Invasion of nonphagocytic cells, a critical property of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) that enables it to cross host barriers, is mediated by the interaction of two bacterial surface proteins, InlA and InlB, with their respective receptors E-cadherin and c-Met. Although InlA–E-cadherin interaction is necessary and sufficient for Lm crossing of the intestinal barrier, both InlA and InlB are required for Lm crossing of the placental barrier. The mechanisms underlying these differences are unknown. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) is involved in both InlA- and InlB-dependent pathways. Indeed, InlA-dependent entry requires PI3-K activity but does not activate it, whereas InlB–c-Met interaction activates PI3-K. We show that Lm intestinal target cells exhibit a constitutive PI3-K activity, rendering InlB dispensable for InlA-dependent Lm intestinal barrier crossing. In contrast, the placental barrier does not exhibit constitutive PI3-K activity, making InlB necessary for InlA-dependent Lm placental invasion. Here, we provide the molecular explanation for the respective contributions of InlA and InlB to Lm host barrier invasion, and reveal the critical role of InlB in rendering cells permissive to InlA-mediated invasion. This study shows that PI3-K activity is critical to host barrier permissiveness to microbes, and that pathogens exploit both similarities and differences of host barriers to disseminate.
<p>Performances of the deep-learning cell detection model in TCGA cohorts (oral cavity, uterine cervix and larynx SCC) and GR cohorts (oral cavity SCC)</p>
Abstract Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) often have poor outcomes due to suboptimal risk management and treatment strategies; yet integrating novel prognostic biomarkers into clinical practice is challenging. Here, we report the presence of multinucleated giant cells (MGC)—a type of macrophages—in tumors from patients with HNSCC, which are associated with a favorable prognosis in treatment-naive and preoperative chemotherapy–treated patients. Importantly, MGC density increased in tumors following preoperative therapy, suggesting a role of these cells in the antitumoral response. To enable clinical translation of MGC density as a prognostic marker, we developed a deep-learning model to automate its quantification on routinely stained pathological whole slide images. Finally, we used spatial transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to describe the MGC-related tumor microenvironment and observed an increase in central memory CD4 T cells. We defined an MGC-specific signature resembling to TREM2-expressing mononuclear tumor-associated macrophages, which colocalized in keratin tumor niches. Significance: Novel individual biomarkers are needed to guide therapeutic decisions for patients with head and neck cancer. We report for the first time, granulomas of TREM2-expressing multinucleated giant macrophages in keratin-rich tumor niches, as a biomarker of favorable prognosis and developed a deep-learning model to automate its quantification on routinely stained pathological slides.
The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) crosses the intestinal villus epithelium via goblet cells (GCs) upon the interaction of Lm surface protein InlA with its receptor E-cadherin. Here, we show that Lm infection accelerates intestinal villus epithelium renewal while decreasing the number of GCs expressing luminally accessible E-cadherin, thereby locking Lm portal of entry. This novel innate immune response to an enteropathogen is triggered by the infection of Peyer's patch CX3CR1+ cells and the ensuing production of IL-23. It requires STAT3 phosphorylation in epithelial cells in response to IL-22 and IL-11 expressed by lamina propria gp38+ stromal cells. Lm-induced IFN-γ signaling and STAT1 phosphorylation in epithelial cells is also critical for Lm-associated intestinal epithelium response. GC depletion also leads to a decrease in colon mucus barrier thickness, thereby increasing host susceptibility to colitis. This study unveils a novel innate immune response to an enteropathogen, which implicates gp38+ stromal cells and locks intestinal villus invasion, but favors colitis.