Payam Mohassel,Hailey Hearn,Jachinta Rooney,Yaqun Zou,Kory Johnson,Gina Norato,Matthew A Nalls,Pomi Yun,Tracy Ogata,Sarah Silverstein,David A Sleboda,Thomas J Roberts,Daniel B Rifkin,Carsten G Bönnemann
{"title":"Collagen type VI regulates TGF-β bioavailability in skeletal muscle in mice.","authors":"Payam Mohassel,Hailey Hearn,Jachinta Rooney,Yaqun Zou,Kory Johnson,Gina Norato,Matthew A Nalls,Pomi Yun,Tracy Ogata,Sarah Silverstein,David A Sleboda,Thomas J Roberts,Daniel B Rifkin,Carsten G Bönnemann","doi":"10.1172/jci173354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci173354","url":null,"abstract":"Collagen VI-related disorders (COL6-RDs) are a group of rare muscular dystrophies caused by pathogenic variants in collagen VI genes (COL6A1, COL6A2, and COL6A3). Collagen type VI is a heterotrimeric, microfibrillar component of the muscle extracellular matrix (ECM), predominantly secreted by resident fibroadipogenic precursor cells in skeletal muscle. The absence or mislocalization of collagen VI in the ECM underlies the noncell-autonomous dysfunction and dystrophic changes in skeletal muscle with a yet elusive direct mechanistic link between the ECM and myofiber dysfunction. Here, we conducted a comprehensive natural history and outcome study in a mouse model of COL6-RDs (Col6a2-/- mice) using standardized (TREAT-NMD) functional, histological, and physiological parameters. Notably, we identify a conspicuous dysregulation of the TGF-β pathway early in the disease process and propose that the collagen VI-deficient matrix is not capable of regulating the dynamic TGF-β bioavailability both at baseline and in response to muscle injury. Thus, we propose a new mechanism for pathogenesis of the disease that links the ECM regulation of TGF-β with downstream skeletal muscle abnormalities, paving the way for the development and validation of therapeutics that target this pathway.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"48 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdullah H Alfalah,Alfadil Haroon,Ahmed Alfares,Syed Osman Ahmed,Sateesh Maddirevula
{"title":"Biallelic OSM deficiency presents with juvenile myelodysplastic syndrome and response to treatment.","authors":"Abdullah H Alfalah,Alfadil Haroon,Ahmed Alfares,Syed Osman Ahmed,Sateesh Maddirevula","doi":"10.1172/jci192422","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci192422","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer E Lambert,Maria A Ramos-Roman,Maressa J Valdez,Jeffrey D Browning,Thomas Rogers,Elizabeth J Parks
{"title":"Weight loss in MASLD restores the balance of liver fatty acid sources.","authors":"Jennifer E Lambert,Maria A Ramos-Roman,Maressa J Valdez,Jeffrey D Browning,Thomas Rogers,Elizabeth J Parks","doi":"10.1172/jci174233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci174233","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDLipogenesis contributes substantially to the pathological accumulation of intrahepatic triacylglycerol (IHTG) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Since hepatic lipogenesis is highly sensitive to energy intake, we hypothesized that mechanisms of MASLD regression induced by weight loss would be driven by a marked reduction in the lipogenic pathway.METHODSOverweight adults with high liver fat (HighLF; n = 9; IHTG ≥ 5.6% measured by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy) or low (normal) liver fat (LowLF; n = 6; IHTG < 5.6%) received dietary counseling for 6 months and underwent comprehensive metabolic phenotyping during inpatient studies that captured fasting and fed states. Multiple stable isotopes were used to assess the contribution of lipogenesis, free fatty acids (FFAs), and dietary fat to IHTG.RESULTSBody weight loss (-10% ± 2%) reduced IHTG in individuals with MASLD (19.4% ± 3.6% to 4.5% ± 2.1%, P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity improved significantly (46%, P < 0.01), while fasting FFA flux from adipose tissue was not different. VLDL-triacylglycerol (VLDL-TG) concentrations fell by 38% (P = 0.02) because of a 67% reduction in contribution from lipogenesis (P = 0.02), whereas the absolute contributions from FFAs and dietary fat to VLDL-TG were not different. Reduced lipogenesis was significantly associated with loss of IHTG.CONCLUSIONThese data underscore the primary role of lipogenesis in MASLD pathology and highlight the importance of controlling this pathway through treatment strategies.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01371396).FUNDINGNational Institutes of Health (NIH) grant RL1DK081187; Task Force for Obesity Research at Southwestern (TORS) NIH UL1DE019584; and Clinical and Translational Science Award NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences UL1-RR024982.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuta Yamamura,Gianmarco Sabiu,Jing Zhao,Sungwook Jung,Andy J Seelam,Xiaofei Li,Yang Song,Marina W Shirkey,Lushen Li,Wenji Piao,Long Wu,Tianshu Zhang,Soyeon Ahn,Pilhan Kim,Vivek Kasinath,Jamil R Azzi,Jonathan S Bromberg,Reza Abdi
