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Matsumoto K, Suzuki K, Yasuoka H, Hirahashi J, Yoshida H, Magi M, Noguchi-Sasaki M, Kaneko Y, Takeuchi T. Longitudinal monitoring of circulating immune cell phenotypes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Autoimmun Rev 2023; 22:103271. [PMID: 36627064 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a necrotizing multiorgan autoimmune disease that affects small- to medium-sized blood vessels. Despite the improvements in treatments, half of the patients with AAV still experience disease relapses. In this review, we focus on peripheral leukocyte properties and phenotypes in patients with AAV. In particular, we explore longitudinal changes in circulating immune cell phenotypes during the active phase of the disease and treatment. The numbers and phenotypes of leukocytes in peripheral blood were differs between AAV and healthy controls, AAV in active versus inactive phase, AAV in treatment responders versus non-responders, and AAV with and without severe infection. Therefore, biomarkers detected in peripheral blood immune cells may be useful for longitudinal monitoring of disease activity in AAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Matsumoto
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Katsuya Suzuki
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidekata Yasuoka
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Junichi Hirahashi
- Center for General Medicine Education, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Mayu Magi
- Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | - Yuko Kaneko
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Takeuchi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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2
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Oszwald A, Mejía-Pedroza RA, Schachner H, Aigner C, Rees A, Kain R. Digital Spatial Profiling of Glomerular Gene Expression in Pauci-Immune Focal Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis. KIDNEY360 2023; 4:83-91. [PMID: 36700908 PMCID: PMC10101620 DOI: 10.34067/kid.000461202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Pauci-immune focal necrotizing glomerulonephritis (piFNGN) involves asynchronous onset and progression of injurious lesions in biopsies. Pathologists can describe this heterogeneity within a biopsy, but translating the information into prognostic or expression analyses is challenging. Understanding the underlying molecular processes could improve treatment; however, bulk or single-cell transcriptomic analyses of dissociated tissue disregard the heterogeneity of glomerular injury. We characterize protein and mRNA expression of individual glomeruli in 20 biopsies from 18 patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated piFNGN using the NanoString digital spatial profiling (DSP) platform. For this purpose, circular annotations of glomeruli were analyzed using protein, immuno-oncology RNA, and Cancer Transcriptome Atlas panels (n=120, 72, and 48 glomeruli, respectively). Histologic evaluation of glomerular patterns of injury was performed in adjacent serial sections. Expression data were processed by log2 transformation, quantile normalization, and batch adjustment. DSP revealed distinct but overlapping gene expression profiles relating to the morphological evolution of injurious lesions, including dynamic expression of various immune checkpoint regulators. Enrichment analysis indicated deregulated pathways that underline known and highlight novel potential mechanisms of disease. Moreover, by capturing individual glomeruli, DSP describes heterogeneity between and within biopsies. We demonstrate the benefit of spatial profiling for characterization of heterogeneous glomerular injury, indicating novel molecular correlates of glomerular injury in piFNGN.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Oszwald
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Helga Schachner
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christof Aigner
- Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrew Rees
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renate Kain
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Fuchs S, Scheffschick A, Gunnarsson I, Brauner H. Natural Killer Cells in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis - A Review of the Literature. Front Immunol 2022; 12:796640. [PMID: 35116030 PMCID: PMC8805084 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.796640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)- associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammation of small- and medium-sized vessels. The three main types of AAV are granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). A growing number of studies focus on natural killer (NK) cells in AAV. NK cells are innate lymphoid cells with important roles in anti-viral and anti-tumor defense, but their roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity is less well established. In this review, we will present a summary of what is known about the number, phenotype and function of NK cells in patients with AAV. We review the literature on NK cells in the circulation of AAV patients, studies on tissue resident NK cells and how the treatment affects NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Fuchs
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrea Scheffschick
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iva Gunnarsson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna Brauner
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Dermato-Venereology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Żabińska M, Kościelska-Kasprzak K, Krajewska J, Bartoszek D, Augustyniak-Bartosik H, Krajewska M. Immune Cells Profiling in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients-Relation to Disease Activity. Cells 2021; 10:1773. [PMID: 34359942 PMCID: PMC8307495 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are a group of necrotizing multiorgan autoimmune vasculitides that predominantly affect small blood vessels and are associated with the presence of ANCAs. The aim was to assess regulatory and effector cell populations accompanied by the suPAR biomarker level and link the so-defined immune state to the AAV disease activity. The research involved a multicomponent description of an immune state encompassing a range of B and T cell subsets such as transitional/regulatory B cells (CD19+CD24++CD38++), naïve B cells (CD19+CD24INTCD38INT), Th17 cells, T regulatory cells (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) and cytotoxic CD4+CD28- cells by flow cytometry. The suPAR plasma level was measured by ELISA. The results indicate that AAV is associated with an increased suPAR plasma level and immune fingerprint characterized by an expansion of Th17 cells and T cells lacking the costimulatory molecule CD28, accompanied by a decrease of regulatory populations (Tregs and transitional B cells) and NK cells. Decreased numbers of regulatory T cells and transitional B cells were shown to be linked to activation of the AAV disease while the increased suPAR plasma level-to AAV-related deterioration of kidney function. The observed immune fingerprint might be a reflection of peripheral tolerance failure responsible for development and progression of ANCA-associated vasculitides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelina Żabińska
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.K.-K.); (D.B.); (H.A.-B.); (M.K.)
