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Lane, A. N.

Publications and source records attributed to Lane, A. N..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Biphasic response of CD8 T cell to asparagine restriction maximizes its metabolic fitness and antitumoral functionality

Robust and effective T cell immune surveillance and cancer immunotherapy require properly allocating metabolic resources to sustain energetically costly processes, including growth and cytokine production. Amino acids are major cellular constituents that serve as protein building blocks, energy sources, and signaling molecules. Although T cells can synthesize all nonessential amino acids, including asparagine (Asn), activated CD8 T cells still consume considerable quantities of exogenous Asn. Unexpectedly, Asn restriction on CD8 T cells induced a biphasic response, consisting of sequential actions with opposing effects at two conceptually separated phases after activation. Asn restriction suppressed activation and cell cycle entry in the early phase by depleting the intracellular Asn pool while rapidly engaging an ATF4/NRF2-dependent stress response, conferring robust proliferation and effector function of CD8 T cells in the late phase. Mechanistically, ATF4 and NRF2 activation rendered CD8 T cells to utilize de novo biosynthesis of Asn, consuming less glucose and glutamine but producing more intracellular nucleotides for proliferation. Moreover, NRF2 activation promoted the expression of inflammatory and effector genes to enhance effector functions in CD8 T cells. Accordingly, Asn restriction or overexpression of ATF4 or NRF2 potentiated T cell-mediated antitumoral response in the metabolically restricted tumor microenvironment. Our studies revealed Asn as a critical metabolic node in directing the stress signaling to shape T cell metabolic fitness and effector functions. Asn restriction is a promising and clinically relevant strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

immunology↗

gamma aminobutyrate (GAB) functions as a bioenergetic and signaling gatekeeper to control T cell inflammation

{gamma}-Aminobutyrate (GAB) is the biochemical form of {gamma}-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at physiological pH and functions as an essential neurotransmitter in the vertebrates central nervous system (CNS). Growing evidence suggests that GAB may also mediate intercellular communications to shape various physiological processes, including immune response. Beyond acting as a paracrine signaling molecule, how GAB metabolism is controlled to exert many distinct functions remains elusive. By an integrated analysis of the extracellular metabolome, stable isotope traced metabolic pathway analysis, and metabolic transcriptome, we revealed that GAB is one of the most abundant metabolites produced through glutamine and arginine catabolism in CD4+ T help 17 (TH17) and induced T regulatory (iTreg) cells. GAB functions as a bioenergetic and signaling gatekeeper by reciprocally controlling pro-inflammatory TH17 cell and anti-inflammatory iTreg cell differentiation through distinct mechanisms. The expression of 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (ABAT) funnels GAB, as an anaplerotic substrate, into the TCA cycle to maximize carbon allocation in promoting TH17 cell differentiation. By contrast, the absence of ABAT activities in iTreg cells enables GAB exporting to the extracellular environment and acting as an autocrine signaling metabolite to promote iTreg cell differentiation. Accordingly, genetic or pharmacological ablation of ABAT activity in T cells confers protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) pathogenic progression. Conversely, genetic ablation of GABA(A) receptor in T cells deteriorates EAE pathogenic progression. Collectively, our results suggest that the cell-autonomous control exerted by GAB on CD4+ T cell is bimodal and consists of the sequential action of two discrete processes, ABAT-dependent mitochondrial anaplerosis and the receptor-dependent autocrine signaling response, both of which are required for a properly controlled T cell-mediated inflammation.

immunology↗

Succinate dehydrogenase/complex II is critical for metabolic and epigenetic regulation of T cell proliferation and inflammation

Robust and effective T cell-mediated immune responses require the proper allocation of metabolic resources to sustain energetically costly processes like growth, proliferation, and cytokine production. Epigenetic control of the genome also governs T cell transcriptome and T cell lineage commitment and maintenance. Cellular metabolic programs interact with epigenetic regulation by providing substrates for covalent modifications of chromatin. By employing complementary genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic approaches, we revealed that tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux fuels biosynthetic processes while controlling the ratio of -ketoglutarate/succinate to modulate the activities of dioxygenases that are critical for driving T cell inflammation. In contrast to cancer cells, where succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)/complex II inactivation drives cell transformation and growth, SDH/complex II deficiency in T cells causes proliferation and survival defects when the TCA cycle is truncated, blocking carbon flux to support nucleosides biosynthesis. Accordingly, replenishing the intracellular nucleoside pool partially relieved the dependence of T cells on SDH/complex II for proliferation and survival. Conversely, SDH deficiency induces a pro-inflammatory gene signature in T cells and promotes T helper 1 (TH1) and T helper 17 (TH17) lineage differentiation. Mechanistically, the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is not required for succinate-induced inflammation in T cells. A reduced -ketoglutarate/succinate ratio in SDH deficient T cells promotes inflammation through changing the pattern of the transcriptional and chromatin-accessibility signatures and consequentially increasing the expression of the transcription factor, B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1). Collectively, our studies revealed a critical role of SDH/complex II in allocating carbon resources for anabolic processes and epigenetic regulation in T cell proliferation and inflammation.

immunology↗

ARS2-directed alternative splicing mediates CD28 driven T cell glycolysis and effector function

