Journal: Cell & Bioscience

Article Title: A CCL5 + CD20 + CD8 + T cell subset drives pathogenic transformation of synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis via JAK-STAT signaling

doi: 10.1186/s13578-025-01516-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: Single-cell profiling of PBMCs from RA patients and HC revealed distinct clustering patterns of CD20 + T cell populations. a t-SNE plot of CD20 + T cells from PBMCs of RA patients ( n = 9) and HC ( n = 3), colored by group. b tSNE plot (left panel) and subgroup proportion pie chart (right panel) of CD20 + T cells from all donors. Subgroups were divided based on the expression levels of marker genes CD4 or CD8A . c tSNE plot of CD20 + T cells from PBMCs of all donors, showing 3 clusters based on the unsupervised graph-based clustering. d Dot plot for expression of marker genes for three CD20 + T cell subtypes. The color of the dots shows the relative expression levels of genes, and the size of the dots shows the percentage of expressed cells. e Heatmap showing expression levels of discriminative genes for each cluster. Cluster 0 prominently features high expression of CCL5 , NKG7 and GNLY ; Cluster 1 is defined by combined enrichment of CCR7 , IL6ST and TRABD2A ; Cluster 2 shows distinct expression of GATA3 , ITGB1 and S100A11 . f Feature plots of single-cell expression for identified genes across three CD20 + T cell clusters

Article Snippet: Briefly, RA-FLSs were serum-starved for 4–6 h and then pretreated for 30 min under the following conditions [ ]: (1) IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (2) CCL5 (2 ng/mL; MCE, Cat#HY-P70450) + IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (3) 25% (v/v) CD20 + CD8 + T-CM + IL-1β (5 ng/mL).

Techniques: Single Cell, Expressing, Marker

Journal: Cell & Bioscience

Article Title: A CCL5 + CD20 + CD8 + T cell subset drives pathogenic transformation of synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis via JAK-STAT signaling

doi: 10.1186/s13578-025-01516-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: The proportion of CCL5 + T cells in CD20 + CD8 + T cells was significantly elevated in naïve RA patients. a Schematic representation of gating strategy for flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from HC and RA patients. b The frequencies of CD20 + CD8 + T cells were analyzed in PBMCs samples collected from HC ( n = 63) and naïve RA patients ( n = 69). Data shown as median with interquartile range (IQR), Mann-Whitney U test, **** P < 0.0001. c The frequencies of CCL5 + cells within CD20 + CD8 + T cells were shown for HC ( n = 32) and naïve RA patients ( n = 35). Data shown as median with interquartile range (IQR), Mann-Whitney U test, **** P < 0.0001. d The proportion of CCL5 + cells was significantly higher in CD20 + CD8 + T cells than in CD20 – CD8 + T cells in both HC and RA patients. Data shown as median with interquartile range (IQR), Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, **** P < 0.0001. e The proportion of CCL5 + cells within CD20 + CD8 + T cells positively correlated with inflammation and disease activity of RA. Data shown as individual scatter points, Spearman’s rank correlation, P < 0.05. f KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the top five most significantly enriched pathways for DEGs between CD20 + CD8 + T and CD20 – CD8 + T cells included the chemokine signaling pathway, and CXCR3 and CCR5 were identified as genes significantly enriched in this pathway. g Violin plots (upper panel) demonstrated that the expression levels of CXCR3 and CCR5 genes were significantly upregulated in CD20 + CD8 + T cells compared to CD20 – CD8 + T cells. **** P < 0.0001; * P < 0.05. UMAP plot (lower panel) visualized the distribution of CXCR3 + or CCR5 + cells among CD8 + T cells. ( h Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated significantly higher proportions of CXCR3 + or CCR5 + cells among CD20 + CD8 + T cells compared to CD20 – CD8 + T cells in PBMCs from RA patients ( n = 27 in each group). Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, **** P < 0.0001

Article Snippet: Briefly, RA-FLSs were serum-starved for 4–6 h and then pretreated for 30 min under the following conditions [ ]: (1) IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (2) CCL5 (2 ng/mL; MCE, Cat#HY-P70450) + IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (3) 25% (v/v) CD20 + CD8 + T-CM + IL-1β (5 ng/mL).

