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Panthagani J, Suleiman K, Vincent RC, Ong HS, Wallace GR, Rauz S. Conjunctival transcriptomics in ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid. Ocul Surf 2023; 30:142-149. [PMID: 37690517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.09.005] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (OcMMP) is an orphan disease characterized by chronic autoimmune-driven conjunctival inflammation leading to progressive scarring, debilitating symptoms, and blinding sequelae. This feasibility study aims to demonstrate conjunctival genetic transcriptomic analyses as a putative tool for interrogation of pathogenic signaling pathways in OcMMP. METHODS Conjunctival RNA profiling using the NanoString nCounter Human Fibrosis panel was undertaken on RNA extracted from conjunctival swabs obtained from 6 MMP patients (8 eyes; 4 M/2F; median age 78 [range 64-84] years); and 8 age-matched control participants (15 eyes; 3 M/5F; median age 69.5 [range 69-88] years). Data from 770 genes were analyzed with ROSALIND HyperScale architecture and stratified according to the level of clinically visible bulbar conjunctival inflammation. Normalization, fold-changes (≥+1.5-fold or ≤ -1.5-fold) and p-values adjustment (<0.05) using the Benjamini-Hochberg method were calculated. RESULTS 93 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed between OcMMP versus controls of which 48 were upregulated, and 45 downregulated. The top 4 upregulated DEGs represented fibrosis (COL3A1, COL1A1, FN1 and THBS1) while the key under-expressed genes (SCIN, HMGS2, XCL1/2) were indicative of ocular surface failure (goblet cell loss, keratinization, vulnerability to secondary infections). Forty-four pathways had a global significance score ≥2, the most significant being those related to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, synthesis, and degradation. These pathways were accentuated in eyes with visible inflammation. CONCLUSIONS NanoString methodology acquired via a simple conjunctival swab identifies profibrotic genes in OcMMP group and differentiates inflamed eyes. Longitudinal sampling and following investigative intervention will further mechanistic insight and development of novel biomarkers to monitor disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Panthagani
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, UK; Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kusy Suleiman
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, UK; Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rachel C Vincent
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Hon Shing Ong
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore; Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Graham R Wallace
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Saaeha Rauz
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, UK; Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
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Abu El-Asrar AM, Nawaz MI, Ahmad A, De Zutter A, Siddiquei MM, Blanter M, Allegaert E, Gikandi PW, De Hertogh G, Van Damme J, Opdenakker G, Struyf S. Evaluation of Proteoforms of the Transmembrane Chemokines CXCL16 and CX3CL1, Their Receptors, and Their Processing Metalloproteinases ADAM10 and ADAM17 in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. Front Immunol 2021; 11:601639. [PMID: 33552057 PMCID: PMC7854927 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.601639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane chemokine pathways CXCL16/CXCR6 and CX3CL1/CX3CR1 are strongly implicated in inflammation and angiogenesis. We investigated the involvement of these chemokine pathways and their processing metalloproteinases ADAM10 and ADAM17 in the pathophysiology of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Vitreous samples from 32 PDR and 24 non-diabetic patients, epiretinal membranes from 18 patients with PDR, rat retinas, human retinal Müller glial cells and human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In vitro angiogenesis assays were performed and the adherence of leukocytes to CXCL16-stimulated HRMECs was assessed. CXCL16, CX3CL1, ADAM10, ADAM17 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were significantly increased in vitreous samples from PDR patients. The levels of CXCL16 were 417-fold higher than those of CX3CL1 in PDR vitreous samples. Significant positive correlations were found between the levels of VEGF and the levels of CXCL16, CX3CL1, ADAM10 and ADAM17. Significant positive correlations were detected between the numbers of blood vessels expressing CD31, reflecting the angiogenic activity of PDR epiretinal membranes, and the numbers of blood vessels and stromal cells expressing CXCL16, CXCR6, ADAM10 and ADAM17. CXCL16 induced upregulation of phospho-ERK1/2, p65 subunit of NF-κB and VEGF in cultured Müller cells and tumor necrosis factor-α induced upregulation of soluble CXCL16 and ADAM17 in Müller cells. Treatment of HRMECs with CXCL16 resulted in increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and increased leukocyte adhesion to HRMECs. CXCL16 induced HRMEC proliferation, formation of sprouts from HRMEC spheroids and phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Intravitreal administration of CXCL16 in normal rats induced significant upregulation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB, VEGF and ICAM-1 in the retina. Our findings suggest that the chemokine axis CXCL16/CXCR6 and the processing metalloproteinases ADAM10 and ADAM17 might serve a role in the initiation and progression of PDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Abu El-Asrar
