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Källberg E, Mehmeti-Ajradini M, Björk Gunnarsdottir F, Göransson M, Bergenfelz C, Allaoui Fredriksson R, Hagerling C, Johansson ME, Welinder C, Jirström K, Leandersson K. AIRE is expressed in breast cancer TANs and TAMs to regulate the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and inflammation. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:664-678. [PMID: 38060995 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcriptional regulator expressed in the thymus and is necessary for maintaining immunological self-tolerance. Extrathymic AIRE expression is rare, and a role for AIRE in tumor-associated innate immune cells has not yet been established. In this study, we show that AIRE is expressed in human pro-tumor neutrophils. In breast cancer, AIRE was primarily located to tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), and to a lesser extent to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor cells. Expression of AIRE in TAN/TAMs, but not in cancer cells, was associated with an adverse prognosis. We show that the functional role for AIRE in neutrophils and macrophages is to regulate expression of immune mediators and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway involving the Fas/TNFR death receptors and cathepsin G. Here, we propose that the role for AIRE in TAN/TAMs in breast tumors is to regulate cell death and inflammation, thus promoting tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Källberg
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Meliha Mehmeti-Ajradini
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Frida Björk Gunnarsdottir
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marcus Göransson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Caroline Bergenfelz
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Roni Allaoui Fredriksson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Catharina Hagerling
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Martin E Johansson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, Vasaparken Universitetsplatsen 1, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Mass Spectrometry, Department for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Jirström
- Oncology and Therapeutic Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Leandersson
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströmsg 35, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
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2
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Zhang Y, Lu Y, Gao Y, Liang X, Zhang R, Wang X, Zou X, Yang W. Effects of Aire on perforin expression in BMDCs via TLR7/8 and its therapeutic effect on type 1 diabetes. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 117:109890. [PMID: 36805202 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Type 1 diabetes, as a kind of autoimmune diseases, usually results from the broken-down of self-tolerance. Autoimmune regulator (Aire), as a transcription factor, induces peripheral tolerance by regulating Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in dendritic cells (DCs). Several studies have recently identified a small population of perforin-expressing DCs, which is an important population of tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) that restricts autoreactive T cells in vivo through a perforin-mediated mechanism. Thus, the present study explored the specific relationship among Aire, perforin-expressing DCs and immune tolerance, as well as their roles in type 1 diabetes. METHODS We conducted studies based on the Aire-overexpressing bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) model. And through in vitro and in vivo experiments to observe that Aire-overexpressing BMDCs which express perforin induce immune tolerance and treat type 1 diabetes via TLR7/8. RESULTS Aire enhances the expression of perforin in BMDCs after treatment with the TLR7/8 ligand as well as promotes the expression of TLR7/8 and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent pathway molecules. Aire-overexpressing BMDCs mediate apoptosis of allogeneic CD8+ T cells via perforin in vitro. Moreover, Aire-overexpressing BMDCs enhance the therapeutic effect of type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice via perforin and induce apoptosis of autoreactive CD8+ T cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results provide an experimental basis for comprehensively elucidating the role and significance of Aire expression in peripheral DCs, thereby providing new ideas for the treatment of autoimmune diseases by using Aire as a target to induce the production of perforin-expressing DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yaoping Lu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaojing Liang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Rongchao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xueyang Zou
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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3
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Benlaribi R, Gou Q, Takaba H. Thymic self-antigen expression for immune tolerance and surveillance. Inflamm Regen 2022; 42:28. [PMID: 36056452 PMCID: PMC9440513 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-022-00211-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are a group of lymphocytes that play a central role in the immune system, notably, eliminating pathogens and attacking cancer while being tolerant of the self. Elucidating how immune tolerance is ensured has become a significant research issue for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases as well as cancer immunity. T cell immune tolerance is established mainly in the thymic medulla by the removal of self-responsive T cells and the generation of regulatory T cells, this process depends mainly on the expression of a variety of tissue restricted antigens (TRAs) by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). The expression of TRAs is known to be regulated by at least two independent factors, Fezf2 and Aire, which play non-redundant and complementary roles by different mechanisms. In this review, we introduce the molecular logic of thymic self-antigen expression that underlies T cell selection for the prevention of autoimmunity and the establishment of immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayene Benlaribi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Qiao Gou
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Takaba
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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4
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Qi Y, Zhang R, Lu Y, Zou X, Yang W. Aire and Fezf2, two regulators in medullary thymic epithelial cells, control autoimmune diseases by regulating TSAs: Partner or complementer? Front Immunol 2022; 13:948259. [PMID: 36110862 PMCID: PMC9468217 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.948259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) is believed to be responsible for the elimination of autoreactive T cells, a critical process in the maintenance of central immune tolerance. The transcription factor autoimmune regulator (Aire) and FEZ family zinc finger 2(Fezf2) play an essential role in driving the expression of TSAs in mTECs, while their deficiency in humans and mice causes a range of autoimmune manifestations, such as type 1 diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. However, because of their regulatory mechanisms, the expression profile of TSAs and their relationship with special autoimmune diseases are still in dispute. In this review, we compare the roles of Aire and Fezf2 in regulating TSAs, with an emphasis on their molecular mechanisms in autoimmune diseases, which provides the foundation for devising improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wei Yang
- *Correspondence: Wei Yang, ; Xueyang Zou,
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5
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van Laar GG, van Hamburg JP, Tas SW. Extrathymic AIRE-expressing cells: Friends or foes in autoimmunity and cancer? Clin Exp Rheumatol 2022; 21:103141. [PMID: 35840039 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103141] [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: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Auto-immune regulator (AIRE) is a transcription factor that is mainly known for its crucial role in the thymus. Here, AIRE ensures central tolerance by promoting the expression of peripheral tissue antigens in thymic epithelial cells, which is essential for the negative selection of autoreactive T cells. Intriguingly, AIRE expressing cells have recently been identified in other tissues outside the thymus as well. However, the exact function of these extrathymic AIRE expressing cells (eTACs) remains largely enigmatic. Human eTACs are mainly found in secondary lymphoid tissues under homeostatic conditions, but are also found in pathologies such as the inflamed tissues of patients with autoimmune diseases and in various cancer tissues. eTACs have been demonstrated to express dendritic cell (DC)-like markers, such as MHCII, CD40 and CD127, but also CCR7, IDO and PD-L1. Interestingly, eTACs lack high expression of co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD80 or CD86. In mice, different types of peripheral AIRE expressing cells have been described, including cells with an innate lymphoid cell-like phenotype and antigen presenting cell (APC) function. These findings suggest that eTACs are APCs with the possibility to modulate or inhibit immune responses, which is confirmed by functional murine studies demonstrating the ability of eTACs to induce tolerance in autoreactive T cells. The potential immunomodulatory function of eTACs makes them promising targets to restore tolerance in autoimmunity or improve immunotherapy in cancer settings. Yet, this requires a better understanding of these cells and the molecular mechanisms involved. In this review we aim to summarize the current knowledge and understanding of eTACs, including their putative roles in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustaaf G van Laar
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan Piet van Hamburg
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sander W Tas
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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6
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Cranston T, Boon H, Olesen MK, Ryan FJ, Shears D, London R, Rostom H, Elajnaf T, Thakker RV, Hannan FM. Spectrum of germline AIRE mutations causing APS-1 and familial hypoparathyroidism. Eur J Endocrinol 2022; 187:111-122. [PMID: 35521792 PMCID: PMC9175554 DOI: 10.1530/eje-21-0730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Objective The autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by immune dysregulation and autoimmune endocrine gland destruction. APS-1 is caused by biallelic mutations affecting the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene on chromosome 21q22.3, which facilitates immunological self-tolerance. The objective was to investigate >300 probands with suspected APS-1 or isolated hypoparathyroidism for AIRE abnormalities. Methods Probands were assessed by DNA sequence analysis. Novel variants were characterised using 3D modelling of the AIRE protein. Restriction enzyme and microsatellite analysis were used to investigate for uniparental isodisomy. Results Biallelic AIRE mutations were identified in 35 probands with APS-1 and 5 probands with isolated hypoparathyroidism. These included a novel homozygous p.(His14Pro) mutation, predicted to disrupt the N-terminal caspase activation recruitment domain of the AIRE protein. Furthermore, an apparently homozygous AIRE mutation, p.Leu323fs, was identified in an APS-1 proband, who is the child of non-consanguineous asymptomatic parents. Microsatellite analysis revealed that the proband inherited two copies of the paternal mutant AIRE allele due to uniparental isodisomy. Hypoparathyroidism was the most common endocrine manifestation in AIRE mutation-positive probands and >45% of those harbouring AIRE mutations had at least two diseases out of the triad of candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism, and hypoadrenalism. In contrast, type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism occurred more frequently in AIRE mutation-negative probands with suspected APS-1. Around 30% of AIRE mutation-negative probands with isolated hypoparathyroidism harboured mutations in other hypoparathyroid genes. Conclusions This study of a large cohort referred for AIRE mutational analysis expands the spectrum of genetic abnormalities causing APS-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Treena Cranston
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Boon
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Mie K Olesen
- Academic Endocrine Unit, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fiona J Ryan
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Deborah Shears
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Rosemary London
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Hussam Rostom
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Taha Elajnaf
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rajesh V Thakker
- Academic Endocrine Unit, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Fadil M Hannan
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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7
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Shevyrev D, Tereshchenko V, Kozlov V, Sennikov S. Phylogeny, Structure, Functions, and Role of AIRE in the Formation of T-Cell Subsets. Cells 2022; 11:194. [PMID: 35053310 PMCID: PMC8773594 DOI: 10.3390/cells11020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that the most important feature of adaptive immunity is the specificity that provides highly precise recognition of the self, altered-self, and non-self. Due to the high specificity of antigen recognition, the adaptive immune system participates in the maintenance of genetic homeostasis, supports multicellularity, and protects an organism from different pathogens at a qualitatively different level than innate immunity. This seemingly simple property is based on millions of years of evolution that led to the formation of diversification mechanisms of antigen-recognizing receptors and later to the emergence of a system of presentation of the self and non-self antigens. The latter could have a crucial significance because the presentation of nearly complete diversity of auto-antigens in the thymus allows for the "calibration" of the forming repertoires of T-cells for the recognition of self, altered-self, and non-self antigens that are presented on the periphery. The central role in this process belongs to promiscuous gene expression by the thymic epithelial cells that express nearly the whole spectrum of proteins encoded in the genome, meanwhile maintaining their cellular identity. This complex mechanism requires strict control that is executed by several transcription factors. One of the most important of them is AIRE. This noncanonical transcription factor not only regulates the processes of differentiation and expression of peripheral tissue-specific antigens in the thymic medullar epithelial cells but also controls intercellular interactions in the thymus. Besides, it participates in an increase in the diversity and transfer of presented antigens and thus influences the formation of repertoires of maturing thymocytes. Due to these complex effects, AIRE is also called a transcriptional regulator. In this review, we briefly described the history of AIRE discovery, its structure, functions, and role in the formation of antigen-recognizing receptor repertoires, along with other transcription factors. We focused on the phylogenetic prerequisites for the development of modern adaptive immunity and emphasized the importance of the antigen presentation system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniil Shevyrev
- Research Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology (RIFCI), 630099 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.T.); (V.K.); (S.S.)
