Activation-induced thrombospondin-4 works with thrombospondin-1 to build cytotoxic supramolecular attack particles

C Chiara Cassioli (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) N Nagaja Capitani (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) C Claire C. Staton (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford) C Claudia Schirra (Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University) F Francesca Finetti (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) A Anna Onnis (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) N Nadia Alawar (Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University) S Szu-Min Tu (Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University) L Ludovica Lopresti (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) V Vanessa Tatangelo (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) C Carmela Tangredi (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) S Salvatore Valvo (The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive) H Hsin-Fang Chang (Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University) A Annachiara Miccoli (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) E Ewoud B. Compeer (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford) J Jemma Nicholls (Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota) B Bruce R. Blazar (Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota) G Giuseppe Marotta (Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, Siena University Hospital) M Matthew J. A. Wood (Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford) L Livio Trentin (Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua) L Laura Patrussi (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena) M Michael L. Dustin U Ute Becherer (Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University) C Cosima T. Baldari (Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena)

Abstract

Cytotoxic attack particles released by CTLs and NK cells include diverse phospholipid membrane and glycoprotein encapsulated entities that contribute to target cell killing. Supramolecular attack particles (SMAPs) are one type of particle characterized by a cytotoxic core enriched in granzymes and perforin surrounded by a proteinaceous shell including thrombospondin (TSP)-1. TSP-4 was also detected in bulk analysis of SMAPs released by CTLs; however, it has not been investigated whether TSP-4 contributes to distinct SMAP types or the same SMAP type as TSP-1 and, if in the same type of SMAP, whether TSP-4 and TSP-1 cooperate or compete. Here, we observed that TSP-4 expression increased upon CD8 + T cell activation while, surprisingly, TSP-1 was down-regulated. Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy and Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy localized TSP-4 and TSP-1 in SMAP-containing multicore granules. Superresolution dSTORM revealed that TSP-4 and TSP-1 are usually enriched in the same SMAPs while particles with single-positive shells are rare. Retention Using Selective Hooks assays showed that TSP-4 localizes to the lytic granules faster than TSP-1 and promotes its accumulation therein. TSP-4 contributed to direct CTL-mediated killing, as previously shown for TSP-1. TSP-4 and TSP-1 were both required for latent SMAP-mediated cell killing, in which released SMAPs kill targets after removal of the CTLs. Of note, we found that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell culture supernatants suppressed expression of TSP-4 in CTL and latent SMAP-mediated killing. These results identify TSP-4 as a functionally important component of SMAPs and suggest that SMAPs may be targeted for immune suppression by CLL.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 6
Published February 11, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (24)

C

Chiara Cassioli

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

N

Nagaja Capitani

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

C

Claire C. Staton

Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford

C

Claudia Schirra

Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University

F

Francesca Finetti

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

A

Anna Onnis

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

N

Nadia Alawar

Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University

S

Szu-Min Tu

Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University

L

Ludovica Lopresti

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

V

Vanessa Tatangelo

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

C

Carmela Tangredi

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

S

Salvatore Valvo

The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive

H

Hsin-Fang Chang

Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University

A

Annachiara Miccoli

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

E

Ewoud B. Compeer

Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford

J

Jemma Nicholls

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota

B

Bruce R. Blazar

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota

G

Giuseppe Marotta

Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, Siena University Hospital

M

Matthew J. A. Wood

Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford

L

Livio Trentin

Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua

L

Laura Patrussi

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena

M

Michael L. Dustin

U

Ute Becherer

Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University

C

Cosima T. Baldari

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena