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Sand JMB, Jessen H, Leeming DJ, Yu S, Lee CJ, Hu B, Sun Y, Adams T, Pivarnik T, Liu A, Woo S, McGovern JR, Fiorini V, Saber T, Higuero-Sevilla JP, Gulati M, Kaminski N, Damsky W, Shaw AC, Mohanty S, Goobie G, Zhang Y, Herzog EL, Ryu C. Plasma collagen neoepitopes are associated with multiorgan disease in the ACCESS and GRADS sarcoidosis cohorts. Thorax 2024:thorax-2023-221095. [PMID: 39117421 DOI: 10.1136/thorax-2023-221095] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis involves tissue remodelling mediated by the accumulation of abnormal extracellular matrix, which is partly the result of an imbalance in collagen synthesis, cross-linking and degradation. During this process, collagen fragments or neoepitopes, are released into the circulation. The significance of these circulating collagen neoepitopes in sarcoidosis remains unknown. METHODS We employed plasma samples from patients with sarcoidosis enrolled in A Case Control Etiologic Study of Sarcoidosis (ACCESS) and Genomic Research in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Sarcoidosis (GRADS), and healthy control patients recruited from the Yale community. Plasma concentrations of type III and VI collagen degradation (C3M and C6M) and formation (PRO-C3 and PRO-C6) were quantified via neoepitope-specific competitive ELISA, and statistical associations were sought with clinical phenotypes. RESULTS Relative to healthy controls, the plasma of both sarcoidosis cohorts was enriched for C3M and C6M, irrespective of corticosteroid use and disease duration. While circulating collagen neoepitopes were independent of Scadding stage, there was a significant association between multiorgan disease and PRO-C3, PRO-C6 and C3M in the ACCESS cohort; PRO-C3 and C6M displayed this property in GRADS. These findings were unrelated to plasma levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10 and IL-13. Moreover, PRO-C3 was associated with dermatological disease in both cohorts. DISCUSSION In two well-characterised sarcoidosis cohorts, we discovered that the plasma is enriched for neoepitopes of collagen degradation (C3M and C6M). In multiorgan disease, there was an association with circulating neoepitopes of type III formation (PRO-C3), perhaps mediated by dermatological sarcoidosis. Further investigation in this arena has the potential to foster new insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sheeline Yu
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Chris J Lee
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Buqu Hu
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ying Sun
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Taylor Adams
- Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Angela Liu
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Samuel Woo
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | - Tina Saber
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Mridu Gulati
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | - Albert C Shaw
- Infectious Disease, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Subhasis Mohanty
- Infectious Disease, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Gillian Goobie
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yingze Zhang
- Pulmonary, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Changwan Ryu
- Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Reese-Petersen AL, Holm Nielsen S, Bülow Sand JM, Schattenberg JM, Bugianesi E, Karsdal MA. The sclerotic component of metabolic syndrome: Fibroblast activities may be the central common denominator driving organ function loss and death. Diabetes Obes Metab 2024; 26:2554-2566. [PMID: 38699780 DOI: 10.1111/dom.15615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common feature of more than 50 different diseases and the cause of more than 35% of deaths worldwide, of which liver, kidney, skin, heart and, recently, lungs are receiving the most attention. Tissue changes, resulting in loss of organ function, are both a cause and consequence of disease and outcome. Fibrosis is caused by an excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, which over time results in impaired organ function and organ failure, and the pathways leading to increased fibroblast activation are many. This narrative review investigated the common denominator of fibrosis, fibroblasts, and the activation of fibroblasts, in response to excess energy consumption in liver, kidney, heart, skin and lung fibrosis. Fibroblasts are the main drivers of organ function loss in lung, liver, skin, heart and kidney disease. Fibroblast activation in response to excess energy consumption results in the overproduction of a range of collagens, of which types I, III and VI seem to be the essential drivers of disease progression. Fibroblast activation may be quantified in serum, enabling profiling and selection of patients. Activation of fibroblasts results in the overproduction of collagens, which deteriorates organ function. Patient profiling of fibroblast activities in serum, quantified as collagen production, may identify an organ death trajectory, better enabling identification of the right treatment for use in different metabolic interventions. As metabolically activated patients have highly elevated risk of kidney, liver and heart failure, it is essential to identify which organ to treat first and monitor organ status to correct treatment regimes. In direct alignment with this, it is essential to identify the right patients with the right organ deterioration trajectory for enrolment in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
