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Kosmara D, Papanikolaou S, Nikolaou C, Bertsias G. Extensive Alternative Splicing Patterns in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Highlight Sexual Differences. Cells 2023; 12:2678. [PMID: 38067106 PMCID: PMC10705143 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Substantial evidence highlights divergences in immune responses between men and women. Women are more susceptible to autoimmunity, whereas men suffer from the more severe presentation of autoimmune disorders. The molecular mechanism of this sexual dimorphism remains elusive. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of sex differences in whole-blood gene expression focusing on alternative splicing (AS) events in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a prototype sex-biased disease. This study included 79 SLE patients with active disease and 58 matched healthy controls who underwent whole-blood RNA sequencing. Sex differences in splicing events were widespread, existent in both SLE and a healthy state. However, we observed distinct gene sets and molecular pathways targeted by sex-dependent AS in SLE patients as compared to healthy subjects, as well as a notable sex dissimilarity in intron retention events. Sexually differential spliced genes specific to SLE patients were enriched for dynamic cellular processes including chromatin remodeling, stress and inflammatory responses. Remarkably, the extent of sexual differences in AS in the SLE patients and healthy individuals exceeded those in gene expression. Overall, this study reveals an unprecedent variation in sex-dependent splicing events in SLE and the healthy state, with potential implications for understanding the molecular basis of sexual dimorphism in autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Kosmara
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Infections and Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Sofia Papanikolaou
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
- Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Institute of Bioinnovation, 16672 Athens, Greece
| | - Christoforos Nikolaou
- Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Institute of Bioinnovation, 16672 Athens, Greece
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion and University of Crete Medical School, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Infections and Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
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Zhou J, Zhang Q, Zhao Y, Song Y, Leng Y, Chen M, Zhou S, Wang Z. The regulatory role of alternative splicing in inflammatory bowel disease. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1095267. [PMID: 37153612 PMCID: PMC10160418 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1095267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases have a progressive course of chronic relapse and remission and affect a large number of children and adults worldwide. The burden of IBD is rising worldwide, with levels and trends varying greatly in countries and regions. Like most chronic diseases, the costs associated with IBD are high, including hospitalizations, outpatient and emergency visits, surgeries, and pharmacotherapies. However, there is no radical cure for it yet, and its therapeutic targets still need further study. Currently, the pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear. It is generally assumed that the occurrence and development of IBD are related to the environmental factors, gut microbiota, immune imbalance, and genetic susceptibility. Alternative splicing contributes to a various diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy, liver diseases, and cancers. In the past, it has been reported that alternative splicing events, splicing factors, and splicing mutations were associated with IBD, but there were no reports on the practical application for clinical diagnosis and treatment of IBD using splicing-related methods. Therefore, this article reviews research progress on alternative splicing events, splicing factors, and splicing mutations associated with IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianli Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiao Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuzhen Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuchen Song
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanan Leng
- Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Moxian Chen
- Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaoxia Wang, ; Shaoming Zhou, ; Moxian Chen,
| | - Shaoming Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaoxia Wang, ; Shaoming Zhou, ; Moxian Chen,
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaoxia Wang, ; Shaoming Zhou, ; Moxian Chen,
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Walshe M, Nayeri S, Ji J, Hernandez-Rocha C, Sabic K, Hu L, Giri M, Nayar S, Brant S, McGovern DPB, Rioux JD, Duerr RH, Cho JH, Schumm PL, Lazarev M, Silverberg MS. A Role for CXCR3 Ligands as Biomarkers of Post-Operative Crohn's Disease Recurrence. J Crohns Colitis 2021; 16:900-910. [PMID: 34698823 PMCID: PMC9282882 DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Crohn's disease [CD] recurrence following ileocolic resection [ICR] is common. We sought to identify blood-based biomarkers associated with CD recurrence. METHODS CD patients undergoing ICR were recruited across six centres. Serum samples were obtained at post-operative colonoscopy. A multiplex immunoassay was used to analyse 92 inflammation-related proteins [Olink Proteomics]. Bayesian analysis was used to identify proteins associated with increasing Rutgeerts score. Identified proteins were used in receiver operating characteristic [ROC] analysis to examine the ability to