Browsing by Author "Garcia-Flores, Valeria"
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- ItemA key role for NLRP3 signaling in preterm labor and birth driven by the alarmin S100B(2023) Galaz, Jose; Motomura, Kenichiro; Romero, Roberto; Liu, Zhenjie; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Tao, Li; Xu, Yi; Done, Bogdan; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Kanninen, Tomi; Farias-Jofre, Marcelo; Miller, Derek; Tarca, Adi L.; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPreterm birth remains the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. A substantial number of spontaneous preterm births occur in the context of sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, a condition that has been mechanistically proven to be triggered by alarmins. However, sterile intra-amniotic inflammation still lacks treatment. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in sterile intra-amniotic inflammation; yet, its underlying mechanisms, as well as the maternal and fetal contributions to this signaling pathway, are unclear. Herein, by utilizing a translational and clinically relevant model of alarmin-induced preterm labor and birth in Nlrp3-/- mice, we investigated the role of NLRP3 signaling by using imaging and molecular biology approaches. Nlrp3 deficiency abrogated preterm birth and the resulting neonatal mortality induced by the alarmin S100B by impeding the premature activation of the common pathway of labor as well as by dampening intra-amniotic and fetal inflammation. Moreover, Nlrp3 deficiency altered leukocyte infiltration and functionality in the uterus and decidua. Last, embryo transfer revealed that maternal and fetal Nlrp3 signaling contribute to alarmin-induced preterm birth and neonatal mortality, further strengthening the concept that both individuals participate in the complex process of preterm parturition. These findings provide novel insights into sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, a common etiology of preterm labor and birth, suggesting that the adverse perinatal outcomes resulting from prematurity can be prevented by targeting NLRP3 signaling.
- ItemA Protocol for Evaluating Vital Signs and Maternal-Fetal Parameters Using High-Resolution Ultrasound in Pregnant Mice(2020) Galaz, Jose; Romero, Roberto; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Panaitescu, Bogdan; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPregnancy is a unique physiological state in which two individuals coexist: the mother and the fetus. Disruption of maternal-fetal crosstalk leads to pregnancy and neonatal pathologies. Therefore, assessing maternal-fetal well-being is essential for understanding the physiological and pathological processes occurring during pregnancy. Herein, we provide a protocol that allows for the determination of body temperature, blood pressure, and the evaluation of uterine and umbilical arteries as well as maternal and fetal heart rate using high-resolution ultrasound in pregnant mice. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Gomez-Lopez et al. (2020).
- ItemA single-cell atlas of murine reproductive tissues during preterm labor(2023) Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Romero, Roberto; Peyvandipour, Azam; Galaz, Jose; Pusod, Errile; Panaitescu, Bogdan; Miller, Derek; Xu, Yi; Tao, Li; Liu, Zhenjie; Tarca, Adi L.; Pique-Regi, Roger; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPreterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, frequently results from the syndrome of preterm labor. The best-established causal link to preterm labor is intra-amniotic infection, which involves premature activation of the parturition cascade in the reproductive tissues. Herein, we utilize single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to generate a single-cell atlas of the murine uterus, decidua, and cervix in a model of infection-induced preterm labor. We show that preterm labor affects the transcriptomic profiles of specific immune and non-immune cell subsets. Shared and tissue-specific gene expression sig-natures are identified among affected cells. Determination of intercellular communications implicates spe-cific cell types in preterm labor-associated signaling pathways across tissues. In silico comparison of murine and human uterine cell-cell interactions reveals conserved signaling pathways implicated in labor. Thus, our scRNA-seq data provide insights into the preterm labor-driven cellular landscape and communications in reproductive tissues.
