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Tang YY, Wang DC, Chen YY, Xu WD, Huang AF. Th1-related transcription factors and cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1305590. [PMID: 38164134 PMCID: PMC10757975 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1305590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory disorder related to immunity dysfunction. The Th1 cell family including Th1 cells, transcription factor T-bet, and related cytokines IFNγ, TNFα, IL-2, IL-18, TGF-β, and IL-12 have been widely discussed in autoimmunity, such as SLE. In this review, we will comprehensively discuss the expression profile of the Th1 cell family in both SLE patients and animal models and clarify how the family members are involved in lupus development. Interestingly, T-bet-related age-associated B cells (ABCs) and low-dose IL-2 treatment in lupus were emergently discussed as well. Collection of the evidence will better understand the roles of the Th1 cell family in lupus pathogenesis, especially targeting IL-2 in lupus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Tang
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Da-Cheng Wang
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - You-Yue Chen
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Wang-Dong Xu
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - An-Fang Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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2
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Wu J, Zhang X, Wu D, Jin O, Gu J. Evaluation of causal associations between interleukin-18 levels and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a Mendelian randomization study. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:306. [PMID: 38031150 PMCID: PMC10685486 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01744-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered interleukin (IL)-18 levels are associated with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), but no studies have investigated their causal relationship. This study aimed to examine the causal associations between IL-18 and IMIDs. METHODS We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Genetic variants were selected from genome-wide association study datasets following stringent assessments. We then used these variants as instrumental variables to estimate the causal effects of IL-18 levels on the risk of developing five common IMIDs: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis. We used the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis, with sensitivity analyses performed to avoid potential bias. Reverse-direction MR analyses were performed to rule out the possibility of reverse associations. RESULTS We found that genetically determined higher circulating IL-18 levels were causally associated with a higher risk for SLE (PIVW = 0.009; OR, 1.214; 95% CI, 1.049 - 1.404) and IBD (PIVW < 0.001; OR, 1.142; 95% CI, 1.062 - 1.228), but found no significant associations of IL-18 with RA (PIVW = 0.496; OR, 1.044; 95% CI, 0.923 - 1.180), AS (PIVW = 0.021; OR, 1.181; 95% CI, 1.025 - 1.361), or psoriasis (PIVW = 0.232; OR, 1.198; 95% CI, 0.891 - 1.611). In the reverse direction, no causal relationship existed between SLE or IBD and IL-18 levels. Globally, sensitivity studies using alternative MR methods supported the results that were robust and reliable. The Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier excluded the influence of heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and outliers. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that elevated IL-18 levels increase the risk of SLE and IBD but not RA, AS, or psoriasis. The results enhanced our understanding of IL-18 in the pathology of IMIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Dongze Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ou Jin
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Jieruo Gu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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3
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IL-18 deficiency ameliorates the progression from AKI to CKD. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:957. [PMID: 36379914 PMCID: PMC9666542 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05394-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation is an important factor in the progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The role of interleukin (IL)-18 in this progression has not been examined. We aimed to clarify whether and how IL-18 limits this progression. In a folic acid induced renal injury mouse model, we studied the time course of kidney injury and renal IL-18 expression. In wild-type mice following injection, renal IL-18 expression increased. In parallel, we characterized other processes, including at day 2, renal tubular necroptosis assessed by receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3; at day 14, transdifferentiation (assessed by transforming growth factor β1, vimentin and E-cadherin); and at day 30, fibrosis (assessed by collagen 1). In IL-18 knockout mice given folate, compared to wild-type mice, tubular damage and necroptosis, transdifferentiation, and renal fibrosis were attenuated. Importantly, IL-18 deletion decreased numbers of renal M1 macrophages and M1 macrophage cytokine levels at day 14, and reduced M2 macrophages numbers and macrophage cytokine expression at day 30. In HK-2 cells, IL-18 knockdown attenuated necroptosis, transdifferentiating and fibrosis.In patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis, IL-18 protein expression was increased on renal biopsies using immunohistochemistry. We conclude that genetic IL-18 deficiency ameliorates renal tubular damage, necroptosis, cell transdifferentiation, and fibrosis. The renoprotective role of IL-18 deletion in the progression from AKI to fibrosis may be mediated by reducing a switch in predominance from M1 to profibrotic M2 macrophages during the process of kidney repair.
