Imperial College London

DrMargaritaDominguez-Villar

Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Infectious Disease

Senior Lecturer
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 3735m.dominguez-villar Website

 
 
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Location

 

117Wright Fleming WingSt Mary's Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Publication Type
Year
to

54 results found

Maher A, Aristodemou A, Giang N, Tanaka Y, Bangham C, Taylor G, Dominguez-Villar Met al., 2024, HTLV-1 induces an inflammatory CD4+CD8+ T cell population in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy, Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight, Vol: 9, ISSN: 0021-9738

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus with preferential CD4+ T cell tropism that causes a range of conditions spanning from asymptomatic infection to adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM), an inflammatory disease of the CNS. The mechanisms by which HTLV-1 induces HAM are poorly understood. By directly examining the ex vivo phenotype and function of T cells from asymptomatic carriers and patients with HAM, we show that patients with HAM have a higher frequency of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) T cells, which are infected with HTLV-1 at higher rates than CD4+ T cells. Displaying both helper and cytotoxic phenotypes, these DP T cells are highly pro-inflammatory and contain high frequencies of HTLV-1-specific cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that DP T cells arise by direct HTLV-1 infection of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. High levels of CD49d and CXCR3 expression suggest that DP T cells possess the ability to migrate to the CNS, and when co-cultured with astrocytes, DP T cells induce proinflammatory astrocytes that express high levels of CXCL10, IFN-, and IL-6. These results demonstrate the potential of DP T cells to directly contribute to CNS pathology.

Journal article

Dominguez-Villar M, 2023, Host protection by two memory-like MAIT subsets, NATURE CELL BIOLOGY, Vol: 25, Pages: 802-804, ISSN: 1465-7392

Journal article

Subramanian K, Paul S, Libby A, Patterson J, Arterbery A, Knight J, Castaldi C, Wang G, Avitzur Y, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Deng Y, Gan G, Kroemer A, Fishbein T, Mason A, Dominguez-Villar M, Mariappan M, Ekong UDet al., 2023, HERV1-env Induces Unfolded Protein Response Activation in Autoimmune Liver Disease: A Potential Mechanism for Regulatory T Cell Dysfunction, JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 210, ISSN: 0022-1767

Journal article

Sourij C, Aziz F, Kojzar H, Obermayer AM, Sternad C, Muller A, Tripolt NJ, Pferschy PN, Aberer F, Schlenke P, Kleinhappl B, Stradner M, Sareban N, Moritz M, Dominguez-Villar M, Oliver N, Steinmetz I, Sourij Het al., 2023, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibody level decline is more pronounced after the second vaccination, but response to the third vaccination is similar in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes compared with healthy controls: The prospective COVAC-DM cohort study, DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Vol: 25, Pages: 314-318, ISSN: 1462-8902

Journal article

Burnham KL, Maher AK, Jones EM, Tan MMH, Saputil RC, Baillon L, Selck C, Giang N, Arguello R, Pillay C, Thorley E, Short CE, Quinlan R, Barclay WS, Cooper N, Taylor GP, Davenport EE, Dominguez-Villar Met al., 2022, Transcriptional reprogramming from innate immune functions to a pro-thrombotic signature by monocytes in COVID-19, Nature Communications, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-17, ISSN: 2041-1723

Although alterations in myeloid cells have been observed in COVID-19, the specific underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Here, we examine the function of classical CD14+ monocytes in patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 during the acute phase of infection and in healthy individuals. Monocytes from COVID-19 patients display altered expression of cell surface receptors and a dysfunctional metabolic profile that distinguish them from healthy monocytes. Secondary pathogen sensing ex vivo leads to defects in pro-inflammatory cytokine and type-I IFN production in moderate COVID-19 cases, together with defects in glycolysis. COVID-19 monocytes switch their gene expression profile from canonical innate immune to pro-thrombotic signatures and are functionally pro-thrombotic, both at baseline and following ex vivo stimulation with SARS-CoV-2. Transcriptionally, COVID-19 monocytes are characterized by enrichment of pathways involved in hemostasis, immunothrombosis, platelet aggregation and other accessory pathways to platelet activation and clot formation. These results identify a potential mechanism by which monocyte dysfunction may contribute to COVID-19 pathology.

