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Inflammasomes are sensors that detect cytosolic microbial molecules or cellular damage, and in response they initiate a form of lytic regulated cell death called pyroptosis. Inflammasomes signal via homotypic protein-protein interactions where CARD or PYD domains are crucial for recruiting downstream partners. Here, we screened these domains from NLR family proteins, and found that the PYD domain of NLRP6 and NLRP12 could activate caspase-1 to induce cleavage of IL-1β and GSDMD. Inflammasome reconstitution verified that full length NLRP6 and NLRP12 formed inflammasomes in vitro , and NLRP6 was more prone to auto-activation. NLRP6 was highly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), but not in immune cells. Molecular phylogeny analysis found that NLRP12 was closely related to NLRP3, but the activation mechanisms are different. NLRP3 was highly expressed in monocytes and macrophages, and was modestly but appreciably expressed in neutrophils. In contrast, NLRP12 was specifically expressed in neutrophils and eosinophils, but was not detectable in macrophages. NLRP12 mutations cause a periodic fever syndrome called NLRP12 autoinflammatory disease. We found that several of these patient mutations caused spontaneous activation of caspase-1 in vitro , which likely causes their autoinflammatory disease. Different cell types have unique cellular physiology and structures which could be perturbed by a pathogen, necessitating expression of distinct inflammasome sensors to monitor for signs of infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wei, Billman, Nozaki, Goodridge and Miao.)

Microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, maintain brain homeostasis and respond to injury and infection. During aging they undergo functional changes, but the underlying mechanisms and their contributions to neuroprotection versus neurodegeneration are unclear. Previous studies suggested that microglia are sex dimorphic, so we compared microglial aging in mice of both sexes. RNA-sequencing of hippocampal microglia revealed more aging-associated changes in female microglia than male microglia, and more sex differences in old microglia than young microglia. Pathway analyses and subsequent validation assays revealed a stronger AKT-mTOR-HIF1α-driven shift to glycolysis among old female microglia and indicated that C3a production and detection was elevated in old microglia, especially in females. Recombinant C3a induced AKT-mTOR-HIF1α signaling and increased the glycolytic and phagocytic activity of young microglia. Single cell analyses attributed the aging-associated sex dimorphism to more abundant disease-associated microglia (DAM) in old female mice than old male mice, and evaluation of an Alzheimer's Disease mouse model revealed that the metabolic and complement changes are also apparent in the context of neurodegenerative disease and are strongest in the neuroprotective DAM2 subset. Collectively, our data implicate autocrine C3a-C3aR signaling in metabolic reprogramming of microglia to neuroprotective DAM during aging, especially in females, and also in Alzheimer's Disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The processes that govern human haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and engraftment are poorly understood and challenging to recapitulate in culture to reliably expand functional HSCs 1-3 . Here we identify MYC target 1 (MYCT1; also known as MTLC) as a crucial human HSC regulator that moderates endocytosis and environmental sensing in HSCs. MYCT1 is selectively expressed in undifferentiated human haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and endothelial cells but becomes markedly downregulated during HSC culture. Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of MYCT1 prevented human fetal liver and cord blood (CB) HSPC expansion and engraftment. By contrast, restoring MYCT1 expression improved the expansion and engraftment of cultured CB HSPCs. Single-cell RNA sequencing of human CB HSPCs in which MYCT1 was knocked down or overexpressed revealed that MYCT1 governs important regulatory programmes and cellular properties essential for HSC stemness, such as ETS factor expression and low mitochondrial activity. MYCT1 is localized in the endosomal membrane in HSPCs and interacts with vesicle trafficking regulators and signalling machinery. MYCT1 loss in HSPCs led to excessive endocytosis and hyperactive signalling responses, whereas restoring MYCT1 expression balanced culture-induced endocytosis and dysregulated signalling. Moreover, sorting cultured CB HSPCs on the basis of lowest endocytosis rate identified HSPCs with preserved MYCT1 expression and MYCT1-regulated HSC stemness programmes. Our work identifies MYCT1-moderated endocytosis and environmental sensing as essential regulatory mechanisms required to preserve human HSC stemness. Our data also pinpoint silencing of MYCT1 as a cell-culture-induced vulnerability that compromises human HSC expansion., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Endometriosis is a common condition in women that causes chronic pain and infertility and is associated with an elevated risk of ovarian cancer. We profiled transcriptomes of >370,000 individual cells from endometriomas (n = 8), endometriosis (n = 28), eutopic endometrium (n = 10), unaffected ovary (n = 4) and endometriosis-free peritoneum (n = 4), generating a cellular atlas of endometrial-type epithelial cells, stromal cells and microenvironmental cell populations across tissue sites. Cellular and molecular signatures of endometrial-type epithelium and stroma differed across tissue types, suggesting a role for cellular restructuring and transcriptional reprogramming in the disease. Epithelium, stroma and proximal mesothelial cells of endometriomas showed dysregulation of pro-inflammatory pathways and upregulation of complement proteins. Somatic ARID1A mutation in epithelial cells was associated with upregulation of pro-angiogenic and pro-lymphangiogenic factors and remodeling of the endothelial cell compartment, with enrichment of lymphatic endothelial cells. Finally, signatures of ciliated epithelial cells were enriched in ovarian cancers, reinforcing epidemiologic associations between these two diseases., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Exonic circular RNAs (circRNAs) produce predominantly non-coding RNA species that have been recently profiled in many tumors. However, their functional contribution to cancer progression is still poorly understood. Here, we identify the circRNAs expressed in soft tissue sarcoma cells and explore how the circRNAs regulate sarcoma growth in vivo. We show that circCsnk1g3 and circAnkib1 promote tumor growth by shaping a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment, possibly due to their capabilities to regulate tumor-promoting elements extrinsic to the tumor cells. Accordingly, circCsnk1g3 and circAnkib1 can control the expression of interferon-related genes and pro-inflammatory factors in the sarcoma cells, thus directing immune cell recruitment into the tumor mass, and hence their activation. Mechanistically, circRNAs may repress pro-inflammatory elements by buffering activation of the pathways mediated by RIG-I, the cytosolic viral RNA sensor. The current findings suggest that the targeting of specific circRNAs could augment the efficacy of tumor and immune response to mainstay therapies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have unquestionably blunted the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but host factors such as age, sex, obesity, and other co-morbidities can affect vaccine efficacy. We identified individuals in a relatively healthy population of healthcare workers (CORALE study cohort) who had unexpectedly low peak anti-spike receptor binding domain (S-RBD) antibody levels after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine. Compared to matched controls, "low responders" had fewer spike-specific antibody-producing B cells after the second and third/booster doses. Moreover, their spike-specific T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire had less depth and their CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses to spike peptide stimulation were less robust. Single cell transcriptomic evaluation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed activation of aging pathways in low responder B and CD4 + T cells that could underlie their attenuated anti-S-RBD antibody production. Premature lymphocyte aging may therefore contribute to a less effective humoral response and could reduce vaccination efficacy., Competing Interests: Authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Aging is associated with increased monocyte production and altered monocyte function. Classical monocytes are heterogenous and a shift in their subset composition may underlie some of their apparent functional changes during aging. We have previously shown that mouse granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) produce "neutrophil-like" monocytes (NeuMo), whereas monocyte-dendritic cell progenitors (MDPs) produce monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC)-producing monocytes (DCMo). Here, we demonstrate that classical monocytes from the bone marrow of old male and female mice have higher expression of DCMo signature genes (H2-Aa, H2-Ab1, H2-Eb1, Cd74), and that more classical monocytes express MHCII and CD74 protein. Moreover, we show that bone marrow MDPs and classical monocytes from old mice yield more moDC. We also demonstrate higher expression of Aw112010 in old monocytes and that Aw112010 lncRNA activity regulates MHCII induction in macrophages, which suggests that elevated Aw112010 levels may underlie increased MHCII expression during monocyte aging. Finally, we show that classical monocyte expression of MHCII is also elevated during healthy aging in humans. Thus, aging-associated changes in monocyte production may underlie altered monocyte function and have implications for aging-associated disorders., (© 2022 The Authors. Aging Cell published by Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose of Review: Myeloid cells - granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) - are innate immune cells that play key roles in pathogen defense and inflammation, as well as in tissue homeostasis and repair. Over the past 5 years, in part due to more widespread use of single cell omics technologies, it has become evident that these cell types are significantly more heterogeneous than was previously appreciated. In this review, we consider recent studies that have demonstrated heterogeneity among neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages and DCs in mice and humans. We also discuss studies that have revealed the sources of their heterogeneity., Recent Findings: Recent studies have confirmed that ontogeny is a key determinant of diversity, with specific subsets of myeloid cells arising from distinct progenitors. However, diverse microenvironmental cues also strongly influence myeloid fate and function. Accumulating evidence therefore suggests that a combination of these mechanisms underlies myeloid cell diversity., Summary: Consideration of the heterogeneity of myeloid cells is critical for understanding their diverse activities, such as the role of macrophages in tissue damage versus repair, or tumor growth versus elimination. Insights into these mechanisms are informing the design of novel therapeutic approaches., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The intestinal immune system and microbiota are emerging as important contributors to the development of metabolic syndrome, but the role of intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) in this context is incompletely understood. BATF3 is a transcription factor essential in the development of mucosal conventional DCs type 1 (cDC1). We show that Batf3 -/- mice developed metabolic syndrome and have altered localization of tight junction proteins in intestinal epithelial cells leading to increased intestinal permeability. Treatment with the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose reduced intestinal inflammation and restored barrier function in obese Batf3 -/- mice. High-fat diet further enhanced the metabolic phenotype and susceptibility to dextran sulfate sodium colitis in Batf3 -/- mice. Antibiotic treatment of Batf3 -/- mice prevented metabolic syndrome and impaired intestinal barrier function. Batf3 -/- mice have altered IgA-coating of fecal bacteria and displayed microbial dysbiosis marked by decreased obesity protective Akkermansia muciniphila , and Bifidobacterium . Thus, BATF3 protects against metabolic syndrome and preserves intestinal epithelial barrier by maintaining beneficial microbiota., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hamade, Stamps, Stamps, More, Thomas, Blackwood, Lahcene, Castanon, Salumbides, Shimodaira, Goodridge, Targan and Michelsen.)