- University of the Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
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Chang SE, Jia G, Gao X, Schiffman C, Gupta S, Wolters P, Neighbors M. Pursuing Clinical Predictors and Biomarkers for Progression in ILD: Analysis of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Registry. Lung 2024; 202:269-273. [PMID: 38753183 PMCID: PMC11142961 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-024-00694-2] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pulmonary fibrosis is a characteristic of various interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) with differing etiologies. Clinical trials in progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) enroll patients based on previously described clinical criteria for past progression, which include a clinical practice guideline for PPF classification and inclusion criteria from the INBUILD trial. In this study, we compared the ability of past FVC (forced vital capacity) progression and baseline biomarker levels to predict future progression in a cohort of patients from the PFF Patient Registry. METHODS Biomarkers previously associated with pathobiology and/or progression in pulmonary fibrosis were selected to reflect cellular senescence (telomere length), pulmonary epithelium (SP-D, RAGE), myeloid activation (CXCL13, YKL40, CCL18, OPN) and fibroblast activation (POSTN, COMP, PROC3). RESULTS PFF or INBUILD-like clinical criteria was used to separate patients into past progressor and non-past progressor groups, and neither clinical criterion appeared to enrich for patients with greater future lung function decline. All baseline biomarkers measured were differentially expressed in patient groups compared to healthy controls. Baseline levels of SP-D and POSTN showed the highest correlations with FVC slope over one year, though correlations were low. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide further evidence that prior decline in lung function may not predict future disease progression for ILD patients, and elevate the need for molecular definitions of a progressive phenotype. Across ILD subtypes, certain shared pathobiologies may be present based on the molecular profile of certain biomarker groups observed. In particular, SP-D may be a common marker of pulmonary injury and future lung function decline across ILDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guiquan Jia
- Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xia Gao
- Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Paul Wolters
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Carvalheiro T, Marut W, Pascoal Ramos MI, García S, Fleury D, Affandi AJ, Meijers AS, Giovannone B, Tieland RG, Elshof E, Ottria A, Cossu M, Meizlish ML, Veenendaal T, Ramanujam M, Moreno-García ME, Klumperman J, Liv N, Radstake TRDJ, Meyaard L. Impaired LAIR-1-mediated immune control due to collagen degradation in fibrosis. J Autoimmun 2024; 146:103219. [PMID: 38696927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2024.103219] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Tissue repair is disturbed in fibrotic diseases like systemic sclerosis (SSc), where the deposition of large amounts of extracellular matrix components such as collagen interferes with organ function. LAIR-1 is an inhibitory collagen receptor highly expressed on tissue immune cells. We questioned whether in SSc, impaired LAIR-1-collagen interaction is contributing to the ongoing inflammation and fibrosis. We found that SSc patients do not have an intrinsic defect in LAIR-1 expression or function. Instead, fibroblasts from healthy controls and SSc patients stimulated by soluble factors that drive inflammation and fibrosis in SSc deposit disorganized collagen products in vitro, which are dysfunctional LAIR-1 ligands. This is dependent of matrix metalloproteinases and platelet-derived growth factor receptor signaling. In support of a non-redundant role of LAIR-1 in the control of fibrosis, we found that LAIR-1-deficient mice have increased skin fibrosis in response to repeated injury and in the bleomycin mouse model for SSc. Thus, LAIR-1 represents an essential control mechanism for tissue repair. In fibrotic disease, excessive collagen degradation may lead to a disturbed feedback loop. The presence of functional LAIR-1 in patients provides a therapeutic opportunity to reactivate this intrinsic negative feedback mechanism in fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Carvalheiro
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wioleta Marut
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - M Inês Pascoal Ramos
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Samuel García
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Rheumatology & Immuno-mediated Diseases Research Group (IRIDIS), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Devan Fleury
- Immunology and Respiratory Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, USA
| | - Alsya J Affandi
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Aniek S Meijers
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara Giovannone
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ralph G Tieland
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eline Elshof
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea Ottria
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Cossu