Journal article

Saputil RC, Dunster JL, Kriek N, Ding Y, Tan MMH, Thorley E, Pillay C, Charania A, Dominguez-Villar M, Mitchell WA, Malik A, Gibbins JM, Cooper Net al., 2022, Characterisation of Platelet Sensitivity in Severe COVID-19, 64th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH), Publisher: AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY, Pages: 11263-11264, ISSN: 0006-4971

Conference paper

Sourij C, Aziz F, Kojzar H, Obermayer A, Sternad C, Forstner P, Mueller A, Tripolt N, Pferschy P, Aberer F, Schlenke P, Kleinhappl B, Stradner M, Sareban N, Moritz M, Dominguez-Villar M, Oliver N, Sourij Het al., 2022, SARS-CoV-2S antibody formation is not impaired in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but the antibody level falls more rapidly in this collective - the -COVAC-DM study, Publisher: SPRINGER WIEN, Pages: 259-260, ISSN: 0043-5325

Conference paper

Malik A, Toth EN, Teng MS, Hurst J, Watt E, Wise L, Kent N, Bartram J, Grandjean L, Dominguez-Villar M, Adams S, Cooper Net al., 2022, Distorted TCR repertoires define multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, PLOS ONE, Vol: 17, ISSN: 1932-6203

Journal article

Pompura SL, Hafler DA, Dominguez-Villar M, 2022, Fatty acid metabolism and T cells in multiple sclerosis., Frontiers in Immunology, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-15, ISSN: 1664-3224

Cellular metabolic remodeling is intrinsically linked to the development, activation, differentiation, function, and survival of T cells. T cells transition from a catabolic, naïve state to an anabolic effector state upon T cell activation. Subsequently, specialization of T cells into T helper (Th) subsets, including regulatory T cells (Treg), requires fine-tuning of metabolic programs that better support and optimize T cell functions for that particular environment. Increasingly, studies have shown that changes in nutrient availability at both the cellular and organismal level during disease states can alter T cell function, highlighting the importance of better characterizing metabolic-immune axes in both physiological and disease settings. In support of these data, a growing body of evidence is emerging that shows specific lipid species are capable of altering the inflammatory functional phenotypes of T cells. In this review we summarize the metabolic programs shown to support naïve and effector T cells, and those driving Th subsets. We then discuss changes to lipid profiles in patients with multiple sclerosis, and focus on how the presence of specific lipid species can alter cellular metabolism and function of T cells.

Journal article

Dominguez-Villar M, 2022, TKT deficiency puts T<sub>regs</sub> to rest, NATURE METABOLISM, Vol: 4, Pages: 503-504

Journal article

Cameron B, Zaheer SA, Dominguez-Villar M, 2022, Control of CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T Cell Differentiation and Function by PI3K Isoforms, PI3K AND AKT ISOFORMS IN IMMUNITY, Vol: 436, Pages: 197-216, ISSN: 0070-217X

Journal article

Selck C, Dominguez-Villar M, 2021, Antigen-specific regulatory t cell therapy in autoimmune diseases and transplantation, Frontiers in Immunology, Vol: 12, ISSN: 1664-3224

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a heterogenous population of immunosuppressive T cells whose therapeutic potential for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and graft rejection is currently being explored. While clinical trial results thus far support the safety and efficacy of adoptive therapies using polyclonal Treg cells, some studies suggest that antigen-specific Treg cells are more potent in regulating and improving immune tolerance in a disease-specific manner. Hence, several approaches to generate and/or expand antigen-specific Treg cells in vitro or in vivo are currently under investigation. However, antigen-specific Treg cell therapies face additional challenges that require further consideration, including the identification of disease-relevant antigens as well as the in vivo stability and migratory behavior of Treg cells following transfer. In this review, we discuss these approaches and the potential limitations and describe prospective strategies to enhance the efficacy of antigen-specific Treg cell treatments in autoimmunity and transplantation.

Journal article

Piconese S, Walker LSK, Dominguez-Villar M, 2021, Editorial: Control of regulatory T cell stability, plasticity, and function in Health and disease, Frontiers in Immunology, Vol: 11, ISSN: 1664-3224

Journal article

Pompura SL, Wagner A, Kitz A, LaPerche J, Yosef N, Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DAet al., 2021, Oleic acid restores suppressive defects in tissue-resident FOXP3 Tregs from patients with multiple sclerosis, JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Vol: 131, ISSN: 0021-9738

Journal article

Lucca LE, Dominguez-Villar M, 2020, Modulation of regulatory T cell function and stability by co-inhibitory receptors, NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 20, Pages: 680-693, ISSN: 1474-1733

Journal article

de Marcken M, Dhaliwal K, Danielsen AC, Gautron AS, Dominguez-Villar Met al., 2019, TLR7 and TLR8 activate distinct pathways in monocytes during RNA virus infection, Science Signaling, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-18, ISSN: 1945-0877

