Trilineage Sequencing Reveals Complex TCRß Transcriptomes in Neutrophils and Monocytes Alongside T Cells.

Recent findings indicate the presence of T cell receptor (TCR)-based combinatorial immune receptors beyond T cells in neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. In this study, using a semiquantitative trilineage immune repertoire sequencing approach as well as under rigorous bioinformatic conditions, we identify highly complex TCRß transcriptomes in human circulating monocytes and neutrophils that separately encode repertoire diversities one and two orders of magnitude smaller than that of T cells. Intraindividual transcriptomic analyses reveal that neutrophils, monocytes, and T cells express distinct TCRß repertoires with less than 0.1% overall trilineage repertoire sharing. Interindividual comparison shows that in all three leukocyte lineages, the vast majority of the expressed TCRß variants are private. We also find that differentiation of monocytes into macrophages induces dramatic individual-specific repertoire shifts, revealing a surprising degree of immune repertoire plasticity in the monocyte lineage. These results uncover the remarkable complexity of the two phagocyte-based flexible immune systems which until now has been hidden in the shadow of T cells.

Immediate Neutrophil-Variable-T Cell Receptor Host Response in Bacterial Meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening disease that evokes an intense neutrophil-dominated host response to microbes invading the subarachnoid space. Recent evidence indicates the existence of combinatorial V(D)J immune receptors in neutrophils that are based on the T cell receptor (TCR). Here, we investigated expression of the novel neutrophil TCRαß-based V(D)J receptors in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from human patients with acute-phase bacterial meningitis using immunocytochemical, genetic immunoprofiling, cell biological, and mass spectrometric techniques. We find that the human neutrophil combinatorial V(D)J receptors are rapidly induced in CSF neutrophils during the first hours of bacterial meningitis. Immune receptor repertoire diversity is consistently increased in CSF neutrophils relative to circulating neutrophils and phagocytosis of baits directed to the variable immunoreceptor is enhanced in CSF neutrophils during acute-phase meningitis. Our results reveal that a flexible immune response involving neutrophil V(D)J receptors which enhance phagocytosis is immediately initiated at the site of acute bacterial infection.

Expression of combinatorial immunoglobulins in macrophages in the tumor microenvironment.

Recent evidence indicates the presence of macrophage subpopulations that express the TCRαß in chronic inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis and atherosclerosis and in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we demonstrate that a second subpopulation of macrophages expresses rearranged heavy and light chain immunoglobulins. We identify immunoglobulin expression in human and murine monocytes, in ex vivo differentiated macrophages and macrophages from the tumor microenvironment of five randomly selected distinct human tumor entities. The immunoglobulin heavy and light chains are expressed in a small macrophage subfraction (~3-5%) as combinatorial and individual-specific immune receptors. Using Sanger sequencing and deep sequencing, we routinely find markedly restricted Ig repertoires in monocytes/macrophages compared to normal B cells. Furthermore, we report the complete Ig heavy and light chain sequences of a fully functional immunoglobulin from a single tumor-associated macrophage. These results demonstrate that Ig expression is a defining feature of monocytes and also macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and thus reveal an as yet unrecognized modus operandi of host defense in professional phagocytes.

The macrophage-TCRαß is a cholesterol-responsive combinatorial immune receptor and implicated in atherosclerosis.

Recent evidence indicates constitutive expression of a recombinatorial TCRαß immune receptor in mammalian monocytes and macrophages. Here, we demonstrate in vitro that macrophage-TCRß repertoires are modulated by atherogenic low density cholesterol (LDL) and high-density cholesterol (HDL). In vivo, analysis of freshly obtained artery specimens from patients with severe carotid atherosclerosis reveals massive abundance of TCRαß(+) macrophages within the atherosclerotic lesions. Experimental atherosclerosis in mouse carotids induces accumulation of TCR bearing macrophages in the vascular wall and TCR deficient rag(-/-) mice have an altered macrophage-dependent inflammatory response. We find that the majority of TCRαß bearing macrophages are localized in the hot spot regions of the atherosclerotic lesions. Advanced carotid artery lesions express highly restricted TCRαß repertoires that are characterized by a striking usage of the Vß22 and Vß16 chains. This together with a significant degree of interindividual lesion repertoire sharing suggests the existence of atherosclerosis-associated TCRαß signatures. Our results implicate the macrophage-TCRαß combinatorial immunoreceptor in atherosclerosis and thus identify an as yet unknown adaptive component in the innate response-to-injury process that underlies this macrophage-driven disease.

A second combinatorial immune receptor in monocytes/macrophages is based on the TCRγδ.

