Nrf2 regulates CD4+ T cell-induced acute graft-versus-host disease in mice.
Jennifer J TsaiEnrico VelardiYusuke ShonoKimon V ArgyropoulosAmanda M HollandOdette M SmithNury L YimUttam K RaoFabiana M KreinesSophie R LiebermanLauren F YoungAmina LazrakSalma YoussefYa-Yuan FuChen LiuCecilia LezcanoGeorge F MurphyIl-Kang NaRobert R JenqAlan M HanashJarrod A DudakovMarcel R M van den BrinkPublished in: Blood (2018)
Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that is well known for its role in regulating the cellular redox pathway. Although there is mounting evidence suggesting a critical role for Nrf2 in hematopoietic stem cells and innate leukocytes, little is known about its involvement in T-cell biology. In this study, we identified a novel role for Nrf2 in regulating alloreactive T-cell function during allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). We observed increased expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 upon T-cell activation in vitro, especially in CD4+ donor T cells after allo-HCT. Allo-HCT recipients of Nrf2 -/- donor T cells had significantly less acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-induced mortality, morbidity, and pathology. This reduction in GVHD was associated with the persistence of Helios+ donor regulatory T cells in the allograft, as well as defective upregulation of the gut-homing receptor LPAM-1 on alloreactive CD8+ T cells. Additionally, Nrf2 -/- donor CD8+ T cells demonstrated intact cytotoxicity against allogeneic target cells. Tumor-bearing allo-HCT recipients of Nrf2 -/- donor T cells had overall improved survival as a result of preserved graft-versus-tumor activity and reduced GVHD activity. Our findings characterized a previously unrecognized role for Nrf2 in T-cell function, as well as revealed a novel therapeutic target to improve the outcomes of allo-HCT.
Keyphrases
- oxidative stress
- stem cells
- regulatory t cells
- cell cycle arrest
- transcription factor
- nuclear factor
- induced apoptosis
- bone marrow
- stem cell transplantation
- immune response
- poor prognosis
- toll like receptor
- dendritic cells
- adipose tissue
- cardiovascular disease
- risk factors
- allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
- signaling pathway
- coronary artery disease
- low dose
- metabolic syndrome
- high dose
- cell proliferation
- hepatitis b virus
- insulin resistance
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- weight loss
- aortic dissection
- respiratory failure