identify CD recurrence [Rutgeerts score ≥i2]. Existing single cell data were interrogated to further elucidate the role of the identified proteins. RESULTS Data from 276 colonoscopies in 213 patients were available. Median time from surgery to first and second colonoscopy was 7 (interquartile range [IQR] 6-9) and 19 [IQR 16-23] months, respectively. Disease recurrence was evident at 60 [30%] first and 36 [49%] second colonoscopies. Of 14 proteins significantly associated with Rutgeerts score, the strongest signal was seen for CXCL9 and MMP1. Among patients on anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs, CXCL9 and CXCL11 were most strongly associated with Rutgeerts score. Both are CXCR3 ligands. Incorporation of identified proteins into ROC analysis improved the ability to identify disease recurrence as compared to C-reactive protein alone: area under the curve [AUC] 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-0.82] vs 0.64 [95% CI 0.56-0.72], p = 0.012. Single cell transcriptomic data provide evidence that innate immune cells are the primary source of the identified proteins. CONCLUSIONS CXCR3 ligands are associated with CD recurrence following ICR. Incorporation of novel blood-based candidate biomarkers may aid in identification of CD recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Walshe
- Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shadi Nayeri
- Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jiayi Ji
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cristian Hernandez-Rocha
- Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ksenija Sabic
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Liangyuan Hu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mamta Giri
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shikha Nayar
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven Brant
- Crohn’s and Colitis Center of New Jersey, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Dermot P B McGovern
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John D Rioux
- Research Centre, Montreal Heart Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada,Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Richard H Duerr
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,USA
| | - Judy H Cho
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Phil L Schumm
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Mark S Silverberg
- Corresponding author: Dr Mark Silverberg, MD, PhD, FRCPC, University of Toronto, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, 441–600 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G1X5, Canada. Tel: +1-416-586-4800 ext 8236; Fax: +1-416-619-5524;
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Grandi A, Zini I, Palese S, Giorgio C, Tognolini M, Marchesani F, Bruno S, Flammini L, Cantoni AM, Castelli R, Lodola A, Fusari A, Barocelli E, Bertoni S. Targeting the Eph/Ephrin System as Anti-Inflammatory Strategy in IBD. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:691. [PMID: 31297055 PMCID: PMC6606944 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Besides their long-known critical role in embryonic growth and in cancer development and progression, erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma type B (EphB) receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin-B ligands are involved in the modulation of immune responses and in remodeling and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal epithelial layer. These processes are critically involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory-based disorders of the gut, like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Accordingly, our aim was to investigate the role of the EphB/ephrin-B system in intestinal inflammation by assessing the local and systemic effects produced by its pharmacological manipulation in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)- (Th1-dependent model) and dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)- (innate response model) induced colitis in mice. To this purpose, we administered chimeric Fc-conjugated proteins, allegedly able to uni-directionally activate either forward (ephrin-B1-Fc) or reverse (EphB1-Fc) signaling, and the soluble monomeric EphB4 extracellular domain protein, that, simultaneously interfering with both signaling pathways, acts as EphB/ephrin-B antagonist.The blockade of the EphB/ephrin-B forward signaling by EphB4 and EphB1-Fc was ineffective against DSS-induced colitis while it evoked remarkable beneficial effects against TNBS colitis: it counteracted all the evaluated inflammatory responses and the changes elicited on splenic T lymphocytes subpopulations, without preventing the appearance of a splice variant of ephrin-B2 gene elicited by the haptenating agent in the colon. Interestingly, EphB4, preferentially displacing EphB4/ephrin-B2 interaction over EphB1/ephrin-B1 binding, was able to promote Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) release by splenic mononuclear cells in vitro. On the whole, the collected results point to a potential role of the EphB/ephrin-B system as a pharmacological target in intestinal inflammatory disorders and suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of its blockade seemingly works through the modulation of immune responses, independent of the changes at the transcriptional and translational level of EphB4 and ephrin-B2 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Grandi
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Irene Zini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Palese
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Stefano Bruno
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Lisa Flammini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonella Fusari
