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Increased frequency of activated regulatory T cells in patients with lupus nephritis. Hum Immunol 2022; 83:574-579. [PMID: 35568620 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the common manifestations of SLE, which affects the quality of life of patients. Abnormality in the adaptive immune response, such as T cell response, plays the main role in the pathogenesis of SLE and LN. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of different subpopulations of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells (Teff) in patients with LN and compare them with SLE patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 48 participants were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups: (i) patients with SLE; (ii) patients with LN; and (iii) healthy controls (HCs) subjects. The frequencies of CD4+ CD25++ CD45RA- Foxp3hi activated Tregs (aTregs), CD4+ CD25+ CD45RA+ Foxp3lo resting Tregs (rTregs), CD4+ CD25+ CD45RA- Foxp3lo non-Tregs, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3- Teff, and Tregs were analyzed in all subjects using flow cytometer. RESULTS LN patients had a considerable increased frequency of aTregs and Tregs compared with SLE patients (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.50; 95% CI [-0.26, 1.25]; p > 0.05 and SMD 0.60; 95% CI [-0.16, 1.36]; p > 0.05, respectively). Patients with LN had a considerable increased frequency of Teff compared with SLE patients (SMD 0.49; 95% CI [-0.26, 1.24]; p > 0.05). However, the increased ratio of Tregs/Teff was observed in patients with LN compared with SLE patients (SMD -0.25; 95% CI [-0.97, 0.48]; p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with LN showed immunoregulatory properties, in which both aTregs and Tregs had increased frequencies.
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Dong Z, Zhang B, Rong J, Yang X, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Su Z. The aberrant expression of CD45 isoforms and levels of sex hormones in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Rheumatol 2022; 41:1087-1093. [PMID: 35064423 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-021-05934-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease with significant gender bias in women, and sex hormones are considered to play an important role in the regulation of immune activity. The CD45 isoforms generated through alternative splicing of mRNA identify different functional status of lymphocytes and also are suggested as a biomarker for assessing the progression of SLE, while the modulation of CD45 expression in SLE patients is not clear. METHODS In this study, the peripheral blood sera of 46 SLE patients and 15 health individuals were collected for detecting the levels of sex hormones and immune associated factors. The expression of CD45 isoforms and the status of CD45 DNA methylation of the peripheral mononuclear blood cells were detected by flow cytometry and bisulfite sequencing PCR, respectively. RESULTS The levels of complement C3 and IgA decreased, especially decline of the serum IgA to the level of selective immunoglobulin A deficiency, and the C-reactive protein increased in SLE patients when compared with healthy controls, which manifested the abnormal immune activity of the SLE patients. Sex hormones detection showed a decreased testosterone and increased prolactin in SLE. An accelerated expression of CD45RO, reduced CD45RA and CD45RB, and a relative hypermethylation of CD45 DNA in SLE were also identified that provided a clue to explain the possible regulatory mechanism for the immune function in SLE. CONCLUSION The results indicated that the aberrant CD45 isoforms, DNA methylation and hormone levels might be correlated with the imbalanced immune activity of SLE patients. Key Points • Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency was significantly higher in SLE than in healthy individuals. • SLE patients had decreased testosterone and increased prolactin in the sera. • An aberrant expression of CD45 isoforms and CD45 DNA methylation were identified in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxia Dong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ju Rong
- Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinran Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongni Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiaoxin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhongjing Su
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
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Su Z, Huang D. Alternative Splicing of Pre-mRNA in the Control of Immune Activity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040574. [PMID: 33921058 PMCID: PMC8071365 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human immune response is a complex process that responds to numerous exogenous antigens in preventing infection by microorganisms, as well as to endogenous components in the surveillance of tumors and autoimmune diseases, and a great number of molecules are necessary to carry the functional complexity of immune activity. Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA plays an important role in immune cell development and regulation of immune activity through yielding diverse transcriptional isoforms to supplement the function of limited genes associated with the immune reaction. In addition, multiple factors have been identified as being involved in the control of alternative splicing at the cis, trans, or co-transcriptional level, and the aberrant splicing of RNA leads to the abnormal modulation of immune activity in infections, immune diseases, and tumors. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries on the generation of immune-associated alternative splice variants, clinical disorders, and possible regulatory mechanisms. We also discuss the immune responses to the neoantigens produced by alternative splicing, and finally, we issue some alternative splicing and immunity correlated questions based on our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjing Su
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22, Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (D.H.)
| | - Dongyang Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22, Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (D.H.)
