Biology subjects

Sauma, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Sauma, D..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Coupling lysosomal polarity and purinergic signaling regulates B cell activation

B cell activation is initiated by engagement of the B cell receptor (BCR) with immobilized antigens, which triggers changes in cell polarity promoting the establishment of an immune synapse that is further shaped by signals from the microenvironment. However, how cell polarity coordinates the sensing of extracellular cues to regulate B cell activation remains unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a conventional danger signal related to inflammation, on B cell function. We found that ATP released by B cells, as well as exogenously added ATP, acts as a promoter of the extraction and presentation of immobilized antigens. Endogenous ATP was produced by mitochondria recruited at the immune synapse and locally released via Pannexin 1 channels to sustain purinergic signaling at the immune synapse. We identified P2RX4 trafficking to the plasma membrane through the Rab6a+ trans-Golgi network and VAMP7+/LAMP1+ lysosomes as a key step in this response. In addition, the local activation of P2RX4 at the immune synapse triggered a migratory switch from motile to sessile, suggesting that this receptor acts as a negative regulator of B cell migration. These findings reveal ATP as a local enhancer of B cell function, and an unexpected role of P2RX4 as a molecular switch for B cell activation.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

The differentiation and functional landscape of tumor-resident CD8⁺ T cells shapes immunity and clinical outcomes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common and lethal kidney cancer in which CD8+ T cell-targeted immunotherapies are standard of care. However, tumor CD8+ T cell infiltration correlates with divergent clinical outcomes, reflecting functional heterogeneity. We comprehensively characterized tumor-specific memory CD8+ T cells in ccRCC using phenotypic, transcriptional and functional analyses. Three major subsets were identified based on tissue-residency markers: circulating (Tcirc), tissue-resident (Trm) and CD69+CD103- Trm-like cells, all recognizing autologous RCC cells in an HLA class I-dependent manner. Tcirc cells exhibited greater stemness and cytotoxic potential, whereas Trm populations displayed tissue-residency programs, enhanced tumor reactivity and exhaustion features. Single-cell transcriptomics analyses uncovered substantial heterogeneity within Trm cells, including progenitor, activated, transitional, type-17, interferon-responsive, regulatory and terminally exhausted states. Trajectory and TCR analyses indicated progressive differentiation from central-memory Tcirc cells toward tissue residency while losing circulation, cytotoxicity and stemness potentials and then progress toward terminal exhaustion. Enrichment of progenitor Trm cells associated with improved survival and favorable immunotherapy response, whereas regulatory or exhausted Trm cells correlated with poor outcomes. These findings define the differentiation and functional landscape of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells that shapes immunity and clinical outcomes in ccRCC.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes from patients with schizophrenia exhibit an inflammatory phenotype that affects vascularization

Molecular and functional abnormalities of astrocytes have been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SCZ). In this study, we examined the proteome, inflammatory responses, and secretome effects on vascularization of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes from patients with SCZ. Proteomic analysis revealed alterations in proteins related to immune function and vascularization. Reduced expression of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-{kappa}B) p65 subunit was observed in these astrocytes, with no incremental secretion of cytokines after tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) stimulation. Among inflammatory cytokines, secretion of interleukin (IL)-8 was found particularly elevated in SCZ-patient-derived- astrocyte conditioned medium (ASCZCM). In a chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, ASCZCM reduced the diameter of newly grown vessels, and this effect could be mimicked with exogenous addition of IL-8. Taken together, our results suggest that SCZ astrocytes are immunologically dysfunctional and may consequently affect vascularization through secreted factors.

neuroscience↗