyCD8+ CAR T cellsAdoptive T cell therapyT-cell therapyCD8 cellsT cellsOvalbumin (OVA)-specific CD8T cell adoptive therapyCD8+ T cellsMelanoma tumors in vivoFunction of T cellsAdoptive cellular therapyMurine B-cell leukemiaPromote T cell functionB-cell leukemiaT cell functionTumors in vivoPre-clinical studiesAnti-tumor activityIn vivo efficacyAdoptive therapyPotential therapeutic strategyEndogenous negative regulator
2023
ALKBH5 modulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell energy metabolism through m6A modification-mediated RNA stability control
Gao Y, Zimmer J, Vasic R, Liu C, Gbyli R, Zheng S, Patel A, Liu W, Qi Z, Li Y, Nelakanti R, Song Y, Biancon G, Xiao A, Slavoff S, Kibbey R, Flavell R, Simon M, Tebaldi T, Li H, Halene S. ALKBH5 modulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell energy metabolism through m6A modification-mediated RNA stability control. Cell Reports 2023, 42: 113163. PMID: 37742191, PMCID: PMC10636609, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlkB homolog 5Post-transcriptional regulatory mechanismsHematopoietic stemNumerous cellular processesProgenitor cell fitnessEnergy metabolismMitochondrial ATP productionMethyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) RNA modificationTricarboxylic acid cycleCell energy metabolismHuman hematopoietic cellsMitochondrial energy productionCell fitnessCellular processesRNA modificationsRNA methylationRegulatory mechanismsEnzyme transcriptsATP productionHomolog 5Acid cycleΑ-ketoglutarateHematopoietic cellsMessenger RNAΑ-KGIL-6 trans-signaling in a humanized mouse model of scleroderma
Odell I, Agrawal K, Sefik E, Odell A, Caves E, Kirkiles-Smith N, Horsley V, Hinchcliff M, Pober J, Kluger Y, Flavell R. IL-6 trans-signaling in a humanized mouse model of scleroderma. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2306965120. PMID: 37669366, PMCID: PMC10500188, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306965120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBone marrow-derived immune cellsIL-6Human hematopoietic stem cellsImmune cellsT cellsScleroderma skinSoluble IL-6 receptorCD8 T cellsHumanized mouse modelPathogenesis of sclerodermaMesenchymal cellsFibroblast-derived IL-6IL-6 receptorIL-6 signalingT cell activationHuman IL-6Human T cellsExpression of collagenFibrosis improvementPansclerotic morpheaHuman endothelial cellsHumanized miceReduced markersSkin graftsHuman CD4Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions
Kaffe E, Roulis M, Zhao J, Qu R, Sefik E, Mirza H, Zhou J, Zheng Y, Charkoftaki G, Vasiliou V, Vatner D, Mehal W, AlcHepNet, Kluger Y, Flavell R. Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions. Cell 2023, 186: 3793-3809.e26. PMID: 37562401, PMCID: PMC10544749, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetabolic functionsSpecies-specific interactionsKey metabolic functionsCell-autonomous mechanismsNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseMajor metabolic hubNon-parenchymal cellsMetabolic hubHuman hepatocytesMicroenvironmental regulationHuman diseasesHuman-specific aspectsHuman pathologiesHomeostatic processesSpecies mismatchCholesterol uptakeFatty liver diseaseParacrine mannerHuman immuneBile acid conjugationSinusoidal endothelial cellsHepatic metabolic functionMouse liverEndothelial cellsCellsAutologous humanized PDX modeling for immuno-oncology recapitulates features of the human tumor microenvironment
