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Jin H, Arase H. Neoself Antigens Presented on MHC Class II Molecules in Autoimmune Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1444:51-65. [PMID: 38467972 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9781-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules play a crucial role in immunity by presenting peptide antigens to helper T cells. Immune cells are generally tolerant to self-antigens. However, when self-tolerance is broken, immune cells attack normal tissues or cells, leading to the development of autoimmune diseases. Genome-wide association studies have shown that MHC class II is the gene most strongly associated with the risk of most autoimmune diseases. When misfolded self-antigens, called neoself antigens, are associated with MHC class II molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum, they are transported by the MHC class II molecules to the cell surface without being processed into peptides. Moreover, neoself antigens that are complexed with MHC class II molecules of autoimmune disease risk alleles exhibit distinct antigenicities compared to normal self-antigens, making them the primary targets of autoantibodies in various autoimmune diseases. Elucidation of the immunological functions of neoself antigens presented on MHC class II molecules is crucial for understanding the mechanism of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jin
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisashi Arase
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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Bao Y, Kim D, Cho YH, Ku CR, Yoon JS, Lee EJ. Cre-loxP System-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Graves' Disease and Associated Orbitopathy. Thyroid 2023; 33:1358-1367. [PMID: 37624749 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Background: Graves' disease (GD), one of the most common forms of autoimmune thyroid disorders, is characterized by hyperthyroidism caused by antibodies (Abs) against the extracellular A-subunit of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR). Various approaches have been used to create mouse models of GD, including transfected fibroblasts and immunization with plasmids or adenoviruses expressing human TSHR A-subunit (hTSHR A-subunit). These models, however, require repeated immunization and produce inconsistent results. In this study, we established a novel Cre-loxP system-based mouse model that is able to generate the hTSHR A-subunit, mimicking human GD, and characterized the histological changes in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) progression after a single injection. Materials and Methods: A Cre-loxP system-based mouse model was constructed by inserting the CAG-loxP-STOP-loxP-hTSHR A-subunit cassette into the Rosa26 locus of the mouse genome. Conditional expression of the hTSHR A-subunit was successfully achieved by intramuscular injection of the transactivator of transcription-Cre recombinase (GD mice). Blood tests for anti-TSHR Abs and the total thyroxine (T4) level were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to monitor morphological changes in the eyes. A histological examination of the thyroid gland and retrobulbar tissues was performed to observe pathological changes. Results: Twenty-four (8 control and 16 GD) mice were investigated. All GD mice exhibited higher levels of TSHR Abs compared with the control group. Moreover, more than 80% of the mouse models showed elevated T4 levels accompanied by thyroid goiter. MRI analysis revealed an increased volume of retrobulbar tissue, while immunohistochemical staining of orbital tissues exhibited macrophage infiltration and muscle fibrosis in the GD mice, contrasting with the control group. Conclusions: Our novel mouse model for GD, which showed the histological features of GO, was successfully established using the Cre-loxP system. This animal model offers improved insights and contributes to advancing methodological developments for GD and GO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Bao
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daham Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Hee Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Ryong Ku
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Sook Yoon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jig Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Shen F, Liu J, Fang L, Fang Y, Zhou H. Development and application of animal models to study thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. Exp Eye Res 2023; 230:109436. [PMID: 36914000 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109436] [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: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), also known as Graves' ophthalmopathy, is an autoimmune disease that is usually accompanied by hyperthyroidism. Its pathogenesis involves the activation of autoimmune T lymphocytes by a cross-antigen reaction of thyroid and orbital tissues. The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is known to play an important role in the development of TAO. Because of the difficulty of orbital tissue biopsy, the establishment of an ideal animal model is important for developing novel clinical therapies of TAO. To date, TAO animal modeling methods are mainly based on inducing experimental animals to produce anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAbs) and then recruit autoimmune T lymphocytes. Currently, the most common methods are hTSHR-A subunit plasmid electroporation and hTSHR-A subunit adenovirus transfection. These animal models provide a powerful tool for exploring the internal relationship between local and systemic immune microenvironment disorders of the TAO orbit, facilitating the development of new drugs. However, existing TAO modeling methods still have some defects, such as low modeling rate, long modeling cycles, low repetition rate, and considerable differences from human histology. Hence, the modeling methods require further innovation, improvement, and in-depth exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lianfei Fang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Yan Fang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Huifang Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Jin H, Kishida K, Arase N, Matsuoka S, Nakai W, Kohyama M, Suenaga T, Yamamoto K, Sasazuki T, Arase H. Abrogation of self-tolerance by misfolded self-antigens complexed with MHC class II molecules. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj9867. [PMID: 35245125 PMCID: PMC8896794 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Specific MHC class II alleles are strongly associated with susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases. Although the primary function of MHC class II molecules is to present peptides to helper T cells, MHC class II molecules also function like a chaperone to transport misfolded intracellular proteins to the cell surface. In this study, we found that autoantibodies in patients with Graves' disease preferentially recognize thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) complexed with MHC class II molecules of Graves' disease risk alleles, suggesting that the aberrant TSHR transported by MHC class II molecules is the target of autoantibodies produced in Graves' disease. Mice injected with cells expressing mouse TSHR complexed with MHC class II molecules, but not TSHR alone, produced anti-TSHR autoantibodies. These findings suggested that aberrant self-antigens transported by MHC class II molecules exhibit antigenic properties that differ from normal self-antigens and abrogate self-tolerance, providing a novel mechanism for autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jin
