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Gao ZX, He T, Zhang P, Hu X, Ge M, Xu YQ, Wang P, Pan HF. Epigenetic regulation of immune cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: insight from chromatin accessibility. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:637-649. [PMID: 38943564 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2375372] [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: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-dimensional autoimmune disease involving numerous tissues throughout the body. The chromatin accessibility landscapes in immune cells play a pivotal role in governing their activation, function, and differentiation. Aberrant modulation of chromatin accessibility in immune cells is intimately associated with the onset and progression of SLE. AREAS COVERED In this review, we described the chromatin accessibility landscapes in immune cells, summarized the recent evidence of chromatin accessibility related to the pathogenesis of SLE, and discussed the potential of chromatin accessibility as a valuable option to identify novel therapeutic targets for this disease. EXPERT OPINION Dynamic changes in chromatin accessibility are intimately related to the pathogenesis of SLE and have emerged as a new direction for exploring its epigenetic mechanisms. The differently accessible chromatin regions in immune cells often contain binding sites for transcription factors (TFs) and cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers and promoters, which may be potential therapeutic targets for SLE. Larger scale cohort studies and integrating epigenomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data can provide deeper insights into SLE chromatin biology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Xing Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tian He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Man Ge
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yi-Qing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hai-Feng Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Pritzl CJ, Luera D, Knudson KM, Quaney MJ, Calcutt MJ, Daniels MA, Teixeiro E. IKK2/NFkB signaling controls lung resident CD8 + T cell memory during influenza infection. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4331. [PMID: 37468506 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cell tissue resident memory (TRM) cells are especially suited to control pathogen spread at mucosal sites. However, their maintenance in lung is short-lived. TCR-dependent NFkB signaling is crucial for T cell memory but how and when NFkB signaling modulates tissue resident and circulating T cell memory during the immune response is unknown. Here, we find that enhancing NFkB signaling in T cells once memory to influenza is established, increases pro-survival Bcl-2 and CD122 levels thus boosting lung CD8+ TRM maintenance. By contrast, enhancing NFkB signals during the contraction phase of the response leads to a defect in CD8+ TRM differentiation without impairing recirculating memory subsets. Specifically, inducible activation of NFkB via constitutive active IKK2 or TNF interferes with TGFβ signaling, resulting in defects of lung CD8+ TRM imprinting molecules CD69, CD103, Runx3 and Eomes. Conversely, inhibiting NFkB signals not only recovers but improves the transcriptional signature and generation of lung CD8+ TRM. Thus, NFkB signaling is a critical regulator of tissue resident memory, whose levels can be tuned at specific times during infection to boost lung CD8+ TRM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis J Pritzl
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dezzarae Luera
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Karin M Knudson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Michael J Quaney
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Michael J Calcutt
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Mark A Daniels
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Emma Teixeiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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Fasano S, Milone A, Nicoletti GF, Isenberg DA, Ciccia F. Precision medicine in systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:331-342. [PMID: 37041269 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-023-00948-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that has diverse clinical manifestations, ranging from restricted cutaneous involvement to life-threatening systemic organ involvement. The heterogeneity of pathomechanisms that lead to SLE contributes to between-patient variation in clinical phenotype and treatment response. Ongoing efforts to dissect cellular and molecular heterogeneity in SLE could facilitate the future development of stratified treatment recommendations and precision medicine, which is a considerable challenge for SLE. In particular, some genes involved in the clinical heterogeneity of SLE and some phenotype-related loci (STAT4, IRF5, PDGF genes, HAS2, ITGAM and SLC5A11) have an association with clinical features of the disease. An important part is also played by epigenetic varation (in DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs) that influences gene expression and affects cell function without modifying the genome sequence. Immune profiling can help to identify an individual's specific response to a therapy and can potentially predict outcomes, using techniques such as flow cytometry, mass cytometry, transcriptomics, microarray analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing. Furthermore, the identification of novel serum and urinary biomarkers would enable the stratification of patients according to predictions of long-term outcomes and assessments of potential response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Fasano
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Milone
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti
- Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - David A Isenberg
- Department of Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Ciccia
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
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Afrashteh Nour M, Ghorbaninezhad F, Asadzadeh Z, Baghbanzadeh A, Hassanian H, Leone P, Jafarlou M, Alizadeh N, Racanelli V, Baradaran B. The emerging role of noncoding RNAs in systemic lupus erythematosus: new insights into the master regulators of disease pathogenesis. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2023; 14:20406223231153572. [PMID: 37035097 PMCID: PMC10074641 DOI: 10.1177/20406223231153572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Auto-immune diseases are a form of chronic disorders in which the immune system destroys the body's cells due to a loss of tolerance to self-antigens. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), identified by the production of autoantibodies in different body parts, is one of the most well-known examples of these diseases. Although the etiology of SLE is unclear, the disease's progression may be affected by genetic and environmental factors. As studies in twins provide adequate evidence for genetic involvement in the SLE, other phenomena such as metallization, histone modifications, and alterations in the expression of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) also indicate the involvement of epigenetic factors in this disease. Among all the epigenetic alterations, ncRNAs appear to have the most crucial contribution to the pathogenesis of SLE. The ncRNAs' length and size are divided into three main classes: micro RNAs, long noncoding RNAs (LncRNA), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulations in these ncRNAs contributed to the pathogenesis of SLE. Hence, clarifying the function of these groups of ncRNAs in the pathophysiology of SLE provides a deeper understanding of the disease. It also opens up new opportunities to develop targeted therapies for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Afrashteh Nour
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farid Ghorbaninezhad
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Asadzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Hassanian
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Patrizia Leone
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine,
University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Mahdi Jafarlou
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nazila Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University
of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Xie T, Dong J, Zhou X, Tang D, Li D, Chen J, Chen Y, Xu H, Xue W, Liu D, Hong X, Tang F, Yin L, Dai Y. Proteomics analysis of lysine crotonylation and 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation reveals significant features of systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Rheumatol 2022; 41:3851-3858. [PMID: 35941338 PMCID: PMC9652266 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-022-06254-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES To seek significant features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by utilizing bioinformatics analysis. METHOD Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify lysine crotonylation (Kcr) and lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and normal controls. RESULTS Seventy-six differentially modified proteins (DMPs) dually modified by Kcr and Khib were identified between SLE patients and healthy people. GO enrichment analysis prompted significant enrichment of seventy-six DMPs in MHC class II protein complex binding and leukocyte migration. KEGG pathways were enriched in antigen processing and presentation pathway and leukocyte transendothelial migration pathway. Six DMPs (CLTC, HSPA1B, HSPA8, HSP90AB1, HSPD1, and PDIA3) were identified in antigen processing and presentation pathway, of which HSPA8 was the core protein. Significant changes of Kcr and Khib in HSPA8 may increase ATP hydrolysis and promote antigen binding to MHC II molecule. In leukocyte transendothelial migration pathway, 7 DMPs (ACTN1, ACTN4, EZR, MSN, RAC1, RHOA, and VCL) were identified. MSN was the protein with the most modification sites in this pathway. In amino terminal ferm region of MSN, Kcr and Khib expression change may lead to the adhesion between leukocytes and endothelial cells, which was an important step of leukocyte migration. CONCLUSION Kcr and Khib may promote the antigen presentation and jointly regulate the tissue damage mediated by leukocyte migration in SLE patients, which may play key roles in the pathogenesis of SLE probably. Key Points • Antigen processing and presentation and leukocyte transendothelial migration may play key roles in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xie
- Institute of Nephrology and Blood Purification, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingjing Dong
- Institute of Nephrology and Blood Purification, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Xianqing Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases Research, No.924 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force, Guilin, 541002, Guangxi, China
| | - Donge Tang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Dandan Li
- Institute of Nephrology and Blood Purification, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiejing Chen
- Department of Pathology, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases Research, No.924 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force, Guilin, 541002, Guangxi, China
| | - Yumei Chen
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Huixuan Xu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Xue
- Department of Pathology, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases Research, No.924 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force, Guilin, 541002, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongzhou Liu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoping Hong
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Tang
- Department of Pathology, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases Research, No.924 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force, Guilin, 541002, Guangxi, China.
| | - Lianghong Yin
- Institute of Nephrology and Blood Purification, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yong Dai
- Clinical Medical Research Center, the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China.
