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Gao ZX, He T, Zhang P, Hu X, Ge M, Xu YQ, Wang P, Pan HF. Epigenetic regulation of immune cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: insight from chromatin accessibility. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:637-649. [PMID: 38943564 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2375372] [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: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-dimensional autoimmune disease involving numerous tissues throughout the body. The chromatin accessibility landscapes in immune cells play a pivotal role in governing their activation, function, and differentiation. Aberrant modulation of chromatin accessibility in immune cells is intimately associated with the onset and progression of SLE. AREAS COVERED In this review, we described the chromatin accessibility landscapes in immune cells, summarized the recent evidence of chromatin accessibility related to the pathogenesis of SLE, and discussed the potential of chromatin accessibility as a valuable option to identify novel therapeutic targets for this disease. EXPERT OPINION Dynamic changes in chromatin accessibility are intimately related to the pathogenesis of SLE and have emerged as a new direction for exploring its epigenetic mechanisms. The differently accessible chromatin regions in immune cells often contain binding sites for transcription factors (TFs) and cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers and promoters, which may be potential therapeutic targets for SLE. Larger scale cohort studies and integrating epigenomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data can provide deeper insights into SLE chromatin biology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Xing Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tian He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Man Ge
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yi-Qing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hai-Feng Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Song X, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Fan J, Peng T, Ma Y, Guo N, Wang X, Liu X, Liu Z, Wang L. Analyzation of the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Atlas and Cell Communication of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Based on Single-Cell RNA-Seq. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:6300633. [PMID: 37600067 PMCID: PMC10439836 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6300633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a multifactorial etiology. Peripheral blood is the main channel of the immune system, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are the immune cells that initiate the autoimmune inflammatory process. However, there are few reports on the mechanisms of peripheral blood immunity in RA. Methods ScRNA-seq was performed on four RA samples and integrated with single-cell transcriptome data from four healthy control samples downloaded from publicly available databases for analysis. Results A total of 52,073 cells were used for descending clustering analysis to map RA peripheral blood immune cells at single-cell resolution. Redimensional clustering analysis of four major immune cells (T cells, monocytes, B cells, and natural killer cells) revealed that double-negative T (DNT) cells were significantly altered in abundance and function. And a number of genes (including SOCS3, cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM), B2M, MTFP1, RSRP1, and YWHAB) were specifically downregulated in DNT cells. RA T cells, especially DNT cells, exhibit significant metabolic defects and dysfunction, mainly in the form of inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthesis, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I-mediated antigen presentation. In addition, cellular communication networks were established, and it was evident that RA is significantly attenuated in the number and intensity of cellular communication. Monocytes and T cells play key roles in the process of the immune inflammatory response through CCL and MHC-related pathways. Conclusions This study describes the landscape of the peripheral blood immune system and cell communication in RA, characterizes the abundance of PBMCs, gene expression profiles, and changes in signaling pathways in RA patients, and identifies several key cell subpopulations (DNT and classic monocytes) and specific genes (SOCS3, CREM, B2M, MTFP1, RSRP1, and YWHAB). Meanwhile, we propose that classic monocytes in peripheral blood may migrate to sites of inflammation in synovial tissue under the chemotaxis of the chemokines CCL3 and CCL3L1, differentiate into macrophages, secrete proinflammatory cytokines, and thus participate in the inflammatory response. These findings provide new insights for the future elucidation of the peripheral blood immune mechanisms of RA and the search for new clinical therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqiang Song
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
- College of Medicine, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Lijun Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Jinke Fan
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Tao Peng
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Ying Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | | | - Xiaotong Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Xudong Liu
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
