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info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Cytotoxic T cell (CTL) infiltration of the tumor carries the potential to limit cancer progression, but their exclusion by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment hampers the efficiency of immunotherapy. Here, we show that expression of the axon guidance molecule PlexinA4 (Plxna4) in CTLs, especially in effector/memory CD8+ T cells, is induced upon T-cell activation, sustained in the circulation, but reduced when entering the tumor bed. Therefore, we deleted Plxna4 and observed that Plxna4-deficient CTLs acquired improved homing capacity to the lymph nodes and to the tumor, as well as increased proliferation, both achieved through enhanced Rac1 activation. Mice with stromal or hematopoietic Plxna4 deletion exhibited enhanced CTL infiltration and impaired tumor growth. In a melanoma model, adoptive transfer of CTLs lacking Plxna4 prolonged survival and improved therapeutic outcome, which was even stronger when combined with anti-PD-1 treatment. PLXNA4 abundance in circulating CTLs was augmented in melanoma patients versus healthy volunteers but decreased after the first cycle of anti-PD-1, alone or in combination with anti-CTLA-4, in those patients showing complete or partial response to the treatment. Altogether, our data suggest that PlexinA4 acts as a "checkpoint", negatively regulating CTL migration and proliferation through cell autonomous mechanisms independent of the interaction with host-derived PlexinA4 ligands semaphorins. These findings pave the way towards PlexinA4-centric immunotherapies and propose PlexinA4 detection in circulating CTLs as a potential way to monitor the response to immune checkpoint blockade in metastatic melanoma patients.

The liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury that occurs consequently to hepatic resection performed in patients with metastases can lead to tumor relapse for not fully understood reasons. We assessed the effects of liver IR on tumor growth and the innate immune response in a mouse model of colorectal (CR) liver metastasis. Mice subjected to liver ischemia 2 days after intrasplenic injection of CR carcinoma cells displayed a higher metastatic load in the liver, correlating with Kupffer cells (KC) death through the activation of receptor-interating protein 3 kinase (RIPK3) and caspase-1 and a recruitment of monocytes. Interestingly, the immunoregulatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were strongly upregulated in recruited monocytes and were also expressed in the surviving KC following IR. Using TNFflox/flox LysMcre/wt mice, we showed that TNF deficiency in macrophages and monocytes favors tumor progression after IR. The antitumor effect of myeloid cell-derived TNF involved direct tumor cell apoptosis and a reduced expression of immunosuppressive molecules such as transforming growth factor-β, interleukin (IL)-10, inducible nitric oxyde synthase (iNOS), IL-33 and HO-1. Conversely, a monocyte/macrophage-specific deficiency in HO-1 (HO-1flox/flox LysMcre/wt ) or the blockade of HO-1 function led to the control of tumor progression post-liver IR. Importantly, host cell RIPK3 deficiency maintains the KC number upon IR, inhibits the IR-induced innate cell recruitment, increases the TNF level, decreases the HO-1 level and suppresses the tumor outgrowth. In conclusion, tumor recurrence in host undergoing liver IR is associated with the death of antitumoral KC and the recruitment of monocytes endowed with immunosuppressive properties. In both of which HO-1 inhibition would reinforce their antitumoral activity., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Induction of immune protection against pathogens is particularly crucial during the neonatal period dominated by anti-inflammatory and tolerance immunity. The preclinical study was carried out to determine whether environmental factors such as microbiota may influence early life immunity by impacting the development and the functional maturation of precursors of type 1 conventional dendritic cells (pre-cDC1), endowed with regulatory properties., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