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Rasking L, Roelens C, Sprangers B, Thienpont B, Nawrot TS, De Vusser K. Lupus, DNA Methylation, and Air Pollution: A Malicious Triad. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15050. [PMID: 36429769 PMCID: PMC9690025 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains elusive to this day; however, genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors have been implicated to be involved in disease pathogenesis. Recently, it was demonstrated that in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, interferon-regulated genes are hypomethylated in naïve CD4+ T cells, CD19+ B lymphocytes, and CD14+ monocytes. This suggests that interferon-regulated genes may have been epigenetically poised in SLE patients for rapid expression upon stimulation by different environmental factors. Additionally, environmental studies have identified DNA (hypo)methylation changes as a potential mechanism of environmentally induced health effects in utero, during childhood and in adults. Finally, epidemiologic studies have firmly established air pollution as a crucial SLE risk factor, as studies showed an association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and traditional SLE biomarkers related to disease flare, hospital admissions, and an increased SLEDAI score. In this review, the relationship between aberrant epigenetic regulation, the environment, and the development of SLE will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen Rasking
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Céline Roelens
- Depatment of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ben Sprangers
- Depatment of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bernard Thienpont
- Department of Human Genetics, Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health Unit, Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien De Vusser
- Depatment of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Ohmes J, Comdühr S, Akbarzadeh R, Riemekasten G, Humrich JY. Dysregulation and chronicity of pathogenic T cell responses in the pre-diseased stage of lupus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1007078. [PMID: 36389689 PMCID: PMC9650673 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1007078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the normal immune system, T cell activation is tightly regulated and controlled at several levels to ensure that activation occurs in the right context to prevent the development of pathologic conditions such as autoimmunity or other harmful immune responses. CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are crucial for the regulation of T cell responses in the peripheral lymphatic organs and thus for the prevention and control of autoimmunity. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease with complex etiology, a disbalance between Treg and pathogenic effector/memory CD4+ T cells develops during disease progression indicating that gradual loss of control over T cell activation is an important event in the immune pathogenesis. This progressive failure to adequately regulate the activation of autoreactive T cells facilitates chronic activation and effector/memory differentiation of pathogenic T cells, which are considered to contribute significantly to the induction and perpetuation of autoimmune processes and tissue inflammation in SLE. However, in particular in humans, little is known about the factors which drive the escape from immune regulation and the chronicity of pathogenic T cell responses in an early stage of autoimmune disease when clinical symptoms are still unapparent. Here we briefly summarize important findings and discuss current views and models on the mechanisms related to the dysregulation of T cell responses which promotes chronicity and pathogenic memory differentiation with a focus on the early stage of disease in lupus-prone individuals.
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Coit P, Roopnarinesingh X, Ortiz-Fernández L, McKinnon-Maksimowicz K, Lewis EE, Merrill JT, McCune WJ, Wren JD, Sawalha AH. Hypomethylation of miR-17-92 cluster in lupus T cells and no significant role for genetic factors in the lupus-associated DNA methylation signature. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:1428-1437. [PMID: 35710306 PMCID: PMC10259175 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-222656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Lupus T cells demonstrate aberrant DNA methylation patterns dominated by hypomethylation of interferon-regulated genes. The objective of this study was to identify additional lupus-associated DNA methylation changes and determine the genetic contribution to epigenetic changes characteristic of lupus. METHODS Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed in naïve CD4+ T cells from 74 patients with lupus and 74 age-matched, sex-matched and race-matched healthy controls. We applied a trend deviation analysis approach, comparing methylation data in our cohort with over 16 500 samples. Methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL) analysis was performed by integrating methylation profiles with genome-wide genotyping data. RESULTS In addition to the previously reported epigenetic signature in interferon-regulated genes, we observed hypomethylation in the promoter region of the miR-17-92 cluster in patients with lupus. Members of this microRNA cluster play an important role in regulating T cell proliferation and differentiation. Expression of two microRNAs in this cluster, miR-19b1 and miR-18a, showed a significant positive correlation with lupus disease activity. Among miR-18a target genes, TNFAIP3, which encodes a negative regulator of nuclear factor kappa B, was downregulated in lupus CD4+ T cells. MeQTL identified in lupus patients showed overlap with genetic risk loci for lupus, including CFB and IRF7. The lupus risk allele in IRF7 (rs1131665) was associated with significant IRF7 hypomethylation. However, <1% of differentially methylated CpG sites in patients with lupus were associated with an meQTL, suggesting minimal genetic contribution to lupus-associated epigenotypes. CONCLUSION The lupus defining epigenetic signature, characterised by robust hypomethylation of interferon-regulated genes, does not appear to be determined by genetic factors. Hypomethylation of the miR-17-92 cluster that plays an important role in T cell activation is a novel epigenetic locus for lupus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Coit
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Xiavan Roopnarinesingh
- Graduate Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Lourdes Ortiz-Fernández
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Emily E Lewis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Joan T Merrill
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - W Joseph McCune
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathan D Wren
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lupus Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Li J, Li L, Wang Y, Huang G, Li X, Xie Z, Zhou Z. Insights Into the Role of DNA Methylation in Immune Cell Development and Autoimmune Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:757318. [PMID: 34790667 PMCID: PMC8591242 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.757318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, nearly 100 autoimmune diseases have been an area of focus, and these diseases bring health challenges to approximately 5% of the population worldwide. As a type of disease caused by tolerance breakdown, both environmental and genetic risk factors contribute to autoimmune disease development. However, in most cases, there are still gaps in our understanding of disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Therefore, more detailed knowledge of disease pathogenesis and potential therapies is indispensable. DNA methylation, which does not affect the DNA sequence, is one of the key epigenetic silencing mechanisms and has been indicated to play a key role in gene expression regulation and to participate in the development of certain autoimmune diseases. Potential epigenetic regulation via DNA methylation has garnered more attention as a disease biomarker in recent years. In this review, we clarify the basic function and distribution of DNA methylation, evaluate its effects on gene expression and discuss related key enzymes. In addition, we summarize recent aberrant DNA methylation modifications identified in the most important cell types related to several autoimmune diseases and then provide potential directions for better diagnosing and monitoring disease progression driven by epigenetic control, which may broaden our understanding and contribute to further epigenetic research in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lifang Li
- Department of Ultrasound, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yimeng Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Gan Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xia Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiguo Xie
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiguang Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
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Abstract
The term "epigenetics" refers to a series of meiotically/mitotically inheritable alterations in gene expression, related to environmental factors, without disruption on DNA sequences of bases. Recently, the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases (ADs) has been closely linked to epigenetic modifications. Actually, epigenetic mechanisms can modulate gene expression or repression of targeted cells and tissues involved in autoimmune/inflammatory conditions acting as keys effectors in regulation of adaptive and innate responses. ADs, as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a rare disease that still lacks effective treatment, is characterized by epigenetic marks in affected cells.Taking into account that epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed as a winning strategy in the search of new more specific and personalized therapeutics agents. Thus, pharmacology and pharmacoepigenetic studies about epigenetic regulations of ADs may provide novel individualized therapies. Focussing in possible implicated factors on development and predisposition of SLE, diet is feasibly one of the most important factors since it is linked directly to epigenetic alterations and these epigenetic changes may augment or diminish the risk of SLE. Nevertheless, several studies have guaranteed that dietary therapy could be a promise to SLE patients via prophylactic actions deprived of side effects of pharmacology, decreasing co-morbidities and improving lifestyle of SLE sufferers.Herein, we review and discuss the cross-link between epigenetic mechanisms on SLE predisposition and development, as well as the influence of dietary factors on regulation epigenetic modifications that would eventually make a positive impact on SLE patients.
