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Huang J, Tang J, Zhang C, Liu T, Deng Z, Liu L. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis uncovers heterogeneity in the labial gland microenvironment of primary Sjögren's syndrome. J Transl Autoimmun 2024; 9:100248. [PMID: 39131726 PMCID: PMC11314884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2024.100248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder with an unclear pathogenetic mechanism in the labial gland. This study aims to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to the development of this disease. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on 32,337 cells of labial glands from three pSS patients and three healthy individuals. We analyzed all cell subsets implicated in pSS pathogenesis. Results Our research revealed diminished differentiation among epithelial cells, concomitant with an enhancement of interferons (IFNs)-mediated signaling pathways. This indicates a cellular functional shift in reaction to inflammatory triggers. Moreover, we observed an augmentation in the population of myofibroblasts and endothelial cells, likely due to the intensified IFNs signaling, suggesting a possible reconfiguration of tissue structure and vascular networks in the impacted regions. Within the immune landscape, there was an apparent increase in immunosuppressive macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), pointing to an adaptive immune mechanism aimed at modulating inflammation and averting excessive tissue harm. Elevated activation levels of CD4+T cells, along with a rise in regulatory T (Treg) cells, were noted, indicating a nuanced immune interplay designed to manage the inflammatory response. In the CD8+T cell subsests, we detected a notable increase in cells expressing granzyme K (GZMK), signaling an intensified cytotoxic activity. Additionally, the escalated presence of T cells with high levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) suggests a cellular stress condition, possibly associated with persistent low-grade inflammation, mirroring the chronic aspect of the condition. Conclusions Our research identified distinct stromal and immune cell populations linked to pSS, revealing new potential targets for its management. The activation of myeloid, B, and T cells could contribute to pSS pathogenesis, providing important guidance for therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Jiangsu, Suzhou, 215300, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Jiangsu, Suzhou, 215300, China
| | - Zhiyong Deng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Jiangsu, Suzhou, 215300, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Jiangsu, Suzhou, 215300, China
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Fang RH, Zhou ZW, Chu R, Guan QY, He F, Ge ML, Guo PP, Wu HX, Yao LL, Wei W, Ma Y, Wang QT. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 as a novel therapeutic target for gland fibrosis of Sjögren's syndrome. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024:10.1038/s41401-024-01350-4. [PMID: 39054339 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by gland fibrosis. We previously found a close correlation between gland fibrosis and the expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2). In this study we explored the pathological and therapeutic significance of GRK2 in SS. Submandibular gland (SMG) antigen-induced SS mouse model was established in WT and GRK2+/- mice. We showed that the expression levels of GRK2 were significantly up-regulated in glandular tissue and positively correlated with fibrotic morphology in SS patients and mice. Hemizygous knockout of GRK2 significantly inhibited the gland fibrosis. In mouse salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs), we demonstrated that GRK2 interacted with Smad2/3 to positively regulate the activation of TGF-β-Smad signaling with a TGF-β-GRK2 positive feedback loop contributing to gland fibrosis. Hemizygous knockout of GRK2 attenuated TGF-β-induced collagen I production in SGECs in vitro and hindered gland fibrosis in murine SS though preventing Smad2/3 nuclear translocation. Around 28 days post immunization with SMG antigen, WT SS mice were treated with a specific GRK2 inhibitor paroxetine (Par, 5 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g. for 19 days). We found that Par administration significantly attenuated gland fibrosis and alleviated the progression of SS in mice. We conclude that genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of GRK2 significantly attenuates gland fibrosis and alleviates the progression of SS. GRK2 binds to Smad2/3 and positively regulates the activation of TGF-β-Smad signaling. A TGF-β-GRK2 positive feedback loop contributes to gland fibrosis. Our research points out that GRK2 could be a promising therapeutic target for treating SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru-Hong Fang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zheng-Wei Zhou
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Lu'an Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an People's Hospital of Anhui Province, Lu'an, 237006, China
| | - Rui Chu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Qiu-Yun Guan
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Feng He
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ming-Li Ge
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Pai-Pai Guo
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Hua-Xun Wu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ling-Li Yao
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Yang Ma
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Qing-Tong Wang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China.
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (the First People's Hospital of Hefei), Hefei, 230061, China.
