Acetylcholine-producing T cells in the intestine regulate antimicrobial peptide expression and microbial diversity
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Dhawan, Shobhit; De Palma, Giada; Willemze, Rose A.; Hilbers, Francisca W.; Verseijden, Caroline; Luyer, Misha D.; Nuding, Sabine; Wehkamp, Jan; Souwer, Yuri; de Jong, Esther C.; Seppen, J.; van den Wijngaard, Rene M.; Wehner, Sven; Verdu, Elena; Bercik, Premek; de Jonge, Wouter J.
Abstract
The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway reduces systemic tumor necrosis factor (TNF) via acetylcholine-producing memory T cells in the spleen. These choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-expressing T cells are also found in the intestine, where their function is unclear. We aimed to characterize these cells in mouse and human intestine and delineate their function. We made use of the ChAT-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter mice. CD4(Cre) mice were crossed to ChAT(fl/fl) mice to achieve specific deletion of ChAT in CD4(+) T cells. We observed that the majority of ChAT-expressing T cells in the human and mouse intestine have characteristics of Th17 cells and coexpress IL17A, IL22, and RORC. The generation of ChAT-expressing T cells was skewed by dendritic cells after activation of their adrenergic receptor beta(2). To evaluate ChAT T cell function, we generated CD4-specific ChAT-deficient mice. CD4ChAT(-/-) mice showed a reduced level of epithelial antimicrobial peptides lysozyme, defensin A, and ang4, which was associated with an enhanced bacterial diversity and richness in the small intestinal lumen in CD4ChAT(-/-) mice. We conclude that ChAT-expressing T cells in the gut are stimulated by adrenergic receptor activation on dendritic cells. ChAT-expressing T cells may function to mediate the host AMP secretion, microbial growth and expansion.
Investigating expression pattern of eight immune-related genes in pemphigus patients compared with the healthy controls and after rituximab therapy: Potential roles of CTLA4 and FCGR3A genes expression in outcomes of rituximab therapy
DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY
Authors: Tavakolpour, Soheil; Mahmoudi, Hamidreza; Karami, Fatemeh; Behjati, Somayeh Elikaei; Balighi, Kamran; Abbasi, Maryam; Farid, Ali Salehi; Masoudi, Jamileh; Balali, Mansour; Daneshpazhooh, Maryam; Modarressi, Mohammad Hossein
Abstract
Pemphigus is a rare group of autoimmune diseases, which its exact molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic biomarkers remained unknown. In this regard the expressions of eight immune-related genes was evalualted in pemphigus patients. Forty-six pemphigus patients, either new case or on minimal therapy, were recruited. The expressions of IL22, IL9, IL21, EBI3, TNFSF13B, FCGR3A, CTLA4, and PDCD1 genes were analyzed at baseline, compared with 32 healthy controls, and their changes were monitored 3 months after rituximab (RTX) therapy through Reverse Transcriptase Real-time PCR (RT-Real-time PCR). Except of IL21, which was similar in both groups, expressions of other genes were significantly lower in patients compared with the controls (P-value <.05). PDCD1, EBI3, IL21, and IL22 genes were significantly overexpressed three months following RTX administration (P-value <.05). Higher prednisolone dosage and PDAI-score were positively correlated with CTLA4 and FCGR3A expressions after 3 months, respectively (P-value = .019 and .048, respectively). Anti-desmoglein 1 (Dsg 1) titer and its positivity at baseline were associated with TNFSF13B expression, FCGR3A expressions, and the PDAI-score. Our results suggest the possible involvement of some gene expressions in pemphigus immunopathogenesis, which could be affected by RTX therapy and also might be used as prognostic biomarkers.
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