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Wang Q, Ma J, Gong Y, Zhu L, Tang H, Ye X, Su G, Huang F, Tan S, Zuo X, Gao Y, Yang P. Sex-specific circulating unconventional neutrophils determine immunological outcome of auto-inflammatory Behçet's uveitis. Cell Discov 2024; 10:47. [PMID: 38704363 PMCID: PMC11069589 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00671-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells that first respond to insults in circulation. Although associative evidence suggests that differences in neutrophils may be linked to the sex-specific vulnerability of inflammatory diseases, mechanistic links remain elusive. Here, we identified extensive sex-specific heterogeneity in neutrophil composition under normal and auto-inflammatory conditions at single-cell resolution. Using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, neutrophil-specific genetic knockouts and transfer experiments, we discovered dysregulation of two unconventional (interferon-α responsive and T cell regulatory) neutrophil subsets leading to male-biased incidence, severity and poor prognosis of auto-inflammatory Behçet's uveitis. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) and exosome study revealed that male-specific negative effects of both genetic factors and circulating exosomes on unconventional neutrophil subsets contributed to male-specific vulnerability to disease. Collectively, our findings identify sex-specifically distinct neutrophil subsets and highlight unconventional neutrophil subsets as sex-specific therapeutic targets to limit inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfeng Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junfeng Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuxing Gong
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Lifu Zhu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Huanyu Tang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingsheng Ye
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guannan Su
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fanfan Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shiyao Tan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xianbo Zuo
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, and No. 1 Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China.
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
| | - Peizeng Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Missing Causality and Heritability of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Dig Dis Sci 2022; 68:1585-1604. [PMID: 36261672 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-022-07728-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmune hepatitis has an unknown cause and genetic associations that are not disease-specific or always present. Clarification of its missing causality and heritability could improve prevention and management strategies. AIMS Describe the key epigenetic and genetic mechanisms that could account for missing causality and heritability in autoimmune hepatitis; indicate the prospects of these mechanisms as pivotal factors; and encourage investigations of their pathogenic role and therapeutic potential. METHODS English abstracts were identified in PubMed using multiple key search phases. Several hundred abstracts and 210 full-length articles were reviewed. RESULTS Environmental induction of epigenetic changes is the prime candidate for explaining the missing causality of autoimmune hepatitis. Environmental factors (diet, toxic exposures) can alter chromatin structure and the production of micro-ribonucleic acids that affect gene expression. Epistatic interaction between unsuspected genes is the prime candidate for explaining the missing heritability. The non-additive, interactive effects of multiple genes could enhance their impact on the propensity and phenotype of autoimmune hepatitis. Transgenerational inheritance of acquired epigenetic marks constitutes another mechanism of transmitting parental adaptations that could affect susceptibility. Management strategies could range from lifestyle adjustments and nutritional supplements to precision editing of the epigenetic landscape. CONCLUSIONS Autoimmune hepatitis has a missing causality that might be explained by epigenetic changes induced by environmental factors and a missing heritability that might reflect epistatic gene interactions or transgenerational transmission of acquired epigenetic marks. These unassessed or under-evaluated areas warrant investigation.
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Ptacek J, Hawtin RE, Sun D, Louie B, Evensen E, Mittleman BB, Cesano A, Cavet G, Bingham CO, Cofield SS, Curtis JR, Danila MI, Raman C, Furie RA, Genovese MC, Robinson WH, Levesque MC, Moreland LW, Nigrovic PA, Shadick NA, O’Dell JR, Thiele GM, Clair EWS, Striebich CC, Hale MB, Khalili H, Batliwalla F, Aranow C, Mackay M, Diamond B, Nolan GP, Gregersen PK, Bridges SL. Diminished cytokine-induced Jak/STAT signaling is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244187. [PMID: 33444321 PMCID: PMC7808603 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and incurable autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation in synovial lining of joints. To identify the signaling pathways involved in RA, its disease activity, and treatment response, we adapted a systems immunology approach to simultaneously quantify 42 signaling nodes in 21 immune cell subsets (e.g., IFNα→p-STAT5 in B cells) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 194 patients with longstanding RA (including 98 patients before and after treatment), and 41 healthy controls (HC). We found multiple differences between patients with RA compared to HC, predominantly in cytokine-induced Jak/STAT signaling in many immune cell subsets, suggesting pathways that may be associated with susceptibility to RA. We also found that high RA disease activity, compared to low disease activity, was associated with decreased (e.g., IFNα→p-STAT5, IL-10→p-STAT1) or increased (e.g., IL-6→STAT3) response to stimuli in multiple cell subsets. Finally, we compared signaling in patients with established, refractory RA before and six months after initiation of methotrexate (MTX) or TNF inhibitors (TNFi). We noted significant changes from pre-treatment to post-treatment in IFNα→p-STAT5 signaling and IL-10→p-STAT1 signaling in multiple cell subsets; these changes brought the aberrant RA signaling profiles toward those of HC. This large, comprehensive functional signaling pathway study provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of RA and shows the potential of quantification of cytokine-induced signaling as a biomarker of disease activity or treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Ptacek