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Ai S, Lin Y, Zheng J, Zhuang X. Xingbi Gel Ameliorates Allergic Rhinitis by Regulating IFN-γ Gene Promoter Methylation in CD4+ T Cells via the ERK-DNMT Pathway. Front Surg 2021; 7:619053. [PMID: 33659270 PMCID: PMC7917250 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2020.619053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common, non-infectious, chronic nasal mucosal disease primarily mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) following allergen exposure. Currently, studies on AR mainly focus on cytokines, IgE and its receptors, basophils, eosinophils, mast cells, and related genes. Among these, an imbalance between T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells is considered an important mechanism underlying AR pathogenesis. The most important cytokines in AR are interleukin (Il)-4 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) which are secreted by Th2 and Th1 cells, respectively. Il-4 and IFN-γ are antagonistic to each other in regulating IgE synthesis. In this study, the expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 and its phosphorylation from p-ERK1/2, were significantly increased in a cluster of differentiation of 4+ T cells of AR mice, suggesting that the ERK signaling pathway in these cells is involved in the occurrence and development of AR. This result also implies an enhanced expression of deoxyribonucleic acid methyltransferases (DNMTs). To verify the relationship between ERK signaling and DNMT expression, AR mice were treated with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. The results revealed that perturbations in ERK signaling were significantly positively correlated with the downregulation of DNMT1 expression. Pharmacological intervention is key to treating AR. This study demonstrated that Xingbi gel intervention affected both serum IgE levels and AR behavior scores in mice. Based on its effects on IFN-γ gene expression, the regulation of Th1/Th2 balance, and the ERK signaling pathway, research on the effects of Xingbi gel on AR may provide new avenues in its prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Ai
- The Affiliated People's Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yueyong Lin
- No. 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiangli Zhuang
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
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12
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Calcineurin and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Rationale for Using Calcineurin Inhibitors in the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031263. [PMID: 33514066 PMCID: PMC7865978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations that can affect almost all organ systems. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe complication that affects approximately half of the systemic erythematosus lupus (SLE) patients, which significantly increases the morbidity and the mortality risk. LN is characterized by the accumulation of immune complexes, ultimately leading to renal failure. Aberrant activation of T cells plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of both SLE and LN and is involved in the production of inflammatory cytokines, the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the affected tissues and the co-stimulation of B cells. Calcineurin is a serine-threonine phosphatase that, as a consequence of the T cell hyperactivation, induces the production of inflammatory mediators. Moreover, calcineurin is also involved in the alterations of the podocyte phenotype, which contribute to proteinuria and kidney damage observed in LN patients. Therefore, calcineurin inhibitors have been postulated as a potential treatment strategy in LN, since they reduce T cell activation and promote podocyte cytoskeleton stabilization, both being key aspects in the development of LN. Here, we review the role of calcineurin in SLE and the latest findings about calcineurin inhibitors and their mechanisms of action in the treatment of LN.
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Ramahi A, Altorok N, Kahaleh B. Epigenetics and systemic sclerosis: An answer to disease onset and evolution? Eur J Rheumatol 2020; 7:S147-S156. [PMID: 32697935 PMCID: PMC7647676 DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2020.19112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that implicates epigenetic modification in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The complexity of epigenetic regulation and its dynamic nature complicate the investigation of its role in the disease. We will review the current literature for factors that link epigenetics to SSc by discussing DNA methylation, histone acetylation and methylation, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNA changes in endothelial cells, fibroblasts (FBs), and lymphocytes. These three cell types are significantly involved in the early stages and throughout the course of the disease and are particularly vulnerable to epigenetic regulation. The pathogenesis of SSc is likely related to modifications of the epigenome by environmental signals in individuals with a specific genetic makeup. The epigenome is an attractive therapeutic target; however, successful epigenetics-based treatments require a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the epigenome and its alteration in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Ramahi
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Nezam Altorok
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Bashar Kahaleh
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA
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Hurtado C, Acevedo Sáenz LY, Vásquez Trespalacios EM, Urrego R, Jenks S, Sanz I, Vásquez G. DNA methylation changes on immune cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Autoimmunity 2020; 53:114-121. [PMID: 32019373 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2020.1722108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation as a process that regulates gene expression is crucial in immune cells biology. Global and gene specific methylation changes have been described in autoimmunity, especially in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. These changes not only contribute to the understanding of the disease, but also some have been proposed as diagnostic or disease activity biomarkers. The present review compiles the most recent discoveries on this field on each type of immune cells, including specific changes in signalling pathways, genes of interest and its possible applications on diagnosis or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Hurtado
- School of Graduate Studies and School of Medicine, CES University, Medellin, Colombia
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Urrego
- Group INCA-CES, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnic, CES University, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Scott Jenks
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Iñaki Sanz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gloria Vásquez
- Grupo de Inmunología Celular e Inmunogenética, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
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15
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Wu H, Chang C, Lu Q. The Epigenetics of Lupus Erythematosus. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1253:185-207. [PMID: 32445096 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-3449-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease that is characterized by dysregulated dendritic cells, T and B cells, and abundant autoantibodies. The pathogenesis of lupus remains unclear. However, increasing evidence has shown that environment factors, genetic susceptibilities, and epigenetic regulation contribute to abnormalities in the immune system. In the past decades, several risk gene loci have been identified, such as MHC and C1q. However, genetics cannot explain the high discordance of lupus incidence in homozygous twins. Environmental factor-induced epigenetic modifications on immune cells may provide some insight. Epigenetics refers to inheritable changes in a chromosome without altering DNA sequence. The primary mechanisms of epigenetics include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulations. Increasing evidence has shown the importance of dysregulated epigenetic modifications in immune cells in pathogenesis of lupus, and has identified epigenetic changes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Environmental factors, such as drugs, diet, and pollution, may also be the triggers of epigenetic changes. Therefore, this chapter will summarize the up-to-date progress on epigenetics regulation in lupus, in order to broaden our understanding of lupus and discuss the potential roles of epigenetic regulations for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijing Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Christopher Chang
- Division of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Hollywood, FL, 33021, USA.,Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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16
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Tsai CY, Hsieh SC, Lu CS, Wu TH, Liao HT, Wu CH, Li KJ, Kuo YM, Lee HT, Shen CY, Yu CL. Cross-Talk between Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Provoked Oxidative Stress and Aberrant Noncoding RNA Expression in the Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of SLE. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205183. [PMID: 31635056 PMCID: PMC6829370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype of systemic autoimmune disease involving almost every organ. Polygenic predisposition and complicated epigenetic regulations are the upstream factors to elicit its development. Mitochondrial dysfunction-provoked oxidative stress may also play a crucial role in it. Classical epigenetic regulations of gene expression may include DNA methylation/acetylation and histone modification. Recent investigations have revealed that intracellular and extracellular (exosomal) noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are the key molecules for post-transcriptional regulation of messenger (m)RNA expression. Oxidative and nitrosative stresses originating from mitochondrial dysfunctions could become the pathological biosignatures for increased cell apoptosis/necrosis, nonhyperglycemic metabolic syndrome, multiple neoantigen formation, and immune dysregulation in patients with SLE. Recently, many authors noted that the cross-talk between oxidative stress and ncRNAs can trigger and perpetuate autoimmune reactions in patients with SLE. Intracellular interactions between miR and lncRNAs as well as extracellular exosomal ncRNA communication to and fro between remote cells/tissues via plasma or other body fluids also occur in the body. The urinary exosomal ncRNAs can now represent biosignatures for lupus nephritis. Herein, we’ll briefly review and discuss the cross-talk between excessive oxidative/nitrosative stress induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in tissues/cells and ncRNAs, as well as the prospect of antioxidant therapy in patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Youh Tsai
- Division of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital & National Yang-Ming University, #201 Sec.2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.
