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Weiss, E. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Weiss, E. S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

immgenT: A Comprehensive Reference of Convergent T-cell States in the Mouse

The immgenT collaborative project generated a comprehensive molecular atlas of T cells spanning virtually all mouse organs and disease states, profiling ~800,000 cells from 750 samples with RNA, 128-plex surface protein, and {beta}TCR sequence. Applying a deep generative model to joint RNA and protein data defined the landscape of T-cell states organized into eight lineages and 107 robust clusters, integrating similar cells from different contexts, and resolving prior nomenclatures. Analysis of effector molecules, transcription factors and modules showed that both immunological functions and regulatory programs are shared across cell states. This framework provides a stable, reusable reference, demonstrated by computationally integrating 16 external datasets from diverse biological contexts. A set of public web tools supports browsing of these data and mapping of any dataset onto the immgenT framework. These results propose a molecular classification of T cells organized around a set of shared states reused across immunological contexts.

immunology↗

Epidermal Resident Memory T Cell Fitness Requires Antigen Encounter in the Skin

CD8+ tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) develop from effectors that seed peripheral tissues where they persist providing defense against subsequent challenges. TRM persistence requires autocrine TGF{beta} transactivated by integrins expressed on keratinocytes. TRM precursors that encounter antigen in the epidermis during development outcompete bystander TRM for TGF{beta} resulting in enhanced persistence. ScRNA-seq analysis of epidermal TRM revealed that local antigen experience in the skin resulted in an enhanced differentiation signature in comparison with bystanders. Upon recall, TRM displayed greater proliferation dictated by affinity of antigen experienced during epidermal development. Finally, local antigen experienced TRM differentially expressed TGF{beta}RIII, which increases avidity of the TGF{beta}RI/II receptor complex for TGF{beta}. Selective ablation of Tgfbr3 reduced local antigen experienced TRM capacity to persist, rendering them phenotypically like bystander TRM. Thus, antigen driven TCR signaling in the epidermis during TRM differentiation results in a lower TGF{beta} requirement for persistence and increased proliferative capacity that together enhance epidermal TRM fitness.

immunology↗