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8
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Kaiser C, Bradu A, Gamble N, Caldwell JA, Koh AS. AIRE in context: Leveraging chromatin plasticity to trigger ectopic gene expression. Immunol Rev 2022; 305:59-76. [PMID: 34545959 PMCID: PMC9250823 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13026] [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: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of antigen receptor diversity in clonotypic lymphocytes drove the evolution of a novel gene, Aire, that enabled the adaptive immune system to discriminate foreign invaders from self-constituents. AIRE functions in the epithelial cells of the thymus to express genes highly restricted to alternative cell lineages. This somatic plasticity facilitates the selection of a balanced repertoire of T cells that protects the host from harmful self-reactive clones, yet maintains a wide range of affinities for virtually any foreign antigen. Here, we review the latest understanding of AIRE's molecular actions with a focus on its interplay with chromatin. We argue that AIRE is a multi-valent chromatin effector that acts late in the transcription cycle to modulate the activity of previously poised non-coding regulatory elements of tissue-specific genes. We postulate a role for chromatin instability-caused in part by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling-that variably sets the scope of the accessible landscape on which AIRE can act. We highlight AIRE's intrinsic repressive function and its relevance in providing feedback control. We synthesize these recent advances into a putative model for the mechanistic modes by which AIRE triggers ectopic transcription for immune repertoire selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kaiser
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Alexandra Bradu
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Noah Gamble
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jason A. Caldwell
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew S. Koh
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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9
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Goldfarb Y, Givony T, Kadouri N, Dobeš J, Peligero-Cruz C, Zalayat I, Damari G, Dassa B, Ben-Dor S, Gruper Y, Oftedal BE, Bratland E, Erichsen MM, Berger A, Avin A, Nevo S, Haljasorg U, Kuperman Y, Ulman A, Haffner-Krausz R, Porat Z, Atasoy U, Leshkowitz D, Husebye ES, Abramson J. Mechanistic dissection of dominant AIRE mutations in mouse models reveals AIRE autoregulation. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20201076. [PMID: 34477806 PMCID: PMC8421262 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is essential for the establishment of central tolerance and prevention of autoimmunity. Interestingly, different AIRE mutations cause autoimmunity in either recessive or dominant-negative manners. Using engineered mouse models, we establish that some monoallelic mutants, including C311Y and C446G, cause breakdown of central tolerance. By using RNAseq, ATACseq, ChIPseq, and protein analyses, we dissect the underlying mechanisms for their dominancy. Specifically, we show that recessive mutations result in a lack of AIRE protein expression, while the dominant mutations in both PHD domains augment the expression of dysfunctional AIRE with altered capacity to bind chromatin and induce gene expression. Finally, we demonstrate that enhanced AIRE expression is partially due to increased chromatin accessibility of the AIRE proximal enhancer, which serves as a docking site for AIRE binding. Therefore, our data not only elucidate why some AIRE mutations are recessive while others dominant, but also identify an autoregulatory mechanism by which AIRE negatively modulates its own expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Givony
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Kadouri
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jan Dobeš
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Itay Zalayat
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Golda Damari
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bareket Dassa
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Gruper
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bergithe E. Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eirik Bratland
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Amund Berger
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ayelet Avin
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shir Nevo
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Uku Haljasorg
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yael Kuperman
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Adi Ulman
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ziv Porat
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ulus Atasoy
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Dena Leshkowitz
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eystein S. Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University and Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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10
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Huoh YS, Hur S. Death domain fold proteins in immune signaling and transcriptional regulation. FEBS J 2021; 289:4082-4097. [PMID: 33905163 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Death domain fold (DDF) superfamily comprises of the death domain (DD), death effector domain (DED), caspase activation recruitment domain (CARD), and pyrin domain (PYD). By utilizing a conserved mode of interaction involving six distinct surfaces, a DDF serves as a building block that can densely pack into homomultimers or filaments. Studies of immune signaling components have revealed that DDF-mediated filament formation plays a central role in mediating signal transduction and amplification. The unique ability of DDFs to self-oligomerize upon external signals and induce oligomerization of partner molecules underlies key processes in many innate immune signaling pathways, as exemplified by RIG-I-like receptor signalosome and inflammasome assembly. Recent studies showed that DDFs are not only limited to immune signaling pathways, but also are involved with transcriptional regulation and other biological processes. Considering that DDF annotation still remains a challenge, the current list of DDFs and their functions may represent just the tip of the iceberg within the full spectrum of DDF biology. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of DDF functions, structures, and assembly architectures with a focus on CARD- and PYD-containing proteins. We also discuss areas of future research and the potential relationship of DDFs with biomolecular condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-San Huoh
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Sun Hur
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA
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11
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Perniola R, Fierabracci A, Falorni A. Autoimmune Addison's Disease as Part of the Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1: Historical Overview and Current Evidence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:606860. [PMID: 33717087 PMCID: PMC7953157 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.606860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1) is caused by pathogenic variants of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, located in the chromosomal region 21q22.3. The related protein, AIRE, enhances thymic self-representation and immune self-tolerance by localization to chromatin and anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in the initiation and post-initiation events of tissue-specific antigen-encoding gene transcription. Once synthesized, the self-antigens are presented to, and cause deletion of, the self-reactive thymocyte clones. The clinical diagnosis of APS1 is based on the classic triad idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (HPT)—chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis—autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD), though new criteria based on early non-endocrine manifestations have been proposed. HPT is in most cases the first endocrine component of the syndrome; however, APS1-associated AAD has received the most accurate biochemical, clinical, and immunological characterization. Here is a comprehensive review of the studies on APS1-associated AAD from initial case reports to the most recent scientific findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics-Neonatal Intensive Care, V. Fazzi Hospital, ASL LE, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fierabracci
- Infectivology and Clinical Trials Research Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Falorni
- Section of Internal Medicine and Endocrinological and Metabolic Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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12
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Gao Y, Deason K, Jain A, Irizarry-Caro RA, Dozmorov I, Coughlin LA, Rauch I, Evers BM, Koh AY, Wakeland EK, Pasare C. Transcriptional profiling identifies caspase-1 as a T cell-intrinsic regulator of Th17 differentiation. J Exp Med 2020; 217:133631. [PMID: 31967646 PMCID: PMC7144520 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for the differentiation of pathogen-specific CD4 T cells. However, to what extent innate cues from DCs dictate transcriptional changes in T cells remains elusive. Here, we used DCs stimulated with specific pathogens to prime CD4 T cells in vitro and found that these T cells express unique transcriptional profiles dictated by the nature of the priming pathogen. More specifically, the transcriptome of in vitro C. rodentium–primed Th17 cells resembled that of Th17 cells primed following infection in vivo but was remarkably distinct from cytokine-polarized Th17 cells. We identified caspase-1 as a unique gene up-regulated only in pathogen-primed Th17 cells and discovered a critical role for T cell–intrinsic caspase-1, independent of inflammasome, in optimal priming of Th17 responses. T cells lacking caspase-1 failed to induce colitis or confer protection against C. rodentium infection due to suboptimal Th17 cell differentiation in vivo. This study underlines the importance of DC-mediated priming in identifying novel regulators of T cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Gao
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.,Immunology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Krystin Deason
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Aakanksha Jain
- Division of Immunobiology, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.,Immunology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Ricardo A Irizarry-Caro
- Division of Immunobiology, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.,Immunology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Igor Dozmorov
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Laura A Coughlin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Isabella Rauch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Bret M Evers
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Andrew Y Koh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.,Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Edward K Wakeland
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Chandrashekhar Pasare
- Division of Immunobiology, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
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13
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The Speckled Protein (SP) Family: Immunity's Chromatin Readers. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:572-585. [PMID: 32386862 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin 'readers' are central interpreters of the epigenome that facilitate cell-specific transcriptional programs and are therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammation. The Speckled Protein (SP) family of chromatin 'readers' in humans consists of SP100, SP110, SP140, and SP140L. SPs possess functional domains (SAND, PHD, bromodomain) that dock to DNA or post-translationally modified histones and a caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) to promote multimerization. Mutations within immune expressed SPs associate with numerous immunological diseases including Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, veno-occlusive disease with immunodeficiency, as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, underscoring their importance in immune regulation. In this review, we posit that SPs are central chromatin regulators of gene silencing that establish immune cell identity and function.
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14
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Huoh YS, Wu B, Park S, Yang D, Bansal K, Greenwald E, Wong WP, Mathis D, Hur S. Dual functions of Aire CARD multimerization in the transcriptional regulation of T cell tolerance. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1625. [PMID: 32242017 PMCID: PMC7118133 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregate-like biomolecular assemblies are emerging as new conformational states with functionality. Aire, a transcription factor essential for central T cell tolerance, forms large aggregate-like assemblies visualized as nuclear foci. Here we demonstrate that Aire utilizes its caspase activation recruitment domain (CARD) to form filamentous homo-multimers in vitro, and this assembly mediates foci formation and transcriptional activity. However, CARD-mediated multimerization also makes Aire susceptible to interaction with promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) bodies, sites of many nuclear processes including protein quality control of nuclear aggregates. Several loss-of-function Aire mutants, including those causing autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1, form foci with increased PML body association. Directing Aire to PML bodies impairs the transcriptional activity of Aire, while dispersing PML bodies with a viral antagonist restores this activity. Our study thus reveals a new regulatory role of PML bodies in Aire function, and highlights the interplay between nuclear aggregate-like assemblies and PML-mediated protein quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-San Huoh
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Sehoon Park
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Darren Yang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kushagra Bansal
- Department of Immunology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Molecular Biology & Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, 560 064, India
| | - Emily Greenwald
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wesley P Wong
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Diane Mathis
- Department of Immunology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sun Hur
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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15
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Zhao B, Chang L, Fu H, Sun G, Yang W. The Role of Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) in Peripheral Tolerance. J Immunol Res 2018; 2018:3930750. [PMID: 30255105 PMCID: PMC6142728 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3930750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE), whose gene mutation is considered to be a causative factor of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1), is an important transcriptional regulator. Studies on the role of AIRE in the central immune system have demonstrated that AIRE can eliminate autoreactive T cells by regulating the expression of a series of tissue specific antigens promiscuously in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and induce regulatory T cell (Treg) production to maintain central immune tolerance. However, the related research of AIRE in peripheral tolerance is few. In order to understand the current research progress on AIRE in peripheral tolerance, this review mainly focuses on the expression and distribution of AIRE in peripheral tissues and organs, and the role of AIRE in peripheral immune tolerance such as regulating Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and the maturation status of antigen presenting cells (APCs), inducing T cell tolerance and differentiation. This review will show us that AIRE also plays an indispensable role in the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Lu Chang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Haiying Fu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Guangyu Sun
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
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16
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Abstract
About two decades ago, cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene materialized one of the most important actors on the scene of self-tolerance. Thymic transcription of genes encoding tissue-specific antigens (ts-ags) is activated by AIRE protein and embodies the essence of thymic self-representation. Pathogenic AIRE variants cause the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, which is a rare and complex disease that is gaining attention in research on autoimmunity. The animal models of disease, although not identically reproducing the human picture, supply fundamental information on mechanisms and extent of AIRE action: thanks to its multidomain structure, AIRE localizes to chromatin enclosing the target genes, binds to histones, and offers an anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription. In addition, AIRE enhances mRNA diversity by favoring alternative mRNA splicing. Once synthesized, ts-ags are presented to, and cause deletion of the self-reactive thymocyte clones. However, AIRE function is not restricted to the activation of gene transcription. AIRE would control presentation and transfer of self-antigens for thymic cellular interplay: such mechanism is aimed at increasing the likelihood of engagement of the thymocytes that carry the corresponding T-cell receptors. Another fundamental role of AIRE in promoting self-tolerance is related to the development of thymocyte anergy, as thymic self-representation shapes at the same time the repertoire of regulatory T cells. Finally, AIRE seems to replicate its action in the secondary lymphoid organs, albeit the cell lineage detaining such property has not been fully characterized. Delineation of AIRE functions adds interesting data to the knowledge of the mechanisms of self-tolerance and introduces exciting perspectives of therapeutic interventions against the related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Vito Fazzi Regional Hospital, Lecce, Italy
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17
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The molecular basis of immune regulation in autoimmunity. Clin Sci (Lond) 2018; 132:43-67. [PMID: 29305419 DOI: 10.1042/cs20171154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases can be triggered and modulated by various molecular and cellular characteristics. The mechanisms of autoimmunity and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases have been investigated for several decades. It is well accepted that autoimmunity is caused by dysregulated/dysfunctional immune susceptible genes and environmental factors. There are multiple physiological mechanisms that regulate and control self-reactivity, but which can also lead to tolerance breakdown when in defect. The majority of autoreactive T or B cells are eliminated during the development of central tolerance by negative selection. Regulatory cells such as Tregs (regulatory T) and MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells), and molecules such as CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4) and IL (interleukin) 10 (IL-10), help to eliminate autoreactive cells that escaped to the periphery in order to prevent development of autoimmunity. Knowledge of the molecular basis of immune regulation is needed to further our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of loss of tolerance in autoimmune diseases and pave the way for the development of more effective, specific, and safer therapeutic interventions.
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18
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Zhu W, Hu Z, Liao X, Chen X, Huang W, Zhong Y, Zeng Z. A new mutation site in the AIRE gene causes autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1. Immunogenetics 2017; 69:643-651. [PMID: 28540407 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-017-0995-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1, OMIM 2403000) is a rare autosomal recessive disease that is caused by autoimmune regulator (AIRE). The main symptoms of APS-1 are chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, autoimmune adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's disease) and hypoparathyroidism. We collected APS-1 cases and analysed them. The AIRE genes of the patient and his family members were sequenced to identify whether the APS-1 patient had an AIRE mutation. We discovered a mutation site (c.206A>C) that had never before been reported in the AIRE gene located in exon 2 of the AIRE gene. This homogyzous mutation caused a substitution of the 69th amino acid of the AIRE protein from glutamine to proline (p.Q69P). A yeast two-hybrid assay, which was used to analyse the homodimerization properties of the mutant AIRE protein, showed that the mutant AIRE protein could not interact with the normal AIRE protein. Flow cytometry and RT-qPCR analyses indicated that the new mutation site could decrease the expression levels of the AIRE, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) and tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH1) proteins to affect central immune tolerance. In conclusion, our research has shown that the new mutation site (c.206A>C) may influence the homodimerization and expression levels and other aspects of the AIRE protein. It may also impact the expression levels of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs), leading to a series of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wufei Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China.
| | - Zhen Hu
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China
| | - Xiangyu Liao
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China
| | - Xing Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China
| | - Wenrong Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- Department of Endocrinology, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yi Ling Road 181, Yichang, 443003, China.