- ItemBlockade of IL-6R prevents preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes(2023) Farias-Jofre, Marcelo; Romero, Roberto; Galaz, Jose; Xu, Yi; Miller, Derek; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Winters, Andrew D.; Berkowitz, Bruce A.; Podolsky, Robert H.; Shen, Yimin; Kanninen, Tomi; Panaitescu, Bogdan; Glazier, Catherine R.; Pique-Regi, Roger; Theis, Kevin R.; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyBackground Preterm birth preceded by spontaneous preterm labour often occurs in the clinical setting of sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (SIAI), a condition that currently lacks treatment.Methods Proteomic and scRNA-seq human data were analysed to evaluate the role of IL-6 and IL-1 alpha in SIAI. A C57BL/6 murine model of SIAI-induced preterm birth was developed by the ultrasound-guided intra-amniotic injection of IL-1 alpha. The blockade of IL-6R by using an aIL-6R was tested as prenatal treatment for preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes. QUEST-MRI evaluated brain oxidative stress in utero. Targeted transcriptomic profiling assessed maternal, foetal, and neonatal inflammation. Neonatal biometrics and neurodevelopment were tested. The neonatal gut immune-microbiome was evaluated using metagenomic sequencing and immunophenotyping.Findings IL-6 plays a critical role in the human intra-amniotic inflammatory response, which is associated with elevated concentrations of the alarmin IL-1 alpha. Intra-amniotic injection of IL-1 alpha resembles SIAI, inducing preterm birth (7% vs. 50%, p = 0.03, Fisher's exact test) and neonatal mortality (18% vs. 56%, p = 0.02, Mann-Whitney U-test). QUEST-MRI revealed no foetal brain oxidative stress upon in utero IL-1 alpha exposure (p > 0.05, mixed linear model). Prenatal treatment with aIL-6R abrogated IL-1 alpha-induced preterm birth (50% vs. 7%, p = 0.03, Fisher's exact test) by dampening inflammatory processes associated with the common pathway of labour. Importantly, aIL-6R reduces neonatal mortality (56% vs. 22%, p = 0.03, Mann-Whitney U-test) by crossing from the mother to the amniotic cavity, dampening foetal organ inflammation and improving growth. Beneficial effects of prenatal IL -6R blockade carried over to neonatal life, improving survival, growth, neurodevelopment, and gut immune homeostasis.Interpretation IL-6R blockade can serve as a strategy to treat SIAI, preventing preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes.
- ItemDeciphering maternal-fetal cross-talk in the human placenta during parturition using single-cell RNA sequencing(2024) Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Romero, Roberto; Tarca, Adi L.; Peyvandipour, Azam; Xu, Yi; Galaz, Jose; Miller, Derek; Chaiworapongsa, Tinnakorn; Chaemsaithong, Piya; Berry, Stanley M.; Awonuga, Awoniyi O.; Bryant, David R.; Pique-Regi, Roger; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyLabor is a complex physiological process requiring a well-orchestrated dialogue between the mother and fetus. However, the cellular contributions and communications that facilitate maternal-fetal cross-talk in labor have not been fully elucidated. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was applied to decipher maternal-fetal signaling in the human placenta during term labor. First, a single-cell atlas of the human placenta was established, demonstrating that maternal and fetal cell types underwent changes in transcriptomic activity during labor. Cell types most affected by labor were fetal stromal and maternal decidual cells in the chorioamniotic membranes (CAMs) and maternal and fetal myeloid cells in the placenta. Cell-cell interaction analyses showed that CAM and placental cell types participated in labor-driven maternal and fetal signaling, including the collagen, C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), galectin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathways. Integration of scRNA-seq data with publicly available bulk transcriptomic data showed that placenta-derived scRNA-seq signatures could be monitored in the maternal circulation throughout gestation and in labor. Moreover, comparative analysis revealed that placenta-derived signatures in term labor were mirrored by those in spontaneous preterm labor and birth. Furthermore, we demonstrated that early in gestation, labor-specific, placenta-derived signatures could be detected in the circulation of women destined to undergo spontaneous preterm birth, with either intact or prelabor ruptured membranes. Collectively, our findings provide insight into the maternal-fetal cross-talk of human parturition and suggest that placenta-derived single-cell signatures can aid in the development of noninvasive biomarkers for the prediction of preterm birth.
- ItemDefining a role for Interferon Epsilon in normal and complicated pregnancies(2022) Miller, Derek; Romero, Roberto; Kacerovsky, Marian; Musilova, Ivana; Galaz, Jose; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Xu, Yi; Pusod, Errile; Demery-Poulos, Catherine; Gutierrez-Contreras, Pedro; Ning Liu, Tzu; Jung, Eunjung; Theis, Kevin R.; Coleman, Lanetta A.; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyInterferon epsilon (IFNe) is a recently described cytokine that is constitutively expressed in the female repro-ductive tract. However, the role of this hormonally regulated cytokine during human pregnancy is poorly un-derstood. Moreover, whether IFNe participates in host immune response against bacteria-driven intra-amniotic infection or cervical human papillomavirus infection during pregnancy is unknown. Herein, using a unique set of human samples derived from multiple study cohorts, we aimed to uncover the role of IFNe in normal and complicated pregnancies. We showed that IFNe is expressed in the myometrium, cervix, and chorioamniotic membranes, and may therefore represent a constitutive element of host defense mechanisms in these tissues during pregnancy. The expression of IFNe in the myometrium and cervix appeared greater in late gestation than in mid-pregnancy, but did not seem to be impacted by labor. Notably, concentrations of IFNe in amniotic fluid, but not cervical fluid, were increased in a subset of women undergoing spontaneous preterm labor with intra-amniotic infection, indicating that IFNe could participate in anti-microbial responses in the amniotic cavity. However, stimulation with Ureaplasma parvum and/or lipopolysaccharide did not enhance IFNE expression by amnion epithelial or cervical cells in vitro, implicating alternative sources of this cytokine during intra-amniotic or cervical infection, respectively. Collectively, our results represent the first characterization of IFNe expression by human reproductive and gestational tissues during normal pregnancy and suggest a role for this cytokine in intra-amniotic infection leading to preterm birth.
