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Dirks J, Fischer J, Klaussner J, Hofmann C, Holl-Wieden A, Buck V, Klemann C, Girschick HJ, Caruana I, Erhard F, Morbach H. Disease-specific T cell receptors maintain pathogenic T helper cell responses in postinfectious Lyme arthritis. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e179391. [PMID: 38963700 PMCID: PMC11364382 DOI: 10.1172/jci179391] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDAntibiotic-Refractory Lyme Arthritis (ARLA) involves a complex interplay of T cell responses targeting Borrelia burgdorferi antigens progressing toward autoantigens by epitope spreading. However, the precise molecular mechanisms driving the pathogenic T cell response in ARLA remain unclear. Our aim was to elucidate the molecular program of disease-specific Th cells.METHODSUsing flow cytometry, high-throughput T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, and scRNA-Seq of CD4+ Th cells isolated from the joints of patients with ARLA living in Europe, we aimed to infer antigen specificity through unbiased analysis of TCR repertoire patterns, identifying surrogate markers for disease-specific TCRs, and connecting TCR specificity to transcriptional patterns.RESULTSPD-1hiHLA-DR+CD4+ effector T cells were clonally expanded within the inflamed joints and persisted throughout disease course. Among these cells, we identified a distinct TCR-β motif restricted to HLA-DRB1*11 or *13 alleles. These alleles, being underrepresented in patients with ARLA living in North America, were unexpectedly prevalent in our European cohort. The identified TCR-β motif served as surrogate marker for a convergent TCR response specific to ARLA, distinguishing it from other rheumatic diseases. In the scRNA-Seq data set, the TCR-β motif particularly mapped to peripheral T helper (TPH) cells displaying signs of sustained proliferation, continuous TCR signaling, and expressing CXCL13 and IFN-γ.CONCLUSIONBy inferring disease-specific TCRs from synovial T cells we identified a convergent TCR response in the joints of patients with ARLA that continuously fueled the expansion of TPH cells expressing a pathogenic cytokine effector program. The identified TCRs will aid in uncovering the major antigen targets of the maladaptive immune response.FUNDINGSupported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) MO 2160/4-1; the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; Advanced Clinician Scientist-Program INTERACT; 01EO2108) embedded in the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the University Hospital Würzburg; the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF; Clinical Leave Program; TI07.001_007) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) Würzburg (Clinician Scientist Program, Z-2/CSP-30).
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Lyme Disease/immunology
- Lyme Disease/pathology
- Lyme Disease/genetics
- HLA-DRB1 Chains/genetics
- HLA-DRB1 Chains/immunology
- Female
- Male
- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology
- Borrelia burgdorferi/immunology
- Middle Aged
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Adult
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Dirks
- Pediatric Inflammation Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jonas Fischer
- Pediatric Inflammation Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Klaussner
- Pediatric Inflammation Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christine Hofmann
- Pediatric Inflammation Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Annette Holl-Wieden
- Pediatric Inflammation Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Viktoria Buck
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Klemann
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology, and Infectiology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Ignazio Caruana
- Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Erhard
- Computational Systems Virology and Bioinformatics, Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty for Informatics and Data Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Henner Morbach
- Pediatric Inflammation Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Sanderson VP, Miller JC, Bamm VV, Tilak M, Lloyd VK, Singh-Ranger G, Wills MKB. Profiling disease burden and Borrelia seroprevalence in Canadians with complex and chronic illness. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291382. [PMID: 37939060 PMCID: PMC10631674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, caused by vector-borne Borrelia bacteria, can present with diverse multi-system symptoms that resemble other conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate disease presentations and Borrelia seroreactivity in individuals experiencing a spectrum of chronic and complex illnesses. We recruited 157 participants from Eastern Canada who reported one or more diagnoses of Lyme disease, neurological, rheumatic, autoimmune, inflammatory, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular illnesses, or were asymptomatic and presumed healthy. Intake categories were used to classify participants based on their perceived proximity to Lyme disease, distinguishing between those with a disclosed history of Borrelia infection, those with lookalike conditions (e.g. fibromyalgia syndrome), and those with unrelated ailments (e.g. intestinal polyps). Participants completed three questionnaires, the SF-36 v1, SIQR, and HMQ, to capture symptoms and functional burden, and provided blood serum for analysis at an accredited diagnostic lab. Two-tiered IgG and IgM serological assessments (whole cell ELISA and Western blot) were performed in a blinded fashion on all samples. The pattern of symptoms and functional burden were similarly profound in the presumptive Lyme and Lyme-like disease categories. Borrelia seroprevalence across the study cohort was 10% for each of IgG and IgM, and occurred within and beyond the Lyme disease intake category. Western blot positivity in the absence of reactive ELISA was also substantial. Fibromyalgia was the most common individual diagnostic tag disclosed by two-tier IgG-positive participants who did not report a history of Lyme disease. Within the IgG seropositive cohort, the presence of antibodies against the 31 kDa Outer Surface Protein A (OspA) was associated with significantly better health outcomes. Previously, this marker has been linked to treatment-refractory Lyme arthritis. Overall, our findings support prior observations of phenotypic overlap between Lyme and other diseases. Seropositivity associated with non-specific symptoms and functional impairment warrants further mechanistic investigation and therapeutic optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria P. Sanderson
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer C. Miller
- Galaxy Diagnostics, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Raleigh, United States of America
| | - Vladimir V. Bamm
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manali Tilak
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vett K. Lloyd
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Gurpreet Singh-Ranger
- Upper River Valley Hospital, Horizon Health Network, Waterville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Melanie K. B. Wills
