Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans. A major component of IBD pathogenesis is the breakdown of immune tolerance toward commensal microbes normally present in the gastrointestinal tract. CD4+ regulatory T(reg) cells are essential for maintaining normal mucosal tolerance to commensal antigens and it has been suggested that disrupting the balance of T cells from an immunosuppressive Treg cell phenotype toward an inflammatory T helper (Th)17 cell phenotype can lead to colitis. Interestingly, despite the fact that the lineage defining transcription factor for Treg and Th17 cells induce opposing phenotypes and inhibit each other's function in vitro, Foxp3+ROR?t+ cells that co-express these factors can be readily identified in vivo, particularly in mucosal tissues. Thus, the mechanisms that mediate tolerogenic and effector T cell development during mucosal homeostasis remain unclear. In this proposal, we will investigate the developmental relationships between Treg, Th17, and Foxp3+ROR?t+ T cell subsets. A critical barrier in the understanding of T cell plasticity stems from the use of polyclonal populations of cells, which cannot readily distinguish between true phenotypic conversion of individual cells and the selective outgrowth of minor populations. In order to circumvent this, we will analyze T cell development at the level of individual clones through the use of T cell receptor (TCR) sequence analysis in Aim 1. Using this approach, we will be able to determine if all cells in a given population are capable of adopting an alternative phenotype or if only a small number of TCRs are capable of driving interconversion. We will also determine the ability of individual TCR specificities to drive T cell differentiation.
In Aim 2, we will focus on the developmental hierarchy of Treg, Th17, and Foxp3+ROR?t+ cells, as well as their specific antigen presentation requirements. These experiments will demonstrate which CD4+ populations, if any, are capable of generating other effector populations and identify the antigen presenting cells that are involved in this phenotypic transition. Together, the findings generated by these aims will expand the understanding of effector T cell development and plasticity in the gut, elucidate the impact of this plasticity in the early stages of IBD pathogenesis, and facilitat the development of Treg cell based therapeutics.

Public Health Relevance

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans. A major contribution to the development of this disease is the disruption of normal interactions between an individual's immune system and the commensal microorganisms of the gastrointestinal tract. We intend to study the developmental relationships between immune cells normally involved in establishing tolerance to commensal organisms and how disruption of these relationships promote the pathology of IBD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
5F30DK102214-02
Application #
8842457
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-2 (J1))
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2014-04-01
Project End
2018-03-31
Budget Start
2015-04-01
Budget End
2016-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$29,486
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Solomon, Benjamin D; Hsieh, Chyi-Song (2016) Antigen-Specific Development of Mucosal Foxp3+ROR?t+ T Cells from Regulatory T Cell Precursors. J Immunol 197:3512-3519