- ItemDistinct Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnant Women(2022) Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy ; Romero, Roberto ; Tao, Li ; Gershater, Meyer ; Leng, Yaozhu ; Zou, Chengrui; Farias-Jofre, Marcelo ; Galaz, Jose ; Miller, Derek; Tarca, Adi L. ; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia ; Bhatti, Gaurav; Garcia-Flores, Valeria ; Liu, Zhenjie ; Para, Robert ; Kanninen, Tomi ; Hadaya, Ola ; Paredes, Carmen ; Xu, Yi
- ItemFetal and maternal NLRP3 signaling is required for preterm labor and birth(AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC, 2022) Motomura, Kenichiro; Romero, Roberto; Galaz, Jose; Tao, Li; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Xu, Yi; Done, Bogdan; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Miller, Derek; Gutierrez-Contreras, Pedro; Farias-Jofre, Marcelo; Aras, Siddhesh; Grossman, Lawrence, I; Tarca, Adi L.; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPreterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. One of every 4 preterm neonates is born to a mother with intra-amniotic inflammation driven by invading bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this hostile immune response remain unclear. Here, we used a translationally relevant model of preterm birth in Nlrp3-deficient and-sufficient pregnant mice to identify what we believe is a previously unknown dual role for the NLRP3 pathway in the fetal and maternal signaling required for the premature onset of the labor cascade leading to fetal injury and neonatal death. Specifically, the NLRP3 sensor molecule and/or inflammasome is essential for triggering intra-amniotic and decidual inflammation, fetal membrane activation, uterine contractility, and cervical dilation. NLRP3 also regulates the functional status of neutrophils and macrophages in the uterus and decidua, without altering their influx, as well as maternal systemic inflammation. Finally, both embryo transfer experimentation and heterozygous mating systems provided mechanistic evidence showing that NLRP3 signaling in both the fetus and the mother is required for the premature activation of the labor cascade. These data provide insights into the mechanisms of fetal-maternal dialog in the syndrome of preterm labor and indicate that targeting the NLRP3 pathway could prevent adverse perinatal outcomes.
- ItemHost-microbiome interactions in distinct subsets of preterm labor and birth(2023) Galaz, Jose; Romero, Roberto; Greenberg, Jonathan M.; Theis, Kevin R.; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Xu, Yi; Farias-Jofre, Marcelo; Miller, Derek; Kanninen, Tomi; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPreterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity, often follows premature labor, a syndrome whose prevention remains a challenge. To better understand the relationship between premature labor and host-microbiome interactions, we conducted a mechanistic investigation using three preterm birth models. We report that intra-amniotic delivery of LPS triggers inflammatory responses in the amniotic cavity and cervico-vaginal microenvironment, causing vaginal microbiome changes and signs of active labor. Intra-amniotic IL-1 alpha delivery causes a moderate inflammatory response in the amniotic cavity but increasing inflammation in the cervico-vaginal space, leading to vaginal microbiome disruption and signs of active labor. Conversely, progesterone action blockade by RU-486 triggers local immune responses accompanying signs of active labor without altering the vaginal microbiome. Preterm labor facilitates ascension of cervico-vaginal bacteria into the amniotic cavity, regardless of stimulus. This study provides compelling mechanistic insights into the dynamic host-microbiome interactions within the cervico-vaginal microenvironment that accompany premature labor and birth.