| | - Katarzyna Kościelska-Kasprzak
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.K.-K.); (D.B.); (H.A.-B.); (M.K.)
| | - Joanna Krajewska
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Dorota Bartoszek
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.K.-K.); (D.B.); (H.A.-B.); (M.K.)
| | - Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.K.-K.); (D.B.); (H.A.-B.); (M.K.)
| | - Magdalena Krajewska
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.K.-K.); (D.B.); (H.A.-B.); (M.K.)
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Merkt W, Salzer U, Thiel J, Jandova I, Bergner R, Venhoff AC, Venhoff N. Blood CD3-(CD56 or 16)+ natural killer cell distributions are heterogeneous in healthy adults and suppressed by azathioprine in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides. BMC Immunol 2021; 22:26. [PMID: 33840389 PMCID: PMC8040212 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-021-00416-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cytotoxic Natural Killer (NK) cells are increasingly recognized as a powerful tool to induce targeted cell death in cancer and autoimmune diseases. Still, basic blood NK cell parameters are poorly defined. The aims of this study were 1) to establish reference values of NK cell counts and percentages in healthy adults; 2) to describe these parameters in the prototype autoimmune disease group ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV); and 3) to investigate whether NK cell counts and percentages may be used as activity biomarkers in the care of AAV patients, as suggested by a preceding study. Methods CD3-(CD56 or 16)+ NK cell counts and percentages were determined in 120 healthy adults. Lymphocyte subset and clinical data from two German vasculitis centers were analyzed retrospectively (in total 407 measurements, including 201/49/157 measurements from 64/16/39 patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), respectively). Results CD3-(CD56 or 16)+ NK cell counts and percentages in healthy adults were highly variable, not Gaussian distributed and independent of age and sex. NK cell percentages ranged from 1.9 to 37.9% of lymphocytes, and were significantly more dispersed in AAV (0.3 to 57.6%), while the median percentage was not different between AAV and healthy donors. In contrast, median NK cell counts were significantly lower in AAV compared to healthy donors. Sub-group analyses revealed that NK cell counts were low independent of AAV entity and disease activity. Azathioprine therapy was associated with significantly lower NK cell counts and percentages compared to non-azathioprine therapies. In 13.6% of azathioprine-treated patients, percentages were </= 1% which may be interpreted as temporary NK cell deficiency. NK cell counts and percentages could not separate active from inactive AAV. Conclusions NK cell counts and percentages in blood are heterogeneous and can presently not be recommended as biomarker in clinical care of AAV patients. Azathioprine treatment was associated with significantly low NK cells. These findings may be relevant for the development of drugs that aim at exploiting NK cell cytotoxicity and may help to identify patients at risk to develop malignant or infectious co-morbidities. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12865-021-00416-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Merkt
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Salzer
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Jens Thiel
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ilona Jandova
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Raoul Bergner
- Department of Rheumatology, Nephrology, Haemato-Oncology, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Ana C Venhoff
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Nils Venhoff
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
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Urlaub D, Zhao S, Blank N, Bergner R, Claus M, Tretter T, Lorenz HM, Watzl C, Merkt W. Activation of natural killer cells by rituximab in granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Arthritis Res Ther 2019; 21:277. [PMID: 31829278 PMCID: PMC6907269 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-019-2054-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective In the last few years, anti-CD20 antibody rituximab profoundly changed the therapeutic landscape of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Here, we investigated whether natural killer (NK) cells may play a role in rituximab’s mechanism of action in GPA. Methods B cell depletion, NK cell degranulation, and the expression of CD69 and CD16 on NK cells were measured in a series of in vitro experiments using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In vivo activation of NK cells was investigated in patients receiving rituximab infusions. Cells were analyzed by seven-color flow cytometry. Results NK cells from GPA patients were activated by immobilized rituximab. Also soluble rituximab activated NK cells, provided that B cells were present. NK cells