Biology subjects

Song, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Song, E..

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Adaptive immune determinants of viral clearance and protection in mouse models of SARS-CoV-2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused more than 160 million infections and more than 3 million deaths worldwide. While effective vaccines are currently being deployed, the adaptive immune determinants which promote viral clearance and confer protection remain poorly defined. Using mouse models of SARS-CoV-2, we demonstrate that both humoral and cellular adaptive immunity contributes to viral clearance in the setting of primary infection. Furthermore, we find that either convalescent mice, or mice that receive mRNA vaccination are protected from both homologous infection and infection with a variant of concern, B.1.351. Additionally, we find this protection to be largely mediated by antibody response and not cellular immunity. These results highlight the in vivo protective capacity of antibodies generated to both vaccine and natural infection. One-Sentence SummaryDefining the roles of humoral and cellular adaptive immunity in viral clearance and protection from SARS-CoV-2 and a variant of concern.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Stepwise transmigration cascade of T and B cells through the perivascular channel in lymph node high endothelial venules

High endothelial venules (HEVs) effectively recruit circulating lymphocytes from the blood to lymph nodes. HEVs have endothelial cells (ECs) and perivascular sheaths consisting of fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). Many studies have characterized the multiple steps of lymphocyte migration interacting with ECs at the luminal side of HEVs. However, post-luminal migration steps are not well elucidated. Herein, we performed intravital imaging to investigate post-luminal T and B cell migration, consisting of trans-EC migration, crawling in the perivascular channel (a narrow space between ECs and FRCs) and trans-FRC migration. The post-luminal migration of T cells occurred in a PNAd-dependent manner. Remarkably, we found hot spots for the trans-EC and trans-FRC migration of T and B cells. Interestingly, T and B cells preferentially shared trans-FRC migration hot spots but not trans-EC migration hot spots. Furthermore, the trans-FRC T cell migration was confined to fewer sites than trans-EC T cell migration, and trans-FRC migration of T and B cells preferentially occurred at FRCs covered by CD11c+ dendritic cells in HEVs. These results suggest that HEV ECs and FRCs with perivascular DCs delicately regulate T and B cell entry into lymph nodes.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Immunologically distinct responses occur in the CNS of COVID-19 patients

One third of COVID-19 patients develop significant neurological symptoms, yet SARS-CoV-2 is rarely detected in central nervous system (CNS) tissue, suggesting a potential role for parainfectious processes, including neuroimmune responses. We therefore examined immune parameters in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples from a cohort of patients with COVID-19 and significant neurological complications. We found divergent immunological responses in the CNS compartment, including increased levels of IL-12 and IL-12-associated innate and adaptive immune cell activation. Moreover, we found increased proportions of B cells in the CSF relative to the periphery and evidence of clonal expansion of CSF B cells, suggesting a divergent intrathecal humoral response to SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, all COVID-19 cases examined had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the CSF whose target epitopes diverged from serum antibodies. We directly examined whether CSF resident antibodies target self-antigens and found a significant burden of CNS autoimmunity, with the CSF from most patients recognizing neural self-antigens. Finally, we produced a panel of monoclonal antibodies from patients CSF and show that these target both anti-viral and anti-neural antigens--including one mAb specific for the spike protein that also recognizes neural tissue. This exploratory immune survey reveals evidence of a compartmentalized and self-reactive immune response in the CNS meriting a more systematic evaluation of neurologically impaired COVID-19 patients. One Sentence SummaryA subset of COVID-19 patients with neurologic impairment show cerebrospinal fluid-specific immune alterations that point to both neuroinvasion and anti-neural autoimmunity as potential causes of impairment.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2 revealed in a human brain organoid model

Although COVID-19 is considered to be primarily a respiratory disease, SARS-CoV-2 affects multiple organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Yet, there is no consensus whether the virus can infect the brain, or what the consequences of CNS infection are. Here, we used three independent approaches to probe the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to infect the brain. First, using human brain organoids, we observed clear evidence of infection with accompanying metabolic changes in the infected and neighboring neurons. However, no evidence for the type I interferon responses was detected. We demonstrate that neuronal infection can be prevented either by blocking ACE2 with antibodies or by administering cerebrospinal fluid from a COVID-19 patient. Second, using mice overexpressing human ACE2, we demonstrate in vivo that SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion, but not respiratory infection, is associated with mortality. Finally, in brain autopsy from patients who died of COVID-19, we detect SARS-CoV-2 in the cortical neurons, and note pathologic features associated with infection with minimal immune cell infiltrates. These results provide evidence for the neuroinvasive capacity of SARS-CoV2, and an unexpected consequence of direct infection of neurons by SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 reveals inflammatory role of type I interferon signaling