Chiorazzi M, Martinek J, Krasnick B, Zheng Y, Robbins K, Qu R, Kaufmann G, Skidmore Z, Juric M, Henze L, Brösecke F, Adonyi A, Zhao J, Shan L, Sefik E, Mudd J, Bi Y, Goedegebuure S, Griffith M, Griffith O, Oyedeji A, Fertuzinhos S, Garcia-Milian R, Boffa D, Detterbeck F, Dhanasopon A, Blasberg J, Judson B, Gettinger S, Politi K, Kluger Y, Palucka K, Fields R, Flavell R. Autologous humanized PDX modeling for immuno-oncology recapitulates features of the human tumor microenvironment. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2023, 11: e006921. PMID: 37487666, PMCID: PMC10373695, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006921.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman tumor microenvironmentTumor microenvironmentTumor-immune interactionsSolid tumorsAdaptive immune activationAdaptive immune populationsIndividual tumor microenvironmentsPatient's hematopoietic systemPatient-derived xenograft tissuesVascular endothelial growth factorBone marrow hematopoietic stemBone marrow aspiratePreclinical drug testingEndothelial growth factorHematopoietic systemAutologous tumorPDX modelingPDX miceImmune activationImmune populationsMarrow aspiratesAutologous systemIndividual patientsLittermate controlsPreclinical predictionsIL-7R licenses a population of epigenetically poised memory CD8+ T cells with superior antitumor efficacy that are critical for melanoma memory
Micevic G, Daniels A, Flem-Karlsen K, Park K, Talty R, McGeary M, Mirza H, Blackburn H, Sefik E, Cheung J, Hornick N, Aizenbud L, Joshi N, Kluger H, Iwasaki A, Bosenberg M, Flavell R. IL-7R licenses a population of epigenetically poised memory CD8+ T cells with superior antitumor efficacy that are critical for melanoma memory. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2304319120. PMID: 37459511, PMCID: PMC10372654, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304319120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIL-7R expressionT cellsIL-7RAntitumor memorySuperior antitumor efficacyCell-based therapiesTumor-specific T cellsAntigen-specific T cellsAntitumor efficacyPowerful antitumor immune responseMarkers of exhaustionTumor-specific CD8Antitumor immune responseIndependent prognostic factorAntitumor immune memoryMemory T cellsMajor risk factorSuperior antitumor activityFunctional CD8Memory CD8Prognostic factorsSurgical resectionAdvanced melanomaLymph nodesNaive miceGasdermin D licenses MHCII induction to maintain food tolerance in small intestine
He K, Wan T, Wang D, Hu J, Zhou T, Tao W, Wei Z, Lu Q, Zhou R, Tian Z, Flavell R, Zhu S. Gasdermin D licenses MHCII induction to maintain food tolerance in small intestine. Cell 2023, 186: 3033-3048.e20. PMID: 37327784, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntestinal epithelial cellsCleavage fragmentsSmall intestineCaspase-3/7 inhibitorRegulatory hubTolerance phenotypeN-terminal fragmentHost cellsDifferential cleavageCaspase-3/7Upper small intestineTranscription of CIITAGasdermin DEpithelial cellsMHCII deficiencyMHCII inductionDietary antigensTr1 cellsImmune toleranceProtective immunityFood toleranceForeign antigensMHCII moleculesMiceCellsA Treg-specific long noncoding RNA maintains immune-metabolic homeostasis in aging liver
Ding C, Yu Z, Sefik E, Zhou J, Kaffe E, Wang G, Li B, Flavell R, Hu W, Ye Y, Li H. A Treg-specific long noncoding RNA maintains immune-metabolic homeostasis in aging liver. Nature Aging 2023, 3: 813-828. PMID: 37277640, DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00428-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAged miceLiver diseaseLiver microenvironmentAge-related liver diseasesYin Yang 1Liver immune microenvironmentRegulatory T cellsTreg-specific deletionPotential therapeutic targetMitochondrial functionYang 1Treg apoptosisTreg homeostasisTreg cellsTreg functionImmune microenvironmentLiver fibrosisMetabolic dysfunctionOptimal mitochondrial functionYoung miceT cellsLiver cancerTherapeutic targetAged liverLong noncoding RNACutting Edge: IL-21 and Tissue-Specific Signals Instruct Tbet+CD11c+ B Cell Development following Viral Infection.
