The biology of reconstitution of T cell populations following acute loss remains incompletely characterized. Using murine models, we first identified two primary pathways of T cell immune reconstitution, the classic, thymic-dependent pathway, and a second, thymic-independent pathway. We then identified T cell surface markers which allowed identification, by phenotyping of reconstituted T cell populations, of the pathways which had given rise to them, and then applied this information to the characterization of T cell reconstitution in patients. Initial work established the applicability of this approach to the study of T cell population regeneration in humans who were young. Recent work verified validity of the approach and established the course of T cell immune reconstitution in adult humans over an extended period time for each of the two primary pathways. This work showed an essential role for the thymus in regenerating CD4+ T cells quantitatively. CD8+ T cells can numerically be reconstituted by peripheral expansion for immune reconstitution, but both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells require thymic activity for maintenance or regeneration of repertoire diversity. These findings have led in turn to a research emphasis on understanding mechanisms which control thymic function, and new treatments, including vaccine strategies, to treat cancer in the setting of a regenerating immune system. Four models of thymic regulation have been developed;this work has progressed to the developoment of two new project areas of research -- one focused on points of regulation of thymus function and one on introducing agents into clinical trials. The work addressed in this project has also led to efforts in investigating IL-7 effects on the maturation of thymocytes. We have identified IL-7 as a negative regulator of thymopoiesis as well as being essential for thymocyte development. These dual roles are dose dependent and negative regulation at higher concentrations is mediated through control of Notch signaling -- which is central to T/B lineage commitment. Additionally, we have worked to identify genes which might regulate the thymus, and have characterized a gene called Tbata (previously SPATIAL) which is a negative regulator acting within the stromal cell compartment. It appears to exert its effect through control of cell cycle, specifically through regulation of the Nedd8 pathway. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which androgen signaling blockade and IGF-1 modulate thymus function were characterized and map points of regulation of proliferation to the epithelial cell compartment of the thymus. A new transgenic murine model has been developed to investigate signaling pathways involved in this regulation. This new model involves the ability to deplete the peripheral T cell compartment without ancillary tissue injury. Using the information that a key control point of thymus regulation is the control of thymic epithelial cell proliferation, gene arrays are being carried out at fixed time intervals on isolated cells to identify activated cell pathways of division. In parallel, LC/MS is being used to identify new protein species that may act as ligands for those identified pathways. The role of IL-7 as a possible regulator of thymus function was noted above;its role in peripheral homeostasis has been further investigated by characteizing IL-7 receptor regulation among T cell subsets. The purpose in all of these studies is to understand the biology of T cell homeostasis in order to develop new approaches to therapy for patients in whom T cell populations are depleted with consequences of impaired immunity. To date, IL-7 has been introduced in humans and a clinical trial with androgen blockade is in progress. The IL-7 trials was interrupted due to lack of drug supply;the trial is to resume within the next year. The trial with androgen blockage shows early positive results which need to be confirmed as the trial continues. The work with IL-7 receptor modulation has shown a complex pattern of differential receptor regulation among subsets with the apparent effect of favoring the sustaining of primitive naive T cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Investigator-Initiated Intramural Research Projects (ZIA)
Project #
1ZIABC010525-12
Application #
8937763
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Basic Sciences
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Williams, Kirsten M; Holter-Chakrabarty, Jennifer; Lindenberg, Liza et al. (2018) Imaging of subclinical haemopoiesis after stem-cell transplantation in patients with haematological malignancies: a prospective pilot study. Lancet Haematol 5:e44-e52
Farthing, Don E; Buxbaum, Nataliya P; Lucas, Philip J et al. (2017) Comparing DNA enrichment of proliferating cells following administration of different stable isotopes of heavy water. Sci Rep 7:4043
Williams, Kirsten M; Moore, Amber R; Lucas, Philip J et al. (2017) FLT3 ligand regulates thymic precursor cells and hematopoietic stem cells through interactions with CXCR4 and the marrow niche. Exp Hematol 52:40-49
Curtis, Lauren M; Pirsl, Filip; Steinberg, Seth M et al. (2017) Predictors for Permanent Discontinuation of Systemic Immunosuppression in Severely Affected Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Patients. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant :
Farthing, Christine A; Farthing, Don E; Gress, Ronald E et al. (2017) Determination of l-glutamic acid and ?-aminobutyric acid in mouse brain tissue utilizing GC-MS/MS. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 1068-1069:64-70
Kim, Hye Kyung; Waickman, Adam T; Castro, Ehydel et al. (2016) Distinct IL-7 signaling in recent thymic emigrants versus mature naïve T cells controls T-cell homeostasis. Eur J Immunol 46:1669-80
Flomerfelt, Francis A; Gress, Ronald E (2016) Bone Marrow and Fetal Liver Radiation Chimeras. Methods Mol Biol 1323:109-15
Flomerfelt, Francis A; Gress, Ronald E (2016) Analysis of Cell Proliferation and Homeostasis Using EdU Labeling. Methods Mol Biol 1323:211-20
Williams, Joy A; Zhang, Jingjing; Jeon, Hyein et al. (2014) Thymic medullary epithelium and thymocyte self-tolerance require cooperation between CD28-CD80/86 and CD40-CD40L costimulatory pathways. J Immunol 192:630-40
Farthing, Don E; Buxbaum, Nataliya P; Bare, Catherine V et al. (2013) Sensitive GC-MS/MS method to measure deuterium labeled deoxyadenosine in DNA from limited mouse cell populations. Anal Chem 85:4613-20

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