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Li L, Fei Y, Dong T, Song Y, Chen X, Zhang H, Zhou H, Liang M, Tang J. IFI30 as a key regulator of PDL1 immunotherapy prognosis in breast cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112093. [PMID: 38669947 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND IFI30 is a lysosomal thiol reductase involved in antigen presentation and immune regulation in various cancers, including breast cancer. Despite its known involvement, the precise mechanism, function, and relationship with the PD-L1 axis and immune response remain unclear. METHODS We conducted an extensive investigation into IFI30 mRNA expression in breast cancer utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Furthermore, we characterized IFI30 mRNA expression across various cell types using publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets, and assessed protein expression through immunohistochemistry using an in-house breast cancer tissue microarray. Functional experiments were performed to elucidate the effects of IFI30 overexpression on PD-L1 expression and inhibitory efficacy in both macrophages and breast tumor cells. RESULTS Our study unveiled a marked upregulation of IFI30 expression in breast cancer tissues compared to their normal counterparts, with notable associations identified with tumor stage and prognosis. Additionally, IFI30 expression demonstrated significant correlations with various immune-related signaling pathways, encompassing peptide antigen binding, cytokine binding, and MHC class II presentation. Notably, breast cancer samples exhibiting high IFI30 expression in tumor cells displayed high PD-L1 expression on corresponding cells, alongside a diminished ratio of CD8 + T cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, ectopic knockdown of IFI30 in both tumor cells and macrophages resulted in a reduction of PD-L1 expression, while conversely, overexpression of IFI30 led to an increase in PD-L1 expression. CONCLUSIONS This study offers new insights into the involvement of IFI30 in breast cancer, elucidating its interplay with the PD-L1 axis and immune response dynamics. Our findings suggest that modulation of the IFI30-PD-L1 axis could serve as a promising strategy for regulating T cells infiltration in breast cancer thus treating breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China
| | - Yinjiao Fei
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China
| | - Tianfu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China; Lianyungang Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, The First People Hospital of Lianyungang City, Lianyungang, Jiangsu 222061, PR China
| | - Yuxin Song
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China
| | - Xiu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China
| | - Heda Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China
| | - Honglei Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China.
| | - Mingxing Liang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, PR China.
| | - Jinhai Tang
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guanzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, PR China.
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Deng C, Wang A, Li W, Zhao L, Zhou J, Zhang W, Li M, Fei Y. Involvement of expanded cytotoxic and proinflammatory CD28 null T cells in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Clin Immunol 2024; 261:109927. [PMID: 38331302 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.109927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The absence of CD28 is a feature of antigen-experienced, highly differentiated and aged T cells. The pathogenicity of CD28null T cells remains elusive in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Therefore, this study was performed to explore the characteristics of CD28null T cells in both peripheral blood and minor salivary glands (MSGs) of pSS patients. METHODS pSS patients and paired healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. The phenotype of peripheral CD28null T cells was analyzed using flow cytometry. In vitro functional assays were performed to evaluate the cytotoxic and proinflammatory effects of peripheral CD28null T cells. In addition, polychromatic immunofluorescence staining was performed to investigate infiltrating CD28null T cells in MSGs. RESULTS A significant expansion of peripheral CD28null T cells was observed in pSS patients compared with HCs (p < 0.001), which were primarily CD8+CD28null T cells. The proportion of peripheral CD8+CD28null T cells moderately correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.57, p < 0.01) and IgG levels (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). Peripheral CD28null T cells had stronger capacities to secrete granzyme B and perforin, but comparable capacities to secrete IFN-γ and TNF-α than their CD28+ counterparts. An abundant amount of cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory CD28null T cells was also found in MSGs. Moreover, a high expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 was found on peripheral and tissue-resident CD28null T cells, with its ligands CXCL9/10 abundantly present in MSGs. CONCLUSION Increasing CD28null T cells with strong cytotoxicity and proinflammatory effects were observed in both peripheral blood and MSGs from pSS patients. The precise mechanism of action and migration still needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuiwen Deng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Anqi Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wenli Li
- Department of Rheumatology, Key Myositis Laboratories, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lidan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Mengtao Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyun Fei