| | - Song-Chou Hsieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Shiun Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
| | - Tsai-Hung Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital & National Yang-Ming University, #201 Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.
| | - Hsien-Tzung Liao
- Division of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital & National Yang-Ming University, #201 Sec.2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Han Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
| | - Ko-Jen Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Min Kuo
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Ting Lee
- Section of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, #92 Sec. 2, Chung-Shan North Road, Taipei 10449, Taiwan.
| | - Chieh-Yu Shen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Li Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, #7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
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The Impact of Protein Acetylation/Deacetylation on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19124007. [PMID: 30545086 PMCID: PMC6321219 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19124007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. Although the exact cause of SLE has not been identified, it is clear that both genetics and environmental factors trigger the disease. Identical twins have a 24% chance of getting lupus disease if the other one is affected. Internal factors such as female gender and sex hormones, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus and other genetic polymorphisms have been shown to affect SLE, as well as external, environmental influences such as sunlight exposure, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and certain infections. Several studies have reported and proposed multiple associations between the alteration of the epigenome and the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Epigenetic factors contributing to SLE include microRNAs, DNA methylation status, and the acetylation/deacetylation of histone proteins. Additionally, the acetylation of non-histone proteins can also influence cellular function. A better understanding of non-genomic factors that regulate SLE will provide insight into the mechanisms that initiate and facilitate disease and also contribute to the development of novel therapeutics that can specifically target pathogenic molecular pathways.
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18
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Reprint of "The interaction between environmental triggers and epigenetics in autoimmunity". Clin Immunol 2018; 196:72-76. [PMID: 30502346 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus flares when genetically predisposed people encounter environmental agents that cause oxidative stress, such as infections and sunlight. How these modify the immune system to initiate flares is unclear. Drug induced lupus models demonstrate that CD4+ T cells epigenetically altered with DNA methylation inhibitors cause lupus in animal models, and similar T cells are found in patients with active lupus. How infections and sun exposure inhibit T cell DNA methylation is unclear. DNA methylation patterns are replicated each time a cell divides in a process that requires DNA methyltransferase one (Dnmt1), which is upregulated as cells enter mitosis, as well as the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, created from dietary sources. Reactive oxygen species that inhibit Dnmt1 upregulation, and a diet poor in methyl donors, combine to cause lupus in animal models. Similar changes are found in patients with active lupus, indicating a mechanism contributing to lupus flares.
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19
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Farivar S, Aghamaleki FS. Effects of Major Epigenetic Factors on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2018; 22:294-302. [PMID: 29803202 PMCID: PMC6058186 DOI: 10.29252/ibj.22.5.294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is influenced by both genetic factors and epigenetic modifications; the latter is a result of exposure to various environmental factors. Epigenetic modifications affect gene expression and alter cellular functions without modifying the genomic sequences. CpG-DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNAs are the main epigenetic factors of gene regulation. In SLE, global and gene-specific DNA methylation changes have been demonstrated to occur in CD4+ T-cells. Moreover, histone acetylation and deacetylation inhibitors reverse the expression of multiple genes involved in SLE, indicating histone modification in SLE. Autoreactive T-cells and B-cells have been shown to alter the patterns of epigenetic changes in SLE patients. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of SLE is critical for the introduction of effective, target-directed and tolerated therapies. In this review, we summarize the recent findings that highlight the importance of epigenetic modifications and their mechanisms in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Farivar
- Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G.C. Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Shaabanpour Aghamaleki
- Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G.C. Tehran, Iran
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20
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Ray D, Strickland FM, Richardson BC. Oxidative stress and dietary micronutrient deficiencies contribute to overexpression of epigenetically regulated genes by lupus T cells. Clin Immunol 2018; 196:97-102. [PMID: 29654844 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Patients with active lupus have altered T cells characterized by low DNA methyltransferase levels. We hypothesized that low DNA methyltransferase levels synergize with low methionine levels to cause greater overexpression of genes normally suppressed by DNA methylation. CD4+ T cells from lupus patients and controls were stimulated with PHA then cultured in custom media with normal or low methionine levels. Oxidative stress was induced by treating the normal CD4+ T cells with peroxynitrite prior to culture. Methylation sensitive gene expression was measured by flow cytometry. Results showed low methionine levels caused greater overexpression of methylation sensitive genes in peroxynitrite treated T cells relative to untreated T cells, and in T cells from lupus patients relative to T cells from healthy controls. In conclusion, low dietary transmethylation micronutrient levels and low DNA methyltransferase levels caused either by oxidative stress or lupus, have additive effects on methylation sensitive T cell gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna Ray
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Faith M Strickland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Bruce C Richardson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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21
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Richardson B. The interaction between environmental triggers and epigenetics in autoimmunity. Clin Immunol 2018; 192:1-5. [PMID: 29649575 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus flares when genetically predisposed people encounter environmental agents that cause oxidative stress, such as infections and sunlight. How these modify the immune system to initiate flares is unclear. Drug induced lupus models demonstrate that CD4+ T cells epigenetically altered with DNA methylation inhibitors cause lupus in animal models, and similar T cells are found in patients with active lupus. How infections and sun exposure inhibit T cell DNA methylation is unclear. DNA methylation patterns are replicated each time a cell divides in a process that requires DNA methyltransferase one (Dnmt1), which is upregulated as cells enter mitosis, as well as the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, created from dietary sources. Reactive oxygen species that inhibit Dnmt1 upregulation, and a diet poor in methyl donors, combine to cause lupus in animal models. Similar changes are found in patients with active lupus, indicating a mechanism contributing to lupus flares.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Richardson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, SRB 3007, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, United States.
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Epigenetic Variability in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: What We Learned from Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Studies. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2018; 19:32. [PMID: 28470479 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-017-0657-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW DNA methylation has emerged as an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we describe the DNA methylation patterns identified in SLE and how these epigenetic changes can influence disease susceptibility, clinical heterogeneity, and disease flares. RECENT FINDINGS Several genome-wide DNA methylation studies have been recently completed in SLE. Important observations include robust demethylation of interferon-regulated genes, which is consistent across all cell types studied to date, and is independent of disease activity. This interferon epigenetic signature was shown to precede interferon transcription signature in SLE, suggesting it might be an early event in the disease process. Recent studies also revealed DNA methylation changes specific for renal and skin involvement in SLE, providing a proof of principle for a value of DNA methylation studies in exploring mechanisms of specific disease manifestations, and potentially as prognostic biomarkers. Inherited ethnicity-specific DNA methylation patterns have also been shown to possibly contribute to differences in SLE susceptibility between populations. Finally, a recent study revealed that DNA methylation levels at IFI44L can accurately distinguish SLE patients from healthy controls, and from patients with other autoimmune diseases, promising to be the first epigenetic diagnostic marker for SLE. Genome-wide DNA methylation studies in SLE have provided novel insights into disease pathogenesis, clinical heterogeneity, and disease flares. Further studies promise to reveal novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets for SLE.