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rachael E. Hawtin
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Dongmei Sun
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Brent Louie
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Erik Evensen
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | | | - Alessandra Cesano
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Guy Cavet
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Clifton O. Bingham
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stacey S. Cofield
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey R. Curtis
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Maria I. Danila
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Chander Raman
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Furie
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark C. Genovese
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - William H. Robinson
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | | | - Larry W. Moreland
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Nigrovic
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nancy A. Shadick
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James R. O’Dell
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Geoffrey M. Thiele
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - E. William St Clair
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | | | - Matthew B. Hale
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Houman Khalili
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Franak Batliwalla
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Aranow
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Meggan Mackay
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Betty Diamond
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Garry P. Nolan
- Nodality, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Peter K. Gregersen
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - S. Louis Bridges
- Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Wang JM, Xu WD, Huang AF. Association of STAT4 Gene Rs7574865, Rs10168266 Polymorphisms and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Susceptibility: A Meta-analysis. Immunol Invest 2020; 50:282-294. [DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2020.1752712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Min Wang
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Wang-Dong Xu
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - an-Fang Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
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Kim T, Bae SC, Kang C. Synergistic activation of NF-κB by TNFAIP3 (A20) reduction and UBE2L3 (UBCH7) augment that synergistically elevate lupus risk. Arthritis Res Ther 2020; 22:93. [PMID: 32334614 PMCID: PMC7183688 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-020-02181-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease. SLE susceptibility is affected by multiple genetic elements, environmental factors, and their interactions. We aimed in this study to statistically and functionally characterize a gene-gene interaction (epistasis) recently documented to affect SLE risk. Methods Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, rs2230926 in TNFAIP3 (A20) gene and rs131654 in UBE2L3 (UBCH7) gene, were genotyped in all 3525 Korean participants, and their SLE risk association and epistasis were statistically analyzed by calculating odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and P values in genotype comparisons between 1318 SLE patients and 2207 healthy controls. Furthermore, their effects on gene functions were assessed by comparatively examining separate and combined effects of TNFAIP3 and UBE2L3 knockdowns on NF-κB transcription factor activity in human cells. Results SLE susceptibility is associated with TNFAIP3 rs2230926 (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.6–2.4, P = 8.6 × 10−11) and UBE2L3 rs131654 (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4, P = 1.1 × 10−4) in a Korean population of this study. Their risk-associated alleles synergistically elevate SLE susceptibility in both multivariate logistic regression analysis (ORinteraction = 1.6, P = 0.0028) and genotype-stratified analysis (ORinteraction = 2.4), confirming the synergistic TNFAIP3-UBE2L3 interaction in SLE risk. Additionally, the SLE-susceptible alleles confer decreased TNFAIP3 expression (P = 1.1 × 10−6, n = 610) and increased UBE2L3 expression (P = 9.5 × 10−11, n = 475), respectively, in B cell analysis of the International HapMap Project individuals with adjustment for ethnicity. Furthermore, when compared with TNFAIP3 non-knockdown and UBE2L3 knockdown in human HeLa cells, TNFAIP3 knockdown and UBE2L3 non-knockdown synergistically increase three cytokines, CCL2, CXCL8 (IL8), and IL6, all regulated by NF-κB in the human TNFR signaling pathway. Conclusions A synergistic interaction between TNFAIP3 and UBE2L3 genes is observed in SLE risk, as being evident in comparison of genotype distributions between SLE patients and controls. Additionally, the synergistic gene-gene interaction is functionally validated, as TNFAIP3 reduction and UBE2L3 augment exert synergism in activation of NF-κB and subsequent induction of inflammatory cytokines. Accordingly, SLE inflammation and risk could be synergistically alleviated by TNFAIP3 upregulation and UBE2L3 downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taehyeung Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Cheol Bae