- ItemM2-polarized macrophages prevent preterm birth and improve neonatal survival and immunity(AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS, 2024) Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Liu, Zhenjie; Romero, Roberto; Xu, Yi; Miller, Derek; Galaz Alarcón, José Carlo; Winters, Andrew; Farías Jofre, Marcelo Enrique; Theis, Kevin; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPreterm birth (PTB), commonly preceded by preterm labor, is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most cases of preterm labor are associated with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (SIAI), an inflammatory condition without detectable microorganisms. To date, no successful strategies to treat SIAI have been developed. Herein, we present mechanistic proof that treatment with M2-polarized macrophages (M2 MΦ) can effectively prevent PTB [(HMGB1, n = 28 vs. HMGB1+M2 MΦ, n = 29) (p<0.05)] and neonatal mortality [(HMGB1, n = 20 litters vs. HMGB1+M2 MΦ, n = 14 litters) (p<0.001)] induced by the ultrasound-guided intra-amniotic injection of the alarmin HMGB1 in mice. M2 MΦ halt the premature pathway of labor by infiltrating maternal and fetal compartments, where they inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggered by HMGB1. Furthermore, M2 MΦ dampen the HMGB1-induced inflammatory response in the amniotic cavity and fetal lung. Notably, neonates exposed to HMGB1 in utero display a reduced capacity to clear bacterial infection and gut microbiome dysbiosis, which are restored by M2 MΦ treatment [(HMGB1, n = 10 vs. HMGB1+ M2 MΦ, n = 10) (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively)]. Our findings provide cogent evidence that M2 MΦ can serve as a cellular strategy to mitigate PTB and decrease neonatal mortality.
- ItemMicrobiota of the Pregnant Mouse: Characterization of the Bacterial Communities in the Oral Cavity, Lung, Intestine, and Vagina through Culture and DNA Sequencing(2022) Greenberg, Jonathan M.; Romero, Roberto; Winters, Andrew D.; Galaz, Jose; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Panzer, Jonathan; Shaffer, Zachary; Kracht, David J.; Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy; Theis, Kevin R.Mice are frequently used as animal models for mechanistic studies of infection and obstetrical disease, yet characterization of the murine microbiota during pregnancy is lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiotas of distinct body sites of the pregnant mouse-vagina, oral cavity, intestine, and lung-that harbor microorganisms that could potentially invade the murine amniotic cavity, thus leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The microbiotas of these body sites were characterized through anoxic, hypoxic, and oxic culture as well as through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With the exception of the vagina, the cultured microbiotas of each body site varied by atmosphere, with the greatest diversity in the cultured microbiota appearing under anoxic conditions. Only cultures of the vagina were comprehensively representative of the microbiota observed through direct DNA sequencing of body site samples, primarily due to the predominance of two Rodentibacter strains. Identified as Rodentibacter pneumotropicus and Rodentibacter heylii, these isolates exhibited predominance patterns similar to those of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners in the human vagina. Whole-genome sequencing of these Rodentibacter strains revealed shared genomic features, including the ability to degrade glycogen, an abundant polysaccharide in the vagina. In summary, we report body site-specific microbiotas in the pregnant mouse with potential ecological parallels to those of humans. Importantly, our findings indicate that the vaginal microbiotas of pregnant mice can be readily cultured, suggesting that mock vaginal microbiotas can be tractably generated and maintained for experimental manipulation in future mechanistic studies of host vaginal-microbiome interactions.
- ItemNo Consistent Evidence for Microbiota in Murine Placental and Fetal Tissues(2020) Theis, Kevin R.; Romero, Roberto; Greenberg, Jonathan M.; Winters, Andrew D.; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Motomura, Kenichiro; Ahmad, Madison M.; Galaz, Jose; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyThe existence of a placental microbiota and in utero colonization of the fetus have been the subjects of recent debate. The objective of this study was to determine whether the placental and fetal tissues of mice harbor bacterial communities. Bacterial profiles of the placenta and fetal brain, lung, liver, and intestine samples were characterized through culture, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These profiles were compared to those of the maternal mouth, lung, liver, uterus, cervix, vagina, and intestine, as well as to background technical controls. Positive bacterial cultures from placental and fetal tissue samples were rare; of the 165 total bacterial cultures of placental tissue samples from the 11 mice included in this study, only nine yielded at least a single colony, and five of those nine positive cultures came from a single mouse. Cultures of fetal intestinal tissue samples yielded just a single bacterial isolate, Staphylococcus hominis, a common skin bacterium. Bacterial loads of placental and fetal brain, lung, liver, and intestinal tissues were not higher than those of DNA contamination controls and did not yield substantive 16S rRNA gene sequencing libraries. From all placental or fetal tissue samples (n = 51), there was only a single bacterial isolate that came from a fetal brain sample having a bacterial load higher than that of contamination controls and that was identified in sequence-based surveys of at least one of its corresponding maternal samples. Therefore, using multiple modes of microbiological inquiry, there was not consistent evidence of bacterial communities in the placental and fetal tissues of mice.