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Kim Y, Shim SC. Wolves Trapped in the NETs–The Pathogenesis of Lupus Nephritis. JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES 2018. [DOI: 10.4078/jrd.2018.25.2.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Young Kim
- Division of Internal Medicine, Daejeon Veterans Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Seung Cheol Shim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon Rheumatoid and Degenerative Arthritis Center, Chungnam National University Hospital, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
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Mahmoudi M, Aslani S, Hamzeh E, Ziaee V, Poursani S, Nicknam MH, Rezaei N. Association Study of MECP2 Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Juvenile-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients from Iran. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2017; 36:423-431. [PMID: 29199882 DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2017.1367871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus is a multigenic autoimmune disorder. Polymorphisms of MECP2 gene have been reported to increase the risk of adult-onset SLE. In this study, we aimed to analyze if MECP2 gene polymorphisms could impress the proneness to JSLE in Iranian population. MATERIAL AND METHODS Polymorphisms of MECP2 gene were genotyped in 50 Iranian JSLE patients and 426 matched healthy controls employing the real-time PCR allelic discrimination technique. RESULTS None of the alleles and genotypes of MECP2 gene SNPs had significantly different distribution between patients and controls. The CTAT haplotype was represented more frequently and significantly in JSLE cases than in controls. A strong linkage disequilibrium was observed among the variants. CONCLUSIONS Although adult-onset SLE had been associated with MECP2 gene variants, this gene is not associated with disease susceptibility in JSLE patients, implying the involvement of different susceptibility genes in the pathogenesis of SLE and JSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Mahmoudi
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Saeed Aslani
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Elham Hamzeh
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Vahid Ziaee
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Shiva Poursani
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nicknam
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of).,b Division of Pediatric Rheumatology , Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Nima Rezaei
- a Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of).,b Division of Pediatric Rheumatology , Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran (the Islamic Republic of).,c Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN) , Sheffield , UK
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CD4+CD28+KIR+CD11a hi T cells correlate with disease activity and are characterized by a pro-inflammatory epigenetic and transcriptional profile in lupus patients. J Autoimmun 2017; 86:19-28. [PMID: 29066026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to comprehensively characterize CD4+CD28+ T cells overexpressing CD11a and KIR genes, and examine the relationship between this T cell subset, genetic risk, and disease activity in lupus. METHODS The size of the CD4+CD28+KIR+CD11ahi T cell subset was determined by flow cytometry, and total genetic risk for lupus was calculated in 105 female patients using 43 confirmed genetic susceptibility loci. Primary CD4+CD28+KIR+CD11ahi T cells were isolated from lupus patients or were induced from healthy individuals using 5-azacytidine. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed using an array-based approach, and the transcriptome was assessed by RNA sequencing. Transcripts in the CDR3 region were used to assess the TCR repertoire. Chromatin accessibility was determined using ATAC-seq. RESULTS A total of 31,019 differentially methylated sites were identified in induced KIR+CD11ahi T cells with >99% being hypomethylated. RNA sequencing revealed a clear pro-inflammatory transcriptional profile. TCR repertoire analysis suggests less clonotype diversity in KIR+CD11ahi compared to autologous KIR-CD11alow T cells. Similarly, primary KIR+CD11ahi T cells isolated from lupus patients were hypomethylated and characterized by a pro-inflammatory chromatin structure. We show that the genetic risk for lupus was significantly higher in African-American compared to European-American lupus patients. The demethylated CD4+CD28+KIR+CD11ahi T cell subset size was a better predictor of disease activity in young (age ≤ 40) European-American patients independent of genetic risk. CONCLUSION CD4+CD28+KIR+CD11ahi T cells are demethylated and characterized by pro-inflammatory epigenetic and transcriptional profiles in lupus. Eliminating these cells or blocking their pro-inflammatory characteristics might present a novel therapeutic approach for lupus.
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Pinto-Medel MJ, Oliver-Martos B, Urbaneja-Romero P, Hurtado-Guerrero I, Ortega-Pinazo J, Serrano-Castro P, Fernández Ó, Leyva L. Global methylation correlates with clinical status in multiple sclerosis patients in the first year of IFNbeta treatment. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8727. [PMID: 28821874 PMCID: PMC5562733 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09301-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The alteration of DNA methylation patterns are a key component of disease onset and/or progression. Our objective was to evaluate the differences in Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1 (LINE-1) methylation levels, as a surrogate marker of global DNA methylation, between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls. In addition, we assessed the association of LINE-1 methylation with clinical disease activity in patients treated with IFNbeta (IFNβ). We found that individuals with high levels of LINE-1 methylation showed 6-fold increased risk of suffering MS. Additionally, treated MS patients who bear high LINE-1 methylation levels had an 11-fold increased risk of clinical activity. Moreover, a negative correlation between treatment duration and percentage of LINE-1 methylation, that was statistically significant exclusively in the group of patients without clinical activity, was observed. Our data suggest that in MS patients, a slight global DNA hypermethylation occurs that may be related to the pathophysiology of the disease. In addition, global DNA methylation levels could play a role as a biomarker for the differential clinical response to IFNβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús Pinto-Medel
- UGC Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Investigación. Instituto de Investigación Biomedica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, Spain.
| | - Begoña Oliver-Martos
- UGC Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Investigación. Instituto de Investigación Biomedica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Patricia Urbaneja-Romero
- UGC Neurociencias, Servicio de Neurología, Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación de Málaga en Biomedicina y Salud (FIMABIS), Málaga, Spain
| | - Isaac Hurtado-Guerrero
- UGC Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Investigación. Instituto de Investigación Biomedica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Jesús Ortega-Pinazo
- UGC Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Investigación. Instituto de Investigación Biomedica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Pedro Serrano-Castro
- UGC Neurociencias, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Óscar Fernández
- UGC Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Investigación. Instituto de Investigación Biomedica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Laura Leyva
- UGC Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Investigación. Instituto de Investigación Biomedica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, Spain
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Wang Z, Chang C, Peng M, Lu Q. Translating epigenetics into clinic: focus on lupus. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:78. [PMID: 28785369 PMCID: PMC5541721 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-017-0378-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic relapsing–remitting autoimmune disease with highly heterogeneous phenotypes. Biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity are useful for early diagnosis as well as monitoring disease activity and long-term complications. Epigenetics potentially provide novel biomarkers in autoimmune diseases. These may include DNA methylation changes in relevant lupus-prone genes or histone modifications and microRNAs to upregulate and downregulate relevant gene expression. The timing and nature of epigenetic modification provide such changes. In lupus, DNA methylation alterations in cytokine genes, such as IFN-related gene and retrovirus gene, have been found to offer biomarkers for lupus diagnosis. Histone modifications such as histone methylation and acetylation lead to transcriptional alterations of several genes such as PTPN22, LRP1B, and TNFSF70. There are varieties of microRNAs applied as lupus biomarkers, including DNMT1-related microRNAs, renal function-associated microRNAs, microRNAs involved in the immune system, and microRNAs for phenotype classification. Thus, we conclude a wide range of promising roles of epigenetic biomarkers aiding in the diagnosing and monitoring of lupus diseases and the risk of organ damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijun Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011 China
| | - Christopher Chang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Mou Peng
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011 China
