Regulatory T cells (Tregs) characterized by the expression of the master transcription factor forkhead box protein p3 (Foxp3) suppress anticancer immunity, thereby hindering protective immunosurveillance of tumours and hampering effective antitumour immune responses in tumour-bearing hosts, constitute a current research hotspot in the field. However, Tregs are also essential for the maintenance of the immune tolerance of the body and share many molecular signalling pathways with conventional T cells, including cytotoxic T cells, the primary mediators of tumour immunity. Hence, the inability to specifically target and neutralize Tregs in the tumour microenvironment without globally compromising self-tolerance poses a significant challenge. Here, we review recent advances in characterizing tumour-infiltrating Tregs with a focus on the functional roles of costimulatory and inhibitory receptors in Tregs, evaluate their potential as clinical targets, and systematically summarize their roles in potential treatment strategies. Also, we propose modalities to integrate our increasing knowledge on Tregs phenotype and function for the rational design of checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapies. Finally, we propose possible treatment strategies that can be used to develop Treg-targeted therapies.

/pdf/regulatory-t-cells-in-tumor-microenvironment-new-mechanisms-4c8dmp49vz.pdf

Regulatory T cells in tumor microenvironment: new mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies and future prospects

The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM "normalization" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment. 

/pdf/extracellular-matrix-remodeling-in-tumor-progression-and-2bn3uc51.pdf

Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments

Maintenance of homeostatic immune surveillance and development of effective adaptive immune responses require precise regulation of spatial and temporal lymphocyte trafficking throughout the body to ensure pathogen clearance and memory generation. Dysregulation of lymphocyte activation and migration can lead to impaired adaptive immunity, recurrent infections, and an array of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation. Central to the recruitment of T cells, integrins are cell surface receptors that regulate adhesion, signal transduction, and migration. With 24 integrin pairs having been discovered to date, integrins are defined not only by the composition of the heterodimeric pair but by cell-type specific expression and their ligands. Furthermore, integrins not only facilitate adhesion but also induce intracellular signaling and have recently been uncovered as mechanosensors providing additional complexity to the signaling pathways. Among several leukocyte-specific integrins, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1 or αLβ2; CD11a/CD18) is a key T cell integrin, which plays a major role in regulating T cell activation and migration. Adhesion to LFA-1's ligand, intracellular adhesion receptor 1 (ICAM-1) facilitates firm endothelium adhesion, prolonged contact with antigen-presenting cells, and binding to target cells for killing. While the downstream signaling pathways utilized by LFA-1 are vastly conserved they allow for highly disparate responses. Here, we summarize the roles of LFA-1 and ongoing studies to better understand its functions and regulation.

/pdf/lfa-1-in-t-cell-migration-and-differentiation-2ovvq7zalt.pdf

LFA-1 in T Cell Migration and Differentiation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses a spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders driven by dysregulated immune responses against gut microbiota. We integrated single-cell RNA and antigen receptor sequencing to elucidate key components, cellular states, and clonal relationships of the peripheral and gastrointestinal mucosal immune systems in health and ulcerative colitis (UC). UC was associated with an increase in IgG1+ plasma cells in colonic tissue, increased colonic regulatory T cells characterized by elevated expression of the transcription factor ZEB2, and an enrichment of a γδ T cell subset in the peripheral blood. Moreover, we observed heterogeneity in CD8+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells in colonic tissue, with four transcriptionally distinct states of differentiation observed across health and disease. In the setting of UC, there was a marked shift of clonally related CD8+ TRM cells toward an inflammatory state, mediated, in part, by increased expression of the T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin. Together, these results provide a detailed atlas of transcriptional changes occurring in adaptive immune cells in the context of UC and suggest a role for CD8+ TRM cells in IBD.

Heterogeneity and clonal relationships of adaptive immune cells in ulcerative colitis revealed by single-cell analyses

Beta2-integrins are complex leukocyte-specific adhesion molecules that are essential for leukocyte (e.g., neutrophil, lymphocyte) trafficking, as well as for other immunological processes such as neutrophil phagocytosis and ROS production, and T cell activation. Intriguingly, however, they have also been found to negatively regulate cytokine responses, maturation, and migratory responses in myeloid cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells, revealing new, and unexpected roles of these molecules in immunity. Because of their essential role in leukocyte function, a lack of expression or function of beta2-integrins causes rare immunodeficiency syndromes, Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I, and type III (LAD-I and LAD-III). LAD-I is caused by reduced or lost expression of beta2-integrins, whilst in LAD-III, beta2-integrins are expressed but dysfunctional because a major integrin cytoplasmic regulator, kindlin-3, is mutated. Interestingly, some LAD-related phenotypes such as periodontitis have recently been shown to be due to an uncontrolled inflammatory response rather than to an uncontrolled infection, as was previously thought. This review will focus on the recent advances concerning the regulation and functions of beta2-integrins in leukocyte trafficking, immune suppression, and immune deficiency disease.

