IU Indianapolis ScholarWorks :: Browsing by Author "Zhang, Jilu"

Browsing by Author "Zhang, Jilu"

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From proteomics to discovery of first-in-class ST2 inhibitors active in vivo
(American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2018-07-26) Ramadan, Abdulraouf M.; Daguindau, Etienne; Rech, Jason C.; Chinnaswamy, Krishnapriya; Zhang, Jilu; Hura, Greg L.; Griesenauer, Brad; Bolten, Zachary; Robida, Aaron; Larsen, Martha; Stuckey, Jeanne A.; Yang, Chao-Yie; Paczesny, Sophie; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Soluble cytokine receptors function as decoy receptors to attenuate cytokine-mediated signaling and modulate downstream cellular responses. Dysregulated overproduction of soluble receptors can be pathological, such as soluble ST2 (sST2), a prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular diseases, ulcerative colitis, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Although intervention using an ST2 antibody improves survival in murine GVHD models, sST2 is a challenging target for drug development because it binds to IL-33 via an extensive interaction interface. Here, we report the discovery of small-molecule ST2 inhibitors through a combination of high-throughput screening and computational analysis. After in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment, 3 compounds were selected for evaluation in 2 experimental GVHD models. We show that the most effective compound, iST2-1, reduces plasma sST2 levels, alleviates disease symptoms, improves survival, and maintains graft-versus-leukemia activity. Our data suggest that iST2-1 warrants further optimization to develop treatment for inflammatory diseases mediated by sST2.
Interleukin-9 promotes mast cell progenitor proliferation and CCR2-dependent mast cell migration in allergic airway inflammation
(Elsevier, 2023) Pajulas, Abigail; Fu, Yongyao; Cheung, Cherry C. L.; Chu, Michelle; Cannon, Anthony; Alakhras, Nada; Zhang, Jilu; Ulrich, Benjamin J.; Nelson, Andrew S.; Zhou, Baohua; Kaplan, Mark H.; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Allergic asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and cellular infiltration that is exacerbated by immunoglobulin E-dependent mast cell (MC) activation. Interleukin-9 (IL-9) promotes MC expansion during allergic inflammation but precisely how IL-9 expands tissue MCs and promotes MC function is unclear. In this report, using multiple models of allergic airway inflammation, we show that both mature MCs (mMCs) and MC progenitors (MCp) express IL-9R and respond to IL-9 during allergic inflammation. IL-9 acts on MCp in the bone marrow and lungs to enhance proliferative capacity. Furthermore, IL-9 in the lung stimulates the mobilization of CCR2+ mMC from the bone marrow and recruitment to the allergic lung. Mixed bone marrow chimeras demonstrate that these are intrinsic effects in the MCp and mMC populations. IL-9-producing T cells are both necessary and sufficient to increase MC numbers in the lung in the context of allergic inflammation. Importantly, T cell IL-9-mediated MC expansion is required for the development of antigen-induced and MC-dependent airway hyperreactivity. Collectively, these data demonstrate that T cell IL-9 induces lung MC expansion and migration by direct effects on the proliferation of MCp and the migration of mMC to mediate airway hyperreactivity.
Mouse pulmonary interstitial macrophages mediate the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-9
(Springer Nature, 2022-07-01) Fu, Yongyao; Pajulas, Abigail; Wang, Jocelyn; Zhou, Baohua; Cannon, Anthony; Cheung, Cherry Cheuk Lam; Zhang, Jilu; Zhou, Huaxin; Fisher, Amanda Jo; Omstead, David T.; Khan, Sabrina; Han, Lei; Renauld, Jean-Christophe; Paczesny, Sophie; Gao, Hongyu; Liu, Yunlong; Yang, Lei; Tighe, Robert M.; Licona-Limón, Paula; Flavell, Richard A.; Takatsuka, Shogo; Kitamura, Daisuke; Sun, Jie; Bilgicer, Basar; Sears, Catherine R.; Yang, Kai; Kaplan, Mark H.; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Although IL-9 has potent anti-tumor activity in adoptive cell transfer therapy, some models suggest that it can promote tumor growth. Here, we show that IL-9 signaling is associated with poor outcomes in patients with various forms of lung cancer, and is required for lung tumor growth in multiple mouse models. CD4+ T cell-derived IL-9 promotes the expansion of both CD11c+ and CD11c- interstitial macrophage populations in lung tumor models. Mechanistically, the IL-9/macrophage axis requires arginase 1 (Arg1) to mediate tumor growth. Indeed, adoptive transfer of Arg1+ but not Arg1- lung macrophages to Il9r-/- mice promotes tumor growth. Moreover, targeting IL-9 signaling using macrophage-specific nanoparticles restricts lung tumor growth in mice. Lastly, elevated expression of IL-9R and Arg1 in tumor lesions is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. Thus, our study suggests the IL-9/macrophage/Arg1 axis is a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer therapy.
