Transcriptomic analysis of vitamin D responses in uterine and peripheral NK cells.

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in pregnant women and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, in particular disorders of malplacentation. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), is a potent regulator of innate and adaptive immunity, but its immune effects during pregnancy remain poorly understood. During early gestation, the predominant immune cells in maternal decidua are uterine natural killer cells (uNK), but the responsivity of these cells to 1,25(OH)2D3 is unknown despite high levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 in decidua. Transcriptomic responses to 1,25(OH)2D3 were characterised in paired donor uNK and peripheral natural killer cells (pNK) following cytokine (CK) stimulation. RNA-seq analyses indicated 911 genes were differentially expressed in CK-stimulated uNK versus CK-stimulated pNK in the absence of 1,25(OH)2D3, with predominant differentially expressed pathways being associated with glycolysis and transforming growth factor ß (TGFß). RNA-seq also showed that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and its heterodimer partner retinoid X receptor were differentially expressed in CK-stimulated uNK vs CK-stimulated pNK. Further analyses confirmed increased expression of VDR mRNA and protein, as well as VDR-RXR target in CK-stimulated uNK. RNA-seq analysis showed that in CK-stimulated pNK, 1,25(OH)2D3 induced 38 and suppressed 33 transcripts, whilst in CK-stimulated uNK 1,25(OH)2D3 induced 46 and suppressed 19 genes. However, multiple comparison analysis of transcriptomic data indicated that 1,25(OH)2D3 had no significant overall effect on gene expression in either CK-stimulated pNK or uNK. These data indicate that CK-stimulated uNK are transcriptionally distinct from pNK and, despite expressing abundant VDR, neither pNK nor uNK are sensitive targets for vitamin D.

Low-dose interleukin-2 promotes STAT-5 phosphorylation, Treg survival and CTLA-4-dependent function in autoimmune liver diseases.

CD4+ CD25high CD127low forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+ ) regulatory T cells (Treg ) are essential for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Impaired Treg function and an imbalance between effector and Tregs contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We reported recently that the hepatic microenvironment is deficient in interleukin (IL)-2, a cytokine essential for Treg survival and function. Consequently, few liver-infiltrating Treg demonstrate signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (STAT-5) phosphorylation. To establish the potential of IL-2 to enhance Treg therapy, we investigated the effects of very low dose Proleukin (VLDP) on the phosphorylation of STAT-5 and the subsequent survival and function of Treg and T effector cells from the blood and livers of patients with autoimmune liver diseases. VLDP, at less than 5 IU/ml, resulted in selective phosphorylation of STAT-5 in Treg but not effector T cells or natural killer cells and associated with increased expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), FoxP3 and CD25 and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in Treg with the greatest enhancement of regulatory phenotype in the effector memory Treg population. VLDP also maintained expression of the liver-homing chemokine receptor CXCR3. VLDP enhanced Treg function in a CTLA-4-dependent manner. These findings open new avenues for future VLDP cytokine therapy alone or in combination with clinical grade Treg in autoimmune liver diseases, as VLDP could not only enhance regulatory phenotype and functional property but also the survival of intrahepatic Treg .

Dysregulation of maternal and placental vitamin D metabolism in preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiology has linked preeclampsia (PET) to decreased maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3). However, alterations in systemic and placental/decidual transport and metabolism of 25(OH)D3 during pregnancy suggest that other forms of vitamin D may also contribute to the pathophysiology of PET. METHODS: In a cross sectional analysis of normal pregnant women at 1st (n = 25) and 3rd trimester (n = 21), pregnant women with PET (n = 22), and non-pregnant female controls (n = 20) vitamin D metabolites were quantified in paired maternal serum, placental, and decidual tissue. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D3 was not significantly different in sera across all four groups. In normal 3rd trimester pregnant women serum active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) was significantly higher than non-pregnant, normal 1st trimester pregnant, and PET women. Conversely, PET sera showed highest levels of the catabolites 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25(OH)2D3). Serum albumin was significantly lower in normal 3rd trimester pregnant women and PET relative to normal 1st trimester pregnant women, but there was no change in free/bioavailable 25(OH)D3. In PET placental tissue, 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 were lower than normal 3rd trimester tissue, whilst placental 24,25(OH)2D3 was highest in PET. Tissue 1,25(OH)2D3 was detectable in 1st trimester decidua, which also showed 10-fold higher 25(OH)D3 relative to paired placentae. 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 were not different for decidua and placenta. In normal 3rd trimester pregnant women, total, free and bioavailable maternal 25(OH)D3 correlated with placental 25(OH)D3, but this was not conserved for PET. DISCUSSION: These data indicate that PET is associated with decreased activation, increased catabolism, and impaired placental uptake of 25(OH)D3.

Understanding the CD28/CTLA-4 (CD152) pathway and its implications for costimulatory blockade.

T cell activation is a key event in the adaptive immune system and vital in the generation of protective cellular and humoral immunity. Activation is required to generate CD4 effector T cell responses and provide help for B cell and cytotoxic T cell responses. While defective T responses to foreign antigen result in infectious pathology, over-reactive T cell responses against self-antigens result in autoimmunity and, in a transplantation setting, tissue rejection. Understanding how T cell activation is normally regulated is critical to therapeutic intervention and the CD28/CTLA-4 (CD152) pathway represents the initial activation checkpoint in molecular terms. In particular, while the CTLA-4 pathway is well established as an essential regulator of self-reactivity, its mechanism of action is still uncertain. Such mechanistic issues are important given its central position in T cell activation and the increasing number of therapeutic modalities aimed at manipulating the CD28/CTLA-4 pathway. Here, we provide an updated view of CTLA-4 biology, reviewing the established features of the system and highlighting its interplay with CD28. We then discuss how recent progress in our understanding of this pathway affects our interpretations following intervention.