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Coit P, Dozmorov MG, Merrill JT, McCune WJ, Maksimowicz-McKinnon K, Wren JD, Sawalha AH. Epigenetic Reprogramming in Naive CD4+ T Cells Favoring T Cell Activation and Non-Th1 Effector T Cell Immune Response as an Early Event in Lupus Flares. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 68:2200-9. [PMID: 27111767 DOI: 10.1002/art.39720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a relapsing autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus; however, early T cell events triggering disease flares are incompletely understood. This study was undertaken to examine DNA methylation in naive CD4+ T cells from lupus patients to determine if epigenetic remodeling in CD4+ T cells is an early event in lupus flares. METHODS A total of 74 lupus patients with an SLE Disease Activity Index score of 0-18 were included. Naive CD4+ T cells were isolated from peripheral blood samples, and DNA was extracted for genome-wide methylation assessment. RNA was also extracted from a subset of patients to determine the relationship between epigenetic changes and transcription activity using RNA sequencing and microRNA arrays. RESULTS We demonstrated that naive CD4+ T cells in lupus undergo an epigenetic proinflammatory shift, implicating effector T cell responses in lupus flare. This epigenetic landscape change occurs without changes in expression of the corresponding genes, poises naive CD4+ T cells for Th2, Th17, and follicular helper T cell immune responses, and opposes inhibitory transforming growth factor β signaling. Bioinformatics analyses indicate that the epigenetic modulator EZH2 might play an important role in shifting the epigenetic landscape, with increased disease activity in lupus naive CD4+ T cells. Further, the expression of microRNA-26a, which is sensitive to glucose availability and targets EZH2, was negatively correlated with disease activity in lupus patients. CONCLUSION An epigenetic landscape shift in naive CD4+ T cells that favors T cell activation and non-Th1 immune responses predates transcription activity and correlates with lupus activity. A role for EZH2 dysregulation in triggering lupus flares warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jonathan D Wren
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
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Tsokos GC, Lo MS, Costa Reis P, Sullivan KE. New insights into the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2017; 12:716-730. [PMID: 27872476 DOI: 10.1038/nrrheum.2016.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 762] [Impact Index Per Article: 108.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The aetiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is multifactorial, and includes contributions from the environment, stochastic factors, and genetic susceptibility. Great gains have been made in understanding SLE through the use of genetic variant identification, mouse models, gene expression studies, and epigenetic analyses. Collectively, these studies support the concept that defective clearance of immune complexes and biological waste (such as apoptotic cells), neutrophil extracellular traps, nucleic acid sensing, lymphocyte signalling, and interferon production pathways are all central to loss of tolerance and tissue damage. Increased understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE is driving a renewed interest in targeted therapy, and researchers are now on the verge of developing targeted immunotherapy directed at treating either specific organ system involvement or specific subsets of patients with SLE. Accordingly, this Review places these insights within the context of our current understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE and highlights pathways that are ripe for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- George C Tsokos
- Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Mindy S Lo
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Patricia Costa Reis
- Department of Pediatrics, Lisbon Medical School, Lisbon University, Santa Maria Hospital, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-035 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kathleen E Sullivan
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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Sisto M, Lorusso L, Ingravallo G, Lisi S. Exocrine Gland Morphogenesis: Insights into the Role of Amphiregulin from Development to Disease. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2017; 65:477-499. [DOI: 10.1007/s00005-017-0478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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31
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Ahmadi M, Gharibi T, Dolati S, Rostamzadeh D, Aslani S, Baradaran B, Younesi V, Yousefi M. Epigenetic modifications and epigenetic based medication implementations of autoimmune diseases. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 87:596-608. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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Gouda HM, Kamel NM, Meshaal SS. Association of DNA Methyltransferase 3B Promotor Polymorphism With Childhood Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia. Lab Med 2016; 47:312-317. [PMID: 27590349 DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmw040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation is an epigenetic process that refers to chromatin-based mechanisms in the regulation of gene expression without DNA alternation. It is mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). The DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) gene contains a C-to-T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; rs2424913) in the Promotor region, 149 base pairs from the transcription start site, which is reported to significantly increase the Promotor activity. OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalance of rs2424913 single nucleotide polymorphism located in the DNMT3B gene Promotor. METHODS In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of rs2424913 single nucleotide polymorphism located in DNMT3B gene Promotor by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in Egyptian pediatric chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients and controls. RESULTS The homozygous genotype (TT) was significantly higher in our patient and conferred almost 3-fold increased risk of chronic ITP when compared to controls. CONCLUSION The present study shows that DNMT3B rs2424913 promotor polymorphism represents a genetic risk factor that may play an important role in understanding the pathogenesis of chronic ITP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nermine M Kamel
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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Long H, Yin H, Wang L, Gershwin ME, Lu Q. The critical role of epigenetics in systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmunity. J Autoimmun 2016; 74:118-138. [PMID: 27396525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
One of the major disappointments in human autoimmunity has been the relative failure on genome-wide association studies to provide "smoking genetic guns" that would explain the critical role of genetic susceptibility to loss of tolerance. It is well known that autoimmunity refers to the abnormal state that the dysregulated immune system attacks the healthy cells and tissues due to the loss of immunological tolerance to self-antigens. Its clinical outcomes are generally characterized by the presence of autoreactive immune cells and (or) the development of autoantibodies, leading to various types of autoimmune disorders. The etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases are highly complex. Both genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as nutrition, infection, and chemicals are implicated in the pathogenic process of autoimmunity, however, how much and by what mechanisms each of these factors contribute to the development of autoimmunity remain unclear. Epigenetics, which refers to potentially heritable changes in gene expression and function that do not involve alterations of the DNA sequence, has provided us with a brand new key to answer these questions. In the recent decades, increasing evidence have demonstrated the roles of epigenetic dysregulation, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which have shed light on a new era for autoimmunity research. Notably, DNA hypomethylation and reactivation of the inactive X chromosome are two epigenetic hallmarks of SLE. We will herein discuss briefly how genetic studies fail to completely elucidate the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and present a comprehensive review on landmark epigenetic findings in autoimmune diseases, taking SLE as an extensively studied example. The epigenetics of other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatic arthritis, systemic sclerosis and primary biliary cirrhosis will also be summarized. Importantly we emphasize that the stochastic processes that lead to DNA modification may be the lynch pins that drive the initial break in tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Long
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, China
| | - Heng Yin
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, China.
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The key culprit in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus: Aberrant DNA methylation. Autoimmun Rev 2016; 15:684-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Wang J, Mizui M, Zeng LF, Bronson R, Finnell M, Terhorst C, Kyttaris VC, Tsokos GC, Zhang ZY, Kontaridis MI. Inhibition of SHP2 ameliorates the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:2077-92. [PMID: 27183387 DOI: 10.1172/jci87037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a devastating multisystemic autoimmune disorder. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis remain elusive. Some patients with Noonan syndrome, a congenital disorder predominantly caused by gain-of-function mutations in the protein tyrosine phosphatase SH2 domain-containing PTP (SHP2), have been shown to develop SLE, suggesting a functional correlation between phosphatase activity and systemic autoimmunity. To test this directly, we measured SHP2 activity in spleen lysates isolated from lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice and found it was markedly increased compared with that in control mice. Similar increases in SHP2 activity were seen in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from lupus patients relative to healthy patients. To determine whether SHP2 alters autoimmunity and related immunopathology, we treated MRL/lpr mice with an SHP2 inhibitor and found increased life span, suppressed crescentic glomerulonephritis, reduced spleen size, and diminished skin lesions. SHP2 inhibition also reduced numbers of double-negative T cells, normalized ERK/MAPK signaling, and decreased production of IFN-γ and IL-17A/F, 2 cytokines involved in SLE-associated organ damage. Moreover, in cultured human lupus T cells, SHP2 inhibition reduced proliferation and decreased production of IFN-γ and IL-17A/F, further implicating SHP2 in lupus-associated immunopathology. Taken together, these data identify SHP2 as a critical regulator of SLE pathogenesis and suggest targeting of its activity as a potent treatment for lupus patients.
