1
|
Bérczi B, Nusser N, Péter I, Németh B, Kulisch Á, Kiss Z, Gyöngyi Z. Genetic Polymorphisms in Exon 5 and Intron 5 and 7 of AIRE Are Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk in a Hungarian Population. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:439. [PMID: 38927319 PMCID: PMC11200628 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronically persistent synovitis and systemic inflammation. Although multiple contributors are detected, only one is pivotal in the neonatal period: the negative selection of autoimmune naïve T-cells by the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) transcriptional factor. METHODS Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the DNA-binding site of AIRE may determine its function and expression. We intended to analyse site-specific allelic polymorphisms in two exon (rs878081 and rs1055311) and three intron (rs1003853, rs2075876, and rs1003854) loci with an RA risk. Our analytical case-control study analysed 270 RA patients and 322 control subjects in five different genetic models using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) with TaqMan® assays. RESULTS Statistically significant differences were found between the odds of allelic polymorphisms in the loci of rs878081, rs1003854, and rs1003853 among the controls and RA patients, and the disease activity seemed to be significantly associated with the genotypic subgroups of rs878081 and rs1055311. Our in silico analysis supported this, suggesting that allele-specific alterations in the binding affinity of transcriptional factor families might determine RA activity. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the involvement of neonatal self-tolerance in RA pathogenesis, providing novel insights into disease development and paving the way for an analysis of further site-specific genetic polymorphisms in AIRE to expand the intervention time for RA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Bérczi
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.N.)
| | - Nóra Nusser
- Harkány Thermal Rehabilitation Centre, Zsigmondy Sétány 1, 7815 Harkány, Hungary; (N.N.); (I.P.)
| | - Iván Péter
- Harkány Thermal Rehabilitation Centre, Zsigmondy Sétány 1, 7815 Harkány, Hungary; (N.N.); (I.P.)
| | - Balázs Németh
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.N.)
- Harkány Thermal Rehabilitation Centre, Zsigmondy Sétány 1, 7815 Harkány, Hungary; (N.N.); (I.P.)
| | - Ágota Kulisch
- St. Andrew Hospital for Rheumatology and Medicinal Spa of Hévíz, Dr. Schulhof Vilmos Sétány. 1, 8380 Hévíz, Hungary; (Á.K.); (Z.K.)
| | - Zsuzsanna Kiss
- St. Andrew Hospital for Rheumatology and Medicinal Spa of Hévíz, Dr. Schulhof Vilmos Sétány. 1, 8380 Hévíz, Hungary; (Á.K.); (Z.K.)
| | - Zoltán Gyöngyi
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Källberg E, Mehmeti-Ajradini M, Björk Gunnarsdottir F, Göransson M, Bergenfelz C, Allaoui Fredriksson R, Hagerling C, Johansson ME, Welinder C, Jirström K, Leandersson K. AIRE is expressed in breast cancer TANs and TAMs to regulate the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and inflammation. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:664-678. [PMID: 38060995 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad152] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcriptional regulator expressed in the thymus and is necessary for maintaining immunological self-tolerance. Extrathymic AIRE expression is rare, and a role for AIRE in tumor-associated innate immune cells has not yet been established. In this study, we show that AIRE is expressed in human pro-tumor neutrophils. In breast cancer, AIRE was primarily located to tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), and to a lesser extent to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor cells. Expression of AIRE in TAN/TAMs, but not in cancer cells, was associated with an adverse prognosis. We show that the functional role for AIRE in neutrophils and macrophages is to regulate expression of immune mediators and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway involving the Fas/TNFR death receptors and cathepsin G. Here, we propose that the role for AIRE in TAN/TAMs in breast tumors is to regulate cell death and inflammation, thus promoting tumor progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Källberg
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Meliha Mehmeti-Ajradini
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Frida Björk Gunnarsdottir
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marcus Göransson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Caroline Bergenfelz
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Roni Allaoui Fredriksson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Catharina Hagerling
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Martin E Johansson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, Vasaparken Universitetsplatsen 1, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Mass Spectrometry, Department for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Jirström