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kazuki Kishida
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Noriko Arase
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Dermatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Sumiko Matsuoka
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Wataru Nakai
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masako Kohyama
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tadahiro Suenaga
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Ken Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
| | - Takehiko Sasazuki
- Kyushu University Institute for Advanced Study, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hisashi Arase
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Zhang M, Ding X, Wu LP, He MQ, Chen ZY, Shi BY, Wang Y. A Promising Mouse Model of Graves' Orbitopathy Induced by Adenovirus Expressing Thyrotropin Receptor A Subunit. Thyroid 2021; 31:638-648. [PMID: 33076782 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2020.0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is the most common and serious manifestation of Graves' disease (GD). It is characterized by orbital inflammation and tissue remodeling. Although several GO models have been reported, most lack a full assessment or mechanistic evaluation. Here, we established a promising mouse model mimicking many aspects of human GO with a frequency of 70% and characterized the key role of T cells in the progression of GO. Methods: An adenovirus expressing the human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor A subunit (Ad-TSHRA) was injected in the muscles of female BALB/C mice nine times to induce GO. At predetermined time points, histological examinations of retrobulbar tissues and thyroid glands were performed to dynamically monitor changes; serum autoantibodies and total thyroxine levels were examined to evaluate thyroid function. Flow cytometry of CD4+ T cell subgroups and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of splenocytes were also performed to explore the underlying mechanism. Results: After nine injections, 7 of 10 mice challenged with Ad-TSHRA developed the orbital changes associated with GO. Seven mice manifested retrobulbar fibrosis, and four mice showed adipogenesis. Exophthalmia, conjunctival redness, and orbital lymphocyte infiltration were also observed in a subset of mice. The orbitopathy was first detected after seven injections and followed the hyperplastic change observed in thyroids after four injections. Flow cytometry revealed increased proportions of Th1 cells and decreased proportions of Th2 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the splenocytes of GO mice. This change in CD4+ T cell subgroups was confirmed by orbital immunohistochemical staining. Genes involved in T cell receptor signaling, proliferation, adhesion, inflammation, and cytotoxicity were upregulated in GO mice according to the RNA-Seq; a trend of upregulation of these GO-specific genes was observed in mice with hyperthyroidism without orbitopathy after four injections. Conclusions: A GO mouse model was successfully established by administering nine injections of Ad-TSHRA. The model was achieved with a frequency of 70% and revealed the importance of T cell immunity. A potential time window from Graves' hyperthyroidism to GO was presented for the first time. Therefore, this model could be used to study the pathogenesis and novel treatments for GO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xi Ding
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li-Ping Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ming-Qian He
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zi-Yi Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bing-Yin Shi
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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McLachlan SM, Rapoport B. A transgenic mouse that spontaneously develops pathogenic TSH receptor antibodies will facilitate study of antigen-specific immunotherapy for human Graves' disease. Endocrine 2019; 66:137-148. [PMID: 31560118 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-02083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Graves' hyperthyroidism can be treated but not cured. Antigen-specific immunotherapy would accomplish this goal, for which purpose an animal model is an invaluable tool. Two types of animal models are available. First, pathogenic TSHR antibodies (TSHRAb) can be induced by injecting mice with fibroblasts co-expressing the human TSHR (hTSHR) and MHC class II, or in mammals using plasmid or adenovirus vectors encoding the hTSHR or its A-subunit. Second, a mouse model that spontaneously develops pathogenic TSHRAb resembling those in human disease was recently described. This outcome was accomplished by transgenic intrathyroidal expression of the hTSHR A-subunit in NOD.H2h4 mice that are genetically predisposed to develop thyroiditis but, without the transgene, do not generate TSHRAb. Recently, novel approaches to antigen-specific immunotherapy have been tested, primarily in the induced model, by injecting TSHR A-subunit protein or cyclic TSHR peptides. T-cell tolerance has also been induced in "humanized" HLA-DR3 mice by injecting synthetic peptides predicted in silico to mimic naturally processed TSHR T-cell epitopes. Indeed, a phase 1 study based on the latter approach has been conducted in humans. In the spontaneous model (hTSHR/NOD.H2h mice), injection of soluble or nanoparticle-bearing hTSHR A-subunits had the unwanted effect of exacerbating pathogenic TSHRAb levels. A promising avenue for tolerance induction, successful in other conditions and yet to be tested with the TSHR, involves encapsulating the antigen. In conclusion, these studies provide insight into the potential outcome of immunotherapeutic approaches and emphasize the importance of a spontaneous model to test future novel, antigen-specific immunotherapies for Graves' disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M McLachlan