Recent evidence indicates that monocytes and macrophages express T cell receptor (TCR)αß-like combinatorial immune receptors. Here, we demonstrate the presence of a second recombinatorial immunoreceptor, which is structurally based on the TCR γ- and δ-chains, in human and murine monocytes and differentially activated macrophages (referred to here as TCRL(m)γδ). In vitro, infection of macrophages with mycobacteria and gram positive or gram negative bacteria induced expression of donor-specific and differential TCRL(m)Vδ repertoires indicating that the novel immunoreceptor represents a dynamic flexible host defense system that responds to bacterial challenge. In vivo, we find that TCRL(m)γδ bearing macrophages, which express highly restricted repertoires of the antigen-binding Vδ chain, accumulate in the cerebrospinal fluid in acute bacterial meningitis and in advanced lesions of atherosclerosis. These results identify an as yet unrecognized monocyte/macrophage subpopulation that bears combinatorial TCRL(m)γδ immune receptors, and is associated with both acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, they indicate that the monocytic lineage uses the same bipartite system of TCRαß/TCRγδ-based combinatorial immune receptors that is present in T cells. Our findings suggest specific roles of monocytes/macrophages in various inflammatory conditions and lend further evidence that flexible immune recognition in higher vertebrates operates on a broader cellular basis than previously thought.

On the horizon: flexible immune recognition outside lymphocytes.

Since decades there is consensus among immunologists that in jawless and jawed vertebrates flexible immune recognition is strictly confined to the lymphoid lineage. In jawed vertebrates the adaptive immune system is represented by two lineages of lymphocytes, B cells and T cells that express recombinatorial antigen receptors of enormous diversity known as immunoglobulins and the T cell receptor (TCR). The recent identification of recombined immune receptors that are structurally based on the TCR in subpopulations of neutrophils and eosinophils (referred to here as TCR-like immunoreceptors, "TCRL") provides unexpected evidence for the existence of flexible host defense mechanisms beyond the realm of lymphocytes. Consistent with this, subpopulations of monocytes and macrophages from humans and mice now have also been shown to constitutively express recombined TCR-like immunoreceptors. Available in vitro evidence suggests that the TCRL in macrophages may exert functions as facilitators of phagocytosis and self-recruitment. More importantly, our recent findings that the macrophage-TCRL is implicated in granuloma formation in tuberculosis and the neutrophil-TCRL is associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia establish for the first time a link between myeloid recombinatorial immune receptors and clinical disease. The discovery of recombined TCR-like immune receptors in granulocytes and macrophages extends the principle of combinatorial immune recognition to phagocytic cells. Conceptually, this unifies the two hitherto disparate cardinal features of innate and adaptive immunity, phagocytic capacity and recombinatorial immune recognition on a common cellular platform. Moreover, it strongly suggests that flexible host defense in vertebrates may operate on a broader cellular basis than currently thought.

Extralymphocytic flexible immune recognition: a new angle on inflammation and aging.

Longstanding immunological dogma holds that flexible immune recognition, which forms the mechanistic basis of adaptive immunity, is strictly confined to the lymphocyte lineage. In higher vertebrates, flexible immune recognition is represented by recombinatorial antigen receptors of enormous diversity known as immunoglobulins, expressed by B lymphocytes, and the T cell receptor (TCR), expressed by T lymphocytes. The recent discovery of recombinatorial immune receptors that are structurally based on the TCR (referred to as TCR-like immunoreceptors, "TCRL") in myeloid phagocytes such as neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages now challenges the lymphocentric paradigm of flexible immunity. Here, we introduce the emerging concept of "extralymphocytic flexible immune recognition" and discuss its implications for inflammation and aging.

The neutrophil recombinatorial TCR-like immune receptor is expressed across the entire human life span but repertoire diversity declines in old age.

Recent evidence has revealed the existence of T cell receptor (TCR) αß-based recombinatorial immune receptors in phagocytes. Here, we performed a systematic survey of the variable ß-chain repertoires of the neutrophil TCR-like αß immunoreceptor (referred to as TCRL(n)αß) in defined cohorts of young and old individuals. Peripheral blood CD15(+) neutrophils from young adults (age 30 ± 7 years, n=12) expressed an average number of 13 ± 6 distinct TCRL(n) Vß-chains from the total pool of 25 human Vß-chains. Neutrophils from aged subjects (age 76 ± 6 years, n=12) also consitutively express the TCRL(n), however, only a small number of Vß-chains is used (4 ± 2). Consistent with this, the average number of expressed CDR3 Vß length variants was fourfold higher in young individuals than in aged subjects (33 ± 24 vs. 8 ± 3). Young adults showed broad usage of all TCRL(n) Vß-chains. In contrast, >70years individuals displayed a striking repertoire polarization towards the TCRL(n) Vß1 and Vß5b chains and a high degree of Vß5b clonotype sharing. Our study reveals broad TCRL(n) repertoire diversity in young adults and demonstrates that the neutrophil variable immune receptor is expressed throughout the entire human life span. The marked decline in TCRL(n) repertoire diversity in old age identifies a novel mechanism of immunosenescence in neutrophils.

A TNF-regulated recombinatorial macrophage immune receptor implicated in granuloma formation in tuberculosis.