Techniques: Derivative Assay, MANN-WHITNEY, Activity Assay, Expressing

Journal: Cell & Bioscience

Article Title: A CCL5 + CD20 + CD8 + T cell subset drives pathogenic transformation of synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis via JAK-STAT signaling

doi: 10.1186/s13578-025-01516-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: CD20 + CD8 + T cells may promote the expansion of invasive FAPα + FLS through CCL5-mediated activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. a Gating strategy for identifying FLS involved sequential selection of CD45-negative (CD45 – ) cells followed by positive selection for PDPN (podoplanin) expression. The frequencies of FAPα + cells in the PDPN + CD45 – CD31 – population were quantified and compared between normal human controls (NH, n = 9) and RA patients ( n = 9). (mean ± SEM, unpaired two-tailed t -test, *** P < 0.001). b Representative flow cytometry plots depict FAPα + cells (gated on PDPN + CD45 – CD31 – populations) with corresponding quantitative analysis following 48-hour treatment under various experimental conditions. (mean ± SEM, n = 7 in each group, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, * P < 0.05, **** P < 0.0001). c Representative images from the Transwell assay demonstrate the migratory capacity of FLS under the experimental conditions corresponding to panel (b). Scale bar: 50 μm. (mean ± SEM, n = 3 in each group, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, * P < 0.05; *** P < 0.001). d The frequency of FAPα-expressing FLS was assessed by flow cytometry following 48-hour incubation with CCR1 antagonist BX471 (5 µM) or CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (5 µM) in IL-1β (5 ng/mL) + CD20 + CD8 + T-CM cultures. (mean ± SEM, n = 6 in each group, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01). e Representative histogram plots demonstrate FAPα expression in FLS following stimulation with IL-1β (5 ng/mL) in combination with either CD20 + CD8 + T-CM alone, or T-CM + tofacitinib (JAK inhibitor). (mean ± SEM, n = 6 in each group, paired t- test, *** P < 0.001). ( f ) ELISA was performed to quantify CCL5 concentrations in culture supernatants under experimental conditions corresponding to panels (B) and (C). (mean ± SEM, n = 6 in each group, one-way ANOVA with Welch’s correction, followed by Dunnett’s T3 post hoc test, ** P < 0.01). g Heatmap depicting transcriptomic profiling results, showing expression levels of differentially expressed genes across experimental groups. h GO (upper panel) and KEGG pathway (lower panel) analyses of upregulated genes in FLS treated with CD20 – CD8 + T-CM + IL-1β (left), and FLS treated with CD20 + CD8 + T-CM + IL-1β (right), both compared to IL-1β alone control (CTL). q -value < 0.05

Article Snippet: Briefly, RA-FLSs were serum-starved for 4–6 h and then pretreated for 30 min under the following conditions [ ]: (1) IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (2) CCL5 (2 ng/mL; MCE, Cat#HY-P70450) + IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (3) 25% (v/v) CD20 + CD8 + T-CM + IL-1β (5 ng/mL).

Techniques: Activation Assay, Selection, Expressing, Two Tailed Test, Flow Cytometry, Transwell Assay, Incubation, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Control

Journal: Cell & Bioscience

Article Title: A CCL5 + CD20 + CD8 + T cell subset drives pathogenic transformation of synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis via JAK-STAT signaling

doi: 10.1186/s13578-025-01516-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: Schematic of CCL5 + CD20 + CD8 + T cells driving synoviocyte transformation. In RA, circulating CD20 + CD8 + T cells with high co-expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR5 are chemoattracted from peripheral blood into synovial tissues by cognate chemokines (such as CXCL9 and CCL5). CD20 + CD8 + T cells further engage in crosstalk with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) through CCL5 secretion. This chemokine-dependent signaling engages cognate receptors (i.e., CCR1, CCR5) on FLS, subsequently activating the JAK/STAT signaling cascade, inducing phenotypic transformation of FLS (PDPN + CD45 – CD31 – ) into pathogenic FAPα + subpopulation. The FAPα + subpopulation demonstrates enhanced proliferative capacity, increased invasive migration, and robust secretion of synovial inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and pro-angiogenic factors, collectively driving pannus formation and progressive joint destruction. ECM: extracellular matrix; MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases; TNFα: tumor necrosis factor α.

Article Snippet: Briefly, RA-FLSs were serum-starved for 4–6 h and then pretreated for 30 min under the following conditions [ ]: (1) IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (2) CCL5 (2 ng/mL; MCE, Cat#HY-P70450) + IL-1β (5 ng/mL); (3) 25% (v/v) CD20 + CD8 + T-CM + IL-1β (5 ng/mL).