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has caused over 5,000,000 cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with significant fatality rate.1-3 Due to the urgency of this global pandemic, numerous therapeutic and vaccine trials have begun without customary safety and efficacy studies.4 Laboratory mice have been the stalwart of these types of studies; however, they do not support infection by SARS-CoV-2 due to the inability of its spike (S) protein to engage the mouse ortholog of its human entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). While hACE2 transgenic mice support infection and pathogenesis,5 these mice are currently limited in availability and are restricted to a single genetic background. Here we report the development of a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 based on adeno associated virus (AAV)-mediated expression of hACE2. These mice support viral replication and antibody production and exhibit pathologic findings found in COVID-19 patients as well as non-human primate models. Moreover, we show that type I interferons are unable to control SARS-CoV2 replication and drive pathologic responses. Thus, the hACE2-AAV mouse model enables rapid deployment for in-depth analysis following robust SARS-CoV-2 infection with authentic patient-derived virus in mice of diverse genetic backgrounds. This represents a much-needed platform for rapidly testing prophylactic and therapeutic strategies to combat COVID-19.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

PD-1 blockade-driven anti-tumor CD8+ T cell immunity requires XCR1+ dendritic cells

CD8+ T cells are required for effective anti-PD-1 (PD-1) cancer immunotherapy. Type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) bearing XCR1 critically mediate the initiation of protective anti-tumor CD8+ T cell responses in mice and humans. However, whether cDC1s contribute to evoking the effector function of CD8+ T cells during PD-1 antibody therapy remains unclear. Here, by deleting cDC1s at the effector phase of PD-1 therapy, we identify these cells as a crucial innate determinant for effective PD-1 immunotherapy. PD-1 treatment unleashed cDC1s to promote anti-tumor CD8+ T cell immunity, through the expansion of TCF1+ precursors and generation of TIM3+ terminally differentiated effectors. Furthermore, tumor cDC1 abundance was predictive of enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration, higher survival, and improved clinical responses to PD-1 therapy in human cancer patients. Together, this study reveals the requirement for cDC1s in PD-1 blockade therapy, through their ability to elicit CD8+ T cell effector responses that mediate tumor control, and highlight cDC1s as an attractive cellular target to be harnessed for novel immunotherapeutics.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

CRISPR-based bioengineering of the Transferrin Receptor revealed a role for Rab7 in the biosynthetic secretory pathway

The regulated secretory trafficking of neosynthesized transmembrane receptors is particularly challenging to investigate as it is under-represented at steady state compared to the abundance of the other trafficking routes. Here, we combined the retention using selective hook (RUSH) system to a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing approach (eRUSH) to identify molecular players involved in the trafficking of neosynthesized Transferrin Receptor (TfR) en route to the plasma membrane (PM). TfR-eRUSH monoclonal cells expressing endogenous, ER-retainable and fluorescent TfR were engineered and characterized. Spatiotemporal quantitative proteomics of TfR-eRUSH cells allowed the identification of molecular partners associated with TfR-containing membranes and provided a comprehensive list of potential regulators, co-trafficking cargos, and enriched pathways. Furthermore, we chose to focus our attention on the Rab GTPase family members for their function as vesicle trafficking regulators and performed a Rab-targeted siRNA screen that we correlated to our proteomics data. Unexpectedly, we identified Rab7-harboring vesicles as an intermediate compartment of the Golgi-to-PM transport of the neosynthetic TfR. These vesicles did not exhibit degradative properties and were not associated to Rab6A-harboring vesicles, also involved in Golgi-to-PM transport. However, Rab6A-TfR vesicles delivered TfR directly to the PM, while in contrast, Rab7A was transiently associated to neosynthetic TfR-containing post-Golgi vesicles but dissociated before PM vesicle fusion. Together, our study proposes the eRUSH as a powerful tool to further study the secretory pathway and reveals an unforeseen role for Rab7 in the neosynthetic transport of the TfR, highlighting the diversity of the secretory vesicles nature for a given cargo.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Global kinome silencing combined with 3D invasion screening of the tumor microenvironment identifies fibroblast-expressed PIK3Cδ involvement in triple-negative breast cancer progression