Macrophages play a central role in host defense against mycobacterial infection and anti- TNF therapy is associated with granuloma disorganization and reactivation of tuberculosis in humans. Here, we provide evidence for the presence of a T cell receptor (TCR) αß based recombinatorial immune receptor in subpopulations of human and mouse monocytes and macrophages. In vitro, we find that the macrophage-TCRαß induces the release of CCL2 and modulates phagocytosis. TNF blockade suppresses macrophage-TCRαß expression. Infection of macrophages from healthy individuals with mycobacteria triggers formation of clusters that express restricted TCR Vß repertoires. In vivo, TCRαß bearing macrophages abundantly accumulate at the inner host-pathogen contact zone of caseous granulomas from patients with lung tuberculosis. In chimeric mouse models, deletion of the variable macrophage-TCRαß or TNF is associated with structurally compromised granulomas of pulmonary tuberculosis even in the presence of intact T cells. These results uncover a TNF-regulated recombinatorial immune receptor in monocytes/macrophages and demonstrate its implication in granuloma formation in tuberculosis.

Inhibition of apoptosis reduces immunogeneic potential of adenoviral-treated syngeneic liver grafts.

Effects of adenoviral therapy and reduced apoptosis on immune response were investigated in a rat liver transplantation model after prolonged ischemia-reperfusion. Liver donors were treated i.v. either with an adenoviral construct, expressing bcl-2, green-fluorescent-protein, or doxycyclin. Intrahepatic apoptosis was assessed by terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. The intrahepatic presence of CD4, CD8a, CD163, immunoglobulin (Ig)beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and myeloperoxidase (MPO) was quantified by realtime polymerase chain reaction at 24 hours and seven days after transplantation. Bcl-2 expression abrogated the TNF-alpha elevation and reduced apoptosis of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells as compared to advCMV green fluorescent protein. No effects on CD4, CD8a, CD163 and MPO expression were noticed in bcl-2 pretreated livers, whereas Igbeta was slightly enhanced compared to controls. Adenoviral infected liver grafts trigger an immune response but reduced apoptosis resulted in down-regulation of TNF-alpha. Thus, bcl-2 transfer might simultaneously reduce graft ischemia reperfusion injury and immunogenicity.

A variable immunoreceptor in a subpopulation of human neutrophils.

Neutrophils are thought to rely solely on nonspecific immune mechanisms. Here we provide molecular biological, immunological, ultrastructural, and functional evidence for the presence of a T cell receptor (TCR)-based variable immunoreceptor in a 5-8% subpopulation of human neutrophils. We demonstrate that these peripheral blood neutrophils express variable and individual-specific TCRalphabeta repertoires and the RAG1/RAG2 recombinase complex. The proinflammatory cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor regulates expression of the neutrophil immunoreceptor and RAG1/RAG2 in vivo. Specific engagement of the neutrophil TCR complex protects from apoptosis and stimulates secretion of the neutrophil-activating chemokine IL-8. Our results, which also demonstrate the presence of the TCR in murine neutrophils, suggest the coexistence of a variable and an innate host defense system in mammalian neutrophils.

Benefit of Kupffer cell modulation with glycine versus Kupffer cell depletion after liver transplantation in the rat: effects on postischemic reperfusion injury, apoptotic cell death graft regeneration and survival.

Inhibition or destruction of Kupffer cells (KC) may protect against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced primary graft nonfunction (PNF) in liver transplantation. Besides KC activation, PNF is characterized by microvascular perfusion failure, intrahepatic leukocyte accumulation, cell death and hepatocellular dysfunction. KCs can be inactivated by different agents including gadolinium chloride (GdCl3), methyl palmitate (MP) and glycine. The effects of three KC inactivators on IR-injury after rat liver transplantation were compared in the present study. Lewis liver donors were treated with GdCl3, MP, glycine or saline (control). Liver grafts were transplanted following 24 h storage (UW solution). KC populations and IR damage were assessed by histologic analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and intravital microscopy. The number of hepatic ED-1 positive macrophages was diminished after GdCl3 (114.8+/-4.4/mm2 liver tissue) and MP treatment (176.0+/-5.0), versus the glycine (263.9+/-5.5) and control (272.1+/-5.6) groups. All three treatment modalities downregulated phagocytic activity for latex particles, paralleled by reduced microvascular injury (acinar perfusion index, GdCl3: 0.75+/-0.03; MP: 0.83+/-.03; glycine: 0.84+/-0.03; 0.63+/-0.03). Quantitative RT-PCR revealed elevated myeloperoxidase mRNA after glycine versus GdCl3 and MP pretreatment (3.2- and 3.4-fold, P=0.011, respectively), without difference to controls (2.9-fold of glycine). TNFalpha-mRNA was reduced after glycine- (5.2-fold), GdCl3- (19.7-fold), MP-treatment (39.5-fold) compared with controls. However, profound prevention of intrahepatic cell death and liver graft failure was solely achieved with glycine preconditioning. Different than GdCl3 and MP, glycine modulates rather than destroys KCs. Glycine appears to preserve cell viability and to TNFalpha/leukocyte dependent organ regeneration capacity, which is related to increase graft survival following liver transplantation.