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 100 Medical Plaza Driveway, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Basil Rapoport
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 100 Medical Plaza Driveway, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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McLachlan SM, Aliesky HA, Rapoport B. A Mouse Thyrotropin Receptor A-Subunit Transgene Expressed in Thyroiditis-Prone Mice May Provide Insight into Why Graves' Disease Only Occurs in Humans. Thyroid 2019; 29:1138-1146. [PMID: 31184281 PMCID: PMC6707033 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2019.0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background: Graves' disease, caused by autoantibodies that activate the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor (TSHR), has only been reported in humans. Thyroiditis-prone NOD.H2h4 mice develop autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) but not to the TSHR. Evidence supports the importance of the shed TSHR A-subunit in the initiation and/or amplification of the autoimmune response to the holoreceptor. Cells expressing the gene for the isolated A-subunit secrete A-subunit protein, a surrogate for holoreceptor A-subunit shedding. NOD.H2h4 mice with the human TSHR A-subunit targeted to the thyroid (a "self" antigen in such transgenic (Tgic) animals), unlike their wild-type (wt) siblings, spontaneously develop pathogenic TSHR antibodies to the human-TSH holoreceptor. These autoantibodies do not recognize the endogenous mouse-TSH holoreceptor and do not cause hyperthyroidism. Methods: We have now generated NOD.H2h4 mice with the mouse-TSHR A-subunit transgene targeted to the thyroid. Tgic mice and wt littermates were compared for intrathyroidal expression of the mouse A-subunit. Sera from six-month-old mice were tested for the presence of autoantibodies to Tg and TPO as well as for pathogenic TSHR antibodies (TSH binding inhibition, bioassay for thyroid stimulating antibodies) and nonpathogenic TSHR antibodies (ELISA). Results: Expression of the mouse TSHR A-subunit transgene in the thyroid was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the Tgics and had no effect on the spontaneous development of autoantibodies to Tg or TPO. However, unlike the same NOD.H2h4 strain with the human-TSHR A-subunit target to the thyroid, mice expressing intrathyroidal mouse-TSHR A subunit failed to develop either pathogenic or nonpathogenic TSHR antibodies. The mouse TSHR A-subunit differs from the human TSHR A-subunit in terms of its amino acid sequence and has one less glycosylation site than the human TSHR A-subunit. Conclusions: Multiple genetic and environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of Graves' disease. The present study suggests that the TSHR A-subunit structure (possibly including posttranslational modification such as glycosylation) may explain, in part, why Graves' disease only develops in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M. McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
- UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Address correspondence to: Sandra M. McLachlan, PhD, Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, B-131, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Holly A. Aliesky
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - Basil Rapoport
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
- UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
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Ząbczyńska M, Kozłowska K, Pocheć E. Glycosylation in the Thyroid Gland: Vital Aspects of Glycoprotein Function in Thyrocyte Physiology and Thyroid Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2792. [PMID: 30227620 PMCID: PMC6163523 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The key proteins responsible for hormone synthesis in the thyroid are glycosylated. Oligosaccharides strongly affect the function of glycosylated proteins. Both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the pituitary gland and TSH receptors on the surface of thyrocytes contain N-glycans, which are crucial to their proper activity. Thyroglobulin (Tg), the protein backbone for synthesis of thyroid hormones, is a heavily N-glycosylated protein, containing 20 putative N-glycosylated sites. N-oligosaccharides play a role in Tg transport into the follicular lumen, where thyroid hormones are produced, and into thyrocytes, where hyposialylated Tg is degraded. N-glycans of the cell membrane transporters sodium/iodide symporter and pendrin are necessary for iodide transport. Some changes in glycosylation result in abnormal activity of the thyroid and alteration of the metabolic clearance rate of hormones. Alteration of glycan structures is a pathological process related to the progression of chronic diseases such as thyroid cancers and autoimmunity. Thyroid carcinogenesis is accompanied by changes in sialylation and fucosylation, β1,6-branching of glycans, the content and structure of poly-LacNAc chains, as well as O-GlcNAcylation, while in thyroid autoimmunity the main processes affected are sialylation and fucosylation. The glycobiology of the thyroid gland is an intensively studied field of research, providing new data helpful in understanding the role of the sugar component in thyroid protein biology and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ząbczyńska
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Kamila Kozłowska
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Ewa Pocheć
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
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Schlüter A, Horstmann M, Diaz-Cano S, Plöhn S, Stähr K, Mattheis S, Oeverhaus M, Lang S, Flögel U, Berchner-Pfannschmidt U, Eckstein A, Banga JP. Genetic immunization with mouse thyrotrophin hormone receptor plasmid breaks self-tolerance for a murine model of autoimmune thyroid disease and Graves' orbitopathy. Clin Exp Immunol 2017; 191:255-267. [PMID: 29058307 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental models of Graves' hyperthyroid disease accompanied by Graves' orbitopathy (GO) can be induced efficiently in susceptible inbred strains of mice by immunization by electroporation of heterologous human TSH receptor (TSHR) A-subunit plasmid. In this study, we report on the development of a bona fide murine model of autoimmune Graves' disease induced with homologous mouse TSHR A-subunit plasmid. Autoimmune thyroid disease in the self-antigen model was accompanied by GO and characterized by histopathology of hyperplastic glands with large thyroid follicular cells. Examination of orbital tissues showed significant inflammation in extra-ocular muscle with accumulation of T cells and macrophages together with substantial deposition of adipose tissue. Notably, increased levels of brown adipose tissue were present in the orbital tissue of animals undergoing experimental GO. Further analysis of inflammatory loci by 19 F-magnetic resonance imaging showed inflammation to be confined to orbital muscle and optic nerve, but orbital fat showed no difference in inflammatory signs in comparison to control β-Gal-immunized animals. Pathogenic antibodies induced to mouse TSHR were specific for the self-antigen, with minimal cross-reactivity to human TSHR. Moreover, compared to other self-antigen models of murine Graves' disease induced in TSHR knock-out mice, the repertoire of autoantibodies to mouse TSHR generated following the breakdown of thymic self-tolerance is different to those that arise when tolerance is not breached immunologically, as in the knock-out models. Overall, we show that mouse TSHR A-subunit plasmid immunization by electroporation overcomes tolerance to self-antigen to provide a faithful model of Graves' disease and GO.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Schlüter
