Spatio-Temporal Regulation of Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration: Studying the immune system - tissue - microbiota communication to develop targeted therapies for immune-mediated diseases and cancer

Project Information

REpAIR

Grant agreement ID: 865466

DOI

10.3030/865466

EC signature date 7 February 2020

Start date 1 October 2020

End date 30 September 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 999 687,00

EU contribution

€ 1 999 687,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM HAMBURG-EPPENDORF
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - REpAIR (Spatio-Temporal Regulation of Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration: Studying the immune system - tissue - microbiota communication to develop targeted therapies for immune-mediated diseases and cancer)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are a group of medical conditions affecting multiple organs. One such disease is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IMIDs are characterized by a dysregulated immune response and non-healing tissue damage, which promote a vicious cycle leading to chronic disease. Moreover, chronic inflammation can promote the development of cancer. IMIDs are among the leading causes of mortality in developed countries, and their prevalence is increasing. However, current therapies are predominantly based on the use of immune-suppressive drugs, are palliative in character, and do not offer a cure. They also have severe side effects, such as enhanced susceptibility to infections. Thus, there is a major need for new therapies. Therefore, the aim of our project is to build the basis for future therapies for inflammatory diseases and cancer.
A physiological tissue regeneration depends on fine-tuned interaction between the immune system, the tissue, and the microbiota. However, the complex communication between these three components and the molecules that mediate it is unclear. Understanding this is fundamental to prevent and treat immune-mediated diseases and cancer. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is one key orchestrator of this communication: It is produced by immune cells and by acting on intestinal epithelial cells, it modulates the composition of the microbiota and promotes tissue regeneration. However, IL-22 can also promote both chronic inflammation and cancer. Of note, there is an endogenous inhibitor of IL-22, namely IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP), which blocks IL-22 activity.
Our objectives are to study IL-22 and IL-22BP producing immune cells in terms of: their location, their functional and molecular heterogeneity, their origin and fate; and the role of the microbiota in regulating them. To this end, we will use new transgenic and gnotobiotic mouse models, single cell RNA sequencing and human samples. We will start to study the IL-22 - IL-22BP axis, in order to understand how the complex interactions between the immune system, the tissue, and the microbiota leads to either physiological or pathological tissue regeneration. On the basis of these data, we aim to go beyond IL-22 – IL-22BP and to identify general mechanisms regulating inflammation and cancer. This will finally provide the basis for therapies controlling inflammation and tissue regeneration in a spatio-temporal manner.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

As for IL-22, we had studied the role of IL-22 in IBD and CRC before. Of note, metastasis and malignant pleural effusion (MPE, which results from the capacity of several human cancers to metastasize to the pleural cavity) are two key clinical problem in cancer patients. We found that Il22-deficient mice and mice treated with an IL-22 antibody were protected from colon-cancer-derived liver and lung metastasis formation. As for MPE, we did not find a role of IL-22. Instead, we found that IL-10, which like IL-22 belongs to the IL-10 cytokine family, promoted MPE.
Regarding the intestinal microbiota in regulating IL-22, we found that segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) induce distinct IL-17A negative CD4+ T cell populations in the intestine. We identified furthermore that SFB-induced IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells comprise a heterogenous population including cell subsets being able to produce IL-22. This demonstrates the existence of multiple microbiota-induced CD4+ T cell populations with the capacity to produce IL-22 that develop independently from each other.
As for IL-22BP, we found that IL-22BP producing cells are much more heterogenous than previously anticipated. We are therefore using conditional IL-22BP knock out mouse models to decipher the role of each IL-22BP producing immune cell subset in steady state, IBD, CRC and metastasis. In addition, we have started to analyze the origin of IL-22BP producing T cells. Our results point towards Th1 cells as one origin of IL-22BP producing T cells, but further studies are needed to verify these findings.
As for the role of the intestinal microbiota in regulating IL-22BP we identified that colonization with commensal protozoa induces the expression of IL-22BP in innate immune cells, predominantly DCs and monocyte. Experiments with Il22bp-deficient mice revealed that the IL-22/IL-22BP axis contributes to specific aspects of small intestinal remodeling, e.g. induction of goblet cells and recruitment of innate immune cells, after colonization with non-pathogenic protozoa.
Finally, we have started to extend our studies beyond the IL-22 and IL-22BP axis. We found that faecal microbiota transplantation, short-term dietary manipulation of tryptophan and oral 3-IAA administration increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in humanized gnotobiotic mouse models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Thus, we identify a microbiota-derived metabolite that has clinical implications in the treatment of PDAC.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This project progressed from a methodological and scientific point beyond state of the art. We included several novel transgenic and gnotobiotic mouse models, micro-surgical technics (e.g. liver transplantation in mice), multi-omics technologies as well as rare patient material. Scientifically, we want to highlight the findings demonstrating a role of IL-22 in promoting metastasis formation as well as the role of the intestinal microbiota in determining the response to chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Both of these findings build the basis for future therapies. We expect that we will build the basis for an investigator-initiated trial to translate these findings into clinic by the end of the project.
Finally, we are spearheading the analysis of IL-22BP producing cells. We found that IL-22BP producing cells are much more heterogenous the previously anticipated and we are currently deciphering the transcriptional network controlling IL-22BP expression as well as the function of these cells in IBD, CRC and metastasis. Furthermore, we will explore how to utilize the specific IL-22/IL-22BP inducing capacities of distinct microbes to counterbalance protective and inflammatory pathways during inflammatory processes. We expect that we are able to have a comprehensive understand of the molecular and functional heterogeneity of IL-22BP producing cells by the end of this project.

Graphical Abstract of Giannou et al., Immunity 2023