- Oncology and Therapeutic Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Leandersson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cardinale A, De Luca CD, Locatelli F, Velardi E. Thymic Function and T-Cell Receptor Repertoire Diversity: Implications for Patient Response to Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752042. [PMID: 34899700 PMCID: PMC8652142 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The capacity of T cells to recognize and mount an immune response against tumor antigens depends on the large diversity of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire generated in the thymus during the process of T-cell development. However, this process is dramatically impaired by immunological insults, such as that caused by cytoreductive cancer therapies and infections, and by the physiological decline of thymic function with age. Defective thymic function and a skewed TCR repertoire can have significant clinical consequences. The presence of an adequate pool of T cells capable of recognizing specific tumor antigens is a prerequisite for the success of cancer immunotherapy using checkpoint blockade therapy. However, while this approach has improved the chances of survival of patients with different types of cancer, a large proportion of them do not respond. The limited response rate to checkpoint blockade therapy may be linked to a suboptimal TCR repertoire in cancer patients prior to therapy. Here, we focus on the role of the thymus in shaping the T-cell pool in health and disease, discuss how the TCR repertoire influences patients’ response to checkpoint blockade therapy and highlight approaches able to manipulate thymic function to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cardinale
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.,Department of Maternal and Child Health, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Velardi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Benitez AA, Khalil-Agüero S, Nandakumar A, Gupta NT, Zhang W, Atwal GS, Murphy AJ, Sleeman MA, Haxhinasto S. Absence of central tolerance in Aire-deficient mice synergizes with immune-checkpoint inhibition to enhance antitumor responses. Commun Biol 2020; 3:355. [PMID: 32641748 PMCID: PMC7343867 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1083-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The endogenous anti-tumor responses are limited in part by the absence of tumor-reactive T cells, an inevitable consequence of thymic central tolerance mechanisms ensuring prevention of autoimmunity. Here we show that tumor rejection induced by immune checkpoint blockade is significantly enhanced in Aire-deficient mice, the epitome of central tolerance breakdown. The observed synergy in tumor rejection extended to different tumor models, was accompanied by increased numbers of activated T cells expressing high levels of Gzma, Gzmb, Perforin, Cxcr3, and increased intratumoural levels of Cxcl9 and Cxcl10 compared to wild-type mice. Consistent with Aire's central role in T cell repertoire selection, single cell TCR sequencing unveiled expansion of several clones with high tumor reactivity. The data suggest that breakdown in central tolerance synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade in enhancing anti-tumor immunity and may serve as a model to unmask novel anti-tumor therapies including anti-tumor TCRs, normally purged during central tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asiel A Benitez
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Sara Khalil-Agüero
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Anjali Nandakumar
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Namita T Gupta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Wen Zhang
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gurinder S Atwal
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Matthew A Sleeman
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Sokol Haxhinasto
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
A Moneim NH, Mansour MF, Omar HH, Fouad MM, Metwally L, El-Abaseri TB, Abdelnaby MM. Association of autoimmune regulator gene polymorphism with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian population. Immunol Res 2020; 68:90-96. [PMID: 32399858 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-020-09127-7] [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] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene controls autoimmunity via its transcript AIRE protein that suppresses naïve T cells during central selection. The role of AIRE polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) autoimmunity remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the association of two selected SNPs, namely, rs760426 and rs2075876, with RA susceptibility in the Suez Canal Zone population. The study population included 100 RA patients, and the control group included 100 healthy subjects who were age- and sex-matched to the RA group. SNP genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction-based allelic discrimination assay, the odds ratio was defined to assess the strength of the association. For rs760426, combining genotypes data revealed a significant increase for A/G genotype in the RA cases (47%, n = 47) than in the control group (27%, n = 27) in both co-dominant and over-dominant models (P = 0.013 and 0.003 respectively). In addition, rs760426 correlated to duration of RA (P = 0.031) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (P = 0.021). For rs2075876, there was a significant increase in the A/A genotype in RA patients compared with control subjects. In the co-dominant model, the frequency of A/A was 14% and 7% respectively (P = 0.02). In contrast to rs760426, rs2075876 associated with the risk of increased body mass index (P = 0.014) and the positivity of rheumatoid factor (RF) (P = 0.043). The frequency of minor alleles, G allele in rs760426 SNP, and A allele in rs2075876 was higher in RA patients than in control. The haplotype frequency of both G and A alleles in rs760426 and rs2075876 receptively was 11% in RA group with statistically significant difference (P = <0.001) between RA patients and healthy control. SNPs rs760426 and rs2075876 in the AIRE gene may contribute to the risk for RA susceptibility. These two polymorphisms were associated with variable risk factors and predictive biomarkers for RA. The mutant allele (G) of rs760426 SNP has significant indication of poor prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nermeen Hassan A Moneim
- Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mona Farouk Mansour
- Medical physiology department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Hanan Hassan Omar
- Clinical Pathology department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
| | - Marwa Mohamed Fouad
- Microbiology and Immunology department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Lobna Metwally
- Microbiology and Immunology department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
- Department of microbiology, College of medicine, Taif University, Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Taghrid B El-Abaseri
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mai Mohamed Abdelnaby
- Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Toraih EA, Ameen HM, Hussein MH, Youssef Elabd AA, Mohamed AM, Abdel-Gawad AR, Fawzy MS. Association of Autoimmune Regulator Gene Rs2075876 Variant, but Not Gene Expression with Alopecia Areata in Males: A Case-control Study. Immunol Invest 2020; 49:146-165. [PMID: 31601134 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2019.1671450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss of autoimmune etiology. The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene is believed to be an important driver in AA pathogenesis. Genetic variants can alter mRNA expression levels which may provoke an autoimmune response. A total of 337 males (97 AA patients and 240 controls) were enrolled in the current case-control study. On screening of the most frequent variants in the gene, rs2075876 (A/G) polymorphism in intron 5 was selected and genotyped using Real-Time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology. Additionally, circulatory AIRE expression levels were quantified by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Allelic discrimination analysis revealed GG genotype to be more frequent in patients (90.7% in AA compared to 32.5% in controls, p < .001). G variant conferred increased risk to alopecia under homozygote comparison (GG versus AA: OR = 16.1, 95%CI = 5.57-46.3), dominant model (GG+AG versus AA: OR = 7.24, 95%CI = 2.5-20.5), recessive model (GG versus AG+AA: OR = 20.3, 95%CI = 9.7-42.4), and allelic model (G versus A: OR = 11.6, 95%CI = 6.47-21.1). The expression levels of AIRE gene did not differ significantly between patients and controls and were not related to rs2075876 variant. In conclusion, the intronic variant (rs2075876) is suggested to be a potent susceptibility variant for AA development in the studied population.Abbreviations: AA: Alopecia areata; AIRE: Autoimmune Regulator; APECED: Autoimmune, Polyendocrinopathy Candidiasis Ectodermal Dystrophy; DLQI: Dermatology life quality index questionnaire; MIQE: Minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments; mTEC: Medullary thymic epithelial cells; PHD: Plant homeodomain; qRT-PCR: Quantitative reversetranscription-polymerase chain reaction; RA: Rheumatoid arthritis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eman A Toraih
- Genetics Unit, Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
- Center of Excellence of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Hatem M Ameen
- Department of Dermatology, Al Qantara East Central Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mohammad H Hussein
- Department of Chest Diseases, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Youssef Elabd
- Department of Dermatology, El-Sheikh Zaied Aal Nahyan hospital, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Dermatology, Emirates Medical Center, Salalah Oman, Oman
| | - Abeer M Mohamed
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Manal S Fawzy
- Deprtment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Su MA, Anderson MS. Pulling RANK on Cancer: Blocking Aire-Mediated Central Tolerance to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:854-859. [PMID: 31160305 PMCID: PMC6550349 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A major breakthrough in cancer treatment occurred with the development of strategies that overcome T-cell tolerance toward tumor cells. These approaches enhance antitumor immunity by overcoming mechanisms that are normally in place to prevent autoimmunity but simultaneously prevent rejection of tumor cells. Although tolerance mechanisms that restrict antitumor immunity take place both in the thymus and periphery, only immunotherapies that target peripheral tolerance mechanisms occurring outside of the thymus are currently available. We review here recent gains in our understanding of how thymic tolerance mediated by the autoimmune regulator (Aire) impedes antitumor immunity. It is now clear that transient depletion of Aire-expressing cells in the thymus can be achieved with RANKL blockade. Finally, we discuss key findings that support the repurposing of anti-RANKL as a cancer immunotherapy with a unique mechanism of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Su