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19
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Selvaraj S, Oh JH, Spanel R, Länger F, Han HY, Lee EH, Yoon S, Borlak J. The pathogenesis of diclofenac induced immunoallergic hepatitis in a canine model of liver injury. Oncotarget 2017; 8:107763-107824. [PMID: 29296203 PMCID: PMC5746105 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is a common adverse drug reaction and may result in serious inflammatory reactions of the liver. To investigate mechanism of immunoallergic hepatitis beagle dogs were given 1 or 3 mg/kg/day (HD) oral diclofenac for 28 days. HD diclofenac treatment caused liver function test abnormalities, reduced haematocrit and haemoglobin but induced reticulocyte, WBC, platelet, neutrophil and eosinophil counts. Histopathology evidenced hepatic steatosis and glycogen depletion, apoptosis, acute lobular hepatitis, granulomas and mastocytosis. Whole genome scans revealed 663 significantly regulated genes of which 82, 47 and 25 code for stress, immune response and inflammation. Immunopathology confirmed strong induction of IgM, the complement factors C3&B, SAA, SERPING1 and others of the classical and alternate pathway. Alike, marked expression of CD205 and CD74 in Kupffer cells and lymphocytes facilitate antigen presentation and B-cell differentiation. The highly induced HIF1A and KLF6 protein expression in mast cells and macrophages sustain inflammation. Furthermore, immunogenomics discovered 24, 17, 6 and 11 significantly regulated marker genes to hallmark M1/M2 polarized macrophages, lymphocytic and granulocytic infiltrates; note, the latter was confirmed by CAE staining. Other highly regulated genes included alpha-2-macroglobulin, CRP, hepcidin, IL1R1, S100A8 and CCL20. Diclofenac treatment caused unprecedented induction of myeloperoxidase in macrophages and oxidative stress as shown by SOD1/SOD2 immunohistochemistry. Lastly, bioinformatics defined molecular circuits of inflammation and consisted of 161 regulated genes. Altogether, the mechanism of diclofenac induced liver hypersensitivity reactions involved oxidative stress, macrophage polarization, mastocytosis, complement activation and an erroneous programming of the innate and adaptive immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saravanakumar Selvaraj
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jung-Hwa Oh
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 34114 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Reinhard Spanel
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, 41747 Viersen, Germany
| | - Florian Länger
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hyoung-Yun Han
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 34114 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Hee Lee
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 34114 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokjoo Yoon
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 34114 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jürgen Borlak
- Centre for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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20
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Zaidi G, Bhatia V, Sahoo SK, Sarangi AN, Bharti N, Zhang L, Yu L, Eriksson D, Bensing S, Kämpe O, Bharani N, Yachha SK, Bhansali A, Sachan A, Jain V, Shah N, Aggarwal R, Aggarwal A, Srinivasan M, Agarwal S, Bhatia E. Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 in an Indian cohort: a longitudinal study. Endocr Connect 2017; 6:289-296. [PMID: 28446514 PMCID: PMC5510449 DOI: 10.1530/ec-17-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive organ-specific autoimmunity. There is scant information on APS1 in ethnic groups other than European Caucasians. We studied clinical aspects and autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene mutations in a cohort of Indian APS1 patients. DESIGN Twenty-three patients (19 families) from six referral centres in India, diagnosed between 1996 and 2016, were followed for [median (range)] 4 (0.2-19) years. METHODS Clinical features, mortality, organ-specific autoantibodies and AIRE gene mutations were studied. RESULTS Patients varied widely in their age of presentation [3.5 (0.1-17) years] and number of clinical manifestations [5 (2-11)]. Despite genetic heterogeneity, the frequencies of the major APS1 components (mucocutaneous candidiasis: 96%; hypoparathyroidism: 91%; primary adrenal insufficiency: 55%) were similar to reports in European series. In contrast, primary hypothyroidism (23%) occurred more frequently and at an early age, while kerato-conjunctivitis, urticarial rash and autoimmune hepatitis were uncommon (9% each). Six (26%) patients died at a young age [5.8 (3-23) years] due to septicaemia, hepatic failure and adrenal/hypocalcaemic crisis from non-compliance/unexplained cause. Interferon-α and/or interleukin-22 antibodies were elevated in all 19 patients tested, including an asymptomatic infant. Eleven AIRE mutations were detected, the most common being p.C322fsX372 (haplotype frequency 37%). Four mutations were novel, while six others were previously described in European Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS Indian APS1 patients exhibited considerable genetic heterogeneity and had highly variable clinical features. While the frequency of major manifestations was similar to that of European Caucasians, other features showed significant differences. A high mortality at a young age was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazala Zaidi
- Departments of EndocrinologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Vijayalakshmi Bhatia
- Departments of EndocrinologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Saroj K Sahoo
- Departments of EndocrinologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Aditya Narayan Sarangi
- Departments of GastroenterologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Niharika Bharti
- Departments of EndocrinologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of ImmunologyBarbara Davis Centre for Childhood Diabetes, Denver, USA
| | - Liping Yu
- Department of ImmunologyBarbara Davis Centre for Childhood Diabetes, Denver, USA
| | - Daniel Eriksson
- Department of Medicine (Solna)Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophie Bensing
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska Institutet, and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olle Kämpe
- Department of Medicine (Solna)Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life LaboratoryDepartment of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Nisha Bharani
- Department of EndocrinologyAmrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India
| | - Surendra Kumar Yachha
- Departments of Paediatric GastroenterologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Anil Bhansali
- Department of EndocrinologyPostgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Alok Sachan
- Department of EndocrinologySri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupathi, India
| | - Vandana Jain
- Department of PaediatricsAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Nalini Shah
- Department of EndocrinologyKing Edward Memorial Hospital, Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India
| | - Rakesh Aggarwal
- Departments of GastroenterologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Amita Aggarwal
- Departments of Clinical ImmunologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Muthuswamy Srinivasan
- Departments of Medical GeneticsSanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Sarita Agarwal
- Departments of Medical GeneticsSanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Eesh Bhatia
- Departments of EndocrinologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
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21
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Guha M, Saare M, Maslovskaja J, Kisand K, Liiv I, Haljasorg U, Tasa T, Metspalu A, Milani L, Peterson P. DNA breaks and chromatin structural changes enhance the transcription of autoimmune regulator target genes. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6542-6554. [PMID: 28242760 PMCID: PMC5399106 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.764704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein is the key factor in thymic negative selection of autoreactive T cells by promoting the ectopic expression of tissue-specific genes in the thymic medullary epithelium. Mutations in AIRE cause a monogenic autoimmune disease called autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy. AIRE has been shown to promote DNA breaks via its interaction with topoisomerase 2 (TOP2). In this study, we investigated topoisomerase-induced DNA breaks and chromatin structural alterations in conjunction with AIRE-dependent gene expression. Using RNA sequencing, we found that inhibition of TOP2 religation activity by etoposide in AIRE-expressing cells had a synergistic effect on genes with low expression levels. AIRE-mediated transcription was not only enhanced by TOP2 inhibition but also by the TOP1 inhibitor camptothecin. The transcriptional activation was associated with structural rearrangements in chromatin, notably the accumulation of γH2AX and the exchange of histone H1 with HMGB1 at AIRE target gene promoters. In addition, we found the transcriptional up-regulation to co-occur with the chromatin structural changes within the genomic cluster of carcinoembryonic antigen-like cellular adhesion molecule genes. Overall, our results suggest that the presence of AIRE can trigger molecular events leading to an altered chromatin landscape and the enhanced transcription of low-expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithu Guha
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine
| | - Mario Saare
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine
| | - Julia Maslovskaja
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine
| | - Kai Kisand
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine
| | - Ingrid Liiv
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine
| | - Uku Haljasorg
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine
| | | | - Andres Metspalu
- Estonian Genome Center, and
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | | | - Pärt Peterson
- From the Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine,
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22
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Celmeli F, Kocabas A, Isik IA, Parlak M, Kisand K, Ceylaner S, Turkkahraman D. Unexplained cyanosis caused by hepatopulmonary syndrome in a girl with APECED syndrome. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2017; 30:365-369. [PMID: 28222032 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2016-0276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy, candidiasis and ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare but devastating primary immunodeficiency disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene on chromosome 21q22.3. The clinical spectrum of the disease is characterized by a wide heterogeneity because of autoimmune reactions toward different endocrine and non-endocrine organs. Here, we report a 17-year-old Turkish girl diagnosed with APECED at 9 years in whom a novel homozygote mutation in AIRE gene p.R15H (c.44G>A) was found. In the clinical course of the patient, chronic liver disease due to autoimmune hepatitis has evolved resulting in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) which has not been reported before in patients with APECED.
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Bruserud Ø, Oftedal BE, Wolff AB, Husebye ES. AIRE-mutations and autoimmune disease. Curr Opin Immunol 2016; 43:8-15. [PMID: 27504588 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The gene causing the severe organ-specific autoimmune disease autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1 (APS-1) was identified in 1997 and named autoimmune regulator (AIRE). AIRE plays a key role in shaping central immunological tolerance by facilitating negative selection of T cells in the thymus, building the thymic microarchitecture, and inducing a specific subset of regulatory T cells. So far, about 100 mutations have been identified. Recent advances suggest that certain mutations located in the SAND and PHD1 domains exert a dominant negative effect on wild type AIRE resulting in milder seemingly common forms of autoimmune diseases, including pernicious anemia, vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disease. These findings indicate that AIRE also contribute to autoimmunity in more common organ-specific autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Øyvind Bruserud
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Bergithe E Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette B Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway.