Techniques: Transformation Assay, Expressing, Migration

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) 3×10 5 THP-1 macrophages were treated with 15 mM lactate for 24 h, and the mRNA levels of chemokines were measured by quantitative PCR. The growth medium of control macrophages was titrated to pH6.1 using sterile HCl. (B) 3×10 5 THP-1 macrophages were incubated with different concentrations of lactate for 24 h, and CCL5 gene expression was determined with quantitative PCR. (C) 10 6 THP-1 macrophages were exposed to increasing concentrations of lactate for 48 h, and the secretion of CCL5 was measured by ELISA. (D) 10 6 human primary macrophages from breast cancer patients (n=9) were cultured with different concentrations of lactate for 48 h, and CCL5 production was detected. (E) 10 6 MDA-MB-231 cells were pre-treated with 15μM GSK 2837808A for 2 h, then the media were changed, and cells were cultured for another 24 h. The conditional media (MD-231 CM) were collected and applied to 10 6 THP-1 macrophages. CCL5 concentrations were detected with ELISA. (F) Immunohistochemical staining of CD68 and CCL5 in tumor adjacent tissues (control) and breast tumors (n=28). Scale bars represent 50 μm. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Control, Sterility, Incubation, Gene Expression, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Cell Culture, Immunohistochemical staining, Staining

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) 10 6 THP-1 macrophages were treated with 15 mM lactate for 48 h, and the expression of key regulators in Notch, NF-κB, STAT3 and HIF, were detected by western blot. (B) 3×10 5 THP-1 macrophages were cultured with 15 mM lactate for 24 h, and the mRNA levels of Notch ligands and receptors were measured by quantitative PCR. (C) Western blot for Notch ligands and receptors in THP-1 (10 6 ) macrophages after 48 h lactate treatment. (D) Lactate stimulated the expression of NICD in a time and dose-dependent manner. 10 6 THP-1 macrophages were treated with 15 mM lactic acid for 48 h. Data presented were representatives of at least three independent experiments. (E) 10 6 THP-1 macrophages were transfected with 50nM siNotch1, or pretreated with 50μM DAPT for 2 h, and then cultured with 15 mM lactate for 48 h. The secretion of CCL5 was measured by ELISA. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Expressing, Western Blot, Cell Culture, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Transfection, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) 10 6 THP-1 macrophages were treated with 15 mM lactate for 72 h, and then cells were washed twice and fresh media were added. Macrophages were cultured for another 24 h and the conditional media (lactate CM) was collected. The effect of CM on breast cancer cell migration was measured by double chamber transwell assay. 5μg/ml anti-CCL5 neutralizing antibody significantly decreased lactate CM-induced cell migration. (B) 10 6 MCF-7 cells were co-cultured with 15 mM lactate-activated macrophages in the presence of 5μg/ml anti-CCL5 antibody or not, and protein levels of EMT markers were tested by western blot. (C) 10 6 breast cancer cells were co-cultured with 10 6 lactate-activated THP-1 macrophages (or 10 6 lactate-activated primary macrophages) for different time points, and the expression of CCR5 was monitored by western blot. (D) MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with shCCR5 plasmids, or pre-treated with 5μM Maraviroc for 2 h, then cell migration induced by lactate CM was detected by double chamber transwell assay. Lactate CM was described in (A). (E) MCF-7 cells (10 6 ) were transfected with pcDNA3.1-CCR5, and then cultured with 10ng/ml CCL5 for 24 h. The expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin was investigated by western blot. (F) 10 6 Human primary macrophages (No. 4 and No. 9) were treated with 15 mM lactate for 72 h and CM was collected as described in (A). The migration of MDA-MB-231 cells was measured in the presence of primary macrophage CM. 5μg/ml anti-CCL5 neutralizing antibody, shRNAs designed against CCR5, or 5μM Maraviroc, significantly reduced primary macrophage CM-induced cell migration. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Cell Culture, Migration, Transwell Assay, Western Blot, Expressing, Transfection