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew L Meizlish
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Tineke Veenendaal
- Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Meera Ramanujam
- Immunology and Respiratory Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, USA
| | | | - Judith Klumperman
- Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nalan Liv
- Cell Biology, Centre for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Timothy R D J Radstake
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Linde Meyaard
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Dobrota R, Jordan S, Juhl P, Del Papa N, Maurer B, Becker M, Mihai C, Bay-Jensen AC, Karsdal MA, Siebuhr AS, Distler O. Dysregulation of circulating collagen turnover markers in very early systemic sclerosis. RMD Open 2024; 10:e003306. [PMID: 38806188 PMCID: PMC11138262 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003306] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Clinical observation suggests that vascular activation and autoimmunity precede remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We challenge this paradigm by hypothesising that ECM biomarkers are already disturbed in patients with very early SSc (veSSc) when fibrosis is not yet clinically detectable. METHODS 42 patients with veSSc, defined as the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon and at least one of puffy fingers, positive antinuclear antibodies or pathological nailfold capillaroscopy, not meeting the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria for SSc, were compared with healthy controls (HCs, n=29). ECM degradation (BGM, C3M, C4M and C6M) and ECM formation biomarkers (PRO-C3, PRO-C4 and PRO-C5) were measured in serum using ELISAs. A cross-sectional analysis at baseline and a longitudinal analysis was performed. RESULTS Compared with HC, veSSc patients showed a strongly dysregulated turnover of type III and IV collagens (higher C3M, C4M, both p<0.0001 and PRO-C3, p=0.004, lower turnover ratios PRO-C3/C3M and PRO-C4/C4M, both p<0.0001). The biglycan degradation biomarker BGM was higher in veSSc than in HC (p=0.006), whereas the degradation biomarker for type VI collagen, C6M, was lower (p=0.002). In an ROC analysis, biomarkers of type III and IV collagen excellently distinguished between veSSc and HC: C3M, AUC=0.95, p<0.0001; C4M, AUC=0.97, p<0.0001; turnover ratios PRO-C3/C3M, AUC=0.80, p<0.0001; PRO-C4/C4M, AUC=0.97; p<0.0001. CONCLUSION These findings indicate ECM remodelling as a very early phenomenon of SSc occurring in parallel with microvascular and autoimmune changes. Biomarkers of type III and IV collagens distinguished between veSSc patients and HC, indicating them as potential biomarkers for the detection of veSSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rucsandra Dobrota
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Suzana Jordan
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pernille Juhl
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunoscience, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Nicoletta Del Papa
- Scleroderma Clinic, Department of Rheumatology, ASST G. Pini-CTO, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Britta Maurer
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mike Becker
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carina Mihai
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Oliver Distler
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Madsen SF, Sinkeviciute D, Thudium CS, Karsdal MA, Bay-Jensen AC. The fibroid phenotype of biological naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis are less likely to respond to anti-IL-6R treatment. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10751. [PMID: 38730088 PMCID: PMC11087519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61435-2] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Type III collagen gene expression is upregulated in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presenting the fibroid phenotype. The soluble type III collagen formation biomarker, PRO-C3, is known to measure fibrogenesis in fibrotic diseases. In this exploratory study, we aimed to investigate the association between fibrogenesis (PRO-C3) and the disease- and treatment response in patients with RA. We measured PRO-C3 in subsets of two clinical trials assessing the effect of the anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor treatment tocilizumab (TCZ) as monotherapy or polytherapy with methotrexate. PRO-C3 levels had weak or very weak correlations with the clinical parameters (Spearman's). However, when the patients were divided into Disease Activity Score-28 groups characterized by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), there was a statistical difference between the PRO-C3 levels of the different groups (p < 0.05). To determine the response in relation to PRO-C3, a cut-off based on PRO-C3 levels and patients in remission (DAS28-ESR ≤ 2.6) was identified. This showed that a reduction in PRO-C3 after treatment initiation was associated with decreased DAS28-ESR and a higher response rate in patients with low PRO-C3 levels than in those with high PRO-C3 levels. This indicates that a fibrotic component affects the responsiveness of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Falkenløve Madsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- ImmunoScience, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev Hovedgade 205, 2730, Herlev, Denmark.