Proteomics analysis reveals a Th17-prone cell population in presymptomatic graft-versus-host disease
(American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2016-05-05) Li, Wei; Liu, Liangyi; Gomez, Aurelie; Zhang, Jilu; Ramadan, Abdulraouf; Zhang, Qing; Choi, Sung W.; Zhang, Peng; Greenson, Joel K.; Liu, Chen; Jiang, Di; Virts, Elizabeth; Kelich, Stephanie L.; Chu, Hong Wei; Flynn, Ryan; Blazar, Bruce R.; Hanenberg, Helmut; Hanash, Samir; Paczesny, Sophie; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, IU School of Medicine
Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host-disease (GI-GVHD) is a life-threatening complication occurring after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and a blood biomarker that permits stratification of HCT patients according to their risk of developing GI-GVHD would greatly aid treatment planning. Through in-depth, large-scale proteomic profiling of presymptomatic samples, we identified a T cell population expressing both CD146, a cell adhesion molecule, and CCR5, a chemokine receptor that is upregulated as early as 14 days after transplantation in patients who develop GI-GVHD. The CD4+CD146+CCR5+ T cell population is Th17 prone and increased by ICOS stimulation. shRNA knockdown of CD146 in T cells reduced their transmigration through endothelial cells, and maraviroc, a CCR5 inhibitor, reduced chemotaxis of the CD4+CD146+CCR5+ T cell population toward CCL14. Mice that received CD146 shRNA-transduced human T cells did not lose weight, showed better survival, and had fewer CD4+CD146+CCR5+ T cells and less pathogenic Th17 infiltration in the intestine, even compared with mice receiving maraviroc with control shRNA- transduced human T cells. Furthermore, the frequency of CD4+CD146+CCR5+ Tregs was increased in GI-GVHD patients, and these cells showed increased plasticity toward Th17 upon ICOS stimulation. Our findings can be applied to early risk stratification, as well as specific preventative therapeutic strategies following HCT.
Rorc restrains the potency of ST2+ regulatory T cells in ameliorating intestinal graft-versus-host disease
(American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2019-03-07) Yang, Jinfeng; Ramadan, Abdulraouf; Reichenbach, Dawn K.; Loschi, Michael; Zhang, Jilu; Griesenauer, Brad; Liu, Hong; Hippen, Keli L.; Blazar, Bruce R.; Paczesny, Sophie; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Soluble stimulation-2 (ST2) is increased during graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), while Tregs that express ST2 prevent GVHD through unknown mechanisms. Transplantation of Foxp3- T cells and Tregs that were collected and sorted from different Foxp3 reporter mice indicated that in mice that developed GVHD, ST2+ Tregs were thymus derived and predominantly localized to the intestine. ST2-/- Treg transplantation was associated with reduced total intestinal Treg frequency and activation. ST2-/- versus WT intestinal Treg transcriptomes showed decreased Treg functional markers and, reciprocally, increased Rorc expression. Rorc-/- T cells transplantation enhanced the frequency and function of intestinal ST2+ Tregs and reduced GVHD through decreased gut-infiltrating soluble ST2-producing type 1 and increased IL-4/IL-10-producing type 2 T cells. Cotransfer of ST2+ Tregs sorted from Rorc-/- mice with WT CD25-depleted T cells decreased GVHD severity and mortality, increased intestinal ST2+KLRG1+ Tregs, and decreased type 1 T cells after transplantation, indicating an intrinsic mechanism. Ex vivo IL-33-stimulated Tregs (TregIL-33) expressed higher amphiregulin and displayed better immunosuppression, and adoptive transfer prevented GVHD better than control Tregs or TregIL-33 cultured with IL-23/IL-17. Amphiregulin blockade by neutralizing antibody in vivo abolished the protective effect of TregIL-33. Our data show that inverse expression of ST2 and RORγt in intestinal Tregs determines GVHD and that TregIL-33 has potential as a cellular therapy avenue for preventing GVHD.