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4
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Hirooka Y, Nozaki Y. Interleukin-18 in Inflammatory Kidney Disease. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:639103. [PMID: 33732720 PMCID: PMC7956987 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.639103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-18, a member of the IL-1 superfamily, is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is structurally similar to IL-1β. IL-18 promotes the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and strongly induces a Th1 response. IL-18 drives the same myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway as IL-1β. In physiological conditions, IL-18 is regulated by the endogenous inhibitor IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), and the activity of IL-18 is balanced. It is reported that in several inflammatory diseases, the IL-18 activity is unbalanced, and IL-18 neutralization by IL-18BP is insufficient. IL-18 acts synergistically with IL-12 to induce the production of IFN-γ as a Th1 cytokine, and IL-18 acts alone to induce the production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13. In addition, IL-18 alone enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity and FAS ligand expression. The biological and pathological roles of IL-18 have been studied in many diseases. Here we review the knowledge regarding IL-18 signaling and the role of IL-18 in inflammatory kidney diseases. Findings on renal injury in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its association with IL-18 will also be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuaki Hirooka
- Department of Rheumatology, Kindai University Nara Hospital, Nara, Japan
| | - Yuji Nozaki
- Department of Hematology and Rheumatology, Kindai University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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5
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Percie du Sert N, Ahluwalia A, Alam S, Avey MT, Baker M, Browne WJ, Clark A, Cuthill IC, Dirnagl U, Emerson M, Garner P, Holgate ST, Howells DW, Hurst V, Karp NA, Lazic SE, Lidster K, MacCallum CJ, Macleod M, Pearl EJ, Petersen OH, Rawle F, Reynolds P, Rooney K, Sena ES, Silberberg SD, Steckler T, Würbel H. Reporting animal research: Explanation and elaboration for the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000411. [PMID: 32663221 PMCID: PMC7360025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1042] [Impact Index Per Article: 260.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Improving the reproducibility of biomedical research is a major challenge. Transparent and accurate reporting is vital to this process; it allows readers to assess the reliability of the findings and repeat or build upon the work of other researchers. The ARRIVE guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) were developed in 2010 to help authors and journals identify the minimum information necessary to report in publications describing in vivo experiments. Despite widespread endorsement by the scientific community, the impact of ARRIVE on the transparency of reporting in animal research publications has been limited. We have revised the ARRIVE guidelines to update them and facilitate their use in practice. The revised guidelines are published alongside this paper. This explanation and elaboration document was developed as part of the revision. It provides further information about each of the 21 items in ARRIVE 2.0, including the rationale and supporting evidence for their inclusion in the guidelines, elaboration of details to report, and examples of good reporting from the published literature. This document also covers advice and best practice in the design and conduct of animal studies to support researchers in improving standards from the start of the experimental design process through to publication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amrita Ahluwalia
- The William Harvey Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Barts Cardiovascular CTU, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sabina Alam
- Taylor & Francis Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marc T. Avey
- Health Science Practice, ICF, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Monya Baker
- Nature, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | | | | | - Innes C. Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrich Dirnagl
- QUEST Center for Transforming Biomedical Research, Berlin Institute of Health & Department of Experimental Neurology, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Emerson
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Garner
- Centre for Evidence Synthesis in Global Health, Clinical Sciences Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen T. Holgate
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - David W. Howells
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Natasha A. Karp
- Data Sciences & Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Malcolm Macleod
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ole H. Petersen
- Academia Europaea Knowledge Hub, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Penny Reynolds
- Statistics in Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Core, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kieron Rooney
- Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily S. Sena
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Shai D. Silberberg
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Hanno Würbel
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Liu G, Chen X, Wang Q, Yuan L. NEK7: a potential therapy target for NLRP3-related diseases. Biosci Trends 2020; 14:74-82. [PMID: 32295992 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2020.01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
NLRP3 inflammasome plays an essential role in innate immunity, yet the activation mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome is not clear. In human or animal models, inappropriate NLRP3 inflammasome activation is implicated in many NLRP3-related diseases, such as tumors, inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. Until now, a great number of inhibitors have been used to disturb the related signaling pathways, such as IL-1β blockade, IL-18 blockade and caspase-1 inhibitors. Unfortunately, most of these inhibitors just disturb the signaling pathways after the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Inhibitors that directly regulate NLRP3 to abolish the inflammation response may be more effective. NEK7 is a multifunctional kinase affecting centrosome duplication, mitochondrial regulation, intracellular protein transport, DNA repair and mitotic spindle assembly. Researchers have made significant observations on the regulation of gene transcription or protein expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway by NEK7. Those signaling pathways include ROS signaling, potassium efflux, lysosomal destabilization, and NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, NEK7 has been proved to be involved in many NLRP3-related diseases in humans or in animal models. Inhibitors focused on NEK7 may regulate NLRP3 to abolish the inflammation response and NEK7 may be a potential therapeutic target for NLRP3-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganglei Liu
- Department of Geriatrics Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xueliang Chen
- Department of Geriatrics Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Zhuzhou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Lianwen Yuan
- Department of Geriatrics Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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7
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Correlation of Interleukin-18 and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein with Perioperative Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Ankle Fracture. Ann Vasc Surg 2018; 54:282-289. [PMID: 30103053 DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2018.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the present study, we aimed to inspect the correlation of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), if any present, with the occurrence of perioperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients suffering from an ankle fracture (AF). METHODS Sixty-seven AF patients with complicated DVT (DVT group) and 448 AF patients without DVT (non-DVT group) were enrolled in the present study. To begin with, hemorheological indexes were detected. Turbidimetric immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for the determination of the expressions of hs-CRP and IL-18, respectively. Coagulation method was used to detect prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors for DVT occurrence in AF patients after operation. RESULTS The results revealed that the DVT group presented an increased expression of hs-CRP and IL-18 1 day before operation and 1, 3, and 7 days after operation in comparison with the non-DVT group. The DVT group also had increased levels of PT, APTT, and prolonged TT and fibrinogen at 3 and 7 days after operation compared to the non-DVT group. After operation, it was observed that the patients in the DVT group had increased plasma viscosity, whole blood reduced viscosity, red blood cell (RBC) aggregation index, RBC deformation index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and declined erythrocrit. The independent risk factors for the occurrence of DVT were identified to be high-energy injury, TT, fibrinogen, hs-CRP, and IL-18 in AF patients after operation. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results obtained from the study, it was concluded that AF patients with DVT have higher levels of IL-18 and hs-CRP expressions, which is associated with the occurrence and development of DVT. These results may be particularly useful for diagnosis and treatment on DVT occurrence in AF patients.