Human blood CD14+ monocytes are bone marrow–derived white blood cells that sense and respond to pathogens. Although innate immune activation by RNA viruses preferentially occurs through intracellular RIG-I–like receptors, other nucleic acid recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), play a role in finely programming the final outcome of virus infection. Here, we dissected how human monocytes respond to infection with either Coxsackie (CV), encephalomyocarditis (EMCV), influenza A (IAV), measles (MV), Sendai (SV), or vesicular stomatitis (VSV) virus. We found that in monocytes, type I interferon (IFN) and cytokine responses to infection were RNA virus specific and differentially involved TLR7 and TLR8, which sense single-stranded RNA. These TLRs activated distinct signaling cascades in monocytes, which correlated with differences in the production of cytokines involved in the polarization of CD4+ T helper cells. Furthermore, we found that TLR7 signaling specifically increased expression of the transcription factor FOSL1, which reduced IL-27 and TNFα production by monocytes. TLR7, but not TLR8, activation of monocytes also stimulated Ca2+ flux that prevented type I IFN responses. Our work demonstrates that in human monocytes, TLR7 and TLR8 triggered different signaling pathways that contribute to distinct phenotypes during RNA virus infection. In addition, we defined individual targets within these pathways that promoted specific T helper and antiviral responses.

Journal article

Dominguez-Villar M, Raddassi K, Danielsen AC, Guarnaccia J, Hafler DAet al., 2019, Fingolimod modulates T cell phenotype and regulatory T cell plasticity in vivo (vol 96, pg 40, 2019), JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY, Vol: 102, Pages: 179-179, ISSN: 0896-8411

Journal article

Kitz A, de Marcken M, Gautron A-S, Mitrovic M, Hafler DA, Dominguez-Villar Met al., 2019, AKT isoforms modulate Th1-like Treg generation and function in human autoimmune disease (vol 17, pg 1169, 2018), EMBO REPORTS, Vol: 20, ISSN: 1469-221X

Journal article

Sumida T, Lincoln MR, Ukeje CM, Rodriguez DM, Akazawa H, Noda T, Naito AT, Komuro I, Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DAet al., 2019, Activated β-catenin in Foxp3<SUP>+</SUP> regulatory T cells links inflammatory environments to autoimmunity (vol 19, pg 1391, 2018), NATURE IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 20, Pages: 943-943, ISSN: 1529-2908

Journal article

Lucca LE, Axisa P-P, Singer ER, Nolan NM, Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DAet al., 2019, TIGIT signaling restores suppressor function of Th1 Tregs, JCI insight, Vol: 4, ISSN: 2379-3708

Th1 Tregs are characterized by the acquisition of proinflammatory cytokine secretion and reduced suppressor activity. Th1 Tregs are found at increased frequency in autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously reported that in vitro stimulation with IL-12 recapitulates the functional and molecular features of MS-associated Th1 Tregs, revealing a central role for hyperactivation of the Akt pathway in their induction. TIGIT is a newly identified coinhibitory receptor that marks Tregs that specifically control Th1 and Th17 responses. Here, we report that signaling through TIGIT counteracts the action of IL-12 in inducing the Th1 program. Specifically, TIGIT signaling represses production of IFN-γ and T-bet expression and restores suppressor function in Tregs treated with IL-12. FoxO1 functional inhibition abolishes the protective effect of TIGIT, indicating that TIGIT signaling promotes FoxO1 nuclear localization. Consistent with this observation, signaling through TIGIT leads to a rapid suppression of Akt function and FoxO1 phosphorylation. Finally, TIGIT stimulation reduces the production of IFN-γ and corrects the suppressor defect of Tregs from patients with MS. Our results indicate an important role for TIGIT in controlling the functional stability of Tregs through repression of Akt, suggesting that the TIGIT pathway could be targeted for immunomodulatory therapies in human autoimmune disorders.