ST2/MyD88 deficiency protects mice against aGVHD and spares T-regulatory cells
(American Association of Immunologists, 2020-04-12) Griesenauer, Brad; Jiang, Hua; Yang, Jinfeng; Zhang, Jilu; Ramadan, Abdulraouf M.; Egbosiuba, Jane; Campa, Khaled; Paczesny, Sophie; Medicine, School of Medicine
Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) hinders the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Plasma levels of soluble membrane-bound ST2 (ST2) are elevated in human and murine aGVHD and correlated to type 1 T cells response. ST2 signals through the adapter protein MyD88. The role of MyD88 in T cells during aGVHD has yet to be elucidated. We found that knocking out MyD88 in the donor T cells protected against aGVHD independent of IL-1R and TLR4 signaling in two murine HCT models. This protection was entirely driven by MyD88-/- CD4 T cells. Transplanting donor MyD88-/- conventional T cells (Tcons) with wild-type (WT) or MyD88-/- regulatory T cells (Tregs) lowered aGVHD severity and mortality. Transcriptome analysis of sorted MyD88-/- CD4 T cells from the intestine 10 d post-HCT showed lower levels of Il1rl1 (gene of ST2), Ifng, Csf2, Stat5, Batf, and Jak2 Transplanting donor ST2-/- Tcons with WT or ST2-/- Tregs showed a similar phenotype with what we observed when using donor MyD88-/- Tcons. Decreased ST2 was confirmed at the protein level with less secretion of soluble ST2 and more expression of ST2 compared with WT T cells. Our data suggest that Treg suppression from lack of MyD88 signaling in donor Tcons during alloreactivity uses the ST2 but not the IL-1R or TLR4 pathways, and ST2 represents a potential aGVHD therapeutic target sparing Tregs.
The Dichotomy of Interleukin-9 Function in the Tumor Microenvironment
(Mary Ann Liebert, 2023) Cannon, Anthony; Pajulas, Abigail; Kaplan, Mark H.; Zhang, Jilu; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Interleukin 9 (IL-9) is a cytokine with potent proinflammatory properties that plays a central role in pathologies such as allergic asthma, immunity to parasitic infection, and autoimmunity. More recently, IL-9 has garnered considerable attention in tumor immunity. Historically, IL-9 has been associated with a protumor function in hematological malignancies and an antitumor function in solid malignancies. However, recent discoveries of the dynamic role of IL-9 in cancer progression suggest that IL-9 can act as both a pro- or antitumor factor in various hematological and solid malignancies. This review summarizes IL-9-dependent control of tumor growth, regulation, and therapeutic applicability of IL-9 blockade and IL-9-producing cells in cancer.
The world according to IL-9
(American Association of Immunologists, 2023) Pajulas, Abigail; Zhang, Jilu; Kaplan, Mark H.; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Among the cytokines regulating immune cells, IL-9 has gained considerable attention for its ability to act on multiple cell types as a regulator of beneficial and pathologic immune responses. Yet, it is still not clearly defined how IL-9 impacts immune responses. IL-9 demonstrates a remarkable degree of tissue-specific functionality and has cellular sources that vary by tissue site and the context of the inflammatory milieu. Here, we provide perspective to summarize the biological activities of IL-9 and highlight cell type-specific roles in the immune pathogenesis of diseases. This perspective will be important in defining the diseases where targeting IL-9 as a therapeutic strategy would be beneficial and where it has the potential to complicate clinical outcomes.
TL1A priming induces a multi-cytokine Th9 cell phenotype that promotes robust allergic inflammation in murine models of asthma
(Elsevier, 2024) Niese, Michelle L.; Pajulas, Abigail L.; Rostron, Cameron R.; Cheung, Cherry C. L.; Krishnan, Maya S.; Zhang, Jilu; Cannon, Anthony M.; Kaplan, Mark H.; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Multi-cytokine-producing Th9 cells secrete IL-9 and type 2 cytokines and mediate mouse and human allergic inflammation. However, the cytokines that promote a multi-cytokine secreting phenotype have not been defined. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily member TL1A signals through its receptor DR3 to increase IL-9. Here we demonstrate that TL1A increases expression of IL-9 and IL-13 co-expressing cells in murine Th9 cell cultures, inducing a multi-cytokine phenotype. Mechanistically, this is linked to histone modifications allowing for increased accessibility at the Il9 and Il13 loci. We further show that TL1A alters the transcription factor network underlying expression of IL-9 and IL-13 in Th9 cells and increases binding of transcription factors to Il9 and Il13 loci. TL1A-priming enhances the pathogenicity of Th9 cells in murine models of allergic airway disease through the increased expression of IL-9 and IL-13. Lastly, in both chronic and memory-recall models of allergic airway disease, blockade of TL1A signaling decreases the multi-cytokine Th9 cell population and attenuates the allergic phenotype. Taken together, these data demonstrate that TL1A promotes the development of multi-cytokine Th9 cells that drive allergic airway diseases and that targeting pathogenic T helper cell-promoting cytokines could be an effective approach for modifying disease.

Browsing by Author "Zhang, Jilu"

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