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8
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Mende R, Vincent FB, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Koelmeyer R, Lin E, Chang J, Hoi AY, Morand EF, Harris J, Lang T. Analysis of Serum Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1250. [PMID: 29930551 PMCID: PMC5999794 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by biological and clinical heterogeneity. The interleukin (IL)-1 superfamily is a group of innate cytokines that contribute to pathogenesis in many autoimmune diseases. IL-1β and IL-18 are two members that have been shown to play a role in murine lupus-like models, but their role in human SLE remains poorly understood. Here, IL-1β and IL-18 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum of healthy controls (HCs) and SLE patients from a prospectively followed cohort. Disease activity and organ damage were assessed using SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and SLE damage index scores (SDI), respectively. 184 SLE patients (mean age 44.9 years, 91% female, 56% double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid positive) were compared to 52 HC. SLE patients had median [IQR] SLEDAI-2K of 4 [2,6], and SDI of 1 [0–2]. Serum IL-18 levels were statistically significantly higher in SLE patients compared to HCs. Univariable linear regression analyses showed that patients with active renal disease or irreversible organ damage had statistically significantly elevated serum IL-18 levels. The association between serum IL-18 and active renal disease was confirmed in multivariable analysis after adjusting for ethnicity and organ damage. High baseline serum IL-18 levels were associated with organ damage at the subsequent visit. Serum IL-1β levels were not significantly elevated in SLE patients when compared to HCs and had no association with overall or organ-specific disease activity or organ damage in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Our data suggest that serum IL-18 and IL-1β have different clinical implications in SLE, with IL-18 being potentially associated with active renal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Mende
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Fabien B Vincent
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rangi Kandane-Rathnayake
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel Koelmeyer
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Emily Lin
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Janet Chang
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Alberta Y Hoi
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Eric F Morand
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - James Harris
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Tali Lang
- Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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9
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Mu Q, Zhang H, Liao X, Lin K, Liu H, Edwards MR, Ahmed SA, Yuan R, Li L, Cecere TE, Branson DB, Kirby JL, Goswami P, Leeth CM, Read KA, Oestreich KJ, Vieson MD, Reilly CM, Luo XM. Control of lupus nephritis by changes of gut microbiota. MICROBIOME 2017; 5:73. [PMID: 28697806 PMCID: PMC5505136 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-017-0300-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus, characterized by persistent inflammation, is a complex autoimmune disorder with no known cure. Immunosuppressants used in treatment put patients at a higher risk of infections. New knowledge of disease modulators, such as symbiotic bacteria, can enable fine-tuning of parts of the immune system, rather than suppressing it altogether. RESULTS Dysbiosis of gut microbiota promotes autoimmune disorders that damage extraintestinal organs. Here we report a role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction in lupus. Using a classical model of lupus nephritis, MRL/lpr, we found a marked depletion of Lactobacillales in the gut microbiota. Increasing Lactobacillales in the gut improved renal function of these mice and prolonged their survival. We used a mixture of 5 Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus oris, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Lactobacillus gasseri), but L. reuteri and an uncultured Lactobacillus sp. accounted for most of the observed effects. Further studies revealed that MRL/lpr mice possessed a "leaky" gut, which was reversed by increased Lactobacillus colonization. Lactobacillus treatment contributed to an anti-inflammatory environment by decreasing IL-6 and increasing IL-10 production in the gut. In the circulation, Lactobacillus treatment increased IL-10 and decreased IgG2a that is considered to be a major immune deposit in the kidney of MRL/lpr mice. Inside the kidney, Lactobacillus treatment also skewed the Treg-Th17 balance towards a Treg phenotype. These beneficial effects were present in female and castrated male mice, but not in intact males, suggesting that the gut microbiota controls lupus nephritis in a sex hormone-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates essential mechanisms on how changes of the gut microbiota regulate lupus-associated immune responses in mice. Future studies are warranted to determine if these results can be replicated in human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Mu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Husen Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Present Address: Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Xiaofeng Liao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Kaisen Lin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Hualan Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Present Address: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Michael R. Edwards
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - S. Ansar Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Ruoxi Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Liwu Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Thomas E. Cecere
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - David B. Branson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Jay L. Kirby
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Poorna Goswami
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Caroline M. Leeth
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Kaitlin A. Read
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA USA
| | - Kenneth J. Oestreich
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA USA
| | - Miranda D. Vieson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Christopher M. Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Xin M. Luo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
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