{"title":"CXCL12+ fibroblastic reticular cells in lymph nodes facilitate immune tolerance by regulating T cell-mediated alloimmunity.","authors":"Yuta Yamamura,Gianmarco Sabiu,Jing Zhao,Sungwook Jung,Andy J Seelam,Xiaofei Li,Yang Song,Marina W Shirkey,Lushen Li,Wenji Piao,Long Wu,Tianshu Zhang,Soyeon Ahn,Pilhan Kim,Vivek Kasinath,Jamil R Azzi,Jonathan S Bromberg,Reza Abdi","doi":"10.1172/jci182709","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci182709","url":null,"abstract":"Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are the master regulators of the lymph node (LN) microenvironment. However, the role of specific FRC subsets in controlling alloimmune responses remains to be studied. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) of naive and draining LNs (DLNs) of heart-transplanted mice and human LNs revealed a specific subset of CXCL12hi FRCs that expressed high levels of lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) and are enriched in the expression of immunoregulatory genes. CXCL12hi FRCs had high expression of CCL19, CCL21, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), IL-10, and TGF-β1. Adoptive transfer of ex vivo-expanded FRCs resulted in their homing to LNs and induced immunosuppressive environments in DLNs to promote heart allograft acceptance. Genetic deletion of LTβR and Cxcl12 in FRCs increased alloreactivity, abrogating the effect of costimulatory blockade in prolonging heart allograft survival. As compared with WT recipients, CXCL12+ FRC-deficient recipients exhibited increased differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th1 cells. Nano delivery of CXCL12 to DLNs improved allograft survival in heart-transplanted mice. Our study highlights the importance of DLN CXCL12hi FRCs in promoting transplant tolerance.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlos Bravo-Perez,Carmelo Gurnari,Jani Huuhtanen,Naomi Kawashima,Luca Guarnera,Aashray Mandala,Nakisha D Williams,Christopher Haddad,Michaela Witt,Serhan Unlu,Zachary Brady,Olisaemeka Ogbue,Mark Orland,Arooj Ahmed,Yasuo Kubota,Simona Pagliuca,Arda Durmaz,Satu Mustjoki,Valeria Visconte,Jaroslaw P Maciejewski
{"title":"Inborn errors of immunity underlie clonal T cell expansions in large granular lymphocyte leukemia.","authors":"Carlos Bravo-Perez,Carmelo Gurnari,Jani Huuhtanen,Naomi Kawashima,Luca Guarnera,Aashray Mandala,Nakisha D Williams,Christopher Haddad,Michaela Witt,Serhan Unlu,Zachary Brady,Olisaemeka Ogbue,Mark Orland,Arooj Ahmed,Yasuo Kubota,Simona Pagliuca,Arda Durmaz,Satu Mustjoki,Valeria Visconte,Jaroslaw P Maciejewski","doi":"10.1172/jci184431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci184431","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDT cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), often with gain-of-function STAT3 mutations. T-LGLL represents a unique model for the study of persistent CTL expansions. Albeit autoimmunity is implied, various paradoxical observations led us to investigate whether immunodeficiency traits underpin T-LGLL.METHODSThis is a comprehensive immunogenomic study of 92 consecutive patients from a large T-LGLL cohort with full laboratory-clinical characterization (n = 271). Whole-exome profiling of variants associated with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and somatic mutations in T cell lymphoid drivers was analyzed. Single-cell RNA-Seq and TCR-Seq in T-LGLL samples and RNA-Seq in T cell cancer cell lines were utilized to establish biological correlations.RESULTSLymphocytopenia and/or hypogammaglobulinemia were identified in 186 of 241 (77%) T-LGLL patients. Genetic screening for IEI revealed 43 rare heterozygous variants in 38 different immune genes in 34 of 92 (36%) patients (vs. 167/63,026 [0.26%] in controls). High-confidence deleterious variants associated with dominant, adult-onset IEIs were detected in 15 of 92 (16%) patients. Carriers showed atypical features otherwise tied to the cryptic IEI, such as earlier onset, lower lymphocyte counts, lower STAT3 mutational rate, and higher proportions of hypogammaglobulinemia and immune cytopenia/bone marrow failure than noncarriers. Somatic mutational landscape, RNA-Seq, and TCR-Seq analyses supported immune imbalance caused by the IEI variants and interactions with somatic mutations in T cell lymphoid drivers.CONCLUSIONSOur findings in T-LGLL reveal that maladaptive CTL expansions may stem from cryptic immunodeficiency traits and open the horizon of IEIs to clonal hematopoiesis and bone marrow failure.FUNDINGNIH; Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation; VeloSano; Edward P. Evans Foundation; Instituto de Salud Carlos III; European Research Council; European Research Area Network on Personalised Medicine; Academy Finland; Cancer Foundation Finland.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ravikumar Aalinkeel,Richard J Quigg,Jessy Alexander
{"title":"The complement system and kidney cancer: pathogenesis to clinical applications.","authors":"Ravikumar Aalinkeel,Richard J Quigg,Jessy Alexander","doi":"10.1172/jci188351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci188351","url":null,"abstract":"Kidney cancer poses unique clinical challenges because of its resistance to conventional treatments and its tendency to metastasize. The kidney is particularly susceptible to dysfunction of the complement system, an immune network that tumors often exploit. Recent discoveries have highlighted that the complement system not only plays a crucial role in immune surveillance and defense in the circulatory system, but also functions intracellularly and autonomously. This concept has shifted the focus of investigation toward understanding how complement proteins influence cancer progression by regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME), cell signaling, proliferation, metabolism, and the immune response. With the complement system and its inhibitors emerging as a promising new class of immunotherapeutics and potential complement-targeted treatments advancing through development pipelines and clinical trials, this Review provides a timely examination of how harnessing the complement system could lead to effective tumor treatments and how to strategically combine complement inhibitors with other cancer treatments, offering renewed hope in the fight against kidney cancer.