Song W, Sanchez G, Mayer D, Blackburn H, Chernova I, Flavell R, Weinstein J, Craft J. Cutting Edge: IL-21 and Tissue-Specific Signals Instruct Tbet+CD11c+ B Cell Development following Viral Infection. The Journal Of Immunology 2023, 210: 1861-1865. PMID: 37133336, PMCID: PMC10247523, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAge-associated B cellsIL-21Acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infectionB cellsLymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infectionB cell activationHumoral immunityLymphoid organsVirus infectionMouse modelViral infectionB cell developmentCell activationLymphotoxin αVivo generationTissue-specific signalsInfectionDe novo generationOrgan contributionIFNTissue microenvironmentCell developmentLiverPivotal contributorStage-specific roles
2022
Cholinergic control of Th17 cell pathogenicity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Nechanitzky R, Nechanitzky D, Ramachandran P, Duncan G, Zheng C, Göbl C, Gill K, Haight J, Wakeham A, Snow B, Bradaschia-Correa V, Ganguly M, Lu Z, Saunders M, Flavell R, Mak T. Cholinergic control of Th17 cell pathogenicity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Cell Death & Differentiation 2022, 30: 407-416. PMID: 36528755, PMCID: PMC9950465, DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-01092-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisTh17 cellsMultiple sclerosisAutoimmune encephalomyelitisChAT expressionBrain-infiltrating immune cellsStrong TCR signalingCholinergic controlTherapeutic immunomodulationCholine acetyltransferaseImmune cellsCell pathogenicityDisease progressionChronic activationMouse modelTranscription factor Bhlhe40Novel targetAcetylcholineMRNA levelsPathogenic determinantsTCR signalingEncephalomyelitisCellsExpressionIL17Epiregulin is a dendritic cell–derived EGFR ligand that maintains skin and lung fibrosis
Odell I, Steach H, Gauld S, Reinke-Breen L, Karman J, Carr T, Wetter J, Phillips L, Hinchcliff M, Flavell R. Epiregulin is a dendritic cell–derived EGFR ligand that maintains skin and lung fibrosis. Science Immunology 2022, 7: eabq6691. PMID: 36490328, PMCID: PMC9840167, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq6691.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLung fibrosisDendritic cellsImmune cellsDiffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosisPersistence of fibrosisCutaneous systemic sclerosisExtent of fibrosisType I interferonSystemic sclerosisAutoimmune diseasesAntifibrotic targetsTherapeutic administrationMouse modelI interferonLung samplesLung explantsFibrosisFibrotic tissueImmune signalsEpiregulin expressionPatient's skinExtracellular matrix productionGenetic deficiencyEpiregulinEGFR ligandsHIV-1 Vpu restricts Fc-mediated effector functions in vivo
Prévost J, Anand S, Rajashekar J, Zhu L, Richard J, Goyette G, Medjahed H, Gendron-Lepage G, Chen H, Chen Y, Horwitz J, Grunst M, Zolla-Pazner S, Haynes B, Burton D, Flavell R, Kirchhoff F, Hahn B, Smith A, Pazgier M, Nussenzweig M, Kumar P, Finzi A. HIV-1 Vpu restricts Fc-mediated effector functions in vivo. Cell Reports 2022, 41: 111624. PMID: 36351384, PMCID: PMC9703018, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111624.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicityEffector functionsFc-mediated effector functionsHIV-1-infected cellsWild-type virusCorrelates of protectionRV144 vaccine trialHIV-1 infectionNon-neutralizing antibodiesFc effector functionsCell surface CD4Viral envelope glycoproteinsViral loadHumanized miceHumoral responseVaccine trialsCellular cytotoxicityHIV-1 VpuVpu expressionEnvelope glycoproteinInfected cellsNnAbsVirusVpuAdministrationPlatelet-derived TLT-1 promotes tumor progression by suppressing CD8+ T cells