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) 3×10 5 MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were stimulated with 1-5ng/ml TGF-β1 for 24 h, and total RNA was isolated and tested for CCR5 mRNA by quantitative PCR. (B) Western blot for CCR5 protein in breast cancer cells (10 6 ) under TGF-β1 stimulation for 48 h. Data presented were representatives of at least three independent experiments. (C) MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells (3×10 5 ) were co-transfected with pGL3-CCR5 and pRL-TK and exposed to different concentrations of TGF-β1 for 24 h, and luciferase activities were determined. (D) MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were pre-treated with 5μM SIS3 for 2 h, and cells were subjected to luciferase assay. (E) 10 6 MCF-7 cells were transfected with TGFβRI/ALK5 siRNA, and were then co-cultured with lactate-activated THP-1 macrophages (ratio 1:1) for 24 h. The protein levels of CCR5 were assayed by western blot. (F) The expression of TGF-β1, CCL5 and CCR5 in clinical samples obtained from breast cancer patients. The mRNA levels were measured by quantitative PCR, and the correlation between TGF-β1 and CCL5-CCR5 axis was shown. (G) Representative IHC staining for TGF-β1, CCL5 and CCR5 in breast cancer samples. The sample used was derived from 28 breast cancer cases. Scale bars represent 50 μm. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Isolation, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Western Blot, Transfection, Luciferase, Cell Culture, Expressing, Immunohistochemistry, Derivative Assay

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Glucose uptake, lactic acid production and ATP levels in breast cancer cells co-cultured with lactate-activated THP-1 macrophages, with or without 5μg/ml anti-CCL5 neutralizing antibody. The co-culture system was described in Figure . (B) Western blots for glycolytic enzymes in breast cancer cells treated as in (A). (C) MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with shRNAs designed against CCR5, or pre-treated with 5μM Maraviroc for 2 h, and then subjected to cell co-culture. Glucose uptake, lactic acid production and ATP levels were measured after co-culture. The co-culture system was described in Figure . (D) The protein levels of HK2, PKM2 and LDHA in MDA-MB-231 cells cultured as in (C). (E) Recombinant human CCL5 induced aerobic glycolysis in breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7/CCR5 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of CCL5 for 12 h, and glucose uptake, lactic acid production and ATP levels were detected. (F) Western blots for glycolytic enzymes in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7/CCR5 cells after stimulation with CCL5. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Cell Culture, Co-Culture Assay, Western Blot, Transfection, Recombinant

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Western blot for AMPK, c-Myc, HIF-1α and Akt in breast cancer cells co-cultured with 15mM lactic acid-activated THP-1 macrophages (ratio 1:1) for 72 h. Results presented were representatives of at least three independent experiments. (B) The expression of AMPK downstream signaling target ACC in breast cancer cells co-cultured as in (A). (C) MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with 50 nM AMPKα1 siRNA, or pretreated with 10μM compound C for 4 h, and then incubated with 15mM lactic acid-activated THP-1 macrophages (ratio 1:1) for 48 h. The glucose uptake, lactic acid production and ATP levels were detected. (D) The inhibition of AMPK abrogated macrophage-induced EMT in MCF-7 cells. Cells were treated as described in (C). After co-culture, the expression of EMT markers, E-cadherin and vimentin, was measured by western blot. (E) Recombinant human CCL5 induced the phosphorylation of AMPK in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7/CCR5 cells. 10 6 cells were treated with 50ng/ml CCL5 for defferent time points as indicated, and phosphorylated AMPK and total AMPK were investigated by western blot. (F) Inhibition of CCR5 in MDA-MB-231 cells significantly attenuated macrophage-induced AMPK phosphorylation. MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with shRNAs designed against CCR5, or pre-treated with 5μM Maraviroc for 2 h, then co-cultured with 15 mM lactate-activated macrophages as described in (A). After co-culture, the phosphorylation of AMPK was detected by western blot. (G) Expressions of CCL5, CCR5 and p-AMPK in samples obtained from breast cancer patients (n =28). Scale bars represent 50 μm. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Western Blot, Cell Culture, Expressing, Transfection, Incubation, Inhibition, Co-Culture Assay, Recombinant, Phospho-proteomics

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: Lactate-activated macrophages induced aerobic glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by regulation of CCL5-CCR5 axis: a positive metabolic feedback loop

doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22786

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) MDA-MB-231 cells were co-cultured with 15 mM lactate-activated THP-1 macrophages for 7 days, in the presence of 5μg/ml anti-CCL5 neutralizing antibody or not. MDA-MB-231 cells were then collected and injected into the tail vein of nude mice. After two weeks, animals were sacrificed and metastatic nodules on lung surfaces were counted. (B) CCR5, HK2 and p-AMPK were immunostained in MDA-MB-231 metastases. Scale bars represent 50 μm. * , P<0.05; ** , P<0.01.

Article Snippet: CCL5 (DRN00B), TGF-β1 (DB100B) ELISA kits and recombinant human CCL5 (278-RN/CF) and TGF-β1 (240-B) were bought from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN).

Techniques: Cell Culture, Injection