The standard of care is unsuccessful to treat recurrent and aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas. Interventions aimed at targeting components of the tumor microenvironment have shown promise for many solid tumors yet have been only marginally tested for sarcoma, partly because knowledge of the sarcoma microenvironment composition is limited. We employ single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize the immune composition of an undifferentiated pleiomorphic sarcoma mouse model, showing that macrophages in the sarcoma mass exhibit distinct activation states. Sarcoma cells use the pleiotropic cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) to interact with macrophages expressing the CD74 receptor to switch macrophages' activation state and pro-tumorigenic potential. Blocking the expression of MIF in sarcoma cells favors the accumulation of macrophages with inflammatory and antigen-presenting profiles, hence reducing tumor growth. These data may pave the way for testing new therapies aimed at re-shaping the sarcoma microenvironment, in combination with the standard of care., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Neutrophils are the first responders to infection and inflammation and are thus a critical component of innate immune defense. Understanding the behavior of neutrophils as they act within various inflammatory contexts has provided insights into their role in sterile and infectious diseases; however, the field of neutrophils in cancer is comparatively young. Here, we summarize key concepts and current knowledge gaps related to the diverse roles of neutrophils throughout cancer progression. We discuss sources of neutrophil heterogeneity in cancer and provide recommendations on nomenclature for neutrophil states that are distinct in maturation and activation. We address discrepancies in the literature that highlight a need for technical standards that ought to be considered between laboratories. Finally, we review emerging questions in neutrophil biology and innate immunity in cancer. Overall, we emphasize that neutrophils are a more diverse population than previously appreciated and that their role in cancer may present novel unexplored opportunities to treat cancer., (© 2022 Quail et al.)

Objectives: We sought to understand the demographic and clinical factors associated with variations in longitudinal antibody response following completion of two-dose regiment of BNT162b2 vaccination., Design: This study is a 10-month longitudinal cohort study of healthcare workers and serially measured anti-spike protein IgG (IgG-S) antibody levels using mixed linear models to examine their associations with participant characteristics., Setting: A large, multisite academic medical centre in Southern California, USA., Participants: A total of 843 healthcare workers met inclusion criteria including completion of an initial two-dose course of BNT162b2 vaccination, complete clinical history and at least two blood samples for analysis. Patients had an average age of 45±13 years, were 70% female and 7% with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection., Results: Vaccine-induced IgG-S levels remained in the positive range for 99.6% of individuals up to 10 months after initial two-dose vaccination. Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection was the primary correlate of sustained higher postvaccination IgG-S levels (partial R 2 =0.133), with a 1.74±0.11 SD higher IgG-S response (p<0.001). Female sex (beta 0.27±0.06, p<0.001), younger age (0.01±0.00, p<0.001) and absence of hypertension (0.17±0.08, p=0.003) were also associated with persistently higher IgG-S responses. Notably, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection augmented the associations of sex (-0.42 for male sex, p=0.08) and modified the associations of hypertension (1.17, p=0.001), such that infection-naïve individuals with hypertension had persistently lower IgG-S levels whereas prior infected individuals with hypertension exhibited higher IgG-S levels that remained augmented over time., Conclusions: While the IgG-S antibody response remains in the positive range for up to 10 months following initial mRNA vaccination in most adults, determinants of sustained higher antibody levels include prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, female sex, younger age and absence of hypertension. Certain determinants of the longitudinal antibody response appear significantly modified by prior infection status. These findings offer insights regarding factors that may influence the 'hybrid' immunity conferred by natural infection combined with vaccination., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JCP, ECF and JLS work for Abbott Diagnostics, a company that performed the serological assays on the biospecimens that were collected for this study., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Balanced production of immune cells is critical for the maintenance of steady-state immune surveillance, and increased production of myeloid cells is sometimes necessary to eliminate pathogens. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) sensing of commensal microbes and invading pathogens has a notable impact on hematopoiesis. In this review, we examine how commensal microbes regulate bone marrow HSPC activity to maintain balanced hematopoiesis in the steady state, and how HSPCs proliferate and differentiate during emergency myelopoiesis in response to infection. HSPCs express a variety of pattern recognition receptors and cytokine receptors that they use to sense the presence of microbes, either directly via detection of microbial components and metabolites, or indirectly by responding to cytokines produced by other host cells. We describe direct and indirect mechanisms of microbial sensing by HSPCs and highlight evidence demonstrating long-term effects of acute and chronic microbial stimuli on HSPCs. We also discuss a possible connection between myeloid-biased hematopoiesis and elevated levels of circulating microbiome-derived components in the context of aging and metabolic stress. Finally, we highlight the prospect of trained immunity-based vaccines that could exploit microbial stimulation of HSPCs., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Liver-resident macrophages Kupffer cells (KCs) and infiltrating Ly6C hi monocytes both contribute to liver tissue regeneration in various pathologies but also to disease progression upon disruption of orderly consecutive regeneration cascades. Little is known about molecular pathways that regulate their differentiation, maintenance, or inflammatory behavior during injury. Here, we show that copper metabolism MURR1 domain (COMMD)10-deficient KCs adopt liver-specific identity. Strikingly, COMMD10 deficiency in KCs and in other tissue-resident macrophages impedes their homeostatic survival, leading to their continuous replacement by Ly6C hi monocytes. While COMMD10 deficiency in KCs mildly worsens acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI), its deficiency in Ly6C hi monocytes results in exacerbated and sustained hepatic damage. Monocytes display unleashed inflammasome activation and a reduced type I interferon response and acquire "neutrophil-like" and lipid-associated macrophage differentiation fates. Collectively, COMMD10 appears indispensable for KC and other tissue-resident macrophage survival and is an important regulator of Ly6C hi monocyte fate decisions and reparative behavior in the diseased liver., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) allows in-depth assessment of transcriptional changes in immune cells of patients with COVID-19. However, collecting, processing, and analyzing samples from patients with COVID-19 pose many challenges because blood samples may contain infectious virus, identification of immune cell subtypes can be difficult, and biological interpretation of analytical results is complex. To address these issues, we describe a protocol for sample processing, sorting, methanol fixation, and scRNA-seq analysis of PBMCs from frozen buffy coat samples from patients with COVID-19. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to (Yao et al., 2021)., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Recent studies have demonstrated immunologic dysfunction in severely ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy (n = 3) and COVID-19 patients with moderate disease (n = 5), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS, n = 6), or recovering from ARDS (n = 6). Our data reveal transcriptomic profiles indicative of defective antigen presentation and interferon (IFN) responsiveness in monocytes from ARDS patients, which contrasts with higher responsiveness to IFN signaling in lymphocytes. Furthermore, genes involved in cytotoxic activity are suppressed in both natural killer (NK) and CD8 T lymphocytes, and B cell activation is deficient, which is consistent with delayed viral clearance in severely ill COVID-19 patients. Our study demonstrates that COVID-19 patients with ARDS have a state of immune imbalance in which dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses may be contributing to a more severe disease course., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disorder with immune alterations that augment disease severity. M2 macrophages benefit diabetic and nephrotic mice by suppressing the pro-inflammatory state. However, neither have M2 cells been investigated in ALS nor have human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived M2 cells been thoroughly studied for immunosuppressive potentials. Here, iPSCs of C9orf72 mutated or sporadic ALS patients were differentiated into M2 macrophages, which suppressed activation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages as well as proliferation of ALS CD4 + CD25 - Tc (Teffs). M2 cells converted ALS Teffs into CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) and rescued Tregs of ALS patients from losing CD25 and Foxp3. Furthermore, Tregs induced or rescued by iPSC-derived M2 had strong suppressive functions. ALS iPSC-derived M2 cells including those with C9orf72 mutation had similar immunomodulatory activity as control iPSC-derived M2 cells. This study demonstrates that M2 cells differentiated from iPSCs of ALS patients are immunosuppressive, boost ALS Tregs, and may serve as a candidate for immune-cell-based therapy to mitigate inflammation in ALS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Microbial recognition by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) not only activates myelopoiesis but also programs the function of the monocytes and macrophages they produce. For instance, changes in HSPC programming modify the ability of macrophages derived from them to produce inflammatory cytokines. While HSPCs exposed to a TLR2 agonist give rise to tolerized macrophages (lower proinflammatory cytokine production), HSPCs treated with Dectin-1 ligands produce trained macrophages (higher proinflammatory cytokine production). However, nothing is known about the impact of HSPC exposure to microbes on the function of antigen presenting cells (APCs). In this study we evaluated whether treatment of murine bone marrow HSPCs with a TLR2 or Dectin-1 ligand impacts the antigen presenting capacity of APCs derived from them in vitro. Following activation with microbial ligands or Candida albicans yeasts, APCs derived from TLR2/Dectin-1-programed HSPCs exhibit altered expression of MHCII (signal 1), co-stimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80 and CD86; signal 2) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12 p40 and IL-2; signal 3). Moreover, APCs derived from TLR2/Dectin-1-programed HSPCs prime enhanced Th1 and Th17 responses, which are important for antifungal defense, in CD4 T cell cocultures. Overall, these results demonstrate for the first time that microbial detection by bone marrow HSPCs can modulate the adaptive immune response by inducing the production of APCs with an altered phenotype.