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Sahoo SK, Zaidi G, Srivastava R, Sarangi AN, Bharti N, Eriksson D, Bensing S, Kämpe O, Aggarwal A, Aggarwal R, Bhatia E. Identification of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 in patients with isolated hypoparathyroidism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2016; 85:544-50. [PMID: 27219120 DOI: 10.1111/cen.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The prevalence of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) among isolated hypoparathyroidism (HP) or primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is not well established. We studied the frequency of APS1 in patients with HP or PAI by measuring interferon-α (IFN-α) antibody levels, a highly sensitive and specific marker for APS1. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS In a single-centre cross-sectional study, 37 Indian patients with isolated HP and 40 patients with PAI were tested for IFN-α antibody using an indirect ELISA. In patients with elevated IFN-α antibody, the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene was bidirectionally sequenced. RESULTS Three (8·1%) patients with isolated HP had elevated IFN-α antibody levels (range: 367-17382 units; positive titre >56 units). Homozygous or compound heterozygous AIRE mutations were detected in all three patients, including a novel mutation (p.T68P). All three APS1 patients had atypical features. The first patient, diagnosed at 7 years of age, died suddenly 5 months later. The second patient had late-onset HP (at the age of 34 years) and a solitary episode of transient mucocutaneous candidiasis 5 years later. The final patient developed HP at the age of 14 years and premature ovarian insufficiency 14 years later. Interleukin-22 antibodies, as well as most other organ-specific antibodies, were absent in the 3 APS1 patients. All patients with PAI were negative for IFN-α antibody. CONCLUSION Eight percentage of patients with isolated HP had elevated IFN-α antibody levels and AIRE mutation-positive APS1. All APS1 patients had atypical clinical features. Testing for IFN-α antibody should be considered in patients with idiopathic HP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroj K Sahoo
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Ghazala Zaidi
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Rajni Srivastava
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Aditya N Sarangi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Niharika Bharti
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Daniel Eriksson
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophie Bensing
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olle Kämpe
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amita Aggarwal
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Rakesh Aggarwal
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Eesh Bhatia
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
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Radhakrishnan K, Bhagya KP, Kumar AT, Devi AN, Sengottaiyan J, Kumar PG. Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) Is Expressed in Spermatogenic Cells, and It Altered the Expression of Several Nucleic-Acid-Binding and Cytoskeletal Proteins in Germ Cell 1 Spermatogonial (GC1-spg) Cells. Mol Cell Proteomics 2016; 15:2686-98. [PMID: 27281783 PMCID: PMC4974344 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.052951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a gene associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). AIRE is expressed heavily in the thymic epithelial cells and is involved in maintaining self-tolerance through regulating the expression of tissue-specific antigens. The testes are the most predominant extrathymic location where a heavy expression of AIRE is reported. Homozygous Aire-deficient male mice were infertile, possibly due to impaired spermatogenesis, deregulated germ cell apoptosis, or autoimmunity. We report that AIRE is expressed in the testes of neonatal, adolescent, and adult mice. AIRE expression was detected in glial cell derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha (GFRα)(+) (spermatogonia), GFRα(-)/synaptonemal complex protein (SCP3)(+) (meiotic), and GFRα(-)/Phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2)(+) (postmeiotic) germ cells in mouse testes. GC1-spg, a germ-cell-derived cell line, did not express AIRE. Retinoic acid induced AIRE expression in GC1-spg cells. Ectopic expression of AIRE in GC1-spg cells using label-free LC-MS/MS identified a total of 371 proteins that were differentially expressed. 100 proteins were up-regulated, and 271 proteins were down-regulated. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002511. Functional analysis of the differentially expressed proteins showed increased levels of various nucleic-acid-binding proteins and transcription factors and a decreased level of various cytoskeletal and structural proteins in the AIRE overexpressing cells as compared with the empty vector-transfected controls. The transcripts of a select set of the up-regulated proteins were also elevated. However, there was no corresponding decrease in the mRNA levels of the down-regulated set of proteins. Molecular function network analysis indicated that AIRE influenced gene expression in GC1-spg cells by acting at multiple levels, including transcription, translation, RNA processing, protein transport, protein localization, and protein degradation, thus setting the foundation in understanding the functional role of AIRE in germ cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthika Radhakrishnan
- From the §Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Kerala, India
| | - Kongattu P Bhagya
- From the §Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Kerala, India
| | - Anil Tr Kumar
- From the §Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Kerala, India
| | - Anandavalli N Devi
- From the §Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Kerala, India
| | - Jeeva Sengottaiyan
- From the §Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Kerala, India
| | - Pradeep G Kumar
- From the §Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Kerala, India
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Sparks AE, Chen C, Breslin MB, Lan MS. Functional Domains of Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) Modulate INS-VNTR Transcription in Human Thymic Epithelial Cells. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:11313-22. [PMID: 27048654 PMCID: PMC4900276 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.722488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INS-VNTR (insulin-variable number of tandem repeats) and AIRE (autoimmune regulator) have been associated with the modulation of insulin gene expression in thymus, which is essential to induce either insulin tolerance or the development of insulin autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. We sought to analyze whether each functional domain of AIRE is critical for the activation of INS-VNTR in human thymic epithelial cells. Twelve missense or nonsense mutations in AIRE and two chimeric AIRE constructs were generated. A luciferase reporter assay and a pulldown assay using biotinylated INS-class I VNTR probe were performed to examine the transactivation and binding activities of WT, mutant, and chimeric AIREs on the INS-VNTR promoter. Confocal microscopy analysis was performed for WT or mutant AIRE cellular localization. We found that all of the AIRE mutations resulted in loss of transcriptional activation of INS-VNTR except mutant P252L. Using WT/mutant AIRE heterozygous forms to modulate the INS-VNTR target revealed five mutations (R257X, G228W, C311fsX376, L397fsX478, and R433fsX502) that functioned in a dominant negative fashion. The LXXLL-3 motif is identified for the first time to be essential for DNA binding to INS-VNTR, whereas the intact PHD1, PHD2, LXXLL-3, and LXXLL-4 motifs were important for successful transcriptional activation. AIRE nuclear localization in the human thymic epithelial cell line was disrupted by mutations in the homogenously staining region domain and the R257X mutation in the PHD1 domain. This study supports the notion that AIRE mutation could specifically affect human insulin gene expression in thymic epithelial cells through INS-VNTR and subsequently induce either insulin tolerance or autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avis E Sparks
- From the Research Institute for Children, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 and
| | - Chiachen Chen
- From the Research Institute for Children, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 and
| | - Mary B Breslin
- From the Research Institute for Children, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 and
| | - Michael S Lan
- From the Research Institute for Children, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 and the Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
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Abramson J, Husebye ES. Autoimmune regulator and self-tolerance - molecular and clinical aspects. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:127-40. [PMID: 27088911 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The establishment of central tolerance in the thymus is critical for avoiding deleterious autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune regulator (AIRE), the causative gene in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1 (APS-1), is crucial for the establishment of self-tolerance in the thymus by promoting promiscuous expression of a wide array of tissue-restricted self-antigens. This step is critical for elimination of high-affinity self-reactive T cells from the immunological repertoire, and for the induction of a specific subset of Foxp3(+) T-regulatory (Treg ) cells. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of how AIRE operates on molecular and cellular levels, as well as of how its loss of function results in breakdown of self-tolerance mechanisms characterized by a broad and heterogeneous repertoire of autoimmune phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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28
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Abramson J, Goldfarb Y. AIRE: From promiscuous molecular partnerships to promiscuous gene expression. Eur J Immunol 2016; 46:22-33. [PMID: 26450177 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a unique transcriptional regulator that induces promiscuous expression of thousands of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), a step critical for the induction of immunological self-tolerance. The past 15 years have seen dramatic progress in our understanding of how AIRE induces immunological self-tolerance on a molecular level. This major advancement can be greatly attributed to the identification of a large variety of proteins that physically associate with AIRE, supporting and regulating its transcription-transactivation capacity. These diverse molecular partnerships have been shown to play roles in shuttling AIRE to the nucleus, securing AIRE's interaction with nuclear matrix and chromatin, releasing RNA polymerase-II from its stalled state and potentiating AIRE-mediated gene expression, among others. In this review we discuss the relationship of AIRE with its vast and rather diverse repertoire of partners and highlight how such "promiscuous partnerships" contribute to the phenomenon of "promiscuous gene expression" in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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29
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Maslovskaja J, Saare M, Liiv I, Rebane A, Peterson P. Extended HSR/CARD domain mediates AIRE binding to DNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 468:913-20. [PMID: 26607109 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) activates the transcription of many genes in an unusual promiscuous and stochastic manner. The mechanism by which AIRE binds to the chromatin and DNA is not fully understood, and the regulatory elements that AIRE target genes possess are not delineated. In the current study, we demonstrate that AIRE activates the expression of transiently transfected luciferase reporters that lack defined promoter regions, as well as intron and poly(A) signal sequences. Our protein-DNA interaction experiments with mutated AIRE reveal that the intact homogeneously staining region/caspase recruitment domain (HSR/CARD) and amino acids R113 and K114 are key elements involved in AIRE binding to DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Maslovskaja
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, 50411, Estonia.