| | - Dovile Sinkeviciute
- ImmunoScience, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev Hovedgade 205, 2730, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Christian S Thudium
- ImmunoScience, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev Hovedgade 205, 2730, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Morten A Karsdal
- ImmunoScience, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev Hovedgade 205, 2730, Herlev, Denmark
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7
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Petelytska L, Bonomi F, Cannistrà C, Fiorentini E, Peretti S, Torracchi S, Bernardini P, Coccia C, De Luca R, Economou A, Levani J, Matucci-Cerinic M, Distler O, Bruni C. Heterogeneity of determining disease severity, clinical course and outcomes in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease: a systematic literature review. RMD Open 2023; 9:e003426. [PMID: 37940340 PMCID: PMC10632935 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003426] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The course of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is highly variable and different from continuously progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Most proposed definitions of progressive pulmonary fibrosis or SSc-ILD severity are based on the research data from patients with IPF and are not validated for patients with SSc-ILD. Our study aimed to gather the current evidence for severity, progression and outcomes of SSc-ILD.Methods A systematic literature review to search for definitions of severity, progression and outcomes recorded for SSc-ILD was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library up to 1 August 2023.Results A total of 9054 papers were reviewed and 342 were finally included. The most frequent tools used for the definition of SSc-ILD progression and severity were combined changes of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and forced vital capacity (FVC), isolated FVC or DLCO changes, high-resolution CT (HRCT) extension and composite algorithms including pulmonary function test, clinical signs and HRCT data. Mortality was the most frequently reported long-term event, both from all causes or ILD related.Conclusions The studies presenting definitions of SSc-ILD 'progression', 'severity' and 'outcome' show a large heterogeneity. These results emphasise the need for developing a standardised, consensus definition of severe SSc-ILD, to link a disease specific definition of progression as a surrogate outcome for clinical trials and clinical practice.PROSPERO registration number CRD42022379254.Cite Now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liubov Petelytska
- Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department Internal Medicine #3, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kiiv, Ukraine
| | - Francesco Bonomi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Cannistrà
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisa Fiorentini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Peretti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Torracchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Pamela Bernardini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Carmela Coccia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo De Luca
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Economou
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Juela Levani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Matucci-Cerinic
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Oliver Distler
- Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cosimo Bruni
- Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence - Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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Sheng XR, Gao X, Schiffman C, Jiang J, Ramalingam TR, Lin CJF, Khanna D, Neighbors M. Biomarkers of fibrosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix in the phase 3 trial of tocilizumab in systemic sclerosis. Clin Immunol 2023; 254:109695. [PMID: 37479123 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Drug development for systemic sclerosis (SSc) benefits from understanding the relationship between disease and circulating biomarkers to enable activities such as patient stratification and evaluation of therapeutic response. We measured biomarkers in serum from SSc patients from a phase 3 trial of tocilizumab (focuSSced) and compared baseline levels with healthy controls (HCs). Several baseline biomarkers appeared elevated in SSc patients compared to HCs, suggesting activation of epithelial damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Baseline correlations among both periostin/COMP and ECM biomarker subsets implicated their participation in fibroblast activation. Tocilizumab treatment modulated serum biomarkers of macrophage activation, inflammation, and ECM turnover, including collagen formation and degradation neoepitopes. Baseline CRP, periostin, and SP-D showed prognostic trends for worsening lung function, and IL-6, COMP, periostin, and Pro-C3 showed prognostic trends for worsening skin thickness. These prognostic results warrant confirmation in additional patient cohorts to verify their utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Rebecca Sheng
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America.