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Zhang C, Hong X, Yu H, Xu H, Qiu X, Cai W, Hocher B, Dai W, Tang D, Liu D, Dai Y. Gene regulatory network study of rheumatoid arthritis in single-cell chromatin landscapes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Mod Rheumatol 2023; 33:739-750. [PMID: 35796437 DOI: 10.1093/mr/roac072] [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: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Assays for transposase-accessible chromatin with single-cell sequencing (scATAC-seq) contribute to the progress in epigenetic studies. The purpose of our project was to discover the transcription factors (TFs) that were involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at a single-cell resolution using epigenetic technology. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of seven RA patients and seven natural controls were extracted nuclei suspensions for library construction. Subsequently, scATAC-seq was performed to generate a high-resolution map of active regulatory DNA for bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS We obtained 22 accessible chromatin patterns. Then, 10 key TFs were involved in RA pathogenesis by regulating the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Consequently, two genes (PTPRC and SPAG9) regulated by 10 key TFs were found, which may be associated with RA disease pathogenesis, and these TFs were obviously enriched in RA patients (P < .05, fold change value > 1.2). With further quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation on PTPRC and SPAG9 in monocytes, we found differential expression of these two genes, which were regulated by eight TFs [ZNF384, HNF1B, DMRTA2, MEF2A, NFE2L1, CREB3L4 (var. 2), FOSL2::JUNB (var. 2), and MEF2B], showing highly accessible binding sites in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the value of using scATAC-seq to reveal transcriptional regulatory variation in RA-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells, providing insights into therapy from an epigenetic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cantong Zhang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoping Hong
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Haiyan Yu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Huixuan Xu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaofen Qiu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanxia Cai
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Berthold Hocher
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Weier Dai
- College of Natural Science, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Donge Tang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongzhou Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong Dai
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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Inhibitory Effect of Jinwujiangu Prescription on Peripheral Blood Osteoclasts in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Relevant Molecular Mechanism. Mediators Inflamm 2023; 2023:4814412. [PMID: 36816744 PMCID: PMC9931489 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4814412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease characterized with high recurrence, high disability, poor prognosis, and long treatment cycles. Versus western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has the traits of definite efficacy, low toxicity, and side effects in the treatment of RA. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine also has the advantages of multiple targets, multiple links, and multiple approaches. This study was committed to exploring the effect of Jinwujiangu prescription on peripheral blood osteoclasts in those patients with RA and relevant molecular mechanisms. We first identified 159 common targets by online pharmacology, and there were correlations among these targets; besides, the main signaling pathways involved were inclusive TNF signaling pathway, rheumatoid arthritis, IL-17 signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, etc. Through experimental verification, we found that PBMC cells extracted from human peripheral blood could be successfully induced into osteoclasts, and Jinwujiangu prescription inhibited the generation of osteoclasts from PBMCs of RA patients. CCK-8 and flow cytometry showed that osteoclast viability was significantly decreased and osteoclast apoptosis was significantly increased in the HIF-1α interference group; low-, medium-, and high-dose Jinwujiangu prescription groups; sinapine group; and hydroxychloroquine control group. Moreover, Jinwujiangu prescription and sinapine could inhibit the production of cytokines in peripheral blood osteoclasts and inhibit autophagy in RA patients. The expression level of mTOR was significantly increased in both Jinwu middle- and high-dose groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that sinapine, the active target in Jinwujiangu prescription, can act as a HIF-1α inhibitor; activate the mTOR pathway; downregulate the level of autophagy rate, ATG5, beclin-1, and LC3 expression; and inhibit the occurrence of autophagy. The trial registration number of the study is KYW2021010.
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Li Z, Yao R, Ying Y, Qian J, Shen Y, Gao L, Yang Q, Luo X. Progress and application on severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model for rheumatoid arthritis: a literature review. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2021; 67:1735-1738. [PMID: 34730675 DOI: 10.1590/1806-9282.20210715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Li
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Ruifeng Yao
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Yanqing Ying
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Junyu Qian
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Yifan Shen
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Ling Gao
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Qiteng Yang
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
| | - Xinjing Luo
- Taizhou University, School of Medicine - Taizhou (Zhejiang), China
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