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Changwon Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Wang YF, Lau YL, Yang W. Genetic studies on systemic lupus erythematosus in East Asia point to population differences in disease susceptibility. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2019; 181:262-268. [PMID: 30897304 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype autoimmune disease with extreme clinical heterogeneity and significant differences between populations. East Asian populations are known to have higher prevalence and more severe clinical manifestations for SLE than Europeans. The difference could be the result of genetic and environmental factors, and the interactions between them. Thus, identifying genetic associations from diverse populations provides an opportunity to better understand the genetic architecture of this heterogeneous disease. It is also necessary to elucidate population differences and to apply the findings in future stratified treatment of the disease, with ethnicity likely a major factor to consider. Indeed, it has shown that there are significant differences between East Asians and European populations in several genetic loci for SLE. Genetic studies on SLE are very active in East Asian countries and there have been close collaborations among scientists in this region. Here, we document some work done in this region on SLE genetic research and discuss the aspect of population differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Fei Wang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Lung Lau
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wanling Yang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Cai TT, Zhang J, Wang X, Song RH, Qin Q, Muhali FS, Zhou JZ, Xu J, Zhang JA. Gene-gene and gene-sex epistatic interactions of DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B in autoimmune thyroid disease. Endocr J 2016; 63:643-53. [PMID: 27237591 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej15-0596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) polymorphisms with susceptibility to autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) and to test gene-gene/gene-sex epistasis interactions. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B were selected and genotyped by multiplex polymerase chain reaction combined with ligase detection reaction method (PCR-LDR). A total of 685 Graves' disease (GD) patients, 353 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients and 909 healthy controls were included in the final analysis. Epistasis was tested by additive model, multiplicative model and general multifactor dimensionality reduction (general MDR). Rs2424913 (DNMT3B) and rs2228611 (DNMT1) were associated with susceptibility to AITD and GD in the dominant and overdominant model, respectively (rs2424913: P=0.009 for AITD, P=0.0041 for GD; rs2228611: P=0.035 for AITD, P=0.043 for GD). Multiplicative and multiple high dimensional gene-gene or gene-sex interactions were also observed in this study. We have found evidence for a potential role of rs2424913 (DNMT3B) and rs2228611 (DNMT1) in AITD susceptibility and identified novel gene-gene/gene-sex interactions in AITD. Our study may highlight sex and genes of DNMTs family as contributors to the pathogenesis of AITD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Tian Cai
- Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
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Shu J, Wang XH, Zhou LB, Jiang CM, Yang WX, Jin R, Wang LL, Zhou GP. Expression of interferon regulatory factor 5 is regulated by the Sp1 transcription factor. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:2815-22. [PMID: 27484157 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor, interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), is important in the induction of type I interferon, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and is involved in autoimmune diseases and tumourigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of wild‑type IRF5 remain to be fully elucidated. The present study was primarily designed to clarify whether specificity protein 1 (Sp1) was involved in the regulation of IRF5. Initially, the IRF5 promoter region was cloned and its promoter activity was examined using Hela and HEK 293 cells. Deletion analyses revealed that the region spanning ‑179 to +62 was the minimal promoter of IRF5. Bioinformatics analyses showed that this region contained three putative Sp1 binding sites, and mutational analyses revealed that all the Sp1 sites contributed to transcriptional activity. Secondly, the overexpression of Sp1 was found to increase the activity of the IRF5 promoter and the mRNA level of IRF5, determined using reporter gene assays and polymerase chain reaction analysis, respectively. By contrast, treatment with mithramycin and Sp1 small interfering RNA significantly reduced the activity of the IRF5 promoter and the mRNA level of IRF5. Finally, the results of an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that Sp1 bound to the promoter region of IRF5 in vitro and in vivo. These results suggested that the Sp1 transcription factor is the primary determinant for activating the basal transcription of the IRF5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Shu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Hua Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Lan-Bo Zhou
- 2013 Clinical Class 7, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Chun-Ming Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Xia Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Rui Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Lu-Lu Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Ping Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
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Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase Is Required for Cell Proliferation and Inflammatory Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis Synoviocytes. Mediators Inflamm 2015; 2015:192329. [PMID: 26819496 PMCID: PMC4706940 DOI: 10.1155/2015/192329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) invasive proliferation, and joint destruction. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that induces immune activation. In this study, we examined whether cGAS plays a role in RA FLS. In this study, cGAS was overexpressed in RA-FLS compared with OA FLS. TNFα stimulation induced cGAS expression in RA FLS. Overexpression of cGAS promoted the proliferation and knockdown of cGAS inhibited the proliferation of RA FLS. cGAS overexpression enhanced the production of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as well as AKT and ERK phosphorylation in TNFα-stimulated FLS. In contrast, cGAS silencing inhibited production of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as well as AKT and ERK phosphorylation in TNFα-stimulated FLS. These results suggest that cGAS activates the AKT and ERK pathways to promote the inflammatory response of RA FLS, and the development of strategies targeting cGAS may have therapeutic potential for human RA.