| | - Xia Gao
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Jenny Jiang
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Celia J F Lin
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Dinesh Khanna
- University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, Division of Rheumatology/Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
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Madsen SF, Sand JMB, Juhl P, Karsdal M, Thudium CS, Siebuhr AS, Bay-Jensen AC. Fibroblasts are not just fibroblasts: clear differences between dermal and pulmonary fibroblasts' response to fibrotic growth factors. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9411. [PMID: 37296166 PMCID: PMC10256773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36416-6] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) hallmark is skin fibrosis, but up to 80% of the patients have fibrotic involvement in the pulmonary system. Antifibrotic drugs which have failed in a general SSc population have now been approved in patients with SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). This indicates that the fibrotic progression and regulation of fibroblasts likely depend on local factors specific to the tissue type. This study investigated the difference between dermal and pulmonary fibroblasts in a fibrotic setting, mimicking the extracellular matrix. Primary healthy fibroblasts were grown in a crowded environment and stimulated with TGF-β1 and PDGF-AB. The viability, morphology, migration capacity, extracellular matrix formation, and gene expression were assessed: TGF-β1 only increased the viability in the dermal fibroblasts. PDGF-AB increased the migration capacity of dermal fibroblasts while the pulmonary fibroblasts fully migrated. The morphology of the fibroblasts was different without stimulation. TGF-β1 increased the formation of type III collagen in pulmonary fibroblasts, while PDGF-AB increased it in dermal fibroblasts. The gene expression trend of type VI collagen was the opposite after PDGF-AB stimulation. The fibroblasts exhibit different response profiles to TGF-β1 and PDGF-AB; this suggests that drivers of fibrosis are tissue-dependent, which needs to be considered in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Falkenløve Madsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Immunoscience, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark.
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A fragment of type VI collagen alpha-6 chain is elevated in serum from patients with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, systemic lupus erythematosus and melanoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3056. [PMID: 36810294 PMCID: PMC9945456 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28746-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling of the skin is a continuous process necessary for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Type VI collagen (COL6) is characterized as a beaded filament, located in the dermal ECM, where COL6-α6-chain has been demonstrated upregulated in atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a competitive ELISA, targeting the N-terminal of COL6-α6-chain, named C6A6, and evaluate its associations with the dermatological condition's atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, urticaria, vitiligo, and cutaneous malignant melanoma in comparison, to healthy controls. A monoclonal antibody was raised and employed in an ELISA assay. The assay was developed, technically validated, and evaluated in two independent patient cohorts. Cohort 1 showed C6A6 was significantly elevated in patients with atopic dermatitis (p < 0.0001), psoriasis (p < 0.0001), hidradenitis suppurativa (p = 0.0095), systemic lupus erythematosus (p = 0.0032) and melanoma (p < 0.0001) compared to healthy donors. Cohort 2 confirmed C6A6 being upregulated in atopic dermatitis compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001), but also associated with disease severity (SCORAD, p = 0.046) and lowered in patients receiving calcineurin inhibitors (p = 0.014). These findings are hypothesis generating, and the utility of the C6A6 biomarker for disease severity and treatment response needs to be validated in larger cohorts and longitudinal studies.
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Holm Nielsen S, Groen SS, Yao Y, Jørgensen AHR, Nielsen VW, Karsdal M, Gehring K, Bay-Jensen AC, Thomsen SF. Biomarkers of Tissue Turnover and Systemic Inflammation Are Associated with Disease Severity and Activity in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:328-331.e3. [PMID: 36108804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Signe Holm Nielsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; ImmunoScience, Biomarkers and Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark.