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Department of Health Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Hong J, Cheng H, Wang P, Wu Y, Lu S, Zhou Y, Wang XB, Zhu X. CXCL9 may serve as a potential biomarker for primary Sjögren's syndrome with extra-glandular manifestations. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:26. [PMID: 38229121 PMCID: PMC10792874 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03229-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune condition that causes harm to exocrine glands and also has extra-glandular manifestations (EGM). pSS patients with EGM have a worse prognosis than those with only sicca symptoms. Previous studies have shown that the minor salivary glands (MSG) of pSS patients exhibit a unique profile of cytokines and chemokines compared to healthy controls. However, there is a lack of research comparing pSS with EGM (pSS-EGM) and pSS without EGM (pSS-non-EGM). This study aims to explore potential biomarkers associated with pSS, particularly pSS with EGM. METHODS By utilizing RNA sequencing, we conducted an analysis on the gene expression profiles of MSG in 63 patients diagnosed with pSS, as well as 12 non-pSS individuals. Furthermore, we also investigated the MSG of pSS patients, both with and without EGM. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified genes with differential expression (DEGs) and determined the core hub genes using PPI network. We then analyzed the top 20 DEGs and their correlation with the patients' clinical characteristics, and validated our findings using peripheral blood plasma. RESULTS A total of 725 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the comparison between pSS and non-pSS groups, and 727 DEGs were observed between pSS-EGM and pSS-non-EGM. It is noteworthy that the expression levels of CXCL9 were higher in both pSS patients and pSS-EGM when compared to the control group. Taking into consideration the significance of the top 20 DEGs in relation to clinical parameters and the central hub genes, we ultimately chose CXCL9. In comparison to the non-pSS group, pSS patients exhibited notably greater expression of the CXCL9 gene in the MSG, as well as higher levels of CXCL9 protein in their plasma (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the expression of the CXCL9 gene and levels of CXCL9 protein were notably higher in pSS patients accompanied by EGM and those with SSA antibodies. Additionally, a correlation was found between the expression of the CXCL9 gene and the EULAR Sjogren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI), as well as with immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Meanwhile, the protein levels of CXCL9 were found to be correlated with IgG levels and ESSDAI. CONCLUSION CXCL9 proves to be a valuable biomarker in pSS, specifically due to its strong ability to differentiate between pSS patients with EGM and those without EGM. There is a significant correlation between CXCL9 and various clinical parameters both at the gene and protein level. Therefore, CXCL9 could be a potential target for future treatment of pSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Hong
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hui Cheng
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yanzhi Wu
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China
| | - Saisai Lu
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiao Bing Wang
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China.
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaofang Zhu
- Rheumatology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbai Xiang Street, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, China.
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Latini A, De Benedittis G, Colafrancesco S, Perricone C, Novelli G, Novelli L, Priori R, Ciccacci C, Borgiani P. PCSK3 Overexpression in Sjögren's Syndrome Patients May Be Regulated by rs4932178 SNP in Its Promoter Region and Correlates with IFN-γ Gene Expression. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14050981. [PMID: 37239341 DOI: 10.3390/genes14050981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The PCSK3 gene encodes for the protease enzyme Furin, which promotes proteolytic maturation of important regulators of the immune response, and also enhances the secretion of interferon-γ (IFN). Several studies have suggested its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. METHODS We investigated the PCSK3 gene expression level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) patients and healthy controls and we evaluated a possible correlation with IFN-γ gene expression. Moreover, we also explored the variability of two PCSK3 genetic polymorphisms (rs4932178 and rs4702) to evaluate a possible association between these polymorphisms and the expression levels of this gene. RESULTS We observed, by RT-qPCR, that the PCSK3 expression level was significantly higher in SS patients compared to the controls (p = 0.028), and we confirmed a positive correlation between PCSK3 and IFN-γ expression levels (p < 0.001). Moreover, we reported that the variant homozygous genotype of rs4932178 SNP is associated with a higher expression of the PCSK3 gene (p = 0.038) and with the SS susceptibility (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that Furin could play a role in SS development, also promoting IFN-γ secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Latini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Genetics Section, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giada De Benedittis
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Genetics Section, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Colafrancesco
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Perricone
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini 1, 06129 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Genetics Section, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS NEUROMED, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
- School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Lucia Novelli
- UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Priori
- UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
- AOU Policlinico Umberto 1, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Ciccacci
- UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Borgiani
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Genetics Section, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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