Project description:CD4+ T cells differentiate into phenotypically distinct T-helper cells upon antigenic stimulation. Regulation of plasticity between these CD4+ T-cell lineages is critical for immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, the factors that regulate lineage stability are largely unknown. Here we investigate a role for retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of lineage stability using T helper 1 (Th1) cells, traditionally considered the most phenotypically stable Th subset. We found that RA, through its receptor RARa, sustains stable expression of Th1 lineage specifying genes as well as repressing genes that instruct Th17 cell fate. RA signaling is essential for limiting Th1 cell conversion into Th17 effectors and for preventing pathogenic Th17 responses in vivo. Our studies identify RA-RARa as a key component of the regulatory network governing Th1 cell fate and define a new paradigm for the development of pathogenic Th17 cells. These findings have important implications for autoimmune diseases in which dysregulated Th1-Th17 responses are observed. IFN-gamma+ Th1 cells from IFNgeYFP reporter mouse; comparing dnRARa to WT
Project description:CD4+ T cells differentiate into phenotypically distinct T-helper cells upon antigenic stimulation. Regulation of plasticity between these CD4+ T-cell lineages is critical for immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, the factors that regulate lineage stability are largely unknown. Here we investigate a role for retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of lineage stability using T helper 1 (Th1) cells, traditionally considered the most phenotypically stable Th subset. We found that RA, through its receptor RARa, sustains stable expression of Th1 lineage specifying genes as well as repressing genes that instruct Th17 cell fate. RA signaling is essential for limiting Th1 cell conversion into Th17 effectors and for preventing pathogenic Th17 responses in vivo. Our studies identify RA-RARa as a key component of the regulatory network governing Th1 cell fate and define a new paradigm for the development of pathogenic Th17 cells. These findings have important implications for autoimmune diseases in which dysregulated Th1-Th17 responses are observed. Identification of RARa binding in wild-type Th1 cells and mapping of enhancers using chromatin IP against p300, H3k4me1, H3k4me3, and H3k27ac in wild-type and dnRara Th1 cells.
Project description:CD4+ T cells differentiate into phenotypically distinct T-helper cells upon antigenic stimulation. Regulation of plasticity between these CD4+ T-cell lineages is critical for immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, the factors that regulate lineage stability are largely unknown. Here we investigate a role for retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of lineage stability using T helper 1 (Th1) cells, traditionally considered the most phenotypically stable Th subset. We found that RA, through its receptor RARa, sustains stable expression of Th1 lineage specifying genes as well as repressing genes that instruct Th17 cell fate. RA signaling is essential for limiting Th1 cell conversion into Th17 effectors and for preventing pathogenic Th17 responses in vivo. Our studies identify RA-RARa as a key component of the regulatory network governing Th1 cell fate and define a new paradigm for the development of pathogenic Th17 cells. These findings have important implications for autoimmune diseases in which dysregulated Th1-Th17 responses are observed.
Project description:CD4+ T cells differentiate into phenotypically distinct T-helper cells upon antigenic stimulation. Regulation of plasticity between these CD4+ T-cell lineages is critical for immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, the factors that regulate lineage stability are largely unknown. Here we investigate a role for retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of lineage stability using T helper 1 (Th1) cells, traditionally considered the most phenotypically stable Th subset. We found that RA, through its receptor RARa, sustains stable expression of Th1 lineage specifying genes as well as repressing genes that instruct Th17 cell fate. RA signaling is essential for limiting Th1 cell conversion into Th17 effectors and for preventing pathogenic Th17 responses in vivo. Our studies identify RA-RARa as a key component of the regulatory network governing Th1 cell fate and define a new paradigm for the development of pathogenic Th17 cells. These findings have important implications for autoimmune diseases in which dysregulated Th1-Th17 responses are observed.