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Departments of Ophthalmology University Hospital Essen, Germany.,Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - M Horstmann
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Departments of Ophthalmology University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - S Diaz-Cano
- Department of Histopathology, King's College Hospital NHS, London, UK
| | - S Plöhn
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Departments of Ophthalmology University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - K Stähr
- Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - S Mattheis
- Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - M Oeverhaus
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - S Lang
- Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - U Flögel
- Experimental Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Molecular Cardiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - A Eckstein
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Departments of Ophthalmology University Hospital Essen, Germany.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - J P Banga
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Departments of Ophthalmology University Hospital Essen, Germany
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10
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Ludwig RJ, Vanhoorelbeke K, Leypoldt F, Kaya Z, Bieber K, McLachlan SM, Komorowski L, Luo J, Cabral-Marques O, Hammers CM, Lindstrom JM, Lamprecht P, Fischer A, Riemekasten G, Tersteeg C, Sondermann P, Rapoport B, Wandinger KP, Probst C, El Beidaq A, Schmidt E, Verkman A, Manz RA, Nimmerjahn F. Mechanisms of Autoantibody-Induced Pathology. Front Immunol 2017; 8:603. [PMID: 28620373 PMCID: PMC5449453 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 305] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoantibodies are frequently observed in healthy individuals. In a minority of these individuals, they lead to manifestation of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Graves' disease. Overall, more than 2.5% of the population is affected by autoantibody-driven autoimmune disease. Pathways leading to autoantibody-induced pathology greatly differ among different diseases, and autoantibodies directed against the same antigen, depending on the targeted epitope, can have diverse effects. To foster knowledge in autoantibody-induced pathology and to encourage development of urgently needed novel therapeutic strategies, we here categorized autoantibodies according to their effects. According to our algorithm, autoantibodies can be classified into the following categories: (1) mimic receptor stimulation, (2) blocking of neural transmission, (3) induction of altered signaling, triggering uncontrolled (4) microthrombosis, (5) cell lysis, (6) neutrophil activation, and (7) induction of inflammation. These mechanisms in relation to disease, as well as principles of autoantibody generation and detection, are reviewed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf J. Ludwig
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Karen Vanhoorelbeke
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Frank Leypoldt
- Neuroimmunology, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Neuroimmunology, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ziya Kaya
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Bieber
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sandra M. McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lars Komorowski
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, Affiliated to Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | | | - Jon M. Lindstrom
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Peter Lamprecht
- Department of Rheumatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andrea Fischer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Tersteeg
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | | | - Basil Rapoport
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Klaus-Peter Wandinger
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical-Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christian Probst
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, Affiliated to Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Asmaa El Beidaq
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Enno Schmidt
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Alan Verkman
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Rudolf A. Manz
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Falk Nimmerjahn
- Department of Biology, Institute of Genetics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this article is to summarize the recent advances on experimental Graves' hyperthyroidism and orbitopathy as studied in two widely used mouse models, which involve repetitive genetic vaccinations using either adenovirus or in-vivo electroporation of the eukaryotic expression plasmid expressing the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) as a vector. RECENT FINDINGS The models have been improved by using different types of antigens, including the holo receptor, the receptor A-subunit, an alternatively spliced form of variant receptor lacking a single leucine-rich repeat in the codomain, the receptors of human or mouse origin; different mice such as wild-type, TSHR knockout, TSHR transgenic and different inbred mice; and different immunization protocols. They are now useful for elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of not only Graves' hyperthyroidism but also Graves' orbitopathy. SUMMARY This review summarizes the literature of mouse models of Graves' hyperthyroidism and orbitopathy published over the last 3 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nagayama
- aDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University bDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Unit of Translational Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
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Rapoport B, Aliesky HA, Banuelos B, Chen CR, McLachlan SM. A unique mouse strain that develops spontaneous, iodine-accelerated, pathogenic antibodies to the human thyrotrophin receptor. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 194:4154-61. [PMID: 25825442 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abs that stimulate the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), the cause of Graves' hyperthyroidism, only develop in humans. TSHR Abs can be induced in mice by immunization, but studying pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention requires a model without immunization. Spontaneous, iodine-accelerated, thyroid autoimmunity develops in NOD.H2(h4) mice associated with thyroglobulin and thyroid-peroxidase, but not TSHR, Abs. We hypothesized that transferring the human TSHR A-subunit to NOD.H2(h4) mice would result in loss of tolerance to this protein. BALB/c human TSHR A-subunit mice were bred to NOD.H2(h4) mice, and transgenic offspring were repeatedly backcrossed to NOD.H2(h4) mice. All offspring developed Abs to thyroglobulin and thyroid-peroxidase. However, only TSHR-transgenic NOD.H2(h4) mice (TSHR/NOD.H2(h4)) developed pathogenic TSHR Abs as detected using clinical Graves' disease assays. As in humans, TSHR/NOD.H2(h4) female mice were more prone than male mice to developing pathogenic TSHR Abs. Fortunately, in view of the confounding effect of excess thyroid hormone on immune responses, spontaneously arising pathogenic human TSHR Abs cross-react poorly with the mouse TSHR and do not cause thyrotoxicosis. In summary, the TSHR/NOD.H2(h4) mouse strain develops spontaneous, iodine-accelerated, pathogenic TSHR Abs in female mice, providing a unique model to investigate disease pathogenesis and test novel TSHR Ag-specific immunotherapies aimed at curing Graves' disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basil Rapoport
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute/David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Holly A Aliesky
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute/David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Bianca Banuelos
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute/David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Chun-Rong Chen
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute/David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Sandra M McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute/David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90048
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Giménez-Barcons M, Colobran R, Gómez-Pau A, Marín-Sánchez A, Casteràs A, Obiols G, Abella R, Fernández-Doblas J, Tonacchera M, Lucas-Martín A, Pujol-Borrell R. Graves' disease TSHR-stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) induce the activation of immature thymocytes: a clue to the riddle of TSAbs generation? THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 194:4199-206. [PMID: 25801430 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disease defined by the production of stimulating autoantibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) (TSAbs) that induce a sustained state of hyperthyroidism in patients. We previously demonstrated that TSHR, the target of this autoimmune response, is also a key susceptibility gene for GD, probably acting through thymic-dependent central tolerance. We also showed that TSHR is, unexpectedly, expressed in thymocytes. In this report, we confirm the expression of TSHR in thymocytes by protein immunoblotting and quantitative PCR, and show that expression is confined to maturing thymocytes. Using functional assays, we show that thymic TSHR is functional and that TSAbs can stimulate thymocytes through this receptor. This new activity of TSAbs on thymocytes may: 1) explain GD-associated thymic enlargement (hyperplasia), and 2) suggest the provocative hypothesis that the continuous stimulation of thymocytes by TSAbs could lead to a vicious cycle of iterative improvement of the affinity and stimulating capability of initially low-affinity antibacterial (e.g., Yersinia) Abs cross-reactive with TSHR, eventually leading to TSAbs. This may help to fill one of the gaps in our present understanding of unusual characteristics of TSAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger Colobran
- Vall d'Hebron Institute de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Gómez-Pau
- Vall d'Hebron Institute de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Marín-Sánchez
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Casteràs
- Servei de Endocrinologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriel Obiols
- Servei de Endocrinologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl Abella
- Servei de Cirurgia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Massimo Tonacchera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Pisa University, 56126 Pisa, Italy; and
| | - Ana Lucas-Martín
- Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Pujol-Borrell
- Vall d'Hebron Institute de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
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Zhang X, Song Y, Feng M, Zhou X, Lu Y, Gao L, Yu C, Jiang X, Zhao J. Thyroid-stimulating hormone decreases HMG-CoA reductase phosphorylation via AMP-activated protein kinase in the liver. J Lipid Res 2015; 56:963-71. [PMID: 25713102 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m047654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol homeostasis is strictly regulated through the modulation of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis. Phosphorylation of HMGCR inactivates it and dephosphorylation activates it. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the major kinase phosphorylating the enzyme. Our previous study found that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) increased the hepatocytic HMGCR expression, but it was still unclear whether TSH affected hepatic HMGCR phosphorylation associated with AMPK. We used bovine TSH (bTSH) to treat the primary mouse hepatocytes and HepG2 cells with or without constitutively active (CA)-AMPK plasmid or protein kinase A inhibitor (H89), and set up the TSH receptor (Tshr)-KO mouse models. The p-HMGCR, p-AMPK, and related molecular expression were tested. The ratios of p-HMGCR/HMGCR and p-AMPK/AMPK decreased in the hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner following bTSH stimulation. The changes above were inversed when the cells were treated with CA-AMPK plasmid or H89. In Tshr-KO mice, the ratios of liver p-HMGCR/HMGCR and p-AMPK/AMPK were increased relative to the littermate wild-type mice. Consistently, the phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a downstream target molecule of AMPK, increased. All results suggested that TSH could regulate the phosphorylation of HMGCR via AMPK, which established a potential mechanism for hypercholesterolemia involved in a direct action of the TSH in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Zhang