| | - Mario Saare
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, 50411, Estonia
| | - Ingrid Liiv
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, 50411, Estonia
| | - Ana Rebane
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, 50411, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, 50411, Estonia
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30
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Yoshida H, Bansal K, Schaefer U, Chapman T, Rioja I, Proekt I, Anderson MS, Prinjha RK, Tarakhovsky A, Benoist C, Mathis D. Brd4 bridges the transcriptional regulators, Aire and P-TEFb, to promote elongation of peripheral-tissue antigen transcripts in thymic stromal cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E4448-57. [PMID: 26216992 PMCID: PMC4538633 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1512081112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aire controls immunologic tolerance by inducing a battery of thymic transcripts encoding proteins characteristic of peripheral tissues. Its unusually broad effect is achieved by releasing RNA polymerase II paused just downstream of transcriptional start sites. We explored Aire's collaboration with the bromodomain-containing protein, Brd4, uncovering an astonishing correspondence between those genes induced by Aire and those inhibited by a small-molecule bromodomain blocker. Aire:Brd4 binding depended on an orchestrated series of posttranslational modifications within Aire's caspase activation and recruitment domain. This interaction attracted P-TEFb, thereby mobilizing downstream transcriptional elongation and splicing machineries. Aire:Brd4 association was critical for tolerance induction, and its disruption could account for certain point mutations that provoke human autoimmune disease. Our findings evoke the possibility of unanticipated immunologic mechanisms subtending the potent antitumor effects of bromodomain blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Yoshida
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Kushagra Bansal
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Uwe Schaefer
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Epigenetics and Signaling, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Trevor Chapman
- Epinova Discovery Performance Unit, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Inmaculada Rioja
- Epinova Discovery Performance Unit, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Irina Proekt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Rab K Prinjha
- Epinova Discovery Performance Unit, Immuno-Inflammation Therapy Area, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Tarakhovsky
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Epigenetics and Signaling, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Christophe Benoist
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Diane Mathis
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
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Kisand K, Peterson P. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy. J Clin Immunol 2015; 35:463-78. [PMID: 26141571 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-015-0176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. This review focuses on the clinical and immunological features of APECED, summarizes the current knowledge on the function of AIRE and discusses the importance of autoantibodies in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Additionally, we review the outcome of recent immunomodulatory treatments in APECED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Str., Tartu, EE50411, Estonia,
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32
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Oftedal BE, Hellesen A, Erichsen MM, Bratland E, Vardi A, Perheentupa J, Kemp EH, Fiskerstrand T, Viken MK, Weetman AP, Fleishman SJ, Banka S, Newman WG, Sewell WAC, Sozaeva LS, Zayats T, Haugarvoll K, Orlova EM, Haavik J, Johansson S, Knappskog PM, Løvås K, Wolff ASB, Abramson J, Husebye ES. Dominant Mutations in the Autoimmune Regulator AIRE Are Associated with Common Organ-Specific Autoimmune Diseases. Immunity 2015; 42:1185-96. [PMID: 26084028 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene is crucial for establishing central immunological tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. Mutations in AIRE cause a rare autosomal-recessive disease, autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1), distinguished by multi-organ autoimmunity. We have identified multiple cases and families with mono-allelic mutations in the first plant homeodomain (PHD1) zinc finger of AIRE that followed dominant inheritance, typically characterized by later onset, milder phenotypes, and reduced penetrance compared to classical APS-1. These missense PHD1 mutations suppressed gene expression driven by wild-type AIRE in a dominant-negative manner, unlike CARD or truncated AIRE mutants that lacked such dominant capacity. Exome array analysis revealed that the PHD1 dominant mutants were found with relatively high frequency (>0.0008) in mixed populations. Our results provide insight into the molecular action of AIRE and demonstrate that disease-causing mutations in the AIRE locus are more common than previously appreciated and cause more variable autoimmune phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bergithe E Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Alexander Hellesen
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Martina M Erichsen
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Eirik Bratland
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ayelet Vardi
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jaakko Perheentupa
- Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - E Helen Kemp
- Department of Human Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Torunn Fiskerstrand
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Marte K Viken
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Anthony P Weetman
- Department of Human Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Sarel J Fleishman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Siddharth Banka
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - William G Newman
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - W A C Sewell
- Path Links Immunology, Scunthorpe General Hospital, Scunthorpe DN15 7BH, UK
| | - Leila S Sozaeva
- Endocrinological Research Center, Institute of Pediatric Endocrinology, Moscow 117036, Russian Federation
| | - Tetyana Zayats
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Elizaveta M Orlova
- Endocrinological Research Center, Institute of Pediatric Endocrinology, Moscow 117036, Russian Federation
| | - Jan Haavik
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Stefan Johansson
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Per M Knappskog
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Kristian Løvås
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette S B Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway.
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Incani F, Serra ML, Meloni A, Cossu C, Saba L, Cabras T, Messana I, Rosatelli MC. AIRE acetylation and deacetylation: effect on protein stability and transactivation activity. J Biomed Sci 2014; 21:85. [PMID: 25158603 PMCID: PMC4256887 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-014-0085-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The AIRE protein plays a remarkable role as a regulator of central tolerance by controlling the promiscuous expression of tissue-specific antigens in thymic medullary epithelial cells. Defects in AIRE gene cause the autoimmune polyendocrinopathy- candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy, a rare disease frequent in Iranian Jews, Finns, and Sardinian population. RESULTS In this study, we have precisely mapped, by mass spectrometry experiments, the sites of protein acetylation and, by mutagenesis assays, we have described a set of acetylated lysines as being crucial in influencing the subcellular localization of AIRE. Furthermore, we have also determined that the de-acetyltransferase enzymes HDAC1-2 are involved in the lysine de-acetylation of AIRE. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of our results and those reported in literature, we propose a model in which lysines acetylation increases the stability of AIRE in the nucleus. In addition, we observed that the interaction of AIRE with deacetylases complexes inhibits its transcriptional activity and is probably responsible for the instability of AIRE, which becomes more susceptible to degradation in the proteasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Incani
- />Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Unità di Ricerca di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, via Jenner s/n, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Serra
- />Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Unità di Ricerca di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, via Jenner s/n, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Meloni
- />Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Carla Cossu
- />Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Unità di Ricerca di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, via Jenner s/n, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luisella Saba
- />Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Unità di Ricerca di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, via Jenner s/n, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Tiziana Cabras
- />Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Irene Messana
- />Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Rosatelli
- />Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Unità di Ricerca di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, via Jenner s/n, Cagliari, Italy
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Perniola R, Musco G. The biophysical and biochemical properties of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2014; 1842:326-37. [PMID: 24275490 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
AIRE (for autoimmune regulator) is a multidomain protein that performs a fundamental function in the thymus and possibly in the secondary lymphoid organs: the regulation, especially in the sense of activation, of the process of gene transcription in cell lines deputed to the presentation of self-antigens to the maturing T lymphocytes. The apoptosis of the elements bearing T-cell receptors with critical affinity for the exhibited self-antigens prevents the escape of autoreactive clones and represents a simple and efficient mechanism of deletional self-tolerance. However, AIRE action relies on an articulated complex of biophysical and biochemical properties, in most cases attributable to single subspecialized domains. Here a thorough review of the matter is presented, with a privileged look at the pathogenic changes of AIRE that interfere with such properties and lead to the impairment in its chief function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics - Neonatal Intensive Care, V. Fazzi Regional Hospital, Piazza F. Muratore, I-73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Musco
- Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, Center of Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, Dulbecco Telethon Institute at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, I-20132, Milan, Italy.