| | - Solveig Skovlund Groen
- ImmunoScience, Biomarkers and Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yiqiu Yao
- Department of Dermato-Venereology & Wound Healing Centre, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Morten Karsdal
- ImmunoScience, Biomarkers and Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer Gehring
- ImmunoScience, Biomarkers and Research, Nordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Simon Francis Thomsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Dermato-Venereology & Wound Healing Centre, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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12
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Clark KEN, Csomor E, Campochiaro C, Galwey N, Nevin K, Morse MA, Teo YV, Freudenberg J, Ong VH, Derrett-Smith E, Wisniacki N, Flint SM, Denton CP. Integrated analysis of dermal blister fluid proteomics and genome-wide skin gene expression in systemic sclerosis: an observational study. THE LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY 2022; 4:e507-e516. [PMID: 36404995 PMCID: PMC9669928 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(22)00094-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Background Skin fibrosis is a hallmark feature of systemic sclerosis. Skin biopsy transcriptomics and blister fluid proteomics give insight into the local environment of the skin. We have integrated these modalities with the aim of developing a surrogate for the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), using candidate genes and proteins from the skin and blister fluid as anchors to identify key analytes in the plasma. Methods In this single-centre, prospective observational study at the Royal Free Campus, University College London, London, UK, transcriptional and proteomic analyses of blood and skin were performed in a cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis (n=52) and healthy controls (n=16). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to explore the association of skin transcriptomics data, clinical traits, and blister fluid proteomic results. Candidate hub analytes were identified as those present in both blister and skin gene sets (modules), and which correlated with plasma (module membership >0·7 and gene significance >0·6). Hub analytes were confirmed using RNA transcript data obtained from skin biopsy samples from patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis at 12 months. Findings We identified three modules in the skin, and two in blister fluid, which correlated with a diagnosis of early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. From these modules, 11 key hub analytes were identified, present in both skin and blister fluid modules, whose transcript and protein levels correlated with plasma protein concentrations, mRSS, and showed statistically significant correlation on repeat transcriptomic samples taken at 12 months. Multivariate analysis identified four plasma analytes as correlates of mRSS (COL4A1, COMP, SPON1, and TNC), which can be used to differentiate disease subtype. Interpretation This unbiased approach has identified potential biological candidates that might be drivers of local skin pathogenesis in systemic sclerosis. By focusing on measurable analytes in the plasma, we generated a promising composite plasma protein biomarker that could be used for assessment of skin severity, case stratification, and as a potential outcome measure for clinical trials and practice. Once fully validated, the biomarker score could replace a clinical score such as the mRSS, which carries substantial variability. Funding GlaxoSmithKline and UK Medical Research Council.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mary A Morse
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Yee Voan Teo
- Computational Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, California, USA
| | | | - Voon H Ong
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Christopher P Denton
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
- Correspondence to: Prof Christopher Denton, Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
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13
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Chen C, Wang L, Wu J, Lu M, Yang S, Ye W, Guan M, Liang M, Zou H. Circulating Collagen Metabolites and the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Score as Fibrosis Markers in Systemic Sclerosis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:805708. [PMID: 35177989 PMCID: PMC8844460 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.805708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Serum fibrosis markers for systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain limited. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score is a collagen marker set consisting of procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide (PIIINP), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and hyaluronic acid (HA). This longitudinal study aimed to examine the performance of the ELF score and its single analytes as surrogate outcome measures of fibrosis in SSc. Methods: Eighty-five SSc patients fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria with the absence of chronic liver diseases were enrolled. Serum PIIINP, TIMP-1, HA, and the ELF score were measured and correlated with clinical variables including the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Twenty SSc patients underwent a follow-up serological testing and mRSS evaluation during treatment with immunosuppressants and/or anti-fibrotic drugs. Results: Serum PIIINP, TIMP-1, and ELF score were significantly higher in patients with SSc than in healthy controls [PIIINP: 10.31 (7.83-14.10) vs. 5.61 (4.69-6.30), p < .001; TIMP-1: 110.73 (66.21-192.45) vs. 61.81 (48.86-85.24), p < .001; ELF: 10.34 (9.91-10.86) vs. 