Classical and non-classical monocytes, and the macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells they produce, play key roles in host defense against pathogens, immune regulation, tissue repair and many other processes throughout the body. Recent studies have revealed previously unappreciated heterogeneity among monocytes that may explain this functional diversity, but our understanding of mechanisms controlling the functional programming of distinct monocyte subsets remains incomplete. Resolving monocyte heterogeneity and understanding how their functional identity is determined holds great promise for therapeutic immune modulation. In this review, we examine how monocyte origins and developmental influences shape the phenotypic and functional characteristics of monocyte subsets during homeostasis and in the context of infection, inflammation, and cancer. We consider how extrinsic signals and transcriptional regulators impact monocyte production and functional programming, as well as the influence of epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms. We also examine the evidence that functionally distinct monocyte subsets are produced via different developmental pathways during homeostasis and that inflammatory stimuli differentially target progenitors during an emergency response. We highlight the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between monocyte ontogeny and heterogeneity, including multiparametric single-cell profiling and functional analyses. Studies defining mechanisms of monocyte subset production and maintenance of unique monocyte identities have the potential to facilitate the design of therapeutic interventions to target specific monocyte subsets in a variety of disease contexts, including infectious and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and aging.

Objective: Aging is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes. However, it remains unclear whether aging-associated insulin resistance is due to increased adiposity or other age-related factors. To address this question, the impact of aging on insulin sensitivity was investigated independently of changes in body composition., Methods: Cohorts of mice aged 4 to 8 months ("young") and 18 to 27 months ("aged") exhibiting similar body composition were characterized for glucose metabolism on chow and high-fat diets. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp analyses. The relationship between aging and insulin resistance in humans was investigated in 1,250 nondiabetic Mexican Americans who underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps., Results: In mice with similar body composition, age had no detrimental effect on plasma glucose and insulin levels. While aging did not diminish glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps demonstrated impaired insulin sensitivity and reduced insulin clearance in aged mice on chow and high-fat diets. Consistent with results in the mouse, age remained an independent determinant of insulin resistance after adjustment for body composition in Mexican American males., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that in addition to altered body composition, adiposity-independent mechanisms also contribute to aging-associated insulin resistance in mice and humans., (© 2019 The Obesity Society.)