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Caskey JR, Hasenkampf NR, Martin DS, Chouljenko VN, Subramanian R, Cheslock MA, Embers ME. The Functional and Molecular Effects of Doxycycline Treatment on Borrelia burgdorferi Phenotype. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:690. [PMID: 31057493 PMCID: PMC6482230 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that Borrelia burgdorferi can form antibiotic-tolerant persisters in the presence of microbiostatic drugs such as doxycycline. Precisely how this occurs is yet unknown. Our goal was to examine gene transcription by B. burgdorferi following doxycycline treatment in an effort to identify both persister-associated genes and possible targets for antimicrobial intervention. To do so, we performed next-generation RNA sequencing on doxycycline-treated spirochetes and treated spirochetes following regrowth, comparing them to untreated B. burgdorferi. A number of genes were perturbed and most of those which were statistically significant were down-regulated in the treated versus the untreated or treated/re-grown. Genes upregulated in the treated B. burgdorferi included a number of Erp genes and rplU, a 50S ribosomal protein. Among those genes associated with post-treatment regrowth were bba74 (Oms28), bba03, several peptide ABC transporters, ospA, ospB, ospC, dbpA and bba62. Studies are underway to determine if these same genes are perturbed in B. burgdorferi treated with doxycycline in a host environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Caskey
- Division of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, LA, United States
- Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Nicole R. Hasenkampf
- Division of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Dale S. Martin
- Division of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Vladimir N. Chouljenko
- Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Ramesh Subramanian
- Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Mercedes A. Cheslock
- Division of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, LA, United States
| | - Monica E. Embers
- Division of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, LA, United States
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Horton DB, Taxter AJ, Davidow AL, Groh B, Sherry DD, Rose CD. Pediatric Antibiotic-refractory Lyme Arthritis: A Multicenter Case-control Study. J Rheumatol 2019; 46:943-951. [PMID: 30824653 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.180775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Few factors have consistently been linked to antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis (ARLA). We sought to identify clinical and treatment factors associated with pediatric ARLA. METHODS We performed a case-control study in 3 pediatric rheumatology clinics in a Lyme-endemic region (2000-2013). Eligible children were aged ≤ 18 years with arthritis and had positive testing for Lyme disease by Western blot. Cases were 49 children with persistently active arthritis despite ≥ 8 weeks of oral antibiotics or ≥ 2 weeks of parenteral antibiotics; controls were 188 children whose arthritis resolved within 3 months of starting antibiotics. We compared preselected demographic, clinical, and treatment factors between groups using logistic regression. RESULTS Characteristics positively associated with ARLA were age ≥ 10 years, prolonged arthritis at diagnosis, knee-only arthritis, and worsening after starting antibiotics. In contrast, children with fever, severe pain, or other signs of systemic inflammation were more likely to respond quickly to treatment. Secondarily, low-dose amoxicillin and treatment nonadherence were also linked to higher risk of ARLA. Greater antibiotic use for children with ARLA was accompanied by higher rates of treatment-associated adverse events (37% vs 15%) and resultant hospitalization (6% vs 1%). CONCLUSION Older children and those with prolonged arthritis, arthritis limited to the knees, or poor initial response to antibiotics are more likely to have antibiotic-refractory disease and treatment-associated toxicity. Children with severe symptoms of systemic inflammation have more favorable outcomes. For children with persistently active Lyme arthritis after 2 antibiotic courses, pediatricians should consider starting antiinflammatory treatment and referring to a pediatric rheumatologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Horton
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Biostatistics - Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Pediatrics, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, Delaware. .,D.B. Horton, MD, MSCE, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers School of Public Health; A.J. Taxter, MD, MSCE, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; A.L. Davidow, PhD, Rutgers School of Public Health; B. Groh, MD, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; D.D. Sherry, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; C.D. Rose, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University.
| | - Alysha J Taxter
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Biostatistics - Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Pediatrics, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, Delaware.,D.B. Horton, MD, MSCE, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers School of Public Health; A.J. Taxter, MD, MSCE, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; A.L. Davidow, PhD, Rutgers School of Public Health; B. Groh, MD, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; D.D. Sherry, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; C.D. Rose, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Amy L Davidow
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Biostatistics - Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Pediatrics, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, Delaware.,D.B. Horton, MD, MSCE, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers School of Public Health; A.J. Taxter, MD, MSCE, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; A.L. Davidow, PhD, Rutgers School of Public Health; B. Groh, MD, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; D.D. Sherry, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; C.D. Rose, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Brandt Groh
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Biostatistics - Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Pediatrics, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, Delaware.,D.B. Horton, MD, MSCE, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers School of Public Health; A.J. Taxter, MD, MSCE, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; A.L. Davidow, PhD, Rutgers School of Public Health; B. Groh, MD, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; D.D. Sherry, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; C.D. Rose, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - David D Sherry
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Biostatistics - Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Pediatrics, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, Delaware.,D.B. Horton, MD, MSCE, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers School of Public Health; A.J. Taxter, MD, MSCE, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; A.L. Davidow, PhD, Rutgers School of Public Health; B. Groh, MD, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; D.D. Sherry, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; C.D. Rose, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University
| | - Carlos D Rose
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Department of Biostatistics - Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Pediatrics, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, Delaware.,D.B. Horton, MD, MSCE, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and Rutgers School of Public Health; A.J. Taxter, MD, MSCE, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; A.L. Davidow, PhD, Rutgers School of Public Health; B. Groh, MD, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; D.D. Sherry, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; C.D. Rose, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University
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