Association analysis of class II cytokine and receptor genes in vitiligo patients

Type I Interferon and the Spectrum of Susceptibility to Viral Infection and Autoimmune Disease: A Shared Genomic Signature

Type I interferons (IFN-I) and their cognate receptor, the IFNAR1/2 heterodimer, are critical components of the innate immune system in humans. They have been widely explored in the context of viral infection and autoimmune disease where they play key roles in protection against infection or shaping disease pathogenesis. A false dichotomy has emerged in the study of IFN-I where interferons are thought of as either beneficial or pathogenic. This 'good or bad' viewpoint excludes more nuanced interpretations of IFN-I biology - for example, it is known that IFN-I is associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus, yet is also protective in the context of infectious diseases and contributes to resistance to viral infection. Studies have suggested that a shared transcriptomic signature underpins both potential resistance to viral infection and susceptibility to autoimmune disease. This seems to be particularly evident in females, who exhibit increased viral resistance and increased susceptibility to autoimmune disease. The molecular mechanisms behind such a signature and the role of sex in its determination have yet to be precisely defined. From a genomic perspective, several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IFN-I pathway have been associated with both infectious and autoimmune disease. While overlap between infection and autoimmunity has been described in the incidence of these SNPs, it has been overlooked in work and discussion to date. Here, we discuss the possible contributions of IFN-Is to the pathogenesis of infectious and autoimmune diseases. We comment on genetic associations between common SNPs in IFN-I or their signalling molecules that point towards roles in protection against viral infection and susceptibility to autoimmunity and propose that a shared transcriptomic and genomic immunological signature may underlie resistance to viral infection and susceptibility to autoimmunity in humans. We believe that defining shared transcriptomic and genomic immunological signatures underlying resistance to viral infection and autoimmunity in humans will reveal new therapeutic targets and improved vaccine strategies, particularly in females.

Structural integrity with functional plasticity: what type I IFN receptor polymorphisms reveal

The type I IFNs activate an array of signaling pathways, which are initiated after IFNs bind their cognate receptors, IFNα/β receptor (IFNAR)1 and IFNAR2. These signals contribute to many aspects of human health including defense against pathogens, cancer immunosurveillance, and regulation of inflammation. How these cytokines interact with their receptors influences the quality of these signals. As such, the integrity of receptor structure is pivotal to maintaining human health and the response to immune stimuli. This review brings together genome wide association studies and clinical reports describing the association of nonsynonymous IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 polymorphisms with clinical disease, including altered susceptibility to viral and bacterial pathogens, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and adverse reactions to live-attenuated vaccines. We describe the amino acid substitutions or truncations induced by these polymorphisms and, using the knowledge of IFNAR conformational changes, IFNAR-IFN interfaces and overall structure-function relationship of the signaling complexes, we hypothesize the effect of these polymorphisms on receptor structure. That these predicted changes to IFNAR structure are associated with clinical manifestations of human disease, highlights the importance of IFNAR structural integrity to maintaining functional quality of these receptor-mediated responses. Type I IFNs are pivotal to innate immune responses and ultimately, to human health. Understanding the consequences of altered structure on the actions of these clinically significant cell receptors provides important information on the roles of IFNARs in health and disease.

Differentially expressed microRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of non-segmental vitiligo and their clinical significance

Background

Vitiligo is a frequent acquired depigmentation skin disease due to a loss of melanocytes. This study sought to characterize the expression pattern of microRNA (miRNA) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of non‐segmental vitiligo (NSV) patients. We also screened for molecular markers that can be used to evaluate the clinical stages of NSV.

Methods

The miRNA expression profile in the PBMCs of four patients with progressive NSV and four healthy controls was determined using high‐throughput RNA sequencing. The divergently expressed miRNA was verified via qRT‐PCR in 26 progression, 26 stable NSV, and 26 healthy controls.

Results

Our findings posited that 323 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the PBMCs of NSV patients. The top 10 up‐regulated miRNAs in patients were hsa‐miR‐335‐5p, hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐514a‐3p, hsa‐miR‐144‐5p, hsa‐miR‐450b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐369‐3p, hsa‐miR‐101‐3p, hsa‐miR‐142‐5p, hsa‐miR‐19b‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐340‐5p. The top 10 down‐regulated miRNAs in patients were hsa‐miR‐4443, hsa‐miR‐1248, hsa‐miR‐6859‐3p, hsa‐miR‐668‐3p, hsa‐miR‐7704, hsa‐miR‐323a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐1237‐3p, hsa‐miR‐3127‐3p, hsa‐miR‐6735‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐127‐3p. The expressions of hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p in PBMCs of progressive and stable NSV were remarkably elevated relative to the healthy controls. In the characteristics curve analysis of hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p for differentiating progressive and stable NSV from normal subjects in PBMCs, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.92 and 0.81. Compared with patients in stable NSV, the hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p was markedly increased in PBMCs of progressive NSV patients, and the AUC was 0.81.

Conclusion

Our results showed that divergently expressed miRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of NSV and that hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p can be applied as a biosignature for stage assessment in PBMCs of patients with NSV.

Diet-induced reconstruction of mucosal microbiota associated with alterations of epithelium lectin expression and regulation in the maintenance of rumen homeostasis

It is unknown whether lectins of the rumen epithelium contribute to the recognition of mucosal microbes and activation of tolerogenic cytokines in ruminant animals. We applied an integrated method of RNA-seq and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate alterations of epithelial lectin expression and regulation with a diet-induced reconstruction of the mucosal microbiota in the goat rumen. Our results showed that the diversity and richness of the rumen mucosal microbiota were promoted by the dietary concentrate. Meantime, in the rumen epithelium, five lectin genes, namely, sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 14 (LOC102180073), C-type lectin domain family 4, member E (CLEC4E), C-type lectin domain family 7, member A (CLEC7A), C-type lectin domain family 16, member A (CLEC16A), and lectin, mannose-binding 2 (LMAN2), were indicated to promote the expression of 8 tolerogenic cytokines, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) and 4 enzyme genes involved in retinoic acid biosynthesis via 6 signaling pathways. Analysis of the combined data showed that 9 microbial genera (Clostridium_IV, Desulfobulbus, Eubacterium, Ochrobactrum, Propionibacterium, Pseudomonas, Slackia, Staphylococcus and Subdivision5_genera_IS) were highly related to the expression of functional lectins. These findings provide new insights into the interactions between the rumen epithelium and mucosal microbiota in the maintenance of rumen homeostasis.