AU-rich element (ARE)-mediated mRNA decay represents a key mechanism to avoid excessive production of inflammatory cytokines. Tristetraprolin (TTP, encoded by Zfp36) is a major ARE-binding protein, since Zfp36−/− mice develop a complex multiorgan inflammatory syndrome that shares many features with spondyloarthritis. The role of TTP in intestinal homeostasis is not known. Herein, we show that Zfp36−/− mice do not develop any histological signs of gut pathology. However, they display a clear increase in intestinal inflammatory markers and discrete alterations in microbiota composition. Importantly, oral antibiotic treatment reduced both local and systemic joint and skin inflammation. We further show that absence of overt intestinal pathology is associated with local expansion of regulatory T cells. We demonstrate that this is related to increased vitamin A metabolism by gut dendritic cells, and identify RALDH2 as a direct target of TTP. In conclusion, these data bring insights into the interplay between microbiota-dependent gut and systemic inflammation during immune-mediated disorders, such as spondyloarthritis., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Selon un rapport de l’OMS, les maladies infectieuses figurent parmi les 3 causes les plus fréquentes de mortalité en début de vie. En effet, les nouveau-nés présentent une sensibilité particulièrement importante aux infections, de par leur système immunitaire toujours en développement et donc immature. Parmi les particularités de l’immunité néonatale, l’absence de cDCs CD11chigh CD8α+ durant la 1ère semaine de vie rend compte de l’incapacité du nouveau-né à développer des réponses de type Th1 et T CD8+ cytotoxiques, essentielles à la protection contre certains pathogènes comme Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). Mon travail de thèse a porté sur l’ontogénie des DCs conventionnelles CD11chigh CD8α+ et plus particulièrement sur la fonction de cette lignée de DCs en début de vie lors d’une infection par Lm. Au cours de cette étude, nous avons identifié, chez le nouveau-né, une population splénique de cDCs CD11chigh qui expriment les marqueurs CD24, CD205 et Clec9A mais pas le CD8α. Cette population, qui dépend du facteur de transcription Batf3, acquière le CD8α une fois transférée dans une souris adulte. Ces DCs néonatales, que nous nommerons DCs pre-CD8α Clec9A+, constituent donc les précurseurs des DCs CD8α+. L’étude fonctionnelle de ces DCs pre-CD8α Clec9A+ a montré qu’elles étaient capables de phagocyter Lm et de générer des réponses T CD8+ contre cette bactérie. De plus, ces cellules sécrètent de l’IL-12p40 et de manière unique de l’IL-10 en réponse à une stimulation par Lm. Par contre, contrairement aux cDCs CD8α+ adultes, nous n’avons observé aucune production d’IL-12p70 par les DCs pre-CD8α Clec9A+ en conditions physiologiques. Elles ne sécrètent pas non plus d’IL-23. Nous avons également montré que ces sécrétions d’IL-12p40 et d’IL-10 jouaient respectivement un rôle positif et négatif dans l’induction des réponses T CD8+ contre Lm. Ainsi, la génération des réponses T CD8+ contre Lm semble résulter, en début de vie, d’une balance entre la sécrétion de ces 2 cytokines a, Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Médecine), info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Infection by Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) causes serious sepsis and meningitis leading to mortality in neonates. This work explored the ability of CD11chighlineage DCs to induce CD8+T-cell immune protection against Lm in mice before 7 days of life, a period symbolized by the absence of murine IL-12p70-producing CD11chighCD8α+dendritic cells (DCs). We characterized a dominant functional Batf3-dependent precursor of CD11chighDCs that is Clec9A+CD205+CD24+but CD8α-at 3 days of life. After Lm-OVA infection, these pre-DCs that cross-present Ag display the unique ability to produce high levels of IL-12p40 (not IL-12p70 nor IL-23), which enhances OVA-specific CD8+T cell response, and regulatory IL-10 that limits OVA-specific CD8+T cell response. Targeting these neonatal pre-DCs for the first time with a single treatment of anti-Clec9A-OVA antibody in combination with a DC activating agent such as poly(I:C) increased the protection against later exposure to the Lm-OVA strain. Poly(I:C) was shown to induce IL-12p40 production, but not IL-10 by neonatal pre-DCs. In conclusion, we identified a new biologically active precursor of Clec9A+CD8α-DCs, endowed with regulatory properties in early life that represents a valuable target to augment memory responses to vaccines., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The protein S100A4 is best known for its significant role in promoting motility and invasive capacity of cancer cells. Since S100A4 expression has been reported also in T cells, we analyzed its potential role in T cell motility and inflammation. Using S100a4 +/Gfp mice, we show here that S100A4 is exclusively expressed by memory T cells of CD4 + or CD8 + subpopulations, predominantly of the effector memory T cell subtype. However, the protein was not required for in vitro memory T cell migration toward gradients of the inflammatory chemokine CXCL10. Moreover, T cell memory response was normal in S100A4-deficient mice and lack of S100a4 gene expression did not induce any defect in promoting the development of protective immunity or inflammatory reactions leading to autoimmunity. Taken together, our results demonstrate that S100A4 activity is dispensable for T cell motility/migration and inflammatory potential., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

CD8(+) T-cell memory phenotype and function are acquired after antigen-driven activation. Memory-like cells may also arise in absence of antigenic exposure in the thymus or in the periphery. Eomesodermin (Eomes) is a key transcription factor for the development of these unconventional memory cells. Herein, we show that type I interferon signalling in CD8(+) T cells directly activates Eomes gene expression. Consistent with this observation, the phenotype, function and age-dependent expansion of 'virtual memory' CD8(+) T cells are strongly affected in absence of type I interferon signalling. In addition, type I interferons induce a sustained expansion of 'virtual memory' CD8(+) T cells in an Eomes-dependent fashion. We further show that the development of 'innate thymic' CD8(+) T cells is dependent on the same pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrate that type I interferon signalling in CD8(+) T cells drives Eomes expression and thereby regulates the function and homeostasis of memory-like CD8(+) T cells., info:eu-repo/semantics/published