Citations

Abstract Rationale Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a complex and heterogeneous disease. Given this, we reasoned that differences in genetic profiles may be associated with unique clinical and radiologic features. Computational image analysis, sometimes referred to as radiomics, provides objective, quantitative assessments of radiologic features in subjects with pulmonary fibrosis. Objectives To determine if the genetic risk profile of patients with IPF identifies unique computational imaging phenotypes. Methods Participants with IPF were included in this study if they had genotype data and computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest available for computational image analysis. The extent of lung fibrosis and the likelihood of a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern were scored automatically using two separate, previously validated deep learning techniques for CT analysis. UIP pattern was also classified visually by radiologists according to established criteria. Results Among 329 participants with IPF, MUC5B and ZKSCAN1 were independently associated with the deep learning–based UIP score. None of the common variants were associated with fibrosis extent by computational imaging. We did not find an association between MUC5B or ZKSCAN1 and visually assessed UIP pattern. Conclusions Select genetic variants are associated with computer-based classification of UIP on CT in this IPF cohort. Analysis of radiologic features using deep learning may enhance our ability to identify important genotype–phenotype associations in fibrotic lung diseases.

This scientific commentary refers to ‘NMDA receptor autoantibodies primarily impair the extrasynaptic compartment’ by Jamet et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae163).

Abstract Ligation of the Fc γ R on NK cells by Ab-coated target cells initiates a mode of killing referred to as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). There is clear evidence that the release from NK cells of granules containing pore-forming proteins and serine proteases can result in the rapid (within minutes) cell death of Ab-coated targets. However, little information is available as to whether NK cells can initiate subsequent killing through granule-independent mechanisms and as to the mechanisms that down-regulate NK cell-mediated responses. We demonstrate in this study that FcR stimulation of activated human NK cells not only induces granule exocytosis, but also subsequently results in the transcriptional up-regulation of Fas ligand. These FcR-stimulated NK cells can then kill targets that bear Fas (CD95/APO-1), as this cytotoxicity can be inhibited by blocking Abs to the Fas receptor. In addition, as resting NK cells become activated, their Fas receptors become competent to deliver autocrine suicide signals. We demonstrate in this work that the interaction of Fas ligand on the FcR-stimulated NK cells with their Fas receptors can result in apoptosis of the NK cells. These results suggest that the FcR-induced expression of Fas ligand on activated NK cells can critically influence the capacity of these cells to mediate paracrine and autocrine cell death.

Abstract Activation-induced cell death of peripheral T cells results from the interaction between Fas and Fas ligand. Resting peripheral T cells are resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis and become susceptible only after their activation. We have investigated the molecular mechanism mediating the sensitization of resting peripheral T cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis following TCR stimulation. TCR activation decreases the steady state protein levels of FLIP (FLICE-like inhibitory protein), an inhibitor of the Fas signaling pathway. Reconstitution of intracellular FLIP levels by the addition of a soluble HIV transactivator protein-FLIP chimera completely restores resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis in TCR primary T cells. Inhibition of IL-2 production by cyclosporin A, or inhibition of IL-2 signaling by rapamycin or anti-IL-2 neutralizing Abs prevents the decrease in FLIP levels and confers resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis following T cell activation. Using cell cycle-blocking agents, we demonstrate that activated T cells arrested in G1 phase contain high levels of FLIP protein, whereas activated T cells arrested in S phase have decreased FLIP protein levels. These findings link regulation of FLIP protein levels with cell cycle progression and provide an explanation for the increase in TCR-induced apoptosis observed during the S phase of the cell cycle.

Abstract Activation-induced cell death (AICD) is initiated by the TCR-dependent up-regulation of Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA. The subsequently generated soluble or cell-associated FasL gene products bind Fas, leading to apoptosis of the T cells. Although TCR stimulation is essential to initiate AICD, little is known about which TCR-initiated second messengers are required for FasL expression. We provide evidence in this work that T cells lacking the tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 are unable to up-regulate FasL and undergo AICD. Transfection of wild-type ZAP-70 into the ZAP-70-deficient T cells restores their sensitivity to TCR-induced apoptosis, whereas transfection of catalytically inactive ZAP-70 does not. These results provide clear evidence that ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase is essential in up-regulating FasL for TCR-induced apoptosis.

Abstract Mycoplasma arthritidis produces a soluble protein which is active for murine and human lymphocytes when presented by Ia-bearing accessory cells. By using fibroblasts transfected in vitro with various class II Ag, we demonstrated that presentation of the M. arthritidis mitogen (MAM) to T cells was mediated by E alpha-containing molecules. We also showed that splenocytes from transgenic mice expressing E alpha heterozygously (B10.TRG E alpha+) or homozygously (B10.E alpha TG +/+) underwent a similar proliferation in response to MAM as compared with the failure of control B10.TRG E alpha- splenocytes to respond to MAM. Although splenocytes from inbred C3H and CBA mice exhibited much higher proliferative responses to MAM than did those from B10.TRG.E alpha+ or B10.E alpha TG +/+ mice, flow cytometry showed similar levels of E alpha expression. Furthermore, gamma-irradiated splenocytes from B10.TRG E alpha + mice presented MAM to T hybridoma cells with a similar efficacy as did splenocytes from C3H mice. The lesser response to MAM of lymphocytes from the E alpha transgenic mice as compared with those from C3H and B10.K mice was likewise not due to differential expression of their V beta TCR. We conclude that presentation of MAM to T cells is accomplished by E alpha-containing molecules. The studies also suggest that the conserved, nonpolymorphic regions of class II molecules may play an important role in host immune response to microbial products.