Project description:CD4+ T cells differentiate into phenotypically distinct T-helper cells upon antigenic stimulation. Regulation of plasticity between these CD4+ T-cell lineages is critical for immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, the factors that regulate lineage stability are largely unknown. Here we investigate a role for retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of lineage stability using T helper 1 (Th1) cells, traditionally considered the most phenotypically stable Th subset. We found that RA, through its receptor RARa, sustains stable expression of Th1 lineage specifying genes as well as repressing genes that instruct Th17 cell fate. RA signaling is essential for limiting Th1 cell conversion into Th17 effectors and for preventing pathogenic Th17 responses in vivo. Our studies identify RA-RARa as a key component of the regulatory network governing Th1 cell fate and define a new paradigm for the development of pathogenic Th17 cells. These findings have important implications for autoimmune diseases in which dysregulated Th1-Th17 responses are observed.
Project description:TH17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We previously reported that the transcription factor BHLHE40 marks cytokine-producing pathogenic TH cells during EAE, and that its expression in T cells is required for clinical disease. Here, using dual reporter mice, we show BHLHE40 expression within TH1/17 and ex-TH17 cells following EAE induction. Il17a-Cre-mediated deletion of BHLHE40 in TH cells led to less severe EAE with reduced TH cell cytokine production. Characterization of the leukocytes in the central nervous system during EAE by scRNA-sequencing identified differences in the infiltrating myeloid cells when BHLHE40 was present or absent in TH17 cells. Our studies highlight the importance of BHLHE40 in promoting TH17 cell encephalitogenicity and instructing myeloid cell responses during active EAE.
Project description:Th17 cells are known to exert pathogenic and non-pathogenic functions. Although the cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is instrumental for Th17 cell differentiation, it is dispensable for generation of pathogenic Th17 cells. Here, we examined the T cell-intrinsic role of Activin-A, a TGF-β superfamily member closely related to TGF-β1, in pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation. Activin-A expression was increased in individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Stimulation with interleukin-6 and Activin-A induced a molecular program that mirrored that of pathogenic Th17 cells and was inhibited by blocking Activin-A signaling. Genetic disruption of Activin-A and its receptor ALK4 in T cells impaired pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, which was essential for pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation, was suppressed by TGF-β1-ALK5 but not Activin-A-ALK4 signaling. Thus, Activin-A drives pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation, implicating the Activin-A-ALK4-ERK axis as a therapeutic target for Th17 cell-related diseases.
Project description:There is evidence that microglia interact with infiltrating Th1 and Th17 cells and this interaction results in mutual activation. However, the potential of a distinct cytokine milieu generated by these effector T cell subsets to activate microglia is poorly understood. In this study, we tested the ability of factors secreted by Th1 and Th17 cells to induce microglial activation. Interestingly, we found that only Th1-associated factors had the potential to activate microglia while the Th17-associated factors as well as direct contact of Th17 cells with microglia only had a minimal effect. Further Th1-derived factors triggered a proinflammatory M1-type gene expression profile in microglia Microglia harvested from mixed glial cultures were treated with supernatants from Th1- or Th17 cultures. Microglia cultured in medium was used as controls. At 16h post treatment RNA was isolated from the microglia and probed on Agilent´s murine 4x44k microarrays. RNA isolated from four independent experiments were used for the gene expression profiling. Microglia, Th1, Th17
Project description:Th17 cells are key players in autoimmune diseases. However, the roles of non-coding RNAs in Th17 cells are largely unknown. Here, we show that deletion of the Dicer gene specifically in Th17 cells protects from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Th17 cells highly express the miR-183/96/182 cluster (miR-183C), in response to IL-6/STAT3 signaling. Moreover, miR-183C regulates pathogenic cytokine expression during Th17 development. Furthermore, transcription factor Foxo1 is one of functional targets of miR-183C in Th17 cells: Foxo1 negatively regulates the pathogenicity of Th17 cells and miR-183C represses Foxo1 expression. Collectively, our results demonstrate one of crucial roles for miR-183C cluster in regulation of Th17 cell function in autoimmune diseases.