As there is growing evidence for the tumor microenvironments (TME) role in tumorigenesis, we sought to investigate the role of fibroblast-expressed kinases in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Using a high-throughput kinome screen combined with 3D invasion assays, we identified fibroblast-expressed PIK3C{delta} (f-PIK3C{delta}) as a key regulator of progression. Although PIK3C{delta} has been mainly described in leucocytes, we detected high expression in primary fibroblasts derived from TNBC patients, while PIK3C{delta} was undetectable in cancer epithelial cell lines. Genetic and pharmacologic gain- and loss-of functions experiments verified the contribution of f-PIK3C{delta} in TNBC cell invasion. By employing an integrated secretomics and transcriptomics analysis, we revealed a paracrine mechanism via which f-PIK3C{delta} confers its pro-tumorigenic effects. Inhibition of f-PIK3C{delta} promoted the secretion of factors, including PLGF and BDNF, which subsequently led to upregulation of NR4A1 in TNBC cells where it acts as a tumor suppressor. Inhibition of PIK3C{delta} in an orthotopic BC mouse model reduced tumor growth only after inoculation with fibroblasts, indicating a role of f-PIK3C{delta} in cancer progression. Similar results were observed in the MMTV-PyMT transgenic BC mouse model, in addition to a decrease on tumor metastasis emphasizing the potential immune-independent effects of PIK3C{delta} inhibition. Finally, analysis of BC patient cohorts and TCGA datasets identified f-PIK3C{delta} (protein and mRNA levels) as an independent prognostic factor for overall and disease free survival, highlighting it as a therapeutic target for TNBC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Dynamics of Auxilin1 and GAK in clathrin-1 mediated traffic

Clathrin coated vesicles formed at the plasma membrane lose their clathrin lattice within seconds of pinching off, through the action of the Hsc70 \"uncoating ATPase\". The J-domain containing proteins, auxilin1 (Aux1) and auxilin2/cyclin-G dependent kinase (GAK), recruit Hsc70. Aux1 and GAK are closely related homologs, each with a phosphatase- and tensin-like (PTEN-like) domain, a clathrin-binding region, and a C-terminal J-domain; GAK has an additional, N-terminal Ser/Thr kinase domain. The PTEN-like domain has no phosphatase activity, but it can recognize phosphatidylinositol phosphate head groups. Aux1 and GAK appear on coated vesicles in successive transient bursts, immediately after dynamin mediated membrane scission has released the vesicle from the plasma membrane. We show here that these bursts represent recruitment of a very small number of auxilins such that even 4-6 molecules are sufficient to mediate uncoating. In contrast, we could not detect auxilins in abortive pits or at any time during coated-pit assembly. We have also shown previously that clathrin coated vesicles have a dynamic phosphoinositide landscape, and we have proposed that lipid head group recognition might determine the timing of Aux1 and GAK appearance. We now show that differential recruitment of Aux1 and GAK correlates with temporal variations in phosphoinositide composition, consistent with a lipid-switch timing mechanism.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Probabilistic Models of Larval Zebrafish Behavior: Structure on Many Scales

Nervous systems have evolved to combine environmental information with internal state to select and generate adaptive behavioral sequences. To better understand these computations and their implementation in neural circuits, natural behavior must be carefully measured and quantified. Here, we collect high spatial resolution video of single zebrafish larvae swimming in a naturalistic environment and develop models of their action selection across exploration and hunting. Zebrafish larvae swim in punctuated bouts separated by longer periods of rest called interbout intervals. We take advantage of this structure by categorizing bouts into discrete types and representing their behavior as labeled sequences of bout-types emitted over time. We then construct probabilistic models - specifically, marked renewal processes - to evaluate how bout-types and interbout intervals are selected by the fish as a function of its internal hunger state, behavioral history, and the locations and properties of nearby prey. Finally, we evaluate the models by their predictive likelihood and their ability to generate realistic trajectories of virtual fish swimming through simulated environments. Our simulations capture multiple timescales of structure in larval zebrafish behavior and expose many ways in which hunger state influences their action selection to promote food seeking during hunger and safety during satiety.

animal behavior and cognition↗