Project description:The development of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) transcription factor reporter mice has shown a previously unexpected complexity in ILC haematopoiesis. Using novel polychromic mice to achieve higher phenotypic resolution we have characterised bone marrow progenitors that are committed to the group 1 ILC lineage. These common ILC1/NK progenitors, which we call ‘aceNKPs’, are defined as lineage–Id2+IL-7Ra+CD25–a4b7–NKG2A/C/E+Bcl11b–. In vitro, aceNKPs differentiate into group 1 ILCs, including NK-like cells that express Eomes without the requirement for IL-15, and produce IFN-g and perforin upon IL-15 stimulation. Following reconstitution of Rag2–/–Il2rg–/– hosts, aceNKPs give rise to a spectrum of mature ILC1/NK cells (regardless of their tissue location) that cannot be clearly segregated into the traditional ILC1 and NK subsets, suggesting that group 1 ILCs constitute a dynamic continuum of ILCs that can develop from a common progenitor. In addition, aceNKP-derived ILC1/NK cells effectively ameliorate tumour burden in a model of lung metastasis where they acquired a cytotoxic NK cell phenotype. Our results identify the primary ILC1/NK progenitor that lacks ILC2 or ILC3 potential and is strictly committed to ILC1/NK cell production irrespective of tissue homing.
Project description:The development of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) transcription factor reporter mice has shown a previously unexpected complexity in ILC hematopoiesis. Using novel polychromic mice to achieve higher phenotypic resolution, we have characterized bone marrow progenitors that are committed to the group 1 ILC lineage. These common ILC1/NK cell progenitors (ILC1/NKP), which we call "aceNKPs", are defined as lineage-Id2+IL-7Rα+CD25-α4β7-NKG2A/C/E+Bcl11b-. In vitro, aceNKPs differentiate into group 1 ILCs, including NK-like cells that express Eomes without the requirement for IL-15, and produce IFN-γ and perforin upon IL-15 stimulation. Following reconstitution of Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- hosts, aceNKPs give rise to a spectrum of mature ILC1/NK cells (regardless of their tissue location) that cannot be clearly segregated into the traditional ILC1 and NK subsets, suggesting that group 1 ILCs constitute a dynamic continuum of ILCs that can develop from a common progenitor. In addition, aceNKP-derived ILC1/NK cells effectively ameliorate tumor burden in a model of lung metastasis, where they acquired a cytotoxic NK cell phenotype. Our results identify the primary ILC1/NK progenitor that lacks ILC2 or ILC3 potential and is strictly committed to ILC1/NK cell production irrespective of tissue homing.
Project description:We report the application of single-molecule-based RNA sequencing technology for comparing the transcriptome profile in splenic NK and hepatic ILC1 sorted from mice treated or not via oral gavage for 1 week with tofacitinib
Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) require the transcription factor STAT4 to elicit rapid effector responses and protect against pathogens. Herein, by combining genetic and transcriptomic approaches, we revealed that STAT4 played an unexpected divergent role in regulating effector differentiation of murine ILC1 and NK cells, during intestinal inflammation. Stat4 deletion in Ncr1-expressing cells led to an increased generation of cytotoxic ILC1 in the inflamed large intestine. By contrast, Stat4-deficient NK cells showed impaired terminal differentiation, characterized by lower levels of IRF-8 and KLRG1. STAT4 expression in NCR+ innate lymphocytes restrained gut inflammation and controlled both systemic IFN-g levels and the number of type 2 adaptive T cells in the large intestine. Collectively our data shed light on shared and distinctive mechanisms of transcriptional regulation driven by STAT4 in NK cells and ILC1 required for protection during intestinal inflammation.
Project description:Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) require the transcription factor STAT4 to elicit rapid effector responses and protect against pathogens. Herein, by combining genetic and transcriptomic approaches, we revealed that STAT4 played an unexpected divergent role in regulating effector differentiation of murine ILC1 and NK cells, during intestinal inflammation. Stat4 deletion in Ncr1-expressing cells led to an increased generation of cytotoxic ILC1 in the inflamed large intestine. By contrast, Stat4-deficient NK cells showed impaired terminal differentiation, characterized by lower levels of IRF-8 and KLRG1. STAT4 expression in NCR+ innate lymphocytes restrained gut inflammation and controlled both systemic IFN-g levels and the number of type 2 adaptive T cells in the large intestine. Collectively our data shed light on shared and distinctive mechanisms of transcriptional regulation driven by STAT4 in NK cells and ILC1 required for protection during intestinal inflammation.
