Myeloid cells from Langerhans cell histiocytosis patients exhibit increased vesicle trafficking and an altered secretome capable of activating NK cells

Haematologica. 2023 Sep 1;108(9):2422-2434. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282638.

Abstract

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory myeloid neoplasia linked to pediatric neurodegeneration, whereby transformed LCH cells form agglomerated lesions in various organs. Although MAP-kinase pathway mutations have been identified in LCH cells, the functional consequences of these mutations and the mechanisms that cause the pathogenic behavior of LCH cells are not well understood. In our study, we used an in vitro differentiation system and RNA-sequencing to compare monocyte-derived dendritic cells from LCH patients to those derived from healthy controls or patients with Crohn's disease, a non-histiocytic inflammatory disease. We observed that interferon-γ treatment exacerbated intrinsic differences between LCH patient and control cells, including strikingly increased endo- and exocytosis gene activity in LCH patients. We validated these transcriptional patterns in lesions and functionally confirmed that LCH cells exhibited increased endo- and exocytosis. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing of extracellular vesicles revealed the enrichment of pathological transcripts involved in cell adhesion, MAP-kinase pathway, vesicle trafficking and T-cell activation in LCH patients. Thus, we tested the effect of the LCH secretome on lymphocyte activity and found significant activation of NK cells. These findings implicate extracellular vesicles in the pathology of LCH for the first time, in line with their established roles in the formation of various other tumor niches. Thus, we describe novel traits of LCH patient cells and suggest a pathogenic mechanism of potential therapeutic and diagnostic importance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* / drug therapy
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* / genetics
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplasms*
  • Secretome

Grants and funding

Funding: The study was supported by grants to DWH from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund, Ishizu Matsumurais Donation and OEE Johanssons Foundation, to JIH from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund, the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish Cancer and Allergy Fund, and Region Stockholm (ALF-project) and to ML from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund, Karolinska Institute, Dr Åke Olsson Foundation for hematological research, Fredrik O Ingrid Thurings Foundation, Mary Béve Foundation for pediatric cancer research and Märta and Gunnar V Philipsons Foundation.