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lu X, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Zhang L, Zhao H, Chen C, Wang Y, Liu S, Lu T, Wang F, Yan F. Molecular classification and subtype-specific characterization of skin cutaneous melanoma by aggregating multiple genomic platform data. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018; 144:1635-1647. [PMID: 29948145 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2684-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Traditional classification of melanoma is widely utilized with little apparent results making the development of robust classifiers that can guide therapies an urgency. Successful seminal research on classification has provided a wider understanding of cancer from multiple molecular profiles, respectively. However, it may ignore the complementary nature of the information provided by different types of data, which motivated us to subtype melanoma by aggregating multiple genomic platform data. METHODS Aggregating three omics data of 328 melanoma samples, melanoma subtyping was performed by three clustering methods. Differences across subtypes were extracted by functional enrichment, epigenetically silencing, gene mutations and clinical features. Subtypes were further distinguished by putative biomarkers. RESULTS Functional enrichment of the subtype-specific differential expression genes endowed subtypes new designation: immune, melanin and ion, in which the first subtype was enriched for immune system, the second was characterized by melanin and pigmentation, and the third was enriched for ion-involved transmission process. Subtypes also differed in age, Breslow thickness, tumor site, mutation frequency of BRAF, PTGS2, CDKN2A, CDKN2B and incidence of epigenetically silencing for IL15RA, EPSTI1, LXN, CDKN1B genes. CONCLUSIONS Skin cutaneous melanoma can be robustly divided into three subtypes by SNFCC+. Compared with the TCGA classification derived from gene expression, the subtypes we presented share concordance, but new traits are excavated. Such a genomic classification offers insights to further personalize therapeutic decision-making and melanoma management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Lu
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianyuan Zhang
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Wang
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Liya Zhang
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiling Zhao
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Chen
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaoyan Wang
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengjie Liu
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fei Wang
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fangrong Yan
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sadeghian-Rizi T, Alsahebfosoul F, Kazemi M, Khanahmad H, Jahanian-Najafabadi A. Association of AIRE Polymorphism and the Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis in Iranian Population. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2018; 10:110-114. [PMID: 29849988 PMCID: PMC5960056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of neurologic disability in young adults. Recently, the AIRE gene was identified as a genetic risk factor for several autoimmune diseases in genome wide association studies. The aim of this study was to further investigate the possible role of the AIRE gene in susceptibility to MS in Iranian population. Methods: A total of 112 MS patients and 94 ethnically matched controls were included in the study. The Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (rs1800520, C>G) with a global MAF=0.2282/1143 was selected and genotyped using HRM real-time PCR method. Results: Results showed that AIRE SNP rs1800520 was significantly less common in the MS patients than in healthy controls (17.8 vs. 28.7%, pc=0.032, OR=0.54,95% CI 0.279, 1.042). Also, the frequency of allele G was significantly higher among the control group than in the case group (37.77 vs. 25%, pc=0.014). Interestingly, mRNA transcribed on the rs1800520 SNP showed decreased free energy than the wild type suggesting that its increased stability may be responsible for the different activities of the polymorphic AIRE molecule. Conclusions: This is the first study investigating the relationship between AIRE gene and the susceptibility to MS. These results indicated that the rs1800520 SNP is not a susceptibility gene variant for the development of MS in Iranian population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Sadeghian-Rizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Alsahebfosoul
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Kazemi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Khanahmad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Jahanian-Najafabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Conteduca G, Indiveri F, Filaci G, Negrini S. Beyond APECED: An update on the role of the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) in physiology and disease. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17:325-330. [PMID: 29427825 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) is a transcription factor expressed both in the thymus, by medullary thymic epithelial cells, and in secondary lymphoid organs. AIRE controls the local transcription of organ- specific proteins typically expressed in peripheral tissues, thus allowing the negative selection of self- reactive T cells. The crucial role played by AIRE in central immune tolerance emerged in the studies on the pathogenesis of Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy, a rare inherited polyendocrine/autoimmune disease. Thereafter, several studies found evidences indicating that AIRE impairment might be pathogenically involved in several autoimmune diseases and in tumorigenesis. In this review, we focus on recent advances relative to AIRE's effect on T cell development in physiology and disease. In particular, we address the following issues: 1) AIRE function and mTECs biology, 2) the impact of AIRE gene mutations in autoimmune diseases, and 3) the role of AIRE gene in anti-tumor immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Conteduca
- Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA)-I3, Laboratory of Hematology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Francesco Indiveri
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Simone Negrini
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bérczi B, Gerencsér G, Farkas N, Hegyi P, Veres G, Bajor J, Czopf L, Alizadeh H, Rakonczay Z, Vigh É, Erőss B, Szemes K, Gyöngyi Z. Association between AIRE gene polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14096. [PMID: 29074995 PMCID: PMC5658331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14375-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcription factor that functions as a novel player in immunological investigations. In the thymus, it has a pivotal role in the negative selection of naive T-cells during central tolerance. Experimental studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) alters transcription of the AIRE gene. SNPs thereby provide a less efficient negative selection, propagate higher survival of autoimmune T-cells, and elevate susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. To date, only rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been analysed by epidemiological investigations in relation to SNPs in AIRE. In our meta-analysis, we sought to encompass case-control studies and confirm that the association between SNP occurrence and RA. After robust searches of Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, we found 19 articles that included five independent studies. Out of 11 polymorphisms, two (rs2075876, rs760426) were common in the five case-control studies. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis for rs2075876 (7145 cases and 8579 controls) and rs760426 (6696 cases and 8164 controls). Our results prove that rs2075876 and rs760426 are significantly associated with an increased risk of RA in allelic, dominant, recessive, codominant heterozygous, and codominant homozygous genetic models. These findings are primarily based on data from Asian populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Bérczi
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gellért Gerencsér
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nelli Farkas
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Hegyi
- MTA-SZTE Translational Gastroenterology Research Group, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Translational Medicine, First Department of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Veres
- 1st Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Bajor
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Department of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Czopf
- Division of Cardiology and Angiology, First Department of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Hussain Alizadeh
- Department of Haematology, First Department of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Rakonczay
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Vigh
- Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bálint Erőss
- Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kata Szemes
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Department of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gyöngyi
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bakhru P, Zhu ML, Wang HH, Hong LK, Khan I, Mouchess M, Gulati AS, Starmer J, Hou Y, Sailer D, Lee S, Zhao F, Kirkwood JM, Moschos S, Fong L, Anderson MS, Su MA. Combination central tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade unleashes antimelanoma immunity. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93265. [PMID: 28931755 PMCID: PMC5621898 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockade of immune checkpoint proteins (e.g., CTLA-4, PD-1) improves overall survival in advanced melanoma; however, therapeutic benefit is limited to only a subset of patients. Because checkpoint blockade acts by "removing the brakes" on effector T cells, the efficacy of checkpoint blockade may be constrained by the limited pool of melanoma-reactive T cells in the periphery. In the thymus, autoimmune regulator (Aire) promotes deletion of T cells reactive against self-antigens that are also expressed by tumors. Thus, while protecting against autoimmunity, Aire also limits the generation of melanoma-reactive T cells. Here, we show that Aire deficiency in mice expands the pool of CD4+ T cells capable of melanoma cell eradication and has additive effects with anti-CTLA-4 antibody in slowing melanoma tumor growth and increasing survival. Moreover, pharmacologic blockade of central T cell tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade in combination enhanced antimelanoma immunity in a synergistic manner. In melanoma patients treated with anti-CTLA-4 antibody, clinical response to therapy was associated with a human Aire polymorphism. Together, these findings suggest that Aire-mediated central tolerance constrains the efficacy of peripheral checkpoint inhibition and point to simultaneous blockade of Aire and checkpoint inhibitors as a novel strategy to enhance antimelanoma immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Bakhru
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meng-Lei Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hsing-Hui Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lee K. Hong