/pdf/beta2-integrins-and-interacting-proteins-in-leukocyte-2hk6mr33of.pdf

Beta2-Integrins and Interacting Proteins in Leukocyte Trafficking, Immune Suppression, and Immunodeficiency Disease.

Talin, a cytoskeletal protein essential in mediating integrin activation, has been previously shown to be involved in the regulation of T cell proliferation and function In this study, we describe a role for talin in maintaining the homeostasis and survival of the regulatory T (Treg) cell pool T cell-specific deletion of talin in Tln1fl/flCd4Cre mice resulted in spontaneous lymphocyte activation, primarily due to numerical and functional deficiencies of Treg cells in the periphery Peripheral talin-deficient Treg cells were unable to maintain high expression of IL-2Rα, resulting in impaired IL-2 signaling and ultimately leading to increased apoptosis through downregulation of prosurvival proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 The requirement for talin in maintaining high IL-2Rα expression by Treg cells was due, in part, to integrin LFA-1-mediated interactions between Treg cells and dendritic cells Collectively, our data suggest a critical role for talin in Treg cell-mediated maintenance of immune homeostasis

Talin Plays a Critical Role in the Maintenance of the Regulatory T Cell Pool.

Maintenance of the regulatory T (Treg) cell pool is essential for peripheral tolerance and prevention of autoimmunity. Integrins, heterodimeric transmembrane proteins consisting of α and β subunits that mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions, play an important role in facilitating Treg cell contact-mediated suppression. In this article, we show that integrin activation plays an essential, previously unappreciated role in maintaining murine Treg cell function. Treg cell-specific loss of talin, a β integrin-binding protein, or expression of talin(L325R), a mutant that selectively abrogates integrin activation, resulted in lethal systemic autoimmunity. This dysfunction could be attributed, in part, to a global dysregulation of the Treg cell transcriptome. Activation of integrin α4β1 led to increased suppressive capacity of the Treg cell pool, suggesting that modulating integrin activation on Treg cells may be a useful therapeutic strategy for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Taken together, these results reveal a critical role for integrin-mediated signals in controlling peripheral tolerance by virtue of maintaining Treg cell function.

/pdf/integrin-activation-controls-regulatory-t-cell-mediated-u4xoxoomsr.pdf

Integrin Activation Controls Regulatory T Cell–Mediated Peripheral Tolerance

CD73 is a membrane-bound enzyme catalyzing the final step of the conversion of extracellular ATP to adenosine, which then binds to its receptors and signals via cAMP and non-cAMP-mediated pathways. While CD45RB low helper T cells from wild-type and CD73 KO mice were both highly enriched in the FoxP3 + regulatory T cell transcription factor, cells from CD73 KO mice produced more IFN-γ and IL-17A and could not inhibit effector T cell proliferation and function in vitro . In vivo CD73 expression by both regulatory (CD45RB low ) and effector (CD45RB high ) T cells was required for Treg to prevent effector T cell-induced colitis following adoptive transfer into immunodeficient Rag1 KO recipients. The cytokine profile in the intestine was skewed compared to the protective combination of wild-type CD45RB low and wild-type CD45RB high . Donor CD45RB low recovered from colitic mice had reduced FoxP3 and CD45RB high phenotype shifted from Th17 to Th1. If recipients lacked both Rag1 and CD73, wild-type CD45RB low Th cells did not protect from T cell-induced colitis. CD45RB low Th cells lost FoxP3, acquired Th1 and Th17 transcription factors, depleted recipient’s innate lymphoid cells and caused disease. Prior adoptive transfer of innate lymphoid cells protected these recipients from disease and maintained FoxP3 expression on cells of the CD45RB low pool. Thus, CD73 on cells of both adaptive and innate immunity is required for effective regulatory T cell function in intestinal homeostasis.

CD73 protects Treg and ILC in the control of Th cell mediated colitis (IRC5P.632)

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Talin Plays a Critical Role in the Maintenance of the Regulatory T Cell Pool.

Integrin Activation Controls Regulatory T Cell–Mediated Peripheral Tolerance

CD73 protects Treg and ILC in the control of Th cell mediated colitis (IRC5P.632)