CD8 T cell activation prompts extensive transcriptome remodeling underlying effector differentiation and function. Regulation of transcriptome composition by the mitogen-inducible nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC) adaptor protein ARS2 has critical cell type-specific consequences, including thymic T cell survival. Here we show that ARS2 was upregulated by CD28 during activation of peripheral T cells, was essential for anti-tumor immunity, and facilitated T cell activation-induced alternative splicing. The novel splicing function of ARS2 was mediated at least in part by recruitment of splicing factors to nascent transcripts including the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (Pkm2), a key determinant of CD8 T cell effector properties. Notably, ARS2-directed Pkm2 splicing occurred days after stimulation of PI3K-indepdendent CD28 signaling and increased glycolysis beyond levels determined by PI3K signaling during T cell priming. Thus, ARS2-directed Pkm2 splicing represents a mechanism by which CD28 drives glycolytic metabolism, allowing for optimal effector cytokine production and T cell anti-tumor immunity.

immunology↗

Elevated SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Distinguish Severe Disease in Early COVID-19 Infection

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 has caused over 36,000,000 cases and 1,000,000 deaths globally. Comprehensive assessment of the multifaceted anti-viral antibody response is critical for diagnosis, differentiation of severe disease, and characterization of long-term immunity. Initial observations suggest that severe disease is associated with higher antibody levels and greater B cell/plasmablast responses. A multi-antigen immunoassay to define the complex serological landscape and clinical associations is essential. MethodsWe developed a multiplex immunoassay and evaluated serum/plasma from adults with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections during acute illness (N=52) and convalescence (N=69); and pre-pandemic (N=106) and post-pandemic (N=137) healthy adults. We measured IgA, IgG, and/or IgM against SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid (N), Spike domain 1 (S1), receptor binding domain (S1-RBD) and S1-N-terminal domain (S1-NTD). ResultsTo diagnose infection, the combined [IgA+IgG+IgM] or IgG for N, S1, and S1-RBD yielded AUC values -0.90 by ROC curves. From days 6-30 post-symptom onset, the levels of antigen-specific IgG, IgA or [IgA+IgG+IgM] were higher in patients with severe/critical compared to mild/moderate infections. Consistent with excessive concentrations of antibodies, a strong prozone effect was observed in sera from severe/critical patients. Notably, mild/moderate patients displayed a slower rise and lower peak in anti-N and anti-S1 IgG levels compared to severe/critical patients, but anti-RBD IgG and neutralization responses reached similar levels at 2-4 months. ConclusionThis SARS-CoV-2 multiplex immunoassay measures the magnitude, complexity and kinetics of the antibody response against multiple viral antigens. The IgG and combined-isotype SARS-CoV-2 multiplex assay is highly diagnostic of acute and convalescent disease and may prognosticate severity early in illness. One Sentence SummaryIn contrast to patients with moderate infections, those with severe COVID-19 develop prominent, early antibody responses to S1 and N proteins.

immunology↗

Inosine is an alternative carbon supply that supports effector T cell proliferation and anti-tumor function under glucose restriction

T cells undergo a characteristic metabolic rewiring that fulfills the dramatically increased bioenergetic, biosynthetic, and redox demands following antigen stimulation. A robust adaptive immune system requires effector T cells to respond and adapt to fluctuations in environmental nutrient levels imposed by infectious and inflammatory sites in different tissues. Inevitably, such responsiveness and adaptation reflect metabolic plasticity, allowing T cells to elicit immune functions by using a wide range of nutrient substrates. Here, we show that effector T cells utilize inosine, as an alternative substrate, to support cell growth and function in the absence of glucose. T cells metabolize inosine into hypoxanthine and phosphorylated ribose by purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). Using Stable Isotope-Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we demonstrated that ribose moiety of inosine can enter into central metabolic pathways to provide ATP and biosynthetic precursors. Accordingly, the dependence of T cells on extracellular glucose for growth and effector functions can be relieved by inosine. On the other hand, cancer cells display diverse capacity to utilize inosine as a carbon resource. Moreover, the supplement of inosine enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of immune-checkpoint blockade or adoptive T cell transfer, reflecting the capability of inosine in relieving tumor-imposed metabolic restrictions on T cells in vivo.

immunology↗

High Peak Density Artifacts in Fourier Transform Mass Spectra and their Effects on Data Analysis

Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FT-MS) allows for the high-throughput and high-resolution detection of thousands of metabolites. Observed spectral features (peaks) that are not isotopologues do not directly correspond to known compounds and cannot be placed into existing metabolic networks. Spectral artifacts account for many of these unidentified peaks, and misassignments made to these artifact peaks can create large interpretative errors. Without accurate identification of artifactual features and correct assignment of real features, discerning their roles within living systems is effectively impossible.\n\nWe have observed three types of artifacts unique to FT-MS that often result in regions of abnormally high peak density (HPD), which we collectively refer to as HPD artifacts: i) fuzzy sites representing small regions of m/z space with a fuzzy appearance due to the extremely high number of peaks present; ii) ringing due to a very intense peak producing side bands of decreasing intensity that are symmetrically distributed around the main peak; and iii) partial ringing where only a subset of the side bands are observed for an intense peak. Fuzzy sites and partial ringing appear to be novel artifacts previously unreported in the literature and we hypothesize that all three artifact types derive from Fourier transformation-based issues. In some spectra, these artifacts account for roughly a third of the peaks present in the given spectrum. We have developed a set of tools to detect these artifacts and approaches to mitigate their effects on downstream analyses.

systems biology↗