SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating condition characterized by CNS autoimmunity stemming from a complex etiology involving both environmental and genetic factors. Our current understanding of MS points to dysregulation of the immune system as the pathogenic culprit...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Patrick O’Connell, Maja K. Blake, Sarah Godbehere, Andrea Amalfitano, Yasser A. Aldhamen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-10-01
Series:Journal of Neuroinflammation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02594-9
_version_ 1797996102059819008
author Patrick O’Connell
Maja K. Blake
Sarah Godbehere
Andrea Amalfitano
Yasser A. Aldhamen
author_facet Patrick O’Connell
Maja K. Blake
Sarah Godbehere
Andrea Amalfitano
Yasser A. Aldhamen
author_sort Patrick O’Connell
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating condition characterized by CNS autoimmunity stemming from a complex etiology involving both environmental and genetic factors. Our current understanding of MS points to dysregulation of the immune system as the pathogenic culprit, however, it remains unknown as to how the many genes associated with increased susceptibility to MS are involved. One such gene linked to MS susceptibility and known to regulate immune function is the self-ligand immune cell receptor SLAMF7. Methods We subjected WT and SLAMF7−/− mice to multiple EAE models, compared disease severity, and comprehensively profiled the CNS immune landscape of these mice. We identified all SLAMF7-expressing CNS immune cells and compared the entire CNS immune niche between genotypes. We performed deep phenotyping and in vitro functional studies of B and T cells via spectral cytometry and BioPlex assays. Adoptive transfer studies involving the transfer of WT and SLAMF7−/− B cells into B cell-deficient mice (μMT) were also performed. Finally, B–T cell co-culture studies were performed, and a comparative cell–cell interaction network derived from scRNA-seq data of SLAMF7+ vs. SLAMF7− human CSF immune cells was constructed. Results We found SLAMF7−/− mice to be more susceptible to EAE compared to WT mice and found SLAMF7 to be expressed on numerous CNS immune cell subsets. Absence of SLAMF7 did not grossly alter the CNS immune landscape, but allowed for altered immune cell subset infiltration during EAE in a model-dependent manner. Global lack of SLAMF7 expression increased myeloid cell activation states along with augmented T cell anti-MOG immunity. B cell profiling studies revealed increased activation states of specific plasma and B cell subsets in SLAMF7−/− mice during EAE, and functional co-culture studies determined that SLAMF7−/− B cells induce exaggerated T cell activation. Adoptive transfer studies revealed that the increased susceptibility of SLAMF7−/− mice to EAE is partly B cell dependent and reconstruction of the human CSF SLAMF7-interactome found B cells to be critical to cell–cell communication between SLAMF7-expressing cells. Conclusions Our studies have identified novel roles for SLAMF7 in CNS immune regulation and B cell function, and illuminate underpinnings of the genetic association between SLAMF7 and MS.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T10:12:09Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c1243fae00384f15ace6980e927d20ed
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1742-2094
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T10:12:09Z
publishDate 2022-10-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Neuroinflammation
spelling doaj.art-c1243fae00384f15ace6980e927d20ed2022-12-22T04:30:04ZengBMCJournal of Neuroinflammation1742-20942022-10-0119111810.1186/s12974-022-02594-9SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunityPatrick O’Connell0Maja K. Blake1Sarah Godbehere2Andrea Amalfitano3Yasser A. Aldhamen4Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State UniversityAbstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating condition characterized by CNS autoimmunity stemming from a complex etiology involving both environmental and genetic factors. Our current understanding of MS points to dysregulation of the immune system as the pathogenic culprit, however, it remains unknown as to how the many genes associated with increased susceptibility to MS are involved. One such gene linked to MS susceptibility and known to regulate immune function is the self-ligand immune cell receptor SLAMF7. Methods We subjected WT and SLAMF7−/− mice to multiple EAE models, compared disease severity, and comprehensively profiled the CNS immune landscape of these mice. We identified all SLAMF7-expressing CNS immune cells and compared the entire CNS immune niche between genotypes. We performed deep phenotyping and in vitro functional studies of B and T cells via spectral cytometry and BioPlex assays. Adoptive transfer studies involving the transfer of WT and SLAMF7−/− B cells into B cell-deficient mice (μMT) were also performed. Finally, B–T cell co-culture studies were performed, and a comparative cell–cell interaction network derived from scRNA-seq data of SLAMF7+ vs. SLAMF7− human CSF immune cells was constructed. Results We found SLAMF7−/− mice to be more susceptible to EAE compared to WT mice and found SLAMF7 to be expressed on numerous CNS immune cell subsets. Absence of SLAMF7 did not grossly alter the CNS immune landscape, but allowed for altered immune cell subset infiltration during EAE in a model-dependent manner. Global lack of SLAMF7 expression increased myeloid cell activation states along with augmented T cell anti-MOG immunity. B cell profiling studies revealed increased activation states of specific plasma and B cell subsets in SLAMF7−/− mice during EAE, and functional co-culture studies determined that SLAMF7−/− B cells induce exaggerated T cell activation. Adoptive transfer studies revealed that the increased susceptibility of SLAMF7−/− mice to EAE is partly B cell dependent and reconstruction of the human CSF SLAMF7-interactome found B cells to be critical to cell–cell communication between SLAMF7-expressing cells. Conclusions Our studies have identified novel roles for SLAMF7 in CNS immune regulation and B cell function, and illuminate underpinnings of the genetic association between SLAMF7 and MS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02594-9SLAMF7CD319CRACCMultiple sclerosisB cellsNeuroinflammation
spellingShingle Patrick O’Connell
Maja K. Blake
Sarah Godbehere
Andrea Amalfitano
Yasser A. Aldhamen
SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity
Journal of Neuroinflammation
SLAMF7
CD319
CRACC
Multiple sclerosis
B cells
Neuroinflammation
title SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity
title_full SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity
title_fullStr SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity
title_full_unstemmed SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity
title_short SLAMF7 modulates B cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity
title_sort slamf7 modulates b cells and adaptive immunity to regulate susceptibility to cns autoimmunity
topic SLAMF7
CD319
CRACC
Multiple sclerosis
B cells
Neuroinflammation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02594-9
work_keys_str_mv AT patrickoconnell slamf7modulatesbcellsandadaptiveimmunitytoregulatesusceptibilitytocnsautoimmunity
AT majakblake slamf7modulatesbcellsandadaptiveimmunitytoregulatesusceptibilitytocnsautoimmunity
AT sarahgodbehere slamf7modulatesbcellsandadaptiveimmunitytoregulatesusceptibilitytocnsautoimmunity
AT andreaamalfitano slamf7modulatesbcellsandadaptiveimmunitytoregulatesusceptibilitytocnsautoimmunity
AT yasseraaldhamen slamf7modulatesbcellsandadaptiveimmunitytoregulatesusceptibilitytocnsautoimmunity