- ItemPregnancy imparts distinct systemic adaptive immune function(WILEY, 2022) Demery-Poulos, Catherine; Romero, Roberto; Xu, Yi; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Miller, Derek; Tao, Li; Galaz, Jose; Farias-Jofre, Marcelo; Bhatti, Gaurav; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Seyerle, Megan; Tarca, Adi L.; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyProblem Pregnancy represents a state of systemic immune activation that is primarily driven by alterations in circulating innate immune cells. Recent studies have suggested that cellular adaptive immune components, T cells and B cells, also undergo changes throughout gestation. However, the phenotypes and functions of such adaptive immune cells are poorly understood. Herein, we utilized high-dimensional flow cytometry and functional assays to characterize T-cell and B-cell responses in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant (n = 20) and non-pregnant (n = 25) women were used for phenotyping of T-cell and B-cell subsets. T-cell proliferation and B-cell activation were assessed by flow cytometry after in vitro stimulation, and lymphocyte cytotoxicity was evaluated by using a cell-based assay. Statistical comparisons were performed with linear mixed-effects models. Results Pregnancy was associated with modestly enhanced basal activation of peripheral CD4(+) T cells. Both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from pregnant women showed increased activation-induced proliferation; yet, a reduced proportion of these cells expressed activation markers compared to non-pregnant women. There were no differences in peripheral lymphocyte cytotoxicity between study groups. A greater proportion of B cells from pregnant women displayed memory-like and activated phenotypes, and such cells exhibited higher activation following stimulation. Conclusion Maternal circulating T cells and B cells display distinct responses during pregnancy. The former may reflect the unique capacity of T cells to respond to potential threats without undergoing aberrant activation, thereby preventing systemic inflammatory responses that can lead to adverse perinatal consequences.
- ItemPregnancy-specific responses to COVID-19 are revealed by high-throughput proteomics of human plasma(2022) Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy; Romero, Roberto; Escobar, Maria; Carvajal, Javier; Echavarria, Maria; Albornoz, Ludwig; Nasner, Daniela; Miller, Derek; Gallo, Dahiana; Galaz Alarcón, José Carlo; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Bhatti, Gaurav; Done, Bogdan; Zambrano, Maria; Ramos, Isabella; Fernandez, Paula; Posada, Leandro; Chaiworapongsa, Tinnakorn; Jung, Eunjung; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Suksai, Manaphat; Gotsch, Francesca; Bosco, Mariachiara; Than, Nandor; Tarca, Adi
- ItemPregnancy-specific responses to COVID-19 revealed by high-throughput proteomics of human plasma(2023) Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy; Romero, Roberto; Escobar, Maria Fernanda; Carvajal, Javier Andres; Echavarria, Maria Paula; Albornoz, Ludwig L.; Nasner, Daniela; Miller, Derek; Gallo, Dahiana M.; Galaz, Jose; Arenas-Hernandez, Marcia; Bhatti, Gaurav; Done, Bogdan; Zambrano, Maria Andrea; Ramos, Isabella; Fernandez, Paula Andrea; Posada, Leandro; Chaiworapongsa, Tinnakorn; Jung, Eunjung; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Suksai, Manaphat; Gotsch, Francesca; Bosco, Mariachiara; Than, Nandor Gabor; Tarca, Adi L.Gomez-Lopez et al. profile the plasma proteome of pregnant and non-pregnant COVID-19 patients and controls. Shared and pregnancy-specific proteomic changes are identified in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, with the proteome accurately identifying COVID-19 patients, even when asymptomatic.
- ItemSingle-Cell Immunobiology of the Maternal-Fetal Interface(2022) Miller, Derek; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Romero, Roberto; Galaz, Jose; Pique-Regi, Roger; Gomez-Lopez, NardhyPregnancy success requires constant dialogue between the mother and developing conceptus. Such crosstalk is facil-itated through complex interactions between maternal and fetal cells at distinct tissue sites, collectively termed the "maternal -fetal interface." The emergence of single-cell technologies has enabled a deeper understanding of the unique processes taking place at the maternal -fetal interface as well as the discovery of novel pathways and immune and nonimmune cell types. Single-cell approaches have also been applied to decipher the cellular dynamics through-out pregnancy, in parturition, and in obstetrical syndromes such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and preterm labor. Furthermore, single-cell technologies have been used during the recent COVID-19 pandemic to eval-uate placental viral cell entry and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal and fetal immunity. In this brief review, we summarize the current knowledge of cellular immunobiology in pregnancy and its complica-tions that has been generated through single-cell investi-gations of the maternal -fetal interface. The Journal of Immunology, 2022, 209: 1450-1464.