Our long-term goal is to investigate the mechanisms responsible for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) pathogenesis, which will lead to new approaches designed to inhibit GVHD. Emerging data have indicated that the presence of pro- or anti-inflammatory signals in the local environment control naove T cell differentiation into pathogenic or suppressor cells, respectively, which have a reciprocal relationship. Recent data indicate that there is a cellular regulatory network operating at the tissue level to control the decision and fate of naove T cells. The network is created by the interaction of T cell immunoglobulin, mucin-containing type I membrane glycoproteins (TIM family) present on T cells and S-type lectins (galectins) that recognize TIM carbohydrates present on immune system cells and on a wide range of tissue cells. Tim-3 is expressed on differentiated T effector cells with the highest density on pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells. Galectin-9 (gal-9) has been identified the ligand for Tim-3, and is upregulated in inflamed tissues. A major function of the Tim-3/gal-9 is to limit immune responses under conditions of tissue inflammation and injury. Conversely, in vivo blockade of Tim- 3/gal-9 interaction increases Th1 cells within inflamed tissues. In contrast to the inhibitory Tim-3 signals on T effectors, gal-9 signals appear to support CD4+25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) generation and function. Our preliminary data indicate that the Tim-3/gal-9 pathway is upregulated in GVHD tissues and on T effector cells. We have found that the Tim-3/gal-9 pathway is a major regulator of GVHD lethality. Surprisingly dichotomous effects of pathway blockade were seen in recipients of unmanipulated vs. Treg-depleted T cell grafts.
Two aims are proposed that will provide insights into GVHD pathogenesis, Treg cell biology, and further elucidate the unique mechanisms by which the Tim-3/gal-9 pathway regulates immune responses.
In aim 1, we will define the Tim-3/gal-9 dependent mechanisms regulating GVHD pathogenesis and severity.
In aim 2, we will devise novel Tim-3/gal-9 based clinically relevant therapeutic approaches to inhibit GVHD early and to augment graft- versus-leukemia later post-BMT.

Public Health Relevance

Our goal is to develop clinically relevant approaches that will facilitate adoptive T cell immunotherapy to treat patients with cancer. The fundamental insights gained from these studies will have broad implications relevant to both cancer therapy and treatment of infectious diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL056067-17
Application #
8134396
Study Section
Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy Study Section (CII)
Program Officer
Di Fronzo, Nancy L
Project Start
1995-08-01
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$370,402
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Li, Yue; Guan, Xiaoqun; Liu, Weiren et al. (2018) Helminth-Induced Production of TGF-? and Suppression of Graft-versus-Host Disease Is Dependent on IL-4 Production by Host Cells. J Immunol 201:2910-2922
Li, Yue; Liu, Weiren; Guan, Xiaqun et al. (2018) STAT6 and Furin Are Successive Triggers for the Production of TGF-? by T Cells. J Immunol 201:2612-2623
Bachanova, Veronika; Sarhan, Dhifaf; DeFor, Todd E et al. (2018) Haploidentical natural killer cells induce remissions in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with low levels of immune-suppressor cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 67:483-494
Blazar, Bruce R; MacDonald, Kelli P A; Hill, Geoffrey R (2018) Immune regulatory cell infusion for graft-versus-host disease prevention and therapy. Blood 131:2651-2660
Zitzer, Nina C; Snyder, Katiri; Meng, Xiamoei et al. (2018) MicroRNA-155 Modulates Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease by Impacting T Cell Expansion, Migration, and Effector Function. J Immunol 200:4170-4179
Hülsdünker, Jan; Ottmüller, Katja J; Neeff, Hannes P et al. (2018) Neutrophils provide cellular communication between ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes at graft-versus-host disease onset. Blood 131:1858-1869
Sarhan, Dhifaf; Hippen, Keli L; Lemire, Amanda et al. (2018) Adaptive NK Cells Resist Regulatory T-cell Suppression Driven by IL37. Cancer Immunol Res 6:766-775
Kean, Leslie S; Turka, Laurence A; Blazar, Bruce R (2017) Advances in targeting co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory pathways in transplantation settings: the Yin to the Yang of cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 276:192-212
Zeiser, Robert; Blazar, Bruce R (2017) Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease - Biologic Process, Prevention, and Therapy. N Engl J Med 377:2167-2179
Zanin-Zhorov, Alexandra; Kumari, Sudha; Hippen, Keli L et al. (2017) Human in vitro-induced regulatory T cells display Dlgh1dependent and PKC-? restrained suppressive activity. Sci Rep 7:4258

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