- Departments of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Yongfeng Song
- Departments of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Mei Feng
- Scientific Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Xinli Zhou
- Departments of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Yingli Lu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People'sHospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Ling Gao
- Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Scientific Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Chunxiao Yu
- Departments of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Xiuyun Jiang
- Departments of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Jiajun Zhao
- Departments of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
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McLachlan SM, Rapoport B. Breaking tolerance to thyroid antigens: changing concepts in thyroid autoimmunity. Endocr Rev 2014; 35:59-105. [PMID: 24091783 PMCID: PMC3895862 DOI: 10.1210/er.2013-1055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid autoimmunity involves loss of tolerance to thyroid proteins in genetically susceptible individuals in association with environmental factors. In central tolerance, intrathymic autoantigen presentation deletes immature T cells with high affinity for autoantigen-derived peptides. Regulatory T cells provide an alternative mechanism to silence autoimmune T cells in the periphery. The TSH receptor (TSHR), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and thyroglobulin (Tg) have unusual properties ("immunogenicity") that contribute to breaking tolerance, including size, abundance, membrane association, glycosylation, and polymorphisms. Insight into loss of tolerance to thyroid proteins comes from spontaneous and induced animal models: 1) intrathymic expression controls self-tolerance to the TSHR, not TPO or Tg; 2) regulatory T cells are not involved in TSHR self-tolerance and instead control the balance between Graves' disease and thyroiditis; 3) breaking TSHR tolerance involves contributions from major histocompatibility complex molecules (humans and induced mouse models), TSHR polymorphism(s) (humans), and alternative splicing (mice); 4) loss of tolerance to Tg before TPO indicates that greater Tg immunogenicity vs TPO dominates central tolerance expectations; 5) tolerance is induced by thyroid autoantigen administration before autoimmunity is established; 6) interferon-α therapy for hepatitis C infection enhances thyroid autoimmunity in patients with intact immunity; Graves' disease developing after T-cell depletion reflects reconstitution autoimmunity; and 7) most environmental factors (including excess iodine) "reveal," but do not induce, thyroid autoimmunity. Micro-organisms likely exert their effects via bystander stimulation. Finally, no single mechanism explains the loss of tolerance to thyroid proteins. The goal of inducing self-tolerance to prevent autoimmune thyroid disease will require accurate prediction of at-risk individuals together with an antigen-specific, not blanket, therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, and University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90048
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Shimamura M, Nakahara M, Kurashige T, Yasui K, Nakashima M, Nagayama Y. Disruption of transforming growth factor-β signaling in thyroid follicular epithelial cells or intrathyroidal fibroblasts does not promote thyroid carcinogenesis. Endocr J 2014; 61:297-302. [PMID: 24335009 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej13-0475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) members, pleiotropic cytokines, play a critical role for carcinogenesis generally as a tumor suppressor in the early cancer development, but as a tumor promoter in the late stage of cancer progression. The present study was designed to clarify the role for TGF-β signaling in early thyroid carcinogenesis using the conditional Tgfbr2(floxE2/floxE2) knock-in mice, having 2 loxP sites at introns 1 and 2 of Tgfb2r gene. When these mice were crossed with thyroid peroxidase (TPO)-Cre or fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP1)-Cre, the resultant mice, Tgfbr2(tpoKO) and Tgfbr2(fspKO), lost TGF-β II receptor expression (thereby TGF-β signaling) specifically in the thyroid follicular epithelial cells or fibroblasts, respectively. The thyroid morphology was monitored up to 52 weeks in these mice, showing no tumor development, except one Tgfbr2(tpoKO) mouse developing follicular adenoma like-lesion. Our data suggest that TGF-β signaling in mesenchymal or follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid does not appear to function as a tumor suppressive barrier at the early stage of thyroid carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Shimamura
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523 Japan
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McLachlan SM, Rapoport B. Thyrotropin-blocking autoantibodies and thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies: potential mechanisms involved in the pendulum swinging from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism or vice versa. Thyroid 2013; 23:14-24. [PMID: 23025526 PMCID: PMC3539254 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2012.0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) antibodies that stimulate the thyroid (TSAb) cause Graves' hyperthyroidism and TSHR antibodies which block thyrotropin action (TBAb) are occasionally responsible for hypothyroidism. Unusual patients switch from TSAb to TBAb (or vice versa) with concomitant thyroid function changes. We have examined case reports to obtain insight into the basis for "switching." SUMMARY TBAb to TSAb switching occurs in patients treated with levothyroxine (LT4); the reverse switch (TBAb to TSAb) occurs after anti-thyroid drug therapy; TSAb/TBAb alterations may occur during pregnancy and are well recognized in transient neonatal thyroid dysfunction. Factors that may impact the shift include: (i) LT4 treatment, usually associated with decreased thyroid autoantibodies, in unusual patients induces or enhances thyroid autoantibody levels; (ii) antithyroid drug treatment decreases thyroid autoantibody levels; (iii) hyperthyroidism can polarize antigen-presenting cells, leading to impaired development of regulatory T cells, thereby compromising control of autoimmunity; (iv) immune-suppression/hemodilution reduces thyroid autoantibodies during pregnancy and rebounds