Tissue-resident macrophage populations constitute a mosaic of phenotypes, yet how their metabolic states link to the range of phenotypes and functions in vivo is still poorly defined. Here, using... Show moreTissue-resident macrophage populations constitute a mosaic of phenotypes, yet how their metabolic states link to the range of phenotypes and functions in vivo is still poorly defined. Here, using high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry, we observe distinct metabolic profiles between different organs and functionally link acetyl CoA carboxylase activity to efferocytotic capacity. Additionally, differences in metabolism are evident within populations from a specific site, corresponding to relative stages of macrophage maturity. Immune perturbation with intestinal helminth infection increases alternative activation and metabolic rewiring of monocyte-derived macrophage populations, while resident TIM4+ intestinal macrophages remain immunologically and metabolically hyporesponsive. Similar metabolic signatures in alternatively-activated macrophages are seen from different tissues using additional helminth models, but to different magnitudes, indicating further tissue-specific contributions to metabolic states. Thus, our high-dimensional, flow-based metabolic analyses indicates complex metabolic heterogeneity and dynamics of tissue-resident macrophage populations at homeostasis and during helminth infection.Gauging the in vivo metabolism of immune cells at the single-cell level has proven challenging. Here the authors use spectral flow cytometry to investigate metabolic profiles in tissue-resident macrophages from several organs and changes in response to helminth infection. Show less
Zande, H.J.P. van der; Brombacher, E.C.; Lambooij, J.M.; Pelgrom, L.R.; Zawistowska-Deniziak, A.; Patente, T.A.; ... ; Guigas, B. 2023
Obesity-associated metabolic inflammation drives the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, notably through modulating innate and adaptive immune cells in metabolic organs. The... Show moreObesity-associated metabolic inflammation drives the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, notably through modulating innate and adaptive immune cells in metabolic organs. The nutrient sensor liver kinase B1 (LKB1) has recently been shown to control cellular metabolism and T cell priming functions of DCs. Here, we report that hepatic DCs from high-fat diet-fed (HFD-fed) obese mice display increased LKB1 phosphorylation and that LKB1 deficiency in DCs (CD11c Delta LKB1) worsened HFD-driven hepatic steatosis and impaired glucose homeostasis. Loss of LKB1 in DCs was associated with increased expression of Th17-polarizing cytokines and accumulation of hepatic IL-17A+ Th cells in HFD-fed mice. Importantly, IL-17A neutralization rescued metabolic perturbations in HFD-fed CD11c Delta LKB1 mice. Mechanistically, deficiency of the canonical LKB1 target AMPK in HFD-fed CD11c Delta AMPK alpha 1 mice recapitulated neither the hepatic Th17 phenotype nor the disrupted metabolic homeostasis, suggesting the involvement of other and/ or additional LKB1 downstream effectors. We indeed provide evidence that the control of Th17 responses by DCs via LKB1 is actually dependent on both AMPK alpha 1 salt-inducible kinase signaling. Altogether, our data reveal a key role for LKB1 signaling in DCs in protection against obesityinduced metabolic dysfunctions by limiting hepatic Th17 responses. Show less
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammation of the intestinal tract with currently not well-understood pathogenesis. In addition to the involvement of immune cells,... Show moreInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammation of the intestinal tract with currently not well-understood pathogenesis. In addition to the involvement of immune cells, increasing studies show an important role for fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of IBD. Previous work showed that glycolysis is the preferred energy source for fibroblasts in fibrotic diseases. 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) is a key kinase supporting glycolysis. Increased expression of PFKFB3 in several cancers and inflammatory diseases has been previously reported, but the metabolic status of fibroblasts and the role of PFKFB3 in patients with IBD are currently unknown. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the role of glycolysis and PFKFB3 expression in IBD. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) revealed that glycolysis was significantly higher in IBD intestinal samples, compared to healthy controls, which was confirmed in the validation cohorts of IBD patients. Single-cell sequencing data indicated that PFKFB3 expression was higher in IBD-derived stromal cells. In vitro, PFKFB3 expression in IBD-derived fibroblasts was increased after the stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Using seahorse real-time cell metabolic analysis, inflamed fibroblasts were shown to have a higher extracellular acidification rate and a lower oxygen consumption rate, which could be reversed by inhibition of JAK/STAT pathway. Furthermore, increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in fibroblasts could be reverted by PFK15, a specific inhibitor of PFKFB3. In vivo experiments showed that PFK15 reduced the severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)- and Tcell transfer induced colitis, which was accompanied by a reduction in immune cell infiltration in the intestines. These findings suggest that increased stromal PFKFB3 expression contributes to inflammation and the pathological function of fibroblasts in IBD. Inhibition of PFKFB3 suppressed their inflammatory characteristics. Show less