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Mu Q, Zhang H, Luo XM. SLE: Another Autoimmune Disorder Influenced by Microbes and Diet? Front Immunol 2015; 6:608. [PMID: 26648937 PMCID: PMC4663251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disease. Despite years of study, the etiology of SLE is still unclear. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the disease mechanisms. In the past decade, a growing body of evidence has indicated an important role of gut microbes in the development of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. However, such knowledge on SLE is little, though we have already known that environmental factors can trigger the development of lupus. Several recent studies have suggested that alterations of the gut microbial composition may be correlated with SLE disease manifestations, while the exact roles of either symbiotic or pathogenic microbes in this disease remain to be explored. Elucidation of the roles of gut microbes - as well as the roles of diet that can modulate the composition of gut microbes - in SLE will shed light on how this autoimmune disorder develops, and provide opportunities for improved biomarkers of the disease and the potential to probe new therapies. In this review, we aim to compile the available evidence on the contributions of diet and gut microbes to SLE occurrence and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Mu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA , USA
| | - Husen Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA , USA
| | - Xin M Luo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA , USA
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Yan N, Zhou JZ, Zhang JA, Cai T, Zhang W, Wang Y, Muhali FS, Guan L, Song RH. Histone hypoacetylation and increased histone deacetylases in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Graves' disease. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015; 414:143-7. [PMID: 26116233 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate histone modification patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with Graves' disease (GD). Thirty GD patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Global histone H3/H4 acetylation levels of PBMCs in all subjects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. mRNA levels of histone-related chromatin modifier genes were measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Global histone H4 acetylation level in PBMCs of GD patients was significantly decreased compared with controls (p=0.005). The mRNA expression of histone deacetylases HDAC1 and HDAC2 were significantly increased in PBMCs of GD patients compared with controls (p=0.004 and 0.018; respectively). No significant difference was observed either in SIRT1 or in HATs mRNA including p300, CREBBP between GD patients and controls (p>0.05). Our findings firstly suggested that histone acetylation modifications are aberrant in PBMCs of GD patients, possibly due to the deregulation of epigenetic modifier genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Yan
- Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiao-zhen Zhou
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jin-an Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Tiantian Cai
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fatuma-Said Muhali
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lijuan Guan
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rong-hua Song
- Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Liang J, Zhu XH, Qin HH, Lin JR, Wang DQ, Huang L, Luo XQ, Xu JH. A correlation study on the effects of DNMT1 on methylation levels in CD4(+) T cells of SLE patients. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015; 8:19701-19708. [PMID: 26770634 PMCID: PMC4694534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the effect of DNMT1 on CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. METHODS To investigate the differential expression of DNMT1 in CD4(+) T cells of SLE patients and healthy individuals, a DNMT1 lentiviral plasmid (pLenti6.3/V5-DNMT1) and a control plasmid (pLenti6.3/V5-GW/LacZ) were constructed and transfected into CD4(+) T cells from the peripheral blood of SLE patients. The transcriptional and translational expression of DNMT1, global genomic DNA methylation, and the production of IgG antibody in the CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of SLE patients were assessed using qPCR analysis, western blotting, flow cytometry, and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS The expression level of DNMT1 in SLE patients was significantly lower than that in normal humans. The expression of DNMT1 was found to be positively correlated with the methylation level of genomic DNA and negatively correlated with the IgG titration level. DNA sequencing results confirmed that the DNMT1 lentiviral plasmid was successfully constructed. After the CD4(+) T cells from the peripheral blood of SLE patients were transfected with the pLenti6.3/V5-DNMT1 plasmid, the transcription level of the DNMT1 gene was upregulated and abundance of DNMT1 protein significantly increased. Global genomic DNA methylation was enhanced, while the production of IgG antibody was reduced. CONCLUSION DNMT1 can inhibit the autoimmune response in SLE patients by reversing the abnormally low DNA methylation level in the CD4(+) T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liang
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Hai-Hong Qin
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jin-Ran Lin
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Duo-Qin Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xiao-Qun Luo
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jin-Hua Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
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Epigenetic dynamics in immunity and autoimmunity. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2015; 67:65-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2015.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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40
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Jeffries MA, Sawalha AH. Autoimmune disease in the epigenetic era: how has epigenetics changed our understanding of disease and how can we expect the field to evolve? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2015; 11:45-58. [PMID: 25534978 DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.2015.994507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are complex and enigmatic, and have presented particular challenges to researchers seeking to define their etiology and explain progression. Previous studies have implicated epigenetic influences in the development of autoimmunity. Epigenetics describes changes in gene expression related to environmental influences without alterations in the underlying genomic sequence, generally classified into three main groups: cytosine genomic DNA methylation, modification of various sidechain positions of histone proteins and noncoding RNAs feedback. The purpose of this article is to review the most relevant literature describing alterations of epigenetic marks in the development and progression of four common autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis and Sjögren's syndrome. The contribution of DNA methylation, histone modification and noncoding RNA for each of these disorders is discussed, including examples both of candidate gene studies and larger epigenomics surveys, and in various tissue types important for the pathogenesis of each. The future of the field is speculated briefly, as is the possibility of therapeutic interventions targeting the epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matlock A Jeffries
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Relle M, Foehr B, Schwarting A. Epigenetic Aspects of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Rheumatol Ther 2015; 2:33-46. [PMID: 27747498 PMCID: PMC4883254 DOI: 10.1007/s40744-015-0014-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease have complex pathogeneses and the courses of events leading to these diseases are not well understood. The immune surveillance is a delicate balance between self and foreign as well as between tolerance and immune response. Exposure to certain environmental factors may impair this equilibrium, leading to autoimmune diseases, cancer, and the so-called “lifestyle diseases” such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and obesity, among others. These external stimuli may also alter the epigenetic status quo and may trigger autoimmune diseases such as SLE in genetically susceptible individuals. This review aims to highlight the role of epigenetic (dys-)regulation in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Relle
- Department of Medicine I, Mainz University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Bernd Foehr
- Department of Medicine I, Mainz University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Schwarting
- Department of Medicine I, Mainz University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
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Coit P, Renauer P, Jeffries MA, Merrill JT, McCune WJ, Maksimowicz-McKinnon K, Sawalha AH. Renal involvement in lupus is characterized by unique DNA methylation changes in naïve CD4+ T cells. J Autoimmun 2015; 61:29-35. [PMID: 26005050 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-system disease characterized by wide-spread DNA methylation changes. To identify epigenetic susceptibility loci for lupus nephritis, genome-wide DNA methylation changes in naïve CD4+ T cells were compared between two sets of lupus patients with and without a history of renal involvement. A total of 56 lupus patients (28 with renal involvement and 28 without renal involvement), and 56 age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls were included in our study. We identified 191 CG sites and 121 genes that were only differentially methylated in lupus patients with but not without a history of renal involvement. The tyrosine kinase gene TNK2 involved in cell trafficking and tissue invasion, and the phosphatase gene DUSP5 which dephosphorylates and inhibits the ERK signaling pathway, were among the most hypomethylated. Independent of disease activity, renal involvement is characterized by more robust demethylation in interferon regulated genes differentially methylated in both sets of lupus patients with and without renal involvement (fold change 1.4, P = 0.0014). The type-I interferon master regulator gene IRF7 is only hypomethylated in lupus patients with renal involvement. IRF-7 is an upstream transcription factor that regulates several loci demethylated only with renal involvement such as CD80, HERC5, IFI44, IRF7, ISG15, ISG20, ITGAX, and PARP12 (P = 1.78 × 10(-6)). Among the CG sites only hypomethylated with renal involvement, CG10152449 in CHST12 has a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 64.3% for stratifying lupus patients for a history of renal involvement (P = 0.0029). Our data identified novel epigenetic susceptibility loci that are differentially methylated with renal involvement in lupus. These loci will help better understand lupus nephritis, and provide a proof of principle for the potential applicability of specific methylation changes as predictors for specific organ involvement in lupus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Coit
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paul Renauer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matlock A Jeffries
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Joan T Merrill
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - W Joseph McCune
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Amr H Sawalha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Wu H, Zhao M, Chang C, Lu Q. The real culprit in systemic lupus erythematosus: abnormal epigenetic regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:11013-33. [PMID: 25988383 PMCID: PMC4463688 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160511013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease involving multiple organs and the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies. The pathogenesis of SLE has been intensively studied but remains far from clear. B and T lymphocyte abnormalities, dysregulation of apoptosis, defects in the clearance of apoptotic materials, and various genetic and epigenetic factors are attributed to the development of SLE. The latest research findings point to the association between abnormal epigenetic regulation and SLE, which has attracted considerable interest worldwide. It is the purpose of this review to present and discuss the relationship between aberrant epigenetic regulation and SLE, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs in patients with SLE, the possible mechanisms of immune dysfunction caused by epigenetic changes, and to better understand the roles of aberrant epigenetic regulation in the initiation and development of SLE and to provide an insight into the related therapeutic options in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijing Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha 410011, China.
