CCL5 Release by CCR9+ CD8 T Cells: A Potential Contributor to Immunopathology of Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
Hinrichs, Anneline C.; Blokland, Sofie L.M.; Kruize, Aike A.; Lafeber, Floris P.J.; Leavis, Helen L.; van Roon, Joel A.G.
(2022) Frontiers in Immunology, volume 13, pp. 1 - 10
(Article)
Abstract
Introduction: Increased CCL5 expression and CD8 T cells have been shown to be pivotal regulators of immunopathology in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and pSS-like disease. Increased CCL5 expression by CCR9+ CD4 T cells has previously been implicated as a contributor to immunopathology in pSS. The role of CD8 T cells
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and in particular CCR9+ CD8 T cells and their potential to secrete CCL5 has not previously been studied in pSS. In this study we investigated both CCR9 and CCL5 expression by CD8 T cells in pSS patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods: CCR9 expression on CD8 T cells from peripheral blood was compared between patients with pSS and HC by flow cytometry. Intracellular CCL5 expression by naive, memory and effector CCR9- and CCR9+ CD8 T cells was assessed. In addition, the capacity and pace of CCL5 release upon T cell activation was determined for all subsets and compared with CD4 T cells. Results: The frequency of circulating CCR9+ CD8 T cells in pSS patients is increased compared to HC. Antigen-experienced CD8 T cells, especially CCR9+ effector CD8 T cells, express the highest CCL5 levels, and release the highest levels of CCL5 upon activation. Memory and effector CD8 T cells of pSS patients express significantly less CCL5 and subsequently release less CCL5 upon stimulation compared to HC. CCR9+ CD8 T cells rapidly release CCL5 and significantly more than CCR9+ CD4 T cells. Conclusion: CCR9+ CD8 T cells express more CCL5 than CCR9- CD8 T cells. CCL5 is rapidly released upon activation, resulting in reduced intracellular expression. Reduced CCL5 expression by an elevated number of antigen-experienced CCR9-expressing CD8 T cells in pSS patients points towards increased release in vivo. This suggests that CCL5 release by CCR9+ CD8 T cells contributes to immunopathology in pSS.
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Keywords: autoimmunity, CCL5, CCR9+ T cells, CD8 T cells, primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), transcriptomics, Humans, Sjogren's Syndrome/blood, Chemokine CCL5/immunology, Receptors, CCR/immunology, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology, Flow Cytometry, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology, Lymphocyte Count, Immunology and Allergy, Immunology, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Journal Article
ISSN: 1664-3224
Publisher: Frontiers Media S. A.
Note: Funding Information: We’d like to thank all participating patients and controls, the Core Flow Facility of the Center for Translational Immunology from the UMC Utrecht and Sven Olek and Ulrich Hofmueller from Epiontis GmbH (Berlin, Germany). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Hinrichs, Blokland, Kruize, Lafeber, Leavis and van Roon.
(Peer reviewed)