Pelgrom, L.R.; Patente, T.A.; Otto, F.; Nouwen, L.V.; Ozir-Fazalalikhan, A.; Ham, A.J. van der; ... ; Everts, B. 2022
How mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a key regulator of cellular metabolism, affects dendritic cell (DC) metabolism and T cell-priming capacity has primarily been investigated in... Show moreHow mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a key regulator of cellular metabolism, affects dendritic cell (DC) metabolism and T cell-priming capacity has primarily been investigated in vitro, but how mTORC1 regulates this in vivo remains poorly defined. Here, using mice deficient for mTORC1 component raptor in DCs, we find that loss of mTORC1 negatively affects glycolytic and fatty acid metabolism and maturation of conventional DCs, particularly cDC1s. Nonetheless, antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell responses to infection are not compromised and are even enhanced following skin immunization. This is associated with increased activation of Langerhans cells and a subpopulation of EpCAM-expressing cDC1s, of which the latter show an increased physical interaction with CD8(+) T cells in situ. Together, this work reveals that mTORC1 limits CD8(+) T cell priming in vivo by differentially orchestrating the metabolism and immunogenicity of distinct antigen-presenting cell subsets, which may have implications for clinical use of mTOR inhibitors. Show less
Zawistowska-Deniziak, A.; Lambooij, J.M.; Kalinowska, A.; Patente, T.A.; Lapinski, M.; Zande, H.J.P. van der; ... ; Guigas, B. 2022
Background:The parasitic trematode Fasciola hepatica evades host immune defenses through secretion of various immunomodulatory molecules. Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (fhFABPs) are among the main... Show moreBackground:The parasitic trematode Fasciola hepatica evades host immune defenses through secretion of various immunomodulatory molecules. Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (fhFABPs) are among the main excreted/secreted proteins and have been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties. However, little is currently known regarding their impact on dendritic cells (DCs) and their subsequent capacity to prime specific CD4(+) T cell subsets. Methodology/Principal Findings:The immunomodulatory effects of both native F. hepatica extracts and recombinant fhFABPs were assessed on monocyte-derived human DCs (moDCs) and the underlying mechanism was next investigated using various approaches, including DC-allogenic T cell co-culture and DC phenotyping through transcriptomic, proteomic and FACS analyses. We mainly showed that fhFABP1 induced a tolerogenic-like phenotype in LPS-stimulated moDCs characterized by a dose-dependent increase in the cell-surface tolerogenic marker CD103 and IL-10 secretion, while DC co-stimulatory markers were not affected. A significant decrease in secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12p70 and IL-6 was also observed. In addition, these effects were associated with an increase in both Th2-on-Th1 ratio and IL-10 secretion by CD4(+) T cells following DC-T cell co-culture. RNA sequencing and targeted proteomic analyses identified thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) as a non-canonical factor highly expressed and secreted by fhFABP1-primed moDCs. The effect of fhFABP1 on T cell skewing was abolished when using a TSP-1 blocking antibody during DC-T cell co-culture. Immunomodulation by helminth molecules has been linked to improved metabolic homeostasis during obesity. Although fhFABP1 injection in high-fat diet-fed obese mice induced a potent Th2 immune response in adipose tissue, it did not improved insulin sensitivity or glucose homeostasis. Conclusions/Significance: We show that fhFABP1 modulates T cell polarization, notably by promoting DC TSP-1 secretion in vitro, without affecting metabolic homeostasis in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Show less
Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that play a crucial role in the priming and differentiation of CD4(+) T cells into several distinct subsets including effector T... Show moreDendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that play a crucial role in the priming and differentiation of CD4(+) T cells into several distinct subsets including effector T helper (Th) 1, Th17 and Th2 cells, as well as regulatory T cells (Tregs). It is becoming increasingly clear that cellular metabolism shapes the functional properties of DCs. Specifically, the ability of DCs to drive polarization of different Th cell subsets may be orchestrated by the engagement of distinct metabolic pathways. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in the DC metabolism field, by focusing on how cellular metabolism of DCs shapes their priming and polarization of distinct Th cell responses. Show less