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha 410011, China.
| | - Christopher Chang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha 410011, China.
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Gorelik G, Sawalha AH, Patel D, Johnson K, Richardson B. T cell PKCδ kinase inactivation induces lupus-like autoimmunity in mice. Clin Immunol 2015; 158:193-203. [PMID: 25829232 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2015.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the onset and progression of lupus. CD4+ T cells from patients with active lupus show a decreased ERK signaling pathway, which causes changes in gene expression. The defect points to its upstream regulator, PKCδ, which exhibits a deficient activity due to oxidative stress. Our aim was to investigate the effect of a defective PKCδ in the development of lupus. We generated a double transgenic C57BL6 × SJL mouse that expresses a doxycycline-induced dominant negative PKCδ (dnPKCδ) in T cells. The transgenic mice displayed decreased T cell ERK signaling, decreased DNMT1 expression and overexpression of methylation sensitive genes involved in the exaggerated immune response in the pathogenesis of lupus. The mice developed anti-dsDNA autoantibodies and glomerulonephritis with IgG deposition. The study indicates common pathogenic mechanisms with human lupus, suggesting that environmentally-mediated T cell PKCδ inactivation plays a causative role in lupus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Gorelik
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dipak Patel
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kent Johnson
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bruce Richardson
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Daszkiewicz L, Vázquez-Mateo C, Rackov G, Ballesteros-Tato A, Weber K, Madrigal-Avilés A, Di Pilato M, Fotedar A, Fotedar R, Flores JM, Esteban M, Martínez-A C, Balomenos D. Distinct p21 requirements for regulating normal and self-reactive T cells through IFN-γ production. Sci Rep 2015; 5:7691. [PMID: 25573673 PMCID: PMC4287747 DOI: 10.1038/srep07691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Self/non-self discrimination characterizes immunity and allows responses against pathogens but not self-antigens. Understanding the principles that govern this process is essential for designing autoimmunity treatments. p21 is thought to attenuate autoreactivity by limiting T cell expansion. Here, we provide direct evidence for a p21 role in controlling autoimmune T cell autoreactivity without affecting normal T cell responses. We studied C57BL/6, C57BL/6/lpr and MRL/lpr mice overexpressing p21 in T cells, and showed reduced autoreactivity and lymphadenopathy in C57BL/6/lpr, and reduced mortality in MRL/lpr mice. p21 inhibited effector/memory CD4(+) CD8(+) and CD4(-)CD8(-) lpr T cell accumulation without altering defective lpr apoptosis. This was mediated by a previously non-described p21 function in limiting T cell overactivation and overproduction of IFN-γ, a key lupus cytokine. p21 did not affect normal T cell responses, revealing differential p21 requirements for autoreactive and normal T cell activity regulation. The underlying concept of these findings suggests potential treatments for lupus and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, without compromising normal immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Daszkiewicz
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Vázquez-Mateo
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gorjana Rackov
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - André Ballesteros-Tato
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kathrin Weber
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Madrigal-Avilés
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mauro Di Pilato
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Arun Fotedar
- Cancer Cell Biology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rati Fotedar
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Juana M Flores
- Animal Biology Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariano Esteban
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Martínez-A
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitrios Balomenos
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, UAM Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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Patel DR, Richardson BC. Drug-induced lupus. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-09138-1.00132-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Abstract
A dose-dependent combination of environmental exposures, estrogenic hormones and genetic predisposition is thought to be required for lupus to develop and flare, but how the environment modifies the immune system in genetically predisposed people is unclear. Current evidence indicates that environmental agents that inhibit DNA methylation can convert normal antigen-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes into autoreactive, cytotoxic, pro-inflammatory cells that are sufficient to cause lupus-like autoimmunity in animal models, and that the same changes in DNA methylation characterize CD4+ T cells from patients with active lupus. Environmental agents implicated in inhibiting T-cell DNA methylation include the lupus-inducing drugs procainamide and hydralazine, as well as diet, and agents causing oxidative stress, such as smoking, UV light exposure, and infections, which have been associated with lupus onset or disease activity. Other studies demonstrate that demethylated T cells cause only anti-DNA antibodies in mice lacking a genetic predisposition to lupus, but are sufficient to cause lupus-like autoimmunity in genetically predisposed mice and likely people, and that estrogens augment the disease. Collectively, these studies suggest that environmental agents that inhibit DNA methylation, together with lupus genes and estrogens or endocrine disruptors, combine in a dose-dependent fashion to cause lupus flares.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Somers
- 1Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
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Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is among the systemic autoimmune diseases whose complex pathogenesis involves both genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic dysregulation resulting in overexpression of certain genes in some of the key immune cells, such as T cells, has been incriminated in the pathophysiology of SLE. Epigenetics is defined as transmissible and reversible modifications in gene expression without alterations in the nucleotide sequences. Epigenetic information is carried chiefly by DNA itself, histones, and noncoding RNAs. Several epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in SLE pathogenesis. This review discusses the various epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene expression and provides examples relevant to SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Miceli-Richard
- Université Paris-Sud, hôpitaux universitaires Paris-Sud, AP-HP, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Institut National de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm) U1012, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
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50
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Dey-Rao R, Sinha AA. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) peripheral blood identifies systemic alterations relevant to the skin manifestation. Genomics 2014; 105:90-100. [PMID: 25451738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Major gaps remain regarding pathogenetic mechanisms underlying clinical heterogeneity in lupus erythematosus (LE). As systemic changes are likely to underlie skin specific manifestation, we analyzed global gene expression in peripheral blood of a small cohort of chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE) patients and healthy individuals. Unbiased hierarchical clustering distinguished patients from controls revealing a "disease" based signature. Functional annotation of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) highlight enrichment of interferon related immune response and apoptosis signatures, along with other key pathways. There is a 26% overlap of the blood and lesional skin transcriptional profile from a previous analysis by our group. We identified four transcriptional "hot spots" at chromosomal regions harboring statistically increased numbers of DEGs which offer prioritized potential loci for downstream fine mapping studies in the search for CCLE specific susceptibility loci. Additionally, we uncover evidence to support both shared and distinct mechanisms for cutaneous and systemic manifestations of lupus.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dey-Rao
- Department of Dermatology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - A A Sinha
- Department of Dermatology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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