Immune checkpoint protein V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) controls antitumor immunity and is a valuable target for cancer immunotherapy. This study identified a role of VISTA in regulating Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in myeloid cells and controlling myeloid cell-mediated inflammation and immunosuppression. VISTA modulated the polyubiquitination and protein expression of TRAF6. Consequently, VISTA dampened TLRmediated activation of MAPK/AP-1 and IKK/NF-κB signaling cascades. At cellular levels, VISTA regulated the effector functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tolerogenic DC subsets. Blocking VISTA augmented their ability to produce proinflammatory mediators and diminished their T cell-suppressive functions. These myeloid cell-dependent effects resulted in a

CCL19 and CCL21 are chemokines involved in the trafficking of immune cells, particularly within the lymphatic system, through activation of CCR7. Concurrent expression of PSGL-1 and CCR7 in naive T-cells enhances recruitment of these cells to secondary lymphoid organs by CCL19 and CCL21. Here the solution structure of CCL19 is reported. It contains a canonical chemokine domain. Chemical shift mapping shows the N-termini of PSGL-1 and CCR7 have overlapping binding sites for CCL19 and binding is competitive. Implications for the mechanism of PSGL-1’s enhancement of resting T-cell recruitment are discussed.

V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA) is an inhibitory immune-checkpoint molecule that suppresses CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation when expressed on antigen-presenting cells. Vsir−/− mice developed loss of peripheral tolerance and multi-organ chronic inflammatory phenotypes. Vsir−/− CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were hyper-responsive towards self- and foreign antigens. Whether or not VISTA regulates innate immunity is unknown. Using a murine model of psoriasis induced by TLR7 agonist imiquimod (IMQ), we show that VISTA deficiency exacerbated psoriasiform inflammation. Enhanced TLR7 signaling in Vsir−/− dendritic cells (DCs) led to the hyper-activation of Erk1/2 and Jnk1/2, and augmented the production of IL-23. IL-23, in turn, promoted the expression of IL-17A in both TCRγδ+ T cells and CD4+ Th17 cells. Furthermore, VISTA regulates the peripheral homeostasis of CD27− γδ T cells and their activation upon TCR-mediated or cytokine-mediated stimulation. IL-17A-producing CD27− γδ T cells were expanded in the Vsir−/− mice and amplified the inflammatory cascade. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that VISTA critically regulates the inflammatory responses mediated by DCs and IL-17-producing TCRγδ+ and CD4+ Th17 T cells following TLR7 stimulation. Our finding provides a rationale for therapeutically enhancing VISTA-mediated pathways to benefit the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy and most patients eventually succumb to the disease. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) on MM cells have shown high-response rates, but limited durability. CD229/LY9 is a cell surface receptor present on B and T lymphocytes that is universally and strongly expressed on MM plasma cells. Here, we develop CD229 CAR T cells that are highly active in vitro and in vivo against MM plasma cells, memory B cells, and MM-propagating cells. We do not observe fratricide during CD229 CAR T cell production, as CD229 is downregulated in T cells during activation. In addition, while CD229 CAR T cells target normal CD229 high T cells, they spare functional CD229 neg/low T cells. These findings indicate that CD229 CAR T cells may be an effective treatment for patients with MM.