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Imran Khan
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ajay S. Gulati
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, and
| | - Joshua Starmer
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yafei Hou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David Sailer
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sandra Lee
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
| | - Fengmin Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stergios Moschos
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bruserud Ø, Oftedal BE, Wolff AB, Husebye ES. AIRE-mutations and autoimmune disease. Curr Opin Immunol 2016; 43:8-15. [PMID: 27504588 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The gene causing the severe organ-specific autoimmune disease autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1 (APS-1) was identified in 1997 and named autoimmune regulator (AIRE). AIRE plays a key role in shaping central immunological tolerance by facilitating negative selection of T cells in the thymus, building the thymic microarchitecture, and inducing a specific subset of regulatory T cells. So far, about 100 mutations have been identified. Recent advances suggest that certain mutations located in the SAND and PHD1 domains exert a dominant negative effect on wild type AIRE resulting in milder seemingly common forms of autoimmune diseases, including pernicious anemia, vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disease. These findings indicate that AIRE also contribute to autoimmunity in more common organ-specific autoimmune disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Øyvind Bruserud
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Bergithe E Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette B Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Conteduca G, Fenoglio D, Parodi A, Battaglia F, Kalli F, Negrini S, Tardito S, Ferrera F, Salis A, Millo E, Pasquale G, Barra G, Damonte G, Indiveri F, Ferrone S, Filaci G. AIRE polymorphism, melanoma antigen-specific T cell immunity, and susceptibility to melanoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:60872-60884. [PMID: 27563821 PMCID: PMC5308622 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIRE is involved in susceptibility to melanoma perhaps regulating T cell immunity against melanoma antigens (MA). To address this issue, AIRE and MAGEB2 expressions were measured by real time PCR in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) from two strains of C57BL/6 mice bearing either T or C allelic variant of the rs1800522 AIRE SNP. Moreover, the extent of apoptosis induced by mTECs in MAGEB2-specific T cells and the susceptibility to in vivo melanoma B16F10 cell challenge were compared in the two mouse strains.The C allelic variant, protective in humans against melanoma, induced lower AIRE and MAGEB2 expression in C57BL/6 mouse mTECs than the T allele. Moreover, mTECs expressing the C allelic variant induced lower extent of apoptosis in MAGEB2-specific syngeneic T cells than mTECs bearing the T allelic variant (p < 0.05). Vaccination against MAGEB2 induced higher frequency of MAGEB2-specific CTL and exerted higher protective effect against melanoma development in mice bearing the CC AIRE genotype than in those bearing the TT one (p < 0.05). These findings show that allelic variants of one AIRE SNP may differentially shape the MA-specific T cell repertoire potentially influencing susceptibility to melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Fenoglio
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessia Parodi
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Florinda Battaglia
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Kalli
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Negrini
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samuele Tardito
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrera
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Enrico Millo
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pasquale
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giusi Barra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Damonte
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Indiveri
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS AOU San Martino – IST, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Colobran R, Giménez-Barcons M, Marín-Sánchez A, Porta-Pardo E, Pujol-Borrell R. AIRE genetic variants and predisposition to polygenic autoimmune disease: The case of Graves' disease and a systematic literature review. Hum Immunol 2016; 77:643-651. [PMID: 27266815 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) is a transcriptional regulator that is crucial for establishing central tolerance as illustrated by the Mendelian Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED) syndrome associated with AIRE-inactivating recessive or dominant mutations. Polymorphisms in AIRE have been proposed to be implicated in genetic susceptibility to non-Mendelian organ specific autoimmune diseases. Because there is evidence that in predisposition to Graves' disease (GD) central tolerance is crucial, we investigated whether AIRE polymorphisms could modulate risk of GD. A case-control association study using 29 variants and conducted in 150 GD patients and 200 controls did not detect any significant association. This result is not exceptional: a systematic review of the literature, including GWAS, on the association of AIRE variants with organ specific autoimmune diseases did not show clear associations; similarly heterozygous recessive mutations are not associated to non-Mendelian autoimmunity. Dominant negative mutations of AIRE are associated to autoimmunity but as mild forms of APECED rather than to non-Mendelian organ specific autoimmunity. The lack of association of common AIRE polymorphisms with polygenic autoimmune diseases is counterintuitive as many other genes less relevant for immunological tolerance have been found to be associated. These findings give rise to the intriguing possibility that evolution has excluded functionally modifying polymorphisms in AIRE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roger Colobran