9.68 (9.38-9.99), p < .001]. Even higher levels of PIIINP, TIMP-1, and ELF score were found in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc than those with limited cutaneous SSc. At baseline, both PIIINP and ELF score showed good correlation with mRSS (PIIINP: r = .586, p < .001; ELF: r = .482, p < .001). Longitudinal analysis showed that change in PIIINP positively correlated with change in mRSS (r = 0.701, p = .001), while change in ELF score were not related, in a statistical context, to the change in mRSS (ELF: r = .140, p = .555). Serum TIMP-1 was significantly higher in SSc patients with ILD, compared to the matched group of patients without ILD [109.45 (93.05-200.09) vs. 65.50 (40.57-110.73), p = 0.007]. Conclusion: In patients with SSc, the ELF score well correlates with the extent of skin fibrosis, while serum PIIINP is a sensitive marker for longitudinal changes of skin fibrosis. In the future, circulating collagen metabolites may potentially be used to evaluate therapeutic effects of anti-fibrotic treatments in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingbiao Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meijuan Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjing Ye
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Guan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minrui Liang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hejian Zou
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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14
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Holm Nielsen S, Sun S, Bay-Jensen AC, Karsdal M, Sørensen IJ, Weber U, Loft AG, Kollerup G, Thamsborg G, Madsen OR, Møller J, Østergaard M, Pedersen SJ. Levels of extracellular matrix metabolites are associated with changes in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score and MRI inflammation scores in patients with axial spondyloarthritis during TNF inhibitor therapy. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:279. [PMID: 36564778 PMCID: PMC9783808 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02967-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE In axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and spine is associated with local extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling of affected tissues. We aimed to investigate the association of ECM metabolites with treatment response in axSpA patients treated with TNF-α inhibitory therapy for 46 weeks. METHODS In a prospective clinical study of axSpA patients (n=55) initiating a TNF inhibitor (infliximab, etanercept, or adalimumab), serum concentrations of formation of type I (PRO-C1), type III (PRO-C3), and type VI (PRO-C6) collagen; turnover of type IV collagen (PRO-C4), and matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-degraded type III (C3M) collagen, MMP-degraded type IV (C4M), type VI (C6M), and type VII (C7M) collagen, and cathepsin-degraded type X collagen (C10C), MMP-mediated metabolite of C-reactive protein (CRPM), citrullinated vimentin (VICM), and neutrophil elastase-degraded elastin (EL-NE) were measured at baseline, week 2, week 22, and week 46. RESULTS Patients were mostly males (82%), HLA-B27 positive (84%), with a median age of 40 years (IQR: 32-48), disease duration of 5.5 years (IQR: 2-10), and a baseline Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) of 3.9 (IQR: 3.0-4.5). Compared to baseline, PRO-C1 levels were significantly increased after two weeks of treatment, C6M levels were significantly decreased after two and 22 weeks (repeated measures ANOVA, p=0.0014 and p=0.0015, respectively), EL-NE levels were significantly decreased after 2 weeks (p=0.0008), VICM levels were significantly decreased after two and 22 weeks (p=0.0163 and p=0.0374, respectively), and CRP were significantly decreased after two and 22 weeks (both p=0.0001). Baseline levels of PRO-C1, PRO-C3, C6M, VICM, and CRP were all associated with ASDAS clinically important and major improvement after 22 weeks (ΔASDAS ≥1.1) (Mann-Whitney test, p=0.006, p=0.008, p<0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively), while C6M, VICM and CRP levels were associated with ASDAS clinically important and major improvement after 46 weeks (ΔASDAS ≥2.0) (p=0.002, p=0.044, and p<0.001, respectively). PRO-C1 and C6M levels were associated with a Bath AS Disease Activity Score (BASDAI) response to TNF-inhibitory therapy after 22 weeks (Mann-Whitney test, p=0.020 and p=0.049, respectively). Baseline levels of PRO-C4 and C6M were correlated with the total SPARCC MRI Spine and Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation score (Spearman's Rho ρ=0.279, p=0.043 and ρ=0.496, p=0.0002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Extracellular matrix metabolites were associated with ASDAS response, MRI inflammation, and clinical treatment response during TNF-inhibitory treatment in patients with axSpA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Holm Nielsen
- grid.436559.80000 0004 0410 881XNordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark ,grid.5170.30000 0001 2181 8870Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shu Sun
- grid.436559.80000 0004 0410 881XNordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Morten Karsdal
- grid.436559.80000 0004 0410 881XNordic Bioscience, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inge Juul Sørensen
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrich Weber
- grid.7143.10000 0004 0512 5013Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Sønderborg, Denmark ,Practice Buchsbaum, Rheumatology, Schaffhausen, Switzerland
| | - Anne Gitte Loft
- grid.459623.f0000 0004 0587 0347Departments of Rheumatology, Hospital Lillebælt, Vejle, Denmark ,grid.154185.c0000 0004 0512 597XAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gina Kollerup
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gorm Thamsborg