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35
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De Martino L, Capalbo D, Improda N, D'Elia F, Di Mase R, D'Assante R, D'Acunzo I, Pignata C, Salerno M. APECED: A Paradigm of Complex Interactions between Genetic Background and Susceptibility Factors. Front Immunol 2013; 4:331. [PMID: 24167503 PMCID: PMC3805967 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare autosomal recessive disease, caused by mutations of a single gene named Autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) which results in a failure of T-cell tolerance. Central tolerance takes place within the thymus and represents the mechanism by which potentially auto-reactive T-cells are eliminated through the negative selection process. The expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) in the thymus is a key process in the central tolerance and is driven by the protein encoded by AIRE gene, the transcription factor autoimmune regulator (AIRE). A failure in this process caused by AIRE mutations is thought to be responsible of the systemic autoimmune reactions of APECED. APECED is characterized by several autoimmune endocrine and non-endocrine manifestations and the phenotype is often complex. Although APECED is the paradigm of a monogenic autoimmune disorder, it is characterized by a wide variability of the clinical expression even between siblings with the same genotype, thus implying that additional mechanisms, other than the failure of Aire function, are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Unraveling open issues of the molecular basis of APECED, will help improve diagnosis, management, and therapeutical strategies of this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia De Martino
- Pediatric Section, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, "Federico II" University , Naples , Italy
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36
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Shi Y, Zhu M. Medullary thymic epithelial cells, the indispensable player in central tolerance. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2013; 56:392-8. [PMID: 23633070 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-013-4482-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Crosstalk between thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells is critical for T cell development and the establishment of central tolerance. Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) play important roles in the late stage of T cell development, especially negative selection and Treg generation. The function of mTECs is highly dependent on their characteristic features such as ectopic expression of peripheral tissue restricted antigens (TRAs) and their master regulator-autoimmune regulator (Aire), expression of various chemokines and cytokines. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of mTEC development and its functions in T cell development and the establishment of central tolerance. The open questions in this field are also discussed. Understanding the function and underlying mechanisms of mTECs will contribute to the better control of autoimmune diseases and the improvement of immune reconstitution during aging or after infection, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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37
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Zumer K, Saksela K, Peterlin BM. The mechanism of tissue-restricted antigen gene expression by AIRE. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2013; 190:2479-82. [PMID: 23456700 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1203210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator is a critical transcription factor for generating central tolerance in the thymus. Recent studies have revealed how the autoimmune regulator targets many otherwise tissue-restricted Ag genes to enable negative selection of autoreactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Zumer
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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38
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Gallo V, Giardino G, Capalbo D, Palamaro L, Romano R, Santamaria F, Maio F, Salerno M, Vajro P, Pignata C. Alterations of the autoimmune regulator transcription factor and failure of central tolerance: APECED as a model. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2013; 9:43-51. [PMID: 23256763 DOI: 10.1586/eci.12.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Self-nonself discrimination plays a key role in inducing a productive immunity and in preventing autoimmune reactions. Central tolerance within the thymus and peripheral tolerance in peripheral lymphoid organs lead to immunologic nonresponsiveness against self-components. The central tolerance represents the mechanism by which T cells binding with high avidity to self-antigens are eliminated through the so-called negative selection. Thymic medullary epithelial cells and medullary dendritic cells play a key role in this process, through the expression of a large number of tissue-specific self-antigens involving the transcription factor autoimmune regulator (AIRE). Mutations of AIRE result in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy, a rare autosomal recessive disease (OMIM 240300), which is the paradigm of a genetically determined failure of central tolerance and autoimmunity. This review focuses on recent advances in the molecular mechanisms of central tolerance, their alterations and clinical implication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Gallo
- Department of Pediatrics, Federico II University, S Pansini 5, 8013 Naples, Italy
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Capalbo D, Giardino G, Martino LD, Palamaro L, Romano R, Gallo V, Cirillo E, Salerno M, Pignata C. Genetic basis of altered central tolerance and autoimmune diseases: a lesson from AIRE mutations. Int Rev Immunol 2012; 31:344-62. [PMID: 23083345 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2012.697230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is a specialized organ that provides an inductive environment for the development of T cells from multipotent hematopoietic progenitors. Self-nonself discrimination plays a key role in inducing a productive immunity and in preventing autoimmune reactions. Tolerance represents a state of immunologic nonresponsiveness in the presence of a particular antigen. The immune system becomes tolerant to self-antigens through the two main processes, central and peripheral tolerance. Central tolerance takes place within the thymus and represents the mechanism by which T cells binding with high avidity self-antigens, which are potentially autoreactive, are eliminated through so-called negative selection. This process is mostly mediated by medullary thymic epithelia cells (mTECs) and medullary dendritic cells (DCs). A remarkable event in the process is the expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSA) by mTECs driven by the transcription factor autoimmune regulator (AIRE). Mutations in this gene result in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), a rare autosomal recessive disease (OMIM 240300). Thus far, this syndrome is the paradigm of a genetically determined failure of central tolerance and autoimmunty. Patients with APECED have a variable pattern of autoimmune reactions, involving different endocrine and nonendocrine organs. However, although APECED is a monogenic disorder, it is characterized by a wide variability of the clinical expression, thus implying a further role for disease-modifying genes and environmental factors in the pathogenesis. Studies on this polyreactive autoimmune syndrome contributed enormously to unraveling several issues of the molecular basis of autoimmunity. This review focuses on the developmental, functional, and molecular events governing central tolerance and on the clinical implication of its failure.
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40
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Saare M, Rebane A, Rajashekar B, Vilo J, Peterson P. Autoimmune regulator is acetylated by transcription coactivator CBP/p300. Exp Cell Res 2012; 318:1767-78. [PMID: 22659170 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) is a regulator of transcription in the thymic medulla, where it controls the expression of a large set of peripheral-tissue specific genes. AIRE interacts with the transcriptional coactivator and acetyltransferase CBP and synergistically cooperates with it in transcriptional activation. Here, we aimed to study a possible role of AIRE acetylation in the modulation of its activity. We found that AIRE is acetylated in tissue culture cells and this acetylation is enhanced by overexpression of CBP and the CBP paralog p300. The acetylated lysines were located within nuclear localization signal and SAND domain. AIRE with mutations that mimicked acetylated K243 and K253 in the SAND domain had reduced transactivation activity and accumulated into fewer and larger nuclear bodies, whereas mutations that mimicked the unacetylated lysines were functionally similar to wild-type AIRE. Analogously to CBP, p300 localized to AIRE-containing nuclear bodies, however, the overexpression of p300 did not enhance the transcriptional activation of AIRE-regulated genes. Further studies showed that overexpression of p300 stabilized the AIRE protein. Interestingly, gene expression profiling revealed that AIRE, with mutations mimicking K243/K253 acetylation in SAND, was able to activate gene expression, although the affected genes were different and the activation level was lower from those regulated by wild-type AIRE. Our results suggest that the AIRE acetylation can influence the selection of AIRE activated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Saare
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of General and Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, 19th Ravila Str, Tartu, Estonia.
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41
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Liiv I, Haljasorg U, Kisand K, Maslovskaja J, Laan M, Peterson P. AIRE-induced apoptosis is associated with nuclear translocation of stress sensor protein GAPDH. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 423:32-7. [PMID: 22613203 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
AIRE (Autoimmune Regulator) has a central role in the transcriptional regulation of self-antigens in medullary thymic epithelial cells, which is necessary for negative selection of autoreactive T cells. Recent data have shown that AIRE can also induce apoptosis, which may be linked to cross-presentation of these self-antigens. Here we studied AIRE-induced apoptosis using AIRE over-expression in a thymic epithelial cell line as well as doxycycline-inducible HEK293 cells. We show that the HSR/CARD domain in AIRE together with a nuclear localization signal is sufficient to induce apoptosis. In the nuclei of AIRE-positive cells, we also found an increased accumulation of a glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAPDH) reflecting cellular stress and apoptosis. Additionally, AIRE-induced apoptosis was inhibited with an anti-apoptotic agent deprenyl that blocks GAPDH nitrosylation and nuclear translocation. We propose that the AIRE-induced apoptosis pathway is associated with GAPDH nuclear translocation and induction of NO-induced cellular stress in AIRE-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Liiv
- Molecular Pathology, Institute of General and Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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Wu J, Zhu W, Fu H, Zhang Y, Sun J, Yang W, Li Y. DNA-PKcs interacts with Aire and regulates the expression of toll-like receptors in RAW264.7 cells. Scand J Immunol 2012; 75:479-88. [PMID: 22239103 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2012.02682.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (Aire) is a key mediator of the central tolerance for peripheral tissue self-antigen (PTAs) and is involved in the transcriptional control of many antigens in thymic medullary epithelial cells (mTECs). However, the function of Aire in peripheral lymphoid tissues and haematopoietic cells, particularly in monocytes and macrophages, remains poorly understood. We previously found that the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 1, TLR3 and TLR8 was notably upregulated in pEGFPC1/Aire stably transfected RAW264.7 (GFP-Aire/RAW) cells, while the expressions of other TLRs were not significantly changed. The mechanism by which Aire affects TLR1, TLR3 and TLR8 expression is not clear. Interactions with other proteins, such as DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), are crucial for regulating the transcriptional activity of Aire. In this study, we found that Aire and DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) were co-located in the nucleus of GFP-Aire/RAW cells, and they interact with each other. Small interfering RNA knock-down of DNA-PKcs in these cells decreased the expression of TLR1, TLR3 and TLR8, but no change was observed in pEGFPC1 stably transfected RAW264.7 (GFP/RAW) cells. We did not observe any change in the expressions of other TLRs after DNA-PKcs knock-down in GFP-Aire/RAW or GFP/RAW cells. A similar observation has been made in pEGFPC1/Aire or pEGFPC1 transiently transfected primary peritoneal macrophages. Using a luciferase activity assay, we found the that the transcriptional activity of TLR1, TLR3 and TLR8 promoters was also decreased after knock-down of DNA-PKcs in GFP-Aire/RAW cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that DNA-PKcs may interact with Aire to promote the expression of TLRs in RAW264.7 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wu
- Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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43
