Role of soluble CD147 in psoriatic patients: A preliminary study

CD147/Basigin Is Involved in the Development of Malignant Tumors and T-Cell-Mediated Immunological Disorders via Regulation of Glycolysis

CD147/Basigin, a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, is a multifunctional molecule with various binding partners. CD147 binds to monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) and supports their expression on plasma membranes. MTC-1 and MCT-4 export the lactic acid that is converted from pyruvate in glycolysis to maintain the intracellular pH level and a stable metabolic state. Under physiological conditions, cellular energy production is induced by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis usually occurs under anaerobic conditions, whereas cancer cells depend on glycolysis under aerobic conditions. T cells also require glycolysis for differentiation, proliferation, and activation. Human malignant melanoma cells expressed higher levels of MCT-1 and MCT-4, co-localized with CD147 on the plasma membrane, and showed an increased glycolysis rate compared to normal human melanocytes. CD147 silencing by siRNA abrogated MCT-1 and MCT-4 membrane expression and disrupted glycolysis, inhibiting cancer cell activity. Furthermore, CD147 is involved in psoriasis. MCT-1 was absent on CD4+ T cells in CD147-deficient mice. The naïve CD4+ T cells from CD147-deficient mice exhibited a low capacity to differentiate into Th17 cells. Imiquimod-induced skin inflammation was significantly milder in the CD147-deficient mice than in the wild-type mice. Overall, CD147/Basigin is involved in the development of malignant tumors and T-cell-mediated immunological disorders via glycolysis regulation.

CD147 Is Essential for the Development of Psoriasis via the Induction of Th17 Cell Differentiation

Th17 cells play an important role in psoriasis. The differentiation of naïve CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells depends on glycolysis as the energy source. CD147/basigin, an integral transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, regulates glycolysis in association with monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs)-1 and -4 in cancer cells and T cells. We examined whether CD147/basigin is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis in humans and psoriasis-model mice. The serum level of CD147 was increased in patients with psoriasis, and the expression of CD147 and MCT-1 was elevated in their dermal CD4⁺ RORγt⁺ T cells. In vitro, the potential of naïve CD4⁺ T cells to differentiate into Th17 cells was abrogated in CD147^−/− T cells. Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic dermatitis was significantly milder in CD147^−/− mice and bone marrow chimeric mice lacking CD147 in the hematopoietic cells of myeloid lineage. These findings demonstrate that CD147 is essential for the development of psoriasis via the induction of Th17 cell differentiation.

Homophilic Interaction of CD147 Promotes IL-6-Mediated Cholangiocarcinoma Invasion via the NF-κB-Dependent Pathway

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), an aggressive cancer of bile ducts, is a well-known chronic inflammation-related disease. The major impediment in CCA treatment is limited treatment options for advanced disease; hence, an alternative is urgently required. The role of CD147 on cytokine production has been observed in inflammation-related diseases, but not in CCA. Therefore, this study was focused on CD147-promoting proinflammatory cytokine production and functions. Proinflammatory cytokine profiles were compared between CD147 expressing CCA cells and CD147 knockout cells (CD147 KO). Three cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), were dramatically diminished in CD147 KO clones. The involvement of the CD147-related cytokines in CCA invasion was established. CD147-promoted IL-6, IL-8, and GM-CSF secretions were regulated by NF-κB nuclear translocation, Akt activation, and p38 phosphorylation. CD147-fostering IL-6 production was dependent on soluble CD147, CD147 homophilic interaction, and NF-κB function. The overexpression of specific genes in CCA tissues compared to normal counterparts emphasized the clinical importance of these molecules. Altogether, CD147-potentiated proinflammatory cytokine production leading to CCA cell invasion is shown for the first time in the current study. This suggests that modulation of CD147-related inflammation might be a promising choice for advanced CCA treatment.

The role of EMMPRIN/CD147 in regulating angiogenesis in patients with psoriatic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Angiogenesis plays a central role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases. Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) demonstrate increased vascularity over patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with unknown mechanisms.

METHODS

We evaluated the serum levels of several pro- and anti-angiogenic factors in 62 PsA patients with active disease, 39 PsA patients in remission, 33 active RA patients, and 33 healthy controls (HC). Additionally, we used an in vitro co-culture system of fibroblast (HT1080) and monocytic-like (MM6) cell lines, to evaluate how their interactions affect the secretion of angiogenic factors and angiogenesis promoting abilities using scratch and tube formation assays.

RESULTS

PsA patients, regardless of disease activity, exhibited higher levels of EMMPRIN/CD147, IL-17, and TNF-α relative to RA patients or HC. Factors, such as IL-6, and the ratio between CD147 and thrombospondin-1, exhibited elevated levels in active PsA patients relative to PsA patients in remission. Secretion of CD147, VEGF, and MMP-9 was increased in vitro. CD147 neutralization with an antibody reduced these levels and the ability of endothelial cells to form tube-like structures or participate in wound healing.

CONCLUSIONS

CD147 plays a role in mediating angiogenesis in PsA, and the therapeutic possibilities of neutralizing it merit further investigation.

Smart identification of psoriasis by images using convolutional neural networks: a case study in China

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which holds a high incidence in China. However, professional dermatologists who can diagnose psoriasis early and correctly are insufficient in China, especially in the rural areas. A smart approach to identify psoriasis by pictures would be highly adaptable countrywide and could play a useful role in early diagnosis and regular treatment of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES

Design and evaluation of a smart psoriasis identification system based on clinical images (without relying on a dermatoscope) that works effectively similar to a dermatologist.

METHODS

A set of deep learning models using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) was explored and compared in the system for automatic identification of psoriasis. The work was carried out on a standardized dermatological dataset with 8021 clinical images of 9 common disorders including psoriasis along with full electronic medical records of patients built over the last 9 years in China. A two-stage deep neural network was designed and developed to identify psoriasis. In the first stage, a multilabel classifier was trained to learn the visual patterns for each individual skin disease. In the second stage, the output of the first stage was utilized to distinguish psoriasis from other skin diseases.

RESULTS

The area under the curve (AUC) of the two-stage model reached 0.981 ± 0.015, which outperforms a single-stage model. And, the classifier showed superior performance (missed diagnosis rate: 0.03, misdiagnosis rate: 0.04) than 25 Chinese dermatologists (missed diagnosis rate: 0.19, misdiagnosis rate: 0.10) in the diagnosis of psoriasis on 100 clinical images.

CONCLUSIONS

Using clinical images to identify psoriasis is feasible and effective based on CNNs, which also builds a solid technical base for smart care of skin diseases especially psoriasis using mobile/tablet applications for teledermatology in China.