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Khatri S, Bustos AH, Jørgensen CD, Torok KS, Gjerdrum LMR, Astakhova K. Synthetic Nucleic Acid Antigens in Localized Scleroderma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17507. [PMID: 38139335 PMCID: PMC10744100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417507] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the impact of synthetic nucleic acid antigens on the autoantibody profiles in patients with localized scleroderma, an autoimmune skin disease. Anti-DNA antibodies, including double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), are common among autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and localized scleroderma. Based on recent studies, we hypothesized that the sequence of nucleic acid antigens has an impact on the autoimmune reactions in localized scleroderma. To test our hypothesis, we synthesized a panel of DNA and RNA antigens and used them for autoantibody profiling of 70 children with localized scleroderma compared with the healthy controls and patients with pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (as a disease control). Among the tested antigens, dsD4, which contains the sequence of the human oncogene BRAF, showed a particularly strong presence in localized scleroderma but not systemic lupus erythematosus. Disease activity in patients was significantly associated with dsD4 autoantibody levels. We confirmed this result in vivo by using a bleomycin-induced mouse model of localized scleroderma. When administered intraperitoneally, dsD4 promoted an active polyclonal response in the mouse model. Our study highlights sequence specificity for nucleic acid antigens in localized scleroderma that could potentially lead to developing novel early-stage diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangita Khatri
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (S.K.); (A.H.B.)
| | - Adrian H. Bustos
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (S.K.); (A.H.B.)
| | - Christian Damsgaard Jørgensen
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark;
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Kathryn S. Torok
- Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Lise-Mette Rahbek Gjerdrum
- Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kira Astakhova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (S.K.); (A.H.B.)
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Tanghe G, Urwyler-Rösselet C, De Groote P, Dejardin E, De Bock PJ, Gevaert K, Vandenabeele P, Declercq W. RIPK4 activity in keratinocytes is controlled by the SCF β-TrCP ubiquitin ligase to maintain cortical actin organization. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:2827-2841. [PMID: 29435596 PMCID: PMC11105318 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2763-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
RIPK4 is a key player in epidermal differentiation and barrier formation. RIPK4 signaling pathways controlling keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation depend on its kinase activity leading to Dvl2, Pkp1 and IRF6 phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. However, the mechanism regulating RIPK4 activity levels remains elusive. We show that cultured keratinocytes display constitutive active phosphorylated RIPK4 while PKC signaling can trigger RIPK4 activation in various non-keratinocyte cell lines, in which RIPK4 is present in a non-phosphorylated state. Interestingly, we identified the SCFβ-TrCP ubiquitin E3 ligase complex responsible for regulating the active RIPK4 protein level. The SCFβ-TrCP complex binds to a conserved phosphodegron motif in the intermediate domain of RIPK4, subsequently leading to K48-linked ubiquitinylation and degradation. The recruitment of β-TrCP is dependent on RIPK4 activation and trans-autophosphorylation. β-TrCP knock-down resulted in RIPK4-dependent formation of actin stress fibers, cell scattering and increased cell motility, suggesting that tight control of RIPK4 activity levels is crucial to maintain cell shape and behavior in keratinocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giel Tanghe
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Corinne Urwyler-Rösselet
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philippe De Groote
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Dejardin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Signal Transduction, GIGA-Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Pieter-Jan De Bock
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Declercq
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Gent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Garcillán B, Figgett WA, Infantino S, Lim EX, Mackay F. Molecular control of B-cell homeostasis in health and malignancy. Immunol Cell Biol 2018; 96:453-462. [PMID: 29499091 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Altered B-cell homeostasis underlies a wide range of pathologies, from cancers to autoimmunity and immunodeficiency. The molecular safeguards against those disorders, which also allow effective immune responses, are therefore particularly critical. Here, we review recent findings detailing the fine control of B-cell homeostasis, during B-cell development, maturation in the periphery and during activation and differentiation into antibody-producing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Garcillán
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - William A Figgett
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Simona Infantino
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ee Xin Lim
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fabienne Mackay
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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