postpartum; (v) maternally transferred IgG transiently impacts thyroid function in neonates until metabolized; (vi) a Graves' disease model involving immunizing TSHR-knockout mice with mouse TSHR-adenovirus and transfer of TSHR antibody-secreting splenocytes to athymic mice demonstrates the TSAb to TBAb shift, paralleling the outcome of maternally transferred "term limited" TSHR antibodies in neonates. Finally, perhaps most important, as illustrated by dilution analyses of patients' sera in vitro, TSHR antibody concentrations and affinities play a critical role in switching TSAb and TBAb functional activities in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Switching between TBAb and TSAb (or vice versa) occurs in unusual patients after LT4 therapy for hypothyroidism or anti-thyroid drug treatment for Graves' disease. These changes involve differences in TSAb versus TBAb concentrations, affinities and/or potencies in individual patients. Thus, anti-thyroid drugs or suppression/hemodilution in pregnancy reduce initially low TSAb levels even further, leading to TBAb dominance. In contrast, TSAb emergence after LT4 administration may be sufficient to counteract TBAb inhibition. The occurrence of "switching" emphasizes the need for careful patient monitoring and management. Finally, whole genome screening of relatively rare "switch" patients and appropriate Graves' and Hashimoto's controls could provide unexpected and valuable information regarding the basis for thyroid autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
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McLachlan SM, Aliesky HA, Chen CR, Rapoport B. Role of self-tolerance and chronic stimulation in the long-term persistence of adenovirus-induced thyrotropin receptor antibodies in wild-type and transgenic mice. Thyroid 2012; 22:931-7. [PMID: 22827528 PMCID: PMC3429281 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2012.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Graves'-like disease, reflected by thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) antibodies and hyperthyroidism in some mouse strains, can be induced by immunization with adenovirus-expressing DNA for the human TSHR or its A-subunit. The conventional approach involves two or three adenovirus injections at 3-week intervals and euthanasia 10 weeks after the first injection. To investigate TSHR antibody persistence in mice with differing degrees of self-tolerance to the TSHR A-subunit, we studied the effect of delaying euthanasia until 20 weeks after the initial immunization. METHODS Wild-type (WT) mice and transgenic (tg) mice expressing low intrathyroidal levels of the human TSHR A-subunit were immunized with A-subunit-adenovirus on two occasions; a second group of mice was immunized on three occasions. Sera obtained 4, 10, and 20 weeks (euthanasia) after the initial immunization were tested for thyrotropin (TSH) binding inhibition (TBI), antibody binding to TSHR A-subunit protein-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates, and thyroid stimulating antibody activity (TSAb; cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP] generation). Serum thyroxine (T4) and thyroid histology were studied at euthanasia. RESULTS THE majority of WT mice retained high TSHR antibody levels measured by TBI or ELISA at euthanasia but only about 50% were TSAb positive. Low-expressor tgs exhibited self-tolerance, with fewer mice positive by TBI or ELISA and antibody levels were lower than in WT littermates. In WT mice, antibody persistence was similar after two or three immunizations; for tgs, only mice immunized three times had detectable TSAb at 20 weeks. Unlike our previous observations of hyperthyroidism in WT mice examined 4 or 10 weeks after immunization, all mice were euthyroid at 20 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Our findings for induced TSHR antibodies in mice, similar to data for human thyroid autoantibodies, indicate that the parameters that contribute to the concentration of the antibody and thereby play a critical role in long-term persistence of TSHR antibodies are the degree of self-tolerance to the TSHR and chronic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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Nakahara M, Johnson K, Eckstein A, Taguchi R, Yamada M, Abiru N, Nagayama Y. Adoptive transfer of antithyrotropin receptor (TSHR) autoimmunity from TSHR knockout mice to athymic nude mice. Endocrinology 2012; 153:2034-42. [PMID: 22334716 DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-1846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have recently shown that wild type mice are highly tolerant, whereas thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) knockout (KO) mice are susceptible to immunization with the mouse TSHR, the autoantigen in Graves' disease. However, because TSHR KO mice lack the endogenous TSHR, Graves-like hyperthyroidism cannot be expected to occur in these mice. We therefore performed adoptive transfer of splenocytes from TSHR KO mice into nude mice expressing the endogenous TSHR. Anti-TSHR autoantibodies were detected in approximately 50 % recipient mice 4 wk after adoptive transfer of splenocytes (5 × 10⁷/mouse) from TSHR KO mice immunized with adenovirus expressing mTSHR A subunit and persisted for 24 wk. Depletion of regulatory T cells by anti-CD25 antibody in the donor mice increased successful transfer rates without increasing antibody levels. Some recipient mice showed transient increases in thyroid-stimulating antibodies and T₄ levels 4-8 wk after transfer, but many became thyroid-blocking antibody positive and hypothyroid 24 wk later. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from naïve TSHR KO mice transiently induced very low antibody titers when the recipient mice were treated with anticytotoxic lymphocyte antigen 4 and antiprogrammed cell death 1 ligand 1 antibodies for 8 wk after transfer. Histologically, macrophages infiltrated the retrobulbar adipose tissues and extraocular muscles in a small fraction of the recipients. Our findings demonstrate successful adoptive transfer of anti-TSHR immune response from TSHR KO mice to nude mice. Although the recipient mice developed only transient and infrequent hyperthyroidism, followed by eventual hypothyroidism, induction of orbital inflammation suggests the possible role of anti-TSHR immune response for Graves' orbitopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mami Nakahara
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Graves' disease, caused by stimulatory thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) autoantibodies, has not been observed in animals. In contrast, Hashimoto's thyroiditis develops in chickens, rats, mice, dogs, and marmosets. Attempts to induce an immune response in mice to the luteinizing-hormone receptor suggested that autoantigen glycosylation was one parameter involved in breaking self-tolerance. Over evolution, TSHR glycosylation increased from three asparagine-linked-glycans (N-glycans) in fish to six N-glycans in humans and great apes. All other placental mammals lack one N-glycan in the shed TSHR A-subunit, the primary Graves' disease autoantigen. We hypothesized that (a) lesser TSHR A-subunit glycosylation reduces immunogenicity, accounting for the absence of Graves' disease in most placental mammals; (b) due to human-like A-subunit glycosylation, Graves' disease might arise in great apes. Here, we review and analyze the literature on this subject and report the results of a survey of veterinarians at primate centers and zoos in North America. SUMMARY Previous experimental data from induced TSHR antibodies in mice support a role for A-subunit glycosylation in breaking self-tolerance. An extensive search of the great-ape literature revealed five reports of noncongenital thyroid dysfunction, four with hypothyroidism and one with hyperthyroidism. The latter was a gorilla who was treated with anti-thyroid drugs but is now deceased. Neither serum nor thyroid tissue from this gorilla were available for analysis. The survey of veterinarians revealed that none of the 979 chimpanzees in primate research centers had a diagnosis of noncongenital thyroid dysfunction and among ∼1100 great apes (gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees) in U.S. zoos, only three were hypothyroid, and none were hyperthyroid. CONCLUSIONS Graves' disease appears to be either very rare or does not occur in great apes based on the literature and a survey of veterinarians. Although the available data do not advance our hypothesis, there is a paucity of information regarding thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies in the great apes In addition, these primates may be protected against TSHR autoimmunity by the absence of genetic polymorphisms and putative environmental triggers. Finally, larger numbers of great apes need to be followed, and tests of thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies be performed, to confirm that spontaneous Graves' disease is restricted to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M McLachlan
- Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
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Chen CR, Aliesky HA, Rapoport B, McLachlan SM. An attempt to induce "Graves' disease of the gonads" by immunizing mice with the luteinizing hormone receptor provides insight into breaking tolerance to self-antigens. Thyroid 2011; 21:773-81. [PMID: 21649471 PMCID: PMC3123529 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2010.0460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonadotropin receptors, unlike the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), are not cleaved into disulfide-linked A- and B-subunits, nor do they shed A-subunits. Heavily glycosylated TSHR A-subunits initiate or amplify responses leading to stimulating TSHR-autoantibodies and Graves' hyperthyroidism. METHODS To investigate the possibility that mice immunized with luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) would develop functional antibodies, we constructed adenoviruses expressing the rat-LH holoreceptor (LHR-Ad) and an LHR A-subunit equivalent (LHR-289-Ad). Female BALB/c mice were immunized with high doses (10(11) particles) of LHR-Ad, LHR-289-Ad, or control (Con)-Ad. Sera were tested using LHR-expressing eukaryotic cells for antibody binding by flow cytometry and for bioactivity by measuring cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) stimulation. RESULTS Elevated serum binding to LHR cells in some LHR-Ad and LHR-289-Ad immunized mice was not specific for LHR-expressing cells. Moreover, sera lacked bioactivity, consistent with unchanged serum estradiol and ovary histology. The difference between rat and mouse LHR-ectodomains is relatively small (3% at the amino-acid level). In contrast, despite amino-acid identity, immunization of mice with adenovirus expressing membrane-bound mouse thyroid peroxidase (TPO), but not soluble mouse TPO ectodomain, elicited strong TPO-specific antibodies. CONCLUSIONS Our investigations provide insight into antibody responses to self-antigens. First, antibodies are induced to large self-antigens like mouse-TPO when membrane bound. Second, lesser amino acid homology between the immunogen and mouse protein (91% vs. 97% for the human-TSHR and rat-LHR, respectively) favors antibody induction. Finally, from previous studies demonstrating the immunogenicity of the highly glycosylated human TSHR A-subunit versus our present data for the nonimmunogenic less glycosylated rat LHR, we suggest that the extent of glycosylation contributes to breaking self-tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Rong Chen
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute and UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA
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Jacobson EM, Concepcion E, Ho K, Kopp P, Vono Toniolo J, Tomer Y. cDNA immunization of mice with human thyroglobulin generates both humoral and T cell responses: a novel model of thyroid autoimmunity. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19200. [PMID: 21559421 PMCID: PMC3084781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroglobulin (Tg) represents one of the largest known self-antigens involved in autoimmunity. Numerous studies have implicated it in triggering and perpetuating the autoimmune response in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Indeed, traditional models of autoimmune thyroid disease, experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), are generated by immunizing mice with thyroglobulin protein in conjunction with an adjuvant, or by high repeated doses of Tg alone, without adjuvant. These extant models are limited in their experimental flexibility, i.e. the ability to make modifications to the Tg used in immunizations. In this study, we have immunized mice with a plasmid cDNA encoding the full-length human Tg (hTG) protein, in order to generate a model of Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is closer to the human disease and does not require adjuvants to breakdown tolerance. Human thyroglobulin cDNA was injected and subsequently electroporated into skeletal muscle using a square wave generator. Following hTg cDNA immunizations, the mice developed both B and T cell responses to Tg, albeit with no evidence of lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid. This novel model will afford investigators the means to test various hypotheses which were unavailable with the previous EAT models, specifically the effects of hTg sequence variations on the induction of thyroiditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Jacobson
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America.
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