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Relle M, Weinmann-Menke J, Scorletti E, Cavagna L, Schwarting A. Genetics and novel aspects of therapies in systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoimmun Rev 2015; 14:1005-18. [PMID: 26164648 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune hepatitis and inflammatory bowel disease, have complex pathogeneses and the factors which cause these disorders are not well understood. But all have in common that they arise from a dysfunction of the immune system, interpreting self components as foreign antigens. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of these complex inflammatory disorders that mainly affects women and can lead to inflammation and severe damage of virtually any tissue and organ. Recently, the application of advanced techniques of genome-wide scanning revealed more genetic information about SLE than previously possible. These case-control or family-based studies have provided evidence that SLE susceptibility is based (with a few exceptions) on an individual accumulation of various risk alleles triggered by environmental factors and also help to explain the discrepancies in SLE susceptibility between different populations or ethnicities. Moreover, during the past years new therapies (autologous stem cell transplantation, B cell depletion) and improved conventional treatment options (corticosteroids, traditional and new immune-suppressants like mycophenolate mofetile) changed the perspective in SLE therapeutic approaches. Thus, this article reviews genetic aspects of this autoimmune disease, summarizes clinical aspects of SLE and provides a general overview of conventional and new therapeutic approaches in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Relle
- First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Julia Weinmann-Menke
- First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Eva Scorletti
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Lombardy, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cavagna
- Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Lombardy, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andreas Schwarting
- First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Acura Centre of Rheumatology Rhineland-Palatinate, Bad Kreuznach, Germany.
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Type I IFNs as biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis: towards disease profiling and personalized medicine. Clin Sci (Lond) 2014; 128:449-64. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20140554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RA (rheumatoid arthritis) is a chronic rheumatic condition hallmarked by joint inflammation and destruction by self-reactive immune responses. Clinical management of RA patients is often hampered by its heterogeneous nature in both clinical presentation and outcome, thereby highlighting the need for new predictive biomarkers. In this sense, several studies have recently revealed a role for type I IFNs (interferons), mainly IFNα, in the pathogenesis of a subset of RA patients. Genetic variants associated with the type I IFN pathway have been linked with RA development, as well as with clinical features. Moreover, a role for IFNα as a trigger for RA development has also been described. Additionally, a type I IFN signature has been associated with the early diagnosis of RA and clinical outcome prediction in patients undergoing biological drug treatment, two challenging issues for decision-making in the clinical setting. Moreover, these cytokines have been related to endothelial damage and vascular repair failure in different autoimmune disorders. Therefore, together with chronic inflammation and disease features, they could probably account for the increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality of these patients. The main aim of the present review is to provide recent evidence supporting a role for type I IFNs in the immunopathology of RA, as well as to analyse their possible role as biomarkers for disease management.
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12
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Insight into gene polymorphisms involved in toll-like receptor/interferon signalling pathways for systemic lupus erythematosus in South East Asia. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:529167. [PMID: 24741605 PMCID: PMC3987947 DOI: 10.1155/2014/529167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymorphisms in genes involved in toll-like receptor/interferon signalling pathways have been reported previously to be associated with SLE in many populations. This study aimed to investigate the role of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms within TNFAIP3, STAT4, and IRF5, which are involved in upstream and downstream pathways of type I interferon production, in SLE in the South East Asian populations. Genotyping of 360 Malaysian SLE patients and 430 normal healthy individuals revealed that minor alleles of STAT4 rs7574865 and rs10168266 were associated with elevated risk of SLE in the Chinese and Malay patients, respectively (P = 0.028, odds ratio (OR) = 1.42; P = 0.035, OR = 1.80, respectively). Polymorphisms in TNFAIP3 and IRF5 did not show significant associations with SLE in any of the ethnicities. Combined analysis of the Malays, Chinese, and Indians for each SNP indicated that STAT4 rs10168266 was significantly associated with the Malaysian SLE as a whole (P = 0.014; OR = 1.435). The meta-analysis of STAT4 rs10168266, which combined the data of other studies and this study, further confirmed its importance as the risk factor for SLE by having pooled OR of 1.559 and P value of <0.001.
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