degranulated and expressed the activation marker CD69 while CD16 expression was decreased. This activation of NK cells by soluble rituximab was accompanied by a reduction of B cells. The next-generation anti-CD20 antibody obinutuzumab showed stronger effects compared to rituximab on both the reduction of B cells and the activation of NK cells. Finally, we found that rituximab led to the activation of NK cells in vivo, provided that B cells were not depleted due to prior rituximab infusions. Conclusion B cell-bound rituximab activates NK cells in GPA. While NK cells therefore participate in rituximab’s mechanism of action in humans, their potential may be more efficiently exploited, e.g., by Fc engineering of therapeutic antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Urlaub
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Shuyang Zhao
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norbert Blank
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Raoul Bergner
- Department of Rheumatology, Nephrology, Oncology, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Maren Claus
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Theresa Tretter
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanns-Martin Lorenz
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Watzl
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Merkt
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Carvajal Alegria G, Gazeau P, Hillion S, Daïen CI, Cornec DYK. Could Lymphocyte Profiling be Useful to Diagnose Systemic Autoimmune Diseases? Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2018; 53:219-236. [PMID: 28474288 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-017-8608-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Considering the implications of B, T, and natural killer (NK) cells in the pathophysiology of systemic autoimmune diseases, the assessment of their distribution in the blood could be helpful for physicians in the complex process of determining a precise diagnosis. In primary Sjögren's syndrome, transitional and active naive B cells are increased and memory B cells are decreased compared to healthy controls and other systemic diseases. However, their utility to improve the accuracy of classification criteria has not been proven. In early untreated rheumatoid arthritis, proportions of regulatory T cells are constantly reduced, but other patterns are difficult to determine given the heterogeneity of published studies. In systemic lupus erythematosus, the lack of studies using large cohorts of patients and the diversity of the possible pathological mechanisms involved are also important impediments. Nevertheless, transitional B cell and plasma cell proportions are increased in most of the studies, the CD4/CD8 ratio is decreased, and the number of NK cells is reduced. Despite the low number of studies, anomalies of lymphocyte subset distribution was also described in ANCA-associated vasculitis, systemic scleroderma, and myositis. For now, flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subsets has focused mainly on specific subpopulations and is more useful for basic and translational research than for diagnostics in clinical practice. However, new modern methods such as mass cytometry and bioinformatics analyses may offer the possibility to simultaneously account for the relative proportions of multiple lymphocyte subsets and define a global profile in homogeneous groups of patients. The years to come will certainly incorporate such global lymphocyte profiling in reclassification of systemic autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Carvajal Alegria
- Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche, CHRU Brest, BP 824, 29609, Brest cedex, France.,INSERM U1227, European University of Brest, Brest, France
| | - Pierre Gazeau
- Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche, CHRU Brest, BP 824, 29609, Brest cedex, France
| | - Sophie Hillion
- INSERM U1227, European University of Brest, Brest, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Immunothérapie, CHRU Morvan, Brest, France
| | - Claire I Daïen
- Rheumatology Department, Lapeyronie Hospital and Montpellier I University, Montpellier, France.,UMR5535, CNRS, Institute of molecular genetic, Montpellier, France
| | - Divi Y K Cornec
- Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche, CHRU Brest, BP 824, 29609, Brest cedex, France. .,INSERM U1227, European University of Brest, Brest, France.
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Merkt W, Lorenz HM, Watzl C. Rituximab and Fcγ Receptors in Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener's): Comment on the Article by Cartin-Ceba et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 69:1506-1507. [PMID: 28388812 DOI: 10.1002/art.40119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Merkt
- University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany and Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Watzl
- Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
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