Restoration of cognitive function in old mice by transfer of blood or plasma from young mice has been attributed to reduced C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) and β2-microglobulin, which are thought to suppress neurogenesis in the aging brain. However, the specific role of the hematopoietic system in this rejuvenation has not been defined and the importance of neurogenesis in old mice is unclear. Here we report that transplantation of young bone marrow to rejuvenate the hematopoietic system preserved cognitive function in old recipient mice, despite irradiation-induced suppression of neurogenesis, and without reducing β2-microglobulin. Instead, young bone marrow transplantation preserved synaptic connections and reduced microglial activation in the hippocampus. Circulating CCL11 levels were lower in young bone marrow recipients, and CCL11 administration in young mice had the opposite effect, reducing synapses and increasing microglial activation. In conclusion, young blood or bone marrow may represent a future therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

An array of phenotypically diverse myeloid cells and macrophages (MC&M) resides in the tumor microenvironment, requiring multiplexed detection systems for visualization. Here we report an automated, multiplexed staining approach, named PLEXODY, that consists of five MC&M-related fluorescently-tagged antibodies (anti - CD68, - CD163, - CD206, - CD11b, and - CD11c), and three chromogenic antibodies, reactive with high- and low-molecular weight cytokeratins and CD3, highlighting tumor regions, benign glands and T cells. The staining prototype and image analysis methods which include a pixel/area-based quantification were developed using tissues from inflamed colon and tonsil and revealed a unique tissue-specific composition of 14 MC&M-associated pixel classes. As a proof-of-principle, PLEXODY was applied to three cases of pancreatic, prostate and renal cancers. Across digital images from these cancer types we observed 10 MC&M-associated pixel classes at frequencies greater than 3%. Cases revealed higher frequencies of single positive compared to multi-color pixels and a high abundance of CD68+/CD163+ and CD68+/CD163+/CD206+ pixels. Significantly more CD68+ and CD163+ vs. CD11b+ and CD11c+ pixels were in direct contact with tumor cells and T cells. While the greatest percentage (~70%) of CD68+ and CD163+ pixels was 0-20 microns away from tumor and T cell borders, CD11b+ and CD11c+ pixels were detected up to 240 microns away from tumor/T cell masks. Together, these data demonstrate significant differences in densities and spatial organization of MC&M-associated pixel classes, but surprising similarities between the three cancer types.

Preservation of mitochondrial function, which is dependent on mitochondrial homeostasis (biogenesis, dynamics, disposal/recycling), is critical for maintenance of skeletal muscle function. Skeletal muscle performance declines upon aging (sarcopenia) and is accompanied by decreased mitochondrial function in fast-glycolytic muscles. Oxidative metabolism promotes mitochondrial homeostasis, so we investigated whether mitochondrial function is preserved in oxidative muscles. We compared tibialis anterior (predominantly glycolytic) and soleus (oxidative) muscles from young (3 mo) and old (28-29 mo) C57BL/6J mice. Throughout life, the soleus remained more oxidative than the tibialis anterior and expressed higher levels of markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, fission/fusion and autophagy. The respiratory capacity of mitochondria isolated from the tibialis anterior, but not the soleus, declined upon aging. The soleus and tibialis anterior exhibited similar aging-associated changes in mitochondrial biogenesis, fission/fusion, disposal and autophagy marker expression, but opposite changes in fiber composition: the most oxidative fibers declined in the tibialis anterior, while the more glycolytic fibers declined in the soleus. In conclusion, oxidative muscles are protected from mitochondrial aging, probably due to better mitochondrial homeostasis ab initio and aging-associated changes in fiber composition. Exercise training aimed at enriching oxidative fibers may be valuable in preventing mitochondria-related aging and its contribution to sarcopenia.

Myeloid progenitors that yield neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) can be identified in and isolated from the bone marrow of mice for hematological and immunological analyses. For example, studies of the cellular and molecular properties of myeloid progenitor populations can reveal mechanisms underlying leukemic transformation, or demonstrate how the immune system responds to pathogen exposure. Previously described flow cytometry strategies for myeloid progenitor identification have enabled significant advances in many fields, but the fractions they identify are very heterogeneous. The most commonly used gating strategies define bone marrow fractions that are enriched for the desired populations, but also contain large numbers of "contaminating" progenitors. Our recent studies have resolved much of this heterogeneity, and the protocol we present here permits the isolation of 6 subpopulations of oligopotent and lineage-committed myeloid progenitors from 2 previously described bone marrow fractions. The protocol describes 3 stages: 1) isolation of bone marrow cells, 2) enrichment for hematopoietic progenitors by magnetic-activated cell sorting (lineage depletion by MACS), and 3) identification of myeloid progenitor subsets by flow cytometry (including fluorescence-activated cell sorting, FACS, if desired). This approach permits progenitor quantification and isolation for a variety of in vitro and in vivo applications, and has already yielded novel insight into pathways and mechanisms of neutrophil, monocyte, and DC differentiation.

Mast cells have been thought to derive from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. In this issue of Immunity, Gentek et al. (2018) reveal that mast cells have dual developmental origins in primitive and definitive hematopoiesis and that adult mast cell maintenance is largely bone marrow independent., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The ability of macrophages to respond to chemoattractants and inflammatory signals is important for their migration to sites of inflammation and immune activity and for host responses to infection. Macrophages differentiated from the bone marrow (BM) of UV-irradiated mice, even after activation with LPS, migrated inefficiently toward CSF-1 and CCL2. When BM cells were harvested from UV-irradiated mice and transplanted into naive mice, the recipient mice (UV-chimeric) had reduced accumulation of elicited monocytes/macrophages in the peritoneal cavity in response to inflammatory thioglycollate or alum. Macrophages differentiating from the BM of UV-chimeric mice also had an inherent reduced ability to migrate toward chemoattractants in vitro, even after LPS activation. Microarray analysis identified reduced reticulon-1 mRNA expressed in macrophages differentiated from the BM of UV-chimeric mice. By using an anti-reticulon-1 Ab, a role for reticulon-1 in macrophage migration toward both CSF-1 and CCL2 was confirmed. Reticulon-1 subcellular localization to the periphery after exposure to CSF-1 for 2.5 min was shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. The proposal that reduced reticulon-1 is responsible for the poor inherent ability of macrophages to respond to chemokine gradients was supported by Western blotting. In summary, skin exposure to erythemal UV radiation can modulate macrophage progenitors in the BM such that their differentiated progeny respond inefficiently to signals to accumulate at sites of inflammation and immunity., (Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