- Immunology Division, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona 08035, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mireia Giménez-Barcons
- Immunology Division, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona 08035, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ana Marín-Sánchez
- Immunology Division, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona 08035, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eduard Porta-Pardo
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ricardo Pujol-Borrell
- Immunology Division, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona 08035, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra 08193, Catalonia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Masson-Lecomte A, López de Maturana E, Goddard ME, Picornell A, Rava M, González-Neira A, Márquez M, Carrato A, Tardon A, Lloreta J, Garcia-Closas M, Silverman D, Rothman N, Kogevinas M, Allory Y, Chanock SJ, Real FX, Malats N. Inflammatory-Related Genetic Variants in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Prognosis: A Multimarker Bayesian Assessment. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016; 25:1144-50. [PMID: 27197286 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-15-0894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence points to the role of tumor immunologic environment on urothelial bladder cancer prognosis. This effect might be partly dependent on the host genetic context. We evaluated the association of SNPs in inflammation-related genes with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) risk-of-recurrence and risk-of-progression. METHODS We considered 822 NMIBC included in the SBC/EPICURO Study followed-up >10 years. We selected 1,679 SNPs belonging to 251 inflammatory genes. The association of SNPs with risk-of-recurrence and risk-of-progression was assessed using Cox regression single-marker (SMM) and multimarker methods (MMM) Bayes A and Bayesian LASSO. Discriminative abilities of the models were calculated using the c index and validated with bootstrap cross-validation procedures. RESULTS While no SNP was found to be associated with risk-of-recurrence using SMM, three SNPs in TNIP1, CD5, and JAK3 showed very strong association with posterior probabilities >90% using MMM. Regarding risk-of-progression, one SNP in CD3G was significantly associated using SMM (HR, 2.69; P = 1.55 × 10(-5)) and two SNPs in MASP1 and AIRE, showed a posterior probability ≥80% with MMM. Validated discriminative abilities of the models without and with the SNPs were 58.4% versus 60.5% and 72.1% versus 72.8% for risk-of-recurrence and risk-of-progression, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Using innovative analytic approaches, we demonstrated that SNPs in inflammatory-related genes were associated with NMIBC prognosis and that they improve the discriminative ability of prognostic clinical models for NMIBC. IMPACT This study provides proof of concept for the joint effect of genetic variants in improving the discriminative ability of clinical prognostic models. The approach may be extended to other diseases. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(7); 1144-50. ©2016 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Masson-Lecomte
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain. Urology Department, Henri Mondor Academic Hospital, Paris Est Créteil University, Créteil, France
| | | | - Michael E Goddard
- Biosciences Research Division, Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Agribio, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. Department of Food and Agricultural Systems, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Antoni Picornell
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Rava
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna González-Neira
- Human Genotyping-CEGEN Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mirari Márquez
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfredo Carrato
- Servicio de Oncología, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Madrid, and Servicio de Oncología, Hospital Universitario de Elche, Elche, Spain
| | - Adonina Tardon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Josep Lloreta
- Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica - Hospital del Mar and Departament de Patologia, Hospital del Mar - IMAS, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Debra Silverman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nathaniel Rothman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) and Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica - Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yves Allory
- Pathology Department, Henri Mondor Academic Hospital, Paris Est Créteil University, INSERM, Créteil, France
| | - Stephen J Chanock
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain. Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Malats
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