Journal article

Dominguez-Villar M, Raddassi K, Danielsen AC, Guarnaccia J, Hafler DAet al., 2019, Fingolimod modulates T cell phenotype and regulatory T cell plasticity in vivo, Journal of Autoimmunity, Vol: 96, Pages: 40-49, ISSN: 0896-8411

Fingolimod is an approved therapeutic option for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis that primarily functions by sequestering T cells in lymph nodes inhibiting their egress to the central nervous system. However, recent data suggests that Fingolimod may also directly affect the immune cell function. Here we examined the in vivo effects of Fingolimod in modulating the phenotype and function of T cell and Foxp3 regulatory T cell populations in patients with multiple sclerosis under Fingolimod treatment. Besides decreasing the cell numbers in peripheral blood and sera levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Fingolimod inhibited the expression of Th1 and Th17 cytokines on CD4+ T cells and increased the expression of exhaustion markers. Furthermore, treatment increased the frequency of regulatory T cells in blood and inhibited the Th1-like phenotype that is characteristic of patients with multiple sclerosis, augmenting the expression of markers associated with increased suppressive function. Overall, our data suggest that Fingolimod performs other important immunomodulatory functions besides altering T cell migratory capacities, with consequences for other autoimmune pathologies characterized by excessive Th1/Th17 responses and Th1-like regulatory T cell effector phenotypes.

Journal article

Sumida T, Lincoln MR, Ukeje CM, Rodriguez DM, Akazawa H, Noda T, Naito AT, Komuro I, Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DAet al., 2018, Activated β-catenin in Foxp3+ regulatory T cells links inflammatory environments to autoimmunity., Nature Immunology, Vol: 19, Pages: 1391-1402, ISSN: 1529-2908

Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are the central component of peripheral immune tolerance. Whereas a dysregulated Treg cytokine signature has been observed in autoimmune diseases, the regulatory mechanisms underlying pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production are elusive. Here, we identify an imbalance between the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10 as a shared Treg signature present in patients with multiple sclerosis and under high-salt conditions. RNA-sequencing analysis on human Treg subpopulations revealed β-catenin as a key regulator of IFN-γ and IL-10 expression. The activated β-catenin signature was enriched in human IFN-γ+ Treg cells, as confirmed in vivo with Treg-specific β-catenin-stabilized mice exhibiting lethal autoimmunity with a dysfunctional Treg phenotype. Moreover, we identified prostaglandin E receptor 2 (PTGER2) as a regulator of IFN-γ and IL-10 production under a high-salt environment, with skewed activation of the β-catenin-SGK1-Foxo axis. Our findings reveal a novel PTGER2-β-catenin loop in Treg cells linking environmental high-salt conditions to autoimmunity.

Journal article

Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DA, 2018, Regulatory T cells in autoimmune disease, NATURE IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 19, Pages: 665-673, ISSN: 1529-2908

Journal article

Pompura SL, Dominguez-Villar M, 2018, The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in regulatory T-cell development, stability, and function, JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY, Vol: 103, Pages: 1065-1076, ISSN: 0741-5400

Journal article

Dominguez-Villar M, de Marcken M, Dhaliwal K, 2018, Differential signaling through TLR7 or TLR8 determines the phenotype of human monocytes during RNA virus infection, Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists (AAI), Publisher: AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS, ISSN: 0022-1767

Conference paper

Morisse MC, Jouannet S, Dominguez-Villar M, Sanson M, Idbaih Aet al., 2018, Interactions between tumor-associated macrophages and tumor cells in glioblastoma: unraveling promising targeted therapies, EXPERT REVIEW OF NEUROTHERAPEUTICS, Vol: 18, Pages: 729-737, ISSN: 1473-7175

Journal article

Kitz A, Dominguez-Villar M, 2017, Molecular mechanisms underlying Th1-like Treg generation and function, CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES, Vol: 74, Pages: 4059-4075, ISSN: 1420-682X

Journal article

Fernandez-Ponce C, Dominguez-Villar M, Munoz-Miranda JP, Arbulo-Echevarria MM, Litran R, Aguado E, Garcia-Cozar Fet al., 2017, Immune modulation by the hepatitis C virus core protein, JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Vol: 24, Pages: 350-356, ISSN: 1352-0504

Journal article

Smith LE, Olszewski MA, Georgoudaki A-M, Wagner AK, Hagglof T, Karlsson MCI, Dominguez-Villar M, Garcia-Cozar F, Mueller S, Ravens I, Bernhardt G, Chambers BJet al., 2016, Sensitivity of dendritic cells to NK-mediated lysis depends on the inflammatory environment and is modulated by CD54/CD226-driven interactions, JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY, Vol: 100, Pages: 781-789, ISSN: 0741-5400

Journal article

Kitz A, de Marcken M, Gautron A-S, Mitrovic M, Hafler DA, Dominguez-Villar Met al., 2016, AKT isoforms modulate Th1-like Treg generation and function in human autoimmune disease, EMBO REPORTS, Vol: 17, Pages: 1169-1183, ISSN: 1469-221X

Journal article

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