Monocytes/macrophages differentiating from bone marrow (BM) cells pulsed for 2 hours at 37°C with a stabilized derivative of prostaglandin E 2 , 16,16-dimethyl PGE 2 (dmPGE 2 ), migrated less efficiently toward a chemoattractant than monocytes/macrophages differentiated from BM cells pulsed with vehicle. To confirm that the effect on BM cells was long lasting and to replicate human BM transplantation, chimeric mice were established with donor BM cells pulsed for 2 hours with dmPGE 2 before injection into marrow-ablated congenic recipient mice. After 12 weeks, when high levels (90%) of engraftment were obtained, regenerated BM-derived monocytes/macrophages differentiating in vitro or in vivo migrated inefficiently toward the chemokines colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) or thioglycollate, respectively. Our results reveal long-lasting changes to progenitor cells of monocytes/macrophages by a 2-hour dmPGE 2 pulse that, in turn, limits the migration of their daughter cells to chemoattractants and inflammatory mediators., (Copyright © 2017 ISEH – Society for Hematology and Stem Cells. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) and monocyte-dendritic cell progenitors (MDPs) produce monocytes during homeostasis and in response to increased demand during infection. Both progenitor populations are thought to derive from common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), and a hierarchical relationship (CMP-GMP-MDP-monocyte) is presumed to underlie monocyte differentiation. Here, however, we demonstrate that mouse MDPs arose from CMPs independently of GMPs, and that GMPs and MDPs produced monocytes via similar but distinct monocyte-committed progenitors. GMPs and MDPs yielded classical (Ly6C hi ) monocytes with gene expression signatures that were defined by their origins and impacted their function. GMPs produced a subset of "neutrophil-like" monocytes, whereas MDPs gave rise to a subset of monocytes that yielded monocyte-derived dendritic cells. GMPs and MDPs were also independently mobilized to produce specific combinations of myeloid cell types following the injection of microbial components. Thus, the balance of GMP and MDP differentiation shapes the myeloid cell repertoire during homeostasis and following infection., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A systemic immunosuppression follows UV irradiation of the skin of humans and mice. In this study, dendritic cells (DCs) differentiating from the bone marrow (BM) of UV-irradiated mice had a reduced ability to migrate toward the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21. Fewer DCs also accumulated in the peritoneal cavity of UV-chimeric mice (ie, mice transplanted with BM from UV-irradiated mice) after injection of an inflammatory stimulus into that site. We hypothesized that different metabolic states underpin altered DC motility. Compared with DCs from the BM of nonirradiated mice, those from UV-irradiated mice produced more lactate, consumed more glucose, and had greater glycolytic flux in a bioenergetics stress test. Greater expression of 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase was identified as a potential contributor to increased glycolysis. Inhibition of 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase by 6-chloro-dl-tryptophan prevented both increased lactate production and reduced migration toward chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 by DCs differentiated from BM of UV-irradiated mice. UV-induced prostaglandin E 2 has been implicated as an intermediary in the effects of UV radiation on BM cells. DCs differentiating from BM cells pulsed in vitro for 2 hours with dimethyl prostaglandin E 2 were functionally similar to those from the BM of UV-irradiated mice. Reduced migration of DCs to lymph nodes associated with increased glycolytic flux may contribute to their reduced ability to initiate new immune responses in UV-irradiated mice., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Type I IFNs are key mediators of immune defense against viruses and bacteria. Type I IFNs were also previously implicated in protection against fungal infection, but their roles in antifungal immunity have not been thoroughly investigated. A recent study demonstrated that bacterial and fungal β-glucans stimulate IFN-β production by dendritic cells (DCs) following detection by the Dectin-1 receptor, but the effects of β-glucan-induced type I IFNs have not been defined. We investigated whether type I IFNs regulate CD8 T cell activation by fungal β-glucan particle-stimulated DCs. We demonstrate that β-glucan-stimulated DCs induce CD8 T cell proliferation, activation marker (CD44 and CD69) expression, and production of IFN-γ, IL-2, and granzyme B. Moreover, we show that type I IFNs support robust CD8 T cell activation (proliferation and IFN-γ and granzyme B production) by β-glucan-stimulated DCs in vitro and in vivo due to autocrine effects on the DCs. Specifically, type I IFNs promote Ag presentation on MHC I molecules, CD86 and CD40 expression, and the production of IL-12 p70, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α by β-glucan-stimulated DCs. We also demonstrate a role for autocrine type I IFN signaling in bacterial LPS-induced DC maturation, although, in the context of LPS stimulation, this mechanism is not so critical for CD8 T cell activation (promotes IFN-γ production but not proliferation or granzyme B production). This study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying CD8 T cell activation during infection, which may be useful in the rational design of vaccines directed against pathogens and tumors., (Copyright © 2016 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

Clinical evidence strongly suggests that certain live vaccines, in particular bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and measles vaccines, can reduce all-cause mortality, most probably through protection against non-targeted pathogens in addition to the targeted pathogen. The underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. We discuss how heterologous lymphocyte activation and innate immune memory could promote protection beyond the intended target pathogen and consider how vaccinologists could leverage heterologous immunity to improve outcomes in vulnerable populations, in particular the very young and the elderly.

