Biology subjects

Trian, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Trian, T..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A distinct signature of interferon-stimulated genes linked to cross-protection against secondary viral infections in primary bronchial epithelial cells

Respiratory viral infections, such as those caused by rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, represent a major global health challenge. Despite extensive research, effective and specific antiviral treatments for these infections are still lacking, with patient care often limited to symptomatic relief. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, alongside the emergence of avian flu H1N1 and Nipah virus, has underscored the critical role of the respiratory tract as a critical viral target. Respiratory viral infections exhibit marked variability in infectivity and disease severity across different age groups. Epidemiological and cell-based evidence highlights distinct impacts on pediatric and adult populations. For instance, the COVID-19 disproportionately affected the elderly, while viruses like rhinovirus and adenovirus often cause severe morbidity in children. Additionally, clinical studies indicate that a primary respiratory infection can provide transient protection against subsequent infections by the same or different respiratory viruses. In this study, we utilized a differentiated bronchial epithelial (BE) model derived from pediatric and adult donors to assess age-dependent differences under resting conditions and during viral infections. We investigated how donor age influences infection susceptibility and viral spread within the BE, focusing on the transcriptional response to rhinovirus types A and C, and adenovirus type 5. Importantly, we demonstrate that prior viral infection confers protection against subsequent infections, regardless of donor age or the initial virus type. This cross-protection is driven by interferon signaling, leading to the expression of a narrow and specific set of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in both infected and bystander cells. Notably, IFI44L shows the strongest correlation with the level of cross protection and that its overexpression alone significantly reduces viral infection of BE. These findings suggest a distinctive, interferon-driven innate immune response profile in the BE, offering critical insights for the development of new therapeutic strategies against respiratory viral infections.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

ZIP editors for efficient and versatile CRISPR-Cas9 precise genome editing

Precise genome editing technologies create the potential for genetic studies and innovative gene therapies. Here we present new CRISPR-Cas9 tools, named ZIP CRISPR, loaded with a single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ssODN) template on the Cas ribonucleoprotein complex. The ssODN template is annealed to an extended guide RNA (gRNA) allowing its nuclear delivery at the right place, i.e. the targeted DNA cut, and at the right time. This new template import system is easy-to-design, easy-to-use, inexpensive and versatile. It increases homology-directed repair (HDR) editing efficiency using Cas9 nuclease up to 12-fold with a mean increase of 5-fold as demonstrated at many loci in many cell types. Based on a heteroduplex gRNA-ssODN, it can also be used with the Cas9 nickase, resulting in HDR editing with minimal InDels, and preventing double-strand break (DSB)-mediated genotoxicity. ZIP CRISPR is a non-viral platform adaptable to targeted DSB (higher HDR editing efficiency) or nick (higher safety) to precisely model and correct a wide range of edits. It is suitable for many biological applications and could be considered for HDR-based gene therapies.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

A novel in vitro tubular model to recapitulate features of distal airways: the bronchioid

BackgroundAirflow limitation is the hallmark of obstructive pulmonary diseases, with the distal airways representing a major site of obstruction. Although numerous in vitro models of bronchi already exist, there is currently no culture system for obstructive diseases that reproduces the architecture and function of small airways. Here, we aimed to engineer a model of distal airways to overcome the limitations of current culture systems. MethodsWe developed a so-called bronchioid model by encapsulating human bronchial adult stem cells derived from clinical samples in a tubular scaffold made of alginate gel. ResultsThis template drives the spontaneous self-organization of epithelial cells into a tubular structure. Fine control of the level of contraction is required to establish a model of the bronchiole, which has a physiologically relevant shape and size. 3D imaging, gene expression and single-cell RNA-seq analysis of bronchioids made of bronchial epithelial cells revealed tubular organization, epithelial junction formation and differentiation into ciliated and goblet cells. Ciliary beating is observed, at a decreased frequency in bronchioids made of cells from COPD patients. The bronchioid can be infected by rhinovirus. An air-liquid interface is introduced that modulates gene expression. ConclusionHere, we provide a proof of concept of a perfusable bronchioid with proper mucociliary and contractile functions. The key advantages of our approach, such as the air-liquid interface, lumen accessibility, recapitulation of pathological features and possible assessment of clinically relevant endpoints, will make our pulmonary organoid-like model a powerful tool for preclinical studies.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2023

CXCR4 blockade alleviates pulmonary and cardiac outcomes in early COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent respiratory disease lacking effective treatment. Focusing on early COPD should help to discover disease modifying therapies. We aimed to examine the role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in early COPD from both human samples and murine models. Blood samples and lung tissues of early COPD patients and controls were obtained in order to analyse CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels. To generate an early COPD model, ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) for 10 weeks and intranasal instillations of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) for the last 5 weeks to mimic exacerbations. CXCR4 expressing cells number was increased in the blood of patients with COPD, as well as in the blood of exposed mice. Lung CXCL12 expression was higher in both early COPD patients and exposed mice. Exposed mice presented mild airway obstruction, peri-bronchial fibrosis and right heart thickening. The density of fibrocytes expressing CXCR4 was increased in the bronchial submucosa of these mice. Conditional inactivation of CXCR4 at adult stage as well as pharmacological inhibition of CXCR4 with plerixafor injections improved lung function, reduced inflammation, and protected against CS and poly-(I:C)-induced airway and cardiac remodeling. CXCR4-/- and plerixafor-treated mice also had less CXCR4-expressing circulating cells and a lower density of peri-bronchial fibrocytes. We demonstrate that targeting CXCR4 has beneficial effects in an animal model of early COPD and provide a framework to translate these preclinical findings to clinical settings in a drug repurposing approach. Clinical relevanceWe demonstrate that CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of early COPD. Inhibition of this axis improves lung function and cardiac tissue remodeling, supporting the future use of CXCR4 inhibitors to slow down the progression of the disease.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2022