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Simona Bertoni
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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5
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Metzemaekers M, Vanheule V, Janssens R, Struyf S, Proost P. Overview of the Mechanisms that May Contribute to the Non-Redundant Activities of Interferon-Inducible CXC Chemokine Receptor 3 Ligands. Front Immunol 2018; 8:1970. [PMID: 29379506 PMCID: PMC5775283 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 are predominantly induced by interferon (IFN)-γ and share an exclusive chemokine receptor named CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3). With a prototype function of directing temporal and spatial migration of activated T cells and natural killer cells, and inhibitory effects on angiogenesis, these CXCR3 ligands have been implicated in infection, acute inflammation, autoinflammation and autoimmunity, as well as in cancer. Intense former research efforts led to recent and ongoing clinical trials using CXCR3 and CXCR3 ligand targeting molecules. Scientific evidence has claimed mutual redundancy, ligand dominance, collaboration or even antagonism, depending on the (patho)physiological context. Most research on their in vivo activity, however, illustrates that CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 each contribute to the activation and trafficking of CXCR3 expressing cells in a non-redundant manner. When looking into detail, one can unravel a multistep machinery behind final CXCR3 ligand functions. Not only can specific cell types secrete individual CXCR3 interacting chemokines in response to certain stimuli, but also the receptor and glycosaminoglycan interactions, major associated intracellular pathways and susceptibility to processing by particular enzymes, among others, seem ligand-specific. Here, we overview major aspects of the molecular properties and regulatory mechanisms of IFN-induced CXCR3 ligands, and propose that their in vivo non-redundancy is a reflection of the unprecedented degree of versatility that seems inherent to the IFN-related CXCR3 chemokine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Metzemaekers
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent Vanheule
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Janssens
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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6
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Berchiche YA, Sakmar TP. CXC Chemokine Receptor 3 Alternative Splice Variants Selectively Activate Different Signaling Pathways. Mol Pharmacol 2016; 90:483-95. [PMID: 27512119 DOI: 10.1124/mol.116.105502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) C-X-C chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) is a potential drug target that mediates signaling involved in cancer metastasis and inflammatory diseases. The CXCR3 primary transcript has three potential alternative splice variants and cell-type specific expression results in receptor variants that are believed to have different functional characteristics. However, the molecular pharmacology of ligand binding to CXCR3 alternative splice variants and their downstream signaling pathways remain poorly explored. To better understand the role of the functional consequences of alternative splicing of CXCR3, we measured signaling in response to four different chemokine ligands (CXCL4, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11) with agonist activity at CXCR3. Both CXCL10 and CXCL11 activated splice variant CXCR3A. Whereas CXCL10 displayed full agonistic activity for Gαi activation and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation and partial agonist activity for β-arrestin recruitment, CXCL9 triggered only modest ERK1/2 phosphorylation. CXCL11 induced CXCR3B-mediated β-arrestin recruitment and little ERK phosphorylation. CXCR3Alt signaling was limited to modest ligand-induced receptor internalization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in response to chemokines CXCL11, CXCL10, and CXCL9. These results show that CXCR3 splice variants activate different signaling pathways and that CXCR3 variant function is not redundant, suggesting a mechanism for tissue specific biased agonism. Our data show an additional layer of complexity for chemokine receptor signaling that might be exploited to target specific CXCR3 splice variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamina A Berchiche
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York (Y.A.B.; T.P.S.); and Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden (T.P.S)
| | - Thomas P Sakmar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York (Y.A.B.; T.P.S.); and Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden (T.P.S)
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Ostvik AE, Granlund AVB, Bugge M, Nilsen NJ, Torp SH, Waldum HL, Damås JK, Espevik T, Sandvik AK. Enhanced expression of CXCL10 in inflammatory bowel disease: potential role of mucosal Toll-like receptor 3 stimulation. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2013; 19:265-74. [PMID: 22685032 DOI: 10.1002/ibd.23034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We explored the gene expression in colonic biopsies of active and inactive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in an extensive material of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The chemokine CXCL10 and its receptor CXCR3 were among the upregulated genes. This study examined the expression of CXCL10 and the mechanisms for its release in patients with UC or CD and in intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) lines. METHODS A microarray gene expression analysis was done on colonic biopsies (n = 133) from patients with IBD. Biopsies were studied with immunohistochemistry for CXCL10 and CXCR3 expression. Mechanisms for CXCL10 release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in the colonic epithelial cell lines HT-29 and SW620 were studied upon pattern recognition receptor (PRR) stimulation. RESULTS CXCL10 and CXCR3 mRNA abundances were increased in biopsies from active UC and CD compared to inactive disease and controls. CXCL10 was mainly localized to mucosal epithelial cells, with increased immunostaining in active IBD. CXCR3-positive cells were scattered in the lamina propria. CXCL10 was secreted from the colonic epithelial cell lines in response to the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)). This ligand also induced a marked release of CXCL10 in PBMCs from IBD patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS We identified CXCL10 and CXCR3 as upregulated genes in colonic mucosa in active IBD. The TLR3-ligand poly(I:C) markedly increased release of CXCL10 in colonic epithelial cell lines, suggesting a TLR3-mediated CXCL10 release from mucosal epithelial cells in IBD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E Ostvik
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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Manousou P, Kolios G, Valatas V, Drygiannakis I, Bourikas L, Pyrovolaki K, Koutroubakis I, Papadaki HA, Kouroumalis E. Increased expression of chemokine receptor CCR3 and its ligands in ulcerative colitis: the role of colonic epithelial cells in in vitro studies. Clin Exp Immunol 2011; 162:337-47. [PMID: 21077277 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04248.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human colonic epithelial cells express T helper type 1 (Th1)-associated chemoattractants, yet little is known about the production of Th2-associated chemoattractants. CCL11/eotaxin-1, CCL24/eotaxin-2 and CCL26/eotaxin-3 are known to attract CCR3-expressing, Th2-polarized lymphocytes. We studied constitutive and inflammation-induced expression and production of CCR3 together with its ligands in the colon and peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by flow cytometry, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We further defined the regulated expression of these chemokines by RT–PCR and ELISA using cultured human epithelial cell lines. A higher fraction of peripheral T lymphocytes were found to be positive for CCR3 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) compared to Crohn’s disease (CD), while almost no CCR3(+) T cells were found in normal controls (NC). Similarly, higher and more frequent expression of CCR3 was observed in colonic biopsies from patients with UC, regardless of the disease activity, when compared to CD or NCs. Serum CCL11/eotaxin-1 was increased significantly in UC (306 ± 87 pg/ml) and less so in CD (257 ± 43 pg/ml), whereas CCL24/eotaxin-2, and CCL26/eotaxin-3 were increased only in UC. Colonic expression of the three chemokines was minimal in NCs but high in inflammatory bowel diseases (especially UC) and was independent of disease activity. Th2, and to a lesser extent Th1, cytokines were able to induce expression and production of all three eotaxins from colonic epithelial cells in culture. CCR3 and ligands over-expression would appear to be a characteristic of UC. The production of CCR3 ligands by human colonic epithelial cells suggests further that epithelium can play a role in modulating pathological T cell-mediated mucosal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Manousou
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
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Schroepf S, Kappler R, Brand S, Prell C, Lohse P, Glas J, Hoster E, Helmbrecht J, Ballauff A, Berger M, von Schweinitz D, Koletzko S, Lacher M. Strong overexpression of CXCR3 axis components in childhood inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010; 16:1882-90. [PMID: 20848514 DOI: 10.1002/ibd.21312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a polygenetic disorder. Our group previously showed that a variant within the CXCL9 gene is associated with pediatric Crohn's disease. As CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 are the 3 ligands to the receptor CXCR3, the aim of this study was to investigate the colonic transcriptional activity of the CXCR3 axis and to perform SNP genotyping of a CXCL11 polymorphism in a large pediatric and adult IBD cohort. METHODS mRNA expression of CXCR3, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and IL8 was analyzed in colonic biopsies using real-time PCR. CXCL11 rs6817952 nucleotide substitution was determined in 501 German individuals with IBD (336 CD, 165 UC) including 258 children and 243 adults as well as in 231 controls by a TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. RESULTS CXCR3 axis genes were significantly overexpressed in inflamed colonic tissue of pediatric CD and UC patients. The prevalence of hetero- and homozygous variants of the rs6817952 genotype was higher in pediatric but not in adult CD patients compared with that in controls (P = 0.04). Moreover, carriers of the hetero- and homozygous genotype variants of rs6817952 were at increased risk for UC in all age groups (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of the significant overexpression of the CXCR3 axis in active IBD, suggesting it has a role in IBD pathogenesis. The rs6817952 A variant is a risk allele for pediatric CD and UC in all age groups. Therapeutic studies will have to show whether the blockade of chemokine receptors such as CXCR3 can modulate intestinal inflammation in a clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schroepf
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Laboratories, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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