Tyagi T, Jain K, Yarovinsky TO, Chiorazzi M, Du J, Castro C, Griffin J, Korde A, Martin KA, Takyar SS, Flavell RA, Patel AA, Hwa J. Platelet-derived TLT-1 promotes tumor progression by suppressing CD8+ T cells. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2022, 220: e20212218. PMID: 36305874, PMCID: PMC9814191, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20212218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCD8 T cellsT cellsTLT-1Non-small cell lung cancer patientsCell lung cancer patientsTREM-like transcript-1Tumor immunosuppressive mechanismsT cell suppressionLung cancer patientsPatient T cellsNF-κB pathwayPatient-derived tumorsDistinct activation phenotypesNSCLC patientsImmunosuppressive mechanismsSyngeneic tumorsHumanized miceImmunoregulatory rolePrognostic significanceImmunocompetent miceCancer patientsCell suppressionActivation phenotypeReduced tumorTumor growthHuman neutrophil development and functionality are enabled in a humanized mouse model
Zheng Y, Sefik E, Astle J, Karatepe K, Öz HH, Solis AG, Jackson R, Luo HR, Bruscia EM, Halene S, Shan L, Flavell RA. Human neutrophil development and functionality are enabled in a humanized mouse model. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2022, 119: e2121077119. PMID: 36269862, PMCID: PMC9618085, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121077119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHumanized mouse modelMouse modelHuman immune systemHuman neutrophilsImmune systemFunctional human immune systemGranulocyte colony-stimulating factorUnique mouse modelColony-stimulating factorHuman G-CSFMISTRG miceG-CSF receptor geneBacterial burdenInfectious challengeG-CSFNeutrophilsMiceNeutrophil developmentReceptor geneDiseasetRNA-m1A modification promotes T cell expansion via efficient MYC protein synthesis
Liu Y, Zhou J, Li X, Zhang X, Shi J, Wang X, Li H, Miao S, Chen H, He X, Dong L, Lee GR, Zheng J, Liu RJ, Su B, Ye Y, Flavell RA, Yi C, Wu Y, Li HB. tRNA-m1A modification promotes T cell expansion via efficient MYC protein synthesis. Nature Immunology 2022, 23: 1433-1444. PMID: 36138184, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-022-01301-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell expansionKey functional proteinsVivo physiological roleDe novo protein productionCell cycle arrestTranslational controlRNA modificationsMyc proteinFunctional proteinsTranslation efficiencyKey proteinsCell homeostasisProtein productionPhysiological roleProtein synthesisProliferative stateCycle arrestConditional deletionT cell homeostasisNaive T cellsProteinQuiescent stateSpecific subsetT cellsCellsLACC1 bridges NOS2 and polyamine metabolism in inflammatory macrophages
Wei Z, Oh J, Flavell RA, Crawford JM. LACC1 bridges NOS2 and polyamine metabolism in inflammatory macrophages. Nature 2022, 609: 348-353. PMID: 35978195, PMCID: PMC9813773, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05111-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammatory bowel diseaseWild-type activityCentral regulatory roleMammalian immune systemBone marrow-derived macrophagesInflammatory macrophagesBiochemical functionsBowel diseaseSignaling outcomesMarrow-derived macrophagesPattern recognition receptorsInflammatory diseasesBiochemical roleRegulatory roleMechanistic connectionUnidentified pathwaySalmonella enterica TyphimuriumNitric oxide synthaseRecognition receptorsHost damageHuman inflammatory diseasesMultiple inflammatory diseasesEnterica TyphimuriumOrnithine decarboxylaseLACC1RNA m6A demethylase ALKBH5 regulates the development of γδ T cells