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Capalbo D, Mazza C, Giordano R, Improda N, Arvat E, Cervato S, Morlin L, Pignata C, Betterle C, Salerno M. Molecular background and genotype-phenotype correlation in autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal-distrophy patients from Campania and in their relatives. J Endocrinol Invest 2012; 35:169-73. [PMID: 21508664 DOI: 10.3275/7677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis- ectodermal-distrophy (APECED) is a recessive disease, caused by mutations in the AutoImmune REgulator (AIRE) gene. Different mutations are peculiar of particular populations. In Italy, 3 hot spots areas where APECED shows an increased prevalence, have been identified in Sardinia, Apulia, and in the Venetian region. AIM In this study, we analyzed AIRE mutations and genotype-phenotype correlation in APECED patients originating from Campania and in their relatives. PATIENTS AND METHODS In 6 patients affected with APECED clinical findings, genetic analysis of AIRE, and APECED-related autoantibodies were performed. RESULTS All patients carried at least 1 mutation on exon 1 or on splice-site flanking exon 1. Two siblings carried a complex homozygous mutation [IVS1 + 1G>C; IVS1 + 5delG] on intron 1; 2 patients were compound heterozygous for [T16M]+[W78R] (exons 1+2); 1 patient was compound heterozygous for [A21V]+[C322fs] (exons 1+8) and another was homozygous for [T16M]+[T16M] on exon 1. Expression of the disease showed wide variability while circulating autoantibodies paralleled to phenotype in each patient. Analysis of relatives allowed the identification of 8 heterozygotes. None of heterozygous subjects presented major findings of APECED. CONCLUSIONS Mutations localized on exon 1 and the region flanking exon 1 are common in APECED patients originating from Campania. Genotype-phenotype correlation failed to reveal a relationship between detected mutations and clinical expression. Mutations in heterozygosis in AIRE gene are not associated to major findings of APECED.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Capalbo
- Department of Pediatrics, University "Federico II" of Naples, Italy
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44
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Pedroza LA, Kumar V, Sanborn KB, Mace EM, Niinikoski H, Nadeau K, Vasconcelos DDM, Perez E, Jyonouchi S, Jyonouchi H, Banerjee PP, Ruuskanen O, Condino-Neto A, Orange JS. Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) contributes to Dectin-1-induced TNF-α production and complexes with caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9), spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), and Dectin-1. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129:464-72, 472.e1-3. [PMID: 21962774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Revised: 08/06/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) syndrome is a complex immunologic disease caused by mutation of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Autoimmunity in patients with APECED syndrome has been shown to result from deficiency of AIRE function in transcriptional regulation of thymic peripheral tissue antigens, which leads to defective T-cell negative selection. Candidal susceptibility in patients with APECED syndrome is thought to result from aberrant adaptive immunity. OBJECTIVE To determine whether AIRE could function in anticandidal innate immune signaling, we investigated an extrathymic role for AIRE in the immune recognition of β-glucan through the Dectin-1 pathway, which is required for defense against Candida species. METHODS Innate immune signaling through the Dectin-1 pathway was assessed in both PBMCs from patients with APECED syndrome and a monocytic cell line. Subcellular localization of AIRE was assessed by using confocal microscopy. RESULTS PBMCs from patients with APECED syndrome had reduced TNF-α responses after Dectin-1 ligation but in part used a Raf-1-mediated pathway to preserve function. In the THP-1 human monocytic cell line, reducing AIRE expression resulted in significantly decreased TNF-α release after Dectin-1 ligation. AIRE formed a transient complex with the known Dectin-1 pathway components phosphorylated spleen tyrosine kinase and caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 after receptor ligation and localized with Dectin-1 at the cell membrane. CONCLUSION AIRE can participate in the Dectin-1 signaling pathway, indicating a novel extrathymic role for AIRE and a defect that likely contributes to fungal susceptibility in patients with APECED syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Pedroza
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, University of Campinas Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
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45
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Weiler FG, Dias-da-Silva MR, Lazaretti-Castro M. Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1: case report and review of literature. ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE ENDOCRINOLOGIA E METABOLOGIA 2012; 56:54-66. [PMID: 22460196 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-27302012000100009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APECED) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by autoimmune multiorgan attack. The disease is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE), resulting in defective AIRE protein, which is essential for selftolerance. Clinical manifestations are widely variable. Although the classic triad is composed by mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and adrenal failure, many other components may develop. Treatment is based on supplementation of the various deficiencies, and patients require regular follow-up throughout their lifespan. This article describes the case of a patient with the disease, and reviews literature data on the epidemiology, clinical course, immunogenetic aspects, diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Guimarães Weiler
- Bone and Mineral Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
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46
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Kisand K, Peterson P. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy: known and novel aspects of the syndrome. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2012; 1246:77-91. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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47
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Brahmaraju M, Bhagya KP, Titus S, Sebastian A, Devi AN, Laloraya M, Kumar PG. AIRE1A might be involved in cyclin B2 degradation in testicular lysates. Biochem Cell Biol 2011; 89:411-22. [PMID: 21819345 DOI: 10.1139/o11-029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator gene Aire shows predominant expression in thymus and other immunologically relevant tissues, and is assigned the major function of programming autoreactive T-cell deletion. However, the expression of this gene in tissues outside the immune system raises a question about its possible function beyond the T-cell deletion dogma. We detected Aire in mouse testis, and the expression of AIRE protein was remarkably high in postmeiotic germ cells. Sequencing results indicate that testis expressed Aire variant 1a. AIRE could be detected in spermatozoa, with heavy localization on the principal acrosomal domains. Mouse oocytes stained negatively for AIRE before fertilization, but stained positively for AIRE 30 min after fertilization. In the zygote, the levels of AIRE correlated negatively with cyclin B2 levels. Goat testicular lysates spiked with recombinant human AIRE exhibited augmented cyclin B2 degradation in the presence of protease inhibitors, which was inhibited by MG-132, indicating the operation of proteasomal pathways. Thus, this study identifies a correlation between the presence of AIRE and proteasomal breakdown of cyclin B2, which leads us to speculate that cyclin B2 could be a target of AIRE's E3-ubiquitin ligase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Brahmaraju
- Division of Molecular Reproduction, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
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Worth CL, Preissner R, Blundell TL. SDM--a server for predicting effects of mutations on protein stability and malfunction. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:W215-22. [PMID: 21593128 PMCID: PMC3125769 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 387] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The sheer volume of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms that have been generated in recent years from projects such as the Human Genome Project, the HapMap Project and Genome-Wide Association Studies means that it is not possible to characterize all mutations experimentally on the gene products, i.e. elucidate the effects of mutations on protein structure and function. However, automatic methods that can predict the effects of mutations will allow a reduced set of mutations to be studied. Site Directed Mutator (SDM) is a statistical potential energy function that uses environment-specific amino-acid substitution frequencies within homologous protein families to calculate a stability score, which is analogous to the free energy difference between the wild-type and mutant protein. Here, we present a web server for SDM (http://www-cryst.bioc.cam.ac.uk/~sdm/sdm.php), which has obtained more than 10 000 submissions since being online in April 2008. To run SDM, users must upload a wild-type structure and the position and amino acid type of the mutation. The results returned include information about the local structural environment of the wild-type and mutant residues, a stability score prediction and prediction of disease association. Additionally, the wild-type and mutant structures are displayed in a Jmol applet with the relevant residues highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine L Worth
- Biochemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
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49
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Abstract
The negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes depends on the expression of tissue-specific antigens by medullary thymic epithelial cells. The autoimmune regulator (Aire) protein plays an important role in turning on these antigens, and the absence of even one Aire-induced tissue-specific antigen in the thymus can lead to autoimmunity in the antigen-expressing target organ. Recently, Aire protein has been detected in peripheral lymphoid organs, suggesting that peripheral Aire plays a complementary role here. In these peripheral sites, Aire was found to regulate the expression of a group of tissue-specific antigens that is distinct from those expressed in the thymus. Furthermore, transgenic antigen expression in extrathymic Aire-expressing cells (eTACs) can mediate deletional tolerance, but the immunological relevance of Aire-dependent, endogenous tissue-specific antigens remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd C Metzger
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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50
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Kumar V, Pedroza LA, Mace EM, Seeholzer S, Cotsarelis G, Condino-Neto A, Payne AS, Orange JS. The autoimmune regulator (AIRE), which is defective in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy patients, is expressed in human epidermal and follicular keratinocytes and associates with the intermediate filament protein cytokeratin 17. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2011; 178:983-8. [PMID: 21356351 PMCID: PMC3069874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2010.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2010] [Revised: 11/02/2010] [Accepted: 12/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) syndrome, which is caused by mutation of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, is a highly variable disease characterized by multiple endocrine failure, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, and various ectodermal defects. AIRE is a transcriptional regulator classically expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Previous studies have suggested that AIRE can shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells, although its cytoplasmic functions are poorly characterized. Through mass spectrometry analysis of proteins co-immunoprecipitating with cytoplasmic AIRE, we identified a novel association of AIRE with the intermediate filament protein cytokeratin 17 (K17) in the THP-1 monocyte cell line. We confirmed AIRE expression in HaCaT epidermal keratinocytes, as well as its interaction with K17. Confocal microscopy of human fetal and adult scalp hair follicles demonstrated a cytoplasmic pattern of AIRE staining that moderately colocalized with K17. The cytoplasmic association of AIRE with the intermediate filament network in human epidermal and follicular keratinocytes may provide a new path to understanding the ectodermal abnormalities associated with the APECED syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Kumar
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Luis A. Pedroza
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Campinas State University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Emily M. Mace
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Steven Seeholzer
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - George Cotsarelis
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Antonio Condino-Neto
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aimee S. Payne
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jordan S. Orange
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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