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"90 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mycobacterium tuberculosis hijacks the UBE2O pathway to regulate host iron homeostasis.","authors":"Tran Xuan Ngoc Huy,Huynh Tan Hop","doi":"10.1172/jci184095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci184095","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic kidney disease enhances alternative pathway activity: a new paradigm.","authors":"Diana I Jalal,Joshua M Thurman,Richard Jh Smith","doi":"10.1172/jci188353","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci188353","url":null,"abstract":"Reduced kidney function is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in addition to kidney disease progression. Kidney disease is considered an inflammatory state, based on elevated levels of C-reactive protein and inflammatory cytokines. A key mediator of cardiovascular and kidney disease progression in the setting of reduced kidney function is systemic and vascular inflammation. However, the exact pathways that link chronic kidney disease (CKD) with inflammation remain incompletely understood. For decades it has been known that factor D, the main activator of the alternative complement pathway, is increased in the plasma of patients with reduced kidney function. Recent biomarker evidence suggests alternative pathway activation in this setting. CKD, therefore, seems to alter the balance of alternative pathway proteins, promoting inflammation and potentially exacerbating complement-mediated diseases and CKD-associated complications. In this manuscript, we review the impact of reduced kidney function on biomarkers of the alternative complement pathway and the implications of alternative pathway activation on cardiovascular disease and kidney disease progression. Importantly, we highlight the need for ongoing research efforts that may lead to opportunities to target the alternative pathway of complement withx the goal of improving kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in persons with reduced kidney function.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"GLP-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.","authors":"Gavin N Petrie,Leah M Mayo","doi":"10.1172/jci192414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci192414","url":null,"abstract":"Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, are widely used in the treatment of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. These medications primarily function by enhancing insulin secretion; however, emerging evidence suggests that the effects extend beyond metabolic regulation. In this issue of the JCI, Farokhnia et al. evaluated the effects of GLP-1RAs alongside another T2D treatment, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4Is), on alcohol consumption in humans and preclinical models. In humans, GLP1-RAs, but not DPP-4Is, were associated with reductions in alcohol consumption. Similarly, DPP-4 inhibition had no effect on alcohol intake in rodents. These findings invite further exploration of the mechanisms by which GLP-1RAs reduce alcohol consumption and redefine our pharmacotherapy approach to alcohol use disorder (AUD) by opening the possibility for application as an early harm-reduction tool.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The multiverse of CD46 and oncologic interactions.","authors":"M Kathryn Liszewski,John P Atkinson","doi":"10.1172/jci188355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci188355","url":null,"abstract":"Initially identified as a regulator of complement activation on host cells, the known roles of CD46 (membrane cofactor protein [MCP]) have expanded. We now know that this ancient molecule is expressed on almost all nucleated cells as a family of four predominant isoforms. It also is involved in human reproduction, modulation of T cell activation and immunoinflammatory effector functions, autophagy, and the newly identified intracellular complement system (complosome). CD46 is also known as a \"pathogen\" magnet, being a port of entry for at least seven bacteria and five viruses. Moreover, CD46 has recently emerged as a key player in cancer biology. Numerous studies provide evidence of the association among elevated CD46 expression, malignant transformation, and metastasizing potential. These features, along with its roles as pathogen receptor, have made CD46 a target for cancer therapeutics. Thus, modified viral vectors (such as strains of adenovirus and measles virus) targeting CD46 currently are being exploited against a wide range of cancers. Another oncologic treatment utilizes a CD46-targeting human mAb as an antibody-drug conjugate. Herein, we review CD46 and its \"multiverse\" of cancer interactions.","PeriodicalId":520097,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of Clinical Investigation","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}