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Rintek Madsen
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakob Møller
- grid.411900.d0000 0004 0646 8325Department of Radiology, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Østergaard
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Juhl Pedersen
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Wang YJ, Downey MA, Choi S, Shoup TM, Elmaleh DR. Cromolyn platform suppresses fibrosis and inflammation, promotes microglial phagocytosis and neurite outgrowth. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22161. [PMID: 34772945 PMCID: PMC8589953 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00465-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by chronic neuroinflammation and may perpetuate ongoing fibrotic reactions within the central nervous system. Unfortunately, there is no therapeutic available that treats neurodegenerative inflammation and its sequelae. Here we utilize cromolyn, a mast cell inhibitor with anti-inflammatory capabilities, and its fluorinated analogue F-cromolyn to study fibrosis-related protein regulation and secretion downstream of neuroinflammation and their ability to promote microglial phagocytosis and neurite outgrowth. In this report, RNA-seq analysis shows that administration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α to HMC3 human microglia results in a robust upregulation of fibrosis-associated genes. Subsequent treatment with cromolyn and F-cromolyn resulted in reduced secretion of collagen XVIII, fibronectin, and tenascin-c. Additionally, we show that cromolyn and F-cromolyn reduce pro-inflammatory proteins PLP1, PELP1, HSP90, IL-2, GRO-α, Eotaxin, and VEGF-Α, while promoting secretion of anti-inflammatory IL-4 in HMC3 microglia. Furthermore, cromolyn and F-cromolyn augment neurite outgrowth in PC12 neuronal cells in concert with nerve growth factor. Treatment also differentially altered secretion of neurogenesis-related proteins TTL, PROX1, Rab35, and CSDE1 in HMC3 microglia. Finally, iPSC-derived human microglia more readily phagocytose Aβ42 with cromolyn and F-cromolyn relative to controls. We propose the cromolyn platform targets multiple proteins upstream of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, and GSK-3β signaling pathways to affect cytokine, chemokine, and fibrosis-related protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sungwoon Choi
- Department of New Drug Discovery, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Timothy M Shoup
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - David R Elmaleh
- AZTherapies, Inc., Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129-2060, USA.
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16
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Clark KEN, Campochiaro C, Csomor E, Taylor A, Nevin K, Galwey N, Morse MA, Singh J, Teo YV, Ong VH, Derrett-Smith E, Wisniacki N, Flint SM, Denton CP. Molecular basis for clinical diversity between autoantibody subsets in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis 2021; 80:1584-1593. [PMID: 34230031 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical heterogeneity is a cardinal feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Hallmark SSc autoantibodies are central to diagnosis and associate with distinct patterns of skin-based and organ-based complications. Understanding molecular differences between patients will benefit clinical practice and research and give insight into pathogenesis of the disease. We aimed to improve understanding of the molecular differences between key diffuse cutaneous SSc subgroups as defined by their SSc-specific autoantibodies METHODS: We have used high-dimensional transcriptional and proteomic analysis of blood and the skin in a well-characterised cohort of SSc (n=52) and healthy controls (n=16) to understand the molecular basis of clinical diversity in SSc and explore differences between the hallmark antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) reactivities. RESULTS Our data define a molecular spectrum of SSc based on skin gene expression and serum protein analysis, reflecting recognised clinical subgroups. Moreover, we show that antitopoisomerase-1 antibodies and anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies specificities associate with remarkably different longitudinal change in serum protein markers of fibrosis and divergent gene expression profiles. Overlapping and distinct disease processes are defined using individual patient pathway analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide insight into clinical diversity and imply pathogenetic differences between ANA-based subgroups. This supports stratification of SSc cases by ANA antibody subtype in clinical trials and may explain different outcomes across ANA subgroups in trials targeting specific pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Corrado Campochiaro
- Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK
| | - Eszter Csomor
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Adam Taylor
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Katherine Nevin
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Nicholas Galwey
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Mary A Morse
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Jennifer Singh
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Yee Voan Teo
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Voon H Ong
- Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK
| | - Emma Derrett-Smith
- Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nicolas Wisniacki
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Shaun M Flint
- Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Christopher P Denton
- Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK
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