TLRs represent an attractive target for the stimulation of myeloid cell production by HSPCs. We have previously demonstrated that HSPCs use TLR2 to sense Candida albicans in vivo and induce the production of macrophages. In this work, we used an in vitro model of HSPCs differentiation to investigate the functional consequences for macrophages of exposure of HSPCs to various PAMPs and C. albicans cells. Mouse HSPCs (Lin(-) cells) were cultured with M-CSF to induce macrophage differentiation, in the presence or absence of the following PRR agonists: Pam3CSK4 (TLR2 ligand), LPS (TLR4 ligand), depleted zymosan (which only activates Dectin-1), or C. albicans yeasts (which activate several PRRs, but principally TLR2 and Dectin-1). Our data show that these PAMPs differentially impact the anti-microbial function of the macrophages produced by the exposed HSPCs. Pure TLR2 and TLR4 ligands generate macrophages with a diminished ability to produce inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, HSPCs activation in response to C. albicans leads to the generation of macrophages that are better prepared to deal with the infection, as they produce higher amounts of inflammatory cytokines and have higher fungicidal capacity than control macrophages. Therefore, the tailored manipulation of the differentiation process may help to boost the innate immune response to infection., (Copyright © 2016 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Expansions of a hexanucleotide repeat (GGGGCC) in the noncoding region of the C9orf72 gene are the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. Decreased expression of C9orf72 is seen in expansion carriers, suggesting that loss of function may play a role in disease. We found that two independent mouse lines lacking the C9orf72 ortholog (3110043O21Rik) in all tissues developed normally and aged without motor neuron disease. Instead, C9orf72 null mice developed progressive splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy with accumulation of engorged macrophage-like cells. C9orf72 expression was highest in myeloid cells, and the loss of C9orf72 led to lysosomal accumulation and altered immune responses in macrophages and microglia, with age-related neuroinflammation similar to C9orf72 ALS but not sporadic ALS human patient tissue. Thus, C9orf72 is required for the normal function of myeloid cells, and altered microglial function may contribute to neurodegeneration in C9orf72 expansion carriers., (Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)

Purpose of Review: Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is a transcription factor that plays central roles in the regulation of myeloid cell fate. In both mice and humans, IRF8 is required for the differentiation of most monocyte and dendritic cell subsets, but suppresses neutrophil production. IRF8 mutations can cause immunodeficiency, and the dysregulated differentiation that underlies myeloid leukemia has been attributed in part to reduced IRF8 expression. In this review we discuss recent studies that have revealed molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of myelopoiesis by IRF8, which cooperates with other transcription factors to control the initiation of gene expression programs that define the development of specific myeloid cell subsets., Recent Findings: It is now clear that IRF8 regulates cell fate choice by both promoting monocyte/dendritic cell differentiation and suppressing neutrophil differentiation. Recent studies have shown that it collaborates with PU.1 to promote monocyte gene expression (in part via induction of Krüppel-like factor-4), associates with Batf3 to induce CD8α conventional dendritic cell differentiation via autoregulation of its own expression, and restricts neutrophil gene expression by disrupting the binding of c/EBPα to target genes., Summary: These studies have emphasized the importance of IRF8 in the regulation of myelopoiesis and are revealing novel therapeutic targets.

Clustering of receptors associated with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) initiates the macrophage antimicrobial response. ITAM receptors engage Src-family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) to initiate phagocytosis and macrophage activation. Macrophages also encounter nonpathogenic molecules that cluster receptors weakly and must tune their sensitivity to avoid inappropriate responses. To investigate this response threshold, we compared signaling in the presence and absence of receptor clustering using a small-molecule inhibitor of Csk, which increased SFK activation and produced robust membrane-proximal signaling. Surprisingly, receptor-independent SFK activation led to a downstream signaling blockade associated with rapid degradation of the SFK LynA. Inflammatory priming of macrophages upregulated LynA and promoted receptor-independent signaling. In contrast, clustering the hemi-ITAM receptor Dectin-1 induced signaling that did not require LynA or inflammatory priming. Together, the basal-state signaling checkpoint regulated by LynA expression and degradation and the signaling reorganization initiated by receptor clustering allow cells to discriminate optimally between pathogens and nonpathogens.

Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is a key regulator of myelopoiesis in mice and humans. IRF8-deficient mice exhibit increased neutrophil numbers but defective monocyte and dendritic cell (DC) production. It has therefore been hypothesized that IRF8 regulates granulocyte vs monocyte/DC lineage commitment by oligopotent progenitors. Alternatively, IRF8 could control the differentiation of lineage-committed progenitors. In this study, we defined the role of IRF8 in lineage commitment and neutrophil vs monocyte differentiation using a novel sorting strategy that for the first time allows us to separate oligopotent granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) and their lineage-committed progeny: granulocyte progenitors (GPs) and monocyte progenitors (MPs). We show that IRF8 is highly expressed by both GPs and MPs, but not GMPs, and is not required for GP or MP production by GMPs. In fact, IRF8-deficient mice have more GPs and MPs. This is not due to IRF8-mediated suppression of GP and MP production by GMPs, but rather to selective effects in GPs and MPs. We identify roles for IRF8 in regulating progenitor survival and differentiation and preventing leukemic cell accumulation. Thus, IRF8 does not regulate granulocytic vs monocytic fate in GMPs, but instead acts downstream of lineage commitment to selectively control neutrophil and monocyte production., (© 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Myeloid phagocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells) have key roles in immune defense, as well as in tissue repair and remodeling. Defective or dysregulated myeloid phagocyte production or function can cause immune dysfunction, blood cell malignancies and inflammatory diseases. The tumor microenvironment can also condition myeloid phagocytes to promote tumor growth. Studies of their physiological and pathophysiological roles and the mechanisms regulating their production and function are crucial for the identification of novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we examine the use of induced pluripotent stem cells to study myeloid phagocytes in human diseases and develop future therapeutic strategies., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The commensal microbiota impacts specific immune cell populations and their functions at peripheral sites, such as gut mucosal tissues. However, it remains unknown whether gut microbiota control immunity through regulation of hematopoiesis at primary immune sites. We reveal that germ-free mice display reduced proportions and differentiation potential of specific myeloid cell progenitors of both yolk sac and bone marrow origin. Homeostatic innate immune defects may lead to impaired early responses to pathogens. Indeed, following systemic infection with Listeria monocytogenes, germ-free and oral-antibiotic-treated mice display increased pathogen burden and acute death. Recolonization of germ-free mice with a complex microbiota restores defects in myelopoiesis and resistance to Listeria. These findings reveal that gut bacteria direct innate immune cell development via promoting hematopoiesis, contributing to our appreciation of the deep evolutionary connection between mammals and their microbiota., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Recent research has shown that (i) Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists drive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to proliferate and differentiate along the myeloid lineage in vitro, and (ii) direct TLR-mediated stimulation of HSPCs also promotes macrophage differentiation in vivo following infection. These new insights demonstrate that TLR signaling in HSPCs, in addition to other TLR-dependent mechanisms, can contribute to HSPC expansion and myeloid differentiation after infection. Evidence is, therefore, mounting that direct TLR-induced programming of hematopoiesis plays a key role in host defense by rapidly replenishing the innate immune system with the cells needed to deal with pathogens., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Several groups have shown that detection of microbial components by TLRs on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) instructs myeloid cell generation, raising interest in the possibility of targeting TLRs on HSPCs to boost myelopoiesis. However, although "TLR-derived" cells exhibit myeloid cell characteristics (phagocytosis, cytokine production, antigen presentation), it is not clear whether they are functionally equivalent to macrophages derived in the absence of TLR activation. Our in vitro and in vivo studies show that macrophages derived from mouse and human HSPC subsets (including stem cells) exposed to a TLR2 agonist prior to or during macrophage differentiation produce lower levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and reactive oxygen species. This is in contrast to prior exposure of differentiated macrophages to the TLR2 agonist ("tolerance"), which suppresses inflammatory cytokine production, but elevates reactive oxygen species. Soluble factors produced following exposure of HSPCs to a TLR2 agonist can also act in a paracrine manner to influence the function of macrophages derived from unexposed HSPCs. Our data demonstrate that macrophage function can be influenced by TLR signaling in the HSPCs from which they are derived, and that this may impact the clinical utility of targeting TLRs on HSPCs to boost myelopoiesis., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

ES-62 is an immunomodulatory phosphorylcholine (PC)-containing glycoprotein secreted by the rodent filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. Previously, the use of knockout mice has revealed the effects of ES-62 on macrophages and dendritic cells to be dependent on TLR4. However, it is possible that ES-62 may interact with additional proteins on the surfaces of target cells and hence that cells may vary with respect to receptor usage. In this study, we identified by molecular weight, proteins that interact with ES-62 and found differences amongst the immune system cells studied. Thus, whereas lymphocytes appear to have two major interacting proteins of ∼135 and ∼82 kDa, U937 monocytes only contain an ES-62-binding protein of the latter molecular weight. Binding to the proteins on B cells and U937 cells was blocked by PC, suggesting a critical role for this ES-62 moiety in facilitating interaction. Finally, ES-62 binding is followed by internalization in both macrophages and B cells but only in the former was absence of TLR4 found to block internalization. These findings are consistent with differences in receptor usage by ES-62 amongst different cell-types., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phagocytosis is a key cellular process, both during homeostasis and upon infection or tissue damage. Receptors on the surface of professional phagocytic cells bind to target particles either directly or through opsonizing ligands, and trigger actin-mediated ingestion of the particles. The process must be carefully controlled to ensure that phagocytosis is triggered efficiently and specifically, and that the antimicrobial cytotoxic responses that often accompany it are initiated only when required. In this review, we will describe and compare the molecular mechanisms that regulate phagocytosis triggered by Fcγ receptors, which mediate the uptake of immunoglobulin G-opsonized targets, and Dectin-1, which is responsible for internalization of fungi with exposed cell wall β-glucan. We will examine how these receptors detect their ligands, how signal transduction is initiated and regulated, and how internalization is instructed to achieve rapid and yet controlled uptake of their targets., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Phagocytosis - the process by which macrophages, dendritic cells and other myeloid phagocytes internalize diverse particulate targets - is a key mechanism of innate immunity. The molecular and cellular events that underlie the binding of targets to a phagocyte and their engulfment into phagosomes have been extensively studied. More recent data suggest that the process of phagocytosis itself provides information to myeloid phagocytes about the nature of the targets they are engulfing and that this helps to tailor inflammatory responses. In this Review, we discuss how such information is acquired during phagocytosis and how it is processed to coordinate an immune response.