Project description:Among the features that distinguish type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) from NK cells is a gene signature indicative of TGFb-family cytokine imprinting. To assess the impact of TGFb family cytokines on ILC1 differentation, we examined SMAD4- a transcription factor that facilitates the signaling pathway common to all TGFb family cytokines-was specifically ablated in ILCs and NK cells. While SMAD4 deficiency did not affect ILC1 differentation, NK cells paradoxically aquired an ILC1-like gene signature and were incapable of controlling tumor metastasis and viral infection. We used microarray to compare the transcriptional differences between human blood NK cells. NK cells from a patient with a deleterious SMAD4 mutation or control NK cells were cultured overnight with either IL-2 alone or TGFb1 and IL-2.
Project description:Among the features that distinguish type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) from NK cells is a gene signature indicative of TGFb-family cytokine imprinting. To assess the impact of TGFb family cytokines on ILC1 differentation, we examined SMAD4- a transcription factor that facilitates the signaling pathway common to all TGFb family cytokines-was specifically ablated in ILCs and NK cells. While SMAD4 deficiency did not affect ILC1 differentation, NK cells paradoxically aquired an ILC1-like gene signature and were incapable of controlling tumor metastasis and viral infection. We used microarray to define the transcriptional differences between splenic NK cells from WT and SMAD4F/F x Ncr1-Cre mice.
Project description:Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets that mirror helper T cells in their effector cytokine profiles have recently emerged as central players in both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Like their Th1, Th2 and Th17/Th22 helper T cell counterparts, ILC subsets are categorized based on their expression of specific transcription factors and effector cytokines: group 1 ILC (ILC1) express T-bet and IFN-γ; group 2 ILC (ILC2) express GATA-3 and type 2 effector cytokines such as IL-13 and IL-5; and group 3 ILC (ILC3) express RORgt and the cytokines IL-22 and/or IL-17. Under this nomenclature, natural killer (NK) cells and lymphoid tissue inducers (LTi) are considered ILC1 and ILC3, respectively. ILC1 contain both CD4+ and CD4- populations, but whether this phenotypic characteristic reflects functional differences between these two populations is unknown. These studies examine the gene expression profiles of CD4+ vs CD4- ILC1 in a cohort of healthy control subjects. ILC subsets were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy control subjects. cDNA was isolated and amplified from sorted populations, and gene expression was analyzed by RNAseq
Project description:In an era where the established lines between cell identities are blurred by intra-lineage plasticity, distinguishing between stable and transitional states becomes imperative. This challenge is particularly pronounced within the Group 1 ILC lineage, where the similarity and plasticity between NK cells and ILC1s obscure their classification and the assignment of their unique contributions to immune regulation. This study exploits the unique property of AsGM1—a membrane lipid associated with cytotoxic attributes absent in ILC1s—as a definitive criterion to distinguish between these cells. By prioritizing cytotoxic potential as the cardinal differentiator, the strategic use of this glycosphingolipid signature achieved precise delineation of the heterogenity of Group 1 ILCs across tissues. This capability extends beyond steady-state classifications, adeptly capturing the binary classification of NK cells and ILC1s during acute liver injury. By leveraging two established models of NK-to-ILC1 plasticity driven by TGFβ in endocrine tissues and Toxoplasma gondii infection, we demonstrate the stability of the AsGM1 signature during this reprogramming, which sharply contrasts with the loss of Eomes. The early detection of the AsGM1 signature at the immature NK (iNK) stage, preceding Eomes, and its stability, unaffected by transcriptional reprogramming that typically alters Eomes, position AsGM1 as a unique, site-agnostic marker for fate mapping NK-to-ILC1 plasticity. This provides a powerful tool to explore the expanding heterogeneity within the Group 1 ILC landscape, effectively transcending the ambiguity inherent to the NK-to-ILC1 continuum.