Loss of Nrf2 in bone marrow-derived macrophages impairs antigen-driven CD8+ T cell function by limiting GSH and Cys availability
NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), known to protect against reactive oxygen species, has recently been reported to resolve acute inflammatory responses in activated macrophages. Consequently, disruption of Nrf2 promotes a proinflammatory macrophage phenotype. In the current study, we addressed the impact of this macrophage phenotype on CD8(+) T cell activation by using an antigen-driven coculture model consisting of Nrf2(-/-) and Nrf2(+/+) bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMΦ) and transgenic OT-1 CD8(+) T cells. OT-1 CD8(+) T cells encode a T cell receptor that specifically recognizes MHC class I-presented ovalbumin OVA(257-264) peptide, thereby causing a downstream T cell activation. Interes…
Wheat Consumption Aggravates Colitis in Mice via Amylase Trypsin Inhibitor–mediated Dysbiosis
Background & Aims Wheat has become the world's major staple and its consumption correlates with prevalence of noncommunicable disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases. Amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs), a component of wheat, activate the intestine's innate immune response via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). We investigated the effects of wheat and ATIs on severity of colitis and fecal microbiota in mice. Methods C57BL/6 wild-type and Tlr4–/– mice were fed wheat- or ATI-containing diets or a wheat-free (control) diet and then given dextran sodium sulfate to induce colitis; we also studied Il10–/– mice, which develop spontaneous colitis. Changes in fecal bacteria were assessed by taxa-speci…
Microenvironmental Th9 and Th17 lymphocytes induce metastatic spreading in lung cancer.
Immune microenvironment plays a critical role in lung cancer control versus progression and metastasis. In this investigation, we explored the effect of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte subpopulations on lung cancer biology by studying in vitro cocultures, in vivo mouse models, and human lung cancer tissue. Lymphocyte conditioned media (CM) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration in both primary human lung cancer cells and cell lines. Correspondingly, major accumulation of Th9 and Th17 cells was detected in human lung cancer tissue and correlated with poor survival. Coculturing lung cancer cells with Th9/Th17 cells or exposing them to the respective CM induced EMT in canc…