Ding C, Xu H, Yu Z, Roulis M, Qu R, Zhou J, Oh J, Crawford J, Gao Y, Jackson R, Sefik E, Li S, Wei Z, Skadow M, Yin Z, Ouyang X, Wang L, Zou Q, Su B, Hu W, Flavell RA, Li HB. RNA m6A demethylase ALKBH5 regulates the development of γδ T cells. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2022, 119: e2203318119. PMID: 35939687, PMCID: PMC9388086, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203318119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDemethylase ALKBH5Messenger RNAΓδ T cellsΓδ T cell biologyCommon posttranscriptional modificationΓδ T cell developmentT cell biologyT cell developmentCell precursorsT cell precursorsMammalian cellsRNA modificationsPosttranscriptional modificationsTissue homeostasisCell biologyT cellsTarget genesCheckpoint roleCell developmentM6A demethylase ALKBH5ALKBH5Γδ T-cell originΓδ T cell repertoireCell populationsEarly developmentMouse pulmonary interstitial macrophages mediate the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-9
Fu Y, Pajulas A, Wang J, Zhou B, Cannon A, Cheung CCL, Zhang J, Zhou H, Fisher AJ, Omstead DT, Khan S, Han L, Renauld JC, Paczesny S, Gao H, Liu Y, Yang L, Tighe RM, Licona-Limón P, Flavell RA, Takatsuka S, Kitamura D, Sun J, Bilgicer B, Sears CR, Yang K, Kaplan MH. Mouse pulmonary interstitial macrophages mediate the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-9. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3811. PMID: 35778404, PMCID: PMC9249769, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31596-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLung tumor growthIL-9Tumor growthAdoptive cell transfer therapyPulmonary interstitial macrophagesPotent anti-tumor activityLung cancer patientsCell transfer therapyLung tumor modelLung cancer therapyMultiple mouse modelsPotential therapeutic targetIL-9 signalingAnti-tumor activityPro-tumorigenic effectsAdoptive transferMacrophage axisPoor outcomePoor prognosisCancer patientsLung cancerArginase-1Interstitial macrophagesIL-9RInterstitial macrophage populationIL18 signaling causes islet β cell development and insulin secretion via different receptors on acinar and β cells
Zhang X, Luo S, Wang M, Huang Q, Fang W, Li J, Liu T, Zhang Y, Deng Z, Liu CL, Guan S, Ayala JE, Flavell RA, Kulkarni RN, Libby P, Guo J, Liu Z, Shi GP. IL18 signaling causes islet β cell development and insulin secretion via different receptors on acinar and β cells. Developmental Cell 2022, 57: 1496-1511.e6. PMID: 35675813, PMCID: PMC9233156, DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.05.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGlucagon-like peptide-1Β-cell proliferationInsulin secretionΒ-cellsMacrophage expansionDiet-induced glucose intoleranceCell apoptosisIslet β-cell functionAcinar cellsCell proliferationΒ-cell functionIslet α-cellsCell developmentIL18 receptorΒ-cell apoptosisΒ-cell developmentDiabetic patientsGlucose intoleranceGlucose toleranceMacrophage accumulationInsulin sensitivityGLP1 receptorIslet sizePeptide-1Mouse pancreases
2020
Evidence for a pathogenic role of extrafollicular, IL-10–producing CCR6+B helper T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus
Facciotti F, Larghi P, Bosotti R, Vasco C, Gagliani N, Cordiglieri C, Mazzara S, Ranzani V, Rottoli E, Curti S, Penatti A, Karnani B, Kobayashi Y, Crosti M, Bombaci M, van Hamburg JP, Rossetti G, Gualtierotti R, Gerosa M, Gatti S, Torretta S, Pignataro L, Tas SW, Abrignani S, Pagani M, Grassi F, Meroni PL, Flavell RA, Geginat J. Evidence for a pathogenic role of extrafollicular, IL-10–producing CCR6+B helper T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2020, 117: 7305-7316. PMID: 32184325, PMCID: PMC7132288, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917834117.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic lupus erythematosusHelper T cellsT cellsIL-10Pathogenic roleSLE patientsLupus erythematosusIL-7RB cellsPathogenic anti-dsDNA antibodiesFollicular helper T cellsAnti-dsDNA antibodiesLupus-like diseaseT cell populationsB cell responsesProduction ex vivoCytokine reporter miceProminent pathogenic roleImmunoglobulin G productionNaïve B cellsIL-17Antiinflammatory cytokinesLymph nodesInterleukin-10Peripheral blood