Short-range interactions between fibrocytes and CD8+ T cells in COPD bronchial inflammatory response

AbstractBronchi of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the site of extensive cell infiltration, allowing persistent contacts between resident cells and immune cells. Tissue fibrocytes interaction with CD8+ T cells and its consequences were investigated using a combination of in situ, in vitro experiments and mathematical modeling. We show that fibrocytes and CD8+ T cells are found in vicinity in distal airways and that potential interactions are more frequent in tissues from COPD patients compared to those of control subjects. Increased proximity and clusterization between CD8+ T cells and fibrocytes are associated with altered lung function. Tissular CD8+ T cells from COPD patients promote fibrocyte chemotaxis via the CXCL8-CXCR1/2 axis. Live imaging shows that CD8+ T cells establish short-term interactions with fibrocytes, that trigger CD8+ T cell proliferation in a CD54- and CD86-dependent manner, pro-inflammatory cytokines production, CD8+ T cell cytotoxic activity against bronchial epithelial cells and fibrocyte immunomodulatory properties. We defined a computational model describing these intercellular interactions and calibrated the parameters based on our experimental measurements. We show the models ability to reproduce histological ex vivo characteristics, and observe an important contribution of fibrocyte-mediated CD8+ T cell proliferation in COPD development. Using the model to test therapeutic scenarios, we predict a recovery time of several years, and the failure of targeting chemotaxis or interacting processes. Altogether, our study reveals that local interactions between fibrocytes and CD8+ T cells could jeopardize the balance between protective immunity and chronic inflammation in bronchi of COPD patients.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2021

SARS-CoV-2 transmission via apical syncytia release from primary bronchial epithelia and infectivity restriction in children epithelia

The beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is at the origin of a persistent worldwide pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 infections initiate in the bronchi of the upper respiratory tract and are able to disseminate to the lower respiratory tract eventually causing acute severe respiratory syndrome with a high degree of mortality in the elderly. Here we use reconstituted primary bronchial epithelia from adult and children donors to follow the infection dynamic following infection with SARS-CoV-2. We show that in bronchial epithelia derived from adult donors, infections initiate in multi-ciliated cells. Then, infection rapidly spread within 24-48h throughout the whole epithelia. Within 3-4 days, large apical syncytia form between multi-ciliated cells and basal cells, which dissipate into the apical lumen. We show that these syncytia are a significant source of the released infectious dose. In stark contrast to these findings, bronchial epithelia reconstituted from children donors are intrinsically more resistant to virus infection and show active restriction of virus spread. This restriction is paired with accelerated release of IFN compared to adult donors. Taken together our findings reveal apical syncytia formation as an underappreciated source of infectious virus for either local dissemination or release into the environment. Furthermore, we provide direct evidence that children bronchial epithelia are more resistant to infection with SARS-CoV-2 providing experimental support for epidemiological observations that SARS-CoV-2 cases fatality is linked to age. Significance StatementBronchial epithelia are the primary target for SARS-CoV-2 infections. Our work uses reconstituted bronchial epithelia from adults and children. We show that infection of adult epithelia with SARS-CoV-2 is rapid and results in the synchronized release of large clusters of infected cells and syncytia into the apical lumen contributing to the released infectious virus dose. Infection of children derived bronchial epithelia revealed an intrinsic resistance to infection and virus spread, probably as a result of a faster onset of interferon secretion. Thus, our data provide direct evidence for the epidemiological observation that children are less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Fibrocyte accumulation in bronchi: a cellular hallmark of COPD

BackgroundThe remodeling mechanism and cellular players causing persistent airflow limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain largely elusive. We have recently demonstrated that circulating fibrocytes, a rare population of fibroblast-like cells produced by the bone marrow stroma, are increased in COPD patients during an exacerbation. It remains, however, unclear, whether fibrocytes are present in bronchial tissue of COPD patients.\n\nObjectiveWe aimed to quantify fibrocytes density in bronchial specimens from both control subjects and COPD patients, and to define associations with clinical, functional and computed tomography relevant parameters.\n\nMethods17 COPD patients and 25 control subjects with normal lung function testing and no chronic symptoms, all of them requiring thoracic surgery, were recruited. LFT and CT-scan were performed before surgery. Using co-immunostaining and image analysis, we identify CD45+ FSP1+ cells as tissue fibrocytes and quantify their density in distal and proximal bronchial specimens from the whole series.\n\nResultsHere, we demonstrate that fibrocytes are increased in both distal and proximal tissue specimens of COPD patients, compared to those of controls. The density of fibrocytes is negatively correlated with lung function parameters, such as FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, and positively with bronchial wall thickness assessed by CT scan. High density of distal bronchial fibrocytes predicts presence of COPD with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 70%.\n\nConclusionsOur results thus suggest that recruitment of fibrocytes in the bronchi may participate to lung function decline during COPD progression.\n\nClinical ImplicationsHigh density of tissue fibrocytes is associated with a deteriorated lung function and an increase in airway wall thickness. A low density tissue fibrocytes virtually eliminates the presence of COPD.\n\nCapsule summaryBlood fibrocytes assessed during exacerbation is a predictor of mortality in COPD. This study shows an increase of bronchial fibrocytes, that is associated with lower lung function, increased bronchial thickness and air trapping in COPD.

physiology↗