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Thorsen SU, Collier F, Pezic A, O'Hely M, Clarke M, Tang MLK, Burgner D, Vuillermin P, Ponsonby AL. Maternal and Cord Blood 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 3 Are Associated with Increased Cord Blood and Naive and Activated Regulatory T Cells: The Barwon Infant Study. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:874-882. [PMID: 33431661 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin D has shown immune-modulatory effects but mostly in in vitro and animal studies. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are important for a balanced immune system. The relationship between vitamin D on the number of circulating neonatal Treg is unclear. We sought to investigate the association between maternal and neonatal vitamin D metabolites and cord blood (CB) Treg subsets. In a cohort of Australian infants (n = 1074), recruited using an unselected antenatal sampling frame, 158 mother-infant pairs had data on the following: 1) 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) measures in both maternal peripheral blood (28- to 32-wk gestation) and infant CB; 2) proportions (percentage of CD4+ T cells) of CB Treg subsets (CD4+CD45RA+ FOXP3low naive Treg, and CD4+CD45RA- FOXP3high activated Treg [aTreg]); and 3) possible confounders, including maternal personal UV radiation. Multiple regression analyses were used. The median 25(OH)D3 was 85.4 and 50.7 nmol/l for maternal and CB samples, respectively. Higher maternal 25(OH)D3 levels were associated with increased CB naive Treg (relative adjusted mean difference [AMD] per 25 nmol/l increase: 5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1-9%), and aTreg (AMD per 25 nmol/l increase: 17%; 95% CI: 6-28%). Furthermore, a positive association between CB 25(OH)D3 levels and CB aTreg (AMD per 25 nmol/l increase: 29%; 95% CI: 13-48%) was also evident. These results persisted after adjustment for other factors such as maternal personal UV radiation and season of birth. 25(OH)D3, may play a role in the adaptive neonatal immune system via induction of FOXP3+ Tregs. Further studies of immune priming actions of antenatal 25(OH)D3 are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen U Thorsen
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Copenhagen Diabetes Research Center (CPH-DIRECT), Department of Paediatrics, Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Fiona Collier
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Geelong Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory, University Hospital, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.,Child Research Unit, University Hospital, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.,School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia
| | - Angela Pezic
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Martin O'Hely
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Michael Clarke
- Biological and Molecular Mass Spectrometry Facility, Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia; and
| | - Mimi L K Tang
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Peter Vuillermin
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Child Research Unit, University Hospital, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.,School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; .,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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Regulatory T cell heterogeneity and therapy in autoimmune diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2020; 20:102715. [PMID: 33197573 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a group of CD4+ T cell with high expression of CD25 and cell linage specific transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and play a vital role in maintaining immune homeostasis. In the last two decades, researchers have shown that Treg cells involved in the occurrence, development and prognosis of many diseases, especially in autoimmune diseases. Treg targeted therapies, such as low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment and Treg infusion therapy, which are aimed at restoring the number or function of Treg cells, have become a hot topic in clinical trials of these diseases. It is believed that Treg cells are heterogeneous. Different subsets of Treg cells have various functions and play different parts in immunomodulatory. Gaining insights into Treg heterogeneity will help us further understand the function of Treg cells and provide news ideas for the selective therapeutic manipulation of Treg cells. In this review, we mainly summarize the heterogeneity of Treg cells and their potential therapeutic value in autoimmune diseases.
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Wardowska A, Komorniczak M, Skoniecka A, Bułło-Piontecka B, Lisowska KA, Dębska-Ślizień MA, Pikuła M. Alterations in peripheral blood B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with renal insufficiency. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 83:106451. [PMID: 32248020 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the autoimmune diseases, believed to be closely related to hyperactivity of B cells, overproduction of autoantibodies and immune complex formation and deposition in affected tissue. The autoreactive inflammation leads to multiorgan damage with kidney dysfunction in the forefront. Studies on lupus nephritis (LN), affecting the majority of SLE patients, are mainly focused on cells causing local inflammation. The aim of our work was to detect alterations in more accessible peripheral blood B cells in the course of SLE focusing on the influence of renal insufficiency (RI) on those parameters. METHODS We performed a comprehensive flow cytometry analysis of B cell subpopulations, analyzed gene expression patterns with qPCR, and examined serum cytokine levels with multiplex cytokine/chemokine assay. RESULTS We discovered distribution of specific B cell subsets, especially CD38+ cells, plasmablasts, associated with the presence and severity of the disease. Changes in expression of MBD2, DNMT1 and APRIL genes were not only associated with activity of SLE but also were significantly changed in patients with RI. CONCLUSIONS All these results shed new light on the role of circulating B cells, their subpopulations, function, and activity in the SLE with kidney manifestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wardowska
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Michał Komorniczak
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Aneta Skoniecka
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Barbara Bułło-Piontecka
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - M Alicja Dębska-Ślizień
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Michał Pikuła
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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