Metabolomics,Unknown,Transcriptomics,Genomics,Proteomics

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Involvement of Nr4a in a Treg-specific transcriptional program and suppression ofM-cM-^@M-^@Th2/Tfh response

ABSTRACT: Regulatory T (Treg) cells, as central mediators of immune suppression, play crucial roles in many aspects of immune system physiology and pathophysiology. Treg cells are characterized by a distinct pattern of gene expression, including upregulation of immune-suppressive genes and silencing of inflammatory cytokine genes. However, the molecular mechanisms that establish and/or maintain such gene regulation in Treg cells remain largely unknown. We recently reported that Nr4a family nuclear orphan receptors are essential for the development of Treg cells. The fact that Treg cells maintain high levels of expression of all Nr4a family components suggests that they may also play critical roles beyond Treg cell development. Here, we show that Nr4a factors are essential for maintaining Treg-specific gene expression programs, mediating two defined characteristics of Treg cells: lineage stability and suppressive activity. A compound knockout mouse strain in which all Nr4a genes were specifically deleted in Treg cells developed systemic immunopathology with accelerated Th2/Tfh/IgE reactions. Treg cells in these mice showed global reduction of 'Treg signature' gene expression, including Foxp3, Il2ra and Ikzf4. These findings demonstrate that Nr4a controls a genetic program indispensable for Treg cell maintenance and function. mRNA from wild-type and Nr4a-deficient Treg cells were analyzed.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Takashi Sekiya

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-53574 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress

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Project description:Regulatory T (Treg) cells are vital for maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity, but represent a major barrier to robust cancer immunity as the tumor microenvironment (TME) actively recruits, activates, and promotes their differentiation1,2. Tumor cells have deregulated cellular metabolism leading to a metabolite-depleted, hypoxic, and acidic TME3. Highly glycolytic tumor infiltrating CD8 T cells are in direct competition with the tumor for glucose and oxygen which impairs their effector function4–6. In contrast, Treg cells maintain their high suppressive function within the TME7,8. Further, studies of in vitro induced and directly ex vivo Treg cells reveal a distinct metabolic profile compared to effector T cells9–11. Thus, we hypothesized that the altered metabolic landscape of the TME and the increased activity of intratumoral Treg cells are linked. Here we show Treg cells display heterogeneity in terms of their glucose metabolism and can engage an alternative metabolic pathway to maintain their high suppressive function and proliferation within the TME and other tissues. Tissue derived Treg cells (both at the steady state and under inflammatory conditions) show broad heterogeneity in their ability to take up glucose. However, glucose uptake correlates with poorer suppressive function and long-term functional stability, and culture of Treg cells in high glucose conditions decreased suppressive function. Treg cells under low glucose conditions upregulate genes associated with the uptake and metabolism of the glycolytic end-product lactic acid. Treg cells withstand high lactate conditions, and lactate treatment prevents the destabilizing effects of high glucose culture. Treg cells utilize lactate within the TCA cycle and generate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), a critical intermediate that can fuel intratumoral Treg cell proliferation in vivo. Using mice with a Treg cell-restricted deletion of lactate transporter Slc16a1 (MCT1) we show MCT1 is dispensable for peripheral Treg cell function but required intratumorally, resulting in slowed tumor growth and prolonged survival. These data support a model in which Treg cells are metabolically flexible such that they can utilize ‘alternative’ metabolites present in the TME to maintain their suppressive identity. Further, our studies support the notion that tumors avoid immune destruction not only by depriving effector T cells of essential nutrients, but also by metabolically supporting regulatory T cells.

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Involvement of Nr4a in a Treg-specific transcriptional program and suppression ofM-cM-^@M-^@Th2/Tfh response

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