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Research Chair in Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Imtiaz Nawaz
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ajmal Ahmad
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandra De Zutter
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Marfa Blanter
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eef Allegaert
- Laboratory of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Priscilla W Gikandi
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gert De Hertogh
- Laboratory of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jo Van Damme
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Tu ZQ, Xue HY, Chen W, Cao LF, Zhang WQ. Identification of potential peripheral blood diagnostic biomarkers for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis by bioinformatics analysis. Rheumatol Int 2016; 37:423-434. [DOI: 10.1007/s00296-016-3607-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Slauenwhite D, Gebremeskel S, Doucette CD, Hoskin DW, Johnston B. Regulation of cytokine polarization and T cell recruitment to inflamed paws in mouse collagen-induced arthritis by the chemokine receptor CXCR6. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 66:3001-12. [PMID: 25132679 DOI: 10.1002/art.38816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The chemokine receptor CXCR6 is highly expressed on lymphocytes isolated from the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis, suggesting that CXCR6 regulates immune cell activation or infiltration into arthritic joints. This study was undertaken to examine the role of CXCR6 in T cell activation and arthritis development. METHODS A collagen-induced arthritis model was used to examine arthritis development in wild-type and CXCR6(-/-) mice. CXCR6 expression, lymphocyte accumulation, and intracellular cytokine production were examined by flow cytometry. Collagen-specific antibodies were measured in the serum. Collagen-specific recall responses were examined in vitro via proliferation and cytokine release assays. T cell homing to inflamed joints was examined using competitive adoptive transfer of dye-labeled lymphocytes from wild-type and CXCR6(-/-) mice. RESULTS The numbers of CXCR6+ T cells were increased in the paws and draining lymph nodes of arthritic mice. The incidence of arthritis, disease severity, extent of T cell accumulation, and levels of collagen-specific IgG2a antibodies were significantly reduced in CXCR6(-/-) mice compared to wild-type mice. T cells from wild-type mice exhibited Th1 (interferon-γ [IFNγ]) polarization in the inguinal lymph nodes following immunization. At disease peak, this shifted to a Th17 (interleukin-17A [IL-17A]) response in the popliteal lymph nodes. T cells in CXCR6(-/-) mice exhibited impaired cytokine polarization, resulting in a decreased frequency and number of IL-17A- and IFNγ-producing cells. Recruitment of activated CXCR6(-/-) mouse T cells to the inflamed paws was impaired compared to recruitment of wild-type mouse T cells. CONCLUSION These experiments demonstrate that CXCR6 plays important roles in the pathogenesis of arthritis through its effects on both T cell cytokine polarization and homing of T cells to inflamed joints.
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are bone marrow–derived granular lymphocytes that have a key role in immune defense against viral and bacterial infections and malignancies. NK cells are traditionally defined as cells of the innate immune response because they lack RAG recombinase–dependent clonal antigen receptors. However, evidence suggests that specific subsets of mouse NK cells can nevertheless develop long-lived and highly specific memory to a variety of antigens. Here we review published evidence of NK cell–mediated, RAG-independent adaptive immunity. We also compare and contrast candidate mechanisms for mammalian NK cell memory and antigen recognition with other examples of RAG-independent pathways that generate antigen receptor diversity in non-mammalian species and discuss NK cell memory in the context of lymphocyte evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Paust
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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