More than 15 years ago, mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene were identified as the cause of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1). It is now clear that this transcription factor has a crucial role in promoting self-tolerance in the thymus by regulating the expression of a wide array of self-antigens that have the commonality of being tissue-restricted in their expression pattern in the periphery. In this Review, we highlight many of the recent advances in our understanding of the complex biology that is related to AIRE, with a particular focus on advances in genetics, molecular interactions and the effect of AIRE on thymic selection of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, we highlight new areas of biology that are potentially affected by this key regulator of immune tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
The thymic transcription factor autoimmune regulator (Aire) prevents autoimmunity in part by promoting expression of tissue-specific self-antigens, which include many cancer antigens. For example, AIRE-deficient patients are predisposed to vitiligo, an autoimmune disease of melanocytes that is often triggered by efficacious immunotherapies against melanoma. Therefore, we hypothesized that Aire deficiency in mice may elevate immune responses to cancer and provide insights into how such responses might be triggered. In this study, we show that Aire deficiency decreases thymic expression of TRP-1 (TYRP1), which is a self-antigen in melanocytes and a cancer antigen in melanomas. Aire deficiency resulted in defective negative selection of TRP-1-specific T cells without affecting thymic numbers of regulatory T cells. Aire-deficient mice displayed elevated T-cell immune responses that were associated with suppression of melanoma outgrowth. Furthermore, transplantation of Aire-deficient thymic stroma was sufficient to confer more effective immune rejection of melanoma in an otherwise Aire wild-type host. Together, our work showed how Aire deficiency can enhance immune responses against melanoma and how manipulating TRP-1-specific T-cell negative selection may offer a logical strategy to enhance immune rejection of melanoma.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Autoantigens/immunology
- Autoimmunity
- Blotting, Western
- Bone Marrow/metabolism
- Bone Marrow/pathology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Immune Tolerance
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Male
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/prevention & control
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Nude
- Oxidoreductases/genetics
- Oxidoreductases/immunology
- Oxidoreductases/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- Thymus Gland/metabolism
- Thymus Gland/transplantation
- Transcription Factors/physiology
- AIRE Protein
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Lei Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Anil Nagavalli
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Träger U, Sierro S, Djordjevic G, Bouzo B, Khandwala S, Meloni A, Mortensen M, Simon AK. The immune response to melanoma is limited by thymic selection of self-antigens. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35005. [PMID: 22506061 PMCID: PMC3323626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of melanoma-associated antigens (MAA) being limited to normal melanocytes and melanomas, MAAs are ideal targets for immunotherapy and melanoma vaccines. As MAAs are derived from self, immune responses to these may be limited by thymic tolerance. The extent to which self-tolerance prevents efficient immune responses to MAAs remains unknown. The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) controls the expression of tissue-specific self-antigens in thymic epithelial cells (TECs). The level of antigens expressed in the TECs determines the fate of auto-reactive thymocytes. Deficiency in AIRE leads in both humans (APECED patients) and mice to enlarged autoreactive immune repertoires. Here we show increased IgG levels to melanoma cells in APECED patients correlating with autoimmune skin features. Similarly, the enlarged T cell repertoire in AIRE−/− mice enables them to mount anti-MAA and anti-melanoma responses as shown by increased anti-melanoma antibodies, and enhanced CD4+ and MAA-specific CD8+ T cell responses after melanoma challenge. We show that thymic expression of gp100 is under the control of AIRE, leading to increased gp100-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies in AIRE−/− mice. TRP-2 (tyrosinase-related protein), on the other hand, is absent from TECs and consequently TRP-2 specific CD8+ T cells were found in both AIRE−/− and AIRE+/+ mice. This study emphasizes the importance of investigating thymic expression of self-antigens prior to their inclusion in vaccination and immunotherapy strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Träger
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Sierro
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Gordana Djordjevic
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Basma Bouzo
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shivani Khandwala
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Meloni
- Pediatric Clinic II, Ospedale Microcitemico and Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monika Mortensen
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Apoptosis Department and Center for Genotoxic Stress Research, Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Katharina Simon
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|